Our Ultimate Thanksgiving
Once again Jon and I enjoyed an intimate Thanksgiving Day together at home with our dog, Nico. We took a snowy walk through the woods in the afternoon, then watched a martial arts flick after dinner. We tried some new recipes this year and everything was delicious.

The highlight of our feast was Oven-roasted Turkey Breast with Leeks and Cornbread Stuffing, a recipe I saw on an episode of Tyler Florence's Ultimate Turkey Dinner on the Food Network. (I chose to make the cornbread from scratch.) We also made Tyler's Grainy Mustard Mashed Potatoes, which were fabulous! (I chose to leave in the garlic.) These dishes were accompanied by homemade dinner rolls, roasted Brussels sprouts and garlic, turkey gravy, and Jon's favorite... a can of Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce.

For dessert I made my very first Sweet Potato Pie. The recipe was simple to make and the results were perfect. I read that sweet potato pie is a favorite of President-Elect Barack Obama, so I voted for a change from the usual pumpkin pie... it turned out to be a pretty sweet choice. Happy Thanksgiving 2008!

Sailing, Salsa and Socks
I've been a bad blogger lately so this post is a pathetic attempt at making up for lost time. A couple of weeks ago Jon and I went sailing aboard the Friend Ship which has become a summer tradition for us since moving to Vermont.

It was a beautifully warm and breezy day in September; perfect for sailing on Lake Champlain, (though we have yet to see "Champy").

Vermont is home to many local farms and purveyors of artisan foods, however the state severely suffers when it comes to good Mexican food. Growing up in Southern California I was practically raised on the flavors of Baja so I resorted to purchasing a couple of books on Mexican cuisine. The recipes found in "¡BAJA! Cooking On The Edge" by Deborah M. Schneider have been successful in satisfying my cravings. Shown here is a picture of the first (of many) recipes I've already tried, Salsa al Comal (Roasted Tomato Salsa) and it was delicious!

Finally, I've been unsuccessful once again at knitting socks. Maybe the third time will be a charm. These socks were knit toe-up and I was well on my way until I discovered 7 1/4" later that apparently I knit much tighter when knitting with two colors of yarn. I did learn how to pick up stitches to start shaping the heel, but I may apply that technique to the thumb on some winter mittens before I attempt another pair of socks.

Blueberry Lake
Last weekend Jon and I went to Blueberry Lake to pick wild blueberries. It was a gorgeous Saturday morning (which we seem to have had too few of this summer).

It was my very first time picking blueberries (or anything for that matter). Now I can appreciate why they cost about $3.99/pint in the store. Jon was a picking pro, and if it wasn't for his excellent clothing recommendation I probably would have been miserable. I returned home with several scratches and mosquito bites, but no sunburn. Two out of three isn't bad.

He also picks a lot faster than I do which is how we managed to gather 4 quarts in a mere hour and a half.





I was going to preserve jars of jam with our blueberry booty, but instead decided to freeze the majority and bake some Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins.

Simple Bib Factory
Three out of the four babies I've been making bibs for are already born... but who's counting? I managed to produce 13 Simple Bibs from Amy Karol's book, “Bend-The-Rules Sewing”. I lost a couple in the beginning as I was getting the hang of sewing around tight curves.

These bibs are cotton with cotton flannel backing. The saleswoman at the fabric shop was very helpful with selecting complimentary fabrics. I just need to place the snap closures and they'll be ready to mail.

I am pleased with the results and I feel much more comfortable with my sewing machine. I hope the recipients of these bibs will stain them with pride!

Cold Sesame-Peanut Noodles
On weekends I often make a soup or salad and portion it out to have for lunches during the week. I don't like to spend money on lunch and eating out is so fattening. So, every week I try to develop a new and healthy lunch option that I won't be tired of eating before Wednesday. Today I combined a few recipes that I found online to create Cold Sesame-Peanut Noodles.

Cook: 7 oz. of Barilla Plus Spaghetti according to directions.
Meanwhile: In a separate bowl whisk together; 1 Tbs. Reduced-Fat Jif Peanut Butter, 1 Tbs. sesame oil, 1 Tbs. vegetable oil, 1 Tbs. soy sauce, 1 tsp rice vinegar, 2 tsp honey, 1 Tbs. chili powder, a pinch of red chili pepper flakes, and 6-8 dashes of Tabasco.
Drain and Rinse: Cooked pasta in cold water until cool.
Combine: Cold pasta and sauce, toss well.
Add: 1 Tbs. sesame seeds and two diced scallions, toss to combine.
Enjoy!

This weekend I also made Tangy Mustard Coleslaw from the June 2008 issue of Cooking Light Magazine. It was really good!

Whole Wheat Cheese Tortellini with Spinach and
Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette
Cook 9 oz. of fresh whole wheat cheese tortellini according to directions. (Shown: Buitoni Whole Wheat Three Cheese Tortellini).
Meanwhile: In a separate bowl whisk together; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil, the juice and finely grated rind of one lemon,
1/2 tsp dill (dried), and a generous pinch of Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Add: 2 cups organic baby spinach (remove stems, cut as thick chiffonade).
Drain and Rinse: Fully cooked pasta very briefly in cold water.
Add: Warm pasta to spinach/vinaigrette mixture and toss to combine well.
Add: 4 oz. shredded Pecorino Romano cheese, toss to combine.
Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to me!
Once again Jon did a fabulous job of finding me the perfect birthday gift. Since moving into our new place I haven't had a designated sewing area and I am eager to finish some projects. I've been looking for an antique sewing table for quite some time without much luck… they've either been too large, in terrible shape, too expensive or all of the above. Jon happened to find this beauty at a church tag sale; it just needs a little TLC.

The table is a nice compact size and the top lies flat when closed, but it opens up to reveal a generous workspace. I am curious to know how old this piece is, any idea?



Oddly enough, the attached sewing machine is in remarkably better shape than the actual table and came with several accessories. I've already purchased some stripper and a sander so that I can refinish the wood on my next sunny day off.

Silkscreen
Today I assumed the role of "lovely assistant" and helped Jon with his silk screening project. He is making some great t-shirts for his friends.

Preparation
While several family members and close friends are busy preparing their nurseries, I’ve been busy preparing my sewing area. Perhaps the recent frogging of a pair of socks and beret are to blame for my lack of knitting mojo. That, coupled with four babies just around the corner, and I don’t know if I have it in me to knit fast enough! I’ve been eager to get better acquainted with my sewing machine – the time is now!

I’ve decided to make eight Simple Bibs from Amy Karol’s book, “Bend-The-Rules Sewing”. There are some inspiring patterns in this book, and it isn’t intimidating. I’ve selected some fabrics that I hope will match the personalities of the mothers and fathers to-be.

Tonight I am taking my first sewing lesson. The tips acquired from hands-on learning are so valuable to me. I’ve never had much interest in making quilts, but my first project is a lap quilt and I’m very excited. I’ve selected three fabrics for the project, two of which are batiks.
Though I’ve been a professional graphic designer for many years, selecting fabrics is a whole new world. Colors, patterns and textures that I once thought would compliment each other suddenly don’t, and vise versa. It is fascinating!

Snowboarding at Sugarbush
Jon and I went snowboarding this morning at Mt. Ellen. The snow was really great! I love my new board, a Burton Feelgood 149.

Unfortunately the camera batteries died before I could get any pictures of Jon (and he's much more exciting to watch than me!)

GOOD TIMES!

"The Way I Am"

This song by Ingrid Michaelson is one of the best I've heard in a while. I think the video compliments it perfectly. Enjoy!
(Directed by Autumn de Wilde.)

Apricot-Orange Scones
A few days of negative degree weather will make you forget all about your resolutions for the new year and compel you to bake scones. It was either the weather (which I blame everything on since I moved from California to Vermont) or one of the inspiring books I received for Christmas - "The Apron Book", which captivated my domestic side throughout the recent storm.

I received a library of craft-related books for Christmas this year, which confirms that I was a really good grrrl in 2007. "The Apron Book" by EllynAnne Geisel (shown above), "Vogue Knitting Quick Reference" by the editors of Vogue Knitting Magazine,"Knitting Lingerie Style" by Joan McGowan-Michael, "The Ultimate Sock Book" by Vogue Knitting, and "Sew Everything Workshop" by Diana Rupp.

Jon, Nico and I went snowshoeing this morning, followed by a trip to the recycling house... so that should justify consuming a few extra comfort calories, snuggling up with a good book and starting a new project.

The UFOs of 2007
Rib Waves Fingerless Gauntlet

Patchwork Tote

Montego Bay Scarf

Happy New Year!

Scandinavian Almond Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray. Sprinkle sliced almonds on bottom of pan.
Beat well: 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1 egg, 1 1/2 tsp pure almond extract, 2/3 cups milk
Add: 1 1/4 cup flour and 1/2 tsp baking powder
Add: 1 stick melted margarine
Mix well.
Carefully pour over sliced almonds. Bake at 350 for 40-50 minutes, until edges turn golden brown. Cool cake completely before removing from pan. (Cake will break if removed too soon.) Sprinkle with confectionery sugar.
Merry Christmas!

A Perfect Day for Snowshoeing
Jon, Nico and I went snowshoeing this afternoon. We started in the field behind our house, then proceeded along the path that was once miles of railroad track in the woods. It was a perfect day. There was easily a foot of untouched powder and the temperature was in the 30's.
Somewhere along the way, Nico made a friend with the Husky dog that has been wandering the neighborhood for the past few days. "Tubbs" cruised with our pack for most of the two-hour journey.

GOOD TIMES!

Thanksgiving Dinner for Two
Maple-Glazed Turkey Breast, Candied Sweet Potatoes, Green Beans with Bacon, Roasted-Garlic Mashed Potatoes with Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Spring Salad Greens, Homemade Dinner Rolls, and Chocolate Cake.

Tricks or treats?
Happy Halloween!

J-A-C-K-P-O-T-!
Dear Reader,
Congratulations! You're one of the winners of Knit Simple's Fall '07 cover kit!
We hope you enjoy, and Happy Knitting!
Sincerely,
Knit Simple Editorial Staff

Sailing on Lake Champlain
This view of Burlington was taken from aboard the "Friend Ship".
I highly recommend Lake Champlain sailing cruises to anyone visiting Vermont in the summertime. Find out more at: www.whistlingman.com

Homemade Dog Biscuits for Nico