the haystack needle

the new word in my life

Gluten. It's a funny sounding word that I couldn't draw a picture of in a game of charades — and I never thought about this word for a second until this winter. We've figured out that Dan is allergic to gluten. Of all things to have, admittedly a gluten allergy is not so bad in that there's an easy cure — cut it out of your diet. It's been amazing to see the fast and huge impact on Dan's health since he's gone gluten-free. It feels a little like an unexpected miracle. But I'm not going to lie, cooking and eating out has not been so easy. Gluten is not only in breads (including spelt breads), pastas, every kind of delicious baked treat, and flour tortillas, but there's gluten in surprising places, like soy sauce.

Thankfully, there are gluten-free aisles in many supermarkets now, and some alternatives are pretty good. We've found a couple brands of gluten-free pasta that don't turn into mush. Whole Foods carries a gluten-free bread that makes great toast and also has peanut butter cookies that are tasty as long as you zap them in the microwave for 20 seconds. I'm thinking of getting a tortilla press to start making my own corn tortillas (the packaged corn tortillas from the grocery store are always so small and taste like paper to me), and we need to start eating a lot more rice to fill in as the new starch in our meals. I'm planning to invest in a rice maker. In general, meal planning takes a lot more planning these days because our local markets don't have much in the way of gluten-free options, so I need to make strategic trips to one of the Manhattan Whole Foods and order some other ingredients, like flour, online.

 

I picked up this cookbook over the weekend, and I'm so excited to try out the recipes. I've been truly inspired by Dan's amazing willpower to pass on cupcakes before a movie and eat a salad instead of his favorite sandwich for lunch. And he doesn't even whine about it — I feel like I would be so grumpy if I had to change my diet so drastically. Watching how he's stepped up to this challenge motivates me to help make it easier for him to stay gluten-free and still eat well. So I'm hoping to make the best blueberry muffins and chocolate cupcakes — that also happen to be gluten-free. I've also added a new blog to my Reader and we found one spot for gluten-free pizza that is fantastic (better than most regular pizza.)

We actually haven't visited the gluten-free bakery Babycakes yet. I think that's on the list for this week. But it's comforting to know that it exists as well as ways to make sweet treats like strawberry shortcake and banana bread for D.

If you happen to have any favorite gluten-free foods, restaurants, cookbooks, blogs, or any tips, I welcome any ideas. Thank you!! And a special thanks to my friends and family who have heard me talk endlessly about gluten and my trials in gluten-free cooking for the past month.

(photographs via Babycakes)

appliqué your way + giveaway!

Do I have a Friday treat for you, my dears. As part of her blog tour, the super talented Kayte Terry is popping in, and Chronicle Books is doing a giveaway here of her new book, Appliqué Your Way!  Leave a comment below for a chance to win. I promise this is one inspirational craft book you'll want around this winter — you can dive into the projects simply using the scrap fabrics you have lying around. Kayte's done an amazing job of making appliqué accessible to the beginner — and making it modern in style. She's included templates for the 35 sewing projects in the pocket at the back of the book. So smart. Because if you're anything like me, needing a trip to the copy store is a sure way to derail any ambition to start a project. Oh, and Jennifer Causey is the talent behind these gorgeous photographs — another reason I adore this book. I'd like to step inside the cover image and live there. But I digress.

I picked three of my favorite projects from the book to share, which stirred up that "oh my" feeling. You know the feeling. The one that says you're in trouble because you're in love with what you're seeing but you already have a list of 68 other projects on your to-do wishlist. Look at these doily trivets made from bright wool felt! I want to make these as a housewarming gift for friends. There are only 7 steps to this project — it looks simple even to me (and I'm a bit skiddish about using the sewing machine.)

This project is one big wow — garland sheers! It's like Kayte read my mind and knew I needed something for my window that's pretty and lets in a lot of light. (Don't we all?) These sheers use organza fabric to create the look of festive paper garlands. I love these garland sheers — shot straight to the top of my list of projects to try.

And for me, quilting is something I want to try in the not-too-distant future, but right now I don't have the patience. These quilt square cards satisfy my desire for more instant gratification when it comes to quilting.

I asked Kayte to share a peek at her appliqué toolkit. Check out these photos! Appliqué is a really portable hobby. There are some basics you need, but the tools aren't that expensive. I don't knit or crochet (yet) and one thing that keeps deterring me is the cost. I know friends who knit and see how much the yarn costs. That's what seems so appealing about appliqué — once you have your kit pulled together, you need very little amounts of fabrics to create projects, so it's easy on the wallet.

I happen to love seeing other people's workspace and inspiration boards. Here's a peek at Kayte's inspiration board. Prize ribbons + photobooth photos — so fun.

For a chance to win a copy of this super book, Appliqué Your Way, simply leave a comment below and I'll pick a random winner (be sure to include an email address, or way for me to find you, if you're the lucky winner.) If you post the giveaway on your facebook, blog, or twitter, come back and leave a second comment for an extra chance to win!

The giveaway ends Tuesday, December 22, at 9pm EST. Good luck!

UPDATE: I used Random.org to pick a winner for me, and Andi is the lucky winner! Thanks so much to everyone for playing! I hope to pull together more fun giveaways in the new year.

Thanks to Chronicle Books for the giveaway, and a big thanks to Kayte Terry for stopping by on her blog tour! I'm so happy that through this I found Kayte's blog, This is Love Forever. Her blog was new-to-me and I'm now hooked. It's a really lovely space of inspiration — I recommend popping over.

broccoli with cheese sauce + spinach croquettes

Before heading out for Thanksgiving, I wanted to share two more vegetable recipes from the cookbook, I Know How To Cook put out by Phaidon Press. Both involve Gruyere cheese. Decadent and delicious.

I haven't tried this recipe yet (looking forward to making it tonight.) But I have high hopes for it. As many of you know, I don't often cook with a lot of vegetables as Dan is not a fan of most vegetables (it makes cooking dinner rather tough some days.) I'm slowly trying to incorporate more veggies, and I'm always scouting for recipes that will extend his palette to liking more greens. This recipe caught my eye. When I was a kid, my mom got me to eat broccoli by smothering it with Chees Wiz. Maybe it wasn't the most healthy option, but it did get me to eat greens and develop a love for broccoli. So I instantly tagged this recipe when I saw it — sounds like the grown-up, French take on broccoli with Chees Wiz.

Broccoli in Cheese Sauce

recipe by Ginette Mathiot for I Know How To Cook

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Steam the broccoli for 4-5 minutes or boil it in salted water for 6 minutes. Drain and put it in an ovenproof serving dish. Coat the broccoli with the cheese sauce. Brown in the oven for 5 minutes before serving. 

to make the cheese sauce (sauce mornay):

Stir scant 1 cup grated Gruyere or Parmesan cheese into the white or bechamel sauce (see below for recipe). The cheese thickens the sauce.

Simple!

Last night I made the Spinach Croquettes (below, on my favorite tea towel from Hammocks & High Tea.) They didn't turn out as well as the photo in the book (my croquettes looked more like patties.) I noted below where I think I made a mistake, and one part that I still don't understand. Any suggestions, please leave a comment with your thoughts. I'm going to try them again as I LOVE spinach croquettes.

Spinach Croquettes

recipe by Ginette Mathiot for I Know How To Cook

1 cup bechamel sauce

1 3/4 pounds cooked spinach

2 eggs beaten

generous 3/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese

scant 1/2 cup butter

Make the bechamel sauce. Process the spinach in a food processor or pass through a food mill until smooth, and mix with the sauce. Add the eggs and cheese. Heat the butter in a skillet. When it is hot, drop spoonfuls of the spinach mixture gently into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, until browned.

how to make bechamel sauce:

2 heaping tablespoons butter

1/3 cup flour

generous 2 cups milk

salt and pepper

grated nutmeg

Melt the butter in a pan. Stir in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes to form a paste. Gradually add the milk, stirring all the time to prevent lumps forming, and simmer for 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

the inspiration photo from the book — oh the perfect croquettes.

Note from book about cooking spinach: To prepare, remove any large or tough stems from the leaves. Wash the spinach in several changes of water, then cook uncovered in plenty of boiling salted water for 5 minutes, using about 3 1/4 quarts of water per 2 1/4 pounds of spinach. Drain and press out water. The cooked weight will be approximately two-thirds less than the raw weight.

Notes from Jen: I know that I made a mistake on the amount of spinach as I didn't notice this note before I bought groceries. And I don't own a kitchen scale, so I don't know how to figure out that I have 1 3/4 pounds of cooked spinach anyway. This recipe made me want to invest in a scale. I definitely had too little spinach. 

The part of the recipe that I don't understand is the scant 1/2 cup of butter that you're supposed to put in the pan to cook the croquettes. That's actually a stick of butter which seems like a lot! And I don't get how to cook in butter without burning the butter. I tried following this and totally burned my butter. So then I dumped the butter and started again without butter (I was using a nonstick pan anyway, so I didn't think I needed the butter.) Any thoughts here? What am I missing?

I like to eat spinach croquettes with a yogurt sauce. I whipped together a simple yogurt sauce to pair with my croquettes last night: just plain yogurt mixed with some fresh lemon juice and a little pressed garlic.

Have a happy Thanksgiving! Eat well. xo Jen

green beans french-style

 

I don't know about you, but my favorite part of Thanksgiving is definitely the sides. All the roasted vegetables, the cranberry chutney, and my family's German potato salad (I'm finding out the recipe on Wednesday and will share it with you!). So when I had the chance to sit down with a new gorgeous cookbook put out by Phaidon Press, I Know How to Cook, I had vegetable sides on the brain. And thankfully, Phaidon is letting me share 3 recipes from the book with you! This cooking bible is basically a French cooking version of The Silver Spoon. And a favorite blogger, Clotilde, is behind updating this French classic for an American version. Besides the textbook resource of 1,400 recipes, I love how the book explains sauces and shares tips on cooking different kinds of meats and vegetables. And I also happen to adore the illustrations in the book by Blexbolex (and am desperately trying not to ruin the pretty matte pages with my messy fingers).

Today, I'm sharing the recipe for Green Beans A La Nicoise, which I made last night (see photo above — it was delicious!). Check back in tomorrow for more vegetable sides — maybe one will inspire a last minute vegetable on your Thanksgiving table.

green beans a la nicoise

by Ginette Mathiot, I Know How to Cook

2 1/4 pounds green beans

generous 2 cups tomato sauce

1 handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Prepare and cook the beans. To prepare, trim each bean. If the beans are large, split them in two lengthwise. Wash in warm water and cook immediately in boiling salted water. To keep the beans green, put them in one handful at a time, and wait for the water to come back to a boil before adding the next handful. Allow 8-12 minutes for cooking. The beans should remain slightly firm. Drain and place beans in a pan with the tomato sauce. Simmer over low heat for 20 minutes. Add the parsley and serve.

(to make the tomato sauce)

1 pound 10 ounces tomatoes, quartered

4 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup vegetable stock

1 carrot, diced

1 onion, diced

1 sprig of parsley, chopped

1 sprig of thyme chopped

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper

Put the tomatoes in a pan, with no oil or butter, and cook for 5 minutes over moderate heat, stirring from time to time. Make a puree by pushing them through a strainer. Prepare a blond roux with 2 heaping tablespoons of the butter and flour, and stir in the strained tomato pulp. Add the stock, and the carrot, onion, parsley, thyme, bay leaf, and salt and pepper. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Just before serving, stir in the remaining butter. 

To make the blond roux: Melt the butter in a heavy pan over moderate heat. When it is hot, add the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon until the roux is pale brown in color and sandy in texture. Take the roux off the heat and gradually add the stock or water, stirring to avoid lumps. Return to the heat and slowly bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook gently for 2 minutes to cook out the taste of flour.

+ The sauce takes a little time to make, but it smells amazing simmering on your stove! Totally worth the time.

family tree album

I was reminded about this post I'd blogged about a while ago on recording family stories, when I saw a recent reader comment. So much has changed since then. My 80-year-old father is now on the East coast, much closer to my brothers and me. I can visit him in person now. We're seeing some of the things that you start to see as people get older. But it's so much scarier to see a parent experience any kind of memory loss, even when the doctor says it's normal for that age. We have a family ritual of playing backgammon with my dad. The other week when I was visiting him, I was able to "Mars" my dad (win two points) — something I think I've never done before, as he's so quick with backgammon and always beats me. And it didn't feel good to win. In fact, it worried me. 

My hope of getting a recording of his family tree and some of his family and childhood stories didn't get off the ground. I had a difficult time prompting my dad to remember stories and spell out relatives' names with a question-answer method. So I'm trying again. I picked up this book that I'm really excited about. It's called the Bride & Groom Family Tree album from Chronicle Books. The pages are filled with templates to fill in — names, occupations, hobbies, and love stories about relatives — as well as space for anecdotes that you may discover. There's space for photos, too (so you know what your great-great-grandmother looks like.) I'm hoping that bringing a tactile book with me when I visit my dad will help us chart out some memories together. I'm also excited to bring it up to Maine and learn more about Dan's family's stories. Once I get all the information compiled, I'd love to get a genealogy chart to display on the wall — something more modern, like the ones shared on design*sponge yesterday.

What I like most about the book is that it's simple and structured. I know it's a big project to undertake, and I don't want to waste any time fiddling with making my own album. This was one of those times where I was happy to pick up something ready-made so I can get started.

3191 evenings + dreams of blueberry bread

This amazing book of photos arrived at my door yesterday. I'm excited to unwind with my new book tonight (and maybe some red wine.) Just quickly flipping through 3191 Evenings, I could see how Stephanie and Mav's photos really capture those little quiet moments in the evening.

I've also been dreaming of blueberry bread ever since our anniversary weekend — the inn where we stayed had homemade blueberry bread with breakfast each morning. I can't seem to find a true blueberry bread (not blueberry cornbread, not blueberry banana bread) recipe anywhere. Do any of you have a blueberry bread recipe you'd like to share? And thank you so much for your comments (and recipes!) last week on my post about my struggles with meal planning. I'll definitely revisit the topic as I hope to make meal planning a regular part of how I cook during the week. 

Have a lovely fall weekend!

cath kidston + japanese craft books

My friend Sue-Anne introduced me to Brooklyn General over the weekend — a shop filled with incredible yarns, fabrics, and a super library of books. We both got hung up in the book aisle for a while. Here's what I walked away with: Cath Kidston's in Print and Zakka Sewing: 25 Japanese Projects for the Household, (plus a yard of that green oilcloth!). Both books are gorgeous and pretty much had me squealing with joy in the shop. I love Cath Kidston's patterns and this book is full of ideas for using her fabrics in your home. The other book: Japanese style + craft + home projects. Wow. I can't wait to dive into that book.

A peek inside the Cath Kidston book from Chronicle Books:

a stepladder with a white gloss finish + oilcloth top: love!

double layers of patterns to set a table

an easy-to-make doorstop that adds a punch of color.

And here's a look at my very first Japanese craft book, Zakka Sewing:

love the idea of handmade coat covers, since my coats seem to collect dust.

this linen basket is calling my name.

and a bunko-bon book cover — adorable!

I've been pining the end of summer. I do love running around in sundresses so it's always hard to say goodbye to summer days. That's another reason I'm loving these books: they sparked a little excitement for winter. Sue-Anne and I decided we'll be making sewing dates this winter with each other + these books to create a few projects and stretch our sewing skills.