tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50130490382353753992024-03-05T02:02:07.467-08:00Cirsia FortuitaRandom thistles - crafts, textiles, baking, et cetera...Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-4166553890691374882021-01-31T16:43:00.004-08:002021-01-31T16:52:10.031-08:00The World is My Dinner Party: Kwanzaa<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Coronapocalypse Christmas. Who knew years and years of not being with family for Important Dates would be a superpower. Sure, I miss home, but I am used to it. And this year, of all years, is THE year to not travel. Indeed, the grocery store was high preparation -- as it should be during the Coronapocalypse.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">What to make for Christmas dinner? Usually we do North American Thanksgiving food, but we just did that at US Thanksgiving. However, we get <a href="https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes" target="_blank">Bon Appétit </a>magazine, and the last issue of 2020 had a whole special on <a href="https://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/Kwanzaa_What_16661.html" target="_blank">Kwanzaa</a>! I feel the meaning of Kwanzaa for African Americans in particular, and this year the anti-capitalist aspect resonated with me in particular. The recipes looked amazing, so that's what we did! A bit more than a day of both of us cooking and hallelujah!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp0NfF6d9hOhvzgO1h70ewPfjrMK2zj-4xyzGVZeoDBo8NB_gYE7a3HE2fdZxVx9jUoGXL4gXuqo4nlM0SlIh4H8S3uAeOTERH9mNHycWJf_XGFeDfqIi2-CrwNJ0ZaVCdoeuc1uZlpVU/s4608/IMG_20201224_182107888.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgp0NfF6d9hOhvzgO1h70ewPfjrMK2zj-4xyzGVZeoDBo8NB_gYE7a3HE2fdZxVx9jUoGXL4gXuqo4nlM0SlIh4H8S3uAeOTERH9mNHycWJf_XGFeDfqIi2-CrwNJ0ZaVCdoeuc1uZlpVU/s320/IMG_20201224_182107888.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, I made an effort. Thanks for noticing.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;">These are leek latkes - nope not actually part of the magazine's Kwanzaa dinner, but delicious! The Tzatziki was nice and spicy with garlic, and we do love dill....</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM1Xy9tmLU8GpZ6j9rBiI5uKuDc1t2q1rdKgY0WBeR3nq_H8Lxx-M_OdsucWaHFzSdp9yjoASs6YKHVloWzfRRuB20zmO6lMCRByI4TnOv5P7YLX3VYAHtvuTCpkosxNsaQlVUSQmjLXR/s4608/IMG_20201224_182156363.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieM1Xy9tmLU8GpZ6j9rBiI5uKuDc1t2q1rdKgY0WBeR3nq_H8Lxx-M_OdsucWaHFzSdp9yjoASs6YKHVloWzfRRuB20zmO6lMCRByI4TnOv5P7YLX3VYAHtvuTCpkosxNsaQlVUSQmjLXR/s320/IMG_20201224_182156363.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Corn and crab beignets with Yaji (Suya spice) aioli. Just as delicious as it sounds. That Yaji spice is amazing on vegetables, curries, fish, you name it. We still have some, and I am OK with that. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirq_TcVOK20WeU5Pq0Q3fFP1S8yO-rlzudVVhMjaaktuFJTvc4u-RotwNu22OydBKtVKNqy7fA-peqkVH9duU5a_jc-NeJ8IvJcgzHwnyXwyScXMuF76i1Siio46k9ZdAKOQmu_M1Ni4b/s4608/IMG_20201224_182138601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiirq_TcVOK20WeU5Pq0Q3fFP1S8yO-rlzudVVhMjaaktuFJTvc4u-RotwNu22OydBKtVKNqy7fA-peqkVH9duU5a_jc-NeJ8IvJcgzHwnyXwyScXMuF76i1Siio46k9ZdAKOQmu_M1Ni4b/s320/IMG_20201224_182138601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Some of the best beets I have ever had. Roasted beets with dukkah spice and sage. Again, that spice mix is delicious and I'm not sure it's not a controlled substance...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGdAnoCR8orszB0KVCEw8VAqMqOs-mQKJB5YTeYY6k-CKAO03kcMbXu9lW_v1kDIvazVgH9onbXt-idAywK5VHgs0RvBTSG_y86crXAgMGpE7LXJ1K4nyIbnQgtFw1CXJ5gi7hhvlwbYC/s4608/IMG_20201224_182120837.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGdAnoCR8orszB0KVCEw8VAqMqOs-mQKJB5YTeYY6k-CKAO03kcMbXu9lW_v1kDIvazVgH9onbXt-idAywK5VHgs0RvBTSG_y86crXAgMGpE7LXJ1K4nyIbnQgtFw1CXJ5gi7hhvlwbYC/s320/IMG_20201224_182120837.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Roasted carrots with ayib (Ethiopian soft cheese) and awaze spice vinaigrette. That vinaigrette, people... I ate it with a spoon and have no regrets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVo3r_LbQA3_u5k_dYDGxgshQKlFyjqD17cSb_v7X_CPtqwzGFAUJx9TVc2z9PXtD9AaO6ocya2D5lLtAIGrFZ04Rbn2UjwRL7Z4HhKT2vOtI6VtMkloOGbZNxDM_cu9aDx5z5zpJ7kYV/s4608/IMG_20201224_182113460.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVo3r_LbQA3_u5k_dYDGxgshQKlFyjqD17cSb_v7X_CPtqwzGFAUJx9TVc2z9PXtD9AaO6ocya2D5lLtAIGrFZ04Rbn2UjwRL7Z4HhKT2vOtI6VtMkloOGbZNxDM_cu9aDx5z5zpJ7kYV/s320/IMG_20201224_182113460.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The recipe was beef rib tips or something, but we did it with venison tenderloin. We marinated it in a piri-piri marinade, sous vide cooked it, and then piri-piri sauce to top it off. Later, we put the suace on fried chicken and that was pretty good, too, but this, folks, was the BOMB. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eDeNCUi51Nqho9JXOca7nAo5tF0B4lWDhB7Dw8YVskWx-vyCIHo4TOIgDJT0KRECXOSA-ridW_H816x4-Fa0fGTFBSwI4K3eqUifHmspg0T9Uy8WIiyhvY0czpGYiEI1AzYd3WvCDmjf/s4608/IMG_20201224_182235445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eDeNCUi51Nqho9JXOca7nAo5tF0B4lWDhB7Dw8YVskWx-vyCIHo4TOIgDJT0KRECXOSA-ridW_H816x4-Fa0fGTFBSwI4K3eqUifHmspg0T9Uy8WIiyhvY0czpGYiEI1AzYd3WvCDmjf/s320/IMG_20201224_182235445.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aerial photo. Note the oils and extra spice mixes in little bowls. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fpm72DgvMl93HyT6fP49ri_IYnH9D31EZ648auXN2PuPjOqdeaotQli7OO2eQoGho4g9x8gTfzuLBkoxiUXO5ns15s3u2HkLwLnWtieRg5vWHNKl07bfvf5gcLVjTlAwt-pVzQ2QwVum/s4608/IMG_20201224_182439675.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Fpm72DgvMl93HyT6fP49ri_IYnH9D31EZ648auXN2PuPjOqdeaotQli7OO2eQoGho4g9x8gTfzuLBkoxiUXO5ns15s3u2HkLwLnWtieRg5vWHNKl07bfvf5gcLVjTlAwt-pVzQ2QwVum/s320/IMG_20201224_182439675.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gratuitous holiday pic with a hand made cross-stitch tablecloth and Moomin "pingelverk."<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvdyKpPeyl-GRcUccEp3TcTH0GfKk6zpK-03Demi22aBsWzuxsjN17EOAqJ5KfHekVdwzJzboOq5YFhRu8EBYueaFcr4XJuOwx7c-mfpQ_nCoU_xM54oPK9rElLjh6nJV1pHERfqApxQf/s4608/IMG_20201224_162333368.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvdyKpPeyl-GRcUccEp3TcTH0GfKk6zpK-03Demi22aBsWzuxsjN17EOAqJ5KfHekVdwzJzboOq5YFhRu8EBYueaFcr4XJuOwx7c-mfpQ_nCoU_xM54oPK9rElLjh6nJV1pHERfqApxQf/s320/IMG_20201224_162333368.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;">We loved these recipes so much, we went and bought the cookbook all recipes in the magazine we made, except the latkes, are from:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj723L0zNn5i2zuVkUK2Xi6pis68n3O4rNLZDkK30BxaQtR9CN1aZMDgqysY5Fe8TXB-SFxZMCmrrxx_sNN2ad-PXmIahHSSVDmnQTXO4UoxdTrwFuLz374OhaVr1-5fF5qM_Oa1RIzZtyL/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="318" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj723L0zNn5i2zuVkUK2Xi6pis68n3O4rNLZDkK30BxaQtR9CN1aZMDgqysY5Fe8TXB-SFxZMCmrrxx_sNN2ad-PXmIahHSSVDmnQTXO4UoxdTrwFuLz374OhaVr1-5fF5qM_Oa1RIzZtyL/" width="192" /></a></div><br />I am currently reading it out loud to the Fuzzband, and we have made more amazing things from it, like the best chess pie ever (in my opinion) and yummy chicken liver paté. The cookbook is divided into sections that have an introduction to various aspects of Black foodways in the USA, like the Great Migration, heritage, and trendsetting Black cooks right NOW. African American food is American food and has influenced American food in ways that has been obscured from history. Well, says Samuelsson -- an Ethiopian-Swedish-American food visionary -- no more! The recipes are dedicated to movers and shakers in the Black food world -- mostly African American, but also other Black folks - and there are short bios to introduce the reader to their work, history, contribution, experiences, and awesome. It is a lovely read and we are learning so much! I am also running out of bookmarks to flag all the dishes we want to make, but that is a good thing! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p></p>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-38753571969518120702021-01-31T16:25:00.000-08:002021-01-31T16:25:54.322-08:00The World is My Dinner Party: Andorra<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVbNgAvQ3A-CpVzqi79vxzYgQ0cR16AO9zLsfo5QCkJxxir-bWg1uVloGV70rixCzNAcrlBVgHhrIPi_5p-Xwy5Ml4GghejndtqIwSkk_-xz6dtKeuaDQeAGXQ2JFCMTYh0xL9EBuB1WM/s4608/IMG_20210131_172548667.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVbNgAvQ3A-CpVzqi79vxzYgQ0cR16AO9zLsfo5QCkJxxir-bWg1uVloGV70rixCzNAcrlBVgHhrIPi_5p-Xwy5Ml4GghejndtqIwSkk_-xz6dtKeuaDQeAGXQ2JFCMTYh0xL9EBuB1WM/s320/IMG_20210131_172548667.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> This here is escudella - an Andorran soup of amazing deliciousness. The cook, aka the Fuzzband, tells me it is the national dish of </span><a href="https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/andorra.htm" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Andorra</a><span style="text-align: left;">. It is eaten on Sundays, and today is Sunday! Pure coincidence. What is not a coincidence is that I want to eat it until I explode. Fact. It has cabbage, and chickpeas and (homemade) sausage, and chicken, and bacon, and pasta, and YUM! It all started, from what I could tell from my bastion of grading, with boiling stock from a smoked ham hoc. That baby boiled for ages. </span></div><p></p><p>The recipe the Fuzzband used was by <a href="https://www.notesfromamessykitchen.com/recipe/andorra-escudella/" target="_blank">Notes from a Messy Kitchen</a>. Five out of five stars, would totally nag him to make again! </p><p>Now, anyone who knows me knows I love, love, love dessert. As I am fond of saying, my mother may be a pescaterian, but I could be a dessertarian. I present, in wonder, Crema Andorrana:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZTT9-FnhgsK9bvMJd54C4Ld-LcaXYzTu3ldVfyXR-hTF0ECVmSTsGcEgb-rw_n-7nc6C1Zv4koF6fkzP6RG_illiu-Cw_bdmSszB-2Jxmo9NxwCdHDX3Vd6nZj4n8VHmSudWwJMXFmQv/s4608/IMG_20210131_190307610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZTT9-FnhgsK9bvMJd54C4Ld-LcaXYzTu3ldVfyXR-hTF0ECVmSTsGcEgb-rw_n-7nc6C1Zv4koF6fkzP6RG_illiu-Cw_bdmSszB-2Jxmo9NxwCdHDX3Vd6nZj4n8VHmSudWwJMXFmQv/s320/IMG_20210131_190307610.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Crema Andorrana is a delicate lemony custard with a semi-cooked meringue on top. Instead of a caramel the Fuzzband spun some sugar into flames. Yes, peeps, that is spun sugar. He is cleaning the kitchen as I type. We didn't have a lemon to zest so we used limoncello made by friends, and vanilla essence made with bourbon by the same friends, and yes, it is exactly as good as your salivating mouth is telling you it is. The Fuzzband used, more or less, the recipe from </span><a href="https://naptimeprepcook.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/andorra-%F0%9F%87%A6%F0%9F%87%A9-crema-andorrana/" style="text-align: left;" target="_blank">Naptime Prep Cook</a><span style="text-align: left;">, but with some serious consultation from a recipe on <a href="https://www.cookthecake.com/2016/10/crema-a-la-andorrana.html" target="_blank">Cook the Cake</a> (yes, it is in Catalan). </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Definitely also a keeper. But serve with spoons, not forks. Also, we have leftovers!</div><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aQewuNUH2OW62O9s2EK7A7NHAZweJbD1hYCAKhXWmC1E62DmHs4Ls6aRYCewXXEiK-lmyjyyJ8vLZD1qgyjwFuqBhS_myEiw0Ro0TSqSwctfbZUr3xPjZRICS1HDYFmKOVDkg2pwDhQW/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="375" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aQewuNUH2OW62O9s2EK7A7NHAZweJbD1hYCAKhXWmC1E62DmHs4Ls6aRYCewXXEiK-lmyjyyJ8vLZD1qgyjwFuqBhS_myEiw0Ro0TSqSwctfbZUr3xPjZRICS1HDYFmKOVDkg2pwDhQW/" width="274" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andorra's location (source: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorra" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-13099054880122899432015-08-24T17:57:00.000-07:002015-08-24T17:57:07.197-07:00Froggies!When our friends told us they were expecting, there may have first been squeals and tears of joy on my part, but there was most certainly the search for the perfect pattern - a pattern that spoke to the Fuzzband and myself of our friends. They love nature and have an appreciation of crafting. They have a huge back yard where they can observe all kinds of wildlife from deer to raccoons to humming birds. Maybe frogs, too...<br />
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I have not been into crochet for a while, although I have made snowflakes and some other small things. Our friend KR is a great crocheter, and her works has inspired me, so I had looked at afghan patterns for a while and saved several. The Etsy store <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheHatandI" target="_blank">The Hat and I </a>has several marvelous patterns, and I have queued several on Ravelry. So that is where I ended up after my search. T<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/88130647/crochet-pattern-frog-frenzy-a-frog?ref=shop_home_active_6" target="_blank">his </a>is the one we picked for the little love on his way:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzTf9JvkDVgGlg7F2XCTWMxfVRw3ZMqTFmt53wf9XJXivmJJ-olWMVbZ3KGdojWAF-92d-l003-YmbQoiZ6vJker9q0Jwgu9fAt8ttbUB5EpdbFwX3NcQdHpC7dKf4naCiS2R4RnyxROt/s1600/IMG_9124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzTf9JvkDVgGlg7F2XCTWMxfVRw3ZMqTFmt53wf9XJXivmJJ-olWMVbZ3KGdojWAF-92d-l003-YmbQoiZ6vJker9q0Jwgu9fAt8ttbUB5EpdbFwX3NcQdHpC7dKf4naCiS2R4RnyxROt/s320/IMG_9124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I had it in my Ravelry favorites all ready for purchase, so all I needed was the yarn. Luckily I already have a favorite cotton yarn. I went online and basically bought a ball of each color that was vaguely watery and froggy by Lily's Sugar 'n' Cream. I don't remember which website I got it from - apologies. I am too lazy to dig up the receipt. Bad crafter, bad! However, when not buying in bulk, I buy it from <a href="http://www.joann.com/lily-sugar-n-cream-solids-yarn/prd2704.html" target="_blank">JoAnn's</a>, so I will link that website...<br />
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Anyway. It was great to pick a motif (frog, lily pad or bubble) and then focus on those. Very satisfying! Here is a pile of finished frog panels:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnpApHFR0N9J30MPlbXx1_vD8pDwhIjIu0SHLDJuIu1p27fk4BQ1xytlt4PQE7n7Fvhyphenhyphen3V3Hvwilr4GuZPoe5BPsvTh2HmQT8VI8G-V03j7qn9xZnNRxmznV2dwfJV_35XyWLriWxdHUH/s1600/IMG_9123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnpApHFR0N9J30MPlbXx1_vD8pDwhIjIu0SHLDJuIu1p27fk4BQ1xytlt4PQE7n7Fvhyphenhyphen3V3Hvwilr4GuZPoe5BPsvTh2HmQT8VI8G-V03j7qn9xZnNRxmznV2dwfJV_35XyWLriWxdHUH/s320/IMG_9123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
One of the things I love about the pattern is that one froggy gets to be royalty!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKu8uzuqWwUKDybQwCIIlG0kyIjacLED7rKdt5cBvGS6toSLEVQ7aBFwNoKq-88WSQzfs5i0KwJbVvAGB3eulORhhCPs62c5rzWZgkATTWlXePFqbJfgXpycAjTKlxYEssiBXBYSP7GG6/s1600/IMG_9127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKu8uzuqWwUKDybQwCIIlG0kyIjacLED7rKdt5cBvGS6toSLEVQ7aBFwNoKq-88WSQzfs5i0KwJbVvAGB3eulORhhCPs62c5rzWZgkATTWlXePFqbJfgXpycAjTKlxYEssiBXBYSP7GG6/s320/IMG_9127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I also got to go to a baby shower for the baby. I have very limited experience with this whole shower concept, but I figured out gifts are involved. Of course, where I come from home made gifts are key, but I could not finish the blanket! So I knit a cardigan as well:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkJnJVPW_Zi1Mq2TvYEa0NyGMSUx1Tn2kxT_ozlXPOTYfGsDkBSwRbKBF5kYXVkevvyabyty6JHvFB32RMLdDPOXvQE9LbQnwJeYurpss0NVOS_CnB-zrLLPqc0EmU8a1DU1ovLdrbQZv/s1600/IMG_9115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGkJnJVPW_Zi1Mq2TvYEa0NyGMSUx1Tn2kxT_ozlXPOTYfGsDkBSwRbKBF5kYXVkevvyabyty6JHvFB32RMLdDPOXvQE9LbQnwJeYurpss0NVOS_CnB-zrLLPqc0EmU8a1DU1ovLdrbQZv/s320/IMG_9115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the famous<a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeKnittingPatternPrestoChango.asp" target="_blank"> Presto Chango by Valerie Wallis.</a> I have made several, and it is always as satisfying and fun! The mother is a botanist, so I made the panel leaf patterned:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIVxWA7vlk_DN2HxcuUFCakhDIY6spIRD4PhvTWiuvvkTp7aDwdyKVgnNdgxcs_nWKbH7U-QvVawgD_qhHaQb1sjmYnGc-dVZj6hoG2A6emrMnS6LUDr5CMb2_sMYJ5nZ78t0-2f1zWTb/s1600/IMG_9116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdIVxWA7vlk_DN2HxcuUFCakhDIY6spIRD4PhvTWiuvvkTp7aDwdyKVgnNdgxcs_nWKbH7U-QvVawgD_qhHaQb1sjmYnGc-dVZj6hoG2A6emrMnS6LUDr5CMb2_sMYJ5nZ78t0-2f1zWTb/s200/IMG_9116.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
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And of course I added my "signature"</div>
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Fun times! And the shower was lots of fun as well. We got lost on the way, but thanks to mobile phone technology we made it in time for games and delicious food! I gather that men are not usually part of baby showers, but the father, grandfather, and the Fuzzband were all present, so way to go family B for opening up to the lads! I am also proud to announce that I won the games where the object was a blind folded diaper change on a stuffed animal! I am not competitive by nature, but I have to admit I am a little proud of this victory, especially considering the mothers and grandmothers present. I think it is the finger dexterity from handicrafts more than the number of diapers I have changed... </div>
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I handed over the blanket just before we left on vacation, and it was so cool to think that the next time I would see my friends they would be a Mom and Dad! Exciting! </div>
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And finally, the little darling was born on August 31st, happy and healthy at 7 pounds and 1 ounce! We were on vacation in Beautiful British Columbia, but I got to hold him when he was just over two weeks old. The cuteness is beyond words. He has THE most perfect little ears and upper lip on the planet! I cannot wait to see him grow and learn. </div>
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<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-5701888907664292852014-12-24T07:43:00.000-08:002014-12-24T07:54:19.214-08:00Merry Christmas!I used to be a letter writer. I mean, a real letter writer. Long, handwritten letters. My godparents have a 24 page letter I wrote to them from Rome tucked into their two or three file cabinet sections dedicated to Stuff From Finnish Goddaughter. They have saved all my letters.<br />
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I also like writing cards. I used to write lots of them. Postcards, note cards, handmade cards...<br />
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Then I went to grad school. Then I got my first academic job. Yeah... But I have managed some holiday cards. Not a lot, but a couple. Typically based on responding to someone who wrote to me, but not always. Everyone I did not write to - I am torn between apologizing and figuring that those whose opinion is worth it will not mind at all.<br />
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The only people I consistently write to and even send Christmas gifts to - I am blessed with a family who is not very focused on gifts at all - are my godparents. It's sort of become a thing: my whole life they sent my family 4 Christmas tree ornaments, usually with the names of my family members on them. When my sister and I moved away from home we split them up and we all have enough handmade ornaments for a tree of our own. When my Fuzzband and I settle down permanently, one of the perks will be that I will bring my godparent-made ornaments from Finland. Since I moved to the US, my godparents now send me an ornament or two as there are two of us. Typically they are either handmade or unicorn themed. I love unicorns, and it has also become a thing between my godmother and myself.<br />
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And so, as my godmother and I both revel in crafting, and my godfather appreciates our skills, that is what I have been regaling them with for decades. I have made them garlands, balls, cross stitch things... Typically Christmas themed items, of course, but I have sent them handcrafted items out of season, so to speak. When I visit, their home is riddled with crafts I have produced over the years. It is amazing to have godparents like these, and it is such a privilege to be so present in their home.<br />
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This year I did not make them the traditional Christmas decorations as they have recently downsized and really don't need more stuff. Instead, I made a bunch of Christmas cards over US Thanksgiving weekend that they can send to family and friends over the holidays. The theme this year was basically origami Christmas trees: instructions from <a href="http://flowerbug.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/11/origami-christmas-tree.html" target="_blank">Flowerbug's Inkspot</a>. Very addicting! OMG! So much fun to fold, glue, add sparkles, rhinestones, punch snowflakes... I made my godparents about a dozen cards - but forgot to photograph them. They looked so impressive all arrayed on the counter... Oh well...<br />
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However, here are a few I either did not include because they needed a bit more work, or that I made later.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">This one I made from one of my old thank you cards that depicts the Turku Cathedral - which is my favorite church in the world. I cut it out of its original, summery setting and added a snowy tree we can peek behind to see the magnificence of 14th century awesome. I am particularly pleased at how the snowflakes cut out from tissue paper have a slightly ethereal thing going on:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgUNb_YEfLpf415K_rRGXLxoMCuEmn1jH-TIksXCC5HOPYJ6uu-dz-0SbkDvIW1RATitRmgy2wm-c-h6z2V-FeuwT5zX4GZ2U3CXdcjX7IoLX_O76EI20fI_F8YyCWL1J3rwZf0rCcIUi/s1600/IMG_9014.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgUNb_YEfLpf415K_rRGXLxoMCuEmn1jH-TIksXCC5HOPYJ6uu-dz-0SbkDvIW1RATitRmgy2wm-c-h6z2V-FeuwT5zX4GZ2U3CXdcjX7IoLX_O76EI20fI_F8YyCWL1J3rwZf0rCcIUi/s1600/IMG_9014.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">This one was missing something originally - it was one of the first I made. What it was missing was SPARKLE! I had heirloom sequins, but they really needed pastel Rhinestones added to them, and snowflakes. I love my snowflake stamper... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzpzJL0ElDeFxfUJpBXcGhyvAxJp53vR3oUohupuVsOOMbT6DrphUb6OEQY6W29ip0F5JwT2AahaL1dcmik-tA9UShl54WYNCbbLNM3rJcwWVqnTrQqlP-g_bjFNPZ7fO_LWS8HltOfcz/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUzpzJL0ElDeFxfUJpBXcGhyvAxJp53vR3oUohupuVsOOMbT6DrphUb6OEQY6W29ip0F5JwT2AahaL1dcmik-tA9UShl54WYNCbbLNM3rJcwWVqnTrQqlP-g_bjFNPZ7fO_LWS8HltOfcz/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">An ode to tea at Christmas time. The true addict will drink tea from a cardboard coffee shop cup, a holiday themed mug, or a cup with a saucer, or - let's face it - a rubber boot. When I found this crafting paper, it SPOKE to me:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx1mzinTI6v2xkRYun6hFLj8Vtp3wakLhTSGtR6RVC0BPtVRy2uat_plIQFudlMs1fHqDEaptlxjvyMHt-M0LYyjn7yK9PLvKV4Py7MtDKrJ9Qrf8f3XJu9EceiHNrjiJ1Dm6Y5fSvWmn/s1600/IMG_9018.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVx1mzinTI6v2xkRYun6hFLj8Vtp3wakLhTSGtR6RVC0BPtVRy2uat_plIQFudlMs1fHqDEaptlxjvyMHt-M0LYyjn7yK9PLvKV4Py7MtDKrJ9Qrf8f3XJu9EceiHNrjiJ1Dm6Y5fSvWmn/s1600/IMG_9018.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Mulberry paper and teeny heart shaped buttons. I love the buttons. It may be a problem in my life. They are so ADORABLE!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0s0v7EP_w3u1l5vSj3VG5BaU3wKgXDKvo6kDPnp31j2lcS5vInwqzN7rN5vtV0Fwh7ViS6nBAznfYYm4StHoN_CPOi5FakFkvGqoFp43lC77VQY_hzG4fw7nzfAcJqW4JPvZmM7O0JAZ/s1600/IMG_9025.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0s0v7EP_w3u1l5vSj3VG5BaU3wKgXDKvo6kDPnp31j2lcS5vInwqzN7rN5vtV0Fwh7ViS6nBAznfYYm4StHoN_CPOi5FakFkvGqoFp43lC77VQY_hzG4fw7nzfAcJqW4JPvZmM7O0JAZ/s1600/IMG_9025.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of the great card inspirations in my life is CET over at <a href="http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sartorial Sidelines</a>. She makes cards every Christmas and they are works of art. How she manages the time is a mystery, but then she is one of the two most organized people in the world. As I said about the other organizational wonderwoman: If I was Jesus, I would hire her to organize my second coming. Yes, that's how organized these ladies are! </div>
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And finally, because it is adorable: a glimpse of our Christmas Beaver:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDo3tZbCWmsNJ2bZMAe3JIIZNn0n0p8cuKc5J6RhBdgT80z8aE9af_g2rbMVdOkbtUzJ2cCQwNCmd6T-bOR9aooweksq2EjgJoN8f1etuA_KtMlKWLNnMq-xz1Tx6xlcql_dMmQj3pb5M/s1600/IMG_9010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkDo3tZbCWmsNJ2bZMAe3JIIZNn0n0p8cuKc5J6RhBdgT80z8aE9af_g2rbMVdOkbtUzJ2cCQwNCmd6T-bOR9aooweksq2EjgJoN8f1etuA_KtMlKWLNnMq-xz1Tx6xlcql_dMmQj3pb5M/s1600/IMG_9010.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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We bought him a few years ago in <a href="http://www.essexct.com/" target="_blank">Essex, CT,</a> "The Best Little Town in America." The Fuzzband and I were visited by one of my oldest friends, the remarkably talented <a href="http://tonja.goldblatt.fi/" target="_blank">Tonja </a> and her partner T, and decided to get out of New Haven; do some sightseeing. So, we went exploring Essex for their Halloween Scarecrow weekend event. It was a nice little town with some eccentric scarecrows and the lovely, quaint and delicious <a href="http://www.griswoldinn.com/" target="_blank">Griswold Inn.</a> There was also a Christmas shop, and one of the types of ornament was these animals made from bristles. Of course we got the beaver! Here Mr. Christmas Beaver is posing in the tree with our brand new Finnish flag string from <a href="http://uniquelynordic.com/" target="_blank">Uniquely Nordic.</a> </div>
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So, Merry Christmas! God Jul!</div>
Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-67460837166172541382014-10-25T13:27:00.000-07:002014-10-25T13:27:50.815-07:00Happy Halloween! My amazing friend and colleague KR found a haunted house gingerbread decorating class at the local fancy tea and cake shoppe, <a href="http://www.bonbonerie.com/" target="_blank">The Bon Bonerie</a>! In other words, give them money, show up to a ready made gingerbread house, icing, candies, etc. and HAVE FUN! So, today, in the middle of grading, job applications, article rewriting and other less than relaxing activities, KR, her Mom, and yours truly spent a lovely afternoon of playing with sugar. This was followed by a late lunch, black currant tea (with milk) and a fat slice of tangerine cake, aka. Harvest Moon cake. I feel more relaxed than after a long night's sleep! Thank you KR!<br />
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If you would wander into my office next week, this is what you would see:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuLp6L5g_lPJpvTOtGXpzSZHmDJKfVSDFfkKcUlx30FYcraBpg9wpRLFvw-dFaRt6GvXPWCZxl5CEEPhyk2XSF3YAxBcoOzuXyMW808AODGVuRCBRbXZsVPZuS2nVNV-j5vGPiXFJnBQM/s1600/Haunted+house+c+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuLp6L5g_lPJpvTOtGXpzSZHmDJKfVSDFfkKcUlx30FYcraBpg9wpRLFvw-dFaRt6GvXPWCZxl5CEEPhyk2XSF3YAxBcoOzuXyMW808AODGVuRCBRbXZsVPZuS2nVNV-j5vGPiXFJnBQM/s1600/Haunted+house+c+2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Or from the side, where I usually sit when meeting with students:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK7oug3GEGgkosmC3JXyLeSldSnModBNYvZLGiIwc_IRW7cIr17wpk0Fz7wULMI0auHdO0uPG2JnId-7oftvC_jcEKWQmV-su_dx7C7yQoO9NkbBZrnDERkHJijP0_QnPKpf2VXhjMCOr/s1600/Haunted+house+b+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBK7oug3GEGgkosmC3JXyLeSldSnModBNYvZLGiIwc_IRW7cIr17wpk0Fz7wULMI0auHdO0uPG2JnId-7oftvC_jcEKWQmV-su_dx7C7yQoO9NkbBZrnDERkHJijP0_QnPKpf2VXhjMCOr/s1600/Haunted+house+b+2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Let's do a close up of the dangling spider web, shall we:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kgd8I-eyWFfEj5i6W5MU64E8YTAQaW7FP9kOVblf1n_n7YSSUjhqiOkC6oRiuo03IeAuyvWf2rJcp0LuswwyURVoAEk1eSSvm2cJXJXZSPn9edLgrZlO4MU6u8gaZn-IXpcdYUrd0aBC/s1600/Haunted+house+A+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kgd8I-eyWFfEj5i6W5MU64E8YTAQaW7FP9kOVblf1n_n7YSSUjhqiOkC6oRiuo03IeAuyvWf2rJcp0LuswwyURVoAEk1eSSvm2cJXJXZSPn9edLgrZlO4MU6u8gaZn-IXpcdYUrd0aBC/s1600/Haunted+house+A+2014.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Ok, so my cellphone takes very poor quality photos, but the cobweb is only attached at the points and under the coco-puff (a kind of breakfast cereal, apparently) spider. I am ridiculously proud of it...<br />
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And lastly, when I go behind it to put the kettle on, in <a href="http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/abandon-hope-all-ye-who-enter-here.html" target="_blank">Dante's</a> potentially miss-remembered words:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46NSJFEMJaXHtgNL0i1jkZxdpJXMMbIL6ouCwnV9n9LRSkVjA8UKb0VJvmv_FkNGP_1O3UZe1T_6BiHn_NXBdoHEt_aXAVWIkxMrJ0IHoNzlt9Zg94CiQ1YlqnHU_ien2OZQHeemlmkHo/s1600/Haunted+house+d+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46NSJFEMJaXHtgNL0i1jkZxdpJXMMbIL6ouCwnV9n9LRSkVjA8UKb0VJvmv_FkNGP_1O3UZe1T_6BiHn_NXBdoHEt_aXAVWIkxMrJ0IHoNzlt9Zg94CiQ1YlqnHU_ien2OZQHeemlmkHo/s1600/Haunted+house+d+2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
Now, back to work!<br />
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Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-5427877978669272012014-09-27T12:45:00.002-07:002014-09-27T12:47:34.682-07:00Beet cake for potluck<div style="text-align: justify;">
Back in <a href="http://cirsiafortuita.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-cake-that-beet-carrot-cake.html" target="_blank">2013 I discovered that my family's carrot cake is perhaps even better when made with beets</a>. The Benevolent Overlord thinks there is no reason to ever make carrot cake again unless made with beets. I have been hankering for a slice of beet cake, but given a desire to eat healthier, above all smaller portions and less sugars, I was not going to make a cake and have it hanging around the house. Bad idea. Bad. Luckily, the beginning of the semester came to the rescue: the Labor Day Departmental Pot Luck!</div>
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I love cream cheese icing, but decided I needed to jazz it up somehow. While the cake baked and cooled I did some happy Internet searching, and settled on a <a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/109862/honey-ginger-buttercream-frosting.html" target="_blank">Honey Ginger Buttercream Frosting </a>from <a href="http://grouprecipes.com/">GroupRecipes.com</a> as the filling layer. As you can see I slathered it on nice and thick.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknTx-838IXc5NDdtnjVMDcE46ROwoMCDFXdCpQ5WOmi9J71U0c6LDaPuRa6GHFbgf20G7PqB8WDrBLadRg2aA8Mo99YM6wlD907f0zFTOwqzW4G5ZD0r1INGfLCvjQXM3F47xP25zNR0r/s1600/IMG_8927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknTx-838IXc5NDdtnjVMDcE46ROwoMCDFXdCpQ5WOmi9J71U0c6LDaPuRa6GHFbgf20G7PqB8WDrBLadRg2aA8Mo99YM6wlD907f0zFTOwqzW4G5ZD0r1INGfLCvjQXM3F47xP25zNR0r/s1600/IMG_8927.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the actual icing that I would use to ice and decorate the cake, I went with <a href="http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Cream-Cheese-Icing" target="_blank">Wilton's Cream Cheese Icing</a>. Instead of the orange juice I used ginger liquor, and instead of the grated orange peel I used dried ginger - grated ginger would clog the icing tips. An issue I had was the icing was highly volatile and softened much quicker than usual, even given the temperature or the room. As The Benevolent Overlord pointed out, alcohol has properties that will soften butter. Note to self - ginger liquor gave a fabulous flavor, but makes icing harder. </div>
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Carrot cake is very crumbly, so I started with a thin layer of icing just to seal in the crumbs:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOhYx5KrIzZqiSU3Hi7-X_AunU8t0Loieol0vlRJOMwfJiw-bp4HUK_X0upaqWSuQO0h8bcGKMDTbko35hnjEKUlAJlXi83QGuvOCB1O26yEnw6qbuX7t9i94ij6qAWcTKdsysU73X_ee/s1600/IMG_8928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLOhYx5KrIzZqiSU3Hi7-X_AunU8t0Loieol0vlRJOMwfJiw-bp4HUK_X0upaqWSuQO0h8bcGKMDTbko35hnjEKUlAJlXi83QGuvOCB1O26yEnw6qbuX7t9i94ij6qAWcTKdsysU73X_ee/s1600/IMG_8928.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I edged the cake with a cheerful yellow basket weave - always fun to do! - and topped it with beets:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZre88Gr9U1ms-Wiqm2u2_vmZRFJBhz2ub7drtMJuDIB-b1Yx-94ZAnc8vrq5cHkfI0RoBZwNs-swlIJk3IuGklTE1jXAJp5ET12Ekjm8l6JH3tNju2yODWcMbb40Vrrb8XCjy9IAJ4i7/s1600/IMG_8932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVZre88Gr9U1ms-Wiqm2u2_vmZRFJBhz2ub7drtMJuDIB-b1Yx-94ZAnc8vrq5cHkfI0RoBZwNs-swlIJk3IuGklTE1jXAJp5ET12Ekjm8l6JH3tNju2yODWcMbb40Vrrb8XCjy9IAJ4i7/s1600/IMG_8932.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The color is obviously off, but here's a close-up of the beets:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVETiJaNlNZ8sJZNNXdBhMkduBkr9VpsMsGKrdpoHLXBSj7ORJNYGmQijhpdXUuzyD3ECa9cFS4X1wsZe8BT4IwX2uPdjNbo_K_GAuX5XcG4rxGk3lHiaZy84HFQ7377KdehZuVZf6CqT/s1600/IMG_8931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVETiJaNlNZ8sJZNNXdBhMkduBkr9VpsMsGKrdpoHLXBSj7ORJNYGmQijhpdXUuzyD3ECa9cFS4X1wsZe8BT4IwX2uPdjNbo_K_GAuX5XcG4rxGk3lHiaZy84HFQ7377KdehZuVZf6CqT/s1600/IMG_8931.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I am particularly pleased with the beet tops. And you know, the beets I peeled for this cake did have a bumpy look, even if not quite so "dog turdy" in appearance as these. While doing the veins in the leaves, I managed to brush the piping at the top of the basket weave, which was already compromised by the heat/alcohol. There was no saving the edge without mussing it up, so I added a helpful caption in case someone was wondering what kind of cake it is:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGgiNvLglQ3rCpT5Kvf32lUEWB6BbOkt9EaeGsgK1FlBSg07tuRhFG0_MwUY8YhrFZh4Nx32hgcftlDx5nRTJS3q60QNDA_I2e9ezLOiJLbwO0sD2qNF8rNYv7sB6yu-TR01g5xqEoq2J/s1600/IMG_8930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGgiNvLglQ3rCpT5Kvf32lUEWB6BbOkt9EaeGsgK1FlBSg07tuRhFG0_MwUY8YhrFZh4Nx32hgcftlDx5nRTJS3q60QNDA_I2e9ezLOiJLbwO0sD2qNF8rNYv7sB6yu-TR01g5xqEoq2J/s1600/IMG_8930.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hah! The hosting professor's daughter was quite fascinated with how I got my elbow in the cake, so I got a story out of it as well. </div>
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Over all, it was a truly delicious cake, even if I do say so myself. The beets and the ginger married beautifully, and everyone liked it. We got to take leftovers home, so we ended up having only two pieces, which is plenty. Yes, we had it for breakfast the next day. Decadent!</div>
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And here's the full view: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt1WM98a_SiqfOA1JcSE-Slu9-C8gr77kztdU68ry8fvk8IzmHYl20Q6Wly3wCcPrg4tiHa6hrVt3pU0Aet1OXJWYyQ5c38VL473IuDxNuGFy9eBc7zUAZbeJlbsl862xlLwTcIPRTaYf/s1600/IMG_8929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBt1WM98a_SiqfOA1JcSE-Slu9-C8gr77kztdU68ry8fvk8IzmHYl20Q6Wly3wCcPrg4tiHa6hrVt3pU0Aet1OXJWYyQ5c38VL473IuDxNuGFy9eBc7zUAZbeJlbsl862xlLwTcIPRTaYf/s1600/IMG_8929.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I will definitely make this combo again, and am glad I discovered the ginger icing!</div>
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<a href="http://cirsiafortuita.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-cake-that-beet-carrot-cake.html" target="_blank">Carrot Cake</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.grouprecipes.com/109862/honey-ginger-buttercream-frosting.html" target="_blank">Honey Ginger Buttercream Frosting</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Cream-Cheese-Icing" target="_blank">Wilton's Cream Cheese Icing</a> (with orange)</div>
Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-90824276359172307492014-09-08T17:09:00.000-07:002014-09-08T17:13:42.240-07:00What to do with lots of squash? Part 1.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqpGE-pjW1n1ipNDKueiD8vWNrO0s2pdJbkeLnKIomsZ5Ycn6tnoaa6jDW1zWcSC8LZu1D0tHI3ulc_6-nTOH7pnvniqB89MrTalZrOXMivD6vKimxGiR_VMJutqogjlxf4YWElff20Se/s1600/IMG_8936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqpGE-pjW1n1ipNDKueiD8vWNrO0s2pdJbkeLnKIomsZ5Ycn6tnoaa6jDW1zWcSC8LZu1D0tHI3ulc_6-nTOH7pnvniqB89MrTalZrOXMivD6vKimxGiR_VMJutqogjlxf4YWElff20Se/s1600/IMG_8936.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
We love <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delicata_squash" target="_blank">delicata squash</a>! So, now that we live in a house (the landlord said we can do anything we want with the yard), we decided to plant some. We put them in a plot behind the cedar trees. However, only a few of the seeds in the package are actually delicata - most are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butternut_squash" target="_blank">butternut squash</a>. We love butternut as well, so we are only slightly disappointed. Over the summer the plants have grown, and above you see how they are growing up over the cedars and around the cedars. It is hard to capture in a photograph, but it is pretty awesome.<br />
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The first butternut squash was emergency harvested as a deer had nibbled on it. Here is a picture of it from its non-nibbled on side, along with (left to right) everclear being infused with a mint variety nicely called "julep" (I'm looking at you TMV and LH!), everclear infusion based on Samovar Blend tea (KT, this one is for you!), and my felted teacosy. The beer in the background is leftovers from a departmental pot-luck (more on that later. Maybe). When I cut into the squash a few days later, it smelled more fragrant and delicious than any butternut squash I have ever purchased.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMQ2PYambjRwhPCtaERSCTWqBun7ye90yeZ5x-6GLCTxJEIgkwWtHH3VVPNH9ApeDj6TB0eTbOM5Omuub6GM8uDfZf9MIAytBIq-K7xWcvKmKFIDd2yrvS6W0h1F2JFljqoANLq9h3HR2/s1600/IMG_8935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVMQ2PYambjRwhPCtaERSCTWqBun7ye90yeZ5x-6GLCTxJEIgkwWtHH3VVPNH9ApeDj6TB0eTbOM5Omuub6GM8uDfZf9MIAytBIq-K7xWcvKmKFIDd2yrvS6W0h1F2JFljqoANLq9h3HR2/s1600/IMG_8935.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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One day a week or so ago the Fuzzband - although I think we decided to call him Benevolent Overlord after<a href="http://www.npr.org/people/4459873/doug-berman" target="_blank"> Doug Berman</a>, who is titled thus on <a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/wait-wait-dont-tell-me/" target="_blank">Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! </a>(The best radio show in the 'verse!)... So, Benevolent Overlord declared we need to find at least ten butternut squash recipes. Well, I did. I went through our cookbooks, because I am a cookbook person. We have a pretty exciting lineup of butternut squash and pumpkin recipes!<br />
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Here is recipe #1 (complete with an attempt at food photography):<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB33__kWv0T9xjlkIYfYePlOoagokFUKBkaJz9jiellN0cKSpX4mVZKJLCx72bDZ-D9dzvRHSiXc2p_LpYS0oWmGwKU8DaxYWx0IyqmLnqpRMMl5GDiiC6AKRA90EJuS1VPSObcCjNPZU/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAB33__kWv0T9xjlkIYfYePlOoagokFUKBkaJz9jiellN0cKSpX4mVZKJLCx72bDZ-D9dzvRHSiXc2p_LpYS0oWmGwKU8DaxYWx0IyqmLnqpRMMl5GDiiC6AKRA90EJuS1VPSObcCjNPZU/s1600/Capture.JPG" height="274" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">This is perhaps my favorite cook book: </span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: start;">400 Best-Ever Soups</i><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">, <br />edited by Anne Sheasby (Hermes House, 2008). The recipe is on p. 150.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Squash Soup with Horseradish Cream</span><br />
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Ingredients:<br />
1 butternut squash<br />
1 cooking apple<br />
2 Tblsp butter<br />
1 onion, finely chopped<br />
1-2 tsp curry powder - I used hot + extra for garnish<br />
900 ml / 3 3/4 cup vegetable stock<br />
1 tsp chopped fresh sage - I used dry<br />
150 ml / 2/3 cup apple juice<br />
lime rind, shredded, to garnish - I did not use this<br />
salt and black pepper<br />
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Horseradish cream:<br />
4 Tbsp heavy whipping cream<br />
2 tsp horseradish sauce - I used freshly grated<br />
1/2 tsp curry powder - again, I used hot<br />
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<ol>
<li>Peel squash, remove seeds, chop the flesh. Peel, core, and chop apple</li>
<li>Heat the butter in a large pan. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until soft. Stir in the curry powder. Cook to bring out the flavor, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.</li>
<li>Add the stock, squash, apple, and sage. Bring to boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes until the squash and apple are soft. </li>
<li>Meanwhile, make the horseradish sauce: whip the cream until stiff, add the horseradish and curry. Refrigerate until ready to serve on soup.</li>
<li>Puree the soup. Return to pot and add apple juice. Season to taste. Reheat gently, without bringing to boil.</li>
<li>Serve the soup in bowls topped with a spoonful of the horseradish sauce and a dusting of curry powder. Garnish with shredded lime rind, if you like.</li>
</ol>
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Tadaa:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa1XwQ17al9lI5Qf9j_TzmCiHZ79OjgfQV8ayvnDenDN9zWMt46Af6SOK2pIMaZzv_pqbDZZWr_mWzf9JTvJ3w2HTBskkSX2c-1sZul67Y-IYhd3t4XiOCcVdZIoAhL1RmAv4A0JsmoT-/s1600/IMG_8940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa1XwQ17al9lI5Qf9j_TzmCiHZ79OjgfQV8ayvnDenDN9zWMt46Af6SOK2pIMaZzv_pqbDZZWr_mWzf9JTvJ3w2HTBskkSX2c-1sZul67Y-IYhd3t4XiOCcVdZIoAhL1RmAv4A0JsmoT-/s1600/IMG_8940.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
It was delicious! Seriously. And it was even better the next day. While "best ever" is an absolute I don't like to put in writing outside hyperbole on Facebook, this book sure does live up to its name. Benevolent Overlord said it was the best squash soup he has had - and we've had some darn fine ones. I would rate it at a solid 8 out of 10, Benevolent Overlord at 9/9.5! Regardless, we are remembering this one.<br />
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If you try this, I would love to hear how yours turns out, how you modified the recipe, etc.<br />
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While my food photography is crappy, to say the least, here is one more shot:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigHmeBgCoe0M5FNbv_ebrP7STr9QzC34g4YUfagP_-xcOheeYoMPjKkXEX3dn8jPf-Hgw3k4nEnRQi7TvpFyNU4bsuQa-C8cvBf5OfaXHEUp1-PnKOF5BgZRhzRXyGYdEv5ya1XqLb8kL/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigHmeBgCoe0M5FNbv_ebrP7STr9QzC34g4YUfagP_-xcOheeYoMPjKkXEX3dn8jPf-Hgw3k4nEnRQi7TvpFyNU4bsuQa-C8cvBf5OfaXHEUp1-PnKOF5BgZRhzRXyGYdEv5ya1XqLb8kL/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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P.S. The drink shown above is actually worth a note in and of itself. It is a <a href="http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink2597.html" target="_blank">mudslide with banana</a>... (Ooo! The webpage has some other <a href="http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/330/" target="_blank">promising recipes, too</a>!)We made our own <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/11/diy-irish-cream-homemade-baileys-recipe.html" target="_blank">creamed whiskey</a> for the mudslide, since we had the ingredients for it, and did not want to go out and buy <a href="http://www.baileys.com/en-us/home.html?gclid=CJOyi4jr0sACFc1i7AodjWcAbw" target="_blank">Bailey's</a>, the most famous creamed whiskey and staple in home-bars as well as commercial bars. I have to say, the home made turned out more to our palette than then purchased version. What is left of the creamed whiskey now stored in an old everclear bottle in the fridge waiting for further adventures.<br />
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<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-56385028442047648002014-07-27T07:20:00.003-07:002014-09-08T17:10:30.196-07:00Fuzzband's Birthday - Featuring Cake!My Husband had a birthday on Friday. Now, the problem when we lived in New Haven was that it was always too hot to bake and decorate a birthday cake for him. However, now we live in Cincinnati - in a house! - and we have air conditioning. So it is cool enough to actually, you know, bake AND spend hours playing with buttercream! This was a very drawn out process, but lots of fun!<br />
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The Process<br />
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1. I bought on-sale <a href="http://www.thehersheycompany.com/brands/whoppers/milk-chocolate-malted-milk-balls.aspx" target="_blank">Malted Milk Balls</a> at Easter.<br />
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2. Decide on a surprise birthday party and coral the guests. I decided on a very small gathering of friends from the area, although I did try to get The Best Man to come from Pittsburgh... Fuzzband has dreamed of a pot-luck appetizer dinner, so that is what I asked peeps to bring.<br />
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3. Monday, 5 days before B-day, I stayed home because I had a doctor's appointment, which I combined with lunch with my friend KR. She also took me shopping for ingredients for the B-day. The Fuzzband has the car, and it would have been suspicious if I had borrowed it. PLUS I got to hang out with KR! I had drawn a plan in my little memo book, "Dichtung und Warheit" - KR did not get it, apparently, but when she saw the cake it all made sense. The Fuzzband'd engineering mind grasped it immeidately when he saw it on the B-Day. Although by then he had also seen the cake....<br />
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4. Wednesday I had a dentist's appointment, so once again I stayed home. And baked meringue, using the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Joy-Cooking-Irma-S-Rombauer/dp/0743246268/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1406467329&sr=1-1&keywords=joy+of+cooking+spiral+bound" target="_blank">Joy of Cooking's</a> Meringue I recipe. I left them in the oven, hoping Fuzzband would not get inspired to use the oven. The gamble payed off!<br />
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5. Friday, B-day. I stayed home on the pretext I need foot X-rays. My medical issues sure have been agreat for excuses not to go to the office and prepare for the party! While I did figure out where I need to go for X-rays of the sore foot, (the joys of the US health care system! Aaargh!) I actually spent most off the day in the kitchen with the Birthday cake:<br />
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The meringue had gotten a bit sticky on the surface, so I turned the oven back on and dried it out. Worked like a charm! Must remember for future reference.<br />
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While first aid was going on for the meringue, I made chocolate ganache from our <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Practical-Cooking-n/dp/0752579525" target="_blank">Chocolate cookbook</a> - it goes with Stephen's favorite dessert, their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150273124165397&set=a.212698025396.264224.825290396&type=3&theater" target="_blank">Tropical Fruit Vacherin, of which there is a photo on Facebook</a>. I also melted the chocolate for chocolate buttercream - <a href="http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Chocolate-Buttercream-Icing" target="_blank">Wilton's recipe</a> - to be mixed with whipped cream for a less sweet and lighter filling. While those were cooling I baked the Devil's Food Chocolate Cake from The Joy of Cooking.<br />
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This is what I turned out in the end:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBQUwMH15rSaak9z83L5XwW2oI2k1gwsBGMhXAG3zG2fKxQ2hyphenhyphenIsx61NADD3m39S08GFmH_fJ-gaUl5hkmh_6GHY9jwLuxBxYtrbyme5VtxI9qlK_Oe4TACdzjByzBj8XL9OX3zwBBZTk/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBQUwMH15rSaak9z83L5XwW2oI2k1gwsBGMhXAG3zG2fKxQ2hyphenhyphenIsx61NADD3m39S08GFmH_fJ-gaUl5hkmh_6GHY9jwLuxBxYtrbyme5VtxI9qlK_Oe4TACdzjByzBj8XL9OX3zwBBZTk/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFqur1DIf_RYn_3aHemQKhJ7fyALbDJtfRsbvKxNPzpIomk_IyhZDtBbWj4XVKt-FIFUisXnv0KujHSZPLmAzTSAoXd7SISwYFXZ0Wkh2Knmo6e8mbSBugQ29O2Y_jY75F4r-zBZjWmta/s1600/IMG_8875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqFqur1DIf_RYn_3aHemQKhJ7fyALbDJtfRsbvKxNPzpIomk_IyhZDtBbWj4XVKt-FIFUisXnv0KujHSZPLmAzTSAoXd7SISwYFXZ0Wkh2Knmo6e8mbSBugQ29O2Y_jY75F4r-zBZjWmta/s1600/IMG_8875.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
I googled some molds to make my own three dimensional fish cake topper, but came across<a href="http://www.concretecountertopsupply.com/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=StepFish" target="_blank"> a tile design</a>, which had a neat textured relief thing going. As it is flat, it would also mean I could make a higher cake!<br />
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I wanted to make the sides have a sort of under the water vibe. They're supposed to be water grass and the Malted Milk Balls are bubbles or rocks in muddy water. :<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcBqkUjwivbxsIi993U50QNHPdfgvkptKFGIgaI0d0x4D3a9XAEF-9PKfqrpMA97NyMp_5ksiCY04WJgxaP5UJI4bYPkhtKOy_2FovYSmXOdmp4xNoR77_flRFfdQmbGdlCbrHErFqMOb/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcBqkUjwivbxsIi993U50QNHPdfgvkptKFGIgaI0d0x4D3a9XAEF-9PKfqrpMA97NyMp_5ksiCY04WJgxaP5UJI4bYPkhtKOy_2FovYSmXOdmp4xNoR77_flRFfdQmbGdlCbrHErFqMOb/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Fuzzband really liked the cake! Yay! Everyone else did, too!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aXDKLjwlHuXuzF16JeFxlUlFzjgwzWneevOVpCqbE7XNYwMDV6QYWxRisvvKt7WDf4tjxu1AdHLvHgVhLCgqKq_gwUS8eGTDVXNx8ZsuHMWZC2E7endyohDQzcJw9A4Q71lFR0yBPzjz/s1600/IMG_8882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aXDKLjwlHuXuzF16JeFxlUlFzjgwzWneevOVpCqbE7XNYwMDV6QYWxRisvvKt7WDf4tjxu1AdHLvHgVhLCgqKq_gwUS8eGTDVXNx8ZsuHMWZC2E7endyohDQzcJw9A4Q71lFR0yBPzjz/s1600/IMG_8882.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Below you can see the layering: chocolate cake at the bottom, then meringue, chocolate cake, and topped with meringue. There were Malted Milk Balls between they layers. I put the meringue at the top to get a super smooth top and no crumbs. Fuzzband is not big on buttercream icing, so I filled the cake with chocolate ganche flavored whipped cream, and did my very best to have as thing a layer of buttercream icing. Having a top layer that does not release any crumbs makes this easier. Please take a moment to admire the thin layer of icing at the top - the chocolate layer is ca 1 mm thick, or less in places, and then there is the colored buttercream icing - and sprinkles to make the fish glisten! KR and I picked those out.<br />
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The Surprise: Friday!<br />
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On Fridays we often go out for Mexican, so to keep the Fuzzband at home, we came up with a plan that our friend MF was coming for dinner - she lives a bit further out so this is rare enough to warrant a Special Occasion. I also told the Fuzzband that I had told her of our new meal plan - <a href="http://www.thefresh20.com/" target="_blank">The Fresh20</a> - and had mentioned the black bean quesadillas on the menu for this week, and that she was excited, so I would make those for her on Friday!<br />
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The plan was that our friends the Ms and KR would just pop in around 6 pm and as the Fuzzband opened the door, they would say "surprise" and hand over their appetizers. HOWEVER! Once MF had arrived, I noticed we were out of toritllas, and thought "Shit! Now he'll have a good excuse to go out!" but instead he offered to go to the store to buy more! Woot! Off he goes. The Ms and KR arrive at the same time minutes after the Fuzzband left, KR parking partially in front of our driveway as she always does, thinking the Fuzzband was at home. I told her Fuzzband would be irritated first, but then realize what the situation was, and she should help set the party up and not move the car. So, we pull out the table to make it bigger, set it with cheerful napkins in the birthday boy's favorite color - green - and set it up with all the appetizers everyone had brought!<br />
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The Fuzzband gets home, and as he comes into the kitchen from the garage (the guests were hidden behind the corner in the dining room) he's griping "Somebody has parked partially in front of our driveway! I would like to let you know I did NOT spit on the car"!!!! He walks into the dining area and - SURPRISE!!! He was completely surprised! And delighted! And speechless! And his griping about the offending car was not only hilarious, but he completely forgave KR. I was a bit worried he's recognize the car, but luckily he did not. An absolute success! Thank you, gang!<br />
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Everything was delicious: Ocra and veggie patties; prosciutto, melon and goat cheese canapes; chile-cheese dip and tortilla chips; quacamole; Italian orange and egg salad; potato veggie salad; and potato chips and <a href="http://www.taffel.fi/ajax-window/american-dippi.html" target="_blank">Amerikan Dippi </a>from Finland we love, and had told the Ms and KR about the previous weekend. I had made a HUGE pitcher of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Sling" target="_blank">Singapore Sling</a>. The Fuzzband loves it, and he was born in Singapore!<br />
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It was a lovely evening of chatting, laughter, and a garden and compost tour for the gang.<br />
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Other things we did on the B-Day weekend: Saturday!<br />
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We drove south to Kentucky, and had lunch: our first visit to <a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/" target="_blank">Chick fil A</a>! We've been getting their <a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Cows/Calendar-2014/" target="_blank">calendars</a> from family friend sin Maryland for years, ever since the chain came out with a Cows in Shining Armor version. The calendars are all about celebrating the glory of <a href="http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Cows/Campaign-History" target="_blank">cows, so we should all eat more chicken</a> to spare these noble beasts!<br />
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We went to the <a href="https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/" target="_blank">Buffalo Trace Distillery</a> in Kentucky - Kentucky is gorgeous!</div>
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On our way back to Cincinnati we wen't to <a href="http://www.miyakorestaurant.com/" target="_blank">Miyako's</a> in Crescent Springs for Hibachi dinner. Crescent Springs is just across the river from Cincinnati in Kentucky. </div>
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When we got home, the Fuzzband's newest hobby of ax collecting was initiated with the arrival of this beauty:</div>
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Isn't he handsome, this Canadian lumberjack of mine?!</div>
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We capped the B-day celebrations with cat-sitting our neighbors' cat, Zoey, eating cake, and watching <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0118t80" target="_blank">Call the Midwife</a> on their Netflix. Lovely!</div>
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOVE!</div>
Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-24877363621190767162013-10-07T12:46:00.000-07:002013-10-07T12:46:53.695-07:00R is a skier.<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Fuzzband and I have been blessed with wonderful friends. Sometimes these friends are glorious enablers! In the summer of 2012 we were at our friends' M and R's - delicious food, fun people, croquet in the back yard, the neighbors' kids had a party and ended up playing a game that involved running around with glo-sticks. It was fabulous!</div>
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One of the outcomes of the party was that R - a dashing gentleman with the most sincere kindness you could ever hope to meet (Fuzzband and I do not think he is capable of a negative thought) - got to talking about sweaters. Now, R is an AVID cross country skier. He told me it had been his dream since for ever to have a sweater with cross country skiers on it. Really? Well, let's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry </a>it! I'll knit a sweater if he pays for the yearn. Really? Really. We did some searching on Ravelry, and found little. In the end we decided to combine the pattern from a hat with a sweater I would make from scratch. Exciting! And R got a hat out of the bargain as well: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVxAOFgruWC27vhbD2_-q_U4HMWM9oawcE-eEZD8heitv2yX5TvYj3kMhD5ideMOdQhmvVjw_4Nv9oxFgOoQEOTrudqIzccqcen7JRYQznTB4Py-Ia6vuK9MxYcYKQgvDukIYW6SB6wpt/s1600/IMG_6459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVxAOFgruWC27vhbD2_-q_U4HMWM9oawcE-eEZD8heitv2yX5TvYj3kMhD5ideMOdQhmvVjw_4Nv9oxFgOoQEOTrudqIzccqcen7JRYQznTB4Py-Ia6vuK9MxYcYKQgvDukIYW6SB6wpt/s200/IMG_6459.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Iu2YgYAdec9mG1qM08tzIGPS4OLQeXE-Bj6Al4wlj_B1ZYujJJKomxwoSaH6iAeOeUfcxskZOwno3OtYwKTFcSIWEWxial8OqMta8y7VQLgDoU2BY7CiqjP7TUR__yRDFJVOiBPyvi8c/s1600/IMG_6461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Iu2YgYAdec9mG1qM08tzIGPS4OLQeXE-Bj6Al4wlj_B1ZYujJJKomxwoSaH6iAeOeUfcxskZOwno3OtYwKTFcSIWEWxial8OqMta8y7VQLgDoU2BY7CiqjP7TUR__yRDFJVOiBPyvi8c/s200/IMG_6461.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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The pattern is by Bea Ellis Knitwear, which can be found on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/bea-ellis-knitwear" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bea-Ellis-Knitwear/177875082312680" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and e-<a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Bea-Ellis-Knitwear" target="_blank">Bay</a>. It seems they are no longer in business. I caught them at a moment when there were a couple of items up on e-Bay, and after a few messages, I managed to get in touch and actually purchase the pattern. They only sell kits, so R and M decided which colors they wanted from the beautiful <a href="http://daleofnorway-1.shptron.com/c/yarn_falk-superwash-yarn_all-colors" target="_blank">Falk yarns at Dale of Norway</a> - that's the yarn the kit uses. It was very nice of Bea Ellis to accommodate the colors I requested, and the kit arrived nice and prompt. Score! The hat was very much appreciated:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsthBhmoFJ1nfsmmH_t9RTFEhffv4_KtP10HJomGVq1LEWyuqu4jlWQgNhMqcWjoFWlF0o-ATtGJlN3Br_89t5DBTsAHGN_ywE5G1A9YV9jq8Ug-UJi249AfbQf0x69HQKx9XhAF0iycK/s1600/IMG_6474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsthBhmoFJ1nfsmmH_t9RTFEhffv4_KtP10HJomGVq1LEWyuqu4jlWQgNhMqcWjoFWlF0o-ATtGJlN3Br_89t5DBTsAHGN_ywE5G1A9YV9jq8Ug-UJi249AfbQf0x69HQKx9XhAF0iycK/s320/IMG_6474.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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After this, I did some serious measuring, knitter's math, and figuring things out based on <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/knitters-handy-book-of-sweater-patterns?utm_source=googleps&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=mercent&cid=2510&mr:referralID=c4f616e3-2f87-11e3-bae4-001b2166c2c0" target="_blank">Ann Bud's <i>Handy Book of Sweater Patterns</i>:</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-u0bdenD2OtSV-JwbSzg5qsVnOkaDXZEJKgJ8lg-mGBsU3SmPq781rsgi6V6lDrLD4G0ehApxphpst5M-TDae2jlJCF4GV3pF1rw2GG6-qDgjlb4YV30apq2QTLk8yW-sIcpIeCLca70/s1600/IMG_6546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-u0bdenD2OtSV-JwbSzg5qsVnOkaDXZEJKgJ8lg-mGBsU3SmPq781rsgi6V6lDrLD4G0ehApxphpst5M-TDae2jlJCF4GV3pF1rw2GG6-qDgjlb4YV30apq2QTLk8yW-sIcpIeCLca70/s320/IMG_6546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Much tea was consumed. I ordered the yarn from my Dale of Norway purveyor of choice, <a href="https://www.woolybaabaa.com/" target="_blank">www.woolubaabaa.com </a>- and service was cheerful, friendly, and prompt:</div>
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I don't like knitting to deadlines, and R was the perfect recipient - cheerful, grateful, excited, and always telling me to take my time. I cast on Dec. 9th. I ended up unraveling the ribbing and trying out the tubular cast-on (thank goodness I bought <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Knitter_s_Book_of_Finishing_Techniqu.html?id=zn9aNwAACAAJ" target="_blank">Nancie M. Wiseman's The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques</a> all those years ago!) - it is cast-on love! Where has it been all my life? </div>
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I copied the skier pattern and multiplied that until I had a ribbon on skiers. The lower band - I think of it as the snowbanks R skis over - also grows out of the ribbing. I am a little bit ridiculously proud of the back as well, and the collar is a Kitchener Stitch bind-off - again my first! I did the body in the US, and the sleeves while teaching in Germany.</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">I ended up finishing the sweater on August 4th, 2013. In other words it had dried from blocking, and I sewed my "handmade by Miti" tag into it. Apparently I did a marvelous job:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSI2lSJcXI5HNPhe5ccAurTVrZuhFf8EBLKytSBR7r7CBbWveGUpmC04TTtqOkUep5cmn5NMJbr7KqpvEF-Ev0iqmqxkIvpGAjkzkHRxd21qE2vNv2p2jZbDFZ5RSX5qGL9nHaJ2yszpy/s1600/IMG_8329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGSI2lSJcXI5HNPhe5ccAurTVrZuhFf8EBLKytSBR7r7CBbWveGUpmC04TTtqOkUep5cmn5NMJbr7KqpvEF-Ev0iqmqxkIvpGAjkzkHRxd21qE2vNv2p2jZbDFZ5RSX5qGL9nHaJ2yszpy/s320/IMG_8329.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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To add to the incredible excitement of this year has been M and R's little baby J! I had leftover yarn from daddy R's sweater, so of course a matching piece had to be produced, right? I settled on <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeKnittingPatternPrestoChango.asp" target="_blank">Valerie Wallis' <i>Presto Chango</i></a> which I'd also knit for another friend. I like the option of multiple panels so grandma can hold a kid without milk drool, should that be an issue. It also meant I could do two panels - duh!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_8tIyZD546fioj5R1Tst87lkzXxGcqbMlUrw70En2EvRAdyXOLHVvatoSHBdzT2mhyphenhyphenQORoXbAvq5gMY9mB2apVgFYCP6Ip-xoLC3ozmbYA8wmuWkkUbIL9a8yA8nhwE0siDXdO2miT6v/s1600/IMG_8360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_8tIyZD546fioj5R1Tst87lkzXxGcqbMlUrw70En2EvRAdyXOLHVvatoSHBdzT2mhyphenhyphenQORoXbAvq5gMY9mB2apVgFYCP6Ip-xoLC3ozmbYA8wmuWkkUbIL9a8yA8nhwE0siDXdO2miT6v/s320/IMG_8360.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPLKj_H-EZOAfrsbVcuN-RluD7hKQx63ifF61XM3nXv_bA9CCmu1Ki583sq2qlMfztnNiu29Ww_wHKlo-awGevQF1jEDwN_ApBp_w5V1ZlmnfgJrwfoOPtX-HYnEQ5oav2S41icTOYzi9/s1600/IMG_8362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPLKj_H-EZOAfrsbVcuN-RluD7hKQx63ifF61XM3nXv_bA9CCmu1Ki583sq2qlMfztnNiu29Ww_wHKlo-awGevQF1jEDwN_ApBp_w5V1ZlmnfgJrwfoOPtX-HYnEQ5oav2S41icTOYzi9/s320/IMG_8362.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Presto Chango </i>calls for heavier weight yarn than the Falk I had, so after a bit of knitters' math, it was easy to cast on the number of stitches needed for a one year old, and do the measurements for 6 months, and with a bit of luck it will get cold enough in New England for J to actually, you know, wear it before he gets too big. I feel I have done the patterns as well s the yarn justice. Not much more I can eke out of that combo. </div>
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Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-60213057956011444302013-03-18T17:20:00.000-07:002013-03-18T17:20:39.740-07:00The Cake that Beet Carrot Cake<div style="text-align: justify;">
Once upon a time, my Fuzzband and I were hanging out with friends, and somehow we got on the idea "what would happen if one substituted beets for carrots in carrot cake"? This is of course a question undoubtedly many have had over the years. </div>
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I love, love, love beets. Love them. Love! So I decided to test this theory at the first opportunity:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxgpw-_7C-lv0-booD8OsOTCjCZB4j1MYy9aQxSjbWntJ_gsB9Luj78nq-3YE5LlAV6QSaT0d1_yojv_swBH6_hH8YF6Rf_StJidJuaLhF0HQ3IsQxbYsAO-Udjd2IgEJmwwPr1QM4GyK/s1600/IMG_6397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxgpw-_7C-lv0-booD8OsOTCjCZB4j1MYy9aQxSjbWntJ_gsB9Luj78nq-3YE5LlAV6QSaT0d1_yojv_swBH6_hH8YF6Rf_StJidJuaLhF0HQ3IsQxbYsAO-Udjd2IgEJmwwPr1QM4GyK/s320/IMG_6397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And because I know everyone wants to see a close-up of the cakes pre-baking:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7S_0QLv8y15giVsOXHyd2kjK1PnI1p_DlCwivsnwh0D2cz-_kdGeuWEom4oycTyoyKHj0UazNEeAgL-xTd1AVO8eq4hzRT2hRz38mHHRHS-czwFw76cpQZtmZDgznBqjzuNs_NWNnsQsb/s1600/IMG_6398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7S_0QLv8y15giVsOXHyd2kjK1PnI1p_DlCwivsnwh0D2cz-_kdGeuWEom4oycTyoyKHj0UazNEeAgL-xTd1AVO8eq4hzRT2hRz38mHHRHS-czwFw76cpQZtmZDgznBqjzuNs_NWNnsQsb/s320/IMG_6398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes - that is the <a href="http://www.pepto-bismol.com/" target="_blank">Pepto-Bismol </a>pink batter, ready to go in the oven! To maximize the oven-usage on a hot summer day, I roasted the leftover beets at the same time.<br />
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Disappointingly, the baked result is not as tantalizing a color:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV16LENXWqSKK5G3PfbQPilecYfJ_P8oyqPwfx-yuUPS_IlED6jIESN9siNcCvDfD9pvxbtF_XB4kGjnvl1qNas2SCNL91oML_lPRK3cEgG8VjysFGtEBFKNmGA7ueO4a3BLVr_ZNuSK2w/s1600/IMG_6399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV16LENXWqSKK5G3PfbQPilecYfJ_P8oyqPwfx-yuUPS_IlED6jIESN9siNcCvDfD9pvxbtF_XB4kGjnvl1qNas2SCNL91oML_lPRK3cEgG8VjysFGtEBFKNmGA7ueO4a3BLVr_ZNuSK2w/s320/IMG_6399.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Seriously. Not pink? No. </div>
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As this was an exercise in test-kitchen hysteria, I resurrected some cream cheese icings from the freezer and iced the loaves to take to an evening with the same gang of friends. I believe shooting a BB-gun from inside the apartment at a target on the patio was involved later in the evening...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g6aLib7JF2uJ7CvMeJlHPDObaSqLJ84U4jmJV0W5MCrLeodJS7Y6mVusGudkBnV_gRKNfLnVfeEsvte2MI6m5oSqVqt4omyVuYafW_ix34e3JiiFhUn3hxF860X546fFD7aQJnsGpCKY/s1600/IMG_6402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0g6aLib7JF2uJ7CvMeJlHPDObaSqLJ84U4jmJV0W5MCrLeodJS7Y6mVusGudkBnV_gRKNfLnVfeEsvte2MI6m5oSqVqt4omyVuYafW_ix34e3JiiFhUn3hxF860X546fFD7aQJnsGpCKY/s320/IMG_6402.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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At the top left is featured my spiral bound recipe book that I put together to take Mother's (and other peep's) recipes with me when I moved out from my parents' place. Since then it has moved to Rome, Canada, and now Connecticut. The Carrot Cake recipe I revamped was my grandmother's. It is without a doubt the best Carrot Cake recipe in the world. Despite this, my husband has declared that the Beet Cake is the better of the two, and asks: "Why should we ever make Carrot Cake again?" </div>
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It is true: the Beet Cake is delicious! Not unlike Carrot Cake, but earthier, and a bit less sweet. Everyone at the dinner loved it, and our friend LH swore repeatedly that night, and later in a 100% sober state, that it is her favorite cake EVER! She asked me to make one for her birthday later in the summer. I, of course, did, but added some cake decorating flare:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKq273orsXpO0ucuprz4NTH8dpi81-F_cVXazhqVx1pp2MvbSessvAWn_wmGyw607c8AogLBUH4l7BpovugC6H4ceT4fUGZUE13m3vPcxwvytKFUfh89dT17AjgJdLiQiTFKAvcjVXX-O/s1600/IMG_6415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXKq273orsXpO0ucuprz4NTH8dpi81-F_cVXazhqVx1pp2MvbSessvAWn_wmGyw607c8AogLBUH4l7BpovugC6H4ceT4fUGZUE13m3vPcxwvytKFUfh89dT17AjgJdLiQiTFKAvcjVXX-O/s320/IMG_6415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCJNhErfJc3KbfjIOeS4tPNKCrPTFd1-S1V2Juvwyb32r_uSUGJPY1WiQbUGfScx9-obLGo3vLLZslwXhV7ZT0jjWqojBT8sQkb7suW4Z5REYiCc_TVjqv9zhv0zdDm5rLks1lEC8Xl-4/s1600/IMG_6419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqCJNhErfJc3KbfjIOeS4tPNKCrPTFd1-S1V2Juvwyb32r_uSUGJPY1WiQbUGfScx9-obLGo3vLLZslwXhV7ZT0jjWqojBT8sQkb7suW4Z5REYiCc_TVjqv9zhv0zdDm5rLks1lEC8Xl-4/s320/IMG_6419.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrauj6qFu1bhgdwBFzDm9u4H8MHy2XHKftgIEobGzbJ7BSB4AQhOhF-XED9IOYYel5-8XGadbgmxIbN8vojlZO8uoMTjuSmhRANZEc7xqeWyUggn3NbklI2REnYvbfudNqU-hWb09rHBLT/s1600/IMG_6416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrauj6qFu1bhgdwBFzDm9u4H8MHy2XHKftgIEobGzbJ7BSB4AQhOhF-XED9IOYYel5-8XGadbgmxIbN8vojlZO8uoMTjuSmhRANZEc7xqeWyUggn3NbklI2REnYvbfudNqU-hWb09rHBLT/s320/IMG_6416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Yes, it is cream cheese icing, and it was very much appreciated. Several people have asked for the recipe, so here goes:<br />
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1,5 cups canola oil<br />
2 cups sugar<br />
4 eggs<br />
2 cups flour<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
2 tsp cinnamon<br />
2 tsp soda<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
3 cups grated beets<br />
(1 cup raisins or nuts - optional)<br />
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0. Heat the oven to 175 Celsius (350 Fahrenheit)<br />
1. Beat the oil and sugar until pale and fluffy. Or until you get distracted...<br />
2. Blend and sift the dry ingredients (I never sift, and barely blend...)<br />
3. Mix the sugar-oil goop with the dry ingredients.<br />
4. Add beets (and raisins and/or nuts)<br />
5. Bake for 30 mins, or 1 hour in a tube pan. When a wooden tooth pick comes out clean, it is done.<br />
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Slather with your favorite cream cheese frosting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6J6IykxHpandrElCiJx4aJp_rVHAtbiCoUOTCRALcrmuv5uexSztueMK3dYut3wUVJm_KAEWg9sYv0Pd3AzgybZ7a86Yz0eOTErx3knEiLyIQaJBnp_uZHr9jKOK9UJK9mFlm9dZq07l/s1600/IMG_6414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6J6IykxHpandrElCiJx4aJp_rVHAtbiCoUOTCRALcrmuv5uexSztueMK3dYut3wUVJm_KAEWg9sYv0Pd3AzgybZ7a86Yz0eOTErx3knEiLyIQaJBnp_uZHr9jKOK9UJK9mFlm9dZq07l/s320/IMG_6414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-48310053166431214972013-02-10T12:21:00.000-08:002013-02-10T12:21:11.914-08:00Boobies!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Men like breasts. I will not even qualify that with "heterosexual" - some of the men I know most interested in breasts are in fact not sexually attracted to them in any way. The bra discussions we have had... You know who you are...</div>
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Anyway, I have a cake pan that is meant to make the dress portion for a princess cake. I have made a nun cake with it. Now, obviously they beg the thought: "two of those would make great boobies"! I just needed the excuse. Of course, I am married, so by "excuse" I mean time, place, inspiration, and temperature have to come together. My Fuzzband's birthday is in July, and there is no, I repeat, no baking happening in this apartment in July. But never fear! I have friends! Not that I need to wait for a birthday, but it adds solemnity to make a special cake. Wait, I just used the word 'solemn' in a post titled 'boobies'... Nevermind.</div>
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Back to cake. My friend JG happens to be heterosexual, and like boobies. Other things he likes are food, baking, cooking, beer, compost, outdoor toilets, crass jokes, whiskey, and his wife, also a J, but JW (or JayDub as my Fuzzband sometimes says). My kind of guy! To make the combo even more precious, JW is a dear friend who has helped me though some tough times, like qualifying exams. </div>
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For JG's birthday last May I decided to make him the boobie cake! Some investigation (I have connections!) told me he is very fond of caramel. I also happen to know he likes whiskey. My friend AR once made a DIVINE cake (recipe from our friend LB... It is complicated, I know...) with butterscotch and whiskey. <a href="http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Whiskey-Cake-Ii-Allrecipes?columns=4&position=5/36" target="_blank">It is really something else.</a> I have also made it with a maple buttercream frosting that caused another friend, AV, go into some kind of epileptic spasms... Instead of maple, I decided to use whiskey and caramel as my themes.</div>
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Hence was born the whiskey butterscotch boobie cake with caramel icing:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH03w3ADHbLnN0S5Ou_LN1C1DvhUHpldXeLbZX6dJlNiNky_YMb6WDxAJi5PY8SoyEsWEQ4I2RDOaESBajsOSZE-jAYgjaLBBDbiAN0obt9ag9Mg96j04l1Chn491hf5dKWLLX1LoRQ6LC/s1600/IMG_6004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH03w3ADHbLnN0S5Ou_LN1C1DvhUHpldXeLbZX6dJlNiNky_YMb6WDxAJi5PY8SoyEsWEQ4I2RDOaESBajsOSZE-jAYgjaLBBDbiAN0obt9ag9Mg96j04l1Chn491hf5dKWLLX1LoRQ6LC/s1600/IMG_6004.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Two cake batters baked in form later - you can see the butterscotch chips in the cake. You can also, just, see the holes in the tops of the cakes - that is where a hollow aluminum rod is screwed into the cake pan to ensure cooking the center of the "skirt" cake evenly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzAj8Fah3vYo9vacQRe8GRJ_c-scnqOPgIqGpIraWdxzmzoC24vaXIf2MgigScB90X-5JYIYhrOzmTKGc6McZzlsD2pIZPRm4uCIP5UaJt4Lnu0-BI0FqPHztGOn_kRka1h6Hahv71D1L/s1600/IMG_6006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzAj8Fah3vYo9vacQRe8GRJ_c-scnqOPgIqGpIraWdxzmzoC24vaXIf2MgigScB90X-5JYIYhrOzmTKGc6McZzlsD2pIZPRm4uCIP5UaJt4Lnu0-BI0FqPHztGOn_kRka1h6Hahv71D1L/s1600/IMG_6006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I forget what we were drinking, but it must have been good - JW's camera angle is wonky...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnEY8OeGIYmCNmp1zFmSPx5wflPAJEK1umfHNtth3Ytqc-4gDpYSGx8ewIfrSSf6taoT0MIxRdCtEX4FQUYjVui4ujoFY9HRnMnKxEcK2te3ItARLV8WNpDIaEiVmlhNEn5UOGNaCO72n/s1600/IMG_6008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnEY8OeGIYmCNmp1zFmSPx5wflPAJEK1umfHNtth3Ytqc-4gDpYSGx8ewIfrSSf6taoT0MIxRdCtEX4FQUYjVui4ujoFY9HRnMnKxEcK2te3ItARLV8WNpDIaEiVmlhNEn5UOGNaCO72n/s1600/IMG_6008.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Note the Jack Daniels bottle on the counter...</div>
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J testing the <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/346963/caramel-buttercream" target="_blank">caramel buttercream frosting</a>.</div>
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Marachino cherries add the final (realistic?) touch. You can tell the smoother boobie was done by the then fiancée of JG, JW. We had a blast - girly time spent to make one fiancé a happy camper! Officially we were studying - bootcampage as we call it! Hah! Little did HE know!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO49s9fPyFx7ZCeqfvFoPf_STtBEim4RFeCJ8BSVFR0RnFxG8vqmQ1Vb_SA2SMxwQmg_5dcE42ZAFqfJDVqRff7SjbRmIni7UMh_DqjMMWPnsFGr8GqZGyMK6KdZmyQU0i6lBuC0pfeZR/s1600/IMG_6013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLO49s9fPyFx7ZCeqfvFoPf_STtBEim4RFeCJ8BSVFR0RnFxG8vqmQ1Vb_SA2SMxwQmg_5dcE42ZAFqfJDVqRff7SjbRmIni7UMh_DqjMMWPnsFGr8GqZGyMK6KdZmyQU0i6lBuC0pfeZR/s1600/IMG_6013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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The happy birthday boy!</div>
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One half consumed boobie. </div>
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I have a serious crush on JG's sense of humor. And of course the cake was perfect for bringing out the best (worst?) in everyone present. Several at the party were part of my friends collectively called "friends from Church" - a Church they go to regularly, and we sometimes crash, but still. They are some of the most upstanding citizens out there, and wild and crude humor is brought to the group by yours truly, and JG. So imagine my delight when CB, who does cuff links like few others, commented that my cleavage is delicious! I almost peed myself laughing. It was great! </div>
Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-33888398393263560412012-11-05T14:48:00.004-08:002012-11-05T14:48:37.135-08:00Blogging elsewhere!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well,</div>
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Despite my list of ideas (chicken of the woods, knitting, felting, baking...) I have done nothing here on Cirsia Fortuita. Bummer.</div>
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However, one of the things I have gotten done, is work at the <a href="http://www.yale.edu/graduateschool/teaching/fellows.html" target="_blank">Yale Graduate Teaching Center</a>! I lead workshops, offer teaching consultations, and talk about teaching with an amazing team of Fellows and the two directors. I wish I had applied to do this years ago! As part of this endeavor, I wrote a blog post on the <a href="http://yalegtc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">GTC blog</a>. You can check out my thoughts on how the teaching statement (a two page document that introduces the job search committee to me as a teacher - almost all History department job announcements specify that they want one to be submitted as part of the application packet) <a href="http://yalegtc.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-teaching-statement-out-and-about-on.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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And because why not, here is a Novembery set of photos from the hood and beyond: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtrBkq0z9sHS_J1sNpE7zamea4RTrIxPghUtV685o1wj8JJy3Errq2v9QdYQWgDxDAqnFfYOjy-oxtQVp2r0B4RK7bIA3Pm46F-YGibHEUXLlnYDr3Cah4kMAaDl5eTmAAIX-6nwYj2H2/s1600/Nica's+market+with+pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtrBkq0z9sHS_J1sNpE7zamea4RTrIxPghUtV685o1wj8JJy3Errq2v9QdYQWgDxDAqnFfYOjy-oxtQVp2r0B4RK7bIA3Pm46F-YGibHEUXLlnYDr3Cah4kMAaDl5eTmAAIX-6nwYj2H2/s1600/Nica's+market+with+pumpkins.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.nicasmarket.com/" target="_blank">Nica's Market</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LCctjUPuiPjqaLIBM6SONkF8Ymx9ycpoYPLCkC6-ETKLPeY-OqkV8YpevCAT2OQRCFLVWOu-cy-5OErwtTcvCOSpHxCr3bbRIIntwiPSVMpYhKggKgkxq8ZM7-KccneRbFhk1lKTN5Yt/s1600/Dry+Cleaner+Americana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LCctjUPuiPjqaLIBM6SONkF8Ymx9ycpoYPLCkC6-ETKLPeY-OqkV8YpevCAT2OQRCFLVWOu-cy-5OErwtTcvCOSpHxCr3bbRIIntwiPSVMpYhKggKgkxq8ZM7-KccneRbFhk1lKTN5Yt/s1600/Dry+Cleaner+Americana.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our local dry cleaner</div>
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Pumpkin patch at <a href="http://bishopsorchards.com/" target="_blank">Bishop's Orchard</a></div>
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The <a href="http://www.library.yale.edu/div/DayMissions.html" target="_blank">Day Missions Library</a> at the Yale Divinity School. I am currently teaching at the Div School (and I LOVE it!) and so I study in this amazing room a lot more than during previous years. </div>
Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-74213609124688877282012-08-06T08:09:00.000-07:002012-08-06T08:11:01.068-07:00Going Roman with MissKnitter and Fuzzband<div style="text-align: justify;">
New Haven has <a href="http://cityseed.org/" target="_blank">farmers' markets</a>. The philosophy is local, organic, community, connecting, etc. I do like the idea, but the practical side leaves something to be desired... It is sort of a local farmers bring their products to sell to the urbanized trendy. As the Fuzzband and I discussed, there is a certain lack of congruence in the sellers and the customers. Trying to make a livelihood and ostentatious consumption meet. There is also something about being yelled at twice in the first ten minutes at the market that tends to put me off... But whatever. We went last Saturday to check out the beets, but ended up buyin rhubarb and zucchini flowers. Zucchini flowers! Fiori di zucca! Yay! I loved these stuffed with ricotta and fish when I lived in Rome. Yummy! So we bought ten (for $2) to try to recreate my culinary memories from 2000-2001. Very exciting!</div>
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Yesterday evening the Fuzzband and I went over to my friend MissKnitter's place, so I brought the zucchini flowers and a filling I concocted from memory, and a <a href="http://mymelange.net/mymelange/2008/07/zucchini-blossoms.html" target="_blank">couple </a>of <a href="http://christiescorner.com/2012/07/10/baked-zucchini-flowers-with-ricotta/" target="_blank">recipes </a>from the internets. The Fuzzband flipped a coin, and so we did baked instead of fried fiori di zucca.<br />
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Preheat oven to 350-400 F (175-200 C)<br />
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2/3-1 cup ricotta<br />
a few good spoonfulls of parmesan<br />
parsley<br />
1 egg yolk<br />
1 hand sized fillet of fish baked and flaked<br />
salt<br />
pepper<br />
zucchini flowers <br />
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Mix all the ingredients for the filling. It can be refrigerated for a while prior to filling. Pry the flowers open, and fill with a few teaspoons of the filling. Fold the petals around the filling and place on a lightly greased or baking paper clad baking sheet in a vague hope that the filling will not explode the petals open, spraying your friend's oven... Bake for ca 10-15 minutes until the filling is hot and the flowers are even more golden than they were prior to insertion into oven.</div>
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I have not figured out how to rotate images from my smartphone in a way that maintains the selected rotation in the blog. Irritating. </div>
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We also discovered that once they have been baked and cooled down, they could be reheated! Good to know for potential party contributions.</div>
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MissKnitter made a delicious linguine and clam sauce dish for the main course. The recipe was sort of following a recipe from the <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/linguine-with-clam-sauce-and-baby-portobello-mushrooms/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=linguine%20with%20clam%20sauce&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page" target="_blank">internets</a>. It turned out ridiculously good! </div>
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MissKnitter also had a salad based on self-construction. As I am allergic to a lot of salad stuff, she gave us greens, chopped green bell peppers, chopped jalapenos, blueberries, blackberries, olives, and a vinaigrette to freely mix and match. Oh, and for appetizers she had antipasti and olives. Dessert was raspberry sherbet the Fuzzband picked up when he ran to the store to pick up some portobellos. Delicious meal all around! And of course the relaxed company was a big part of it all. As visiting guest stars we had Honey Dog and the cat Whiskey. Scampi the cat was busy guarding MissKnitter's yarn stash in the office, but we paid our respects to her anyway. </div>
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Oh, and we bought beets elsewhere: more on those another time...</div>
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<br /></div>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-53220817408332417152012-07-20T10:42:00.000-07:002012-07-20T10:50:54.372-07:00Professionally Pink<div style="text-align: justify;">
Several years ago (fall 2007) a historian of medieval law visiting at the <a href="http://divinity.yale.edu/" target="_blank">Yale Divinity School</a> sat in on the seminar - are you ready for the name? - Medieval Law! It was being taught in the <a href="http://library.law.yale.edu/about/rare-books" target="_blank">Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Library Rare Books and Manuscripts reading room</a> and was one of those epic experiences professionally, recreationally, anecdotally, educationally, and socially. It was also the semester my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerative_disc_disease" target="_blank">Degenerative Disc Disease</a> had a glorious relapse and I was on pain medications that sent me into hysterical giggles ca 30 mins after taking a pill. Of course, in order to sit through a seminar I had to medicate myself right before class. I am deeply grateful to the Professor and my colleagues for their patience, support, and help. Minus points to the Law School for disabled access to the Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, though. I could not take the stairs for months, so I had to take an elevator up to the modern library, trundle my wheely bag across the way, and take another elevator down to the basement... To figure this out required discussions with two librarians, two security guards, a call to the Disability Access office, and several friendly law students who carried my bag and let me lean on them. </div>
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I know you wanted that back story.<br />
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Anyway, the medieval law historian. Let us call her Ms. Law Mentor.<br />
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Ms. Law Mentor took me under her wing, and has been extremely helpful and supportive in my career. Plus, she is bucketloads of plain, pure, fun and has fabulous common sense. And as my adored sister-in-law would say: Common sense - not that common. But Ms. Law Mentor has it. Part of this common sense is realizing when to let go of things. So she let go of 14 skeins of <a href="http://tahkistacycharles.com/t/yarn_single?m=3&fiber=Cotton&gauge=&season=&yarn_type=&new=&products_id=184" target="_blank">Cotton Classic yarn by Tahki Yarns</a>, and gave them to me! We are talking beautiful mercerized cotton any knitter would kill for. Unless they hate knitting in cotton, but we are ignoring that possibility in this utterly common sensical blog posting. The color was black. Now, I almost never wore black at the time, and even now only if I can pair it with bright colors. Preferably bright oranges or pinks. At the time, I did not do pink. There is a follow-up to that statement.</div>
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So, what should a non-black wearing girl do with such a treasure? Well, the answer came browsing <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>, of course. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/hilary-engebretson" target="_blank">Hilary Engebretson</a>'s design <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/emerald-seas" target="_blank">Emerald Seas</a> was the perfect solution! It is a top, knitted with a series of eylet rows down one side through which one threads ribbons of potentially very bright, contrasting colors. See where I am going, eh? So I knit the top, with some modifications: I reduced the ribbing at the hips, and shaped the top quite dramatically by decreasing needle sizes twice. As I had about half of the yarn left over, I knit myself a skirt, too! And had just enough to finish the piece! I actually had to use left over needlepoint floss to stitch the waist elastic in...</div>
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Then the question was: what color ribbons do I use? I settled on burnt orange, red and pink. But <a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp?cm_mmc=Google-_-Brand-_-Brand+%28E%29-_-jo+ann+fabric_Exact&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=jo+ann+fabric&utm_campaign=Brand&002=2365735&004=2206806123&005=12620711&006=12127946043&007=Search&008=&gclid=CKXx6JHhqLECFYio4AoduwUAAg" target="_blank">Jo-Ann's Crafts and Fabric</a>s did not have the perfect colors! So I did two shades of pink and a red:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkIi-7WRh7DT41A358WF-VTIVwFiwMuySbCuMRl_aLKsqD2GpBSM-615FY6srdT82AJOPgOSsY3tIxKLY7tZD7iBBlZujcDhlKo2-plcxHVwE9NYNcfot7buri4rXENT7C9EkPhm3e06B/s1600/Pink+ribbon+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkIi-7WRh7DT41A358WF-VTIVwFiwMuySbCuMRl_aLKsqD2GpBSM-615FY6srdT82AJOPgOSsY3tIxKLY7tZD7iBBlZujcDhlKo2-plcxHVwE9NYNcfot7buri4rXENT7C9EkPhm3e06B/s320/Pink+ribbon+top.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Niece, eh? Here's a full frontal view:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-wBSWJ2bhyphenhyphenYSlLlGORJ3hK6uv-xIfT9v9Q8WgMkhwaZ36Dbf7WiWPPq5IexzspOsLZOH3qhAJCeDuTPjyAP3gfJwjaLb-lTf9PssSTFxSglY0fjlERT1q6NXqzGpBB1qtdG8BjusOA1v/s1600/whole+ensemble+of+pink+ribbons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv-wBSWJ2bhyphenhyphenYSlLlGORJ3hK6uv-xIfT9v9Q8WgMkhwaZ36Dbf7WiWPPq5IexzspOsLZOH3qhAJCeDuTPjyAP3gfJwjaLb-lTf9PssSTFxSglY0fjlERT1q6NXqzGpBB1qtdG8BjusOA1v/s320/whole+ensemble+of+pink+ribbons.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I particularly like the decapitated look. And the pink. It was my first foray into pink, and since then I have become increasingly excited about the color. Preferably in combination with orange (this is me, after all), but I now own several items that are unequivocally: pink! </div>
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And notice the shoes? My Fuzzband convinced me to get those once upon a time, and they are amazing! The ensemble from the back: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRA_rKP1VaRe_fccSq8yvw9dU39MVgNkwCr8xIrAWGt-XI-M1EOXmAaTmG7o-KK6ldKCYTahRf79cgBXha2Oo1uMVKQzDHQcH6KEu3HjFVBDFpTntDyMBed-QRuoeQJsvjpkPmDlVxpbir/s1600/back+view+of+ribbon+ensemble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRA_rKP1VaRe_fccSq8yvw9dU39MVgNkwCr8xIrAWGt-XI-M1EOXmAaTmG7o-KK6ldKCYTahRf79cgBXha2Oo1uMVKQzDHQcH6KEu3HjFVBDFpTntDyMBed-QRuoeQJsvjpkPmDlVxpbir/s320/back+view+of+ribbon+ensemble.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This photo really should have been taken with stockings that have seams in the back, I know. </div>
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I have since mainly worn the ensemble at conferences! With a read suede jacket I bought at the Amsterdam Airport back in the early 2000s, or with a burnt orange cardigan, or with a lavender top... It is surprisingly versatile, and incredibly comfortable. This past five weeks I had three conferences in Europe, and I wore it at all of them. In fact I presented two of my papers in it, at separate conferences, of course. I wore sensible black <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2131486914" target="_blank">Clarks </a><a href="http://www.clarksusa.com/eng/product/wave_run/86505" target="_blank">Wave.Run </a>walking shoes in Huddersfield, and cute little <a href="http://www.sofftshoe.com/" target="_blank">Söft </a>kitten heels in Leeds. As Söft does not have an image online of them, here they are via my smartphone:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvEI2mKSliaK0m0mcPXtBX9-nSJPepfI31kgX6cv3o58yQvLVZKbhMayK1CoV88J0Ou_sg9r33ZqDh0wUUzSOGpb8zePNApPj7JMgDP8X73vdoJi7RwY9l4pGcbidl4qXKZQ_FUymc2TX/s1600/S%C3%B6ft+rose+heels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvEI2mKSliaK0m0mcPXtBX9-nSJPepfI31kgX6cv3o58yQvLVZKbhMayK1CoV88J0Ou_sg9r33ZqDh0wUUzSOGpb8zePNApPj7JMgDP8X73vdoJi7RwY9l4pGcbidl4qXKZQ_FUymc2TX/s320/S%C3%B6ft+rose+heels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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All in all, the ensemble is fabulous for conferences. It is comfortable, travels well, is unique, and flattering. I felt great! Oh, and the papers went well, too. Is there anything like presenting your research in an outfit you have hand made from yarn given by an academic mentor, I ask? The answer must be "No". Thank you Ms. Law Mentor!</div>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-42866595472226382232012-06-27T05:56:00.001-07:002012-06-27T05:57:36.472-07:00Guy Fawkes Cake<div style="color: #f4cccc; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember remember the fifth of November<br />
Gunpowder, treason and plot.<br />
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason<br />
Should ever be forgot...</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have just finished a conference paper, so to reward myself I am going to throw some more photos up here. This time baking! The <a href="http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/nursery_rhymes/remember_remember_the_5th_november.htm" target="_blank">poem above </a>is famous from the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/" target="_blank">V for Vendetta</a>, starring Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman from 2005. But contrary to what movie goers might think, this is of course a much older tradition. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guy Fawkes is celebrated on November 5th, traditionally by burning a Guy Fawkes effigy. <a href="http://www.britannia.com/history/g-fawkes.html" target="_blank">Why was Guy so disliked?</a> Well, he tried to blow up the British Parliament in the so called Gunpowder Conspiracy. This did not make him popular, and the day has become fixed in British memory as something between celebrating justice, reminding people what happens to match happy anarchists, and of course all about burning things! Yaah! And really, who couldn't get behind that?</span></span><b><span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">A friend and colleague of mine threw a Giy Fawkes party in New Haven last November. Of course we went! I even brought a little effigy of things in my life that needed to be burned. I also brought a theme-cake:</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sot39aaoSYi4-W9slHMZSG-ELLwHvn_4wOpthbIsQTLjYS-4ue2mUz5cQmEYbtaPSwZCkFKrIUVCBQ1upG8BXPhvd_zn71eB8ne3ASzKdyQQsTOzpp7beYP7qLa_BR54Xvq4A0H3vXCn/s1600/IMG_5482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Sot39aaoSYi4-W9slHMZSG-ELLwHvn_4wOpthbIsQTLjYS-4ue2mUz5cQmEYbtaPSwZCkFKrIUVCBQ1upG8BXPhvd_zn71eB8ne3ASzKdyQQsTOzpp7beYP7qLa_BR54Xvq4A0H3vXCn/s320/IMG_5482.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> Yes, it is a gunpowder barrel shaped cake. The cake itself is a chili-chocolate cake, and the icing is chili-chocolate buttercream. The iron bands, and rivets, are fondant. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNKyTpUv0yCzlHijmDw722N1UJDjPjG3AR186DC_rfsNTA9chCgjjI3WO9Zd_JYxFYbCXB7uZrs4miil1LLjZhvJvBaugDtXKL2Lz1nxP-jZK_2UnxOWTRHKx4HrIacVcihGgAAiD9WOQ/s1600/IMG_5485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNKyTpUv0yCzlHijmDw722N1UJDjPjG3AR186DC_rfsNTA9chCgjjI3WO9Zd_JYxFYbCXB7uZrs4miil1LLjZhvJvBaugDtXKL2Lz1nxP-jZK_2UnxOWTRHKx4HrIacVcihGgAAiD9WOQ/s320/IMG_5485.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;"> The exposed "gunpowder" was black buttercream with chili sprinkled on top for gunpowder discoloration effects. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxgq7KZ2TM4emC4A_DJxYSy0cjuMuypAJbNPFbyMlYtiSaCtcW0m8lZsqyVMXSUJsetjXQWuaqPwOu1BvC0FFv6cJUw8U96rCZMjzsIPBtWaEISzlhhgT9sMkQ-EDEqUsy1cMLGS0n_qq/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinxgq7KZ2TM4emC4A_DJxYSy0cjuMuypAJbNPFbyMlYtiSaCtcW0m8lZsqyVMXSUJsetjXQWuaqPwOu1BvC0FFv6cJUw8U96rCZMjzsIPBtWaEISzlhhgT9sMkQ-EDEqUsy1cMLGS0n_qq/s320/IMG_5487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">I love, love, love
the rivets! I also really like the recipe, which I would post, but it is
at home in New Haven, and I am now elsewhere. My husband is not crazy
about the chili-chocolate cake, which mystifies me. He is the chocoholic
in our family, after all. For the party, however, while I brought
themed dessert, he brought themed facial hair: </span></span><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhatxpcGkpKmR73gRgIdHbIl_vzRYPNHM3c1_6pzLEo1vm3oDGlyMbB-D27jAL_Vx7mzgNo7aOoy9L_2imNsyVatmIcPLmDr5fIlm2SL16b8vak0X0kwxxIK8dFqxmUPGWzKypN6NKd4xc/s320/IMG_5489.JPG" width="240" /> </div>
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Compare: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo2Lrhe1qA-sqw2GjDM5N_BpaWz2eT0z_a1kx7sDniKbUpbxk1RXGU3Y1emlxOFgmbxqnZHxKHGdAv6-7gKJaNEwUXfQQI3meiaE8wjRgbTvsfDsERWXcC33Rv_kxy4DDqDmTIjyxaZr4/s1600/In-Case-of-Revolution-Break-Glass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDo2Lrhe1qA-sqw2GjDM5N_BpaWz2eT0z_a1kx7sDniKbUpbxk1RXGU3Y1emlxOFgmbxqnZHxKHGdAv6-7gKJaNEwUXfQQI3meiaE8wjRgbTvsfDsERWXcC33Rv_kxy4DDqDmTIjyxaZr4/s320/In-Case-of-Revolution-Break-Glass.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Image source: <a href="http://www.geekalerts.com/in-case-of-revolution-anonymous-mask-shadow-box/" target="_blank">Geek Alerts, Gadgets for Geeks</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: maroon; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black;">Now, let's see if I can read this conference paper in 20 minutes... </span></span></div>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-72256776988552081552012-06-06T11:34:00.000-07:002012-06-06T11:34:52.954-07:00Bridal Butterflies!One of my very best friends - and really, Grad School is worth it even just for the friends - is getting married! In Australia...<br />
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Fair enough, she and her fiancé are Australian, and it makes sense to get married back home. I know it will be an amazing wedding, and I really wish I could go. But we cannot have everything we want in life. However, some of us did throw her a bridal shower today! And by some of us, I mean three did the organizing and most of the cooking, and I hosted. And made cupcakes! It was a lovely party, thanks to the amazing women present! Many could not come, but know that it was awesome and we missed you.<br />
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Now, as I have a 30 minute conference paper on saints and medieval marriage theology to write, I am posting about the said cupcakes as I wait for a decadent number of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kir_Royal_%28cocktail%29" target="_blank">Kir Royals</a> (and that Wikipedia page is an example of semi-useless to be proud of!) to clear my system... <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESxDCk2O8_aPgGu3aO260BmGNrWVCYaWjM1Ajg-vNsSRr4QjlX4KtU-adcy-HL4_IxNDOhFiJA8OsMBLmhTnlwASufljIlTGt-kbE0OLM7T7QGpcZFlCpUMBMrFC-LIOsPm9UFL9SOH2K/s1600/IMG_6017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiESxDCk2O8_aPgGu3aO260BmGNrWVCYaWjM1Ajg-vNsSRr4QjlX4KtU-adcy-HL4_IxNDOhFiJA8OsMBLmhTnlwASufljIlTGt-kbE0OLM7T7QGpcZFlCpUMBMrFC-LIOsPm9UFL9SOH2K/s320/IMG_6017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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First I made Hummingbird Cupcakes from Martha Stewart's <i>Cupcakes </i>cookbook: Coconut, banana, pineapple cupcakes. I left out the toasted walnuts as I am allergic. The Bride is not, but whatever, she loves me enough not to want me to die at her shower. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1f8UYHypwEAtQnZtUfgc6-lMxzqR8g_2WL3sHiMnNi5cS1jWAKINvEuQz9EEZDyRuo1jnOPU4PnXW_TQbpsQjBO5RWOJcCbjfVS22FlkFkH6X7B6BK7xIcM-bdwM8qPMnT8DsHOcZ6knn/s1600/IMG_6015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1f8UYHypwEAtQnZtUfgc6-lMxzqR8g_2WL3sHiMnNi5cS1jWAKINvEuQz9EEZDyRuo1jnOPU4PnXW_TQbpsQjBO5RWOJcCbjfVS22FlkFkH6X7B6BK7xIcM-bdwM8qPMnT8DsHOcZ6knn/s320/IMG_6015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I desiccated ca 3 mm thick pineapple rounds. It took hours longer than the recipe called for, but how productive could I be: desiccate pineapple, write paper, clean bathroom, do dishes, pilates...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYXRty-MVqL3IdV1eWWqgtADnyhx0P9CNBQdoPP5SIzYAN-KsmlwOSw3VBibeqYP5nZ76rjFakJFxcHgjZI6QMwHBwja2geqEvgfkcF4HL5nFeiWm2Iq1iK0I4hZ0CNz9lxkrrU9AsqdO/s1600/IMG_6018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYXRty-MVqL3IdV1eWWqgtADnyhx0P9CNBQdoPP5SIzYAN-KsmlwOSw3VBibeqYP5nZ76rjFakJFxcHgjZI6QMwHBwja2geqEvgfkcF4HL5nFeiWm2Iq1iK0I4hZ0CNz9lxkrrU9AsqdO/s200/IMG_6018.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLf-4vsgh2beNP1EYcov15vymkp9ryFkEX02j_UNEtSe8X1hx5Rhzp_h5-MmDEs3uDVW8QJcqiN8jUBPj5DW36uhEK27gK3rE-Dw2NMtKV_M7CreqYwu7-hOPKWMXtcJ9VP1IuOEXtnyy/s1600/IMG_6019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLf-4vsgh2beNP1EYcov15vymkp9ryFkEX02j_UNEtSe8X1hx5Rhzp_h5-MmDEs3uDVW8QJcqiN8jUBPj5DW36uhEK27gK3rE-Dw2NMtKV_M7CreqYwu7-hOPKWMXtcJ9VP1IuOEXtnyy/s200/IMG_6019.JPG" width="200" /></a>To give the pineapples the right floral shape they are set for the final dry in muffin tins. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaD3ZZ47A71h1WtLMksr7-guLiB-6V0a2C1iTtOUw194ct540jQUUFBYlByr7dzT7AAxznlzm6iKxgNgTVaBsSgDYwtpRE7ryF8aWI_N8XTV34VXDqUEE4u4EgMjSXPrgOjff886jHOaF/s1600/IMG_6022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUaD3ZZ47A71h1WtLMksr7-guLiB-6V0a2C1iTtOUw194ct540jQUUFBYlByr7dzT7AAxznlzm6iKxgNgTVaBsSgDYwtpRE7ryF8aWI_N8XTV34VXDqUEE4u4EgMjSXPrgOjff886jHOaF/s320/IMG_6022.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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One of the ladies brought over her cupcake stand, and here I have added cream cheese frosting to the baked good.</div>
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In case you were wondering where the pineapple flowers go.</div>
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I then added these fabulous edible sugarpaper butterflies from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarRobot?ref=seller_info" target="_blank">Sugar Robot</a> off <a href="http://www.etsy.com/?ref=si_home" target="_blank">Etsy</a>.</div>
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Shameless plug for<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/SugarRobot?ref=seller_info" target="_blank"> Sugar Robot</a>! Friendly, quick, lovely! Edible!</div>
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Same cupcake tree, two different lightnings and angles. </div>
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The Beautiful Bride! (with cupcake)</div>
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<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-44849939145858915192012-04-30T12:43:00.001-07:002012-06-06T11:39:26.218-07:00Asian Tapas<div style="text-align: justify;">
Food is a wonderful thing. Friends are a wonderful thing! Food and friends combined is one of my favorite pastimes. Last March, two lovely friends, let us call them H and S, came to New Haven for some cooking and hanging out. When briefly in DC, I browsed S's cookbooks, and one is a book on Asian Tapas. I am unable to find the book on Amazon, so memory will have to suffice. We picked a bunch of recipes to make together, and I brought the book with me to New Haven.</div>
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H and I spent Saturday morning at a local high school as Connecticut History Day Regional judges. Meanwhile, S arrived on a train from DC, and the Fuzzband picked him up for some grocery shopping and hanging out. We went to <a href="http://www.swagatct.com/" target="_blank">Swagat</a>, our favorite Indian restaurant in the Have area, making sure we had leftovers! Once back home we set to work cooking amazing Asian tapas from our list!</div>
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Coriander ginger shrimp with sweet Thai chili sauce.<br />
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Tender punjabi chicken kebabs with mint sauce.<br />
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Crisp asparagus rolls with cheese and xo sauce.<br />
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Tropical shrimp salad (at left) and scallop ceviche with xo sauce.<br />
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Coconut pannacotta with lavender jelly, mangosteen, meringue, and melted chocolate.<br />
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In case you did not see the amazing layering of the pannacotta and the jelly in the previous shot... Xo sauce and meringue in the background...<br />
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So yummy, and so nice to hang out with friends we don't see too much of: S lives in DC, and H in Wooster, Mass. Next time we see them for S's graduation! His folks are coming from Australia, and we are hosting a 5 o'clock tea with baked goods! </div>
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<br /></div>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-42877291176069438002012-03-21T07:33:00.001-07:002012-03-21T07:56:04.705-07:00Archeology and knitting meet at Dura EuroposIn graduate school one is bound to bump into other craftspeople in general, and knitters in particular. One especially distinguished contact is our former Western European Subject Librarian (a medievalist, no less!), who not only has helped me with research and navigating Yale, but is a wonderful person to get together with and talk about knitting and books and all kinds of things.<br />
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Obviously my librarian friend came to mind when reading Nancy Bush's <i><a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Folk-Socks.html" target="_blank">Folk Socks. The History & Techniques of Handknitted Sock</a>s. </i>(Loveland, Colorado: Interweave Press, 1994) I came across the following texts: "<i>The oldest surviving examples of what has been identified as knitted textile fraghments date from A.D. 256. They were discovered at the site of the ancient Syrian fortress city of Dura Europos ... Three wool fragments found there, now in the collection of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, are made of what appear to be knitted stitches</i>." (p.11) There is an image on p. 12, but here is a better one: <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtfOC4j7VhiZaSUGZK7IVUZQyzxPsMFD1v4_TW5bgcfUF_26TjGn7RiB1g9VESUs5X88g-pW7WCpX6Z2m7C7XA6zi9HOUr_eX7EeljXQgCxDXdta8r9A_XSh9-4dU7ai-lx6JzoVL49Qk/s1600/Dura-Europos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXtfOC4j7VhiZaSUGZK7IVUZQyzxPsMFD1v4_TW5bgcfUF_26TjGn7RiB1g9VESUs5X88g-pW7WCpX6Z2m7C7XA6zi9HOUr_eX7EeljXQgCxDXdta8r9A_XSh9-4dU7ai-lx6JzoVL49Qk/s320/Dura-Europos.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://ecatalogue.art.yale.edu/detail.htm?objectId=5962" target="_blank">Yale University Art Gallery e-catalogue</a> (accessed March 21st, 2012).</td></tr>
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I brought up the possibility of going to see these fragments with her, and another knitting Yale library friend of mine, Missknitter, and brainstormed a bit where these fragments may be kept. I was thinking the <a href="http://peabody.yale.edu/" target="_blank">Peabody Museum of Natural History</a>, but my librarian friend floated the idea of the <a href="http://artgallery.yale.edu/" target="_blank">Yale University Art Gallery</a>. We agreed that I would scan the relevant pages for her and we would get on to locating the pieces. But lo and behold! Before I could even get to my computer, she had sent out queries, and located the fragments: indeed The Yale University Art Gallery! The super helpful associate curator informed us that "<i>The
knitting fragment will be on view in our new Dura-Europos gallery,
which we are just about to install. The official opening date for
our renovated galleries is Dec. 12, 2012, but the Dura gallery and
ancient Mediterranean may well be open sooner, by late summer or early
fall</i>." (e-mail correspondence on March 21st, 2012).<br />
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Field trip! I am so excited, and amazed at the efficiency of the librarians and curators involved. Amazing people!<br />
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The excavations of Dura Europos were conducted by a French-American team of archaeologists (Yale University and the French Academy of Inscriptions and Letters) in the 1920s and 1930s. For an informative tour of the excavations, see the <a href="http://artgallery.yale.edu/duraeuropos/" target="_blank">Yale University Art Gallery website on the project</a>. <br />
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Maybe I should try to reproduce the stitches in the fragment? It looks like textured knitting with button loops in crochet, no? <i><u><b>However</b></u></i>, Julie Theaker at <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/index.html" target="_blank">Knitty </a>has written an article arguing that the Dura Europos "knitting" is in fact <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A5lebinding" target="_blank">nålebinding</a>! See her delightful 2006 article among Knitty's featured articles <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEAThistory101.html" target="_blank">here</a>, complete with visual evidence of a pair of socks that very much look like they are knit, but are, in fact nålebinding. I cannot wait to see the pieces in person, and maybe look up some more information on the textile while I am at it...<br />
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So, look for updates on Circia Fortuita meets Archaeology!Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com21111-1123 Chapel St, New Haven, CT 06510, USA41.3084161 -72.931214641.3024526 -72.941085100000009 41.3143796 -72.9213441tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-54660570698576490002012-03-06T07:33:00.000-08:002012-03-06T07:43:14.269-08:00Svale BSJ and the Ducky SweaterBack in 2010 I decided to venture on the famous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Zimmermann" target="_blank">Elizabeth Zimmermann</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=baby+surprise+jacket&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=ULH&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvnsfd&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=ySFWT4aGE4Kz0QGkyqW_Cg&ved=0CFYQsAQ&biw=1366&bih=576" target="_blank">Baby Surprise Jacket</a> (aka <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-surprise-jacket" target="_blank">BSJ on Ravelry</a>). I made one for Johanna, the daughter of Grad school friends, and for Elmer, the son of dear friends back in Finland. I used some lovely yarn left over from other projects. For Johanna's I used <a href="http://www.yarndex.com/yarn.cfm?yarn_id=229" target="_blank">Dalegarn Svale</a> left over from some dresses I had made:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgboXECwHpgmu-MgbuoMZb18k_GKjddMpGbW_2XuAizGc-kMyPP-E3Q6RoFT_AHyJLrLppsaaSlrFhe9aw974IURyq0XavZUrwDgFHEPDkscGYUOBOh_XoQQ_Oss-acK9KWGVkjPyUKi7/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhgboXECwHpgmu-MgbuoMZb18k_GKjddMpGbW_2XuAizGc-kMyPP-E3Q6RoFT_AHyJLrLppsaaSlrFhe9aw974IURyq0XavZUrwDgFHEPDkscGYUOBOh_XoQQ_Oss-acK9KWGVkjPyUKi7/s320/IMG_2044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8XBjXlC2-6JJbqQhte0Ra_lGTHszHv3lcnQXffq_k_zw0USwiXdJmI0Wvg4pKL7Pb3gGWfO7GzmYDKAIaie6ZpvmV8lDqAiyohg55ZOn6R-64lw_BEQoKz173713EhPJOrW-VPEuensD/s1600/IMG_2045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH8XBjXlC2-6JJbqQhte0Ra_lGTHszHv3lcnQXffq_k_zw0USwiXdJmI0Wvg4pKL7Pb3gGWfO7GzmYDKAIaie6ZpvmV8lDqAiyohg55ZOn6R-64lw_BEQoKz173713EhPJOrW-VPEuensD/s200/IMG_2045.JPG" width="200" /></a>The cotton/rayon/silk blend is lovely to knit with, and I had so much fun! The buttons were from my LYS (Local Yarn Store), when <a href="http://www.yarnllc.com/" target="_blank">Yarn LLC </a>still had a branch on Whitney Avenue, within walking distance of both home and campus. I did not know if Johanna was going to be a girl or a boy when I made this, but decided that if I loved the colors for the Hillmans, then chances were they would appreciate them, girl or boy. Besides, Mum and Dad Hillman are not very gender hysterical at all, and especially not with colors I imagine... I finished Johanna's Svale BSJ in May, according to my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/maweisse/baby-surprise-jacket-so01b" target="_blank">Ravelry archive</a>, and apparently knit it in seven days! It was fun and fast, I remember that!<br />
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In fact, only a few months later I knit Elmer's BSJ from more leftover yarn, this time a gift from Laura of <a href="http://www.lankadontti.fi/" target="_blank">Lankadontti </a>fame: <a href="http://www.novita.fi/index.php?cms_cname=tuotelista&oid=91943&tuoteryhma=91943&ryhmanimi=Nalle" target="_blank">Novita Nalle</a>. Hence the Ducky Sweater came to be:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGU_g1q_5LqOxqX30VjuknhNTzrNPOt6HX11oj07bPDiBjhrKwxFs1xKo2-nqJFmhP9Uq8PvqZ40bk6IFBQwnTCCBYZJJ1sJDAr7FDltZItz962qeQ4n8Ozqcb2_sUheBe86Cy8uwnrXN/s1600/IMG_3125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivGU_g1q_5LqOxqX30VjuknhNTzrNPOt6HX11oj07bPDiBjhrKwxFs1xKo2-nqJFmhP9Uq8PvqZ40bk6IFBQwnTCCBYZJJ1sJDAr7FDltZItz962qeQ4n8Ozqcb2_sUheBe86Cy8uwnrXN/s320/IMG_3125.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I of course love, love, love the colors here (wild!), and the hood with the I-cord. For the buttons I had duckies in mind - rubber duckies being the cultural emblem of us Swedish-Speaking-Finns, and the family this went to are part of the Duck Pond, just like me. OMG: there is a <a href="http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankdammen" target="_blank">Wikipedia article</a> on the pondishness!!! <br />
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Anyways. My friend Missknitter and I went to <a href="http://www.knittinguniverse.com/stitches/" target="_blank">Stitches East</a> just about the time I was ready to think about buttons, and found these AMAZING ducky buttons:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXnvkYfIZBvXFOAMQRWZ8WPYKeonjYSniN_3cpzYI6Vk5VloIXMKk7utiE0Y4lgkTff-sKHkiW9ASrhAugHxABVLyOdjy9f13ofjhnJi5xzsb82yMoj4d5XF7yWRjsOI4BecYuql_m8sQ/s1600/IMG_3127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXnvkYfIZBvXFOAMQRWZ8WPYKeonjYSniN_3cpzYI6Vk5VloIXMKk7utiE0Y4lgkTff-sKHkiW9ASrhAugHxABVLyOdjy9f13ofjhnJi5xzsb82yMoj4d5XF7yWRjsOI4BecYuql_m8sQ/s320/IMG_3127.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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I wish I had grabbed a card from the merchant - or put it in a logical place to find later - so I could a) give credit here, b) get more! These are so much more articulated than the duckies from <a href="http://www.joann.com/sewing-quilt/fasteners-buttons/theme-novelty-buttons/?page=1&psize=48" target="_blank">JoAnn</a>, my usual button haunt. I love buttons here in the US! Not something you see listed as one of the benefits to immigrating to the US, that: "Upon moving to the US, a marvelous plethora of over-the-top and often sickly cute and utterly desirable buttons will become available to you at ubiquitous stores like JoAnn crafts and <a href="http://www.michaels.com/" target="_blank">Michael</a>'s..." Too bad, really. The crafting culture, wildly different from Back Home (I sense a future post in this...), in North America is really fascinating. A big part of it is the commercialization of crafting, which has produced such magical things as the ducky button.<br />
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I mailed Mummy and Daddy Johanna and Mamma and Pappa Elmer the sweaters, and of course they very much appreciated them. Johanna's Mum showed it to a knitting friend, who commented on the interesting design. Yay! It made me, and still makes me even though the kids have outgrown the sweaters ages ago, so happy to think of them wearing them.<br />
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That is always one of the highlights of knitting stuff for Finns - they all automatically appreciate handmade items. It is just such an ingrained part of our culture. Not to say peeps here in the Americas don't. Many do, and I dare to claim ALL my friends and relatives very much appreciate handmade gifts and items in general - Johanna's parents are great examples! But there is an amazing amount of individuals who actually <i>prefer</i> store bought to hand made in the Americas. I know, shocking. I should have given warning before making such a terrible disclosure. I don't think I actually associate with such people, but I have met them. I should have taken photographs and done interviews... <br />
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OK. Enough cultural analysis!<br />
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What did I like about the BSJ and making it, I hear you ask?<br />
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I should have taken WIP (Work in Progress) photos to illustrate this: I<u><i><b> love</b></i></u> how the sweater is knit in one piece and then origamied into a sweater! The only seams are across the shoulders. I, of course, love colors, and I love the way the striping emphasizes the structural design of the sweater. You can see in Johanna's Svale BSJ how the stripes go straight across the back, and then come and "turn a corner" on the sleeves and the front.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSgTC0bPypvjTlEVmke2PSbihPbvZuSMteGQXZxEo7e1-mtAwu9347lNck8Ol_mPfPHYMzxa9cX9WH2fXdKRYKLpD0-x2AZkqGDI4buRpgVGqxODpUzHGQf3FtdRLvt_qWCDuaaGlzxJF/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSgTC0bPypvjTlEVmke2PSbihPbvZuSMteGQXZxEo7e1-mtAwu9347lNck8Ol_mPfPHYMzxa9cX9WH2fXdKRYKLpD0-x2AZkqGDI4buRpgVGqxODpUzHGQf3FtdRLvt_qWCDuaaGlzxJF/s320/IMG_2044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I also love the ease with which one can use up leftover yarn for it in
fun and creative ways. Many BSJs are knit in self-striping or
self-patterning yarn, according to a quick Ravelry browse of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-surprise-jacket/people" target="_blank">16908 projects</a>,
in 3891 queues, and while the results are marvelous, I really like the
opportunity to use stash yarn and be all creative with it. In fact, I might have to start a new BSJ
pretty soon, just so I can revel in the origaminess and destashiness of
it all!<br />
<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-86519192727447620822012-02-19T10:01:00.001-08:002012-02-19T13:02:10.732-08:00Lankadontti's tweed yarn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"I may be a highly trained historian, but I am an amazing craftswoman!" And humble, of course. Regardless, I feel this is one of the best ways I express who I am. History and handicrafts entwined and even symbiotic. Of course historical crafts are a big part of this. I am pretty dedicated to the knowledge of declining craft skills, and textile crafts in my own case. While I am in principle all about a) doing crafts, b) learning crafts, c) teaching craft, d) preserving this valuable knowledge, and doing this in my own life, there are some aspects I am very much less interested in:</div>
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Dyeing. Spinning. </div>
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I feel guilty for just not being super interested in these vital aspects of textile-crafts. I would love to be able to summon the interest and energy to do natural dyes from wode, onion skins, or even synthetic dyeing, like using <a href="http://www.kraftbrands.com/koolaid/" target="_blank">KoolAid</a>. And while spinning is actually quite fun, I am so not up to plying... </div>
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I know. Pathetic. </div>
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I try to console myself with the knowledge that I do know how to do these, where to find information and even help, and I have done it. In a post-apocalyptic society, I will be able to process fibers from sheep to sweater. Less confidently flax to frock, but given some time, I can do it. And seeds. And sheep. How I would obtain these in post-apocalyptic America is of course a mystery...</div>
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Anyway.</div>
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The lovely Laura from <a href="http://www.lankadontti.fi/" target="_blank">Lankadontti </a>and <a href="http://lankadontti.fi/wordpress/" target="_blank">Sanavyyhti</a>, has once again stepped in and inspired me! And challenged me to re-examine my lack of enthusiasm for spinning: She has this month published, as the part of her series "instructions of the month" (on Sanavyyhti), a wonderful guid<a href="http://lankadontti.fi/wordpress/?page_id=350" target="_blank">e to do-it-yourself tweed yarn</a> (in Finnish)! Not only are the results fabulously beautiful, but she uses leftover yarn in a very interesting and creative way. She cards in snibbles of leftover yarn into washed and cleaned wool, and spins it by hand into amazing and varied yarn - tweed! What really caught my attention here is the
variability and beauty of random leftovers, and the encouragement to see
even the smallest snibbles as an opportunity for creativity and fiber
filled joy and beauty. </div>
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Waste is always unwelcome, and creative uses for leftover yarns are a fora for imagination and playfulness, just like Sanna Vatanen's great patterns and ideas in <a href="http://wsoy.fi/yk/products/show/80828" target="_blank"><i>Neulo. Virkaa. Kirjo. Jämälangasta! </i></a>(Helsinki; WSOY) show us. I will add Laura's pattern to my pool of inspiration for what to do with my leftovers. In fact, I kind of want to go home and dig out the little snippets I threw away when finishing off my middle Nephew's socks the other day, or a pair of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/surly-sheeps-owl-gloves" target="_blank">Owl Mitts!</a> I thought: "These pieces are surely too small to use for anything, even in Sanna's book..." (Sanna is a friend of my sister's, and a godmother to one of my Nephews, so I take the liberty of calling her by her first name - name dropping!). Little did I know.... Never again (well, never say never, but you know what I mean) will little snippets be thrown away -
no! I will start a special snibbly-wibbly ziplock bag when I get home,
just for the eventuality that there may be some tweeding of yarn in my
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Will I actually sit down and make my own delicious tweed yarn? Will I spin it? Ply it? Who knows. Maybe. As I sit here in the Blue Dog Café the Yale Hall of Graduate Studies, taking a break from revising my third Dissertation chapter, it seems simultaneously imminent and exciting, far off and impossible. But my sister has the tools to prep wool, and I may be spending some time in Finland some day not in the too improbable future. Perhaps if I get Enough Done (tm) on my Diss, Laura will come to our summer cottage with me and we will drink tea, chat, and make tweed yarn...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvTgOHysG6URWOzWbcKcIRcRsEXMkKi97Kj-_W6tn9ty6jWO7MCJss2jpEDx2hbhEcQhly2CMUGhqkCdPvb_Fg72mFUaCu8Ahyphenhyphen4-CV2D-fIr_w3rErtxfA5dGiDW6qVZtytVYivAK4WpQ/s1600/05_langanpatkien_karstausta.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvTgOHysG6URWOzWbcKcIRcRsEXMkKi97Kj-_W6tn9ty6jWO7MCJss2jpEDx2hbhEcQhly2CMUGhqkCdPvb_Fg72mFUaCu8Ahyphenhyphen4-CV2D-fIr_w3rErtxfA5dGiDW6qVZtytVYivAK4WpQ/s320/05_langanpatkien_karstausta.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">This image belongs to Laura Hämäri at <a href="http://lankadontti.fi/wordpress/?page_id=350" target="_blank">Sanavyyhti</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Addenda a couple of hours later:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Of course I have now, two pages of Diss having been miraculously produced, spent my break googling hand carders, like <a href="http://www.yarn.com/webs-weaving-spinning-spinning-spinning-tools-kits-carders/webs-spinning-tools-ashford-hand-carders/" target="_blank">these </a>offered by <a href="http://www.yarn.com/" target="_blank">Webs. America's Yarn Store</a>... If I had the money (insert tune from <a href="http://youtu.be/RBHZFYpQ6nc" target="_blank">Fiddler on the Roof for If I was a Rich Man</a>...)...</span></span></div>
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</div>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-68618266604568093542012-02-11T06:35:00.000-08:002017-02-12T07:30:13.862-08:00Runebergstårtor<dl style="text-align: center;"><dd>Vårt land, vårt land, vårt fosterland,</dd><dd>ljud högt, o dyra ord!</dd><dd>Ej lyfts en höjd mot himlens rand,</dd><dd>ej sänks en dal, ej sköljs en strand,</dd><dd>mer älskad än vår bygd i nord,</dd><dd>än våra fäders jord!</dd></dl>
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<dl style="text-align: center;"><dd>Din blomning, sluten än i knopp,</dd><dd>Skall mogna ur sitt tvång;</dd><dd>Se, ur vår kärlek skall gå opp</dd><dd>Ditt ljus, din glans, din fröjd, ditt hopp.</dd><dd>Och högre klinga skall en gång</dd><dd>Vår fosterländska sång.</dd><dd><br /></dd><dd><br /></dd><dd>"Fänrik Ståhls Sägner" - "The Tales of Ensign Ståhl"</dd><dd style="text-align: center;">Johan Ludvig Runeberg</dd><dd style="text-align: center;">(1804-1877)</dd><dd style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2105804619"><br /></a></dd><dd style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johan_Ludvig_Runeberg" target="_blank">Johan Ludvig Runeberg</a> died 100 years before my birth - who knew? Well, I probably learned it in elementary school... The stanzas above form the opening to the national romantic poem <i>Fänrik Ståhls Sägner. </i>In the 1840s the verses were put to music by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredrik_Pacius" target="_blank">Fredrik Pacius</a>. This song is the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x31ZWU0-DV0" target="_blank">national anthem of Finland</a>. Traditionally the first verse is sung in Finnish, the second in the original language, Swedish. Swedish is the second official language of Finland. Runeberg was actually born in Sweden, but as the part of the country where he lived became the Grand Duchy of Finland after the Russo-Swedish war that ended with the peace of Fredrikshamn in 1809, he is considered Finnish. Oh, and the Grand Duke of Finland was the Czar of Russia - what we call a "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_union#Finland" target="_blank">personal union</a>" in historian circles. </dd><dd style="text-align: justify;"><br /></dd><dd style="text-align: justify;">So, why am I rambling on and on and on about J.L. Runeberg? Well, partly out of patriotic whatschumacallit, but mainly because February 5th was the national day of our national poet, who is.... Runeberg!!! And of course the best thing about any national holiday is that it comes with a pastry! The Runebergstårta (Runeberg tart) is my favorite pastry in the whole world:</dd><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIv42A4TdftSP_aNU5GWP4ahdrEy41i84YVV8erFHv7iBDwBns2PATyyACUZ0IJSGMv0AHOhrKhGx3EdMK0qwtPJs109rZiueBfCHeiZqbfOZfTj5jAA39_K-M2hy_QGsnyIZ4JVRbFpmW/s1600/IMG_5728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIv42A4TdftSP_aNU5GWP4ahdrEy41i84YVV8erFHv7iBDwBns2PATyyACUZ0IJSGMv0AHOhrKhGx3EdMK0qwtPJs109rZiueBfCHeiZqbfOZfTj5jAA39_K-M2hy_QGsnyIZ4JVRbFpmW/s320/IMG_5728.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runeberg%27s_tart" target="_blank">Wikipedia article</a> for the tart is not total crap, but it does not of course convey the deep emotive and sensorial love I have for this pastry. Now, the original ones are tall and comparatively narrow. We would hollow out the core and fill them with raspberry jam. Some day I will have proper Runeberg tart molds, but for now I am making due with muffin tins:</div>
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I still hollow out the center and fill it with raspberry jam, but now I no longer break off the bottom part and eat it from a bowl with milk. Now I eat it like an adult - with tea! And I moisten them with Amaretto, when I can. Amazing! </div>
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I thought I would include the recipe, especially as it has some Family History. Which I may get wrong....</div>
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So, when Mother moved to Finland, my great aunt, aunt-Marita, took this poor foreign woman under her maternal wing. Moster Mita (as we said in Swedish) was this amazing woman who kept bees, had a great sense of humor, loved people, and was just all around as delightful an old lady as you could hope to be related to, or named after! She passed away when I was pretty young, but I have fond memories of her, and really wish I had had the opportunity to get to know her better. The summer cottage (tm, Finnish cultural institution beyond compare) that my family calls home was originally built by Moster Mita and her husband, Ivar. It is the center of the universe - did you not know? Anyway, Moster Mita gave Mother this recipe for Runeberg Tarts, and it is the best recipe, as far as I am concerned. This is corroborated by the evidence that several of my friends have asked me, myself, and I, for the recipe, selecting it above other available recipes. It is probably from some 1950s magazine or something, but whatever. </div>
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I have doubled the recipe, because the original amount just makes me unhappy and leaves me unsatisfied. Yes, I LOVE this pastry!</div>
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<b>Runebergstårtor</b></div>
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2 eggs</div>
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2 dl sugar </div>
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2 dl whipping cream</div>
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1 dl almond meal (I grind my own here in the US)</div>
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250 gr butter, melted</div>
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4 dl bread crumbs </div>
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3 dl graham flour</div>
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1 tsp baking powder</div>
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On top:</div>
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raspberry jam (I prefer seedless)</div>
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powederd sugar </div>
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water</div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punsch" target="_blank">punch</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrack" target="_blank">arrak</a>, rum or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amaretto" target="_blank">amaretto</a></div>
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butter for greasing the molds</div>
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1. Beat the eggs and sugar frothy.</div>
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2. Mix the dry ingredients.</div>
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3. Melt the butter.</div>
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4. Mix the eggs and dry ingredients, then add the butter.</div>
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5. Whip the cream stiff, then fold into rest of dough.</div>
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6. Gloop into greased molds. The dough does not really change shape, rise or collapse. It makes ca 16 muffin bottoms. Do not pile high - you want a neat surface for the jam and icing!</div>
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7. Bake at 200 C (392 F) for 18-25 minutes.</div>
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8. Let cool. When they have cooled spoon out a dent of desired diameters with a teaspoon or apple corer. </div>
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9. Moisten with alcohol of desire, to sogginess desired. I use Amaretto as it adds the almondiness. I sometimes dilute it with maybe a sixth of water, but sometimes not. Allow to soak in. Reapply if desired.</div>
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10. Fill the crater with raspberry jam.</div>
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11. Mix powdered sugar and water until a stiff icing is formed. You want it to be soft enough to melt into a uniform glaze, but still enough to keep its shape and not drip down the sides. </div>
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12. Lie to people about how many you have so you don't have to share.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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Smaklig kaffepaus!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAEyJkuJIL9APvHBxN5RN8Q35Nz6C-44owop4xQXTkmj6kLWmJg54hh8RInpwHb1An5rCzhA7Y1BrHt-HMZVzpmuUZug8F58gHaZaPS7KhmCdG_hZfz1sFCL8J-nioq2wuVd_JqBc8V-4/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAEyJkuJIL9APvHBxN5RN8Q35Nz6C-44owop4xQXTkmj6kLWmJg54hh8RInpwHb1An5rCzhA7Y1BrHt-HMZVzpmuUZug8F58gHaZaPS7KhmCdG_hZfz1sFCL8J-nioq2wuVd_JqBc8V-4/s320/IMG_5727.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<dd style="text-align: justify;"><br /></dd><dd style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Teacup brought to me as a 30th birthday present by "The Gels", and the plate is part of a tea set given as a wedding gift by soon-to-be-Dr. Nielsen. </span></dd><dd style="text-align: justify;"><br /></dd><dd style="text-align: justify;"><br /></dd><dd style="text-align: center;"><br /></dd></dl>
Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-13583480824868207422012-02-05T06:05:00.000-08:002012-02-05T06:05:20.309-08:00Stash Busting - This is Why...<div style="text-align: left;">
In my last post I mentioned that I am not currently buying yarn until I have used up a significant amount of the yarn in my stash. </div>
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<i>Stash </i>is what American knitters (or maybe English speaking knitters...) use to denote the yarn they have collected/hoarded over the years. <i>Stash busting </i>is the effort to use/give away some of the yarn to make the stash smaller. For some of us (and you know who you are!) the stash is a problem of epic proportions - "Honey, I moved the plates from the kitchen cupbord to make space for my <i>insert name of yarn here</i>". For others it is a source of pride and personal joy. </div>
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Where do I fall in? Well... Somewhere in between. If I had space, It would not be a problem, but my Fuzzband and I live in a one bedroom apartment with very little storage space, and he has pretty bulky projects too (building speakers, hockey, fly tying...) When I used to work at <a href="http://www.yarnllc.com/" target="_blank">Yarn on Whitney</a> occasionally (summer of 2009) the owner was kind enough to extend the staff discount to me, and eventually when the store merged with the mother-store in Westville, I also got the amazing staff discount. So, I bought a TON of yarn, thinking I could now work with this stash and not buy yarn for a while. More or less true. In fact, now that I think of it - more true! </div>
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The rule is: I only buy yarn if I need it to finish a project, the bulk of which is knit with stash yarn; or if somebody buys me the yarn to make something for them. For example, I plan to make another set of wedding gifts, and I will do the work and Fuzzband will buy the yarn. This kind of yarn does not get bought and lie around the flat. Hopefully. Or so I tell myself. So far, so good.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAsKrv7G6T1HSkb7dgJrBMjht6Nx8GSErFijV4IYFAWqAiGTficUe-W14o5NqZNQ_swbo2H388EatakCDfCibBzjZqCiJe-LOutWrHjuD2Ymd7yAZozurB6VpblVEpPiQxxckhUTcma2Z/s1600/IMG_4763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAsKrv7G6T1HSkb7dgJrBMjht6Nx8GSErFijV4IYFAWqAiGTficUe-W14o5NqZNQ_swbo2H388EatakCDfCibBzjZqCiJe-LOutWrHjuD2Ymd7yAZozurB6VpblVEpPiQxxckhUTcma2Z/s320/IMG_4763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDLV6CNddrL5sgrH56JTxgOx9K8JVcVYPqIBjrviK2Mgt1zfZy0yXiTKWgOshvOfvBRMDr_ydxkKfQUpShaQghyYOjKyixN6UwN54ObQn6l1VrWbsLJQkVORBnQQWPQpSFKkyW5M1oYyj/s1600/IMG_4762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDLV6CNddrL5sgrH56JTxgOx9K8JVcVYPqIBjrviK2Mgt1zfZy0yXiTKWgOshvOfvBRMDr_ydxkKfQUpShaQghyYOjKyixN6UwN54ObQn6l1VrWbsLJQkVORBnQQWPQpSFKkyW5M1oYyj/s320/IMG_4762.JPG" width="320" /></a>This is a nice and tame photo of the bulk of my stash. I took it out over the Holidays to make an inventory and enter some in to my stash on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>. It looks pretty controlled and neat, no? When not in use it lives in three large bright <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100087613/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=buckets&storeId=10051" target="_blank">orange buckets from Home Depo</a>t, ziplock bags in an amazingly fabulous and tacky Catholic Kitsch (tm) bag in the back of my closet. Odds and ends live in a zipper equipped bag one of our duvets came in.The hope is that these precautions will keep moths away.... <br />
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However, the second photo here is a more accurate photograph - in context of the apartment. In this photo you can see the yarn, the tub, and 1/6 of our home. <br />
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My current challenge is to find items to knit with the amazing amount of lace weight fuzzy yarn I have. I have some ideas, and that is always good. And of course one idea is sometimes superseded by another, and another, and another ad infinitum...<br />
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I spent some time yesterday going through one of my Home Depot tubs and photographing the yarn so I have a visual attached to my stash list on Ravelry - planning purposes, you know. I got most of it up there! Over the next month I hope to have the other two tubs done as well. In the end I should have my stash on Ravelry, neatly organized, and easy to refer to when I take the time to think about stash busting. I have several yarns up there I have no photographs for, but this process should take care of that as well.<br />
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Are you a Raveller? Want to spy on me? You can find me under "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/maweisse" target="_blank">maweisse</a>" on Ravelry, but I think you have to be logged in for that link to work...Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-23553608920720549122012-02-03T12:25:00.000-08:002012-02-03T12:28:51.927-08:00Alien for Paul<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEBoV4zoFWPr7uNY0pbILpT63KM1nSHQLeGIHJWFBaIKJ0kFn1hIiyMDS_EpDqopQN-uBXxlMQXxkNIlmyKPIWdiK92WpppgCiumpzJqDYQvIOdAG5dQdgSV0McPINIZue0whDWZMcoMD/s1600/IMG_5622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEBoV4zoFWPr7uNY0pbILpT63KM1nSHQLeGIHJWFBaIKJ0kFn1hIiyMDS_EpDqopQN-uBXxlMQXxkNIlmyKPIWdiK92WpppgCiumpzJqDYQvIOdAG5dQdgSV0McPINIZue0whDWZMcoMD/s320/IMG_5622.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Awwwwwww....<br />
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That was my reaction when my friend from <a href="http://uconn.edu/" target="_blank">UConn</a> contacted me with a request to make this <a href="http://greatamigurumi.blogspot.com/2010/09/amigurumi-fat-baby.html" target="_blank">Amigurumi "Fat" Baby</a> for his and his lovely wife's incubating offspring. She of course was gestating a baby, but what about him? An Alien? So he felt an alien needed to be produced from somewhere... <br />
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At the Yale/UConn working group monthly meetings we have bonded over the importance of doing stuff with our hands while listening to Scholarship. He doodles; I craft. He has seen me do mittens, socks, and who knows what! I was racking my brain what to make for the baby - whom I project-named <i>Gzezenoc </i>(my all-time favorite name to suggest to ALL people with planned or unborn babies, pets, plants, cars...). Gzezenoc was a brother to an early medieval Breton saint whose name I have forgotten - obviously not as ultimately cool a name as Gzezenoc! Fabulous saints aside, I was delighted for this thought process over what to make for Little Gzezenoc to be interrrupted, down right taken away from me by the Proud Father serving this fabulously fun pattern on a proverbial silver platter. And a crochet pattern no less! I have not crocheted in For Ever (tm), so I was excited to try it. I crocheted this in two short evenings, and enjoyed every second.<br />
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I am theoretically not buying more yarn until I have used up a LOT if not most of my ridiculous stash, but the Proud Father offered to pay for the yarn (<a href="http://www.patonsyarns.com/product.php?LGC=classicwool" target="_blank">Patons</a>), and indeed did: he bought me a vodka and cranberry in Storrs the other day. Excellent deal for me!<br />
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One of my favorite things about the pattern were the fingers and toes - here the fingers shown thumb down. Of course, the alternation between various kinds of crochets - teeny, tall - is perfect for this. <br />
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Toes!!!! I kind of want to make a caterpillar just because I LOVE these toes!<br />
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Here the little Alien is with Little Paul, watching his sleep. No matter how cute the Alien is - Paul is cuter!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photograph courtesy of the Proud Father.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">On a sort of random note: I crocheted an <i>Alien</i> for a young man named <i>Paul. </i>One of my favorite Alien movies ever (the intertextuality of geekdom rules it from first minute to last!) is called <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092026/" target="_blank">Paul</a>. I find this absolutely fabulous! </span> </span>Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-59722929168832860612012-01-22T18:32:00.000-08:002012-01-22T18:37:59.301-08:00Japanese Wedding Socks<br />
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In the summer of 2010 two of our fabulous friends got married. It was an amazing wedding - on a ranch in Colorado! All (well, most) the guests stayed, cooked, hiked, rode horses, hung out at the ranch for a weekend. These are two dear friends, so unsurprisingly their families and friends are also wonderful, and we really enjoyed to get to know some of them, and other better than before. We also, of course, pitched in to help cook the delicious wedding feast - designed by the groom and bride.This included four vegetarians following with fascination as my Fuzzband cut up the lamb for the lamb and flower stew while I sat around the fire singing American folk songs...</div>
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As a wedding gift we gave them hand knit socks in IOU form.<br />
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The bride and groom headed to Yokohama/Tokyo Japan for a year in the fall for her research on select modern Japanese female poets, and so we decided to go visit them for American Thanksgiving later that same year! It was an amazing trip filled with food, friends, and exploring. Combining wedding gift with Japan, I decided to use Japanese knit patterns and give the happy couple the option of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabi" target="_blank">tabi </a>or ordinary socks. The plan was to have enough knit when we got to Tokyo so I could at least complete one sock per spouse for sizing purposes. I, of course, finished the socks on the flight <u>home</u>... But that way we could send them a little package of toe-warming love from The Have.</div>
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Here you can see Hers and His socks in action - photo kindly provided by the happy couple who shall remain anonymous.<br />
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I wanted bamboo yarn - the whole Japan theme, and who would <b>not </b>want an excuse to knit with bamboo yarn? I searched high and lo, even recruiting the patient <a href="http://missknitter36.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Miss Knitter</a> to look for it. Finally, at Stitches East 2010, we found it! The divine Bamboo Baby hand dyed yarn by <a href="http://www.missbabs.com/" target="_blank">Miss Babs</a>: 60% Wool, 30% Bamboo, and 10% Nylon which makes it sockable, so to say. The yarn was one of my all-time favorite yarns to knit with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IJZ2GakeklrrUPb_YuvJIRFG3qQXN43aBwakMlAka7FIgNbRIfMyTFNHZpRO-WN_F5A7BX1LazNM8Ck28BxkyZ7Yl434bQ3FRzOEU5cX_IG5hh1P-Kc2hPQ80NfCp2RvL5oDKcohP8-P/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IJZ2GakeklrrUPb_YuvJIRFG3qQXN43aBwakMlAka7FIgNbRIfMyTFNHZpRO-WN_F5A7BX1LazNM8Ck28BxkyZ7Yl434bQ3FRzOEU5cX_IG5hh1P-Kc2hPQ80NfCp2RvL5oDKcohP8-P/s320/IMG_4048.JPG" width="240" /></a> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Her Socks:</b></span></div>
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The pattern is Véronik Avery's "Tabi Socks" from <a href="http://www.abramsbooks.com/Books/Knitting_Classic_Style-9781584795766.html" target="_blank"><i>Knitting Classic Style: 35 Modern Designs Inspired by Fashion's Archives</i></a> (New York, NY; Stewart, Tabori and Chang (ABRAMS), 2007), 81-85.</div>
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leafy pattern, according to the pattern notes "echo the lacy knitting
patterns favored in contemporary Japan" (p. 82). While the socks are
specifically tabis in the pattern, the bride asked for non-tabis, which
is what she got. A great fun knit, and it of course made me even happier
to make them for a unique and dear friend who - and I hope you are
sitting down - had never had hand-knit socks before<br />
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I
really like the lace line that separates the lace panel of the instep
from the sole of the foot and traces up the sock to the cuff lace<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>His socks:</b></span></div>
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This pattern is Ann Budd's "Undulating Rib Socks" from <a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Books/Favorite-Socks.html" target="_blank"><i>Favorite Socks. 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave</i></a> (Loveland, CO; Interweave Press, 2007), 92-95. This pattern is also Japanese in influence: </div>
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"<i>Inspired by a stitch pattern found in a Japanese knitting book,
these socks feature an easily memorized pattern that alternates
increases and decreases to create columns that widen and narrow."</i></div>
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The groom wanted his as tabis, so I used the instructions from Avery, and I am pretty pleased with the result. <br />
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Both have reportedly been happy with their socks, here shown snuggling in Yokohama. This is also a photo courtesy of the happy couple.</div>
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<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5013049038235375399.post-24886889922216849062012-01-16T09:26:00.000-08:002012-01-16T09:30:09.216-08:00Fishy Birthday Cake<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhyzNalow_Yzi6KrNP6EzE_lkOKI4rS58pEAgKunlm5wlxl7gKXSLS8zBPGpbdjdy2zTz5Vdd206ErxuNxw9AuSPkXKVKCQAE0Gd1fIhwISR9LQVK887o_dTIh_sIFND6qUQEjKl1231Q/s1600/IMG_1993.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhyzNalow_Yzi6KrNP6EzE_lkOKI4rS58pEAgKunlm5wlxl7gKXSLS8zBPGpbdjdy2zTz5Vdd206ErxuNxw9AuSPkXKVKCQAE0Gd1fIhwISR9LQVK887o_dTIh_sIFND6qUQEjKl1231Q/s320/IMG_1993.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This
is a birthday cake for the little sister of my CT godson a couple of
years back. It was her 3rd birthday - as the candles tell us. She was
big into fishing that spring, so this is what I made. The cake was a
chocolate cake with vanilla custard filling. The icing is chocolate
buttercream icing, and white buttercream icing. See the jellyfish? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBurnNa_BLo6hoG6KAFju2rz2Hwxp-8pCNxGSlJ_i-k5BxOUdcBWPkaTs3Lvv1uTOkP1DhBVcMgnFJ9IyuuAsaBTurk6f60zDtmEMQpmYlrQCsRAtD1sYspm3bG8CIIvKpGTL7O97uAOn/s1600/IMG_1992.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBurnNa_BLo6hoG6KAFju2rz2Hwxp-8pCNxGSlJ_i-k5BxOUdcBWPkaTs3Lvv1uTOkP1DhBVcMgnFJ9IyuuAsaBTurk6f60zDtmEMQpmYlrQCsRAtD1sYspm3bG8CIIvKpGTL7O97uAOn/s320/IMG_1992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sailboat was origami art from real paper!</div>
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The "large sea mammals" were Swedish Fish candies (which are unknown in Sweden, by the way).</div>
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The breaching was accented by buttercream icing leaves in white - breaching waves!</div>
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Side view of the cake: a birthday squid! </div>
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This
was a fun cake to decorate, and a huge success! I think it was one of
the most popular cakes when the photos of my cake decorating were up on
Facebook.</div>
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<br />Mitihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03718381758875842591noreply@blogger.com0