Spring colors & traditions

 Happy belated Easter and Spring. We finally warmed up here on  the east coast and spring renewal has begun! I finally have gotten off my chair next to the wood stove and have put away all  the fleece blankets.

I think there is a permanent imprint of my arse on the chair!! (always sounds more classy when you add a British spin on less desirable words) ;-) I went from sitting around trying not freeze to a complete 180 spring cleaning, baking, gardening and designing new patterns.

 Below shows just a peek of what I am talking about...

Spring bulbs popping up ...not where I planted them but somehow on other areas of my property. I don't get it but I'll take it!!

 Easter baking, traditional Italian favorites or should I say American Italian favorites. Recipes from my grandmother who came from Naples, My Sicilian grandmother wasn't much of a baker, more of a cook.I have changed the pie crust and use a Pate Brisee recipe from Martha. I have mastered this and I have even cut the butter amount to a stick and a half and it works out just fine. 

 Then we saw that our mess turned into a little Nonpareil art in the sink and I had to photograph it ...it was so cool. Easter was quiet and small in number. Two of my five are away at school and the two oldest are home with the little guy. We were joined by my goddaughter and her cousin to make it a bit more fun for the little guy (who is not so little these days! He is growing like a weed!) My oldest son always hides the eggs and makes my goddaughter really work for them now that she is 13. This year he made her climb the wisteria tree about 7 feet up!! Our youngest just loves holidays and his enthusiasm is just so fun to witness.. I feel so blessed that I get to experience it all again...not so blessed about experiencing all the school work again though!!

The Baby Moccasin is an original design. I have written up the pattern and checking it twice to share with you. It is quick and easy, great for a last minute shower gift. I have used Rowan's Pure Life Revive on E crochet hook. I am hoping to have it to you by this weekend. But for today I am trying to convince my husband who took the day off to drive up to NYC for the day...what do you think my chances are ??? I'll let  you know!! 

Be well, 

Ming

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?

That's just the way it is...

"Some things will never change". Another 80's song that has inspired my blog post this week. Whether by Bruce Hornsby or Tupac my post isn't as deep and meaningful as their lyrics but the title captures the essence here. From food, family, feathered friends and flora...some things went smoothy and some didn't ...take a look and you'll see what I mean.

I put food in the feeders fore my little birds but the big birds came and ate most...

 On a cold dreary day I needed something to take the edge off. so i made "Self saucing chocolate cakes!

Of course you need some vanilla ice cream no matter how dreary it is outside!!!

  I made my own Garam Masala for my Chick Pea Masala ...out of necessity comes invention...well not invention here but inspiration.

  You can get a boat load of Roses extremely cheap the day after Valentines day!

 

 I had a surprise70th luncheon for my mother and locked myself out of the house an hour before everyone was to arrive...( my mother with her 3 sisters..they are all over 70 can you believe it!!!)

 And made a garland of Shamrocks cause her birthday is on St. Patrick's day and her name is Pat...

 The Red tail Hawk is trying to eat my little dogs...

 We got more snow on St.Patrick's Day...shouldn't it be Spring!!

 I am hoping this is the last of the last, my birds got completely snowed in this time.

 And if you add some cherry pie filling to devils food cake mix and top it off with your favorite homemade cream cheese frosting you get some really fine Black Forest  cupcakes!

Yup, that's just the way it is around here these days. No matter how you try to be proactive or prepared sometimes it just doesn't matter and things still go awry.
  Rarely do I ever host a party and not prepare all the food however, this time I wanted to sit back and enjoy and had it catered. Figuring it would be less stressful. And you ask "Did it work and was it less stressful?" Well I tell you a big fat NOPE! As I stated I  locked myself out of the house an hour before the party while bringing the food in and completely stressed out, but then started to laugh. Hey at least nothing was cooking in the oven and
Two dozen roses for $24.00 after they were $50.00 the day before....completely ludicrous ...but that's just the way it is...
More snow on St..Patrick's day will this winter never end, but I am  sure I will be screaming when its hot and humid ...but that's just the way I am!!
 Birds trying to eat my dogs and wild turkeys invading my feeders...That's just the way nature is!!
Things that did not go awry...
The Shamrock garland was fun ...I just picked a green fabric and a complementary yellow one for the circles, fused onto a fusible foundation connected it with some velvet ribbon form Anthropolgie that I got on sale after Christmas.
The party was a huge success! I made two new recipes quick easy and delicious and will share them on the next post! A dreamy lemon pie that turned into squares and a one bowl pineapple sheet cake. All I can say is YUM!!
The chocolate mug cakes are from King Arthur flour ...make sure you use the coco they suggest. I used dutch chocolate and it wasn't sweet enough. Next time I will increase the sugar. Delicious the were. The Black Forest cupcakes try it you'll love them trust me and...That's just the way it is!

Next week I have recipes to share and a free crochet pattern for you!
Be well,
Ming

PS... I now use any product that Shakira endorses...she is perfection!

Hits & Misses!

This has been a week of  Hits and Misses...here we go, take a peek...

Hit...SOCK KNITTING!!! my newest addiction!

 Misses....trying to find the right needles to work on...the Addi turbo sock Double Pointed were a bit  to slippery. As much as I love Rowan yarns...their Fine Art sock yarn wasn't my favorite to work with. I found it split easily.

Hit...all the new pretty sock yarn  Misses... all the pretty new sock yarn $$$

 Hit...this picture of Buddha in the snow...Miss more snow!!!

Hit...homemade Madeline's

 Miss...beet cupcakes..looked great but...

Even the deer wouldn't eat them...

Hit..these random pictures...

Miss...these pic and this blog post was delayed about a week due to our annual February respiratory viral infection! My little guy has been sick for almost a month on and off with this and momma has been horribly sleep deprived!

My Madeline recipe is Martha's here...I feel it is tried and true. On my last post I had a picture of my baked oatmeal recipe, some have asked for the recipe it is here.I use blueberries and omit the almonds.I also don't caramelize the bananas and just through the spices right in. The bread above is a quick and really easy  pan bread that whips up quick and easy and great with soups! I use King Arthur's flour recipe but I cant find the link...here is Pillsbury and its pretty much the same except I use olive oil and not Crisco.

OK we have another snow day here today and I have sock knitting to get too! I'm on my second pair YAY! My first pair have already been given away as a gift.

Have a great week,
Ming

PS Matthew McConaughey & Jared Leto...NUFF' SAID