I Dare You To Eat It

Over the past year, friends have asked me to share some less expensive design tips. We’re in the middle of doing some remodeling in our own home, so I thought I would begin by sharing this little drapery trick, quickly, before I give the valances to my contractor. The design concept behind the look is fairly sweet and grandmotherly. Both my mother and grandmother lived in this neighborhood so when we bought the house I was thinking of them. While the combination of traditional fabrics with lace speaks Tudor cottage, the overall treatment could easily be reinterpreted as transitional or contemporary by simply using exaggerated graphic prints or bold solids. (Wow. I sound like an idiot.)

The first step was to buy stock shelving and wrap it with fabric. Most home stores will cut lumber to specific lengths without an extra charge, and I think I only used about three yards of clearance fabric for wrapping those five boards.

I used masking tape and then a staple gun to secure the material on the back side. Placing the valance board right above the window casing gave at least another 12″ to the visual height of my windows. 

It also gave added support which was needed as we drilled one screw each into the original lathe and plaster walls. (Don’t get me started.)

Completely avoiding the cost of expensive hardware was another easy way to save money on this deal.

The unconstructed swag sections from a discontinued Scalamandre cabbage rose print were only self-lined, approximately double length cuts, which I bundled in the center and on both ends. This is one of those steps where you mess with it, and mess with it, and mess with it, until it looks like it JUST HAPPENED!

It’s fitting that I took this picture on the floor…because that’s exactly where I made them. I didn’t know how long they should be so I folded my fabric in half lengthwise, twice, knowing I could produce two lined scarves from each width, and experimented with gathers and swags until I found the drape I was trying to achieve. Then I measured it, cut multiples, and with one seam, sewed the long strips into tubes. The actual construction part of the process only took about 30 minutes and then I carefully hand stitched the ends closed and sewed little ties for the top edge.  The fabric bundles secured by another band of fabric tied in a square knot made a nice little Fleur-de-Li’s finish. Oh, and under the knots, keeping the fabric perfectly bundled (phfft), I originally used rubber bands. But after about six months I learned that rubber bands petrify and fall apart so I had to switch them out for the plastic covered wire twist-ties from my box of trash bags. Nice. 

Next, I added three tiny cup hooks to the valance boards (you can just barely see it shining at the very top of the middle corner) and attached the knots by hooking them under the twist-ties.

I’ve had my drapery people produce this same look with nice results for a few clients, in a couple of states. Besides topping the windows in kitchen dining and family rooms, this treatment has worked well to decorate over a slider or pair of French doors, as long as the swags don’t hang down too low.

For us, this window treatment is now officially a happy memory. I hope it gave you some new ideas!

Fresh Ingredients

optional garnishes: fresh basil, Parmesan cheese, sour cream

Storage Ingredients

2 cans tomato sauce (14 oz. each)

1 can evaporated milk (12.5 oz.)

1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves

Combine tomato sauce, evaporated milk, and dried basil (or substitute with fresh basil if available) and heat. Serve with grated cheese and a dab of sour cream if desired.

Yes friends, it’s another easy food storage meal that tastes legit! My dear friend, Khaliel, gave me this awesome soup recipe and so far it has been a hit with the 48 year old husband, the 25 and 27 year old newlyweds, AND the 13 year old still living at home. That’s saying a lot. I think that’s success. Best if all, this recipe only takes one minute to prepare. I could weep. For me, food storage isn’t primarily about planning meals for an emergency. It’s about planing regular meals that my family can enjoy RIGHT NOW.

Right now, we’re facing month number THREE of a rather extensive remodeling project in our home, with at least another month and a half to go. Hard to ‘complain’ about a remodeling project (boohoo) but I CAN STILL DO IT! I’m thrilled that we’re finally investing in some much needed home improvements but all this construction has made life a little funky as we contend with workers, tools, machinery, tarps, and the constant layer of dust that covers everything.

Last night, as I opened these three cans…

spicing it up with a bit of this…

or a little of that…

meant I was able serve my family a quick and healthy dinner, in spite of all the chaos.  Thank you!

One of the VERY BEST perks to giving food storage presentations all over the place is that I get to meet wonderful, gifted, and generous people like Bill and Mary Mitchell.

When I shared my recipe for sloppy-joes Bill was shocked to learn that I didn’t know how to make my own chili sauce. Then he kindly invited me to come to his home so that he could teach me his mother’s famous recipe. As soon I tasted Grandma Marsden’s I was 100% converted, and totally willing to learn!

Fresh Ingredients

5 or 6 medium sweet onions

2 red peppers

2 green peppers

Storage Ingredients

2 giant (1 gallon) cans of diced tomatoes (106 oz. each)

2 cups apple cider vinegar

4 cups sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon celery seed

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Grind the onions and peppers on coarse grind in a hand grinder. (Or, chop them into 1/2″ chunks…forever. That little old grinder was an awesome tool!)

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot.

Cook about 10 minutes or until onions are transparent.

Process 15-20 minutes in a steam processor. (It would be a mistake for me to try to share more detailed instructions because I’ve only done this once. Gulp. But I have to admit, it seemed really easy…as I watched Bill do everything.) 

This recipe made about 20 pints of chili sauce, so almost 3 full batches. (That’s canning talk.)

We’re totally addicted to this stuff. My pot roasts have never been so happy.

We’re launching our big stake service project for the local cancer hospitals. The goal is to sew at least 200 chemo caps and 200 skinny scarves. Just let me know if you’re at all interested. I would be happy to mail you a copy of the hat pattern my sister scammed, I mean designed, and some simple instructions. All it takes is about 18 inches of very stretchy light weight knit fabric. Place the pattern piece on the fold.

Cut out and set your sewing machine to a slight zig zag stitch for added stretch and durability.

1. Sew a narrow (1/4″) seam along the cut side being sure to leave a 1 1/2″ opening near one end, for turning the cap right side out.

2. Sew the outside edges (only) together on each of the four points.

3. Turn the cap so that the fold and side seam run down the middle of the front and back. Sew one continuous arched seam across the top and another across the bottom end of the cap.

4. Turn cap right side out by pulling it through the opening left in the original side seam made back in step 1.

Machine stitch the opening closed very close to the edge.

Fold bottom half of fabric up inside the cap so that it becomes a self-lining. Tack both layers together at the top with a few hand stitches.

All done! In basically four steps and almost no time at all, you can make a stylish alternative to the typical turban. The soft and cozy t-shirt weight fabric makes this beanie perfect for the summer months or as an extra layer in the winter.

The skinny scarves are 5″ or 6″ cuts from any light weight cloth.

Then it’s pinned together lengthwise, right sides together, and sewn with about a 1/4″ seam from one selvage end to the other.

Then I add a safety pin to one end and chase it through the tunnel of fabric to turn it right side out.

Next, turn the seam so that it runs down the middle of the scarf and iron.

The skinny scarf is finished except for any decorations that you may want to add.

I love the big bow. It reminds me of the flapper look.

My friend Laurie made this little rose from leftover scraps of knit fabric. I haven’t tried it but she swears it’s just five circles folded in quarters and stitched at the bottom with a couple of leaves added to the sides.

Super cute, don’t you think?

Fresh Ingredients

2 eggs, beaten

(You will also need two egg yolks and 1/2 cup of butter for the frosting.)

Storage Ingredients

1 can peaches (1 lb. 13 oz.) drained and mashed (about 1 1/2 – 1 3/4 cups of fruit)

1 1/2 cups sugar

3/4 cup oil

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting

1 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon white flour

1/2 cup butter

2 egg yolks

2/3 cup evaporated milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts, or coconut (I used 3/4 cup pecans and 3/4 cup giant flaked coconut. Wow)

Combine sugar, eggs, oil, and peaches. In a separate bowl stir together the wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to peach mixture and blend well. Allow to rest for 15 minutes. Pour into a 9 x 13 inch oiled cake pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.

For the frosting, combine brown sugar, flour, butter, egg yolks, and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil, stirring, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Add vanilla, nuts and/or coconut. Carefully spoon hot frosting onto warm cake. It’s really really good.

My dear sister, Virginia, popped a bite of this cake into my mouth, insisting that I taste it, while I was dropping something off at her house. That’s all it took for me to want to try this recipe. (And you know how I feel about baking.) PLUS this recipe uses whole wheat flour AND canned fruit so it’s perfect for using both my long-term storage and my three-month supply. 

People may complain about canned fruit but I always try to maintain a small selection of peaches, pears, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and applesauce. The canned fruit may not be my first choice on a day-to-day basis, but I want the luxury of having it in my food storage. And, if I’m going to buy the stuff, I better have a plan for getting it used. This super moist peach and wheat recipe tastes like a luscious cross between carrot cake and German chocolate. It’s also easy to prepare, and that matters a whole lot to me!

A couple of my daughters have given this recipe a prominent nickname but really it’s just a simple food storage meal that tastes surprisingly similar to the extra creamy macaroni and cheese served at this restaurant chain.

Fresh Ingredients

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Storage Ingredients

2 cups dry macaroni

1 cup Alfredo sauce (Buying the 3-pack of sauce from Costco makes it perfect for my three-month supply.)

1 cup water

1/2 cup powdered milk

*or substitute 1 cup evaporated milk for the water and powdered milk

Boil pasta in salted water for about 7 minutes. If using powdered milk, reserve 1 cup of the hot cooking liquid and then drain the pasta. Return both the reserved water and the pasta to the pan and stir in the powdered milk, Alfredo sauce, and Parmesan cheese. (If you’re using evaporated milk drain all the water before adding the other ingredients.) Transfer to a small cake pan or casserole dish and top with the grated cheddar cheese. Cover with plastic and microwave for 2-3 minutes until all the cheese is melted on top.

I like to serve this dish with a healthy side of sauteed spinach

and fresh tomatoes. The whole meal can be ready in less than fifteen minutes and that’s much quicker than driving to the nearest restaurant and waiting for our order to be prepared.

A dash of nutmeg is nice on top as we enjoy a yummy dinner and the money we just saved.

When I was a teenager, I thought that the notion of disguising your food storage as furniture was totally nuts. Now it seems totally normal. Not sure what that says about me. Don’t really care.

But I was thinking that it might be fun, and only slightly useful, to share the wacky ways we, meaning you and I, have ‘used’ our food storage. I’ll go first. This story is titled: THE BIG ONE THAT GOT AWAY

Last summer I did the design work on a 3,300 square foot basement playroom. Yup! One of the very first ideas I pitched to the client was to use her food storage cases, spread out in an area about 21′ x 17′, as the support structure for a STAGE. (Warning: Even in my interior design business I try to encourage investing in food storage. This client doesn’t happen to currently use her food storage, as in cook with it, but she has it, and that’s the first step.) Catching my design vision/version of “if you build it they will come”, she agreed to the idea of the stage but opted to have a contractor build the structure, sans case. BUT IT WOULD HAVE WORKED! I’m sure of it.

Next, and not nearly as grand, I’ve helped two of my daughters use their food storage hand-me-down cans and cases of wheat, as the supports for their new upholstered headboards. (Originally from Thomasville for $935.00, I salvaged the headboards for only $50.00 each. More on that later. See, this post is also about me trying to dip my big toe into the requests for sharing provident living interior design tips. Aaarg!) At first the girls thought they would have to pay someone to build the connection-contraption but I suggested that they first experiment with using their extra food storage. Worked like a charm!

 Anywho! That’s what we did and we’re not ashamed. Now tell us your story.

Cancer is a crime. I have three people in my extended family who are currently being robbed.

Yesterday, I met with Blanca Raphael, Coordinator Volunteer Services, at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital. She gave me a brief but inspiring hands-on tour of the beautiful and useful items which have so generously been donated to the Hunstman Cancer Institute.  You’ve never seen so many lovely LOVELY crocheted hats!

My goal in meeting with her was to explain a plan to invite women in our stake/neighborhood, ages 8-180, to sew cotton knit beanies for women who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy treatments. Blanca especially liked our idea of adding funky, rough-cut, boutique style, decorative headbands to the beanies so that the women can sport a fun, current, scrap-art look, while they battle the beast.

Knowing that I may need to be teaching this simple sewing skill during the next few weeks, I decided to give it a go.

The things I liked best about this project were 1.) no instructions 2.) no expense (using up leftover fabric ends)

and 3.) no limit to the good clean creative fun. The headbands, or demi-scarves, are a make-it-up-as-you-go-along adventure.
The looks evolve as random bits and pieces are added. This is fabric art for the masses.

I’ve enlisted the truly expert help of my sister, Virginia, to figure out how to copy a knit beanie from the Gap. She’s probably unpicking right now. Our hope is to buy $1 t-shirts and reconstruct them into soft, breathable, comfy, caps. Let me know if you have any suggestions.

My favorite part of last month’s visiting teaching message was from Elder Robert D. hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “It is important to understand that self-reliance is a means to an end. Our ulitimate goal is to become like the Savior, and that goal is enhanced by our unselfish service to others. Our ability to serve is increased or diminished by the level of our self-reliance.”  That guidance helps me to understand self-reliance as preparations made in order to have more to give!

D&C 82:18-19  And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church–Every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.

And here we have the lovely bride! (Duston Todd Photography)

Her wedding dress was from J.Crew for only $395.00. (Obviously not the dress we originally planned to have sewn, but still a good deal.) Samantha added a lace top underneath to help the dress be a bit more modest. That’s the way we roll. I can’t post a picture of the lace top because it appears to have sold out. Anyway, you get the idea. It’s this dress, with a little custom detailing layered underneith for coverage, and yes warmth. Brrrrrrr January weddings.

My daughter’s wedding was only a week away but I was STILL at a loss for what to wear to her reception. In desperation I bought this sweet little top from Anthropology. I could justify the $118.00.

My plan was to wear it with a vintage beaded cardigan, which I already own, forever thanks to my husband’s grandmother,

and a skirt I found new with tags on, at a second hand clothing store for $9.00.

But the longer I thought about it I began to be annoyed at the dry clean only $118.00. It seemed like throwing good money after bad. Even if I probably can “afford it”, I don’t enjoy burning cash like that.  If it’s not a deal, it’s just not that fun.

So last Saturday, with the wedding clock ticking, I found some plain cream colored t-shirts, in a really nice silky knit, at TJMaxx for only $5.99 each.

Tempted, I remembered learning about reconstructed clothing while attending a Relief Society meeting in Oregon. Heidi at www.franticallysimple.com shared one of her many great SKILLS when she taught the women in her ward how to make play dresses and baby leggings from recycled t-shirts. What I needed was an inexpensive washable copy of the Anthropology shirt, and these Ts felt like the answer.

Now, I sew about as well as I cook, but determined to give it go. Purchasing enough shirts for the reconstruction yardage, I could of sworn I heard dear friends and comrades quietly crying in the distance, “Stop Liesa! Don’t do this! There isn’t time! You’ve never done this before! For the love of that last cranberry cake that ended up in the trash, THIS ISN’T GOING TO WORK!”  

Cha-ching. 

First step was to tighten up the neck of the t-shirt. I grabbed some leftover elastic from the total chaos of my sewing Rubbermaid, and zig-zagged that puppy in place. “Great, now I have a really comfortable pajama top.” But I didn’t give up.

(I warned you about this.)

Slashing a second t-shirt into strips,

I added a slightly less pleated ruffle, sewed the soggy bow-ties together for the front, and finished the neckline with a $3.00 piece of lace.

Don’t get me wrong, it took some time but the finished product wasn’t half bad.

I’ve happily returned the remaining t-shirt and shipped the $118.00 dream top back home where it belongs.

Mother of the bride, for under $25.00. Thanks Heidi!