Cute Nest

Butter Chicken, or Butter Tofu

2010-05-31T08:21:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I have never been a huge fan of indian food, however it's growing on me. I was introduced to butter chicken through a recipe that my sister was given. After making it once, the whole family was hooked! I think we could eat it every day!

Usually we do eat it for about three days in a row, though switch it up a bit. The first day we eat butter chicken (or tofu as we are slowly becoming vegetarian) over basmati rice, with mango chutney, and poppadoms.

The next night we pick out most of the chicken (or tofu) and use it to make naan bread pizzas. We spread a bit of sauce on, then the chicken, some roasted garlic and top with parmesan cheese! Served with a green salad and it's an amazing dinner!

For our last night of butter chicken, we use whatever sauce and chicken that is leftover on top of pasta! Sometimes we use tortallini, and other times penne. We also saute some veggies to throw in the sauce as well ..... sometimes we have to blender the veggies to get the kids to eat them with the sauce though!

Here is the recipe so you too can eat it everyday ...... if so desired!

Boneless chicken or extra firm tofu

one lb. butter

two cans crushed tomatoes

ginger (about the size of a small egg)

whole garlic bulb (sometimes i use less)

an onion

garam masala

tandoori masala (sometimes I don't have this on hand, so just add more garam masala if you can't find it!)

juice of one lemon

one bunch of cilantro, chopped

heavy cream

salt and pepper to taste

Mince ginger, garlic and onions. Melt butter in a large saucepan. Saute ginger, garlic and onions until softened, about five minutes. Cube chicken or break up firm tofu and saute until browned. If using tofu, you can just skip the browning process and add the next ingredients right away. Once chicken is cooked, add the crushed tomatoes, lemon juice, garam masala, and tandoori masala. Cook on medium-low for about two hours.

This is best if made the night before, or in the morning, so all the flavors meld together. Once you are ready to serve the butter chicken/tofu, add the heavy cream and chopped cilantro. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve over basmati rice!

Enjoy!!

A Break?

2010-05-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

I have been busy crafting away, but not really blogging about it. I suppose it's because the crafting has been clothes instead of house stuff. I did just finish our chevron stripe bathmat! I am going to wash it before taking any photos, so look for that soon! Alright off to make some dinner! I'll post the recipe later tonight! Butter Chicken!

Crafty Kid

2010-05-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for the right time to teach jackson some more craftiness and he's now picked up a fabulous skill! he has been working on an embroidery for his music teacher. His last music class of the season was today and he gave her the embroidery he did (okay he asked for help with the eye and face ... but the hair he did all by himself!) based on a picture he drew of her. I am so excited!!!!

We talked about how i was a little sad to give his first embroidery project away, but he said, " well i could make one for you mama!". you know mother's day is just around the corner!

OMG this silly computer is not letting me upload the photos! argghhhh ..... you can see his handy work here though! I will try to upload photos tomorrow!

Hand Dyed Paper

2010-05-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

Each week we host a small children's art club. This week our project turned out so well, I just had to share it with you! We made hand dyed paper. I had hoped to find nice big sheets of rice paper, but didn't have a chance to run out to Chinatown. We decided to use paper towel, recycled Seventh Generation Paper towel at least! I'm not sure what we will use the paper for, but it certainly looks pretty. The kids had so much fun folding and dipping. If we'd had rice paper we could have used the paper for wrapping paper. Below are the instructions:

In small bowls combine a few drops of food coloring with water. Do not dilute coloring too much. Maybe a few tbsp of water to two drops of food coloring.

Next, fold some paper or paper towel (coffee filters work well too)

Above is a couple of ways to fold. You can experiment with different foldings. I folded the triangular one more more time, see photo below.

The paper all folded and ready to dip!

Next dip the corners, or sides of the folded towel into the food coloring mix. You don't need to hold the paper in for too long, it will spread up the towel quickly. After dipping, squeeze out the excess into the bowl (i just press is against the side of the bowl). You don't have to squeeze, it'll just take longer to dry.

Once you've finished dipping your paper, sandwich it between an old towel to get out excess water. Unfold and hang to dry!

End result with the square fold.

End result with the triangular fold.

If you decide to use rice paper you can use it as wrapping paper, or lighting brush with cooking oil and use as easy stained glass hangings!

Roasted Yam and Chard Tacos

2010-04-29T17:45:00.000-07:00

I cook. I love it. Cooking is my one guaranteed break from my hectic day. I spend a minute in the cupboards and fridge, then scour online for inspiration. It's rare that I follow a recipe. Usually I just look at the photos and read the ingredients. I've been cooking (well) long enough to know how to wing it.

Yesterday we received our first delivery (by bicycle!) of organic produce, from Share Organics. I am hoping to sign up for this service twice a month. Anyways, chard and yams were in the box and on the menu for tonight. I love combining color to create a meal! Anyways I found some great recipes, then came up with tonight's dinner as follows:

Ingredients:

two or three yams, peeled

olive oil

a few chard leaves

garlic clove

one very small red onion

cumin

chili powder

black beans

corn tortillas

sour cream (optional)

Cut up yams into 1/2" chunks. Spread on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, stir around and bake for another 15 minutes or until they are roasted.

Meanwhile separate chard leaves from stems, rinse, dry and chop. Mince one garlic clove and dice red onion. Sauté onion and garlic for a few minutes, then add chard and a few splashes of vegetable broth. Mix 1/2 a cup of vegetable broth with a tbsp of cumin and a tbsp of chili powder. Pour this over the cooking chard and add a few handfuls of black beans. I used canned today. Sauté until most moisture is cooked off.

When yams done. Separate some and mash then a bit. Stir mashed yams into chard mixture and cook for a few more minutes. While cooking this, put a splatter screen over the frying pan and plop some corn tacos on. Cover with a lid and steam for 30 seconds a side. Repeat, until all your tortillas are steamed. Every once and a while, stir the mixture underneath to make sure it's not sticking!. Throw the steamed tortillas on the table, scoop the chard mix in a bowl, and mix with the non mashed yams. Set the bowl on the table and you are ready to eat!

Maybe add some sour cream if you desire! Ta da!!

PS: Okay i've had dinner and it was AMAZING!!! The sweetness of the yams just makes the dish! Enjoy!

Snack Pack Pattern

2010-04-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

This is a project I made a year ago. I made some of these for myself and some friends. They are great because they pop out to form a bowl of sorts! We use them all the time and I really need to make some more! Here is the pattern link:

Snack Pack PDF Pattern

Cute Garden

2010-04-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

Everything is at a stand still. I am too busy playing in the dirt for anything else at the moment. I am not crafting, building, drawing or crocheting! Just digging and planting. My clock project is at a stand still. i can't locate a battery (okay i haven't tried) and so i am not sure if i've got the kit assembled properly! For now the toilet paper section hangs on the wall, so it wasn't all for naut.

Project Cute Nest has also taken a back seat to the garden, thoug hi have made some progress in the boys room and the play room. Also I have chosen a paint color for the bedroom; a pale green called "Morning velvet". The paint color I've chosen for the kitchen is a nice calming yellow called "Pale Daffodill". Now I just have to get out to buy the paint!

We had a house cleaning service today and the whole place is just sparkling! That is certainly making this old nest feel a bit more cute! Okay that's all I have to report.

Oh! I made a pillowcase dress for a friend! Haha, this is the only shot I have of it and it's blurry. The whole thing too half an hour!!

Little D modelling the pillowcase dress!

My Work

2010-04-13T21:16:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a project and it's going quite well! I've been looking for a unique clock, but don't want to pay much ... or really anything for it. I have been seeing these wall art pieces made from toilet paper rolls. I decided they would make a good base for my clock ...... now i just have to figure out how to assemble my clock kit! I am excited to finish this little gem!

Project Cute Nest Week 1

2010-04-12T10:29:00.000-07:00

Bedside Table Ideas

the new pulls!

The new paint!

So Week One of Project Cute Nest has come to an end. So what happened in week one?

New pulls in the kitchen

Hooks in the entryway for the boys coats

Paint Swatches selected

Research on Bedside tables

Painted the boys room

Re-organized kitchen

Moved the rocking chair to the "outbox"

I didn't intend to get that much done, but it all unfolded slowly and easily. Coyr did most of the painting of the boys room. I couldn't believe how little time it took!

Kid's Art Pop Card

2010-04-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Do you have tons of kid's drawings laying around? Me too! I use some for wrapping paper and some for ..... um ...... grocery lists (i know, bad isn't it!). There are some that I love, but are too small for wrapping paper, so what to do? Homemade birthday cards!

We recently cut around a few of Jack's bug drawings and attached them to paper folded "springs", then glued them in a card to surprise a friend for his birthday! It was lots of fun and got a good laugh!

It's Done!

2010-04-07T22:47:00.001-07:00

I have been bust with the first week of project Cute Nest, but managed to finish the sweater! I will have a pattern up soon, almost finished writing it.

The Shawl Collar Crochet Sweater

2010-04-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

This is the birthday sweater all finished! I used a sweatershirt that my son fits to figure out the sizing. The following pattern is approximately a 12 month size. It can be easily changed by adding some ch's to the foundation rows and adding some extra length.

PATTERN

4mm hook used

5 or 6 (can't remeber now) skiens of Sirdar Baby Bamboo DK

Pattern Stitch:

Single crochet, alternating front loop and back loop.

Ch one, turn work, sc in front loop of next stitch, sc in back loop of next st, sc in front loop of next stitch, sc in back loop of next st. Continue until you reach the end of the row, or the pattern indicates to stop.

Back

ch 57

Row 1: Turn, sc in second ch from hook. Sc to end of row (56sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, Turn, using pattern st, sc along row until you reach the end (56sc)

Rows 3 to 32: Continue work evenly until piece measures approx. 7 1/2" high increase or decrease number of rows to accomidate child's size, armhole shaping is next!

Row 33: turn, slst in next 6 stitches, ch one, using pattern st, sc along row for the next 44 sts, end of row, 6 st should remain at end of row (44 sc, 6 slst)

Row 34: Ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st, to end of row, DO NOT crochet in slst from previous row (44sc)

Row 35-54: Continue working evenly using pattern st, until back measures approx. 10" from first row. Next is neck shaping!

Row 55: ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st for next 11 st, end of row (11sc)

Row 56: ch1 turn, sc in pattern st for next 11 st (11sc)

Row 57-63: Work evenly using pattern stitch, tie off after last row.

Other Side of Neck Shaping, start at Row 54:

Row 55: Turn work so the side you just finished is to your left. Starting at beginning of Row 54, attach yarn, ch 1, sc in pattern st for the next 11 sts, end of row (11sc)

Row 56: ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st for the next 11 st (11sc)

Row 57-63: Work evenly using pattern stitch, tie off after last row.

Front

Ch 57

Row 1: Turn, sc in second ch from hook. Sc to end of row (56sc)

Row 2: Ch 1, Turn, using pattern st, sc along row until you reach the end (56sc)

Rows 3 to 32: Continue work evenly until piece measures approx. 7 1/2" high increase or decrease number of rows to accomidate child's size, armhole shaping is next!

Row 33: turn, slst in next 6 stitches, ch one, using pattern st, sc along row for the next 44 sts, end of row, 6 st should remain at end of row (44 sc, 6 slst) Neck shaping is next!

Row 34: Ch 1, turn, sc in pattern st, to end of row, DO NOT crochet in slst from previous row (44sc)

Row 35-37: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 16 sts, end of row (16 sc)

Row 38: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 15st (15 sc)

Row 39-41: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 15 sts, end of row (15 sc)

Row 42: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 14st (14 sc)

Row 43-45: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 14 sts, end of row (14 sc)

Row 46: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 13st (13 sc)

Row 47-49: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 13 sts, end of row (13 sc)

Row 50: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 12st (12 sc)

Row 51-53: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 12 sts, end of row (12 sc)

Row 54: Ch 1, turn, skip first st, sc using pattern st for the next 11st (11 sc)

Row 55-63: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 11 sts, end of row, tie off after last row. (11 sc)

Other Side of Front

Starting from Row 34:

Row 35: Turn your work so the side you just finished is to your left. Starting at beginning of Row 34, attach yarn, Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 16 sts, end of row (16 sc)

Row 36-37: Ch 1, turn, sc using pattern st for next 16 sts, end of row (16 sc)