A Knitted Frenzy

The Domestic Goddess Prevails

Yes, folks, that is homemade pumpkin bread.  I made four loaves of it and have given two away already.  (And one is 1/2 eaten in my fridge.)  I don't remember where I found the recipe last year but it is heaven.  Not fat-free or "light" in any way.  :D




And this is (8) 4 oz jars of homemade strawberry jam.  I froze about 1 quart of fresh just-from-the-fields strawberries last season. There is nothing like homemade jam.  ('Scuse me while I break my arm patting myself on the back).  Seriously though, it's so easy to make I can't be too proud of myself.  But I can't wait till it's strawberry season again.


I also made (4) pints of unsweetened uncinnamoned applesauce that I apparently didn't take any pictures of.


For the soldiers my work sends care packages to, I am knitting them each (three of them) a Christmas stocking.  And as long as it's on the approved list, I will be sending them strawberry jam.  These stockings are so easy to make.  I used the basic sock pattern I use for all my socks, 11US dpns, Lion Brand Thick & Quick and voile!  I did the first one in about two hours.  They almost look vintage.  Now I have to make one for each of my furbabies (well, I will have a lot of leftover yarn.)



Next projects up to bat:

*Finish D's sox that are already on the sticks and past the first 20 rows of ribbing (Christmas present)
*Start Christmas presents for everyone else :)
*Attempt apple butter
*Make more applesauce (sweetened & cinnamoned) & pumpkin bread
*Finish up Blackberry
*Finish Big Bad Baby Blanket

I am the Domestic Goddess

Yes, I've taken on that title.  I think, in this age of microwave, TiVo and drive thrus, I deserve this title.  Why?  Because I canned 7 jars of applesauce last weekend.  7. Jars. Homemade. From. Scratch. No. Recipe. Canned.  Yes I did.  I love the canning process.  Did I mention I am not so much into math?  Well, I'm also physics impaired.  I don't know how exactly canning works, I don't care because I can do it.  :)  On my list of other things to can:

*Strawberry jam (have fresh frozen strawberries in my freezer from the summer)
*More applesauce, chunkier this time
*Apple butter (thanks to mom for providing me with a food mill for my mixer and thereby feeding into my domestic frenzy)
*Green beans, corn, tomatoes and other yummy fresh veggies and fruits from the farmer's markets that continue on year round here
*Plum jam, plum butter and plum syrup once I can get my hands on plums

I will can everything I can get my hands on.  I am so excited about handing over jars and jars of homemade goodness to everyone I know.  :)  If you want some this Christmas, email me your mailing address and I will send you a goodie basket (any preferences, just let me know, like if you really don't like tomatoes).

To continue on with the domestic goddessness, I will be making this skirt this weekend in this fabric and this fabric.  (Two different skirts.)  I also have this pattern and some fab bright green silk to use.  I'm very excited to have these two patterns, as I've been eyeing them for a while.  And the bright green skirt has been waiting patiently for me to use for, oh, about the last 6 years.

For the rest of my domesticity, I have several project bags to make out of the 35 yds of cotton canvas I bought off ebay last (with the intent make slipcovers for my couches that didn't happen).  Also, eventually, will be making canvases to paint on, as I like to do that too.Having found my pumpkin bread recipe, I will be turning out a few mini loaves of that as well. 

You could cut the domesticity with a knife...

I finally had the drive and desire to cook something this weekend!  I haven't wanted to cook in a long time.  So I did up some homemade ravioli.  mmmm.... It's my mom's recipe.  And my mom's old hand crank pasta machine.  It's a good 20 years old, if not older.  I see that they're being made again (i.e. Bed Bath & Beyond) but until this one dies on me, I won't be getting a new one.

The pasta is basic... 2 cups flour, 4 eggs, mix.

The filling is 16 oz. chopped spinach (I use frozen), 2 cooked chicken breasts, chopped (I marinated mine in lemon & garlic marinade and baked them), 3/4 cup italian style bread crumbs and you can add parmasean cheese if you like.  Mix it all up. 

I use what they call a Cut-n-Seal from Pampered Chef.  It's the exact same thing as my mom's original ravioli cutter (that she got at the Illionis State Fair about 20 years ago) but hers has rusted so I don't use it anymore.  It's about 3" wide and you can see it here.

Once you start making raviolis with this, you get a feel for how much filling to put in.  It's about one rounded tablespoon of filling per ravioli.  It doesn't seem like much but the dough has to be able to seal.

I froze the whole batch of 'em.  Two ravioli are usually enough for me.  Simple little tomato sauce on top and it's all good.  :)

P.S. The little weird things in the last photo?  There was filling leftover and random bits of pasta... I couldn't let the filling go to waste so I made weird little ravioli and cooked those for dinner last night.  Yum!

No moo for me...

I decided that as of this morning, I am cutting out all dairy.  No more dairy!  Which is hard because I become the world's most picky eater when I cut out dairy (does that have cheese on it?  Okay, I'd like it w/o the cheese and with vinagarette on the side and no onions - I just don't like onions).  Going to Taco Bell is fun, my mom loves going to Taco Bell with me when I'm not eating dairy (yes, I'd like a bean burrito w/o cheese or onions - yum!)  :P  Oh well, I know I'll feel better once I stop eating dairy and I won't feel so puffy.  But I will miss my goat cheese!  I love goat cheese! 

Why cut out dairy?  Well, years ago, when I was competing in pageants (yes, I did, I competed for a crown and wore high heels with my swimsuit) I read Fast Food Nation and another book on the evils of the dairy industry.  I also read Marilu Henner's 30 Day Makeover.  All those combined completely grossed me out on milk and all it's sister products.  I won't write the disgusting habits of cows here but keep in mind that cows do not have opposable thumbs and therefore cannot wipe their runny noses.

Anyhoo, I've been feeling sluggish and yuck about myself and I just remember the feeling I had when I was dairy free for 6+ months.  I didn't feel bloated or puffy, my skin was clear, my allergies were reduced and I dropped weight like a mutha.  I'm tired of feeling tired and I want more energy.  Eventually, I will also be cutting caffeine and soda out of my diet (I don't drink that much soda but combined with coffee and tea, I'm a regular caffeine junkie on a daily high). 

So the process is zero dairy for the next 30 days.  After 30 days I can slowly incorporate soy into my diet.  The thing is if you immediately replace dairy for soy, your body treats the soy like dairy.  (It's true I tried to cheat.)  No milk on my cereal (so no cereal either), no milk in my coffee or smoothies, no ice cream, cheese or yogurt. 

<sigh> 

It's going to be a long 30 days y'all.

Favorite Wines

I thought it would appropriate to list my favorite wines since that is my drink of choice:

Camus Conundrum
Wildhorse Merlot
Echelon Merlot
Fetzer Gewurtzaminer

There are also a few white burgundies and white merlots that I like.  I like to try the different wines carried by Cost Plus and Trader Joes.  But I usually stick with my favorites.  Also love hot chili dark chocolate with my whites and garlic dark chocolate with my reds.  Yum!