New quilt for 2015

Hi all:

I get emails everyday for "Quilter's Daily Deals" from the Missouri Star Quilt Company. I am sure a lot of you also get these daily deals sent to your inbox.  I really enjoy looking at these deals and reading the little stories to go with them, but have never bought one until about 2 weeks ago.  When this one found its way into my inbox, I couldn't help myself.  

The daily deal was for a Kaffee Fasset jelly roll in "Tide".  Well, when I saw it, I just had to have it.  I really like pre-cuts; jelly rolls and charm packs.  They make designing a quilt so much easier and I really like how they make a quilt look "patchy"; as if thrown together from scraps you had lying around. Well, as soon as I saw this daily deal, I had visions of jelly roll strips, dancing in my head! I like to use larger pieces of fabric to show off the fabric design; I am not a huge fan of piecing small, fiddly bits of fabric to make a design. It seems to me, that defeats the purpose of having a lovely fabric design in the first place. (just my opinion!)

Even though I am really busy with school (4 classes this semester) I set about sewing up those jelly roll strips as soon as I got them. I have been sewing up a storm the past 2 days and this is what I have so far.

I fell in love with this dot print. It made me buy this jelly roll!

Here, I am trying to place the strips in a pleasing arrangement. I wanted an ombré effect.

I love Kaffee Fasset's vibrant colours, don't you?

These haven't been sewn yet. I am just trying this design out.  I made a mistake in cutting some of the strip squares and cut them the wrong way. That just figures!!! It never fails... I seem to always make mistakes somewhere in the quilts I make!!

Alternate arrangement.

I like how you can see a diagonal swath of green beside the purple/blues.

I haven't made all of the triangles yet. They are still to be cut.

I was checking online for some design ideas and found a beautiful quilt on Pinterest that seemed perfect for this jelly roll.  The only directions I could find were:  sew 8 strips together; square up the sides; cut the squares at a 45 degree angle to make triangles; mix and match the triangles.

Here is the original quilt I saw on Fancy Tiger Crafts. I love how simple it is, yet has a lot of impact.

How can you resist such a pretty quilt?  I hope mine turns out as nice as hers! (Apparently, this was her first quilt.)

I will post more pictures once I have made more progress.  Wish me luck!

Rosie

Today's Healthy lunch

Hi all:

I just made a wonderful salad for lunch with a product I have never used before. It is called "Salad Sensation" and is a mix of fruit, seeds and herbs that I added to my salad instead of the usual seed mix that I use.  It contains sesame seeds, dried soybeans, sunflower seeds, dried herbs, bacon bits (yum) and dried zeresh.  Now, I had never heard of zeresh but I looked it up and apparently it comes from the Barberry bush and produces small red berries that are packed with vitamin C and is used in middle Eastern cooking.

Here is my salad.  Of course I used some leftover blackened chicken breast from last night's dinner and added that to a mixed green salad I made. I then threw on a handful of this salad sensation mix and topped it with a drizzle of olive oil (Jamie Oliver's EVOO) and a drizzle of rice wine vinegar.(sometimes I find balsamic vinegar is too heavy for a lighter meal).

This looks like large pieces of chicken but in reality, they are thin strips of chicken; not the whole breast.

Had to have a Tim's as well. ( coffee that is; black gold, Texas tea)

Here is what the salad mix looks like.  The good thing is that you can taste the tart zeresh but it has no added sugar, unlike the Craisins I often put on my salad.

On a side note, the bean below is a soybean, is it not? I just assumed that it was.  Please let me know if you know, that is what it is.

Bye for now.

Rosie

Dicing Onions 101

Hi all:

Does anyone have trouble dicing onions properly? I think I have gotten the dicing of the lowly onion down to a science.  It may seem simple enough, but it is amazing how many people can't dice an onion.  I have been cooking since my early teens, so I have diced many an onion in my time.  Here is how  I like to dice them. ( Does anyone else cringe when they see the "expert chefs" on TV dicing an onion by sawing into it sideways? I look away at those moments!)

Here is the primer on Dicing Onions 101:

(**Use caution when cutting onions**)

Make sure you use a cutting board that is NOT MADE OF GLASS! It will not hold onto an onion and the onion just might fly across the room if you try to cut on one.  Use either wood or plastic. It will help to grip the onion slightly.

Cut off the very tip of the pointed end of the onion. ( not the side with the roots)

Flip the onion cut side down and let the roots point upwards.

Hold the onion carefully and cut it in half.

This is how it will look.

Flip the onion again onto the flat cut side.

Cut off the root end and peel off the skin from the onion.

 

See the grooves or lines running along the onion from end to end? Follow those lines and cut along them in very thin strips. Cut the entire half onion this way.

Ok my knife isn't following the lines exactly, but you get the idea. I have done several thin cuts at this point but you can't see them because they are still attached to the onion.

Here you can see the cuts I have made along the grooves/lines in the onion. Keep them stacked up together for the next step.

Turn the onion so that you are now cutting into it at a 90 degree angle from the first cuts. (You will be cutting ACROSS the cuts you just made). This will give you the small diced pieces that you want.  Make sure you hold the onion and the knife really securely in your hands, so that the knife doesn't slip.

Done.  I am sure I could dice a whole bag of onions in less than 5 minutes. (I might be exaggerating somewhat)  This is such a simple method that I always shake my head when I see those experts slicing  onions by holding their knives flat and parallel to the table. I don't get it!!!

Anyways, use caution when using knives to cut onions.

By the way, have you seen those goggles that stop you from crying when cutting onions? You can find them in specialty kitchen stores or the kitchen gadget aisle.  I had that exact idea about 34 years ago when I would don swimming goggles to cut my onions.  Everyone thought I was crazy for slapping those on my head when I cooked and they used to laugh at me, but they worked! It didn't matter that the goggles cast a hideous yellow glow over everything. What mattered was that I did not shed one tear!!  Now, someone is making a fortune selling those "specialty cooking items".  I say, go out and buy yourself a good pair of swimming goggles and use those instead. Who knows; in a pinch they can do double duty for your child's swimming lessons.

Night all.

Rosie

Healthy Gluten-free "Rum balls"

Hi all:

I had a real craving for a healthy gluten-free snack a few days ago and came up with this recipe. Since I am trying to avoid carbs and gluten right now, I wanted something flour-free, yet with a lot of taste.  One of my all-time favourite treats is rum balls.  I could eat them every day, but sadly they have a lot of sugar and carbs in them, so I wanted to make a healthier version. Enter my Healthy Gluten-free Rumballs.  They are small and compact (easy to grab and go) but pack a healthy, flavourful punch.

Here is the recipe for my HEALTHY GLUTEN-FREE RUMBALLS:

                                       ************************************************

(you will need a food processor for this. It makes everything so much easier!)

This was the first time I used this gigantic behemoth!!  It is really heavy but does a great job of processing foods. I think it may be a 12 cup food processor. You will need a large one to make this recipe. (Or cut the ingredients in half for a smaller capacity food processor.)

It doesn't get any easier than this;  On, Off, Pulse.  I like simplicity.

In the large bowl of a food processor add:

1 c. Dried Pitted prunes

1 c. Dried Pitted dates

1 c. Dried apricots

4 T. Candied orange peel ( I used a 100 gram container)

3/4 c. Ground flax seed

Pulse these ingredients until fairly fine.

In a skillet, toast the following nuts and seeds separately for about 1-2 minutes BEFORE adding to the fruit mixture above.

1 c. Filberts (hazelnuts) - toasted (toast in a skillet for 1-2 minutes)

1 c. Slivered almonds - toasted 

1/3 c. Pumpkin seeds - toasted

Add these nuts and seeds to the fruit mixture in the food processor and pulse again for a short time to mix well.

Next add:

1-2 tsp. almond extract (to taste)

1-2 tsp. rum extract (optional)

1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Pulse again quickly to mix then roll the mixture into 1 1/4" balls. I also rolled some of the balls in sesame seeds and left some plain.  Either way, they are good.  This recipe makes about 38-40 balls. 

I hope you enjoy these delicious, healthy Rumballs. (Yes, I know the candied orange peel has some sugar in it, but oh well....  You can omit it or like me, pretend it doesn't!!)

Hazelnuts.

Almond slivers.

Pumpkin seeds.

This is how the mixture should look.

Yummmmm!!!

I hope you enjoy these too.

Rosie

I Confess.......I love schmaltzy Christmas movies

Hi all:

It has been a long time since my last post, but that is because I have been so busy with school, gift shopping, grocery shopping, baking etc.  One would think I would have a system by now and that all would run like clockwork - well, not so. I just finished baking yesterday (7 different holiday cookies) and still need to wrap most of the presents.

To keep me sane through this busy time of year, I indulge myself in the most guilty of pleasures; I watch all the Women's Network/ Life Network (just about any network!) Christmas movies.  I have become so obsessed with them, that I have kept my favourite ones recorded from last year and refuse to let my husband delete them.  Does it matter that they take up about 50% of the space on our PVR? I don't think that is a big issue.  Besides, how can I be certain they will air again the following year?  How would I live if I couldn't watch my all-time favourite holiday movie, all year long? Yes, I confess; I watch Christmas movies ALL YEAR LONG!!  They make me smile - DON'T JUDGE ME.

This year, I was ecstatic to find several movies which I had never heard of, nor seen previously.  Sadly, I watched many and then deleted them.  They just didn't meet my high standards: romance, perky girl, handsome guy, mix-ups, little lies, and ultimately falling into each other's arms - now that is a tried and true storyline.  Many of the ones I deleted just didn't have likeable characters or the acting was bad or the story was just plain dumb.  I consider myself quite a Christmas movie aficionado, so I know of what I speak.

I won't go into details about which movies disappointed me, but I will give you my top 20 Christmas movie favourites. ( note: I just checked my PVR and found I have 58 Christmas movies saved to watch. I have seen most, but there are still lots to watch for the first time - there REALLY IS such a thing as Christmas Magic!!)

Here they are: (I can't possibly rate them in order; they are all good, but I will save my all-time favourite for #20)

1)  His and Her Christmas - two rival journalists write columns and fall in love - magic!

2)  Holly's Holiday - a mannequin comes to life - Does Holly find love with him?

3). Love at the Parade - a quirky girl that loves everything vintage, finds love.

4). Mistletoe Over Manhattan - Mrs. Claus travels to New York to help a couple rekindle their love.

5). Most Wonderful Time of the Year - a handsome stranger gets stranded at the airport during the holidays - Henry Winkler brings him home to meet his niece. I love this one! It is funny and the stranger is very cute.

6). My Fake Fiancé - Melissa Joan Hart (I love her because she is quirky) and Joey Lawrence fake an engagement to collect gifts. This may not be a Christmas movie, but I love it anyways.

7). Naughty or Nice - a woman finds Santa's naughty/nice book and trouble ensues - Love it!!

8). A Road to Christmas - a woman (Jennifer Grey) tries to get to her fiancé in Aspen. She has trouble along the way and finds something special. - Love it!

9). Eve's Christmas - this one involves time travel - a common theme among Christmas movies - love it!

10) Let it Snow - a big resort company buys a rustic lodge in order to convert it to a resort. The company owner sends his daughter to inspect the lodge and she finds much more than she bargains for.

11) Battle of the Bulbs - one of the first schmaltzy Christmas movies I saw, therefore it holds a special place in my heart. Daniel Stern is great as the maniac neighbour who goes overboard with the Christmas decorations.

12) Call Me Mrs. Miracle - a magical woman finds employment in a department store (hmmm... Time travel and department stores are very common themes in these movies) and all sorts of wonderful things happen.

13) Christmas Lodge - a woman wants to help refurbish the old lodge that her family used to go to at Christmas - love ensues.

14) Christmas Mail - a postal worker who answers letters to Santa, finds love.

15) Christmas on Chestnut Street - a competition for best Christmas lights display ensues - another common theme.

16) Under the Mistletoe - a woman enters a radio dating contest and finds love.

17) Window Wonderland - (I loved this one!) - 2 competing window dressers try to come up with the best windows to land a promotion. The guy is cute and quirky - loved him!

18) Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas - some quirky postal workers do their best to answer every letter to Santa.  I loved this one too as the story was very unique and the characters were quirky. (Have I said that I love quirky?)

19) A Bride for Christmas - this just might tie with my all-time favourite movie (#20). A man bets his friends that he can get engaged by Christmas. This was shot locally in Fort Langley (I love seeing shops and streets that I recognize). Let me say this: Andrew Walker is one cute guy and I personally feel he should be in all Christmas movies from now on!!!

And I saved the best for last.

20) Holiday in Handcuffs - My absolute favourite Christmas movie of all time!  It stars Melissa Joan Hart  (she is so quirky in this and I love her) and Mario Lopez (he is cute too). Melissa Joan Hart plays Trudy, a girl who can't do anything right, especially where her parents are concerned. She tells them she is bringing her boyfriend to Christmas, but he breaks up with her just before they are set to leave. She is desperate and resorts to desperate measures by kidnapping a customer to pose as her boyfriend. Hilarity ensues as Trudy tries to impress her parents, but they seem to ignore her and give her "boyfriend" more attention. Markie Post (she has been in a few holiday movies too) is really good as Trudy's mom and is funny when she chides her by saying "Gertrude Marie". I laugh at that every time. Poor Trudy can't win in her parents' eyes, however her captive starts to see her in a different light.  Does poor Trudy ever find love and acceptance by her parents?  You will have to watch this one to find out.  It is well worth it and remains my all-time favourite. 

Well, that is the gospel according to me, Rosie.

I hope you watch some of these movies over the holidays. They are worth it. Yes, they are schmaltzy and follow standard formulas, but the goods ones will make you laugh and maybe even cry a little and at the very end, hopefully will make you smile.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Rosie

Rosie's Fish Tacos

I made another great meal last night using my Blackened Fish/Chicken rub recipe you will find under my "Summer Salad" blog. It is so simple to make this rub and use it on fish (or chicken).

Here is the rub recipe again.

Blackened Fish/Chicken Rub

=====================

1 1/2 tsp. paprika

1 tsp. dried oregano

3/4 tsp. garlic powder (not garlic salt)

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper (I use about 1/8 tsp.)

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. freshly cracked pepper

Combine all and rub onto fish or chicken. Brown in olive oil in a hot skillet. Use in your favourite recipe.

To make the fish tacos I made last night, I tripled the recipe as I had a lot of different fish in my freezer. (Yes, I am still cleaning out my freezer and using up what is in there.)

Rosie's Fish Tacos

***********************

8 small pieces of fish (I had Tilapia, Mahi Mahi and Sole in my freezer) - thawed

Tortilla shells

Coleslaw mix

Coleslaw dressing

Pumpkin seeds

Lime wedges

Make the rub above and rub onto the thawed fish fillets. Brown the fish in a skillet on med-high heat until cooked. This shouldn't take longer than 10 minutes or so, depending on how thick your fish is. Just make sure it is flaky and cooked all the way through.

While the fish is cooking, make the coleslaw. I used Kraft Coleslaw dressing and packaged coleslaw cabbage mix. Just add some dressing to the coleslaw mix and throw in some shelled pumpkin seeds (or any other seed like sunflower), and toss.

Now it is time to assemble the tacos.

Plate.

Taco shell.

Add fish.

Squeeze a lot of lime juice onto fish.

Add coleslaw.

Voila!  It is equally as good with soft tortilla shells as well. I bought the Old El Paso package that has both kinds in it and saved the seasonings for another time.

Simple n'est pas? You could add a salad but we weren't that hungry. This is perfect for a light midweek meal.

Enjoy,

Rosie