diy: crochet bib necklace

I found this pattern for a crocheted collar by Lulu Loves, and I decided to make a necklace version of it. I used crochet thread so that it looks almost like lace.

Supplies:

• crochet thread
• hook
• chain
• four smaller jump rings
• one large jump ring
• lobster clasp

The only thing you need to different for the necklace is skip the extra beginning chains for the button hole. You also do not want to make it long enough to fit all the way around your neck. I made mine about seven inches long.

Once finished, put a small jump ring through two loops of yarn on each end. Attach your chain and add the lobster clasp and jump rings to close (like below).

recipe: anchovy and onion pasta

This is my favorite pasta dish. It's so flavorful and is perfect for warm weather. It is a bit time consuming, but it's well worth it.

anchovy and onion pasta (adapted from alexandra cooks)
(This recipe makes a whole lot of pasta. I can get five (very large) servings out of it.)
ingredients:

• 1.5 lbs pasta
• 2 onions
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
• hunk of Italian bread (enough for about 1 cup of breadcrumbs)
• 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 7-8 anchovy fillets, finely chopped
• 1 cayenne pepper, finely chopped ( you can remove the seeds if you would like it less spicy)
• 3/4 cup  plus 4 tbsp olive oil
• 3-4 tbsp fresh basil chiffonade
• salt and pepper

Slice onions about half an inch thick. Heat two tbsp olive oil over medium-low heat and add onions, brown sugar and vinegar. Cook until caramelized, stirring frequently (about 20-30 minutes). Remove from pan.

Put bread into a food processor and pulse until you have breadcrumbs. Alternately, toast bread and rip into small pieces (I do this when I don't feel like breaking out the food processor). Put breadcrumbs in bowl and season with salt and pepper. Heat two tbsp olive oil over medium heat in the pan you cooked the onions in. Add seasoned breadcrumbs and stir until crisp. Scrape the bottom of the pan while you are stirring to get the flavor from the onions.

Meanwhile bring pot of water to a boil, salt heavily, and add pasta. Cook until done.

While pasta is cooking, put 3/4 cup of olive oil to a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add chopped garlic and anchovies. Cook, stirring frequently, until most of the anchovies have dissolved (5-8 minutes).

Once cooked, drain pasta and put in large bowl. Add onions and breadcrumbs and stir to combine.

Pour olive oil mixture over pasta and mix thoroughly. Stir in basil.

Serve pasta with more fresh basil on top.

Enjoy!

friday inspirations

via cookie and kate

I can't wait for fall. Fall food is so comforting and delicious. I'm definitely going to try this soup once the weather cools off.

via sew mama sew

I really want to learn embroidery, and this tote looks like a good place to start. It's so adorable!

via melting butter

This hotel is gorgeous. I love the overlapped rugs, the paneling, and the mismatched furniture. It looks so cozy and comfortable.

via oh the lovely things

These earrings are so cute and seem simple to make. I can't wait to try.

industrial drawer repurpose

I found this metal drawer at a yard sale. It looks like it came from an old industrial cabinet. I really like the looks of it, and since I have been looking for indoor planters, I decided to turn this into one. You could just put potted plants into the drawer, but I wanted to plant them.

I lined the drawer with heavy duty plastic and, since there are no drainage holes, I put a layer of gravel on the bottom. I choose ferns because they grow well in low light. Other good options would be succulents or other plants that don't need a lot of water. The drawer is made of metal, so too much water could cause rusting.

I really love the way it turned out!

friday inspirations

via stella and dot

I really like necklaces with fringe chains. Something similar to this wouldn't be too difficult to make.

via lucky pony

Green is my favorite color, and this bathroom is beautiful. I tend to prefer neutral bathrooms, but I would take this one in a heartbeat.

via red heart

I have very little patience when it comes to working with crochet thread. This top is cute enough to make me think about trying, though...

via hugo and elsa

It's only July, and I'm already wishing it were fall. I want to curl up with a book and have some tea and homemade crumpets.

recipe: cucumber salad

Cucumber salad is one of my favorite summer salads. It's so light and refreshing, and it is really simple to make.

ingredients:

• 5 cucumbers *
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt 
• 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar
• juice from half a lemon
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 tbsp fresh chopped dill

* I used cucumbers from my garden, which are smaller than ones you can get at the store. You may only need two or three of them if you are buying.

Peel cucumbers and quarter them lengthwise. If your cucumbers have a lot of seeds, you may want to remove them (I usually don't). Slice the quarters about a half inch thick. Put sliced cucumbers into a colander and sprinkle salt evenly over them. Leave in sink for 20-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine sour cream, yogurt, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, and dill in a large bowl. Taste and adjust as needed. I prefer a more tart sauce, so I usually add a little more vinegar. Add salt and pepper to taste.

After cucumbers have drained, pat dry and combine with sauce. Allow to chill for at least one hour before serving. 

I usually double the amount of sauce I make and keep the extra in the fridge for a few days. I get one or two cucumbers from my garden each day, so I like having the sauce already made for when I get home from work.

garden update