Were almost there

It seems like these weeks are flying by faster than I can catch up. So many changes, so many things to deal with nowadays.

As I've posted prior, my job has not be one that I've enjoyed, in most aspects. Anyways, I found my own inner peace and ways to enjoy myself and feel like I'm making progress. All that I've preached to my kids about making your environment enjoyable is actually paying off. I can also attribute my enjoyment to a co-worker who works with me, she's pretty cool, and we get along great. Were both very strong willed and both have a desire to make things work. I'm thankful she's there, it's definitely a nicer environment.

As for other things, my kids are just getting bigger and bigger. My daughter still wants to Trick'o Treat, she's 15yrs., but we have no kids to Trick'o Treat with, so she's kind of bummed. My son isn't interested, but more so because he has braces and candy isn't an option for him, plus he's a total health freak, literally, counts calories, saturated fats, etc.

Last time this year, I was working at my job of 7 years, I was living in the Central Valley in a brand new 3000 sq. foot home on a 13,000 sq. foot lot, 3 bath, 5 bedrooms, 3 car garage, on a half court, next door to my cousin, who is like my brother, commuting to work daily from Newman to San Jose to Palo Alto. This was my life then, now I'm back in San Jose, commuting about 25 minutes to work, sometimes less, living in a house, 4 bedroom, 3 bath, decent lot, probably about 7000-8000 sq. foot, renting it, and working at a new company, that I'm trying to grow into. What a difference time makes, huh?

These weeks, so fast, it's amazing. Halloween is just around the corner, and I can already feel Thanksgiving. This is my favorite time of the year, and sometimes I wish things would just slow down so I can really take in the season. I love the gloominess that comes, the misty mornings, the mornings you just want to have a nice warm cup of coffee or chai tea in bed, just relaxing and enjoying what nature has to offer. So, if your wondering what got me in this mood, it was, no joking around, the new Yarn Pirate colorway from the Booty Club I just received, "Smoke Rings". This color is so pretty and just emanates this time of year, the gloomy mornings, and smells of mist in the air. The name itself is cool, I love the names that the dyers come up with. They'd probably admit that it's actually very hard to come up with a name, and I believe them. What little dyeing I've done, and colors I've come out with, it's just a very hard thing to do, come up with a name. I'm working on really getting my dyeing going, to try and have a small customer base who would be interested in my hand-dyed yarn, so I pay attention to the names alot.

Just check this out, so soft and cool:



Look at this dye job, Yarn Pirate has such an awesome talent! I just admire her work, it is a very skillful thing to be able to have a dye lot come out like this:



There's no bleeding, the color changes blend so nicely:



**Drool!**

Real quick, but I leave yah.. hopefully drooling like me *-), I joined yet another Traveling Scarves group, #42 Tweeds! It's as you guessed, all about Tweeds! I love Tweeds, and as I said in my prior post, I'll be going with Tweed yarn for my Central Park Hoodie, and now I'll have a scarf to match it. I don't have any pics yet of my seedlet section, so keep on eye out.

Were almost to Friday folks 8) Enjoy!

Falling for Ewe Question of the Week #3 9-25-08

For my swap, Question of the Week #3:

What meals or foods mean Fall to you?



Since Fall is such a happy time for me spiritually, it is also one of the best times to show off real good home cooking. I'm not big on eating out, my family and I do eat out, or eat in, but I really work at making a fresh meal for my family nightly. I really love to cook and really care about the quality, presentation, and tastefulness of the food I cook. All I want from someone I serve is for them to enjoy the meal.

It's pretty funny, I'm a very strong willed person, but for things such as cooking, I'm utterly and completely at the mercy of my guests and family. I know it sounds weird, but my cooking and results mean so much to me, I'm always looking for facial expressions to see if the person is enjoying the food I made. Did I mention I was neurotic???

Well, besides being neurotic, I'm the same way when it comes to actually prepping my food, whether it's for a meal, appetizer, or baking. I use only the best quality products and freshest products available. I have a few favorite "Fall" Recipes, that I only make between October and November yearly.

The first, and my family's favorite, is Cranberry-Pumpkin Bread. I came across this recipe a long time ago, it was given away by a restaurant owner in New York. After about 2 yrs. making the recipe, I added my own secret ingredients to it, but all I can say is it is the most yummy and sweet & tart bread you'll eat. You make it with fresh Cranberries, Pumpkin, and Walnuts. The walnuts are optional. I'll share the foundation recipe with you, it is just scrumptious, if you ever get the chance to make it, I'm sure it will be a fave for you. Please keep in mind that the recipe makes a rather large quantity of bread, with one full batch I can usually divide the batter evenly to 4 standard sized bread pans. I love it warm, and fresh!

Here is the foundation recipe, which can also be found on FoodTV's website.


Ingredients

* 4 eggs
* 2 cups pumpkin puree
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 4 cups sugar
* 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 tablespoons pumpkin pie spice
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 4 cups cranberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In bowl combine eggs, pumpkin puree and oil. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add cranberries and mix well. Divide dough into 2 (8 by 4-inch) loaf pans. Bake for 50 minutes.


Besides the yummy bread, others I make specifically in the Fall are:

*Pozole - A Mexican style soup. I make it as healthy as I can using boneless-skinless chicken breast, cubed, my own homemade chili-sauce (I make this in huge quantities during Tamale season and freeze it, it will as forever in the freezer), fresh chicken stock, hominy, cumin, mexican oregano, many other spices.

*Sarma - I was introduced to this food by my husband's Mother. She made it one day, and I was very hesitant to try it, but once I did, I just loved it. It is basically very lean ground beef, flavored heavily with mint, salt, pepper, seasonings, finely chopped bell pepper, onion, etc. You mix up the meat thoroughly with the ingredients, then take cleaned, stemmed whole grape leaves, and put some meat in them, roll into an eggroll shape, layer in an oven pan, pour some chicken stock over them, with some tomato paste, cook in oven until meat is no longer pink. Serve with homemade Rice Pilaf, no boxes! This is an absolute delicious dish, and great for your body!

So those are a few that I like and make seasonly. Now how can I leave you without sharing another yummy treat, hmmm.. fresh new yarn! Even better, from my Yarn Pirate Booty Club installment.

It's as if this yarn was waiting for this post because it fits the "Fall" theme to a *T* 8)
Yarn is Superwash Merino in colorway "Hard Cider"
Have a good weekend everyone!
~Rocky