Cooking

Customize Your Kitchen Towels!

March 31, 2013 by Wendy Cohen 2 Comments

Have you ever wanted to use some of your adorable quilt fabric in your kitchen, but didn’t know how? Maybe not! But, if you do, I have a simple and cute way to use it!

First, track down some nice and absorbent kitchen towels that are cost effective. I usually grab this four pack of towels at Target for $3.99.

I then take two strips of fabric (3″, 4″ or 5″) that are about 1.5″ longer than the width of the kitchen towel. The strips of fabric can be as wide or shallow as you would like. I then sew the strips together and press the seam.

Then, you fold each edge in and press in place. You will want to measure up the fabric strip to your towel at this time to make sure that the fabric is just slightly smaller than the towel.

Then, fold in and press the rest of the fabric so that it looks like this. You will have each edge folder over and pressed in so that you have no raw edges. The edges are usually pressed in about 1/2″ to 3/4″.

Place the fabric section onto your kitchen towel and place exactly where you would like. Start at one corner and using the blanket stitch sew around the entire section of fabric.

I do not pin anything usually. Be careful as the dish towel is a bit stretchy so just make sure you keep everything aligned as you sew. Of course, you could pin it.

You will also notice that I even blanket stitched across the seem where the two fabrics are attached. It adds a nice touch.

Here are all four completed towels ready to go.

Side view of the towels.

These towels were a gift for my mom so I wrapped tied them up with some cute red ric rac.

And, placed them in this cute bag.

I have a few sets of kitchen towels available in my Etsy Shop. You can find them here and here.

Enjoy your week….follow me on facebook – see the link in my sidebar >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Filed Under: color, craft, create, etsy, home decor, sewing Tagged With: Baking, chili pepper, chili pepper dish towels, chili pepper towels, Cooking, dish towels, fabric, kitchen towels, quilt, quilted dish towels, quilted kitchen towels. custom kitchen towels, quilting, sewing

2 Comments

Shortbread Fingers … Being Martha

May 14, 2012 by Wendy Cohen 2 Comments

In case you don’t know, I have challenged myself to bake everything in the Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. You can read more about it here or on the menu above by clicking “Being Martha”. Last night, I decided to try the Shortbread Fingers recipe that is on page 123 of the book. You can find the recipe online here. They are so easy to make with very few ingredients and so simple to make.

You start by mixing the dry ingredients together which include flour, salt and confectioners sugar (or powdered). The online recipe class for either confectioner’s sugar or granulated sugar. I prefer the confectioner’s because of the texture that it gives the cookie. Plus, you put a ton of granulated sugar on top of the cookie.

Mixing the Dry Ingredients

Add the dry ingredients to the already soft and fluffy room temperature butter that has been beat for about 4 minutes. Room temperature ingredients make a difference; pay attention to recipes when they ask for this.

Adding Dry Ingredients to Butter

Once the batter is mixed together (don’t over mix) and the consistency of soft cookie dough, it is ready to spread into the pan. The pan should be a 12×8 pan and the layer of dough will be rather thin. Use an offset spatula for best results.

Spreading Batter in Pan

Then, you pop the dough in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes. Once it comes out, make some holes in the dough with a fork and pop it in a preheated oven of 325 degrees.

Poking Holes...

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown. Pull from oven and immediately sprinkler the granulated sugar on top and cut into your desired pieces. It is important to cut the pieces while it is still hot. After that, let the cookies cool completely in the pan. I choose a wire rack to speed up the process.

Right Out of Oven

Here’s what they look like once they are all cool and you start removing them…nice looking, huh?

Cooled...

Arranged on a Plate

These are all ready to eat. They look lovely on a plate arranged. I might even cut them into smaller pieces next time or you may even be able to cut them in shapes with cookie cutters right out of the oven. That would be fun. They are a rick cookie so the pieces don’t have to be so big. These would be great with a nice coffee, some fresh berries or even dipped in chocolate.

Ready for Eating

Now for the ratings:

I would rate this an EASY recipe great for the beginner baker or even kids.

I would rate the taste an 8 out of 10.

Check back in soon for new recipes and my next “Being Martha” adventure.

Have a great week.

Filed Under: baking, cookies, create, martha stewart Tagged With: Baking, cookies, Cooking, Martha Stewart, shortbread

2 Comments

Pantry Door and a New Years Resolution?

January 4, 2012 by Wendy Cohen 3 Comments

So, this could prove to be a pretty boring post about some random New Years Resolution of which I am not particularly fond of advertising. I tend to believe that if you advertise your new years resolution, it is a pretty good bet you aren’t going to follow through. Let’s call this an excuse for a craft project. One of the things that I don’t do well when I am focused (and sometimes consumed) with work is to cook regular dinners. So, one of the things I spent my break doing is checking out different recipes on line and pinning them to my pinterest board for future use. I have actually already made a few of them. And, spent some time at the book store selecting the right combination of cook books for making healthy and quick meals. The reality is that I like to make much more than I cook, but I have figured out that I can’t survive on the products I bake alone. Wait…let’s take that back. I can survive on the results of my baking; not so sure it would look good on me!

Back to the story…one of the things I have learned is that if I don’t plan ahead my meals, then I tend to go for the quick and easy out of the box when I get home rather than something more well balanced. In order to better plan, I decided I needed some visual menu (reminder) of what is planned for each night. There in lies the craft part….

I decided to make a menu board out of the door to my pantry. Still up for debate whether I like it or not or whether I need to add more to the creation (a few cricut vinyl letters might do the trick).

First, I purchased the vinyl sheets from JoAnn‘s that are removable and can be repositioned. Then, I figured out where I wanted them on the door and after several trials and errors, got the right fit. I wouldn’t recommend my approach which is the “that looks about right” approach. Rather, I would create a template and then cut the vinyl from the template before removing the backing. It would really make it much easier. But, I am stubborn and was eager to play with the vinyl. And, I am not that good at reading directions (or so I am told).

It’s a simple list of supplies that you will need:

Adhesive Vinyl (photo below of brand that I used from Joann’s)
Scissors
Credit Card (not for a new purse either)
Measuring Tape
Template Paper or cardboard (if you desire)

Supplies Needed

Adhesive Vinyl That I Purchased

Things you should know:

This vinyl is super sticky. Only remove the backing as you work your way down the surface you are applying to. Do not remove all the backing and then try to adhere. I promise you that you will make a mess and say things you don’t want to. Trust me.
Reveal the top portion of the vinyl sticky back and smooth as you go down the surface removing the backing as you go.
Continue to smooth as you go…lift up to get out air bubbles if they don’t push out with the credit card.
Be patient.

Vinyl w/ Backing ... This is how it comes out of the package.

Sticky Mess - Proof that I didn't follow my own tips.

Vinyl Application Complete

Menu Board Complete

As I noted above, I think I might finish this off by using my new Cricut to cut the perfect vinyl letters to make this more permanent. And, so far so good….three days and three home cooked meals. Now, let’s see if we can keep this not so New Years resolution going. :)