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THE FUTURE OF: BATHING

Michael Levin

Tusse

whyrHymer

URBAN RETRO

Hyperform

Collection of Cool

House in Casavells 

The Gourmet Tea

Paprika Chicken

A couple of years ago I worked as a waitress at a Czech restaurant in Balmain called La Boheme. Before this I hadn't had very much experience with Eastern European food but I soon learned to love it, even in the middle of summer. This dish was not on the regular menu, it was made occasionally as a special and more frequently as dinner for the staff. The restaurant served it with macaroni or rigatoni and I've had it at a Hungarian restaurant served with spaetzle.

In this version I've served it with risoni which I kind of see as sitting in between macaroni and spaetzel. It's perfect on colder nights as it is very warming and hearty. It's best when slow cooked until the chicken just starts to disintegrate although the cooking time can be shorten if you are short on time.

Slow cook the chicken in white wine, chicken stock and paprika

Add the sour cream and extra paprika 5mins before serving

Serve on a bed of risoni

Ingredients:

2 chicken thighs, diced

1 onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 cup white wine

1 cup chicken stock

1 tbsp paprika

75g sour cream

10 tbsp risoni 

Method:

Over a medium high heat fry the onions and the garlic until softened in a small amount of canola oil. Add the chicken and fry until brown. Stir in the wine, stock and half the paprika. Cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer on a low heat for two hours, removing the lid for the final hour to allow the stock to reduce.

20 mins before serving bring a pot of salted water to the boil. Add the risoni and cook until al dente.

Add the sour cream and remaining paprika to the chicken mixture and cook for a further 5 mins. 

BWOF 09/10 122

This was another dress which I started over the summer. It seems like everyone has either drooled over or made this dress. I was definitely my favourite of Burda's patterns from last year and what's more it is a petite pattern which makes it the perfect length for me. 

I cut the size 21 but had to remove a good 4 inches from the centre back piece tapering to nothing at the hip. I also removed the sleeves as I wanted a more classic style for my sheath dress. I love the material its a nylon blend knit from Tessuti fabric. It's double layered knit with a really interesting relief pattern on the top layer. They had it in black, navy and red but unfortunately it seems to be completely sold out now. I couldn't resist the red. It was one of the few things I finished during the first half of the uni session so that I could wear it out for my birthday in March. 

BWOF 01/09 113

I've been a very neglectful blogger lately, I kinda vanish from the face of the earth during uni session. But I've been on a study break for the past 2 weeks and its given me a chance to finish off some of the sewing projects that I had left over from my summer break. Most I had stalled on when I reached a point where I had to re-do something, this often seems to be the case with me. 

This skirt stalled because I forgot to put the pocket flaps on before stitching the waistband to the skirt. I had even unpicked it I just hadn't gotten around to restitching it. So 2 weeks ago I went and bought buttons and a zipper and sat down to finish the skirt. Here it is on:

I have to admit that while this is based strongly off BWOF 01/09 113 it isn't it exactly. My mum still has my copy of BWOF 01/09 so I just used my already traced out copy of 112 and added the details such as pocket flaps, button front waistband, fly front and front slit. For comparison here's BWOF 01/09 113:

 And here's my version:

 Skirt on the hanger

Fake pockets

Fly front with button up waistband

Inside fly front with button up waistband

Boning Casing

You can see I have almost double the amount of buttons to prevent gaping and I've added boning to the waistband and a full waistband lining to the skirt as I feel it benefits from the extra support. I also added slit at the centre front for added walking and sitting ease.

In terms of alterations I cut a size 42 but had to take over 2 inches out of the top of the centre back waistband seam tapering to nothing at the base of the waistband.

Overall I'm really happy with this skirt. It fits really nicely and is really comfortable even after a full meal. Plus it can be dressed up or down making it really versatile and because it's 100% cotton it breathes really nicely.