It has been a busy few weeks for me along with a pesky bout with COVID! I do have some things to share with you though. I am stretching my wings and trying some new things. Hope you find something useful or maybe even inspiring!
Recipes
Chilled Corn Soup (crazylaura.com)
This is very seasonal as we are in the thick of corn harvest!
- 8 ears yellow corn (Note 1 for frozen corn)
- ▢3 litres / 3 quarts water
- Corn soup:
- ▢100g/ 7 tbsp unsalted butter
- ▢2 garlic cloves , chopped
- ▢1/2 onion , finely sliced
- ▢1 celery stalk , sliced
- ▢1/2 leek , white part only, finely sliced (sub 1/2 onion)
- ▢1 tsp salt , cooking/kosher salt, plus more as needed
- ▢1 cup cream , full fat
- Herb Spice Sachet (Note 2):
- ▢2 sprigs of thyme
- ▢1 bay leaf , preferably fresh otherwise dried
- ▢1 tsp black peppercorns
- ▢1 tsp coriander seeds
- Cut off kernels: Cut the corn kernels off the cobs and transfer to a bowl.
- Corn stock: Cut the cobs in half. Place in a large pot with the water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Strain – it should be 2 litres. If it’s much more , simmer to reduce. If less, top up with water.
- Sachet: Bundle the bay leaf, thyme, black peppercorns and coriander seeds loosely in a small piece of cheesecloth to create a sachet. Tie with cooking twine to secure.
- Sauté aromatics: Melt butter in a pot over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, leek and garlic. Cook for 4 – 5 minutes until soft.
- Cook corn: Add corn kernels then cook for 6 to 7 minutes.
- Simmer: Add the corn stock and the sachet. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Cream: Add the cream and cook for 3 minutes.
- Blend and sieve: Remove the Sachet. Blend in batches in a blender on high speed until smooth.CAUTION! Hot liquid + tightly sealed blender lid = soup explosion! To avoid this, either cool before blending. OR remove the lid of the feeding tube in the blender lid. Cover the exposed hole with a folded tea towel as you blend hot liquid. You will see me do this in the recipe video.
- Strain: Pass through a fine sieve.
- Adjust salt: Taste and add more salt if needed.
- Chill and serve: Cool, then transfer to the fridge to chill completely. Intended to be served chilled or cool, but also great at room temperture or warm!
- How to serve: In shot glasses as a canape, tea cups as a small starter, or bowls as a meal with hunks of crusty bread. Garnish with kernels sauteed in butter with green onion slices and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (basil oil would be even more incredible!).
Taco Tortilla Roll Ups (sugarapron.com)
- 8 oz Cream cheese softened
- 4 oz Sour cream
- 2 tbsp Taco seasoning
- 1/3 cup Salsa taco or picante sauce
- 1-2 Jalapenos seeded and diced finely, up to taste
- 1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 1/2 cups Chicken cooked and shredded
- 1/3 cup Cilantro finely chopped
- 6 8 inch flour tortillas
- In large bowl, combine all ingredients except tortillas until well mixed. Lay a tortilla out on a plate and spread an even layer of the bacon and cheese mixture all the way to the edges (about 2 to 3 tbsp).
- Roll up tortilla tightly and place on a plate and then repeat until all the ingredients have been used. Pop into the fridge to chill for 2 hour.
- Slice each rolled tortillas off the ends and set aside. Garnish with additional Cilantro
- * – make sure your tortillas are at room temperature before you roll them so they are nice and flexible.
- * -Smaller tortillas may be used, however you will need to adjust the amount of taco chicken and cheese mixture you add to each tortilla.
- * -If time is an issue, you can skip the refrigeration before slicing or refrigerate for less time. However, for best results, refrigeration is recommended.
- * -Boiling the jalapenos for a few minutes takes the heat right out of them!
These are easy and a crowd pleaser. When I make them I use banana peppers instead of jalapenos because I don’t like hot. If making them for a crowd I would make some of each. I also leave out the cilantro. (Yes, I am one of those!)
Crafting!
I am trying my hand at watercolor painting. I have always wanted to explore it. It is super helpful that there are many instruction videos online and well written explanations of the techniques such as wet on wet and wet on dry. I am not a Monet but it is fun to learn and maybe improve. I am still on the beginner videos. This was my second attempt and was using the wet on wet technique.
On Pinterest I discovered a technique using Sharpie markers and rubbing alcohol to create art. You use a canvas, (where did I get mine? All together now, DOLLAR TREE!). Then you draw a picture, or pattern, It can be realistic or abstract. Put your rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and squirt onto the canvas. I tried more realistic but I plan on trying some sort of pattern or abstract one next. It is really fun!
On Facebook I asked my friends if anyone had any old jeans or denim of any type that they were ready to get rid of. They really came through and I did a recycled wreath with strips of denim. I attached some peonies to one area and as summer comes to a close I will switch those out to sunflowers. To make the wreath I used a wire wreath frame, cut strips of denim about 7 inches in length and tied them on the rings of the form. Then simply added the flowers. It is super summery!
Pockets
Not being one to waste anything, I cut the pockets off of all the jeans that my friends gave me. I was thinking I could use them for something. It turns out there are many ideas. I chose a very simple and quick craft for my first project using the pockets. I had a dyecut wooden piece in the shape of a cutting board. I used antique wax to stain it. Used the tie that came with it for hanging. Then I hot glued a denim pocket to the wood and inserted 2 seed packets which I secured with more hot glue. To this I added a little bow and some cute little bees with hot glue to set off the seed packets which were honey bee mixes.
Hacking Away
*Let’s say that some dishes in your cupboards get seldomly used, like mixing bowls. You pull them out to make a batch of cupcakes and find a layer of dust in them. When you are done baking and wash them, before storing put a shower cap over the top. That’s why I save the ones from hotels!
*If you ever want to give your coffee pot a good cleaning, fill it with ice and add a liberal amount of salt. Put the lid on the pot and shake it around a bit, while securely holding the lid on with one hand and the bottom of the pot with the other. Viola! Crystal clear pot!
*Ever hang a sweater or hoodie on a hook and then when you go to use it again it has that awkward bump from where it was hanging? You can solve that with a tennis ball. Use a box cutter to cut an X in the tennis ball, insert it on the hook and no more bumpy sweaters!
*Walmart’s Gadgets to Gift Cards program will give you gift cards for your old electronics like smart watches, cell phones, ipads. The value of the gift cards varies with the age and type of item. Just visit the retailer’s Gadgets to Gift Cards website to get a printable packing label.
*Cluttered email inbox? Start a new email account for only shopping a promos! Also, retailers will often offer you a percentage off if you give them your email. Home Depot was recently gtiving 5% off and American Eagle was giving 10%. Having a separate one for shopping keeps your personal email free of all the promo offers and sales.
Hope you enjoyed this post and I will see you next month with hopefully, more engaging content!f Enjoy your August!!
