Made It: Ketchup

I picked up 30 lbs of tomatoes the other day at a farm market, intending to can most of them, but I've been wanting to make some of my own ketchup for a while.  Since I had the bounty, and it seemed like more fun than simply canning these beauties, I decided to go for it. 

I took the photo with the wrap still on the tomatoes... that's why they look like that.

The recipe only calls for 2 lbs of fresh tomatoes, which didn't really seem like that much...  but there's a whole lot of other stuff in there!  Mostly onions, fennel, and celery.  And spices.  I used the recipe from Jamie Oliver's Jamie At Home book.  Cook the veggies down for a while...

Then add the tomatoes, fresh and canned (all fresh if you want to use different coloured tomatoes)

Cook it.

Then you whiz it up, put it through a strainer a couple times, add things like vinegar and brown sugar, cook it down to the right consistency, and bottle it in sterilized bottles.  Since I was canning stuff at the same time, I ended up canning the 2 small jars.  However, we've been using any excuse to eat this ketchup lately, and half the big bottle is already gone!  This ketchup is so wonderful - it's like a taste explosion!  I probably should have added a touch more vinegar, but it is still pretty amazing.

My brother could probably make that...

I visited my brother at his house for the first time in years a few weeks ago, and found something amazing - herb-infused salts!  That he made himself!  This is not surprising, if you know my brother.  I recall a time when he was probably 16 or 17.  I was in the kitchen with him while he was cooking something.  Grinding herbs in the mortar & pestle.  He comes over to me at the table and says, "Smell this.  Do you think it needs more tarragon?"  I still don't know what tarragon smells like!  Anyway, this guy loves to cook in interesting ways.  

These salts are awesome because:

1) they're made with beautiful coarse sea salt

2) they're all in these lovely understated mason jars

3) they are SO easy

4) I wish I had thought of this

I'm pretty sure he just mixed up some salt with some fresh herbs.  One is rosemary and garlic (whole cloves), another is a poultry blend, and I'm not sure what the orange one is.  

If we had stayed longer, I would have loved to use some of this gorgeous salt in some way!  Even if it was just to spice up some eggs...  Yum!

Made It: Baby Bow Tie

Here's a super easy way to zazz up your little (or big) fella's next fancy outfit.  Make a bow tie!  Since most of Charlie's outfit was pretty plain (white & black) I figured we could go bold with the bow tie.  Because that's what it's for, after all!

I used this tutorial, which you should check out because she has beautiful photos as well as very easy to understand instructions!

First things first: cut out your fabric.  I sewed each piece into a tube, turned inside out, and pressed. 

Then, with the big bow piece, fold each edge into the middle to meet.  Sew in place using a zigzag stitch up the middle.  (See, this is why you need to see the real tutorial.  Better instructions)

Sew an inch long straight stitch perpendicular to the zigzag.

Attach the velcro to the neck part.  When you do this, you can fold the unfinished end kind of like an envelope, pin the velcro on, and just sew around it normally.  (Honestly, it's like I'm not even trying here...)

Finally, place the bow part over the center of the neck part.  Pinch and arrange the bow part until you think it looks right.  Fold the middle piece over the bow and neck parts, keeping the ends toward the back.  Fold under and tighten to your desired look.  Hand stitch that sucker together and you have a bow tie!  Amazing!

I cut out my fabric the night before, but getting up at our regular 8:00, I was able to finish this bad boy by 9:15.

 Here's Charlie, monkeying around in a bow tie at a wedding.  I'm thinking I might have to find some more nice fabric and make him a little collection.