Written by admin on 13 July 2010
I have officially mastered mittens, for children and adults. The first mitten pattern is from Knitting Nature, Target Wave Mittens. Adorable! I really love the colors and think the pattern is quite unique. I made a few minor modifications to the thumb so that it would naturally curve upward, instead of straight out the side. And to my surprise they are created entirely on straight needles!
The next pair of mittens are for me. I am well aware that winter is a long way off. Maybe I just want to be prepared! Actually it came down to the fact that I had the perfect yarn, an already purchased pattern, and the motivation to wind the yarn one afternoon. It is a wonderful pattern All The Water, written by Kirsten Kapur from Through The Loops. I followed her mystery sock knit-a-long over this past Thanksgving while vacationing in Vermont. I used pure alpaca by Cascade Yarns for these mittens and they are incredibly soft and really warm. I love the way the cables run on either side and how the middle one looks like a braid…which leads me to my next topic.
Challah. I have been passing over this recipe for a while, and each time I’ve wanted to make it more and more. So I finally made it today. There are few things better than fresh homemade bread. It is so good, and even better with the homemade honey butter that I made to go with it!
Tags: all the water, alpaca, braid, bread, cables, cascade yarns, challah, homemade, kirsten kapur, knitting, knitting nature, mittens, stripes, target wave, through the loops
Posted in Craft, Food | 1 Comment »
Written by admin on 18 January 2010
I’m having an obsession with homemade soup. This is the first of three soups that I’ve made. I am a huge fan of The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook. I have enjoyed everything that I have ever made out of this book. It might have something to do with the fact that it isn’t afraid of good old fashioned fat, but every recipe lists caloric amount, protein, etc. Everything in moderation.
Minestrone with Pesto
Prep: 20 minutes plus soaking beans Cook: 1 hour
8 ounces dry Great Northern beans (1 1/3 cups), soaked and drained
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 stalks celery, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 ounces pancetta or bacon, finely chopped
1 pound all-purpose potatoes (3 medium), peeled and chopped
2 medium zucchini (8 ounces each), each cut lengthwise into quarters, then crosswise into 1/4-inch-slices
1/2 medium head savoy cabbage (1 pound), thinly sliced
1 large garlic clove, crushed with garlic press
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) chicken broth
1 cup water
Pesto (homemade or store-bought)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1. In 4-quart saucepan, combine beans and enough water to cover by 2 inches; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender, 40 minutes to 1 hour. Drain beans.
2. Meanwhile, in nonreactive 5-quart Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots, celery, onion, and pancetta; cook, stirring occasionally, until onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes, zucchini, cabbage, and garlic; cook, stirring constantly, until cabbage has wilted. Add tomatoes with their juice, broth, and water; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile prepare pesto.
4. In a blender or in food processor with knife blade attached, puree 1/2 cup beans with 1 cup soup mixture until smooth. Stir puree, remaining beans, and salt into soup; heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 10 minutes. Garnish with dollops of pesto.
Makes about 13 cups or 6 main-dish servings.
Each serving with pesto: About 444 calories, 18g protein, 53g carbohydrate, 20g total fat (4g saturated), 9mg cholesterol, 1,204mg sodium.
Tags: minestrone, pesto, soup, vegetables
Posted in Food, Photo | 1 Comment »
Written by admin on 10 August 2009
Cherry tomatoes that is. The first pick of the year, straight out of my own garden. So delicious indeed, although Parker won’t even try one. I think the squishy consistency is a bit of a turn off for him. Maybe next year he’ll know what’s good for him.
Featured in my beautiful new mug that was a very special gift for when I house-sat a few weeks ago. Love it! Have definitely been toying with the idea of having coffee again.
Posted in Food, Garden, Photo | 2 Comments »
Written by admin on 09 December 2008
I think there’s something about having the christmas tree up that makes me want to be in the kitchen, baking and making whatever I can. Possibly my new found discovery of The All New Good Housekeeping Cook Book that Justin had hidden away in our cabinet above the microwave has inspired me as well. Yesterday I made buttermilk bread and curry carrot soup. Today it was wheat walnut bread and a peach pie. (Special thanks to Alexa and Ryan for the peaches.) My setup today was my lunch bowl of curry carrot soup with a swirl of sour cream and a sprinkling of dill, with my fresh out of the oven wheat walnut bread. Yum! Oh and I almost forgot to mention, my favorite soup bowl ever, which I handmade years ago in high school.
Posted in Food, Photo | 2 Comments »
Written by admin on 02 December 2008
I am a sucker for baking, and this morning I was inspired to make an apple & strawberry mini tart. I love to find an ingredient that I don’t have much left of, or that needs to be used soon, and create something delicious from it. Well this morning that was a single apple that had been sitting solitary amongst the clementines in the fruit bowl for a few days. I must say that I turned out a fabulous breakfast dish for us today.
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