by Kat | Jan 18, 2018 | General, Words
This week I am doing my take on Bonny’s post from last week and that eternally dreaded question: “What’s for dinner” …
That question is the equivalent to nails on the chalkboard for me.
But, sometimes all you need is a bit of inspiration!
Inspiration One:
I pulled from my blog annals the recipe for Sichuan Pork Noodles from The Splendid Table. I want to tell you all how easy and good this meal is, and it is equally good with ground turkey. It makes a hearty amount, so if there is just two of you, there will be leftovers! Add a bit of the noodle water to the leftovers and it reheats beautifully!
Inspiration Two:
Vicki shared an Instant Pot recipe for Lentil Soup. I made it yesterday and wow! It is super easy and good! And, if you are making this in the Instant Pot, in less than 30 minutes you have dinner on the table! Changes I made: I only had French green lentils (Le Puy Lentils) in the house, so next time I would reduce the Instant Pot cooking time as these lentils need less cooking time. No spinach in the house either, but I did have frozen asparagus. I cut the spears up and added them in after the cooking time was done, covered and waited for them to warm through. You could make this soup on the stovetop easily and in about an hour. This soup was a big winner and will be in the rotation again this winter!
Inspiration Three:
Pizza! I make a pizza dough from a recipe from Peter Reinhart’s free Craftsy class that is really very good. But, you need to think in advance to make it, which is not always plausible in my household. However, TJ’s to the rescue. They have these WONDERFUL pizza crusts that come 2 in a package. Brush them with olive oil, toast them in the oven for a few minutes, top them with your favorite toppings from traditional to not so traditional. We love them topped with pulled pork, barbeque sauce, a bit of cheese, and sliced jalapenos. They are so good with anything you top them with and so easy!
Want to see what other things people are talking about? Head over to Carole’s to find more!
by Kat | Jan 17, 2018 | General, Unraveled Wednesday
Greetings Unravelers!
It has been quite the week here with the continuation of cold and snowy weather. I might almost think I am back in Michigan!
Fortunately, all this cold makes it easy to knit sweaters! And, knit I have! I am moving along nicely with my Stopover. Sleeve one is well underway (and much farther than the above image shows) and sleeve two will be soon to follow!
Add to all this much improved reading this past week and you have the makings of a practically perfect week!
I finished The Last Tudor, and gave it 4-stars.
I started listening to The Orphan’s Tale and I am about half way through. So far, it is wonderful!
I am reading Lie With Me, which I got an ARC from Netgalley. So far, I am finding it very hard to connect the dots in the story, but I am hoping that clears up soon!
I have some very good things coming up:
Louise Penny’s A Trick of the Light and Imbolo Mbue’s Behold the Dreamers!
What are you making and reading this week? Please leave your link if you are participating today!
Thank you!
by Kat | Jan 16, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
This quote is the January inspiration from The Balanced Life and it is speaking volumes to me each day. I have included it in my morning mediation and it has been a wonderful help in homing in on that which improves my one “wild and precious life”!
This year, I have not made “resolutions” nor have I set any “intentions”. I did not spend time thinking about any little words to choose for the year. But, rather this year I have decided to move forward with those things that worked well last year with hopes of improving them even more this year. Those things include healthy food and activity, inspiring creativity in myself and others, and giving more – especially my time.
So, with these things in mind, here is my “right now”:
Queueing Up: as many healthy Instant Pot recipes that I can for these cold winter days. I have started a board on Pinterest, and last night began day one of our “Instant Pot” suppers. I am always wowed by how easy the Instant Pot is, seriously. In less than 30 minutes start to finish dinner was ready! I would like to get to the point where I don’t need a “recipe” and feel comfortable using the Instant Pot for a variety of meals. Vicki shared a link yesterday, and I will be making it later this week. I will let you know what I think! Last nights supper was super easy: Boneless pork loin chops, frozen diced red peppers from last summer, 1 diced onion, a bit of salt and pepper, half a cup of water and half a jar of salsa. I served this on warm cannellini beans and topped with a diced jalapeno. It was so good, and the pork chops were so tender and moist!
Stitching: For a much longer time each day. I have already filled about half of my fabric and I am really happy with how Winter is progressing. I am using the books Margene sent to me to help me learn new stitch patterns and I have been enjoying practicing the new things I am learning over the course of several days. I have also been planning how to put together last years stitching, and I think I am ready to begin that process! Then I just need to figure out what I want to use for backing!
Procrastinating: Yes, this is still a problem in my life, but I am working on it! I want to participate in Beth’s Weave Along, but I have yet to wind my warp. I am procrastinating because the thoughts of warping the loom are more than a bit daunting. I am not sure I remember exactly how to do it. However, I have queued up a Craftsy class with hopes that it will jog my memory and spur me to get this done!
Selecting: Yarn from my stash to knit Kirsten Kapur’s mystery socks in February. I am also wondering why I can manage to finish mystery socks, but non-mystery socks remain in the unfinished category. Perhaps, non-mystery socks need to go in the procrastinating category! Ha!
Moving: Several times a week I have been doing this HIIT workout that Robin sent out; it is HARD but I feel so good when I am done! This has been super helpful in these bitterly cold days when getting outside at all is a challenge!
There you have my life currently, what are you up to?
P.S. A big thanks to Gale for her photo inspiration!
by Kat | Jan 15, 2018 | General, In This Moment
Or Hello from Pittsburgh in January!
In less than 24 hours we went from temps in the 70’s. Seriously, it was 72 here on Friday and we got over two inches of rain which then changed over to snow with temps in the teens on Saturday. My back yard is now a snow-covered ice rink! All that standing water from all that rain froze solid overnight.
Weekend bonus? All that cold weather meant that Treysta got lots of wear time! And, while I did not make my “goal” and start on sleeves on my Stopover, the body is almost done. And with this cold weather hanging around here for much of the week I have plenty of incentive to keep knitting and get those sleeves done pronto!
I spent some time this weekend playing with the Ravelry Project Challenge, which I think pairs well with my #MakeNine2018 goals. I have set a goal of 18 projects which is very wishful thinking! But, as in all things: if you don’t set goals – you achieve nothing! Like my Goodreads challenges, I never imagined I could do it until I did!
I also did some reading this weekend in a Net Galley book, but I keep having to go back to re-read parts because I feel like I am missing something. I am not too far in, so I hope this will sort itself out shortly!
On tap for today? Line up a bunch of Instant Pot recipes to make meal planning easier this week. (and to perhaps avoid that dreaded question of “what’s for dinner”)
I hope your Monday is warm and easy!
by Kat | Jan 12, 2018 | General
Despite temps that reached the 70’s with the sun out yesterday, Treysta got her debut yesterday and, oh my, I just LOVE her!
Hindsight in knitting, I should have gone down once size I think, but it fits and is incredibly comfortable! Treysta is a well-written pattern with excellent directions on yarn dominance and how to carry three colors in the few rows where three colors are worked at the same time.
I did some minor modifications to the pattern: no ribbing at the cuffs or at the bottom of the sweater, but rather I did the rolled edge like the neckline and the fit is much better. I did 4 rows of stockinette with a smaller needle on the sleeves and 6 rows with the same size needle on the bottom hem. No other changes were made at all. This is my first FO of 2018 and I could not be happier with it. My love of Lettlopi grows, it absolutely knits into the most wonderful fabric!
My sweater knitting is not yet over and I am cruising along on my Stopover! I am through the waist shaping and will likely start the sleeves this weekend. I had forgotten what a quick knit this is and this will easily be done this month!
Now, how about some links!
I Knit New York has some fantastic knits in it! And, if you head over to those crazy girls at Mason Dixon, Jane Jacobs is free for a limited time!
JumperCables released Mock Rib Cowl which is on sale right now!
Mary and Vicki are leading a little KAL with the Parallelogram Scarf and there is still time to join in!
This January thaw is nice, but I promise that winter is far from over…Narwhal and Fossil (and the pattern is free!)
BT Winter 18 has some lovely knits!
And, finally, a pattern I have been stalking all week! September House by Kirsten Kapur. I really love it!
Have an amazing weekend stay warm and dry! See you back here on Monday!
