Ahoy It's a Boy!

 

I mentioned earlier in the week that Gabby and I went to a baby shower for my niece Amanda. She's having a baby boy later this Summer and the theme was "Ahoy It's a Boy". 

 

 

Her sisters threw the shower and the nautical theme was woven throughout the party with the decorations, cake, shower favors and even their outfits! They have party planning down to a T. Here are a few of the highlights:

The cake was a nautical masterpiece with cute whales, a light house tower and it was three different flavors (though I only got to try two)!

These cute sail boat centerpieces were handmade by the girls. They were simple wicker bread baskets that they painted and the sail was made out of dowels and fabric. The baskets were then filled with salt water taffy. The effect was really lovely.

 

The favor were these sweet bottles of cooking salt. Note the flecks of blue in the salt? Seriously, they thought of everything!

 

 

The shower was a major success. My young nieces could put most adults to shame in party throwing. They thought of everything! Gabby had a fabulous time flitting amongst all of the girls and eating everyone elses food. She's excited to meet her new cousin!

Tuesday Tips - Storing Quilts

Growing up in Oregon was always fabulous. The one negative is that my grandparents were all in California. My mom didn't want us to miss out on having grandparents around so found amazing older people for us to love and be loved by. One of those adopted grandparents was Myrt. I could probably write a book from the number of tips she has given me throughout my life.

One basic hint that I never realized was brilliant until I realized others didn't know about it is how to store quilts. Handmade quilts are precious and a true gift but storage is tricky. You want to keep them in something so they don't get dusty though something that allows the fabric to breathe.

Solution: a pillow case.

Simply fold the quilt up and insert into a pillow case like it is a pillow. Store in a linen closet or somewhere that isn't too hot (an attic) or too damp (a basement).

Dressed Up

Gabs and I dressed up yesterday to go to my niece Amanda's baby shower. Fancy dresses, fancy shoes, and Gabby's first pedicure! I have to say it was extremely challenging painting her tiny little toenails. I can barely paint mine without getting the paint all over my skin, hers were a bigger challenge. She loved it! All day she would look at her toes and wiggle them. So cute.

I'll post some pictures of the fabulous shower later in the week.

This is a Knife

I love the scene in the movie Crocodile Dundee where he tells a would-be robber "That's not a knife" whips out a giant machete and says "This is a knife." I feel like saying that every time I use my Chinese cleaver. It's my favorite knife. Although it looks heavy it is deceptively light, cuts with a razor sharp edge and can be used for anything from thinly slicing ginger to de-boning a chicken. In this modern world where you can buy kitchen knives for hundreds of dollars a piece this knife cost a whopping $6.99. Seriously the best-knife-ever!

Tuesday Tips - Garlic Stink

Earlier in the month I posted about how you peel garlic. I love cooking with garlic and eating garlic but have you ever noticed how the smell lingers on your hands after you work with it? It seems no matter how much you wash your hands there is still a garlic scent. There are two simple ways to eliminate that smell from your fingers:

1. Ginger - With Chinese cooking garlic and ginger are natural compliments. Simply cut the garlic first and the ginger second. The juice from the ginger removes the garlic scent and stickiness.
2. Stainless Steel - Simply rub your hand on something stainless steel...a knife (though that could be dangerous), pot or even your sink. The smell comes right off.

 

 

Or if you like kitchen gadgets and gizmos you could buy this nifty bar. It's simply a soap shaped stainless steel bar. We got one for my mother-in-law years ago and it works like a charm!

Things That Make Me Happy

 

I've been a little stressed out lately. It happens easily to me as I am a Type A personality. I tend to forget to enjoy the simple things in life when this happens. So for this post I am going to list random things that make me happy. It is 3 am so forgive me if things get a bit wacky. Note: The list is in no particular order. Also all the photos in this post are from my Sis' Instagram pictures.

• Goofy boys
• Little girls in pig tails
• Jimmy
• Care packages (giving and receiving them)
• Japanese Irises
• Slinky's
• Musicals
• Pineapple

 
• Phone calls with my sis
• The smell right as it starts to rain
• Haribo Gummy Bears (made in Germany - they taste very different than the ones from Turkey or Spain)
• People with accents
• Expressive eyebrows
• Collections
• Stylishly accessorized people (I'm trying to learn)
• Music boxes

• French fries
• Knee high socks
• Fat dogs
• Watching little kids' "light bulb moments" when they get something for the first time
• Thick comforters on soft beds
• S'mores
• Books
• Gnomes

• Vegetables fresh from the garden
• My dads singing when he's happy
• Travel
• Crazy suitcases
• Hugs from my mom
• Comfortable shoes
• Belly laughs
• Mexican hot chocolate

• Sleeping babies
• Rice
• Sales and coupons
• Christmas decorations
• Sporks
• My parents' cooking
• Bright colored rain boots
• Meals with loved ones

• My in-laws
• Soft pretzels/pretzel bread
• Farmer's markets
• Seat heaters in cars
• Rocking chairs
• Coats/Jackets
• Freshly bathed kids
• Lady bugs

• Baking
• Kit Kat
• Pretty aprons
• Kids hugging each other
• Pasta
• Freshly laundered sheets
• Blueberries
• Rainbows

• Funny pictures
• Family pictures
• Pussy willows
• Pizza with good crust
• Baby thighs
• Tillamook cheddar cheese melted on corn chips
• Nate's inability to tell jokes (they're so bad it's funny)
• Silly String

• Dim Sum
• Gabby's love of sparkles
• Warm bread
• My friends
• Disneyland
• Going out to dinner
• Singing (even though I am usually off key)
• Cupcakes
• Sleep...I think I'm finally ready to go back to sleep. Goodnight!

Spinah Puffs

I have a thing for Spanikopita or anything resembling it. Pastry, spinach and feta make my tummy happy. My darling of a hubby made these cute little Spinach Puffs for Mother's Day. They turned out beautifully.

 

Start by squeezing out the spinach until it is as dry as possible. Toss into a bowl and mix with feta, onion, olive oil, and garlic. Season to taste.

 

 

Mix in one egg. Check out those pro mixing skills!

Take one sheet of puff pastry (thawed of course!) and cut into 3 equal strips. Save one strip for a later use. With the remaining two strips, cut those into 3 squares for a total of 6 squares. Spritz the muffin tins with non-stick spray and place a square in each muffin cup.

 

Spoon filling into each cup.

 

 

Fold the corners to meet in the center and give them a little pinch to stay together. Brush with an egg wash and bake.

 



Cool a bit before scarfing down or you will burn your tongue...not that I know from experience or anything.

Spinach Puffs

Ingredients:

1 10-oz. package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1/2 c. crumbled feta
1/4 c. minced onion
1 T. olive oil
1 t. minced garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed , rolled out to a 12" square, kept chilled

Directions:

Using your hands, squeeze spinach until dry, forcing out as much water as possible (too much water will make for soggy filling; you should have about 2/3 cup well-drained spinach). Mix spinach and next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, beat 1 egg to blend; fold into spinach mixture.

Cut puff pastry into 3 equal strips. Reserve 1 strip for another use. Cut each remaining strip into 3 squares for a total of 6. Place a square in each muffin cup, pressing into bottom and up sides and leaving corners pointing up. Divide filling among cups. Fold pastry over filling, pressing corners together to meet in center.

Beat remaining egg to blend in a small bowl. Brush pastry with egg wash. Bake until pastry is golden brown and puffed, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let puffs cool in pan for 10 minutes. Run a sharp paring knife around pan edges to loosen; turn out puffs onto rack to cool slightly before serving.