Show and tell

These are our three etchings that we purchased at the Louvre, during the time we lived in France. There is this incredible store/gallery, at the Louvre, where you can purchase these amazing etchings from old plates that they have stored in this gallery. We bought the big Paris one on my birthday one year, and it is the coolest thing to look at, because it shows how Paris looked like in 1860. The top etching is of the famous painting by Igres," La Baigneuse." It was engraved by L. Boutelie.
The center one has no identification as to who executed it, but I loved how it was tinted in these pretty colors. I could never get enough of going into that place, and wish I had purchased maybe a couple of others that I had my eye on. I just thought I'd share more of my collections/ goodies that I collected while living in France. I have other items to share, so stay tuned. When there is a slow post day with not much to say, I may whip out some other photos to show you.

A little something I stitched up

I got these adorable fruit patterns from Doe C Doe blog. If you like cute freebies, go and check out her blog, it is a fun one. At first I thought this little pattern was an orange; my husband looked at it and thought it might be an apple. Since I love red, I decided that yes indeed it is an apple.
I assumed that this was a plum. Anyone out there think that it might be a different fruit?
Your gonna laugh at what I thought this one was, I even had the floss picked out and everything. I really was convinced that it was an eggplant. Again, my husband said," Are you sure it isn't a pear?" Duh!! The rest of them are fruit, why would this be an eggplant??
They were a lot of fun to stitch up, and a nice little vacation from the sampler that I'm working on. I really need to get back to said sampler though, or it may get tucked away in the closet if I stay away too long.
Hope everyone has a great weekend :)

Before we say good bye to Valentine's day.........

I had it in my head that I wanted to make Valentine cupcakes this year,but decided that the shortbread was enough,and that we really didn't need anymore sweets around the house. That was until, my oldest(Nicole), called me up and said that they would like to come to dinner on Sunday, and meet a new friend of theirs. I thought, hey, there is my opportunity to make cupcakes and extend the holiday. The above cupcake is chocolate, with vanilla butter cream. I tinted the frosting a pale pink, and added these cute little candy heart decorations. I now feel that I got it all out of my system! I made Valentine cards, decorated the house with a few newer items,as well as a heart cut out chain, and baked! Now on to planning for Easter :)
On Valentine's day, David and I wandered Berkeley, and we ended up at Anthropologie. I have been wanting these wine glasses for some time now, mainly for the delicate art nouveau etchings on them. This isn't the best picture,but if you click on it, you may see them better. I love how thin they are and their shape.
Later, we drove into the city for dinner and had a very lovely time at Cafe de la Press.
I hope everyone had a nice cozy Valentine's day.

Happy Valentine's Day

From my home to yours, Happy Valentine's day! Hope everyone has a sweet one with their significant other.

Happy Blog anniversary to me!

Just a quick post to wish myself a happy anniversary for my little blog, it has been one year today. It has been a fun year looking back on some of my old posts. I had hopped to make some cupcakes yesterday and put a candle on it to celebrate, but this will have to do. I made these for Caitlin's graduation, which I can't believe how long ago that was now!
I have met so many nice ladies via this blog, and have been inspired to do and create more with my embroidery and sewing. The blog has kept me more motivated to finish projects, so that I can share them all with you. I hope that I continue to push myself more in the creative department, and possibly venture off into finally starting my own Etsy shop, or something like it.
Thank you all who have posted comments on here, all comments are deeply appreciated and I really enjoy reading all of them. If you are lurking, come out of hiding and say hi, I love to find new blogs and new friends.
Here is to another year in blog land!

21 days

In 21 days the new U2 album will be released :) This is my favorite band, in case I never mentioned it. I love this new video, and I'm so excited to hear the rest of the songs. Last tour they did, we went to two of the shows when they came to the Bay Area. Our seats were not great, but it was still a blast. This tour, we hope to score some much better seats and I'm bringing my camera this time!
Anyone else out there a fan?

Fourth street food and fun

Caitlin, having a bit of fun while we wait to have lunch at Tacubaya.
I finally went to Castle In The Air to use my gift certificate that I got for my birthday, way back in October. I really wrestled with taking one of their classes versus just buying a bunch of their wonderful papers and crafty goodies. In the end I decided that I would be happier with stocking my craft cabinet, and I bought the above items. I guess I'll be making my Valentine cards this year. Before we went to Castle in the Air, we had lunch at Tacubaya, the sister restaurant to Dona Tomas, that I blogged about a year ago. I can't get enough of their tasty food, I even have their cook book.
David ordered a Chile relleno
We shared their homemade chips and guacamole
This is no ordinary salad. It has the most tasty dressing that I believe is a lime vinagrette and as you can see a nice slice of avocado. To top it off they also sprinkle "pepitas," toasted pumpkin seeds.
Last but not least this amazing tortilla soup! This is my favorite thing they serve. I am including the recipe for this soup from their cook book, you must try it.




Tortilla Soup from Tacubaya


2 guajillo chiles

1 ancho chile

1 cup warm water

3 heirloom tomatoes or vine-ripened tomatoes, or 6 roma tomatoes

2 cloves of garlic

1 1/2 quarts chicken broth

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/2 white onion, cut into 1/3-inch dice

2 cups shredded cooked chicken

Kisher salt

GARNISH:
1/4 pound baby spinach

1/3 pound queso Oaxaca, shredded

2 avocados, diced

2 cups loosely crushed tortilla chips

Place a dry skillet over medium heat. Add the quajillo and ancho chilles and toast for 2 to 3 minutes, pressing them in to the pan and turning occasionally with tongs to prevent burning, until the skins begin to brown and the chiles become soft and flexible and give off their spicy aroma. While the chiles are still hot, remove the stems and seeds and submerge in a bowl of hot water for about 30 minutes to rehydrate. Drain the chiles and transfer to a blender. Add the warm water and puree until smooth. Leave this puree in the blender.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Place the tomatoes and garlic in a small baking dish and roast for about 45 minutes, until the tomato skins begin to blacken and split. The juice will bleed from the tomatoes and caramelize on the bottom of the pan. Add the tomatoes and garlic to the blender with the chiles and puree on high speed for 1 to 2 minutes.

Place the broth in a large saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Place the baking dish on the stove top over high heat. Add a few ladles of the simmering chicken broth and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen the caramelized tomato bits. Simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, then pour this mixture back into the chicken broth.

Place a separate soup pot over high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes, until translucent.Add the tomato and chile puree, decrease the heat to medium,and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon to prevent scorching. The consistency should be that of a thick marinarra sauce. Pass the broth directly through a fine-mesh strainer into the soup pot and gently simmer for 20 minutes so the flavors come together. Add the shredded chicken and simmer for about 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning with salt if necessary.

To serve, divide the spinach, cheese, and avocado between 6 bowls and ladle the hot soup over each.Top with the tortilla chips and serve immediately.

The soup can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 3 days and reheated as necessary, but the spinach and cheese, avocado, and tortilla chip garnishes should always be added at the last minute.

Is it February already?!

I can't believe that it is February! In the spirit of the upcoming holiday, I thought I'd share my shortbread recipe for these very yummy treats that are pictured. First I would like to say that there are a lot of recipes out there for shortbread,but this one really matches the one my grandmother use to make that I loved so much, because of the texture and the butter flavor. It has three ingredients.

Four sticks of butter (1 lb.) Use salted butter, not unsalted. This is where many of the recipes out there fall short in the flavor. Have you ever had shortbread where it just kind of tastes like flour? It is probably because unsalted butter was used

1 cup of confectioners sugar. Do not use granulated sugar! Again, most recipes call for granulated,but then you don't get the light texture that confectioners sugar gives.

4 1/2 cups flour.

Cream the butter and sugar together, then add flour one cup at a time. The dough is very,very thick, so this recipe better suits a standing mixer,and not a hand held.
You can cut them out in traditional shortbread shapes, or use cookie cutters. I usually roll the dough to about 1/4 inch to a 1/2 inch thickness.

Bake at 325 for about 20 to 30 min. They should be light in color. I like to check them at about 20 min. to see if they are the right color.

This shortbread recipe really works well with royal icing too.
Try it, and I bet you will love the texture of this cookie!



Last Thursday, I made an apron for myself out of this cute fabric,and trimmed it with the light blue ric rac. After I made it, I became inspired to do some baking :)