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

Falling for Ewe Question of the Week#2 9/16/08

For my swap, question is "What ‘cold weather’ project are you looking forward to making the most this autumn?"

That just could be the most difficult question to answer! Autumn, Fall, Winter, all these are just about some the best times for a knitter, crocheter, spinner, you name it. All you can think of is that fibery warmness. :-)

I have so many projects I want to finish just to be able to enjoy them during all the cold weather that's coming. Let's not begin with all the ones I aspire to start, as well. If I had to pin one project down, that I would love to have done to enjoy, it would have to be the classic of classics, the "Central Park Hoodie".

Need I say more??? Not only is it stylish, and just plain cool, it is perfect to wear during the colder months. I really have been aching to start this one and get it done to wear with honor. I've yet to invest in yarn for it, however I have decided on a color, it would be a real pretty deep brown, a brown with character. I so love the color brown. I haven't decided on a yarn, I know I'd want something soft and durable, just don't know what to use. I do know it has to be brown though, that I am sure of. Anyone suggest any good yarn for the Central Park Hoodie?
Here are some pics of it I found on the web, I just love how this hoodie looks. That green tweed is really giving my brown color a challenge, I love greens too!



Oooh, maybe a brown tweed! OMG, okay I'll have to be on a serious mission to find the perfect brown tweed that is soft and durable..any ideas???

Also, because I just have to share goodies, I got my latest installment from the fabulous Woolgirl's Seven Deadly Spins club, this has gotta to be the winner of the entire club. This is the "Pride" package, full of luscious yarn from The Unique Sheep, the colors are so pretty and Fall'ish. This shawl pattern is so pretty and it really is one I want to make. I just love the goodies that Jenn from Woolgirl puts in. A cute yellow plastic WIP bag, some stitch markers, candies, all sorts of goodies, I'm a sucka for this stuff.

Here it all is....

Falling For Ewe Question of the Week - 9/7/08

For my Swap "Falling For Ewe"

What is your favorite thing about Autumn?

I love the colors, the vibrant hues that contrast so vividly against the hazy days of Fall. I love the smells of the air, the freshness.

I revel in how nature sheds and renews itself. I love the feeling of knowing the holidays are upon us, all the glorious caricatures, scenery's, ornaments. I feel warmth and happiness, like an old friend that visits every year to remind of what really counts, us and nature.

Starting from around August all the way through January, I'm at my most inner happiness, I'm one with nature. I'll walk into a craft store, and I just automatically feel happy seeing all the fall decorations, not to mention all the holiday displays. I can walk into any store and see these things the more we get into Fall.

Fall, Winter, Holidays, Warmth, Nature, are all my time.

Falling For Ewe Swap Q&A

I've joined the "Falling For Ewe Swap" via Ravelry awhile ago. It's just starting off and now I'm ready to go!

Here's my Swap Q&A:

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?
I primarily knit, learning to crochet, but I do Tunisian Crochet, very fun! I first learned to knit in December 2007, never picked up a needle before then. Since then I've made it my mission to become an advanced knitter, and am going to join the TKGA Masters program within the next week, as I feel I'm now at an advanced level.

2. Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do?
I just started spinning, drop spinning, and it's a blast! I'm totally addicted to it.

3. Are there any other crafts that you participate in?
I'm trying to get better at dyeing my own yarn, and trying to learn to write a pattern. I'm also an avid reader. My authors are Stephen King, Dan Brown, Anne Rice, I like period pieces, documentaries, mystery, ghost stories, horror, primarily. I'm a huge Martha Stewart fan, and apart from knitting I do a ton of different crafts, from making my own wreaths, foliage, decorations, paintings, cards, etc. I also love to cook and bake. My favorite chefs are Giada DeLaurentis, Alton Brown, Ina Garten, Rachel Ray, & Martha Stewart.

4. What are your favorite yarns/fibers?
I love Alpaca, Wollmeise, Malabrigo, Cashmere, Cotton, and Linen. I'm a Yarn Snob, so I only buy quality yarn, no yarn from Michael's or Joann's is what I mean.

5. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers?
Scratchy wool, or anything rough. Not too too big on novelty yarns, though I do have some in my stash. Cheap yarn.

6. Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven’t gotten a chance?
Malabrigo Sock Yarn mainly, I'm pretty good at getting the yarn I want.

7. What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet?
Knitting, Spinning, Dyeing, Tunisian Crochet..... Amigurumi Crochet might make the list soon.

8. What are you currently working on? Anything you plan to start this autumn?
I'm working on too many things. I'm in Sock Wars III (still alive), 4 Yarnsmackdown events, Ravelympics, Secret of the Stole III, Mystery Stole 4, Tech Square Afghan -Along, Knitting Niners Scarf Knit Along, Firestarter KAL, Day of the Dead Swap, Knitters Treasure Swap, too many but all fun. I plan to start the Central Park Hoodie, and a bunch of patterns from Twist Collective (I LOVE TWIST).

9. What is your favorite FO? (Please, post a picture if you would like.)
My fave is the "Basketweave" Scarf because it's my very first Scarf and my very first knitting project. After learning the basic Knit & Purl stitches back on 12/15/07, I started this scarf. I finished by end of December 2007, and I was just so proud of it. It's hard to see the basketweave design from the picture, but it is really pretty. and it's super warm & soft. There's actually two different patterns to it, one side looks just like a basketweave the other looks somewhat similar but with figure 8 going down the middle. It's hard to explain how the pattern looks, but I just love it.


10. What is your oldest UFO?
My Tunisian Crochet Stashbuster Blanket 8-) I love this UFO, but just have got severly sidetracked with many other projects. When I pick this back up, I'll probably finish in about a week, I'm that close to the end!


11. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn?
I want to become good at crocheting, and am teaching myself slowly right now. Mainly I want to learn crochet so that I can embellish my knitting.

12. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Am I a sock knitter.....uhhh.. I've knitted so many pairs of socks in these past few months, Yes I'm a Sock Knitter 8-). I knit on 2 socks at a time on 2 circulars, it's really the best method, better than magic loop, although with 2 circs you are doing some magic loop, but having the 2 circs keeps things easier. I have small feet, US 5.

13. Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?
I have both, and will soon try to add a Yarn Meter to my Fiber Studio.

14. Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks?
I keep most my needles in my Jordana bag, this is the bag that came with the actual Bella bag I bought. Although I have a sewing machine and will work on putting together a custom bag to store all my needles.

15. Do you collect anything?
I like Archeology, the Egyptian period, Lions, Antiques, Antique Knitting Magazines, Antique Knitting. Historical items.

16. What is your favorite type of music? Are you MP3 ready?
John Mayer, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fleetwood Mac, 80's music, Bon Jovi, Tom Petty, my music taste is very broad. I have a Sirius S50 that I can put MP3's on, but don't I'm not someone who walks around with an MP3 player. I usually listen to music in my car or at home, that's about it.

17. Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?
I like Rocky Road, Peanut Butter Cookies, Holiday Cookies.

18. What is your living situation like? Any pets? Children?
I'm married, my hubby and I are the same age, separated by about 5 months, and we have 2 children, Lbug 15yrs. old, and Pops 12.5 yrs. old. We have a 3 year old Golden Retriever, Rosie, and a ???yr. old Grey/White Tabby Cat, Gracy. We live in San Jose, CA.

19. Are you allergic to anything?
Nope.

20. Do you have an online wish list (Amazon, Etsy, Loopy Ewe, etc.)? Please include links for your swap pal.
My Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/ref=gno_listpop_wi
My Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5761518 (there's not much in it right now)

21. Are you having a birthday during this swap?
No, I just had a birthday on 8/11/08.

22. What is your Ravelry ID?
It is RockyMoreno.