Hats Hats Hats

Admittedly this is not the best picture.  But I thought I should give you a glimpse of what I had been working on, and rambling on about, and the hats have now gone to their owners so no chance of a retake.  These are two of the three hats I made for Christmas gifts.  The third felted strangely and because I thought it had turned into an epic fail I neglected to take a picture of it.  However when I gave it to Becky with the promise to make her a new one and that my feelings wouldn't be hurt if she didn't like it she promptly tired it on and declared it to be PERFECT.  Perhaps I can get a photo of her wearing it sometime soon.  I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and a Hap-Hap-Happy New Year!

Homemade Gifts

Still need to make a last minute homemade gift?  One that doesn't include ridiculous amounts of butter and sugar?  No that I am knocking butter and sugar.  Believe me I LOVE butter and sugar.  But if you have someone on your list who has more of a savory tooth these are perfect.

Holiday Babble

Are you making homemade gifts this year?  I decided, around Thanksgiving, to break out the knitting needles and wool and get to work.  I thought it would be a good idea to practice my somewhat rusty knitting skills, seriously all I have made for the past few years are baby hats.  And more baby hats.  And maybe some more baby hats. 

It may have been an over ambitious decision.

While I was pulling the yarn off the needles for the third time because I had neglected to pay attention and had done two full rows incorrectly, one stitch off the whole way around, I had a conversation with myself.  I am sure Pippa thought I was losing it.  It went something like this...

"Self, why did you decide to do this?  Why did you actually think it was a good idea to make three hats, two with a fancy looking pattern and one that still needs to be felted, and two other projects that you have yet to get started on?  When did you think you would have the time?  While we are talking about time why did you think you should get a new cat?  A new cat, in the winter, when the plants have been moved inside and he is very tempted to eat them?  In the winter when you have a Christmas tree aka a climbing tower and toy?  Wait, focus, back to the knitting.  Get a grip and pay attention.  Count your stitches and stop messing around.  You still have some other projects to get to!"

So there you have it.  My mind is a mess of K1, P1, YO, SS and so on.  Thank goodness for the knitters who put demos up on YouTube!

This is my long winded explanation for why I haven't been posting about Christmas cookies.  I haven't made any.  I haven't made much of anything in the kitchen for the past few weeks.  I do have some gifts that I will be making in the kitchen this weekend.  I am hopeful that they will turn out well and that I will have some pictures and recipes to share with you.  And don't worry, they are quick projects so if you need some last minute, and I do mean last minute, gift ideas I think I can help you out!  I am also hopeful that I will finish these knitting project on time!s  My other goal for the weekend is to finish my Christmas card, I have it drawn out I just have to paint it, so that I can share that with you too.

Best wishes for finishing any homemade gifts that you are working on!

Tomatoes Roasted in Olive Oil

This project happened back in September.  Around the same time as the crisp.  I had tomatoes galore.  Big fat heirloom tomatoes.  Before we go any further I have something to admit.  Don't judge.

Plum and Apple Crisp

I made this back in, gulp, September.  In September when you could still wear flip flops.  In September when there were still flowers at the farm down the road.  In September when it was still light out at 4:30.  Before we had snow.  Before I got completely overwhelmed with school and took some time off from sharing recipes and pictures with you.  But I am back, baby!  I can't make any promises that blog posts will be super consistent.  Because they probably won't be.  But now that it is dark at 4:30 why not bake?  And share!  And get myself back into the swing of things.  So here we go!

Tomatillos

Most of the Farmer's Markets are closed now.  And the winter Farmer's Market won't open until December.  I luckily live near a working farm, they have their own store which is open until just before Christmas.  So I don't have to look too hard to find delicious fresh and local produce.

I bought these tomatillos on my last trip through the York Farmer's Market at the end of September.  I never made anything with them.  But I kept them in a bowl in the kitchen and looked at them for a week.  They were just so cool!  Purple and green and wrapped up in their own cool natural wrapping paper.

I thought on this dreary snow, sleet and rain filled day you might like to take a look at them too.

 

Quick Quinoa Salad

This is a great quick salad to take to a pot luck.  I'm sure you have a few fall cookouts lined up!  And it really couldn't be simpler.  Quinoa, feta, apple, olives, honey, lemon and mint.  That's it!