lillyella: June 2010

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Slow Food in a Modern Kitchen

Hi everyone, Shawna here from Pinkkiss Pottery. I don’t know about all of you, but here in Baltimore it’s HOT. We have officially entered summer and with another BBQ weekend coming up I thought I’d talk a little about my favorite summertime treat… ice cream!

A few years back my mother-in-law gifted us a Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker in beautiful cherry red. At the time I pulled it out and used it maybe once or twice, then we moved, it moved with us and somehow wound up in the basement packed away with several of my other kitchen gadgets that I didn’t use regularly. I mean let’s face it, how hard is it to go to the store and buy a pint of Ben and Jerry’s when the craving hits?

The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker

Flash forward to about a year ago when I started to become more aware of what was in my pre-packaged food and in an effort to cut down on preservatives, I decided to give my ice cream maker another whirl (pun intended). With the inspiration of a favorite local restaurant (famous for their homemade ice cream….my favorite is the malt) I decided to purchase a book to help me get better acquainted with the art of making my own icy treats. And so David Lebovitz came into my life…oh how I would love to be his neighbor!

His book, The Perfect Scoop, opened my eyes to a whole world of flavor combinations while carefully explaining the basics of churning your own ice cream. The beauty of making your own ice cream is that you can create some hard to come by, tasty and unusual flavors….have you ever had Basil Ice Cream? How about Olive Oil? Guinness- Milk Chocolate? What about Fresh Fig or Roasted Banana? Only 31 flavors…. I’m no longer impressed! Making your own ice cream is really rewarding, doesn’t have to include the stove although some recipes do require some cooking, and allows you to regulate the quality of ingredients that go into your food. It makes a difference, honest.

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Why not celebrate the summer by throwing your own homemade ice cream party? Decorate your space to go along with the theme.

Frozen Custard Print by Caged Tomato
Sherbet Popsicle Garland Kit by Jjolly Goode
Set of 20 Ice Cream Banana Split Tags by Just a Note
Mini Soapsicle Set by Kc Soaps N More

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

If you really love ice cream you can show the world with some ice cream themed attire.

Choco n' Vanilla ice cream cone hair pin by papermache
Brownie Fudge Cake and Ice Cream Pendant by PetitPlat
Handcrafted Sterling Silver Ice Cream Cone Charm by Baublefish
Women's Sheer Jersey I-SCREAM shirt by A Little Lark

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Vintage Yummy Sundae Glasses from Lines of Sight
Vintage Glass Sherbet Compotes from KupAndSaucer
Vintage Bonny Prod. Ice Cream Scoop from 42 Vintage Birds
Porcelain Geometry Bowls by Grass Roots Design

Don’t forget to serve your ice cream with homemade toppings; my favorites are chocolate sauce, marshmallow crème and wet walnuts!

· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Now get started with this super easy recipe for deliciously rich Nutella Ice Cream that was introduced to me by my good friend Karen who creates delicious meals for her family and blogs about it!

Nutella Ice Cream

1 jar (13 ounces) Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Using a hand or standing mixer, mix the Nutella and sugar until smooth. Add the milk and mix on low speed until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla.

Turn the ice cream machine on; pour the mixture into freezer bowl, and let mix until thickened, about 25 to 35 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

Since this weekend is 4th of July, why not try out a delicious homemade ice cream to wash down your burger! Try it over top of homemade blueberry or apple pie….yum!

Have a safe and happy 4th! ~ Shawna of Pinkkiss Pottery

Couture du Jour

Tidal Ruffles Blouse Anthropologie $98

Silver Flowers Stacking Ring Set SugarCity $48

Clarks Essen Wedge Endless $30

Cotton Jersey Moment Skirt outofline $72

Todays ensemble was created by Christina of Coffee and Cream ~

Click here to submit an outfit of your own for Couture du Jour and be entered into a monthly drawing to win jewelry from my shop!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

In the Kitchen: Orange Chiffon Pie

Today I had planned on sharing one of the fanciest (and most time consuming) dinner + dessert combos I've made in quite some time. However, yesterdays purging bin got the best of me and I fell way behind on all the 'real work' I was supposed to do, and since a three-part recipe post usually takes me a few hours to whip out, it's gonna have to wait 'til next week.

Ultimately though, it all works out, but I realized that the Chocolate Crusted Orange Chiffon Pie I've been waiting to share would be another perfect Fourth of July picnic addition, so here it is. Light yet rich, creamy and delicious, the flavor of this pie comes from real fruit, no jell-o mixes here, and you can taste the freshness in every bite.

Now if you've never made a true chiffon pie before, I'll tell you, it's not all that difficult, but it does require that you have your wits about you and that you be around to keep an eye on things for awhile. It's also not an exact science, but one that you'll come to perfect by instinct the more you do it.

Crust:

2 cups chocolate crumbs

2 tablespoons sugar

pinch of salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1 Tbsp (1 1/4 envelopes) unflavored gelatin

3/4 cup fresh orange juice (~ 2 large oranges)

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (~ 1 lemon)

3/4 cup sugar

4 egg yolks (save the whites for an omelette!)

2 Tbsp grated orange zest

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

You can use just about any type of un-iced and un-filled cookie to make crumbs for your crust. Any flavor of graham crackers work well, as well as gingersnaps, vanilla wafers or even biscotti. You can use a food processor to crush the cookies into fine crumbs or alternatively you can place the cookies in a heavy duty large ziploc bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

To make the crust, mix the crumbs, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Add the melted butter and stir until well blended and all crumbs are moist. Press the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of a 9" pie pan, building up just slightly above the rim.

Bake the crust at 325° for 8 minutes and set aside to cool.

I used a larger zester on the oranges for this pie, as I wanted to see some of the zest throughout, but you can also use a microplane zester for a finer grate. Just be sure to zest your oranges before squeezing them.

To prepare the filling, in a medium saucepan, sprinkle the gelatin over the orange and lemon juice. Stir with a fork and let stand for a few minutes to soften the gelatin.

Add the sugar, egg yolks, orange zest and salt and whisk until blended. Then whisk in the milk.

Cook over medium heat, whisking almost constantly, for about 5-10 minutes until the mixture starts to become foamy around the edges. Cook for another 5-10 minutes until it has thickened slightly and you start to see wisps of steam rising, but be sure to not let the mixture boil.

Pour into a large bowl and place in the fridge.

Whisk the mixture every 10 minutes until it feels cool and thickens up significantly. When a lifted spoonful dropped onto the surface makes a small mound and does not sink back in, it's ready. Depending on your fridge and the size of your bowl, this will take 1 – 2 hours, which is longer than most chiffon mixtures.

About 10 minutes before you anticipate the mixture to be thickened, whip the cream with an electric or stand mixer in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form.

Spoon the cream over the orange mixture and gently fold the two together using a flexible spatula until well blended. Spoon the mixture into the prepared crust, mounding in the center, and chill in the fridge for several hours before serving.

If desired, garnish with additional orange zest, mini chocolate chips, shaved chocolate curls or additional whip creamed, serve and enjoy!

At my Memorial Day picnic, I thought the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes would be the temptress but this pie lasted about 3.5 minutes and there wasn't a crumb left. Im sure you can guess what everyone's asked me to make for the Fourth of July…

> Click here for a printable recipe card

And find more easy and delicious recipes here.

Rediscover Life

Photo by Susannah Tucker

I've been in serious purge mode lately, for lots of reasons. First and foremost, feeling completely out of control of everything that is happening around me. We've all been there, right? I've kinda been there for a good year now, and for a control freak like me, it's a bit draining. I decided maybe a change of scenery would help, so I'm moving my studio from one room to another. I know, BIG change :)

My new space is smaller but the natural light is about 1000 times better than my space now and I feel like that alone will make me a cheerier person. And while I'm only moving about 2 feet down the hall right now, I'm already gearing up for a move out of state which will be happening in the year ahead. Suddenly, all those things "I know I'll use someday" don't look as useful when you think of carting them six states southbound. Plus, I've been working in this office for almost nine years now and I knew there were folders in cabinets that I haven't touched since I moved in. Time to go.

Alright, onto the short point of this long story. During yesterday's purge session, I came across a calendar I designed back in 2002 for the company I was working for. Each year we sent out a calendar to all of our clients, along with a cheery holiday message, and each years calendar had a different theme. The theme I came up with for '02 (in the aftermath of 9/11) was rediscovering life. I wrote a short paragraph for the piece and had since forgotten how awesome it was, I just had to share.

So here is some food for thought for today:

Each new day brings a new opportunity to experience life. The possibilities are endless; explore your world and discover them. This year, rediscover life from new perspectives – then sit back and enjoy every one of those 365 days.

There is no such thing, in anyone's life, as an unimportant day. Tomorrow should be no different.

What will you make of it?

Couture du Jour

40s Voile Day Dress flourclothing $64

Dylan Feather and Chain Necklace noemiah $55

Patent Double Zip Clutch Urban Outfitters $28

Vintage Sling Back Heels 100percent $30

Today's ensemble was created by Rachel K. who is a fabulous supporter of this blog and the handmade community.

Click here to submit an outfit of your own for Couture du Jour and be entered into a monthly drawing to win jewelry from my shop!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Spotlight: Daniel M. Jewelry

I guess it's unofficially Couples Month here in the Spotlight, as today I have another amazing husband and wife team! So, what do you think? Could you work with your significant other or would you kill each other after the first week? Dan and Caren of Daniel M. Jewelry admit that running an Etsy shop together has its difficulties, but realize they could not achieve such great success without each other.

Read on to learn more about how this duo got started, who does the creating, who does the laundry and just who is the boss. You can also enter to win one of their gorgeous Rainbow Bezel Necklaces!

Where are you from - originally and currently live?
We both grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts and currently reside in historic Salem, MA…we absolutely love it here!

How long have you been selling on Etsy?
We’ve been selling on Etsy since March 31, 2009.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?
We both have full time jobs…Dan works full time as a jeweler for a retail company…and Caren would love to work fulltime in the industry some day :)

What, if any, formal training have you had in your craft?
Dan: I’ve been working in the jewelry industry for nearly 20 years. I started out stocking shelves and wiping counters at a jewelry store. After taking some interest in the craft, I completed an apprenticeship and slowly moved on to specialize in custom design and fabrication.

What made you decide to open up shop on Etsy?
As a couple, we’ve collaborated on jewelry projects for friends and family and have enjoyed coming up with fun designs mostly as a hobby. We eventually decided to take the next step and looked for a venue where we could share our work and receive some unbiased feedback on our designs. Things took off pretty slowly at first but each month has been better than the one before it so we are hopeful that someday this will be full time for both of us.

Being a husband and wife team, who does what for the business?
Caren: Dan makes the jewelry…and I do everything else! No…really, we collaborate 100% on each design whether it’s a custom design project or a new piece for our shop. I primarily take care of the correspondence with the customers, order supplies and keep Dan organized. He calls me “boss” but really we could not be successful if we did not have each other. When it comes to household matters, I agree, I’m the boss :)

Alternatively, who does what around the house?
Caren: Hmm…. I have to give it to Dan that he does most of the cleaning and definitely the laundry (he can’t bare the sight of anything in the hamper!). I love to cook so the kitchen is my domain. Overall we take turns…with two fulltime jobs, our Etsy shop, a vivacious puppy and a baby on the way, we rely on each other to pick up where the other leaves off. We are a true team.

Are there times when it is difficult working together?
Dan: Only when something’s not done Caren’s way. Just kidding…yes, of course, we have our difficult moments but in the end, we consider what is best for our business and usually end up coming to a unified solution. It’s better to compromise and resolve matters in the studio peacefully than to take them home with us.

Do you have any advice for other sellers on Etsy or those thinking about pursuing their craft?
If you love what you do…just go for it! There’s nothing more satisfying than seeing positive feedback and knowing that someone is enjoying your creation as much as you have enjoyed working on it. Explore the site and build some relationships with other sellers as well as your customers. There is a wealth of knowledge and talent out there so pop out of your Etsy shop once and a while and see what else is going on.

Five Etsy Shops you love
jenniferraichman
HopeStudios
opalillusions
FidosFashionCollars
illumienate

Favorite item you have purchased from Etsy
Our favorite item is definitely our wedding Ketubah (marriage contract) by Jennifer Raichman. It was such a personal item and an involved process – the end result was a beautiful piece of artwork and reminder of our vows. This is her new shop.

Five things you love
Travel to faraway places, cookie cookie sundaes, stinky cheese, yard sales, and our red dog, Bali

Five things you don’t
Five is tough…here’s two we really don’t like: rude people, traffic

Where is the coolest place you have ever been?
Japan – we went as part of our honeymoon…it was just amazing.

What is your favorite leisure time activity?
Sitting on the couch after a long day with a glass of wine, cheese and crackers and our favorite hound.

Share some of your guilty pleasures
Reality TV, peanut butter out of the jar and ice cream in the middle of the night

Share some of your favorite music
Stevie Wonder, Radiohead, Frank Sinatra, Dido

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead roles?
Dan: Luke Wilson
Caren: Julia Roberts

What does the future hold for Daniel M Jewelry?
We’ve been very fortunate so far in our Etsy success and hope to see it continue and grow. We’re doing increasingly more custom work, our specialty, but we’d also like to expand more on our own designs in the near future.

You can keep up with new pieces from Daniel M Jewelry by visiting their blog and following them on Twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

One lucky winner will receive their choice of any color Rainbow Bezel necklace with a 16" or 18" chain.

HERE'S HOW TO ENTER:
Please leave a comment on this post with your favorite item from Daniel M. Jewelry AND what your favorite gemstone is.

You may enter once per day and YOU MUST INCLUDE your first name -AND- etsy username or email address with every entry. (If you are worried about email spam, you can spell out the 'at' and 'dot' rather than using the standard email format.)

Receive additional entries (one each) if you:

Follow or subscribe to this blog, my Facebook or my Twitter

Follow or subscribe to the Daniel M. blog or Twitter

(You DO NOT need to leave separate comments for each additional entry, just mention which apply)

You have until Sunday, July 4 at 10 pm (est) to enter and I will announce the winner Monday morning. Good luck!

Crowsmack Giveaway Winner!

A big thanks to Keri and Gibbs for being in the Spotlight and to all of you who stopped by to check out their interview and enter the giveaway!

The winner of the $25 Crowsmack Gift Certificate is JENNY who loves the Gingerbread Fox Womens Tee (me too!) and would like to see more purple in the shop. Congrats, Jenny!

Join Crowsmack on their Facebook Fan page to keep up on the latest designs as well as discounts and giveaways.