Projects

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Put Down The Styling Mousse and Step Away From The Sink

 I had a roomate that called it, "Styling Mousie" which always conjured a great image of a mouse before a mirror primping to go out. 
Some days, I just can't face the blow-dryer. 

This top has been in constant wardrobe rotation because I love it, but I don't think I've ever featured it here on the blog. The gauze/cheesecloth fabric is summery, but the weight is heavy enough that I can wear it year round. I love the asymmetrical pattern, the elastic waist and peplum.  Everything about it would sound wrong on paper, and I hesitated to buy it because it looked so strange on the hanger. I'm glad I took a chance, because it quickly became a favourite piece. 

I made a mushroom pie for dinner that I think is worth sharing. It took four pounds of assorted mushrooms, which I admit is a bit much. You could use any sort of mushrooms you like-I happened to have these, so I used them. 

You Will Need:

Two crust pastry:
2 cups plain flour
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cups cold, unsalted butter cut in small pieces
Ice water (about 8 tablespoons, but have extra ready)

Combine flour and salt. Cut in the butter until fine crumbs. Add water a few tablespoons at a time until dough just comes together. Try to avoid handling it more than you must. Divide in two, and roll out to fit an 8 or 9 inch pie plate. 

For the filling:
1 pound portabella mushrooms, chopped
1 pound shitake mushrooms, chopped
1 pound King trumpet mushrooms, chopped
1 pound oyster mushrooms, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup dry red wine
8 large shallots, finely sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
2 teaspoons dried sage
A good grinding of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon smoked salt (you can omit this in place of plain salt. I use it to get a smoked meat flavour in vegetarian recipes). 
2 cups cooked long grain white rice

In a large stockpot, heat the oil and butter over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook until they throw off most of their liquid-about ten minutes. Add the wine and turn up the heat cooking until it burns off. Reduce the heat back to medium. Keep stirring the mushrooms so they don't stick to the pan as they start to brown. When the mushrooms are reduced to your liking, add the shallots and cook just until they are softened-no more than two minutes. Add the spices, and cook a minute or two longer. Stir in the cooked rice, and then set it aside to cool before filling the pie crust. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Assemble it:
Fill the bottom crust evenly with the filling. Cover with the top piece of pastry and brush lightly with an egg wash (I used 1 large yolk and 1 tablespoon water). Cut vents for steam. Place it all on a baking sheet, and bake for 10 minutes at 425 F then reduce the heat to 375 degrees F. for another 30-40 minutes or until nicely browned. 

Serve warm, not hot with a nice salad, and good strong mustard. 

Why did the shitake have to move house?  
There wasn't mush room. 

I don't make this often,
-just sporadically. 

Fine. Let's talk about clothes. 

Outfit Particulars:
Gauze top-New Life Thrift
Skirt-Sears, about 20 years ago
Made in Korea vintage beaded bag-Goodwill
Necklace-The Mexican Shop, Evanston, Il. about 30 years ago
Earrings-K Mart
Belt-Can't remember
Shoes-K Mart
Fragrance-Bat Sheba
 Two trends in one: Beads + Fringe.

 The necklace had small metal charms hanging off the bottom that made so much clatter I removed them. It became a much more wearable piece once I didn't feel like I had a cowbell around my neck.


Keeping with the same selection of colours...
I had to take advantage of the cool snap to wear my leather skirt. For some reason I always forget about it until spring when it looks terribly out of place. Coloured leather and suede can work in spring, but a black leather anything will be a challenge. 
 Outfit Particulars:
Leather skirt-can't remember, 80's (I mean, I can remember the 80's, just not where I purchased this)
Vintage polyester zip-back top-Thrift World
 Vintage vinyl trimmed canvas jacket-Thrift World
1970's vinyl shoulderbag-Goodwill
Tights-Walgreen's
Vintage Gaymode shoes-Thrift World
1970's necklace-Hand-me-Ups
1960's clip earrings-Hand-me-Ups
1970's bracelet-Hand-me-Ups
Fragrance-Knize 10








These are the frames I'm going to have set with lenses next (I also have a 1930's pair with ear wires that need new lenses). I *think* a darker blue would work, but grey might be good too. I know, First World problems. What am I to do?!?
I can't wear these to Raptor Rescue events or they'll try banding my leg and feeding me "mouse-in-a can". 


The frames were purchased from my favourite Etsy eyewear seller, Cherrie at JustheGoodStuff
My gold cat-eye glasses also came from her, and I can't say enough great things about my experience. Fantastic prices, excellent customer service, and the selection is incredible. Many of the frames (like mine) were never set with lenses making you the first owner. A quick look around the web came up with several Gaspari frames like these, but they weren't new old stock, and they were much more expensive. If you're looking for attention getting frames at a great price, Just The Good Stuff is your shop. I paid for these frames with my own dough (they weren't freebies). She did throw in free shipping and some eyeglass holders which I appreciated, but didn't expect.

Finally, there's this:




































Uh...what the hell?! Walgreen's is a pharmacy, can't they find the Easter Bunny some sort of happy pill? Have you ever seen such a depressed looking bunny? Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see children clamouring to sit on his lap for a photo. 
"Run, Uncle Hopper is out of the joint...and he's bent on revenge!"

Oops, it got late and I have laundry to do. Better hop to it.






10 comments:

  1. That Walgreens rabbit is terrifying. What is going on?? I'm so confused. But not by your beautiful specs. I love 'em. You look quite adorable. And I think you could single handedly bring back earth tones. You and your mushroom pie are magnificent!

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  2. That easter bunny looks like a giant albino rat with Cushing's Syndrome.

    Those frames look quite chic & Iris Apfel! I'm still pulling for lavender lenses, or maybe a bronzy amber. I love that asymmetrical gauze top, that looks like a Hawaiian honu pattern.

    I have the same fine sorta curly texture hair! I used to get a keratin straightening treatment to get that board straight Anna Wintour look to my bob, but when the monsoon heat & humidity hits I just let it do it's frozzy curly Gene Wilder thing.

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  3. Mouse-in-a-can? Is that what became of poor hair mousie?

    A lot of my most-worn clothes don't make it onto my blog either, but that's because they're boring. Yours are much more interesting!

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  4. Kudos to your keen eye for coordinating design elements, Goody! The beaded bag's fringe appreciates the grace note of the belt's little riffle -- and together they harmonize with the ethnic flavor of your pet top. Connie is right about your bringing back earth tones. Methinks we're appreciating your light hand with the accessories!

    The mushroom pie sounds like something I'd expect to encounter in a gourmet rated vegetarian restaurant, if there is such a thing. I've been content with Amy's mushroom soup out of a can, but this is inspiring me to peruse the odd end of the produce section where the 'srooms are binned. (Haven't seen any mushroomers with their stakes and baskets venturing into the woods for years. Wonder if that drought a few years back killed off the morels...)

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  5. That first top is gorgeous, I love it!
    Can't believe you removed the bells. I was walking behind a couple of drunk blokes at the Glastonbury festival in the pitch dark, early hours of the morning. "What's that clanking?" Slurred one. "I think one of Michael Eavis's cows might have escaped" replied his mate.
    xxx

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  6. That Walgreen's Easter Bunny just cracked me up. Surely he'll just scare all the children away? Will start using the word "styling mousie" as from now ... I think brown actually really suits you Goody. The way you combine it, it's never boring. xxx

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  7. What an amazing top that is! I absolutely love it. So unusual. I, too, would have removed the bells. I often strip jewellery of irritating bits. I had a silver ball pendant, in fact I still have it, that I used to wear on a silver chain and it had a bell inside it. It drove me nuts!

    I love your second outfit too, and the leather trim on your jacket matches the skirt so well. You look lovely in both outfits. The glasses are going to be fab.

    Your hair looks great with it's waves/curls. I couldn't be arsed blow drying my hair every day so I keep it short but it is naturally curly. I used to have an afro in the late 1960s and 1970s.

    Finally, you really need to have a word with Walgreens about that Easter Bunny. What a miserable looking fecker, if ever I saw one!

    Veronica
    vronni60s.blogspot.com

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  8. @Connie
    I just can't imagine anyone showing up for a photo wit that bunny.

    @Mim
    They're boring to you-we'd probably be fascinated by them. Show us!

    @Beth
    I spotted the first wild mushrooms today-but I don't forage. I'm strictly a supermarket mushroom person.

    @Vix
    That's a great story. It must have been hard not to laugh.

    @Polyester Princess
    Thank you. I hate to think I've unleashed, "Syling Mousie" on the blogosphere.

    @Veronica
    I like you hair-it always looks perfect. Mine will look messy no matter what I do, so curly is a good default style.

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  9. Oh Goody I do like your hair all Moussed up, looks great. It is wavy envy to me and you know how I like a bit of wave envy! You definitely suit the earthy colours, and by the way, the mushroom pie looks awfully tempting, mmmmmmmmmm!!

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  10. @Sue
    Strangely, it looks better the second day-no idea why. I'm not sure how to use mousse. Hell, I'm still trying to master hairspray. You should hop on a plane and come show me how to do my hair! Or Skype. I need a tutorial ;)

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