Garnett Family

Our Date in St. Pete

2010-09-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

We started our afternoon at John's Pass Boardwalk in Madeira Beach.

They had several cute shops and restaurants. We ate at a place called Sculley's Boardwalk Grille that had a great deck overlooking the water.

The shopping is great!

We found quite a few treasures while strolling along the boardwalk.

We went to the Pier for more great shopping.

Behind the Pier you can sit and eat and listen to bands playing.

We stayed at the Grand Plaza Beachfront Resort on St. Pete Beach.

Our room was really nice.

It even had a murphy bed in that wall behind the sofa.

The view from our room.

Standing on our balcony we were serenaded by this guy singing!

It was great!

This is why they call it Paradise.......

The Hurricane House Restaurant

We grabbed some breakfast at the Hurricane House.

They make FANTASTIC Cuban breakfast sandwiches! Pair that along with some fresh pineapple juice. Heaven!

My Dad told us about River Woody Roo's and the Ellington Outlet Mall.

It was a fun place to eat lunch and shop on our way back to North Port and I bought the

cutest raincoat at the Columbia Outlet Store!

We ate outside and had a great view of the Bay.

Jim had a buffalo chicken sandwich and ....

I tried the Cuban beans and rice. It was really flavorful!

It was so nice to get away with just the two of us, now

back to Dad and Jayne's for the rest of our fun filled week!

Edison and Ford Winter Estates ~ Ft. Meyers, Florida

2010-09-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Edison Winter Home ~ Ft. Meyers, Florida

Thomas Edison's Office

This was one of Florida's first swimming pools, Edison built it in 1910.

The Ford Winter Home ~ Ft. Meyers, Florida

Ty and Cassie.....

Bay and Garrett..........and Henry Ford

I was just fascinated by this Mysore Fig Tree.

It was really impressive!

The Ford porch, next to the vintage garage has amazing views of the Caloosahatchee River.

A couple of Henry's autos.

A day in Stillwater..... and Tailgating!

2010-09-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

Ty and Cassie saved us a table at Hideaway Pizza for lunch. On game day it's not easy to get a table! Hideaway is a Stillwater tradition they have been around since 1957!

Kahuna is Hideaway Pizza's Logo. He's on everything from the pizza boxes to t-shirts.

A supreme!

The Mediterranean......... they make the best pizzas on earth!

Outside of Old Central

This old ambulance was parked by us. It has a flat screen on the outside, a beer tap on the side and the inside of the back has orange seats with another flat screen. These people seriously KNOW how to party!

Bay, Cassie and Ty

It was a perfect day for tailgating! We had shade under the tree and a nice cool breeze. Our friend Terry and his family stopped by for a while. I think we could get addicted to tailgating! It's fun! We do need a tent though. EVERYONE had a tent but us........a little embarrassing!

Tanner and Jimmy

Time to eat!

I got Jim this grill last Christmas and this was the first time he had used it.

mmmmm!

There goes Bullet!!

Usually he carries the OSU flag but today it was 9-11 so we were remembering.......

O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A!

Yay we won!!! (barely!)

41-38

My New Dining Room

2010-08-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Jim and I spent Saturday redoing our dining room. I love my new cabinets and bistro table. It looks so lovely at night with the built in lights on in the cabinet.

Now I can display all my cookbooks (and get more!) along with seasonal decorations.

Mika's Pantry

2010-08-22T11:05:00.001-07:00

Check out my new food blog! Jim and I love to cook so I decided to start a new blog with just our food adventures. Please check it out and become a follower. I love cooking Korean and foods different cultures plus I have some favorite chefs I love to try out their recipes.

So join me on a culinary trip at Mika's Pantry.

Finnish Meatballs with Allspice, Sour Cream and Lingonberries

2010-08-15T16:36:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made Finnish Meatballs from Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros.

As I posted before, I used 1 pound of lean ground beef and then used a food grinder to get 1 1/4 lbs. of lean pork for the meatballs. The allspice is the star of the meal, I think, it gives a wonderful flavor to the dish.

The Lingonberry Preserves went SO well with the flavor of the meatballs.

We will definitely have this meal again!

It was like a little trip to Finland on this hot August night in Oklahoma and I want to have this trip again and again. It was amazing and a new favorite of mine!!

Finnish Meatballs with Allspice, Sour Cream & Lingonberries

3 slices white bread, crusts removed
2/3 cup milk
2 1/4 pounds ground pork and beef
1 large egg
1 red onion, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground allspice
4 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup sour cream
Lingonberry jam

This is so Finnish and probably one of the dishes that really remains in my mind from my childhood. Allspice is very popular in Finland; its taste is a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves and black pepper and it can be ground or in berry form. If you are not sure that what you have got in your spice rack is, in fact, allspice, then use less than indicated here and add a little more later (I once ended up with a very licorice-tasting mince meat). You can use ordinary cream instead of the sour cream here. You can also use a bought jam if you can find one, but this jam is really so quick and simple to make.
Soak the bread in the milk in a large bowl for about 30 minutes or until it has absorbed all the milk and is very soft. Add the mince, egg, onion and allspice and season with salt and pepper. Knead together well with your hands, then form into small balls about the size of walnuts, rolling them between your palms so that they are compact and won’t fall apart when cooking.
Heat 2 1/2 tablespoons of the butter with the olive oil in a non-stick skillet. Fry the meatballs in batches, turning them once during cooking. (You will have to work quite quickly and take care not to burn the butter and oil. If necessary, wipe out the skillet between batches and start again with a little less butter and oil.) Transfer the cooked meatballs to a heavy-based saucepan with any onion that is on the bottom of the skillet and continue with the next batch.
Sprinkle the flour into the skillet and mix with a wooden spoon until it is smooth. Add the remaining butter and let it melt. Continue cooking, stirring almost continuously, until it is a golden color. Remove the pan from the heat and very slowly pour in 2 cups hot water, standing back a bit. Mix in quickly, then return the pan to the heat. Stir in the sour cream and mix well, then carefully pour over the meatballs. Season lightly with salt and pepper and cook, covered, over very low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until you have a thick, creamy sauce and soft meatballs to serve wth berry jam and boiled potatoes.

My New Kitchen Gadgets

2010-08-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

I hit kitchen pay dirt this weekend! I have been wanting a mezzaluna forever and Kohl's had that and and a potato ricer from Food Network on for 60% off....plus we had a 30% off coupon!

I made a chickpea, feta and cilantro salad for lunch out of the Tessa Kiros "Falling Cloudberries" cookbook. It took lots of italian parsley and cilantro. It was SO easy to make using the mezzaluna.

The meat grinder (Kitchen aid attachment) wasn't on sale but I needed one. It's hard to find lean meats like ground lamb or ground pork so I'm going to grind my own. We have already used it! I'm making Finnish meatballs for dinner and ground up a pork tenderloin for part of the meat along with some lean ground beef.

My Pantry x 2

2010-08-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

Over the last week Jimmy has been painting, adding 2 shelves and organizing my kitchen pantry.

He added bins on the floor that he got at Home Depot. We have bins for chips, onions/potatoes, breads/crackers and for all that rice I buy at the international markets.

I just love how it came out! It looks like a little grocery store in my kitchen.

On the opposite side we store some medicine in black tubs, tupperware and some often used appliances.

Can you tell that I LOVE to cook with lots of spices?

We put up a rack and organized them on the inside of my pantry door.

Last week Jim brought home this giant locking cabinet. It works amazingly well next to my fridge in the garage to hold all my appliances and back stock on my can goods. It freed up a lot of space in the kitchen. I love it!

Happy Gotcha Day!

2010-08-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Gotcha Day to my beautiful daughter Bay!

Ten years ago today your Dad (Appa) and I (Omma) flew down to

await your arrival at the Dallas-Love Field Airport.

I remember how excited I was when "Grandfather Stork" came

off the plane and put you in my arms. I was so happy I cried with my chin quivering the whole while. Your Appa was so happy he could only beam with the joy of being a new father once again.

You and your brothers are the 3 best things we have ever done.

We love you, Bay.....always and forever......

to the moon and back........

Falling Cloudberries by Tessa Kiros

2010-08-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

Falling Cloudberries and Apples for Jam

2010-08-09T07:40:00.001-07:00

I am seriously in Cookbook heaven. Through some amazing food forums I have discovered Tessa Kiros and her gorgeous cookbooks. Aren't they beautiful? Just looking at them makes me happy!

Tessa was born in London to a Finnish mother and a Greek-Cypriot Father. When she was 4 years old her family moved to Souh Africa. If that isn't international enough for you Tessa married an Italian and now lives in Tuscany with her husband Giovanni and children Yamine and Cassia.

With my daughter being born in S. Korea I have a fondness for all different cultures and foods of the world. These cookbooks are a patchwork of diverse foods and a very European style of eating. I have already picked out my first recipe to try. Finnish meatballs with allspice, sour cream and lingonberries. It just so happens that a couple of weeks ago Jim, Bay and I went to one of our local International Markets and I bought some lingonberry jam! A coincidence? I must have known that I was about to stumble on something wonderful.....

Here is Tessa's Recipe for Beef Stew.....

If you'd like to read more about Tessa....click here.

Porchetta

2010-08-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

I had never heard of Porchetta before I found the recipe in Nigella's Fresh cookbook. It's a boneless pork roast flattened and rolled up with herbs and spices and baked in a low oven for hours. This peticular recipe calls for Onions, garlic, rosemary, fennel seeds, cloves and olive oil.

We had two pork tenderloin instead of a boneless pork shoulder as stated in the recipe but we made it work. Jim flattened out the tenderloin and spread on the onion/herb mixture. These were some unusual flavors for us with the fennel and cloves but it all worked together so well.

We had to improvise when rolling up the roast. We had no butchers string to roll it up so we used our wooden skewers instead.

Look at how it turned out! Isn't it gorgeous? And the taste....it was totally amazing! Jim and I couldn't stop nibbling on the crust. In fact you can see the nibble Jim took of the top!

Ready to assemble!

Classic porchetta sandwich with provolone served with my own Califlower Salad.

Linguine with Chilli, Crab and Watercress

2010-08-01T15:58:00.000-07:00

This recipe comes out of the Nigella Fresh Cookbook.

I did double the recipe so we would have plenty. Hey....nobody wants to be stingy when your having blue crab!

First you put garlic cloves, salt and a red chilli in your mortar.

Next you crush them all together with the pestle until you get a glorious pink tinged paste.

Next we added the juice and zest of a lemon.

We got the crabmeat at Gulfport our local fish market on May Avenue. It's a little pricey at $18.95 a pound but we fed 7 people with it and had some left over. It's also cheaper than the filet of Salmon we usually buy for Sunday night dinners.

You then mix in the crab and some olive oil. Then you add parsley and watercress. I couldn't find watercress so we subbed fresh spinach. It was a great substitute.

While I was making the pasta Jim was making homemade garlic parmesan breadsticks!

~Recipe Review~ I have to say this was a FABULOUS meal! I heard Jim mumble "amazing" under his breath as he ate it.
We have already decided to make this recipe for our Christmas Dinner this year!

If you would like to make this wonderful dish.....click here for the recipe.

Lazy Loaf

2010-07-30T16:26:00.000-07:00

Okay....Okay...I know......I'm still on my Nigella kick so deal with it.

Today I made Lazy Loaf from her Nigella Express Cookbook. This bread is the fastest yeast bread that I have ever made and true to it's name it is very easy!

Basically it's Muesli and whole wheat flour with yeast, salt, milk and water. If you don't know what muesli is, it's a popular Swiss breakfast cereal consisting of uncooked rolled oats, fruit and nuts.

The only Muesli I could find around here besides going to the health food store is the Kelloggs Muelix cereal.

We are having ours toasted in the morning with Peach jam. I got a tip from a friend on the Nigella food forum to cut the bread while slightly warm because it gets harder as it cools.

Check out that fabulous crust and all those plump raisins and dates. I can't wait for breakfast! Nothing like a good rustic bread made into toast with jam and coffee!

~Recipe Review~ We loved it! This toast was rustic and earthy with a hint of sweetness that paired well with the peach jam. What a great healthy way to start our weekend!

If you want to check out this and other Nigella recipes click here.

Chicken Fillets in Golden Curry Sauce!

2010-07-13T20:03:00.000-07:00

Yes......I'm still trying out Nigella Lawson's Recipes. My family is used to me making all kinds of unique things. This wonderful Thai curry recipe definitely got a thumbs up! It is an exclusive recipe only available to those who own the new Nigella iphone app.

~Recipe Review~ I WILL be making this again, the chicken was so tender and juicy! I also love that it was so fast to prepare and tastes like you spent all day in the kitchen. I have never tried cooking with Yellow Curry Paste before but I just love the intense combination of flavors. It reminded Tyler and I both of a Tandoori chicken I make on occasion, and it is one of our favorites!

We served it with turmeric basmati rice, baby peas and naan.

OMG! Watermelon Daiquiri

2010-07-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh! This is so good! It is SO hot and humid today in Oklahoma and this just hit the spot! Yet another Nigella recipe called Watermelon Daiquiri. You guys HAVE to try these they are delish!

Isn't the color gorgeous?

The Union Square Cafe's Bar Nuts

2010-07-11T13:53:00.000-07:00

We are getting ready for our annual trip to visit my Dad in Florida and Jimmy always likes to take snacks along with us on the plane. I found another Nigella recipe while looking through her cookbooks today. The recipe is called Union Square Cafe's Bar Nuts. We are doing a test run because we only had pecans, almonds and walnuts on hand. When we do it to take with us we will add all the yummy brazil nuts and hazelnuts as well.

~Bar Nut Review~ YUM! If you like......spicy and rosemary you will LOVE these tasty treats and they are so fast to make! That makes this cook very happy!

Homemade Hummus

2010-07-11T10:43:00.001-07:00

Jim and I are marinating a leg of lamb right now in oil, herbs and garlic to make shish kabobs this evening. We are having a very Mediterranean supper tonight. I'm making our Turmeric Basmati Rice, Hummus and Naan bread.

I love making my hummus instead of buying the pre-made stuff at the grocery store. I've tried all kinds of recipes including a great roasted red pepper and feta hummus. Today I made a Turkish style hummus. Yassou!!

Nigella!

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

Anyone who knows me well knows that I get hooked on specific things occasionally. Examples are.....Vanessa Paradis, Knitting, Korean anything, John Denver and Michelle Williams. Well, my newest infatuation is Nigella Lawson. I love her show on the new Cooking channel, she's very quirky and fun to watch. The new Cooking channel is fast becoming a favorite. I love to cook food from different cultures and there are some good shows about Indian, Chinese and French cooking on there.

Anyway, I checked out all of Nigella's cookbooks at the local library (only 4 have come in so far) and they are all fabulous! I have already found some favorite recipes that I just HAVE to try!

Next month for Bay's Gotcha Day she wants me to make this Clementine Cake and if the kids are really lucky I might make Nigella's Brownie recipe this weekend. All three kids......I mean four with Cassie ADORE chocolate. I will be a culinary hero for sure.

~Brownie Review~ I made these for the kids last night but I had to take a nibble. These are made with dark chocolate and walnuts and are soooo moist! The kids loved them and I just have to say that they are probably the best brownies I have ever made.....very decadent!!

Some non-sweet dishes I'd like to try are her Aloo Gobi (I've been looking everywhere for one made without tomatoes), Badenjan Dip, Roquamole, and White Bean Mash and Saffron Sented Chicken Pilaf. (I've asked for Saffron in my stocking this Christmas.......Please Santa!)

Jim, Bay and I went out to our favorite lunch place today (Big Truck Tacos) and ran by the Asian Market and picked up some Yellow Curry paste to try Chicken Fillets in Golden Curry Sauce. I found that recipe on my new iphone app. Don't tell Jimmy.....I usually get the $.99 cent apps but I splurged and got this one but even at $7.99 I think with was well worth it. I love it and it even has a hands free voice control so you don't get sticky fingers all over your phone while you are cooking.

Do any of you have a favorite Nigella recipe?

Socks and more socks......

2010-07-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

I've been working on socks and more socks!

Right now I'm working on these adorable rolled top socks. The pattern is called "Fast Florida Footies". I just love how they are looking and they fit great. The best thing about this pattern is that they have a "no purl heel flap". It's easier to knit than the normal heel flap and makes a great pattern on the heel if you are using a self striping yarn.

Another thing I love about this pattern is the roll top cuff. As I've mentioned before......ribbing is not my thing.

This pair is for Tanner. He likes to wear short socks so I used an anklet pattern out of "The Big Book of Socks" by Kathleen Taylor.

I had a hard time finding a sock yarn that I thought was "manly" enough but settled for Paton's Kroy Socks FX in a color called "Cascade Colors".

My sweet little nephew Grady turned one year old in June so I knit him a pair as well.

The pattern for these came out of the same book as Tanner's. The name of the pattern is "Basic Fingerling Weight Tube Sock". I thought I was making them a little big but.......they fit just perfect!

Don't they look cute on him?

Before I sent them to Grady I put the socks on one of the three sock monkey's Laura (Grady's mom) made for my kids. She does such great work and her sock monkey's are adorable!! Check out my amazingly talented sister-in-laws Etsy page here.

Here is another pair I made for Tanner. They are worsted weight boot socks from the book "Teach Yourself Visually Sock Knitting".

I did decide while knitting these that I don't like changing colors while making socks. It's a pain......plus......I'm not fond of doing a whole sock of ribbing. Other than that though they turned out kinda cute.

Here is the second pair I have made for Bay. It is from a pattern called "An Anklet A Day".

This was actually the first sock yarn I ever bought but never used. (That was when I decided that dpn's weren't for me and two circs was the only way to go!) Anyway.....the color is Mellow Yellow by Heart and Sole.

Man.......I love self striping yarns!

Front Yard

2010-07-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our New Pool and the Backyard

2010-07-03T12:32:00.001-07:00

Smores

2010-07-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Me and my honey.....after a long day of swimming.

Cassie has her own unique way of melting her chocolate.

Just the way I like them........

Memorial Weekend

2010-07-03T10:47:00.001-07:00

Ky, Kenzie and Bay enjoying the first taste of summer!
The first day with our new pool! FUN!

Kevin and Jimmy acting..........like..............Kevin and Jimmy! ;)
Watch out when these two get together!
Chase and Kylan having some smores!
Hey Omma........these are great!
A rare moment........K and J are........dare I say.......serious?

BFF's!

SPRAY PARK!!

Kenzie and Bay....our little monkeys!

Our New Fence

2010-05-02T16:03:00.000-07:00

Jimmy and Tanner have spent the last week making us a custom fence.

I have to say it looks AMAZING!

Look at the this picture showing the copper caps he put on either side of the gate.

The birds are even admiring it! ;)

On the other side of the house they built another gate and even a modesty panel to hide the garbage cans.
I love it!! Thanks for all your hard work guys.....you both are amazing!

BAY'S SOCKS

2010-04-23T17:53:00.001-07:00

The finished product! I think they look adorable on her!

I love how funky the heels turned out.

Halfway there.....

Heel turned and all the gusset stitches picked up. (I couldn't find my place markers that day so I used some of Bay's earrings! LOL!)

Just starting the cuff using Cascade Fixation's Carnival yarn. I purchased it at the Gourmet Yarn Company in Oklahoma City.

My second sock using Antji Gillingham's book "Knitting Circles Around Socks". This pattern is called Fixation on Stripes. I love her technique and plan to use it in my next sock for Tanner. After seeing Bay's socks he came to me and asked me to do a pair for him. I'm thrilled that he asked me too!
Tanner wants a thick sock so I'm making Worsted Boot Socks for him. Off to get my materials today!

BAY AND THE ZOMBIES!

2010-04-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

Bay hung out with Kenzie this weekend at Rose State College where Kenzie was performing in a Dance competition. The girls have been buddies since they were 4 and 6 months old and love hanging out together!

Here are all the Zombies with Bay. They ended up winning 1st place in hip hop and 6th overall!

Here is a video of the performance. Kenzie is the one on the far left (at the start) is the one doing the backbend. She is easy to spot because she is the smallest in the bunch. She did a fantastic job!!! Way to go Kenzie!!

GAZEBO FACELIFT

2010-04-12T04:00:00.000-07:00

Jimmy made our Gazebo quite a few years ago and it was starting to look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Well, last weekend he set out to fix it before it tumbled down. He replaced the rails and spinals with a more solid piece of wood that he cut out a design on. It just needs to be stained and it will look great again! We put our little table and chairs back in it and ate dinner out there last night.

Jim added some pots in cobalt blue to the front yard this year. I think they look great!

Our newest feature is this water fountain on the back deck. We love it! It's so peaceful to sit out and listen to the water.

OSU HOBO PURSE

2010-04-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

I'm really proud of this purse! It was my first big knitting project.

After knitting you have to felt the purse. That is basically washing it in very hot water with in my case some of Bay's old tennis shoes to agitate the purse. After felting it shrinks quite a bit.

This is a photo of the wrong side of the strap before felting.

This is the right side of the strap. It was my first time doing an i-cord. A pain to do but.... it really looks fantastic!

One shoulder done....

Looks hard....huh? :)

I wanted a Orange purse to take to the Oklahoma State games next Fall so I made one!

If you would like the pattern you can purchase it here.

THE FISHERMAN'S WIFE NECK WARMER

2010-04-02T15:10:00.001-07:00

All finished! I found the buttons at JoAnn's Fabrics. They have a great

selection of interesting buttons.

I still need to put 3 brown buttons were you see the holes.

This was my first try at cables and I really enjoyed doing them. Now I won't be afraid of them anymore.....

If you would like the pattern you can purchase it here.

KNITTING SOCKS!!

2010-04-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

Finished my first pair of socks!

Started April 2, 2010

Finished April 7, 2010

Yay!

Turned the heel (not hard but you need to concentrate on where you are)

and picked up all the gusset stitches!

I have finished the cuff and leg an the heel flap.

This shows the backside of the heel flap. Next is turning the heel then on to the scary gusset! Wish me luck!

Knitting Circles around Socks by Antji Gillingham.........great sock book!

I highly recommend this book to beginning sock knitter's like me. Antji's book has very clear instructions and great follow along pictures. Only in one place would I have liked a little more help. While turning the heel with short rows I thought it would be nice to know how many stitches were remaining on the needle. This would help to know that you had done it correctly before the last row. I did write down that information for me for next time though.

I'm doing this pattern for my first pair of socks.

They are knitted two at a time on two circular (size 5-16" and 24") needles.

Here they are so far! If you ever see me wearing them........I will be one happy girl!

Click here if you would like to see what other people thought of this pattern or technique.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

2010-03-15T15:30:00.001-07:00

My friend Lori make these cute carrot cake cupcakes for us. She is so sweet!

Thanks Lori!! I don't think anyone has ever given me a St. Patrick's Day present before!

MAKING KIMBAP!

2010-03-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

Kimbap is more or less...Korean Sushi.

We make it quite often at our house because the kids LOVE it!

First you saute some shredded carrots in some sesame oil...

In the same pan saute some fresh spinach in some sesame oil.

Mix your Korean sticky rice with sesame oil and sesame seeds before starting.

You can put almost any meat in these like, crab, ham, bulgoki meat or even Spam. We had some tenderloin left over that was marinated in bulgoki marinade. The other things that go into Kimbap are pickled radish and egg strips.

Now you just need to assemble them. First lay down strips of the meat, pickled radish and egg strips. Then top with carrots and spinach. Next start to roll away from you but don't forget to

put a little water on the Nori to help seal the edges.

Jimmy really has fun rolling them so I let him roll them all. He does a great job!

Sometimes we go on picnics with our friends the Lee's and just take kimbap! I wish I would have make the spicy mayo to go with them.... oh well, next time.

Spicy Mayo Sauce Recipe

1/2 cup Light Mayo

2 Tablespoons "Rooster" Sriracha Sauce

1 Tablespoon Sesame oil

Mix all ingredients together and put in a baggy and snip the corner off.

Drizzle over your kimbap!

KNIT IN CONTINUED.....

2010-03-15T14:34:00.000-07:00

MG from Gourmet Yarn Co. put up pictures of last Saturday's Knit-in on her blog.

Showing off my French Press Felted Slippers. I'm really proud of how they turned out. All the girls loved them too!

on another note.......

If there are any knitter's out the that haven't heard of Ralvery you should really check it out! It's a great site for patterns, info and it's also a great social site for knitters.

KNIT IN!

2010-03-13T18:15:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of my Felted OSU Hobo Purse. I took it the the Knit-in at the Gourmet Yarn Co. to work on it.

Here are some of my friends knitting on various projects. I can't wait till next month to see if any of them completed their sweaters, shawls and gloves.

Did I mention FOOD? Everyone brings something and we all pig out! :) The winner tonight for the best dish was the ..........wait for it.......................Bacon Fudge! Yes........I said BACON FUDGE!

Everyone who finished a project got their picture taken by MG the owner. I had mine taken with my striped scarf and my French Press Felted Slippers. I'll let you know if the pictures end up on their website!

I also WON a $5 gift certificate! Woo Hoo!! I had the winning number of 18.

Now.........what scrumptious yarn do I want to buy? That my dear ones is a tougher question than you might think........

KOREAN DRAMAS

2010-03-12T03:52:00.000-08:00

I love Korean dramas and a friend told me about a website that you can watch without all the hassle of downloading. The website is mysoju.com and they have dramas and movies from Korea, Japan and Taiwan. You can even request a movie or drama and they will see if they can get it!

Another good site is dramafever.com.

Right now I'm watching ....ing and am enjoying it very much. Let me know what you are watching!

FRENCH PRESS FELTED SLIPPERS

2010-03-03T04:10:00.003-08:00

When I found the pattern for these felted slippers I KNEW I needed to buy the pattern! I found my yarn (Patons Classic Wool) and needles at Michaels and got started.

After knitting these slippers are felted and will shrink so you knit them very large. I wish I would have gotten a photo of the whole slipper before felting but I was so excited I just threw them in the wash... ;)

After Felting it is like MAGIC! They shrink and turn into something beautiful! Here they are still wet out of the washer.

After dried you add on the flap and decorative buttons!

If you would like the pattern you can order one through Etsy. Here is a link to French Press Knits Etsy page. She also has a blog here.

A SCARF FOR CASSIE!

2010-02-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I decided to make Cassie a scarf after learning what her favorite colors were. Ty went with me to the Gourmet Yarn Company and we picked out Noro Iro #103 from Japan. It is a beautiful yarn 75% Wool and 25% Silk and great to work with. It was my first time working with circular needles. It was fun and a fast project. It only took one skein of yarn but it was close so if you want to do this project don't waste any! Here is a link to the pattern.

VALENTINE'S DAY 2010

2010-02-27T07:38:00.000-08:00

I just had to add this to brag on my sweet husband. He cooked and surprised me with wonderful things all Valentine's weekend.

He put together this tray of sweets and went to find me and when we got back to the kitchen Tanner had found it and ate half of the tray. HA HA! Jimmy didn't find it too funny though. ;)

He got up for breakfast on Sunday and made waffles from scratch (including folding in beaten egg whites.....I was impressed!). Sunday night he made Steak with red wine mushroom sauce, scalloped potatoes and grilled asparagus. Yep........I think I'll keep him! I love you honey! <3

TY and CASSIE

2010-02-20T15:09:00.000-08:00

Ty's home for the weekend! Woot!! Meet our newest family member.........Cassie.....Ty's girlfriend!

KNITTING BAY A HEADBAND

2010-02-20T14:56:00.001-08:00

I got this pattern off a 2010 Knitting Calendar I got at Sam's Club.

I bought some Cascade Fixation (which is a elastic yarn) at Gourmet Yarn Co. in OKC.

If you live anywhere in the Oklahoma City area this is a wonderful yarn store located at Britton and May Ave. The people are so nice and they have assorted classes and Knit in's once a month.

I don't know what I was thinking getting BLACK yarn! It was so hard to see...

but I'm so glad I did it. I learned at least 4 new stitches and it looks SO CUTE!

FAVORITE KNITTING BLOGS

2010-01-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite Knitting blog. Staci really instructs you in a very understandable way.

I think after I finish my striped scarf I will try my hand at socks. With these step by step instructions

it doesn't seem quite so intimidating..........sorta......

Here is a link to some of her other videos and patterns.

http://www.verypink.com/videos/

Here is another sock knitting blog I like. I can't wait to go buy my supplies and get started!

KNITTING....ALPINE WOOL INTO THE WOODS SCARF

2010-01-17T17:07:00.000-08:00

I found this scarf on the Lion Brand website and I thought it was really pretty. Since I have never done stripes before I thought I would like to learn. Here is what I have done so far....

I'm really proud of this scarf. I've only completed 2 other projects so I'm trying to teach myself as I go. Since there are 3 colors in it I've learned that if I twist the two colors I'm not using over the one that I'm using I don't have to cut the yarn every row. It's so much easier!! Here is a link to the pattern.

The finished product!! It turned out so good! I love knitting!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

2009-12-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS BOX FROM YEJOO!

2009-12-14T17:38:00.001-08:00

Yejoo, her Omma and sister Yebong

We got our Christmas box from Yejoo and her family tonight! We are always excited to see what they send us. Here is a picture of everthing and the sweet note that Yejoo sent.

Tyler got this book holder! He LOVES it! I loved it too but he wouldn't give it to me....darn! ;)

Bay got a really cute top that says "ice cream girl" on it. I got some socks and house shoes.

Here is Bay trying on my house shoes. Aren't they neat?

Tanner got some funky house shoes too! He loves them......doesn't he look cool?

Halmoni got something in the blue and white but we will let her open it tomorrow.

Jimmy got some fun house shoes and we also got some no noodle soup. I'm looking forward to trying it!

Yejoo remembered that I collect cookbooks......especially Korean ones.

This one is so nice!

I've already found quite a few recipes I want to make.

Bay got a cute little bear to hang on her backpack and Yejoo also remembered that I love French things and sent me some Eiffel tower earrings.

You are such a sweet girl and we will love you forever!! We hope you all liked the Christmas box we sent as well. Sending love from yourAmerican Mom and Dad. xxxooo!!

OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

2009-12-14T17:19:00.000-08:00

Kirby, me, Lori and Donnie

I meant to take a lot more pictures but once we started eating......I forgot!

Every Christmas Fred gets us Barbecue from County Line. It is SOOO good!

Do you think we have enough desserts?

Lori and I made these cute paper Christmas trees out of our old invoices. Here is a link to the instructions, they are on the Martha Stewart website. They really looked cute on our conference table!

ADVENT CALENDAR

2009-11-26T14:42:00.000-08:00

Bay and I made an Advent Calendar after we finished up with our Thanksgiving Dinner. My friend Lori makes them and so I thought we should make one as well. I think it turned out really cute! What do you think?

POSOLE!

2009-11-02T14:37:00.000-08:00

One New Mexico Christmas tradition is a steaming bowl of posole, a spicy corn stew that is known as the ceremonial dish for celebrating life's blessings.

I found a recipe and changed it just a bit. I used a whole pork tenderloin and cubed it very small, onions, garlic, oregano and green chilies. I cooked this mixture down in the water and instead of adding more water I added chicken broth to give it a better flavor.

It called for 2 red New Mexican dried chilies but I don't have any.....yet! I did add a chopped jalapeno pepper after I took this photo for a little heat. I would have liked to add more but....... Bay and Tanner wouldn't have liked me too much!

About 30 minutes before serving I added my hominy. I can't wait until I can actually use the traditional lime soaked dried posole I get from Santa Fe. I also want to get some dried chilies. I've been looking up the Scoville scale to educate myself on which varieties will give me some heat yet be mild enough for my kids.

We added cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips and everyone loved it! The pork tenderloin just melted in your mouth!

Since posole is traditionally served at Christmas time in N. Mexico, I think I will serve it on Christmas Day and have some Jalapeno bites as an appetizer with it. I think I will serve Mexican Wedding cookies or maybe Mexican Wedding Cake or this Mexican Chocolate Streusel Cake for dessert. Feliz Navidad!

DREAMING OF SANTA FE!

2009-11-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

Jimmy and I spent our December honeymoon in Santa Fe, New Mexico. That was 20 years ago! Well, Jimmy had an unexpected surprise for me not too long ago. He said he wanted to take me back for a second honeymoon!! We always planned to go on our 10th anniversary but we were busy raising our 3 kids and never got around to it. Now with Ty in college, Tan driving everywhere and Bay a big 9 year old, we have the time to go.

Well, our trip is coming up and I'm getting really excited about it! We just made reservations at the Las Palomas and it's not far off the Square. We are staying in a Pueblo Studio unit with a fireplace.

Our historic Pueblo compound of Las Palomas is built from traditional adobe bricks to maintain and preserve the authentic feel and flavor of Santa Fe. As you stroll to your private Casita along our meandering paths you will enjoy the beautiful gardens and distinct Pueblo Style architecture taken from theNative American life of long ago.

Studio – Our Studio, One Bedroom Casitas and Super Casitas are each decorated with custom leather and wood furnishings with their own style and flair of bold colors, local artwork and hand-woven rugs. All offer wood burning fireplaces, king beds, kitchenettes. Our one bedroom

Casitas and Super Casitas offer a separate living room with a queen size sleeper sofa in each.

I remember Santa Fe being very romantic in December, with all the big snowflakes, beautiful churches and the streets lined with farolitos or luminarias.

I am just counting the days.......

For many locals and visitors, this is Santa Fe's most magical month. Holiday spirit fills the air, along with the earthy scent of piñon wood that residents burn in fireplaces to warm their houses. Snow blankets the mountains and typically the downtown streets and adobe buildings, too, creating a winter wonderland and a skier's paradise, with temperatures averaging a high of 44 and a low of 19 degrees. It's an ideal time for ice skating, sledding and building a snowman, or hiking snowy mountain trails. It's also a time to celebrate movies during the annual Santa Fe Film Festival, a lively a week of screenings, panels and parties held around town in early December.

There's no place like Santa Fe during this sacred season. The city's unique blend of Native American, Hispanic and Anglo cultures showcases traditions, ceremonies and celebrations steeped in history and heritage. And yet Santa Fe's vibrant contemporary scene ensures that this month is filled with modern offerings, too. Holiday concerts and performances take place around town all month long. Hotels and shops, decked in holiday splendor, offer special events and unique gift ideas and acclaimed restaurants serve festive meals. You can also purchase some wonderful gifts reflecting the city's Spanish Colonial roots at the annual Winter Spanish Market in early December.

Throughout December the city is aglow with farolitos, small sand-filled bags lit from within by votive candles. On Christmas Eve, farolito fervor culminates in the traditional Canyon Road Farolito Walk, one of Santa Fe's most popular holiday traditions. Friends, families and visitors sing carols as they walk the streets, which are lit by thousands of farolitos and dozens of luminarias--small bonfires said to have illuminated the way for the Three Wise Men to find the infant Jesus.

Many pueblos perform traditional dances during the holidays. On Christmas Eve, some pueblos hold sundown torchlight processions. In mid-December, Pojoaque Pueblo holds its annual Feast of Guadalupe, with traditional dances and a community feast. Las Posadas, a traditional Spanish outdoor play performed in the Plaza area, portrays the search by Mary and Joseph for a room on Christmas Eve. And the Palace of the Governor holds its annual holiday celebration that combines Native American, Hispanic and Anglo Christmas traditions with caroling, dances and food.

I've have been looking up all things Santa Fe to see what there is to do while we are there. I love to cook so I am really anxious to buy some authentic New Mexican staples for my pantry. I plan to stock up on some dried chiles, chili powders (both green and red) and some dried Posole (both white and blue). I'm also on the lookout for a good pepper jelly. I unhealthy love for the stuff. Try some top of a bagel and cream cheese. Yummmm! I have one other item that I HAVE to try while we are there....Chocolate made with chili peppers! I can't wait to see what that is like! I found a great website called Santa Fe School of Cooking They have all kind of wonderful New Mexican ingredients and supplies. I especially like this......

With all this dreaming of Santa Fe, I decided to have a taste of New Mexico tonight. I'm planning on making Posole! Posole is a spicy Mexican Stew made of pork, posole (or hominy), garlic, chilies and spices. You top it with cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips. I'm going to serve it with warm tortillas. Hopefully this will keep me satisfied until our trip rolls around......

OSU HOMECOMING "WALKAROUND" 2009

2009-10-17T13:15:00.000-07:00

Tyler sent me this picture via text message this week. It's the Fountain in front of Edmon Low Library. They dye it Cowboy orange every year at Homecoming!

Jim and I

Bay, Ty and me

Homecoming is one of the many proud traditions at Oklahoma State University, and perhaps one of the most widely known. Every year, thousands of OSU alumni and fans return to Stillwater, taking part in what is heralded as the biggest and best homecoming celebration in the country.

Traditional festivities include the Friday evening "walkaround" for visitors to view large, elaborate house decorations on the lawns of fraternity and sorority houses, with several vendors scattered throughout the tour route. There is also the "Sea of Orange Parade," a Saturday morning parade down Main Street in Stillwater with decorated floats, high school marching bands, horses, and politicians. Capping off the festivities is the traditional homecoming football game at Boone Pickens Stadium, typically played Saturday evening. Hester Street is typically painted with words of encouragement for the football team for when they take part in The Walk; a tradition started by former coach Les Miles where tens of thousands of Cowboy fans line Hester Street as the team walks from the Student Union to Boone Pickens Stadium. In recent years, the men's basketball team has hosted their annual Basketball Bash now Homecoming and Hoops in Gallagher-Iba Arena on Homecoming Saturday afternoon, allowing the throng of OSU fans in home for the football game to catch a glimpse of the basketball Pokes before basketball season begins.

Oklahoma State's homecoming has its roots in the annual Harvest Carnival (a tradition that's still a part of Homecoming today) that first began in 1913 as festival including agricultural exhibits, a Harvest Queen competition, a parade, and an evening carnival. By 1920, the Harvest Carnival had been replaced with homecoming. In 1921, the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association adopted homecoming as an official alumni association event. The Harvest Carnival parade was retained and became a part of the homecoming celebration, and continues to be a big part of the tradition. In the 1920s, sororities began decorating the doorways and exteriors of their houses, which later gave way to the elaborate house decorations on the lawns of fraternities, sororities, and dormitories that inspired the Friday evening walkaround. Theta Pond is also traditionally lined with orange lights and the water in the fountain in front of Edmon Low Library is dyed Cowboy orange during Homecoming week.

We went on the "walkaround" Friday night. These are some of the House decorations. Aren't they amazing?

This one turned from this.....

to this.......

to this......

Everyone love Pistol Pete...

even Bay!

Love this one! Pistol Pete is driving the big rig and ran over the Mizzou Tiger! LOL!

He looks pretty well squished!

This is cool! A replica of our Sports Illustrated cover last month!

At Theta pond looking back at the crowd.

OSU has one of the largest Homecomings in the nation!

We love Homecoming! Go Pokes!!

BLAST FROM THE PAST......

2009-10-12T07:48:00.000-07:00

I was looking up recipes on Zaar the other day and came across this K-Mart sandwich from 1969. They evidentally made some up and sold them 3 for a $1 (4 for a $1 if they were having a green light special). It sounds like people really loved them and had to search high and low for the recipe. I wish I would have tried one back then.....but I really want to try it now with a few minor lighter changes to the recipe. If you want the recipe click here.

That got me thinking about foods that I used to have in the 1970's. One I remember the most was a sandwich that my Grandmother used to keep in her freezer for my Uncle Jim. I used to love those po'boy subs! Does anyone remember these crispy delights? I found a website that thinks they might be the same as the Deli Express "Chuck Wagon" sandwich. If I find one I will HAVE to try it out.....I'll let you know if it's anything like I remember.

Another food memory that I have was having some sort of Space Stick. They were chocolate and I loved them. Does anyone remember these or is it just me?

That got me talking to my friends at work about their favorite food memories. Kirby said that he had 3 that he missed. One was Sleepy Hollow Restaurant back when it was really good, also his Mom's potato salad and his Grandma's Chicken Pot Pie. Oh........Kirby added that he really misses O'Mealy's birthday cakes and he should know because he is a birthday cake coinsurer!

Lori said hers were Chocolate Chip cookies (they don't taste the same as they did back then) and making snow ice cream with her Dad. Isn't that a sweet memory?

Jimmy said that the one food from the past that he would like to have again is his Aunt Geraldine's homemade Chocolate Pie with meringue. He said he would always search for her pie at every family function and if he couldn't find it he wasn't be a happy camper!

Is there something that you wish you could have again.........something from your childhood? Leave me a comment. I would love to hear from you! Maybe we all miss some of the same things.........

KOREAN STEAK AND EGGS

2009-10-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

Click here for the recipe.

First you have to chop up your kimchi

Even if you don't make this recipe you have to try the marinade on the steak. It is AMAZING!!

Look how juicy and caramelized the steaks are.......

Stir-fry the kimchi

I like to boil the marinade that the steak has been in to put over the top of the rice for extra flavor.

Mixing the rice into the kimchi

Let the steak rest a minute to redistribute the juices before cutting.

Here you go.......Korean Steak and eggs. YUM!

GRILLED ROASTED VEGETABLE PIZZAS WITH PESTO, FETA AND PINE NUTS

2009-10-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

Yum! Tanner said it was the best pizza he ever had! That really means a lot coming from him!

I love making pizzas! They are so fun to put together!

The dough does great on the grill.

We like to grill yellow squash, zucchini and red onions.

We bought our pizza dough from the Snack bar at Sam's Club. They will sell it to you.......but you have to buy a whole box. The good news is that they freeze wonderfully! We like to roll the dough out on cornmeal as it adds a extra crunch to the crust and also adds flavor.

LOW FAT PESTO

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

Tonight for dinner we are making grilled vegetable pizzas w/pesto. We love pesto but don't like all the calories the olive oil adds to it. I found this recipe and it works great and isn't so oily. I make it as stated but use about half as much chicken broth as it calls for.

2/3 cup chicken broth or 2/3 cup vegetable stock
2 garlic cloves
1 cup fresh basil
1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons pine nuts

Method:

1Combine stock and garlic and heat in the microwave on high for 5 minutes (or heat on the stove). Allow to cool.
2Chop basil in food processor. Add cooled stock, Parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Whirl until everything is finely chopped and blended.
3Meanwhile, cook pasta of your choice. Toss sauce with pasta. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese if desired. Use as a topping for fish, chicken or potatoes also.

I really need to make more pesto and freeze it. My basil is starting to look sad.

I love toasted pine nuts! I'm adding some to the top of the pizzas also.

My little food processor is just the right size for one batch.

Ready to make the pizzas! Jim........fire up the grill!

MY KOREAN "FUSION" DINNER

2009-10-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

Korean Gochujang (Red Pepper Paste)

This is the sauce for my Dak Bulgoki. It's very spicy and incredibly yummy!

I usually put Buffalo sauce on these chicken poppers. The Korean sauce really worked out well though. It was really, really good!

I mixed the chicken and sauce in a baggy for easy clean up.

I got these potatoes while at the Komart Korean Market in Dallas. They are so tiny and cute!

Here is my recipe for Korean potatoes.

Yaki Mandu (Korean Dumplings)

YUM!

GRAPEVINE, TEXAS 9/24/09

2009-10-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

Jim and I at the wine tasting bar at the Delaney Vineyard. We really enjoyed getting to taste some wines we wouldn't have normally picked for ourselves.

We found a new favorite too.....Sauvignon Blanc!

The Delaney Vineyard in Grapevine, Texas

The lighter barrels are French Oak while the darker ones are American Oak.

We ate dinner here Thursday night. We had some yummy buffalo burgers!

This is the inside of Uncle Bucks Brewery.

We stayed at the Wyndham. Nice......

I want this chair! So comfy and great to use a laptop on. It even comes with its own plug-ins for computers.

Every time we are in the Dallas area we stop at the corner of Royal Lane and Harry Hines blvd to shop at the Komart Korean Market and eat at the Korea House.

We ate here the day we picked Bay up from Love Field when she came home from Korea. We love it!

Kimbap

Seafood and tofu soup......yummy and spicy!

What's left of our chicken and beef barbecue.

BIKING AROUND LAKE HEFNER

2009-10-01T16:36:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day weekend Jim, Bay and I rode our bikes ALL the way around the lake. It was really fun but man.....by the time we were through I was tired! I must say that I was really exhilarated too!

http://www.okc.gov/trails/hefner.html

It doesn't look that big on the map but it is 9.1 miles around the lake.

Lake Hefner Lighthouse

Jimmy and Bay on the dam.

"One Big Table" by Molly O'Neill

2009-09-05T12:01:00.001-07:00

A while back I was called and interviewed to be one of the amauter cooks that will be featured in the new cookbook "One Big Table" (available April 2010) by Molly O'Neill. I believe they got my name after seeing my recipe on Recipezaar. If I make the final cut, it will feature my recipe for Southwest Chicken and Green Chili Stew. I am so excited and honored to be asked to be in such a prestigious cookbook.

Along with my recipe there is to be a brief story about me and maybe even a picture of our family in Seoul at Yejoo's home. They admired my love for Korean cooking and my love for the people and the culture. Also the fact that I am keeping that love alive for my daughter who was born in South Korea.

"One Big Table" is the ultimate community cookbook, a portrait of Americans and their food. Molly has been collecting and gathering stories for nearly a decade. The book to be published next year by Simon and Schuster will have nearly 750 recipes but more than that it will be a self portrait of America through the home cook.

Here is a little info about Molly O'Neill........

Molly O'Neill is the food columnist for the New York Times Sunday Magazine and a reporter for the "Style" section of the New York Times. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio as the oldest child, and only daughter, of five children. For ten years she worked as a chef and studied cooking at La Verenne in Paris. Twelve years ago she began writing for a living, first as a columnist at Boston Magazine, then at Food and Wine Magazine. In 1984, she became the restaurant critic for New York Newsday and moved to the New York Times in 1989. She has been nominated for Pulitzer Prize two times. Her first book, The New York Cookbook, won both the Julia Child/IACP and James Beard Awards. An avid baseball fan, O'Neill might be spotted in the stands at Yankee Stadium watching her brother, Yankee outfielder Paul O'Neill. She lives in a bright, funky loft in Hell's Kitchen, New York City.

Tan's new wheels!

2009-09-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo

Pop's on Route 66!

2009-08-30T05:40:00.000-07:00

Pops looks like a glorified 7-11 from the outside.

Inside there's an ol' time diner as well as.........

any flavor pop you could imagine.

If you can't find a favorite flavor at this place, something is wrong!

The famous Pop's bottle out front!

Jimmy and Tan buying......what else pop.

I thought this postcard was cute!

Here are some of the wild flavors we got home with.

New OSU Pre-Game Anthem? New Look for Pistol Pete?

2009-08-26T03:56:00.000-07:00

The Cowboys have a new pre-game anthem. Have you heard it? Listen here........

Frank Eaton, the inspiration for Pistol Pete.

After seeing Eaton ride a horse in the 1923 Armistice Day parade in Stillwater, Oklahoma, a group of Oklahoma A&M College (now Oklahoma State University) students decided that Eaton's "Pistol Pete" would be a suitable mascot for the school.

Previously the college had been known as the "Princeton of the Prairie" with a tiger mascot and colors of orange and black. Many at the school were unhappy with the "Tigers" mascot and felt "Pistol Pete," symbolic of the American Old West and Oklahoma's land run roots, better represented the college.

However, it was not until 1958 that "Pistol Pete" was adopted as the school's mascot. The familiar caricature of "Pistol Pete" was officially sanctioned in 1984 by the university as a licensed symbol.

Also what do you think of Pistol Pete's new look? Kinda scary? Huh? .......

Did you know that the newest Pistol Pete heads were designed by Disney? It's true!

The newest Pistol Pete heads were designed between 15 and 20 years ago by The Walt Disney Co. The company literally broke the mold when they were completed.

Let's keep the old Pistol Pete, okay? We need our ORANGE AND BLACK! GO POKES!!

Mika's Korean Feast!

2009-08-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

Chapchae, rice, kimchi pancake, yaki mandu and kimchi

If you want my recipe for Chapchae click here....

I like to lay out all my ingredients before I start cooking.

It makes me feel like Julia Child or maybe Rachel Ray or something....

I soak my dried shitake mushrooms at least 30 minutes if not longer.

I like to make my own Bulgogi. If you want my recipe click here....

Chop your green onions, carrots and garlic....

I like to make my sauce the night before when I'm making the marinade for the bulgogi.

It really saves time on the day I'm making it.

Chapchae is made with noodles made out of sweet potato starch.

All you do is put them in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Drain them, rinse them and snip them.

First you put in the garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, mushrooms, green onions and carrots.

Next you add the spinach leaves.

They wilt very quickly.

After cooking the Bulgoki you add it to the noodles and vegetables.

Add the sauce and then........

You are done!

YUM!

Yaki Mandu

A little trick I have is after pan frying I put the yaki mandu on a cookie sheet and broil for a few minutes. This makes them nice and crispy!

Mika's Kimchi Pancakes

If you want my recipe click here........

The batter goes together very quickly and is almost fail proof!

Just fry......

until golden and.....

Serve with a dipping sauce!

Pocky Sticks!

2009-08-16T16:55:00.000-07:00

All of my Korean Adoptive Mom friends have no doubt tried Pocky sticks.

They are an Asian treat and a little bit of yummy goodness in a box. My kids get them everytime we go to the Korean Market across town. Jimmy loves the kind that has crushed almonds on them.

My friend Julie

found a recipe to make them. I'm really excited to try making them at home!

The recipe comes from Not Quite Nigella.... I love all the different flavors she made. They are so lovely and colorful! I personally want to try the chocolate and chili powder one......hmmmm....sounds interesting, doesn't it.

The recipe is in grams, so here is a place to convert the recipe.

Pocky

135 g bread flour
80 g all purpose flour
1/4 tsp salt
13 g confectioners sugar
6 g instant yeast
65 mL milk, warm to the touch
16 g tahini
25 g honey
zest from 1/4 orange
25 g unsalted butter, room temperature

Combine the yeast and milk in a measuring cup and allow the yeast to proof for a bit.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.

Mix the honey and tahini together in another bowl, or you can just measure it into the same cup as the yeast and milk.

Add that to the dry ingredients. Mix until you form a dough -it may be a little dry at this point.

Add the zest, butter, and 60 mL of water (This can be lukewarm too, just for the yeast). Mix until everything comes together, then knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.

Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator. Allow it to chill for at least an hour, or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 35o degrees F.

Halve the dough and place one half back in the refrigerator. Knead the other half until it is smooth, then roll out until it is about 1/4" thick. With a sharp knife, eyeball strips that are about 1/4" wide and 6" long.

Transfer these to a parchment paper lined baking sheet (if you don't use parchment, grease the sheet so they don't stick). Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes, or until they're nice and brown.

Transfer to a rack to cool, then decorate as you'd like. Melt some chocolate and spoon it over, then sprinkle whatever you'd like all over them.

Alpha Rocks!

2009-08-15T06:08:00.001-07:00

Ty signed up for Alpha at OSU. ALPHA 2009 is the fall welcome program for all new students designed to help you make friends, learn your way around campus, and kick off the new school year. The three-day experience is the final piece of your transition to college and is scheduled immediately before the start of fall semester classes. 2009 highlights include a hilarious and insightful keynote address by Dr. Bertice Berry, the wildly popular Colvin Center gala, and an opening extravaganza at historic Gallagher-Iba arena.

Alpha is a classic college experience--this is where memories are made!

If you went to all the events you got your name put in for the big drawing. TY WON!! He got an iPod Touch!! All I can say is ALPHA and OSU Rock!!!

Ty's Dorm!

2009-08-13T14:59:00.000-07:00

Here are the pics I took on my camera right before the battery died.

All the OSU wall hangings looked really cool! Especially the flag over the window.

Love the floor lamp!

Here is a better view of his closet/microwave/fridge area.

He's got a map of the campus on his closet door.

Sorry these pics are such a bad quality. I took my extra battery for my camera just in case I needed it. I did...but the extra one was dead too! Figures!

I took these with my iphone. Not the best camera in the world........

Ty's room came out so great! He loves it!

I insisted that we get him the big fridge with the freezer. It's great! He can make lots of frozen dinners in his room!

His room has LOTS of storage! Tons across the top of the closet!

This is study central! Love the Asian lights he got at Disney World last year!

This is his hall looking in the opposite direction of his room. He just came from the student lounge. The men's bathroom is down there also. (It's a co-ed floor!) He has girls right next door!

Ty and Blaine's room!

You guys rock!

Gourmet Dog Biscuits!

2009-08-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Here is everything that goes into them. Including two jars of baby food!

We used Vegetable and Beef in this batch but bought Turkey and Rice for the next time we

make them.

Bay loves to cook. Here she is beating the egg.

Great job sissy!

Rolling them out is the fun part!

Cutting too!

Aren't they cute!

Chip and Kimchee love them!

Chip is really focused! LOL!

Good dog Kimchee!

Looks like we need to make another batch!

If you want our recipe, click here.

Canning Hot/Sweet Bread and Butter Pickles!

2009-08-02T12:55:00.001-07:00

Viola! The finished product!

Garnett Hot/Sweet Bread and Butter Pickles!

I'll let you know if they are good. If you want the recipe we used click here.

The chili pepper was my own idea. I LOVE spicy food!

We tried our first jar of Blackberry jam today and it turned out perfect!

We tried to use our slicing blade on our Kitchenaid mixer but that didn't work so well. We ended up using our hand slicer instead.

Jim is adding pickling salt to the cucumbers and onions. I used those Thai Hot Chilies in each jar to make them spicy. I cut them open and seeded them. Hope they are really spicy!

You add ice and let sit for 4 hours.

After 4 hours you rinse and drain the mixture well and heat up vinegar, sugar, mustard seed, celery seeds and turmeric.

It's almost time to add the cucumbers!

Aren't they pretty?

Okay....here goes. Time to pack in the jars!

Looks good!

Putting into a water bath for 1o minutes.

We had to buy another canning pot today. All my other pots were just too small for all those pickles!

Only a couple more minutes!

Home Depot

2009-07-31T09:41:00.001-07:00

Here is Bay's Memo Board she made this morning at Home Depot.

She loves it!

Saturday, August 1 Home Depot will be hosting a free kid's workshop from 9 till noon.

Kids with a little help from their parents will be able to make a free message board for your home.

The workshops are geared toward children ages 5-12. The goal is to teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety while building confidence.

Each child recieves a free project kit, kid-sized orange apron, and achievement pin.

For more information on Kid Workshops visit Home Depot.

Making and Canning Blackberry Jam

2009-07-26T08:40:00.001-07:00

Here is the finished jam!

Isn't it gorgeous!

Check below for the pics of how we made it and the recipe.....

We got everything out and ready to go....

Getting the jars hot is important so they don't break when you add the hot liquid.

This is before sugar was added......

this was after....

This was my first attempt at waterbath canning.

It was much easier than I thought. Basically just boiling jars for 10 minutes.

I'm hearing the "click" of them sealing as I write this.....Yay! It worked!

If you'd like the recipe we used click here...

Sewing Bay's Retro Smock Top

2009-07-25T14:22:00.001-07:00

Here is the pattern we are using. It's straight from the 1970's! Bay picked this fabric. I think will work perfect with the retro feel of the shirt.

I'm trying to teach Bay to sew. She seems to be enjoying it!

We are making the shirt on the middle right.

Making Homemade Rosemary and Garlic Cheese

2009-07-25T12:54:00.000-07:00

Bay juiced a lemon for me......

...while Jimmy chopped some Rosemary from our garden.

I stirred the lowfat milk until it reached a temp of 175 degrees.

As soon as it reached the correct temp I took it off the heat and stirred in the lemon juice and buttermilk. It started to turn to curds right away.

Here is the first draining in the cheesecloth.

Looks like cottage cheese at this point.

This is the second draining. It takes around 30 minutes.

After draining I turned it out into a bowl and added salt, rosemary and garlic.

You guys have to try this recipe! It was fantastic! The kids won't stop eating it!

It was so fun to make it ourselves too!

Here is the recipe........

Lowfat Cheese Recipe
Ingredients You Will Need:
1 quart of lowfat milk (or goat’s milk)
1 cup buttermilk (active culture is necessary)
2 teaspoons vinegar or lemon juice
½ teaspoon fine salt

Pour the milk into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Keep the heat low: Don’t boil the milk. Stirring frequently, bring the heat to about 175 degrees. Do not allow the milk to form a skin. Use a dairy thermometer, and make sure the temperature is correct.

When the milk reaches the correct temperature, pour in the buttermilk and vinegar, and shut off the heat. Continue stirring slowly, and watch as the milk begins to curdle. It should begin to curdle within 30 seconds. After it begins to separate into curds and whey, it needs to set for about 10 to 15 minutes.

While the cheese is setting, place several sheets of cheesecloth over a colander, and place the colander in a large bowl. Carefully spoon the curds and whey into the cheesecloth, allowing the whey to drain out. Let the cheese sit for about 10 minutes.

At this point, carefully gather the cheesecloth at the top, and tie it with a piece of string. Then tie the string to the middle of a wooden spoon so that the cheese bag will hang freely when you place the spoon over the bowl. Allow the wooden spoon to stay over the bowl for about a half hour so that all the whey that remained in the cheese has a chance to drip free.

Untie the string, and remove the cheesecloth. Dump the cheese into a bowl. Add the salt to the cheese, and mash it until the cheese is smooth. If you want a flavored cheese, add crushed rosemary, sage or thyme along with the salt.

The cheese can be eaten immediately if you don’t want it in a specific shape, or it can be placed into a ramekin and pressed lightly to compress it so that there won’t be holes in it when it’s served. Before placing it in the refrigerator for 24 hours, cover the cheese with a plastic sheet.

To serve the cheese, flip it from the ramekin onto a small dish. For presentation, make sure the plate is covered with greens. (Spinach leaves or thyme and parsley sprigs work well.) Then drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil over the cheese, and sprinkle with crushed rosemary and pepper. Place it on the table as a soft spread to be used on bread and crackers.

I added some fresh Rosemary from our garden and some Garlic granules. It turned out so yummy!!

2009-07-22T14:56:00.000-07:00

i LOVE cVS .....AND SOMETIMES wALGREENS TOO...
wHEN WE GOT BACK FROM fLORIDA LAST MONTH WE STARTED CUTTING COUPONS AND GOING TO CVS AND WALGREENS MORE OFTEN. wE SAW DAD AND jAYNE USING COUPONS AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN FOR bAY AND I ALSO.
WE FINALLY FIGURED OUT HOW TO USE THE EXTRA BUCKS AND REWARDS YOU GET AT THE DRUGSTORES AND IT'S REALLY PAYING OFF.
LAST NIGHT WE WENT TO wALGREENS AND BOUGHT $12.00 WORTH OF STUFF AND ONLY ENDED UP PAYING ONE DOLLAR AND SOME CHANGE!!! WE BUY ONLY THINGS WE WILL USE AND TAKE COUPONS FROM THE SUNDAY PAPER AND TRY TO BUY STUFF THAT GIVES US BACK THE EB'S OR REWARDS.
hERE'S HOW TO DO IT.......
first, get your cvs extracare card

ask a cashier, or sign up online. if you're excited to get started, ask for it at the store. otherwise you'll have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. you'll need to have the card scanned for each of your purchases.

next, earn eb (extrabucks)
eb are earned through promotions, such as “buy xx, receive $yy in eb.” you will see these promotions in the monthly and weekly ads. the eb print at the end of your receipt - clip them and keep them as carefully as you would cash.

♥ the required amount to receive the eb is calculated before coupons.
♥ you do not have to buy all the products for that particular promotion in the same transaction or at the same store.
♥ eb coupons can be used to purchase nearly anything in the store. (excluding prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, and gift cards)
♥ you cannot get change back when you spend your eb's. they can be entered as less than their face value (if your cashier knows how), for example if your total comes to $1.97 and you have an eb for $1.99 that you would like to use, and you don't mind losing 2 cents
♥ eb coupons expire 4 weeks from the date they are printed.

couponing @ cvs
cvs accepts manufacturer's coupons, including ip (internet printable) coupons. cvs also issues their own store-specific coupons. you can get these by email or printed out at the end of your receipt (these are referred to as crt's - cash register tape).

both eb and crt coupons are linked to your cvs account, which means you cannot use them without the same cvs card that earned them. it used to be that we could share email coupons, but recently that has been changing a bit. it seems most of the item coupons (like $1 off gatorade) can still be used with any extracare card. however the $$/$$coupons (like $3 off $15 or more purchase) will beep and the cashier will receive a message that the coupon was not issued to your card.

the cvs coupon policy allows for the use of one manufacturer and one cvs coupon on the same item. often a very good deal can be had when you combine a cvs item coupon and/or a manufacturer's coupon on an item that gives back eb's.

Blackberry Picking

2009-07-19T12:07:00.000-07:00

This was really a pretty nice place except that it's quite a drive from our house!

We got one of those Jellies. Seedless Black Raspberry! YUM!

Jimmy and Bay

The Lady told us to get the ones with the biggest kernels and they would be on the bottom underneath. Looks like Jimmy's found some!

Big juicy kernels......good job Bay!

The price you pay for berry picking......