Sommer Designs

Fast 'n Easy: Teriyaki Broil with Ginger Pilaf

Does anyone have the book, The Pampered Chef Busy Mom's Cookbook? It's pretty good. I bought it when my kids were little, because many of the recipes were fast and easy and very kid friendly. And then I lost the book, and when I tried to find it online again (or through a rep), I found out it was out of print. You can still find copies of it on eBay and Amazon, which is where I found my current copy about a year ago. So, I feel less guilty sharing these two recipes, because it's out of print!

Anyway, start the marinade for this the night before and you'll be golden at the dinner witching hour.

Teriyaki Broil
Serves 5-6

1 bottle (10 oz) teriyaki sauce
2 green onions, sliced
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 tbls. honey
2 pounds flank steak
1 pint mushrooms
1 pint cherry tomatoes

Combin teriyaki sauce, green onions, garlic and honey in a small bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade and refrigerate. Place flank steak in a large zip-top storage bag and pour remaining marinade over meat. Seal bag and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight (go for overnight!).

Preheat broiler. Remove meat from marinade and place on broiler pan. Discard remaining marinade. Broil steak 4 inches from heat, turning once with tongs and brushing other side with some of the reserved marinade, 8-10 minutes per side for medium-rare/medium.

Meanwhile, thread mushrooms and tomatoes onto skewers. About 4 minutes before steak is done, brush vegetables with more of the remaining marinade and broil 4 minutes, turning once.

Remove steak & skewers; let steak 'rest' a couple of minutes. Cut steak across grain into thin slices. Serve with skewered vegetables.

Ginger Pilaf
(this is really good!)

2 tbls. butter or margerine
1 tbls. fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
1 cup long-grain white rice
1-3/4 cup chicken broth
1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems & pieces, drained
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup frozen peas

In a 2 quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add ginger and saute 1 minute. Stir in rice, chicken broth, mushrooms and onions. Bring to simmer. Cover and cook over very low heat 20 minutes. Remove from heat, add peas and stir. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.

You're a rock star.

Mystery Sock: The Foot.

I've decided I like knitting two socks at a time. Not two socks at a time on the same needle; I have that book, but haven't tried it yet, it looks complicated [honestly, I bought the book just for the patterns!]. Separate needles are fine for me. I finish one portion, and then go and do it again; it sort of reinforces the detail/instruction/stitch, etc. I may not like or appreciate this later, but for now, it works. Plus, I have two almost completed socks, which for me, is an amazing accomplishment.

I liked the foot the portion of this Mystery Sock - the ribbing down the center made its' way into the fan/cablely pattern like the side of the sock. It's hard to see here, so I tried it on for you:

It's hard to see there too! Today the final [toe] clue was revealed, and I'm bummed because it instructs us to graft the toe at the end. That was the part of my sock knitting class that I didn't pay attention to. Figures, right? It looks like I'll be spending some time in front of my computer on watching videos of Kitchener Stitches. Thank goodness for that.
 

Two days in Costa Mesa: Artistic License Fair

I had such a great time in Costa Mesa at Artistic License Fair! It's one thing to be stuck in a beautiful park for two days; and another thing to be stuck in a beautiful park for two days with a myriad of talented, artistic, likeminded folks. Both are wonderful and relaxing, but the latter is unbelievably inspiring.

One again, I was next to LoriMarsha, with her amazing refashioned clothing & accessories

If I could just shadow this woman for a day, my life would be complete. Simply amazing. My two favorite local yarnies were there, Lori Lawson from Capistrano Fiber Arts...

who gave me a mini-lesson on spinning (which I will NOT be getting into, but it's amazing to watch!)...

and Michelle Hoffee, from Made by Lovecraft.

I also made a new friend, Mary from Button Box (does not have a website!!), who had an amazing booth - so creatively merchandised with apothecary boxes and bins, brimming over with vintage button jewelry - so gorgeous!

I saw old friends - Shari stopped by first thing Friday morning with Flick & Summer (the cuties)...

...and I finally got to meet an online friend from Flickr, Graygoosie, which was really one of the highlights of the day for me!

I can't begin to tell you how blessed I feel to be able to meet so many of the wonderful people I've met online. When I'm spinning my wheels and wondering why I do what I do (why I bother to do what I do), I think about these accidental friendships and it really sustains me. I know, totally corny. But totally true. I don't know what artisans did before the internet.

Of course, I spent money. More sock yarn and superfine merino/cashmere blend for...I don't know yet, but the colors were gorgeous.

 I also bought two LoriMarsha originals that I can't wait to wear when it cools off a bit. They are amazing, and totally out of my comfort zone (fashion-wise), with their bright colors and mix of textures, but they are gorgeous and after two days with all these people, I am ready to step it up and make an effort, even if it's just to go get the mail.
 
So many of the outdoor fairs (and even the indoor charity boutiques) include vendors who simply resell merchandise they buy (including replica goods). As a handcrafter, this is hard because, in my mind, it's a mindset thing. I think it's difficult for people to understand the work and detail that goes into making your merchandise, and then to see buyers swarming the table with $2 jewelry from China...it just makes you wonder why you bother in the first place?

That's why I love this event; it's heavily juried and all handcrafted, and represented by the artist. They have their followers, and it's amazing to see the same people return year after year (this show has been going on for over 40 years!) to support it. I'm so grateful to be included. I can't wait until next year.
 

The Finishing.

These are those 4 remaining bags from about 3 weeks ago that still needed to be finished. I did, finally. I was tired of looking at them on my worktable, and they were taking up precious space. I'm glad they're done, and of course, it took no time at all because they were completely ready for sewing. Quite by accident, the side seams on the two middle bags almost match up perfectly! Don't you love when that happens? Even bags have a good side. :)

My studio is in dire need of [yet] another complete clean up. It gets into such a state in the middle of show season, and right about now, I start to feel that crawly claustrophobic thing happening. Nothing is in its' place. 'Where'd I put my scissors?' 'All five pairs are missing?'

I did accomplish one thing towards organizing and cleaning. I had a bunch of fabric cards (they might be referred to as color cards, but I can't remember such things) from a company I used a few years ago for some linen. I was at the Textile Show, and they allowed you to order as many samples of fabric as you wanted/needed, each sample being about 11 x 14. I had them clipped together, hanging off a cabinet door. They were pretty.

They were also pretty useless at this point. Another easy, brainless TV (House, this time) activity for me (as you can see, I cannot sit still...hands must be moving) is fabric flowers. They're almost done - just need the pin backings and we're good to go!

I ran out of fabric-button-maker-thingy's, so I had to dip into my vintage button stash. Another thing that needs to be sorted and cleaned up. 

After I finish those lovelies, I'll begin sorting my bins and getting things together for my event tomorrow in Costa Mesa (Artistic License Fair). It's not a long haul, but I have to leave at 6 a.m. to beat the traffic and then it's two days of fun and inspiration! Kelley and I are overnighting it, and once again I am next to LoriMarsha - could a girl get any luckier? I doubt it. 

Mystery Sock: Two Turned Heels.

"Oh my, what have you done?"
"Nothing, except I TURNED TWO HEELS!"

Last Thursday morning, the third clue was uploaded on the Mystery Sock - the heel flap & the heel turn. Really, two of my favorite parts of sock knitting. By the conclusion of 30 Rock that night, I was done. And then I thought, 'Well, now what do I do?' Sure, I could work on my Deep Breath Sweater, but that's too easy (and sooooo boring right now, going around and around with that lace yarn that takes FOREVERto knit. It's better to save that for unconscious knitting).

Instead, I picked up another set of DPN's I had laying around and cast on the second sock, worrying just a tiny bit that I would screw everything up. But I successfully kept both socks separate, and more importantly, the center pull yarn away from the outside yarn, and there you go, by the end of yesterday, Jeb's a millionaire, two socks.

As you can see, I was incorrect in my assumption that the lovely cablely vine was the front and back of the sock; it is the side, with the rib pattern front and back. That's okay, I can deal.

Now, keep in mind it's only Tuesday and the next clue doesn't come out until Thursday (the gusset, which, I admit is NOT my favorite part and now I get to knit it twice, big sigh...), so of course, I'm wringing my hands and trying not to cast on yet another sock (No Purl Monkeys!!!!!).

It's true, I have sockitis.

Oh, and since a few people have emailed me about my photography set up - here is what it looks like if I step back just a tad (just a tad, because if I step back any more than a tad, I will fall over something and hurt myself):

It's fancy. Most of my smaller photos are taken this way - that's two white poster boards and special light bulbs in classy Home Depot lamps. I go into more detail here.

So, I guess, no knitting today. I guess I'll just have to do real work...
 

Lotsa Dots

Well, hello there Monday. You got here quite fast, there must have been no traffic. I don't know why I feel like I'm behind the 8-ball today, but I do! I stuffed enough Lavender Liners to get me through my event on Friday & Saturday (Artistic License Fair in Costa Mesa!) and even got around to packaging them!

I was only able to procrastinate photographing some new aprons until just a little while ago, and you'll have to forgive me a little, but I love the way they turned out! Who doesn't like AQUA DOTS???

I actually bought the Nosegay fabric (middle lovely) for Lavender Liners, and maybe I will still use it for that...later. I just about died dreaming of it as an apron. I think it works, don't you?

My website and Etsy shop have been updated with the new pretties, take a look!

Agenda for a lazy Sunday

Waiting to be packaged...

Waiting to be stuffed...

Waiting to be dyed & refashioned...

 
 

Mystery Sock Progress

Thank you for the thoughts and comments on my back! I've been resting it well, and just yesterday, while standing in the kitchen, I realized it was feeling a lot better. All of a sudden. There's still a little tightness and soreness, but I'm hoping that I can get it to loosen up this morning during my workout.

The upshot was that I had ample time to work on my Mystery Sock. I've finished clues 1 and 2 (the cuff & leg), and really wish I could have started the second sock in the time between clues, but I'm working off one big cake of yarn and can just imagine the tangled mess if I were to start another from the outside of the cake.

But back to the sock: this is the cuff. It's a rib pattern for a few rows, then a curvy thingy, and then back to the rib. I sort of wish it was rib the whole way, but I love how it flows into the leg pattern.

The pattern is very easy (so far) to follow, and I was totally tickled when I saw how the pattern was revealing itself. The front (I'm assuming this is the front!) and back are this cabley pattern, and the sides are rib.

The next clue, I believe, is the heel. I love how the expectation to be ready for the next step is keeping me on this, but I'm not sure I like the whole "Mystery" knit-a-long concept. I'm too much of a control freak to not know what I'm doing, or what it's going to look like, and I find myself checking the 'spoiler' threads on the Ravelry group to see pictures of other completed sock steps.

In any case, as always, I'm thrilled to be following a pattern and getting it.

I think I can finally say it, I'm a knitter. ♥

Weekend at a glance

 
Snapshot: Friday afternoon.

I had been dealing with horrible lower back pain for a few weeks, and finally went to see the chiropractor, who informed me that I had a pulled muscle in my lower back. He told me which one, and it promptly went in one ear and out the other. After a painful adjustment (which, surprisingly felt better after) I went home to spend most of the afternoon on the couch with the heating pad, reading. Luckily, I was blessed with gray skies and for some reason, Miss Molly decided to stretch out on my lap. If I could have coerced one of the dogs into making me a cup of tea, it would have been a perfect afternoon. 

I tried to take it easy on Saturday, heat on for 20, off for 2 hours, but it stills hurts. I know I have messed it up badly, and possibly permantely, with all the moving, lugging and physical work involved in my everyday business activities. That blows. I had an event yesterday, and my sweet Scott did most of the manual labor for me.

The Lunada Bay Harvest Festival - a lovely community event, very small, but big on charm. Local kids (and I mean, KIDS!) took to the stage performing - singers, a pint size band (seriously, picture a 12 year old singing 'Hotel California'), a local dance troupe, and my favorite, the little cheer team, how cute are they?

I didn't get a lot of other pictures, but I did make a new friend.

Her name is Sandy, and she's 9 weeks old. I died.  

I have about 2 weeks off before the next event - hoping my back heals.

We're expecting rain this week, guess what I'll be doing? Oh, Miss Mollllllly....

Friday Flickr Favs...

It's a good day for one, no?