41/45

I almost forgot about my brother's birthday - his 41st - which falls the day before my parents' wedding anniversary - their 45th . I didn't realized it till 2 days prior while I was re-checking my pantry for ingredients I needed for the anniversary dinner.

Shoot! What am I going to cook?!?!

I found some (God knows how many) egg yolks in a plastic container sitting in my freezer, then I saw a couple of tin of condensed milk in the cupboard and went like *eureka* creme caramel! I then decided to make Chicken Pot Pie since I haven't made one for quite a long while. Great! I made the menu in such little time. I like to cook ahead so I spent an entire evening cooking the chicken filling, making the creme caramel and marinating the pork ribs. I like to cook some of the dishes ahead of time so I don't have to spend an entire day slaving myself in the kitchen.

The following evening, its assembly time sadly, I found the chicken filling covered with thousand of tiny bubbles and distinct aroma. Yes, the filling was rotten and my mind was filled with a thousand F-bombs! To make the matter worse, the supermarket is 20-minute drive from my apartment and it was already 6PM. If I have to make the filling from scratch, the pie has to be in the oven by 7PM obviously, I can not make it. I have no Plan B whatsoever. Without any hesitation, I calmly announced to my family that dinner is late than the usual, grabbed the keys at get a chicken rotisserie.

It was almost 8PM when I got the pie in the oven, but minutes later, the puff pastry sunk in the filling. I felt so horrified; next thing I knew I found myself arguing with the oven. Then my family was horrified when they saw me. Anyway, I fished out the puff pastry placed in on a cookie sheet and popped it in the oven.

I never really imagined that after all the years of cooking and many recipes that I have tried and mastered, such disaster can happen.

And that's was my chicken pot pie, of course this picture was edited many times to make it looked appetizing. :P

***

The following evening was my parent's wedding anniversary. There wasn't any drama but I did worried a little because I thought made it too spicy for my mom.  Dinnertime, everybody was quite - - did I get myself into another disaster?

To my relief, they enjoyed it and even suggested used the same marinade with pork chops. I am happy that they have forgotten the disaster I had the night before. Well, I guess I'll have to find another occasion to celebrate.


Until then,

Happy Cooking

model member challenge: inspiration

via 

I've been wanting to make a tent/trapeze dress for sometime. Although, I am not pretty sure I could pull it off since I am petite (5ft tall) and I do not wear dresses or even skirts with hem above the knee. I saw this  basic shift dress sloper   and I thought: this can be easily modified to a tent dress!

Then Burdastyle announced another "Model Member Challenge" using the said sloper and modification was allowed. After 2 cups of strong coffee,  my game face was on!

  via 

I closed the bust dart, just as shown in the diagram (F). Initially considered lengthen the dress upto mid-calf but I felt it going to look weird so I opt for a floor length dress. I chose silk crepe de chine for this project; it may not be the most luxurious type but it's wrinkle resistant. So if I have a party to attend on the weeknight, I could just put it in a bag, along with other accessories, pull it out, wear it, retouch my make-up and I'm off! Convenient! Plus, this has 58" width with non-directional print, it didn't cost me much. 

I modified the neckline as well (from bateau to jewel). Both neckline and armhole are finished with facings This doesn't have a zipper, just a 6" opening, a hook and a little thread bar at the back.

I submitted my entry sadly, I didn't win the challenge. It was a good experience though.

Hopefully, I'll win next time. ;)

goodbye, betty

I was supposed to use the title "planing and procrastination" for this post as I was or still is planning for what to sew for this year. Some of you already have plans, or have set up a mood board but me, slowly decluttering my clothes.

My strategy is well, start new. However, it is a slow process for me as I find it hard to let go of the clothes I have made. Am I the only one struggling?

This is one of the dresses the I decided to let go.  I made this dress during the height of "Mad Men" fashion and my transition in sewing. My mentor taught my how to draft flat sewing pattern but, I never really perfected it. The tops I made from the pattern looks nice yet, I could barely move my arms. I was not able to figure out what I was doing wrong so I gave up. I started consider to use commercial patterns.

The bodice was based on the free bodice sloper and I gradually learn the adjustment and alteration. If you notice, the bodice looks ill-fitting because it was and this had taught me the importance of making a muslin.

No matter how ill fitting this dress on me, I still could not let this go.

Finally, I decided the take a seam ripper. I added a waistband on to the circular skirt and just like that, it looks new. The top is Seamwork's Astoria in textured knit:

The bodice will be facing a different fate: as a patchwork.



Until then,


Happy Sewing!

insta-recap: december, 2015

Alot of cooking and celebrations happened last December, here's a recap:

New pattern in my inventory: Vogue 2931, McCalls 7154 and a vintage 1970's McCalls 5239:

We celebrated my mom's birthday with Pansit Malabon - it's a stir-fry rice vermicelli noodles with minced beef and seafood. Mom's favorite!

 Ube-macapuno cake for dessert!

Celebrated my brother's birthday with Chocolate Cake (his request):

I participated in Burdastyle's Model Member Holiday Challenge, see my entry here:

Details of my bold jacket:

We celebrated Christmas with Roasted Pork Belly, Carrot & Potato Mash, Roasted Veggies:

Buko - Pandan, a fruit salad consist of meat of a young coconut, cream, pandan infused gelatin,  for dessert:

And Crab and Corn Soup as appetizer:

Another set of vintage patterns 1950's McCalls 3550 and 1970's McCalls 3031:

I've seen alot of flower wreath cakes so I tried to make one and gave it as a Christmas gift to one of my friends. Though it didn't turn out to be as pretty, but it was well appreciated and enjoyed:

Lastly, my family and I welcomed the New Year with Chicken Barbeque, Szechuan Noodles and Hatosi:

Catch these in real time via 


Happy New Year, everyone!