Quilty 365 - January, etc.

Hello! I'm back, I've had severe migraines for the past two weeks, it slows me downs. Bummer.
excuses, excuses...
Here are my Dots for January.

For Audrey's Quilty 365 sewalong. Audrey's post and link up to see everyone else's Circles: click HERE
This month I made sure I was ready for her 1st of the month Linky. [
It took me two sewing days to catch up this time.
The final days aren't sewed in this photo. I try not to work ahead, and will leave these pinned in case my actual days' experiences demand different dots.

I've been enjoying collecting script , text, punctuation, and journal fabric for the backing squares. They reference that this is indeed a diary.

I still write every day in my little go-with book. "Chores, sewing, walked Mo. Errands. Tedious. Lonely." Hahaha. No one is going to cherish this account 200 years from now.
This is  my little box I keep my blocks in. I guess I need another or bigger box.

Here are all my blocks so far. If I counted right I have done 87 Dots. Feb 1st will be Day 88.

I have been focusing on Pokeberry too. It started out well, but I feel bogged down now by all the many more hand appliques and embroideries that are still to be done after seams are sewed. It's much harder to sew out in the center of a large background. And I hate to embroider, loathe it.

Here are my indoor flower bulbs at almost 3 weeks.

I think they're wonderful! Quite a show this year!

So much beauty and joy and springtime happiness with so little effort. Just the remembering to pick up the paperwhite bulbs in the fall, when I buy my mums and pumpkins.

If all goes as planned my thrifting friend will visit me this weekend. We may go to the indoor flea. Wish us happy hunting.

What are you up to, staying in or getting out?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

Our bench!

a finer diary quote:

 "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year."

R W Emerson

Digging Out and Using Leftovers

Hi! Enough with the snow! I'm ready for summer, aren't you too? We are more or less dug out; Mo and I had a long walk this afternoon. Mo was so happy, as I tippy toed behind him, ski pole in hand for icy spots.

My friend dug out a small space on my deck so at least I can open the door. I put out a wee wee pad for Mo but the snow is so high he can climb up on it and jump over the railing, long fall to the ground, as my house is raised for storm protection. So leash visits only!

The flood waters came all the way up to the high dunes, but no chance of breaching them. See the dark line?

The waves hit ocean-facing side of these large old dunes, which also stood through H Sandy and protect my house and neighborhood.

This is a familiar sight for you all, our favorite little passageway to the beach. This is as far as Mo and I could walk today.

We went pretty far!

All that pent up puppy energy!

Mo is content and tired out.

*****
Now what about the food supplies?"She bought all that food for Armageddon and now what?"

I gave half of the lasagna to my friends who dug out my deck and car, and then froze the rest. The dozen hard boiled eggs are being offered as high protein snacks. The large roast beef is still in use.* I mentioned soup and sandwiches as one meal; another favorite is roast beef salad: think ham salad. Minced roast beef with chopped onion and dill pickle, add cheese, either cheddar shreds or we like gorgonzola or goat cheese crumbles.Salt and pepper. Mix with mayo. We like it on a bed of lettuce, especially arugula, with whatever fixings are in the veggie bin. Maybe hot biscuits to go with?

Tonight I will make one of my fave leftover meals using the roast beef. Now please remember, these are old fashioned make do comfort meals! They aren't for diets or cleanses, they are warm and filling for folks who have been skiing or snow shovelling or tromping in the drifts with the doggy.

Beef Stroganoff

In a heavy skillet or dutch oven saute a sweet onion [half moon chop] and a box of well-washed button mushrooms. If the mushrooms are large, quarter for bite sized pieces. Saute until the onion is translucent and the 'rooms are a little bit brown.

Add your leftover gravy, some wine from that bottle in the fridge [1/2 C.?], and about 1 1/2 C. of milk or cream. 

If you planned ahead and bought a McCormick's Stroganoff seasoning pack you can add that now. Either way I like to add unusual spices so this tastes a bit different from just beef in gravy. I use dill, caraway, sage, black pepper, sweet paprika, lemon pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Very fragrant! Bring to low simmer.

Add the leftover beef, portions as desired. Maybe 1/2 C per person? Cut the beef in 1/4" slices then recut in long julienned slivers 1/4" x 1/4" x 2 1/2" . Simmer til everything is piping hot!

[if you never make gravy, use a jar of store-bought beef gravy]

Serve on a bed of curly noodles with lots of steamed greens on the side. Here we have brussel sprouts. I also made broccolini for those who do not eat noodles. 

For the noodles, I like No Yolks, wide Dutch noodles. Papardelli is nice too, though very eggy.

Finish with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of dill for pretty.

Enjoy.

PS *The side dish for the roast on its first night was roasted diced sweet potatoes and sweet onions. Simple and really good. here

How is everyone doing!? Did the snow miss you? Aren't you so glad!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

exactly two weeks: my paper whites are blooming!

Snow Update

edit: ''Snow totals are predicted to be between 30-36 inches in southwestern Nassau,''

Hi! Are you all keeping warm and comfy? We're doing great here so far, so this is just a little update.

Mo and I went for our walk!

This is not what I'd call a blizzard, but it's a lot of snow.

Making soup now, here's a quick recipe for you all. It is not exact amounts, use what you have.

TJ's frozen leeks, far left, in my freezer

Cream Of Leek Soup.

-approx 2 Cups of mashed potatoes. [you can use leftovers or boxed, or peel and boil 2 or 3 large white potatoes and mash them well with a fork.]

-3 or four large well washed leeks or 3 or 4 bunches of scallions. About 1 C. Cut into small slices.

-In your large stockpot or dutch oven, saute the leeks in 2 T of butter. [NOT oil].

[I'm going to use a premade bag from Trader Joe's, frozen, thawed.] Cook gently until translucent and soft but do not brown or or overcook.

-If you have carrots, dice one carrots, small dice, and add to the saute. This is just for color.

-Add approx 3 cups of chicken broth. Add the mashed potatoes. Stir until mixed and bring to a gentle simmer.

-Add salt and black pepper to taste. 

-Add about 3 cups of milk, I use skim, but if you like a richer soup you can use whole milk or even fat free half and half cream. I like to blend everything at this point with a hand mixer. Or an immersion blender. But you don't have to. 

At this point if the soup is too thick, add more chicken broth or water to make the consistency you like.

-Simmer gently for 1/2 hour. Be careful, because milk scorches easily. 

-Serve with a few garlicky croutons on top.

Very good with leftover roast beef & horseradish sandwiches, on pumpernickel bread.

If you'd like chowder, you can add a bag of corn at this point; asparagus spears, cut in 2" sticks is also nice.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.............

last winter

so cool. From Pinterest .