The Fabric Maverick: March 2009 Archives
Even though in many areas of the North and Midwest there is a resurgence of winter, spring is forging ahead in the South. The old saying is April showers bring May flowers. We have gotten a head start with rain for the last week of March. Daffodils and pear trees won't be stopped from blooming. If you are suffering from SADS, Chef Bubba is here to get you in the mood for Easter and spring with an Easter cheesecake.
Preparation time: 40 min., Bake 1.5 hr.
Cool: 45 min., Chill: 4hr. Oven: 325 degrees F.
Ingredients:
1 pkg 2-layer-size carrot cake
1 c. water
1/2 c cooking oil
6 eggs
3 8-oz pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla
Non stick cooking spray
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees Farenheit. Grease and flour a 10'' springform pan; set aside. In a large bowl, mix cake mix, 1 c. water, oil, and 3 of the eggs at low speed with an electric mixer until completely combined. About 3 minutes. Pour into pan.
2. In another large bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Beat in sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add remaining 3 eggs until combined. Pour mixture slowly over the carrot cake layer. Place cheesecake pan on a baking sheet.
3. Bake for 1 1/2 hrs. to 1 3/4 hrs. until the center is set. Top will be uneven and will settle somewhat as it cools. Cool 30 minutes. Loosen cake carefully from the sides of the pan. . Remove sides of the pan and refrigerate 4 hrs.
Optional: You may drizzle a mix of 2 Tbs. water with confectioners sugar to a consistency suitable for drizzling across the top for a slightly sweeter taste.
Makes 12-16 servings at approximately 500 calories per serving.
Enjoy, mes amis.
Chef Bubba
Every once and awhile, I receive a great email from one of our customers. Last week I received an email from Ruth Nelson who commented on my tips to make swimsuits. Now Ruth makes a bazillion swimsuits and has offered some tips of her own. These are extremely good tips and I want to share them with you. I have not changed anything in Ruth's email because she has this great attitude which can only uplift us all.
Here's Ruth:
1) Line the entire suit - not just the front - and use regular weight swimsuit fabric instead of "swimsuit lining" fabric. Lining the whole suit means no seams touch your skin, the weight and support are extremely comfortable and the suit lasts longer and stays in shape better.
2) NEVER put your suit in the washer or (god forbid!) the dryer. No soap whatsoever - not even "swimsuit" soap. Rinse carefully after each use and hang to dry. (How dirty can it get anyway!!)
3) If you swim in a chlorine pool, don't worry about the type of elastic you use. The swimsuit fabric will wear out before the elastic does. If you can't manage the serger insertion as suggested, just use a zigzag stitch.
4) I would rather use a zigzag to sew it down than a double needle. It is faster and easier to manage the tension. Cover or double needle does look nicer, but I've never had anyone even notice the type of stitching unless I pointed it out.
5) Don't bother with the "bra". Too much work and does absolutely NO good whatsoever. If you fully line with regular swimsuit fabric you'll get all the support you need and it will be more comfy. I write this speaking as as 48DD.
6) Too heck with dark, dreary, sensible colors. If you are heavy, love your body and get whatever fabric that strikes your fancy. I am a great big woman and was self-conscious 16 years ago when I started doing water aerobics at a gym full of the young and fit. I learned to my joy that no-one cares what you like like if you are happy and having a good time. Most people are too worried about themselves to worry about you and think you look perfectly fine. It's confidence that makes you look good so get that striking floral pink and orange if that's what you secretly crave.
ELASTIC INSERTION: Everyone tells you to sew elastic by cutting the measurement (usually swimsuit patterns tell you what measurement to cut), sewing it into a circle, quarter marking it and quarter marking the fabric and matching the marks stretching as you go.
This is all well and good but it is very frustrating to manage especially as you get to the end of the circle. A better, easier way is to either not cut the elastic or cut it about and inch longer than it needs to be. Leave it straight and make your first mark at the true end point measurement. Put in the other 2 quarter marks. (I use a pen instead of pins - easy to see, hidden in the final product and doesn't fall out or need to be removed.) Quarter mark the fabric as usual.
This way you have a "tail" to hold onto as you are stretching and sewing.
How do you join the circle of elastic at the end? Simple: you don't. You don't need to. The elastic is firmly fixed down and will NOT come out.
(Just try removing it if you don't believe me!)
Ruth also thinks the swimsuit patterns from Kwik Sew and Stretch and Sew have a great variety of styles for those looking for patterns.
My husband used to die when I would go to Home Depot or Lowes and drag home something that needed to be assembled. " I'm not putting this together!" he would say. It was never my intention for him to assemble my book case or whatever. I like to assemble things and I did assemble them! Except for the barbecue grill. What I did learn from all my assembly work was that using the right tools make things go much easier and faster. Sewers soon learn that lesson also.
A beginning quilter soon realizes that having the right equioment will make her sewing so much more enjoyable! From my experience I would suggest the following tools:
1. Rotary cutter
2. Rotary mat
3. Fabric
4, Thread
5. Seam ripper
6. Sewing machine
7. Scissors
8. Iron
9. 6'' x 24'' ruler
With these simple tools, you are ready to begin quilting.
Good Luck and Happy St. Patrick's Day
Fabric Maverick
When using a cutting tool such as a rotary cutter or scissors, cut away from the body. I say this as I am bandaging my finger once again as I disregarded my own advice. After using your rotary cutter, immediately close the cover. I have on several occasions dropped my rotarty cutter on my foot. Having the cutter closed has saved me from causing severe damage to my feet. Of course, I am always barefoot.
Trivia of the day- Who is 50 years old today?
Answer- Barbie
Did you know that Barbie had a middle and last name?
Answer: Barbie Millicent Roberts
Hope these snippets will get you off to a good day!
Fabric Maverick
March is one of my favorite months! The daffodils are coming up; winter is having its last fling. I was going to write an article on Sunday but my computer would not cooperate. I just looked out the window at the snow coming down and my just blooming pear tree. Nature will have the last laugh!
March is just a breath of spring to come. This is also national craft month, but best of all National Quilting Day is coming! I plan to fill your days with tips on quilting and side trips to craft projects. Hope you are willing to go with me.
To get you started here is a tip from the Gadget Corner:
What do you do with old, cracked rotary cutter mats? You cut them into appropriate sizes to use in handbag/tote patterns instead of the very heavy interfacing. Very durable and thrifty too! More money to buy fabric.
Get ready to sew this summer!
