Just a few of the things I’ve done today. The winding and packaging yarn would be kind of boring to see so I give you these instead. Supergirl had a friend over so after lunch at Whole Foods we hit the playground.
A few of you asked me about the whole wheat loaf I made today and it turned out really well. I just did 2 cups of all purpose and one cup of whole wheat. The other loaf is already almost gone. Even if you are afraid of making bread you can do this. I promise.
I’m really tired but wanted to post about a few things. First of all, the article on me got into this month’s issue of Albuquerque the Magazine. It’s in this issue for those of you who are able to get a copy. You’ll just have to get the issue if you want to read it. I don’t have a scanner and the picture I took of it didn’t really come out that well.
If you haven’t noticed already I’ve been doing a lot of cooking/baking. I’ve always loved to cook but sometimes life just gets in the way and it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You know what I’m talking about right? So lately I’ve been slowly adding foodie blogs to my bloglines and have finally started to test out a few of the things I’ve seen over the past few months. I’ve blogged about a few of them but the latest few I’ve tried in the past two days and I have to share them with you. On Saturday, Supergirl helped me make these Toasted Almond Scones that Tartelette shared the other day. They were gone in two days. We scarfed them down. The other recipe I’ve wanted to try for months is the no-knead bread recipe adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery published in the New York Times. You can also find it on the Becks & Posh blog too. We are about to go eat this right NOW along with the pasta dish I made that the kids love. The only thing I did differently was to bake the bread on my pizza stone. Doesn’t it look amazing? I’m going to make one with whole wheat later tonight.
And finally, I have a skein of Snowbunny I accidentally dyed today that’s for sale. (I dyed the wrong weight for the order I have) It’s in the 3/8’s superwash merino and has 350 yards for $25.00 plus shipping. The first person who comments and pays gets it shipped out tomorrow. It’s one of these pretties in case you haven’t seen it before.
The kids are home today and T. is at work. This means it’s nearly impossible to get any dyeing done. Instead we baked. Both of my kids love to cook with me. How many of you saw this recipe over at Cream Puffs in Venice? I mean, a Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Chip Marble Cake? Um, helloooooo???? This picture was all I needed to see. Go out and get the ingredients for this cake. Trust me. Or better yet, want to come over for dessert? It’s amazing.
I don’t normally like sweets but the little bit of the dark chocolate layer with the lightly melting white chocolate chips? To. Die. For. I don’t know about you but I’m seduced.
The other sweet part was when Superboy said out of the blue, as he obviously was enjoying the time with me, “Did you cry a lot when your mom died? I mean, for a long time?” I answered, “Yep. I cried a lot.” He thought for a second and said, “I really hope you don’t die until I am much older.” “Me too baby. Me too.” We went on to talk about my mom and how much I used to love cooking with her just like they love cooking with me. Even though I got no work done, I’m glad the three of us just got to hang out and spend time with one another today. Some days just need to be like that don’t they?
Now who’s coming over to eat this cake with me?
I saw Claudia mention this on her blog last week and begged her for the recipe. It’s “a completely fab recipe for Fairfield Granola from Nigella Lawson’s Feast.” I adapted it so I’m thinking it’s okay to post the recipe. Even Adam, who was here today, tasted it and agrees that it’s awesome. Both of my kids have been eating it with vanilla yogurt and beg me for more after they finish it. We eat a lot of granola and yogurt so it was fun to finally get my butt in gear and make some. Thank you again Claudia for writing it out for me!
Recipe adapted from :
Andy’s Fairfield Granola
From Feast
Recipe as written makes about 10 cups
Preheat oven to 300′ – 325′
4½ C Rolled Oats
1 C Sunflower seeds
¾ C Hulled sesame seeds
1.5 C Almonds
¾ C Chopped Pecans
¾ C Apple Sauce
1/3 C Maple syrup
¼ C Honey
¾ C Light brown sugar
1 t Sea salt
2 t Ground cinnamon
1 t Ground ginger
2 T Sunflower oil
**Recipe calls for 2 cups of raisins which I skipped but you can throw in any dried fruit in at the end**
1. Mix everything large mixing bowl. Use spoons or your hands will be covered with sesame seeds!
2. Spread on two large cookie sheets and bake. Turn granola over and redistribute halfway through so as not to get dark spots. The idea is to brown it evenly. It should take about 40 minutes to toast nicely – depending on your oven.
3. Remove from oven and cool. Mix in raisins and fruit
Let me know if you make it. I’d love to hear how you change it up if you do. Or, if you have another great granola recipe will you please share it with me? Thank you!
I have one other photo to show you today that I’m so excited to share. When I first started doing business with Namaste Needles my first question was, “When are you going to make a black messenger bag??!” And their answer was, “We hope to make one soon!” And look what is on its way to me right now….
YAY!!!!! I have four coming to me and should be here by Tuesday/Wednesday. I’m going to put them up in the shop with the temporary picture. I know there are some of you who have been waiting a long time for this bag. A big thank you to my Namaste friends for not only making this bag but for sending me the temporary picture to share on my blog. If you buy one, it will mail out as soon as they get here. So that’s all I have for you today. Have a great weekend.
This is what I saw when I woke up this morning. That’s my dye table. Doesn’t look like I’ll be dyeing anytime soon huh? Maybe it’s some cosmic hint for me to take a break for a few days? I think we easily have a foot by now and it’s still snowing!
It’s a good thing I hauled ass over the weekend and finished dyeing all of the Indie Swag and that the post office is on the way to T.’s work. Because guess what? Indie Swag is on its way to you. T. dropped it all off this morning at 7:15am. I can’t believe we pulled it off and got it out so early. If it weren’t for this snowstorm you guys might get your swag before Christmas. (if you celebrate it that is) Maybe you still will. Who knows with this weather. All of the major highways are closed so it doesn’t look very promising. I can’t wait for you all to see it. I love this month’s swag.
We snuck out to to the grocery store before people were on the roads to grab a few things knowing we’d be stuck here all day today and possibly even tomorrow. White Bean Chili will be cooking in the crockpot soon and chocolate peanut butter cookies will be in the oven. If I can’t dye yarn I’ll cook. Hey, maybe I’ll even knit! Yes, Miss Wise-Ass Jessalu. Knitting! Did you not see my scarf I posted the other day? I knit! Shaddup! For anyone who loves to use a crockpot I highly recommend this book. The Biggest Book of Slow Cooker Recipes.
Since I’m stuck here for a while how about you all entertain me? Tell me your most disastrous cooking incident. Write about it here or on your blog. Just let me know where I can read it. Mine? I would have to say it was at my mother-in-laws 15 years ago. I decided to show off and cook my rockin’ lasagne. When it was all cooked and ready to take out of the oven, I proceeded to drop the whole thing on the opened, oven door and the floor. Can you say embarrassed much?
