Last week, just before all the digging and skip filling got underway I took advantage of having to wait in for collections, rather than deliveries with an impromptu sewing session. I've been meaning to make myself a patchwork bread bag for quite a while, remember them in this post of Portuguese food?
Yes a while back. But what better timing seeing as though I'd made a loaf the day before.
I had some fabric in mind and a rough idea of what I wanted to do. As I laid the fabric out I realised I needed to find a bit more, and managed to find some more that matched well. The white with blue stripes is an old work shirt of mine I cut up to use for scrap projects. And MOH said I'd never use it...
I knew that I wanted to line the bag, as my sourdoughs can be quite floury. And then inspiration struck. I'd use an old tea towel. Well not that old, but old enough that we only ever use it to wrap bread in rather than to dry up. You know the sort, too good to throw away, but too old to be out on display!
A MEAL WITHOUT WINE IS LIKE A DAY WITHOUT SUNSHINE
The only thing about sewing that I'm not so keen on is all the pressing of the seams. But I know it has to be done - and here's proof I did it.
The seam matching isn't perfect - quite a few match, some are close and some are way off - but that's part of its charm, right? Ahem.
So how did it turn out?
Not too bad. I added ribbon as a drawstring instead of cord and that works. I think though there's too much fabric to draw together easily, so for the next one I make I'd leave out the lining for that bit. Not quite sure how I'll do that yet, but I'm sure I'll work it out. I've got another tea towel lined up for the lining too, so I've got to give it a go and have a spare for when this one is in the wash, won't I?
Overall I'm pleased with it, and it's the prettiest bread storage I've had since that holiday in Portugal a couple of years ago. Pretty and functional, and you can't say fairer than that.
Getting my bread making mojo back
I've written before how I regularly make my own sourdough bread and how easy it is. Somehow though I'd forgotten and got out of the habit of making it. Since we came back from France, in the middle of June, I've not made a loaf and before that it was sporadic too. My breakfasts have consisted of a bagel, either cinnamon and raisin with some of my blackberry & lime jam or sesame with peanut butter.
Nice, but not the healthiest start to the day. I keep meaning to make a loaf and have fed my starter but still nothing. That is until Friday evening, when my bread making mojo came back. As I write this I've just left a sourdough to rise and do its thing, but that wasn't the first thing I made.
No it started on Friday evening with a pizza. Then over the weekend some coconutty and raisin swirls (similar to Chelsea buns) and finally today that sourdough. I've now got some pizza dough in the freezer too and I think I've found my favourite pizza topping that doesn't involve any kind of chilli. And as a self-confessed fish-phobic you might be surprised by my choice, I was.
I used this Home-made Thin Crust Pizza recipe on Kitchn for the base and then set about recreating a pizza topping I'd eaten in Blois - Prawn and Smoked Salmon, like I said an unusual choice for me, not only because it was fishy but because there were no chillies and no tomato sauce either. I think though, after a week of eating out in restaurants (I know, tough hey?) my tastebuds were craving something meat-free. MOH was just as surprised as me.
It turned out really well and it's a topping we'll be having again. I think, on reflection, it'd be great to add some chopped parsley over the top too but as I didn't have any we managed without.
PRAWN AND SMOKED SALMON PIZZA
Prawn and Smoked Salmon pizza
1/2 quantity of pizza dough (I've frozen the other half from the recipe above)
2 leeks, thinly sliced
Garlic oil
Creme Fraiche
Parmesan, grated
Black pepper
Mozzarella
Oregano, because every pizza needs this in my book
Prawns, I used raw but lightly cooked them first
Smoked salmon trimmings
Parsley, optional
Method
- Heat half a tablespoon of garlic oil in a frying pan and add the thinly sliced leeks until they soften. I used garlic oil as quick way of getting some garlicky flavour (thanks Nigella!) but you could also add a finely chopped clove of garlic here.
- Add up to two tablespoons of creme fraiche to the leeks and cook on a low-ish heat.
- Add up to 50g of grated parmesan and some freshly ground pepper, then leave to cool while you prepare the pizza base.
- Roll out or pull the pizza dough into shape onto a piece of baking parchment. I rolled it because I stood more chance of getting it super thin that way, and the baking parchment was a really good idea.
- Add the leeks to the pizza base and spread out across the dough and top with some sliced mozzarella.
- Sprinkle some oregano over the leeks and cheese.
- Lightly cook the raw prawns in the frying pan until they turn pink and add to the pizza.
- Sprinkle half of the smoked salmon trimmings over the top and season with pepper.
- Cook for 10-12 minutes in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees or until the pizza is brown and bubbling.
- Before serving add the reserved smoke salmon trimmings and the chopped parsley if using.
I need to try those coconutty and raisin swirls one more time before I share what I did, but if they work out the second time I'll share those here too - watch this space! In the meantime let me know what your favourite pizza topping is, I'm feeling inspired to break away from my pepperoni and chilli staple!
Love this #70: A quilted vegetable patch or three
Yes a quilted vegetable patch, in fact three. I saw these back in April when I went along to a crafting show at the Excel. I'd booked a slot at a learn to crochet session which ended up being cancelled and as I'd had to buy a ticket to the show I went along anyway.
Although I managed to leave the show with some crafting goodies, it was a small show and I probably wouldn't go again. The highlight for me was the quilts on display, today I'm sharing three of those, and the detail on them is exquisite.
1. The vegetable patch
This quilt by Megan Barley is inspired by a friend's allotment. The vegetables are instantly recognisable aren't they and the quilting on the background adds texture to the "earth".
It's very clever and very creative, but there was more to come.
2. Growing Green
This quilt by Lesley Brankin held my attention for such a long time and even when I was writing this post my eyes continued to explore its detail. Carrots, beetroot and parsnips are all allotment staples and I love the seed packets, which were transfer printed. I'm also a fan of companion planting and making above ground look as pretty as below ground is productive. Sadly not something I'm achieving on my allotment right now, but give it time. And measure that time in years and I might be part of the way there!
I wanted to show you the detail on this quilt, so here's a couple of close-ups of the beetroot and of the flowers and butterfly. And yes, there's embroidery and beads on there too.
3. The allotment
Margaret McCrory's quilt has quite a story. Its inspiration was her daughter's allotment and the connection she had with her grandmother's garden, and she wrote about this on fabric, painted over it and then cut it up to use on the quilt. There's photos of flowers, fruit and vegetable memories too. And I'm pretty sure I can see a shed, which as you know I don't have on my plot.
And since I wrote that poem things have got worse as our makeshift bench storage has started to fall apart and needs some TLC. But that's for another day, today I'm just admiring and in awe of the skill on display in these quilts.
Aren't they unique works of art?