Chinese Cooking Check In

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Remember my resolution to learn to cook Chinese? Going very well so far!  If you get this book, and I totally reccommend it, the Chicken Mushroom Dumplings are amazing, the Honey Walnut Shrimp is amazing, and the Chow Mein is awfully good.  My kids are loving it, my husband is loving it, I am loving it, and I’ve quickly learned that doubling the recipes means lots of yummy takeout style leftovers. 

Ready to become something special…

My kids called this “Shrimp with Frosting” and they weren’t far off.  That’s right – shrimp, frosting, candied walnuts – how could this be anything but awesome?

Giant bowl of Chow Mein lasted 2 full dinners and a lunch!  So yummy!

Here’s another link to the book, and to the author’s website Rasa Malaysia, which has lots of other great recipes.

Pomegranite Pine Nut Salad

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This is my all time favorite salad.  I would say “for the moment” because I do like to  change it up, but I’ve been constantly craving and eating this salad for over a year now.  I look forward to pomegranite season just for this salad!

Pomegranite Pine Nut Salad

Serves 4

(4 regular adults, or 2 adults who are obsessed with it and 2 kids who are being forced to eat it)

Ingredients:

1 head of romaine lettuce

        short cut! Just use any Bag ‘O Salad, I especially like the baby spring greens.

1/2 C pine nuts

1/4 C French Feta Cheese

1/2 C pomegranite arils/seeds (about 1/2 a pomegranite)

Briannas Real French Vinaigrette (short cut built in – yay!)

First off, toast the pine nuts.  I usually put them in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes.  You’ll know they are done because they’ll start to smell all kinds of wonderful and look lightly browned.  (I know some people like to do it in a dry skillet, I just always seem to burn them that way)

While the nuts are toasting, chop up your romaine, or dump your bag of salad into a bowl.  Toss with a couple Tablespoons of dressing.  (I like mine lightly dressed, how do you like yours?)  There’s probably an amazing home made dressing out there that rivals Brianna’s, but I just love this stuff and it saves me 5-10 minutes.  I’d love to see links if you know of a recipe though!

Crumble your Feta Cheese on top of the dressed lettuce.  (If you must, use the dry greek stuff, but I think it’s the creaminess of the french feta that makes it so so yummy.  I’ve found the french variety at Kroger, but the Tnuva brand at Costco is imported from Israel and also has that slightly less mature mild and creamy texture.  It looks like a lot to buy, but we always go through it before it goes bad).

Dump the warm nuts on top.  I love how the heat softens the cheese ever so slightly.

Slice open that pomegranite and harvest the deliciousness inside!  Warning: things will get messy.  Your countertop (and sleeves) may look like there’s been some kind of massacre when you’re done, so just be forewarned!   

If you’ve never had pomegranite before, don’t be intimidated!  It’s a bit messy, but you will be rewarded.  Just slice it into quarters, peel back the white membranes and pluck out the seeds (aka arils).  If you see any that are milky and soft, those ones have gone bad, just skip them and focus on the firm, bright garnet colored ones.  I thought for so long that you were supposed to suck off the juice and then spit out the fibery part of the seed, and it seemed like a lot of work for a little bit of pomegranite.  Now I just eat the entire seed – more fiber for me!  My kids eat them like candy.  So pop out the second half of seeds too, save them in a jar in the fridge – instant snack.  Or toss them over your oatmeal the next morning – so yummy!

Dump on those arils, lightly toss.  (Just a note, if it’s not pomegranite season, dried cranberries make a pretty good sub, so you can feast on this year round.)

Enjoy!  My kids will eat everything but the cheese.  My husband and I devour the rest.  I could have this every day.

Pick our Next Colorway (and win it)

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Is anyone else ridiculously addicted to Pinterest?  I spend so much time on there it’s getting ridiculous. 

Did I mention ridiculous? 

For those of you yet unaware, it’s a site where you can build virtual pinboards of amazing things you find online.  For me it’s become another stash.  Except this time, instead of stashing yarn, fiber, fabric, or beads, I’m stashing ideas, plans, future projects.

One part I love love love is that I can build an entire board of photos/palettes that inspire me when creating colorways for yarn and fiber.  Here’s my colorways board if you’d like to take a peek.

In fact, do peek, because there are so many great palettes there I don’t even know where to start.  Leave a comment with y0ur favorite palette for spring that you’d like to see on yarn or fiber.  I’ll create colorways inspired by the top 3. 

The people who suggested them will be entered into a drawing, and I’ll pick one winner per colorway.  Plus one winner from everyone who participates and that winner can choose their favorite from the 3.

Deadline for suggestions is Tuesday night, because I’m having my first dye day of the year on Wednesday – I can’t wait!  Feel free to suggest up to three colorways.

Yay for Color!

Resolutions and Such

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Ah, January.  The time when I blog faithfully all of two times in a week and then peter out again as life takes over.

I’m hoping this year will be different, since I really need to blog.  I mean, I lay awake at night composing blog posts in my mind, unable to sleep.  So, either blogging more will allow me to sleep better at night, or I’ll just have more things to think about instead of sleeping.  I guess we’ll see.  And yes, I did actually think about typing that last paragraph as I laid awake last night.  And I realized I’d type that last sentence too.  I could go on, but you know how it ends I’m sure.

So I thought I’d start the year out by sharing some of my resolutions.  I LOVE New Year’s Resolutions, and this year I have things figured out a bit better.  I’m making them goals I can actually measure.  Yep, the good old S.M.A.R.T. goals.  Meaning, they will be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.  However, I’m gonna make the “M” stand for meaningful, and the “T” stand for trackable, since “timely” isn’t all that important, they’re all just things I want to accomplish this year, any time this year.

1. Learn to cook Chinese food (by cooking my way through Bee Yin Low’s “Easy Chinese Recipes”).  OK, so I’m choosing an “easy” book.  I’m not trying to master Chinese cuisine, just cook it myself.  And PS I made the Yangzhou Fried Rice and Chicken and Mushroom Dumplings for New Year’s Eve dinner and they were great!  The dumplings in particular were amazing.  I am the new queen of dim sum.  Best of all, my kids went crazy for them!

2. Start working out with weights 2-3 times per week (by following the workout program in Lou Schuler’s “The New Rules of Lifting for Women“).  Did my first workout today and my legs are jelly.  Perfect.

3. Actually do 5 of the things I’ve pinned on Pinterest.  Damn you Pinterest.  I no longer craft, I just collect ideas of crafts I want to do.

4. Learn to draw, or rather improve my drawing skills by practicing 20 minutes a day for 30 days.  (And yes, I’m following a program in a book – Mark Kistler’s “You Can Draw in 30 Days”)

I know, I like books that lay out plans for me.  I’ve learned that if I try to figure out my own plan, it’s way to easy to get lost.  Or just distracted.

5. Read at least one book to each child every day.  Just my way of carving out some individual time with the kids.  They need it and so do I.

6. Make 3 articles of clothing for myself.  Knit, crochet, sew, whatever.  Just that they’re handmade by me.  Accessories can count I suppose, in the spirit of being realistic, but at least 1 must be actual clothing.

(Had to have a fibery one!)

Here’s to a fantastic and fruitful 2012 – a year to grow!  What are you all planning?

Put ‘Em Up! (Peaches I Mean)

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Puttin’ up peaches this year – yum!

Started with these beauties from our local Farmer’s Market.  (If you’re in Cinci – check out the Mount Lookout market Saturdays from 10-1 for what are literally the best peaches I’ve ever had.  My parents had some last year when they came to visit and they’re still talking about them!)

Made a syrup of honey and water, put peaches in clean mason jars with cinnamon and cloves, poured the syrup over the top and Boom!   Honey Spiced Peaches.

Can’t wait to enjoy them on a cold winter’s day!

Stylish and Covered – Kirsten Dunst

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OK, I admit it, I’m totally loving the more, shall we say demure, looks in fashion lately.  Whenever I think of the women I most admire fashion-wise, they are people who usually go with “classic” looks.  Longer hemlines and covering parts that jiggle used to be associated with women past a certain age, but lately more designers have been creating clothes that are fresh and young, and *gasp* downright modest.

Kirsten Dunst in Chanel (Spring 2012 Resort Collection)
I’m loving the photos I’ve seen of Kirsten Dunst lately – she’s absolutely stunning, chic, and shows you can pull that off without showing off a ton of skin.  Bravo!

Kirsten Dunst in Rodarte (Spring 2011 Collection)

Jeni’s Ice Cream at the McMullin House!

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Just heard that Jeni of Jeni’s Ice Cream fame has published an ice cream cookbook!

Of course I went immediately to Amazon and bought a copy.  I already planned on sharing my recipe trials from David Lebovitz’s Perfect Scoop this summer, so I’ll be sure to mix in some of Jeni’s as well.  I love, love, love that she includes recipes as well as techniques so you can create your own.  Perhaps I’ll get creative and have some tinkerings to share.

I actually discovered Jeni’s ice cream when reading about people’s TNNA experiences on Ravelry.  (The summer TNNA convention and Jeni’s are both up the road in Columbus, Ohio.)  Too far for us to drive up just for ice cream I’d never tasted, I instead ordered some online (oh and they ship all over the U.S.  It’s a bit pricey, but totally worth it if you’re an ice cream maniac.)  Now I’ve discovered some local shops that carry it here in Cincinnati – yay!

I actually didn’t care for their signature Salty Caramel flavor, but the Belgian Milk Chocolate is bar none the best chocolate ice cream I’ve ever tasted.  And, I’ll admit with a mixture of pride and chagrin, I’ve tasted a lot of chocolate ice cream.  The regular Dark Chocolate is also pretty awesome, but I found myself constantly going back to the Belgian for my chocolate fix.  They don’t carry it in the shop anymore so I’m crossing my fingers that it’ll be in the book.  Don’t even get me started on the Strawberry Buttermilk.  Even if you’re like me, and usually head for the chocolate to the exclusion of all other flavors, you’ll find this one amazing.  My next gotta try it is The Buckeye State – peanut buttery chocolate goodness! 

Is your mouth watering just a bit?  I won’t tell anyone.

Get Crafty With Inspiring Supplies

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Get crafty!  Baking twine is in the shop now.  You can get it in bulk (250 yard center pull balls for just $10) or by the super cute spool (3 – 15 yard spools for $5 -  pick any three colors).

I find myself using this adorable stuff all the time, usually for gift wrapping.  (Yep, last Christmas was all about brown paper packages tied up with string)  But there are all sorts of fun crafty uses for it, so expect some project ideas soon!

Fiber Friday

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OK so it’s Saturday, but I’m just getting this thing set up and you can’t expect me to wait an entire week to post about the fibery goodness I’ve got cooking up!  I have a bit of a backlog that I need to get posted rightthissecond.

Last month we had some gorgeous days – the rains had passed and it wasn’t blazing hot yet, and I got in some great spinning time just sitting out back in the garden as the kids played their hearts out.  Here are the results on the spindle:

And then here it is all plied up:

 

I think now that I see them both I actually prefer the single ply, but the finished plied version did get lots of oohs and aahs at The City Flea last week. 

I mean two weeks ago… wow summer does really fly by!

I even had one friendly passerby make the awesome suggestion of using handspun to create necklaces.  I am now, of course, brooding over some future project ideas.

I’ve just added Harvest (above) a squishy soft and superbulky SW Merino Wool, along with lots of other new handspun to the shop.  Wait till you see the gorgeous stuff I spun while sitting in my booth at The City Flea!  Can’t wait to get them plied and finished.

Love this App!

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Yep I am now the proud owner of an iPhone – which means I’ve been discovering and collecting some great apps.  Thought I’d share my new favorites here as I discover them, just in case you’ll find them handy (or just awesome) too.

Now that the summer fruit season is upon us, I’m loving this one called the Dirty Dozen app.  It’s not really fancy, just a list of the best and worst produce when it comes to pesticides.  Great for people like me, who would love to go all out organic, but have a budget to think about.  The app points out which produce you should always buy organic (the dirty dozen) and which ones are not as bad conventionally (the Clean 15).  It’s free, and it means not having to write all that info down, or *gasp* remember it.  My brain needs all the free space I can give it, thank you very much!