It's funny, I just realised that I never post recipes even though I am constantly trying out new ones and adjusting others that I liked but didn't love - this is one of those type, I love it now that I have adjusted the proportions.
Indian Chick Peas (or Lentils)
1 19oz/540ml can of chick peas or lentils - rinse them well and then out them back in the can and fill it up with water.
1 large onion finely chopped
4 to 6 cloves of garlic minced
1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger
1/2 tsp salt - if you cook with salt
1/4 to 1/2 tsp of cayenne - the more you add the hotter it is.
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp tumeric
2 tsp cumin
juice of 1/2 a lemon
Heat a few tsps of olive oil in the bottom of a heavy frying pan ( I like cast iron as they hold the heat well)
Add the minced garlic and onion, saute for about 10 minutes over medium heat
Add the in all the spices and the lemon juice, saute for another minute or so.
Add the can of chick peas/lentils and allow to boil rapidly for a few minutes to reduce the liquid. Turn to low and simmer for at least 5 minutes, longer if you have time.
Serve over rice or rice noodles. Serves 2 big eaters or 3 smaller eaters.
Notes - Sometimes I double the recipe and add both chick peas and lentils.
- I use canned but you could use dry and add about 1/4 cup of water in place of the water in the can.
- I rinse the can contents well due to the amount of salt that is in the liquid they are canned in.
- This is not a "hot" curry, I can't eat really hot things but it is tasty. P. makes his hotter with pickled mango added on to his plate.
Tuesday, November 7, 2006
Monday, November 6, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Rhine -what...
Well as we all know I did not get to Rhinebeck this year, sad but true. It sounds like it was good and I must say that I'm more sad about the friends I could of seen then I am about the wool I could of bought. Alas life will go, I should is going on. I have been working everyday lately, great for the money but with both P and I working full time evenings and weekends are busy and my blog is suffering as a result. I took today off to catch up on a few important things and to apply for a job that I think wasn't really a job but was posted anyway - this is so often the way in the teaching world.
Aside from the ongoing job issues life is good. I spent a fun filled weekend in Toronto, there was no wool but it was a blast none the less. I went down to meet up with a group of friends from the Welcome Home ( a inner city mission in Winnipeg), they were people I lived with and worked with during an amazing time in my life. Anyway, we got together on Saturday and chatted about common people and friends and good times were had. I also got to stay with a few friends I just don't see enough of, it's sad they live in Toronto. We went to go and see "Little Miss Sunshine" and laughed so hard we were crying. Go see it if you can and if not rent the DVD - I can't explain why I laughed so hard... you need to see it.
And since I can't post without a little fiber related news
A picture of Tigger from our dying party ( I meant to post it earlier but forgot), that girl can spin!
My recently finished Jester hat, modeled by vintage Strawberry Shortcake doll that still blows strawberry kisses after 20 odd years.
I was inspired by this Knitty article, I took apart my rainbow sweater and felted it. It fits much better now and I just need to seam it back together.
Aside from the ongoing job issues life is good. I spent a fun filled weekend in Toronto, there was no wool but it was a blast none the less. I went down to meet up with a group of friends from the Welcome Home ( a inner city mission in Winnipeg), they were people I lived with and worked with during an amazing time in my life. Anyway, we got together on Saturday and chatted about common people and friends and good times were had. I also got to stay with a few friends I just don't see enough of, it's sad they live in Toronto. We went to go and see "Little Miss Sunshine" and laughed so hard we were crying. Go see it if you can and if not rent the DVD - I can't explain why I laughed so hard... you need to see it.
And since I can't post without a little fiber related news
A picture of Tigger from our dying party ( I meant to post it earlier but forgot), that girl can spin!
My recently finished Jester hat, modeled by vintage Strawberry Shortcake doll that still blows strawberry kisses after 20 odd years.
I was inspired by this Knitty article, I took apart my rainbow sweater and felted it. It fits much better now and I just need to seam it back together.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Squatters
Jane Catz 00001
C.P. Cat Rescue Society
Jane Catz 00001
C.P. Cat Rescue Society
Jane Catz 00002
C.P. Cat Rescue Society
Jane Catz 00002
C.P. Cat Rescue Society.
Be it noted that the inmate refuses to participate in a profile shot
Food and water have been provided
Along with adequate amounts of playtime and artificial light
and human contact on occasion
The residents of the C.P Animal Rescue Society will be taken to there new home later this afternoon and normal downstairs bathroom usage will resume.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Ok it's a really crappy photo but I was alone and trying to take one so I could upload it. Why you might ask... because I cut off all my hair. I was growing it so I could donate it and I finally got the 10 inches I needed and could cut it off and still ahve a little hair left... so off it came.
and another dye picture, this is one of my favourites - it was like trying to heat up a lot of food at a big potluck - but it happened and then end results were fabulous. I had wanted to just add this picture to the last post but blogger is being dumb and won't let me add an image to an existing post.
Friday, October 6, 2006
Dye party Part I
Yes we gathered, we dyed yarn, we had fun. I have had a long week, some tough teaching days and now a pinched nerve in my neck. You get pictures but no captions. Jo ( whose link is in the post below) has another cute pic on her blog. The kittens were a success to say the very least and I don't want to hear about how mean I am for letting my cats kill mice - we live the country, we have mice - we got cats to deal with the mice.
In order to dye wool. wool must be in skiens... there was much winding going on.
Kool-Aid anyone, there was a lot of wool and sadly we ran out of some of the best colours of Kool-aid early on but we still got lots of great colours
Waiting to be baked. We did some in the oven and some in the microwave.
And then we also dyed a number of skiens in natural dye - we used golden rod and marigold flowers with alum as the mordant. It worked REALLY well.
Grren and blue kool-aid
More Kool-Aid drying.
Kittens were held
and held some more
Yes it is upside down, the yellow roving was from golden rod/marigolds. the rainbow and pink are Kool-Aid on merino that I got in CA last winter and on the end is cotton dyed in Rit dye - I ended up with 2 large hanks and I really like it. There was also some tye dying that went on of wool and clothes with Tigger but my camera died.
In order to dye wool. wool must be in skiens... there was much winding going on.
Kool-Aid anyone, there was a lot of wool and sadly we ran out of some of the best colours of Kool-aid early on but we still got lots of great colours
Waiting to be baked. We did some in the oven and some in the microwave.
And then we also dyed a number of skiens in natural dye - we used golden rod and marigold flowers with alum as the mordant. It worked REALLY well.
Grren and blue kool-aid
More Kool-Aid drying.
Kittens were held
and held some more
Yes it is upside down, the yellow roving was from golden rod/marigolds. the rainbow and pink are Kool-Aid on merino that I got in CA last winter and on the end is cotton dyed in Rit dye - I ended up with 2 large hanks and I really like it. There was also some tye dying that went on of wool and clothes with Tigger but my camera died.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
No snappy title today
Look what I found in the back seat of my car, yes that is a little baby snake - I was not impressed! It didn't want to leave either although with much encouragment it finally did
And for your amusement - A 100lb dog try to get her tennis ball out of a space that is 4 inches high - I had to help
Look another mess from Ikea
Did you know that if you spend enough money on their furniture you may be lucky enough to get this little tiny screwdriver in your package of bolts and such. It is virtually useless but cute none the less. I used a real tool for the job
there is nothing like a good electric scredriver when assembling
the island for your kitchen - Yipee the top went on today and it looks great. There will be more photos after the weekend, I am having a dye party. This lovely lady, this one, and this one, will all be here. There are others but they are blogless and this one is going to wedding in New Bruswick so she's not coming - but she's defintley the one missing out.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
I really do knit, honest.
A "Jestertish hat" that I am sort of making up as I go along. I found a patern once and adapted it to make a hat for my niece but this one is just kinda happening as it goes. I am thinking about bells on the ends but that I might not be so popular withthe parents if I do that.
LOOK a sock, I am rather proud of this sock. It's toe up with a rather temporary cast off because I wanted to do picot but couldn't find the instructions and wanted to start the second sock before I lost my motivation so I just got it off the needles and started the second one. We'll see if I actually go back and do the picot cast off.
I have a few other things on the go as well - P's sweater ( yes still, it was on time out for the summer due to the heat) a few scarves and I was enabled yeaterday to buy some amazing alpaca lace weight for a shawl - but the alpaca was 400 meters for 7.50 - yes that's Canadian, is there a better deal about, I think not. So I have decided I must free up some needles before I cast onthe shawl but it is so calling my name, me the one who said I would never knit lace...
Monday, September 18, 2006
got yarn
I've been spinning and spinning and spinning... this is roving I got in CA last winter, it took me ages to get through all of it but I finally have and i am rather pleased with the results. Notice that the wool is drying on the tub, the tub is in the bathroom and bathroom is FINISHED! - so is the kitchen floor. There will be more pics later I am off to pick through some fleece so I can wash it... and eventually get to spinning it.
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
kitchen floors
Our house is old, nothing is level and I am slowly being driven to insanity as I try to put the kitchen floor on to the not level surface that is the kitchen sub floor at the moment. I am not a happy girl... I think we are eating out tonight!
Friday, September 8, 2006
Fridays
Not to much to report here on the farm, I don't even have any cute pictures. It's quiet now that school has started and I am not working yet - yes I am still without my own classroom and looking at another year of supply teaching. I am not thrilled to say the very least but I comforted to know that I am not the only one and that heaps of folks are looking for/hoping for classrooms as well.
On a brighter not I have spent lots of time in the kitchen recently and been making lots of tasty, J friendly foods. Last weekend we had people over for dinner and I made some great Thai food for supper, there were also some cherry perogies for dinner one night and today I am making individual size pavlova with fruit and chocolate for a pot luck tonight. I love good food.
FYI If you are GF like me check out this great blog Recipes from a [ Gluten Free] Goddess , well even if you aren't GF you will probably like her stuff, it all looks so good.
It knitting news... I finished my first sock ( well not really my 1st but the 1st one that I will wear) and have cast on for the mate. I am working on a few other things but the socks are winning in the what shall I work on tonight battle.
Not to much else to say, have a good weekend and as soon as those socks are done there will be a picture. Oh and I helped out Shelba on her post for Self Potrait Challenge, go have a look there are some really great pictures up this week.
On a brighter not I have spent lots of time in the kitchen recently and been making lots of tasty, J friendly foods. Last weekend we had people over for dinner and I made some great Thai food for supper, there were also some cherry perogies for dinner one night and today I am making individual size pavlova with fruit and chocolate for a pot luck tonight. I love good food.
FYI If you are GF like me check out this great blog Recipes from a [ Gluten Free] Goddess , well even if you aren't GF you will probably like her stuff, it all looks so good.
It knitting news... I finished my first sock ( well not really my 1st but the 1st one that I will wear) and have cast on for the mate. I am working on a few other things but the socks are winning in the what shall I work on tonight battle.
Not to much else to say, have a good weekend and as soon as those socks are done there will be a picture. Oh and I helped out Shelba on her post for Self Potrait Challenge, go have a look there are some really great pictures up this week.
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Introducing
Kieran
and Freud
both of whom need to learn that my knitting basket is not a place to play!
Friday, September 1, 2006
Excuse me, you have the wrong number!
So last night while P and I are enjoying a lovely meal (on a patio, 1 of our last chances I imagine) my cell phone rings. I answer it and it is someone looking for someone who is not me. I tell him he has the wrong number and hang up, the guy calls 2 more time and I ignore it thinking that if he gets my voicemail he will figure our that he has the wrong number.
This morning my cell phone rings again - it's him and he wants to confirm that I ordered a taxi to take me to the airport. His English wasn't so great and I asked him where he was calling from but he just kept telling me I texted him for a taxi to the airport. I finally hung up and P. traced the number on the computer, guess where he was calling from Puerto Rico. I am sure he is going to be thrilled when he gets his phone bill.
In other news my new kittens are adorable, there will be pictures when P brings the card reader home from work
I recently checked out the recent searches on Stat Counter and I had a good laugh. Here's a few of the best ones, ( I should of posted this on Tuesday because now some of the best ones have moved off the list) I wonder what they think when my blog comes up on their search results page.
1. birds, flowers and all the other stuff in asia
2. apples and bananas lyrics and who wrote it
3. bryant street theater
This morning my cell phone rings again - it's him and he wants to confirm that I ordered a taxi to take me to the airport. His English wasn't so great and I asked him where he was calling from but he just kept telling me I texted him for a taxi to the airport. I finally hung up and P. traced the number on the computer, guess where he was calling from Puerto Rico. I am sure he is going to be thrilled when he gets his phone bill.
In other news my new kittens are adorable, there will be pictures when P brings the card reader home from work
I recently checked out the recent searches on Stat Counter and I had a good laugh. Here's a few of the best ones, ( I should of posted this on Tuesday because now some of the best ones have moved off the list) I wonder what they think when my blog comes up on their search results page.
1. birds, flowers and all the other stuff in asia
2. apples and bananas lyrics and who wrote it
3. bryant street theater
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Well hello there,
Yes, I know - 2 weeks was up a week ago. I am a bad blogger. I've had a great month though and happy report that as summer draws to a close all is well in my end of the world.
Our wedding party went off without a hitch, it was a beautiful day and it seems as though everyone had a lovely time. Our weeks of house guests went well and I did get the house together enough that there were enough beds and space for all the people. I have some pictures but they aren't on my laptop so it will have to wait for another day.
In other news, I signed up for the Favorite Color Swap at the last minute and I was spoiled rotten. I can not even begin top tell you how in awe I was of all the great treats that Ann (let me know your blog address) sent me. There is some amazing wool including Treking sock and Lorna's Lace and lots of great treats to feed my butterfly addiction and for the kitchen as well. I can't say thank you enough for her generosity.
Our wedding party went off without a hitch, it was a beautiful day and it seems as though everyone had a lovely time. Our weeks of house guests went well and I did get the house together enough that there were enough beds and space for all the people. I have some pictures but they aren't on my laptop so it will have to wait for another day.
In other news, I signed up for the Favorite Color Swap at the last minute and I was spoiled rotten. I can not even begin top tell you how in awe I was of all the great treats that Ann (let me know your blog address) sent me. There is some amazing wool including Treking sock and Lorna's Lace and lots of great treats to feed my butterfly addiction and for the kitchen as well. I can't say thank you enough for her generosity.
I am off to deliver some more resumes ( I really need full time work this year) and then pick up the newest members of the family... they are cute and there is 2 of them.
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
Proof that I really do have a house in mid reno for those of you who were starting to doubt it
this ladder and I good friends, we are so close that I was willing to let it hold ( if only for a minute) my new knitting basket, wool ( some lovely mohair) and my recent spinning. The ladder is living in the bathroom today as I try to get the rest of it painted and the basket was a gift from a friend - she had it shipped from Shetland, it's made from sea grass and smells amazing
this is the tub to go in the bathroom once I get it painted and get the floor in... I refinished it over the last few weeks and finished yesterday, except for covering up the white enamel I got on the the outside
ignore the mess admire the logs.... the mess will go soon
but I think that I have enough Home Depot bags to wall paper a room - look there is furniture in the living room, i have to get it looking a little more like a living room this week
Happy news, the kitchen is finished ( well the floor isn't in but it will be soon. I put in the tall cabinet on the left on Sunday, it's even mounted to the wall. I am rather proud of my self
This was last weeks project, the knitting room! the floor needs to be painted ( not for awhile though) and all the bathroom stuff is living in it at the moment but it looks good and I am excited to have a room to store my wool and sewing stuff
with all the painting and house stuff my flowers are sadly neglected... the are blooming but they need a little TLC.
I am in the city running errands and really must get on it. It's hot here, really hot and running errands in AC seemed like a good idea. Then it is home to paint
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Pirate parties
It's my favorite pirates* birthday, well actually it was yesterday (but I choose to spend time with him rather than blog). Pirate P is an amazing guy, he's witty and enjoys making me laugh so hard that I can't breathe. He tolerates my PMS (most of the time) and and enjoys spending time with my assorted crazy friends, even the knitters. He's a good listener and a compassionate man. He is a great Dad, friend and generally just super guy. He reminds me to live in the moment and be happy with what I have. So to the man who swept me off my feet**, Happy Birthday P.!
* to hear the pirate story you have to see him in person and buy him a beer, and it really is a true story, I met another of the pirates!
**He claims that I swept him off his feet but I think that he is the one that did the sweeping.
* to hear the pirate story you have to see him in person and buy him a beer, and it really is a true story, I met another of the pirates!
**He claims that I swept him off his feet but I think that he is the one that did the sweeping.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Bad, bad blogger that I am
I'm around, I'm alive and just a little busy trying to get the house to state where 8 people can live in more than 1 room. That and I am helping out a few friends with their little people and they are keeping me busy too. I owe some answers to some comments and emails, if you are waiting to hear from me I will answer eventually I promise
That being said I signed up for a swap... maybe not the smartest thing given my life at the moment, but it looked like fun! So here my answers
Favorite Color Swap Questionnaire
1. What are your top three favorite colors? Indigo, that lovely cornflower shade of blue ( like blue hydrangeas) and red
2. What crafts do you really enjoy? knitting, quilting (it's new but I like it) anything I can do with photos
3. What products do you really covet? hmm nothing that falls in the price range of this swap but I am interested in patterns for shawls
4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things? SLEEPING ( there has not been enough of it lately), cooking and I developing a like for my garden - it dislikes me but I like anyway
5. Is there anything you collect? junk! I'm a bit of a packrat
6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol? Cancer/snake
7.What are your favorite
scents/smellsVanillala, passionfruit and lightly scented things
types of music and/or bandAnythinging but rap
authors I'llread anything but most adult fantasyasty bores me
animals? I have dogs and any baby animal is adorable
places to shop? stores - yarn usually
Season? sSpring /fall
yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies? it's all good
candies or goodies? i love sour things but not licorice , has it has flour - see #9
8. Do you have any wish lists? no
9. Are you allergic to anything? Gluten so if you send treats thay can't have flour in them
10. Do you have any pets? What are they? 2 crazy dogs
11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy. I will love whatever you send me because you took the time to pick it out for lil ol' me.
Gotta go, I got 15 minutes to get out of the coffee shop and to M and M's house.
That being said I signed up for a swap... maybe not the smartest thing given my life at the moment, but it looked like fun! So here my answers
Favorite Color Swap Questionnaire
1. What are your top three favorite colors? Indigo, that lovely cornflower shade of blue ( like blue hydrangeas) and red
2. What crafts do you really enjoy? knitting, quilting (it's new but I like it) anything I can do with photos
3. What products do you really covet? hmm nothing that falls in the price range of this swap but I am interested in patterns for shawls
4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things? SLEEPING ( there has not been enough of it lately), cooking and I developing a like for my garden - it dislikes me but I like anyway
5. Is there anything you collect? junk! I'm a bit of a packrat
6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol? Cancer/snake
7.What are your favorite
scents/smellsVanillala, passionfruit and lightly scented things
types of music and/or bandAnythinging but rap
authors I'llread anything but most adult fantasyasty bores me
animals? I have dogs and any baby animal is adorable
places to shop? stores - yarn usually
Season? sSpring /fall
yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies? it's all good
candies or goodies? i love sour things but not licorice , has it has flour - see #9
8. Do you have any wish lists? no
9. Are you allergic to anything? Gluten so if you send treats thay can't have flour in them
10. Do you have any pets? What are they? 2 crazy dogs
11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy. I will love whatever you send me because you took the time to pick it out for lil ol' me.
Gotta go, I got 15 minutes to get out of the coffee shop and to M and M's house.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Bins, butterflies and birthdays
Bins
I know it's quiet here, like super quiet... to really show you why it's so quiet I need a picture but I am blogging from home and that is not a possibility.... Sooo imagine if you will, one of those large green dumpsters that you see outside a construction site, now think about how big one of those dumpsters is and how much stuff you can insert inside something that holds 10 tonnes. Got a good picture of that in your head, right now multiply it by 2 and then you have the picture I need to post. Yes in the last 12 days or so we have filled not 1 but 2 dumpsters and I must say it has been a huge job. The first one was full of stuff that came from inside the house, mostly wood, drywall and flooring. The 2nd one was the remnanats of the stuff from in the house ( it did not all fit in the 1st one) , including the carpets that I pulled up this week and years of stuff that had accumulated in the barn. The house looks better, we are only 2 painting jobs aways from putting rooms back together and we almost have 2 guest rooms ready ( we have 3 but one is not going to be ready in time) Why the huge push to get it done? Well we have a great deal of company coming in August they are all only overlapping for the weekend of our party but it will be a busy place with 11 extra people in it (the kids are sleeping in tents) and then there is our party where only 150 of our nearest and dearest friends are coming to visit for a evening.
Butterflies
I have super abundance of butterflies in my yard and they are so beautiful! I am not sure where they came from or what I planted that they are so attracted to but everyday when I go outside there are a 4 or 5 of them fluttering about outside my front door in the garden, they are lovely to watch and marvel at. I have always enjoyed butterflies because I'm amazed by how something that can be so small and plain can become so beautiful. Between the birds, the frogs and the butterflies I am lovin country life - oh yeah and the fireflies too. Yeah and guess what else, we have tire swings! ( they aren't up yet but they will be soon, I love tire swings)
Birthdays
It's my birthday! P and I were discussing how life has changed so much in the last 12 months and if you has asked me last year were I would be this year I would not of said married to P and renovating a farm house. It's all good though, sometimes I miss the adventure of traveling but I am happy here in my corner of the world, happy and in love. What more could a girl ask for, I really think that being happy is the most important thing in the world.
Alright I must be off, P and I are going for a picnic tonight and since he is working today I have to get the food! Thank God for take out
I know it's quiet here, like super quiet... to really show you why it's so quiet I need a picture but I am blogging from home and that is not a possibility.... Sooo imagine if you will, one of those large green dumpsters that you see outside a construction site, now think about how big one of those dumpsters is and how much stuff you can insert inside something that holds 10 tonnes. Got a good picture of that in your head, right now multiply it by 2 and then you have the picture I need to post. Yes in the last 12 days or so we have filled not 1 but 2 dumpsters and I must say it has been a huge job. The first one was full of stuff that came from inside the house, mostly wood, drywall and flooring. The 2nd one was the remnanats of the stuff from in the house ( it did not all fit in the 1st one) , including the carpets that I pulled up this week and years of stuff that had accumulated in the barn. The house looks better, we are only 2 painting jobs aways from putting rooms back together and we almost have 2 guest rooms ready ( we have 3 but one is not going to be ready in time) Why the huge push to get it done? Well we have a great deal of company coming in August they are all only overlapping for the weekend of our party but it will be a busy place with 11 extra people in it (the kids are sleeping in tents) and then there is our party where only 150 of our nearest and dearest friends are coming to visit for a evening.
Butterflies
I have super abundance of butterflies in my yard and they are so beautiful! I am not sure where they came from or what I planted that they are so attracted to but everyday when I go outside there are a 4 or 5 of them fluttering about outside my front door in the garden, they are lovely to watch and marvel at. I have always enjoyed butterflies because I'm amazed by how something that can be so small and plain can become so beautiful. Between the birds, the frogs and the butterflies I am lovin country life - oh yeah and the fireflies too. Yeah and guess what else, we have tire swings! ( they aren't up yet but they will be soon, I love tire swings)
Birthdays
It's my birthday! P and I were discussing how life has changed so much in the last 12 months and if you has asked me last year were I would be this year I would not of said married to P and renovating a farm house. It's all good though, sometimes I miss the adventure of traveling but I am happy here in my corner of the world, happy and in love. What more could a girl ask for, I really think that being happy is the most important thing in the world.
Alright I must be off, P and I are going for a picnic tonight and since he is working today I have to get the food! Thank God for take out
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