Friday, September 3, 2010

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

CutOut+Keep Project: Quilled Card

Another project up on CutOut+Keep, I used the paper quilling technique to make this wonderful card! Even though it's not a walk-through, you should still check it out!

Quilled Card

Monday, August 30, 2010

Impromtu weekday trip: Stone Mountain

As has happened several times before, we got in the car and drove. No particular destination, just a map (or if we're lucky, iPhone with signal). Last week we ended up @ Stone Mountain Park, just outside of Atlanta, GA.

Pictures were taken with an iPhone using the Hipstamatic app

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Quiche (hmmmmmm.....)

I've always been a fan of quiche, and am endlessly peeved that it's a super-expensive dish whenever you can find it in a restaurant. It's also one of those things that you can never make enough of... a 9 inch pie will be dinner for two with no leftovers for breakfast tomorrow! (boooo!)
I have several recipes, but seldom follow them. Instead, I opt for a Alton-Brown-esque formula. It's a great way to vary the recipe, as well as the perfect vessel to use up any leftovers (and you can put in a LOT of leftovers in quiche... I've made one with rice and black beans. It was delicious.)

I've broken down the recipes: first the homemade (easy and cheap) crust, then the 'formula' and finally, the recipe for tonight's dinner.

Quiche crust:
1.5 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 stick butter, chilled and cut into pieces
1 large egg
1 teaspoon cold water

Mix the ingredients using your hands, a fork, a pastry cutter or a food processor, following the biscuit method (flour + salt + sugar; then cut in butter; then add egg + water). If the dough is flaky it's too dry, add a little water. Turn out on a clean surface and knead briefly. Chill for one hour. Roll out and place on a 9 inch pie pan. This crust can be pre-baked, or kept raw until the quiche filling is added.

Quiche "formula":
1 9 inch pie crust (pre-made or from scratch)
1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, pepperjack)
3 eggs
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
Customize:
a vegetable (I often use one 8oz package of frozen spinach, but you can also use broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes... whatever you want), cut into small pieces
a meat (this will probably be a leftover... often found in my fridge: lemon pepper chicken, spicy fajitas, barbecue pork loin, ground turkey for burritos...), cut into small pieces. In case of emergency, grab a couple of slices of deli meat.

Make sure your crust is thawed (if frozen). Heat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, combine all ingredients (yes, very scientific). Pour into the crust, and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce to 325 and bake for 30 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting. Can be eaten hot or cold (if you have the patience).

Tonight's dinner: Spinach-chicken-bacon quiche:
Recipe stated as above. Tonight I used:
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
7 oz of chopped spinach (thawed and drained, left over from making Southwestern Eggrolls)
1/2 cup of diced chicken (also left over from another recipe)
2 tablespoons of cooked bacon (I use store bought) <--- freebie... everything's better with bacon!

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The Diary 2011 Project

I’m participating in this great project called Diary 2011: it's a year-long day planner, each page designed by a different person. My entry this year was inspired by my new Etsy banner and graphic presence. Main colors: white and purple (gray in the planner). Graphics: texture and transparency.

This is my second year participating (also did 2010), but for 2011 I'm excited to say I was able to snag my birthday to design!

The 2011 planner features text in English, Spanish and French, and will be printed on recycled paper. There are still spots available, so get your creative on and design a page!

Check out the 2010 page
Check out the 2011 page

Monday, August 23, 2010

How To Project: Rainbow Button Earrings on CutOut+Keep

From the CutOut+Keep archives!
Use old orphaned buttons or shiny new ones…

Rainbow Button Earrings