Homemade Turkey Pot Pie

This is me, Queen of the Shortcut, so don't expect tons of detail here.  But if you're okay with "eyeballing it" a pinch of this and a dash of that, then you will love this recipe.  I made it up as I went along, and I might also add, I've never made a pot pie in my life that didn't come from the freezer case.  Which means I've never actually made one.  This was so good though, that it will definitely be in heavy rotation.  It got rave reviews from the people who count most, my family.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and gather the following:

Cubed or chunked turkey breast

Frozen vegetables, your choice

Cream Starter

Fresh or dried rosemary and basil

Fresh baby kale

Homemade or store bought dough

Just a few steps and you'll have a great meal on the table in no time!

Aldi sells a turkey tenderloin that is so good!  I think it costs about $7 and comes with two in the package, each weighing about a pound.  I cooked two, and since I wasn't eating meat for a couple of weeks, there was a lot left over.  I chunked it up and froze it.  I'd say this is about two cups of turkey tenderloin.  It's already seasoned, so don't use salt, please.  I defrosted the turkey, and tossed it into an iron roaster.  No top needed.

A one pound bag of frozen mixed veggies on top of the meat. 

I had this product on the shelf from a box of free products I tested a few of months ago.  I used about 3/4 of the box, or enough to saturate the vegetables.  

Next, I made a dough from flour, milk and one egg.  I'm sure refrigerated dough would be a great shortcut next time, but I didn't have any.

I rolled it out pretty thin.  

Before I placed the dough on top, I put a sprig of rosemary and some basil flakes on the veggies.

A layer of fresh baby kale.  I'm always trying to "healthy up" my meals. 

And I tucked it in all around.  Refrigerated dough would look neater, but I wouldn't just cut to fit.  Add extra around the edges and really "tuck" it in. 

Because it will boil over anyway!  

I cooked it for about 45 minutes.  Of course I didn't time it so I really don't know.  Just wait for it to look like this...nice golden crust and creamy goodness oozing from the sides.  I was happy with the color the sauce took on.  

It looked great, but I didn't know what to expect in terms of the taste.  

Yeah, I thought the same thing.  That looks delicious!  And it was.  

Write me with any questions at 14th.st.vintage@gmail.com or just post in the comments section.

Let's Dance!

I still remember when David Bowie's super danceable hit came out in the 80's.  It admonished everyone to "put on their red shoes" and DANCE!  I was in college, and on the weekends I spent a lot of time in the dance clubs in and out of Chicago.  When this song came out, all of my dancing friends and I  were scrambling to find a pair of hot red shoes.  Red shoes never go out of style, and I always need them.  They go with nearly everything. It's been quite a few years since I had a pair of red shoes, aside from the pair of red suede loafers that I own.  I've been perusing the internet looking for a pair for about three months now, with no luck in finding a pair with a heel that I can handle.  

I was bored yesterday, having shuttled my son to three soccer games between Saturday and Sunday, only to have him fall ill on the way home from the last game.  We were in for the day so I decided to put my car in the garage.  On the way out, I found one stray black shoe.  I was pretty sure I'd seen the mate in my daughter's room, so I brought it in and got this idea that I had enough black shoes.  I decided to paint them red.  

You may know that I'm no stranger to painting leather.  I tried it here, and here, and here!  I consider myself a pro now.  I also know that no matter how bad a painted leather piece may look, it always looks much better the next day.  Today was no exception.  I was pretty satisfied with my shoes last night, but a full day later, the paint has "set" into the grain of the leather, and I think these Liz Claiborne pumps (that had really seen their best days) have a new lease on life!  If it hadn't snowed today, I'd be wearing them outside.  

I really do make something every day!

                            Just read the linked blog posts for step-by-step instructions!

These are too cute!!!

Kimono Redo!

You may remember my vintage kimono from an estate sale that I bought for five bucks a few weeks ago.  It was pretty tattered, but I loved the vintage fabric and knew that I would do something with it.  Well, I did, and I'm loving it.

I put out a teaser a week ago about finally finding a project using my vintage hankies.  I really want a handkerchief curtain, but I don't have an appropriate window for one.  I had already ripped the seams out of my kimono, planning to insert fabric to make it larger and had what I hoped was a great idea.  Yep, you guessed it!  Hankies are fabric, right? 

I recently took an old, but unused sewing machine out of storage.  I used to sew all the time, but stopped once my daughter was born.  A full-time job and a baby didn't leave much time for it.  More time went by, and I still didn't use that machine.  I did whatever sewing I had to do by hand, including hems, buttons, replacing zippers and fixing ripped seams.  I also used a fair amount of "stitch witchery".  Okay, a more than fair amount.  Okay, a lot.

When I finally started putting the handkerchiefs together, I basted them to make sure they fit together well.  Thanks to a vintage sewing box that I picked up at an estate sale two years ago, I had a decent supply of thread, needles, pins and pre-wound bobbins.  Can I get an "amen" for the pre-wound bobbins?  Although these sewing notions went largely unused, I loved the way they looked in the box and I started adding my own items to it.  

Threading a bobbin won't slow me down!  I've got plenty!

I have a bag of vintage notions that's been up on my Etsy page for quite a while.  They're still in the Ziploc bag in case they ever sell, but at the rate I'm going, I'll be using them myself.  Sewing vintage with vintage.  (The kind of stuff that keeps me up at night--who used these before me?)

After needing to order a new power cord and foot pedal because the original ones were missing, I got ready to sew and realized I had no bobbin case!  Really, with all those bobbins?  Not having sewn in 20 years meant that I was a little rusty.  I should have noticed that sooner.  My love affair with Amazon continues, as I ordered one for less than five dollars, and it was in my mailbox within two days.  Okay, now I think I'm ready.  

Wait.  I need a tutorial on how to thread it.  Really?  Re-entering the world of sewing in the age of the internet meant that a 60-second YouTube video was at my fingertips.  It was pretty easy since this is a no-frills machine, which is fine because I'm a straight-stitch kinda girl.  

The Irish linen pockets weren't such a good
idea after all.  Too big. Too plain. Too big.

This is a great starter machine, which is all I really need. 

I added huge patch pockets made from Irish linen handkerchiefs that I had, but I removed them because they were just too much.  It took the kimono from bohemian to tacky.  Still, I would love to have pockets and I'm sure that this project, while completely wearable, still isn't done.  But you can judge for yourself, and remember to be kind:

The robe and the handkerchiefs were pretty frail.  No such
thing and tearing out a seam unless I wasn't afraid to lose
some fabric, thus the "layered" look of the rose hankie.  I was
impatient and tore it out, then resewed it.  The thread was
much stronger than the fabric.  But it looks frilly, right?

As I was working with this, I realized the fabric is actually
silkier than I'd thought.  In it's tattered condition, it looked
like cotton.  It's definitely a silk/cotton blend.  

I made the belt from fabric I bought about five years ago, with the intent of making curtains.  I just loved the print.  Still do!  I tried to piece the handkerchiefs together so that they complimented each other, and the garment, but also to have equal impact on both sides.  The red flowers are obviously the boldest, and I didn't have another which would compare, but the print on the navy blue and white one was pretty unique, so I think that any way I turn, I'm going to turn heads.  I can't wait to wear this outside on the next warm morning to get my mail. Slowly.  I might bring in the garbage cans too, just to extend the show.  

The vintage shamrock pin needed a home yesterday.  

This looks like my yard!

I have long lamented the fact that my beloved vintage clothing typically doesn't fit me so either my daughter wears it, or I sell it.  I plan to extend a few more pieces so I can get in on the fun.  You don't even need to ask...of course I'll show you!  

Another Good Project Gone Bad.

 I couldn't leave well enough alone.  This is a fine looking chair, and the fact that it doesn't match anything in my house really isn't a big deal.  Nothing matches.  But it all seems to work together.  Except this chair.

 This has become my go-to chair for everything from doing my nails, to working on my computer, to allowing my amazing foot and leg massager to cycle several times each day.  As much color as I have, this chair just wasn't working.  I'd planned to sell it, but when it didn't sell I was more than happy to make it mine.  

70 degrees in Chicago in March can make a native Chicagoan a little crazy.  I had to get out and do something, and with projects piling up in the garage, I figured I could knock this one out.  I'd been wanting to try painted upholstery for a long time now, and just a couple of weeks ago, figured out that this would be a great starter project.  One:  I wasn't happy with the current color.  Two:  There isn't much upholstery there.  Three:  The chair cost me just $15 so I wouldn't have to kick myself if it didn't turn out well.    

 I found spray fabric paint last week.  Queen of the Shortcut (that's me) was stoked.  This chair project was getting easier!  I went out in the back yard with my bandanna, boots and a tatty sweater.  It was warm, but windy, and my yard is soft with all the moisture still there from several feet of snow.  I had on the right gear.  I found one of my baskets useful to carry my supplies into the back yard.  Paint, paper towels, fabric brush, coconut oil and Cuties.  I always have Cuties.  

I started by brushing the chair to free it of any debris.  

I stuffed cardboard all around the chair seat to shield the caning from the paint.  I rubbed down all the wood surfaces with coconut oil so that any errant paint spray wouldn't stick.  

Clean and nice!  The "rings" are only present in this picture, and I've never noticed them before.  But this isn't a story about the paranormal so I'm going to shelve that for now.  

The paint came out in a tiny, wet stream.  I had to stand close just to get it to "reach" the chair.  There were occasional "wild mists" of paint shooting off in every direction.  My cardboard protectors did not do the job.  I was starting to get really mad about this product and the project that it was ruining.  With over half the can gone, I discovered that this product is way too sheer to get any real coverage, and the spray cap, which I'm assuming was just one that got by while Inspector 12 was taking a coffee break, was more than inadequate.  I ruined my chair:

This was supposed to be lavender, a color I chose from one of the paintings in the kitchen.  It's always hard to cover dark colors, so that piece was my fault, but this watery paint just wasn't made for upholstery, regardless of what the description said to the contrary.  Still, this is my favorite chair and I'm not giving it up.  In fact, I saw another cane backed chair by the curb today, and it was lovely.  I forced myself not to stop because I already have 9 or 10 chairs in the garage, along with two nightstands and a table that I need to transform.  I let that one go, but not this one!  Another day, another product.  But when will I see another warm day?  It dropped by 30 degrees today so I won't be able to fix this mess for awhile.  

Old Habits Die Hard!

Okay, I kind of stuck to my plan.  I decided that rather than shopping (thrifting) for new clothes, I would shop my closet.  I've done that, without buying anything to wear for myself during all of January and February.  March hasn't been so good.  It all started with my sister, who has jumped on the thrifting bandwagon and drags me to the store more than I do her.  We went out a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't buy much except for a nice Dior dress shirt for my son, and this gorgeous Ralph Lauren, which is way too big for him, so I'm hoping to sell it.  I couldn't pass it up because it's orange and blue, one of my favorite color combos, and it's such a well-made shirt.  

Size XL in case you're interested.
Skirt not included!

Then she dragged me out again!   I'd been told that a Goodwill store that recently opened had treasures galore, as in designer brand clothing and shoes.  I felt like I needed some shoes, so I made the suggestion to my sister that we go there last Saturday, and she ran with the idea.  Anything that's italicized is here solely to make me feel less guilty about going back on my promise not to thrift...as much.  But again, I was in total control (couldn't really find anything) and bought one dress, a set of vintage equestrian drinking glasses, and a set of mugs which I'm going to swap out for the summer with what's currently in my cabinet.  I love flowers, but pretty much everyone knows that:

It's been awhile since I bought any
"seasonal" dishes.  

I also bought a great-smelling jar candle, which is cool because I've been burning my large candles a lot, and that can get pretty expensive.  This one was only $2, and it retails for about $30.  And no, it had not been previously burned.  I get that pleasure:

The rest of the mini-haul.  You'll see in a minute why this is considered mini.  Maria Callas/Madame Butterfly, a bracelet (of course!) a chartreuse and bone chevron striped bag and a vintage (think 50's) mens' floral henley.  I think my son likes it!

Look at that print!!

Then today, only because my partners in crime  friends on the Thriftanista Social Club Facebook page started posting mega-thrift hauls, I could no longer control myself and decided to do some real thrifting.  I stuck with the tag colors of the day (green, blue, yellow 1/2 off) but picked up a few pink and orange tags.  Even with that, I don't think any one item cost more than $4.  NEWSFLASH!!!!  Tags of the day were also buy one, get one free.  So the $9 down jacket was only $4.50, and the $5 dress was free.  And so on...

Gizmo decided right away that this reversible down
jacket would be his bed for the day.  

So cute!  For my daughter.

Chaus.  For my sister.  If she can't fit it,
it's for sale.

Leslie Fay.  I think this very consistent brand is
 underrated.  I think this dress is "da bomb.com"

Ellos?  Never heard of it, but this shapeless
frock will either be a nightgown, or my
Sunday outfit.  Oh yes I would!

Didn't know that Koi was a brand of nurses'
apparel.  I found this out before I bought it.
Got it anyway. 

I just think one sunny day I'll be real happy
that I have this skirt.  It's crinkly.  I hate ironing.
We are a perfect match.

As much as I love bold color, I also love a
tiny print.  I think this satiny skirt will be
one of my favorites.  Sometimes you just know.

  

One can never have too many
jewelry holders.

I ran into a friend coming down the aisle with this
and knowing I have a thing for lucite, she just
handed it over.

                                                                                                 

Extract of Opium.  Oh yes I did!
Unfortunately, this vintage apothecary jar
is missing it's lid, but I plan to use it for
cut flowers.  Maybe my favorite find
of the day.

I already had this White House/Black Market
blouse in my "take pics and sell" cabinet.  It's
been there for almost a year.

I obviously had to buy this when I saw
it today.  Obviously.

Style and Co., new with tags.  Selling.

No thrifting trip, or day, would be complete
without bracelets.  Even with my huge collection,
I did not have either of these colors.  I know, right?

  

I kinda knew my son would take issue with the
little guy on the surfboard.  He's having none
of it.  Board shorts, anyone?

And with that, I'm officially off the wagon, but I'm pretty pleased with my thrifty finds so far this month.  I got out today at just $27 and some change.  

Think I got my money's worth?