for your long weekend

Okay. This way of making salsa is new to me, so I just had to share.
The recipe was in the newest Everyday Food, June '11. Simple, fast and oh, so good. I've made it three times and each time used a different amount of tomatoes and onions. I think it is one of those recipes where you don't have to be specific on the amount of the ingredients and it will turn out great.
So, just put tomatoes (2-6 medium/large), a cut onion (or 1 1/2) 3 jalapeno peppers and 3-5 garlic cloves, unpeeled, on a baking sheet. Broil for about 6 minutes, rotate veggies and broil for another 6-8 minutes. (I take out the garlic after the first 6 minutes.) Remove from oven and let cool.
Remove the really charred bits (or not) and toss everything into the food processor or blender. (Except for the garlic skins and stems from the jalapenos. You may want to use less of the seeds from the jalapenos depending on how spicy you like it.) Stir in some chopped cilantro and juice from a lime. If you do not have a lime you can use about 2 TBLS white vinegar. (My friend, Kelsey, taught me that trick.)
Serve.
This weekend.
You won't be sorry.

road trip

I packed up the car and headed to meet friends. A really dear friend from college and some other girls I hadn't met in person but felt like I knew in college.
The blanket made the trip. (Yeah, that's right. I started that in May of '08. That's three years ago, but who's counting.) I knit two rows.
A very special friend was having a very special birthday. She didn't know I was coming. I am smiling now just thinking about me walking into her home. (I did have a big fear that she might not know who in the world I was.)
This picture is so perfect to me. A bit blurry like the evening, like something that happened in a dream. I can't even find the words to describe how I felt. It was just downright awesome. Like each of them.
I also got to meet my college friends twins. I could honestly eat them.
It was one of those weekends. And I feel so blessed to have lived it.

zara

I might feel a little like I am back in Jr. High, but I love it!
Worked bottom up, in the round. A little rib, a little color work, a little plain knitting in the round, color work, (twist, untwist), decrease, rib and voila. You've got yourself a sweater. (Okay, it really wasn't that fast.)
I must admit this looked like it was made for Libby when I finished it. (It was T I N Y !)
However, I didn't panic. (Tried not to.) I threw it (placed it gently) into the washing machine on its hand wash cycle, and then I blocked it (stretched it). That technique has worked for me every time.
I absolutely adore this fair isle pattern. Working on it was just enough to keep it interesting. Although, I just get a little bummed when I have to stop knitting to untwist the colors. And, I may have switched up some of the colors a bit. (Reading the colors, in that bright sun, on the beach, after a beer, may have gotten me a little confused.)
Pattern: Zara
Size: small, 36"
Yarn: Princess by Classic Elite 7 balls #3413 black, 1 ball #3428, 1 ball #3403, 1 ball #3416.
Needles: US 6 and 7

It's been really exciting around here... Libby got off her braces yesterday! Nothing but smiles and mirror checking. I am pretty sure she was smiling in her sleep when I went in for the final good night kiss last night.

Happy Day to you!

repeat

Shoot! Did anyone else on blogger lose their last post? Poof. There one day, gone the next.
May 13, 2008. Ruby and I in middle school bathroom.
In case you didn't stop by here within the last few days, I had mentioned the giveaway of 60 quick baby knits that Nichole was having. She is giving away yarn, too! (She designed the most darling fair isle hat and legwarmers.)
Have a beautiful weekend!

give it a try

Hey! For those of you 60 quick baby knits lovers, I wanted to mention that Nichole is giving away a book AND yarn. So, if you didn't win here, maybe you should try over there!
These photos have nothing to do with that thought. I just needed a photo so looked through the archives.
These were taken May 11, 2009. I loved the bench Monday days. Maybe I should hop on board (or bench) again. I still look for bench goers if I'm out on Mondays. Hoping I will catch someone on a bench.
On this May 11, 2011, I went to teacher conferences, helped the kids tie-dye shirts and got my tomato plants in the ground.
Zara is blocked. Back soon to show.
Have a great one.

mine

The working day of a school nurse:
Circa 1976
I could not love this photo or this woman more. Happy Mothers Day to my awesome mom. Who taught me everything I know. (On and off the needles.)

And people, make sure you have photos of you knitting. Lots of photos. Go now! Sit down, knit and make someone take a photo of you. (I will, too!)

just quick

The two winners of 60 quick baby knits are:
#311 Susan (grandmother of three boys)
Congrats! Please email me your address and I'll make sure the book lands in your hand.

60 quick baby knits

I loved 60 Quick Knits, and I love 60 Quick Baby knits, too. I mean, 60 quick baby knits all out of cascade 220 superwash. How great is that!
There are so many darling patterns in this book, I can hardly stand it. I wish I would have photographed the little sheep pillow. Seriously adorable. There are dresses, sweaters, hats, mittens and blankets.
I always had a harder time finding baby boy patterns than girls. There are several cute ones in this book that I would have made my boys.

I have two to give away. If interested, please leave a comment here before Friday the 6th at 6 p.m. I'll have the random generator choose the numbers.

that green stuff

Spring break did not last that long. We've been home for a week and a day, and I JUST climbed out from all of my piles. We had some of the best weather we have ever had in Florida, and returned to some of the greenest grass we've ever seen.
I cut every last daffodil and brought them inside.
There was a cookie recipe I've had on the brain since Kim emailed me a recipe that Theresa shared with her.
The most time consuming thing was filling the bowl on the cuisnart. When removing the shell of the pistachio, one must put one nut in the bowl, the next one in your mouth. Collecting enough to grind takes some time.
I ended up with about 3/4 cup ground pistachio. The recipe is written in grams so I used this website to convert.
If you know anything about my cookie making, you would know that I am a huge fan of the slice and bakes. So, instead of using a cookie cutter (I blew the whole fine flock thing), I rolled it in a log, refrigerated for a couple of hours, cut and baked. They really are so easy and fast. Which means more time to knit.
I was a HUGE fan of these cookies. I mean, love, love, LOVE. The lemon zest along with the pistachio gives them a fabulous flavor. However, I have two boys that WILL NOT eat anything green in their cookies. Can you believe that! Crazy kids.
Kim also shared this super cool site. Love it. Above are the conversions I used.
Back tomorrow to talk about 60 quick baby knits.

gone on spring break

Another spring break at my parents in Florida.
I have big plans to do a lot of nothing AND finish a sweater.
Have a good one, I'll see you next week.

i finally made a laptop carrier

This project has been in the back of my mind for some time. Almost two years, to be exact.
My beloved laptop has been carried around in a bulky carrier. One that came inside a bag I got on super sale at Staples. It was cumbersome and not so cute, really.
I honestly don't know what took me so long. Especially since this is a pretty quick project. (And, because I love my computer so much.) A project that can be made in an afternoon. Or an evening. Or a morning.
I purchased a walking foot a while ago which was very useful for this project since you are sewing through a lot of layers. The outside fabric was something I purchased from Leslie back when she had her goodness shop. (Oh, how I miss that shop.)
For the lining fabric, I used an old flannel swaddle blanket. Yep. All three kids were swaddled in that blanket starting with Charlie. Love that.
Can you see the tip of my thumb? I was trying on colors for my toes. It was down to purple or navy. After much thought and consideration (numerous texts to my sister) I went with the blue. It makes me so happy to look at my toes. I think it's true, yoga-ta get this blue!

love. these. things.

This is what showed up in my pan a couple of weeks ago. I know. Don't you love it. Just a little reminder that love really is everywhere.
A few loves to share:
Ali started the one thousand wishes project. All proceeds from the shop will go to the Canadian Red Cross Japan earthquake and tsunami fund. Many thanks to Ali for her wish and hope to collect at least one thousand dollars. I absolutely love this project and the story of the paper cranes.
I listed a pair of toast mitts for sale and I have another pair on the needles to contribute.
For those iphone users. Have you seen this new app? This app is SUPER cool! Design your own hat using whatever yarn you have on hand. Big man head? Small baby head? Super chunky yarn? Super fine yarn? No problem! It has 99 different hat combinations. For $5.99, I think it is quite a deal. Imagine all the personalization you can do! How about designing a bunch of different hats and writing your own pattern book?! Come on. Tap into those passions and dreams. And, don't let anyone tell you you can't, cause you absolutely can! Oh, and for those android users, this app should be available in September.
Blarter. Have something you want? Something someone else may need? Do an exchange. Molly is a serious genius coming up with this idea. I love the idea of exchanging your crafty goods with someone else's. 100% totally useful!

Happy Friday!

on their way

Winners of Knitting over the edge: #50 JMacKnits and #106 KellsShells. Congrats! Please e-mail with your address and the books will be on their way.

Speaking of on their way. Have you been watching the eagles? Amazing. The best reality show, ever!

Have a great one.

knitting over the edge

Over. A whole book on knitting OVER the edge. The second collection of decorative borders by Nicky Epstein.
So many ideas for creative borders. I love how this book is divided into sections. And, all color coded for that section. It really is so pleasing to the eye.
Unique ribs.
All showcased in lovely red and orange and peach.
Cords.
This is probably my favorite section. Such cool cords! I think it would be so cute to make a hat and put a bunch of that cord fringe around it. Oh, except along the front. That might be annoying to have that fringe in your eyes. And, I love those circles.
Appliques.
I've never experimented much with appliques. But this section is so sweet. Heart appliques. Hugs and kisses, flowers, stars. There are so many fantastic ideas in this section. I envision baby girl sweaters with applique over the edge. (Um, yeah. I guess that's the idea.)
Colors.
If you have a fear of color. Fear no more. And there are charts for just about everything. Dogs, cats, hearts, flowers, bunnies, ribbons, butterflies, moons, suns, snowflakes, stars, ducks, fish, animal print!
Nouveau.
Yep. Totally new and different. This section has some really cool and funky borders. Endless possibilities.

I have two of these books to give away. If interested, please leave a comment here by Monday the 11th at 12 p.m. I will have the random generator choose a couple of numbers.

Have a beautiful weekend!

WHOOPS!

Sh*%$#!, S*&$#!, Sh$@%!
I woke up this morning to an email from my new sweet friend, Nigel. I made an error while writing the recipe. I SO apologize to anyone who has already tried them. I have changed it below, however, while adding the 1/2 cup of flour at a time, add 2 cups more. (NOT 1).
Please accept my apology.
Have a great weekend!
xx

smooth and creamy

Nigel. Nigel. Nigel.
My friend, Jennifer, is a flight attendant. Jennifer was working a flight from New York to Venice when her path crossed with Nigel. Nigel boarded the plane with a container full of sugar cookies. Sugar cookies that he baked. (How darn NICE is that!) Jennifer described them as one of the best cookies she has ever tasted. Nigel told her that he has won many awards with those cookies. (How lucky were those flight attendants?!) Nigel emailed Jennifer the recipe.
These are Nigel's Sugar Cookies and his words:
I use three cookie sheets when I bake these cookies. You will also need a glass, about 3" across and completely smooth on the bottom.
Preheat oven to 325˚ ( 350˚ in New Mexico for the elevation.)
Ingredients: (All at room temperature.)
1 stick sweet butter (same as unsalted) (1/2 cup)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
Mix together until very smooth and creamy. Then add:
1/2 cup vegetable oil (I use canola)
Mix together until very smooth and creamy. Then add:
1 large egg
Mix together until very smooth and creamy. Then add:
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Mix together until very smooth and creamy. Then add:
1 tsp vanilla
Mix together until very smooth and creamy.
Now, 1/2 cup all purpose flour in a separate bowl gets added to it:
1 teaspoon baking SODA
1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix together and then add to the butter mixture.
1/2 cup at a time, add another 2 cups of all purpose flour.
All mixed together nice and smooth? Good. {I loved that part. It was like Nigel was talking to me.}
Roll the dough into balls the size of a large grape. {Thinking mine were a bit larger than a large grape.}
I get 12 of these on a cookie sheet.
Here is the secret part: Take the glass and press it into the bowl of dough to put a film of oil on the bottom. Now take the glass and put it in a bowl of granulated sugar. The sugar will cling to the oil and leave a layer of granules on the bottom.
Now use the glass to squish the little balls of dough. This takes some practice. Sometimes each cookie takes two pressings with more sugar added each time.
Bake your first tray for 5 minutes. They are cooked when the edges show the slightest hint of even thinking about the merest possibility of turning brown.
If not cooked after 5 minutes add more cooking time in 30 second intervals.
One tray in the oven. One tray cooling. One tray being prepped. I get an average of 12 dozen cookies out of one batch.

Okay, so I made them. They really are unbelievable. They are thin (wondering if mine could have been even thinner, my glass had a bit of an arch) and crispy and you feel like you could eat a dozen. And of course, my kids LOVED them.

I did email Nigel to ask his permission to share his recipe. Nigel couldn't have been sweeter and funnier. He also did mention that he tweaks this recipe when he enters them in the state fair in order to meet requirements. The cookies have won blue ribbons 6 years in a row in New Mexico and another 2 in New York!
Wow. Thank you, Nigel!

I heard Charlie wake Andrew at 6 am to tell him to hurry and get up, time to find the Easter baskets. Andrew didn't buy it. But, I almost did.
Happy April Fools Day!