Orange Food Tastes Good!

(Apologies to Anne Burrell.)

Thanksgiving is next week!  When did that happen? We're going up to Jeff's parents' for dinner, and bringing pumpkin pies.  When Jeff was a teen, an entire pie was reserved just for him, but he's more moderate now. I'll make a traditional pie and whipped cream to go with it, but it's nice to have something in the healthier arena as well.

I made Chocolate Covered Katie's Crustless Pumpkin Pie last night. It was very easy and everyone really liked it. Not having to make a crust saved a ton of time and effort.  Since we're not vegan, I added an egg, but left the oil out.  Less than 100 calories per slice!  I also added a little ginger, because I love that bit of kick. Next week, I'll make the traditional version, but I'll be making Katie's version regularly this winter.

I also made Roasted Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pilau last night, to go next to pork chops/fish.  The girls thought it was ok, but Jeff really liked it. Like, said three times how much he liked it.  I didn't have pumpkin, but I got a kuri squash last week, and they're pretty close, so I used that. I don't like how sweet potatoes sometimes get black spots when you roast them in the oven (no, they weren't burned), but they're still tasty. I used vegetable broth instead of chicken, and added some diced dried apricots because I had them and it sounded good.  I'm going to mix the leftovers with either diced chicken or ham for lunches this week.  This is another one I'll be making pretty steadily. 

The Calculus Dress

I've made a lot of things over the past ten years or so with my sewing machine. I've made Halloween costumes, Christmas dresses, Easter dresses, sundresses, pajamas, skirts, tote bags, lunch bags, quilts, and hats. I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.

But most of those things have been for kids, either my own or others. Last summer, I decided to start making a few things for myself. A lot of this was due to a seriously depleted wardrobe. I'm not much of a clothes horse to begin with, and losing weight left me with a lot of space in my closet. This is certainly a good problem to have, but it's still a problem.

I made a couple skirts for myself, nothing too difficult, and learned a little about what works for me and what doesn't.  But I wanted something a little more challenging.  I found Simplicity 2217 and really liked the wrap style of the bodice. I found a couple yards of a nice heavy fabric in the basement. It's a peacock teal, with a subtle woven effect on the right side, and I thought it would be just right.

Once I got the pattern, I knew I'd have to make a muslin first. I didn't want to cut into my fabric before I was sure what I had was correct. I first measured the pattern pieces, then myself, and realized that the bodice pieces would have to be lengthened. I've actually done that before, so I wasn't too worried. But then I looked at the bodice front pieces, at the jagged line along the bottom (to accommodate the pleats).

Enter the "deer in the headlights" look.  Um.  Well, that's different. I'd never seen a pattern piece like that. A Skype to my mom was in order.  She was trying to explain to me what I needed to do, but it just didn't translate to me, even though I could see her. Without being able to manipulate the fabric, we weren't getting anywhere. The realization hit us both at the same time. I needed to go to Florida so we could sew together!  When my Dad found out about the idea, he insisted on paying for my plane ticket, as a birthday & Christmas present for me. Is he great or what?

I packed with happy anticipation.  I was really looking forward to learning some new skills & tricks and advancing my knowledge.  I realized that sewing is kind of like math. Sarah & Lauren can use the machine to do basics--addition & subtraction, if you will.  I know lots of people that can do "multiplication & division" sewing.  I know a few people who are doing "pre-algebra, exponents, maybe a little scientific notation" sewing.  I'm confident in my "algebra & geometry" sewing.  I was expecting the dress to take me to "trigonometry" levels.  It would be a stretch, but not insurmountable. 

Nope.  Once I got down there and my mom started working on it, I realized that this was a "calculus" dress.  Hell, "ADVANCED calculus." Luckily, my mom has done "NASA-level astro physics" sewing.  I realized that fitting and tailoring are well beyond what I can do, and more than I could learn in the course of a weekend in Florida.  That level of work really needs more of an apprentice like program.

So my mom ended up doing all the heavy lifting on this dress--she determined where the pattern pieces needed to be altered, did all the darts and pleats, put in the zipper, and made sure every seam she worked on was perfect.  I learned how to ease a seam, and how to stitch a facing so it would lay flat--both "trig" tricks if I ever saw them.  I also set in the sleeves and hemmed it.

And so I give you (drumroll, please) . . .
The Calculus Dress.

We're on our way to church now!

Breakfast

I am a carb junkie, no doubt. Bread pudding is one of my favorite things ever, my stepmom's Thanksgiving stuffing being a close second.

I made Skinny Apple Pie Bread Pudding for breakfast this morning.  It was really good, but I ended up eating way too much of it. Sarah also liked it, but Lauren just thought it was ok.  I don't have custard cups, so I used my square 8x8 baking pan and used an extra piece of bread.  It worked out well, but did I mention that I ate way too much of it?  I'm going to get some custard cups/ramekins soon, because that kind of portion control is really necessary for me.

I'd also like to try Pumpkin Baked French Toast, which is essentially the same thing but with pumpkin (also vegan). Dark Chocolate Chunk Bread Pudding looks ridiculously delicious, but it's no even remotely appropriate for breakfast.  That's another one that needs ramekins for portion control, so I have an excuse to wait on that one.

Sewing post coming SOON!

What's Cooking?

(a dressmaking post will be coming soon)

I made Apple Scones last week, and they turned out pretty good, but not as amazing as I'd hoped. I'm sure that's largely due to the fact that I've largely fallen off the healthy bandwagon, and am more used to cooking with a lot more fat & sugar than these called for.  I might make them again, but I'd rather go for some cinnamon rolls.

I took some BBQ chicken and put it into biscuit turnovers last week, to rave reviews from both kids. I'm trying to think of other things I can put inside a biscuit.  Sloppy joe meat looks the most promising based on kid reactions.

I'm also trying to decide what to do with the lone pound of ground beef in my freezer. One pound can go for burgers or chili or sloppy joes or meatballs or shepherd's pie or Hamburger Helper. It's not quite enough for pasties.

All of those are good things that will get eaten.  But I'd really like to try empanadas. They're similar to pasties, in that they have meat & vegetables and have a pastry crust, but the meat is cooked ahead of time, and of course the flavors are totally different. I really like trying new things, although they aren't always a hit with everyone else.