by Kat | Oct 20, 2016 | General, Words
Welcome to Think Write Thursday!
This week Carole and I are eager for you to Tell Us About the Best Breakfast You Ever Had:
If you asked me, I would absolutely say I am not a “breakfast eater” my usual for a major portion of my adult life has just been coffee.
That being said, I have had some stellar breakfasts in my life.
While my mother could not be classified as a cook at all. I simply loved those mornings when she made CoCo Wheats. What child would not like chocolate for breakfast, right? If she asked what I wanted, it was always my first choice!
As an adult I remember going out for breakfast on a weekend morning and having the best omelets at the Elbow Room (sadly, no longer there) in Saugatuck. They were so good, just packed full of such good things, each and every one of them!
I also have fond memories of incredibly different breakfasts in other countries – my favorites were in Scotland where I learned that I simply love steel-cut oats. This is a hearty, stick-with-you breakfast that I have long tried to replicate. I think I come close with my oven roasted version, but replicating the ambiance that is Scotland…Yeah, that is not so easy to do!
However, I think my absolute favorite breakfast is this; My Great-Aunt Marian’s Baked Pancake. The first time I had this I was about 6 or 7 years old when we went to Lansing, Illinois to visit Aunt Marion and her husband, Uncle Fred. She made Baked Pancake for breakfast and it was so elegant and beautiful – topped with powdered sugar and freshly sliced strawberries. This was unlike anything I had ever had before. It was so puffy and custard-y and buttery. It seemed to just melt in my mouth. In my child’s mind, my Aunt Marion seemed to be magical, creating such an incredible breakfast.
After that, my most requested breakfast was Aunt Marian’s Baked Pancake – but none were ever the same as hers.
I have made Baked Pancake a number of times in my life and each time I fondly remembered that very first time in my Aunt Marion’s simple home. For me, food is an incredible tie to the roots of my family and sadly I have not made Baked Pancake nor thought about Aunt Marian in a very long time.
Perhaps it is time to dust off my recipe and make Baked Pancake again soon – in fond and loving memory of Aunt Marian.
P.S. Are you ready to take the plunge and write creatively on Thursdays? Sign up now and join us!
by Kat | Oct 19, 2016 | General, Making
There has not been a lot of knitting around here this week. However, there has been a good deal of knitting anticipation.
Like this, and this. Knitting ennui has been vanquished!
But, I hope to have the Honey Cowl done later today. I only have about an inch more to knit, so that is entirely doable!
There has been a good deal of reading though, thanks to Audiobooks and a bit of insomnia.
I finished listening to Clara read Knitlandia and I really enjoyed it in this format!
I began listening to The Girl on the Train, I am not yet sure how I feel about this book as I just began yesterday.
I finished The Murder of Harriet Krohn by Karin Fossum. (I am not reading these in order, which I may come to regret) It was a curious way to write a murder mystery. I won’t say more as to not share any spoilers, but I am not sure I really liked the manner in which the story unfolded.
Last night, I began reading He Who Fears the Wolf by the same author. I think that I will like this book a bit more than Harriet Krohn.
I have not gotten much farther in The Year of Living Danishly as I haven’t had any time to sit down to read during the day at all. I hope to correct that before this week is over. I need to get it finished, because it is due back to the library (always a good incentive to sit down and read!)
Do you have any “must finish” books this week?
by Kat | Oct 18, 2016 | General
One recipe that really grabbed my attention when I read Ruth’s book this past summer, was a recipe for an apple cider braised pork roast.
Ruth calls for a big bone in pork shoulder roast – and a recipe that feeds 6-8 people.
Now, for a household of two this might not be the best choice, however a pork tenderloin would be just about right!
Now to adjust the recipe to work for such a small cut of meat.
Serves: 2 with leftovers!
- 1 pork tenderloin
- 1 onion, halved and then sliced in slivers
- 2 to 3 cloves of garlic, sliced into slivers to insert into the pork
- Salt and Pepper
- 1/2 cup Hard Cider (I used Angry Orchard)
- 1-ounce Crown Royal Maple Whisky™
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
This is finished in the oven after browning the meat on the stove top, so I used my Staub™ all purpose pan.
Preheat the oven to 375° F.
Cut several slits in the pork loin and insert the garlic slivers. Salt and pepper the meat on all sides
Place the pan on the stove over medium high heat. When the pan is hot, add the olive oil and the pork loin. Brown the meat on all sides and remove from the pan. Add the onion to the pan and sauté to soften a few minutes. Add the cider and the whisky stirring to loosen the fond from the bottom of the pan. Add back the pork loins, cover and place in the oven.
Cook approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the pork has reached an internal temperature of 145° F.
(Cook’s note, in the last 15 minutes of cooking I added about a cup of halved Brussels Sprouts.)
I served this with a nice big dollop of oven roasted applesauce and it was fantastic! The meal and the applesauce! I had about 8 lbs of apples. I used minimal sugar and butter (1 1/2 tsp and 2 tbsp butter) and it turned out fantastically! I finished it with 2 tsp of apple cider vinegar.
I highly recommend both recipes!
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by Kat | Oct 17, 2016 | General, In This Moment
Today, I just want to go back in time.
Back to when we were on vacation.
Or at least back to Friday and the start of the weekend. Especially since yesterday was a day of Mary Poppins weather – you know the kind, Practically perfect in every way!
It all just went too fast and this week is full of so many fun-less (un-fun?) things it is looming with a huge UGH.
Someone is making noises that we will need to turn on the AC this week to which I will declare all-out war, and I have no intention of losing! No more AC in 2016. Period! Ha!!
On a calmer note. There was some knitting time this weekend, but no finish on the Honey Cowl. I have about 7 inches (of 11) done. To be continued. (Good thing Sunday was so nice that I did not even miss a cowl!)
This begins the “get my ass in gear and finish the painting in this freaking house” week (okay maybe month, but really – I want it all done BEFORE Christmas explodes in this house!)
And, this is just the tip of my iceberg. Can someone please just hit the rewind button??
How’s your week looking?
by Kat | Oct 14, 2016 | General
I have it bad.
Dissatisfaction? Yep.
Discontent from a lack of interest? Bingo.
I have got ennui in spades.
I am going to attempt to reverse this trend with Thing One, pictured above.
Joy? Oh, yes!
Enthusiasm? Absolutely!
I am so excited about this Honey of a cowl that I want it done yesterday and really I have plans to wear this on Sunday!
The knitting clock is ticking!!
Now, on to the Friday Linkage!
Mary Jane Mucklestone is getting top billing today. Are you wondering why? This might just be Thing Two. Remember the frenzy that was the Bang Out a Sweater Phenomenon? Well, meet Sigla. I am looking at colors right now. Who’s in with me for Bang Out a Sweater, Part Deaux?
That is all I have for the week. I hope your weekend is FANTASTIC! Stay warm and I will see you back here on Monday!
