This is just a very quick post before I fall into bed, to point out my tumblr blog. It's mostly just a repository for me to put things I come across on this great big internet that I like or want to remember. I've been adding to it for the last week or so, so if you really want to see what I've been up to, go have a peek.

 
 

I also enjoyed this little bunch of ranunculus I got at Trader Joe's for just a few dollars. It lasted nearly two weeks! I love these peachy pinks and yellows. 

I made this pasta for dinner this weekend, it was the perfect embodiment of spring. 

 
 

Good night!
 
 

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I'm spending quite a bit of time in the kitchen this weekend. I am trying, after a long hiatus, to conquer my fear of yeast breads. I've noticed this book mentioned here and there, and what could be better, really, than good bread in five minutes? I had a 33% off coupon for Borders burning a hole in my pocket, so I picked up a copy on my way home from work last Friday. I had planned to attempt a brioche, but found myself without enough butter or honey, so I went with the challah for my first loaves. I loved the idea of the turban shaped loaf, studded with raisins, but put my own twist on it and used dried cherries and apricots instead, and sprinkled almonds on top instead of sesame seeds. 

  

I snipped the fruit into small bits. I love dried cherries. Then I rolled it all up and let it rest:

  

I completely forgot the egg wash, so it didn't come out as shiny as it probably would have, and the continued rising while it baked caused most of the almonds to fall off. Still, it's a pretty little loaf:

  

I've got to figure some stuff out, however. According to the book, their dough recipes are very, very wet, and mine wasn't at all. I also don't think it rose nearly enough; the finished bread is really delicious, but denser than it should be. I think our altitude may have contributed to that. There's a whole lot of science to this bread baking thing, but the artisan bread website is full of information, and the authors seem to be incredibly helpful. I'm going to try a little less yeast in the next batch, which is one of the suggestions for baking at higher altitudes. The challah was just half a recipe, which is just two small loaves, and they are perfectly edible, just a little disappointing. I'm going to try a plain old basic boule for the next batch. 

  

I've been trying to be more organized about the food in our house. Because of our different work schedules, I often am on my own for dinner. I also know myself, and if there isn't something fast and easy, I will eat all sorts of weird things. I can eat the same thing several times in a week, so I'm trying to plan ahead and make it easy to fix myself a quick, light dinner for the next few days. One of my favorite breakfasts is huevos rancheros, so I made my own version of ranchero sauce. It came out quite delicious, if I do say so myself. I have a whole jar full, so all I have to do is heat up a corn tortilla and some sauce, and cook a couple eggs. I'm pretty sure my version is healthier than the taco shop version, and it wasn't hard at all. My secret ingredient is chipotles in adobo sauce. Yum! They are so delicious and spicy.

  

I'm adding the recipe for my own reference, but if you try it, let me know what you think!

1/2 a medium onion, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

a large clove of garlic, minced

olive oil

1 large can whole plum tomatoes

1 can diced tomatoes and chiles (I used Trader Joe's fire roasted, they're delicious!)

a couple finely chopped chipotles, and a spoonful of the adobo sauce from the can

Heat a little olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the onions, bell pepper, and garlic until the onions are translucent and the peppers are soft. Add both cans of tomatoes, breaking up the whole tomatoes with your fingers. Bring to a simmer, reduce the heat a little, and let cook for a few minutes. Add the chipotles and adobo sauce to taste. I find that there are sometimes variations in the hotness levels, so add a little at a time and taste before adding more. I think it gets a little hotter as it cooks, so add them accordingly! Let it simmer for a good 10-15 minutes. Season with salt to taste.

To serve: heat a corn tortilla (or two) in a skillet (I use my cast iron skillet, and spray a little cooking spray in it; I then use the same pan to cook my eggs). Remove tortillas to your plate. Top with a little of your ranchero sauce. You can add a little grated cheese at this point, if you'd like. Cheese isn't authentic, but I felt a little cheese-y myself today, so I added it. I like this just as well without, too. 

Cook two eggs over-easy. Place them on top of the tortillas, and spoon more sauce over the top. Add more cheese, if you'd like, and garnish with fresh cilantro. If you want a more hearty meal, you can serve this with rice and/or beans, as well. 

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I have been a little blah lately in the creativity department. I'm sure it's just a phase, but I hope it ends soon. I tried to sew last weekend, and the results were embarrassingly bad. I should take a picture so we can all laugh together. This weekend, I decided to force myself to take some pictures. I've had a 50mm lens for awhile, and have barely used it. I also got a very fun new app for my iPhone called SwankoLab. I needed to try it out to write a review over at APPlesauce.  

So, I headed to one of my favorite nearby places, with Winston, of course, and took some pictures. There are going to be a lot, I hope you don't mind.

 
I love spring blossoms.

 
And wisteria, I love wisteria!

  

  

  

  

So I'm feeling a little more comfortable with my newest lens. It's a bit of a challenge, because I went the budget route, and it doesn't auto-focus, so it all depends on my ability to focus manually. I do love that depth of field, though, and there is a softness about the photos that I also like. 

I also took a few photos with my iPhone, but Typepad is being temperamental, so I will save them for the next post. 

  

 
 
 

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Happy Good Friday! Since I have the day off, I made some delicious breakfast. 

  

I used the puff pancake recipe in the current issue of Mary Jane's Farm magazine.  Then I heated up some frozen berries with a little sugar. 

 
It was a nice little treat, and super easy. Here's the recipe:

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Melt a couple tablespoons butter in a cast iron skillet.

Beat two eggs, add 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup of milk, and 1/8 t. nutmeg. Mix to combine, but don't worry about getting out all the lumps. Pour into the skillet, and bake for 15 minutes. 

For the fruit, I just used a frozen mixed berry blend (Trader Joe's Very Cherry Berry blend-blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherries-really good!), threw about half a cup in a saucepan, and sprinkled a spoonful of turbinado sugar on top, and just heated it until the fruit was all defrosted and warm and juicy. I probably could have shared it, but I ate it all by myself. 

Now I'm going to spend the afternoon sewing and knitting.  

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One of the items on my to-do list for 2009 was to learn to make creme brulee. I'm a little late, but I finally did it this weekend. 

  

I used this recipe, and it wasn't really all that hard. I had a butane torch from the hardware store, and it didn't work so well. It may have been user error. My brother Cary was visiting, and he did most of the sugar caramelizing using the highly dangerous and exciting lighter and butane torch technique. Yum, yum, yum! I can't be making this too often, but I will definitely make it again, it was so delicious!

I might have also started another sweater. I was using this lovely alpaca yarn for another sweater, but when I was nearly done I realized it wasn't very flattering. So I'm reusing it for a tea leaves cardigan. 

  

I think this one will work out much better. 
 
 

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So, the Olympics are over and my featherweight cardigan is not finished. I did, however, get a lot of other knitting done in an effort to take breaks from all that laceweight stockinette. I made this cozy cowl, which is impossible to photograph looking like anything other than a purple blob. I will keep trying, however. Here is my best attempt so far:

  

It's just Lion Brand Homespun yarn, but the color is a lovely dark purple, so it looks really velvety and lush. I used this pattern (Ravelry link). 

And this is my favorite knitted thing I've ever made, I think:

  

Andrea's Shawl, all in alpaca, so it's cozy and soft. There were four parts to this little shawl: the edging, the border, the striped body, and the top edging. All the different steps kept things interesting, but not too difficult. I did most of the knitting during one of the many rainy weekends we've had.

  

I plan on making the matching mitts as well. I love the stripes, they make it look so very French, don't you think? There are so many lovely versions on Ravelry, I love all the color combinations. I almost want to make it again with some bright, cheery colors. 

 
 
 
 
 

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 I have some knitting to share, if the sun ever comes out again, so I can take decent pictures. I'm starting to have my doubts, but apparently it should be back later this week. In the meantime, I just want to suggest that you buy this little ep, it's the latest from my brother, and it's very, very good. He is also being featured here at the moment. That is all.

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