ruby crowned kinglette

today, breakfast is the reward

i made two pots of soup and some bread yesterday... i should cook more often because it is so relaxing, for me.  i know some people don't feel that way, but to be in my kitchen, alone, making food, i just don't think about all the things i should be doing, or that i have let slip, or wished i didn't do.  i don't realize when i am in the throes of measuring and grabbing ingredients that i am not worried about life, it is when i am done that i am conscious i have had a reprieve.  i discovered this when i was in design school, when things would get tedious, or frustrating or just plain hard, i would push my chair back and go into the kitchen and make cookies.  the next day everyone in class would get them. at least then there were others to benefit from my distraction but it also meant that i didn't eat every cookie. that isn't exactly the case any longer; i mean, i still bake, but i also end up eating the results, all of the results.  that is why weight watchers and i are on a first name basis.... kinda.

so anyway... this is the bread i made.  i love making bread. love it.  the hands on, pushing back and pulling forward of the sticky dough, flouring just a bit every time it begins to get tacky, being careful not to add too much but always wondering...  this particular dough was so pretty even right out of the bowl. it was glorious by the time i was done; smooth, soft and squishy - in the way only bread dough can be.  makes me damn near tear up just thinking about it...

the recipe is from 'america's test kitchen's' baking illustrated. it has milk, sugar and eggs in the dough, so it is somewhat sweeter and richer than a plain white bread, but not too much.  and, there is not a lot of sugar-cinnamon in the swirl; although i love, love, love a sticky sweet cinnamon roll, this isn't like that and is quite perfect for this bread.

 

and yes, it was delicious too, is delicious - i haven't eaten it all..... yet.

wow, even the pig thinks i am not living up to my full potential...

this is going to be a very long year.

sister goes to mexico; i go to the pit

i made this for sister s, who is in the air as i write, on the way to 95 degrees and a beach.  she wanted something that was big enough for her stuff while there, and bright enough to be fun.  so we dug through my hundreds of pounds of fabrics and came up with this.  it is lined with blue and white stripes and had a pocket inside big enough for a passport. she will put it to the test and let me know how it works, because she wants more... always good to have a buyer in the family.

it also has a red zipper because, well, it looked festive that way.

regarding the week long break i took from blogging? didn't exactly mean to, but i got busy, and lazy and wasn't doing much in the way of craft, and then it was gray outside... then, the computer took a break, really kind of broke, so i trotted down to the apple store with machine under my arm and wondered why it wouldn't turn on... after some frustration, and a little money i left it with them and they fixed it.  if i hadn't spent a little money they would still have it... funny how even under warranty if i spend just a little more i can get fixed what should have worked in the first place.... i love apple, i hate apple, i really don't care for those arrogant geeks that prance around the store... but, i digress.

so, i am back. and the sun is shining and spring is very, very close at hand.  all that means i am getting excited to get some things moving around here, including some piggies.  drawing class last night was the last. we did self portraits. yikes! i am going to sign up for the next one with the same instructor beginning in april, and practice until then.  maybe i can get my eyes to look more like me and less like nancy mckeon... we shall see.

what if we had a paperless society?

well, it would be tragic.... that's what i think.

yesterday's mail had some very nice paper products in it.  first, there was a valentine card from debbie, who is the absolute best at sending cards to her friends.  i am the absolute worst, hands down, period. the worst. second was a little candy package from bethany, with a pretty glitter card.  i was walking out of the house last night on my way to drawing class, thinking to myself... 'i want some candy' and, voila!... there it was, waiting for me from bitter b herself. it was perfect.  then... some postcards i ordered.  i decided to test run an order to see if i would like the idea of a postcard.  well, i would have liked it a lot better if i had sent them the correct instructions.  the text on the back is upside down... so i consider it a bust in that regard, but otherwise i kind of like it.  i used one of my photos from risa's tea party. 

and then finally...

i got my moo cards!  there are more over here. i like them quite a bit; they are almost like little candies.

cupid of the sea

alice asked that i help her with a test run of her octopus stuffie she will be offering for sale in the very near future(girl).  i said heck yes... so did rose.  it is a great pattern, and very alice in that it is quite detailed and full of information.  i didn't have any sequins so my octopus has teeny tiny suckers.

you may think this little pinkie is familiar? well, then you would be right. he is the cousin of octophrost, santa of the sea, that wonderful ornament alice made me in the great ornament swap of 2006. 

this one? his name is...
octolove, cupid of the sea.

he even has a tattoo.

happy valentines day.... all you sea loving creatures, and thank you alice for a wonderful opportunity to help you out...

yet another drawing...

i don't intend for this to become a drawing blog... but that's all i got lately.  you can thank whatever god you pray to that i am not taking bellydancing classes....

any more this week will be here, unless they are so freaking great i have to put them here on the main page... could happen.

alice?

spring is coming

but it isn't yet here... until then i will be drawing hothouse flowers.  class was good, i drew three daffodils while there, and the one up there this morning...  will keep at the flowers all week, and continue with the puppy too.

fresh out of the oven

these little numbers are tasty.  they were on the cover of bon appetit last march and i made them then... they came out as pretty as the picture that first time, this time the dough was really really wet so i couldn't roll them out.  i added a bit more flour and then just dropped them onto the cookie sheet. worked like a charm.  i didn't have any chipotles so i left those out this time.  however, if you are in the same boat, add a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper or so to the dry ingredients to give them a little kick. you can download the recipe from epicurious.com right here....  remember, mixing too much will be the certain death of a good biscuit.

 

CORNMEAL BISCUITS WITH CHEDDAR AND CHIPOTLE

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3/4 cup (packed) chopped green onions

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated yellow extra-sharp cheddar cheese
1 large egg
3/4 cup (about) buttermilk
1 tablespoon finely minced canned chipotle chiles in adobo*

1 egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon whipping cream (for glaze)

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 425°F. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add green onions and sauté 2 minutes to soften slightly. Remove from heat.

Blend flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in processor. Add 1/2 cup chilled butter; cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add cheese; cut in using on/off turns. Transfer flour mixture to large bowl. Whisk 1 egg in glass measuring cup. Add enough buttermilk to egg to measure 1 cup; stir in green-onion mixture and chipotles. Make well in center of dry ingredients. Pour buttermilk mixture into well; mix just until evenly moistened.

Turn dough out onto generously floured surface. Knead gently just until dough holds together, about 10 turns. Pat out on generously floured surface to 3/4-inch-thick round. Using 3-inch round cutter, cut out biscuits. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet, spacing 1 inch apart. Gather dough scraps; pat out to 3/4-inch thickness and cut out additional biscuits. Brush biscuits with egg glaze.

Bake biscuits until golden, tester inserted into center comes out clean, and biscuits feel firm, about 18 minutes. Cool on rack 5 minutes. Serve warm.

*Available at some supermarkets, specialty foods stores, and Latin markets.

Makes about 10
Bon Appétit
March 2006
Kristine Kidd
 

oh yeah, drawing class tonight.  we are instructed to bring a daffodil (or several).  and, today i made a tote bag for my drawing pads... it's official now, i am an artist.....

oh funny, funny girl.

 

i am a reader now too... what the hell?

i have read three four books in the last month...three four! that might just be a record.  and, apparently i can draw, so, so surprising to me.  if someone tells me i have a nice singing voice i will finally understand and realize that the world is coming to an end...

until then, i am going to make stuff...  because there are million other things i should be doing i was downstairs in the pit studio making bookmarks.  this is just one.  check my etsy shop if you are interested, but not until a bit later.  mom and i are going to the symphony this afternoon and i need to scoot.

more questions for the ages...

• who's thinks animating mucus is the least bit appealing? WHO?*

• am i the only one who thinks antonio banderas is the voice of the bee in the nasonex commercial?**

• and not least of them... am i watching too much broadcast television?***

 

 

 

 

*apparently someone other than myself.

**apparently not...

***apparently.