Sidelined,on deck,benched and flagged...

 Sidelined, benched and flagged!! What does this mean???

 Its been a good month of a house full of sick children. I am starting to feel like Nurse Cratchit! I wont bore you with details everyone is on the mend. So blogging has gotten Sidelined. However, here is what I  have been creating to keep myself sane. From cooking to crochet and all else in between here is what has been going on and lots for you to take away.

Here is what is on deck craft wise...

So blogging got sidelined a bit ....On deck are tons of sock yarn..I joined Romi's mystery kal on Ravelry which should be pretty much skill wise on my knitting level but I keep making a repeated mistake ( it has happened  for me before with projects like shawls which start at a point and increase) I think I have it but it I restarted it over 8 times!!! Which then benched my Hermoine's everyday sock.

I'm on the second sock and really want to get it finished So can start a new pair. I will not have more than one pair of socks on needles!!! This would be a mistake...You see I know myself and that would just lead to many many single socks! So I benched the Mystery Kal along with it so I could make my Comfort square block for my sister's knitter Kal/Cal which will become a blanket for someone having a rough time.

I used the Starry Eyes pattern which is my favorite for these comfort squares especially a s some blocks will be knit. It's a denser pattern. It's from the book Encyclopedia of crochet by Donna Kooler. If you crochet please give it a try. You wont be disappointed. 

Now you asked what has been Flagged?

 My name is Donna and I have a problem ...I have joined one to many "A-Longs" I have flagged myself from joining anymore ...I am in a Crochet A Long,  2 Knit A Long's, Stitch A Long. You get it gist. I am addicted to them!!I love how they keep me on task and meeting new friends. Having the camaraderie  has made this long winter bearable. Have I have hit my limit??? Is this my rock bottom ??? Well, if so its a good bottom to hit!

Now to the good stuff...

FOOD & RECIPE

Cream Cheese Brownies

These brownies are Ghirardelli double chocolate box mix and if you add cream cheese filling they become even more divine. Simply in a seperate bowl add

• 1 8oz package of 1/3 less fat cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar ...I used sugar in the raw and the amount of sugar is to your liking
• 1 tsp vanilla

So mix this all together and after you but the brownie mixture to the pan and spread it then add the cream cheese mixture and swirl it in. Bake according to the boxes directions or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

Mushroom Farro Soup

This was a concoction on a dreary day and was a hit...Soooo good and filling!

Warning...its open of my "about" recipes..No real measurements Sorry!! It is just an Italian genetic thing.

• The Trinity ... 2 carrots  2 celery stalks with leaves & 1 sweet onion
• Mushrooms I used white and baby bella for this rough chop and some sliced about 2 cups
• 1 container Imagine NO-chicken broth vegetarian
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup Farro or barley 
• 2 tsps marjoram 
• Salt and Pepper
• 2 to 3 tbls cream ...I used heavy but you could use light or even half and half but I wouldn't suggest milk

Chop the trinity and saute in a heavy bottomed pot with olive oil about 2 tbls.till they begin to soften then add mushrooms and continue to saute until the begin to soften as well. Add the broth, water and seasonings. Simmer this for about 10-15 minutes. Now add the Farro and cook it until it's tender. Now turn off the heat and add the cream and stir. Enjoy with a slice of  good bread  with some melted shredded Fontina cheese on it.

I started spring cleaning the house this week and may have overdone it...So the picture of the chair is where I will be for the rest of the day catching up on my KAL/CAL/SAL'S

I hope you have a sunshine filled weekend filled with some ease.

Be well !

Ming

PS Game of Thrones starts on Saturday! So excited!! Are you a Thrones fan?

Do you "Stoup"...Escarole and white bean.

I hear it happens ...Men who tell their wives that a soup just isn't enough for a proper supper...Enter the "Stoup".

A Stoup is a cross between a soup and a stew. I know not very hard to figure out. Yet A vegetarian stoup may be. So try this one out...it's hearty and delicious And my hubby thinks its just enough for supper.
 However, if you have that man in your life that says otherwise a bit of sausage added should appease him.

 I served this sort of french onion style with melted Fontina cheese on top.

Now every time I say or think of  the word Stoup, my mind goes directly to the Salt& Peppa  song "Shoop" and I start humming and singing changing the Shoop with Stoup ! Now It  may be a bit risque of a song ..but you know what I am talking about if you were a teenager or young adult in the early 90's. Looking back its nothing compared to what is going on today! Wow i just sounded like I am 105 years old!

 Any how, as S&P start the song.."Here we go ...Here we go...Here we go again.....Ahh you make me want to  Shoop  Stoup!"

The Recipe: Escarole and White Bean Stoup

• 1 onion
• 3 stalks celery
• 3 carrots
• 3-4 potatoes cut in quarters (if they are on the smaller size I used golden potatoes) 
• 2 bunches of Escarole cleaned thoroughly 
• 2 cans white kidney beans or Cannelini 
• Vegetable or Chicken broth
• S&P
• Fontina cheese
• a good quality Italian Boule or crusty bread
• Macaroni 1 lb , I used Ditalini or sometimes called tubetti.

Start with the Trinity (chopped carrots,onions & celery ) Saute in olive oil in your soup pot till they start to soften, add Potatoes and Escarole and Cannelini beans . Add your broth I would say 5 to 6 cups and season cook till the potatoes start to get tender. Now add the pasta uncooked directly to the soup. As the pasta cooks the starch it releases really thickens the soup up nicely. Stop cooking when the pasta is "Al dente" or firm to the bite.
Ladle into bowl or oven safe crock sprinkle with the grated Fontina Cheese ...melt and serve with bread. Enjoy!

 And if you want to hum along too... here is the video... Shoop by Salt & Peppa...I swear it adds to the recipe! (remember this video is a bit saucy..) but a very catchy tune ...

Be well and Be have ;-)
Ming

Blessing to those who serve our country to protect us and all beings around the world . Thank you to our Service Men and Women .