Crafting

Want to Learn or Upgrade Your Sewing Skills?

JanetLeave a comment

Recently I came across the latest series from Sew Becca and thought I would share. Why? Becca is a good teacher. I like the way she is presenting this course because it is useful to the beginner and the experienced sewist. Many of us have basic knowledge but for one reason or other hasn’t been near our sewing machine in a while. Some folks have thought that they might be interested in sewing but were intimidated and backed away.

This first installment is excellent and provides a lot of useful information without overloading. From her descriptions of the next lessons, I think we have a lot to look forward to.

If you’ve been thinking about starting, or returning to, sewing Becca’s series might be just what you have been looking for.

Bingeworthy

The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries

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When I need a good bingeable show to curl up with I tend to look for something that doesn’t really require a lot of thought (mine) but good quality production (theirs). I also love a good animated series and when the Looney Tunes are included I am usually a happy camper.

Over the years I’ve watched several episodes of The Sylvester & Tweety Mysteries. For whatever reason it wasn’t when it was originally aired. <shrug> but with the availability on various platforms, I am now able to indulge to my heart’s content.

Tweety is one of those characters folks tend to love. He is tiny, cute, and is smarter than we might suspect.

Sylvester tends toward a single mindedness that would probably be more successful if he took the time to think things through. Sort of like the Coyote in the Road Runner series but without the Acme merchandise. 😉

Granny is, well, Granny. Don’t underestimate her but don’t make the mistake of thinking she is clued in…

I love seeing Cool Cat amble through the episodes and encountering other members of the Looney Tunes universe lends some fun to the mix, too.

Check out the series by clicking HERE. You’ll learn the background and find links to several sources.

Around the House

Not Quite Ready To Reset

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Like many folks I am slooooooowly coming up for air after what felt (feels?) like an enormous Holiday Season. To be honest, it feels like the Universe is working against a Brand New Start In January, too.

I got a new kitchen toy over the holidays (more about that later) and as much as I would love to start exploring and playing with it, the things I want/need from the grocery store simply are not there. Like, restock has not quite happened on top of Wintery Weather where everyone seems to be stocking their pantries for potential storms.

Now, it isn’t as if I don’t have a reasonably well stocked pantry myself, but (you know there is always a ‘but’) I have new recipes to try… <sigh>

The house need a good post holiday clean, too. And it isn’t as if the job(s) are overwhelming, either.

Trying to catch up with or find new shows to watch have been iffy, too. Is it burn out on my end or just boredom?

You know it is an odd time when the highlight of the <ahem> season is that my copy of Mr. Carrington’s upcoming book should be in hand soon…

So, my goal for the next few weeks is to rest, recuperate, catch up as I feel like it and contemplate plans for the rest of the year. Maybe.

Maybe the reset I need is for me. Food for thought…

Cooking

Bacon!

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Frankly, I don’t know of anyone who does not love bacon. Good bacon, that is. The one that is Just Right.

AllRecipes.com have done some research on the topic and while I generally subscribe to their suggestions, I use my broiler pan rather than a baking sheet. I spray both pieces with cooking spray to make clean up easier and then put the bacon on the rack, tuck it into the oven and impatiently wait. 😀 You could line the bottom pan with foil for easy clean up but if you are keeping the bacon fat in the fridge, foregoing the foil just makes it a bit easier.

Note: Some brands of bacon have a LOT of fat while others have very little.

Keep in mind that you could tuck in some tater tots or hash browns while the bacon cooks.

I have not gotten to the place where I freeze left over bacon because, well, there usually isn’t any. I might let it cool, blot it a bit and they layer between sheets of parchment paper cut to size for a gallon sized zip lock freezer bag. Freeze it flat and then, once frozen, I could stand it up beside my rack of veg to save space.

All in all, bacon cooking in the oven is a simple process. If you have not already done so, give it a try.

Bingeworthy · TV

Ludvig

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Every once in a while you find a gem amongst the pebbles. I’ve been reading a lot about BritBox’s Ludvig. I tucked it on my To Be Watched List…Eventually. Eventually actually became Boxing Day and started before dawn. 😀

One of the unexpected plusses about the number of episodes in a British series is that you can usually binge the entire thing in one day. Ludvig is the standard 6 episodes. The beauty of this particular series is that the initial mystery is … mostly resolved. Mostly because it leaves the door open to a second series. The second season has already begun filming with release expected in 2026.

Ludvig is the pen name of puzzle creator John Taylor. John is a recluse who exists in the world to create and solve puzzles. He has a twin brother, James, who is a police inspector married to Lucy and they have a son, Henry. When James goes missing under questionable circumstances, Lucy calls John to help and things go awry from there.

Quirky (check). Interesting (check). Fish out of water (check). Well written (check). Excellent cast (check).

  • Click HERE to read more about Ludvig on imdb.com
  • Click HERE to read about Ludvig on BritBox.

Series One has some interesting twists and turns and the quirks just add that special touch. Watching John learn to exist in the world, eventually evolving out of his comfort zone, is a pleasure. One might even call it indulgent…as in bring on the popcorn and curl up on sofa to watch the entire season.

I love shows like this. They engage the brain while entertaining. There is a lot to consider as the mysteries unfold.

Add Ludvig to your To Be Watched List and keep an eye out for season 2. You won’t regret it.

TV

The Perfect Line

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A game show that crosses generations.

The Game Show Network recently debuted Deborah Norville’s new show, The Perfect Line and I have to say, I am enjoying this new twist on trivia.

I’ve been watching game shows for decades. Sixty of them. I enjoy games that engage the brain, make use of everyday knowledge and encourage stretching the envelope, as it were.

The Perfect Line takes advantage of those tidbits of information we gather, knowingly or not, from everyday life. In most cases, the topics are more modern but every once in a while (more often than some might like) the timeframe includes things from earlier decades…or centuries. 🙂

For those of us who were quite comfortable with the original What’s My Line but found later iterations frustrating, The Perfect Line provides room for everyone.

The contestants are interesting (and there is Very Little of the ubiquitous request to learn more about them) players of a variety of ages. Ms Norville is just the right touch of engaged and interested.

The topics cover quite a range, too. Surprisingly so.

Interested? Click on THIS link to learn more.

Cartoons · Movies

Classic Animation

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Most of us know Hanna-Barbera as the home of TV cartoon shows but they also made movies. In a slight departure from their generally factory made TV shows, the movies leaned into beautiful color work, creative story lines and some amazing voice casting.

Recently Turner Classic Movies posted the following on their YouTube channel. It brought back quite a few memories for me, did it do that for you, too?

And, yes, when I heard Charlotte I had to check to see if it was Debbie Reynolds’ voice I was hearing. 😀

I would recommend you look for these classics and perhaps add them to your collection for those times when you want a touch of nostalgia…and a good film to watch.

Enjoy!

Cooking

Sometimes Convenience Foods Really Are Convenient

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There are some convenience foods that I don’t use as much as I might because, honestly, I make a better product from scratch. I’m referring to using the product for what it was designed: biscuits, cake mixes, cookie mixes, and similar.

That being said, because of the way boxed mixes are constructed, they can be used instead of having a long list of ingredients always on hand all the time.

I am a HUGE fan of Bisquick because it makes a lot of different things quick and easy. Owning 8+ cookbooks dedicated to the product gives me a lot more versatility than just biscuits, pancakes, waffles and such.

Cake mixes, refrigerated biscuits and crescent rolls, pie crusts, and such are a great beginning for both new and experienced cooks. The newbies are pretty much guaranteed to get a good result while the more experienced cooks will see potential in trying something a little out of the ordinary – which is pretty much where all those recipes in the cookbooks came from. 😀

I am enjoying Nichole over at AllRecipes.com on YouTube stretch the envelope using these convenience items. Check out the YouTube channel by clicking HERE.

She has come up with a variety of uses for mixes in addition to creating new dips and appetizers along with some rather amazing holiday menus.

The videos are not only entertaining but thought provoking, too. And if you want the recipe, the link is in the description box below the video.

She recently tackled cake mixes and my mind was blown. I don’t know about your area but in my local stores the mixes usually start at $1.50 and go up. Since you don’t need an expensive mix to create these delights, they are a budget friendly way to play with your food. (And we like that around here!)

Now, for the slightly other side of the convenience coin. Mixes have their place and some are quite good while others…need help. America’s Test Kitchen has done some rather interesting, not to mention extensive, testing on a variety of convenience foods, including cake mixes. Click on the link to their YouTube Channel HERE. The results are interesting and a bit thought provoking.

Remember when I said that I could make some things better than a mix? To me a scratch cake is a true delight and not difficult. I’ve been making them for decades. If you follow the guidelines (room temp ingredients, preheated oven, pretreated pan…) you should get good results, too.

The difference could be that the items on the grocer’s shelves are new/fresher than what might be in your pantry. Baking powder and baking soda not working? How old are the containers? Spices not tasting quite right? Again, how old are those containers?

At the end of the day, the quality of anything coming out of your kitchen is based on the quality of the ingredients you use.

Check out the links, prepare to get your mind blown a bit, too. Then, grab those recipes and see what magic comes out of your kitchen!

Happy baking!

Dining

Not In The Mood For A Big Meal? Try A Nosher’s Run

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After far too many checks of the pantry and freezer, perusals of meal plans and browsing for ideas for the Holiday Meal(s), I decided I really did not want to cook.

When the pork roast you love isn’t enticing. The ham or turkey just isn’t inspiring. The favorite casserole just isn’t interesting. Time for a shift. Time for a Nosher’s Run!

What is a Nosher’s Run?

I’m not exactly sure where the name came from but what we have in our home has been referred to as a nosher’s run for decades. It could be an odd version of a tailgate party or a picnic. Basically, a nosher’s run is a collection of mostly finger foods that you nosh on over time. Think an old fashioned hors d’oeuvres party.

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is wide open. You can collect the things you are interested in. They might be home made or from the local deli or specialty counter not to mention the freezer section of your favorite store. It is up to you.

I started gathering things a while back with some vague idea of what I had in mind. Here are some of the things I’m considering.

  • Sliced turkey, chicken &/or ham
    • These can be made into sandwiches or added to crackers
    • Add some tuna or salmon in some form or other
    • Deviled Eggs might be nice
  • Variety of crackers
    • I love table water crackers but I also have a variety of crackers on hand.
  • Variety of cheeses
    • While I love a spreadable cheese, I also include slices of my favorites
  • Dessert items
    • Stollen is on the list this year. Aldi has a nice variety that are quite tasty
    • Pie or cake in small slices.
    • Feeling adventurous? A trifle would be grand but so would a simple pudding.
  • Drinks
    • Sparkling cider
    • Coffee or tea

The sky might be the limit. Or, more likely, what you are inclined to make yourself along with finding in your local shops.

The best thing about a menu like this is that it changes, in some way or other, every time you do it.

So if you really are not in the mood for a huge holiday meal, why not try a nosher’s run instead?

Musings

The Real Kris Kringle?

JanetLeave a comment

Real Vintage Dolls House recently posted a lovely video that I think is a great reminder of what each of us can do in the season or out of it.

A smile costs nothing and is priceless. Time is a gift. Kindness is precious.

Remember: Sometimes the greatest magic isn’t in the presents, but in the hearts we touch

It is easy to get busy and forget about the simply joys of gathering with friends and family. Spending time with the community and sharing simple pleasures are those memories that cost little but are priceless.

Enjoy Hannah & Chris as they chat. I’ll bet you find a grin on your face, too.

😀