swiss chard

Started knitting something new, but ripped it right away...still looking for a good lace project.

In the meantime, I wanted to record this recipe in history on the internets because it's so yummy.


Swiss Chard Tart

Loosely based on this recipe, though that is a sweet one, and this has garlic in it!

Millet Bread for the base, spread with butter
Filling:
Swiss Chard
1 Egg
Parmesan Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Pine Nuts
2 Cloves Garlic
Salt & Pepper
Millet Breadcrumbs with butter for the topping

Bake at 350 for 30 min

8.9!

cheese + rice = yummies

Rice with cheese and leeks:



I bought Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything Vegetarian. I love it! It's full of simple recipes with all kinds of variations and good ideas. I think I've changed every recipe I've made so far, but that's the point of the book.

This recipe is rice with cheese, and I added the leeks and red pepper flakes. So so yummy! This is fontina and asiago - creamy and sharp. The leeks blended into the background and the red pepper flakes contrasted against everything. I used sushi rice because I was starving, but I think this would be even tastier with brown rice.

I give it an 8.8.

beans!

Oh man this thing has gone from knitting to beans. Crazy times.

They arrived!



14 lbs. of beans from Rancho Gordo. I cooked a cup of Good Mother Stallards last night in the slow cooker with some onions for 8 hours. They came out perfect! The skins didn't split and the insides were creamy and delicious. I had them with rice and some tomato chili sauce I made, and then used the leftovers for some nachos.



Yummy!

beans, part 1.5

Black beans & Millet (7)

black beans, cooked
onions
garlic
cumin
paprika
chile pepper
cilantro
cayenne
organic ketchup (the thick kind, nothing like Heinz)

The millet cooks just like white rice, 20 minutes in a covered pot with 1 1/2 times as much water. Pretty tasty!

These were some black beans I bought long enough ago to forget when I got them. Most of them split and didn't get creamy, but they still did the job. More cayenne and fresh instead of dried cilantro would make these better!

beans, part 1

Mushy beans (8.2)

1 c. minced onions
1 clove of garlic
1/4 tsp. cumin
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. chile powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne
black pepper
salt
1/2 c. pureed tomatoes
2 c. Anasazi beans

Cook onions and garlic in oil until soft, add spices and cook a few more minutes. Add tomatoes and beans, mash beans and stir well. Cook on low for about 10 minutes. I had them with brown rice, cheese and avocado. Sour cream and cilantro would be good, too.

Omgz this was so good! Kind of like sloppy joes, but with no meat and kinda mexican flavored.

Yeah, since I hardly knit anymore, this is gonna turn into a food blog. Probably a bean blog, since I just ordered 13 lbs. of beans from Rancho Gordo. Just not that interested in eating meat lately, so beans it is!

black bear

After a year and a half, I finished the black bear. He started out as practice for the baby blue bear, and then I decided to finish him for my friend. And then over a year later he turned into her Christmas present. I ran out of the black yarn I was using, so I decided to make him look kinda scruffy. I think he's cute and my friend loves him!



Teddy Bear from Debbit Bliss' Simply Baby
I have no idea what yarn it was
size 4 addi turbos
started June 2008, finished December 17, 2009

Next I'm going to do a koala bear and a kangaroo. More babies!

2009

In 2009, I:

Learned how to make:
Latkes
Split Pea Soup
Sushi
A good version of Butter Chicken
No-knead Bread
Tortillas
Homemade Lattes

Started loving Mushrooms!
Had The Best Meal Ever
Had Pork Fried Rice in Chinatown
Learned how to eat for less than $60 a week and stopped spending $150 a week on food
Stopped eating meat every day

Finally finished the melon shawl
Made a penguin with a hockey jersey that I failed to take pictures of
Finished the Black Bear

Watched a Devils game in Jersey!
Saw the Redskins lose to the 'boys

Wandered around Chinatown (NYC) in the snow early in the morning

Saw Amanda Fing Palmer (OMGZ!!)
Saw Bon Iver (lovely)
Saw Animal Collective (boring)
Saw Grizzly Bear (YAY!)

Saw Seinfeld live!!!!!!!!!!!! and laughed for 2 hours straight

Started listening to vinyl and started a vinyl collection
Changed my facebook profile picture twice
Got one hair cut
Experienced snow twice!
Parked over the line at Starbucks
Only went to NYC once
Finally painted my bedroom and bathroom
Decided to fix up my closet and then gave up after realizing needed space for 40+ shoes
Got stuck in Secaucus for 2 hours
Drank too many homemade cosmos one night

Hated the President more than I've ever hated a President before

Worked too much

Became addicted to CSI:NY
Became really addicted to Gossip Girl

Got a Blackberry and nearly figured out how to use it
Bought flowers for the house less than 5 times all year
Quit my PG Tips addiction
Started using cheapass mousse instead of fancy expensive gel
Bought some real plates!
Learned how to make pretty paper snowflakes

Made toffee at Christmas, but no truffles

Met a few new Good Friends
Lost a few Good Friends

Stood out in the rain with my best friend's best friends one lovely afternoon

Decided to go to England next year for Christmas (we'll see if that really happens)
Decided not to make any resolutions

Didn't eat sugar for two months
Squatted 195
Benched 35s
Put my gym membership on hold
Lost and gained and lost and gained the same 8lbs

Had Thanksgiving without my family

Did not get a sinus infection
Had my atlas adjusted and stopped having so many killer headaches

Drank Bailey's on Christmas Eve... as you do
Had a short fight with mom on Christmas day... as you do
Hated vacation

Took off one day of work all year, to stand around in the rain with my best friend's best friends

Went to the movies only a few times
Took some pictures, but not enough

Got to talk to a far away friend on the phone, twice!

Saw Luke more often than I've seen him since we were in school together over 10 years ago
Was not a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding... because it hasn't happened yet!

Barely listened to Radiohead
Actually made a top albums list for 2009
Had a tea party for my birthday
Had no dinner parties

Drove 100 mph over the Howard Frankland
Was quite close to a Very Famous Person and a Pretty Famous Person
Finally bought a pair of Campers
Spent very little on clothes

Did not read any books

Stopped wearing heels to work
Found out that Wild Turkey goes well with eggnog, but Captain Morgan goes even better
Saw an old old friend

Went line dancing a few times, but not many

What a boring year!