Welcome to the Moda Bake Shop Progressive Dinner

I'm back, I'm back! Thanks so much for all your well wishes during my injury, surgery, and recovery. The surgery went well, though I will admit that the recovery has been a little rougher than expected. But enough about that. Even though I'm typing this post by "hunting & pecking" with my left hand (7th grade typing class term!), I wouldn't miss this post, because I finally get to share some exciting news ...

I'M BEING PUBLISHED IN MY VERY FIRST BOOK!! YEAH!!

Fresh Fabric Finds is an upcoming title from Stash Books, and it extends the bake shop concept into book form. For those of you unfamiliar with the Moda Bake Shop, it's a wonderful online resource for free patterns & project ideas using Moda's pre-cut offerings, including fat quarter bundles, fat eigth bundles, layer cakes, jelly rolls, honey buns, and charm squares. I've been fortunate enough to have a few projects featured on the site (see them here), and I was both thrilled and honored to be included in the book along with 15 other talented "chefs".

To celebrate the launch of the book (scheduled to be released this May), we're hosting a Progressive Dinner Party and giveaway. First, the giveaway part. One lucky reader will win a copy of Fresh Fabric Finds and a fat eighth bundle (currently my favorite pre-cuts!) of an upcoming fabric line TBD. To enter simply leave a comment here on my blog, and I'll randomly draw a winner on Friday, January 28.

I can't say too much about my specific project for the book (yet), but I can give a hint

and tell you that it's one of the projects featured above.

Can you guess which one?

Want to win even more? To win the grand prize of over $200 of Moda pre-cuts, visit every blog hosting the Progressive Dinner Party, and comment on every post. Again, a lucky reader wil be selected from all who enter. Start here at the Moda Bake Shop, and be sure to visit all of the other chefs. Here's the schedule:

January 20
Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts
Roslyn Mirrington of Bloom

Vanessa Christenson of V and Co.

January 21

John Adams of Quilt Dad

Monica Solorio-Snow of The Happy Zombie

January 22

Kimberly Walus of Bitty Bits and Pieces

Melissa Mortenson of The Polkadot Chair

January 23

Natalia Bonner of Piece N Quilt

Vickie Eapen of Spun Sugar Quilts

January 24

Rachel Griffith of P.S. I Quilt
Lissa Alexander of Moda Lissa

January 25

Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts
Sweetwater

January 26

Angela Yosten

Jenny Garland

And now for the dinner part of the post. We were each asked to provide a favorite recipe. Now this may not surprise you, but I'm not much of a cook (even though a psychic once told me that I was a great Italian chef from Tuscany in a previous life!), but I'm going to share one of my wife's FAVORITE recipes. It might sound a bit odd and it requires a bit more work than a typical salad, but I promise that it's always a show-stopper and she's asked to bring it again & again!

Barley and Corn Salad with Arugula and Green Beans

Serves 6

*** NOTE: we always double this recipe!! ***

2/3 C. pearl barley

1 lb. green beans, trimmed
1 C. fresh white corn kernels (cut off cob)
4 large bunches arugula (about 4 oz. total)

1/2 C. olive oil
1/4 C. white wine vinegar
2 T. minced garlic
2 T. minced fresh thyme (this is important)
2 t. Dijon mustard

3 1/2-oz. package of Feta cheese (crumbled)

Cook barley in boiling salted water until tender (about 30 min). Drain; cool. Put in large bowl.

Cook beans in salted water until crisp-tender (about 4 minutes). It depends upon the size as to how long they take. Put in ice-bath, drain, pat dry, and cut into 2-inch pieces. Add to the barley. Mix in corn kernels. Coarsely chop arugula. Add to barley mixture. Add beans and cheese.

Whisk olive oil, vinegar, garlic, thyme and Dijon. Pour the dressing over the mixture. Be careful not to put too much dressing on. Season with salt and pepper.