Mmmm Cranberries

A few Christmas's back my mom gave me her Helen Corbit's Cookbook which had been passed down to her by my dad's grandmother.  It's always fun to flip through because both wrote little notes next to recipes.  I have only used it a few times, I really forget I have it.  


Today though, I wanted to make cranberry bread and there wasn't a recipe on the back of bag.  Instead of googling for a recipe I thought she would probably have a great one.  At first glance it looked really easy.  Great!  Elle's asleep so let's get going!!  Then I took a second look...usually at the top of any recipe is a list of all the ingredients...riiiight?  Well not this one.  She listed ingredients but only half -- flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, sugar.  This being a cranberry bread, I would expect there to be cranberries in this bread.  Five lines into the 6 line recipe instructions, the cranberries were finally mentioned -- orange juice and rind, shortening, an egg, and chopped nuts were also left out of the list.  Here is the recipe, with EVERY ingredient listed at the top with a few slight changes.  enjoy...


Cranberry Bread

2 c  flour
1/2 tsp  salt
1 1/4 tsp  baking soda
1/2 tsp  baking powder
1 c  sugar
juice & rind of 1 orange
2 tbl  butter
3/4 c  boiling water
1  beaten egg
1 c  chopped pecans
1 c  raw cranberries, roughly chopped


Sift flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, sugar.
In a separate bowl combine orange juice, rind, butter, and boiling water.  Stir until butter melts.
Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients.  
Add egg and mix together.  
Add nuts and cranberries.  


Bake for 1 hour at 350. 

Chicken Alfredo...I guess?

My mission from Chase: a light pasta
Ingredients in the kitchen: frozen peas, frozen corn, parmesan cheese, mozzarella, fettuccine, chicken breasts, butter, parsley, half and half


I really wanted a creamy pasta with a veggie and did not want to make a trip to the grocery store.  I remembered an episode of The Chew where Mario Batali made Fettuccine Alfredo.  I'm not always a huge fan, but his version actually looked light and most importantly, EASY!  There were definitely a few other combinations that were in the running, but this guy was the easiest.


During Elle's 20 min evening nap, I cooked the chicken breasts.  Then waited for Chase to get home to finish everything else off.

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo...I guess


1/2 lb  fettuccine noodles
1 c   frozen peas
1   grilled chicken breast, diced
6 tbl   butter
1/4 c   parmesan cheese
chopped parsley
salt & pepper


Cook the pasta according to the package.  Throw in your peas to the boiling pasta during the last few minutes.  Reserve about a cup of the pasta water before draining.  Drain pasta and peas.  Combine cooked pasta, peas, chicken, butter, parmesan, butter.  Stir until the butter and cheese has melted, coating all the noodles.  Top with the parsley and there you have it!

Fabric Fridays -- Rickshaw Design

I'm always on the hunt for beautiful block printed fabric.  John Robshaw is one of my favorites!  While I was pregnant and desperate for crib bedding I stumbled upon Rickshaw Design and now I'm hooked.  I'm completely jealous that she gets to create this unique fabric.  I used the udaipur collection in Elle's room.  I really wish you could mix and match the collections -- I would have added a few of the lali pieces.

here

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Elle's Nursery

3 months later I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of our nursery.  After all the inspiration pictures, this is what I came up with . . .

Disclaimer:  This is still a major work-in-progres!!!

The floor lamp was a gift from my aunt, as well as a few other pieces in the room including the mural.  This glider was worth every penny.  I really didn't start using it until Elle began sleeping in her room.  Now it's where you can find me at 5 am.

 Tree Floor Lamp
White Slipcovered Chair

During all the house construction I had my painter spray this sideboard.  My little brother acquired this from an old apartment (the older woman didn't want it anymore).  Free piece of furniture, Yes Please!  I had the hardest time finding a plain white - and I mean white, not cream! - changing mattress cover.  Of course Serena & Lily came through for me.  Elle's BlahBlah bird mobile was an instant favorite.  I couldn't believe how much she loved this mobile given that it doesn't sing, dance, move, etc.  I really only bought it because it was pretty.  

BlahBlah Bird mobile

Our giant bear was a gift from Grandma : )  I'm sure it will be a favorite for reading in the corner.  The giraffes are in the opposite corner, I had to add a pic of them.

I had the hardest time finding bedding!!!!!!  Not finding out the sex of Elle didn't make it any easier.  I was about to go with all white then add color later, when I stumbled on Rickshaw Design.  Instantly, I fell in love.  The only downfall is that you cannot mix and match colors.  Her things are absolutely beautiful though!  I chose the orange thinking it was gender neutral enough.  The hubby informed me that if we would of had a boy, this bedding would have been shipped back -- not neutral enough I guess : )  And because the bird mobile was such a hit, I picked up the lamb one this weekend.

Rickshaw Design Bedding
BlahBlah Lamb Mobile

More pics to come as the room progresses . . .