Shh.listen

I’ve made this simple pasta salad for years and years, and have always loved the heck out of it. It’s zippy, flavorful, and fun, and is as delicious by itself as it is alongside grilled chicken, shrimp, or steaks. I made it recently on one of my Food Network episodes, and realized I’d never shared it on this here website o’ mine! It’s versatile, and you can add whatever other ingredients you want: diced avocado, chopped cilantro, chipotle (to the dressing), lime juice…or all the spices and seasonings you want.

I hope you love it as much as I do. We’ve still got some days of summer left…and this is a good one, my friends!

 
Throw some macaroni in a pot of boiling water and cook it until al dente.

 
 
 
Drain it, rinse it with cold water, throw it in a bowl, and smile because macaroni makes you happy.

 
 
 
Meanwhile, throw a couple of ears of corn on a grill pan over medium heat; or, if you don’t have a grill pan, just any ol’ skillet will do. You just want to “grill” or cook the surface of the corn so it gets some nice grill marks on the outside.

 
 
 
While the corn is going, get some of the other ingredients ready: Finely diced red onion…

 
 
 
A couple of big ol’ tomatoes (or a few smaller ones), diced…

 
 
 
A pile of chopped black olives, roughly chopped…

 
 
 
And some green onions, sliced.

 
 
 
When the corn is ready, remove it from the pan…

 
 
 
And use a sharp knife to cut off the kernels.

 
 
 
Now for the beans! Normally, I’d use a can of black beans…but I’m out. Scandal! So kidney beans were the next best thing. I just drained ‘em and rinsed ‘em. All ready to go!

 
 
 
Now, for the dressing: Combine a cup of salsa (the spicier, the better!)…

 
 
 
A cup of sour cream…

 
 
 
And some mayonnaise, to give it a little richness.

 
 
 
I also grate in a clove of garlic (you can just use a garlic press!)

 
 
 
Adds all the garlic flavor without adding chunks.

 
 
 
Finally, some cumin…

 
 
 
And some salt and pepper.

 
 
 
Then just stir it all together…

 
 
 
Until it’s all combined! And whatever you do, don’t grab a blue corn tortilla chip dip it in here.

At least if you do…don’t say you heard it from me.

 
 
 
To assemble the salad, just add the tomatoes…

 
 
 
The corn…

 
 
 
The beans…

 
 
 
The olives…

 
 
 
The green onion…

 
 
 
And the red onion.

 
 
 
I didn’t have cilantro, but would have added some if I did, so I decided to grab some chives from my garden and chop them up just to add a little more color.

 
 
 
A little extra green never hurt anyone!

 
 
 
Finally…on goes the beautiful dressing. I start by adding about 3/4 of it at first, just to make sure it doesn’t get too heavy.

 
 
 
Toss it around and check it out…

 
 
 
Then sprinkle in more of whatever you think it needs. If you want more dressing, go ahead and add the rest and toss it in!

 
 
 
Pile it in a serving bowl, and at this point, you’ll want to cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least a couple of hours to let the flavors all mix and mingle.

And jingle.

 
 
 
This is such a great little pasta salad. Great on its own, or alongside grilled or roasted chicken…or with cubed grilled chicken mixed in!

 
 
 
Here’s the handy dandy printable!

Here in the Ozarks, where I live, we have quite a few lakes and streams that you can boat or float on. It's awesome! I truly believe this is one of the most beautiful places to live in the whole world. But, I can also see that I'm extremely biased on this point. :)

One of my favorite summer activities is spending a day out on the lake. You pack up a cooler of drinks and snacks and spend a day just hanging out on the water. One snack that I make to bring with us on lake days is something that the George family calls Love Dip. It's basically cream cheese and salsa blended together. I love it. 

This is a slightly more substantial version (the black beans as flavor as well as protein). If you're in a hurry or just don't like fresh food, you can totally make a version of this with just cream cheese, store-bought salsa, and black beans. But since our CSA has brought us plenty of onions and cherry tomatoes lately, I think a fresh version is in order. This dip is great on a lake; just pack it in a container and throw it in the cooler until you're ready for it. Or you could make this as a delicious appetizer to take to a summer BBQ. Who doesn't love chips and dip?!

Creamy Black Bean Dip, serves 6-8 as an appetizer or side.

15 ounces (one can) black beans, rinsed and drained
Two 8-ounce packages cream cheese*
3 cloves garlic
1 small onion (or half a medium-sized one)
2-3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
8 ounces cherry tomatoes (or any tomatoes you have/like)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder (or more if you like it spicy)
1 lime
salt and pepper to taste

*Pro tip: I usually use one reduced fat cream cheese and one regular. With how flavorful this dip is, you could easily use two reduced fat cream cheeses and no one will be the wiser. :)

The order you make this dip actually matters. It's a texture thing. You gotta get the texture right on this one.

First we make salsa. In a food processor, pulse the garlic, onion, cilantro, tomatoes, and juice from half the lime until well blended but still chunky. You don't want this to be completely smooth. Pulse. Try not to eat all the salsa once made too; that's a tough one. 

Now we blend together the cream cheese, black beans, juice from the remaining half of lime, and cayenne. Just blend until smooth. 

Stir (by hand) the salsa into the cream cheese mixture. Taste, and add salt and pepper to your liking. 

Serve chilled with lots of tortilla chips. This dip is a somewhat funky color, so I like to garnish the top with a few black beans so everyone knows where that color is coming from. Enjoy! xo. Emma

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions. 

Usually if an eggplant and pasta are in the same room together, there’s tomato sauce involved. Here’s a recipe that bucks this convention and features eggplant without the sauce, but with red onions, garlic, baby spinach, and mint, all sautéed in olive oil and tossed with spaghetti pasta and crumbled feta cheese.

Continue reading "Pasta with Eggplant, Feta, and Mint" »

Deodorizing disks. There's a romantic name. Sexy, even.

No matter. We're going for effectiveness not romance and that's the name that best fits these hard-working little suckers. When it comes to keeping a diaper pail fresh, a deodorizing disk (otherwise known as a little cake of hardened baking soda) is what we've needed. They're easy to make and equally good for stinky closets, trash cans, or bathrooms, in case you don't find yourself with a bucket full of dirty diapers.

Before I go on, let me just say that I get it. Some of you are probably suppressing a smirk. Meanies are probably straight up cackling. Cloth diapers + a tiny apartment apartment + no air conditioning + Brooklyn summer heat? It's a perfect recipe for me to lose my cool in a fit of olfactory overload. Yes, the diaper pail has been pungent lately. Happily, kept closed the pail does a good job at keeping odors under wraps. Less happily, the pail needs to be opened roughly 8 million times a day in which case the odoriferous little bugger stinks up the whole joint in .2 seconds flat.

So, I borrowed bits and pieces from these two tutorials. I opted to make mine in parchment paper wrappings which can be kept in place and plunked right into a can whose contents are getting dumped anyway, or removed so that the disk can be plunked right into the wash with the rest of the pail's contents should that be how you roll.

In either case, here's what you need to make your own:

2 cups baking soda
1/2 cup water
Parchment paper
Essential oil of your liking
Dried flowers for effect, as desired

1. Mix baking soda and water into a thick paste. This process may or may not give you a feeling akin to nails on a chalkboard. If it does, I'm sorry. It'll be over soon.

2. Spoon the mixture into a muffin tin lined with parchment paper. (If you have silicone muffin trays, you can try forgoing the paper.) I filled each tin about 1/4 of the way.

3. Pop the tray in a 350° oven and bake for 20 minutes or until dry and firm.

4. Allow the disks to cool and top with 3-4 drops of essential oil of your choosing. I used a blend of sweet orange, lavender, rosewood, and geranium. Sprinkle with dried flowers if you like your utilitarian things to look pretty.* Tuck your stash into an airtight jar.

5. Use disks as needed around the house; wherever foul odors lurk.

*If dried flowers cross the twee line for you, scrap 'em. Shove the cooled and oiled disks into whatever air-tight container you have laying around and forget I even mentioned flowers.

{Water + baking soda + heat (or time) + essential oil = deodorizing disks.}

{The baking soda and water paste.}

{This recipe makes enough for 12 small disks.}

{Add essential oil (and flowers if you're up to it) after baking.}

{Store in an airtight jar to retain the good smells until they're ready to be used.}

{You can leave the disk wrapped in parchment paper, or remove the paper and pop it into a pail that's going to go through the wash.}

Should you have neither stinky garbage, nor stinky trash cans, place a disk in the shower (opposite the drain) and let the essential oils fill the room as you shower. Call them "shower tablets" and pretend that you're at the spa.

Other projects.

The great thing about making a big batch of pesto is that you can easily dip into it to dress up a meal. Here we are elevating a simple side of pasta and pesto with the additions of chopped baby spinach, peas, and avocado. 

Continue reading "Pesto Pasta with Spinach and Avocado" »

I’ll be headed home from Colorado Sunday, and I’ll have new recipes to share here on P-Widdy Cooks next week!

Meantime, while we still have a little summertime left, I wanted to share some of my favorite berry recipes here on The Pioneer Woman Cooks. If you have berries on the brain…these links will make you happy. Berry, berry happy.

(Click on the photos or links to go to the individual step-by-steps!)

 
French Toast with Berry Butter. Beautiful and tasty!

 
 
 
Mixed Berry Shortcake. Syrupy berries on a sweet biscuit. Perfection!

 
 
 
Blackberry Cobbler. Such a cinch, such a delight!

 
 
 
Raspberry Cream Pie. Another easy dessert that’s perfect for summer.

 
 
 
Lemon Blueberry Pancakes. A favorite ’round these parts!

 
 
 
Another pancake/berry option: Cornmeal Pancakes with luscious blackberry syrup. To die for!

 
 
 
Grilled Chicken & Strawberry Wrap. Berries don’t have to be just for desserts!

 
 
 
Ooooh. How about Blackberry Margaritas this weekend? Come to mama!

 
 
 
Blackberry Cheesecake Squares. Positively delicious. Try them ASAP!

 
 
 
Chocolate Strawberry Nutella Cake. If you’ve got a birthday in your household anytime soon…this is the cake to make!

 
 
 
And, on a more recent note, these super easy, exceedingly lovely Mini Blueberry Galettes.

Hope you find something berrylicious to make this weekend!

Lots of love,
P-Widdy-Dub-Diddy

Let me just get the obvious out of the way because I know what you’re thinking: what am I doing here? Shouldn’t I be packing for our move, which is less than 24 hours from now? These are all valid questions, but you see, there is history here, a long history of kitchen-related procrastination. Two days before our last move, I sheeted pasta and peeled favas. I spent the last week of my pregnancy stocking the freezer with foods to bribe charm labor and delivery nurses with. When I was done with that, I made a cake for people coming to visit the new baby. When my induction was trudging along pitifully slowly, I pulled out my laptop and wrote up a new recipe I’d made in the days before. Thus, it should be no surprise that on Tuesday, with a totally straight face, I made the argument by turning the last splash of heavy cream, handful of chocolate chips and a half-pint of vanilla ice cream leftover from this into hot fudge sauce, I was “packing.” But yesterday, I didn’t even have an excuse; I just needed a break from having exasperating conversations a store that lost the mattress we ordered and could maybe get us a replacement sometime in September, arrgh.

Ahem. I’ve been in a bit of a fervor this summer over the apricots from Red Jacket Orchards. I shared a photo of them the other day and someone asked me what I was going to make with them and I was confused. Make? With apricots? Why on earth would you make something with apricots, when you could eat them as-is, even four in a row as my son did before my dropped jaw yesterday. But then the next wave of procrastination hit and why, yes, making something with apricots was a brilliant idea!

... Read the rest of apricot pistachio squares on smittenkitchen.com

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© smitten kitchen 2006-2012. | permalink to apricot pistachio squares | 179 comments to date | see more: Apricots, Bars, Photo, Summer, Tarts/Pies

Imagine it's a warm summer evening, and you're sitting on your porch swing, lazily sipping on a tasty little beverage. Everything feels perfect, except for one small thing; you feel like your drink could use a sprig of fresh mint. Instead of walking inside and breaking the spell, you reach down and pluck some growing right in front of you. You throw some in your drink without missing a beat, and night continues on. This doesn't have to be a dream; it can really happen! For around 75 bucks, you can build this herb garden coffee table.

This project was/is one my favorites!

Supplies:
-hardwood plywood (4' x 4' sheet will be enough)
-one 2x4
-sheet metal (24" x 48" sheet)
-self-drilling sheet metal screws (1/2")
-planter stones
-plant soil
-herbs

Tools:
-snips
-Skil saw
-jigsaw
-ruler
-Sharpie
-drill
-leather gloves
-trowelStep One: There are a couple of different ways to start this project. I'd never worked with sheet metal and was excited to give it a try, so I started out by building the sheet metal planter part. You could just build the planter part out of wood (there is actually a post coming up that deals with that!), but at the time I thought metal would last longer. Follow the diagram, and measure and mark with a Sharpie onto the sheet metal. I used tin snips to cut. I think the sheet metal I used was an 18 gauge, so I made sure the snips I got could handle that. Leather gloves will save your hands, as the cut edges tend to be pretty sharp. I didn't think of this at the time, but you can cut sheet metal with a jigsaw. Just use a metal blade and take it slow; don't force the saw. After you have the entire pattern cut out, you're ready for the real fun part, folding it all up!

Step Two: Folding sheet metal takes patience, a bit of finesse, and technique. I had never done anything like this before, so I just made it up as I went (so you have no excuse if you've never done it before ;)). I later learned that I had actually used something pros use when bending sheet metal, called a brake. A brake is the hard edge that you bend the metal against to get a good edge. What I did was get a piece of scrap piece of hardwood plywood and screw it down over the edge I wanted to bend. Then, wearing gloves, I gently bent the piece up. See the diagram above to see the sequence I used; you sort of work your way from the inside out. I ended up having to stack a couple of pieces of scrap wood and setting the box on them so I could bend some pieces, late in the sequence. After I would bend a piece by hand, I would bang on the edges with hammer to make the bends a little more sharp. This box is going to be hidden after you install it and fill it with dirt, so it doesn't have to look perfect. The self-tapping metal screws went in easy as pie. I could have used a little shorter ones, so keep that in mind, but since they were going to be covered with dirt, it didn't matter too much that they stuck out so much. Now that I think about it, I could have screwed from the inside out; then I wouldn't have to worry about the pointy ends at all!

Step Three: Build the tabletop (see diagram above for measurements.) I painted the legs (which are 2x4s ripped in half and sanded) before installing them. As you can see above, I screwed them to a scrap piece of plywood so I could easily move them outdoors, spray paint them, then move them wherever I wanted. While the legs dried, I installed the metal box by lining it up with the hole and screwing metal screws all around the edge. I didn't worry about drilling holes in the bottom of the metal box, because I thought any excess water could drain out the seams. I painted the black lip of the garden opening with spray paint, then once that dried, I hit everything else with a semi-gloss white and three coats of poly.

Step Four: The reason I loved this project so much is because each step seemed more fun than the last. At this point you're ready to plant your herbs! I chose herbs that would go well with drinks or summery porch dinners (that leaves it bit wide open, doesn't it?). Here's what we have happening here:

-mint (chocolate and peppermint)
-basil
-dill
-rosemary

I put the stones in first for drainage; I'm not sure it was absolutely necessary (any horticulturalists out there?). Then I poured in some planting soil, stopping two or three inches from the edge. Then I planted the little guys. The aroma itself was worth it! I love the marriage of wood, steel, dirt, and plant life in this project. It makes this coffee table just a little more special than your average one. The fact you can make it yourself for less than a 100 bucks makes it even better! What's not to like?

I feel like the process can't always be conveyed into words and images perfectly.  If you have any questions or think I left anything out, leave it the comments section, and I'll get back to you. 

Happy building! -Josh

Credits // Author: Joshua Rhodes. Photography: Joshua Rhodes and Sarah Rhodes. Photos edited with Piper from The Signature Collection 

From The Kitchn → The Best Way to Organize Your Freezer

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Theoretically, we are supposed to move this Saturday, but evidence is mounting — in the form of a kitchen without countertops or appliances, a toilet in the middle of the living room, and a peeling, black bathtub that looks like the kind place you’d find a horror movie victim — that it might not happen. Did I mention the great plume of drywall dust from the doorway they’re sawing out of a wall today? Nothing that 48 hours can’t sort out, right?

It’s a good thing, in Opposite Land, that we are not the kind of people who plan every element of a big event like a move up to a month out, with each detail, from sending the kid to his grandparents for a couple nights so he doesn’t have to watch all shh, most of his toys get boxed up, or ordering furniture to be delivered that morning, furniture we have exactly no space for in our current overfilled apartment. I realize that I sound like we’re at Stress Level: Hip Flask this week, but it’s not so bad, mostly because I’ve chosen instead to focus my energies this month on blueberry crumb cake studies.

... Read the rest of blueberry crumb cake on smittenkitchen.com

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© smitten kitchen 2006-2012. | permalink to blueberry crumb cake | 237 comments to date | see more: Blueberries, Everyday Cakes, Photo, Summer

Recently, we sang the praises of using pegboard as a pot rack in vintage kitchens. Today — thanks to a tip from reader Kay — we’ve discovered  Wall Control, a company that manufactures and sells eight fun colors of enameled steel pegboard to use as pot racks, tool organizers, craft supply caddies and more. Wall Control’s enameled steel pegboards are 10 times more heavy duty than traditional pegboard, easy to clean and pretty darn affordable. As an added bonus, all of Wall Control’s products are made in one factory in Georgia, right here in the U.S.

Wall Control is an authentic ‘retro company’ — a multi-generational family business that began in 1968:

The story of Wall Control

Our story begins in 1968 in a small tool & die shop just outside Atlanta, Georgia. The first of three generations began his work building a family based U.S. manufacturer with little more than hard work and the American Dream. Over the past 45 years our patriarch has continued to grow and expand what was once a fledging tool & die shop into an award winning U.S. manufacturer of products ranging from automobile components to satellite panels and now, the best wall-mounted tool storage system available today, Wall Control.

Wall Control is a family owned and operated business that not only produces a high-quality American Made product but sees the entire design, production, and distribution process happen under their own roof in Tucker, Georgia. Under that same roof you’ll still find 3 generations of American Manufacturing hard at work to bring you the best tool storage products available today. We certainly take pride in our history and heritage and that is reflected in the quality products we work hard to bring you everyday.

The company sells enameled steel pegboard panels in a variety of sizes, pegboard kits for kitchens, craft rooms, garages and more as well as a variety of add-ons like shelves, hooks and containers to customize their enameled steel pegboards for any situation.

Kay writes:

I have a tiny galley kitchen with white Youngstown steel cabinets. I added a wall of enameled steel pegboard over my kitchen stove. It was like I added another cabinet. I have all my most used tools on it. It’s great to be able to reach up and grab a pair of tongs.

I used panels from Wall Control made in Georgia.

You can add little shelves, all kinds of neat accessories. I love how easy it is to clean. I was inspired by Julia, but I worried about cleaning regular peg board. I am very happy with my pegboard and it coordinates with my cabinets.

They were very easy to install because they are spaced to hit the studs. I plan to add another panel to my laundry room. I really love this stuff. It just wipes clean. It’s very handy.

About Wall Control’s Steel Pegboard, from their catalog:

The Kitchen Pegboard Organizer Kit combines the simplicity style storage and organization system with the modern touches of a high-end kitchen by creating attractive wall mounted storage with strong and durable chic metal panels that will last a lifetime.

These panels are over 10 times stronger than conventional kitchen pegboard. Two 16in x 32in metal pegboard panels combine for a total kitchen storage area of 32in x 32in (over 7 Square Feet) of kitchen pegboard storage space and more kits or panels can always be added to create a larger storage area. The panels offer both slots and holes to accept modern chic slotted tool board accessories, as well as conventional 1/4-inch peg board hooks making this kit extremely versatile. Easily installs into studs or walls and installation in a matter of minutes. A built-in frame provides ample hook clearance and full access to all holes without requiring additional framework or using up pegboard holes for mounting.

Kit Includes:

• (2) Combo Pegboards 32in x 16in
• (18) Assorted Kitchen Tool Board Hooks
• Mounting Hardware
• Price $64.99

If you are really a fan of Julia Child’s pegboard pot rack look, Wall Control offers a product called ‘shadow mark’ that can help you easily recreate Julia Child’s pot rack outlines. Shadow mark comes in rolls of black or white and appears to be some sort of vinyl, adhesive backed contact paper that you can use to trace the outlines of tools, cooking utensils or other objects, then adhere directly to the pegboard. Having these outlines helps easily identify where tools and cookware belong. The shadow mark easily wipes clean and can be removed from the pegboard easily with low heat. 15′ by 12.25″ rolls sell for $42.95 on the Wall Control website, though it seems like this product is temporarily out of stock.

I’ve always loved pegboard used as a pot rack in the kitchen — made famous by Julia Child — and I currently have pegboard in my garage helping me keep my small garden tools and doodads organized, but I had never though of using pegboard to organize my art and craft supplies. Wall control makes so many fun little shelves, bins, hooks and other add-ons for their pegboard that the possibilities for organization and storage are endless.

Mega thanks to reader Kay for the tip. We love the look of these colorful steel pegboards by Wall Control !

Link Love:

• Wall Control enameled steel pegboards

The post Enameled steel pegboard for kitchen pot racks — eight fun colors appeared first on Retro Renovation.

Hey all! Mandi here. Custom framing is so great for that oddly-sized piece of artwork or a deep canvas, but man, oh man, is it ever expensive! I have a few canvases around my house that I've been wanting to have framed, but rather than saving up for a custom job, I thought I'd just take an afternoon to frame them myself!

I designed three different styles of canvas frames with three different mounting techniques, and they're all super simple to build. All you need are various pieces of wood and the tools shown below, and guess what? None of them are power tools! So if you're a little leery of wielding a power drill, router, or chop saw, don't worry! You don't need 'em. This low-fuss method will get the job done.

Supplies:
-various pieces of wood
-wood glue
-finishing nails or wire brads (size depends on depth of wood)
-paint or wood stain
-sandpaper

Tools:
-miter box saw (can be purchased for $15 on Amazon here)
-band clamp
-various clamps
-hammer
-tape measure
-pencil
-paint brush or rags

To begin, you'll need to decide which style of mount you want for your frame and how thick and detailed the frame will be. For a wider, chunkier frame, you'll need spacer wood for between the canvas stretcher and the edge of your frame. You can bring your art with you to the lumber yard (or just dimensions if you're shy about toting around your art) and try stacking together different pieces of wood, square dowels, and molding to get the look you want. Check out my frame profiles below to get ideas for your own frame, and if you want more detail in yours, don't be shy about adding molding too!

Mounting Techniques

A recessed mount is a traditional framing technique where the art sits behind the frame and the very edge of the art is covered by the lip of the frame. A float mount, the most difficult to build, is sometimes used in canvas framing to give even more dimension to the piece by creating a decorative gap between the canvas's edge and the frame's edge. Something that you might see more frequently on larger pieces of canvas art is the flush mount, where the frame is simply attached to the edge of the canvas stretcher, with no lip on the front or back.

Flush Mount Frame 

The flush mount frame I designed is mounted relatively flush with the surface of the canvas and is nailed directly to the edge of the canvas stretcher, without assembling the frame first. It's the easiest frame to make, in my opinion, and I think it looks nice with larger pieces of artwork.

Step One: To begin, I purchased two 8' long pieces of cedar 1x2s, lightly sanded them, and then stained them with my own gray mix of these three stains pictured above: Rustoleum Driftwood, Rustoleum Willow, and Minwax Golden Oak.

Step Two: Rather than measuring the edge of my frame and transferring those measurements to the lumber, I just laid my 1x2 against the frame and marked the length of the canvas directly onto the lumber.

Step Three: I cut each of my pieces of lumber a bit longer than I needed, in case I made a mistake and cut them too short. To cut the pieces, I used this miter box saw which clamps the lumber into place and has guides that ensure you are cutting to the exact 45-degree angle that you need. It's pretty handy, though it does take more elbow grease than an electric miter saw.

After making the cut, you may want to lightly sand down the corners if you have any splintering.

Step Four: Using a band clamp* or a ratchet strap, do a dry fit of the frame to make sure it fits. If any pieces are too long, cut them down appropriately. When the pieces are cut to the right length and the dry fit shows a nice fit, loosen the band clamp around the loose pieces of the frame and dab paint into the corners where the pieces meet. Use your finger to spread the glue around a bit before clamping again. Some glue will ooze out when you clamp the frame together, so be sure to have a rag handy to wipe away any glue immediately.

Step Five: Use finishing nails or wire brads to attach the frame to the canvas stretcher, making sure to also drive nails through the mitered joints in the corner, giving the wood glue some extra strength. Wood glue isn't very strong when applied to end grains of wood, so the nails are a necessary step unless you use a stronger adhesive like Gorilla Glue.

*When using a band clamp on soft wood, be sure to use a piece of scrap wood as a buffer between the clamp and the wood so the clamp doesn't leave an imprint on the wood. Not sure how to use a band clamp? This YouTube video is really helpful!

Recessed Mount Frame

The traditional recessed mount frame utilizes a rabbet, or inset, for the art to sit nestled in behind the frame. It hides a small border of the art, which works out well if the edges of your canvas aren't finished. This frame is assembled prior to attaching the artwork, as opposed to the flush mount frame which is built directly onto the canvas stretcher.

The materials you need to build this particular frame are as follows:

-outside edge piece: 1/2x3" lumber
-middle piece: 1/2x2" lumber
-inside edge piece: 1/2" lumber
-top edge piece: 3/8x2" lumber

I started with stained wood, because it was my goal to have two tones of stain in my finished frame and decided it would be best to stain first. The stain didn't absorb very well on the pine I used, though, so it might not have mattered. You can stain your frame before or after assembling it.

Step One: Glue together the 1/2x3" outside piece with the middle and inside edge piece as listed in the supplies above and shown in the above right image. You'll need to use clamps to hold together the wood as the glue dries. Be sure to wipe away any seeping glue with a damp cloth before it dries.

Step Two: After the edge and bottom pieces have dried, attach the top piece, which should be a bit wider than the wood stacked below it, in order to create a lip which will overlap your art. Spread the glue with your fingers to limit glue seepage. Then clamp together and allow the glue to cure.

Step Three: Measure the size of your artwork and add about 1/8" buffer space/error space.

Step Four: Cut your lengths of wood with the miter box saw according to the measurements from step three. I like to err on the side of longer than necessary, because you can always cut off more than you need! Lay the parallel boards against each other to make sure they are the same length.

Step Five: Arrange a dry fit with the band clamp and your canvas. Make sure everything fits together relatively snugly. If the canvas is too loose in there, you may need to shave a bit off the lengths of the frame pieces.

After the fit is just right, spread some wood glue with your finger onto the edges of the frame pieces and fit together the joints with the band clamp, wiping away any excess glue before it dries.

 Step Six: While the frame is clamped and the glue is drying, drive finishing nails into the joints of the frame to give the piece more stability. I chose to only nail on two parallel frame pieces instead of onto each side.

Flip the frame over and attach the canvas from the back by driving longer nails through the canvas stretchers and into the frame.

Float Mount Frame

I personally think float mount frames look the most professional, but maybe that's because it was the most finicky of my frames to make, so I was the most proud of this one! Float mounts leave a space between the edge of the canvas and the sides of the frame. They provide dimensionality to the framed piece and are a great way to show off gallery wrapped edges of canvas art. I personally thought this float mount frame would be great to give a more substantial feel to a thin, less expensive canvas piece.

For my float frame, I used the following wood:

-1/2x2" lumber painted white
-1/2" square dowel stained dark (though I suggest using a 1/2x1" piece of lumber instead)

I chose to start with already-painted side pieces to save me the trouble of trimming in with paint and stain with an assembler frame. I chose a bright white for the outside of the frame and a dark stain to emphasize the float space between the canvas and the frame.

Step One: Glue the bottom piece of the frame to the side piece and clamp into place. Make sure you wipe away the excess glue before it dries! I used a 1/2" square dowel for this, but it was exceptionally difficult to later attach the canvas to such a narrow space, so if I were to go back in time, I would select a 1/2x1" piece of lumber instead.

Follow Steps 3-5 of the recessed mount frame above, but instead of adding 1/8" to the dimension of the artwork for your frame, add about 1/4" to create the float space in the frame.

Step Six: Instead of nailing the frame together, you'll secure it by nailing it to the canvas stretcher from behind. This is the tricky part! You will need to lay your artwork into the frame, making sure the gaps are even all around it. I had a difficult time getting the gaps to stay even as I was clamping it into place. Once it's clamped into place properly, flip over the frame and drive nails through the back piece of the frame and into the canvas stretcher. Make sure you don't miss the stretcher and drive your nails into the float space instead! I had to drive my nails in at an angle because my 1/2" square dowel left me hardly any space.

It was a little difficult attaching the canvas to that little dowel in my float frame, but I love the results! Such a handsome frame ready for display!

I'm really pleased with the results of my custom framing jobs and will definitely be DIY framing more in the future! Next I might try something a little more ornate by combining molding styles. Think of the possibilities! -Mandi

Credits // Author and Photography: Mandi Johnson. Photos edited with Spring and Valentine of the Signature Collection.

Turkey meat is much leaner than beef or pork, so it can be a challenge to make a burger with ground turkey that still gives you the satisfaction of eating a juicy burger. One trick I use to infuse moisture into ground turkey is to add freshly grated zucchini. (Perfect for summer when those of us who garden have more zucchini than we can possibly use.)

Continue reading "Turkey Zucchini Burger with Garlic Mayo" »

Chess pie is not something I grew up eating. In fact, until this year I'd never even heard of it. They started serving a more traditional version of it at one of our favorite coffee shops in town, and I fell in love at first bite. As I do with most pies. 

I just really love pie, guys. It's the best.

In case you've never had the pleasure of trying chess pie before, I'll tell you that it has a custardy-based filling. Honestly, it sort of reminds me of pecan pie, without pecans. The ingredients might surprise you, as most chess pies contain cornmeal and usually vinegar. But somehow it just works. 

I've made a few variations recently, and this is my favorite version at the moment. It contains toasted coconut, so in a way it's a great summer version of pecan pie. And if that doesn't excite you, I don't think we're gonna see eye to eye on this one. Just make the pie. Just do it. 

Toasted Coconut Chess Pie, makes one.
Crust recipe from Ready For Dessert by David Lebovitz.

Filling:
4 eggs
3 tablespoons whole milk (or cream)
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons butter, melted then cooled
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon flour
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/3 cup toasted (sweetened) coconut

Crust:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cold butter
3-4 tablespoons cold water

In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt, and cold butter until crumbly. Add the first 3 tablespoons of cold water and pulse again. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of cold water. Press the dough together, cover in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling. Or you can make the dough ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 days.

Once you're ready, roll out out the dough on a lightly floured surface and place in a buttered pie pan. Poke a few holes (with a fork) in the bottom of the crust before filling.

Melt the butter in the microwave and allow to cool while you prepare the coconut. 

Toast the coconut in a dry pan over medium/low heat until lightly brown and crunchy. I like to use a rubber, heatproof spatula while toasting coconut this way, as it allows you to easily remove bits from the side of the pan so they don't become too toasted while you work.

In a large bowl, stir together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cooled (but still melted) butter. Stir in the sugar. Now add the salt, cornmeal, flour, and vinegar, and stir to combine. Stir in half of the toasted coconut, reserving the rest to sprinkle over the top.

The first time I made this pie filling, the recipe I was working on made too much filling. I actually had to throw away about 2/3 cup away or else my pie pan would have been overflowing. I was also practicing with a store-bought pie crust, which was a little smaller than the pie pan you see here. This version almost didn't make enough filling, but once baked you'll see that the filling tends to expand a little. So don't worry if your pie filling doesn't seem to fill out your pan just yet (see mine above). And if you choose to use a store-bought pie crust, this should still work well for you.

Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes. The pie should only have some very slight movement (jiggle), and the top should look crusty and browned. Allow the pie to cool for at least 30 minutes before trying to cut into it, or else it may not be set enough and will ooze.

Serve warm or cold with a little fresh fruit and/or whipped cream. Enjoy! xo. Emma

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions. 

Few things are as versatile as the humble tension rod. They are cheap and totally removable. READ MORE...

This is what happens when you crave sandwiches and the only bread you have are those days-and-days-old bready end bits hanging in the bread bag. So you call yourself innovative and make a salad with big buttery, garlicky homemade croutons and your summer supper turns out deliciously.

Originally, I was craving this chickpea salad/sandwich stuffer recipe. It’s delicious. But then I spied a recipe that looked very similar but included a can of tuna. I had a can of tuna! So I modified the recipe based on what I had and came up with something quite tasty. It’s lemony and tangy and crunchy and totally refreshing. Perfect summer evening food. Even more perfect after a hot and busy day where you’re quite pooped by nightfall and calling away for take-out seems easier. This meal is flexible and you probably have most everything in your fridge and cupboards. It’s a bit of a big ol’ lifesaver kind of meal.

Vegetables get diced, cans get drained and dumped, plops of dijon, mayo and yogurt get mixed along with a few other flavour enhancers and there you have it. But wait, take the extra step and make a batch of homemade croutons. No oven needed, it’s too freakin’ hot for that. Just use a skillet, some butter, garlic and day old bread. The end ugly pieces that get left in the bag are perfect for this. Lightly toast them until they get fragrant, crispy and chewy. Add some greens to your plate, top with the salad mixture and scatter the warm croutons over top. Eat outside if preferable. Or in front of the tv watching Comedy Bang Bang (my new favourite tv discovery – their podcast is great too especially when you’re road-trippin’!). No judgements, just delicious. Eat up.

PS, I just ate the leftovers for lunch. No croutons, sadly. But! But!! It was so, so good. Cold from the fridge on a hot day. Hello, lunch.

chickpea, tuna & onion salad with creamy lemon dressing
(adapted from Bon Appétit)

A perfect summer meal. If you have some fresh garden tomatoes on hand, chop one up and throw it in - it would be a lovely addition to a summer supper. Or forgo the croutons and stuff this mixture into pita bread for a messy but delicious sandwich. Next time I make this, I’m adding in 2 cans of tuna because I think the tuna got a bit lost here. If you’re vegetarian, skip the tuna, and it will be just as delicious.

3 large scallions, diced
1/2 red pepper, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
1 can of chickpeas, drained & rinsed
1 can of water-packed tuna, drained
1 T sweet pickle brine (if you have it)
1 T dijon mustard
1 T low fat greek yogurt
1 T fat-reduced mayo
1 T capers, chopped
1/2 lemon, zest & juice
a few shakes of your favourite hot sauce
salt & pepper to taste

2 T butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 slices day-old country bread, diced

mixed greens

In a large serving bowl, combine all the vegetables and chickpeas together. Add the tuna, breaking into the tuna with a fork. Stir in the brine (if using), along with the mustard, yogurt, mayo, capers and lemon juice/zest. Add in hot sauce and salt and pepper after tasting & only if needed. Set aside.

In a medium sized skillet, melt butter and let the garlic get fragrant over medium-high heat. Add in the bread cubes, stirring until coated in butter. Toast the bread, turning occasionally to not burn. Remove from heat when crisp.

To serve, line 4 plates with the mixed greens, top with the chickpea-tuna mixture and then scatter croutons over top. Dig in.

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Just like smoothies, I make toast just about every day of the week in some form or other. It’s one of my favourite quick and easy lunches or snacks. It’s hard to beat the comforting, warm, and crunchy experience that toast provides in just a few minutes. Plus, the flavour possibilities are endless! I’ve always preferred an open-faced sandwich to the traditional kind because I can load on the toppings as much as I please and if it ever gets out of control I just eat it with a knife and fork. Fancy, right? Since we’ll soon be relying on our toaster quite a bit during our kitchen reno in August, I thought it would be nice to round up some of my favourite toast combos of late – two savoury and two sweet. Be sure to share your favourite toast combos (or dream combos) below!

For my chia seed jam recipe, see this post. Note: You can use any kind of fruit you prefer. Some large fruit pieces (like frozen mango or strawberries) will benefit from a gentle mashing near the middle of cooking.

Cheater’s Maple Baked Beans on Toast

This is a quick, high-protein meal that doesn’t require slow baking the beans for hours. Just 10 minutes on the stove top is all you need!

Serves 2

• 1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup diced sweet onion
• 1 (15-ounce) can navy beans, drained and rinsed (or 1.5 cups cooked navy beans)
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon blackstrap molasses
• 1/2 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce (this is the kind I use)
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon fine grain sea salt (I use 1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon)
• 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

 

1. In a medium pot or skillet, sauté the onion in the oil for 6-7 minutes over medium heat until soft and translucent.

2. Add the rest of ingredients, stir well to combine, and cook over low-medium heat for another 5 minutes or so. Adjust ingredients to taste if desired.

3. Serve over toast.

Note: The beauty of this recipe is that you can play around with the condiments and adjust them to taste. You might like yours on the sweeter side, tangier, etc. so feel free to use my recipe as a starting point.

I shared this beauty on Instagram the other day and it had a great response which is why I thought a toast round-up might be a nice change of pace! This combo is probably my most made toast ever…I just can’t get enough of it. Tip: I love the Kirkland brand of organic slow-roasted tomatoes found at Costco! They are totally dreamy on toast and in homemade pesto.

You need this one in your life. ‘Nough said.

Enjoy!

Since maternity leave is comprised mostly of changing diapers—over and over and over again—and since I've finally reached the point where I can manage to juggle baby and keyboard for brief 30-minute stints (kind of), I thought I would write my own post about cloth diapers (don't worry, Cait will still be chiming in from time to time).

Lots of you guys have written hoping to know more about our diapering rigmarole, so I decided to break the post into sections according to the FAQs. Hope this helps (let me know if I've left anything out!):

1. Do you wash all of those yourself?

Since we don't have a washer and a dryer in our building, taking on the task of shuttling dirty baby diapers to the laundromat was more than we were willing to take on. We use a diaper service which picks up dirty diapers and delivers a bag full of fresh clean ones once a week. Read more about how that works here.

2. What system do you use?

We use the most basic system out there. Our diaper service provides us with prefold organic cotton diapers (basically a thick cotton rectangle that we fold around the babe's bottom). We hold the cloth diaper in place with nifty little fasteners that do the same work as diaper pins, just more easily. Over the cloth diaper, we stick a waterproof cover to keep everyone dry. (Because we're gluttons for punishment, we chose the white covers. Thank goodness baby poop washes out easily.) In a classic little sister move, we chose to use the same covers that Cait and her husband settled on after trying out lots of different ones. When we're out and about, we carry a waterproof wet bag that we can use to stash dirties without getting anything stinky.

So:
Prefolds. (These ones are nearly identical to the ones that the service provides.)
Diaper Fasteners.
Diaper Covers.
Wet Bag.

3. How much does that all cost?

Like buying thoughtfully raised food or responsibly made clothes, choosing to use a cloth diaper service is definitely a more expensive option than using conventional disposables. If we had a washer and dryer, we would no doubt opt to wash our own because the cost savings is huge and means that cloth diapering is less expensive than using even the cheapest disposables. Without that option, we've decided that the extra cost is worth taking on to limit the number of diapers we'd otherwise be adding the landfill. Bonus: cloth diapered kids typically potty train at 1.5 to 2 years, which helps balance out the overall cost. For the curious, a little breakdown of the cost and environmental impact of different diapers, here.

4. Isn't that a lot of work?

Like most things that are gentler on the planet, cloth diapering definitely requires an extra step or two. But you get used to those steps pretty darn quickly.


5. The diapers get washed once a week? Doesn't that stink?

We've been using the diaper pail sold through our diaper service and so far, so good. On these very warm days the moment of removing the lid can unmask a smell that's just a touch ripe, but when it's closed we don't smell anything at all. Plus, it's nothing that a sprinkle of baking soda can't fix.

other things:
dresser drawer pulls.
a hamper with a lid.

Within reason, I think if you’re craving something, you should go for it, although this theory is mostly born of my own poor logic. I’ve all too many times craved, say, a brownie but thought I shouldn’t eat a brownie and so instead snacked on (just for a completely random example) 12 almonds, 1 slice of cheese, half an apple, 1 banana and then, oops, a handful of chocolate chips, amounting roughly 3x the calories of a brownie, a brownie that I craved exactly as much as I did 500 calories ago. And so, when I really want a brownie, I make my favorite brownies and we each eat one and then I stash the rest in the freezer, so they are not out on the counter, calling to me that we haven’t been cut in a straight line and you should really even us out or we’re going to go bad soon and you don’t want us to go to waste or any of those things that brownies tell me when we’re alone together.

[Hm, here I should probably interject some sort of "sure, okay, brownies talk to me but I'm not like crazy or anything; it's not weird. Brownies talk to everyone, right? Haha?" reassurance but I'm not going to. I'm going to make this as awkward as possible.]

... Read the rest of brownie ice cream sandwiches on smittenkitchen.com

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© smitten kitchen 2006-2012. | permalink to brownie ice cream sandwiches | 166 comments to date | see more: Chocolate, Ice Cream/Sorbet, Photo, Summer

Despite Jack Donaghy's advances in microwave oven technology, the appliance hasn't changed much since its introduction in 1967. Mediumwave is about as wide as a dinner plate, can wheel around your counter, has done away with unnecessary settings, and its lid makes it much easier to clean.

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Baked eggs is one of those dishes that I just plain forget about. Knowing how to make a great baked egg is one of those kitchen tricks everyone should be able to list on a resume. :) And here's why: it's SO easy to make (especially compared to poaching and frying), and it tastes just as amazing.

You also get to pop the dish in the oven, set your timer, and then go start your morning, getting-ready routine while your eggs bake. For the most part, you really don't get to walk away from stove-top egg dishes, since eggs cook so quickly, but with baked eggs you can. 

This is one of my all-time favorite ways to eat baked eggs—surrounded by delicious flavors like black beans and garlic. This is a super filling and healthy breakfast option. Wanna know a secret? It makes a great dinner too. :)

Southwestern Baked Eggs, serves two.

4 eggs
1 small onion (or half a larger onion)
1 bell pepper
4-5 cloves of garlic
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
15-ounce (one can) cooked black beans
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
2 tablespoons heavy cream
4-5 cherry tomatoes
1-2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
tortilla chips for serving

First chop up the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Drain the black beans from the can. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté the onion and bell pepper until the onion begins to soften. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute. Then throw in the beans, cumin, and cayenne, and cook just until everything is hot.

In two oven-safe dishes, divide the veggie and bean mixture evenly. Make two small nests in the mixture. Carefully crack the eggs and pour them into the nests, keeping the yolks intact.

Drizzle the heavy cream over the eggs. This helps to keep the egg whites from drying out while baking. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Bake at 375°F for 12-15 minutes, until the egg whites are just set. Once you pull the eggs out of the oven, they will still continue to bake, so don't let them bake too long or you won't get those delicious runny yolks. 

Top with a few chopped cherry tomatoes and cilantro. I like to serve these with tortilla chips for dipping into the mixture because it's almost like breakfast nachos that way. You could also top these with salsa, sour cream, fresh avocado, guacamole, jalapeño, or shredded cheese. Enjoy! xo. Emma

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess actions. 

Do you love vintage-style Vera Neumann? Do you love a great deal? Then check out Home Goods, because right now they have lots of colorful new tablecloths featuring vintage Vera Neumann designs. UPDATE: Reader Donna also reported finding these styles and a few more at Steinmart, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s — the second photo above is hers — thanks, Donna! This is versatile medium-weight, indoor-outdoor fabric: Kate skipped right past “tablecloth” and bought a bunch to make no-sew roman shades for her screen porch. How about using this fabric to make: Patio cushion covers… a bedskirt… window valances… pinch pleat panels…? Lots of yardage — 60″ wide and up to 102″ long — lots of vintage-style Vera Neumann happy retro color – for the money.

Kate was the one who spotted this deal and came up with the idea to use the tablecloths, in bulk, for her window treatment project. She wrote:

I needed a lot of wide, mid-weight fabric to make roman shades for my screen porch. But I wanted both retro style and an affordable fabric option. Thinking creatively trolling Home Goods, I hit the jackpot when I spotted Vera Neumann-design tablecloths in a 60- inch wide, medium weight, spill resistant indoor/outdoor fabric. I instantly loved the flowery retro Vera print and color. I bought three tablecloths — each about $20, for fabric at the equivalent of $7 a yard. Perfect! Now, I had the fabric I needed to make my no-sew, DIY roman shades.

There were several color ways and patterns available in sizes like 60 in x 84 inch oblong, 60 in x 102 inch oblong, 60 in x 120 inch oblong and a 70 inch round tablecloth. I swiped all three available tablecloths in this pattern. The two 60 x 84 tablecloths were $16.99 and the 60 x 102 tablecloth was $19.99 — a great deal for 7.5 yards of 60 inch-width fabric designed by Vera Neumann.

This whole project cost me just under $150. A fair chunk of that expense went to extra-long wood battens that I needed to buy given the width of my windows. Even so, I suspect that buying ready made roman shades in these large sizes would be much more expensive.

Kate fashioned her shades using tutorials she found online. Note, dear readers, that if you do a project like this, be sure to study up first on how to handle the cords — they can be a safety issue for children, pets, etc.

After Kate told me about her project, I stopped at my local Home Goods in Pittsfield, Mass. to see if there the Vintage Vera tablecloths were in stores nationwide. Yup, seems so: Lots of these tablecloths were on the shelves, including multiples, in case you’re thinking “project.” UPDATE: I checked Amazon, and they also have lots of Vintage Vera products, including tablecloths, if you can’t find them locally; I saw other patterns, too:

Lots of Vera Neumann on Amazon*affiliate link –
it’s so nice to see her designs licensed and reproduced again so widely today
.Pinch pleat panels? Heck to the yeah — seems to me that two 60×102″ tablecloths would convert very nicely into a pair of full-length, 84″ tall pinch pleat curtains suitable for, say,  a 36″ or 40″ wide window. Just one 60×102″ tablecloth, turned lengthwise, could be enough material to create a pair of sill-length pinch pleats for a 40×48″ window…

Or, just buy one of these Vintage Vera tablecloths — and use it as a tablecloth!

The post $20 Vera Neumann design tablecloths at Home Goods — Kate uses three to make roman shades appeared first on Retro Renovation.

Do you want to build or decorate a home tiki bar and make it authentically spectacular? Then you must start hunting for some tapa cloth — a tiki bar design essential. Pam and I had no idea how wonderful tapa cloth was before we attended The Hukilau and were able to see and touch a real live vintage piece from new BFF Basement Kahuna aka Dave Wolf’e’s collection. This stuff is awesome! 

All of the tiki experts on our panel agreed that tapa cloth is an important building block of a home tiki bar. Applying tapa cloth to a wall will instantly ‘fill’ the space with authentic Polynesian pattern and texture.

Tapa cloth can be used on its own as a design element on its own merit. Or, it can be used as a backdrop for a Polynesian mask, sword, tiki or other object. Above: A tiki carving framed beautifully by a tapa cloth at Foundation tiki bar in Milwaukee.

Tapa cloth was a must-have element in commercial tiki bars, which entered the American scene in the 1930s and endured through the early 1980s. Above: The Lanai Room at Trader Vics at the Boston Statler Hilton, vintage postcard from Pam’s collection.

What is tapa cloth and how is it made?

Tapa cloth has long been made, by hand, using the inner bark of the paper-mulberry tree. It is then hand-decorated using inks also derived by natural materials.

The long process of creating tapa cloth begins with stripping, soaking and pounding the inner bark to flatten it… then connecting several thin sheets together… beating it again and joining it with other pieces… and finally, finally decorating the cloth with natural pigments. The end result is a work of art — a decorative, textured, thin cloth with a bit of sheen that feels sort of like painted rice paper, only thicker.

Scroll down to see a detailed description of tapa cloth making found on some old packaging…

Traditionally, tapa cloth is was made for everyday uses such as clothing, room dividers and floor mats, and it was also used for special occasions like wedding and funerals. Tapa cloth is still being made today — using both modern methods and the traditional, hand made method.

Where to buy tapa cloth

Oceanic Arts is a great source for traditionally made, new tapa cloth. If you are in Europe, you can buy it from Cheeky Tiki in London.

But now that you know about tapa cloth, you’ll also want to keep your eagle eye out for vintage. Vintage tapa cloth is highly collectable, and if you are lucky, you can find it at estate sales, thrift stores, and of course, on Ebay. While new tapa cloth made using traditional techniques can be just as beautiful as vintage pieces, vintage tapa cloth might also come with stories about the original owners that are almost as fun to collect as the cloth itself.

Basement Kahuna’s vintage roll of tapa cloth had a good story attached to it. A Polynesian woman gave the cloth — which she used for clothing — to an American serviceman when he was stationed there in the 1950s.  As we recall, there was the the pitter patter of beating hearts, but a longterm romance was not to be. Back in the U.S. the cloth was kept in a closet for many years, because the woman who married the serviceman didn’t want to have a daily reminder of the Polynesian woman he left behind. That’s me holding Basement Kahuna’s storied vintage tapa cloth at Retro Renovation’s Hukilua symposium on how to Create Your own Suburban Savage Paradise –>

Pam found several gorgeous vintage pieces of tapa cloth in their original bags for sale by Ebay seller almostlono. Pieces of tapa cloth like these were often purchased as souvenirs by travelers in the 1960s and 1970s who wanted to bring a little bit of island art to their suburban homes.

The informational page included with these tapa cloths, still in their original wrappers, describes the process of making this unique cloth:

Tapa… A Traditional Polynesian Cloth

They turn tree bark into beautiful cloth…

A flair for art, nimble fingers and endless patterns. For centuries now, these innate qualities have been the basis of the South Sea’s most indigenous handicraft — tapa making.

The making of tapa is win intricate process. Once the chief form of cloth over a large part of the South Pacific, notably in Polynesia, tapa is now no longer made in several islands where it was a universal art. In others, though, tapa of outstanding quality in texture and design is still made, and by no means only for sale purposed. In many island groups it is still the unusual form of sheet or quilt and it is still used on such occasions as a wedding, ceremonial dances and other ceremonial events. Tapa is made from the inner bark of the paper-mulberry tree (Broussonetia papyrifera). This tree is cultivated for tapa making and introduced to grow straight and slender. When 6 to 8 feet tall, it is cut off at the base.

A small incision is made and the bark is peeled off as a glove is peeled off a finger. The bark is then rolled up, to prevent curling, soaked until softened and then scraped with a blunt-edged shell to remove any remaining pieces of the outer bark. The strips of inner bark are then beaten with a flat-faced wooden club against a hollow and resonant length of hardwood. The resonance of the “anvil” is mentioned because tapa makers usually work in teams of several women, all beating their tapa on the same resonant board in a slightly “off-beat” rhythm. The beat of the tapa makers and the work songs they sing is still a fascinating sound heard today in scores if not hundreds of villages.

The first beating expands the material some 6 to 8 times its former width and reduces it to tissue-paper thickness. Sheets of this delicate material are carefully folded, wetted, unfolded and placed on over the other. The double or triple thickness is then beaten again to “felt” it and make it one sheet. In a similar way, these sheets are joined to other sheets to make a large piece of tapa.

The decoration or painting of the tapa is, of course, the most difficult part of the whole process and the method and style varies from island to island. Only natural pigments are used and designs are traditional to each tapa maker and family of each island. Out of a thousand various-sized panels, it would be unlikely to find a duplication in design. Unique artistry is a prime reason why sophisticated markets are becoming especially partial to Tongan and Fijian Tapa.

Take a piece home and you will revel in the sunny glow that makes high quality tapa cloth the up-and-coming art form of today.

Tapa cloth has also been referred to as ‘barkcloth’ because it is made from tree bark. We will take an easy leap and suggest — the cotton barkcloth fabric — vintage and new — that we very much know and love today took its name from the idea of tapa cloth… the nubbly feel of cotton barkcloth is kind of similar to that of tapa cloth.

• 7 places to buy barkcloth fabric today 

Mega thanks to Ebay seller almost_lono for allowing us to use his tapa cloth photos. The photo of me holding the vintage tapa cloth at The Hukilau courtesy of photographer Nicole Carta from go11.com.

The post Tapa cloth — a tiki bar design basic appeared first on Retro Renovation.

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I have childhood memories that have stuck with me since the beginning. The vanilla chocolate chip cake my mom made for nearly every birthday celebration is one of the fondest. It’s not just cake but each bite tastes like childhood. It’s a strong memory. As are the date squares she made for a winter snack or the tarte aux sucre that reminds me of my grandmother.

Then there are the memories that I didn’t even realize I had. These biscuits, for example. I saw the recipe on pinterest and when I clicked over to the post, I realized that I knew these cookies well. My mom didn’t buy a lot of sweets, but she had a sweet tooth. She wanted to keep us on the straight and narrow when it came to junk food so we didn’t get a lot of store-bought cookies. But there was one cookie she would buy at the store. They came in a rectangular package and the cookies themselves came in long perforated sheets. You had a break your cookie loose from the larger cookie sheet so there was some effort involved. And because they weren’t coated in chocolate or had icing centres they felt healthy. I think that’s why my mom bought them. I knew them as Sultana biscuits – at least, I think that’s what I remember them as.

The recipe I saw called them Garibaldi biscuits, but they are also known by the appealing name “squashed fly biscuits”. Whatever they’re called, I’m happy that they’re back in my life. These are not very sweet cookies. In fact, they’re plain and dowdy and as a kid, while I was happy we had cookies in the house, I was disappointed because raisins didn’t seem like treats. Now that I’m a grown up lady, these biscuits are just the ticket. I’m fine with their plain old selves. I see the appeal. They go lovely with a cuppa in the evening and they taste deliciously wholesome. That’s a thing, trust me.

Buttery but not too rich, these cookies are studded with currants and dried cranberries. You could use the more traditional sultanas, but I used what I had in the cupboard. Plus, I like currants and dried cranberries a whole lot better. Lemon zest gets added to the dough which, I think, is a must. Orange zest would work well too. When there’s not a lot of sugar, you need an extra zing of flavour and the zest does that beautifully.

To make a batch, you have to make a dough that has more in common with a pie or cracker dough than cookie batter. Cornelius called these “cracker-cookies”, so you have some expectation on what you’re dealing with here. You roll out the dough, and when it’s flat enough, you sprinkle on the dried fruit. Then you fold over the plain side onto the fruit side and roll out the thing again. Basically, you’re studding the dough with the sticky raisins which is a nice little trick. Cut the dough into rectangles and pop on a baking sheet. As you can see my dough isn’t the most rectangular specimen so that gave me lots of little ugly off-cuts. That’s okay, because they’re just as tasty as their prettier cousins.

Did I mention that these are made with a 50/50 split between whole wheat and all purpose flour? Remember, I said that these were wholesome treats! Raw sugar is sprinkled over top before baking. It gives the biscuit a nice crunch and sweetness. They’re dense and solid cookies, not flakey or crunchy.

I packaged up the biscuits to a friend. A trade actually. We got some of their leftover wedding lights to string up on our balcony and they got some wholesome biscuits. I like to think that we’re both happy in that trade.

And as a treat for it being Canada Day (whooo!), I’d like to offer a 15% discount off anything in my etsy shop. I have a whole bunch of new cards, sale items, prints and other lovely paper things to purchase. Use the code “WHOLESOME” at checkout. But be quick, this offer expires July 3, 2014.

garibaldi biscuits
1 c whole wheat flour
1 c all-purpose flour
1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
zest from 1/2 a lemon
1/4 c unsalted butter, cold, cut into 1″ cubes
1/2 cup milk
1 egg yolk

1/2 c currants
1/2 c dried cranberries

1 t milk
1 egg white
2 T raw sugar

Preheat oven to 375F. Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat mats.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest and salt. Add in the butter and use a pastry cutter to cut the butter into pea-like crumbs. Or you can take the easy way out and use your stand mixer with the paddle attachment to beat the peas out of the butter. Mix in the milk and the egg yolk until a dry dough forms, add a little more milk if needed.

Place dough on a lightly floured work surface and roll out into a rectangle shape, 1/8″ thick (think pie dough thickness). In retrospect, it would have been easier to divide the dough in half and work on half the amount of dough at a time.

Scatter the currants and dried cranberries over half the dough, adding more fruit if you feel it needs it for best coverage. Fold the naked side of the dough over the raisin side and roll to flatten the dough, trimming and reshaping to try to keep a rectangle shape.

Combine 1 teaspoon of milk with the egg white and brush dough. Sprinkle dough with raw sugar. Cut dough into fingers, about 1.5″ x 3″ or so.

Place rectangles onto 2 prepared cookie sheets. The cookies don’t spread, but try to keep them about an inch apart to keep a good air flow between them. Bake for 16 minutes or until golden. Cool on a wire rack. Makes about 24 biscuits.

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Were you about to make a pie for this weekend? Stop. I think you should join me in abandoning Team Pie for Team Galette; you won’t regret it. It’s not like we haven’t had our share of exceptional vegetable galettes, but save a nectarine version in the archives and a cherry-almond riff in the book, I usually defaulted to pie when it came to fruit, round, slabbed or cookie-ed. But last week, when we had an excess of blueberries on our hand because someone (cough) cannot control herself when anything first graces the Greenmarkets, it all felt like so much work — all of that dough, sugar, crimping and weaving and trimming, baking time, plus I have no idea where my pie dishes are, they’re probably being used as a play-doh receptacle somewhere. A galette would never do this to you.

Galettes are your friend. Requiring less of everything, they come together in all of 15 minutes and take 30 to bake, which means you can totally wait until the last minute to make one, as you were going to anyway. They don’t care if you make them round or square — whatever shape the dough stretches out into will do. But that doesn’t mean someone (cough) didn’t get carried away trying to put a July 4th spin on hers.

... Read the rest of blue and red berry ricotta galette on smittenkitchen.com

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Does anyone else have "the dark" room at their house? You know, the room that just doesn't ever seem to get enough light, no matter how bright it is outside? Well, for me that room is our bedroom. I would love to someday add bigger windows to that room, but I decided in the meantime that it would probably be more cost-effective to just paint the room a bright white to reflect as much light as possible. The furniture colors are pretty neutral in our bedroom because the walls used to be a robin's egg blue, but now that the walls are white, well, I realized pretty quickly that I needed to add more color ASAP.

I thought it would be the perfect solution to make three wooden panels to act as an art headboard and paint something really colorful and bright across the panels. When deciding what to paint, I remembered a geometric background I made for my laptop last year and thought it would be a fun pattern to use. Since the original design used overlapping shapes with different opacity levels, I had to choose a bunch of different paint colors to create all the hues that are made when the shapes overlap. It was like a big color puzzle, but kind of fun to figure out all the different shades.

While I was tweaking the design and picking out the paint colors, Josh got started on the panels and cut three identical boards 20" x 53". He added a 1.5" x 1.5" border all the way around the edges to give the panels extra stability and assembled the pieces together using a pocket screw method. Once assembled, the panels were painted a bright white and they were ready for some color!

I printed an outline of all my shapes onto a transparency so I could use my projector to project the image onto the boards. I also hung the panels the correct distance apart on the wall so the shapes would line up correctly when it was hung above my bed.

Once the pattern was projected in the right spot, I used a ruler and pencil to trace the outline onto the wood.

I made a printout of my pattern and assigned each color a number so I could make a chart of what color goes where (believe me, this made it way less confusing when I went to paint each color).

Once the pattern was traced and my colors were planned out, I used painter's tape to tape off each section and painted one color at a time until the whole pattern was completed. It wasn't actually as much work as I thought it would be, but it did take a bit of time to complete since I had to wait for each color to dry before doing a second coat or painting a color right next to it. Thankfully, I had a big fan pointed at it, so that helped speed up the drying time.

Once the paint was dry, I added wire hangers to the back of the frames so I could easily hang them above the bed.

So far I'm really into the pop of color that the new headboard adds to the space. It definitely adds more personality and life to the room, and I love the fact that it really looks like overlapping transparent shapes. I'm trying to plan out my other pops of color to add to the room, but I think I'm on a good path so far! xo. Laura

Credits // Author: Laura Gummerman. Photography: Laura Gummerman and Sarah Rhodes. Project Assistant: Josh Rhodes. Photos edited with Stella from The Signature Collection.

Do you want to know a secret? Eggplant is not a favorite vegetable of mine. There are probably some eggplant fanatics out there who would completely disagree, but hear me out. It's mainly a texture thing. I think I enjoy the flavor just fine, but the spongy, foamy texture of eggplant can be a real turnoff sometimes.

If I don't much care for eggplant, then why in the world would I take the time to cook something with it? That's a very good question. 

This summer we've joined a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) from Millsap Farms. For us this means that every week we get a small box of fresh vegetables and eggs delivered to our house. Fresh veggies and eggs make a huge difference in anything you are going to cook (or bake). If you have the option to join a CSA in your area, I highly recommend it. 

Some weeks we receive items that I don't know what to do with. Last week we received a beautiful purple eggplant which I immediately thought, "Oh geez, what am I going to do with that?" But once I realized my main issue with eggplant is the texture, I decided to just try something that altered the texture. These little sub sandwiches are a little twist on the classic dish Eggplant Parmesan. Even if you aren't a big eggplant fan, you should totally give this a try; it might surprise you.

Crispy Eggplant Parmesan Subs, makes 4-5 servings.

1 cup eggplant (about half the eggplant you see in the above photo)
1 small red onion
4 garlic cloves (you only see two in the photo above because we decided it needed more after tasting)
1 14-ounce can garbanzo beans
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro plus more for the tops
1 cup bread crumbs (I used Panko)
1 egg
salt + pepper
1/2 cup flour
oil for frying

You'll also need:
4-5 sub sandwich rolls
1 cup marinara sauce plus more for dipping
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In a food processor, combine the diced eggplant, red onion, garlic, rinsed beans, cilantro, and a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. Puree until the ingredients are just blended.

Stir in the egg and bread crumbs. Use your clean hands to divide the mixture into 18-20 small balls. Place these on a baking sheet lined with wax paper. Freeze for 1 hour.

Once they have hardened from freezing, coat each ball in a thin coat of flour. While you work on this, heat up the oil in a heavy-duty pot. You only need enough oil that the balls can be fully submerged in while cooking.

Once the oil is hot enough (around 350°F), fry each eggplant ball for about a minute, flipping halfway through cooking. Use kitchen tongs to remove them to a bed of paper towels to remove excess grease.

Now you are ready to assemble your subs. Place 3-4 eggplant balls into each sub. Top with marinara and cheese. Bake under the broiler (or just a really hot oven) just until the cheese melts. Top with a little more cilantro.

These are best served with additional marinara sauce on the side, for dipping purposes. Just FYI.

I'm really glad we joined a CSA this year, as I feel like it's forcing me to be a little more creative with my recipe development. I also loved getting to know the owner while I got to help on the farm one weekend (many CSAs have an option, or requirement, that participants also volunteer on the farm). Oh, and every Thursday night they host a pizza night at their farm. I know! It's so cute. And delicious. My talented friend Katie Day took some pretty photos of one pizza night. Okay, I'll stop rambling. Just make these sandwiches, guys. You're gonna love them. xo. Emma

Credits // Author and Photography: Emma Chapman. Photos edited using A Beautiful Mess actions.

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