Good things

Martha Stewart Craft Encyclopedia

 

A few weeks ago I was a very lucky girl to arrive home from a less then wonderful day at work to discover the newest edition to the Martha Stewart library, the Encyclopedia of Crafts to be sitting on my doorstep with a large set of glitter. It was just what I needed, glitter can brighten any day and the new book weeks before it's arrival, well that is just the bees knees. Thank you MSLO for sending it and making my day!

This is one great book, there are hundreds of fantastic ides and crafts for any level, I decided that I should tackle at least one of them that I haven't done before and try it out just for this post. After recently getting a book about Coco Chanel and the history of the Paris fashion  house I was inspired by her white camellia that she used and wanted to try making it in clay. This was my first dance with the clay and I had a hard time finding the air dry kind the book called for. But normal clay that you can bake in your oven worked just fine as well. It took some getting use to, but since I love the crepe paper flowers it came in handy knowing how to shape the clay into petals.

 

Not so bad for my first time, it was pretty simple and the clay is about $2 for a few ounces and I only used a 1/4 of it for 2 flowers. Not a bad deal.

And then of course I made some glittered eggs, but those I could do in my sleep. In fact I had a dream last night that I was glittering a huge bunny for my Easter table.... I may really need some help now...

 

I'll tell you about these cute bunnies a little later.

Make sure you get out and get this book right away, you can pre-order it at Amazon.com right now for $23. It is filled with over 400 pages of great tips, ideas and amazing photos and in the back there are some great templates that you can use for all the crafts. it is a must have!

Martha's cooking school-fresh pasta

I have wanted to make pasta for a long time and never have. A few years ago John gave me the roller attachment for my KitchenAid mixer and I still haven't used it, that is until today. In Martha's new cookbook, Martha Stewart's Cooking School, there is a section on pasta and how to make it from scratch with lots of great step by step pictures.

My Wilton fondant mat came in handy to make the well for the eggs before mixing in the flour

 

I didn't get a lot of pictures since I needed both hands most of the time, but once you mix the egg and flour together you knead the dough for 10 minutes and then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then it sits for 1 1/2 hours. Then it is time to cut it into 6 pieces and then start feeding it into the machine, that was the fun part.

 

The dough was so soft and lovely to work with and the KitchenAid attachment made it a breeze. I made Pappardelle which is a wider pasta, about half the size of a lasagna noodle.

In the cookbook there is also a recipe for Bolognese Sauce, that takes about four hours to make so this is not a weeknight meal. Once the noodles were cooked, which took about 1 minute, they were so light and delicious and then topped with the Bolognese sauce... it's a good thing!

Martha's Cooking School-French Onion Soup

the newest book by Martha Stewart is out and is a great addition to any library. It is filled with lessons on everything from eggs, to cutting up a chicken to how to make meringue. It is the perfect book for home cooks just getting excited or even a great wedding present. It has a little bit of something for everyone. Even some great French basics!

Sunday night I made French Onion soup from the book. It is one of my favorites and this was a great recipe and instructions. The only thing I have found that needs to be changed whenever I make French Onion is the pan that I make it in. I normally use my Le Creuset French Oven but since you can't use it on heat any higher then medium it takes forever to caramelize the onions so I start them in another pan and it works a little better. Top it with some croutons made from a baguette and a little Gruyere.. Don't forget to serve it in French bowls for a truly authentic meal....

Bon Appetit!

On the bookshelf today

brand new and available today at your local bookstore or Amazon.com is the newest book in the Martha Stewart Library. Martha's Cooking School, Recipes and Lessons for the Home Cook

Imagine having Martha Stewart at your side in the kitchen, teaching you how to hold a chef’s knife, select the very best ingredients, truss a chicken, make a perfect pot roast, prepare every vegetable, bake a flawless pie crust, and much more.

Check back soon for the Martha Book Club to start cooking up some of the items in the new book and check out Martha this week as she starts her Martha Stewart Cooking school on her daily show

I can't wait to find this waiting on my doorstep after being out in the wilderness for two days.... If I am not back and posting by Wednesday, a bear got me....

And one more amazing cake

 This cake is gorgeous! The pretty pink ruffle cake wouldbe perfect for a little girls Ballet theme birthday party, or just for mine.

And the best part is that anybody can do it, all you need is a flat edged pastry tip, or the using the flat side of a basket weave tip and then back and forth. I love this cake, I need to make this one soon. Just imagine this as a three tier wedding cake in pink.... Oh it has me thinking!

Happy Birthday Elaine

Happy Birthday to my friend Elaine!

In honor of Elaine's birthday I made Martha's Lemon Curd Cake from the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook. A must have for any cookbook library!

With homemade Lemon Curd and Swiss Meringue Butter cream flavor with a little of the Lemon Curd. The cake itself is a combination of AP flour and Cake flour and a bit of Sour Cream it is sooooooo good!

Have a great birthday Elaine!

Lime Meltaways

From Martha's new book, Cookies I made some Lime Meltaways for John to take to work today. From what I hear they were a hit....

You can even watch Martha make them by clicking right here.

What are you baking this weekend?

Book Club Cookie-Grammy's Chocolate Cookies

For one of my first selections for the Martha Stewart Book Club was the "Grammy's Chocolate Cookies" on page 75. Well my husband picked them actually. Amazingly simple and easy to make at a moments notice. Well after they chill 1 hour. I made the dough on Thursday night and baked them up today.

Using a 1 1/2inch ice cream scoop and rolled into a ball and then rolled in sanding sugar

Out of the oven and perfectly round. I had to marvel out the perfect roundness of them.....

All done and displayed on Martha Wireware. And they are wonderful!   

Martha's Cookie "bible"

Hot off the presses is the newest book in the Martha Stewart library, the Martha Stewart's Cookies  cookbook or more of a Cookie Bible. 345 pages of cookie goodness and over 170 recipes. The book is split into 7 different cookie variations from Light and Delicate to Rich and Dense and a picture to go with every single recipe.

Upon it's eager arrival to my doorstep I  devoured every single page and picture and marked over 70 recipes on my list to make.

I have every single book that Martha has ever done, and a few are my very favorite. The Cookie Book is definitely moved to the very favorite list.

The Cookie Book will be the newest selection of the Martha Stewart Book Club, so pick out your cookie and bake them and then share them with all of the Book Club friends. We can't wait to see what you make.....