Michele Newell Michele says: I’m sure most of you would agree with me if I said that nothing is tastier than an ice cream sandwich on a hot summer’s day. It’s cold, it’s creamy, and it conjures up memories of childhood summers spent chasing down the ice cream man. Despite its deliciousness, however, I’m often wishing for … Read more
Michele says: Over the past few months here at Home Ec 101, we’ve learned an awful lot about the basics of sewing. We know the straight stitch and the Frankenseam, we know how to hem trousers two different ways, how to repair holey jeans, and we even learned how to darn socks, but for those … Read more
Michele says: Have you ever had a popover? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on one of my all-time favorite sides for a Sunday roast. Crispy and crunchy outside with an airy inside, popovers are the perfect utensil for transporting gravy from plate to mouth. Like Yorkshire puddings without the pan drippings, popovers are simple … Read more
Michele says: I have come to the realization that sharing my willingness to toss old socks has made me out to be exactly what I’m not: wasteful. I’ve darned a slew of sweaters and I’ve frozen enough manager’s special groceries to feed the Army and the Navy. I’ve never, ever missed an opportunity to haggle … Read more
Michele says: During my freshman year of college, I was required to live in a dorm. It was the most miserable experience of my life, not because I had a terrible roommate, but because I couldn’t cook or bake without having to use the communal kitchen (which meant I had to share with whomever walked … Read more
Michele says: I’m going to be super-mega-honest for a second here: I really, really dislike sewing by hand. My great-grandmother taught me to sew when I was 5, so I spent a large portion of my childhood sewing stuffed animals and costumes for fun and mending clothes for the family for function. Whenever a sewing … Read more
Michele says: I don’t know about you, but late spring and early summer are not exactly my favorite times warm up the house by using the oven. Since I’m often too cheap to turn on the air conditioning, I tend to relegate my summer baking time to the necessities. Unfortunately, my stomach doesn’t often get … Read more
Michele says: The decision to mend vs. replace an item is often surprisingly difficult. While being wasteful is rarely a good thing, there comes a point in every object’s lifetime where you must do a little cost benefit analysis or CBA. (I know this is Home Ec 101 and not Business 101, but bear with … Read more
Michele says: I’ll never forget the first time my childhood friend showed me how to make one of her favorite treats. The recipe was simple: one piece of white bread, squished and squeezed into a compact ball. It was kind of like a bread bonbon, and the thought of it horrified me immensely. You see, … Read more
Michele says: How have you been liking Home Ec 101’s recent sewing posts? Have they inspired you to finally tackle that mending pile? Are you rocking oh-so stylishly patched jeans? Or are you the smart kid in class, bored and wondering when we’ll do a project that doesn’t rely on the plain old straight stitch? … Read more