This recipe gives me a little bit of concern to give out---but only because I am addicted to it, and hope not to give you a similar "problem"!
Maple sesame dipping sauce
* ¼ cup tamari or soy sauce or Bragg's Liquid Aminos
* 3 tablespoons maple syrup
* 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
* 1 teaspoon garlic chili sauce or Sambal Oelek
Heat in a saucepan for ten minutes to reduce a little if you like or just shake up and use it on anything you like. I used it for dipping spinach balls. It also tastes good spooned over baked sweet potatoes, almost anything, except not salad....
Friday, December 30, 2016
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Sweet Treats: Congo Bars
One of our Christmas-dinner-guests-to-be had requested chocolate chip cookies for dinner. I thought I could do that pretty easily...
By the day before Christmas I thought of doing something along that line but a little more special. I found a recipe for Congo Bars and decided to make them. (The Six Sisters Stuff website has a ton of great recipes! You will be glad you went to check it out.)
When I made them, I doubled the recipe and baked them in a half sheet pan. That worked out very well...though it took a few extra minutes. If you do that, be sure to take the pan out of the oven before they look totally cooked, just lightly browned.
So, the night before Christmas the bars were all cooked, cooled, cut, and contained in the cookie jar. On Christmas morning I awoke at 4 AM, reminiscent of when I was a child and drove our parents crazy getting up so early to check our stockings. (One family history note: the best Christmas morning ever was when my brothers and I woke up very early, went out to the barn, did all the calf chores, fed the cows, and got started on the milking so when our father came out to the barn at 5 AM all the peripheral work had been done and "all" he had to do was the rest of the milking. We felt so wonderful that Christmas Day.) On Christmas Day after Church we had a nice dinner. Daughter-in-law A had made key lime and raspberry dessert (I don't know if this is the actual recipe she used but it gives you the idea) which it a fabulous treat.
Having been going full tilt all day for one reason or another I totally forgot the Congo Bars. Can you believe it?! Now they are sitting there in the cookie jar tempting me, tempting me, tempting me. I am not strong. YES I AM!!!! I will find some way to dispose of them, not in my own gullet.
By the day before Christmas I thought of doing something along that line but a little more special. I found a recipe for Congo Bars and decided to make them. (The Six Sisters Stuff website has a ton of great recipes! You will be glad you went to check it out.)
When I made them, I doubled the recipe and baked them in a half sheet pan. That worked out very well...though it took a few extra minutes. If you do that, be sure to take the pan out of the oven before they look totally cooked, just lightly browned.
So, the night before Christmas the bars were all cooked, cooled, cut, and contained in the cookie jar. On Christmas morning I awoke at 4 AM, reminiscent of when I was a child and drove our parents crazy getting up so early to check our stockings. (One family history note: the best Christmas morning ever was when my brothers and I woke up very early, went out to the barn, did all the calf chores, fed the cows, and got started on the milking so when our father came out to the barn at 5 AM all the peripheral work had been done and "all" he had to do was the rest of the milking. We felt so wonderful that Christmas Day.) On Christmas Day after Church we had a nice dinner. Daughter-in-law A had made key lime and raspberry dessert (I don't know if this is the actual recipe she used but it gives you the idea) which it a fabulous treat.
Having been going full tilt all day for one reason or another I totally forgot the Congo Bars. Can you believe it?! Now they are sitting there in the cookie jar tempting me, tempting me, tempting me. I am not strong. YES I AM!!!! I will find some way to dispose of them, not in my own gullet.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Knitting: Quick and Simple Adjustable Slippers
The other day I watched a video on YouTube by Lindsay Weirich, The Frugal Crafter. She was knitting some quick and easy slippers. I thought that would be something I could do to knit down a few of the yarns I have in the workroom.
These slippers are knit with doubled worsted weight yarn. I used US size 10.5 needles. Lindsay had used some bulky weight chenille yarn which looked like lovely soft slippers. I was too frugal to purchase some of that yarn though I did look at it for a while. I can hear you laughing at that one! At least this time I did not bite on the "right yarn" for the project. After all, I have a large quantity of worsted weight yarn which could be mixed and matched to make these slippers.
You cast on only 22 stitches to make a slipper that should fit a woman's size 8.5 foot. My foot is larger and wider than that and these fit me just fine. Lindsay gives suggestions on how to adjust the size of these slippers. I am thinking of making some larger sized ones, in case they are needed in the near future to keep feet warm on cold winter floors.
Basically you knit a rectangle then do a few decrease rows, run a thread through the stitches remaining on the needle, pull them tight and secure them, then sew up the toe, sew up the heel, and your are done. Quick, easy.
These slippers are knit with doubled worsted weight yarn. I used US size 10.5 needles. Lindsay had used some bulky weight chenille yarn which looked like lovely soft slippers. I was too frugal to purchase some of that yarn though I did look at it for a while. I can hear you laughing at that one! At least this time I did not bite on the "right yarn" for the project. After all, I have a large quantity of worsted weight yarn which could be mixed and matched to make these slippers.
You cast on only 22 stitches to make a slipper that should fit a woman's size 8.5 foot. My foot is larger and wider than that and these fit me just fine. Lindsay gives suggestions on how to adjust the size of these slippers. I am thinking of making some larger sized ones, in case they are needed in the near future to keep feet warm on cold winter floors.
Basically you knit a rectangle then do a few decrease rows, run a thread through the stitches remaining on the needle, pull them tight and secure them, then sew up the toe, sew up the heel, and your are done. Quick, easy.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Knitting: Tawashi Heart
Winter is a time when I like to knit when my hands allow. Today I happened onto a pattern called "Tawashi Heart" which is a small kitchen scrubbie cloth. I tried it out. I started it, tore it out, started it, tore it out, went out to swim and look for reduced-price chocolate options, and finally came home after 95 minutes of walking around stores who only had junk reduced-price chocolate--which just about finished me off.
First thing I did was sit down in my rocking chair and picked up the Tawashi Heart pattern and Sugar'nCream variegated yarn and started knitting again. This time something clicked and I was able to knit right through the pattern.
This is what it looks like hanging on a bottle of dish soap, all ready to begin scrubbing!
Really, it was not that hard. I just was not getting it through my head how it was supposed to be knit. This is one of the first times I did not read all the way through the pattern first. (It is a good practice to read all the way through a recipe before you start to prepare it. The same can be said for a knitting pattern. In this case it would have helped if I had realized that it was a double-thickness scrubbie.)
If you look on Ravelry.com at the tawashi heart pattern you will find multiple pictures of what other people have made. To my view, this pattern should be knit in a variegated yarn.
First thing I did was sit down in my rocking chair and picked up the Tawashi Heart pattern and Sugar'nCream variegated yarn and started knitting again. This time something clicked and I was able to knit right through the pattern.
This is what it looks like hanging on a bottle of dish soap, all ready to begin scrubbing!
Really, it was not that hard. I just was not getting it through my head how it was supposed to be knit. This is one of the first times I did not read all the way through the pattern first. (It is a good practice to read all the way through a recipe before you start to prepare it. The same can be said for a knitting pattern. In this case it would have helped if I had realized that it was a double-thickness scrubbie.)
If you look on Ravelry.com at the tawashi heart pattern you will find multiple pictures of what other people have made. To my view, this pattern should be knit in a variegated yarn.
Monday, December 26, 2016
Munchie Monday: Taco Crumbles in Bean Burrito
In trying to eat more plant-based, I have been searching for products that are sort of reminiscent of the meat world I remember. One of those products we have tried, and liked, so we ordered more, were the Taco Crumbles from Butler Foods. These are really very very acceptable replacements for burger in tacos, enchiladas, burritos, etc.
We planned to have tacos for supper the other day. While the Taco Crumbles re-hydrated for 8 minutes I sauteed a large chopped onion and a package of chopped mushrooms until soft. When ready I added the Taco Crumbles then put them into whole wheat flour tortillas on top of non-fat refried beans. Even Dear One liked them, though he only ate one. He probably would not have eaten it if he knew there were (VERY FINELY) chopped mushrooms in it. I thought they gave a bit more meaty flavor.
This picture shows the conglomeration in the pan. Tasty. Slightly spicy. The bag of Crumbles made enough so I could make three meals for the two of us.
Friday, December 23, 2016
Food Friday: Butternut Squash Soup
A wonderful brother and sister couple that we love (who are living their later years together as they are both widowed) grow a fabulous garden each year. They are very generous with their produce. They gave us two beautiful butternut squashes and a large blue hubbard squash. I love squash and decided to make it into soup.
To start out I washed the squash, cut off both ends, then cut off the seed receptacle and cleaned out the seeds. (This time I did not roast the seeds. Wasteful, I know, but sometimes...) I placed the squash pieces, cut side down, on a large rimmed baking sheet and roasted in the oven at 350 degrees F. for 50 minutes.
After the squash cooled, I scooped it out of the skins. There was almost 3 cups of cooked squash. At this point I put the other ingredients together.
2 medium potatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 large onion chopped
2 cups chopped celery
(The carrots and celery were from some vegetable sticks I had cut a week ago and put into the refrigerator. For some reason the refrigerator froze them so they were not so fun to eat BUT chopped and put in soup they were superb...!)
In a large saucepan I placed the chopped vegetables and a lot of water. Brought them to a boil then turned down the heat to simmer them until they were nice and soft. After the water came to a boil I stirred in:
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon/large pinch dried thyme
1.5 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Seasoning
When everything cooked and was soft, I tasted the broth. It was not quite salty enough for me so I added some ham broth powder (which I had found on a clearance table at a grocery near us...ham broth flavoring something I had never heard of before) which added a nice flavor as well as the needed salt.
At this point I carefully dumped in the cooked squash then (finally! successfully!) used the immersion blender we had given to my mother-in-law for Christmas many years ago which was still in the box when she died in 2007 and which we then brought home. I have never been successful before. Honestly, this is only about the third time I have used it...
Anyway, this made a nice sort of smooth soup that tastes really yummy. It sure hits the spot on a cold and snowy day. I did need to add more water several times while it was cooking since I really like broth-y soups. Actually, a good soup broth is the best part of the coup..
To start out I washed the squash, cut off both ends, then cut off the seed receptacle and cleaned out the seeds. (This time I did not roast the seeds. Wasteful, I know, but sometimes...) I placed the squash pieces, cut side down, on a large rimmed baking sheet and roasted in the oven at 350 degrees F. for 50 minutes.
 |
| Squash ready to roast |
After the squash cooled, I scooped it out of the skins. There was almost 3 cups of cooked squash. At this point I put the other ingredients together.
2 medium potatoes, chopped
1 cup chopped carrots
1 large onion chopped
2 cups chopped celery
(The carrots and celery were from some vegetable sticks I had cut a week ago and put into the refrigerator. For some reason the refrigerator froze them so they were not so fun to eat BUT chopped and put in soup they were superb...!)
In a large saucepan I placed the chopped vegetables and a lot of water. Brought them to a boil then turned down the heat to simmer them until they were nice and soft. After the water came to a boil I stirred in:
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon/large pinch dried thyme
1.5 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillon Vegetable Seasoning
When everything cooked and was soft, I tasted the broth. It was not quite salty enough for me so I added some ham broth powder (which I had found on a clearance table at a grocery near us...ham broth flavoring something I had never heard of before) which added a nice flavor as well as the needed salt.
At this point I carefully dumped in the cooked squash then (finally! successfully!) used the immersion blender we had given to my mother-in-law for Christmas many years ago which was still in the box when she died in 2007 and which we then brought home. I have never been successful before. Honestly, this is only about the third time I have used it...
Anyway, this made a nice sort of smooth soup that tastes really yummy. It sure hits the spot on a cold and snowy day. I did need to add more water several times while it was cooking since I really like broth-y soups. Actually, a good soup broth is the best part of the coup..
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Knitting: Latticed Cable Hat--my own creation, sort of...
Recently we had some young women in our home. One of them had a nice winter hat. The other had ear muffs. This was not enough protection for Vermont winters so I suggested knitting her a hat. We had the Barbara Walker Learn to Knit Afghan blanket on our couch. I asked if there was a pattern she liked. She liked the yellow latticed cable block. I like that one, too. She wanted it in blue.
When I was out the next day I did not find a good blue 100 percent wool yarn so I purchased some Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn in a nice blue worsted weight. I already had some US size 7 circular needles and I was certain I had double pointed needles, too. (Well, I did, but one was gray plastic, and three were blue metal. Since I am accustomed to knitting with five dpns I used the circular needle for the fifth needle. It worked, but was a little awkward...Pretty soon I am going to get some nice Brittany birch dpns in US size 7...before I knit another hat. I LOVE their needles!)
To turn a flat pattern into a knit-in-the-round was not something I had ever done so I had to do some hunting around the internet...at Ravelry for some sizing help and other places for the change-flat-to-round help.
Putting it all together I came up with this plan:
Cast on 88 stitches and knit 2, purl 2 for one inch. 3
Next round knit and increase 12 stitches to 100 stitches.
At that point work 2 pattern repeats (16 rounds plus 16 rounds) then begin the crown decreases.
Round 1: Knit round 1 of the Barbara Walker pattern again.
Round 2: (P2together, K4, P2tog, P2), repeat around...80 stitches.
Round 3: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 4: P1, (FPC, BPS, P2tog), repeat around...70 stitches. (this is an effort to continue the main hat pattern in the decreases...not as successful as I had hoped.)
Round 5: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 6: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 7. (K2tog, P2, K2tog, P1), repeat around
Round 8: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 9: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 10: (K1, P2tog, K1, P1), repeat around
Round 11: (K1, P1), around...40 stitches
Round 12: (K2tog, K1, P1), around...30 stitches
Round 13: (K2, P1), around
Round 14: (K2tog, P1), around...20 stitches
Round 15: K2tog around...10 stitches
Round 16: K2tog around...5 stitches
Fasten off and weave in ends.
FPC is a front purl cross
BPC is a back purl cross
If I make this again I will fiddle around with the decreases by working eight more rounds of the main hat to give a little more length to the hat....which will almost certainly change at lest the first few rounds of these decreases....
When I was out the next day I did not find a good blue 100 percent wool yarn so I purchased some Lion Brand Wool-Ease yarn in a nice blue worsted weight. I already had some US size 7 circular needles and I was certain I had double pointed needles, too. (Well, I did, but one was gray plastic, and three were blue metal. Since I am accustomed to knitting with five dpns I used the circular needle for the fifth needle. It worked, but was a little awkward...Pretty soon I am going to get some nice Brittany birch dpns in US size 7...before I knit another hat. I LOVE their needles!)
To turn a flat pattern into a knit-in-the-round was not something I had ever done so I had to do some hunting around the internet...at Ravelry for some sizing help and other places for the change-flat-to-round help.
Putting it all together I came up with this plan:
Cast on 88 stitches and knit 2, purl 2 for one inch. 3
Next round knit and increase 12 stitches to 100 stitches.
At that point work 2 pattern repeats (16 rounds plus 16 rounds) then begin the crown decreases.
Round 1: Knit round 1 of the Barbara Walker pattern again.
Round 2: (P2together, K4, P2tog, P2), repeat around...80 stitches.
Round 3: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 4: P1, (FPC, BPS, P2tog), repeat around...70 stitches. (this is an effort to continue the main hat pattern in the decreases...not as successful as I had hoped.)
Round 5: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 6: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 7. (K2tog, P2, K2tog, P1), repeat around
Round 8: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 9: Knit the knits and purl the purls
Round 10: (K1, P2tog, K1, P1), repeat around
Round 11: (K1, P1), around...40 stitches
Round 12: (K2tog, K1, P1), around...30 stitches
Round 13: (K2, P1), around
Round 14: (K2tog, P1), around...20 stitches
Round 15: K2tog around...10 stitches
Round 16: K2tog around...5 stitches
Fasten off and weave in ends.
FPC is a front purl cross
BPC is a back purl cross
If I make this again I will fiddle around with the decreases by working eight more rounds of the main hat to give a little more length to the hat....which will almost certainly change at lest the first few rounds of these decreases....
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