trolling the interwebs for inspiration

Some links to help you waste some time today... because most of us are procrastinating from something.

I want this book! Check out that sweet hooded cardigan (the one with the babe looking out the window) And here is a free pattern for the little pixie hat -- super cute.

Cute Kimono shoes -- a free pattern from Aimee Larsen

Some owly love from Moonstitches via Indifixx

I'm still wanting to try embroidering something. These free Sarah Jane Studios patterns would be a good place to start.

Here are a ton of ideas for stuff you can make with just a bit of fabric -- collected tutorials for fat quarter projects. I could be busy with these for a long time.

I love the look of this quilt. I know these kind of tiny, busy patchworks run the risk of looking country, but this one is more cozy than country to me. I think I know what I'll be doing with some of my scraps.

This list of civility is great. How can we bring back some of these?? I love that they are having their kids learn them via a penmanship lesson. Hilarious.

Plastic sandwich baggies gettin' you down? You could try a cool reusable one.

Here is a hilarious blog of 'awkward family photos'

And one that compiles passive aggressive notes. Ah, takes me back to the ol' days when I lived with annoying roommates (not you, Glenda!)

And in case I'm not the only one thinking about Christmas...

A half-eaten gingerbread ornament for your tree

And how about making some of these crazy glove/mitten things for someone on your list -- "These odd looking creations provide the warmth of a mitten, with the dexterity of a glove." Ha!

Here's a really cool quilted advent calendar, but man-oh-man that looks like a ton of work. I think I'll just buy the funky christmas prints and do something easier.

Anyone you know need a good laptop cover? This one from oh fransson is neat.

Ok, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

breaded pork with pan-roasted tomatoes

I've never been one for the other white meat. It's not that I don't dig on swine. That's not it, 'cause I agree that bacon tastes good. But pork chops? I'll pass. Too dry.

But apparently, if you add breading, pork is quite tasty! Keeps the moisture in? Adds crunchy coating? -- whatever it is, I like it. Try this recipe and let me know if you agree...

breaded pork cutlets with pan-roasted tomatoes
adapted from Real Simple

4 pork cutlets - I used boneless pork shoulder, pounded to even thickness, about 1/4 inch
1/4 C flour
1 egg, beaten
1/4 C fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
1 C dry bread crumbs
2-3 teas salt
black pepper to taste
olive oil
6-8 Roma tomatoes, quartered lengthwise into wedges
2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
1 Tbs fresh thyme leaves

In three shallow bowls, have 1) flour 2) beaten egg 3) bread crumbs, parsley, pepper and a dash of salt.

Dip each cutlet in the flour, then egg, then bread crumbs and put on wire rack. Chill breaded pork in fridge while you prepare the rest of the ingredients, or about 10 minutes.

Heat a couple tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook cutlets, in batches if necessary, until golden and cooked through. If necessary, add more oil when you turn over (the breadcrumbs don't 'golden up' very well with no moisture.) Transfer to a plate to rest.

Add a bit more oil to the pan and add tomatoes, vinegar and thyme. Cook tomatoes about 7-8 minutes. Return pork to the pan to warm. Serve.

I served mine with just a simple spaghetti aglio et olio, or spaghetti with garlic and olive oil. Basically, saute up a 2-3 cloves of minced garlic with a dash of red pepper flakes in a few tablespoons of olive oil. Cook pasta, drain it, and then toss with olive oil mixture, chopped flat-leaf parsley, salt, and fresh parmesan. This was delicious with the pan-roasted tomatoes.

another sweater for a special wee one

I finished another baby sweater, this one the baby sophisticate pattern available free on Stockinette. I was inspired by SouleMama's cutie in his green grampie version.

Can I just say how much I love patterns that require hardly any finishing at the end?! Well, I do. This one is knit in one piece -- so simple and satisfying -- yet the collar makes it stinkin' cute.

And yes, it's going to be for our special wee one -- due at the beginning of December!

Kind of explains all the baby crafting here happening over the past several months. =)

Speaking of which, tonight, I whipped up a very simple double-layer flannel blanket number. I just loved this blue and rose fabric -- I swear my grandparents must have had matching pajamas out of this material because I just picture them -- and can almost smell cinnamon and woodsmoke -- when I look at it.

gone packin'

Even more berries are in the freezer now -- this week I brought home raspberries and blackberries from the farmers' market. And 4 pounds of Okanagan cherries are now six 1/2-pints of canned cherries. (I love canned cherries and toast when I'm illin' in flu season.)

But you'll just have to take my word for it since we packed away my camera cord already. Oops.

Not much cooking worth mentioning is happening during the week these days -- we're just using up odds and ends. Beans on toast, anyone?

I may disappear for a couple weeks while we move and settle. By then, I should have crafty things for show and tell.

blueberry season

We bought a condo! To experience sealing the deal for the first time was a bit stressful, but very exciting.

We're in moving mode now: we've started packing up our books and dishes, and we're trying to use up all the goods in the pantry and freezer so that we don't have to lug extra foodstuffs across town. With one exception.

You see, our new place is complete with not only in-suite laundry (a much-anticipated first for us), but it also has a deep freezer! So at the same time as I'm using up my nuts and flour, I am re-filling my small freezer with get-'em-before-they're-gone fruits and veggies.

Exhibit A: 10 lovely pounds of fresh, local blueberries.

dick and jane

I'm diggin' primary coloured quilts these days. Here's one I just finished. It's backed with a soft fleece.

Hope you're enjoying summer!

chicken and sage tortellini

Wondering what to do with ground chicken? Just add won ton wrappers for homemade tortellini!

I now have a few dozen tortellini in my freezer, waiting to be boiled up and eaten with a little olive oil, lemon juice, and parmesan. Mmmm.


chicken and sage tortellini
serves 3-4

won ton wrappers
1/2 lb ground chicken
7-10 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
salt

Mix together well the chicken, sage, garlic and a few dashes of salt.

To make the tortellini, take a wrapper in the palm of your hand, add a spoonful of the chicken mixture to the center, and then dip your finger in water. Run your damp finger along two edges of the wrapper and then seal in a triangle, pinching up the sides. Then pinch together the two far corners and bend back the third corner. Don't worry -- after making a few, you really get into a rhythm. While you're working with one wrapper, make sure to keep the rest under a damp cloth. And have a little dish of water to dip your finger into.

Either boil and enjoy right away or freeze for later. To freeze, lay them individually on a cookie sheet. (I dusted the sheet with a little flour 'cause I was afraid they might stick.) Once they were frozen, I threw them together in a ziplock bag.

baby band tshirts

Who doesn't have ol' tshirts lying around? It seems pretty simple to downsize 'em for a rockin' recycled baby gown. Although I don't know if we need another generation of Guns n' Roses fans...

city quilt, built

I love this quilt. I worked on it a while ago and then let it drop to the bottom of the stack of WIPs. But now it's finished -- and it's one of my favourites. Mostly because of that cute frog.

It was pretty quick to finish once I had the top done and embroidered. I did the ol' right sides together trick with batting on top, turned it inside out and then top-stitched. Simple.

I used a polyester batting so I could get the high loft I wanted and I could space the zitzits 6-7 inches apart. Not sure what to call them because instead of tying, I used the zig zag stitch on the shortest length and widest width (same way I made that turtle blanket.) Makes for a neat baby-safe connection. If you ever need a quick baby gift, I highly recommend the method.

chicken apple sausage

Whoa. That was kind of a long unplanned hiatus from this place. Well, welcome back! I've made chicken apple sausages for the occasion.

If you want to make these more breakfasty, try adding a dash of cinnamon.

chicken apple sausage
serves 2 (adapted from a Martha recipe)

1/2 lb ground chicken
1 small granny smith apple, diced
1/2 onion, finely diced
about 10 fresh sage leaves, finely chopped
salt and pepper
olive oil

Preheat oven to 350. In oven proof frying pan, saute the onions in a little olive oil, until translucent. Add the apple pieces and saute for a few more minutes, until slightly soft.

In medium bowl, combine the chicken, sage, salt & pepper, and the onion-apple mixture.

Form mixture into four patties and place in hot frying pan, prepped with a little olive oil again. Brown both sides for a few minutes each, and then place in hot oven. Bake for about 10 minutes, until cooked through.

We enjoyed ours with some mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Its starting to really feel like summer 'round here.