Salmon Croquettes

On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being Julia Child), I would rate myself somewhere between a 5 and a 6 when it comes to cooking. I’m a good recipe-follower, but I’m not too innovative in my culinary endeavors. But these salmon croquettes are entirely of my own creation, and they are scrumptious, if I do say so myself. It is essentially un-mess-up-able and my finicky daughter who hates any food containing fish devours these.

It helps that they are full of buttery mashed potatoes and are fried up in olive oil.

Oh, and there’s a generous heaping of parmesan cheese in there.

They’re like a distant cousin to crab cakes, but ultimately feel like comfort food.

And hey, I wrote out the recipe for you, complete with illustrations! How you roast the salmon and make the mashed potatoes is entirely up to you (I like my mash to be extra buttery), and the proportions are completely estimated as I never measure anything out exactly. I usually peel about 5 or 6 potatoes, dice ’em up, boil them for 20 minutes and mash them with butter and salt. At the same time, I sprinkle some salt and pepper on a salmon filet, wrap it in foil, stick it in the oven (at around 350 degrees) for 15-20 minutes. Trust me, you don’t need to be too finicky with proportions either because I’ve made these at least a dozen times with varying amounts of salmon and potatoes and they always come out yum.

Here’s the recipe – you might need to click on the image to enlarge it.

Origami Doll Kimonos

 

Origami was a huge part of my childhood. I can still whip out a crane in one minute flat, and I used to fold paper boxes by the dozen. My favorite origami activity by far was making origami dolls, though. They typically look like this (the tutorial here is also nice), but I actually liked making just the kimono. I would try all sorts of pattern combinations, which could keep me entertained for hours. These make great bookmarks as well! I am starting to think about holiday gifts and a little doll-making kit would make a cute stocking stuffer…

Handmade Pouches

Hello, hello! I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up a bit and sew some quick and satisfying non-clothes projects. I made several pouches as birthday gifts for friends this weekend (two grown-up birthday parties in one weekend – so fun!).

The first pouch you see above is made from a sturdy burlap-esque fabric with a variety of colorful animals.

The second pouch is made from one of my favorite fabrics from Bitters, a fabulous store which sells all manners of amazing things including Heath ceramics. It’s a beautifully textured basket-weave cotton – I’m planning on making one for myself with this fabric.

This last one is a whimsical cotton print and is slightly smaller than the other two, measuring at about 4×6 inches whereas the others are about 5×7 inches. My favorite way of sewing these types of zipper pouches is from this book. I also made a teeny matching pouch for K using the same fabric as this glamorous dress from a couple of weeks ago. She immediately proceeded to fill it with her favorite trinkets.

I love making these and may have to create at least a dozen more!

 

Happy Friday + Boho Dolman Top

 

Happy Friday, friends! Here is the last of my KCWC creations from last week that I was finally able to get photographed.

First, the fabric: a GORGEOUS embroidered delicate knit. I am in love with the colors.

Second, the pattern: self-drafted. Sadly, I am no pattern maker and this was not a huge success. Since I’m not the best at sewing knits, it looks somewhat frumpy to me. But you know what? Six-year-olds don’t stay still long enough, so my many sewing sins are hard to detect.

I think it looks a little like it could have come from Anthropologie – what do you think?

Have a fabulous weekend, all!

 

Herringbone Jacket + Knickerbockers

It was early in the morning. We had ten minutes before we had to leave for school. K was very cranky and didn’t want to model for me (nor brush her hair, as you’ll see). I had to console myself with taking pictures of the stool at first. I think what used to be a fun, once-a-week fashion show was starting to feel like a chore when demanded multiple times a week.

But then she grudgingly got on the stool.

And then she swiveled…

And swiveled…

Until she started getting into the spirit of things and posed on the floor — can you see the hint of a smile starting?

She even started art directing me (“here! at the desk with me writing” – oh dear).

This herringbone linen is absolutely lovely. Silky soft and comfortably rumpled, it seems to combine luxury and casualness somehow. It reads pink, but is actually red and white, as you can see better in the detail shot. It is, of course the same pattern as this jacket. It seems a shame not to use a pattern more than once after all that tracing and re-tracing.

The knickerbockers are made out of a thicker cotton/linen blend, I think. I found it in a pile of long-forgotten stash and it’s the perfect grey with subtle speckled texture. The pattern is a mixture of two pants from this book.