Green Dilly Beans

Oh Happy Day

With my birthday, Thanksgiving, and final exams soon to come, I got a package from Heather in the mail! 

The goods: A Rhinebeck skein of Jamie Harmon's 2 ply merino-angora blend, a bar of soap, and a bar of chocolate, a Mo's Bacon Bar to be exact.  Yep, that's a milk chocolate bar with bacon and smoked sea salt.  For any naysayers out there, just imagine the beautiful combination of maple syrup and bacon.  From there it's not a such a big stretch to arrive at bacon and chocolate.  I opened the box with the best intentions to share with friends and family for Thanksgiving.  Alas, all that generosity was quickly washed into my gullet with help from a glass of milk.  Sigh, guess I'll just have to buy another bar (or two, or three).  Read on if you still have doubts.  Who knew there were so many candy blogs out there?  Now that I think about it, I bet that's what people say about knitting blogs. 

The soap is equally appealing, it just lost out in to the chocolate in a battle with my rumbling stomach.  I'm not sure what flavor soap it is, but it is lovely, I assure you.  There is actually a free soap with purchase and blog link offer, so take advantage if you are so inclined. 

Every detail of the package was delightful.  Heather, where did you get your address labels?

         

After eying up the rainbow yarn at Rhinebeck year after year, Heather has officially indoctrinated me into the cult ofJamie Harmon.  I wasted no time casting on for My So Called Scarf.   Yes, that is a puddle of yarn you see.  I couldn't wait to find out what the next candy striping color combo would be.

For the record, pink and blue are on deck. 

Coincidentally, in my own package posting, I'll be sending off jam to Melissa and Heather following the Thanksgiving holiday. 

UPDATE: As proof of the excitement generated by this package, I once again found myself at a loss for my house keys.  Apparently, I was so eager to open my mail that I left my keys in the mailbox lock.  I spent a good amount of time looking for them, but never thought to step outside the apartment in my search.  Thankfully, one of my neighbors tucked them in a pair shoes left outside my door along with a note explaining their provenance. 

Also, I just noticed a small sticker on the Mo's Bacon Bar box.  It reads, "Best if Enjoyed By 1/8/08."  Heh, no worries there.  I'm very amused at the thought that it could have lasted until January. 

Covered

My ears are happy now that my shorn head has a hat to keep it warm.  I squeaked by using just one skein of Cascade from my stash. 

Gretel was knit over the course of a weekend trip to NYC.  Nothing like a whirlwind 36 hour visit to free lots of knitting time in the airport.  More pictures and details can be found on Ravelry.

I would if I could but I can't

If time and money were of no importance, this is where I'd be on Monday night. 

Alas, I'm not really in a position to jet off to NYC for a lecture.  In the spirit of vicarious living, I hope that some of you can make it!

PS Check out this recent spinning article from the Strib.  The accompanying video provides a fleecy fix for anyone experiencing post-Rhinebeck sheep syndrome. 

Bread and Jam for Frances

While I'm not at all ready to join Frances in her "What I am is sick of jam" refrain, my last post made me realize what a wealth of jam I am sitting on.  I'm not ready to fully disclose the extent of my jam stash, but I am ready to share some of the love.  Tell me why you'd like a jar o' jam and I'll randomly pick three winners from the bunch.  Respond by this Saturday the 10th and I'll select and send by next Monday, the 12th.   

PS Proof that there is indeed knitting content on this so-called knitting blog, I thought I'd point out that there are knits to be found on a blog called Bread and Jam for Frances.  Great name, great taste! 

Bun in the Oven - My Sister's, Not Mine

I have been obsessing thinking about scotch eggs since my visit to the State Fair in September.  Melissa, Heather, and I exchanged countless e-mails on the topic.  Turns out you can get scotch eggs in Brooklyn, but nothing turned up in my MN scotch egg hunt.  I would just have to make my own.  What better occasion to make scotch eggs than a baby shower?  At least that's what my sister and I decided when planning the menu for her grand soirée. 

Members of my paternal and maternal family lines descended on Minneapolis this weekend to attend the baby shower I hosted for my sister.  True to family form, what we lacked in frilly baby games and party favors, we more than made up for in sheer volume and quality of food.  Here's what was on the menu:

• Leipaa accessorized with butter, six kinds of homemade jam, and Thill's smoked whitefish and lake trout
• Pickled Delights: dilly beans, quail eggs, herring, and cucumbers - all but the herring pickled by my dad
  
• Tomato Tarts - two kinds - one with gouda and dijon mustard, the other with mozzarella and pesto
• Torta di Riso e Spinaci found on the Accidental Hedonist
• Fresh fruit - sliced persimmons, pears, and apples
• Smoked Sausage, Butternut Squash and Wild Rice Soup
• Mashed Banana Cupcakes, my great-grandma's recipe
• Venison cudighi courtesy of my dad
• Mrs. Alasimi's Pulla
• And last, but not least, scotch eggs.   

They are really quite easy to make.  We used quail eggs from my hometown's local food co-op, which made golf ball-sized bites after the venison sausage wrapping.  A standard chicken egg could end up quite big, but that's not necessarily a bad thing!  The quail eggs are sold to the coop through a high school biology project at Engadine High School.  We used quail eggs that my dad pickled, which added a great brininess to the warm sausage and egg combo. 

The jam selection should not be overshadowed by my scotch egg fixation.  My dad brought six (6!) diffferent kinds of homemade jam and preserves to the party.

Foreground L to R: Ginger Pear Honey, Blackberry Jam, Pear Butter

Background L to R: Apple Butter, Thimbleberry Jam, and Strawberry Jam

In the wake of the party, I am eating very well this week.  Even after sending my sister home with a cooler full of food, I have enough food for another feast.  Last night I used leftover roma tomatoes and crumbled leftover cudighi to make a tomato sauce.  I have it squirreled away in the freezer to eat with polenta during the cold winter months!