tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78272856839304416442024-02-07T04:07:41.757-07:00Don't Pet the Drama Llamajoyful living through Stoic badassityJohannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-9765369619841922092012-02-15T22:54:00.000-07:002012-02-15T22:54:07.886-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This week Thursday is turning into grocery day, since today was packed with other things. My pantry and freezer are looking so bountiful right now that I've decided to try cooking out of it this week. I'll still need to grocery shop, but I don't think I'll make too many purchases. Here's my plan so far:<ul><li>Mac and cheese with caramelized onions, bacon, and spinach. Tart cranberry sauce on the side (I have everything except the cheese and the bacon. Probably will be buying another bag of onions too though. I plan to use some of my homemade yogurt in the casserole too)</li>
<li>Turkey and gravy over biscuits (I've got everything I need on hand. I'll buy butter if it's on sale though, it's nice to have extra on hand in the freezer)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/pierce-street-vegetarian-chili-recipe.html">This chili</a> and cornbread (I'll need to get crushed tomatoes, peppers, and grains)</li>
<li>Slow cooker porridge (I probably have enough rice and steel cut oats to take me through this week, but I'm getting some grains this week anyway. So some of those will probably end up going into the porridge as well)</li>
<li>Cake (because those apples aren't getting any younger)</li>
<li>Bread (a loaf of oatmeal bread tomorrow, and then maybe one more loaf sometime later in the week. If there's time and I feel motivated.)<br />
<br />
So that's 3 dinner/lunches, a breakfast, a dessert, and something to snack on (I almost always eat leftovers until they're gone, so a couple of big meals feeds me for the week). It's quite a lot of food, but I plan to share the turkey and biscuits with my two meat-eating roommates; it should be gone in one sitting.<br />
<br />
Well, that's the plan for this week. I'll write an actual list tomorrow and may or may not share. </li>
</ul></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-65218323259258775432012-02-08T18:38:00.000-07:002012-02-08T18:38:31.199-07:00$39.02<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Grocery shopping results:<br />
budget: $40<br />
actually spent: $39.02<br />
over/under: + $.98<br />
<br />
Purchased:<br />
1 head of celery<br />
1 lb carrots<br />
2 lbs cranberries<br />
5 lbs oranges<br />
1 gallon milk<br />
1/2 pint half and half<br />
10 lbs flour<br />
5 lbs cornmeal<br />
1 (pint? The large container) jam<br />
1 (small containter) honey<br />
1 (large, but not "family sized) peanut butter<br />
1 pkg Italian sausage (6 sausages)<br />
3 cans beans (chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans)<br />
1 bag mixed frozen veg.<br />
1 lb dried split peas<br />
2 lbs black lentils<br />
2 lbs red lentils<br />
1.5 lbs steel cut oats<br />
<br />
Good outcome overall, considering I bought a couple of items that weren't on the list.<br />
I also went to the library, returned books, and picked up two novels (It's been a while since I've read professionally published fiction). I'll possibly write about those another day.<br />
<br />
Dinner tonight is spinach and meatballs over rice. Also need to make yogurt and a pot of porridge, and dishes absolutely have to get done at some point. I'm going to go get on all that right now :)</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-86863629193993834462012-02-08T12:23:00.001-07:002012-02-08T12:25:01.097-07:00Grocery Shopping<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Wednesday is almost always grocery day. It's when the sales are, and oddly enough, it's also almost always my day off. I spent a little time this morning writing down all of the meal plans I've had in my head for this coming week, and compiling a grocery list. Last week and the week before I overspent quite a lot at the grocery stor: stocking up my pantry and loading up on necessary household food items (I generally buy the coffee around here, unless I'm feeling resentful about it and let a roomate take a turn) in addition to buying unnecessary stuff like ice cream and soda. I want to get back on track this week, and am doing at least a little bit of cooking from my pantry (which is really well stocked at the moment). I'm also trying to get back in the habit of eating lots of vegetables (when eating in a hurry I tend to fall back on more filling items, grain and protein). So I've made a plan.<br />
<br />
Some of my friend have been asking how I do all this, so I'll explain it here. I don't know how other people plan meals and organize shopping trips, but this is what works for me.<br />
First:<br />
<br />
1. Figure out how much time you have to cook. Cooking is something I do for fun as well as for nourishment, so I'm happy to spend several hours on a day off preparing food for the rest of the week. If it looks like it's going to be a slow week, I plan for more elaborate meals and spending at least a little bit of time baking. If the week is going to busy, I plan to fall back on simple pasta dishes, casseroles, and slow-cooker food. <br />
<br />
2. Allow for snacking. My diet has always been a little... eccentric. I don't sit down for 3 square meals a day, I snack. Even after a large meal with meat, I'm hungry 2-3 hrs later. More than once my roommates have found me sitting cross-legged on the kitchen floor (tables are inconvenient), eating slices of bread, cold leftovers, or a bowl of frozen veg. The trick is to keep a wide variety of healthy food on hand that requires minimal prep, for snacking. Usually I eat leftovers from the big cooking days, but I also keep things like frozen edamame, yogurt, and fresh fruit on hand (frozen mixed vegetables in the summer, since I eat them right out of the bag). <br />
<br />
3. Before shopping, check your staple items. If something is getting low, write it on the list. If it's not something you need right away, you can always just check the price when you're at the store. If the item is on sale or you find yourself with a little leeway in your grocery budget, then you can stock up.<br />
4. If your favorite grocery store sends out sale fliers, check them out. I don't usually buy a lot of the processed foods that go on sale but I like to check out the deals on produce, meat, and dairy. And every once in a while there's a great deal on things like canned beans and toilet paper. There are 4 different stores in my area that I like to shop at, depending on where the sales are and what I need that particular week (one store has a wide selection of dried grains and beans, but not so great in the produce section. Another has great produce, but I'm not too happy with the state of the baking aisle. Etc.)<br />
<div>Once I've done all this, I make a list of things I plan to cook in the upcoming week. This week my list looks like this:</div><div></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>spinach and meatballs (carryover dish. I didn't get a chance to make it last week and have everything I need on hand)</li>
<li>porridge</li>
<li>split pea soup</li>
<li>potatoes, cabbage, and sausage (I have some cabbage, potatoes, and apples on hand)</li>
<li>bread </li>
<li>yogurt (saved some yogurt from last week for starter, need milk)</li>
</ul><br />
<div>Then I look over the list and figure out what items I need to buy in order to make those foods (this is where I feel glad that I went over my pantry earlier). This includes looking over my recipe notebook to make sure I have all the necessary seasonings (ever started making a big pot of chili, only to find that you only have about 1/2 tsp of chili powder in the bottom of the jar? Not fun). I write down all the necessary ingredients, as well as snack foods, and pantry items I'm low on. Sometimes I try to write it down in the order of the departments I'll be shopping in the store, but this week I just made a sort of general list. Here's what it looks like for this week:</div><br />
<ul><li>Steel cut oats</li>
<li>green split peas</li>
<li>red lentils</li>
<li>black lentils</li>
<li>carrots</li>
<li>celery</li>
<li>sausage</li>
<li>peanut butter</li>
<li>gal. milk</li>
<li>flour (10lb)</li>
<li>cornmeal</li>
<li>jam</li>
<li>honey</li>
<li>snacking fruit</li>
<li>2-3 cans assorted beans (if room in budget)</li>
</ul><br />
That should allow for meals and snacking. Since I only need a couple of carrots and stalks of celery for the pea soup, I can snack on the rest. If my sweet tooth starts acting up, I can make a cake out of the apples left over from last week. Or peanut butter cookies. Those are always good. Or I can have yogurt and stir in a spoonful of jam. Or put sugar in my tea. <br />
<div></div><div></div></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-54511101947567925762012-02-02T22:40:00.002-07:002012-02-02T22:48:45.334-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today was full of the sort of self-directed busyness that I absolutely love. I had to work this morning, but the afternoon was mine. <br />
<br />
My yogurt was somewhat successful. Two of the Five jars didn't really set at all and the others set but didn't get that lovely tangy flavor (maybe that'll happen with time?), but it was my first attempt so I'm counting it as a win. I drained the whey off the yogurt, brought it to a slow boil, added a little vinegar and salt, and ended up with about 1/3 c of ricotta cheese.<br />
<br />
Then I used the whey left over from the cheese to make some "kitchen sink" bread. That turned out pretty well. I decided to take a minimal kneading freeform approach to the bread, making a really moist dough and then dusting loaves with flour before baking to get a nice crust. I pretty much threw in just about every grain at my disposal:<br />
<br />
3c whey<br />
1.5 T yeast<br />
1.5 T salt<br />
1.5 c rolled oats<br />
approx 1.5 c leftover porridge (brown rice, red rice, quinoa, wheat berries, cinnamon)<br />
approx. 3 c rye flour<br />
enough all-purpose flour to get a fairly sticky, but not at all runny dough.<br />
<br />
Mix it up, let it rise someplace warm for about an hour, shape it into loaves by hand, put loaves on cookie sheets that have been sprinkled w/ cornmeal. Preheat oven to 450, and let the loaves rest for their second rise (30 min)<br />
<br />
Dust loaves w/ flour, score, and throw them in the oven. Toss maybe 5 or 6 ice-cubes in the oven as well, to make steam (which promotes a good crust, though I have yet to look into the science behind that). Bake in 450 degree oven for 30 min.<br />
<br />
If you start to smell smoke, don't worry too much. Just check on the bread and make sure nothing's on fire. If you accidentally get flour on the baking sheet when dusting the loaves, the flour will sometimes start to smoke (mine did tonight). Nothing is ruined, it just means you'll have a bit more cleanup when all's said and done. <br />
<br />
And honestly, what's a kitchen for if not making messes? Kitchen counters and floors are generally smooth for a <em>reason</em>, you know. So they'll be easier to clean. No sense getting upset about making a mess in a room that was <em>made </em>to get messy. <br />
<br />
You cook, you have fun. You work and work and work on the food, throwing lids and utensils wherever they'll fit in your rush to get what needs to happen done in the second it needs to happen. You try, and often fail, to time things to your best advantage. You leave ineffable gunk on the counter, splatters of red and yellow on the stove top, flour dust all down your front, and a nightmare sink full of dishes. <br />
<br />
Then there's an ebb in the chaos, everything is happening as it should and nothing needs your immediate attention, but you can't leave the room either. You find yourself bored with this seemingly sudden moment of inactivity. In that moment, washing a sink full of dirty dishes starts sounding pretty good... especially when you remember that you'll be needing that sink clear in 5 minutes, to drain the pasta. Don't worry about making a mess, and then <em>use </em>those boring moments to stay on top of things. You often end up with a kitchen that's cleaner than it was at the start of the project.<br />
<br />
So that was my day. Self inflicted chaos, and a damn good time. I got to take secret pleasure in the look of horror on my roommates' faces when I asked if they wanted to try my yogurt (the four of us all have very different diets), and I'm ending the day with a <em>mostly</em> clean kitchen. All is good :)</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-27726906084301674052012-02-01T22:08:00.000-07:002012-02-01T22:08:12.289-07:00Food for Thought<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">A bit of the history of nutritional policy, from <a href="http://frugaldad.com/">Frugal Dad:<a href="http://frugaldad.com/diet/"><img src="http://fdcdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/120201NutritionEvolution.jpg" alt="diet" width="500" border="0" /></a><br />
<p>Source: <a href="http://frugaldad.com">frugaldad.com</a></p><p></a><br />
<a href="http://frugaldad.com/"></a></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-32775627245092696362012-02-01T21:06:00.001-07:002012-02-02T22:04:00.215-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today I worked on charting out a knitting pattern. I'm thinking about knitting a sweater for my niece, though I'm not at all sure if I'm even capable of it yet. Probably, but it'll take a lot of math and a lot of patience. I couldn't find a free pattern that looked appealing to me, so I'm making adjustments to <a href="http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/us/pattern.php?id=5363&lang=us">this one</a>. Mine would have that same shape, but I'd change the yoke (the colorful part of the sweater near the neck) and have the body of the sweater be a solid color (instead of having all those flecks of color). My niece really loves dinosaurs (I'll obviously check with her again about that before starting this project, just to make sure she's still as into them as she has been for the past 2 years), so I want to try incorporating <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dinosaur-chart">this chart</a> instead of the zig-zags and diamonds used in the original pattern. This means that I have to alter the original pattern a bit so that the yoke is a multiple of 15 stitches (that's the size of the pattern)... which will require some careful reading and a suspicious amount of algebra.<br />
I also bought groceries, and some necessary household items and toiletries. I made an "<a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/mark-bittmans-autumn-millet-bake-recipe.html">Autumn Millet Bake</a>" for dinner tonight. It turned out pretty good, but probably could have used a bit more time in the oven for the first phase of baking. Some of the millet was a little chewier than I like. I'm glad I made it though, I've been wanting to play around with grains for quite some time now.<br />
<br />
I'm also trying my hand at making porridge in the crock pot again. I've used it to make oatmeal before, with mixed results. Still, I love the idea of waking up and finding a steaming hot pot of porridge waiting for me. And I'm getting a little sick of my usual oatmeal. I used a recipe from a cook book I found at the library. Unfortunately I can't remember the title of the book, and it was returned weeks ago. The porridge involves:<br />
<br />
4 1/2 c water<br />
1/3 c brown rice<br />
1/3 c red rice<br />
1/4 c quinoa<br />
2 t cinnamon<br />
<br />
I put it all in the slow cooker and set it on low for 8-10 hrs. Though mine will be more like 11 hrs... I should probably go throw in another 1/4 c of water...<br />
I'm also making yogurt for the first time. I used <a href="http://www.owlhaven.net/2010/02/23/recipe-greek-style-yogurt/">Owlhaven's recipe</a>, though of course that's not the limit of my research. So far so good. I heated the milk until it was nice and foamy (yes I used a thermometer. But had to borrow my roommate's, because apparently I didn't do enough research when investing in that meat thermometer last November. I don't need a giant face labeling the safe cooking temperature from various meats, but I <em>do</em> need a thermometer to read low temps as well as high ones), then poured it into jars and stirred in some active cultures. Hopefully it works... but now I think about it, it might not. I think I forgot to let the milk cool a bit before stirring in the cultures... oops. Well, we'll see what happens.</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-9309240812815209742012-01-28T10:03:00.002-07:002012-01-28T10:10:15.174-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">At 21, I'm at an age where I've started to figure out what my values are, and am trying very hard to live by them (idealistically and almost certainly naively, but that comes with the territory). It means that sometimes I find myself making choices that might seem sort of extreme, which is completely normal.<br />
<br />
A decade from not I'll probably find myself with a more "mainstream" lifestyle (or the mainstream will change), giggling about the person I used to be. I'm fine with that, it's as it should be. But I'm not going to let it ruin the fun of this phase. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jQxXtqj62MY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
Right now I'm reading about handling money, because I realized that I know nothing about it (other than the very general "don't blow it all on candy and pretty toys," and "pay your bills on time"). <br />
<br />
The book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327768705&sr=8-1">Your Money or Your Life</a> defines money as "life energy" (which sounds cheesy, but really it's just trying to make you think about the time and energy they spend at work), and asks the reader to really think about what they value. What material objects are really worth the time and energy that goes into earning the money to buy them. The book also encourages the reader to take some time to write out a list of the things they value, so that spending habits can be better examined. This fueled a little writing session for me, as I thought about what I really want in my life<em>.</em> <br />
<br />
<div>I'm not comfortable sharing what I wrote, but here are the highlights:</div><div></div><ul><li>Creativity is important to me. I'm happiest when I'm making things, so I want to spend as much time as I can making stuff. I don't care if it's a story, a drawing, a knit something, or just a decent loaf of bread. I want to share what I make with others, as gifts or whatever. And I don't care about the number of people I share with.</li>
<li>Being trustworthy/responsible. I want the people I care about to feel like they can count on me.</li>
<li>Being useful and active. Having a wide skill-set and working to the best of my ability. I like feeling capable. </li>
<li>Living up to my own values, even if it's difficult.</li>
</ul>Everything else sort of falls under those 4 categories. As long as I'm living up to that, I'll be happy with my life. Everything else is just gravy :)</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-51991007391369633412012-01-18T11:20:00.000-07:002012-01-18T11:20:49.419-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dd8X4nWpGdjxTjKkjmclu2Co3ccNw2dK8sEIieEAOpgGPrkS4EEuqqjuC6cln27sfWG914-xEH9XwGRugeD8X_NQoJ466zIKpuPMXQd6ZgWZE5s0guO5ummend8aJ0E2VjN-XzDcMYi2/s1600/IMG000304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dd8X4nWpGdjxTjKkjmclu2Co3ccNw2dK8sEIieEAOpgGPrkS4EEuqqjuC6cln27sfWG914-xEH9XwGRugeD8X_NQoJ466zIKpuPMXQd6ZgWZE5s0guO5ummend8aJ0E2VjN-XzDcMYi2/s1600/IMG000304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0dd8X4nWpGdjxTjKkjmclu2Co3ccNw2dK8sEIieEAOpgGPrkS4EEuqqjuC6cln27sfWG914-xEH9XwGRugeD8X_NQoJ466zIKpuPMXQd6ZgWZE5s0guO5ummend8aJ0E2VjN-XzDcMYi2/s200/IMG000304.jpg" width="200" /></a>I've started a new knitting project. I bought a skein of beautiful bright orange wool (the picture really doesn't do the color justice) a few weeks ago, intending to make myself a knit headband to cover my ears. I made the headband, and then decided that I didn't really need that after all. What I needed was a new scarf. <br />
So I took the headband apart, and cast 24 stitches onto size 4 needles for a nice tight gauge. Then I did a simple basketweave stitch (*k4, p4 for 6 rows. Then *p4, k4 for 6 rows. Repeat). I'm really loving it so far. The really old-fashioned textured stitch plays nicely against the more modern color and shape (the scarf is about 4" wide, and will end up being pretty long) and makes for a really interesting piece. I'll enjoy wearing it with my black coat :)<br />
</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-952076430318867622012-01-14T11:18:00.001-07:002012-01-14T11:30:41.235-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I finished a tight gauge wool hat for my brother's birthday (which is happening in 2 months, so I feel pretty good about that).<br />
<br />
I also finished a pair of socks for myself, with enough yarn left over to make another pair (they'll be ankle socks though). I'm just now working on the heel flap of the first ankle sock.<br />
<br />
I've also been having the urge to make a sweater. Either some especially cheesy stranded "Christmas Jumper" for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/116-1-a---jacket-in-alpaca-and-glitter-with-2-colour-pattern-in-raglan">myself</a>, or <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/s22-44-jumper-worked-top-down-with-round-yoke-and-norwegian-pattern-in-karisma-superwash-or-merino-extra-fine">my niece</a>. Of course realistically, that would be biting off <em>way</em> more than I can chew right now.<br />
<br />
I would like to do another lacy piece at some point too. I did a really detailed lace shawl last summer and gave it to one of my sisters-in-law. I should probably make one for my other sister-in-law as well. I really like <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hands-and-cogwheels-stole">this one</a> but <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zetor">this</a> is probably more to her taste.<br />
<br />
There are so many projects I want to do! But I have <em>so</em> much yarn in my stash right now, I need to use up some of that before buying materials to make any of these lovely things. Yesterday I cleaned my room top to bottom and discovered that I have <em>way</em> more yarn than I though. Enough smooth, worsted weight acrylic to make several brightly-colored stuffed animals. Enough bulky synthetics and blends to make several pairs of slippers and/or scarves. And enough decent wool to make at least a couple of hats. Maybe even mittens.<br />
<br />
I want to use that pound of halfway decent black acrylic I have lying around to make <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/honeycomb">this vest</a>. If I like the pattern I might actually purchase some <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Swish_DK_Yarn__D5420168.html">good yarn</a> and make it up in that. Other than that, I guess I'll be making a lot of stuffed animals and slippers. I have some friends with small children, maybe I can pawn a few of the toys off on them. <br />
<br />
I thought up an awesome way to organize my yarn. Instead of winding it into lots and lots of balls of varying sizes (which tend to unroll themselves and tangle together), I'm winding my yarn around empty toilet paper tubes. Just cut a slit in one end of the tube, tie a knot in the end of your yarn, slip the yarn into the end and wind around the tube. When you're done, just cut a slit in the other end of the tube and slip the end in there (sort of like the notch on the top of a spool of thread). Then label the edge of the tube with the fiber content. Suddenly my yarn stash isn't looking so bad. I can actually find what I need. There's also something really gorgeous about a basket full of brightly-colored, neatly rolled yarn.<br />
<br />
I finally managed a decent library run last week, so I've got some interesting books to read this month. I picked up a copy of Othello, a biography of Winston Churchill (cause I realized that all I know about that famous historical figure is that he was portly, he was the prime minister of Britain during WWII rght after Neville Chamberlain, and his mother was scandalous), a cook book, and a book about the role religion has played in US politics (historically). I finished the cook book yesterday (while doing laundry and winding yarn), and just cracked the political one last night.<br />
<br />
Other things going on... I got my hands on a Spanish grammar workbook a few days ago (bought it w/ an amazon giftcard I got for Christmas) and have been brushing up on that. I'm only on lesson 2 of the first chapter, but it's amazing how much I remember (despite having spent high school Spanish class doodling in my notebook and staring out the window). My grammar isn't great. I can usually conjugate verbs okay, but have trouble remembering which articles to use. My vocabulary is abysmal, but I remember more than I thought I did. This chapter I learned that paragus= umbrella. To remember I think of the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws">BBC series Sherlock</a>, and Mycroft's use of an umbrella as a fashion accessory (esp. in the clips used for this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E8PJXNn44Q">fanvideo</a>).<br />
<br />
My Spanish dictionary should be arriving in a day or two, so that should help fill in holes. I also need to find a Mexican TV show to watch so I can figure out the rythm of speech a bit better (my accent is okay. It's just harder to form sentences outloud than it is in writing). <br />
<br />
I already mentioned <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018ttws">Sherlock</a> in this post, but I'll go ahead and discuss it properly. It's one of my shows, and the new season is running right now. Basically, two Sherlock Holmes fanboys (who are also well-known and well-loved screenwriters) decided to remake the series and have it set in contemporary London. Each season is a miniseries of three 90-120 minute "episodes" that play out like movies. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as John Watson. The actors have amazing chemistry, there are plenty of nods to the Arthur Conan Doyle cannon ("inside jokes", if you will), and a really cool use of contemporary technology (John Watson's "memoirs" become his "blog", Sherlock checks his facts by looking up info on his blackberry). The plots aren't typically very believable, but neither were the ones in the original stories. Mostly the show is a fantastic blend of action, suspense, and character development. I'll be eagerly watching the season finale tomorrow! <br />
<br />
I've been in something of a slump with my cooking lately. Last week I roasted a duck, made some frozen burritos, and shortbread cookies. But before that there were the holidays, and then I was working some crazy hours (at work we had a floorset and then inventory in the same week), and then recovering from the craziness... I've gotten out of the habit of proper meal planning. I need to fix that. And I need to do some just for fun cooking. So I've been reading recipes and making plans. I think I want to play around with succotash (since I've got some frozen corn and lima beans in the freezer), do something with roasted root vegetables and sausage and <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/black-bread-recipe.html">this bread</a>. I also absolutely have to make <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">this</a> since it's everything I love in a cake (Mostly fruit, a simple batter, not at all fussy. No frosting). <br />
<br />
So, that's what I've been up to :)</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-18079115099763595192011-12-31T20:53:00.000-07:002011-12-31T20:53:53.607-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Happy New Year! I'm starting 2012 with a marginally more organized pantry, and a bunch of "tiny people".<br />
First with the pantry. I bought plastic cannisters for my baking goods! No luck on the oil bottles yet, I haven't really had a chance to brainstorm what I really want.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUASsKMTLG_Ilh8NHnCeHZRe7l2GFeNu_qvBmn_2R7Pg-uf_pHUA2Oyl41ER8hOVfAadt4mY4xLiEBwI0zjBhLB56CbPYiJQLpDLaZYsW6NkBJsorgstBWzWifCaetDuhPiWD7B0igCc8/s1600/IMG000293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUASsKMTLG_Ilh8NHnCeHZRe7l2GFeNu_qvBmn_2R7Pg-uf_pHUA2Oyl41ER8hOVfAadt4mY4xLiEBwI0zjBhLB56CbPYiJQLpDLaZYsW6NkBJsorgstBWzWifCaetDuhPiWD7B0igCc8/s320/IMG000293.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzqpaSWp5wAHMyKwwfXIVHjD2oO5PKBZ5SGMrHUBd1kcqPBo42N-phH0HP2EP3VB4LsWXtC1WoGHEio2_Hr57AUGxfzRVHtoMdmxtJ-WGwjAmp3wNtg0_gCLY_KnvLGpRU-jRnUVAI2LG/s1600/IMG000300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzqpaSWp5wAHMyKwwfXIVHjD2oO5PKBZ5SGMrHUBd1kcqPBo42N-phH0HP2EP3VB4LsWXtC1WoGHEio2_Hr57AUGxfzRVHtoMdmxtJ-WGwjAmp3wNtg0_gCLY_KnvLGpRU-jRnUVAI2LG/s320/IMG000300.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> And now for my Tiny People. I've made minor changes to <a href="http://plainandjoyfulliving.blogspot.com/2009/02/fun-knitting-gnome.html">this pattern</a> to make tiny, unique toys. The plan is to make a whole bunch, and then give them to my niece for her birthday next year. I'm also going to hunt down an interesting old jewelry box at the thrift store, paint it, and use that to store the Tiny People. It'll be sort of like a playset, but handmade. <br />
Here's what I have so far:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_DEMIYc4VtdFATWaUQpImj6cY8VabxDgS6-VF8E6QFD-668CuYG9GAhGB9POw57F_RMiw4JQ7Q6kQERIFSSrJDiB23cHssS6jkVpR31Yx6VcgHvv63zPEtEO5nWKRpJklJRvDNwKxwKQ/s1600/IMG000291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_DEMIYc4VtdFATWaUQpImj6cY8VabxDgS6-VF8E6QFD-668CuYG9GAhGB9POw57F_RMiw4JQ7Q6kQERIFSSrJDiB23cHssS6jkVpR31Yx6VcgHvv63zPEtEO5nWKRpJklJRvDNwKxwKQ/s1600/IMG000291.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first one. I mostly followed the original pattern, but had a little fun with the hat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2KYXvSxF-EyIBgO4HA_deloVRnmphUjNF5MdisO1WvEPuELbGEOaQzwJPzy79CG0ExLgXP4QilZl4RY0U7B1e0gWvCR3nSCFanwXtgtHTXCpJtYXaQsaVXOFM598ycJwoS343jLNuihC/s1600/IMG000298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2KYXvSxF-EyIBgO4HA_deloVRnmphUjNF5MdisO1WvEPuELbGEOaQzwJPzy79CG0ExLgXP4QilZl4RY0U7B1e0gWvCR3nSCFanwXtgtHTXCpJtYXaQsaVXOFM598ycJwoS343jLNuihC/s1600/IMG000298.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is really small. I had to use size 3 needles and a really tight stitch to <br />
make the superfine yarn hold in stuffing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CQPH_VFFzCBgctycF03cTCITaVJcCtt2d9YtjPtYixTI2A0g02QN_gPthRAi5f1XdW29L0RYPvY613Rt_ZHuamdKgcKwXuKkRFLRqvRo6Nk647eOdO42QWTUEZkcc7dckaA9xKP2fq35/s1600/IMG000294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CQPH_VFFzCBgctycF03cTCITaVJcCtt2d9YtjPtYixTI2A0g02QN_gPthRAi5f1XdW29L0RYPvY613Rt_ZHuamdKgcKwXuKkRFLRqvRo6Nk647eOdO42QWTUEZkcc7dckaA9xKP2fq35/s1600/IMG000294.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one has green hair :D</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN7j5oSzJEPCghPZDMiiha-PCuMitnOd2GeAJPRjbU1S4qcp7hokHTKSU_ScwKrla8fiKxiWudwU3b8AikHI0DbHd-xVn-NpzEvzmU8bmjLpJA-wnKlFxRVvZPkuiLYxxU1c02SrEJihG/s1600/IMG000299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN7j5oSzJEPCghPZDMiiha-PCuMitnOd2GeAJPRjbU1S4qcp7hokHTKSU_ScwKrla8fiKxiWudwU3b8AikHI0DbHd-xVn-NpzEvzmU8bmjLpJA-wnKlFxRVvZPkuiLYxxU1c02SrEJihG/s1600/IMG000299.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My (5 year-old) niece loves "scary stuff", so I made her a vampire. Eventually I'll sew on fangs and button eyes. I'll probably make a werewolf and a witch or ghost too. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-15876548671670246292011-12-29T19:25:00.000-07:002011-12-29T19:25:02.569-07:00Kitchen Organization<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been reading <a href="http://www.simplebites.net/eat-well-spend-less-how-to-store-pantry-food-for-maximum-shelf-life/comment-page-1/">this article</a>, and it has me thinking about pantry organization.<br />
My food cupboard is mostly organized. I keep beans, rice, pasta, and popcorn in glass jars (I use 1q canning jars because they're airtight, clear, and inexpensive). I've got a tupperware container full of tea bags, and one with some garlic in it (I know I should do something about that, garlic ought to breath. But I like that it's contained, and I haven't gotten around to searching for another solution). <br />
<br />
I became something of a stickler about not using original packaging a couple of years back, when I had a minor mice infestation. Once you've reached into a seemingly unopened box of granola bars and find that one has been <em>gnawed</em> on, you're a little reluctant to trust any container that isn't hard. Even if you know you don't have a pest problem.<br />
<br />
I like my containers to be clear, because I'm lazy. I don't have the time or the energy to go through a cupboard full of opaque canisters. If they're labelled? Well... labels aren't nearly as apetizing as looking at the food itself. There's something beautiful about a cupboard full of jars of brilliantly yellow popcorn, brown rice, green dried split-peas, and mahogany kidney beans. It's gorgeous, it makes me hungry, and it puts me in the mood to cook.<br />
<br />
Even with the glass jars, I like to label my food. It's helpful. I don't second guess myself when a jar is clearly labelled (sometimes it's easy to get jars of similar-looking beans and grains confused). It isn't hard or expensive to label jars. I use a piece of masking tape and a permanent marker. Easy peasy. And it looks cute.<br />
<br />
All that said, there is definitely some room for improvement when it comes to organizing my food cupboard. I have opened bags of flour and sugar cluttering up the baking shelf (ripped paper is so MESSY), and I keep my baked goods in ziplock freezer bags (my rolls are too large for the 1 quart jars). I keep my cooking oils in their original containers, which are too large to fit in the cupboard and have to sit on top of the fridge instead.<br />
<br />
<div>I need to figure out a solution for all this. Here are some ideas:</div><ul><li>Store my flour and sugars in large airtight clear plastic containers. (I've thought about using glass canisters, but that'd be way too heavy and there'd be a risk of shattering. I've been looking at different types of containers, but I really need to measure my cabinets before making any major decisions on that front)</li>
<li>Invest in a cookie jar</li>
<li>Get reusable containers to devote exclusively to cooking oils. (They'll need to fit in my cupboards, have good lids, and be easy to pour out of. This would probably save money over time, because I could buy my cooking oils in bulk. Just keep the smaller containers filled, and store the larger ones someplace secure and out of the way)</li>
</ul>I like to think I'm pretty well organized, but there's still a lot more waste than I'm comfortable with. Does anyone else have suggestions? How do you organize your pantry?<br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDyOEKQiAvSVP-RUCofcY0dmFwQ5uWw-6LO3zoyT8OYXb1GH4On28sVF7XbGMkn0FRv8pObJWqaXmxh407vqhKnYyZ8LgDrcNMxp86QLdAP_xCzvUEeXsYSYSodUwNTanrEBuXBhrBzAZ/s1600/IMG000293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHDyOEKQiAvSVP-RUCofcY0dmFwQ5uWw-6LO3zoyT8OYXb1GH4On28sVF7XbGMkn0FRv8pObJWqaXmxh407vqhKnYyZ8LgDrcNMxp86QLdAP_xCzvUEeXsYSYSodUwNTanrEBuXBhrBzAZ/s1600/IMG000293.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My food cupboard right now. It's not too bad, but there's obviously room for improvement.<br />
Top shelf: non-perishable staples like grains, beans, and canned tomato. <br />
Middle Shelf: snacks, breakfast stuff. There's a bag of chocolate chips I need to put in a jar, and a plastic bag full of bread<br />
Bottom shelf: baking stuff. Bags of sugar strewn all over the place, jars of stuff not set neatly at all.<br />
On top of the fridge: The cereal and box of instant oatmeal aren't mine, the containers of vegetable oil and olive oil are.<br />
On top of the cupboard left to right: thermoses, one of my tiny casserole dishes, sugary breakfast cereal (I was feeling indulgent this week), a container full of "cheap white rice" for bulking up soups and such. </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-82702027750480378772011-12-27T21:09:00.000-07:002011-12-27T21:09:39.242-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFu6SpdupZJ_uxe5Qbv8w6ZkG4B0Pl_o9_hFoZL-4ODNWON_bnYGz9JE91TwNpL7zLf50GiBdJWju_ubMN35zGQeEVjPOXYWROwmwPZ8q0nKxCtKHI64riZlyMF2lWx6tETDZ4C1-1XH9/s1600/IMG000268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFu6SpdupZJ_uxe5Qbv8w6ZkG4B0Pl_o9_hFoZL-4ODNWON_bnYGz9JE91TwNpL7zLf50GiBdJWju_ubMN35zGQeEVjPOXYWROwmwPZ8q0nKxCtKHI64riZlyMF2lWx6tETDZ4C1-1XH9/s1600/IMG000268.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Owl hat for my niece. I knit it ages ago, but didn't sew the buttons on until Christmas Eve.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4w2D7xXCONY1hXYXq0wDxk833frxm10PdTB3BYFeTsvgIqnId-PGMuq1HsHid5JQALjXuvss-htfTlnBcQcjZ3raQ9rn-kRGDoLjm8Qaxjdb0bQDHhJheQs09I9n5M5iCBLb8uhJcE0a/s1600/IMG000269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_4w2D7xXCONY1hXYXq0wDxk833frxm10PdTB3BYFeTsvgIqnId-PGMuq1HsHid5JQALjXuvss-htfTlnBcQcjZ3raQ9rn-kRGDoLjm8Qaxjdb0bQDHhJheQs09I9n5M5iCBLb8uhJcE0a/s1600/IMG000269.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Bread, on its last rise. It's challah dough, with a filling made of dates and dried apricots.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLePS5BHBaeoEnRbJLAbKpZ7bH2e-7Fp0Y48GYfkXJDASHirMpJFCf7x4F92QVxN6Lz7dqXQyT2z7KM1M3u-ViQm2-N_gGDNJj-FXLkx0VrS55yDcPErCXXs_ANc4reMiZnB-Ckt6zV_6a/s1600/IMG000270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLePS5BHBaeoEnRbJLAbKpZ7bH2e-7Fp0Y48GYfkXJDASHirMpJFCf7x4F92QVxN6Lz7dqXQyT2z7KM1M3u-ViQm2-N_gGDNJj-FXLkx0VrS55yDcPErCXXs_ANc4reMiZnB-Ckt6zV_6a/s1600/IMG000270.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">right out of the oven. The round loaf cracked a bit, cause it stuck to the edge of the pan.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHOjPLIrT7DnfBgiHzLCySKM6O0YI2UYl56wq4ZqUabVk8_VPYy1aImeY-_uPlbLhI2i8ndCSkXRN-GXILyw1uzQPnYYfvCr12HkBU2oJQssxChn83qrKzZzEp2ejGbxTPh9Jv2D1haa9/s1600/IMG000273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHOjPLIrT7DnfBgiHzLCySKM6O0YI2UYl56wq4ZqUabVk8_VPYy1aImeY-_uPlbLhI2i8ndCSkXRN-GXILyw1uzQPnYYfvCr12HkBU2oJQssxChn83qrKzZzEp2ejGbxTPh9Jv2D1haa9/s1600/IMG000273.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic bread</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7u5xAQNdcSFPAh54w2npfjzQJGQG8Cy2a8XRziJFoLAlyFS-IDL_1L_cpt5MgF-vVb2HARZ17CVOCxhDgb6ALGm5QBhGbfh4o2J-2MnPgk_JfKUR1P2QLwX2wbFE6hatHRPB68Rb5Tx-/s1600/IMG000285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7u5xAQNdcSFPAh54w2npfjzQJGQG8Cy2a8XRziJFoLAlyFS-IDL_1L_cpt5MgF-vVb2HARZ17CVOCxhDgb6ALGm5QBhGbfh4o2J-2MnPgk_JfKUR1P2QLwX2wbFE6hatHRPB68Rb5Tx-/s1600/IMG000285.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite corner of the kitchen, with my makeshift spice-rack (it needs another shelf)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Gp7KqqnNchLR5cydGkLH15uleuIaWp8FcmyHkhMqmJKKnvDGB_dUL2_LrX69UgjY3CumhZZNtnfrUxuX8CDQhI22YaARKkdW-NCniFSMq2brKwryqaoOI_BpCkuvfLTuMAmTocPN-0DY/s1600/IMG000287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Gp7KqqnNchLR5cydGkLH15uleuIaWp8FcmyHkhMqmJKKnvDGB_dUL2_LrX69UgjY3CumhZZNtnfrUxuX8CDQhI22YaARKkdW-NCniFSMq2brKwryqaoOI_BpCkuvfLTuMAmTocPN-0DY/s1600/IMG000287.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got sick of kitchen drawers getting stuck, so I made a "utensil bouquet". It now lives next to the stove.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-47956480316599643432011-12-21T18:54:00.000-07:002011-12-21T18:54:17.462-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I've been really liking Sam Harris lately. He has some very strong opinions, and is fairly blunt about them, but his talks are intelligent and he isn't as abrasive as a lot of his contemporaries. Today I finished up making Christmas cards, washed and blocked some knit gifts, knit a pair of socks, and watched this:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://fora.tv/2007/07/04/Clash_Between_Faith_and_Reason#fullprogram">http://fora.tv/2007/07/04/Clash_Between_Faith_and_Reason#fullprogram</a></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-37479083387878575122011-12-12T15:29:00.000-07:002011-12-12T15:29:35.855-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The holiday preparation continues! I've decided to do a lot of baking this year, because Christmas cookies are awesome. Last year I made my chocoholic brother a batch of fudge. He loved it, but later that day he said to me, "You know what else is really good in fudge? Walnuts." (Nut allergies run in my family and I couldn't remember if he was one of the people contending with it, so I left them out).<br />
<br />
So this year I'm making fudge with walnuts, fudge without (for my niece, who <i>is</i> allergic), candied orange peels (because they're festive and very, very easy), spicy gingerbread cookies, jam thumbprints (they're a family tradition), and a riff on Northern European Christmas breads.<br />
<br />
I'm also making Christmas cards. My roommate and I are going to buy craft paper, glue, and other card-making supplies tonight. And then tomorrow I'm going to put a big pot of soup on, make a loaf of bread, turn on some Christmas music, and we'll <i>make cards</i>. That should be fun :)<br />
<br />
Today I bought supplies for making the fudge and the candied orange peels, since those are things that will keep well for a <i>long</i> time. I also took a trip to my neighborhood thrift store. I saw a lot of stuff that would be really cute and useful with a coat of paint, but decided to wait on any new projects. I did buy a CD of Celtic holiday music (which I'm listening to right now), a whisk, and a working Sunbeam electric hand-mixer (I've had my eye out for an electric mixer for a while). My total was $7, not bad at all. I love finding treasures. </div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-29192736421485644162011-12-10T10:28:00.000-07:002011-12-10T10:28:05.509-07:00My pantry<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yesterday I wrote about what I found in my freezer, and it made me want to record what's in my pantry cupboard:<br />
<ul><li>2 cans diced tomatoes</li>
<li>1 can tomato paste</li>
<li>1 box vegetable stock</li>
<li>1 jar of yeast, unopened</li>
<li>dried split peas, lentils, kidney beans, and pinto beans</li>
<li>1 can great northern beans</li>
<li>brown rice</li>
<li>jasmine rice</li>
<li>mystery rice (I bought it on sale a LONG time ago. It's not very good, but handy for bulking up soups and such)</li>
<li>whole-wheat elbow macaroni</li>
<li>whole-wheat pasta shells</li>
<li>spaghetti </li>
<li>quick oatmeal</li>
<li>some breadrolls from a couple of days ago (still tasty)</li>
<li>popcorn</li>
<li>tea</li>
<li>garlic (don't ask)</li>
<li>distilled white vinegar</li>
<li>balsamic vinegar</li>
<li>sugar</li>
<li>flour</li>
<li>cornmeal</li>
<li>baking powder</li>
<li>baking soda</li>
<li>cocoa powder</li>
<li>table salt</li>
<li>kosher salt</li>
<li>vanilla</li>
<li>some seasonings that didn't fit on the spice rack (I really need to build an extra shelf on that hing one of these days)</li>
<li>olive oil</li>
<li>vegetable oil</li>
<li>onions and potatoes</li>
</ul>Do you know what's in your pantry?</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-81230028607663314912011-12-09T23:11:00.000-07:002011-12-09T23:11:03.072-07:00Turkey Broth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Today I'm making turkey broth, and lots of it. I had a turkey carcass in the freezer left over from Thanksgiving and I was sick of looking at it, so last night I threw it into a crock pot and covered it with water. It cooked overnight and all day I've been straining liquid into wide-mouthed jars, letting them cool, and then chilling them in the fridge. <br />
<br />
The idea is that chilling the broth makes the fat rise to the surface. I then remove the jars from the fridge, skim off the fat, and store THAT in it's own special jar (labelled "schmaltz". It'll be fun to cook things in turkey fat). Then I pour the broth into ice-cube trays and freeze it. The broth cubes then go into a specially labelled freezer bag, for later use in soups and stews. I like this storage method, because it's easy to pull out a bag and grab however much I need. I don't have to worry about defrosting a huge block of broth, or about it spoiling. Win win. <br />
<br />
I also organized my part of the freezer and found: <br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a freezer bag full of the remainders of several bags of commercial frozen vegetables (there was broccoli, green beans, peas, and carrots)</li>
<li>a freezer bag full of lemons, already halved and juices squeezed out</li>
<li>a bag labelled with my name and the words "veg stock" it had some celery tops and the ends of onions in it.</li>
<li>a bag of chicken stock</li>
<li>a tupperware container full of cooked chicken pieces</li>
<li>a tupperware container full of cranberry sauce</li>
<li>an opened bag of frozen shelled edamame</li>
<li>a container of yogurt, which didn't freeze to the consistency I expected and is now thawing in the fridge.</li>
<li>half a gallon of ice-cream</li>
<li>a serving of lentil soup</li>
</ul>And now there's turkey broth and a bag full of cooked turkey pieces that I picked off the carcass.<br />
<br />
One of these days I'm going to have a week where I just cook out of my pantry and freezer. I'm sure it would be good eats.</div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-29172299532143011562011-12-07T10:00:00.000-07:002011-12-07T10:00:02.024-07:00What I'm reading: Hogfather by Terry Pratchett<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeZ1y-xT_AXBSNV0y-9SbqTDG9yDls-PFyTGFQoXK9OriHAUz35UGpDoRby-rSY97TuSlqmbagS1FiTl9dRh5cCnQtoFm-M6_DjBQbcKp8VGYV8ZPFzui-ylZ_91yiYIsWYTOKUX3b1Ny/s1600/hogfather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeZ1y-xT_AXBSNV0y-9SbqTDG9yDls-PFyTGFQoXK9OriHAUz35UGpDoRby-rSY97TuSlqmbagS1FiTl9dRh5cCnQtoFm-M6_DjBQbcKp8VGYV8ZPFzui-ylZ_91yiYIsWYTOKUX3b1Ny/s1600/hogfather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaeZ1y-xT_AXBSNV0y-9SbqTDG9yDls-PFyTGFQoXK9OriHAUz35UGpDoRby-rSY97TuSlqmbagS1FiTl9dRh5cCnQtoFm-M6_DjBQbcKp8VGYV8ZPFzui-ylZ_91yiYIsWYTOKUX3b1Ny/s320/hogfather.jpg" width="192" /></a>Right now a couple of my friends and I are reading Terry Pratchett's Christmas-themed book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hogfather-Terry-Pratchett/dp/0061059056/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1323232744&sr=8-2#_">Hogfather.</a> When Christmas rolls around, we're going to discuss it.<br />
I have to say, I'm a big Prachett fan. He's one of my favorite authors. His satirical fantasy novels are the perfect blend of humor, drama, and intelligent observation. I've read this particular book before, but it's been a few years. It's nice to be able to go through it again and relive my favorite parts.<br />
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<br />
Socks are also a very quick, easy knitting project. It's just difficult enough not to be monotonous. <br />
<br />
This Christmas I'm knitting 4 pairs of socks. Here's one of the patterns I'm using:<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-nice-ribbed-sock">http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-nice-ribbed-sock</a><br />
<br />
Sock knitting resources:<br />
<a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/FEATsocks101.html">http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring05/FEATsocks101.html</a><br />
<a href="http://www.socknitters.com/Tips/heels_by_the_number.htm">http://www.socknitters.com/Tips/heels_by_the_number.htm</a><br />
<a href="http://knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/011004_a.asp">http://knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/011004_a.asp</a><br />
<a href="http://www.fibergypsy.com/common/socksize.shtml">http://www.fibergypsy.com/common/socksize.shtml</a></div>Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7827285683930441644.post-91993692780741783722011-12-05T09:59:00.000-07:002011-12-05T09:59:37.529-07:00Handmade Holiday 2011A couple of years ago I decided that once I had my own place and my own life, I wanted my holidays to be as simple as possible. I still feel that way. I want home to be a cozy place filled with things that I've created with my own hands, and the smell of food that I've cooked. I want the holidays to be about enjoying good food and good company, and maybe an exchange of small thoughtful gifts. <br />
<br />
I've never been into the noise and stress of conventional holiday preparations. I hope I won't get caught up in all that as I get older. Simple, low-key holidays seem to be where it's at. <br />
<br />
As a part of this commitment to simplify my holidays, I've decided to make all of my Christmas gifts this year (I can knit and cook). It's a lot of work, I'm about halfway through my knitting projects and the holiday is less than a month away, but I'm having fun with it. I love being able to design and customize every single gift, making it special for the people on the receiving end.Johannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11032676222075728993noreply@blogger.com0