Winter ain't got nothing on my garden

I don't know if you've heard about this past weekend's unusual October snow storm that caught a good chunk of the East Coast in its fury. In Philly, it's almost unheard of to get snowfall this early in the season, which probably means we're in for a doozy this winter.

Fortunately, I was prepared. I took in the delicate plants that I wanted to save this winter. It's not too many--just some sage, rosemary and a truly beautiful groundcover. I also moved a little surprise plant indoors.

Apparently, my basil was thriiiiving earlier this year, and seeded a little plant in with my blueberry bush. The berries lived underneath the basil all summer, so it's not surprising that a basil baby--who will be evermore known as Mini B--ended up there.

So when I first heard that a frost was coming for us like a bat out of you know where, I dug up Mini B and give him a new home. And then I loved him, and watered him, and made him as happy as could be.

And it seems that so far, he's happy in new home on my windowsill. I'll let you know how he grows.

Ikea Hack: Lack table

The finished product

I mentioned earlier about my design dilemma--curtains that couldn't close, thanks to a new furniture arrangement. My plan was to repurpose an old piece of furniture as a console table behind one of the couches. I was just waiting for the legs I ordered to be delivered.

Well, they're in, and I couldn't be happier!

These are the 14" gams I bought. They're sleek, strong, and absolutely eye catching. When they're all lined up, I half expect them to launch into a can-can.

Attaching them couldn't have been easier. I lined them up, drilled pilot holes, and screwed them into place. I actually got extremely lucky. I didn't even think to measure the corners to see if the supportive hardware would have enough space. It did, but by millimeters. 

My next issue was to address the hole on the top of the console. I didn't take a picture of it at that point, but you can see how the Lack table is designed--with a big opening in the center. You can get an idea of what I was working with here:

I knew I wanted to have a piece of wood cut down to fit, and I knew that I would support it with L-brackets. But how I wanted the finish, I wasn't sure. I didn't see any stain that wow-ed me at the big box home improvement store. I was going to settle with a cherry color that I figured would give a decent contrast. I wasn't 100 percent, but I could live with the choice. And if I couldn't do that, well, there's always sand paper. 

Then I came across a section of funky craft paints and glazes from Martha Stewart. I saw the dark and shimmery Black Coffee glaze, and fell in love. It almost has the look of a silvered teak wood, but with lots of shimmer. I was hooked just by looking at the sample.

I took it home and got to work on the piece of pine I had cut down. I used an old sponge brush, and painted a single coat. I let it dry, and the put it into place.

Before

After

The contrast is my favorite part. The Ikea particle board is very smooth and sleek. But the wood insert is rustic, but extremely glam. It's like your back woods cousin grew up and became the prettiest girl in town--that's what the wood is channeling. I absolutely love it.

Anyway, I placed the wood onto the L-brackets (which I anchored 1.25" from the opening), and then screwed the wood in place from the underside. Then I slid the finished piece behind the couch.
It's exactly the right height, and the blinds close fully.

Closed blinds! Hooray!

I'm writing this off as success!

Here's my cost breakdown:

Lack console table: free (from my basement)

hairpin legs: $56

sponge brush: free (already owned)

glaze: $5.99

L brackets: free (already owned)

Meet Sawyer!

This is our new pup, Sawyer! We just adopted him from the Camden County Animal Shelter. He's a mix--probably of golden retriever and beagle, but we're not entirely sure. The only thing I can say for sure is that he's an absolute dream.

Sawyer and I are off playing, but I'll update you when I can pull myself away from his gorgeous face.

Easy adult women's Halloween costume

It shouldn't be a surprise that once in a while, I cut a few corners. But c'mon, I can't be 100 percent all the time. Who am I? Martha?

Last year, I was pulled between school, life and making a Halloween costume. Guess which of those lost out. I still pulled something together--something that I think was pretty darn good. 

Here was my inspiration:

You remember her, right? She's Rosie the Riveter--the face of feminism and patriotism from World War II. I loved reading about her when I was in history class, and I figured there wasn't much that could be improved on. The girl is strong, sexy, smart and historically relevant. Plus, great conversation starter. What's not to love?

Here's my version:

If you're going to try Rosie for yourself, it's as simple as a jeans, a blue collared shirt and a red bandana. I already owned all three, so it was free. I also found that I felt prettier with earrings, so those went in. Sure, Rosie didn't have the time or money to accessorize, but I indulged.

Hope it helps!

Tuesday tip day: Let's get saucy

Here are some simple tips for the next time you make sauces:

Vinaigrettes--Just put 'em in a jar, screw the lid on, and shake, baby, shake. It saves you the clean up time on a bowl and whisk.

Pesto--If you're making and storing your own, add a dash of EVOO on top. It'll prevent any air from getting in and ruining your hard (and very yummy) work.

Tomato sauce--Crack open the can opener on this one. A can of whole, peeled tomatoes will make the best sauce you've ever had. Just cut the fruit down to quarters, heat and serve. This will save you money, time and glass jars. Besides, when someone asks you what brand you use, you can scoff like the hipster you've always wanted to be.

Freezing sauce--Do it in a bag. That way you can cut the bag off later and pop it in a large pot with some water to reheat. Nothing could be easier.

Salsa--Try making a fruit salsa next time, and not just with lime or pineapple. C'mon, you know if it's on the condiment bar at every Qdoba between here and Montreal, it's not anything special. Consider papaya, persimmons, orange, cherries or grapefruit.

Olive oil--You probably already know this, but keep it in a cool, dark place. Otherwise, you might find yourself with rancid EVOO. You can even keep it in the fridge, in which case it'll turn into a solid. Butter substitute anyone?

Recipe: Broccoli and sun-dried tomato personal souffles

The pre-husband and I have been staying away from meat lately, which always makes for a yummy cooking challenge. But by Sunday dinner, I was running out of creativity, so I had to turn to my cookbook collection. I grabbed my latest purchase: The Cook's Illustrated. It's a monolithic tome that has at least one recipe for pretty much everything you could dream up. Not surprisingly, its egg section is enough to keep a hen house busy for a while. There are quiches, frittatas, breakfast stratas--basically anything you can think of that includes an egg is here.

And while I wasn't feeling creative, I also wasn't feeling super energetic. I wasn't about to make a crust, so quiche was out. And I didn't have an oven-safe, non-stick skillet, so frittatas weren't going to happen--at least not in the traditional sense. So I adapted. I took a recipe for a broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and fontina frittata and made it work with what I had. That meant switching out the skillet and making individual souffles in small ramekins. The results: mighty darn fine. In fact, it's safe to say that I'll be making this again at some point. 

This recipe serves six to eight, but I cut it back to make two. You can easily do the same.

Frittata with broccoli, sun-dried tomatoes and fontina

Ingredients:

12 eggs

3 T milk (I used skim, but the original recipe calls for half-and-half. The texture was fine in my book.)

3/4 t salt

1/4 t pepper

2 t EVOO

8 oz broccoli (recipe calls for rabe, but I used small pieces of actual broccoli.)

1 clove garlic

1/8 t red pepper flakes

3 oz fontina cheese

1/4 c sun-dried tomatoes

Directions:

1.) Adjust the oven rack a few inches from the broiler, and turn it on. Whisk eggs, half-and-half, 1/2 teaspoons salt and pepper in medium bowl until mixed.

2.) Heat oil in a skillet and add broccoli. Season with salt, and cook about eight minutes. Add garlic and pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds. Set aside to cool for about a minute. Stir cheese and tomatoes into eggs and combine. Add broccoli, garlic and pepper to the eggs, and stir. Pour into greased ramekins.

3.) Broil until eggs have risen and browned, about four to five minutes. Mixture will still be runny. Let ramekins sit untouched for five minutes, or until firm. I finished them off with 30 seconds in the microwave, but you may not need this. 

4.) Serve and savor!

Decorating dilemma turns to furniture building

We have a living room conundrum. Our condo is a beautiful space that has these one or two strange little quirks. For example: the structural box that cuts into the corner by the window. I have no idea what it's there for--support beams, maybe? But we have a little beam that sticks out in nearly every corner of the house. 

You can see it a little more clearly in this photo. (Even if you can't see the light. There is a glass shade on that, I swear.):

 For the most part, it hasn't been an issue. We've just placed our furniture around the beams and have lived with it. But a few weeks ago, I rearranged the couches, so that one is in the middle of the living room, and one is along an exterior wall. (See top photo for visualization.)

The new layout meant that the couch had to sit out about six inches from the wall and window. At the end of the day, it's not a big deal. It even kind of makes things roomy. But we do have difficulty closing the blinds now. They knock into the couch if they're turned the wrong way.

See what I mean? Not a good look.

So, I've taken to the basement for a solution. I figured that if I could put a piece of furniture, like a long accent table, behind the couch, it would create enough space to clear the bump out. I knew I had an old Ikea TV console sitting downstairs, so placed it to see if it would work.

The result, I think, is pretty perfect. When it's turned on its side (and the legs are ripped off), it's exactly the right width.

It gives just the right amount of clearance for the blinds to close!

Before I gloss over this, I should mention that I did have to do a little construction on this guy. I had to remove the legs and four bolts that were attached from the inside. It was easy enough--the legs were made from cheap particle board (thank you, Ikea), so they cracked in half with enough tightening. And the bolts simply needed me to take the bottom off. It was as easy as one, two, unscrew. 

The next steps are to put a top on it, and screw in some legs. Speaking of the legs, I've long lusted after these hairpin legs. But I never splurged on them because I didn't love the price. I really was hoping to keep costs down as much as possible, and $14 per leg felt like a lot. That is, until I looked around. Apparently every other site sells metal legs for much, much more. As in at least double the price. The way I see it, it's the market telling me to buy what I've always had my eye on. I'm listening, market! I'm listening!

So until the legs arrive, which should take two to seven business days, I'm living in limbo. I'll let you know how it goes once I make some more progress.

Here's what I've done so far:

Clean up old Lack TV console: free

Tear off legs and remove screws: free

Order hairpin legs: $56

How to: The 15-minute wreath

You will hear people say that to make a wreath, you really need floral wire. Or, that the best base is formed out of some old wire hangers. And, while I love the upcycling mentality of giving hangers a new life, I disagree. The best way to make a wreath is to buy one--at least one that's partial made.

I admire the folks who channel their inner Martha and go DIY from the gate. But I'm a little more Sandra Lee (in regards to being Semi-Homemade--not being NY's First Girlfriend). So I opted for one of these pre-formed bases made from grapevines. And at A.C. Moore, it was under $4.

I also picked up some leaves and little red flower buds--all of which were waaaay marked down. (Side note: Fall decor is on sale at A.C. Moore. Why, I don't know, because it's still very much fall. But I won't complain!) Total cost for the flora: $3.

I laid out a general design to see where I wanted things, and then I got to glue-ing. This, I think, is the most crucial time saving element. I've seen lots of people who use wire to wrap things in place. But hot glue is the way to go. You'll save so much time that you could make another three wreaths before you wire in your first leaf. In all, this took me about 15 minutes to make.

Once everything was in place, it dried almost instantly, and was ready for hanging.

Aw, isn't my door cute?

Here's my cost breakdown:
14-inch grapevine wreath: $3.99
Mini mums: $1
Maple leaves, 2 sprays: $2
Hot glue gun and glue: free (already owned)

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By the way, we're making a little change at GKH. In the next few days, we're moving exclusively to GardenKitchenHome.com. It's an exciting change, but a scary one, too! Feel free to update your subscriptions now with the new address.

West Philly Tool Library, here I come

I can't believe I haven't heard of this until right now, but there's a place in town where you can get everything you need. It lives a few blocks off of Baltimore Ave. and answers to the name of West Philly Tool Library.

If you aren't familiar with a tool library, it's exactly like the book version, but for saws, and specialty hammers and drills. For as low as $20, you can have your way with all of the organization's tools for an entire year. Rates are based on your income, and they cap out at $50/year--so it's incredibly cost effective. And, if you'd like a lifetime membership, it's a paltry $200. Plus, if you sign up for an until-death-do-you-part membership, you'll get to feel good about putting some upfront cash in this group's hands. (Which they'll use to buy more tools. Score!)

Hours are Monday through Thursday 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

You know I'm going asap to get my membership.

Halloween Pinterest inspiration

I--like so many of you--get my inspiration from Pinterest. And when it comes to Halloween decorating, my muse is no different. There are some amazing crafters out there, with some outstanding ideas. Here's a round up of some of my favorite projects, links included. If I get a little time this week, I'm going to try at least one of them. You should, too!

Tuesday tip day: Veggies

Asparagus--just add water.

Here's a quick run down of some of the best vegetable tips I've heard over the years:

Asparagus--Keep a bunch gorgeous for days after leaving Whole Foods by standing stalks upright in a glass and add enough water to cover the ends. Store in your refrigerator. (Obviously.)

Beets--Coat your cutting board with cooking spray BEFORE chopping. Stains stay away.

Carrots--If they have tops, cut 'em off. In fact, do this for any veggie that still has its greens. Then refrigerate in a plastic bag.

Celery--Store this stuff submerged in water, like asparagus, and you'll have crunchy stalks for a long time. How long? I won't confess how many weeks days I've stored the stuff this way, but let's say I can outlast the zombie apocalypse with this stuff in my fridge.

Garlic--If you've got green roots, the cloves aren't ruined. Just cut 'em out before you get to cooking. I've seen too many good nuggets of flavor tossed away by people who don't know. Consider yourself informed.

Potato (latkes)--Don't try to shred by hand. Your potato shards will end up grey. Go with the food processor. Bonus: Everyone will be impressed with the even consistency.

Zucchini--Salt. Anytime I cook this--and that's often--I cut it and salt it. That way the excess moisture is pulled out and you have tasty, firm veggies.

Halloween printable

I've been doing some Halloween decorating, and things have gotten a bit crafty. I decided to spook things up a little with a pair of love birds ravens and a sweet message. Then I popped it into a frame, and tossed some seasonal goodies around to really feel like fall. 

And cuz I like you guys so much, I'm sharing. Click on the image below, drag it to your desktop, and hit print. It's sized for a full sheet of paper, so you shouldn't have to mess with any presets.

Enjoy!

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In a couple of days, we'll be moving exclusively to GardenKitchenHome.com (minus the blogspot). I'm excited about the change, but nervous, too! I'd hate to lose all my readers! The new site is live now, so feel free to update your subscriptions now, before the site automatically redirects you.

Mushroom bread pudding from the gods

On Monday I had some future in-laws over for dinner, and all in all, things went well. So much so that my fiancee was told to not let me go. That's as good a compliment as I could ask for, so I'll take it my guests were happy and full.

That said, not everything went off without a hitch. Remember the other day when I hinted that I'd be serving something apple related? I didn't want to make a pie--the dinner party was in honor of a birthday, so there was cake. So I hunted down a recipe for a side dish. I thought this one for roasted apples and onions sounded interesting. And it was... interesting... Way, way, way too much thyme for my liking (or anyone else at the table, either). We haven't even touched the leftovers. And there are plenty left over.

Fortunately, I served my never-miss mushroom bread pudding. This is one of those dishes I pull out every time I have to host. It is simply the best thing I've ever cooked. I even look the other way on calories on this bad boy. If you try anything I ever write about, make this it.

4 c challah, cubed

1 1/2 lbs mushrooms 

1/4 medium-sized onion, diced

2 T unsalted butter

1/2 c finely chopped mix of fresh flat-leaf parsley and rosemary

2 large garlic cloves, diced

2 c half-and-half

4 large eggs

1/2 c grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast bread cubes for about 10 minutes. Don't skip this step, it's crucial for the right texture.

While toasting the bread, cut mushrooms. I like mine quartered, because I love the texture of mushrooms. But I know not everyone rolls the way I do, so slice 'em if you want.

Cook onion in butter until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until liquid mushrooms give off has evaporated, about 15 minutes. Add herbs and garlic and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Whisk together half-and-half, eggs, cheese, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl. Stir in mushrooms and bread cubes until coated well and let stand 10 minutes for bread to absorb some of egg mixture.

Meanwhile, butter baking dish. Spoon mixture into dish and bake until firm to the touch, 30 to 35 minutes. You might need to tent some foil over this to prevent burning. If you do, remember that there are four eggs in here, so it's gonna rise. A lot. Make sure you really give some height to your foil.

Devour.

Mmm, focaccia

To grandmother's house we went, and before we left, I turned to the bread maker. This time, I decided to jazz up my usual loaf of rosemary bread. I was craving something with crunch, and a bit of bite. So I made focaccia.

This was my favorite so far, but I'll make a couple of changes in the future. The original recipe called for sea salt, but frankly, it was way, way too much of a crunch. I thought I broke a tooth on the first bite. We don't need mini panic attacks over bread.

Here's the slightly altered recipe, originally from Cuisinart:

For bread:

3/4 cup water

1 1/2 T EVOO

1 1/2 t Italian herb blend 

1 t salt

2 1/8 cups flour

1 t yeast

For topping:

2 T EVOO

1/4 t salt (opt for salt flakes, or grind sea salt in mortar and pestle)

1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan

3 T chopped fresh herbs (I used basil, oregano and rosemary)

Oh, I love Parmesan!

If you're using a bread maker, put the bread ingredients, in order, into the baking pan. Set for a 1-pound dough. If you're sans bread maker, heat the water to 80-90 degrees and mix in yeast. Let stand for 10 minutes to activate. Mix dry ingredients in a bowl, and add water and yeast. Mix and knead. Let the dough rise for half an hour. Punch to deflate and let rest for another 10 minutes.

Preheat ven to 450 F. 

Line a pan with aluminum foil and spray with oil. Place dough in the center, in desired shape. I like mine free form, so that's what I did:

Press oiled fingertips into the dough about an inch apart. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, cheese and herbs. To make sure it's eye-bulgingly beautiful, save the herbs for the very top.  Bake 10-15 minutes, depending on your oven.

Serve and savor!

Fall decorating mania

I've been getting a little crafty lately. My latest venture has brought the best of fall indoors: raffia, pinecones, gourds. It's a textural wonderland. And to sweeten the pot a little, I even got cinnamon-scented pinecones, so the senses are totally engaged. Heck, I even use apples, so if you wanna get taste involved, believe me, you could.

You know I did this on the cheap. I picked up some raffia, which set me back $2, and a big ol' bag of pinecones ($5). Then I got to work. And by work, I mean I just put it all in a glass container:

See? I so was not kidding. 

And now this cute little autumnal celebration lives on my living room table. Word!

I really worked those $5 pinecones. I placed 'em all around the apartment, including on a burlwood tray:

And yep, those are more by the pumpkin.

Just about the only place we don't have them is the dining room table. (Cinnamon is great in my coffee, but when I'm eating my mushroom bread pudding? Not so much.) Here, I've got a bunch of different gourds, mixed with some apples. And they're all living in harmony on a tray I picked up in Nicaragua.

Loving the fall decor!

My clothes get a new home

Today was the day that I finally went through my seasonal clothes, and made the shift from summer to winter and fall. That also makes today the day that I donate last year's Chanel. (Ha!)

I've been pretty good lately with making sure my gently used, and oh-so-stylish goods have homes, so I've only got one bag to take over. It kinda makes me proud, like I'm all grown up now. (Again: Ha!) 

Really though, it is nice to do a little clothing recycling, especially knowing that Philadelphians will be a little warmer because of it.

Affordable placemats

Ooooh, baby, have I found a bargain. (And you know how I feel about a good purchase.)

Once upon a time I had these gorgeous placemats on my wedding registry. I picked them because they fit any decor, and with my design ADD, that's clutch. Plus, look at that texture. Mmm, it sings sweet nothings to me like Al Green. And you'd better believe I was OK with having other people buy me a full set of eight. For those without calculators, that'd make a grand total of $103, before tax.

But then I sauntered into Pier 1. I took my time there. I moseyed over through the furniture first. Then I made my way through the wall art. And yep, I even stopped by the ceramics. But when I finally got around to the linens, I found a knock off version of those $13 placemats. Their sticker price was around $4 a pop, but then they were marked down to 25 percent off. Oh, uh-huh. That means that I got the whole set for less than $30. (Side note: I'm not sure why they were discounted when I went, because they're still at the full $4 online.)

So yea, I'm now the happy owner of my placemats. And my wedding registry is a little lighter, which is a good thing really. Now guests can spend the money on things I truly need--like random kitchen accessories.

An apple a day

When I was a kid, apples were my absolute favorite thing to eat. I'd take them whole, in sauce, topped with peanut butter, or--if I was really lucky--peeled, cored and sliced. I'm not sure if my mom picked up a peeler because of me, or just because they're kitschy, but I could definitely use one for Monday night. I'm having guests for dinner, and I think there's gonna be a little taste of my childhood on the menu.

I'm sure there will be pictures and recipes to follow.

Wintering an amaryllis

I think fall sent an RSVP card to my amaryllis plant. That girl had been in my window since December, doing its thing, not needing hardly any love at all. And then, poof! Almost overnight, the leaves went from perky and green to the kind of brown that makes you think of decay and marshes. So, I took the hint, and started wintering my bulb. If you're not a gardener, that's not a kinky entry on Urban Dictionary. It just means that you force the bulb into a temporary hibernation, so that in about two months it can begin the growing cycle again.

That's my naked amaryllis bulb. Looks like a spider, huh?

Personally, I thought it was a little early, but who am I to argue with Mother Nature. Although, after thinking about it, I suppose eight weeks will put me at the end of November, so that's just about right.

Last year was my first go-round with an amaryllis, so I've never done the second-year growth. I guess we'll see how it goes. From my research, the keys seem to be cool, dark, dry and away from apples (which can neuter the bulbs). And I have just the spot--a temperature-controlled drawer in my 'fridge.

Can't wait for November to put the girl back underground! It's a long wait, but I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it'll work out.