Sweet Potato Fabric Printing

July 14, 2012 by mymateriallife

I had a very enjoyable lunch yesterday with three good friends I used to work with; this is a project I started the night before and completed yesterday morning to hide the state of my 1980s era Danish Teak dining table top.  I used a sweet potato from Trader Joe’s to print the design down the center of my table mat.  Most of the lunch (and two bunches of flowers) also came from Trader Joe’s, but I’ll tell you about […]

Categories: Furnishings, Other Textiles, Sweets • Tags: coffee granita, marimekko, sweet potato fabric printing, table mat, trader joe's

Pretty Peonies

June 6, 2012 by mymateriallife

I don’t think I’ve ever bought peonies before; I’m so glad I brought these home last week.  I almost passed them by because only one of the flower buds had started to bloom.  There are five stems in the bunch and that’s the last flower to bloom in the photo.  They are so pretty with a lovely mild scent.  It’s been fun to watch them change all week long.  I may go back and get another bunch before the season […]

Categories: Finery • Tags: peonies, trader joe's

DIY Dish Mat

June 4, 2012 by mymateriallife

Now this is something I’ve been planning to do for ages, this dish mat.  I just dispensed with the yucky dish drain system I’ve used for years.  You know the one with the plastic mat and the coated wire rack.  That system had so many problems:  the coating on the rack was chipped, the mat would get covered with hard water deposits, and the water from the draining dishes would run under the mat and pretty much just stay there […]

Categories: Sewing • Tags: dish mat, ikea, rationell variera, trader joe's, viscose kitchen cloth

Shari’s BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad

May 31, 2012 by mymateriallife

My friend Shari shared this recipe with me one day last year or the year before; I had complete faith in her assurance that it would be a hit.  I made it that very night for dinner for a niece who was passing through and she ate at least two helpings. Last night I served it to another niece and her mom and dad and that niece ate two helpings too.  Shari was right.  This is one tasty salad.  A […]

Categories: Savories • Tags: bbq chicken chopped salad, trader joe's

Kind Hearts and Coronets

December 20, 2011 by mymateriallife

That’s hearts as in artichoke hearts.  I don’t think I ever did see that old British film (although it’s right up my alley), but I’ve always loved that title – the way those four words sound together.  I have two really delicious things I made and ate yesterday that I want to share with you.  Somehow this film title came to me as a way to connect them. Yesterday, we had a little cookie baking and decorating session for a […]

Categories: Savories, Sweets • Tags: artichoke dip, elegant cocoa pearls, penzey's, saveur magazine, trader joe's

Best Under $5 Bubbly – St. Patrick’s Day Style

March 17, 2011 by mymateriallife

When we hit on this idea three years ago, Dwight and I couldn’t believe that we’d never thought of it sooner.  Sparkling wine is the alcoholic beverage of choice for both of us, so it just makes sense.  I only wish there was a natural food coloring I could use that would match that green.  But this is not something you do every day, so I try not to worry about a drop or two once a year.  And isn’t […]

Categories: Beverages, Other Holidays • Tags: schloss biebrich sekt, st. patrick's day, trader joe's

Have Cake, Will Travel

October 5, 2010 by mymateriallife

Most people with severe peanut and/or nut allergies steer clear of any baked goods without an ingredient label and some kind of manufacturing statement because bakeries are such a huge risk for peanut and nut contamination.  That means you don’t eat the cake that’s served at parties – like Saturday’s cake at the wedding we attended (which looked like a stack of storybooks and tasted delicious).  So whenever my daughter, who is severely allergic to peanuts, attends a party where […]

Categories: Sweets • Tags: chocolate cake mix, container store, food gift box, peanut allergy, trader joe's

Marshmallow Pastry

July 26, 2010 by mymateriallife

When I was in the fifth or sixth grade I went to the best slumber party ever at Karen Johnson’s house. Karen’s mother is the one who made it so fun.  She didn’t mind our little forays into the occult (seances and levitations), unlike some mothers who wouldn’t let so much as a ouija board in their house.  And she served the most delicious food like this heavenly mix of marshmallow, dough and cinnamon sugar. I was so excited to […]

Categories: Sweets • Tags: crescent, marshmallow, pastry, rolls, trader joe's

So Much Greater than the Sum of its Parts

April 30, 2010 by mymateriallife

This is kind of amazing. Just perfect for strawberry season. You cut up some strawberries and bananas and layer them in a bowl with some whipped cream and the magic ingredient – Trader Joe’s Lemon Curd. It tastes like the most amazing pastry, but there isn’t any pastry, and you won’t even miss it!  Since it requires so little work, you can at least whip your own cream (it will be worth it).  I added a little brown sugar and […]

Categories: Sweets • Tags: lemon curd, strawberries, trader joe's