Reconnect with Your Bundt Pan

I'll admit it. I think I've hated Halloween for quite some time. It's just not my thing. To be honest, any other holiday excites me more. In rebellion against it, my friend Celina and I opted out and stayed in to bake pumpkin goodies. Call me a prude, but it was such a better alternative in my mind.

Inspired by The Food Librarian's "I Like Big Bundts" month of recipes, we made a Pumpkin Spiced Bundt Cake with Buttermilk Icing (recipe here). Bundt cakes are delicious and just plain pretty on so many levels. I think baking batter in a bundt pan makes any fall day brighter. How many times do you think I can say "bundt" in one paragraph?

We brought our cake into the office and it's since been referred to as "perfection." Not our words, theirs! Thanks to the buttermilk and the pumpkin purée (have you stocked up despite the shortage?), this cake is moist and delish. For the icing, we used a little more buttermilk than the recipe called for so that it wasn't too stiff. Try it. You'll like it.

If you're not the homemade-pumpkin-baking-type but have a Trader Joe's nearby, their Bread & Pumpkin Muffin Mix is also to die for and is only a whopping $2.99.

Now go. Reconnect with your bundt pan!

Bring on the Bliss

You know what yesterday was in my book...time to break out the Christmas music! I've got some Mariah Carey playing and am sipping on a peppermint mocha. Now that wretched Halloween is done it's time to bring on the holidays!

Contract

Just as buying a "real couch" makes me feel a little more grown up, so does signing a contract to be a contributor to a published book...a quilting book no less! My virtual quilting bee, Block Party, is being turned into a book that will be written by our fearless leaders Kristen and Alissa and published by C&T Publishing, a quilting and fiber arts company. As members of the bee, each of us have been given one of the twelve chapters in which our quilt will be featured.

More than a "how-to" manual, the book will also speak to the emergence of virtual quilting bees and the sense of community crafters have found online. Modern quilters unite!

All Grown Up

It is my experience that the modern world is majorly lacking in official rites of passage. As a twenty-something, I find myself constantly questioning whether I'm really an adult or when it was - if yet - that I "grew up." Am I "legit" when I am done with college? When I have a job? If I get married? When I buy a car? If I have my own apartment? When I contribute to society? When I find out what I want to "be?" Maybe people have always felt this way throughout the centuries, but I think it's safe to assume most modern-day young adults don't quite know where they fit into the landscape of "adulthood" and where it started.

At long last, I might be one step closer to feeling a little more grown up. We bought a new couch that screams sophistication. Nothing says, "I'm responsible and have a job and can pay my bills," like a grown up couch ordered from a store and delivered to your house. Just look at this beauty. Modern design. Tweed upholstery. Clean lines. Perfect.

Until a few weeks ago, I had an old set of couches for almost 6 years that had an imaginary sign on them that read "bachelor pad." Now rid of them, I can face the coming challenges and responsibilities that are sure to come in life knowing that at least we have the couch of our dreams.

Just Try It

Are there any lunatics out there who don't like pizza? I didn't think so.

I imagine that if I were forced to only eat pizza for the rest of my life, I'd be as happy as a clam. Sure, I'd tire of it eventually, but not if I could change it up and put a new spin on a classic. Here's a doozy for you: Asparagus, Tomato, and Goat-Cheese Pizza. You read that right, and it's to die for.

When my friend first made this recipe years ago, I initially scoffed at the idea. Little did I know how well these flavors mesh atop some Pillsbury dough. I plan on cuddling up this weekend while this gem bakes in the oven!

Asparagus, Tomato, and Goat Cheese Pizza

Ingredients
10 spears thin asparagus, trimmed, and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1.5 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
1 10 oz tube refrigerated pizza crust dough (such as Pillsbury)
1 14 1/2 oz can diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings, drained
1 5.5 oz log soft goat cheese (or more if you want)
Marjoram, chopped (optional)
Ground (cayenne) red pepper (not optional)

Directions
Preheat oven to 400°F. Toss asparagus with oil in medium bowl to coat. Unroll pizza dough on baking sheet, forming 9x12-inch rectangle. Spoon tomatoes over dough, leaving 3/4-inch plain border. Scatter oiled asparagus over tomatoes. Bake pizza 7 minutes. Remove from oven. Crumble goat cheese over pizza. Sprinkle lightly with marjoram and crushed pepper. Bake until crust is golden around edges, about 9 minutes longer.

The Swap

Over the weekend, I led a little sewing session at my church for a monthly event we have called "The Swap." Each month, someone leads those who show up in a session/workshop on something they are interested in or have a passion for. I obviously wanted to spread my love of sewing to any willing participants.

Besides teaching my new proteges and sewing together, one of my favorite parts of this weekend was buying loads of fat quarters I could have never justified just buying for myself! Look at how luscious it all is! I felt like Scrooge McDuck swimming around in his vault of gold coins, basking in the glow of all this yummy fabric before my eyes.

We made custom pillow covers and it was grand old time! Here are some pictures from Saturday. I wasn't able to get everyone's, but below are a few. In a world where many of our jobs require sitting at desks all day with results and work that is often un-quantifiable, it just feels good to make something with your own two hands and actually see and feel the fruits of your labor.

Giraffe Rattle

Time to resurrect the old blog. My writer's block from late June carried through August, so... my apologies. I'm committing to get back in the habit!

A few weeks ago I bought Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby... a great find for some quick, cute projects for any little ones in your life. It's full of patterns for toys, clothes, and housewares that are easy and fun.

Take this fine friend below for example. A few bells, some ribbon, a handful of poly-fill, and not even a 1/4 yard of fabric and you've got yourself a giraffe rattle. I've made a few of these for friends recently and I don't think they could be cuter!

"That's a Lot of Look"

"Designers, gather 'round!" Project Runway and our favorite fashion consultant, Tim Gunn, are back! Turn your channels from Bravo to Lifetime and tune in this Thursday for Season 6 of one of the greatest reality shows of all time.

I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of Heidi Klum's class, Michael Kors' one-liners, and Tim Gunn's sass. Due to its late-in-the-season airing and previous lawsuits (with the channel switch), I think we've waited long enough for this season to start! Let the games begin!

Better

A little Agnes always makes my Fridays in the office better! [Click on the images to enlarge.]

Scrappy String Quilt

I'm finally getting around to my month in one of my virtual quilting bee groups! Using this tutorial, I'm asking my pals to put together 4 string quilt blocks for this month's project. The fabric is cut, some samples have been made, and the goods are out in the mail.

At long last I've found something to do with the phone books that are delivered at what feels like bimonthly intervals in Chicago. I've cut up 6" thin paper squares for my blocks and given each member of our group 6 to work on, hoping they'll at least do 4 for me. Because the strips are smaller (1" to 1.5"), the paper-piecing makes the job go more easily. Can't wait to get my blocks back and put it all together!