Veggie Delights

More yummy vegetarian cuisine cooked up at my house this week.

recipe from Appetite for Reduction:
Ginger Mashed Sweet Potatoes & Apples

1 pound apples, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch chunks (2 average sized)
2 pounds sweet potatoes or yams, peeled, cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/4 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon agave (optional, see note)
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger, see note
Cooking spray
Preheat a 4 quart pot over low heat. Spray with cooking spray, then add apples, sweet potatoes, water and salt. Cover pot and sweat the apples and sweet potatoes for about 20 minutes, stirring often. What this means, is just to cook them slowly and let them steam. You want to coax the moisture out of them, but if you make the flame too high they’ll burn and cook unevenly.
After 20 minutes, you can turn the heat up just a bit. Add a little more water if needed. Cover and cook 20 more minutes, paying close attention so that they don’t burn, and stirring often. When they’re very tender, they’re done. Mash with a potato masher. Add the agave, cinnamon and ginger, and mash some more. Taste for salt and seasoning. Serve warm.
                                    *****

Veggie Chili aka "Tortilla Chip soup" (but we enjoy ours with rice and cornbread, not chips):
recipe from How it all Vegan--

1 small onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tbsp olive oil

3 c vegetable stock or water

28 oz diced tomatoes or 5-8 fresh tomatoes, diced and 1/4 cup water

2 tbsp tomato paste

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp chili powder

tortilla chips, crushed (garnish);avocado slices (garnish)

 

In a large soup pot, saute the onions and garlic in oil on medium heat until onions are translucent.  Add the stock, tomatoes, paste, jalapenos, cumin, and chili powder.  Simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Garnish with crushed chips and avocado slices.                                    *****

I will be offline for a week most likely, due to the holidays. But I'll be sewing, styling, crafting, and cooking up a storm, so I'll lots to share with you in the new year.

Happy Holidays!!!
Love, Trista

50's housewife dress: part 1

I made this top last weekend. A great 1950's pattern which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!  I'll finish the skirt in a week and post the whole ensemble. I hope to make a few different versions of this two-piece-dress. I just love it so much! (Can you all tell I'm busting with excitement?!!!)

Advance pattern printed in 1960 -- but i still say this is a 50's dress.

I decided to forgo the cuffs, as pictured on the pattern. I really like a 3/4 sleeve.

Made by me: Blue pants

I got this 70's suit pattern and started on my first jacket (a while ago...but I keep putting it down to start other things...).

I skipped ahead and made a pair of pants last week. Simple, plain, blue cotton, twill. Comfortable. Crazy wide-legs. I'm still figuring out how to style them (I'm pretty sure I can think of something other than a white shirt).

Hope you are inspired! You can do it, too!

Retro Re-do

Oh So Cute vintage dress, why do you have to be so small in the waist?  Never fear, my sewing machine is near! Don't rule out amazing vintage finds that may be too small at first glance.  Alter it!

For this lovely orange dress, I cut a few inches off the hem, separated the bodice and skirt at the waist, removed the skirt gathering to give me the extra inches I needed (4!!!), used the hem scraps to make some "panels" to fit in the side of the bodice, then sewed the top & bottom back together.

A fun project and a new challenge. You don't know what is possible until you try.

Cooking Bonanza!

Last week I made a BUNCH of new stuff and haven't taken to time to share it all with you...
Check this out!
1. Made my own butter. Basically, you just shake heavy cream and eventually you get butter. Kinda cool. (We used the separated buttermilk for pancakes.)

2. Put home-made butter on home-made Cheddar Cornbread. Delicious.

3.AFR recipe! Lentil Eggplant Mole Chili - recipe here, from Appetite for Reduction. Holy Mole! It was so good. Part-time vegan, full-time veggie lover.  You can't go wrong with this fancy chili. We served it with rice. Thank you Matt for your comments in the book on how awesome lentils are.

 4. Homemade Almond Brittle. Delicious.

 5. Pear Crisp! I had the pears, so I just diced them up, tossed with some sugar, and improvised a topping of "crumble" -- some rolled oats, granola, sugar, margarine, cinnamon, and a some juice. Bake 40-50 minutes.

I hope you find this inspiring for your weekend! Happy Cooking!

Made by me: gray leopard print skirt

I saw a cute skirt my friend Eva had with an elastic waist band and then I saw one like this...

...and I thought... I can make myself a little somethin' like that.

I got a good deal on some sale fabric at Joann's in this gray leopard print ruffled stretch knit. The print is wild and forgiving, the ruffles give it a nice texture and the good amount of stretchiness means I don't have to worry about an exact fit-to-size measurement. I just cut a big rectangle (about 42" by 26"), sewed 2 inch black elastic to the top edge, then sewed the edges together down the back center seam. Viola!

 
(I didn't even need to hem the bottom edge because the fabric doesn't fray and the bottom ruffle covers the cut edge. -- I am considering cutting it 2-3 inches shorter...I think just below the knee would be a good length...any thoughts on that?)

Little red dress

I know it's fall and darker colors are the theme of the season, but I can't help myself. I like bright colors! So I compromised with this little red dress from Modcloth and a gray jacket and gray tights. Tights = fall!! :)
And why not splash it up with 5 different strands of pearls! ...Actually they were so heavy, by the end of the day my neck actually hurt! -- but they did look very cute, and that is what matters! hahaha.

 

Have a great weekend!

60's Blue suit

Of course, I was inspired by "Joan" and wanted to make an early 60's style suit/dress. But I wanted separates that I could pair with other things. So I first made this skirt and then I made the top from a late 60's dress pattern They look good I think. Most people thought it was a dress and not 2 pieces, which is interesting. The top is too big (I used a larger pattern) so I need to take it in a bit. I prefer a very fitted/tailored look. I was going for a chic/ladies-who-lunch/60's-professional-dress look... but I'm feeling it is maybe a bit "old republican/first lady" kinda look. I suppose it is a very VERY fine line.

Haircut

I finally got sick of my long hair. I tied it up in a ponytail, walked down to Manic Panic Salon on York, and said "cut it off." The hairdresser was horrified. "Are you sure about this?" she asked me at least 5 times. Yeah, I said cockily, it's only hair. It'll grow back.

Here's my 10 inch ponytail. I'll send it off to Locks of Love - they make wigs for kids. At least it's going to use. Now I can let it grow for a year again (or 2!) and not have to worry about a cut. I'm still adjusting to my naked neck. I have a bit of "buyer's remorse" so to speak, but I'll get used to it.

And it is true - it's only hair. It just keeps growing.

Fall colors: nude, brown, gold

I'm still getting used to fall (cold weather in LA) and trying to wear "fall" clothes. This Made-by-me top is well-fitted, and, in my mind, a nude top like this should go with everything and anything, but it doesn't. I'm still trying to find pairings for it. Feel free to offer up your ideas and inspirations, folks. It's not just the color but the fabric, and the cut/style as well that is somewhat specific and tricky to pair with just anything.
I'll keep you all posted on what I come up with! :)  (Perhaps I should buck the attempt to "match" it and go for something wildly different for the bottom???)
Happy sewing and styling!!!

Style Obsession - Joan Holloway

Oh, MAD MEN, I love you!

And Joan's wardrobe is my current raison d'etre...
Everything I want to make these days is inspired by this wardrobe -- Costume designer is Janie Bryant.

Can she breathe with that belt that tight???  If I wear my belt that snug, I will have to stand all day! But if it made my shape look that good, it'd be worth it!!!!!!!!!! :)

Dot Frenzy

New wrap dress...polka dot knit fabric...Made by me last weekend... So cute! I love the fabric!

Challenges--- Sewing along the grain with the stretch. It pulls through the machine and the hem is wonky and janky looking. Perhaps I'll go over it again with a bias tape or ribbon on the back to keep it in line. Just the neckline needs revisiting I think. Perhaps facing would solve the problem...
Do you like this one?

Why wear sandals on a chilly day? - Just got a mani-pedi - see below :)

New Vegan Cookbook

Our friend Matt Ruscigno is a dietician, and foodie, who is also vegan and an endurance athlete and trainer - check him out at TRUE LOVE Health. He worked on this awesome cookbook called Appetite for Reduction -- get it for a veggie-lover YOU love!

I made a few AMAZINGLY tasty dishes last weekend. Super YUMMY! Cook this tonight!

1. Chickpea Picatta and Caulipots:
Picatta : http://www.theppk.com/2010/09/chickpea-picatta/
Caulipots are Cauliflower Mashed potatoes - creamy even without butter or milk. Especially tasty with Picatta gravy on top! The lemon/wine/caper richness of the picatta is just insanely delicious. Enjoy!

2. Chili Verde con Papas -- basically a tomatillo stew/vegetarian chili without tomatoes -- really different. I loved it. I love the flavor of tomatillos but had never cooked them before. They seemed intimidating to me somehow, I'm not sure why.

 Bon Appetit!

Made by Me - Blue skirt

I just can't get enough of pencil skirts right now. Or this shantung! Or vintage patterns!  I picked up a few DOZEN last weekend -- woohoo! Another hoarders junk is definitely my treasure. :)  This skirt pattern was a 1970's skirt, and the pattern called for a front slit with top-stitched detail up the front center. I prefer a clean front so I scrapped that and cut one solid piece for the front. I really like the pockets and the thin, lined waistband. I plan to make a top to match this.

Sweater from a no-name shop in Rome, Italy; sandals from ModCloth.