Homegrown Happy

Adventuring... to the shore

2011-06-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

Life's been moving quickly these last few months and I've been trying my level best to slow down whenever possible to reflect and be present. Finn is really a little boy now, a wandering discoverer, a goofy little gorilla, a balanced bike rider and a sweet snuggler. He's definite about his likes (the little blue bottle, skateboards, chainsaws, motorcycles, the chicken book, shoes, working with papa and banging) and dislikes (any bottle that isn't little and blue, polenta, the spider book.) Luckily the first list is a lot longer than the second.

I've been savoring these last weeks of being able to mother just Finn with every fiber of my body. As much as I look forward to the arrival of our little one, I'm already feeling nostalgic for these days of uninterrupted snuggling and playtime with just Finn and Mama. So we've been having some fun and creating a little store of memories to draw on when our little family of three becomes four (in just a few short weeks!)

We took the dogs and headed to the beach awhile back on a day when we were feeling cabin fever and forgetting to enjoy our time together. It was the perfect cure -- we played and discovered, practiced balancing and skipping, and let the sand dribble between our fingers. We came home, tired and sandy, with a bag of driftwood to play with and a stock of memories to savor.

{this moment}

2011-05-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

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this photo, like the pregnancy photo in yesterday's post, was taken by my talented and beautiful sister Megan

Hello friends!

2011-05-09T22:34:00.000-07:00

It's been quiet around here, but we've been busy...

traveling to the beach (Baja) and to the cold and the snow (Holland and Austria.)

building a house (lots more on this in the near future...)

and growing a baby (expected at the beginning of summer!)

(photo by my lovely sister Megan)

Plus there's been crafting, thrifting, baking, gardening and adventuring. I hope to be back in this space to share some of the details soon (I've missed you!)

{this moment}

2010-10-01T12:55:00.000-07:00

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While he sleeps...

2010-09-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

I've been making small batches of preserves, just a few jars here and there to preserve summer's bounty. Small batches because I have a small kitchen and only short bursts of time without a curious toddler clinging to my legs (not a good position to be in when dealing with boiling hot sugary substances.) But three jars here and four there have added up into a pretty, happy abundance of jams, jellies, and fruit butters from blackberries, plums, pears, and apples, all grown right here on our land.

And just in time as I woke up a few days ago to a blustery day with that distinct golden light that signals autumn has arrived. What a simple pleasure to spoon sweet spiced apple butter into the morning's oatmeal, a cozy and sweetly scented way to enjoy the turning of the seasons. And it couldn't be easier -- really! -- just throw some apples in a pot, cook them down, blend and add sugar and spices.

A few notes on the following recipe: Fruit butters do not contain any butter -- they are simply fruit purees cooked until some of the liquid evaporates and the flavors concentrate. They do not use added pectin so they do not set up as much as jams or jellies but also do not require as much sugar. They are delicious as a spread on toast, stirred into yogurt or hot cereals, or as a filling in bar cookies. And of course they can be used in baking to replace some of the oil or butter in your favorite quick bread or bar cookie recipes.

Spiced Apple Butter
I wanted a simple and quick method of making this butter so I didn't peel or core the apples. Since the peels and cores have most of the apples' naturally-occurring pectin, this has the added benefit of creating a firmer jell. You will need a pretty high-powered blender to break down the peels and cores, a food processor is just not going to cut it. I use my immersion blender, it's scary powerful. If you don't have a worthy blender or you are just turned off by the idea of seeds in your apple butter, you're going to want to at least core the apples and probably peel them as well.
I've canned the apple butter, but you could also just put it in a jar in the fridge (for up to three weeks) or in the freezer (for longer.)

4 pounds mixed apples, stem and blossom ends cut off
1 cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups water
2 cups sugar (adjust to taste)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1.) Put apples, vinegar, and water in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Bring to a boil and cover. Lower heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until apples are soft and breaking apart, 20 to 30 minutes.
2.) Blend apples with an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender. Return to pot and stir in sugar and spices. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered until thick (15-30 minutes,) stirring and scraping the bottom of the pot regularly to prevent sticking or burning. I do this part while cooking dinner -- I'm in the kitchen already and can just reach over and give the pot a stir from time to time.
3.) To refrigerate or freeze: put in jars and cool.
To can: your grandmother probably just put her fruit butters in sterilized jars and screwed on the lids, but current safe canning practices recommend canning in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes. Lots of good information and instructions can be found here and here.

{this moment}

2010-09-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the (always inspiring) SouleMama:

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Adventuring

2010-09-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Finn and I have gotten to spend a little extra time with his big kid cousins while their parents are off at burning man (if you're there, say hello to my brother Satya and his wife Tiana, they're the ones wearing clothes.) So while their parents are at The Playa, my mom and I decided to take the kids on an adventure of our own at a playa -- and it was a perfect fall day on the northern California coast, sunny and warm and an unusually calm Pacific ocean.

Wishing you and yours a happy adventure on this holiday weekend!

Abundance

2010-08-05T10:40:00.000-07:00

It's been a foggy cool summer here in northern California but our family garden is growing riotously in spite of the weather.

I share the garden with my sister-in-law Tiana, my mom, and my sister Leandra. Tiana and I usually like a structured, well-kempt sort of garden with mostly veggies, but this year we've given in to chaos and flowers and it's really beautiful! Plus the bees are loving all the blooms and we've had plenty of cut flowers (which came in handy for the flower arch at Leandra's wedding.)

It's been such a pleasure to get into the garden lately, always some hidden little treat to discover.

The cool weather has slowed the ripening of the tomatoes, but we've finally got some yellow cherries.

The cucumbers are finally (after three failed plantings!) coming along.

And of course we've got more lavender than we can possibly harvest. Good old lavender, dependable no matter what the weather brings. Tiana's been making lavender hydrosol and I've been stuffing little sewn toys.

We dug some shiny new potatoes. Finn thinks they're delicious raw.

Finn's finally able to hang out in the garden without needing all my attention. He still likes to put things in his mouth, but now it's usually tomatoes or peas rather than rocks. And only once was it a snail! Of course kid-friendly play areas help.

And it's a good thing he's washable!

Time flies

2010-07-26T22:33:00.000-07:00

This little boy turned one last week. And not content with becoming a toddler in age only, he has since learned to walk and said his first word: "dog" (or his first word besides "uh-oh" and "wow" which don't seem to count.)
He's brought so much joy to my life and it's hard to remember the person I was just 12 short months ago. I've learned so much -- about patience and gratitude and flexibility. And I feel so lucky to know this happy, cuddly, outgoing, energetic, jolly, funny little person.
Happy Birthday, sweet boy. Many blessings and endless love.

2010-05-09T14:36:00.000-07:00

Okay, I know I promised you a cocktail, but this procrastinator has to finish her mother's day presents, so drinking is going to have to wait. But don't worry, here's a nice easy project in case you (like me) waited until the last minute -- it won't take long, and afterward we'll get back to that cocktail!

Freezer Paper Stencil Silhouette
I'm not going to go into too much detail here about either the freezer paper stenciling because there are lots of other great tutorials out there on those subjects. I referenced this one and this one.

First, gather your materials: freezer paper, pencil, craft knife or small sharp scissors, iron, fabric paint, a digital or print photo of your subject in profile, and something fabric to print onto. I'm making reversible tote bags with Skip to my Lou's tutorial.

Because I'm a bit too lazy, I didn't want to print out my photo so I chose the easy way: I opened my photo in photoshop, cropped it and zoomed in until it was the size I wanted -- about 4" high. Then, using the Pioneer Woman's free photoshop actions, I hit "define and sharpen" a few times until I had a nice distinct profile.

Next I cut a square of freezer paper a few inches larger than my image, held it up to the screen, and very carefully and very lightly traced it in pencil. Hey, presto, you've got a light box! If you try this lazy woman's method, please don't press too hard with your pencil or you'll damage your screen.

Now clean up your tracing lines: simplify the hairdo, add details (eyelashes, hair bows, etc), and make a nice curved line below the neck.

Carefully cut out your design. I've found it's easier to move the paper rather than the knife when cutting curved lines and fine details. If you cut carefully, you'll be able to use both the positive and the negative pieces as stencils.

Next iron your stencils onto your fabric. It's also a good idea to iron a piece of freezer paper onto the back of the fabric to keep the paint from bleeding. Make sure your iron is set to a dry setting, but high heat is okay.

Paint using fabric paint. I like the Jacquard brand; I get it from my local art store but it's also available all over online. If you're painting on a dark background, it's worth searching out Jacquard's Neopaque line. Use a foam brush or sponge and dab the paint on. Now test your patience and let the paint dry to touch, recoat, and allow to dry completely overnight before peeling off the stencil.

here's the positive image...

and the negative image

After a bit of sewing, you've got a beautiful homemade gift, perfect for those doting grandmothers to show off at the market. Now if I could just figure out how to get one to Finn's Oma in the Netherlands today...

We're Getting Bees!

2010-05-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

We had our first class yesterday and my head is spinning a bit with all the information.

Our teacher, the "Outlaw Beekeeper" of Sonoma County

By the end of the season, we could have 80 pounds of honey. To get that honey, the worker bees will have flown 4,400,000 miles (that's more than nine round-trip visits to the moon) and visited 160,000,000 flowers! Whew!

Our queen and her brood should be ready to come home with us next week.
Do you see the queen?

We all held one of the bee-covered frames; it's surprising how calm the bees on the frame are, but with other bees flying all around, it was still exhilarating and a little terrifying.

Tiana and Leandra hold bees for the very first time

Have any of you kept bees? Any advice for us novices?

Fabric Flower Garlands

2010-04-23T15:27:00.000-07:00

My beautiful little sister Leandra is getting married here in June so there's been a lot of gardening, crafting, building, and cement pouring happening these last few weeks. We had a little party for her over the weekend; all the girls got together to help her get a start on some of the decorations. It was really just an excuse to try out potential "signature cocktails" but we also got a little (easy!) crafting done. I wanted to feature one of the projects here: these little fabric flower garlands. They're super simple to make, require almost no sewing and (just like my sweet sister) are so pretty and joyful. So grab a bit of fabric, some ribbon, and a needle and thread and let's get started.

First: cut a strip of fabric as wide as you want your flowers to be. Fold it up, lay something round on top (a jar lid or drinking glass works great) and trace a circle.

Cut 8 to 12 circles out, don't worry about being precise here.

Grab one circle and fold it into quarters so that it makes a little point.

Run your threaded needle through the point of the folded circle. Don't worry if you don't have matching thread, it won't really show.

Keep adding folded circles, just like stringing beads on a necklace, until you've got 10 or 12 circles together.

Tie off your string, fluff up the circles, and like magic you've got a flower! Now make a couple more flowers in lots of beautiful colors.

Attach the flowers to ribbon with a little "x" of two stitches.

Now hang it up and get ready to party!

Stay tuned for a recipe for the chosen cocktail...

Dirt under our fingernails

2010-03-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Spring has already arrived in our blessed part of the world and today we finally got out into the garden to give it some much needed attention. Turns out Finn is a pretty natural gardener: he went right to work pulling some of the dinosaur-sized weeds that have been growing up all winter.

(It's a good thing these "weeds" are edible!)

What I've been up to

2010-03-01T10:15:00.000-08:00

There hasn't been much crafty posting here, but there has been a fair amount of crafting ("fair amount" considering the traveling and parenting that's also been going on.) I find that when my crafting time is limited, it can be really nice to use a tutorial. No second guessing or starting over or craftfails -- and lots of nearly instant gratification. I've been using some wonderful free tutorials and patterns from the internet and it's been so easy and rewarding. So here's a linky lineup in case you're in need of a quick crafty fix too.

Cooking
Well, not exactly cooking, but playing with food. I've been making my own chai latte mix (like the one from Trader Joe's but better!) loosely based on this recipe. I gave jars of it away as stocking stuffers at Christmas and it's been a big hit.

I leave out the instant tea (ew.) but the recipe still calls for non-dairy creamer (scary stuff.) so I'm thinking about trying this recipe which calls for sweetened condensed milk instead (I can get a nice organic version at my local grocer.)

Sewing
For my dear friend Beth's birthday, I made a reversible tote bag from Skip to my Lou. I made mine a wee bit bigger and finished it off with an apple print with an appliqued leaf.

I put a few goodies for Beth's beautiful baby Jonah in the bag: a ball from felted wool sweaters and a flannel crinkly square using an old baby wipes package... The crinkly square especially is perfect: it only took about 10 minutes to make, saved an old diaper wipes package from the garbage, and (most importantly!) it was such a hit I had to make Finn one too. It's become my go-to last minute baby gift.

I've also been whipping up a bunch of these super easy wool pants for Finn.

They're made from the sleeves of adult-sized felted sweaters and they seriously only take a couple of minutes to throw together. Wool is a perfect material for diaper covering as it's naturally antibacterial and absorbent without feeling wet. Plus you can add fun and easy (no unraveled edges) appliques. I'm kicking myself for not keeping all the shrunken sweaters I've sent to the Goodwill over the years!

Knitting
I've been knitting too, several as yet unfinished projects -- and these ones are (almost) all for me! I'm making a simple sleeveless cardigan, the Shalom Cardigan from Involving the Senses.
Finn's helping with this one:

Also a Burberry-inspired cowl (every girl needs a little luxury, especially if it's homemade and $720 less than the Burberry version.)

And I'm finally attempting an Elizabeth Zimmerman pattern, the Baby Surprise Jacket), just in time for Finn not to fit it at all.

And I haven't cast on for the last project yet but I just had to show you this yarn: Malabrigo Merino Twist, isn't it beautiful?

I'm thinking some sort of slouchy beret for myself. Perhaps the Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret or maybe the Grace Lace Beret. Do you have any suggestions?

Any other good (quick and easy) tutorials I should be looking at? What are you working on?

Walking between raindrops

2010-02-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

Finn and I have been taking advantage of those lovely hours between rainstorms. We've been walking a lot and enjoying the lush greenery, the swollen creeks and the squelchy mud. We don't talk much when we walk; my normally chatty little man gets very quiet and just looks around. And up, he loves to look up at the very tall redwoods. I imagine that he is experiencing awe and wonderment for the first time and I'm reminded to allow those emotions into my life again too.

So here, without much chatter, are some of the wonderful things we've been seeing.

Flourless Chocolate Cakes

2010-02-13T13:18:00.000-08:00

Arnoud's birthday was a few days ago and we had a very quiet celebration. We took Finn for a walk, talked to the continental relatives on skype, had dinner at home with my family, and lit a big bonfire on the upper meadow. It was quite a change from years past when we've done big parties with costumes or ski jumps in the backyard or brunch for all the neighbors. But there were some very sweet, intimate moments that just may become traditions, starting with these individual flourless chocolate cakes.

I don't usually make individual birthday cakes because there's just not enough room for the candles. But this time I put a candle in everyone's cake and we all made a wish for Arnoud before we blew out our own candle, and really what's better than your own cake and 12 wishes?

folding the beaten eggs into the chocolate

I've been playing around with this recipe for years and I think I've got it figured out now. Although the end result is impressive, the preparation is pretty easy, no double-boilers or sifting required. The recipe consists of just chocolate, butter, sugar and eggs (and a little water,) but together they are transformed into something decadently chocolate without being cloying, especially if you cut the richness with raspberry coulis and homemade strawberry ice cream like we did. And the pink fruit and dark chocolate would also be perfect for your valentine!

the cakes before baking

So happy Valentine's day to you and your love, and happy birthday to my love!

Individual Flourless Chocolate Cakes
Makes 12 small cakes
See notes at the end for a Mexican chocolate variation.

3 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (I leave mine in the package and just bang on it with a rolling pin)
3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 stick butter, cubed
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon sugar, divided
3 large eggs

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Grease a muffin tin or twelve 3 oz ramekins with nonstick cooking spray (if you use butter, they will stick. Ask me how I know.)
2. Combine chocolate and butter in a large heatproof mixing bowl.
3. Bring water and 1/3 cup sugar to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Pour over chocolate and butter and stir until melted.
4. Beat the eggs and sugar in a separate bowl until soft peaks form and slowly dissolve when the beater is lifted.
5. Gently fold the eggs into the chocolate in three additions.
6. Spoon the batter into the prepared pans and bake until a soft crust has formed on top of the cakes and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Cool the cakes 5 minutes (they will fall a bit) and then turn out onto plates to finish cooling. Serve at room temperature with raspberry coulis (raspberries blended with a little bit of sugar and then strained) and ice cream.

Mexican Chocolate Cakes: swap the water for strong coffee and add 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon to the chocolate and butter. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipping cream.

Acorn Cap Pattern

2010-02-02T21:25:00.000-08:00

This little acorn cap is worked in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, so it is soft and warm, and perfect for covering your little one's ears on a blustery day. This hat is knit in a berry stitch adapted to work in the round, and the decreases for the crown shaping are integrated into the pattern.

Materials:
Size 8 DPNs
1 skein Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (I used a tan color, #300029)
Tapestry needle

Gauge: 4" = 5 pattern repeats and 30 rows
Finished size: 15" unstretched. Just fits my very large six month old.

Abbreviations:
CO = cast on
DPNs = double pointed needles
PM = place marker
P = purl
K = knit
tbl = through back loop
K2tog = knit 2 together
K3tog = knit 3 together
P2tog = purl 2 together

Pattern Repeat:
Row 1: *P3, (K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch. Repeat from * around.
Row 2: *K3tog, P3. Repeat from * around.
Row 3: *(K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch, P3. Repeat from * around.
Row 4: *P3, K3tog. Repeat from * around.

Directions:
CO 72 stitches across 4 DPNs and join to work in the round, being careful not to twist work.
Work in pattern for 30 rows. You will have 108 stitches after finishing odd rows and 72 stitches after finishing even rows.
Row 31: *P2tog, P2tog, (K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch, P3. Repeat from * around. 72 stitches.
Row 32: *P5, K3tog. Repeat from * around. 54 stitches.
Row 33: *K2tog, P3, (K1, K1 tbl, K1) in next stitch. Repeat from * around. 63 stitches.
Row 34: P1 *K3tog, P4. Repeat from * to last 6 stitches. K3tog, P3. 45 stitches.
Row 35: *K2tog, P3. Repeat from * around. 36 stitches.
Row 36: *P1, K3tog. Repeat from * around. 18 stitches.
Rows 37-46: P all stitches.
Row 47: P2tog around. 9 stitches.
Cut yarn, thread through remaining live stitches. Weave in all ends.

photo by Leandra

Acorn Fairy illustration by Cicely Mary Barker
There's a bit of a resemblance there, no?

Home sweet home.

2010-01-27T08:41:00.000-08:00

It's early, still dark, and quiet in my little house. My boys are still sleeping but the jet lag got me up early this morning. I've got a cup of tea and the quiet night noises to keep me company: clock ticking like a heartbeat, water rushing by outside the window, fingers tapping on the keyboard. It's good to be home.

Our trip was a whirlwind, here are the highlights:

We saw old friends

And met new friends.

We soaked up the culture

And gobbled up the food.

But mostly this trip was about Family

photo by: Tante Tinie

And it was a big trip for Finn. He saw his other homeland (the Netherlands) for the first time in all its snowy, wintry glory.

He started eating

And grew his first little teeth.

He went skiing with Papa

And sledding too.

And now we're home with our sweet memories and joyful photos. And blessed internet access! Oh, how I missed you!

Christmas Wrap-Up

2010-01-03T04:15:00.000-08:00

So it turns out I was a bit over ambitious in my Christmas plans. Apparently I was too busy sunbathing in Baja to knit much. Who knew that working with wool while covered with sunblock, sand and baby slobber would be rather unappealing and tricky? I did get a few projects done, however, and now that we've finished up our third and final gift-giving session, I'm finally at liberty to divulge what ended up getting made.

Among the little knit projects that made it onto (and off!) my needles (Toasty, Thermis, Turn a Square, Star Crossed Slouchy Beret, Fetching, Plum Blossom Mittens, and a seed stitch eternity scarf of my own devising) there was one stand-out pattern. A pattern so quick, simple, and fun that I ended up making seven (!) pairs, two of them finished Christmas morning. And only one pair was for me. They're the felted slippers from French Press Knits, and they are a little bit of magic.

They start with a few pieces of oddly-shaped knit work

Which, after a little seaming, become grossly over-sized slipper-shaped oddities

Which, after felting

and finishing become adorable house slippers!

From start to finish, I can make a pair of these in under two hours, including seaming (and there is a lot of seaming but it's of the "just sew those two pieces together any which way" variety that can be done while your baby is chewing the other end of your work.) So after making my own pair, I whipped up six more pairs for gift giving. I gave them out pre-felted with the idea that we'd have a felting party after opening presents on Christmas morning.

Another lovely feature of this pattern is that they travel well. They were made in Mexico, finished in California and I'm now wearing them in my sister-in-law's house in Pau, in the southwest of France. They pack well and stand up to getting shoved into a suitcase. And they look great with my new skinny jeans which is handy because, despite being told that all the cool kids are wearing skinny jeans, I've yet to be brave enough to wear them out of the house.

Champagne Truffles

2010-01-01T06:45:00.000-08:00

Happy 2010!

We rang in the New Years in Pau, in the southwest of France, visiting Arnoud's little sister and her boyfriend, and I have a couple of recommendations for you if you ever come to Pau: eat all the cheese and chocolate you can get your hands on and make sure you're breastfeeding because you are going to need that additional caloric allowance.

Marianne and Seb, our hosts, like to cook even more than we do and made us a spectacular New Years Eve feast of Jerusalem artichoke and arugula soup followed by spinach and roasted tomato cannelloni with homemade (swoon!) noodles. The finish was these beautifully simple chocolate and champagne truffles with a heavy dusting of cocoa. The recipes are from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook and I'm having some serious cookbook envy for this one.

The truffles are rich and decadent but still have a delicate flavor from the addition of champagne. They have a soft center surrounded by a thin layer of chocolate that offers a slight crunch when you bite into them. If you have some leftover champagne from last night, whip these up today and relish the beginning of 2010.

Champagne Truffles
adapted from Ottolenghi: The Cookbook
Feel free to use inexpensive champagne here but splurge on the chocolate, at least 60% cacao for the dark chocolate.

for the truffles
2 ounces milk chocolate, chopped into small pieces
7 ounces dark chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1/2 cup plus 3 Tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1/3 cup champagne
2 1/2 Tablespoons brandy

to finish
5 ounces dark chocolate, for coating
cocoa powder for dusting

1. Cover an 8x8 inch square pan with plastic wrap.
2. Place first two ingredients into a heatproof bowl large enough to accommodate all ingredients. Warm the chocolate in a microwave or over a pan of simmering water, stirring periodically with a rubber spatula, until it is semi-melted. Be careful not to burn the chocolate.
3. Pour the champagne and brandy into a small saucepan and heat until hot but not boiling, about 175 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Add the champagne mixture to the chocolate and stir until it melts completely.
5. Stir in the butter in a few additions and continue stirring until the mixture is smooth.
6. Pour into the prepared pan and chill until it has set, at least 3 hours.

To finish
1. Melt the chocolate for coating in the microwave or over a pan of simmering water. Dump the cocoa onto a flat plate.
2. Turn the chilled chocolate out of the pan onto a sheet of parchment paper on your workspace, remove the plastic wrap. Cut the chocolate into squares (1 to 2 inches per side) using a sharp, long knife. Clean the knife in hot water after every cut.
3. Use a skewer or fork to pick up one chocolate square and dip it into the melted chocolate. Wipe off any excess on the edge of the bowl, quickly roll the square in the cocoa powder, and place on a clean tray. Repeat with remaining squares.
4. Allow the chocolates to set in the fridge but bring them to room temperature before serving.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-30T14:47:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a warm and festive evening and a peaceful, joyful year to come.

Thanks for hanging in with me despite the silence from my end. I'll be back in the new year, lots of things to post... You'll never guess where we are now (hint: I'm eating my weight in cheese and glacee.)

We're in trouble...

2009-11-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

because Finn can roll, oh boy can he roll!

Hola from Baja!

2009-11-19T13:02:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note: we've arrived safely in La Ventana and are enjoying walking in the sand and putting our toes in the water.

I've got a few posts in the works. Remember that acorn hat? The pattern is coming up...

Maple Pecan Cookies

2009-11-16T00:21:00.000-08:00

So I had this idea to make cookies with maple syrup. After a few disappointing recipes, I hit on this gem. The cookies are delicious plain, but topping them with maple icing and pecans turns them into something worth sharing.

Buttery and rich but still delicate and crisp, these cookies are perfectly special. I passed a dozen on to some friends who needed cheering up and I packed a box full for Arnoud and his friends who are on their way down to Baja. They're driving down with Arnoud's motorcycle and our kitesurfing gear; I'm a little nervous about sending my sweetie off on that long drive without me, so these cookies are my little bit of protection and a sweet little kiss to carry him safely to his destination.

Tomorrow Finn, Humphrey and I fly down to join the boys for a month-long vacation. It's Finn's first plane flight and first international trip (and Mama's first time traveling with a dog and a child -- thank heavens my Mama is coming with!) I'll be taking lots of Christmas knitting and my camera -- expect photo updates. Until then!

Maple Pecan Cookies
adapted from Gourmet
Makes at least 5 dozen

for cookies:

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Grade B maple syrup
1 large egg yolk
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour

for icing:

2 cups powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon butter, softened
4 Tablespoons Grade B maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 1 1/2 Tablespoons milk

whole pecans to garnish

1. In a standing mixer cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in maple syrup and egg yolk until mixture is combined well.
2. Sift together salt and flour over mixture and stir into maple mixture.
3. Roll dough into 12" log. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, about 2 hours. Dough may be made 4 days ahead and chilled.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut dough into 1/8 inch thick slices. Arrange cookies on buttered or parchment lined baking sheets.
4. Bake cookies in batches in middle of oven until edges are golden, about 12 minutes, and transfer to racks to cool.
5. While cookies are baking, make icing: sift powdered sugar into a bowl. Cream butter into sugar. Stir in maple syrup and vanilla. Add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until icing is the consistency of a thick glaze.
6. Spread a little bit of icing over each (cooled!) cookie and top with a whole pecan.

Cookies keep in airtight containers 1 week.

Last Minute Galettes

2009-11-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm still here, really. Life's just gotten in the way of blogging lately, in a good way. There's been lots of friends visiting, plenty of sweet moments playing with Finn, and lots of starting crafty projects (but not much finishing.) We've had daily walks in the misty breaks between the rain showers and we've admired the ferns peaking out of mossy cracks and the grasses sprouting and turning the hills green and fuzzy. Also many cookies have been baked, unfortunately they were not good enough to blog about so I ate them. All. (Side note: disappointing cookies can redeem themselves if eaten for breakfast.) Laundry has gone unwashed, cereal has been eaten for dinner, and we could all really use a bath. In short, life's been sweet and full and just a little bit hectic.

With all the visitors we've been having, I've turned to a time saving trick from my previous life as a pastry baker: the galette. A galette is sort of a rustic tart and can be filled with sweet or savory ingredients. Pretty and unpretentious, they still manage to be a bit impressive; galettes are the Kate Winslet of the pastry world. The base is a circle of pie dough -- a perfect blank canvas to create all sorts of easy, quick meals and desserts. And here's the time saving secret: make a big batch of galette dough, roll it into single-serving sized circles, and then freeze them to be used when unexpected company arrives or if Mama just doesn't feel like cooking dinner.

Galettes
I hesitate to call this a recipe, it's more of a guideline or a jumping off point. You can use your favorite pie or pastry dough recipe, I've included mine at the end of this post. The sky's the limit when it comes to filling your galettes: for savory fillings think about pizza or quiche ingredients (just make sure your veggies and meats are pre-cooked) and for sweet galettes think fruit pie fillings, jams, and soft cheeses.

Some of my favorite combinations:
roasted veggies and goat cheese
caramelized onions, potatoes, and gruyere
slow-roasted tomatoes, pesto, and fresh mozzarella
blueberries and sweetened cream cheese
apples and a streusel topping
rhubarb and candied ginger

1. Turn pie dough (enough for a double crust pie) onto a work surface and form into eight equally-sized balls. Place on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
2. Using as little flour as possible, roll each ball into a rough circle about 7 inches in diameter. Try to work the dough as little as possible, you don't want to warm the dough and melt the butter -- that leads to a tough, grainy crust.
3. Layer the circles in a pile, separated by pieces of baking parchment paper or plastic wrap. Slip the pile into a freezer bag and freeze.

The time consuming part of this project is done, now it's time to impress!

On baking day:
1. Greet unexpected visitors at the door, turning your body to hide the spit-up on your left shoulder.
2. Show visitors into living room, subtly kicking dog toys and baby rattle under the couch.
3. Let your guests play with the baby while you excuse yourself to go make tea (and hide the dirty dishes in your sink with soapy water.)
4. While the tea water boils, preheat the oven to 375 degrees, pull a few dough rounds out of the freezer, place on a baking sheet and top with whatever you find in the fridge or freezer (in the galettes photographed here, I used frozen blueberries and slices of white nectarine -- no need to defrost.)
5. When the frozen dough has softened a little bit, work around each circle, folding the dough up around the filling in little pleats. Don't cover all of the filling, leave a little circle visible in the middle.
6. Brush with an egg wash (one egg whisked with 1/4 cup water) or melted butter. Sprinkle with lots of raw sugar (for sweet galettes) or herbs (for savory galettes.)
7. Bake galettes until the crust is golden brown and the filling is tender; the timing will vary a lot depending on whether your filling is pre-cooked or not. Start checking after about 20 minutes.
8. Ta Da! Impress your visitors with your serenity, composure, and French baking skills.

Basic Pastry Dough
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup cold vegetable shortening (or just use more butter)
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 to 7 tablespoons ice water

1. Pulse flour, butter, shortening, and salt in the bowl of a food processor just until mixture resembles coarse meal.
2. With processor motor running, drizzle 5 tablespoons ice water through feeder tube and process just until combined. Do not let dough form a ball!
3. Squeeze a small handful of dough: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water 1/2 tablespoon at a time, pulsing until incorporated. Do not overwork dough, or pastry will be tough.
4. Shape into eight balls (for galettes) or two discs (for pie crust) and chill at least 30 minutes.

Baby's Soft Book of Colors

2009-10-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

This tutorial uses crazy quilt squares to make a soft book for baby. Each "page" is a crazy quilt square with scraps of just one color so baby can see lots of shades and variations of each color; together the pages make up a rainbow soft book. Use scraps with lots of texture and pattern to keep baby interested. Finn and I had a lot of fun choosing the fabric scraps and everyone in my family has enjoyed seeing little bits of memories from their lives sew together: a piece of Granny's shirt, a scrap from a cousin's baby blanket, a bit of fabric leftover from an auntie's first quilt. The whole family has loved "reading" Finn's book of colors!

Finn with his Papa.

Finn with his cousin Ella.

Finn with his auntie Leandra (my little sister) and uncle Obie.

If you've never pieced a crazy quilt (or any quilt) before, don't worry! I hadn't either and it turned out to be really easy and fun. And I've put together a little video to help you.

Supplies:
fabric scraps
1 4" piece of ribbon
fabric for backing: 4 pieces measuring 8"x8", 4 pieces measuring 7 1/2"x7 1/2"
batting: 1 piece measuring 8"x15", 1 piece measuring 7 1/2"x14"
small piece of iron-on velcro
and of course thread, sewing machine, and an iron.

All seam allowances are 1/2".

1. Separate scraps into piles based on color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. You should have at least 5 scraps of each color.

2. Piece a crazy quilt square for each color. Use the larger backing squares for red and purple. Use the smaller backing for orange, yellow, green and blue. Here's a video tutorial for piecing crazy quilt squares... it's easy and very free form!

3. Make a front and a back cover using the remaining 8"x8" backing squares. I made a rainbow for the front and embroidered a message on the back. Other ideas are an appliqued title or even just a solid piece of a favorite fabric.

4. Start putting the book together:
Put the back cover face up, top with the front cover face down. Sew along the right side.

Red square face up, top with purple face down. Sew along the right side.
Blue square face up, top with orange face down. Sew along the right side.
Yellow square face up, top with green face down. Sew along the right side.
Press all seams.

5. Attach your velcro: one side to the ribbon, one side to the front cover 1 1/2" from the right side and centered top to bottom.

6. Now for the batting:
Put the back and front covers face up, lay purple and red face down with purple on top of the back cover and red on top of the front cover. Lay the larger piece of batting on top. Sew all three layers together along top, right side, and bottom.

Place blue and orange face up, lay green and yellow face down with green on top of blue and yellow on top of orange, lay one layer of fleece or batting on top. Sew all three layers together along top, right side, and bottom.

Clip corners (but don't clip the seam!), turn both pieces right side out and press.

7. Hand stitch the final seam closed on each piece.

Be sure to stitch the ribbon into the seam between the back cover and the purple square.

8. Hand sew the book together with a line of stitches along the binding of the book. Make sure the colors are in rainbow order. It's ready for baby!

And I managed to finish this tutorial just in time to enter it into the Sew, Mama, Sew! Scrap Buster contest! Have you been checking out all the scrappy goodness? Lots of Christmas ideas!

Updated to add: If you make a soft book, please consider adding photos of it to Homegrown Happy's Flickr Group.

Ag Day

2009-10-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Ag Day at Finn's future school, which is also my elementary alma mater (go Falcons!)

There were some interesting household appliances on display.

The local bakers, wool spinners, beekeepers, and farmers sold their wares.

This little biker showed off his dimples and his croissant.

There were sheep dog trials -- I tried to get Humphrey to take notes on the perfect behavior of those working dogs but he just wanted to chase the sheep; needless to say, he had to stay on-leash.

And some of the parents put together a delicious taco lunch to benefit the new school garden.

The garden is growing well, the worms are composting, and the scare crow is... scaring crows.

And I came home with a full belly, a few tasty treats, some seeds for the winter garden, and of course some crafty goodness.

How did you play this weekend?

No Peeking!

2009-10-17T09:55:00.000-07:00

Two wonderful things happened yesterday: the rain arrived and Finn finally started napping. It was the perfect opportunity to get started on my crafting for Christmas gifting.

I'll mostly be knitting and crocheting this year so I can take advantage of those sleepy nursing sessions to multitask. I've got a lot of recipients on my list, so I've got to start early and focus on small projects, mostly hats and mittens and the like. Here are some links to things I'm considering making (note to family: now's the time to stop reading...)

Toasty from a friend to knit with
Garter stitch + knit in the round = perfect movie watching knitting

Mosey from Knitty
I want these for myself!

Fuzzy Lamb from Lulu

Zippy Wallet by Noodlehead

Give a Hoot from Kelbourne Woolens

Turn a Square by Jared from brooklyntweed

Dinosaur Play Mat from Craftzine
It folds up into a volcano shape for storing.

Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Strands of Me

Danica from Knitty
I've never tried entrelac and I'm embarrassingly excited about this one.

Mushroom Business Card Holder from Wee Folk Art

Calorimetry from Knitty (once again!)

Fetching from (you guessed it) Knitty

Fabric Dollhouse from UK Lass in US
This reminds me of a wooden version my little sister had.

Chunky Button-Up Neckwarmer by Susan Flockhart Designs

Plum Blossom Mittens from Valley Yarns
Not free, but it's only $1.99 for the pattern

Dainty Earrings by Julie A. Buldoc
Hello stocking stuffers!

Trypdisc Earrings by Tossed Cookies

Jofus and Lally by Vintage Ric-Rac

Plus I've got a few ideas of my own (stay tuned!) Whew, this is starting to seem a bit overly ambitious... I better go get crafting!

What are you working on?

Triple Ginger Cookies

2009-10-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hello there! Are you visiting from the Craftzine.com blog? Thanks for coming over, have a look around, make yourself comfortable, stay awhile! I baked you cookies!

Since everyone has been so nice to me since I admitted to my obsession with Laura Ingalls Wilder, I've got another confession to make: as much as I like to bake, cook, craft, and generally make things from scratch, there are a few products that I just love too much to stop buying. Yes, Trader Joe, I'm talking about you and your Triple Ginger Cookies. Unfortunately, an infant, an hour-long drive to the nearest TJ's, and a heavy downpour have conspired to keep me cookie-less.

So I broke out my ginger -- fresh, dried, and candied -- and set to work. The result is (dare I say it?) even better than TJ's: they're big, soft and chewy with a cracked and sugar-crusted surface. Baking them made my house smell so heavenly I could almost imagine it was made of gingerbread. And they're the perfect complement to a rainy day at home with my sweet ones.

Triple Ginger Cookies
Inspired by the Triple Ginger Cookies from Trader Joe's.
Makes 16 large cookies

3/4 cup unsalted butter
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 Tablespoon grated ginger
1/4 cup unsulphured blackstrap molasses
2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon candied ginger, minced
raw sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper (or butter a baking sheet.)
2. Cream butter and white and brown sugars. Add egg, grated ginger, and molasses and combine well.
3. Add in flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
4. Add candied ginger and stir to combine.
5. Drop large spoonfuls onto baking sheet. Sprinkle with raw sugar and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown and slightly cracked.

DIY: Homemade Buttons

2009-10-05T08:07:00.000-07:00

I have a fascination with making basic necessities that a normal person would just buy: deodorant, crackers, ketchup, paper, pickles, butter, lip balm, yogurt, soap... you get the idea. It makes me feel all Laura Ingalls Wilder-esque, like I could survive out on the prairie or through peak oil. So I thought I'd start highlighting some of these DIY projects for building a handmade life -- just in case you ever end up living on the prairie and then run out of crackers.

I'm interested to know what you think: What basic necessities are you making? What would you like to make but haven't tried yet?

How to: Make Wooden Buttons
Thanks to my man for being the hand model/saw operator and inspiration. Note to all the single ladies: do try to marry a man with calloused hands, it'll make your life so much easier and more interesting!

1. Gather your tools and supplies. You'll need: a drill, a saw (I used a skill saw but a hand saw would work at least as well), sandpaper (100 grit and 220 grit), a wooden block, and oil (I used sesame, but olive or mineral will work too.)

2. Choose a nice branch for your button. A few things to keep in mind:

The branch's diameter without bark will be the size of your button
Use a hardwood such as oak
Avoid rotten wood
Using downed branches that have already "cured" while they were lying on the forest floor will prevent your buttons from cracking and make it easier to remove the bark.

3. Cut rounds from the end of the branch. They should be between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch in width.

4. Remove bark from the button rounds.

5. Drill 2 or 4 holes in each button, using your wooden block to drill on so that you don't damage your work surface. It's not important to get the holes perfectly spaced as the buttons are meant to look rustic and homemade.

6. Sand your buttons. Start out using 100 grit sandpaper and then finish with 220 grit.

7. Rub the buttons with a little bit of oil and then polish with a clean cloth. All done!

Now take some photos of those buttons in action. Congratulations, you're one step closer to self-sufficiency and that homestead on the prairie!

A Boy and His Dog

2009-10-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

I have a Norman Rockwellian vision of their future: a barefoot boy with a homemade fishing rod walking down a country lane with his trusty red sidekick. Oh Motherhood, why do you make me so sentimental?

A is for Acorns and Autumn

2009-09-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

This past winter, way back when I was still pregnant and had no idea what sleep deprivation was like, I knitted baby clothes to relax. Not having any babies around to measure or fit, I guessed on size a little bit. So I now have a collection of adorable baby knits in preemie sizes. The hats in particular are tiny (wishful thinking?) and useless for a baby born in July. I recently pulled out one I knitted way back in January with the idea of dressing up my babe as an acorn this Halloween. Unfortunately, it's a bit too small for my (admittedly huge) son.

And it doesn't suit Humphrey. Besides, whoever heard of a furry acorn...

Maybe I'll rework the pattern for pleasantly plump babies. In the meantime, I'll stick to simpler crafty projects, activities that an be completed during the 15 minutes Finn sleeps. Here's a quick project to bring autumn indoors:

I started by separating the acorns from their caps and then drilling two holes in each cap.

Next I threaded a piece of cotton yarn through the holes.

And glued the cap back onto the acorn.

I'll use them as hangers on presents. A gift tag of an oak leaf cut out of paper or felted wool from an old sweater is a sweet addition.

Or they could be tied to a piece of ribbon as a napkin ring.

For more acorn goodness, here's a collection of craft ideas. I hope you get some inspiration and find your autumn spirit too!

Printable Acorn Garland by Amy Atlas

Acorn Wreath at Scribbit

Felt Acorns by Betz White

Velvet Acorns by Heather Donohue

Acorn Napkin Rings at Martha Stewart

And there's this post at www.ehow.com about drying acorns properly to get rid of any insects that may have made your acorns their home.

Buttermilk Sherbet

2009-09-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

Rumor has it that it's fall. The maple trees are turning yellow and the poison oak is bright red, acorns are dropping on our roof with loud bangs, and the light is a beautiful golden color. So why is it in the nineties today? Why am I sweating? Why do I feel like taking off all my clothes? (Don't answer that last question...)

It must be fall in northern California, otherwise known as Indian Summer. And the best way to beat the heat -- besides stripping naked and going for a swim -- is a cold frozen treat, preferably something fruity and not too heavy with a nice balance of sweet and tart. This is where sherbet comes in, in all its creamy fruitiness. Now, I had a long-standing aversion to sherbet based on childhood memories of the Baskin Robbins version: fake fruit flavors and a disappointing lack of richness as compared to ice cream. But it turns out that homemade sherbets are a whole different animal, combining the best of sorbet and ice cream.

I've been playing with ice cream recipes, replacing milk and cream with lighter buttermilk, and I'm loving the way it plays off of fruit and the tangy flavor. So break out your ice cream maker (what? You don't have one? Buy one now, it's the best $40 you'll spend this week and an easy way to make show-stopping desserts. Be forewarned, it will ruin you for store-bought "fro-yo" -- but I promise you won't miss it.)

So whip up some tasty low fat ice cream and stay cool while autumn rages on. And while you're at it, try these free printable ice cream gift tags, courtesy of Eat Drink Chic. Enjoy!

Lemon Buttermilk Sherbet
adapted from David Lebovitz's "The Perfect Scoop." And have you checked out his blog? It's an ice cream fanatic's dream come true.
makes about 1 quart

1/3 cup water
2/3 cup sugar
zest of 1 lemon
2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)

1) Combine the water, sugar and lemon zest in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let stand until the syrup reaches room temperature, then chill thoroughly in the refrigerator.
2) Whisk the buttermilk into the syrup, then whisk in the lemon juice.
3) Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions (or place in a container in your freezer and stir with a fork, breaking up clumps, every 15 minutes.)

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Nectarine and Ginger Buttermilk Sherbet
adapted from Martha Stewart
makes about 1 quart

3/4 pound ripe nectarines (I used very sweet white nectarines)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons agave syrup (you can omit and replace with honey or sugar if you don't have this on hand)
1 Tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

1) Quarter nectarines; remove and discard pits, but do not peel. Place in a food processor and puree until smooth, about 1 minute.
2) Add sugar, agave syrup, lemon juice, and ginger. Pulse to combine.
3) Transfer to a medium bowl, add buttermilk and chill the mixture.
4) Freeze in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions (or place in a container in your freezer and stir with a fork, breaking up clumps, every 15 minutes.)

Happy Hour

2009-09-19T13:09:00.000-07:00

Being a new mama, I'm struggling with trying to find balance in my life. There is plenty of time spent with baby, some time for Papa, and a bit of time spent housekeeping, leaving very little Me-Time. I'm finding that building just a few moments into my day for myself is essential to maintaining my sanity and sense of myself as a functioning, independent person. And I really only need a few moments for a shower or reading a few pages, maybe I'll even do some yoga one of these days. The crucial thing is to ritualize these moments a little so they feel significant -- this serves to distract from their unfortunate brevity.

To build a ritual, it helps to have a few accessories; today mine are a chair with a view, my current knitting project and a delicious and pretty drink.

Some dappled sunlight and listening to This American Life on my ipod help too.

That gorgeous rosy drink, it's made from hibiscus flowers. And who wouldn't want to sip a frosty, ruby-colored, fruity-flavored tea made from flower petals? I'm enjoying mine with nothing but ice and a squeeze of lime, but it would be even tastier and more relaxing (for the non-breastfeeding set) with a pour of alcohol. So for happy ~~hour~~ five minutes this weekend, I'll be sipping a Hibiscus Cooler. Cheers!

Hibiscus Cooler
Hibiscus flowers can be purchased at most Latin American markets. Ask for Jamaica (pronounced huh-MIKE-uh.) You may also find it at health food stores or locally at Andy's Produce in the bulk herb section.

2 cups hibiscus flowers
3/4 cup sugar (or to taste)
Optional flavorings: 6 slices of ginger root, 2 cinnamon sticks, juice of 1 orange (choose one)
1 1/2 quarts boiling water

1) Put hibiscus flowers, sugar, and optional flavorings into a large heatproof pitcher or container.
2) Pour boiling water into container and steep for 20 minutes. Strain. Taste and adjust sweetness if necessary.
3) Serve over ice with a sparkling water floater and a wedge of lime or use in the cocktails below.

Jamaican Ruby

1 ounce rum
6 ounces Hibiscus Cooler
Ice

Pour rum over ice in lowball glass. Add Hibiscus Cooler and garnish with a lime wedge.

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Hibiscus Margarita
adapted from this recipe.

2 ounces tequila
4 ounces Hibiscus Cooler
juice from half a lime
1 ounce simple syrup
Ice

Mix all ingredients in a glass, or alternatively, blend in a blender. Garnish with a lime wedge.

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Hibiscus Cosmo
adapted from this recipe.

2 ounces vodka
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1 ounce Fresh squeezed lime juice
1 ounce Hibiscus Cooler
3/4 ounce simple syrup

Pour all ingredients into a chilled cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime twist.

Basil Pesto

2009-09-18T12:33:00.000-07:00

As summer fades into fall, I'm thinking a lot about savoring these last few days of warm weather. The weekend promises to be hot here; it's already in the high eighties. So in the cool of morning, before it gets hot enough that all we can do is swim and sip icy drinks, I made pesto -- a big batch so that when winter comes and those long, cold days set in, I'll be able to pull a few jars out of the freezer and be reminded of the heat and the peppery basil scent of summer.

Basil Pesto
I don't follow a recipe when I make this but today I tried to pay attention so that I could pass some concrete measurements along. So use this as a guideline and adjust to your taste, adding or subtracting garlic and salt or making substitutions for the nuts and basil. Makes about 3 cups.

3/4 cup toasted pine nuts*
6 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon salt
12 cups basil leaves**
1/2 cup olive oil

1) Grind pine nuts, garlic and salt together in a food processor or blender until relatively smooth -- you should have a paste with a consistency a bit like peanut butter.
2) Add basil a handful or two at a time, pulse to chop finely after each addition.
3) With the motor running, gradually pour in olive oil and blend until the pesto is creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

You can freeze your pesto in small canning jars, ziploc bags or other containers. I like to freeze some in ice cube trays for those times when you just want to add a tablespoon or two to flavor a soup or other dish. If you plan to use the pesto fresh, float a tablespoon or two of olive oil over the top of your pesto to keep it from discoloring and store in the fridge.

*Pine nuts are traditional but you can substitute all or a portion for cashews, walnuts, or pepitas.
**Try making pesto with other greens or herbs: arugula, spinach, chard, cilantro, parsley or carrot, radish or beet greens. Bear in mind that beet greens will turn your pasta a bit pink, however; kids may like this or they may think it's disgusting -- you've been warned.

Watch out world

2009-09-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

Because our little genius has learned how to grab ahold of things...

and bring them...

to his mouth!

Humphrey better hold on to his tail.

Homemade Granola

2009-09-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Before my husband and I were married, breakfast was a bit of a sticking point. While I liked a big, hearty American-style breakfast, my European sweetheart ate nothing but cornflakes and milk. This didn't seem to bother him one whit, but was a problem for me; who wants to poach just one egg or whisk a tiny dollop of hollandaise sauce? While bringing Arnoud breakfast in bed was as easy as pouring milk over flakes, I never received the same special treatment in return, and really, who could blame him? It would have involved hours of chopping potatoes and flipping omelets.

This rift was healed, symbolically and actually, on our first morning as husband and wife. We woke in our charming room tucked under the eaves of the J.D. house, a bed and breakfast in Mendocino, to the smell of cinnamon and toasted almonds. Following our noses downstairs, we were served bowls of homemade granola with yogurt and fresh fruit. Finally, the perfect breakfast to satisfy us both: hearty and full of enough protein to keep me content for hours and crunchy sweet grains to please my sweetheart. And we lived happily ever after.

Homemade Granola, the simple recipe for a lifetime of wedded bliss
Although there seem to be a lot of ingredients, you probably already have all of this in your pantry. But don't worry if you're missing something as substitutions, additions and creativity are very welcome. It all comes together very quickly and it makes a big batch, so your little bit of effort will be rewarded every morning for quite awhile.

7 cups rolled oats
3 cups nuts and/or seeds (any variety. I've used almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and flax seeds. Mix and match, be creative, go wild.)
1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/2 cup powdered milk or soymilk (optional, adds a bit of protein and creaminess)
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup oil (vegetable or a mild flavored olive oil)
1/2 cup maple syrup (or substitute honey)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, cherries, banana chips or chopped dates, apples, apricots, etc)

1) Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Mix the dry ingredients (oats through salt) together in a large bowl.
3) Add the wet ingredients (oil through vanilla) and stir well to coat. If you've used honey, you should warm it with the oil and vanilla so it will spread evenly.
4) Spread the granola on two ungreased baking sheets and toast in the preheated oven, stirring every 10 minutes, until warm and just starting to turn golden brown, about 30 minutes total.
5) Return the granola to the mixing bowl and stir in the dried fruit. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Hemming Jeans in 15 Minutes

2009-09-13T08:36:00.000-07:00

I have short legs. Very short legs. And is it just me, or are jean legs getting longer? All those beautiful expensive jeans seem to come only in 36 inch inseams. I think they're trying to give me a complex. Of course, I could spend $25 to get my jeans hemmed professionally, but since I'm ~~cheap~~ thrifty, I figured I could find a way to do it myself. And let me tell you, this has been life changing. All it takes is 15 minutes, a measuring device, and a bit of sewing (I used a machine, but you might even be able to sew your jeans by hand) and the results are nothing short of magical. And with all the money I'm saving, I might just be able to buy myself that pair of premium jeans.

1) First, try on your jeans and the shoes you'll usually wear with them and cuff the jeans to exactly the length you'd like. Pin this cuff in place before removing the jeans. This step is a bit easier if you have a partner to help you pin.

2) Next, measure the length of the cuff including the original hem. We'll call this measurement A.

Unpin the cuff and re-pin it to measure 1/2 of measurement A excluding the original hem.

For example: if measurement A is 2 inches including the hem, your pinned cuff should measure 1 inch excluding the hem.

3) Using a thread color to match your jeans, sew this cuff in place. Use a straight stitch and stitch as close as you possibly can to the original hem.

4) Finish by pressing the cuff up out of the way inside your jeans and then tack the cuff in place by making a few stitches at both of the side seams. This will keep the cuff from drooping down and ruining the magic.

That's it! Now throw on those fancy jeans and walk tall. Add a pair of heels and no one has to know you've got a 30 inch inseam.

I'll stick with my dirty flip-flops though. Just keepin it real.

Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

2009-09-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today is the first day that I can really feel autumn in the air. There are great big clouds racing across the sky, chased by strong wind. And the leaves are falling off the trees, swirling and dancing their way to the ground. It's the kind of day that makes me start thinking about putting things up for winter, about laying away provisions for the time when (it's hard to imagine!) there won't be tomatoes dripping off the vines and such an over-abundance of cucumbers that I almost can't imagine eating another. It's also a day for being cozy and lazy, for cuddling up with that little person who's recently stolen my heart. So no big projects, no canning, nothing time-consuming. Instead, I offer a simple recipe (more of a guideline) for slow-roasted tomatoes. It's the perfect way to use up that glut of tomatoes without slaving away at canning or making pasta sauce. It's a lazy cooks dream, with only a few minutes of hands-on time. And it's the perfect way to make your house cozy and warm so you can cuddle up with your favorite little person and watch the leaves fall.

Slow-roasted Tomatoes
1) Halve or quarter tomatoes (depending on size, I used halved cocktail tomatoes) and place cut side up on a baking sheet.

2) Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Add herbs or spices if desired. Fresh thyme leaves are nice or follow Molly's suggestion and use ground coriander. This is also the time to throw in a couple of garlic cloves as well.

3) Bake at 250 F until the tomatoes are shriveled a bit and the juices are concentrated. This will take at least 2 hours depending on the size of the tomatoes. We're not making sundried tomatoes here so don't let them go too long or dry out.

The tomatoes will store well in the fridge in a covered jar. They'll probably last at least a week that way although I can't seem to test that theory as they always disappear much faster than that around here. And if you're much better at delaying gratification than I am, I bet you could even freeze them so you can enjoy summer in the dead of winter.

Use these little rays of sunshine on pizzas, sandwiches or salads. Make a pasta salad with slivers of basil, capers and cubes of fresh mozzarella. And slow-roasted tomatoes make a very grown-up substitute for ketchup on hamburgers, so if summer decides to give us another few days, break out your grill and enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Fleeting Smiles

2009-08-18T15:45:00.000-07:00

These precious glimpses of the funny little person he is becoming are more frequent now. He's responding to our smiles from time to time and is definitely ticklish!

He's here!

2009-08-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

10 Things I'm Loving Right Now

2009-01-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

1) Watching sunrises. Photographing people watching sunrises.

2) Designing my dream house on Google Sketchup
3) Taking photos of birds (no, this is not the same as bird watching and don't ever call me a bird nerd!)

4) Knitting baby hats and then making my dog pose for pictures modeling the hats.

5) Ravelry.
6) Using only solar power for electricity and hot water.
7) The view from my private yoga studio. In the morning, I see rays jumping, sea lions, and occasionally dolphins. In the evenings there is an osprey who comes to hunt along the shoreline. There are always flying fish and pelicans to watch.

8) That time early in the morning when the only sound is the waves.
9) This picture (from December 15th.)

10) This video (from yesterday.)

Santa arrives in Baja!

2008-12-23T16:20:00.000-08:00

He came a little early and he left the reindeer and sleigh behind...

Merry Christmas everyone!

My first (semi-)professional photography job

2008-12-22T08:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I didn't exactly get paid or anything... but we (Humphrey, Arnoud, Tim and I) did get to go for free on an amazing kite trip. Check out the photos at Downwind Kiting's website. Mostly the section about the Isla Cerralvo trip, but also some of the website's promotional photos. I took most of the pictures and Arnoud modeled for some of them. I might even get paid to take photos for them if they sell some excursions! And I've been asked to be the "professional photographer" during the freestyle clinic with the pro rider for f-one. Wish me luck!

Back in Baja Blogland

2008-12-12T10:32:00.000-08:00

So we've been having a nice time relaxing into our vacation. We set up a nice camp -- a whole house with living area, a nice large kitchen, a shower, and a front yard with a hammock and a view of the sea.
The wind has been sporadic but we've still gotten a fair amount of time on the water. Arnoud has been working on his Raleys (pictured below) and backrolls with 180 transitions. I'm working on not face planting or digging in my edges or looking like I'm sitting on the toilet. Oh, to be Arnoud!

From My Pictures

I did ride Arnoud's strapless surfboard for the first time yesterday. Very exciting to do, not terrribly exciting to watch. It'll be awhile until I brave the waves.
We went on an overnight to the Isla Cerralvo, 14 miles off the coast, with 11 friend on a cat-hull powerboat with a 250 hp motor and a built in blender.

From 2008_12_08

We set up camp on a beach, deserted except for us and a few marked turtle nests. After a day of playing in the water and on the beach -- kiting, spearfishing, snorkelling, and swimming; frisbee, shell hunting, sunbathing and hiking -- we ate dutch-oven enchiladas and chiles rellenos by the campfire and watched great big meteors streak across the sky.

From 2008_12_08

The next day we crossed back; Arnoud and several others kited downwind as Humphrey and I enjoyed the boat ride and took hundreds of photos. Here's a few for you to enjoy!

Marie and Greg's Wedding in Paradise

2008-08-07T15:21:00.001-07:00

So it's been an awfully long time since Marie and Greg's wedding, but I wanted to share some of the photos since it was so beautiful! The wedding was in the cute little surf town of Sayulita, north of Puerto Vallarta on the west coast of the mainland of Mexico.

We stayed in an incredible "compound" of houses right on the beach with a view of the sunset.

It was a whole week of fun in the sun culminating with Marie and Greg's western-style wedding in a thatch-roofed palapa on a bluff above the crashing waves. Unfortunately, no photos of the ceremony, I was too busy crying my eyes out. After dinner there was a surprise fireworks display and then we danced for hours. There's a rumor that I did some synchronized swimming back in the pool at the compound later that night, but don't trust everything you read on the internet.

The next day there was a Korean-style wedding with some giving of wooden ducks and throwing of dates and nuts. The bride and groom looked like dolls in their traditional outfits.

And then on the last day we stayed with Champang at her cliff-top rental house with this incredible pool.

I was just as happy as I've ever been, lying in an eternity pool with a book and a glass of white wine. I'm just going to imagine myself back there...

If you're interested in the rest of the photos, look at the web album here.

Marie and Greg

2008-08-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

Do the Barracuda!

2008-05-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

Hallo from Holland!

2008-05-27T03:20:00.000-07:00

We've had a wonderful, busy trip so far. First we stayed with Arnoud's parents and enjoyed the countryside around Arnoud's hometown. We took a bike ride through the quiet country roads and hiked through a nature preserve, the Kampina.

Then came Martine's bachelorette party on Saturday, May 17th. We had a tarot card reading, tasted Belgian beer, wore silly hats, and made even sillier photos. By the time we made it to the restaurant for dinner, Martine was half-naked (I've edited those photos out!) and everyone was half-drunk. Apparently we had a good time, and luckily we got everything on film as the details of the evening are a bit hazy.

For my birthday we went to Zaanse Schans, a cute little village north of Amsterdam, to see some of the old windmills from the 17th and 18th centuries. The Zaanstreek was an important industrial area of the time (the first industrial area in Europe) and produced all sorts of goods: paint, flour, oil, mustard, snuff, and milled wood. Some of the windmills are still working and we toured a paint mill, De Kat (The Cat). It looks very calm from the outside, with hardly any noise, but from the inside it's very loud and everything shakes and moves. The wings of the windmill turn all sorts of gears and mill stones and grinding and pounding devices. It's amazing how much energy those little sails generate!

We also visited a klompen museum to see the history of wooden clogs. Despite how it sounds, it was actually fascinating! We saw all different kinds of clogs from beautiful hand painted and carved bridal clogs to (my favorite) rollerskate clogs. Humphrey even found a clog to fit him.

Our friend Philipp came over from Vienna for a visit and arrived on Friday just in time for Happy Hour in the sunshine at a cafe in Amsterdam. Together with our family, we took over Eelco and Rianna's beautiful apartment for a Thai food take-out birthday dinner.

On Saturday our friend Tim took us out on his little boat to tour the canals of Amsterdam. It's a beautiful city and it's wonderful and unusual to view it from waterlevel.

We finished at Eelco and Rianna's where we enjoyed Mojitos in the park and once again were treated to a wonderful dinner. We finished the evening in Studio 80, a club in the center of Amsterdam, where we saw our friend Neal (from Error Krew) deejay and danced until dawn.

On Sunday nothing happened because we were too hungover.

and the rest of our stay in Baja...

2008-05-27T03:15:00.000-07:00

can be seen in our web album:

Baja 2007

Photos!

2007-12-31T09:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Enjoy the random photos.

No Comment

2007-12-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

Going Under

2007-12-21T12:58:00.000-08:00

We went for a sunrise scuba dive south of Ensenada Blanca with our friends Nancy and Chris from El Santuario. We loaded up kayaks with tanks and gear and paddled south along the coast to a secluded beach surrounded by cliffs. After a short refresher and equipment check, Nancy and I descended right next to a beautiful painted moray eel. We saw lots of reef fish: jacks, angels, triggers, damsels, and the largest parrot fish I've ever seen.

Arnoud and Chris went second and Chris swears he saw a reef shark, but Arnoud missed it. Humphrey didn't get to go, but he enjoyed the kayak ride! It was a beautiful morning and so much fun to get back under the surface.

Now we've moved south of La Paz to a bay called La Ventana which, as you might expect from the name, is famous for it's wind. It's a huge campground that is taken over by windsurfers and kiteboarders from December to March. It's not quite as remote as our last camp, but there's a lot more to do.

On Arnoud's first day back on his windsurf board, he snapped his mast in half way out. After an hour and a half of swimming, a kiteboarder finally took pity on him and dragged him to shore. In gratitude, I decided to learn kiteboarding. Watch out sunbathers, I'm coming and I've got a 9 meter kite strapped to my waist!

I've been taking lessons with Nat Lincoln from Edge Kiteboarding School. After a lot of theory and practice on shore with a little training kite, I finally got to go in the water yesterday, although I didn't get to take my board. I started up on the north side of the bay and dragged myself all the way south (about 3/4 of a mile) using a 6 meter kite. It was a lot of fun, although there's still water dripping out of my nose 24 hours later.

Arnoud's been a bit quicker with picking up the sport (darn him!) and took out a board yesterday. After a couple of mishaps and unintentional kite loops, he managed to stand up -- only to fall right back down... I would have laughed a little evil laugh to see that, but I was busy "tea bagging" my way down the bay (and no, you dirty people, not that kind of tea bagging!)

Humphrey, mean while, has learned a new sport too; he's finally mastered fetch and wants to practice all the time.

Other than our new extreme sports, we're practicing mostly relaxed activities. We bought a paddle and put my huge windsurf board to better use as a stand up paddle board for dawn balancing acts(photos soon.) Arnoud's been making lots of beautiful rock piles. And of course sunset is a spectator sport.

What a Wild Life!

2007-12-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

The most amazing thing happened yesterday: We had breakfast sitting on the beach. It's was a totally calm day, with not a breeze or a wave in sight. I walked down to the water's edge with Humphrey and looked out to sea and all of a sudden a dolphin breached. He couldn't have been more than 20 feet out, in thigh deep water. And then another dolphin breached right next to the first, and bait fish started jumping out of the glassy water. I walked along the shore and watched as the two dolphins swam, sliding up out of the water every couple feet, all the way south along the beach and around the corner.

Today we went fishing with our neighbor and caught a bunch of big sierras (a kind of mackerel.) On our way back to the beach, we were followed by a sea lion who wanted to see if he could beg a few of our catch. We saw osprey hunting and manta rays jumping out of the water.

For lunch we had a ceviche of very fresh sierra plus a few giant diver scallops (almost as big as my palm) from some of the local guys. As we sat on the beach afterwards, enjoying a siesta break, we watched pelicans hunting, stitching the water in synchronized patterns, and herons wading around in the shallows looking for their own lunch.

Sorry about the silly title of this post, but it's been an amazing 24 hours down here, although according to our "neighbors", it's all perfectly normal. And about that stingray experience that so many of you have expressed concern about: It turns out that what we stepped on were probably skates or flounders or something like that. The local fishermen laughed at our stingray fears. And we went snorkeling on this beach yesterday and didn't see a single ray, so I think we're safe. I even went out windsurfing (and fell a lot!) without fear.

Single Track in Baja

2007-12-08T09:42:00.000-08:00

We've moved into a camp on the beach, south of Loreto, near a pueblo called Ligui. We're in the dunes behind the beach, in a little stand of some sort of manzanita. It's shady and private and smells wonderfully of sea and heat and some sort of desert plant I haven't been able to identify. We're sleeping in our tent with a screen roof, so we wake up to see hummingbirds buzzing past and go to sleep with the stars above our heads. There are more shooting stars here than I've ever seen before, and they are big and fat and fall lazily.

Arnoud went windsurfing the other day, but it's still and quiet now. We may go out on our neighbors little boat to go fishing instead today, although he went out yesterday and only caught one small needlefish. We went for a long mountain bike ride yesterday, up an arroyo and over a saddle to a viewpoint of the sea, looking down towards "our beach." Humphrey ran along beside us the whole way and had a great time. He did well, but was tired last night. As was I, so we slept while Arnoud played dominoes with some of his friends from Point Reyes who are down here.

Adventures on the Water

2007-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

We went windsurfing the other day. Arnoud did a few good laps and then it was my turn. I climbed up on the board and sailed right off… for about 15 feet before I did a very graceful butt flop. The water was still only thigh high, so I stood up to climb back onto my board and stepped on something slippery and moving! So I did what any self-respecting woman would do — I let out a high pitched shriek and leapt all the way on top of my board. As I screamed to Arnoud what had happened, he jumped straight up at least a foot and a half because he had stepped on one too. And so we found out there are stingrays in the Loreto Bay. Needless to say, we swam straight back to the beach without letting our feet touch the sand and cut our windsurf session short. We’ll have to go somewhere a bit deeper next time.
We spent a day on the water with Romeo Cota, the mayor of the pueblo from which we are hoping to purchase land. We went out to “our beach” and visited. It really is beautiful and peaceful and dramatic all at once.
Afterwards, we took Humphrey and the mountain bikes for a ride on the cow trails between beaches and ended up at El Santuario where some of Arnoud’s former coworkers from Blue Waters Kayak are hanging out and waiting for their kayak guide work to start. There’s a really beautiful beach there with free (no facility) camping that we’ve decided to move to. I’ve arranged with a nearby hotel and rv park to sit by their pool and use their wifi everyday, a tropical office. We’ll be much happier living on a beach than here in town, although it will be a bit less convenient and we won’t get fresh tortillas and aguas frescas everyday.

Travelling South

2007-12-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

We’ve had a longer than hoped for trip down, but it’s been relatively smooth sailing all the way. So much to tell you all…
We stopped in San Diego after a marathon, all-night drive. We stayed with Jorden (Arnoud’s friend from Boxtel, he was at our wedding) and Kristin. Had a lovely time there and got to see their new house as well as a bit of the city and Coronado. San Diego dogs have it great and Humphrey had a blast on one of the many dog friendly beaches as well as at happy hour at an outdoor bar with a spectacular view across the bay to the SD skyline. We stayed with Jorden and Kristin for Thanksgiving. Kristin made us a fantastic roast chicken, Arnoud made mulled wine (”gluhwein”). It was all so cozy that it made it a bit easier not to be with all my family. Thanks Jorden and Kristin!
We left for the border on Friday and almost made it to Ensenada before dark. We ended up at a campground where a surf contest was going to happen the next morning so we met lots of cool So Cal surfer dudes. Humphrey found out that in Mexico there are no leash laws and everything smells so fantastically bad!
On Saturday we finally made some real tracks, all the way into the desert highlands. Lots of boulders and weird Dr Seussian plants — it was spectacularly beautiful even before the sun set and the full moon rose. We started driving before dawn on Sunday, so we also got to see a sunrise over the desert. We took tons of photos — it was just unsettlingly beautiful! Unfortunately, Humphrey had his first encounter with a cactus and cried all the way back to the camper. He spent the rest of the morning pouting and resenting us for dragging him all the way down to this god-forsaken prickly place.

We made tracks further south all day and ended up on beautiful Playa Requeson where we watched the sunset and Humphrey made a little friend and decided that he likes Baja after all.