Netflix Stars - Shake, Rattle & Rock

1.5/5 - Talk about a low-budget film - it really shows despite circa 1994 Renee Zellweger and Howie Mandel. Probably after paying them there wasn't enough left to get a decent scriptwriter. We stuck it back in the Netflix envelope after giving it 20 minutes, hoping it would get better. Don't waste your time or queue space.

An Oldie But Goodie in the Mailbox

The Herrschners catalog! I hadn't ordered from them in years - back in the 80's and early 90's. But somehow they got ahold of my name again. How fun to look through it. I always liked Herrschners and the Lee Wards catalogs. Isn't that a nostalgia-provoking catalog trip combo?! Herrschners still has the kits for cross stitch, rug hooking, crochet, paint-by-number, felt projects, and those glitzy sequin and beaded ornaments. And the sequined felt calendars, my Mom loved those to hang in her kitchen. Surprisingly they turned out pretty and not tacky. The ones in the catalog are for 2010? Maybe their website has the 2009's on sale. I'll have to check and see if I can surprise her with another one. Their shipping costs are still reasonable, too. Now they are in the new millenium with a website and a members Smart Savings Club; I bet they will still be around for the next decade at least.

New Year's Eve Costco Find

While others were scurrying about Costco getting set for New Year's Eve parties...and also the fact Costco would be closed for one day - did you ever notice how much busier it is the day before? It's almost a panic mentality - Costco will be closed tomorrow!...I found a new cereal to try -- Kashi Honey Sunshine. Priced around $6.49 with two separate bags inside. Yes, thank you Costco. It looks just like Capt'n Crunch cereal of our youth without the overboard sick-sweet taste. And a lot healthier, too: 3/4 cup serving (which is plenty) has only 100 calories, 1.5g fat (no sat, no trans - yay!), 135 sodium, 70mg potassium, 25 total carbs, 20g whole grains, 6g fiber (!), 2g protein and only 6g sugar. The box is pretty, too. Just the thing to brighten up your breakfast table on a dreary January day.

Headstart Christmas 2009

What I didn't have time to finish (OK, begin) for Christmas 2008, I now have a headstart for Christmas 2009! Before I repacked and reshuffled my Christmas fabric containers, I wanted to try these tiny stockings. After making these two, it would definitely be a production sewing-style project. Very cute for ornaments, garland, even gift cards (just make them a tad wider). They measure just under 6" tall. I thought the pinked edge was a nice touch and eliminated the extra step to turn inside out after sewing. And even easier - the heel and toe are fused to the stocking with paper-backed fusible web. The project is from Country Woman Christmas 1999, on page 92

Netflix Stars - Wanted

1.5/5 "Unnecessarily violent" said the Marine. With that, be forewarned. I only gave it 1.5 stars because of James McAvoy (those blue eyes!) and because of resemblance of a plot surfacing between the bullets. Up another 1/2 star for discovering the opening song, "Little Things," by Danny Elfman on iTunes.

A Tale of Two Poinsettias - Holiday 2008 Edition

As much as I love poinsettias, they just do not thrive under my care. Water, don't water, cool house, warm house, sunlight, shadow... These actually look pretty good - for me. I have three yellowy green leaves, curled but still attached. This year I watered one and left the other alone -- NO DIFFERENCE! Except one turned pink, haha - no. I love pink poinsettias but also get a red one, too, since maybe they've had enough genetic practice with the reds to make one to last longer. Evidently I haven't found it. I'll walk by offices months from now and see thriving poinsettias, with new leaves yet. Or there will be newspaper stories (December 21, 2007) of how someone planted theirs outside and it grew into a hedge! Or those articles of how to keep and make your poinsettia bloom from year to year by sticking in a dark area for x number of nights and days. Yeah, I'll stick it in a dark area - the garbage can!

Photo by Brenda Beust Smith/Houston Chronicle

Happy New (Clothes) Year!

We figured and hoped we were on a roll, it goes in threes, right? - when we stopped by J.Jill on the way out of the mall. L had already found jeans and a belt - 60% off, Fossil jewelry at Macy's 80% off, and these for me at JJill. Practically the entire store is on sale, and everything on sale marked down an additional 40%, then toss in the Take 5 5% discount -- and you get $237 (gulp!) worth of clothes for less than $60 with tax. (The pink textured knit top was originally priced at $69.) I love their color names, too -- the purple velvet blouse is "Moonflower", "Pink Quartz" and "Bordeaux" for the looks-like-silk lined washable! skirt. We've come up with dry holes in so many shopping ventures lately, yesterday was nice way for us to end 2008 and start 2009 looking good and saving some serious coin. The J.Jill "Just Between Us - Take an Additional 40% Off Sale" is through January 5. Hopefully you'll be able to find some great deals, too!

Everyday Food #58 - Seared Steak With Roasted Mushrooms and Spinach Salad

Seared Steak with Roasted Mushrooms and Spinach Salad -- From Everyday Food #58, December 2008, page 110 - "2 for 1 Suppers" section. YUMMY! Well worth the trips to three grocery stores trying to find flank steak that didn't cost more than sirloin steak. (Finally, Kroger $6.99 -I actually went to the "Butcher" section). I loved the seasoning rub. Though I will cut back a little on the 2 teaspoons of salt, if using regular salt instead of coarse salt. The mushrooms came out good, I also tossed in a few quartered small potatoes to roast along with them. Because the flank steak was still a little pricey, I only got a little over a pound and did not double the amount (3 pounds) needed for the do-over into the Steak Tostadas with Cilantro Sour Cream on the next page for the next day. I'll definitely make these again and be watching the ads for the next time flank steak goes on sale.

Reality Sewing Bites and Kisses Roll Call of 2008

While I have sewn and posted many sewing projects this year, a few have become reach-for items in the closets and others have gone on to Goodwill.

Here is the Reality Roll Call of 2008 (sponsored by Hershey's, because I love sewing and chocolate!):

KISSES --

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 1071 - I wish I had made this trial run in a better fabric, and I will sew it again. Easy, trendy but not frumpy.

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 7717 - Unfortunately OOP (Out-Of-Print). I can't wait for warmer weather to make several more for Spring and Summer, and to try the rest of the pattern's wardrobe.

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 2949 - Didn't think I would like and wear this as much as I have. Got looks (not strange) and compliments everytime I wore it.

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 1058 - Another for the list to make again. It goes with pants, skirts and ties it all together.

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 2945 - Nominee for the 2008 Hall of Fame! I've got two fabrics on the launch pile to make more.

Vogue 7799 - For a pattern I had no hopes nor agenda, a triple play! Here's View B. I lucked out with the fabric, too, and have been washing and wearing this at least once a week. And would be doing the same for View A except it was a bad/itchy/scratchy fabric choice. View C has been in and out of the closet, too. It feels dressier than the others, perhaps it's the draping.

Burda 7997 Young Fashion Teen - With a few minor adjustments, made great shorts for L. I still plan to make the bunny for Easter 2009!

Burda Easy 7793 - L liked the tank tops, and she did wear the overblouse a few times.

Burda 8516 Young Fashion Teen - Great to wear over tank tops like Burda 7793 when you need a little more coverage.

Burda 7808 View B - Cute and fun to wear, I liked this version better than View A, which fell into the Bites column.

Burda 8134 (top) and Burda 7966 - Cute bedtime wear (nightwear sounds like going out to party). Combo'd with Kwik Sew 2811, with these patterns I'm all set for bed (that doesn't sound good, either!). Here's the original post and intention to make the tops to go with the Nick and Nora sleep pants.

Burda 8316 Young Fashion Teen - L thought these made great knock-around pants. Very fun and comfy to wear. We made these a couple of times, here's the first pair.

Burda 7966 capris - I actually ended up wearing these. First impressions aren't always right, as I'm sure this post has proven.

Burda 7991 Young Fashion Teen - Best teen pants ever! L LOVED all versions!

Burda 7789 Young Fashion Teen - Fun to wear, cute skirt for L.

Burda 8517 Young Fashion Teen - Good go-to dress when you need one. L also really liked the top version.


BITES --

Burda 7795 - I tried to wear a couple of times, finally got rid of this - I felt like Sgt. Pepper!

Burda 7782 - History, too. Anything requiring that much fiddling to get it to work, doesn't.

Vogue 8505 - Thank goodness for Sandra Betzina Today's Fit OOP 8515 to make it wearable. Unfortunately, I haven't. I'll give it until Go Texan Day and if it still languishes in the closet, out it goes.

Sandra Betzina Today's Fit Vogue 2980 - So disappointed it didn't work. I loved Sandra's made-up versions. Regretfully gave away the top and the pattern at an ASG Neighborhood Group meeting.

Vogue 8462 - Frump-a-dump. Such potential, it's just plain too big all over. I tried wearing the View C top the other day to give it one more chance. Seriously, someone else will absolutely love these, great fabric and color, oh well. All three - jacket, top, pattern - are on their way to Goodwill.

Vogue 8522 - Most likely combination of bad fabric and styling choice. Only worn once, it's just not me.

Burda 7940 - Made, never worn more than once by L. Still hanging in the closet, will give it until Spring to see the light of day.

Burda 7871 Young Fashion Teen - Not worn by either of us yet. Most likely to be outed in next closet purge. Too orange, too small, too big. Reality - we both look and feel goofy in it. May keep the pattern around for tinkering, but odds are it's leaving, too.

Burda 7968 - How can a pattern be skanky (Camisole) and frumpy (blouse)?

Burda 7967 - Bad fabric choice, PITA to iron after every washing, and so it hangs on the back of the sewing room door, begging for pressing next time I fire up the iron. But I ignore. It's probably too preppy for me, style and fabric-wise.

Burda 7925 - I even made the top twice. But while wearing it, felt a little too Carol Brady Bunch. Still hope for the pants in 2009, though.

Burda 7808 View A - Loved the other version I made, hated this one. Wore it only once.

Burda 7822 Young Fashion Teen - Picture says more than I can. This was probably the biggest flop.

Burda 7802 View C Pants - After wearing, they were just too big, too baggy, too... Out!

Did I mention the Goodwill drop-off people recognize and greet me at this point?

Burda 8076 - Gone!

Burda 7965 - Too loose, too baggy - out!

Burda 7788 - Pretty neckline, but too short and wide. May try to use neckline on something else.
Burda 7775 - Too short, too "petite-y"

Burda 7804 - One's enough. The asymetrical side eventually got on my nerves.

Burda 7779 - Not me, too 80's. Ditto.

Burda 7797 - Not bad, but not worn.

Burda 7824 Young Fashion Teen - Another petite-y top. So pretty, but not the right proportion if you are over 6 feet tall.

Burda 7876 Young Fashion Teen - Such a well-drafted pattern. Never worn, but still in her closet.

And there you go. I've off to plan and sew new projects for 2009 and have some more chocolate!

Money Monday - Frozen Assets

I read this article in the November 2008 issue of Southern Living magazine, and thought it was a very innovative space and money-saving tip. I've flat packed and frozen leftovers with quart-sized Zip-locs, but sometimes it can be messy and the bags can stick together. I liked the idea of using boxes - to not only make the transfer process more secure, but also provide a good storage and space-saving shape.

"...Line a box with a large zip-top plastic freezer bag, folding the edges of the bag over the edges of the box (the way you would place a liner in a trash can), so that the box supports the bag when filled. Seal the bag, and freeze vertically while still inside the box. Once frozen, remove the filled bag from the box and stack horizontally. Downsize to smaller freezer bags and boxes for fewer servings."

Everyday Food #58 - Chocolate Gingerbread Bars

From the Everyday Food #58 December 2008 issue, page 142 --

CHOCOLATE GINGERBREAD BARS

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, plus more for pan
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 large egg
1/4 cup sour cream
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
confectioner's sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with strip of parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides, butter paper. Dust paper and sides of pan with additional cocoa powder; set aside.
In medium bowl, whisk together cocoa, flour, ginger, pumpkin pie spice, and baking soda. Set aside. In large bowl, whisk together butter, brown sugar, molasses, egg and sour cream until smooth. Add flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chips. Transfer batter to prepared pan and smooth top.
Bake until toothpick inserted comes out clean (about 30 to 35 minutes). Transfer to wire rack and let cool completely. Using paper overhang, lift gingerbread from pan. Transfer to cutting board and cut into 16 squares. Before serving, dust with powdered sugar.

Our rating: 2/3 forks up A little too spicy for L, but T and I liked them. They reminded me of a cakey brownie. I may try baking them again in mini loaf pans for potential gift-giving. The molasses intensified the chocolatey-ness. I may cut back a little on the pumpkin pie spice, or be more careful measuring - I think a little extra spilled over into the bowl. Love the fact that these, like many other Everyday Food recipes, use a whisk instead of a mixer. I used a tea ball to help sprinkle the confectioner's sugar on top of the bars.

Who are these people and what are they doing here?!

As you can obviously tell, I have a rather eclectic group of friends and fellow bloggers in the right alley. I thought each week on Sunday I would randomly showcase one from the list and why they are there. I love to discover new blogs, and I think you will enjoy the introduction for new places to visit in Bloggy Land.
This week - Sew Stylish
Not only does Helen sew, but she knits (crochets, too!) beautifully. Pop on over to her blog and just gawk at the gorgeous things she's created. Especially check out her December 22 entry. Sew Stylish, KNIT STYLISH! Wow! And she's a very nice person, too. Even across the pond and in the midst of planning her wedding, she helped me find very good homes for a friend's knitting stash.

Fabric Shopping at Target

Further proof you can find fabric in unusual places -- and get a bonus potholder! I originally bought this on sale (it was back by the towels) for the potholder, but then I noticed the "towel" was a nice medium-weight 100% cotton. With cute trees that while didn't scream "Christmas", could easily be embellished and used for seasonal Winter sewing and craft projects. I loved the colors, too. It measures 18" x 28" with turned under edges. There you go, a nice hunk of fabric and if you incorporate the finished edges, a potential project half-done! Run to Target and see if it might be lurking in the markdown section...or the red Clearance endcaps near the sheets and towels.

Cinnamon Rolls

CINNAMON ROLLS

DOUGH

3/4 cup water, plus 2 tablespoons
2 tablespoons butter, softened
*2 1/2 cups bread flour (1/2 cup white whole wheat, 2 cups bread flour)
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon bread machine yeast
CINNAMON FILLING
*1/3 cup sugar (1/4 cup)
2 teaspoons cinnamon (Penzeys Vietnamese)

2 tablespoons butter, softened
VANILLA GLAZE
*1 cup powdered sugar (2/3 cup)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-2 tablespoons milk

Place all ingredients in bread machine pan, except the cinnamon filling and glaze. (I know, duh!).

Select Dough/Manual cycle.

Grease a 9x9x2 inch square pan. Prepare Cinnamon Filling.

Flatten dough with hands or rolling pin into 9" square (or best attempt) on lightly floured surface. Spread or dot with 2 tablespoons butter or margarine; sprinkle with Cinnamon Filling. Roll dough up tightly; pinch edge of dough into roll to seal. Cut roll into 1' slices. Place in pan. (Stop here and refrigerate if needed to bake later). Cover and let rise in warm place 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until double.

Heat oven to 350, bake 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Drizzle Vanilla Glaze over warm rolls. Serve warm.

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*Modified from Betty Crocker's Bread Machine Cookbook, page 79. I subsituted 1/2 cup of the bread flour with King Arthur White Whole Wheat. I probably don't use two tablespoons of butter, but just dot the dough with bits of butter instead. I also reduced the sugar in the filling to 1/4 cup, with enough left over to refill our cinnamon sugar shaker. I use Penzeys Vietnamese cinnamon. I've played with the glaze, too - reducing it to 2/3 cup powdered sugar and splashing in enough milk to get the right consistency. Nine rolls is the minimum amount you'll get, depending upon how long you make the roll and if you cut the slices a little less than 1" wide. You can also prepare the rolls the night before, refrigerating at the point you have sliced and put in the pan. In the morning, let them get a little close to room temperature and then proceed to let them rise until double. I put them in the oven, select the lowest setting and then turn it off when it is preheated. It is warm but not enough to begin baking. I also reduced the heat from 375 to 350, as these bake and brown pretty quickly. Unfortunately, I've discovered they do not freeze well, either at the prebaked or baked roll stage.

Here's a link where someone actually figured the calorie stats, along with comments and more variations. I think and hope my changes may make it a little bit healthier.

Kinda Kolache

This was my attempt to make cheese kolaches, with the leftover cream cheese filling from the cream cheese coffee cake. I used my cinnamon roll bread machine recipe for the dough, made golf-ball sized balls and tried to center the cream cheese. But I couldn't figure out how to make and get it to look like the traditional squares. So I flattened them and added more cream cheese on top until it looked like a cream cheese danish. That's good in my book, too. I let them cool and then drizzled a little glaze...further distancing away from a kolache... While it resembled a danish, it tasted just like a cheese kolache. Only with more filling, and frosting. Which in my book is win-win. Everyone here liked them and I'll definitely do this again next time I'm in a cream cheese baking mode and mood!

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I also had enough leftover dough to make some cinnamon rolls, albeit smaller. I thought I had posted my recipe earlier, but I will do so in a separate post.

New Tea Fav

Celestial Seasonings Roastaroma I found a box of 20 teabags at Whole Foods for only $2.99. I was surprised it brewed dark like coffee, but it doesn't taste like coffee. I like the cinnamon, allspice and anise flavors - add a little milk and sugar and you're all set.

Burda World of Fashion spotted in Pearland!

In the new Barnes and Noble in Pearland Town Center. And it's the December 2008 issue, priced at $12.50. Google and print an online store coupon and/or your Member Card and grab it. There were six issues as of this morning. It's pretty rare to find Burda WOF on the newsstands. I figure if enough people buy it, they will continue to stock it. In the meantime, these came home with me. Seriously, I have a magazine addiction. And an eye for upcoming projects. A couple of them under consideration for ASG Neighborhood Group programs. So it's all in the name of research, right? Fortunately I don't buy these all the time, but it appears January is a good month for magazines. So much for New Year's Resolutions. . .

Taste of Home - Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Our traditional Christmas breakfast...and breakfast later on, as it makes more than one coffee cake and it freezes well! Giftable, too! L and I would bring one to our friend, Mary, on Christmas Eve.

This is from the February/March 1995 Taste of Home issue. Be forewarned, it takes two days, as the dough is refrigerated overnight. Through the years I've reduced by half the dough ingredients, because the original amount would make four, maybe even five huge coffee cakes. But I kept the filling the same, because who doesn't like cream cheese? Use your best judgement how much to use on each loaf -- big eyes make for gooey mess. Suffice to say you will have some left over if you have cut the dough ingredients in half. You could refrigerate and use it later for a small batch of kolaches, or sweet rolls, or if you are not afraid of an egg, swipe a spoonful occasionally. I have also substituted low fat sour cream and the Neufachel 1/3 less fat cream cheese. Stay away from the fat-free stuff. Another nice touch is to use almond extract for the vanilla in the glaze if you are sprinkling toasted almonds on top.

CREAM CHEESE COFFEE CAKE

Dough:
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon salt
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2 packages dry yeast (FYI: 1 package equals 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/2 cup warm water, 110-115 degrees
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups flour

Filling:
2 packages cream cheese, softened, 8 ounce size
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt

Glaze:
2 1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
sliced almonds, toasted, optional

In a saucepan, combine sour cream, sugar, butter and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly for 5-10 minutes or until well blended. Cool to room temperature. In a mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add sour cream mixture and eggs; mix well. Gradually stir in flour. Dough will be very soft. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Next day, combine filling ingredients in a mixing bowl until well blended. Turn dough onto a floured board; knead 5-6 times. Divide into four equal portions. Roll each portion into a 12 x 8 rectangle. Spread 1/4 of the filling on each to within 1 inch of edges. Roll up, jelly-roll style from long side; pinch seams and ends to seal. Place seam side down on greased baking sheet/s. Do this part if you want to get artsy-creative: Cut six X's on top of loaves. Lately I've been putting it seam side up and if it unrolls a little exposing the cream cheese, that's OK, too. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 1 hour. Bake at 375 (I adjust it down to 350 if it starts to brown too quickly) for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

Combined the first three glaze ingredients, drizzle over loaves. Sprinkle with almonds if desired.
Enjoy!

Merry Christmas!

Netflix Stars - Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day

5/5 stars! An unexpected social commentary on the eve of World War II. Frances McDormand was great and actually in a movie that is not a Cohen brothers movie.

Amy Adams is showing up and proving her versatility lately. She was in Charlie Wilson's War and now this one.