tammy circeo: telling life stories

Copper pot — thrift store find

One day last week, I was texting with Emily in the afternoon just before I left to pick up Aly from school. I wasn't feeling well so it was a rare afternoon that I had the TV on just after lunch. Tyler Florence's show was on and I was smitten with the number of copper pots he had in his kitchen. Emily and I talked about it and she told me to stop coveting those $250 pots!

Ok. Fine. I will, but it won't stop me from going by the thrift store on the way to pick Aly up ... just to see what they have. I'm sure they don't have any copper pots. I'm sure they don't. I'm really not even looking for one.

But ... you never know what you'll find when you browse through a thrift store. You might not find single treasure or you might just luck upon something sweet ... like a copper pot. For $3.50.

There sitting on a nondescript shelf was an ugly copper pot. Most of its outside was tarnished and stained ...

And the inside was scarred from years of scraping and showed it's copper patina ...

This was no huge challenge for me, though. I know that there are some great copper polishes available and even better, a homemade cleaner of an acid and salt does fabulous things for copper. Think: vinegar and salt, lemon juice and salt ...

I had just made a French lemon tart so I had numerous halves of lemons that I had juiced. I cut the halves in half, salted them, then turned them pulp-side down on the copper. It was easy to hold and the result was astounding!

I did the same on the inside, only I cut the lemon peels into fourths so that they fit into the corner of the pot better. The acid worked away at the tarnish and the salt served as an abrasive.

I had a hard time cleaning the area where the handle attached to the pot. Ken helped later, but it still has a black outline. I can't say that I mind that, though ... It kind of adds to the character of the pot, no?

She's a sweet little beauty that will serve my cuisine well for many years, I'm sure. And for $3.50, I'm a happy cook!

7 Days in May — MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

Each May, at JessicaSprague.com, the website where I am a mentor for digital scrapbooking students, hosts "7 Days in May". It is a week long celebration of memory-making with a new challenge being given each day. Most years that it has been held, I've been unsuccessful, but this year, I CONQUERED! I accomplished all seven days worth of challenges, PLUS one!

The first challenge was to create a layout using a quote. Where I had just taken a photo of Ken and Goldie "on the edge of the universe", it was an easy choice of photo and subject.

[Credits: JSprague Blue Solid, JS-HAFH-Awning Stripe, JCrowley-BeautifulEvidence, CC-Can odds_ends_JC_Love, KPertiet Stitched Note card 1.]

The second challenge was to use two photos in a "diptych" application ... two photos that have to do with each other, but that are separate. I chose a close up of the tulips Emily and Kyle brought to me on Mother's Day, and a photo of the two of them.

[Credits: Liv_Storyof2_DiptychFrame2-Horiz; CC_odds_ends_tag4, journaling2, remnantb; CC_lil_man_dapperdanb, jumpingjackb; Carina Gardner_dist_pastels1; VinniePearce OldTHings BirdieCutout; MCO_Stitching_Snippets01]

The third challenge required the use of this particular template and any further embellishment desired. Et voila ...

[Credits: YouAreHere Kit by QQ]

Day 4 Challenge ... use something in a repeating pattern.

[Credits: CarinaGardner_grungylines2, dist_pastels6, masksv2-6, dais_paperbits; LivE ColorMe 06 + 07 brushes; JL_Arthouse_Textures1_5; Flergs WW2 Frame; AliEdwards_CapturetheMoment_Twill; MCO_StitchingSnippets02; KPertiet_PinnedNotes3s; Font: Traveling Typewriter]

The Sorbet Challenge ... Linda gave us a color palette reminiscent of sorbet, provided some lovely papers, and sent us on our creative ways.

[Credits: QQ_SContheedge; ITM_Sorbet; CarinaGardner_dist_white1; font: UCU Charles Script]

This is a layout I did ... just on a whim ... not a challenge at all ...

[Credits: InTheMaking Template XIV; CrystalWilkerson TorisRoom 02+03; KPertiet Stitched Notecard; Font: Century Gothic]

Challenge #6 ... almost there! Oof, but Liv tries to derail me by requiring the layout to be about me! INCLUDING a photo of myself. I started out with one idea, but it didn't work with the template (which was required). Then I found photos of Mama Trudy and Emily that I thought would be great for this, but alas, no photo of ME! Liv ... what are you doing to me? After perusing my photo albums, I finally landed on this ...

[Credits: LivE Designs DoodledTemplate; QQ_LuckyDuck Kit; Fonts: Honey Script and Century Gothic]

The last challenge involved Art Journaling about "finding your wings" or "flying". The very first thing that came to my mind was this Scripture verse. It is one of my dad's favorites and Mama Trudy stitched it on a burlap sack and attached it to a piece of wood that she decoratively jigsawed and stained. It hung in my childhood home and has proudly hung in mine for many years now.

And to that end, I count myself a success for the "7 Days in May"!

If you want more info on learning how to scrapbook digitally, take photographs manually, or do art journaling, check out JessicaSprague.com. She is a fantastic and patient teacher and is consistently coming up with new ideas! You could even request "yours truly" as your personal FREE mentor. :)

Southern Kitchen

Alright, folks ... I'm tempted to put on my best Southern drawl for y'all to tell you this story, but since you can't hear me anyway, I'll just talk normal. Ken said it wasn't really necessary anyway.

I first heard of Southern Kitchen (1716 6th Avenue, Tacoma WA) on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, but when we drove by it, it didn't click that it was the same place. It seemed odd to me that a restaurant specializing in Southern food would have much of a draw in the Northwest. When we found many of the restaurants downtown closed for the holiday, we decided to hit it up. Curiosity killed us.

As we walked in, we were greeted by just about every staff person. "Hi there ... take a seat anywhere you like!" Southern hospitality in a restaurant serving Southern food? Good start.

I noticed one of the servers had on gloves and was filling bottles with a red liquid. When she finished, she brought one to our table and said that it was hot sauce. I tasted it expecting it to be so hot that it opened my sinuses, but it was pleasantly warm with just the right amount of flavor and heat. I asked if they sold it, but they don't, and acquiring the recipe was out of the question since the owner was in Seattle for a food festival and who knows if she would've given it to me anyway! It tasted like a Tabasco sauce, but better. (You can see the bottles in the photo below just to the right of the ketchup bottles.)

Here's the deal ... I like southern food just fine, but I don't cook it very often and when I go back to visit, I find that I'm not a huge fan. It tastes good, but I rarely feel good after eating it and that's enough for me to keep my distance. However ... when an establishment in the PNW goes against all cultural norms and serves SWEET tea and does so in quart-size canning jars ... well ... how can you not be just a little excited?!

See all the newspaper articles, awards, and photos behind the cash register? I would agree that they know their southern food.

Each person gets their own corncake to start the meal ... it's as large as the plate!

The menu items range from chicken fried steak to fried catfish, liver and onions to hamburgers, and omelets to veggie plates (with macaroni and cheese counting as a vegetable), but I couldn't eat at a restaurant that serves authentic southern food without sampling the fried chicken. It's the standard for all food served below the Mason-Dixon line, right?

I will say that it was a good piece of fried chicken. The coating fairly cracked off into my fingers and the chicken was steaming hot! I ordered Mac & Cheese and Fried Okra as my sides and while they were both OK, I thought neither of them were super stellar. I don't really care for breaded okra (I prefer it dusted with cornmeal and just barely sautéed in a little olive oil) and the Mac & Cheese was SUPER rich — tasted like a stick of butter. Perhaps I only thought so because I usually eat fairly lean ... and this meal was NOT! I ended up eating only a little of each of them.

But of course, with company like this ... who could complain about much? (I know, I know ... I showed this photo in the previous post! But I LOVE it.)

The good things: sweet tea in canning jars, crunchy coating on the chicken, casual atmosphere, oil cloth tablecloths ...

The bad things: sweet tea in canning jars, crunchy coating on the chicken, casual atmosphere, oil cloth tablecloths ...

You get the picture.

Le Long Weekend - 29 May 2012

The weekend was somewhat uneventful with quite a few hours of work for both Ken and me. However, the long weekend allowed us time to drive to Tacoma to see Ben. We drove around downtown admiring the old architecture and then tried a restaurant called Southern Kitchen (a separate post!).

Any weekend is good when we can spend time with {any or all of} our kids, sharing laughs and making memories. Just look at those gorgeous smiles!

Here's to a new "short" week that is chock full of stuff to do!

Memorial Day 2012

A simple "thank you" doesn't convey the gratitude I have for those who choose to serve our country, some of whom lose their life doing so. I'm glad there's at least one day where our attention is purposely turned toward them.

[Photo taken August 2011, Snohomish, WA ... still one of my favorites.]

French Fridays with Dorie: Lyonnaise Garlic & Herb Cheese

The recipe for French Fridays this week goes right along with my whole "simplicity" theme from the last three days. Score!

I love Boursin cheese and who in their right mind doesn't? It's rather a splurge with all that creaminess and herb deliciousness. Growing up in France and smelling all the stinky cheeses (that, in the end, taste very good), Boursin was a welcome cheese to our childish palates. Who knew you could make something so very similar right at home?

I used part-skim ricotta cheese, after letting it drain for a while, then added in shallots, garlic, parsley,  and chives (I skipped the tarrgon because licorice is not my favorite flavor). A bit of red wine vinegar and olive oil stirred in and the whole mess of it seasoned with salt and freshly ground pepper made me one happy camper reminiscing about all things French.

You can eat the cheese on bread, of course, like any cheese, but you can use it as a dip for crackers or vegetables and I think it would a fabulous spread on a sandwich. Dorie suggested stuffing tomatoes with it and that sounded wonderful. I kept it super simple, though, and served sliced tomatoes with a bit of the cheese dolloped on each slice.

Here's my own "bonne idée" ... mix a tablespoon or two with your eggs before scrambling. DELICIOUS!

If you're new around here or are wondering what French Fridays with Dorie is ... It's an effort to use one of Dorie's recipes from her cookbook Around My French Table each week. The recipes are decided on by popular vote on the website French Fridays with Dorie. Purchase your book HERE and play along! According to the rules of the group, I'm not allowed to post the actual recipe ... mes regrets.)

Garbanzo Bean Salad

Fast food doesn't have to be purchased nor does it have to be accompanied by French fries.

How about a quick salad that can be tossed together in about five minutes. That's quicker than the average fast food establishment can put your order into a paper bag! 

Garbanzo beans, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, herb of your choice (I just happen to LOVE basil in this), olive oil and lemon juice, salt and pepper ... and lunch is served.

Wasn't that quick and simple?

Bon Appétit!

Download Garbanzo Bean Salad

Core An Apple ... quickly

I'm not sure where I first saw this method of coring an apple, but it revolutionized my life.

OK, so that was an exaggerated statement. Don't judge me! Truth is, when you have little people clammoring for snacks, you appreciate every little tip to help you get food into them as fast as possible! This is one of those precious tips I learned early on.

I used to core an apple by first using a large knife to cut through it, then using a paring knife and cutting down the center of each quarter. More often than not, the quarter popped into two pieces as I hit the center of that cut. It wasn't usually a big deal, but man, I just wanted that quarter to stay whole! Perfectionistic much? Besides that, I had two knives to clean rather than just one.

So here's a way to keep the quarter intact and use only one knife. Using a chef's knife, cut an apple in half ...

... then cut the half in half ...

On each quarter, angle the knife along the core, making sure your fingers are well out of the way, and cut through. (On vacation once, I ended up in the ER for stitches and a tetanus shot when I avoided this advice and was also using a rusty old, dull knife that slipped into my fingers!)

And there ya go ... clean cut quarters of apple!

See? Wasn't that easy?

Sautéed Grape (or Cherry, or Sugar Plum) Tomatoes

As school is winding down, days are becoming longer, summer produce is coming in, and valuable time spent together is rather to be spent playing rather than working, I offer you one of the easiest side dishes possible. Sautéing tomatoes takes them just past delectable and brings out their mellow sweetness. Grape, or cherry, or sugar plum tomatoes are all perfect for this method.

Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat, add the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and bit of garlic (or garlic powder), if you want. The best way to get the garlic flavor using fresh garlic while avoiding burning it is to heat slices of it gently with the oil, remove it with a slotted spoon, then add the tomatoes. You could also use a purchased garlic-flavored oil.

It takes just barely minutes to sauté the tomatoes. They will sizzle as soon as they hit the pan and a few of the skins will pop. Delicious sounds! Swirl them around the pan a few times and dish them up. We prefer them just barely cooked, with still a bit of "pop", but if you prefer them softer, leave them on the heat just a bit longer.

These are excellent accompanying any meat ... steak, chicken, fish ... whether you cook indoors or out. It's like having a sauce ... but not. :P You could add herbs, too, if you wish. Some great choices would be thyme, basil, or parsley.

And I've been known to throw any sweet leftovers into a salad for lunch. ;)

How simple is that?

Le Weekend—21 May 2012

Le Weekend was ushered in beautifully by the week's sunshine and we celebrated with an impromptu date night at our local Mexican restaurant. We're learning that eating out with just two of us is way cheaper and we get a table much faster!

Saturday was beautiful as well and while I don't have a ton of space or time for gardening, I do enjoy my tiny potted garden on my patio ...

Sadly, I didn't take photos on Saturday when the sun was out :(  but I braved the drizzle on Sunday for these shots. ;)

I pulled out the plant stakes were given to me by a friend years ago. Aren't they beautiful? Copper wiring and stained glass bits ...

The lavendar is only green now, of course, but I hope it blooms this year. I was surprised that some of the normally annual alyssum I underplanted came back.

In my and Ken's first apartment, I had lots of red geraniums in our kitchen window. They remind me of the window boxes in France and I almost always have some in my garden.

What is an herb garden without rosemary?! I simply love the piney smell of it and it is delicious with chicken and roasted potatoes.

I only have two stained glass plant stakes (had three at one point?) and since I have a penchant for copper, I love these simple ones that you can buy at most garden centers. When you want to use it for a different plant, just use copper polish or a product like Bar Keeper's Friend to clean the title and polish it up a bit.

My neighbor gave me some tomato plants last week. She said her in-laws had these plants from an heirloom tomato that they planted. They are called "Chocolate Stripe Heirloom Tomato" and if I remember correctly, she said they will be brown with a purple stripe on them. I can't wait to see what they look like and taste like! I have three plants so hopefully, I can keep at least one of them living so that I can taste this heirloom treasure. I think it would be wonderful to find some copper tomato cages ... can you imagine?!

Hope you had a great weekend, too ... I'm planning on simplicity this week so I hope you'll be back to check out the posts. We all need a little of that in our lives occasionally, right?