I used Julia Child’s recipe and followed it with precision.  I found the recipe here, and I also watched Julia cook her famous dish in a 30 minute tutorial on YouTube.  When you are making the dish, there are two additional recipes within the dish that you must follow.  They are from the same book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  The first recipe is for mushrooms, and the second is for onions.

Here is the menu from the dinner.  I printed each one onto a 5×7″ sheet of paper and placed it on the china.  The typeface is Raleway.

There is one small typographical error here: the salt should be Himalayan

As you can see in the menu, the beans in the salad were sprouted by me.  I will explain the process in my next blog post.

The china I used is made by Noritake and the pattern is Trilby.  The burgundy wine stemware is a gift from my mother, Waterford crystal in the pattern Lismore.  The napkins were hand sewn by me for Thanksgiving 2011.

Seven place settings

The main course a la Julia

As you can see below, the flower I chose was a simple begonia.

Post dinner chat

Between courses

After thinking about it in my bathtub for an hour, I realized I could do the same with food.  Instead of going to the grocery store and picking out an array of things I liked and then coming home with $90 worth of groceries and still feeling like I didn’t have anything to eat, I could plan very precisely what exactly I was going to eat.  There would be the staples, of course: milk, eggs, chicken, apples, and so on.

It seemed challenging.  I, myself, am a wee overweight, so I try to consume around 1350 (net) calories per day.  Christa, on the other hand, is slightly underweight and needs to consume around 2300 (net) calories per day.  This makes shopping for food challenging as we have completely different dietary needs.  A way that I’ve found to cope with this is to limit myself from items that are easy to eat (basically nothing that can be made in less than 5 minutes because I find that I do not respect the food and eat it like it’s going out of style).  Christa needs to snack a lot.  So we get her high calorie snacks and she keeps them in her car.  That way, I’m never tempted to eat them, and she can have them with her at work, as she’s frequently in the car.

Back to grocery shopping: so I knew I needed to plan out the meals.  I’d done this before, but it didn’t work well because sometimes I wasn’t in the mood for whatever I’d planned out.  So, we decided to do something a little more fun, and mix it up.  We planned out five days of food.  Apart from my dinner party on Wednesday, none of the meals are set to one specific day.  When we wake up we pick one ‘theme’ and eat the meals outlined for that day.

Meals

Exotic food day

Breakfast: free
Lunch: microwavable Indian dinners
Dinner: Boeuf bourguignon

Protein Bomb Day

Breakfast: superfood smoothie (with plain greek yogurt; juice made from fruits and green veggies; protein supplement; and fresh fruit)
Lunch: Chicken and broccoli with cheese
Dinner: Fish with egg and salsa; broccoli

Super Healthy Day

Breakfast:  Smoothie with no added supplements or sweeteners
Lunch: Sprouted mung bean salad (check back later in the week when I will share the recipe with you, as well as the process of sprouting mung beans yourself)
Dinner: Kale and fish

Junky Food Day

Breakfast: cereal or biscuits
Lunch: Sandwich, chips
Dinner: Pizza

Raid the Pantry Day

On this day, we raid the pantry only eating food items that are going bad soon and do not fit directly with another planned meal for the week. (This is what we did today)

mmmm, mung beans

Lacking a bit of creativity, I’ve decided to call it The Meal of the Month Club.  I love cooking.  I’d say I’m best known for being broke or lacking the desire to drive or walk to a grocery store and then resorting to whatever odds and ends I have in my pantry.  I also love cooking from a recipe. I’m completely self taught, and I mostly learn by making mistake after agonizing mistake (like the time I made pumpkin pesto gnocchi).

I also greatly enjoy hosting parties–be they impromptu or planned like my annual Hanukkah festivities (where I cook for eight nights for friends).  The sad part about wanting to always feed everyone is that it gets expensive, and sometimes I have to just throw down some buttery pasta instead of something lavish that would moisten the palate of any of my foodie friends.  So that brings me to my plan… Meal of the Month Club.

What is it?  Each month, I will make one grand meal for my friends.  Any of you are invited and encouraged to attend (and bring guests).  Suggestions are welcome, vegan/vegetarian/paleo/etc demands are welcomed.

Up front, yes, there will be a cost.  The cost will be determined by the dish, but I plan for each month to vary from $5-10/person.  There will be no profit made on my part, and the charge will only be to accomodate for food costs not for labor.

Why? As I’ve said, I love cooking.  I love hosting.  I love people coming over and trying my food.  I like cooking with other people (especially my brother who has trained as a chef in a swanky NoCal resort eatery).  I thought this would be a great way to expand upon my cooking styles while allowing my friends to go ‘out to eat’ in their own back yard for much cheaper than the cost of a normal restaurant.

When?  The first dinner will take place this week!  Wednesday, February 15th at 7pm.  Please RSVP in any way that you feel works best (and I will make sure to confirm with you).  There are 6 total spots.  3 are already taken, and obviously 3 spots remaining.  Grab them up while you can!  Cost is $8 per person without alcohol, $10 with wine. Cash, check, or PayPal.

What’s for dinner? For my first recipe I will attempt, and hopefully master the famous Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon.  All ingredients will be organic and as local as I can buy them.

Bon appetit !

The accounts I hear about her from my father, Aunt Virginia (her sister), Aunt Becky (her sister-in-law), and many others are my main sources of information.  All other memories I have of her are from the few relics I own from her past: an old Pyrex bowl, a set of salt and pepper shakers, a few bobby pins I found in an old dresser, buttons from an old sewing kit, a book on screen printing, copies of her drawings, original photographs.  These memories I value most.  I imagine her mixing a batter for my father’s favorite cake in the Pyrex bowl on a Sunday afternoon.  She refills the salt and pepper shakers–a task that is never noticed, but always appreciated.  Long before she was my grandmother, she gets ready to go on a date and pushes a hair pin through her hair; one falls behind the drawer (and is now mine).

On my father’s side of the family, us Green Girls have been born to a large group of males in the generation above us.  Our generation being mostly female longs for an attachment or perhaps a female guide–the loving tenderness our fathers and uncles have not yet mastered.  My Grandmother Vera hangs in our memories through oral tradition, artifacts from her past, and her name that has been passed down for two generations now.

My father, brother, and I went to our family’s restaurant last Sunday.  After visiting with my Aunt Virginia, we went by my grandfather’s now very empty house.  He died there only a few years ago.  After my grandmother died, he married another woman who got rid of many of my grandmother’s possessions.  What was left in the house that belonged to her were the most prized possessions to her granddaughters longing for a connection.  We went into the basement and found a horribly mildewed box.  Inside of it was her sewing machine–the one she had used to make many of her own dresses, sew on Boy Scout patches, and mend items around the house.  Near it was a box of thread and other sewing supplies.  It had been suspended in 1980.  A half made dress and scattered buttons.  My father offered it to me.  I was overjoyed.  Here is what I’ve been doing with it:

The thread box as I found it.

She glued jar tops to the top of a shelf so as to hold small items like buttons, separated by color, chalk, and a Boy Scout badge.

Here it is in my sewing room, all cleaned up and still suspended in time. I feel it sacrilege to put my *own* items in it.

I wish I had taken a "before" photo. This was completely mildewed and molded. The lining was black (and green and white from mold). I peeled it all off with some force. The box was not held together very well, so I had to glue together the dovetailed edges.

A closeup of the dovetailing. It's a beautiful box; it just needed some love.

The box is far from finished.  I need to still sand it, and decide on a finish.  If the wood looks good when it’s sanded, I might try to keep a natural finish.  If not, I’ll probably go with a high shine black finish (one that’s mildew resistant).

So, what goes inside this box?  Behold, the beautiful machine:

I have not plugged this in yet to see the state of the machine. It looks ok. The engine needs to be oiled badly, but what do you expect with 32 years of neglect.

Onto what this post is supposed to be about

The good: the kitchen

The kitchen countertop was flipped over to reveal a much prettier side, we got a pretty tin to store the paper towels, the room was painted a pretty mint color

We had our friend Joe install shelving over the sink area. It made a big difference!

From earlier in my blogging days, this is how the kitchen looked when we first moved in. It's so much nicer now, I think.

The not so good: the den 

We got rid of the old sofa, so all that's left are the dog kennels, a bookshelf, and the TV. I'm not in love with the wall color and the curtains.

I inherited the TV stand from a friend. I don't love that there's little to nothing on the walls.

The ugly: the office (or, rather, what’s supposed to be the office)

Since the holidays, this has been the room I toss things in when I'm not using them. I'm not proud of it, but it needs a real revamping. I'm just waiting for some free time.

And so that’s it.  The good, the not so good, and the ugly.  I hope to soon have at least one of these rooms more updated, fully functional, and absolutely beautiful.

Until then, I’ll just keep paying the bills.

Baking soda is an irreplaceable product in both your pantry and at the vanity.  It has its uses in baking, but it has wonderful applications in beauty for most skin types.  I like to get one that has a top on it.  Baking soda absorbs smells around you, so you do not want to use dirty baking soda on your face

I use it every day as an exfoliant.  Mix baking soda into a basic cleanser (nothing with beads or creamy consistency).  I use Purpose face wash.  It is very simple and does the job.  Use a little scoop of baking soda and a pump of face wash (should be ~ 50/50 mixture).  This should be used VERY gently.  Rub it lightly on your face.  If you try to grind it into your skin, your skin will become irritated and may even scab if you get too vicious with it.  If you have dry skin, this is good for you because it will take away any dry bits on your face.  If you have oily skin, baking soda is very helpful for oil control.  I’ve found that it works better than any pore minimizer.  If you use this every day, you will notice a difference in your pore size and the smoothness of your face.  Avoid using on your eyes.

Tip: If you like to use a medicated face cleanser, after using the Purpose/baking soda mixture use your favorite medicated cleanser and let it sit on your face for a minute before washing away.  You have just dramatically increased the effectiveness of that cleanser!

Baby powder is something I like to keep in all sizes and use for a variety of different beauty needs.  Here are a few:

-Oily hair: if your hair is getting oily by the end of the day or on the second day, sprinkle some baby powder into the spots that are oily.  Rub it in well so your hair doesn’t look gray!

-Sweaty body parts: I like to dab some under my arm pits after deodorant.  If I’m wearing many layers, I like to put some in my underpants to prevent sweating.  It goes well into a bra to keep everything nice and dry.  It can also be used for chafing between your legs.

-Bed: Sprinkle just a little between the sheets and it will give your sheets a luxurious and soft feeling.

-Feet: Powder will absorb some light smells in your shoes.  I like to put it in my flats if I am not wearing tights with them so my feet do not rub against the leather and cause blisters.

Outside packaging

List of products included with their full-size package rates and contents

First product: Avene Cleanacne Soap-Free Facial Gel Cleanser

This is definitely a gel cleanser.  The consistency is similar to a clarifying shampoo.  It was very good at taking makeup off.  Full price size is 6.76oz @ $18.  While it is a good, mild cleanser, I would probably not purchase the full size as I feel like there are other products out there that do the same thing for cheaper.  This product is recommended for acne prone, oily skin.

Mineralogie Ultimate Cream Concealer

This product is described as being made with finely ground minerals and is to be used to hide under-eye circles and blemishes with no cake-age.  I found it to be a rather light concealer with a rich, milky texture.  It covered well, but the tint was slightly gray.  For a full size 3ml the cost is $16.  If I were in the market for a concealer, this would be a contender.

Before and After image of under eye circles after using the Mineralogie concealer

As you can see, there was some help done.  I applied it very lightly.

Thymes Eucalyptus Body Lotion

This is described: skin-saving botanicals and shea butter combine in a luxurious lotion.  I would have to mildly disagree.  The scent is not particularly becoming.  It reminds me of Lever 2000.  The lotion itself does go on well.  But for the full price at $24 for 9.25oz, I think you’d be better sticking to something with a better scent and a better price.

Thymes, Kimono Rose Body Lotion

This was definitely a better scent than the Eucalyptus.  It is definitely not a pure rose scent.  There are many other floral notes.  I like the scent ok.  But again, at the $24 price tag, I must cringe.  For that price, I would much prefer a very high quality rose lotion like this one from Crabtree & Evelyn.

Zoya nail polish in Noel

I was a little taken aback by the color.  It is definitely not me.  But when paired with my peacock bangle it goes quite well.  It’s described as a denim color, which is it definitely not.  I have to say that the coat did go on quite well and I’ve had no chipping so far.  It is $8 in a full-size bottle.  I will look into more of these polishes, but probably not in this color.

Treat: Two Paper Dolls | Ampersand Coasters

These were not part of the normal gift set; they came as a treat in the box.  I like them ok, they’re nice and thick.  I’ll have to check out Two Paper Dolls later on today.

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

All in all, I’d say the purchase was a success.  I will probably give the nail polish as a stocking stuffer, and the rest I will likely use until they’re gone.  I am already looking forward to the December box!

Lemon print curtains and valence in the kitchen (nevermind the blue tape holding the window shut)

Matching decorative towels (cotton, not terry cloth) with sage colored piping

Dress for Vera (22 months old). Made from two cotton pillow cases, I used the leftover piping from the kitchen towels for the dress. I need to add buttons over the straps; all in due time.

Next I moved onto making a dress for a normal-sized person. The bottom is my doing, and the top is a basic tank top.

Then I got this fabric (my favorite one at JoAnn's that I could not wait to use) and I made... (next photo)

Curtains for my study! These are really a perfect shade. They hide the light well enough but it's not morbidly dark during the day.

I got some more of this fabric (it was the same one I used for Christa's dress) to make .... (next picture)

The curtains for my room (there are actually two windows, and here is one of them)

And so, fellow readers, that is what has consumed my free time.  I’ve made a couple of pillows as well, but the dogs are sleeping on them and I didn’t want to wake them up for a photo.  Below are some upcoming projects.  Any suggestions?

Frank has these sheets that are to die for.  They wore out and he gave me the fitted sheet.  So imagine how much fabric that is (for a full sized bed)… what can I do with it?  I have such an attachment to these sheets I find it hard to cut them up and make something, but I don’t want to just make something lame like a pillow, and it’s too busy for a skirt.  Ideas?

Amazing fabric a la Frank B White

Next project, revamping the chair I found for free in a dumpster.

free free free, the best kind of chair

And now that I’m done with all of those photos, I promise to be more vigilant about updating regularly.  I kept meaning to update and then I would start another project.

Yesterday, Stephanie told me she had a sewing machine sitting in a closet that she didn’t know how to use and had never used.  So I got to borrow it!  I brought it home and (luckily) it was already threaded.  I invited Kylie over to help since she knew how to sew already.  After only a few minutes messing around on it (er, messing it up), I figured it out.

Stephanie is obsessed with dreamsicles so I made her an orange and white sleep mask.  It’s not what I would call excellent craftsmanship, but it’s functional.

hanging from my bed post

here you can see my newbie skills (yes, i know i used blue thread). but the point is the button i made.

The next thing I made is for Tamara.  It is a belated birthday gift.  It was going to be a wallet, but I made it too small (I’m still learning!) so it’s a change purse accented with another handmade button.

change purse with button closure (craftsmanship has improved slightly)

So, my plan is, a crafternoon.  I’ll plan this for Saturday, August 13th, time TBD.  Anyone is invited and all suggestions are welcome.  My plan is to get together some ideas, buy the supplies, and then have a sort of ‘buy in’ for the crafternoon (some small amount to compensate products bought).  Of course, I have most of the normal supplies (glue, scissors, needles, thread).

Here are some things I’d like to make now or eventually:

Sesame Street Cake Pops

Fabric covered push pins