Turkey Burger Heaven

Ok, so I made these amazing turkey burgers, but we ate them too fast and I was not able to get pictures. I regret this because they looked good and tasted better.

So I had a pound of ground turkey, threw it in a bowl. Sprinkled some salt-n-peppa, a little oregano and a bunch of rosemary. I crushed two garlic cloves and tossed those in too. Took my wedding ring off then dug in and mixed it all up.

I made three burgers out of a pound, but I probably could have made four. I put them on a skillet, but on the grill might even be better.

I sauteed some red and yellow peppers with spinach and artichokes in a chili pepper infused olive oil. For those of you not fortunate enough to own this amazing olive oil, you can use the plain Jane kind. (and no I did not pay that price for mine, got it on a Woot deal)

When the burgers were ready I put some provolone on top. I piled the veggies, the burger and some thick cut tomatoes on whole wheat buns and then enhaled. It was colorful and easy on the eyes, while definitely drool worthy.

Not Coach, Not Louis Vitton... But way cuter!

My first project of something substantial made from scratch: purses! The pattern came from a Simply Made Easy packet. I switched things up a little and changed some of the patterns to give them more of a modern design.

I got some cute buttons from Joann's to top them off for a finishing touch. Also, I improvised and gave them both a little cell phone pocket inside.

Snuggle Blankies and Designer Burp Diapers

Finally my computer has enough memory to down and up load some pics! Blogs aren't much fun with out pics so I refrained from posting for awhile.

Who'd have thought styling up some burp rags would be such a hit. Even if babies are just going to drool on them, they are totally cute and worth it. I used yellows, browns, and greens, trying to keep things gender neutral (its for my brother's kid (due August) and they aren't going to find out the gender - or at least not tell us).

Pretty easy to do. I bought some organic diapers from Target and then some fabric scraps and fat quarters from Joann's. I ironed the fabric and aligned it on the diaper and let Bessy (the sewing machine) stitch away!

The blankie was super easy - I have Carlos the tiger cub here modeling one for us. The design on the blankie is Hey Diddle Diddle. Really cute (has a slight bit of blue in it, but I'm hoping my brother's kid is a girl). ;)

Sew Sew Sew

I need a name for my sewing machine. Something awesome, because it is awesome. I mean seriously, the thing doesn't even need me, it just makes stuff.

It has the coolest stitches! And it threads itself!



I need to get an iron so I can finally get started on my first project - baby blankie for new niece/nephew. Any iron suggestions?

Fabric world, here I come

So after some deliberation, I have finally ordered my first sewing machine. I did a little research and reviews-review and decided on the Brother CE5000 Project Runway edition. Maybe I'll be fierce like Christian

Projects to come.

Love fest!

Last year, before we were engaged, I told Nick that we were not going to fall into the lazy-Valentine's-day-couple trap. We were going to celebrate Valentine's day one way or another (not necessarily with fancy gifts etc., but in some romantical form) each year.

We've actually never gone out on Valentine's day. We've always made a special dinner at one of our homes together. It was always extra special b/c we did not live together, and somehow it always worked out that we got privacy on that night so we got to play house for a few hours.

This year we do live together and I was worried that it would not be as special as years before. So, I decided to make something I have never made before and have only really eaten once before: steak.

I saw Rachel Ray make it once, years ago and thought it looked easy enough. I tried to find her recipe, or one like it, to no avail. I decided to just wing it based on my occasionally reliable photographic memory.

I headed to Whole Foods - if I was going to make or eat steak it was going to be fresh and as organic as possible. I also stocked up on white asparagus, spaghetti squash, and fresh rosemary. All super fresh, yummy smelling, and organic.

I roasted the asparagus with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. The spaghetti squash I cut in half, deseeded, and drizzled with a little olive oil. I threw both in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

I pulled out the electric griddle for the steak and put it at 350 degrees also. I seasoned the steak with a little salt and pepper and put a sprig of rosemary on each side. Then, I slapped those bad boys on the griddle and waited. They took a bit longer to cook than I expected (maybe I should have made the griddle hotter). Maybe took 20-30 minutes total - after cutting and checking a few times, but then they turned out great.

I guess if I were to do it again, I would cook them until they started to "bleed", that seemed like a good indicator they were getting to the right consistency.

Dessert? Well I dropped the ball this year, but the hubby was content with the Peanut Butter Incredibar from World Market (I think it came from Cali). A little later I realized I had some red velvet batter left over so I made a few cupcakes complete with cream cheese frosting.

All in all - success!

Feeling lazy and uninspired

I am a lazy ball of stress. I think my potential work switch-a-roo has made me debilitate my creative flow. I try to work up the energy to sketch, but its such a personal thing and, as therapeutic as it can be, it takes a lot of energy and focus to get started for me.

Why am a stressing myself out about getting fun things started?? Maybe I just feel so uncertain about everything right now, including my creative abilities.

I kind of feel like a teenager again in so many ways: My sense of style is changing, my identity role is completely different even from a year ago, even my friends - I went from a nursing student who wore T-shirts and thrift store clothes, living with or near my friends/family in PG county to becoming a wife and nurse (a real live nurse), who really likes to shop and buy nicer clothes in the attempt to dress like an adult living in Bethesda (Yuppy town!) where there is so much traffic it takes 40 minutes to drive 2 blocks (hyperbolic statement, but still..) so it takes so much more energy to see my friends.

Phew.. ok now thats out of my system. I do still love to bake and that really doesn't take any energy out of me, but it does make me chubbier and thus more lethargic. Solution: I ran today and ellipticalled too.

Better posts to come.