tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78792731847509338052024-03-12T19:31:39.403-07:00Still Life With KnittingFood. Fiber. &t Cetera.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-82009701430270113172018-08-20T12:26:00.001-07:002018-08-20T12:26:36.460-07:00Roasted Tomatoes (and a Baked Frittata recipe)
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the few redeeming
features of summertime (in my <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I-really-wish-it-was-Fall</i>
opinion) is tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ripe, glorious
tomatoes straight from the garden that taste like – well, tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rarely buy tomatoes from the grocery store,
instead stocking up during tomato season at the farmers market or the you-pick
farm or from our neighborhood mailboxes where generous folks sell their excess
produce at amazing prices (and sometimes even give stuff away). </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Unfortunately tomatoes
aren’t in season for very long in my neck of the woods, so I enjoy the big
juicy globe tomatoes fresh while I can, and then preserve the meaty oblong
paste-type tomatoes so I can cook with them throughout the winter months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canning tomatoes is a great way to preserve
large quantities, but it’s laborious and renders a product that’s best suited
to making sauces or soups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that
there’s anything wrong with that, but when you are wanting something a bit
different tomato-wise, roasting them is a great – and far less laborious – way to
go.</span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roasted in a slow oven
for a few hours, tomatoes cook down to a rich mass full of concentrated
flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re great used as a topping
for bruschetta, or spooned over pasta, or added to a sauce, or swirled into a
simple baked frittata for a quick and easy meal.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Making baked frittatas
is something I like to do when I want a cooked meal, but I don’t really feel
like cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not technically a frittata
(nor an omelet, and not quite a quiche) – it’s more like poufy baked eggs – the
dish comes together quickly with whatever ingredients happen to be in the fridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bit of cheese, some fresh herbs or leftover
veggies – pretty much anything works to flavor the frittata.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including leftover roasted tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever you call it, here’s how I make mine. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
</span></span><div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>B</strong><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>AKED FRITTATA WITH ROASTED TOMATOES </strong></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><strong>
</strong><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">6 large eggs</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1-2 tbsp heavy cream<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">salt & pepper to taste<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">¼ cup roasted tomatoes<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 3; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">goat or feta cheese</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Preheat
the oven to 400</span><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Arial; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Symbol;">°</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">F.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Spray
a deep pie plate with non-stick cooking spray or brush lightly with olive oil.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lightly
beat the eggs, then mix in the cream and salt and pepper to taste (keep in mind
that there’s already salt in the tomatoes).</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pour
the egg mixture into the prepared pan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Add the roasted tomatoes and swirl them around with a fork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crumble cheese over the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cook
for about 25-30 minutes, until the frittata is a light golden brown and the
edges are puffy. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes 4-6 servings.
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So back to the roasted
tomatoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re super easy to make,
and measurements don’t need to be exact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I really like oregano so my herb blend for this recipe has lots of it,
but any mix of herbs, including commercial Italian seasoning, can be used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roasted tomatoes freeze well, so I like to
make several batches, put them in heavy freezer bags, and store them in the
freezer to pull out when needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lay
the bags on their sides as they freeze; once solid they can be stacked flat to
save freezer space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Note, because of the oil content, the roasted tomatoes in the
accompanying recipe poster are not suitable for canning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use them fresh within a few days, or freeze
them for long-term storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</span></span></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyyPgVRAxkRx5VZpc53qSzxtcBtfEKLqZOOkrtxYOLkq2GnEevOJCkePqQ52pg2sKaVFShyAn1RZcDxOthLuT5iCoXNVkOGNNkVyREEAc6RBN69dUQCIwcOnOx_D1C8ZhzZEc5sSejh0/s1600/Roasted+Tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZyyPgVRAxkRx5VZpc53qSzxtcBtfEKLqZOOkrtxYOLkq2GnEevOJCkePqQ52pg2sKaVFShyAn1RZcDxOthLuT5iCoXNVkOGNNkVyREEAc6RBN69dUQCIwcOnOx_D1C8ZhzZEc5sSejh0/s640/Roasted+Tomatoes.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-47089806834298214982018-08-04T12:09:00.000-07:002018-08-05T10:20:23.039-07:00Dry 'em and Fry 'em: Zucchini<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Got zillions of zucchini?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or a neighbor with zillions of zucchini that
keeps foisting theirs on you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe
you just like zucchini?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wherever you fall
on the zucchini spectrum, they are a versatile vegetable to have on hand all
year round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I don’t grow them
myself, but I take advantage of the fresh, organic zukes available at the
farmers’ market in the summer, then dehydrate them so I can cook and bake with
them during the winter months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">While I dry some in thin
slices to be thrown into a pot of soup, my favorite prep method for dehydrating
zucchini is to shred it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this form it
can be used in so many ways:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to thicken
soups, add flavor to sauces and sautés, make zucchini bread (or maybe some
chocolate zucchini cake), or to make zucchini fritters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fritters make a great
appetizer/first course, especially topped with a dollop of sour cream or crème fraiche,
aioli, or pesto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re equally lovely
served just with some lemon wedges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fritters work well as a side dish too (I quite like them with roasted
chicken or grilled sausages).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you don’t have a
dehydrator and aren’t tempted to get one, you can still make these fritters by
substituting about 1 pound of fresh zucchini for the dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shred the zucchini with a food processor or
stand mixer attachment, or use the course side of a box grater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squeeze out as much moisture as you can from
the shredded zukes, then proceed as directed starting with Step 2.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><strong>ZUCCHINI FRITTERS</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><em>(recipe adapted from Martha Stewart Living)</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 cup dried shredded zucchini<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 tsp salt<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">¼ tsp ground pepper<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 tbsp freshly grated lemon zest<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 tbsp minced fresh, flat-leaf parsley<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 clove of garlic, peeled and minced<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 large eggs, lightly beaten<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">½ cup all-purpose flour<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">2 - 4 tbsp olive oil<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Reconstitute
zucchini in 1 cup of boiling water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Allow to sit for about 30 minutes, then drain thoroughly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mix
together the drained zucchini, salt & pepper, lemon zest, parsley, garlic,
and eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly add the flour, stirring
well so that no lumps form.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Heat
about 2 tbsp olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the oil is hot (the oil should sizzle
when you drop a tiny amount of the zucchini mixture into it), carefully drop in
the zucchini mixture 2 tbsp at a time (a 2-tbsp cookie scoop works great for
this), spacing the fritters a few inches apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cook
until the bottoms of the fritters are golden, about 2-3 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lower the heat to medium, turn the fritters,
and cook for another 2-3 minutes more, until the fritters are completely
golden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove the fritters to a plate lined
with paper or flour sack towels to absorb any excess olive oil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cook any remaining zucchini mixture, adding
more oil to the pan if necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Garnish
as desired and serve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes about 6 fritters.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsel_Fuc04VA_tq58UizW_rUhIoXsjTF-WckoBLKdXSE7sqYViqY9xYN3KddVhkE3hMJl3u5Q6-812y6Q6nZ1-ZwezSNHvHGEUp5HN1DLusyi-bMH-iF-JuX2ywFSzEB1am0q2UXtYSQ/s1600/Zucchini+Fritters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWsel_Fuc04VA_tq58UizW_rUhIoXsjTF-WckoBLKdXSE7sqYViqY9xYN3KddVhkE3hMJl3u5Q6-812y6Q6nZ1-ZwezSNHvHGEUp5HN1DLusyi-bMH-iF-JuX2ywFSzEB1am0q2UXtYSQ/s320/Zucchini+Fritters.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-63821701401264354712018-05-15T06:49:00.001-07:002018-05-15T06:49:37.823-07:00Lefty Loosey
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s spring!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Which means gardening time, which means I finally have an excuse to <s>play
with the hose</s> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><s>buy more plants</s><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><s>dig in the dirt</s><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>get outside and enjoy the weather. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I’ve been putting a perennial herb garden together,
I’m reminded of a little teaching aphorism, one I wish I learned a long time
ago – before I may have had that incident last year where I turned the main water
faucet on the side of the house the wrong way and the pressure blew the knob
right off the pipe and maybe there was a water geyser that rivaled Yellowstone’s
and after getting soaking wet head to toe I had to go running for my husband
because the force was so great I couldn’t get the knob back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I admit to nothing, except now maybe
muttering “lefty loosey” to myself whenever I get near an outside water faucet to turn on the garden hose.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOXCSZxyWjEYau_1jgNvhPAxofKi7ORAqPht7PdVVYWln4EJ5ZNAHvUkw7zqG5eHEvl4rbQIM1X7WlkPSNo77ZKm-roIbxzBs3O1v_IQieG2EnGyIo7dn4xdbLz9wc1lQILrCCJmh_ho/s1600/Lefty+Loosey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrOXCSZxyWjEYau_1jgNvhPAxofKi7ORAqPht7PdVVYWln4EJ5ZNAHvUkw7zqG5eHEvl4rbQIM1X7WlkPSNo77ZKm-roIbxzBs3O1v_IQieG2EnGyIo7dn4xdbLz9wc1lQILrCCJmh_ho/s400/Lefty+Loosey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-45405336194275112602018-03-14T13:16:00.000-07:002018-03-14T13:16:20.705-07:00Make Your Own Irish Cream Liqueur
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, which means I’ll for sure
be making a batch of homemade Irish Cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Making it yourself means you can use fresh ingredients that give a rich,
full flavor without any of the chemical taste you may find in commercial
bottles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Recipes abound on the Internet for DIY Irish Cream
Liqueur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re all more or less the
same, although some call for much more sugar than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve adapted a version that uses
sweetened condensed milk, which to my palate provides a rich taste and creamy
texture that is not overly sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find
heavy cream a bit too heavy, so I use mostly half & half blended with some
cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I just use what I have in the
fridge – it’s all good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just be sure if
you’re using heavy cream to not get distracted and let your blender go too long
or you’ll end up with something approaching whipped cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ASK ME HOW I KNOW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sláinte! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrL8oa-TRKIuH5fboDuzucXXGxZfmwrxWCy7j5xz-TpRnaS1uZzlH6C_KlJLpmHi4meAx4Oearx4ybz2xQxdv2nvszoV2laQ4dIJhRRC-VDOEQsG3-Skzy_ORcOhpn4cs9F12Zs8k59Y/s1600/IrishCreamLiqueur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrL8oa-TRKIuH5fboDuzucXXGxZfmwrxWCy7j5xz-TpRnaS1uZzlH6C_KlJLpmHi4meAx4Oearx4ybz2xQxdv2nvszoV2laQ4dIJhRRC-VDOEQsG3-Skzy_ORcOhpn4cs9F12Zs8k59Y/s640/IrishCreamLiqueur.jpg" width="492" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-90866414847017165132017-12-21T12:39:00.001-08:002017-12-21T12:39:09.851-08:00Pumpkin or Apple? That is the question. (The answer is both.)
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some folks are very particular about their pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are those that think pumpkin pie rules,
and there are those that believe that nothing can compare to a good
old-fashioned apple pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve been given the pie assignment for a
holiday gathering and have only the time or inclination to bake just one, how
do you choose?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s an answer:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make a Pumpkin Apple Pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The combination of flavors is perfect, and it has a light texture
that’s not overly custardy or heavy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first taste brings a surprising burst of tart apple, without the cloying sweetness
of a classic apple pie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This somewhat
unusual pie can be served all season long as a simple dessert, yet it’s nice
enough for the holidays.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s sure to
please many a pie lover.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s a snap to make, especially if you cheat like me and used store-bought
pie crust and canned pumpkin purée.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
it’s a great way to use your homemade applesauce, especially if you have jars
languishing on the shelves from a prior season (I made this pie yesterday and won’t
say what vintage the applesauce was from).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Should you wish to make your own pumpkin pie spice -- you've likely got the ingredients already in the cupboard -- the recipe is here as well. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT5nIYFr8FIKr5YgvGnI4ztxosriTinyTbhBjIHqbrKeRd0It7r5M4IUIpzVr2grWOA8qqc38lPyTZm8UFmX0I34hcbNDV8iP2h7SQESgrr9OUO1L5I3YFWzLWFlgJaJjTDvmtOa8-qg/s1600/PumpkinApplePie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZT5nIYFr8FIKr5YgvGnI4ztxosriTinyTbhBjIHqbrKeRd0It7r5M4IUIpzVr2grWOA8qqc38lPyTZm8UFmX0I34hcbNDV8iP2h7SQESgrr9OUO1L5I3YFWzLWFlgJaJjTDvmtOa8-qg/s640/PumpkinApplePie.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbbIb-OvT0Nu3C8kEGkcORecZtvf8n-8TFw0t7vBL87Ojz14gPw_YVRzHmUQfYMCL_W1770vOUpdhPUWXvT-EGkPQMAnB1aSZCQQumLgrbaMfK3gpjdxr6SXfV_B3VsbTk-PQKuvT0lw/s1600/PumpkinPieSpice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbbIb-OvT0Nu3C8kEGkcORecZtvf8n-8TFw0t7vBL87Ojz14gPw_YVRzHmUQfYMCL_W1770vOUpdhPUWXvT-EGkPQMAnB1aSZCQQumLgrbaMfK3gpjdxr6SXfV_B3VsbTk-PQKuvT0lw/s640/PumpkinPieSpice.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-24318561074153018902017-10-31T11:12:00.002-07:002017-10-31T11:12:55.105-07:002017 All-Pumpkin Dinner
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The tradition continues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year’s dinner excludes an appetizer, because … gnocchi and brownies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Without further ado, here’s the menu for our
(mostly) annual all-pumpkin dinner.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VKWwEdijZcl8yBfZGrxYbEK53E4ZkFXBXrz1HKFM_syEbGy0joC9kgAJHEVtGvwqxurEvtnkmwlXNDb6P8ntjxTLIuXvx-j4AYg0T1YNNAMMRJ0BBIS9UV5ROHw1YM72atTMkmaoArE/s1600/2017+All+Pumpkin+Menu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9VKWwEdijZcl8yBfZGrxYbEK53E4ZkFXBXrz1HKFM_syEbGy0joC9kgAJHEVtGvwqxurEvtnkmwlXNDb6P8ntjxTLIuXvx-j4AYg0T1YNNAMMRJ0BBIS9UV5ROHw1YM72atTMkmaoArE/s400/2017+All+Pumpkin+Menu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-52041924226175144362017-10-20T13:13:00.000-07:002017-10-20T13:13:09.470-07:00Thinking Outside the Jar: Roasted Red Pepper Spread to Red Pepper Pesto
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you do when you pick a peck of red bell
peppers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can freeze them, dehydrate
them, or make pickles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sometimes do
all of things, but mostly I like to make something a bit different:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roasted Red Pepper Spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a delicious condiment that pairs
beautifully with goat cheese crostini and can be used for many other
appetizers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of course it’s a great
sandwich spread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But while I can eat
more than my fair share of crostini, there’s only so many appetizers a small
household can handle -- so I like to put my condiment to good meal use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Roasted Red Pepper Spread is made with roasted
sweet red bell peppers, tomatoes, onions and garlic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
some vinegar in there – all these vegetables are low in acid and thus require
acidification in order to be safely water bath canned at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these ingredients cook up into a rich and
savory concoction that makes the house smell divine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I admit that peeling peppers is not my
favorite activity, it’s easy enough and worth the small extra effort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A <span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">spoonful of the spread will perk up couscous
(and let’s face it, couscous can always use some perking up), and I like it
topped on polenta with poached or coddled eggs and maybe some steamed
greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of my favorite uses is to
transform it into pesto for a quick and delicious dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick whirl in the blender, along with some
parmesan, olive oil, and a bit more garlic and salt is all you need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, and some cooked pasta, of course. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Another benefit:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roasted Red Pepper Spread can make a nice host/hostess or holiday
gift.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s beautiful orangey-red color
looks great in the jar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Simply add a
ribbon and card with suggested uses, or include it in a gift basket with some
fancy dried pasta and a great wooden spoon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaimYI7XjRCxHgASad6uZIr3TRgGZJCNqaCkqizf4U3MaRDR2jsZqx3Dt4TG_Pnqjxz2bZisoSFg1Ie7SwatnB4kLKXhOG1SrNXs3ARdKHk8OEVrd_7LlzoC3JRtbLoLq_v9ce5EokS-Q/s1600/Red+Pesto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaimYI7XjRCxHgASad6uZIr3TRgGZJCNqaCkqizf4U3MaRDR2jsZqx3Dt4TG_Pnqjxz2bZisoSFg1Ie7SwatnB4kLKXhOG1SrNXs3ARdKHk8OEVrd_7LlzoC3JRtbLoLq_v9ce5EokS-Q/s640/Red+Pesto.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-60733542391673361882017-10-05T11:17:00.000-07:002017-10-05T11:17:24.175-07:00Filling Station<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tOKc598qMTpFVvEZJxao6upEQNOY2woIHv4Znvyc5thGpvITVpKx6JolX4G4mimKXUrdXazYrxNiDRac8kTKXxu_gCK6dCCb8ujDCTaAdQkBPJGbmegVwPVKD1cv4dTIkyqXKebmfzs/s1600/FillingStation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tOKc598qMTpFVvEZJxao6upEQNOY2woIHv4Znvyc5thGpvITVpKx6JolX4G4mimKXUrdXazYrxNiDRac8kTKXxu_gCK6dCCb8ujDCTaAdQkBPJGbmegVwPVKD1cv4dTIkyqXKebmfzs/s640/FillingStation.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-85880122317703328472017-09-26T15:46:00.001-07:002017-09-26T15:46:57.518-07:00Watermelon JerkyCan't get enough watermelon? Are you getting twitchy because watermelon season is coming to a close? Then preserve some melon by dehydrating it so you can savor the sweetness well into fall. If it lasts that long. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjGDjoYj1rFDmnvLQ4-T0dEqYdQuRnPq6YIRGCg-N6z66RuU0YZg9lFYuEVAXvUntCuVXYu9zTarH93wgft0yLAP96xU3YoM4sj3uszb8eYIKOIxlCnhfnrCpdafUkIdAri2pj8xfKKU/s1600/WatermelonJerky-30Jul2016-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjGDjoYj1rFDmnvLQ4-T0dEqYdQuRnPq6YIRGCg-N6z66RuU0YZg9lFYuEVAXvUntCuVXYu9zTarH93wgft0yLAP96xU3YoM4sj3uszb8eYIKOIxlCnhfnrCpdafUkIdAri2pj8xfKKU/s320/WatermelonJerky-30Jul2016-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The flavor of watermelon jerky (aka watermelon leather) is really intense -- it's like watermelon on steroids. It's a great snack on its own, but you can add sea salt or spices to perk it up if you like. It's generally dried to a leather-like texture, but if the thought of watermelon chips sounds like it's right up your alley, then you can dry the melon until it's crisp. <br />
<br />
Cantaloupes and honeydews can be dehydrated too, by the way. <br />
<br />
Dehydrating melon is easy. First, rinse the melon and scrub really well with a vegetable brush. You are washing your melons before cutting into them, right? If not, do so. Melons have been associated with cases of foodborne illness. Cutting into the melon can introduce pathogens into the flesh. So yes, wash your melons (and all fruits and vegetables).<br />
<br />
Cut the melon, remove the rinds, and place on drying trays. Dry at 135F for 18-24 hours. Yeah, I know. It takes forever. <br />
<br />
Watermelon jerky is done when it's dry and leathery, but still a bit flexible. You shouldn't see any visible signs of moisture. Store it in air-tight containers or freezer bags. For long-term storage, store in the freezer. <br />
<br />
Eat it plain, or snip it into little pieces to top yogurt, oatmeal, or ice cream (maybe don't do that if you've put cayenne pepper on it). Or try pieces on top of cream cheese for an unusual appetizer. However you enjoy it, savor the taste of summer just a little bit longer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnDBSg6PdapgNkHsSe_eYHsY42ma3fhXJUdk__SfVZXxYnunNuLNMekMXucI2EFAAoFqfTHLjnelvOhfTfZJ5Q6AZ__AxsvjMIq5FmFlxvsoXZ70Q3fk2bhVPVC0fAmtScenrTERGQRw/s1600/SLWMJ-watermelon+jerky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1237" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqnDBSg6PdapgNkHsSe_eYHsY42ma3fhXJUdk__SfVZXxYnunNuLNMekMXucI2EFAAoFqfTHLjnelvOhfTfZJ5Q6AZ__AxsvjMIq5FmFlxvsoXZ70Q3fk2bhVPVC0fAmtScenrTERGQRw/s320/SLWMJ-watermelon+jerky.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-1946583893398353652017-08-19T15:23:00.000-07:002017-08-19T15:23:34.793-07:00The Lady Cuffs
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Introducing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lady Cuffs</i></b>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
pattern is a collection of 3 cuffs inspired by ladies from various Arthurian
legends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4RVIoxxQwv9ln7Q39d0K2o-Y4qc76MgE1Lk54vgOku574up_kTv5oLJHUGvXDli0H3FfXXnwxKZ7yGf32F6iPIAM5Mk-WLCox9ApAdk_WaHTJY-6xY-EDGOZ-tkK2PJ_oVBovzj7-9g/s1600/LadyCuffs-Embellished-crop-border4-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="700" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH4RVIoxxQwv9ln7Q39d0K2o-Y4qc76MgE1Lk54vgOku574up_kTv5oLJHUGvXDli0H3FfXXnwxKZ7yGf32F6iPIAM5Mk-WLCox9ApAdk_WaHTJY-6xY-EDGOZ-tkK2PJ_oVBovzj7-9g/s320/LadyCuffs-Embellished-crop-border4-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They’re the perfect accessory for dressing up a sweater or jacket, and
they can be made as simple or as fancy as you like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The samples are shown in hand-dyed Cormo
Fingering yarn by Elemental Affects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
love Cormo – it’s soft and sproingy and stretchy and simply yummy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elemental Affects’ Cormo has a good amount of
twist so it shows off the stitches well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choose a neutral color that will complement most any garment, and you
have a go-to accessory that will add a little something extra to an
outfit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or choose a bold color and
really perk things up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cuffs are
lovely unadorned, but you can play with embellishments and make each pair
unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beads, crystals, tiny flowers, sequins,
knitted flowers, buttons – your creativity is your only limit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For an fancier version, consider Elemental Affects’ Civility yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a luscious merino-silk blend that also
has a good deal of twist, making the yarn pill-resistant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The silk provides a bit of sheen which will
dress the cuffs up a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe run
with a thin sparkly metallic filament…oh, the possibilities!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cuffs have the added benefit of keeping your wrists warm and your hands
free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look stylish and keep comfortable
as you have lunch or cocktails on the outdoor patio!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the weather turns chilly and damp, I
will often wear them in the house, especially when I’m knitting or doing other
handwork.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cuffs cover just enough of
the lower hand to keep my thumb joints warm and flexible (definitely a help
with my tendinitis), but they don’t get in the way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lady Cuffs</i> are
appropriate for a range of knitting experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The set of 3 patterns provides variety for the experienced knitter, and
beginners can think of the motifs as little samplers and explore simple twisted
and crossed stitches, cables, and lace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lady of the Fountain</i></b> has a central diamond motif with rivulets
of twisted stitches bordered by cabled stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cuff on the left is embellished with tiny
3mm Swarovski crystals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlIY_04nhuFsnrJw0LXOiV71goJWv4lHQRBK2BDt5C8XmpbZb_t5llIi1Zox3w8n5rjfaGgpcT9i2bR9tFDY9oyWIWPaeAeAbWKc0LTxyGEHBaBYEbatKlbVrFo1ARvtRoVHXP5CETjA/s1600/Fountain-Enbell-pair-crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNlIY_04nhuFsnrJw0LXOiV71goJWv4lHQRBK2BDt5C8XmpbZb_t5llIi1Zox3w8n5rjfaGgpcT9i2bR9tFDY9oyWIWPaeAeAbWKc0LTxyGEHBaBYEbatKlbVrFo1ARvtRoVHXP5CETjA/s320/Fountain-Enbell-pair-crop-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lady of the Lake</i></b> features a textured triangular motif surrounded
by crossed stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The texture is
provided by alternating directions of twisted stitches, proving that simple patterns
can have great results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cuff on the
left is embellished with little Venetian glass disc beads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I chose a pale watery blue bead, but was
really torn because the black beads looked fabulous and made the cuff look
quite dramatic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Which just goes to show
that a simple change can make a big impact.)</span><br />
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIuc_OCjrjAmhkNZyHOF_RNKObOS8LZLP9vpig_xBDbsaUCdSkWAUpZps172bVxkuNgAafu7HFIiMYnk6i6BY6Hg06a1VYaMhkDlzcrMHDA_ctMsiA0VTUhoBzjF5qbHewRc0JarbijE/s1600/Lake-Embell-pair-crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaIuc_OCjrjAmhkNZyHOF_RNKObOS8LZLP9vpig_xBDbsaUCdSkWAUpZps172bVxkuNgAafu7HFIiMYnk6i6BY6Hg06a1VYaMhkDlzcrMHDA_ctMsiA0VTUhoBzjF5qbHewRc0JarbijE/s320/Lake-Embell-pair-crop-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></o:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"></i></b></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Lady of Shalott </i></b>features a central lace motif.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cuff on the left is embellished with
knitted flowers and little pearls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
pattern includes instructions for the knitted flowers, which require just a wee
amount of laceweight yarn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm9SZ0XTG6oI6yMBTotAgcKz1wq4qYUDYmkxDu4sxa9J0j0S396wnS6xtruoTgleKkLRvMZanktq2P4BxKop9dJSe6lbrDEppI7Q6wvW84_iANFoqagLuYtg1vzvAfFsQ4GidFtAb_eQ/s1600/Shallot-Embell-pair-crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm9SZ0XTG6oI6yMBTotAgcKz1wq4qYUDYmkxDu4sxa9J0j0S396wnS6xtruoTgleKkLRvMZanktq2P4BxKop9dJSe6lbrDEppI7Q6wvW84_iANFoqagLuYtg1vzvAfFsQ4GidFtAb_eQ/s320/Shallot-Embell-pair-crop-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cuffs knit up quickly, and one skein of the featured yarn will make
several pairs of cuffs (at least 3 to 5!!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Make a pair (or two or three) for yourself, and still have yarn left to
make a set for your favorite lady – they make a great gift item.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The e-book collection has complete written and charted instructions for
all three cuffs, and it includes a document with full-page charts for those
knitters who want “just the charts and nothing but the charts!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can get the pattern here </span><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/the-lady-cuffs/patterns"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/the-lady-cuffs/patterns</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, about those Arthurian ladies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many will be familiar with the ballad, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lady of Shalott</i>, by Alfred, Lord Tennyson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Originally published in 1833 and loosely
based on the legend of Elaine of Astolat, the poem describes a cursed lady
living in isolation in a high tower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Set
in the world of Camelot, there’s knights and Sir Lancelot and weaving and that
famous statement, “I am half sick of shadows.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>(And also the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">daffodilly</i>,
which I’m going to have to work into something.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re not familiar with the poem, you may
have heard the beautiful song of the same name by Loreena McKennitt.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“The Lady of the Lake” is the ruler of Avalon and appears in many
Arthurian stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s responsible for
giving the sword <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Excalibur</i> to King
Arthur, of enchanting Merlin, and raising Lancelot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Lady of the Lake</i> is also a well-known narrative poem by Sir Walter Scott.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The action takes place in Scotland, with
rivalries over a woman, the feuds of kings, and wars between highlanders and
lowlanders – oh, those Scots!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poem was highly popular in its day, and
influenced many other artistic works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Lady of the Fountain is one of three tales known as the Three Welsh
Romances that are contained within a Middle Welsh collection of prose known as
the Mabinogion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This compilation came
from two manuscripts from the late-medieval period, the Red Book of Hergest and
the White Book of Rydderch, although the stories likely date back to much older
Celtic sources passed down through oral tradition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than you ever wanted to know,
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for the story itself, it’s a
tale of love found and lost and found again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All of these poems are fun reading, if you’re into that sort of
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you’re not, well
fortunately they’re not required for making these pretty (dare I say romantic?)
cuffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just knit, and enjoy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-4200236194205478632016-12-13T16:29:00.001-08:002016-12-13T16:29:06.395-08:00Freezing EggsHave you been tempted by those 24-packs of organic eggs at Costco or the like but have hesitated, fearing your ability to use them all before they go bad? Don't hesitate! If you can score a great deal on fresh eggs (or better yet, get them from a friend with an excess of eggs from their home flock), don't pass it up. Use what you need, and then freeze what you can't use in the short term.<br />
<br />
Yes, you can freeze eggs! Here's how.<br />
<br />
Break each egg into a bowl, and then gently with a fork or whisk mix the yoke and white together, taking care not to whip the egg -- you don't want to incorporate air. If you'd like, you can strain the eggs through a sieve for a more uniform consistency, but I don't bother. Once you have all of your eggs blended, pour them into a freezer safe container. If using a jar, allow 1/2 inch headspace between the top of the eggs and the bottom of the lid to allow for expansion. <br />
<br />
I use something a little easier than jars: a jumbo sized ice cube tray. Each well holds 2 eggs, a good portion size for baking or for measuring out for making frittatas, quiches, and such. The tray is made from flexible silicone, so once the eggs are frozen they can be easily popped right out. You can also use regular sized ice cube trays; each well will hold one egg. Making individual portions is very convenient: no having to defrost an entire jar and measure out eggs by the spoonful. <br />
<br />
Once the eggs are frozen, remove them from the tray and put the egg cubes into a vacuum seal bag or a ziplock bag (from which as much air as possible has been removed) and then put the bag into the freezer for storage. You can then remove however many cubes you need for baking and cooking. Easy peasy! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7T1Znn5EKHo-kpAEhPlNs3QiLteCCCihfw0r_tEY1PK8f9LUt9hWIH4wQc6K4CDnroSpuPV9pQZBSlF46EqyqfQ47pBGAIyQq79-VWC4yCbiyojpoe8bxAtdrN1FGrKvKbmU3sASgHJE/s1600/FrozenEggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7T1Znn5EKHo-kpAEhPlNs3QiLteCCCihfw0r_tEY1PK8f9LUt9hWIH4wQc6K4CDnroSpuPV9pQZBSlF46EqyqfQ47pBGAIyQq79-VWC4yCbiyojpoe8bxAtdrN1FGrKvKbmU3sASgHJE/s320/FrozenEggs.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To help prevent graininess of the yolks, you can add 1.5 tbsp. of sugar OR 1.5 tbsp. of corn syrup OR 1/2 tsp of salt per cup of whole eggs. The yolks and whites can also be frozen separately; simply follow the same process (egg whites alone do not need added sugar or salt). Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-43490753434295879362016-10-04T15:18:00.003-07:002016-10-04T15:18:46.966-07:00Baking In Canning Jars: The Recurring "Thing" That Shouldn't Be a Thing
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They seem to
be all the rage lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may have
seen them at your local farmers’ market or in a bakery’s display case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Little pies, heavenly smelling zucchini
breads, scrumptious cakes baked in small mason jars that besides looking
delicious look <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">so cute!</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Or you may
have seen that recently published book about baking in jars, or that article in
a swanky baking magazine complete with a gorgeously styled photo depicting a
cake baked in a jar, or one of the many recipes on the Internet that say that “Yes!
Yes you can bake in canning jars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
you can even seal the jars and then store them in the pantry!”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But can
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely if there are people selling
these items, publishing books and articles about this practice, posting YouTube
™ videos even – then you can do it too, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">No, you can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least you shouldn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here’s why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">First,
canning jars (aka mason jars) are not designed for oven use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canning jar glass (made from lime, soda, and
other materials) is annealed, and annealed glass is not as strong as tempered
glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oven heat, which differs from the
heat produced in a water bath or pressure canner, can create stress on the jar,
causing it to break into sharp pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(And
no, putting a pan of water in the oven along with the jars does <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not</i> replicate the environment of a water
bath canner.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canning jar manufacturers,
such as Ball/Kerr, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">specifically recommend
against</i> using their jars in the oven (and in the microwave as well) .<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that jars have the potential to
shatter, why risk your time, money, or even potential injury?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep your canning jars out of the oven, and use
an appropriate oven-safe vessel for all of your baking needs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second, and
most important, is that canning breads and cakes in mason jars and storing them
at room temperature is unsafe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cake and
quick bread recipes are usually low in acid and high in moisture, and together
with the process of creating a vacuum seal by putting a lid on a hot jar (thus
removing most oxygen), a perfect environment is created for many microorganisms
to grow – including <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">C. botulinum</i>, the
organism responsible for forming the toxin that causes botulism, a potentially
fatal disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Putting a
lid on a jar of baked goods after it comes out of the oven is not a true
canning process, and while a vacuum seal may be formed as the contents cool, it
may not be a good seal and not all of the oxygen may be removed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any remaining oxygen in the jar would be would
allow oxygen-dependent microorganisms – such as mold – to grow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This also goes for the process of putting a
lid on the jar <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">after</i> the contents have
cooled:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>air gets trapped in the jar, allowing microorganisms
to grow.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Much
research has been done at various universities to determine if canning cakes
and breads can be done safely at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>To date, researchers have been unable to formulate a recipe for a palatable,
safe product for home use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’ve
seen commercial cakes or breads in jars available for sale and wonder why you
can’t replicate this at home, it’s because reputable companies who make these
products conduct safety tests for each specific recipe, have processing
controls not available to home consumers, and often use additives and
preservatives to keep the product safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, please,
no home canning of breads and cakes in jars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Use oven-safe bakeware, and refrigerate or freeze for longer
storage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do not eat any home-canned
baked products that are given to you, nor purchase home-canned breads or cakes
unless they contain anti-microbial additives and have been labelled in
accordance commercial food requirements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be food
safe, not sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-20135774535993236822016-08-06T14:09:00.000-07:002016-08-06T14:09:12.526-07:00Wollaston, and Variations On a Theme (Or, How to Knit a Million of Them and Not Get Bored)Introducing <strong>Wollaston</strong>, my new infinity scarf pattern. <br />
<br />
It's knit in tubular sections, making it doubly thick and warm. It's nice and long, too, which means you can wear it doubled around your shoulders or pulled down for an off-the-shoulder torso hugger,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9aI2GGC5oINa5L67d56Ex4SqwvVtZt6HYGuvX8TiBEDTlp4fH_80szyiiEu1cot4sOlYMI0atBqVNVbh9S8Oi40QlfHleVQ6UjCrFzSM414Qv4-E0DblVjracz0BI2aQdXVQw3i312o/s1600/Wollaston-6crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9aI2GGC5oINa5L67d56Ex4SqwvVtZt6HYGuvX8TiBEDTlp4fH_80szyiiEu1cot4sOlYMI0atBqVNVbh9S8Oi40QlfHleVQ6UjCrFzSM414Qv4-E0DblVjracz0BI2aQdXVQw3i312o/s320/Wollaston-6crop-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
or you can wear it unwrapped for a dramatic sweep that shows off all of the sections,<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh9oPge6cqU3Z7k1agVf8QLGFJ5SWGOc4WlDpxMUK-x6iLEar6KO_C_pzFv7xsEpMnu9l50fixlRX2sAKhiSnvEyj44MpIm-LFfhL-4uAYZlFA25veAojBE7ICt2itKZXZ1iwA6yT6v8/s1600/Wollaston-1crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwh9oPge6cqU3Z7k1agVf8QLGFJ5SWGOc4WlDpxMUK-x6iLEar6KO_C_pzFv7xsEpMnu9l50fixlRX2sAKhiSnvEyj44MpIm-LFfhL-4uAYZlFA25veAojBE7ICt2itKZXZ1iwA6yT6v8/s320/Wollaston-1crop-small.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
or you can do a simple loop-and-tuck and off you go.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbd3sw683WCvrBfIhIvx1IdQNU7IXKIdYLYPbHM3rE3pdqL6hw6qA-BAcfGSevzsqfA6TvIuDCkiGzZQSJSs8SjpMk3RSj2dLcfq5djWgzSJFkDhRwbryvO5j9r_CFyXPTidLdqBerDI/s1600/Wollaston-9crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbd3sw683WCvrBfIhIvx1IdQNU7IXKIdYLYPbHM3rE3pdqL6hw6qA-BAcfGSevzsqfA6TvIuDCkiGzZQSJSs8SjpMk3RSj2dLcfq5djWgzSJFkDhRwbryvO5j9r_CFyXPTidLdqBerDI/s320/Wollaston-9crop-small.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The sample is knit in Elemental Affects Heirloom Romney, a worsted weight wooly-wool that's hand-dyed in lots of gorgeous colors. The colorway names of Hubbard, and Nettles, and Tomato, and Carrot, and Calendula, and Fig -- well, they should give you a good idea of the color inspiration for this yarn. Romney is a strong, lustrous long wool. It's not the type of yarn you'd pick for next-to-skin use, but it does soften with wear and washing. It's such a delicious yarn to knit with.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wollaston is knit at a loose gauge in mostly Stockinette stitch, with bands of horizontal chain stitch and tubular sections joined with whip stitch to keep things interesting. The worsted weight and loose gauge means this scarf knits up quickly, making it a great project when you need something to go with a new winter coat. Or when you need a gift or two (or many) for the holidays.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, about this post title. Of course you're not going to knit a million Wollaston scarves. But maybe you'd like to knit several. Here's a few suggestions for simple variations that will keep things interesting, and maybe use up some of that stash you've got hidden away, or bits of leftover yarns just waiting to be put to good use.</div>
<ul>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I chose to make the sample in many vibrant colors. But worked in a single color, with maybe just a contrasting color for joining the sections, the scarf would make a dramatic statement. Choose a simple neutral color that will go with most any outfit, or choose a bright bold color.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pick two colors: one for the background, and one for the horizontal chain stitches.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Instead of sections, make one long tube (joined at the ends) and vary the frequency of the horizontal chain stitches. Make the chains randomly whenever you feel like it, or use a Fibonacci sequence, whatever strikes your fancy.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Instead of making tubular sections, knit the piece flat on half as many cast-on stitches, for a long basic scarf that can be wrapped around and around the neck. You'll have a "wrong" side, but that's not really a problem, is it.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Choose a soft, luxurious yarn worked at a finer gauge for a smaller scarf with a more elegant look. </div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pick different yarns with different textures (but the same or similar gauge) for each section. This is a great way to use up leftover yarn.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Decorate the plain Stockinette sections with embroidery.</div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wollaston would be great knit in handspun.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wollaston is available now in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/laura-crowley">Ravelry</a> store. I hope you like it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-57319052372837853542016-05-30T13:14:00.001-07:002016-05-30T14:14:56.676-07:00What I Did This Weekend (So Far)When you work from home, there's really no such thing as a weekend. Especially a long weekend. Or even a holiday. One day blends into the next, and you pick and choose which day is a workday (they usually all end up workdays) or an errand day or a housecleaning day, or -- sometimes -- you just declare a day off. It could be a Tuesday or a Friday or a Sunday. It really doesn't matter.<br />
<br />
Sometimes, you even declare an entire weekend off. This Memorial Day, I did just that. I wanted a weekend that felt like a weekend. And a holiday where I actually observed what was being celebrated. And I wanted the time to just be in the moment and enjoy the little things.<br />
<br />
So, this weekend, so far, I have enjoyed the cool morning air and drunk coffee on the deck. And I enjoyed the warm evening breezes with a glass of wine on the deck. I've watched the turkeys tussle and the bluebirds and titmice bring food to their babies in the nesting boxes around the deck, back and forth, back and forth, never seeming to tire.<br />
<br />
I cooked a lovely dinner one evening. Another evening I ate just bread and cheese.<br />
<br />
I went to the farmers' market for the first time this season. I made yogurt and canned zucchini relish. I planted herbs. <br />
<br />
I reveled in the heat. I cursed the heat.<br />
<br />
I went for a long walk. I took a nap.<br />
<br />
I read a book. Actually, I read almost two books. I knit a bit. <br />
<br />
I even went into the studio and designed a few new things. It was mostly play, though, and thoroughly enjoyable. <br />
<br />
And, I have remembered. I have given quiet thanks for those who lost their lives in service to their country. My family no longer has the Memorial Day custom of visiting the cemetery to lay flowers on our relatives' graves -- there's really no family left to do so -- but I still remember those who came before, those who are no longer with us. Those who touched my life, or the lives of those important to me. I think of them often, but try to make a special acknowledgement from my heart on this Day of Remembrance. <br />
<br />
There's still half a day remaining on my self-declared long weekend. I'm sure I'll find some way to fill it. <br />
<br />
Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.<br />
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-82673106870741055102015-09-23T10:58:00.000-07:002015-09-23T10:58:19.054-07:00Stocking the LarderAutumnal Equinox. The First Day of Fall. Mabon. However it's referred to, this day which marks the turn of the season away from summer always sets me full of anticipation. The days now grow shorter, harvest time is nearing its end, and Mother Nature starts to gather her shawl around her tight as the temperatures cool and she prepares for her winter nap.<br />
<br />
I start to prepare for winter as well. (Okay. Let's say it. WINTER IS COMING.) This is the time when I really get going on making sure the "larder" (my pantry, fridge, and freezer) is well provisioned. I do of course put things away during the summer, when beautiful fruits are available in our local farmers' markets and neighbors generously share the bounty from their trees. Summer squashes and tomatoes and other hot-season veggies are preserved in a variety of ways, ready to be called upon for fall and winter soups and sauces.<br />
<br />
But now, as the farmers' markets prepare to close for the season and the only "fresh" produce to be had will be from the supermarket (we all know that mass-distributed produce is not fresh at all), and as the nights close in earlier and earlier and I get the urge to cook long-simmering pots of comfort, I want to make sure that whatever ingredients I will need to cook or bake are readily at hand. I don't live so far out in the boonies that I can't run out to a store, but even a quick trip to the grocer's is 30 to 40 minutes round trip. That's enough to put a crimp in my style, so to speak, if I'm in the middle of a recipe and discover that I don't have everything I need (which has happened far too often). And there are those days when I simply don't want to leave the house. So now I make sure that my larder is well provisioned with all of the staples I need to cook or bake, and enough basic preserved foods that I can toss together an improvised meal or grab a quick snack.<br />
<br />
So what do I stock the larder with? These are the essentials I try to make sure I'm never without.<br />
<br />
<b>IN THE PANTRY/CUPBOARDS</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Oils and vinegars <i>(I keep portions in small cruets on the counter, but the rest go in the cupboard where they're tightly closed and not exposed to light.)</i></li>
<li>Salt (pure fine sea salt, canning salt, and specialty sea salts) </li>
<li>Herbs and spices</li>
<li>Sugars and flours </li>
<li>Baking supplies such as baking soda & powder, cocoa, etc.</li>
<li>Steel-cut and rolled oats</li>
<li>Honey</li>
<li>Peanut butter</li>
<li>Canned tuna</li>
<li>Dried pasta (lots and lots of dried pasta)</li>
<li>Dried rice and beans</li>
<li>Canned beans</li>
<li>Canned pumpkin </li>
<li>Canned broth</li>
<li>Jams and jellies</li>
<li>Chutney <i>(I try to make a batch or two of chutney each year; it's wonderful with cheese or crackers or as an accompaniment to meat, and it livens up plain brown rice.)</i></li>
<li>Pickle veggies <i>(Pickles really brighten up winter meals. I like pickled cauliflower in salads, and pickled zucchini or pattypan squash alongside frittatas. BTW, pickled fruits are pretty amazing as well, and are wonderful on a cheese board. My favorites are figs, cherries, and grapes.)</i></li>
<li>Dehydrated veggies such as zucchini and mushrooms, and diced onions, carrots and celery to make soffritto (<i>aka</i> mirepoix) </li>
</ul>
<b>IN THE REFRIGERATOR</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Olives and sun-dried tomatoes in oil</li>
<li>Better Than Bouillon organic vegetable base <i>(for those times when I don't have broth on hand or don't want to make it from scratch because I'm in a hurry, or when I'm under the weather and don't want to eat but need a little something in my stomach.) </i></li>
<li>Yeast</li>
<li>Maple syrup</li>
<li>Bottled lemon juice (for canning)</li>
<li>Raisins and dried cranberries</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>IN THE FREEZER</b><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Butter</li>
<li>Cream <i>(Yes, you can freeze cream! I freeze it in ice cube trays for when I need small amounts, such as to add to scrambled eggs or a baked frittata, and in small freezer containers for when larger amounts are needed.)</i></li>
<li>Lemons (juiced and frozen in ice cube trays; sliced; and whole) </li>
<li>Pesto</li>
<li>Buttermilk powder <i>(Yes, this is cheating I suppose, but I got tired of buying a quart of buttermilk when I only needed a few tablespoons. For basic baked goods, the powered buttermilk works just fine -- the trick is to add the powder to the dry ingredients and then add the appropriate amount of water (I often mix water and milk or cream) to the liquid ingredients.)</i></li>
<li>Tomato paste <i>(I don't use a lot of tomato paste, and ditto above -- I hated using a tablespoon and throwing the rest of the can away. So now I freeze the paste by placing tablespoonfuls on a baking sheet, and when frozen wrapping the individual portions in plastic wrap and sealing them all in a heavy freezer bag.)</i></li>
<li>Flours that I don't use often, such as garbanzo bean flour, almond meal, etc.</li>
<li>Nuts</li>
<li>Vegetables and fruits</li>
<li>Coffee <i>(The purists out there may cringe, but I buy good quality coffee in bulk. A small canister on the counter holds a few days' worth, and the rest is stored in the freezer. This house in NEVER without coffee.)</i></li>
</ul>
<i><br /></i><br />
So what's in your larder?Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-38705090413104485392015-07-31T14:20:00.000-07:002015-07-31T14:20:13.750-07:00Saltmarsh Shell: Alternations & RenovationsI've just released a new pattern called <strong>Saltmarsh Shell</strong>. I'm happy with this one: It's quick and easy to knit, but has lots of textural interest and fun stitch patterns to keep you amused. This was my first time working with a linen yarn, and while I do admit to being a wool girl, I found that I quite enjoyed the experience. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAidHhllfBpIqpNjmI93jtRJQDcM_y280J1cfoH_u67ahEZ6cBy0fSrUZpUJhFq8jdeqo99MFh7ZfNY_V8EtU3_2jRxGhFPVL1NWzFcQlv0mx319zie8Z4N4X-40xGFNreFcBTvcYAGxU/s1600/Web+res-15747-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAidHhllfBpIqpNjmI93jtRJQDcM_y280J1cfoH_u67ahEZ6cBy0fSrUZpUJhFq8jdeqo99MFh7ZfNY_V8EtU3_2jRxGhFPVL1NWzFcQlv0mx319zie8Z4N4X-40xGFNreFcBTvcYAGxU/s320/Web+res-15747-Edit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My design philosophy has always been to create fun, approachable patterns for both novice and experienced knitters alike. I also like to design items that allow the knitter to easily adapt the pattern to make the finished piece their own. Saltmarsh Shell is certainly one of those pieces, and so I thought I'd post about several of what I call "<strong><em>alterations & renovations</em></strong>" -- simple modifications that change the look of the garment without having to re-write the pattern.<br />
<br />
<strong>ALTERATION #1: THE BACK NECK.</strong> Saltmarsh Shell is a modified boat-neck style pullover. There is a little bit of shaping at the back neck, which provides for a better fit. But maybe your body type is such that you're not worried about that, or maybe you just don't want to deal with shaping. So don't. Work the back until the total length is achieved and then put all of the stitches on a holder for binding off later. Easy-peasy done!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYdGcoOZqYJI5J4wTlRuTZw7bJzCJkTgJP3iV2qF9aDr51BzAb1rDo5aA18pzCpQCD6mI9WdnYlTYvWmoB6fMpPXj6MTWc5FqBOt-qbDDuM_0bXtACnaoim_8qtD2SMm1wz6MUmp5bcw/s1600/Saltmarsh+schematic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYdGcoOZqYJI5J4wTlRuTZw7bJzCJkTgJP3iV2qF9aDr51BzAb1rDo5aA18pzCpQCD6mI9WdnYlTYvWmoB6fMpPXj6MTWc5FqBOt-qbDDuM_0bXtACnaoim_8qtD2SMm1wz6MUmp5bcw/s320/Saltmarsh+schematic.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong>ALTERNATION #2: THE FRONT NECK.</strong> The front of this shell has a straight split in the center of the body that is worked for about 3" or so, and then the neck is gently tapered to the shoulders. As shown in the pictures, this shaping is blocked so that the neck split portion stands straight up -- more or less. You can see in the picture below that one side of the split is falling over a bit. This is just the nature of the design. If that doesn't suit you, or you want to add a bit more finishing pizzazz, try adding a little button-and-loop closure at the top of the split. It would look darling. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPJFk0vepKVV1wWMu678Px5y6rhIfz2a2itM4fLExom_nlp19OqHr1TO7wWdr2QgEVviChYYYZpwPDG9zzb8HKhbEsVTzjHdUxz2v7BYRPo32zA-gZA5k2MXcboZrXqxgiANoR0riRQI/s1600/Web+Res-15742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPJFk0vepKVV1wWMu678Px5y6rhIfz2a2itM4fLExom_nlp19OqHr1TO7wWdr2QgEVviChYYYZpwPDG9zzb8HKhbEsVTzjHdUxz2v7BYRPo32zA-gZA5k2MXcboZrXqxgiANoR0riRQI/s320/Web+Res-15742.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Or maybe you like the look of fold-over lapels. Simply fold the splits over when blocking the piece, and voila. You can tack down the lapels if you'd like, or even sew on decorative buttons to add a little something extra to the sweater, like so (my button stash didn't turn up a really appropriate button, but you get the idea): <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9fcfraqmYkBUiBAojBUumkH6-lUL7zBPm4MEADBPmP_x4PKp1azDd_KxtK__9irpYGVpS2JpTE9jb9LpwkEXY24cGa_q8nZAQuFGTkQR5LKqPJokA_eW4y_3GNuWWu2RCf5cjbb4dRM/s1600/Lapel-2-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9fcfraqmYkBUiBAojBUumkH6-lUL7zBPm4MEADBPmP_x4PKp1azDd_KxtK__9irpYGVpS2JpTE9jb9LpwkEXY24cGa_q8nZAQuFGTkQR5LKqPJokA_eW4y_3GNuWWu2RCf5cjbb4dRM/s320/Lapel-2-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Or maybe you don't care about neck splits or lapels or shaping and you just want a boat neck already. Knit the front exactly like the back. Bind off both pieces all the way across, sew the shoulder seams, and BOOM DONE.<br />
<br />
<strong>ALTERATION #3: THE COLORS</strong>. I chose two closely related watery green and gray colors for my project. I chose them because I liked them -- they really called to me when I was wandering through the Anzula booth at Stitches West -- and because they said "summer" to me. Working with two similar colors in the border pattern, which is a simple slipped-stitch check, results in a subtle textural effect. But just think how contrasting colors would look: They'd make the check pattern stand out and really pop. If you're all about color and patterns, go ahead and choose something wild!<br />
<br />
<strong>ALTERATION #4: THE STITCH PATTERNS.</strong> As mentioned in Alteration #3 above, the bottom border pattern is a slipped-stitch check. I like working with slipped stitches, but that may not be your thing. Or maybe you just want a solid color for your sweater. The stitch pattern for the bodice is a simple knit-purl pattern. So simply knit the entire sweater in that pattern. I worked my original prototype this way, and it looks just fine. Not as striking maybe, but just fine. And working with just the single color and simple knit-purl patterns means that your sweater will be finished even faster. Just be sure to check your stitch counts before you cast on. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudemYknVv2SY_R0BG6XudGzSF8cutoGQyqbYGddqkgg0TRIySPIDbr2jjyg2GzYOAluvO9H3Uy6W8zkPKtT40T6q1IgZHi6NDSWNl9BSBUlWrZWCqw-2KAQ3xQJD7C0YXKbKc2dR0AlI/s1600/Web+Res-15736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudemYknVv2SY_R0BG6XudGzSF8cutoGQyqbYGddqkgg0TRIySPIDbr2jjyg2GzYOAluvO9H3Uy6W8zkPKtT40T6q1IgZHi6NDSWNl9BSBUlWrZWCqw-2KAQ3xQJD7C0YXKbKc2dR0AlI/s320/Web+Res-15736.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<strong>ALTERATION #5: THE YARN (AND FIT).</strong> I knit Saltmarsh Shell in Anzula Vera, a linen/silk blend. Lovely stuff. But, as you probably know, linen does not have much elasticity. Because of this, I suggest in the pattern that you choose a size with at least an inch or two of positive ease. But what if you chose another yarn, say for example a nice sproingy merino? The resilience of such a yarn would mean you could choose a size with zero ease, giving you a form-fitting garment to show off some curves. Keep in mind that Saltmarsh Shell is a simple rectangular boat-neck with no side shaping, so don't go all crazy with trying to get curvaceous, but a little bit of stretch looks great. (My first prototype was knit in a yarn with more stretch than linen but less than merino; I did like the way it fit.)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<br />
Whether you chose to knit Saltmarsh Shell or not, I hope these alterations & renovations give you ideas for adapting any pattern to better suit your style and needs. Happy Knitting!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-49425848228773517332015-06-02T16:25:00.000-07:002015-06-02T16:25:01.985-07:00Making MaraschinosIt's cherry season! Alas, the season is all too short -- blink and it's gone. I've been making the most of it by putting up lots of maraschino cherries.<br />
<br />
You can make maraschinos, you ask? Why yes, you can! They're easy, tasty, and perhaps as a bonus they lack the neon color of the things you buy in a jar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ6NpdsJp-iFjBBzxNbpMZefVpwY-Y-i96DiivUhTscYfdwUVTid-gow2D3NVQmwsAuSDFKApVo-mghJ_NrMfFdeDOgp6EnVdXXY00S_hMU30ALNwmIbpcApBnzATTqOvbnVcATeBi1s/s1600/Maraschino1-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJ6NpdsJp-iFjBBzxNbpMZefVpwY-Y-i96DiivUhTscYfdwUVTid-gow2D3NVQmwsAuSDFKApVo-mghJ_NrMfFdeDOgp6EnVdXXY00S_hMU30ALNwmIbpcApBnzATTqOvbnVcATeBi1s/s320/Maraschino1-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I use <a href="http://extension.oregonstate.edu/lane/sites/default/files/images/sp50492.pdf">this recipe</a> from the OSU Extension Service. It's an oldie but goodie (I've confirmed with OSUES that the recipe is still current). Homemade maraschinos are softer than commercially prepared cherries, but after using them several different ways I've found no problem with them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh4LGuJyIcgufN7gVjur7iGdphAlV41xKgfWD6_faPC5N0HgbE8LLdgv0sjYqGDB8Mqji4H7HwkQtSjiLor_ssDGEROZ1itAx_B_OHd6nwiJu5U7wLpgBrQq5YnhXTfXfLZEe4rdtIFA/s1600/Spritzer1-crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh4LGuJyIcgufN7gVjur7iGdphAlV41xKgfWD6_faPC5N0HgbE8LLdgv0sjYqGDB8Mqji4H7HwkQtSjiLor_ssDGEROZ1itAx_B_OHd6nwiJu5U7wLpgBrQq5YnhXTfXfLZEe4rdtIFA/s320/Spritzer1-crop-small.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Maraschino cherries are perhaps most frequently used in drinks. They make a wonderful addition to spritzers, along with a little bit of the juice. But they're also great as a topping for ice cream, or oatmeal, or granola. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sqfgtY1_6ysVMpKR4GCAMyt4cMLkdxnmbskYPbuHVab1Kf4GB6t1zuJMEi91FCfcwEaEcu-eC85xehBaUiJ-UkG_e-mHrUTt4Qkky09Vz39RzdfkuwSokNlkSmjbwL5xTuNFh1fki9M/s1600/Maraschino3-crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sqfgtY1_6ysVMpKR4GCAMyt4cMLkdxnmbskYPbuHVab1Kf4GB6t1zuJMEi91FCfcwEaEcu-eC85xehBaUiJ-UkG_e-mHrUTt4Qkky09Vz39RzdfkuwSokNlkSmjbwL5xTuNFh1fki9M/s320/Maraschino3-crop-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You may have noticed that the cherries in the pictures look dark. Indeed they are: Rather than the Royal Anne Cherries (similar to Rainier) called for in the recipe, I used locally grown sweet dark cherries. They look and taste just fine, although as mentioned above they are on the soft side (I chose not to add the optional alum). And since I was starting out with dark cherries, I omitted the red food coloring.</div>
<br />
The recipe notes that there will be excess juice left over. This is not an understatement. There is LOTS of juice left over. I add the juice to sparkling or seltzer water -- just a small spoonful or two makes a refreshing, low-calorie summer drink. You can reduce the juice down to a syrup to top pancakes or ice cream. The recipe suggests that the juice can be used as a base for fruit soups, which has got me thinking. The juice freezes well, so if you're not sure what to do with it, you can always put it away until you have a need.<br />
<br />
Another use: Preserved maraschino cherries make a great gift from the kitchen! <br />
<br />
This recipe is made over 3 days, so you may wish to plan ahead. The most labor intensive part is the initial one: pitting all those cherries (I have successfully halved the recipe when I don't want to face pitting 4.5 lbs of cherries). Subsequent days are for the most part just bringing the cherries to a boil, then letting them stand for 24 hours. On the final day, the cherries are again brought to a boil and then processed in a water bath canner.<br />
<br />
When processing the cherries, don't forget to sterilize the jars if you process them for less than 10 minutes or to make altitude adjustments to the processing time if you live above 1000 feet sea level. At the end of the processing time, turn off the heat, uncover the canner, and let the jars sit for 5 minutes before you remove them. Let them cool for 12 hours or overnight, then check the seals. Store in a cool dark place until you're ready to enjoy them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWdMnmgOBq4KGgInebds48j44gJV2qwR3gX4OSDK6Vu_BTrSiXEbq47fSCjzYs72Ea6418HpSHhP3GfhcZXFWlHnCgrfU1JggGy1morbmWIZIOj-BC_NIs6ix4AtebogGUjrBZQjy2kU/s1600/Spritzer2-crop-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWdMnmgOBq4KGgInebds48j44gJV2qwR3gX4OSDK6Vu_BTrSiXEbq47fSCjzYs72Ea6418HpSHhP3GfhcZXFWlHnCgrfU1JggGy1morbmWIZIOj-BC_NIs6ix4AtebogGUjrBZQjy2kU/s320/Spritzer2-crop-small.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Cheers!</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-23048264830740165462015-03-30T14:20:00.000-07:002015-03-30T14:20:10.429-07:00Garden Close-upsSpring is doing its thing. Buds and bugs and bees are everywhere. Here's a few close-ups of what's currently going on down in the garden.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGv1MbSkxJYbNROQow75WJJDWPI8cG1LlugOZh5_rW33MQzaoDZfkshkkr0soDYtHTn7pDxrYJONIwEv9iU4Mk_4WPxZPpcUVuPPs1_sUui43C6M_MFIhyKJEHUX1M6fE7uCVP0vIGSU/s1600/LadyBug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGv1MbSkxJYbNROQow75WJJDWPI8cG1LlugOZh5_rW33MQzaoDZfkshkkr0soDYtHTn7pDxrYJONIwEv9iU4Mk_4WPxZPpcUVuPPs1_sUui43C6M_MFIhyKJEHUX1M6fE7uCVP0vIGSU/s1600/LadyBug.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Ladybug</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4l_LKrnKTmj9fBgs-O3ff2PuecH6MvZdDliLlb6QIjX0cSx3InqkXBM2Xk-UhtV0g4got6uf7-AHeIyl3JTXnNh2xYNcah8gMQ-3nAwewfuYO8UdZrP02SmCnkp3WQUZCm4f08ejBCUY/s1600/LadyBud-Eating.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4l_LKrnKTmj9fBgs-O3ff2PuecH6MvZdDliLlb6QIjX0cSx3InqkXBM2Xk-UhtV0g4got6uf7-AHeIyl3JTXnNh2xYNcah8gMQ-3nAwewfuYO8UdZrP02SmCnkp3WQUZCm4f08ejBCUY/s1600/LadyBud-Eating.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Another Ladybug, having a snack</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrHs_r3fywEM64QrSoJ59fpfJ9qikS2CEgwqWMX6fVEkYn3mXimP3KYyK0TjKGeo-l5oujRB9twLGnfIkjGPhbxO9SMeECwMKAc9MZQ7MtoZCqwNw5JNYH6ERzw9Mpj2mM-NYZxTZJ8o/s1600/Lavender.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWrHs_r3fywEM64QrSoJ59fpfJ9qikS2CEgwqWMX6fVEkYn3mXimP3KYyK0TjKGeo-l5oujRB9twLGnfIkjGPhbxO9SMeECwMKAc9MZQ7MtoZCqwNw5JNYH6ERzw9Mpj2mM-NYZxTZJ8o/s1600/Lavender.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Lavender bud</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigExpy6wlJUprjA7hsc4j6YMJEdQGNHfmWWJQXsyFw6l6mgw5gm5ON_YRz_SujM2C023EF8GmzGg3nLZGFoZP9nLrShkJZpPEFD42LiQnpeNpT-NmtQptc1esxV5VtcMpaRJkcc8VSoKk/s1600/LavenderBee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigExpy6wlJUprjA7hsc4j6YMJEdQGNHfmWWJQXsyFw6l6mgw5gm5ON_YRz_SujM2C023EF8GmzGg3nLZGFoZP9nLrShkJZpPEFD42LiQnpeNpT-NmtQptc1esxV5VtcMpaRJkcc8VSoKk/s1600/LavenderBee.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Lavender, with bee</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPoU1dlzJzHaSy_u-RVU5bX0LwyN5N6zGPQc7a2-3aoDLP_M9psrsx0_CXgmR7vkStNQEQ2qTusvxQTJ39PPoQb_UflD5y5NDph27rbnKTO0nv6H2iTv6i07cAT-qMpJQ8GWd_-IQMTM/s1600/LemonBloom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPoU1dlzJzHaSy_u-RVU5bX0LwyN5N6zGPQc7a2-3aoDLP_M9psrsx0_CXgmR7vkStNQEQ2qTusvxQTJ39PPoQb_UflD5y5NDph27rbnKTO0nv6H2iTv6i07cAT-qMpJQ8GWd_-IQMTM/s1600/LemonBloom.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Lemon, in the making</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsKcOPdu0DB1_V4tiz0OMTT6lUE5OqdS7vSu-muv3PZU9PurkrqVCRkAys87T_DbZ8MpaRvIQQWhpujWBVcrMFDsdeVajH_ZbT9bE4jSVMghvLwA3Q-HQrDVRBTjm8bGUtC2jrPJEiYc/s1600/LemonsRipening.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsKcOPdu0DB1_V4tiz0OMTT6lUE5OqdS7vSu-muv3PZU9PurkrqVCRkAys87T_DbZ8MpaRvIQQWhpujWBVcrMFDsdeVajH_ZbT9bE4jSVMghvLwA3Q-HQrDVRBTjm8bGUtC2jrPJEiYc/s1600/LemonsRipening.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Lemon, almost ready</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFC1JaIFNn2Sec-EQSyrh_Msz33SW57xD-pvS4FYRSeFmBcMwbNow84ZPL-QDIfCI0bzzlwzBBp8O943SiyrSqrRD8SJajS6rBf5YU0bo2SqBNAYn7NGYlyFfWNdTk9G06t_4kZbHq3A/s1600/GerberaDaisyBud.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWFC1JaIFNn2Sec-EQSyrh_Msz33SW57xD-pvS4FYRSeFmBcMwbNow84ZPL-QDIfCI0bzzlwzBBp8O943SiyrSqrRD8SJajS6rBf5YU0bo2SqBNAYn7NGYlyFfWNdTk9G06t_4kZbHq3A/s1600/GerberaDaisyBud.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Gerbera daisy bud</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC8A5HsGeMqDf44B0ndENcUR0N-KBVsCkNlp0i9_a9cSUwOcZRo7lMH9eoLrkZQWAZhaongZeGTjwYeGt0EgYLJJKHqJuv40eBh0V_3_4aWuk7dzoii4pvRw-dRudHZ8uy6WmGONyOJk/s1600/GerberaDaisy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC8A5HsGeMqDf44B0ndENcUR0N-KBVsCkNlp0i9_a9cSUwOcZRo7lMH9eoLrkZQWAZhaongZeGTjwYeGt0EgYLJJKHqJuv40eBh0V_3_4aWuk7dzoii4pvRw-dRudHZ8uy6WmGONyOJk/s1600/GerberaDaisy.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Gerbera daisy, in full bloom</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXyX1EqQOqDDONA3w5XtEMw7k-4PdQD6CAAA8kqwxCaq-a7soV9tz8PlGtCPMEB1UrjX3YWUxfZWxWX-GPryGBVaF8s2SzRYGk2Lz17bzDEhvd5O-lyYnHPzL5nzEMhCq1ERotGYZ4X0/s1600/GrapeBuds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXyX1EqQOqDDONA3w5XtEMw7k-4PdQD6CAAA8kqwxCaq-a7soV9tz8PlGtCPMEB1UrjX3YWUxfZWxWX-GPryGBVaF8s2SzRYGk2Lz17bzDEhvd5O-lyYnHPzL5nzEMhCq1ERotGYZ4X0/s1600/GrapeBuds.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Grape buds</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEekqyIxBjkV2hIx1ZEMHw9O7SXPuLRAKPMP14KA0gVpJTpzuBlEq56b_e909NmXSxJz192LiCPc3Rca1O_fCwBQPYD_jmrZSkqckgK3n8dBKmydvArR6sVJ5OennG5SbCVF6rCJQdSI/s1600/HollyhockBud.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisEekqyIxBjkV2hIx1ZEMHw9O7SXPuLRAKPMP14KA0gVpJTpzuBlEq56b_e909NmXSxJz192LiCPc3Rca1O_fCwBQPYD_jmrZSkqckgK3n8dBKmydvArR6sVJ5OennG5SbCVF6rCJQdSI/s1600/HollyhockBud.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Hollyhock bud</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXcBTYjownS2M6QrelDiGYVYlUrBKfDxhh-AScgyc4Zhgb8tjFyh2VMfGkbfymdwqX5UvaV8W9uhvYRzAPMKmEmxvndxDsuqoQN0bcsR02fMfj7Vm5XbEcrY4YADk9bcTRExzMZKiVpg/s1600/Yarrow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXcBTYjownS2M6QrelDiGYVYlUrBKfDxhh-AScgyc4Zhgb8tjFyh2VMfGkbfymdwqX5UvaV8W9uhvYRzAPMKmEmxvndxDsuqoQN0bcsR02fMfj7Vm5XbEcrY4YADk9bcTRExzMZKiVpg/s1600/Yarrow.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Yarrow</em></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyupunbmN60k77SrzS6p3g7xgwXZsi0Vz4xkcDAo_ImQtZM_EK9yTrF3E1fKPIatBe9yA6g4njn3g38bEkWGg-8JrYdw4R0eE9AXJ0pW6AWP38O_7qEuDLUiYJnjPuWsmr6Om5uW7g50/s1600/Weed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyupunbmN60k77SrzS6p3g7xgwXZsi0Vz4xkcDAo_ImQtZM_EK9yTrF3E1fKPIatBe9yA6g4njn3g38bEkWGg-8JrYdw4R0eE9AXJ0pW6AWP38O_7qEuDLUiYJnjPuWsmr6Om5uW7g50/s1600/Weed.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<em>Weed, right before I pulled it</em></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-31612197927576103332015-01-26T13:28:00.002-08:002015-01-26T13:28:41.568-08:00Food Preservation: What To Do If The Power Goes OutA conversation this morning with my brother, who lives on Cape Cod and is battening down the hatches in preparation for the big blizzard, made me think that this would be an opportune time to provide some quick information on what to do with your refrigerated and frozen food should the power go out. <br />
<br /><br />
The really short answer: DO NOTHING. Or, more precisely, <em>do not keep opening your fridge or freezer. </em>The longer your fridge or freezer door stays closed, the better the chance that the items inside will remain cold.<br />
<br /><br />
The details:<br />
<br /><br />
<strong>Frozen Food</strong><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Food that is in a freezer that remains unopened, is full, is in a cool place, and is well insulated, will stay cold for 2-4 days. Since not all freezers are in cool places and are well insulated, you can expect a full, closed freezer to remain cold for up to 2 days.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If the power goes out for an extended time and your food thaws, you can safely refreeze the food if it contains ice crystals and is still cold (about 40F). The quality will be lower, but it will be safe to eat.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If the food has been above 40F for 6 hours or more, keep only fruits and fruit juices, breads, cakes, cookies, flour, nuts and hard cheese (but absolutely discard these items if they show any signs of spoilage). </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Refrigerated Food</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If food has been above 40F for more than 2 hours, discard milk and milk products (except for butter and hard cheese); cooked eggs and egg products such as custards and puddings; cooked vegetables, meats, pastas, and salads containing these items; and all other perishable items.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Before Using Foods That Have Thawed</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Check your food for off colors or odors. Bacteria can multiply quickly, and most bacteria are odorless and colorless. The mantra we repeat in Master Food Preservers is <strong>WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT.</strong> Foodborne illness (aka food poisoning) is serious business. Beyond flu-like symptoms or the "24-hour bug," foodborne pathogens can cause chronic illnesses and even death. If you are even the least bit suspicious, don't eat it. My personal mantra: <strong>BE FOOD SAFE, NOT SORRY</strong>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Be safe everyone, and good luck weathering the storm. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-83973505547486451232014-12-30T11:09:00.000-08:002014-12-30T11:09:04.634-08:00The Stoic Flowchart<b><span style="font-size: large;">THIS.</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXje9JtiPHS-azOQDbGaPaElIr9Rdea0QWhq0cop3RdAhEEpabYPcTbh5qpSo61X8jLgEncoTuCMxOyQjrNPBx_RO1pBN4SFyCtOK0UQqlTv9t_JhtaE9TtqHHWrVosbdmv4qVb5beE9U/s1600/stoic+flowchart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXje9JtiPHS-azOQDbGaPaElIr9Rdea0QWhq0cop3RdAhEEpabYPcTbh5qpSo61X8jLgEncoTuCMxOyQjrNPBx_RO1pBN4SFyCtOK0UQqlTv9t_JhtaE9TtqHHWrVosbdmv4qVb5beE9U/s1600/stoic+flowchart.jpg" height="368" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Credits: From BoingBoing via the blog <a href="http://www.rootsimple.com/2011/06/stoic-flow-chart/">Root Simple</a></i></div>
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-89670355678547903212014-12-18T11:21:00.001-08:002014-12-18T11:21:23.382-08:00I Have Leftovers And Am Not Afraid To Use Them (A Recipe Post)'Tis the season: The few weeks leading up to the holidays, consisting of hurrying here and there, parties, potlucks, late days in the office trying to get things done before vacation, etc etc etc. The period when you don't have the time or the inclination to cook, but it's cold and you want something hot in your belly, or you committed to bringing a side dish to that potluck you really don't want to attend.<br />
<br />
So here's a recipe for you: <b>ARMENIAN PILAF</b>. The recipe is super easy, quick, and most importantly it's delicious. I cut the recipe out of a magazine eons ago; I can't remember which one now, but I do recall the introduction stating it was from a chef who served it at holiday parties as a side dish. The recipe says it will serve 12, and it will indeed. This makes a lot of rice pilaf. Like, a <i>lot</i>. I halve the recipe, serve it as a main course, and still have a lot of pilaf left over. A <i>lot</i>. <br />
<br />
But the leftovers are one of the things I love about this pilaf. Do not fear the leftovers! This pilaf makes awesome fried rice (just saute some veggies, toss in the rice and heat through, and maybe add some chopped fried egg). To make a light and easy soup, saute some chopped onion in olive oil. When it starts getting translucent add some chopped or sliced zucchini (or other vegetable(s) of your choice). When the zucchini is almost tender, add a ladleful of the pilaf and heat through. Top with grated parmesan if you like, or to make the soup more substantial throw in some shredded rotisserie chicken. <br />
<br />
Here's the recipe. Enjoy!<br />
<br />
ARMENIAN PILAF<br />
serves 12<br />
<br />
1/3 cup broken pieces egg vermicelli*<br />
1.5 oz (3 tbsp) unsalted butter<br />
3 cups basmati or other long-grain white rice<br />
4.5 cups low-sodium chicken stock**<br />
2.25 tsp coarse sale<br />
<br />
Toast pasta in a medium saucepan over medium heat until deep golden brown, about 4 minutes***. Add butter and let melt. Add rice, and stir in stock and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer, covered, until liquid has been absorbed and rice is tender, about 16 minutes. Let stand, covered, for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.<br />
<br />
My comments:<br />
*If you don't have vermicelli, broken pieces of spaghetti work just fine.<br />
**I use vegetable stock, and for this recipe I particularly like Pacific brand. It's a very hearty stock -- a deep orange color -- and it gives a lot of flavor to the pilaf. But any clear chicken or vegetable stock will work.<br />
***Keep an eye on the pasta as it browns. It can go from golden to burnt very quickly.<br />
<br />
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-42027011704276009852014-12-11T10:49:00.000-08:002014-12-11T10:49:26.680-08:00Fungus Among UsContinuing with the theme from my last post of "it's amazing what you see when you take the time to look," here are some shots of mushrooms and fungus I discovered while out looking at lichen. What strange little life forms they are. Examined up close, the textures are fascinating.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbXF0th1txiLw0sMJoF7PcQL8xyo21TEJN2Fgc7LI48YZ3dk7zcZRoDgIjOTeHWreDxzPaNOsOC9i3aiCMmLbU4ZvSS6514eR3z7HJ_3eyuRiQ1c_8lhEV9xwSfXt0WYRy0t7J-WL180/s1600/xsm1-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbXF0th1txiLw0sMJoF7PcQL8xyo21TEJN2Fgc7LI48YZ3dk7zcZRoDgIjOTeHWreDxzPaNOsOC9i3aiCMmLbU4ZvSS6514eR3z7HJ_3eyuRiQ1c_8lhEV9xwSfXt0WYRy0t7J-WL180/s1600/xsm1-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8nrVPT3JnJereGnmsxMWB_8qw0BPKauZSzEsOdoR31HDVxt_wBoN7hUiqyebyUNkoHbDuLrP4QtHF8VYmOqoPXB1gRgTKqX03drg15vqv_F7Ot3KezOoOvXzTUJ60M_a9ZtLNuVPU2I/s1600/xsm2-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8nrVPT3JnJereGnmsxMWB_8qw0BPKauZSzEsOdoR31HDVxt_wBoN7hUiqyebyUNkoHbDuLrP4QtHF8VYmOqoPXB1gRgTKqX03drg15vqv_F7Ot3KezOoOvXzTUJ60M_a9ZtLNuVPU2I/s1600/xsm2-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93hsH5Zi_X14wT3yZD5xzokOY_CUq1dUWZa_AXLdFIsQEKqmopTdGc5EOBlNoOZEhJa3x3-nmR1v3YvexX6u1S05WgkCBrdQnenz-9tXdph-A8_zX0RH-b5cEcXzxP_kUkHyfNfir39o/s1600/xsm3-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93hsH5Zi_X14wT3yZD5xzokOY_CUq1dUWZa_AXLdFIsQEKqmopTdGc5EOBlNoOZEhJa3x3-nmR1v3YvexX6u1S05WgkCBrdQnenz-9tXdph-A8_zX0RH-b5cEcXzxP_kUkHyfNfir39o/s1600/xsm3-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC54gR7A77c6b8Mm8uozyTHDYQlo1Z0FoOvkR3RrVSI8iLpeaq8gsO0jROE1aDASDD55KSWiitEL95k4NO8RgPbXEIukLt_ziA4TdOwu7aELlE7MRW4UQ8kRhtOIq2fJfi4nA94rn9lU/s1600/xsm4-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVC54gR7A77c6b8Mm8uozyTHDYQlo1Z0FoOvkR3RrVSI8iLpeaq8gsO0jROE1aDASDD55KSWiitEL95k4NO8RgPbXEIukLt_ziA4TdOwu7aELlE7MRW4UQ8kRhtOIq2fJfi4nA94rn9lU/s1600/xsm4-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgus0RCWRFNDdfP7c3OASUcwny5CaH-imwEH_sWd7cjQYnDamMudLUv6nGt20dIkFgmUm7WeD5kZCCiC2ZF0lLCd66vV0graBOCAFB5eL-_WdLWakC2GL4pcmTK9YDEFIQiaM_1-gmORs/s1600/xsm5-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgus0RCWRFNDdfP7c3OASUcwny5CaH-imwEH_sWd7cjQYnDamMudLUv6nGt20dIkFgmUm7WeD5kZCCiC2ZF0lLCd66vV0graBOCAFB5eL-_WdLWakC2GL4pcmTK9YDEFIQiaM_1-gmORs/s1600/xsm5-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jK5dB-lTLpK8aF-yVe5QjJfHg93G1tofL8XUZELa8Qr6epXyjrVUJqhMuaaCLBdmFXGvccmpN72RlSUbD3aaGpFwPEBbIDzeTGrMP81bdrncrUDnjxWXC_aSZGQno5oZOq20Ht7D8u8/s1600/xsm6-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jK5dB-lTLpK8aF-yVe5QjJfHg93G1tofL8XUZELa8Qr6epXyjrVUJqhMuaaCLBdmFXGvccmpN72RlSUbD3aaGpFwPEBbIDzeTGrMP81bdrncrUDnjxWXC_aSZGQno5oZOq20Ht7D8u8/s1600/xsm6-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qFseFsr7BvWDNeaJJ_lcLScYI93mtoMIpzezd9wkMTFfSo3MOs89ffkxf0MiZHJrU4uZzbkDIPeGVPmWqBiGJWGx0HIUnjH_RaO-_W2Helw77JSvCGdzC3U3801EEdESqsjRRYNrqg8/s1600/xsm7-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qFseFsr7BvWDNeaJJ_lcLScYI93mtoMIpzezd9wkMTFfSo3MOs89ffkxf0MiZHJrU4uZzbkDIPeGVPmWqBiGJWGx0HIUnjH_RaO-_W2Helw77JSvCGdzC3U3801EEdESqsjRRYNrqg8/s1600/xsm7-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionDjMQPk0Hp94CGSrZygjVZ_w8duDl8CsmAj6uScFODf1xX5crDZgOpsTYRQ7ePIoQ6nmria5e0-4RIt9sWObOvMDRFLh_0FWWBJGhA95P89db2NvqFdv1pPWpv0FhEj-m_pMVkIxpS4/s1600/xsm8-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionDjMQPk0Hp94CGSrZygjVZ_w8duDl8CsmAj6uScFODf1xX5crDZgOpsTYRQ7ePIoQ6nmria5e0-4RIt9sWObOvMDRFLh_0FWWBJGhA95P89db2NvqFdv1pPWpv0FhEj-m_pMVkIxpS4/s1600/xsm8-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4brDqTfq5dXwksm_ccgOjbaWR2wQ1e0zgi4CzTdiLc13DspDS9vo_5IOJqEBFtZXpYa1VRXb6dKxNLwtueUG3x60H42Y-uvgN-ZOUEDL1FpxKFsXjJGHV8byl0aZqsYaa_2AIUtLO3k/s1600/xsm9-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4brDqTfq5dXwksm_ccgOjbaWR2wQ1e0zgi4CzTdiLc13DspDS9vo_5IOJqEBFtZXpYa1VRXb6dKxNLwtueUG3x60H42Y-uvgN-ZOUEDL1FpxKFsXjJGHV8byl0aZqsYaa_2AIUtLO3k/s1600/xsm9-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2jsF2M-J7hSZS79yxiRdsf1WGv5ai4zykEzNOt_3_Qmqs3bKZUsceM3VoqFRN2zUHgV0PHwMaIFxJL9VbmKts5vA0Zod8ZTBM6ZFgajpa7uJv5914zmzXiMrgYBj9TqZPjP4Ue_r6mk/s1600/xsm10-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2jsF2M-J7hSZS79yxiRdsf1WGv5ai4zykEzNOt_3_Qmqs3bKZUsceM3VoqFRN2zUHgV0PHwMaIFxJL9VbmKts5vA0Zod8ZTBM6ZFgajpa7uJv5914zmzXiMrgYBj9TqZPjP4Ue_r6mk/s1600/xsm10-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oKi4yq0oY2zF6-iW1yOYhXcRoBM9ZUm_7HjwChcBqxlLJMH0MPN2jQ-OzFSWI1lT88xXtVRCwpE5QE4pwWVpS0NUnPJDZKEdQuI6mnSLN9qrjf_Vc6jdDohIBY6rs9zVviW5YP93Bck/s1600/xsm11-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-oKi4yq0oY2zF6-iW1yOYhXcRoBM9ZUm_7HjwChcBqxlLJMH0MPN2jQ-OzFSWI1lT88xXtVRCwpE5QE4pwWVpS0NUnPJDZKEdQuI6mnSLN9qrjf_Vc6jdDohIBY6rs9zVviW5YP93Bck/s1600/xsm11-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWariYRSWPHmx40vk9rFOvhTyfgdSzAZT8TFtS0-eo88GE0uk3H8O14DXddltrEmZMnzIewKpzx2Q0ku7b5mVngo9C0EE9PeHEutrMk5F4htP_6MIV5nO20-HV0yZyxJSni__aznIiVz0/s1600/xsm12-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWariYRSWPHmx40vk9rFOvhTyfgdSzAZT8TFtS0-eo88GE0uk3H8O14DXddltrEmZMnzIewKpzx2Q0ku7b5mVngo9C0EE9PeHEutrMk5F4htP_6MIV5nO20-HV0yZyxJSni__aznIiVz0/s1600/xsm12-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3rJTHgJSWnHkEV6BrDOXedAAUon0RdeCBgxaL_UUq0I1Npbac-QfET6LGQV1sCQuoqxgH386yWd28RnyKHx1sRFyxTK3bnBK_mLQtRtzxvJKNwL1LBCT9SWn0zBS1RXqtlMqKbKagkw/s1600/xsm13-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3rJTHgJSWnHkEV6BrDOXedAAUon0RdeCBgxaL_UUq0I1Npbac-QfET6LGQV1sCQuoqxgH386yWd28RnyKHx1sRFyxTK3bnBK_mLQtRtzxvJKNwL1LBCT9SWn0zBS1RXqtlMqKbKagkw/s1600/xsm13-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2LbgcFjDls5hC6LNBj0A8E3fKKe3O4d9gY15xXbeBm-UT1qxzzojFEe-VBfpWyEHyt3KpOxGhyphenhyphencdDxg-qCJQQjMbJzQSNToOBiwDxnR82jOLw7u4fEdPnEcQRDa7CZDf9RwTRtHM6KE/s1600/xsm14-fungus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2LbgcFjDls5hC6LNBj0A8E3fKKe3O4d9gY15xXbeBm-UT1qxzzojFEe-VBfpWyEHyt3KpOxGhyphenhyphencdDxg-qCJQQjMbJzQSNToOBiwDxnR82jOLw7u4fEdPnEcQRDa7CZDf9RwTRtHM6KE/s1600/xsm14-fungus.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-13585249108361764472014-12-07T14:54:00.001-08:002014-12-07T14:54:36.520-08:00Likin' the LichenThe rains have finally stopped -- for a few days away -- and have left behind a landscape transformed. What was once brown and dry and parched-looking is now rich and green and lush with the smell of loamy earth. <br />
<br />
Our home is surrounded by oaks of all kinds (Live and White and Blue, to mention a few) and they seem to have erupted with masses of moss and lichens of different colors and textures and sizes. Even the rock outcroppings are covered. Actually, anything with a even a tiny nook or cranny -- the brick retaining wall, the garden fence posts, the cement walkway -- is sporting a coat of green. <br />
<br />
To tell the truth, I can't tell the difference between a moss and a lichen. Whatever they are, these little life forms are amazing. Up close, they look like miniature seascapes. It's amazing what you see when you take the time to look.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvATfH6mwU9vK2x6N2CQ1L0WkCmNYhoF2f6QveHr3Pl4rJ83Wpm19EGb-M09ECW3IYSp6oEgjb9HoR3KAJMRm94RsmWqeOxsfkPsqPb7M-AUA6mbF86AMhRadtSHPGkmZ8dg5MkZnCL0/s1600/small1-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvATfH6mwU9vK2x6N2CQ1L0WkCmNYhoF2f6QveHr3Pl4rJ83Wpm19EGb-M09ECW3IYSp6oEgjb9HoR3KAJMRm94RsmWqeOxsfkPsqPb7M-AUA6mbF86AMhRadtSHPGkmZ8dg5MkZnCL0/s1600/small1-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzNvUgmijLVyIFbSrjInXPaoFdV9vHd4x29rlInxbHYXstCkfx_-eEOfGH8MKa5Tjw3U7c3M1DAKNYmIkoaQBQphp6zCPDrdMIWG07x3kPlhQmte-PeWQ4L30eXw-abxBJR7UFfZ47jE/s1600/small2-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQzNvUgmijLVyIFbSrjInXPaoFdV9vHd4x29rlInxbHYXstCkfx_-eEOfGH8MKa5Tjw3U7c3M1DAKNYmIkoaQBQphp6zCPDrdMIWG07x3kPlhQmte-PeWQ4L30eXw-abxBJR7UFfZ47jE/s1600/small2-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5QojwcXvxNt573LxierjeYIx7BOccc63BDv5zFEq6roP3lT2BLKexKQvdFbI4abzu1wUzPw37LiqiITZaHPCO7JBE1P5ug_wXy74Plg7oxPFZxrJvhF7T0i28s5LUn82FGsIsdIbJ5o/s1600/small3-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD5QojwcXvxNt573LxierjeYIx7BOccc63BDv5zFEq6roP3lT2BLKexKQvdFbI4abzu1wUzPw37LiqiITZaHPCO7JBE1P5ug_wXy74Plg7oxPFZxrJvhF7T0i28s5LUn82FGsIsdIbJ5o/s1600/small3-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4tgYUxgqp7CD0oz2o5wia5LVsr3LmX6kQJd3pLtcLn1fdxAwRryvuSeWCNCtXFja7bvAzAp3wSwEfad-4RwaPBZRoy2dnXCKPyxiNL5x1Qy49PjMG4H0TuyaHN8c3HUGIop8B6hmXOY/s1600/small4-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4tgYUxgqp7CD0oz2o5wia5LVsr3LmX6kQJd3pLtcLn1fdxAwRryvuSeWCNCtXFja7bvAzAp3wSwEfad-4RwaPBZRoy2dnXCKPyxiNL5x1Qy49PjMG4H0TuyaHN8c3HUGIop8B6hmXOY/s1600/small4-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ekchsnIJMd9H6QQxTJxTIW1kkET7quWIK7KfZT8ovzaFSq9s6PQBPlOPltd42onNY4G5AIYcK_qpJ7gA9UKrGuq6xH2sjuIpKq9-aGDrK5V5ZzMIVbOorbLzEE5z4A2bCcLYrIl-4aY/s1600/small5-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ekchsnIJMd9H6QQxTJxTIW1kkET7quWIK7KfZT8ovzaFSq9s6PQBPlOPltd42onNY4G5AIYcK_qpJ7gA9UKrGuq6xH2sjuIpKq9-aGDrK5V5ZzMIVbOorbLzEE5z4A2bCcLYrIl-4aY/s1600/small5-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPrcizuW11_no6i_Ogo1dOpujycBNgKqVAgJeDzn8NuPrrfzbdHQIE6WHa3rXyVK71nXIf3P8LhLBJ7olCZ0-hdyQLbtwGzaSA09uNTJ3wqdRutk97D_WPbXqLo8kfKlubYux_jiDTNw/s1600/small6-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPrcizuW11_no6i_Ogo1dOpujycBNgKqVAgJeDzn8NuPrrfzbdHQIE6WHa3rXyVK71nXIf3P8LhLBJ7olCZ0-hdyQLbtwGzaSA09uNTJ3wqdRutk97D_WPbXqLo8kfKlubYux_jiDTNw/s1600/small6-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1EFWZFjmwcuYUe4zjfhMCRG5OQLbwgB49_muPzOh8x_SLAbFxz6VSvxcDvip6DILjYW7_mjWD50yoQDtvUx6uv3jZ4PqdDhXNYePCC1pFaYsBvWoXdASkhFxZ3A-Bh0pptesOKB_w00/s1600/small7-lichen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1EFWZFjmwcuYUe4zjfhMCRG5OQLbwgB49_muPzOh8x_SLAbFxz6VSvxcDvip6DILjYW7_mjWD50yoQDtvUx6uv3jZ4PqdDhXNYePCC1pFaYsBvWoXdASkhFxZ3A-Bh0pptesOKB_w00/s1600/small7-lichen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-7352494870506885582014-09-05T13:39:00.000-07:002014-09-05T13:39:06.153-07:00Cullumah CowlsTake a pretty ribbed pattern...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcLSRIv_FsvvHeg2cl4abZCuTmdWM6ZOQV1afr4IGfkffa2VcOJOMMVL96jRu1vksmptiY9SQnOCrN-R-3J-_NMS2-0C0vZqxpnpRG1egrjlzNNlFP3V4JMvMcb0mEEv_3GumhbUIpKM/s1600/1-Cullumah022-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrcLSRIv_FsvvHeg2cl4abZCuTmdWM6ZOQV1afr4IGfkffa2VcOJOMMVL96jRu1vksmptiY9SQnOCrN-R-3J-_NMS2-0C0vZqxpnpRG1egrjlzNNlFP3V4JMvMcb0mEEv_3GumhbUIpKM/s1600/1-Cullumah022-crop.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
a luscious yarn in 2 different weights...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9a61q7kEA9PUPhe01IR50WDI3IRWXJh79nx78eCyham05VtB9u5Ij8CXk7lINbSwwRxpxvzxvgFGR44cJf7o4CpFkpwUuw1VZVJdHLr0TMZgKzNdgF8LYjhTCpy0TexhSixNEbkC8ZM/s1600/4-Cullumah037-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9a61q7kEA9PUPhe01IR50WDI3IRWXJh79nx78eCyham05VtB9u5Ij8CXk7lINbSwwRxpxvzxvgFGR44cJf7o4CpFkpwUuw1VZVJdHLr0TMZgKzNdgF8LYjhTCpy0TexhSixNEbkC8ZM/s1600/4-Cullumah037-crop.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and just one size of needles...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvoV5AWoZ57gEMlGxjjqkBd4sgvP-Wq5hpdXMqJLQFuySe86Ga3w-8_2o7Y0EJm5K_ZEroaqTBtFNZulfH2h6-CuwnqW-_zqb9omBUiM5cz0X36RaUr0P9EQvdFqEwe2YVG3TDCssqRM/s1600/3-Cullumah025-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfvoV5AWoZ57gEMlGxjjqkBd4sgvP-Wq5hpdXMqJLQFuySe86Ga3w-8_2o7Y0EJm5K_ZEroaqTBtFNZulfH2h6-CuwnqW-_zqb9omBUiM5cz0X36RaUr0P9EQvdFqEwe2YVG3TDCssqRM/s1600/3-Cullumah025-crop.jpg" height="313" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
and you get plenty of versatility. <br />
<br />
The lovely infinity cowl, worked in fingering weight yarn and blocked to show off the pattern, can be worn long or doubled around the neck for extra warmth. Worked in a sport weight and left unblocked, the neck cowl hugs you with softness and warmth. Mix and match the yarns and versions. One pattern, multiple options!<br />
<br />
The yarn is a brand-new release from Elemental Affects. It's 100% U.S.-grown Cormo, hand-dyed by Jeane of Elemental Affects, and it's soft and scrumptious and sproingy and just wonderful. There will be a worsted weight later in the year, and you can bet that I'll be getting my hands on some of that.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuulyG9L4Pj1zb8yPTGtVugk3H_DVtxolGLn0aIhFii443KB6XoiXqN3M3Bv2HkcyjR_uXHvBA4n_KeLwGNvuIu2Vg-mxnX_qKK__sWTdrUIxsK_vA1WvHH4Vm6s-PiT-v1-mkvwwEMw/s1600/7-Cullumah047-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjuulyG9L4Pj1zb8yPTGtVugk3H_DVtxolGLn0aIhFii443KB6XoiXqN3M3Bv2HkcyjR_uXHvBA4n_KeLwGNvuIu2Vg-mxnX_qKK__sWTdrUIxsK_vA1WvHH4Vm6s-PiT-v1-mkvwwEMw/s1600/7-Cullumah047-crop.jpg" height="181" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
My niece Johanna was a good sport and modeled for me, braving high temps to put on woolens. She's a dear. I should probably knit her something.<br />
<br />
The pattern is over <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cullumah-cowls">here</a> on Ravelry. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7879273184750933805.post-56347222411262406822014-08-30T12:34:00.000-07:002014-08-30T12:34:14.272-07:00Put a Pen in ItA new design! And it's free over on Ravelry!<br />
<br />
Smitten by a gorgeous green cover, I recently strayed from my beloved Moleskine notebooks and purchased a new journal that didn't come with a built-in band closure. So I decided to design and knit one of my own. And while I was jotting down ideas with a beautiful fountain pen that was given to me a while back (filled with olive-green ink, no less!), well....<br />
<br />
Introducing the Journal Band with Pen Pocket.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkePbtMXCOzHx9I85T0v8TSwxaoswLco6s_aAPeRAM29p9M1plc6qSyBNCcvqk4hSeKBAyHJoGHnqzFwCw2md6dlHKkoivn3K-fmRrdsoOogWxYw07U_oJkW_RVFvGpBkAnd25mJgkNbo/s1600/EDIT-4-JournalPen-CROP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkePbtMXCOzHx9I85T0v8TSwxaoswLco6s_aAPeRAM29p9M1plc6qSyBNCcvqk4hSeKBAyHJoGHnqzFwCw2md6dlHKkoivn3K-fmRrdsoOogWxYw07U_oJkW_RVFvGpBkAnd25mJgkNbo/s1600/EDIT-4-JournalPen-CROP.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It's a quick knit, and only uses 70 yards or so of fingering weight yarn. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg-Yo7RmqMzcxTGDpQMPCcsq4Iz3WkwoiUsCctvo3bIgE0Fb9kxnaONQXq2aEE8AfToaQ1bHzZH8Q4jnp4WnqaUUtGmLirWPHDZGFuS_fuWEpsEZnOZh0UckLD0CNoEe8fB62AomwOFE/s1600/EDIT-16-JournalPen-crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsg-Yo7RmqMzcxTGDpQMPCcsq4Iz3WkwoiUsCctvo3bIgE0Fb9kxnaONQXq2aEE8AfToaQ1bHzZH8Q4jnp4WnqaUUtGmLirWPHDZGFuS_fuWEpsEZnOZh0UckLD0CNoEe8fB62AomwOFE/s1600/EDIT-16-JournalPen-crop.jpg" height="258" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As well as being a great stash-busting project, it makes a great gift for a pen-loving pal. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Especially if you put a pen in it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK494UMUYReUGrzKaPkNSQk-HgrOjAYkMTYbgRwYy3VC31iKUZapOsLQDltRp-e8Y0Xl6U5IPP5ZEKY92-ygnjP8Jyfkd2Nz0eSj4ML5HBiqVB-7YNZABib97nZYp6l9zCmp_9kWr3i4/s1600/EDIT-5-JournalPen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaK494UMUYReUGrzKaPkNSQk-HgrOjAYkMTYbgRwYy3VC31iKUZapOsLQDltRp-e8Y0Xl6U5IPP5ZEKY92-ygnjP8Jyfkd2Nz0eSj4ML5HBiqVB-7YNZABib97nZYp6l9zCmp_9kWr3i4/s1600/EDIT-5-JournalPen.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/journal-band-with-pen-pocket">pattern is free</a>! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Enjoy!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17593853692165143724noreply@blogger.com0