Monday, November 28, 2011

Happy Belated Turkey Day!!


Perhaps it is because of the long weekend of shopping and overindulgence, but I have a strong desire to listen to Queen sing christmas songs all day and quit my job.
I love my job, wouldn't trade it for any other.  But today, like many others, I would much rather sit around drinking tea, dancing in my kitchen, and sewing all day.  But moving on.  This is supposed to be a summary post; a bridging post; a post to fill you all in on what in the hell we've been doing since any of us posted last; GET. IT. TOGETHER. So this fall has mostly been a craft crash of everyone getting presents ready for christmas.  Jaime I'm sure will give you a full summary once all her gifts have been disbursed and everyone is incredibly happy with their new savvy homemade gift.  She's making everyone's present so I'm sure she's going crazy.  I should probably check on her, make sure she hasn't succumbed.  In the interest of not ruining anyone's christmas glee, I will be vague and only go over the public projects. First we took a christmas stocking class. Through this we learned to do colorwork which I think everyone will agree makes general knitting seem SO MUCH EASIER. The green things are supposed to be dog bones, but clearly it looks more like barbed wire. So we'll run with that.       One of our Harry Potter book club members--yes, we have a book club (we have finished HP and are now on to game of thrones)--one of our members is expecting, so we threw a HP themed baby shower with themed foods, drinks, games, and gifts.  Was the best baby shower I've ever been to. Here's a picture of the diaper cake we created which includes a baby hat, scarf, and shirt, and a scarf for mom. Most recently I visited Chicago, and while it has NOTHING to do with anything here, I'm still using it as an excuse for the severe lack of posting, so here--have a picture! Last but not least, I forced my sig fig to attend the Elk Falls Outhouse Tour. Yes, I couldn't possibly make this up.  (For proof, see http://elkfallsouthousetour.com) There were outhouses placed all over Elk Falls, along with food stops, crafts, and even a quilt show.  For a dollar you got a button, a map, and a ballot.  Absolutely amazing.  I think it may actually become an annual trip for me and it may become a supper club outing as well.  It is the weekend before Thanksgiving every year, and the weather could not have been better this year.  To prove I'm not lying, here's a picture of the winning outhouse. More posts to come on the status of our christmas projects and pictures of the decor as well.  Until then, THERE ARE ONLY 27 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS-GET OFF YOUR ASS!

--Christy

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

It's Hotter than the Nevada Desert


Today, while working very hard in our building that decided to replace the air conditioner in the hottest part of the day, I baked cookies in my car. Boss said they were maybe even a tad overcooked! Three hours put to excellent use!
20110802-100823.jpg


20110802-100701.jpg


20110802-100811.jpg

--Christy

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Birthdays and Cannings of the Past...


In the hell that is southern Kansas, we had 24 out of 31 days in July with temperatures over 100, and I would bet we've seen more than that.  I'm going to try and bake cookies in my car sometime this week.  Going to be awesome. 
But I digress.  For my fantabulous pirate birthday party, my awesome friends got me a HUGE canning pot and lots of fun tags and lid covers to play with.  This all goes with the huge Coleman outdoor stove that my husband got me.  The goal here being: my flat-top stove doesn't handle all the canning I do very well.  The largest size I can can is a pint, and peaches and apples do not fit well into pint-size jars. There are lots of other issues with canning on flat-top stoves, including the risk that the heavy pot will meld to the stove, or crack it, or distribute heat unevenly, or...you get the idea.  ERGO: Christy now has an outdoor stove, that she can put outside, and can on in her new fantastically large pot.  BRILLIANT, I tell you. Brilliant. I absolutely cannot wait to try this.
See, in my past use of my flat-top stove, I have done a number of scary things--things deemed to be impossible by the makers of le creuset:  I have cracked not one, but two le creuset dutch ovens.  From this point forward, said dutch oven to be referred to as "the damned pot."  To be fair, between the cracking of the first and second damned pot (yes, there were two), le creuset did change the standards of use on the damn things, but simpletons like myself did not and still do not go online weekly to read the updated limits on my standard cooking utensils--how silly am I!
The first time I was melting butter.  As a bit of background...I received my free le creuset damned pot through my westlaw points in law school--if you have never been through the hell that is law school, you will have NO IDEA what westlaw points are, or how they result in cookware.  However, if you have attended law school and know what such points are, you will have no trouble believing that I used all of these points to receive one le creuset dutch oven (aka the FIRST damned pot).
So back to the butter.  As I was melting butter in order to brown some beef tips, the damn thing exploded.  Well, perhaps "exploded" is a bit of an exaggeration, although I did find pieces of the damned pot across the room.  From the back burner, the damned pot split into three pieces.  I was amazed.  This damned pot was supposed to be impenetrable!  How could its defenses not withstand the wrath that is butter?  I  calmed down my howling dog (barkless my ass) and proceeded to pick up the pieces and put them into the sink.  Clearly this damned pot was not going to produce stroganoff tonight.
After debating what sin I had committed to break this most precious (read: expensive) of pots, I contacted the company and they sincerely apologized and forwarded a new pot (after forwarding the broken pieces to them to ensure that I did not void the warranty by attacking the damned pot through some inappropriate method) (although, if butter could break such a damned pot, perhaps hammers would have been at least a better story).
SO! Onward and upward.  Enter Cherry Conserve.  I could not WAIT to make this.  I love cherries, so how could whatever conserve is not equate heaven?  I was sure I could find a purpose for WHATEVER it was. So, into the *new* damned pot everything goes.  After all,  the previous pot was clearly not a TRUE representation of the awesome quality le creuset is--their customer service was devine, therefore, their quality must be superb.
About 30 minutes into the simmering of my cherries and assorted flavors, I hear a pop.  I look around for a small child and pop-gun to no avail. Then I hear another.  Apparently, this damned pot did not like the conserve syrupy goodness because it proceeded to leak it all over my flat topped stove. First thing first, try to push the crack away and lift said damned pot onto a plate. FAILURE. The bottom COMPLETELY comes apart from the rest of the damned clay pot.  Fuck.  I throw the edge pieces into the sink.  Fuck. Call husband. Husband is at softball game and refuses to answer me screaming into his voicemail about how he NEVER answers his phone and what is the PURPOSE of such a phone if he cannot answer the phone at the instant I am having an ACTUAL meltdown in our kitchen.  Enter dogs licking boiling syrup off floor. FUCK.  Out damned dogs.   TURN OFF STOVE.  Proceed to scoop with spoon/sponge/newspaper burning liquid into bowl in hopes of saving some of the expensive cherry conserve I had created before realizing that it now contained pieces of clay.  Pour whole damned thing into trash can.  Ignore fact that conserve has now extended to the other burners where the canning lids and boiling canning water are and is now seeping down the sides of our stove and all over the sides of the trash can. Fuck. Move boiling water to towel on counter.  Clear off teapots and small pot with canning lids.  Pour water onto stove top so as to cool off boiling mixture that is burning my poor flat-top stove.  After 20 minutes of screaming, and pulling out stove and wiping off the sides and throwing the whole damned thing into the trash, husband calls.  PERFECT timing.
After this debacle, looked at the website for le creuset which had since changed the "use" of said damned clay pot to any NON-direct heat.  So...like cooking soup in the shade?
I threw the damned pieces away.  Husband asked why I didn't return it and get a new one.  Clearly he did not understand how said damned pot had me now fearing melting butter and syrup; clearly he seemed to think I could find a purpose for such a pathetic god damned cooking utensil.  He was CLEARLY not present for either of the damned pot debacles and thought that I could still recommend such a pot to friends, or wrap it up and give it away.  I could not in good faith do such a thing.  Such a damned pot did not deserve another try.  I still have several le creuset pots--none of which are clay, and most of which are heavy pots that I wouldn't DREAM of putting on the damned flat-top stove anyway.
Apparently, for those of you looking for the logical explanation for such strange outcomes: you cannot use such pots on flat top stoves because of the circular indents on the bottom that trap pockets of heat, and then burst when there is no where for the heat to go.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, I am super excited about my new canning utensils that have circular indents on the bottom and my fantastic new outdoor stove that can handle such pots.  Because we don't deal with damned pots in my household anymore.  Bitches.
--Christy

Monday, August 1, 2011

Home

I suppose after college we all have the same trouble adapting from our former transient habits to stability.  After moving from dorm to dorm, apartment to apartment, rental house to high rise, town to city, roommate to roommate, it is quite frankly amazing that we all don't immediately go into therapy to discuss our loss of sanity and the quandary of where my favorite pair of shoes ran off to.  Perhaps we all relish the idea of finally standing still.  (I do not think that anyone who has ever moved in with a significant other has not had the urge to run the eff away at some point , but I digress.  That is a topic for another post.)
I went to KC this weekend to shop with the momster.  Not that Wichita doesn't offer some fine shopping outlets,...it just isn't quite the same. Perhaps it is because the momster doesn't live in Wichita, but who am I to speculate.   There's just something about being on home base, with family, recognizing every turn lane and road and knowing that you can get away with going 45 on Ward Parkway, albeit on certain stretches.
As I was driving through the Plaza (and forfeiting any hope of ever locating a parking spot within 3 miles of LatteLand and wedding cake cookies), I realized how small and un-diverse Wichita is.  I miss the gays. I miss the random hippies walking through town.  I miss the overland park anti-support tax visitors mingling with the misfits.  I miss the nonconformity.  I suppose the bigger question is why random outside window shoppers equate diversity to my simple mind.  I suppose I just miss the traffic.  I miss the pulse. I miss watching the foot traffic from inside westport coffeehouse.  Bubble tea that is accepted and easily accessible.  Random shops with outstanding objects of creativity.  Ridiculous sculptures that look mysteriously like shuttlecocks.  And every once in a while, I miss having fifteen nightly events, happenings or random acts of art and entertainment to choose from for my personal nightly entertainment.  Perhaps I've never quite accepted stability.  My therapist said I never would :grin:
--Christy

Monday, June 20, 2011

How to Read a Pattern (Knitting Addition)

How To Read A Pattern (Knitting). If a knitting pattern looks like greek to you, try this handy video!

Happy Father's Day!

I spent Father's Day with my Parents in Salina.  I thought I would make a fun lunch yesterday for my Dad.  My Dad LOVES pizza, especially pizza with mushrooms and anchovies.  Blech.  Even thought anchovies make me a little nauseated, I made Dad a pizza on the grill and also cooked mom and I individual pizzas as well!  I also  made a love fresh green bean salad to go with it.

Our Pizza Dinner
 
Pizza On the Grill Recipe
Pizza Pizza Dough (I used pre-made frozen dough from Walmart, but you can also use dough in the Pillbury tube or make your own)
Pizza Sauce
Mozzeralla Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Various Pizza Toppings (I used anchovies and mushrooms for Dad, Canadian Bacon and Pineapple for myself, and Canadian Bacon, bell pepper, and red onion for my Mom's).  

To start, turn on your gas grill on high.   Next, cut your dough into individual sized balls.  I made 3 pizzas out of the frozen dough from Walmart (which is enough for one full sized pizza).  The dough will be the easiest to work with if it is room temperature.  On a floured surface, I rolled each of the three balls into a circle.  It is very important that you flour both sides of the dough for grilling purposes.

Next, I turn the grill down to medium and place the first crust on the grill.  Close the lid.  As soon as the crust can be easily removed from the grill, flip the crust and cook the other side until that side is easily removable from the grill.  This should be 2-3 minutes per side.  Do that with all of your crusts.

 Add the desired toppings to each of your pizzas, ending with the cheeses.  Place the crusts back on the grill and close the top.  Cook the pizzas until the cheese is completely melted.  Wait 5 minutes to cut the pizza and enjoy!  

Fresh Green Bean Salad Recipe
Fresh green beans
Red Onion
Feta
Olive Oil
Spike Seasoning
Pine Nuts  

Clean and cut ends off of green beans.  Steam green beans for 5 minutes, then blanch.  Toss with thinly sliced red onion, olive oil, feta, and pine nuts.  Refrigerate for 15 to 45 minutes.  Sprinkle Spike Seasoning before serving.  

 Cheers! Jaime

Thursday, June 9, 2011

How many lawyers does it take to change a tire??

Ladies,

 I gave much thought to what my first blog post should be about. Gardening? My tomato plants are still toddlers. Quilting? I just finished my first quilt (pictures and instructions to follow in a future post), but that's no way to make a splash. Knitting? Christy and I just had our first lesson this week, but I don't even know how to cast on and bind off yet. Then it happened...

 So, I was driving home from work one hot June day, excited about my first ever knitting class that evening. I was driving a family friend's car, as I had just taken her to the airport. It is a golden Toyota Avalon, herein referred to as The Golden Beast. The Golden Beast and I were driving down the street with a large grouping of other commuters when I all of a sudden hear a strange popping noise, followed by what very clearly sounded like the rims of the Beast scraping the road way. I quickly turned the Beast into the first available parking lot-- a very seedy asian market, complete with bars on the windows.

 I quickly called a friend (thank you, Becky) to come and pick me up. I ran in and asked the clerk of the market if it was ok if I left the Beast in the parking lot for a few hours while I went to my knitting class and he said yes, but very strongly urged me not to leave the Beast parked there over night. So, Becky took me home and I rode with my neighbor to knitting class.

 I explained to Christy about my latest adventure with the Golden Beast and she very calmly said, "Jaime, we totally got this! You and I will go to your car after class and get that spare put on. My dad made me learn how to put a tire on my car before he would let me drive it." After learning how to knit and purl, Christy and I ventured back to the seedy Asian market parking lot where (thankfully) the Golden Beast still sat. We got right to work on that tire. We positioned the jack, took off the lug nuts, and then went to pull off the tire. And nothing happened. So, we kicked the tire and cursed it a few times.

About then, Christy's husband Scott arrived to give us a hand (i.e. mutter under his breath how crazy we are for not following the directions that are clearly written in the owner's manual). Since none of us could get the tire off, we each phoned a friend and got no where. Christy then came up with a bright idea to take the parking brake off to see if that was keeping the tire on.

 The good news was taking the brake off loosened the tire. The bad news was that the car started to roll, which made it fall off of the jack and potentially be a HUGE problem. (More muttering from Scott about why in the world we didn't have anything behind the wheels.)

 Luckily, no person nor Beast was injured during our critical error. And we got the flat tire off and the spare on and lived happily ever after. But here are my Lessons Learned for Changing a Tire:

 1. Always consult your owner's manual first. It contains very helpful information :)

 2. Loosen all of the lug nuts on your flat tire BEFORE you use the jack to raise the car. This will ensure that your car is stable while you loosen the potentially very tight bolts.

 3. ALWAYS put a rock or a brick behind your tires to keep your car from rolling while it is raised on the jack.

 4. Don't tighten the lug nuts until after you lower the car back down again.

 5. Don't be afraid to get in there and try something new! Mechanical projects, car repair, and home repair have always mystified me. But, when I pick up some directions and give it a college try, I surprise myself :) 

6. If you have your parking brake on while your car is lifted on a jack, DON'T take off the brake unless the vehicle is secured.

 Truly, Jaime PS: It officially takes three lawyers to change a tire.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

a very cherry Memorial Day…

Last cherry season I attempted to make cherry conserve two times in my clay le creuset dutch oven.  I'll spare those horrifying details for another post, but the lesson there is DO NOT USE CLAY ON FLAT STOVE TOPS. Or, in my case, just don't use them at all, because after the second one cracked, I just didn't think I could take the pain of losing such an expensive piece of crockery again.
So alas!  While the conserve that eventually resulted was FANTABULOUS, I decided to go back to the basics this year.  After spending the majority of the weekend fixing the window seat that our puppies had destroyed and buying fabulous cheap stuff at Joann's (Gingher scissors! woot!) (Note: I've had problems with my recession cutbacks since they built a Joann's 3 minutes from my house), I finally got down to business today.
First off, music.  I chose the new Eddie Vedder cd and "The Book of Mormon" recording, but to each their own.  Then, ON WITH THE LEATHER! Cherry leather, that is.  It really is as simple as pitting and stemming cherries, warming them in a dutch oven just until they're softened, pureeing them, then returning them to the pot with sugar until they reach baby food consistency, then drying it in the oven for anywhere from 3-6 hours.
While that was drying, onto jam.  I could waste time telling everyone how to make cherry jam, but really?  There are millions of variations, from Ball's to William Sonoma's.  My advise?  Go get a good canning book.  My first was "Put 'Em Up" by Sherri Brooks Vinton.  Read EVERYTHING.  We'll go into more detail in later posts, but when summer hits, the markets open and you have tons of produce sitting in your kitchen waiting for preservation, the last thing you want to do is find a good website to trust.  THESE PEOPLE ARE PUBLISHED! Trust me, much easier when the book is feet away and your answers are there for reading and more importantly, re-reading.  But I digress.
Perhaps canning and sewing isn't the ideal way to spend such a monumental holiday--most people are out grilling, drinking, raising hell--but really, considering everything all of those before us have given us, why not relish in our freedom by doing something green, classic, and delicious?!  I think there are worse things I could be doing.

--Christy