Pretty-Good-For-You Apple Crisp

Some otherwise completely sane people believe that every dish presents an opportunity to ruthlessly cut fat, salt, and calories. That's not me. While it would be recklessly dishonest of me to say that I do everything in moderation, I believe that a cook has a duty to aim for the sublime, and if transcendence is achieved with a stick of butter, then try to limit yourself to a few bites.

That being said, I’m always glad to find a healthy recipe that delivers on more than just fiber, and I’ve found that Cook’s Country – the sister publication of Cook’s Illustrated, and published by public TV's America’s Test Kitchen – actually has some pretty great ones.

Most of the excess calories in a fruit pie or cobbler are delivered by a buttery, sugary crust, and it just can't be made healthy. A whole-wheat, low-fat pastry dough is an abomination that none should endeavor to eat. The pastry part of this apple crisp is rolled oats, a few pecans, a sneaky secret ingredient, and a little bit of butter and sugar. It’s delicious and satisfying. (And begs for you to keep in mind that two tablespoons of whipped cream have only 50 calories - a little cream adds a lot to this dessert.)

Quick Drawstring Bags

I've posted on a few kinds of drawstring bags already (here and here), could there be more? Of course. These are about as quick and dirty as it gets. It's also a good way to use up extra fabric (that you buy and buy without a project in mind and then you end up moving it across the country and promising yourself to find ways to use it and store other things, like air, under your bed). Instructions after the jump!

Otomi-Inspired Appliqué Pillow

I think a lot of us have a contrarian streak - a tendency to resist things that are popular, and especially things that cross the line from popular into ubiquitous.

One night in December, Allen and I were driving to a barbecue place for dinner, and we passed a lot of houses decorated with white Christmas lights, and a few with colored Christmas lights, but only a couple with icicle lights - the ones that were so rampant for the last ten years or so. Not the molded plastic ones that are actually shaped like icicles, but the light strings that have smaller little strings hanging off of them.

I said to Allen, "Do you think, now that those icicle lights aren't so popular anymore, they're okay for us to start using?"

Allen was shocked. "You like those?" he said, indignant.

"Yeah, I really like them! But everybody uses them, so we've never used them."

"No," said Allen. "We don't use them because they don't look like real icicles."

"What?"

"Yeah, nobody uses them right. People hang them where real icicles would never be - like on the back sides of beams. That doesn't make any sense."

"Allen, of course it doesn't make any sense. They're not real icicles. Even if you 'use them right,' nobody is going to look at them and say, 'Wow - somebody waited for a snowy day, hosed down their porch roof, got those those beautiful icicles to form, and then somehow lit them from the back.'"

"You're twisting my words."

So I understand perfectly a natural aversion to trends. Otomi embroidery has been all over the internet for a few years, but I still love it so. I have loved it since my grandparents had some in their "Mexico room" when I was a little girl.

The animals, y'all! They are such great animals. Actually, if I have any disappointment about the way my pillow turned out (other than the time it took, which was more than I expected), it's that the animals aren't as crazy-whimsical as the weird, fantastical creatures that populate real Otomi embroidery.

Draft Dodger

Guys, I sewed something! I am happy to contribute my first project post in many months. I'm also happy to be settling in here in San Francisco and to have my sewing machine not in a box.

This project was born of necessity - my new room's windows are drafty and it gets pretty chilly here in SF. As soon as I could, I made two of these. This is a simple project; if you've got a drafty door or window there's no excuse not to whip one up yourself. The part that takes the most time is picking up the rice from the store. Instructions after the jump.

Also, New Years is upon us! Don't forget your lucky greens and black-eyed peas.

Speaking of making gifts ...

Things that aren't worth making at home:

No. 29: Cherry cordial candies

I admit defeat.

There's still time to make something!

Hi, all! You must have plenty of free time left and are wondering what other things can you make before Christmas is here? We've got ideas in the new masthead and right column and here are a few more.

bird mobile / bow tie / strawberry pincushion / pressed botanicals / clutch

PS. I have arrived in San Francisco, I've even found a great apartment with great roommates in the lovely Duboce Triangle and my stuff has even arrived from Boston and I've even just unpacked it!

Edible Holiday Presents

I am living life right now in full-blown Christmas mode. I've spent most of my adult life developing a Christmas playlist that isn’t terrible (Allen would argue with that), and it's playing on a loop. My Christmas presents are wrapped – not because I’m so together, but because few things fill me with glee like a bunch of wrapped packages stacked up in our living room. The only ones left to deal with are those presents that have yet to be made.

Every year, Allen and I make a bunch of edible gifts – pralines, granola bars, four kinds of truffles, and sometimes peanut brittle or marshmallows. The truffles are the most well-loved among their recipients, and the most time-consuming. Every year, I naively look forward to the magical night, a week or so before Christmas, when Allen and I will get home from work, prepare our mise en place, wash our hands, and calmly execute dozens of perfectly spherical, glossy confections. And every year those candies deliver us to the brink of sanity and coat two rooms of our house in a fine layer of Dutch-process cocoa.

But year after year, we soldier on.

Eating on the East

As you know, I'm transitioning to the west coast (!) - I left Boston at the end of October and traveled down the east coast, bidding farewell to friends and cities. I have no sewing machine and no pantry so I can't contribute much on those fronts (the only "project" I've done is mend some buttons) but I thought I could talk about some of the fun places I've eaten along the way.

New York City
Doughnut Plant in Chelsea and Dough in Bed-Stuy: Such great flavors; pricey but thats how boutique treats go.
Roberta's in Bushwick: A bit out of the way, but a great space with great pizza.
Bearded Lady in Prospect Heights: Cool corner spot, bright mid century chairs.
Sit and Wonder in Prospect Heights: Stumptown coffee, great egg and sage baguette, wifi.
Pequena in Fort Green: Fantastic mexican fare. I'd go here all the time even if Lindsey wasn't there (say hi!)
The Habitat in Greenpoint: They have trivia - with buzzers!
Anotheroom in TriBeCa: I could live in the look of this bar.

Philadelphia
Ultimo: Counter culture coffee and beer, a sister to Atlanta
Green Eggs Cafe: Don't be fooled, the red velvet pancakes are hardly breakfast fare.

Baltimore
Brewer's Art: Esquire named this one of the country's best bars.
Milk and Honey in Mount Vernon: A wonderful cafe and market.
Soup's On & Ok Natural in Mount Vernon: Great organic soup shop nestled up with a natural market.
Pitango Gelato in Fells Point: The banana taste just like pureed banana, which I love.
The Windup Space: a bar with the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks set up. Enough said.

Washington, DC
Actually, I just ate at the museums on this day trip.

Atlanta
Vesuvius on Edgewood: Great pizza, lots of space.
Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room on Edgewood: I thought bars like this only existed in NYC. Two levels, garden, ping pong table and choir robes to wear.
Sun in my Belly in Decatur: The ideal brunch spot.
Octane in Grant Park: The sister to my old westside haunt; plus a bakery.
Carroll Street Cafe in Cabbagetown: Not new to me but a must-go place if you're in the 'hood.

I'm now at home in Kathleen, Georgia through Thanksgiving. I fly out on a one-way ticket to San Francisco on Friday. Eee!

*A special thanks to Foursquare (and me for checking in) for keeping track of where I'd been!