Creativity Beyond the Studio

It has felt like I have lacked creativity in life.  Oh, sure, I've been cranking out a mini-quilt each week and I am loving the variety of colors, techniques and textures that have resulted.  But I've been unmotivated to have creative ideas in the kitchen/cooking area.  I did not prep the freezer to crockpot meals as I have in the past... our freezer has not had ample space for me to do 30 or so meals.  I could have done a smaller amount but instead, opted for one or two at a time as I found great deals on the proteins included in some of them.

The good that has come from this situation is that I have been able to figure out some uses for our "instapot".  I like that the liner of it is stainless steel and I can place frozen meat in there without concern that the liner will crack from it.  I am able to use the sauté setting to brown chicken breasts or thighs or even cook ground beef with onions and garlic and then choose a different setting such as a custom pressure cook, or slow cook (or a combo of them) and walk away.

I have been pleased with the shredded barbeque chicken, chicken and rice pilaf and am getting ready to try out a version of fajitas with a skirt steak as well as Italian shredded beef.  It's only taken me 2 years... The use of the Pampered Chef quick/slow cooker has kept our kitchen (and the rest of the house) much cooler.  You may remember that in the past I would place our crockpot in our laundry room (with door shut) as our "summer kitchen".  

The spaghetti that I tried out recently passed the taste test.  Though I would probably cook the marinara sauce on the slow cooker setting for 2 hours and then add the pasta and extra water for the 8 minutes of pressure cooking.  Here's the recipe I (basically) followed: I used one 15 oz. can diced tomatoes and one 15 oz. can sauce, no chicken broth and 1-1/2 cups water when I added the pasta.  I also browned Italian seasoned ground turkey, onion & garlic, but meatballs could be added too.

Spaghetti & Sauce

2 tbsp (10 mL) olive oil

6   garlic cloves, pressed

1 tsp (5 mL) Italian seasoning

½ tsp (2 mL) red pepper flakes (optional)

4 cups (1 L) chicken broth

1 can (28 oz./794 mL) crushed tomatoes, undrained

1 large carrot, peeled and grated

¼ tsp (1 mL) salt

1 lb. (450 g) spaghetti noodles, broken into thirds

½ cup (125 mL) water

After browning the meat and adding the rest of the ingredients, I pressure cooked it for 15 minutes to really infuse the flavors throughout.  I added 1-1/2 cups water and the pasta and pressure cooked it for 8 minutes. 

Fewer dishes, less mess, less cooking time and heat that is generated during the process... it is all a win-win!

My daughter gave the reverse tie-dye a try and had great results with chlorine bleach.  I've been itching to give it a try!  Instead, I exercised a few creative muscles by turning this small wooden tray with dividers into a small travel sewing table.  

This tray had some magnetic puzzles in them, and they were pulled for packing in Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes.  The trays were too good to toss... they are actually made of wood!

I cut down an old cutting mat to fit in one of the spaces.  I also recycled some magnetic advertising sheets by cutting them down to fit into a few compartments to hold needles, pins, scissors, or anything else that you might need.  I have three of the wooden trays... if you are interested in having one (in the raw, no cutting mat or magnets), let me know.  I'd be happy to share... I'll even throw in a few fabric scraps. 😍 Leave a comment or send me an email if you want one (US mailing addresses only).

I've got memory quilt #2/3 on the design wall and ready for sashing strips and borders.  This one is being done in off-white and cream fabrics.  The backing will be an old-fashioned newsprint fabric.  

If all goes well, If no other distractions come up, I'll be quilting this over the weekend and have another finish to share with you at the Monday morning Sew & Tell party.

How have you exercised your creative muscles lately?

Leave a comment... I'd love to hear from you!

Keep Piecing,

Melva

Linking with:

Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese 

Free-Motion Mavericks at Quilting & Learning

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Off The Wall Friday with Nina Marie

Brag About Your Beauties at From Bolt to Beauty

Peacock Party at Wendy’s Quilts and More

Friday Foto Fun at Powered by Quilting

Finished or Not Friday at Alycia Quilts

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