Gracie's Eggies

Aprons, Aprons, Aprons

2010-09-19T17:29:00.000-07:00

About a year ago, I picked up a publication called "apronology" by Stampington & Company. I have been a fan of Stampington publications, and this one seemed so interesting. The magazine features dozens of aprons that were painted, elaborately embellished, and made from upcycled materials. I thought maybe I would make an apron.

Then last spring, while driving from upstate New York to Texas (I was driving back with my son from college), we stopped in Bardstown, Kentucky, which is in the middle of bourbon country. We discovered a modest antique store. It was there I bought my first piece of feedsack fabric. What a great start for an apron, I thought.

Back in San Antonio, I took that piece of feedsack, shopped for fabric that would match, and dug through my box of buttons and laces to find the perfect embellishments. I was getting hooked on the process of creating aprons. I sewed the apron (I hadn't sewed anything for years), and it turned out perfect! I was really hooked then, because the apron turned out just the way I had pictured in my mind (my crafts don't always turn out that way!).

Shown below is my first apron.

I made another one, and then another one, and then another one! The most fun I have making these aprons is the thrill of the hunt for materials. I am finding wonderful fellow Etsians who have beautiful feedsack and vintage fabrics. Today I went to one of favorite San Antonio antique stores, Back Alley Antiques at Artisan's Alley, and sorted through a box of old doilies and laces searching for apron embellishments.

Pictured below are some of my other creations:

The reverse side of the apron shown above:

I love the cheery colors of this apron. They remind me of cherries and blueberries!

This Thanksgiving apron lovers everywhere will make or purchase breads, wrap the bakery goods in an apron, and give them to someone who needs a lift up during the holiday season. I have included a link to "National Tie One On Day" to the right. Please visit the sites to find out more about how you can "Tie One On" this holiday season!

More aprons!

I had been considering opening another Etsy shop. I knew I wanted to have items that were tied to the past in some way. Well, here I was with these aprons, and I decided that they were perfect for the first items in my shop. Please visit my new new shop, Summer's Place (named for my youngest granddaughter, Summer). Come back often to find more treasures!

It is funny how many of my posts somehow lead back to my mom. She has been gone for many years now, but I still think of her often. She always wore aprons, and would make little aprons for me, too. I think that my new love of aprons connects me to her somehow.

How to Make Halloween Cascarones

2010-09-16T16:24:00.000-07:00

When I read that the great people at About.com Parenting and Family Channel were seeking blog posts about Halloween for their October Halloween-Themed Blog Carnival, I had to blog! I love Halloween. I remember as a kid going out on the big night and returning with a huge bag of candy, and boy, was I in kid heaven. As an adult, I have always lived in neighborhoods where Halloween is celebrated in a big way. Houses are decorated and lit up. Parents organize trick-or-treating groups so kids can be safe while they have a great time. There is even a huge fireworks display just blocks from my house that is enjoyed by the neighborhood revelers. Last year, I had over 300 trick-or-treaters, so I have been getting ready since the first of September.

I am on a mission. A mission to spread the word about the fun of cascarones--painted eggshells filled with confetti. Cracked over the heads of unsuspecting friends, the result is giggles, laughter, chuckles, and tee-hees--a guaranteed smile.

Cascarones are catching on as favors for the little ghosts and goblins that come a-knockin’ on Halloween. Moms and dads love them because they are sugar-free. Kids love them because they are so much fun. Using your imagination, the humble egg can be a great Halloween treat!

Although I want everyone to visit my Etsy shop, Gracie's Eggies, and buy dozens of my handmade cascarones, I wouldn't be a very good missionary of confetti fun if I didn't share the cascraones secret with the masses. So, here is your complete guide to making cascarones so you can be the "Rey or Reina" (King or Queen) of Confetti Levity on Halloween.

Before I launch into the tutorial, I must ask that readers heed this warning: no matter how many cascarones you buy or make, you will wish you had more! They are infectious. So make plenty.

Materials needed:
Eggs
food coloring, paint, Easter egg dying kit
confetti
tissue used for gift bags
scissors
glue

Make sure and read the "TIPS" following these step-by step instructions.
Wash hands after working with the raw egg product.

1. Prepare the eggs by creating a hole at the fat end of the egg. To do this, hold the egg, fat end up, firmly in the palm of one hand. Tap the egg with the blade of a knife, making a break in the egg about one inch long. Tap the egg again, perpendicular to the first crack. This will make an "X" in the top of the egg.

2. "Pick" a hole with your fingers where you have made the starter cracks. The hole should be about one inch in diameter. The holes don't have to be perfect--they will later be covered with a round piece of tissue. Empty the eggs into a bowl for future use (see TIPS for ways to use your eggs). Wash the shells in water with a little bit of bleach added and place them hole side down on a dishtowel to drain until dry.

3. Color the shells with paint or by dyeing as you would Easter eggs (see TIPS for drying your painted eggs). Be creative! Decorate your shells with stickers, paint, markers, and other embellishments (see TIPS for making perfect polka dots on your cascarones).

4. After the shells are dry, fill them with confetti (see TIPS for hints to buying and making confetti). Kids love this part.

5. Cover the hole with tissue paper (see TIPS for tissue paper). Squeeze a small amount of crafter's glue on the rim of the hole you made in the shell (see TIPS for glue suggestions). Place a round of tissue paper over the hole and gently smooth the tissue until the hole is completely covered.

Making cascarones is only half the fun. Now go out and shower your world with confetti (see TIPS for instructions for cracking eggs over heads)!

TIPS

TIP: Eggshells will probably get into the eggs you have emptied into the bowl. The shells settle to the bottom. If you are going to use the eggs right away, pour the eggs into another bowl, and the shells will remain at the bottom of the original bowl. I learned this tip from Ace of Cakes!

TIP: What are you going to do with all of those eggs? I recommend http://www.marthastewart.com for recipes. You can also freeze eggs to use in cake and cookie recipes.

TIP: I paint my eggs and place them on bamboo skewers, then poke the skewers into the ground until the eggs are dry.

TIP: Do you like my polka dot style of cascarones? Here is my secret for the perfect dot: Dip the eraser-end of a pencil into craft paint and kiss the shell with the eraser. Perfectly round polka dots!

TIP: Where do get confetti? In Texas, you can buy bags of confetti in the party goods aisle at the grocery store for $1 per bag. A bag will fill 7-10 dozen eggs. You can also go to your local printer and ask them to save the circles produced when they drill holes in projects. Another idea is to shred colored paper in a home paper shredder and cut the strips into little squares. You can also buy small bags of specialty confetti (how about spiders?) and add to the paper confetti for a special touch.

TIP: Don't obsess over clean up. The confetti vacuums up easily. If outdoors, the confetti will soon be absorbed into the landscape and causes no harm to the environment.

TIP: I use the most inexpensive crafter's or school glue to adhere the tissue paper to the egg.

TIP: Everyone is using gift bags these days, Save the tissue in the bags to make the tissue circles for cascarones. Smooth the tissue, then accordian fold the tissue. Each pleat should be about three inches wide. Cut circles large enough to cover the holes from the pleated tissue. This method means you can cut about 5-10 circles at a time. Your tissue doesn't have to match the color of your egg. Anything that looks pretty will be fine.

TIP: This is the most important tip. In Texas, kids love to "smash" the eggs directly on the heads. No tears are shed and there are no hard feelings, because everyone knows what they are. Kids who are unfamiliar with the tradition might be shocked and dismayed by being hit on the head. This is how to create a no-tears confetti shower: Hold the egg in one hand about 6 inches over the head of recipient. Crush the egg in the palm of your hand and sprinkle the contents over the head. An alternative to this is to "clap" the cascaron between your hands over the head and then let the confetti rain down.

Welcome to the Family, Mindy!

2010-06-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

I knew when Mindy joined the Amon family for 2009 Thanksgiving dinner that my nephew James was serious about her.

And I knew she had to be serious about James when, at the gathering, she followed my instructions to the letter on how to serve oneself from the buffet. She didn't roll her eyes, she didn't laugh, she just went with the flow (although I do remember a comment regarding missing directional tape lines on the floor-was that Mindy or James who said that?).

You see, I am a little bit obsessive about Thanksgiving dinner. No one is allowed in the kitchen but me. I am like Martha Stewart if she was a drill sergeant with no social skills. The only part of Thanksgiving I will delegate is the pies. I "allow" my sister to make the pies because she (even I have to admit) is an extraordinary pie-maker.

Thanksgiving with the Amons is a true test of love. We must have received a passing score, because Mindy is still here!

This weekend, my sister-in-law (James' mom) is hosting a luncheon for Mindy. She asked me if I could "help." That was all the invitation I needed to take over the event. The theme for the luncheon is vintage roses. I have had so much fun assembling various vintage pieces for the place settings and decorations.

The first order of business was creating a "place card" that could also serve as a takeaway for guests, and I had a brilliant idea.

My daughter went to undergraduate school in New York City. When I would visit her, we always would stop into this great shop called Fishes Eddys. They sold old and discontinued serving pieces from cafes and diners. On one visit, I spied a barrel full of coffee cups from diners with a sign that said "fifty cents". I couldn't pass them up at that price! I lugged a dozen of them home where they stayed in a drawer for seven years waiting to be repurposed.

And now the time is right for them to find new life. I have made them into pincushions. Tied to each handle is a tag lettered with each guest's name-perfect as a place card and takeaway for luncheon guests.

I found several silver-plated pieces that will be used for the table centerpiece and as serving ware. I discovered the salad tongs and water pitcher at the Austin Citywide Garage Sale. The tongs were just $3 and the pitcher only $5! A little bit of baking soda brought these tarnished flea market finds back to life.

At a recent trip to the Goodwill store, I uncovered several silver-plated bowls and goblets scattered around the store. Each piece was engraved with a year and "1st Place," "2nd Place,' etc. It took me a while, but I realized that these were trophies for sailing events. The earliest one was dated 1963. How cool! These, too, were tarnished (which I found appealing), but I went ahead and polished them to a bright lustre.

I will place these on top of a vintage mirror and fill them with flowers. In these photos, I used crepe myrtle blooms. I think I will use them at the luncheon--what could be better than free for flowers?

Welcome, Mindy, to the Amon family. Just follow the taped path, and you will be fine!

Please take a moment to visit the Etsy shops featured in the sidebar. Since the luncheon is all about pink and roses and love, I chose shops where you can find things that are pink..

Viva Fiesta!

2010-04-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

I love San Antonio. It's quiet demeanor gives the impression that San Antonio is a small town, so most people are surprised to learn that the Alamo City is the seventh largest city in the nation (and is bigger than Dallas, which ranks ninth). It is this small-town ambience that holds my heart and brings me home every weekend after working in Austin during the week.

Every spring in April, the city throws its sombrero in the air and invites the world to Fiesta, a ten-day party that celebrates its multi-ethnic heritage with four major parades (drawing up to 500.000 parade-goers to each parade), a carnival, oyster bake, concerts, art shows, royalty to name just a few events.

Not every event is huge, and today my daughter, granddaughters and I enjoyed one of the smaller neighborhood events--the King William Fair. King William is a neighborhood just south of downtown. The neighborhood was first settled in the 1840s by German immigrants (at that time, one-third of the San Antonio population spoke German). The area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cross St. Mary's Street, and you arrive in the area known as Southtown where the homes are not as opulent, but I think equally as beautiful.

The house above belongs to author Sandra Cisneros. She caused quite a stink in the neighborhood when she painted her house such bright colors. She finally won the argument and the neighborhood, I believe, is better for it.

The three homes shown above are examples of the Victorian-inspired architecture in the neighborhood.

The fair kicked off with a parade. Now, this is not one of the "big" parades, like the Battle of Flowers or Fiesta Flambeau, but it is big in spirit. Dance school tots, community non-profits, and pooches in Fiesta finery wowed the crowd. The parade queens took the opportunity to poke fun at the "real" Fiesta royalty.

We trekked to the fair proper at the conclusion of the parade. Homes along the route were dressed in Fiesta finery--papel picado (cut paper banners) and huge wreaths adorned with traditional Mexican crepe-paper flowers with flowing ribbons that fluttered in the wind. Families gathered in their front yards welcoming Fiesta visitors to their neighborhood, all the while celebrating Fiesta with barbeque, cascarones (confetti-filled eggshells that are cracked over heads), aquas frescas (fruit drinks, such as lemonade, strawberry, or watermelon), and music.

Mini-papel picado on sticks!

Traditonal papel picado--notice "Fiesta" cutwork on each banner.

We made our way to the children's area, where the girls had their faces painted and made pleated-paper butterflies (a free event thanks to the area Rotary club). The day was beautiful and we had a lot of fun. Viva Fiesta and we will see you next year!

My daughter Kim and granddaughter Gracie (my Etsy store namesake).

My little sweetie, Summer with cascarones confetti in her hair.

Gracie and Summer admire shiny papel picado decorating a fence along the parade route.

Texas Wildflowers

2010-04-20T19:51:00.000-07:00

My mom embarrassed me. Whoa.....don't hate me...let me explain!

She embarrassed me when I was a kid and she would stop the car (with me in it) and hop out to look at wildflowers along the road.

First, I could just feel the dirty looks the people in passing cars were giving us for causing a distraction.

Second, and this is what the distraction was, she would bend over to examine the "posies," as she called them, exposing her rear to every passing car. It was the 60s, and she favored a culotte jumper in an animal print, so she really didn't expose her rear, but it was out there for the world to see!

Third, I just knew there must be some kind of law against that sort of thing--you know--looking at posies while exposing your rear to passing motorists.

I just didn't get it.

Until I was in my 40s, and I went back to college to earn a degree. One of the first classes I took was a botany class, and we were assigned a project of collecting and drying wildflower specimens. I loved working on this project, and my project was outstanding (if I may say so myself). I didn't just collect and dry specimens, tape them in some dime-store notebook, and write their scientific names on each page with a fine-tip Sharpie. Oh, no, I made mine into a wonderful scrapbook. I collected specimens from the Panhandle to San Antonio to the Mexican border, and all the way to the coast. I wrote little stories about the flowers, included recipes, and herbal medicinal uses for the flowers.

That project turned out to be a project that renewed me. My husband had died only about two years before, and I was in a funk and trying to find my way. The project made me stop and see the beauty that was all around me. It gave me a reason to get outdoors (I spent a lot of time on the sofa watching TV and eating ice cream after my husband died). The project made me excited to be in school and gave me something to look forward to--a degree. And, the beauty of the flowers gave me peace.

I finally "got" why my mother loved wildflowers so.

You know the old adage, "what goes around, comes around?" Well, I embarrassed my kids, too!

This year, Texas is having a spectacular wildflower season, thanks to perfect winter conditions (abundant rainfall). This past weekend, I enjoyed a day of spotting and photographing the wonderful flowers a bit south of San Antonio in Atascosa and Devine. I hope you enjoy my pictures.

Round Top Antiques Fair

2010-04-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

I am bad. My family is big on holidays. Mostly, we get together and eat. Thanksgiving-turkey. Christmas-soup (I will blog about Stone Soup Christmas at a later date). New Year's-sauerkraut and pork AND black eyed peas. Easter-ham. You have to have a pretty good excuse not to show up.

This Easter, I decided to forgo the Easter get-together. I think this surprised most of the family because I believe they thought I would be doing the cooking! I took the coward's way out--I had my daughter tell everyone I wouldn't be there! Instead, I took some time for myself and went to Round Top, Texas, to their spring antiques fair. I had read about the fair in several magazines, and just decided it was time to go to find out what all of the hub-bub was about.

Conditions were perfect to go. I had some extra cash, thanks to the outstanding cascarones sales I had during the month of March (I sold more cascarones during March than I had all of last year!). The weather was great--not too hot, not too cool, no rain. The landscape was painted with the colors of the most incredible wildflowers I have ever seen. I had never been in that part of Texas before and it was very pretty country.

I left Austin for the 70-mile road trip at about 6:30 in the morning, thinking I needed to be in Round Top early to get a jump on the crowds. I also wanted to have time to scout a location to take photos of my Texas wildflower quilt (see my last post for that story). When I cruised on into the Round Top area at about 9 am, I was surprised that many of the vendors were not open for business yet. I commented on that to the first vendor that was open, where I made my first purchase of the day--a vintage mirror. He said that most of the vendors had been there all week, and this being the last day of the show, were pooped and a little slow-going. I could relate to that!

The fair is not confined to just Round Top (population 70 during non-fair weeks). There are vendors set up for miles leading into the town and past the town. A person could spend days at the fair and not see everything there was to offer. Since I was only there for the day, and I had no plan of attack, I pulled into the first free parking lot and figured I would just make my way through the maze. I was a bit disappointed at first because most of the vendors in this first tent were not selling anything vintage, antique, or even handmade. It was all mass-produced products. I didn't spend much time there.

I took advantage of the free parking and headed across the street where I spied things that were old. (Note about parking: most parking is not free, but it wasn't expensive when you did have to pay. The parking fees benefit community organizations.)

Now, this is where I wanted to be. Junk galore. I had been concerned that the "antiques" at the fair would be expensive and out of my range (especially since martha Stewart recommended this fair--I just can't imagine her loving the junk). There was plenty of antiques that could gracefully (and expensively) adorn any room at Martha's , but there also was a lot of merchandise that I would label as flea market finds.

After a while, some tents started to look like the tent you just left. So, I started to focus on finding vintage textiles. I will be soon opening another Etsy store to sell aprons made from vintage and new fabrics and embellishments (tentative shop name is Summer's Heartstrings), and I wanted to find textiles to construct my aprons. In one store, I sat on the floor with a basket of vintage fabrics and had a treasure hunt. Then the vendor brought over another box of goodies she hadn't even put out for sale. I hit the mother lode there. In another store, the seller had beautiful embroidered pillowcases, perfect to repurpose as an apron, and very reasonably price. Bought those, too. Found another seller with a table where everything was $1, and walked out with some pretty teatowels.

After about seven hours, I was pooped and only had $23 left. I had almost escaped to the parking lot when I spied a one-hole chicken roost. Hmmmm...I always wanted a chicken...so I bought it. I don't think a chicken will every roost in it, but I thought it could be used as a cool prop for my cascarones.

I left tired, penniless, and happy.

The next fair is in June. See you there!

Wildflower Quilt

2010-04-08T19:23:00.000-07:00

My grandma Lumadue was a quilter.

She split her time living with our family in Texas, my aunt in Detroit, and my uncle in Pennsylvania. When she came to stay with us, mostly during the winter months, the quilting frame came out. She would always be meticulously hand-stitching a new quilt to give to some lucky person. She made patchwork quilts, appliqued quilts, and crazy quilts. There was always one on the frame, and another waiting in the wings.

My sister Donna picked up the sewing and quilting bug from my grandma. And like my grandma's quilts, my sister's quilts adorn the beds of some very fortunate people who are blessed by the gift of her amazing heartfelt art-including mine.

I graduated from college in 1999, only 26 years after I took my first class in 1973! It was a long road, but I finally made it. I had a wonderful graduation party. When the guests left, I opened the many lovely gifts friends and family gave me to celebrate the occasion. There was a gift from my sister. I opened the box and found a rainbow of fabrics carefully cut into pieces that would soon be lovingly appliqued and detailed on a most amazing quilt, designed just for me by my sister. Its design was inspired by a pressed wildflower collection I made for the first class I took when I returned to finish college, biology. I loved that project, and my sister translated every detail of my project into a beautiful piece of fabric art.

It was about three years before the quilt lay on my bed.

The wait was worth it. Every piece of fabric was carefully chosen to reflect the beautiful colors of Texas wildflowers. Every embroidery stitch perfectly accents each appliqued piece. There are surprises in the quilting. I had the quilt for several years before I even noticed the spider webs and dragonflies stitching the layers of fabric and batting together. Each flower's common name is handwritten on each block. There is a new treasure to find every time you examine it.

I took a road trip last weekend to Round Top, Texas. We are graced by a spectacular show of wildflowers this spring in Texas. The conditions have been perfect (lots of fall and winter rains) for prolific blooms of bluebonnets, Indian paintbrushes, wine cups, verbena, and phlox, to name a few. I happened to have my quilt with me, and found the perfect backdrop of wildflowers to photograph my quilt against.

I hope you enjoy my quilt as much as I do.

In another post, I discussed my sister's struggles with ovarian cancer, the same disease that took our mother at age 58. Donna has endured over a year of chemotherapy-and is still receiving treatment-along with all of the indignities that go along with that. But my sister has remained dignified in her courage as she fights this awful disease; she is dignified by her continued thoughtfulness toward others, even when she is stripped of all of her energy; and she is dignified in the way she retains her faith on such a difficult journey.

She has hasn't been able to quilt since she was diagnosed, but looks forward to making new quilts as soon as she can. Whose bed will be crowned with her next creation? I don't know that, but I do know that they will be the luckiest person in the world!

April 14, 2010 update: My sister had her last chemo last week! The treatments lasted much longer than predicted (almost a year and a half of treatments rather than six months). The chemo was brutal, affecting her so much that she was hospitalized on more than one occasion from the side effects. This is such good news. I know she will be quilting again soon.

How to Make Cascarones Tutorial

2010-02-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

I am on a mission. A mission to spread the word about the fun of cascarones--painted eggshells filled with confetti. Cracked over the heads of unsuspecting friends, the result is giggles, laughter, chuckles, and tee-hees--a guaranteed smile. My mission started with the opening of my Etsy shop, Gracie's Eggies, named for my granddaughter, Grace, who has been a cascarones aficionado since the age of 18 months. There are not enough cascarones in the world for her!

In South Texas, especially San Antonio, cascarones are a big thing--really big. In the spring, you can buy cascarones on just about every corner--literally. Families make the eggies-o-fun and sell them from their front yards. The grocery stores sell them at the check out. The city streets are lined with cascaones vendors at Fiesta events. On Easter Sunday, the largest city park is covered with a blanket of confetti from the families who celebrate the season with the cascarones tradition.

Cascarones are catching on for favors at birthday parties, baby showers and weddings. Wedding cascarones are often filled with birdseed and used to shower the newlyweds when they leave for their honeymoon. With a little imagination, they can be painted to bring merriment to any occassion.

Although I want everyone to visit my shop and buy dozens of my handmade cascarones, I wouldn't be a very good missionary of confetti fun if I didn't share the cascraones secret with the masses. So, here is your complete guide to making cascarones so you can be the "Rey or Reina" (King or Queen) of Confetti Levity at your next celebration.

Before I launch into the tutorial, I must ask that readers heed this warning: no matter how many cascarones you buy or make, you will wish you had more! They are infectious. So make plenty.

Materials needed:
Eggs
food coloring, paint, Easter egg dying kit
confetti
tissue used for gift bags
scissors
glue

Make sure and read the "TIPS" following the step-by step instructions.

1. Prepare the eggs by creating a hole at the fat end of the egg. To do this, hold the egg, fat end up, firmly in the palm of one hand. Tap the egg with the blade of a knife, making a break in the egg about one inch long. Tap the egg again, perpendicular to the first crack. This will make an "X" in the top of the egg.

2. "Pick" a hole with your fingers where you have made the starter cracks. The hole should be about one inch in diameter. The holes don't have to be perfect--they will later be covered with a round piece of tissue. Empty the eggs into a bowl for future use (see TIPS for ways to use your eggs). Wash the shells and place them hole side down on a dishtowel to drain until dry.

3. Color the shells with paint or by dyeing as you would Easter eggs (see TIPS for drying your painted eggs). Be creative! Decorate your shells with stickers, paint, and other embellishments (see TIPS for making perfect polka dots on your cascarones).

4. After the shells are dry, fill them with confetti (see TIPS for hints to buying and making confetti). Kids love this part. My granddaughters helped me make an order of eggies this weekend.

Gracie chose the "shower" method of filling the shells.

Summer, my littlest granddaughter, preferred stuffing the shells to the brink and patting them down to make room for even more confetti.

5. Cover the hole with tissue paper (see TIPS for tissue paper). Squeeze a small amount of crafter's glue on the rim of the hole you made in the shell (see TIPS for glue suggestions). Place a round of tissue paper over the hole and gently smooth the tissue until the hole is completely closed.

Making cascarones is only half the fun. Now go out and shower your world with confetti (see TIPS for instructions for cracking eggs over heads)!

TIPS

TIP: Eggshells will probably get into the eggs you have emptied into the bowl. The shells settle to the bottom. If you are going to use the eggs right away, pour the eggs into another bowl, and the shells will remain at the bottom of the original bowl. I learned this tip from Ace of Cakes!

TIP: What are you going to do with all of those eggs? Look at my archived posts for recipe suggestions. I also recommend http://www.marthastewart.com for many other recipes. You can also freeze eggs to use in cake and cookie recipes.

TIP: I paint my eggs and place them on bamboo skewers, then poke the skewers into the ground until the eggs are dry. When I have dozens in the ground, it kind of looks like a stand of tulips! I do this in my front yard and curious passers-by stop and chat. I tell them I am the Easter Bunny's assistant. They probably walk away calling me the crazy egg lady!

TIP: Do you like my polka dot style of cascarones? Here is my secret for the perfect dot: Dip the eraser-end of a pencil into craft paint and kiss the shell with the eraser. Perfectly round polka dots!

TIP: Where do get confetti? In Texas, you can buy bags of confetti in the party goods aisle at the grocery store for $1 per bag. A bag will fill 7-10 dozen eggs. Hobby Lobby also sells bags of confetti during Easter season. You can also go to your local printer and ask them to save the circles produced when they drill holes in projects. Another idea is to shred colored paper in a home paper shredder and cut the strips into little squares. You can also buy small bags of specialty confetti (like baby bottles, hats, bunnies, etc.) and add to the paper confetti for a special touch.

TIP: Don't obsess over clean up. The confetti vacuums up easily. If outdoors, the confetti will soon be absorbed into the landscape and causes no harm to the environment. Months later, you will find bits of confetti under the couch cushions, under a chair, or in a corner of a room and recall the delight of the confetti celebration.

TIP: I use the most inexpensive crafter's glue to adhere the tissue paper to the egg. I have successfully used glued sticks, but found crafter's glue more efficient (although more messy). If you use a glue stick, the "disappearing" kind is too thick and doesn't work very well.

TIP: Everyone is using gift bags these days, Save the tissue in the bags to make the tissue circles for cascarones. Smooth the tissue, then accordian fold the tissue. Each pleat should be about three inches wide. Cut circles large enough to cover the holes from the pleated tissue. This method means you can cut about 5-10 circles at a time. Your tissue doesn't have to match the color of your egg. Anything that looks pretty will be fine.

TIP: This is the most important tip. In Texas, kids love to "smash" the eggs directly on the heads. No tears are shed and there are no hard feelings, because everyone knows what they are. Kids who are unfamiliar with the tradition might be shocked and dismayed by being hit on the head. This is how to create a no-tears confetti shower: Hold the egg in one hand about 6 inches over the head of recipient. Crush the egg in the palm of your hand and sprinkle the contents over the head. An alternative to this is to "clap" the cascaron between your hands over the head and then let the confetti rain down.

To the right, I have featured a number of Etsy vendors who have beautiful spring- and Easter-theme products. Please visit their shops for more Easter fun.

Carnies

2010-02-17T22:01:00.001-08:00

On Saturday mornings, I drive about twenty miles to an egg farm to buy the emptied and cleaned eggshells I use to make cascarones (confetti eggs). There are a few small mobile homes and trailers on the property; I suppose some of the workers live in them.

This past week, there was a truck and trailer with a carnival ride loaded on it. It is rodeo time in San Antonio, and the rodeo is a huge two-week event that includes an impressive carnival. Shortly after the rodeo closes, there is Fiesta, another two-week event where the carnival is a big draw. So the "carnies" usually set up their temporary homes for a stretch in the south Texas sun.

Seeing the carnival truck reminded me of the home my late husband and I lived in when we were first married. It was a 35-foot travel trailer and quite cozy. We lived in a small and well-kept trailer park. Some of our neighbors were just passing though--snowbirds (people from the north who come to Texas just for the winter); some were young people like us who could only afford to live in a travel trailer; some were the carnies. The carnies had interesting names--none were Bob, or John, or Bill. One in particular, was called Crispy. I always wondered how the he got his moniker.

My daughter was born when we lived there. She had a tiny cradle that fit snugly in a nook between the "living room" and kitchen. Our first Christmas tree was only about two feet tall. I decorated it with white lights and tucked sprigs of baby's breath in the boughs. The tree lights cast a beautiful glow throughout the house that reminded me of what I imagined snowy nights might be like. I remember too, that while we lived in that tiny trailer, San Antonio had a record-breaking snowfall, 13 inches in 1985. It was amazing. And we stayed warm in our little travel-trailer corner of the world.

And it was a marvelous thing to be able to take your house, possessions and all, to a car wash for spring cleaning!

Living in or having a business in travel trailers seems to be quite the trend here in Austin. There are "mini-malls" of sorts, made up of groups of travel trailers outfitted to sell food--some quite elaborate, and some selling pretty high-end food. The mini-malls are really pretty festive and carnival-like.

That trailer is gone, but it is nice remembering it. It was a much simpler time. It is also nice to remember the good times my husband and I had there. I miss them both.

Here three pics I snapped of the carnie truck. I like the colors. I like seeing the ride deconstructed and pondering what the ride is (which i could not ever figure out!). I think it is funny that a carnival would impose a "no open-toed shoe" rule at a carnival where probably half of the patrons are probably wearing flip-flops!

For the Love of Junk

2010-02-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

I think is my age, but there are so many things I do these days that I relate to things I did or happened to me when I was a kid (see my mushroom soup story). Well, here is another one.

I was born in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, a small town in the western part of the state. Proclaimed an "All American" town (evidenced by the license plate frames on citizen's cars), Clearfield is tucked away in the Appalachia hills along the shore of the Susquehana River. My father was in the Air Force and we moved from Clearfield when I was just a toddler. Most summers, my father would take his annual leave and my mother would load up me and my three older siblings in the green and white Dodge (that had huge fins and a nifty speedometer that looked a bit like a thermometer with a red line that increased in size the faster you went). On the way,my mom would pacify us with Lifesavers and teaberry gum. She packed an old metal cooler with sandwiches that we would eat at roadside picnic tables. No DVD systems in the car or Mickie D's for fast food back then. Just four kids in the back seat for two and a half days.

We would stay at my grandma's farmhouse. It was there I saw my first wild turkey, my first deer herd, my first groundhog. And, it was when I first went "junking" with my mother. My siblings were self-sustaining. I, on the other hand, was the baby, and had to go with my mother. Junking was not my idea of fun. I dreaded being dragged from store to store by my mom. But she loved it. The stores we went to were by no means antique stores. They were junk stores, full of the promise of buried treasure. My mom was thrilled when she found her treasure buried deep under a heap of other junk.

I no longer dread going to junk stores. Like my mom, I am now the one who is thrilled to find the treasures hidden behind the junk stores' doors-the junk that is buried under the nice stuff, the junk that costs a dollar or so.

On a recent weekend, I visited an antique mall in Austin, Texas. Many of the "shops" in the mall were staged to look like little stores. But there was one...one... that was a dream come true. There were just shelves of baskets full of vintage lace and trim, wooden thread spools, a few old doll trunks, hats, shoes, scarves, music sheets, this and that. It was a place my mom would have loved. I diligently worked until I found my treasure and headed home.

Here is a photo of some of the treasures I picked up.

I have recently been reading several Stampington publications, including Somerset Life and GreenCraft. One issue featured an article on Victorian-style gift cones. They were beautiful-a little bit frilly and girly, a little bit tacky, a little bit rustic, and easy to make. I thought I would give a whirl.

I bought a paper pad of vintage-style double-sided card stock (on sale at Michael's!), and scoured my stash of this and that, including my recent finds from the antique mall. I came across several cards of vintage lace that I picked up at an antique store in my hometown in Pennsylvania. I found an old hat and some old postcards I bought in Canadaigua, New York. I found buttons, ribbons, reproductions of old skeleton keys, twine, raffia, pom poms, old wire, copper-colored pipe cleaners, glitter, and some really pretty embossed bird and butterfly dies cuts from Germany that I bought some time ago on Etsy.

So I set about to make a cone. I simply shaped the 12 X 12 piece of card stock into a cone shape. Once I found the right shape, I fashioned that into my pattern. I found double-sided tape to be the best way to close the cone. Once I had my cone, I decorated it with items from my stash. The more I embellished the cone, the more beautiful it became. The Victorians were known for their ornate style, so I think I was in keeping with their standards.

There is an old saying, "What goes around, comes around." Remember the junk stores in Clearfield and Canadaigua? Well, I drug my 21-year-old son with me to those stores while on our road trip from Texas to Rochester, New York, where he goes to school. He was very patient with me as I scoured the stores to find my loot. He doesn't know it yet, but one day I am sure he will make the love of junk come around again!

Safe and Warm

2010-02-03T18:18:00.000-08:00

“To feel safe and warm on a cold wet night, all you really need is soup.”
Laurie Colwin

I have very vivid memories of being in my sixth grade elementary school class on stormy days and feeling very safe and protected and warm. That feeling washed over me today. The temperature didn't climb out of the forties, and it rained all day. A bit under the weather with a sore throat, I cam home from work, slipped into some flannel jammies , and immediately felt safe and warm. My throat even felt a little better.

I hadn't been to the grocery store this week, so I was looking at slim pickings in the fridge. I did have mushrooms, cream, chicken broth, butter, part of an onion...ahhh...mushroom soup! Perfect.

So, here is my recipe for super-easy mushroom soup. These are approximate measurements. You can adjust the recipe to your taste (if you don't like onion or garlic, the soup will be just as good without them!).

3 tablespoon butter
4 cloves of garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 package of baby bella (button) mushrooms, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons of flour
2 cups of chicken broth
1 pint of cream or milk
salt and pepper to taste

1. Melt butter in heavy pan
2. Brown onion and garlic in saucepan
3. Add coarsely chopped mushrooms
4. Continue cooking until mushrooms are soft and tender.
5. Remove about 1/4 cup of the mushroom and set aside.
6. Sprinkle flour over onion/garlic/mushrooms
7. Add chicken broth, then cream or milk

Stir until soup thickens. Add salt and pepper to taste.

With an immersion blender, puree the soup in the pan. If you don't have an immersion blender, put it in a food processor or blender, being careful that the soup does not spray out of the container. Or if you like your mushroom chunky, this step can be skipped.

Pour soup into bowls (this will make about 4 servings), and garnish with mushrooms that were set aside earlier.

Not to brag, but I do make some fabulous soups. They are what you may call "rustic" soups, but I feel very creative and satisfied when I make them. Over the next few weeks, I will share my recipes. So from me to you...warm feelings and happy soups to you!

Everything Old is New Again

2010-01-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

I turned 54 in December. Not really a milestone birthday, but for me, there was something about this birthday that made me take stock about where I had been and what I wanted for my future. I wanted my future to be more relaxed, more peaceful, more giving, more artistic.

So, I made a decision to look at the world in a different light. I decided to look at everyday and overlooked objects and consider their past and think about what their future could be. And if I could, I wanted to muster my creative abilities and be part of their future.

My son gave me a very special gift for Christmas-his old camera, a Canon Rebel. He is studying photography at Rochester Institute of Technology and had outgrown the camera. Lucky me. I am challenged by its complexity (it really isn't that complex--I am just photographically challenged!), but I am working hard at learning how to use it. I am shooting photos of ordinary objects and will post my photos to this blog. At first I worried about how amateurish my photos are. But considering my resolution to be more relaxed, I have decided that my photos, no mater how amateur or primitive, chronicle where I am today. Time and practice (and input from my followers) will help me become a better photographer of the world around me. And, ike me, my photos are not perfect. But I think that is what makes them (and me) special.

So here is my first shots of seeing the beauty in the ordinary.

Travelers on Interstate 35 just north of San Antonio do a double-take when they see the giant armadillo standing guard at the entrance to Bussey's Flea Market. Some are tempted and turn around to enter the world where tables and shops overflow with things old and new. Bussey's has been there for as long as I remember, and I have been there many times. But I always stayed on the perimeter of the market on my visits. This time, I ventured into the heart of the market. I had no idea there was so much more to see. One store was filled with vintage kitchenware. Another had stained glass windows removed from a house in England. Another had dozens of pairs of lovingly worn cowboy boots.

I photographed a shop with wall-to-wall barrels filled with golf clubs. The clubs were arranged in a way that reminded me of flowers displayed in buckets at the neighborhood grocer's. I wondered how many ended up here as a result of wives who gave their husband the ultimatum, "It's me or golf!" I wondered how many clubs weren't here because the husband chose golf over the wife. I thought about how some of these clubs would be bought by wives who would learn to play because it "if you can't beat them, join them."

I love rust. I think it is because I am getting a bit rusty, so I can empathize with the patina. These stars aren't vintage, but they are rusty, so I photographed them. I was shooed away by the booth owners for taking pictures of their goods. I don't quite understand why. Maybe for the same reason I don't like to be photographed--I feel like all of my "rust" (translate:wrinkles!) show too prominently.

Baked Eggs in Tomato-Parmesan Sauce

2009-04-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe in April 2009 Martha Stewart publication, Everyday Food. I love this magazine. It is full of easy-to-prepare recipes. What I like even better than the recipes are the articles on techniques and foods. This particular issue features articles on rice, asparagus, dried beans, and shopping smart.

I think this recipe seems a little bit like an Italian version of Huevos Rancheros (see my earlier post for that recipe).

This recipe would make a economical dinner paired with a salad and garlic toast (serves 4).

I have changed some of the instructions to minimize the number of pans used for preparation--fewer to wash!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
2, 15 ounce cans of diced tomatoes in juice
1, 15 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1/4 cup grated parmesan
salt and pepper to taste
8 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In an oven-proof skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and rosemary; cook until garlic is golden--about two minutes. Add diced and crushed tomatoes and two tablespoons of parmesan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; stir occsasionlly until liquid reduces some (two-four minutes). Salt and pepper to taste. Reserve one cup of tomato mixture.

Carefully crack the eggs over the tomato mixture in the skillet. Top with reserved sauce and parmesan.

Bake until whites are opaque but yellows are still soft, about 25 minutes.

Donna

2009-03-31T22:40:00.000-07:00

Recently, my sister discovered that she has ovarian cancer. This event has made me take pause and reflect on our relationship.

She is 12 years older than I am, and married and left the house when I was only 7 years old. Although she wasn't close in the sense that she wasn't a part of our household as I grew up, she has always been there for me.

I remember when I was a little girl, a friend of mine wrote on the walls of my front porch with a marker. My dad was so mad! He didn't believe me when I told him I didn't do it, so I was banished to my room. My sister came in and played Uncle Piggly Wiggly with me until my punishment was over.

I also remember when she used to turn her high school senior ring inward toward her palm and whack me in the head when I was obnoxious and bratty! Ouch--that hurt!

My sister is an amazing seamstress and quilter. When she was a newlywed, she didn't have a sewing machine, but she would hand-sew the most amazing and detailed clothes for my Barbies. She would sew on little beads for buttons, line all the dresses and coats, and add touches of lace--couture Barbie! My Barbies dressed more like June Clever rather than Marilyn Monroe, but how lucky I was to have one-of-a-kind creations! Just 2 weeks ago, these Barbie clothes were passed down to my granddaughter Gracie.

When my late husband and I were going through difficult times, I could always count on her to help me with my kids; to keep them safe and fed and sheltered when I just couldn't cope.

When I graduated college at the age of 43, she gave me a box filled with all of the pieces to a quilt she designed for me but had not finished. Four years later the quilt was finished, but I had to wait to take ownership because it hung in a bank lobby for six months. It took her four years to complete the quilt because she had to make it perfect. That is how she is. It is the most exquisite example of quilting I have ever seen.

Recently, my daughter married. I asked my sister if she would make the little dresses for my granddaughters. She agreed, and in her usual style, created dresses that were perfect in execution and beauty. She even hand-embroidered their monograms on the tails of the dress sashes.

I remember all of these things and at the same time realize I can't remember the last time I told her that I loved her. Even with her illness, and the urgency to let her know that I love her, I still have a hard time saying it out loud (I come from a family that isn't very demonstrative!). So I have been buying and sending her cards. I have been buying the cards, of course, here on Etsy. Every card I have purchased has been absolutely beautiful, and the sellers have taken great care and spent extra time to insure that I get just the right card for my sister. These wonderful pieces of art have made it easier to express myself in a way I haven't been able to before.

So, if you haven't SAID "I love you" to your mother, father, sister, brother, child, *fill in the blank,* say it today. And if it is hard to say, send a card, note, letter, email, or a smoke signal. It feels good!

I will close this post by sharing with you that I love my sister Donna, and she is the best sister in the world.

Come on...admit it...these are funny!

2009-03-19T21:01:00.000-07:00

Tell these jokes to your kids. They will think you are the funniest person in the world--or--they will roll their eyes and love you anyway!

Why did the easter egg hide?
He was a little chicken!

Why shouldn’t you tell an Easter egg a joke?
It might crack up!

What do you call a rabbit that tells good jokes?
A funny bunny!

Why does the Easter Bunny have a shiny nose?
Because the powder puff is on the other end!

Why did the bunny go to the dance?
To do the bunny hop!

What kinds of books do bunnies like?
Ones with hoppy ending.

hehehe.

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit Casserole

2009-03-18T22:33:00.000-07:00

My friend at work, Janet, is always on the lookout for new and interesting recipes. She shared this one with me today. I love the biscuits used in this recipe because you only cook as many as you need. Served with a mixed greens salad, I think think this would make a wonderful light dinner.

The recipe that follow is for 2 servings. If your family is bigger, adjust recipe accordingly.

Ingredients:
2 Pillsbury® Oven Baked frozen southern-style biscuits (from 25-oz bag)
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 can (7 oz) Green Giant® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, drained, or 1 cup Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ Niblets® frozen corn
2 strips bacon, cooked, crumbled
1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Preheat oven to 350°F. Place biscuits on cutting board to thaw, about 10 minutes.
In medium bowl, beat eggs and milk with wire whisk until blended. Stir in corn, bacon and cheese.
Spray 1-quart casserole with cooking spray. Cut each biscuit into 8 pieces; arrange evenly in casserole. Pour egg mixture over biscuits. Press down with back of spoon, making sure all biscuit pieces are covered with egg mixture.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Gracies Eggies Featured in Etsy Treasury

2009-03-03T18:08:00.000-08:00

Yay! My violet and grape cascarones have been featured in the Etsy treasury created by sweetscarlet. It is beautiful treasury featuring items in the color purple--so refreshing after a winter of white, gray, and beige!

The treasury is now closed, but take a look at all of the beautiful products sweetscarlet has in her shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5704343

Earth laughs in flowers. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

2009-03-01T14:43:00.000-08:00

Huevocito woke up early on the first day of March, a Sunday. The south Texas morning was cold, but the sun was bright. Huevocito knew that the day would warm up and it would be perfect for gardening. He stepped outside. To his amazement, he saw that two very pretty flowers had already bloomed in his garden--one white and one red.

He also saw some beautiful roses had bloomed on the bush that Gracie's great-grandma had planted many years ago. They were white with just a touch of pink on the petals' edges.(Gracie's middle name is Charlotte, after her great-grandma).The Texas laurel tree was dripping with grape-colored clusters of flowers. Huevocito loved those because they smelled like purple Kool Aid! The tiny flowers on the Mexican heather bushes were in full bloom.

It was exciting to know that spring had finally arrived. He and Gracie knew just how they would spend his day--digging in the dirt, planting new flowers, and enjoying the warmth of the sun.

He got ready. First, he knew he had to wear a hat. Even though it was cool, he knew he would need a hat to protect his little head from the bright sun. Where had he put it? He hadn't used it since September. He looked under his bed--no, not there. He looked in the closet where he kept his coat--no not there. He asked Gracie if she had seen it. "Huevocito, my friend, I think it is in the garden shed, where it belongs." said Gracie.

"Of course, Gracie!" said Huevocito.

Huevocito and Gracie went to the garden shed, and saw his hat--hanging on the hook by the door, right where he hung it after he picked pumpkins in September.

He popped the hat on top of his head. He loved this hat. It was sturdy and made of straw. It was a good hat to protect him from the sun.

Huevocito and Gracie looked around the shed. What kind of tools would they need to plant some flowers?

The dirt had become hard over the winter. They wanted to break up the soil in the garden. The right tool for that job is a garden hoe. They found the hoe.

Then they would need a garden rake to smooth the dirt after he broke up the hard dirt. The rake was hanging from a peg on the wall.

Lastly, they would need a shovel to dig nice round holes to plant the flowers in. They saw the shovel leaning against the wall in the corner of the shed.

They gathered the tools and some flowers that Gracie's grandma had bought to plant and headed to the garden. They prepared the dirt, dug the holes, and planted the flowers.

They stepped back , looked at each other, and said, "PERFECT!" What a fun day it was for Huevocito and Gracie. They can't wait to plant more flowers.

Don't forget to check out my Etsy mini in the right column--it is full of garden-fresh products from creative Etsians. Also, I have added links to coloring pages. The link that goes with this post is labeled "Fresh From the Garden."

Click and Print Farm Coloring Pages

2009-02-27T21:59:00.000-08:00

Huevocito, Gracie, and Summer went to the rodeo recently and learned all about farm animals. I have posted a link to a site where you can click and print farm-themed coloring pages. I hope your kiddos enjoy the story and the coloring pages!

Huevocito will be in the garden this weekend. Look for a new story with coloring pages on Sunday.

Milk Toast

2009-02-19T22:32:00.000-08:00

My mom used to make this recipe when I was a little girl (50s-60s). She called this poached eggs. When I had kids, I made the same recipe, but we called it milk toast. This dish evokes very warm childhood memories--mine and my kids. It is great for breakfast, but is satisfying as an evening meal, too. It is also a good budget-stretching meal. The following recipe makes 4 servings of 2 eggs per person, or 8 servings of 1 egg per person.

4 cups milk (whole, lowfat--your preference, any type will do)
4 tablespoons of butter (or margarine)
8 eggs
salt and pepper to taste
8 pieces of toast

In a deep saucepan gently heat the milk and butter. The milk should be heated just to a point where it bubbles, but does not boil. Gently drop the the eggs into the milk. While eggs are cooking, make the toast. Cut toast into triangles and place in bottom of soup bowls. You can butter the toast if you like (I do--as I mentioned in an earlier recipe, I am very fond of butter!)

By the time the toast is prepared, the eggs should be cooked so that the egg white is set, and the yellow is still somewhat runny. Cook a wee bit longer if you prefer the yellow to be set.

Lift the eggs out of the heated milk and place on top of the toast in bowls. Spoon remaining milk on top of the eggs and toast. Salt and pepper to taste. Or, pour milk in bowl and place egg(s) in bowl. Serve toast on side and dip into milk to eat.

Have you notice a trend in my recipes?

YE-HAW! Huevocito, Gracie, and Summer Go to the Rodeo

2009-02-08T21:00:00.000-08:00

Huevocito was so excited! The sixtieth annual San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo was coming to town. He was looking forward to going to the Stock Show with his friend Gracie.

"Huevocito, we are going to the stock show this week, " said Gracie. "Let's go to the western store and look for a cowboy hat to wear!"

"Gracie," said Huevocito, "what is a cowboy hat?"

"A cowboy hat is a type of hat worn by ranchers in the western and southern United States, western Canada, northern Mexico, and others, such as rodeo riders and country-western singers, also wear cowboy hats. A cowboy hat has a special shape--it has a tall crown and its broad rim protects a cowboy or cowgirl against the sun," responded Gracie. "Our hats will just be pretty!"

So Huevocito and Gracie headed off to buy cowboy hats. Gracie picked a pretty pink hat, and Huvocito chose a bright red felt cowboy hat.

The next day, Huevocito and Grace, and Gracie's baby sister, Summer, went to the stock show. They saw many animals from farms---chickens, turkeys, pigs, cows, horses, sheep, and goats. There were many nice people who talked to Gracie and Huevocito about farms and farming. Gracie and Huevocito saw the animals being groomed and cared for by young people from nearby rural communities. It was obvious that the animals were well-loved.

The most fun Gracie, Huevocito, and Summer had was when they got to feed baby animals. The little lambs and goats followed them and ate right out of their hands. The animals were so soft!

They also were able to see many of the machines that are used on farms, and even got to sit on a tractor.

The day was long and there were so many things to see! It was such a fun day. Look at the photos that Gracie and Huevocito took at their day at the rodeo. And check out those hats!

I Promised A Recipe for Western Omelettes, But You Are Getting a Recipe for a Mexican Fritatta!

2009-02-08T20:20:00.000-08:00

Today's earlier post said that you could look forward to a recipe for Western Omelettes (so that this recipe would tie into the earlier egg joke). Instead, I am offering this recipe for a Mexican Frittata.

I found this recipe courtesy of marthastewart.com. It sounds so yummy (did I just say yummy?--so Rachel Ray!). I would make several changes in the recipe if I were making it. I might not use "red potatoes" but plain ol' baking potatoes because that is what I normally have on hand. I might substitute yellow onions for the scallions, because I normally don't keep scallions around. And as good as olive oil is for you, I would use butter because I love butter! The point is, this recipe can be adjusted to suit your tastes and what you have on hand.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 red potato, thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, chopped

2 scallions, thinly sliced

salt and pepper to taste

8 large eggs

1 1/4 cups chopped plum tomatoes

1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese

In a broiler-proof skillet, cook potato in 1 tablespoon olive oil until tender and lightly browned. Stir in garlic and all but one tablespoon of scallions; season with salt and pepper.

Beat eggs until combined. Add 1/4 cup each of the tomato and cheese; stir to combine. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil to pan. Pour egg mixture over potatoes.

Cook the eggs, lifting the edges with a spatula to allow uncooked egg to flow underneath. Cook for about 8-10 minutes until the center is almost set completely. Sprinkle the top with remaining cheese. Place under broiler until center is totally set and cheese is melted and bubbly.

Add cilantro and lime juice to the remaining tomatoes and scallions to make a salsa. Cut frittata into wedges, plate, and serve with salsa on top.

The yolk is on you!

2009-02-08T11:43:00.000-08:00

What do you call an egg who wears cowboy boots?

A western omelette!

My next post will be a recipe for an easy western omelette. Huevocito went to rodeo this week. I will be posting a new story about his adventures at the rodeo. Stay tuned!

Kas-ka-ron-ez

2009-02-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

Cascarones, or confetti eggs, are festively-painted eggshells filled with confetti. The eggshells are meant to be broken over someone's head, usually as a surprise, showering the person with confetti.

Gracie's Eggies is named for my precious granddaughter, Gracie, who is a huge fan of the confetti eggs. She been an expert at surprising people with a cascarones since before she was two years old.

Cascarones is pronounced kas-ka-ron-ez, or kas-ka-ron if singular. The tradition of cracking a cascaron over people's heads originated in Mexico, and has become popular in the southwestern United States. In South Texas, cascarones are as popular as pinatas at celebrations., Especially in the spring, they are seen everywhere. Having a cascaron cracked over your head is said to bring good luck.

Gracie is still learning how to pronounce cascarones. I hope you enjoy this little clip of Gracie taking a crack at pronouncing cascarones.

A Recipe for Huevos Rancheros

2009-02-01T07:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard people say that you should not discuss religion or politics at a party? Well, better add Mexican food to that list! I mentioned in a forum that San Antonio had pretty good Mexican food, and you would of thought I said that the Pope wasn't Catholic. Boy, did I get an earful!

With that in mind, I am going to publish this recipe for easy huevos rancheros. Remember that I am not saying this is the definitive way to make the dish, or the best way, this is just how I make the dish. I have always thought of recipes as a guide to making something, and the person who is making the dish adds or takes away from the recipe to make a creation of their own. In the recipe that follows, I use corn tortillas as a base for the eggs. I was introduced to this way of making huevos rancheros in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I thought the corn tortillas added another layer of flavor and texture to the plate. This recipe will make enough for about six plates:

1 can of Mexican style stewed tomatoes

1 small onion (chopped fine or course, depending on your taste)

1 clove of garlic (or a teaspoon of pre-chopped garlic from a jar)

1/4 cup salsa (mild, medium, or hot, depending on your taste)

Salt and Pepper

eggs

corn tortillas

Butter

oil for frying

In a small saucepan, melt one tablespoon of the butter. Add the chopped onion and cook until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic, stewed tomatoes, and salsa. Add salt and pepper to taste. Simmer the mixture while preparing the other elements of the dish, long enough so that some of the liquid is reduced.

In a small shallow frying pan heat oil. Tear a small piece of tortilla and drop in the oil. If the oil is hot enough, the piece of tortilla will float to the top and the oil will bubble. When the oil is hot enough, drop tortillas one at a time into the pan. Cook for about 30 seconds, flip the tortilla, and cook another 30 seconds. The tortilla should not be crispy. Place the tortillas on a plate with a paper towel; keep them warm in the oven set at a very low temperature.

In another pan, melt enough butter to cook the number of eggs you will be serving. I like huevos rancheros with over-easy eggs; some people prefer scrambled. Cook the eggs to your preference.

For each serving, lay two corn tortillas on a plate. Top the tortillas with the eggs, and ladle on a generous amount of the tomato mixture.

The plate wouldn't be complete without a serving of refried beans and fried potatoes, and of course, flour tortillas.

Meet Little Huevo Ranchero

2009-01-31T16:46:00.000-08:00

Little Huevo (Huevocito) Ranchero began his days on a wonderful family egg farm in a small town called Marion that was just east of San Antonio. He was laid at daybreak on a crisp winter morning when the sky was full of color--bright pink, orange, turquoise blue. Even though it was winter, the sun was bright and lemony yellow and it warmed the earth like a comfy electric blanket set at 5--just right.

The papa egg farmer carefully removed the little egg from the nest in the coop and was carrying it to an incubator when--oopsie-daisy, oh-oh, yikes, splat--the egg farmer tripped and dropped the little egg onto the counter where the family prepared their meals during breaks from working the farm. The shell cracked and all of its contents spilled onto the counter. The mother egg farmer said "Not to worry, we can use the egg to make huevos rancheros for breakfast!" And so she did--with sides of refried beans and fried potatoes, and of course, handmade flour tortillas--but hold the chile.

The little girl egg farmer, Gracie, scooped up the cracked shell and asked her mama if she could have it. "What will you do with a broken shell?" asked the mama egg farmer.

"I think I will paint it," she said.

Gracie went to her room and carefully selected the color of paint she would use to paint the little cracked eggshell. She looked to the morning sky and was inspired by the bright colors. She decided on the lemony yellow of the sun. Then Gracie painted a sweet and happy face on the shell. She added a beak, because after all, the little shell would have become a chicken if not for the unfortunate accident. Gracie opened the drawer of her desk and pulled out the bin of Martha Stewart crafting supplies she kept on hand for art projects. She found some crinkle-cut papers and glue--just perfect to create a little bit of hair for the little shell.

But the little egg seemed incomplete. It was so light--so hollow. "I know!" said Gracie. "I will fill your tummy with brightly-colored confetti in the colors of the morning sky." Gracie filled the little eggie's tummy with confetti and then pasted a little circle of tissue over the hole where she filled the shell's tummy.

"There, all done!" said Gracie.

But was she all done? What about a name for the little egg? The lightbulb that always hovered over Gracie's head suddenly started to blink brightly.

"I know, I will name you Huevo...Huevo Ranchero!" Oh I love you Huevocito (little Huevo)!

So now you you know how Huevocito came about. Follow this blog to read about his adventures and misadventures. This week Huevocito goes shopping for cowboy duds and attends the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo on opening day.