I just got a spam email with the subject line: Tea is the ties of Friendship.
I love spam email sometimes.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Comfort-Land
Well, since Mister is on a roadtrip (long story, but he'll be back in around 4 days), it's just me here at the apartment. Rather than end up in the pity-party of just-me cooking, I've decided to make tasty foods that Mister doesn't like. :-P
So, for tonight's meal, I'm having some tea, a cheese quesadilla (used up some dried up cheddar and the last of the salsa in the process), and tuna noodle casserole. Mister doesn't eat fish, and can't stand even the smell of tuna -- so with the promise that I will wash the can out and not leave any tuna around (our apartment is so small that a single smell will linger for days... it's been bacon lately), I get to eat some good comfort food!
Tuna noodle casserole is cheap, simplified American food at its finest: egg noodles, cream of mushroom soup, canned tuna, and milk. Precook the egg noodles, then combine and bake! I also prefer to crumble potato chips on top (apparently this can be called "P'tuna Noodle Casserole"), but as I was out, I'm using fried onions from a can. :-P
I'm also intending on putting on a comfy movie and eating while watching a movie -- comfort to the max!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
I Believe In Father Christmas
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winter's light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
'Til I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'Til I awoke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish, pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
Hallelujah Noel be it heaven or hell
The Christmas you get you deserve
^ If you are unfamiliar with this piece from Greg Lake, please listen to it. It's my most favorite non-carol.
They said there'll be peace on earth
But instead it just kept on raining
A veil of tears for the virgin birth
I remember one Christmas morning
A winter's light and a distant choir
And the peal of a bell and that Christmas tree smell
And their eyes full of tinsel and fire
They sold me a dream of Christmas
They sold me a silent night
And they told me a fairy story
'Til I believed in the Israelite
And I believed in Father Christmas
And I looked at the sky with excited eyes
'Til I awoke with a yawn in the first light of dawn
And I saw him and through his disguise
I wish you a hopeful Christmas
I wish you a brave New Year
All anguish, pain and sadness
Leave your heart and let your road be clear
They said there'll be snow at Christmas
They said there'll be peace on earth
Hallelujah Noel be it heaven or hell
The Christmas you get you deserve
^ If you are unfamiliar with this piece from Greg Lake, please listen to it. It's my most favorite non-carol.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Holiday Preps
Just a few notes and pics of what Mister and I have been up to these past couple days (and so much of it tonight of course...)
Got around to pressing and starching that scarf -- what a difference it makes! Even though I KNOW it makes a difference, it always surprises me.
Free, on-the-side-of-the-road scarf has now been washed by hand and is drying on our window screens.
Just about half of a batch of dough waiting for pierogi filling (sadly, I ran out of flour, so these are 1/2 whole wheat flour...)
Lookit the cute lil' pierogi! Who's a nommy dumpling? You!
Me, with my ghetto sifter, making chocolate cake.
OM NOM NOM CHEX MIX. On a side note, it's really difficult to get them to crisp when you use too much butter...
Working on the first of five crocheted loofas. Luckily, I don't need this done until Monday or so.
Happy holidays folks, and may all of your preps be as tasty as mine.
Got around to pressing and starching that scarf -- what a difference it makes! Even though I KNOW it makes a difference, it always surprises me.
Free, on-the-side-of-the-road scarf has now been washed by hand and is drying on our window screens.
Just about half of a batch of dough waiting for pierogi filling (sadly, I ran out of flour, so these are 1/2 whole wheat flour...)
Lookit the cute lil' pierogi! Who's a nommy dumpling? You!
Me, with my ghetto sifter, making chocolate cake.
OM NOM NOM CHEX MIX. On a side note, it's really difficult to get them to crisp when you use too much butter...
Working on the first of five crocheted loofas. Luckily, I don't need this done until Monday or so.
Happy holidays folks, and may all of your preps be as tasty as mine.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Grr
So I am pissed -- in addition to all that she's done the damage our property, this apartment and my happiness, our cleaning lady has trashed one of our saucepans (the biggest one no less) to the point that Mister and I should no longer use it.
It's a non-stick 3-qt saucepan with a glass lid able to strain pasta. Now, we've not always been perfect about not using metal in it, however we never go out of our way to scratch and scrape it.
Last night, while drying this pot (after washing it), I noticed many small pricks in the bottom of the non-stick surface. Pricks, like something had repeatedly stabbed through it, and lifted little sections to stand straight up. Pricks reaching straight through to the metal underneath.
Knowing how dangerous an improperly cared for non-stick pan can be, I pointed it out to Mister, and stated that I felt we should no longer use it, and wondered how this damage happened.
"Oh it was [cleaning lady]," Mister stated confidently. "She throws all of the silverware into there when she's washing dishes. I've seen her do it."
Excuse me?! Going out of her way to trash the objects that I'd rather not have to spend money to replace? (It was a good, solid, heavy-duty pot, destined for many years of use.) I was furious. If it hadn't been 10:30 at night, several people would have gotten phone calls from me, so that I could vent and get it properly out of my system. Also, I'd like to know what exactly kind of cookware she uses at home, since she doesn't know how to care for both cast iron and non-stick.
So, I wrote up a cute little calendar deciding when and how many times the cleaning lady would be visiting before we leave. Three. That's it. She will not be allowed in our apartment beyond those three times, and if she tries to give Mister shit about "not enough notice" (four days requirement is excessive, Ms. Cleaning Lady), she can go suck a duck.
It's a non-stick 3-qt saucepan with a glass lid able to strain pasta. Now, we've not always been perfect about not using metal in it, however we never go out of our way to scratch and scrape it.
Last night, while drying this pot (after washing it), I noticed many small pricks in the bottom of the non-stick surface. Pricks, like something had repeatedly stabbed through it, and lifted little sections to stand straight up. Pricks reaching straight through to the metal underneath.
Knowing how dangerous an improperly cared for non-stick pan can be, I pointed it out to Mister, and stated that I felt we should no longer use it, and wondered how this damage happened.
"Oh it was [cleaning lady]," Mister stated confidently. "She throws all of the silverware into there when she's washing dishes. I've seen her do it."
Excuse me?! Going out of her way to trash the objects that I'd rather not have to spend money to replace? (It was a good, solid, heavy-duty pot, destined for many years of use.) I was furious. If it hadn't been 10:30 at night, several people would have gotten phone calls from me, so that I could vent and get it properly out of my system. Also, I'd like to know what exactly kind of cookware she uses at home, since she doesn't know how to care for both cast iron and non-stick.
So, I wrote up a cute little calendar deciding when and how many times the cleaning lady would be visiting before we leave. Three. That's it. She will not be allowed in our apartment beyond those three times, and if she tries to give Mister shit about "not enough notice" (four days requirement is excessive, Ms. Cleaning Lady), she can go suck a duck.
Update on Scarf
So, I started the scarf for Mister's sister in early December.
Look at how it's grown up!
And some close up detail:
It merely wants pressing to be done. The final pattern (as I've recreated it) is as follows (again I apologize for the terrible pattern writing):
[This scarf was created using a 1.4mm hook and size 10, 3-ply crochet thread.]
1 -- ch20. sc in last ch.
2 -- ch4. dc in 3rd ch from sc. *ch2, dc in 3rd ch from dc. Repeat from star until across the row.
Repeat grid pattern until you have a 6x6 square.
3 -- 3sc in 1st square, 2sc in next square, 2sc in next square, 2sc in next square. ch8, attach by slst to 3rd sc from the last one made. ch1, flip work so that when it's facing you, you have on the left of your hook the plain grid and a loop. 3sc in loop, ch4, 2sc, ch4, sc1, ch4, sc1, ch4 sc2, ch4, sc3 (one picot of ch-4, two sc, three picots of ch-4, two sc, one picot of ch-4 surrounded by 3sc). Continue sc-ing in the grid. 2sc in next square, 3sc in next square, ch1 and turn work 90 degrees clockwise.
Repeat row three 3x, until all around the square, and slst in the base of the first sc.
4 -- ch6, sc in 2nd picot on the loop. ch8, sc in 4th picot on the loop. ch6, sc in corner of the grid.
Repeat row four 3x, until all around the square and slst in the base of the first ch.
5 -- 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop (three picots of ch-4 surrounded by 3sc)). 4sc over the ch-8, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 4sc (ch-8 loop (three picots of ch-4 surrounded by 4sc)). 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop (three picots of ch-4 surrounded by 3sc)).
Repeat row five 3x, until all around the square and slst in the base of the first sc and break thread.
** In every motif except the first, on your final repeat of row five, please attach to another motif by crocheting: 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop). 4 sc over the ch-8, ch2, slst through ch-4 loop #1 on other motif, ch2, sc, ch2, slst through ch-4 loop #2 on other motif, ch2, sc, ch2, slst through ch-4 loop #3 on other motif, ch2, 4sc (ch-8 loop). 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop), slst into base of next sc and break thread.
After completing and attaching as many motifs as you need for length (for my scarf, I used 16 motifs), set foundation for final round.
Attach thread at one end of the scarf, in the center of the ch-4 picots.
1 -- ch10, sc in next center picot. Always sc-ing in the center picots of the last round, ch10 all around the motif, with ch12 between one motif and the next (paralleling the slst connection attaching picot to picot). Continue all the way around.
2 -- In ch-10 loop: 5sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 5sc (three picots of ch-4 with 5-sc on either side). In ch-12 loop: 5sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 5sc (five picots of ch-4 with 5-sc on either side). When all around scarf, slst in base of first sc and break thread.
3 -- Weave in ends.
Look at how it's grown up!
And some close up detail:
It merely wants pressing to be done. The final pattern (as I've recreated it) is as follows (again I apologize for the terrible pattern writing):
[This scarf was created using a 1.4mm hook and size 10, 3-ply crochet thread.]
1 -- ch20. sc in last ch.
2 -- ch4. dc in 3rd ch from sc. *ch2, dc in 3rd ch from dc. Repeat from star until across the row.
Repeat grid pattern until you have a 6x6 square.
3 -- 3sc in 1st square, 2sc in next square, 2sc in next square, 2sc in next square. ch8, attach by slst to 3rd sc from the last one made. ch1, flip work so that when it's facing you, you have on the left of your hook the plain grid and a loop. 3sc in loop, ch4, 2sc, ch4, sc1, ch4, sc1, ch4 sc2, ch4, sc3 (one picot of ch-4, two sc, three picots of ch-4, two sc, one picot of ch-4 surrounded by 3sc). Continue sc-ing in the grid. 2sc in next square, 3sc in next square, ch1 and turn work 90 degrees clockwise.
Repeat row three 3x, until all around the square, and slst in the base of the first sc.
4 -- ch6, sc in 2nd picot on the loop. ch8, sc in 4th picot on the loop. ch6, sc in corner of the grid.
Repeat row four 3x, until all around the square and slst in the base of the first ch.
5 -- 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop (three picots of ch-4 surrounded by 3sc)). 4sc over the ch-8, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 4sc (ch-8 loop (three picots of ch-4 surrounded by 4sc)). 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop (three picots of ch-4 surrounded by 3sc)).
Repeat row five 3x, until all around the square and slst in the base of the first sc and break thread.
** In every motif except the first, on your final repeat of row five, please attach to another motif by crocheting: 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop). 4 sc over the ch-8, ch2, slst through ch-4 loop #1 on other motif, ch2, sc, ch2, slst through ch-4 loop #2 on other motif, ch2, sc, ch2, slst through ch-4 loop #3 on other motif, ch2, 4sc (ch-8 loop). 3sc over the ch-6, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 3sc (ch-6 loop), slst into base of next sc and break thread.
After completing and attaching as many motifs as you need for length (for my scarf, I used 16 motifs), set foundation for final round.
Attach thread at one end of the scarf, in the center of the ch-4 picots.
1 -- ch10, sc in next center picot. Always sc-ing in the center picots of the last round, ch10 all around the motif, with ch12 between one motif and the next (paralleling the slst connection attaching picot to picot). Continue all the way around.
2 -- In ch-10 loop: 5sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 5sc (three picots of ch-4 with 5-sc on either side). In ch-12 loop: 5sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, sc, ch4, 5sc (five picots of ch-4 with 5-sc on either side). When all around scarf, slst in base of first sc and break thread.
3 -- Weave in ends.
Holiday Cookies
So one of the items on my list of things to do is crossed off.
These cookies have been made and bundled up for my coworkers at LUSH. The alterations that I made for this batch (which was delicious btw):
-- Valrhona cocoa in lieu of black cocoa
-- no instant coffee
-- since I couldn't grind the cloves in my mortar/pestle, I used mace instead
-- almonds instead of walnuts
-- a bit of agave nectar and maple syrup instead of brown rice syrup
-- an extra 1/3 c. of molasses instead of brown sugar
-- applesauce instead of apple butter
Also, here's a list of useful substitutions for syrups.
These cookies have been made and bundled up for my coworkers at LUSH. The alterations that I made for this batch (which was delicious btw):
-- Valrhona cocoa in lieu of black cocoa
-- no instant coffee
-- since I couldn't grind the cloves in my mortar/pestle, I used mace instead
-- almonds instead of walnuts
-- a bit of agave nectar and maple syrup instead of brown rice syrup
-- an extra 1/3 c. of molasses instead of brown sugar
-- applesauce instead of apple butter
Also, here's a list of useful substitutions for syrups.
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