Eek- 3 posts in one day! December 28, 2007

I added “make a new recipe each week” to my list of 43 things (well, it may be more like 15, but who’s really counting?)… And so I was inspired to make crepes today [aside: I wish I knew how to add the circumflex accent mark above the first "e"... I can do it in Microsoft Word, but not in this program... let me know if you do!].

For Christmas I was given a crepe pan and a cookbook from my parents. It’s definitely a fun looking cookbook filled with lots of recipes that I’d love to try. Tonight, hard cider in hand, I successfully attempted my first crepes. Rather, I guess that this is my second crepe-making endeavor. I did make some my freshman year in high school for a project in my world history class. Those were sweet crepes, I believe, served with cherry pie filling. Huh. I haven’t thought about that in years (probably 18 years… eek, I’m old.) I decided on the Wild Mushroom Crepes for tonight.

To start, you make the crepe batter and chill it for an hour. While that it chilling, you make the filling. Then comes the crepe making:

The pan appears to work just fine – nice distribution of heat and very much non-stick. Thanks, Mom. The mushroom mixture contains shallots, tarragon, goat cheese, wild mushrooms, and, with respect to the author of the cookbook, other ingredients as well. After you make the crepes, you stuff them similarly to stuffing enchiladas, and bake them in a 9×13 pan.

Then comes the yummy part: eating. I found them quite nice. The filling was rich and yummy. I made buckwheat crepes which have a bit of nuttiness to them. Success!

Let’s hope that I continue with my goal of cooking more new recipes.

Green Sweater December 28, 2007

I’ve had this lovely light green sweater in progress for 2 1/2 years. I desperately needs to be finished. So far, it has a back and most of the front done (or is it the other way around – see, it’s been so long since I knit it, I can’t recall!) and it just needs sleeves. I would be so proud of me if I just finished the damn thing. We’ll worry about whether or not it actually fits me later…

See more progress on: finish knitting my green sweater

Snowy Day December 28, 2007

I am having a splendid day. I’m on winter break from work, so I’d be off from work regardless – but I’m having the most wonderful snow day. I woke up around 8:30 this morning sans alarm clock which delights me. No blaring beeps beckoning me to rise for the day. I went through my dresser and closets for an hour and a half purging many, many articles of clothing that I no longer wear (some that I – eek – have never really worn). It feels so good to be rid of so much. Later in the morning I drove through the snow to the Goodwill Center and donated them. I ended up donating 13 (!!) bags of clothes and a vacuum.

I stopped by my parent’s house to get directions for a game for a friend of mine. She made several Zilch game bags for her family members and needed the directions. They are quite adorable. Driving was a bit treacherous, but not anything that this girl born and raised in Northern Illinois cannot handle.

I have taken the afternoon to watch the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice (you know… the 6 hour marathon one) while uploading pictures of projects that I have completed.

Here we have some gloves that I made my father for Christmas. Unfortunately with all the Christmas crafting that I was up to, alas, Dad’s gloves got pushed to the back of the line. I didn’t start them until a couple days before Christmas. Whereas I missed the Christmas deadline, I did manage to finish them on the 26th of December. Not too bad. They turned out great and I hope that Dad gets at least one season of wearing them before he loses them, as he always does. These were my first gloves – I think I prefer mittens.

Here is the finished sweater for my sister. It’s gorgeous and it looks great on her. This is one of the reasons why Dad’s gloves were given belatedly.

I am quite fond of knitting toys. Here we have Gerald. The Giraffe. Named by my nephew who was the recipient. Gerald spent all Christmas day being carted around in a little wagon. Cute.

This last picture is yet another Ballband Dishcloth. I love knitting these things. I gave this one to my sister, but also made another one for my brother and his wife. My sister-in-law says that she won’t use it, but I made my brother promise that he would.

 

I plan on spending the rest of this lovely day trying my hand at crepe-making. I received (as requested) a crepe pan and cookbook that I am quite anxious to attempt. Wish me luck.

 

Ta ta!