Cool Weather Cooking

Hello!

The weather is cooler, and for me, that means more time in the kitchen. I enjoy cooking, but in cool weather, I like it even more so.

I am very  honored to be in the current Where Women Cook, not once, but twice! 

I did the Ingredients of the Season feature (my ingredients were apples and pecans) and Where Women Cook also featured my Christmas Stollen.

I was extra surprised, as I shot the stollen feature more than a year ago, but I think the publication knew the perfect time to present it. If you aren't familiar with Where Women Cook, I sure wish you would  take a moment and click on the link and get a little familiar with it. They feature just ordinary cooks like me, famous cooks like Ree Drummand (Pioneer Woman), while offering tons of great tips, recipes, and ideas for entertaining. You can also order back issues for those of you who may be new to the publication. 

I thought you might enjoy a few images from the publication as well as some that didn't get published.  

This is an apple/carrot soup with apple peel rose as a garnish.

Spicy lime and chipotle pecans.  

Praline Apple bread and pecan honey butter.

Baked spicy apple slices and salted caramel dip.

Surprise spice caramel core apple:

And some Christmas Stollen images....old fashion German sweet bread in an old fashion setting: 

I love this time of year. It is a season of spectacular, or simplicity. Either way, it is scrumptious. The recipes are in Where Women Cook and as well as many, many more!

I would like to thank Jo Packham (editor) for allowing simple cooks, as myself, to grace the pages of her fab magazine. I love to learn from those who are so much more experienced than me, but also knowing that the publication also recognizes those of us who just enjoy the art of cooking, well, inspires me because I can point at the recipe and think, I can do that too!

Until next time, may your ovens be warm, your rolling pin floured-covered, and your hands sticky with something scrumptious.

from my house to your house,

Sew Much to do Sew Little Time!

Hello!

I hope this Fall weekend is bringing you joy. I only wish there was a magic wand that I could wave to extend this fab weather and number of hours in a day. Just don't seem to have enough hours to do all that I wish to do...same old story...same old results. I start a bazillion projects and eventually get to them, but I will say, it makes life fun and interesting!

And speaking of fun, I had a very fun day earlier this week where in the mail I received my issue of Where Women Create.

How exciting to discover that my photography appeared on the cover! What an honor for my work to be placed in such a wonderful position. 

If you remember a few posts back, I did a remake of my dining area into a sewing area, which could easily be turned by into my dining area, via furniture on wheels (metal furniture by Create-ologie. Shop their store HERE and save 10% off your purchase by typing in "Elizabeth Maxson" at checkout).

What a thrill to see that Where Women Create did a 10-page spread of my little project in their current issue. Below are a few images that did not get published, as well as some that I posted prior, but I thought I would share them with you all the same:

Found these fab lights at World Market. They screw on (like a little clamp) to the edge of the table which allows more table top space.

This corset comes in handy, as I sometimes slip a small pillow between it and the back for extra cushioning when I need it.

My silver goblets, doubling as trim holder. Just wrap and hang on the iron glass rack that I am using...easy!

My favorite stash and oldest textiles. I love looking at it, and yes, I have taken scissors to several pieces already....

And then my little dining area, which I am happy to have, but to be honest, haven't used (in this state) since the publication. We have a little back room with a table that we eat at at times, but with my sewing, well, let's just say I am happy to have PHOTOS of what it could look like! Ha-ha. 

(Hey, I'm not going to lie to my readers and tell you how many fab dinner parties I've had...but it IS nice to know they are still possible....)

This is set up for a soup party. Hot (and cold) soups will go into the ironstone pitchers, hot bread on the cutting board, and butter on the ironstone butter pats with a silver spreader.

Just had to do an old timey looking photo:

Here a few of the projects I have been working on:

Dying fabrics and lace:

Repurposing an old linen jacket...

Making little fabric roses from scraps:

Taking yucky, but comfy shoes and adding my own touch:

Needless to say, I have been experiementing. And my poor little area, while somewhat "organized" is actually more like chaos with purpose. But that's okay. I love learning and doing, and having a little space to make my mess makes all of my not-so-great experiments seem a little "whimsical." (That's my new word for experiments that turn out like crap - whimsical).

Next time, I will share my projects in more detail....for those who are curious about how exactly any of them turned out. 

I am curious too.

from my house to your house,