More on the quilt below, but first…
Last night the Chief insisted that I take a picture of our supper.
He's also started to channel Top Chef. “Tell us, Chef, what you have prepared for the puppy today?” Sometimes he says that twice in one day.
So far, I still think it's funny and enjoy answering, in a French accent, “Ze keeble wis ze colt watehr on ze side…”
I feel like I only post about my leftovers dinners…I really can make a very fancy gourmet meal, but somehow it's the meat pies that I get pictures of.
So, you know how you are so tempted by the fast food in the grocery store? The rotisserie chicken, the big pizzas, and so on? One day I noticed my kids attracted to a meat pie near the chicken case, and, looking at the ingredients, I thought, this is a no-brainer.
Pizza dough. You need a bottom crust and a top crust. Oil the dish.
Ground meat, as embellished as you would like. The filling of choice: a combo of beef and sausage with onions and peppers, sprinkled with cheddar cheese. Just perfect after midnight Mass at Easter or Christmas.
Last night's (and they loved it!): lamb (for some reason my market had “lamb patties”, which were really just two barely differentiated blobs of ground lamb squished together, certainly not anything with a shape that you would cook as is, on sale — I grabbed all the packages and froze), chopped onion, celery, carrot, and parsnip (just one, it tends to be strong), golden raisins, cumin, coriander, salt, and mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Too late I realized I should have put the few little pine nuts I have lurking in my cabinet in there too. Next time.
Bake at 400* for 40 minutes and let it rest just a little.
The soup, which I freely admit is a radically unappetizing color, is the leftover brussels sprouts and chestnut dish from Thanksgiving which got just a tad overcooked. I added broth and cream and whipped out the trusty hand blender…
“Chef, the presentation would get you no points at all, but it's not bad tasting.”
And that was our late supper, after dance class. I'm only telling you because he said to.
Quilt.
A friend adopted three children at once from Ethiopia, a couple of years ago, and Sukie and I suddenly got an urge to make them quilts. They are simple whole cloth quilts, flannel on one side, cotton on the other, with satin bindings, but they are hand quilted.
Now another friend is adopting a baby, and I got to work, since now, apparently, this is a tradition!
I am not a fan of the Wright's baby blanket satin binding. It's expensive and not very soft, I think… but I have searched high and low for a substitute without success. I though of just getting satin ribbon…
I found this online. It comes in 50 yard spools, so every blanket and every present from now on and forever is going to be embellished with this ribbon!
Problem: I ordered 2 1/4″ and they sent 3″. However, since it's somewhat see-through (as is the Wright's), it might be Providential, as Bridget says, in that I can double it over before folding it, making it more opaque.
It goes pretty quickly, because I use this large stitch (with upholstery thread) — it's about 1/4″ long. I like it and it's fast.
Anonymous says
I'm so glad the Chief 'told you to' and that you so faithfully obeyed. He knows what us girls like to see… Inspiring and delicious. Thank you. The quilts are beautiful and that ribbon mmmm yum. Linda
Sophie says
Hand quilting….I am awed. How long does it take you, on average, to quilt one of the quilts? How big are they?
Sharon says
I just had to leave a comment. I found your blog today. I wish I could tell you how, but to be honest I've read so much on here today my brain is a little mushy! I read your entire Food Organization series and I can't wait to read Discipline! Your photos for Advent are fantastic as are the posts about it that I've read. Now that I think about it that is probably how I ended up here! Anyway, all that just to say thank you. What a fantastic source. You are going on my reader and you'll be a frequent stop of mine!
Pippajo says
I have lots more I want to say (of course), but it is late and I am tired so for now I will just leave it at this:Tomorrow, I am off to hunt down an Advent wreath or the makings of thereof.Wow, I'm not sure that made sense.I also love that Bridget says, "Providential". I use it all the time, too! Isn't that a Mrs. Rachel Lynde-ism?
Leila says
Linda: thanks!Sophie: This is the very easiest kind of quilt — no patchwork! It doesn't take long. It's for a baby, and I keep 2 yd. lengths of fabric handy, so after the true-up, it's a little less than 2 yds by the width of the fabric, about 44".The hand quilting isn't such a big deal 🙂 It gives me something to do during waits and TV time, and this is the laziest of quilting jobs, with HUGE stitches. I just need to get a quilt in this new mom's hands for her little one! I wish quilting weren't so slow, overall…But the truth is, the actual quilting is the reward in making a quilt! It's so soothing and rewarding… the quilt gets all crunchy and ceases its formless floppiness. I really encourage you to have some sort of hand craft ready to go, whether knitting, crocheting, embroidering, or what have you. If it's making a quilt, it has the added advantage of keeping your legs warm as you work ;)I blogged about it here: <a href="http://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/2009/03/go-ahead-and-make-something-beautiful.htmlhttp://ourmothersdaughters.blogspot.com/2009/03/g… />Sharon: Thanks! I'm so happy you came!Pippajo: I wish you every success in getting your wreath 🙂 And yes, Miss Bridget is steeped in the language of the Race that knows Joseph…as are all the LMLD girls! She told me the other night that she had to stop reading Montgomery at bedtime because her head was getting too full of flowery phrases, and she turned to James Herriot.
Sophie says
Yes, I used to always have a knitting project (usually a baby hat) in my bag. Due to wrist problems, I can't knit anymore, so I've switched to sewing. But I find it's much harder to find small sewing projects, especially because I can't hand sew for too long before it causes pain. Perhaps I'll try a quilt some day….
Deirdre says
Ahhhh meat pies. I LOVE your meat pies. Also those quilts. Especially the big-girl one. I also love that Bridget was concerned about adopting Montgomery floweriness. If I had been that discerning at her age, I'm sure my journal would have been less absurd.
Anne R Triolo says
Hahaha, bridget! I love it!
Petula says
I think I've made something similar to meat pie, but with a Bisquick crust. I'm going to have to try something similar to what you said. It did look good and I know my children will love it.The colors you chose for the quilts are VERY nice. They're going to be beautiful. Wow, I don't think I've ever known so many people who have adopted and what wonderful gifts you're giving them.
Barb says
I tried the pizza dough idea for the meat pie and the kids loved it! I baked mine at 350 for 45 minutes, but next time I'll try the higher temperature. I put mushrooms in with the pork and gravy, and generally no one noticed.I love how the words can sink into one's unconscious and come out in one's writing. Sometimes it's great, and sometimes I feel like a hack…
Camille says
My hand craft of choice is knitting, but have you ever knit an blanket? Good-ness they took forever! We are in the baby phase of life (everyone we know is having them) and the quilts are just precious! I may have to give them a whirl!