VeggieYogaKnitter

Sweater Progress

2009-03-08T10:35:00.007-06:00

Yes, I am still working on the sweater! However, the same thing that always happens to me at this time of the year is happening right now: I want to knit spring and summer stuff, not sweaters!! Still, we have cool weather and are expecting a cool down next week, so I have plenty of opportunities to wear a sweater, if I can just finish it.

The body of the sweater is finished, so I only have to knit the sleeves and the neck. This seems like a easy task, but, if you've ever knit a sweater before, you know that the sleeves can seem endless! I don't know why; they have a fraction of the number of stitches as the body of the sweater, and yet... they seem to take forever.

At any rate, these are set in, short row sleeves. I have done short rows before, with wraps and turns, but I haven't done them on the purl side, so that was new. For these sleeves, you have to pick up a certain number of stitches, place a marker, pick up more, place a marker, etc., and you have to pick up the same number of stitches on either side of the sleeve. This sounded sort of tricky to me, but I jumped in. On my first attempt, I ran out of room before I had picked up the required number of stitches. Ripped that out. Second attempt, I sort of "made it work." It looked pretty good, not perfect, but I was eager to move forward, so I deemed it "good enough." Never a good idea!

I worked all of the short rows, joined for worked in the round and then stopped to admire my work. Ug. Not pretty. It was a bit uneven. There were loose spots where I had picked up stitches. Some of my purl wraps were clearly wrong, so there were some weird crossed stitches in some parts. Reluctantly, I ripped it out.

I set it aside for a while, but quickly decided to try again. Picked up the stitches nice and evenly. Worked the short row wraps carefully... success!! I am now "speeding" down the arm of sleeve number one!

In other knitting news, I am about to turn the heel on Mike's tabi sock, which looks huge to me, but he tried it on and it fits him quite well.

I also knit up these baby booties, but still have to sew the seams. A friend is newly pregnant and doesn't know if it's a girl or a boy. However, I had this lovely organic cotton yarn sitting in my stash and it just happens to be blue. Girls can wear blue, too, right? Light blue. Pastel. Barely blue. Maybe I could add pink pompoms if it turns out to be a girl?

Trimming the Fat

2009-03-07T09:59:00.004-06:00

I've been trying to cook delicious food that is a little bit lower in fat and calories. I think I've hit that age where every little bit actually does count! Plus, it's just got to be better for the kids.

One thing I use all the time in baking is either applesauce or prune puree. Buying the prune puree can be sort of expensive, though I'm not sure why. Laurie gave me her recipe for cowboy cookies (thanks, Laurie!!) which included directions on how to make prune puree and I just slapped myself in the head... duh. Just put a bunch of prunes in your food processor. Turn it one and start pouring in hot water, slowly. Eventually, you will get "prune butter." Just make it the consistency you want, but be careful not to make it too watery. Turn off the machine every once in a while, scrape down the sides, and start again. Okay, this stuff is delicious! I really like it on toast or crackers.

I just substitute it straight for butter or oil in a recipe. It works especially well for things that can handle a bit of added sweetness, and amazingly well with anything chocolate. Last night, the kids found a box of brownie mix in the pantry. It was from Trader Joe's, "Truffle Brownie Mix." The directions called for 1 stick of butter, melted, and 2 large eggs. I used 1/2 cup of prune puree and egg replacers equivalent to 2 eggs. Voila! Gorgeous, moist and delicious brownies! I know they're not health food, but still, better than the alternative.

Another of my favorite things is bean dip. I love bean dips on veggies and crackers and I really love to spread them on tortillas to make wraps. My favorite is hummus, but I've been searching for a way to make it lighter. I came up with a very tasty bean dip, but I'm not even sure you can call it hummus! It doesn't have tahini or oil in it, though it does have chickpeas. Here's how I made it:

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1 clove garlic (large-ish)

2-3 Tbs lemon juice

1-2 Tbs tamari

1 roasted red bell pepper (from a jar)

1/2 tsp smoked paprika (must use SMOKED, not regular)

Whirl it all up in a food processor; let it chill for an hour or so to blend the flavors. This is really delicious! I used it as a dip and then I used it as a spread on my wraps. I just spread a layer on a sprouted grain tortilla and then added whatever veggies I wanted. One time, I sauteed onion, mushrooms and corn and added some spinach leaves... heavenly! Usually, I just put some salad on top and roll it up and eat it. (sorry about this sorry-looking photo:-)

I thought it might make a good base for a salad dressing. I tried diluting it with some rice vinegar and, honestly, it was okay, but not great. I think it might need more seasoning or something; I'll have to play with it.

Wild About Sprouts!

2009-02-10T11:05:00.008-06:00

Every year about this time, when the weather warms up a little and the seed catalogs start arriving, the gardening urge kicks in. However, February is waaaaay too early to garden in Kansas. Without fail, I turn to my sprouts.

Yes, you can sprout year round, 365 days a year. Throughout the year I will sprout in fits and spurts, sprouting for a while, and then... not sprouting for a while. But February brings a flurry of sprouting and I never get tired of watching the dormant seeds sprout into little live plants.

My first sprouting jar was an old, gigantic olive jar from a restaurant with a cheesecloth lid. Next, I graduated to a "real" sprouting jar with a fine mesh lid. These days, my favorite sprouter is, by far, EasySprout. Easy to use, easy to clean, perfect results, every time. You can buy one from many places online, including Amazon and, my favorite sprout vendor, sproutpeople.com.

What to sprout? The question should be: what NOT to sprout! There are the obvious standbys, like mung beans and alfalfa and radish and broccoli sprouts. Then, there are bean and lentil sprouts. You can also sprout nuts! Again, sprouting seeds are available all over the place. If you want some unusual blends or ideas, visit sproutpeople.com! (I am not affiliated with them in any way; they are just the best place I have found for buying and growing sprouts, recipes, information, etc.) Sprouting nuts is supposed to make them easier to digest and it softens them a bit if you want to grind them up for nut milk. I have made hummus with sprouted chickpeas and it was surprisingly good, though it tasted quite different from cooked chickpea hummus.

What else can you do with sprouts? Well, the obvious things include using them in salads, sprinkling on soups, in sandwiches and wraps, and rolling up them up in your sushi! Sprouted lentils make a wonderful salad. Just mix up a bowl with sprouted lentils, some chopped red onion, diced tomato, and diced cucumber. Then, add the dressing of your choice. This salad tastes great with a vinaigrette style dressing, and also a tofu or creamy-based dressing. You can eat the salad plain, or on greens, or on a sandwich, or in a pita. Really delicious!

I just sprouted some radish seeds. These are sort of peppery sprouts, much like radishes themselves. Some pithy directions: Place your sprouts into a jar or bowl or your sprouter. The amount of seeds varies with the type of sprouts and the size of your container. With the EasySprout I use 2 Tbs of radish seeds and maybe 1/4- 1/2 C of beans. Cover with water and soak for 8-12 hours. Drain well. Then, rinse well with a steady stream of water 4 or 5 times a day. After rinsing, you must DRAIN WELL. Make sure the sprouts aren't sitting in water or they will rot.

Here they are on day 2:

Here they are on day 3:

Here they are at the end of day 4, when I have decided they are "done." For radish sprouts, I like to de-hull them a bit, which sounds like a big deal, but it's not. I just put the sprouts in a bowl and fill with water. The seed casings either sink to the bottom of the bowl, or they float. I just scoop out the hulls on top and discard, then scoop out the sprouts and lay them on a towel to dry out. You don't have to de-hull sprouts at all, ever, but I find the hulls of the radish seeds are a bit bitter and tough. I don't try to get every single one, just a general clean up. That's it; they're done! I store them in a glass or plastic container in the fridge. If they seem really wet, I might wrap them in a paper towel. I think I might put some on my pizza tonight!!

Do You Neti??

2009-01-29T13:07:00.003-06:00

If you already have a neti pot and know how great it is, well, consider this a reminder and skip this post! However, if you don't even know what a neti pot is, read on!

This is a neti pot. It looks a little bit like Aladdin's magical lamp, doesn't it? You fill it with warm, salted water and pour it through your nostrils, as in, IN one nostril and OUT the other one. I know it sounds creepy but trust me, it is fantastic!

Neti pots have been used for thousands of years in India. I first learned about them 10 years ago in my yoga teacher training, while learning about various cleansing techniques. It is great if you live in a dry climate or if your house gets dry due to central heating or air conditioning. It restores moisture to your mucous membranes. It's also great for getting rid of excess mucous in your sinuses. It helps to wash out pollens and pollutants and even germs that could cause colds or flus.

I used to have dry, cracked nostrils in the winter time, which would bleed and scab and really hurt! I don't have that problem any more. Also, any time I feel a cold coming on, or even if I just think I've been exposed to a lot of germs, I use my neti pot every few hours for a day or two and it seems to do the trick. I'm not saying you'll never get sick; I'm just saying that it may help ward off sickness, or perhaps shorten the duration.

I confess that I some times put my neti pot away and, well... out of sight, out of mind! If I leave it on the counter where I can see it, I use it every day.

Some more specific directions: Prepare your saline solution by adding salt to warm water, using about 1/4 tsp salt if it is very fine, or up to 1/2 tsp salt if it is coarse, to 8 oz of warm water. You don't have to buy any special salt, but don't use iodized salt. I try to use a natural sea salt. You can also buy "special" solutions for your neti pot, ranging from a simple saline solution to those that contain herbal blends. I've never tried any of them, but I can assure that a simple homemade solution works just fine. Make sure your water is a comfortable temperature, not too cold and not too hot.

Okay, so pour the warm salt water into your neti pot. Lean your head over the sink sideways, with one nostril up and one down:-) Place the spout right into your nostril and start pouring. You will experience about 1 second of very slight discomfort as your nostril fills up and then it should start flowing out the other side. You can breathe comfortably through your mouth. If the salt water is dripping down your throat, you need to lower your forehead. If it doesn't flow out the other nostril, just adjust your head slightly, tipping backward or forward. When you are done, remove the neti pot and then blow vigorously out your nose. Repeat on the other side.

There is a You Tube video showing how to use the neti pot. You can buy one for about $10-$12 at health food stores and at lots of places online.

Just consider this a public service announcement. I am not a doctor, and I don't play one on tv!

Daily Bread

2009-01-17T17:27:00.005-06:00

Am I overdoing it with the food posts? Sorry! I just love to cook and I love to eat and I can't help myself!!

This post is about bread. Home-baked bread that you can pop into your oven every single day, even if you think you don't have time! That's correct: I'm talking about "Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day" by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois. If you don't know what I'm talking about, go directly to the library or bookstore and grab a copy. You won't regret it!

Okay, so the premise is: you make up a batch of fairly soggy, wet dough. You store it in your fridge. Whenever you want bread, you hack off a hunk of dough, let it rise a bit and then bake it. The results are phenomenal. This is not your average home-baked bread. It's a crusty, complex loaf of bread, the kind you drive to a bakery to buy, and it couldn't be easier!

There have been some basic directions printed in Mother Earth News and Vegetarian Times, but if you like bread, you will want the whole book. You start with the basic white bread, then you can move on to whole grain breads, flatbreads, pizzas, and dessert and pastry breads. There are also some add-on recipes, like salads and sandwiches and other things you might want to serve with your bread, or make with your bread. Trust me, it's easy and delicious.

So, here are a few more details: you mix up the dough. For the basic recipe, it's water, yeast, salt and flour. You let it rise for about 2 hours and then you store it in the refrigerator. It will keep up to 2 weeks. You can make 4 1-lb loaves out of the basic recipe, but it is easily doubled. Whenever you want to bake, you pull out your dough bucket and cut off a grapefruit-sized chunk. You quickly shape it into a round and then let it rise at room temperature for about 40 minutes.

Then you slide it into your oven onto a pre-heated baking stone or sheet. You add some water to a pan in your oven to create steam, close the door, and let it bake for about 30 minutes. Then... Cool. Cut. Eat. Repeat.

The possibilities are endless!

Sushi Time!

2009-01-13T10:25:00.006-06:00

Have you ever made sushi at home? Well, you should definitely give it a try! It's fun and easy and a LOT less expensive than taking your family, with 3 hungry, sushi-loving teens, out to a sushi restaurant. This is the sushi we made on New Year's Eve.

I don't pretend to be an expert, as I've only made it a few times, but I did do a bit of research, so I'll share what I've learned. As an aside, the only things I've filled my rolls with are vegetables and those fake crabmeat things. I don't know anything about where to buy raw fish for sushi, or how to handle it, or anything else. This just pertains to veggie sushi, okay?

Apparently, the secret is in the rice. You will need to use Japanese, short grain rice, also known as sushi rice. (clever!) It is very tiny grains of rice, smaller than arborio. I like Lundberg Farms brand, but there are others that I'm sure are wonderful, too.

You need just the right amount of starch, so it's important that you wash the rice before cooking. Simply measure out your rice into your pot or the bowl of your rice cooker, fill with water, and swish it around a little bit. Dump out almost all of the water, and then gently scrub the rice with your fingers in the small amount of water that remains. The water will get white and milky. Fill the bowl with water again, dump and scrub. Do this 3 times; by the third time the water should be much more clear. Next, add the amount of water which corresponds the the amount of rice you are using. (i.e., 1 cup of dry rice to 1-1/2 cups of water). Now, let the rice soak for about 30 minutes. After soaking, cook it up! (Note that some recipes recommend adding 2 Tbs. sake to the rice water, right before cooking. I've made it with and without sake and noticed no difference.)

Once the rice is cooked, just let it set for about 10 minutes while you make up the sauce. In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 C rice vinegar, 1-1/2 to 2 Tbs sugar and 1 tsp salt. Simmer over medium heat and stir until dissolved; let it cool to room temperature. (This amount of sauce will season 2 or 2-1/4 C dry sushi rice, which is the amount I used.)

Here we go: Scoop the cooked rice into a clean bowl. Gently sprinkle the vinegar mixture over the rice by pouring it onto a spatula that you move across the bowl as you pour. Cover the rice with a dishtowel and let it set for about 2 minutes. Now you want to mix and cool the rice, being careful not to mash the rice, keeping the grains distinct. You will gently cut through the rice with the spatula, turning the bowl. Some recommend that you use a small fan or a blow dryer set on cool to "fan" the rice, but I've never tried it. Just gently cut and lift and turn the rice until the rice is cooled.

Now, make your rolls! It's easiest if you use one of those little bamboo sushi mats, shown in the first picture. Lay down a sheet of nori, shiny side down. Now spread a little rice on top, using wet hands, leaving a little bare edge on the sides and bottom and 1-2 inches bare at the top. Add your fillings, right onto the rice, about an inch up from the bottom. We have used: thin carrot strips, cucumber strips, avocados, asparagus, sprouts, radish, daikon, lettuce... you could use scrambled eggs, too. I like to sprinkle sesame seeds on top. Now, roll it up from the bottom, nice and tight, using the bamboo mat to help you roll. Cut into pieces with a nice, sharp, WET knife. That's it! I usually make the rice and the kids roll it up. Have some soy sauce and wasabi for dipping, and pickled ginger for a nice, cooling contrast. Enjoy!

Going With the Flow

2009-01-08T09:40:00.005-06:00

That's my new year's resolution: to go with the flow. That's it. I'm not going to sweat the small stuff, or even the big stuff. I'm going to stop trying to control everything and just sit back, relax and enjoy life. I realized that the harder I hold on to something, the harder I cling to a thought or a notion or an idea or "the way it SHOULD be," the more it eludes me. Then, I get all tight and bunched up, in my body and in other parts of my life, and I don't want to do that any more. I'm just going to take it day by day and see what happens.

I love the beginning of a new year. New lists and journals and calendars. Starting over, starting fresh. It feels so great! I know I'll probably abandon half of the new lists and journals, and it's okay. It's the starting over that feels so great.

So... let's talk about knitting! Here are some mittens I knit for my aunt, to go with the scarf I knit her last year. They are knit in Berroco Foliage, which is sort of thick and thin and loosely spun, very rustic, with beautiful and gradual color changes. I love the yarn.

Here is a scarf I knit (now finished) (needs to be blocked) of my own design... sort of. I used the "Little Arrowhead Lace" pattern from the first Barbara Walker treasury and added edging stitches. You can't see the design very well unblocked, but it's pretty. The yarn is Nashua Geologie, another yarn that is all about the gradual and beautiful color changes. I only used one skein and I hope it will block out long enough.

Finally, I bought the yarn for ANOTHER sweater. This one is IT, I just know it!!! It's going to fit in the shoulders and chest, the sleeves will be the perfect length, the yarn won't be too heavy or too hot or too itchy... PERFECT!! I bought Cascade 220 Tweed, in a dark charcoal color (much darker than it looks in the photo!). I've started knitting and... so far, so good!!

I do have a pair of socks in my queue, this time for Mike! He loves to wear his leather flip flops, regardless of the weather, except when it is just too cold. I'm going to knit him a pair of Tabi socks; you know, the socks that actually have a pocket for your big toe, and then another one for the rest of your toes, so you can wear them with flip flops!! He swears he will wear them, but... if you know Mike, you know that it's a gamble on my part! I think they'll be fun to knit, though, and if he won't wear them, I just might!

Happiness is....

2008-12-25T17:08:00.005-06:00

WARM FEET!

And a friend to snuggle with!

Wishing you all the best this holiday season, from our home to yours!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

I Only THOUGHT It Was Cold Before...

2008-12-20T19:24:00.002-06:00

Now it is 9 degrees outside and let me tell you, THAT is cold!! Luckily, I have all sorts of fabulous knitware to keep me warm. All that's missing is the perfect, well-fitting sweater :-) (I'll keep trying for that one!)

I made the "Raw Parmesan Cheese" from The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Cooking by Beverly Lynn Bennett and Ray Sammartano. It is so delicious! Fair warning: it doesn't taste anything like parmesan cheese. (This is a good thing in my book!) It's just a yummy topping for Italian food or salad or soup or pizza or whatever. It tastes vaguely cheese-ish, due to the nutritional yeast, so you must like nutritional yeast if you make it. It's a sprinkle-on kind of topping, not something you melt. Okay, enough already! Here is the recipe; try it if you dare:

Raw Parmesan Cheese

3/4 C whole raw almonds
3 Tbs raw sesame seeds
3/4 C nutritional yeast flakes
pinch sea salt

Process almonds and sesame seeds in the food processor for 1-2 minutes, until finely ground.
Add nutritional yeast flakes and salt; process for 1 more minute.
(That's it.)
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

I just read another book that I really enjoyed. It's called The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted by Elizabeth Berg. It's a collection of short stories, about women, and about things they do or revelations they have as they mature. The stories are really great, rather poignant, but not sad. Just... so true. It's a quick read; take a look.

Okay, I have 2 questions for you. First: what is your favorite vegetarian/vegan cookbook, and why? Second: what is your "go to" meal? What is that one thing you make to eat when you are really hungry but don't have anything prepared or planned or maybe not much food in the house? What do you fall back on eating in times of desperation? OR, what is that one meal you love so much that you secretly eat it all the time??

I'll tell you a few things I "go to" in my times of need. First, for general purposes, I almost always have some cooked grains in the fridge, usually brown rice, but sometimes white rice or rice leftover from Chinese take out. Sometimes it's quinoa. Or couscous. Then I steam or microwave some frozen vegetables (always have a huge bag of stir fry veggies from Costco in the freezer.) Veggies go on top of grains, then I might add some peanut sauce, some tahini dressing, or just tamari and gomasio. That's my main emergency meal. A close second, because I love it, is a can of Rotel tomatoes, a can of drained black beans, and a half of a cake of tofu, diced. Mix these 3 things, warm it up, serve it over grains or baked potatoes or even by itself. Excellent.

I am just jumping around here, aren't I? Knitting some fingerless mitts and finishing the socks (both holiday gifts). Enjoying staying warm by the fire. Hope you are all feeling warm and delicious, too.

Officially, it's still FALL!

2008-12-15T09:49:00.004-06:00

Sure feels like winter to me! Yesterday, Mike and I went shopping and I couldn't believe how cold it was. To reward ourselves for finishing, we stopped in at a restaurant and had a snack. Mike was facing so he was looking out the window and he kept saying, "Look! Those people are running! I wonder what's going on?" We thought something horrible was happening. As time went on and we saw people running back and forth, we figured out that nothing horrible was happening. People were running because they were COLD!!

Okay, I'm a bit dumb. I was planning my bean ball experiments and, as I continued reading Veganomicon, I realized that there is a recipe for bean balls that uses seitan in the book! Duh! No need to reinvent the wheel. Still... their recipe uses kidney beans which just aren't my favorite, so I guess I will play with it a little bit. More soon...

Here is a salad I made this weekend that I really enjoyed. It was filling, yet not too heavy. I made it to go with our homemade pizzas and it all went, so I guess everyone liked it.

1-1/2 C frozen, shelled edamame, thawed

1-1/2 C frozen corn, thawed

1 C diced cucumber (I used one of those seedless hothouse cukes)

1/2 C chopped red onion or scallions

1-2 Tbs toasted sesame oil

3-4 Tbs rice vinegar

1/2 to 1 Tbs miso

black pepper, to taste

(salt, if you wish, depending on amount of miso used)

Put all the veggies in a bowl. Whisk together the sesame oil, vinegar and miso and pour it onto the veggies and mix well. Add salt and pepper to taste.

I didn't really measure anything, but you can just adjust the dressing to your own taste.

I've been reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Cooking over the weekend and I really like it. I made the "Spiced Pumpkin Pecan Loaf" (photo above) and it was so delicious! There are two things I am really interested in trying. One is called "Vegan Cheese Sauce Mix." You make up a dry mix which includes cashews, oats, sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, arrowroot, and some other spices, which you grind up in the food processor. You store this mix in your fridge, and then, whenever you need a "cheeze" sauce, you whisk some mix with soy milk or water and warm it up on the stove. Brilliant. You can serve it over potatoes or pasta or vegetables or whatever.

Then there is the "Raw Parmesan Cheese." I don't really like parmesan cheese; the smell really puts me off. However, I do like some little something on top of my pasta or whatever. Usually, I used gomasio, which I love, but an alternative would be nice. This is a mixture of raw almonds, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast and a pinch of sea salt. Doesn't that sound good? I'll let you know what I think once I make it.

Anne asked what my favorite vegetarian cookbook is. Hmmm.... good question. I'm the first to admit that I'm rather fickle and my preferences change every day! I guess the thing that would make a cookbook a favorite would be that all the recipes I try are good. So, for today anyway, some of my favorites are:

The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick Goudreau; every recipe is a winner. The recipes are written so clearly and with such care, it's just a joy to read and cook with it.

Quick-Fix Vegetarian by Robin Robertson. Everything I've tried has been wonderful. Quick and easy recipes, easy to double, easy to find ingredients.

Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure by Lorna J. Sass. Pressure cooking bible!

The Vegetarian Family Cookbook by Nava Atlas. One of my kitchen fixtures.

2008-12-12T09:40:00.002-06:00

Well, you all know that I am a vegetarian who loves to cook and experiment; I am into yoga; and I enjoy knitting. I thought that these three things would be descriptive enough and give me lots of blogging topics, but I neglected to mention the very heart of what I am: I am a reader! Yes, it's true, I always have my nose in a book. My house is loaded with overflowing book shelves. There are piles of books on my nightstand and on the floor next to my bed. I have a huge list of books on request from the library. My Amazon wish list is long and evolving and ever-changing. I read everything from cover to cover, including cookbooks and knitting books. Everything. VERY RARELY to I not finish a book, and it's a sad day when I give up on one. That's not to say that I don't have many books in my pile that I've been reading for years. Yes, YEARS! I just put a bookmark in them and pick them up when the urge strikes!

So, I thought I'd share a few of my current reads with you, in no particular order:

1. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Cooking by Beverly Lynn Bennett and Ray Sammartano
This book is great! Lots of basics and mostly recipes. My favorite features are the "extras," which are little tips, explanations, definitions, and pitfall alerts. I always learn something new! There are some soups I must try.

2. Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., MD
I love science and I love learning more about how the human body works. The first half of the book explains heart disease in great detail. Dr. Esselstyn has done a study on reversing it using diet and nutrition. The diet is VERY strict, vegan with absolutely no added fat and no high fat foods, but it sure beats open heart surgery. The second half of the book is recipes.

3. Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan
Sort of combines knitting and science! (and/or math... but don't let that scare you away!! Norah does the math for you!) Norah has a biology degree AND an art degree and she combines the two in her knitting in amazing ways. In this book, all of her patterns are inspired by nature and I am just fascinated by reading about the creative and innovative ways she uses different stitches to make unusual shapes. Beautiful!

4. Custom Knits by Wendy Bernard
I mentioned this one before; still working on it. Wendy has designed a bunch of sweaters, nearly all worked in the round, top down, no seams! She has a ton of advice about how to achieve the perfect fit, which I hope will be helpful! I'm trying to choose the sweater I will knit after I finish my Christmas knitting...

5. The Yin Yoga Kit: The Practice of Quiet Power by Biff Mithoefer
Trying to expand my yoga repertoire! I took a yin yoga class with Sarah Powers and it was truly life-changing for me. In yin yoga, you practice poses which specifically address the bones and connective tissues of the body, mainly between the navel and the knees. (as opposed to "regular" or yang yoga, which focuses more on the muscles.) This book and kit comes with practice cards, which allows me to choose one of two yin poses to add to my practice. This is such an over-simplified explanation; ask me if you want to know more!

6. Indigo Dying by Susan Wittig Albert
(heavy sigh.) Oh, I just love these books!! Yes, I always have some cookbooks in the pile, and knitting, and yoga, but the true loves of my books are the mysteries! Oh, I dabble in historical fiction and popular non-fiction, but give me a good mystery and a cup of tea and I'm all set. Indigo Dying is the 11th book in the China Bayles mystery series. Yes, I am a bit late to the China Bayles tea party, but Susan is still writing the series and I am delighted. China Bayles was a high-powered Houston lawyer, but she woke up one morning and quit her job and bought an herb shop in a small Texas town. Somehow, there is always a mystery for China to solve, often with the help of her best friend, new age fanatic Ruby, and/or her partner, ex-cop Mike McQuaid. I don't want to give too much away!

When I read fiction, especially mysteries, I want something that is smart, well-written, thoughtful. I like character development, especially throughout a series. I like real-life situations, suitable to the time period of the novel. I really dislike series where the plot and theme are the same within every book. The China Bayles series is just about perfect! You get characters you really care about; fun and interesting plots and mysteries; all around good reads! You don't HAVE to read them in order, but you should.

To add even more to the books, Susan loads them with lore and facts about herbs. She has all sorts of folk-loric medicines and even recipes! If you are an herb lover, you must read these books! Once you get addicted, you can visit Susan's websites and blogs and sign up for her newsletters, which are well-written and full of fun facts about writing, about all of Susan's books, about Susan's life (which, ahem, includes knitting:-) and more about herbs.

No, I'm not affiliated in any way; I just really enjoy reading this series. I bet you will too!!

Back to Christmas shopping....

A Warm Neck is a Happy Neck

2008-12-03T09:20:00.007-06:00

Yes, I do realize that I've been neglecting my knitting posts! Don't worry, though; I haven't been neglecting my knitting :-) I'm just busily working on my holiday projects, and I don't want to give anything away. I will share my latest finished object with you now, simply because it is so beautiful and delicious. (modesty aside...)

It started with the Noro scarf that everyone who is anyone is knitting right now. (just in case you aren't anyone, you can look at the scarf and the pattern here: http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2007/04/noro-scarf.html )

Yes, it is beautiful. Beautiful!! The Noro colors are truly unrivaled and simply breathtaking. However, like many people, I have some Noro issues. Two are minor, but one is so major it's almost a deal-breaker. First off, there are always bits of grass and leaves and twigs in the yarn. I know it's minor and easy to pick out, but why? Why can't they clean the vegetable matter out of their yarn?

Second, why is the yarn so scratchy? I don't mean itchy like your normal wool, I mean sharp and scratchy. I have heard that the Silk Garden is much softer after it's washed, but I have never tried Silk Garden, because of issue number three, which is the biggie:

KNOTS. (that's plural). Every skein of Noro Kureyon I have used has had knots in it. The worst part is, wherever the knots occur, the yarn colors are joined randomly. So... you are knitting along, enjoying the surprise of the gradual, beautiful color changes, eagerly awaiting the next change, when you come to a knot. The gradual color change turns into an abrupt and seemingly random color change which can pretty much ruin the beauty of the thing you are knitting. If you have knit with this yarn, you know what I'm talking about. I have tried piecing together skeins to keep the colors going, which is a huge pain in the neck. Plus, I ended up buying way more yarn than I needed and I couldn't help but wonder: WHY??? Let's just add that the price of the yarn is not cheap.

Noro felts like a dream and adds a dash of beauty to any felted knitting, but I'm not really interested in dealing the with knots right now. So, I won't be knitting the Noro scarf... at least not immediately. (I never say never. I reserve the right to change my mind completely.) I really don't have time to deal with it while trying to complete my holiday knitting.

However... I do love the scarf. I love the way the 1x1 ribbing looks, the way the scarf lies flat, the neat edges. I'm not a huge fan of knitting miles and miles of ribbing, though. Could I make it through an entire scarf? Absolutely! Not only did I make it, the knitting went quickly and easily and I enjoyed it and might make another one!

Here are some pictures of my scarf. I used Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes). I chose this yarn because I still longed for the gradual color changes of Noro. These colors aren't nearly as beautiful or brilliant as Noro, but it's still pretty in a very subtle way. I didn't alternate two different colors; I just knit it up. It's soft, no veggies, and not one single knot in all three skeins! If you are interested, I used size 8 needles, cast on 29 stitches, and slipped the first and last stitch of every other row, the row that begins with a purl stitch, slipping purlwise with yarn in front. It made a neat and pretty edge.

Yes, it is a Christmas gift... but for whom??

Bean Balls!

2008-11-26T10:09:00.002-06:00

Oh, I know. It's the time of year when I should be thinking about tofurky, and sweet potatoes, and stuffing, and... pie, I guess. But, all I can think about is creating the perfect bean balls!

Okay, everyone loves spaghetti and meatballs, right? Great, filling, easy meal. Of course, if you don't eat meat, you go with meatless meatballs. There are some great ones out there! Nate's Meatless Meatballs are our favorites. However, they aren't exactly cheap, and when you are feeding a family of 5, including 2 teens and 1 pre-teen, you definitely need more than one bag for a hearty, filling meal. I just knew this was something I could make at home. They would be fresher, tastier, healthier and cheaper!

My first attempts involved using veggie ground round, a vegetarian ground beef substitute. Honestly, they weren't that good. And, the veggie ground round cost almost as much as the meatballs. Plus, they were sort of a pain in the neck to make.

Next, I tried tofu balls. I really liked them, but Mike did not. He thinks he doesn't like tofu. In reality, he only doesn't like tofu that he can see or taste. Or, if he knows it's in there. I have to be sneaky about tofu use:-)

My latest spark of genius was to try bean balls! I was completely inspired by a recipe I found in "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian" by Mark Bittman. Have you seen this book? Nearly 1000 pages of, literally, how to cook everything. How to peel it, how to cut it, how to cook it in many different ways, how to change it, how to serve it. I borrowed it from the library and I don't want to give it back. It definitely requires a renewal or two, just to get through it all.

So... I took the recipe for "The Simplest Bean Burgers." I changed it a little bit, to make it more compatible with Italian marinara sauce; shaped it into little balls, and baked them up. They were very, very good!! Here's the adapted recipe:

2 C cooked chickpeas, or 1 can, rinsed and drained (if they are homemade, reserve a bit of the bean-cooking liquid)
1 medium onion, quartered
1/2 C rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp garlic powder, or granulated garlic, or 1-2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 egg (I did use a real egg)
bean-cooking liquid or stock, if necessary

Combine everything in the food processor and pulse until chunky (not pureed). Add a little bit of liquid, if necessary, to make a nice moist mixture that holds together well. (I think I added too much liquid, so be judicious.)
Let mixture rest a few minutes. In the fridge if possible. Even better, if you have time, make the mixture well ahead of time and let it chill in the fridge for a while. I did this and it makes the mixture much easier to handle.
Next, make the balls. I used a small cookie scoop, about 1 Tbs size. Smaller is better. (!)
Place the bean balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake at 425 for about 15-20 minutes, until lightly browned.

The bean balls were very tasty; everyone loved them. They seemed a little bit fragile, so I just piled them onto plates and then ladled sauce on top, instead of actually cooking them in the sauce. Very good!

However.... not perfect. Yet. Next, I was reading some recipes in "Veganomicon" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero... have you checked out this cookbook? Oh, my. You really, really should. But, let's stick to bean balls, for now. They have a recipe for chickpea cutlets, which I simply had to try. They are sort of similar to the bean balls with one major exception: they use vital wheat gluten, which gives them a very firm texture, like seitan. They were delicious, though I might have made mine a bit too thin, so they were perhaps a bit too firm. Easily remedied with lots of gravy:-)

So... my next experiment will be to try to merge the two recipes into the absolutely most perfect bean balls!! I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, do try the bean balls! They are delicious and you won't be disappointed.

Oh~ have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
With many thanks~
Cheryl

The Yoga DVD is HERE!

2008-11-22T13:40:00.005-06:00

That was quick! The yoga DVD arrived yesterday, so I thought I'd explore it a little bit with you. It's called "OM Yoga & Meditation Workshop." The presenters are Cyndi Lee and David Nichtern. Cyndi is a well-known yoga instructor and owner of the OM Yoga Studios in NYC. David is a meditation teacher, and also a musician.

When you open it up, there is a little booklet that explains the program along with some FAQs; there is a music CD; and then there is the workshop DVD.

The booklet explains the background, what's on the DVD, how to prepare for yoga and meditation practice, and what the benefits of each practice are. There are also details about the music CD and additional products/websites for you to use to continue your practice.

The music CD is really good. As expected, it's 10 tracks of relaxing, east-to-listen to music, suitable for practicing yoga to or just listening to. The thing that I really like about it is that it's not the slow, ethereal, new age-y music that I usually practice yoga to. While the "typical" music is very relaxing and soothing, it can also get boring, and I'm ready for a bit of a change. The tracks are mostly instrumental; only 2 or 3 tracks have words. The music is a bit more jazz-y than you might expect, yet still relaxing and perfect for yoga practice.

The workshop DVD has 4 yoga and 5 meditation sessions, each about 15 minutes in length. I think this is my favorite part! I often put off my yoga practice (or meditation) because I don't have much time, but I can always find 15 minutes. It's divided into 4 sections, with each section having a meditation practice and then a yoga sequence. Of course, you can mix it up a little bit, or do only one part or another.

The first part is called "Making Friends with Yourself." The meditation portion is very introductory and thorough. David tells you how to seat yourself comfortably, where to put your hands, how to hold your eyes. (slightly open!) He then leads you through a very simple meditation, focusing on your breath. I enjoyed it, and it is perfectly suitable for someone who has never meditated before.

Then, Cyndi leads a yoga sequence. She says the yoga on this DVD is suitable for beginner or intermediate students, and I agree, providing the beginner student has had some prior yoga instruction. This is not an instructional DVD, it's a yoga practice. I wouldn't recommend this DVD as your very first yoga class, but it's great if you've taken a few classes or done some instructional DVDs and are ready for more. Cyndi starts with some seated stretches, then downward dog, then several sun salutations in a row. They aren't too vigorous, but they will get your heart pumping. The first couple of sun salutations use the "knees-chest-chin" version of chaturanga dandasana (yoga push-up); then she moves into a full chaturanga dandasana. Of course, you are free to modify any/all of the poses, provided you know how to modify. After some gentle spinal twists, Cyndi moves you into halasana (plow pose) and then shoulderstand. Again, not difficult poses if you've had some instruction.

So far, the DVD is a lot of fun! I will share more information about the rest of the tracks later. Until then.... happy yoga!

I Don't Like Pie!

2008-11-18T13:49:00.007-06:00

There. I've said it, loud and clear, for all the world to hear. I sincerely do not like pie.

That's not to say that I've never eaten pie, or that I won't ever eat pie again. There is one part of the pie that's quite good: the inside. The outside is yukky. That's correct: I don't like crust. I don't like it thick, or thin; flaky or doughy; homemade or frozen. I don't like it with butter, or oil, or shortening. I just don't like it.

I like the insides, usually. I love baked apples and cherries. And blueberries! I love the inside of pecan pie, even though I'm not sure exactly what the gooey stuff is. Key lime pie isn't bad. Overall, I'll pass on coconut cream, or any of the pudding fillings. And, I'm sorry to to say, that does include pumpkin.

I'll give you that there's nothing like the smell of pumpkin pie and spices wafting out of the oven. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it! But then, I take a bite, and it's all pudding-y and crusty and it's just not my thing. Pumpkin bread: yes! Pumpkin cookies: absolutely! Pumpkin pie: I'll pass.

I realize that I am an anomaly, both in my family and probably, in my country. So, concessions must be made. I will share with you two ways I wriggle around the pie requirements.

First off is the Impossible Pumpkin Pie. (Thanks for the link, Karen!!) This comes to you courtesy of Susan Voisin of the Fatfree Vegan Blog, at http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/ Okay, remember those "impossible pies" from the Bisquick mix boxes? Like, "impossible cheeseburger pie"? Where you mix up a bunch of stuff, pour it into a pan, and it automatically makes its own crust? Yes, it's like that, and it's really that easy. You just put some stuff into a blender, blend it, pour it into the pie plate and bake it. There are no weird ingredients or anything. Does it taste good? I don't know. Have you forgotten already? I don't like pie! Here's the one I made yesterday, and today, it's gone, so I guess the four pie-eaters in the house think it tastes pretty good!

If you want to try it yourself, here is the link to the recipes and some lovely pictures on Susan's blog: http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2006/10/and-answer-is.html You should really spend some time browsing around there, for delicious recipes and beautiful photographs.

The big question is always: What about Thanksgiving? It's almost illegal NOT to have some kind of pie on Thanksgiving, right? I solve this problem by making Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie. First of all, it has a graham cracker crust. I don't love it, but it's not bad. You can make your own or buy one pre-made; makes no difference to me. The filling is just pumpkin, any kind of vanilla ice cream (made with rice milk, or soy milk, or cow's milk), brown sugar and spices. Incredibly easy, perfect to make ahead of time, and even I will eat it! Here's the recipe, if you want to give it a try:

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

1 C canned pumpkin puree
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 quart vanilla ice cream
1 9" graham cracker pie crust

Combine first 4 ingredients. Mix until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the slightly softened ice cream. Pour into pie crust. Freeze 4-6 hours or until firm. Garnish with chopped pecans and whipped cream.

One final note: The rest of my family likes it topped with whipped cream, but not me. You see, I don't like whipped cream! But, that's a topic for another time:-)

A Prize, A Recipe, A Secret

2008-11-15T17:41:00.003-06:00

First of all, I won something!! I was checking my email the other day, and one had a subject line that said: "WINNER YBBM OM yoga DVD." At first, I thought perhaps I had won the British lottery AGAIN. My finger hovered over the delete key, but I thought, "Wait a minute...." I suddenly remembered that I had entered a contest! The contest was sponsored by the OM Yoga Studios in New York City, and the grand prize was a trip to Kripalu to attend a weekend workshop called "Yoga Body, Buddha Mind." All I had to do was tell them why I love OM yoga, in 200 words or so.

The fact is, I DO love OM yoga. I've never been to their studios, but I took a workshop with Cyndi Lee (studio owner) a couple of years ago at the Yoga Journal Conference in San Francisco. She is an amazing teacher and really helped me to connect-the-dots with some of my physical issues with yoga as well as my spiritual practice. So, I wrote a few paragraphs and sent it in. And, I actually won something!! No, I didn't win the trip to Kripalu, but I'm not sitting around feeling sorry for myself. I won an OM yoga DVD and I'm simply thrilled! Thinking positively, I will be able to watch the DVD over and over again and study it and really learn. I will be sure to post a review as soon as I receive it. Meanwhile, many thanks to Cyndi and everyone at OM.

Now, for a quick recipe. Did you ever just get a craving for something, and then eat it and eat it and eat it some more, and love every single bite? That's where I'm at right now. I made this white bean spread and I love it to pieces. The very best way to eat it is thickly spread on a piece of toast, or, even better, a whole grain bagel. My mouth is watering. The beans make it almost buttery, and the pine nuts give it a little bit of richness. If you feel the craving coming on, give it a try:

White Bean Spread

2 Tbs pine nuts
1 clove garlic
1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained (reserve juice if organic)
1 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs lemon juice
optional: chopped fresh parsley or other fresh herb, to taste
Salt (1 tsp, +/-)
pepper to taste
optional: dash of Tabasco sauce

Pulse the garlic and pine nuts in the food processor until nuts are chopped finely.
Add the cannellini beans, olive oil, and a couple of Tbs of the reserved bean juice (or warm water or broth) and process well, until smooth. Add the lemon juice, optional parsley and salt and pepper, and pulse to combine.
That's basically it. It tastes better if you can let it set a bit before digging in. I sometimes add the Tabasco if I'm using it as a dip. So good.

Finally, I'm going to share one of my secrets. It's a knitting secret. It's a knitting project that I started a long time ago and never finished. I have no idea why! I love the yarn, love the project, hope to finish it eventually. I just don't feel like it! How's that for an excuse? I'm hoping that by digging it out, taking a picture, and sharing it with my hundreds of readers (that was a joke!) I will get inspired to work on it again.

Without further ado, here is my scribble shawl/scarf: (see, I'm not even sure what it is!)

If you are not familiar with scribble scarves, it's a scarf knit with a laceweight/very thin yarn, and also with a very, very thick yarn, using big needles. It's sort of airy and open, but has an interesting texture with the thicker yarn. I'm using Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Colinette Giotto, a ribbon yarn. The effect is sort of... artsy.

Comments are welcome. "Rip it out!" "Finish it, for goodness sake!" "What is it?" These are all great comments. I'm just hoping for a little bit of inspiration!

(Did you notice that I was able to combine veggies, yoga and knitting in ONE post?? Don't expect to see that again:-)

A Loaf of Bread....

2008-11-11T13:42:00.004-06:00

Call me crazy; I can take it. I just can't take any more high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated oils. I don't want them in my food or in my house or in my body. They are not welcome here! I'm not going to go into a lot of explanations here, but rest assured that high fructose corn syrup is a cheap sugar substitute that the body doesn't even recognize as a food, and that partially hydrogenated oils are the worst kinds of fat you can ingest. Nuff said.

Yesterday, I stopped by gigantic store-which-shall-remain-nameless in search of some hot dog buns for some Tofurky sausage "hoagies" for dinner last night. I was SO MAD that I could not find any hot dog buns without the offending ingredients! Hamburger buns, yes; hot dog buns, no. Why? As I read the ingredients on the hamburger buns, I was sort of stunned by the long list. I decided that I really didn't want any of that stuff in my home, so I decided to roll my own:-) (Sorry; that just worked so well there, don't you think?)

Now, time was not exactly at a premium, having wasted the entire morning reading labels at gigantic store, among other things. So, I needed something quick. As I pulled into the garage, my headlights illuminated: THE BREAD MACHINE. I got the bread machine as a wedding gift, oh those 17+ years ago, and I used to love it. Somewhere along the way, our love affair staled... maybe when the Kitchen Aid mixer moved in. Then, I became all about shapes and crusts and textures, and the bread machine moved to the garage. But yesterday, I remembered the "Dough" cycle. You know, where the machine mixes and rises for you, then you can pull the dough out and shape it and bake it however you wish!

I found an old recipe that can be used for rolls, changed it, and let 'er rip. The dough was a bit sticky, but I rolled out some little logs, let them rise again, and popped them into the oven. The results were... delicious! They were sturdy little rolls that tasted simple and lovely.

Today, Tuesday, is my crazy-busy day. I planned on a pot of soup for dinner and thought I'd pick up some bread at the store, but the bread machine was still sitting on the counter, so I thought: why not? Juggled a little bit, guessed on the baking time and the bread is ready and waiting for dinner! Here is a picture of today's loaf, and one leftover roll from yesterday:

Here is the recipe, if you still have your bread machine sitting around:

Easy Bread or Rolls

(NOTE: on the first day I used a real egg; on the second day I used Ener-G egg replacer. They both worked fine. I used olive oil, but you could use canola oil or even melted butter/spread. I used soy milk, but I'm sure it would work fine with rice milk or dairy milk.)

1/2 C soy milk
1/2 C water
equivalent of 1 large egg
1 Tbs olive oil
1-1/2 C all purpose flour
1-1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 Tbs. vital wheat gluten
1 tsp salt
1 scant Tbs yeast

Place ingredients into your bread machine and set for the dough cycle.
When it beeps, turn out your dough onto a lightly floured surface.
Form into a large "log" for a large loaf of bread, or, divide into about 8 equal pieces. Roll out into mini logs for hot dog buns, or mini rounds for hamburger buns.
Place shaped loaves onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, which has been lightly sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover lightly with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise again for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375.
Place the baking sheet in the center rack and bake until lightly browned. It will take 15-20 minutes or so for the rolls, depending on size, and about 30 minutes for the large loaf.

That's it for today; tvp recipes coming soon, I promise!!

Mad About Tweed!

2008-11-08T16:19:00.007-06:00

First, the sweater. Yes, I did finish it! I washed it and carefully blocked it and let it dry, and then I tried it on. The verdict: well, I don't love it. I want to love it, I really, really do!! But, I don't. Even though I swatched, and washed the swatch, and carefully measured, and tried on, it's just not quite what I had hoped for. Now that I look at it, I wonder if I made the smartest choice of patterns? Do I really need a sweater that HUGS my tummy? It feels a little snug. And the sleeves are snug. I'm not really sure. I'm going to let it chill out in my closet for a while and then try it on again, with different things under it, and hope I'll change my mind.

However, I am NOT daunted!! Not in the least!! I love knitting top down sweaters right now and I'm going to give it another whirl. I'm even willing to try "bottom up" sweaters, if they are knit in the round. Different pattern, different gauge, different yarn, namely: TWEED. I don't know why, but I'm suddenly, inexplicably smitten with tweed! I found some beautiful tweed on sale at elann.com, and WEBS has some Cascade tweed on sale. So, now I am in search of the perfect sweater pattern, one that will be suitable in tweed.

Here's how my search is going: I started with this book, appropriately titled "Tweed" by Nancy J. Thomas. There are some seriously beautiful sweaters here, especially the Carrick Pullover, a tweedy, ribbed turtleneck. However, all of these patterns are knit in pieces and then seamed together. I don't feel like doing that right now, for whatever reason. And I'm certainly not ready to do a major pattern conversion yet. So, my search continues...

I love Wendy Bernard's blog and patterns (http://www.knitandtonic.typepad.com/), and I heard that her new book, "Custom Knits," is all about top-down sweaters, so I decided to check it out. This could be "IT"!! Beautiful patterns, truly, with detailed directions (which I need) and customization options! I haven't read the whole thing yet, but I am anxious to get started. I love many of the patterns and I hope I can figure them out. And, find one that will be perfect in tweed!! Maybe this one?

Ahimsa, and More About Food :-)

2008-11-06T10:29:00.002-06:00

I don't intend on writing a novel about yogic philosophy; others are much better at that than I am. All I am really planning on doing today is explaining a tiny bit about yoga and how it relates to the food I eat. Or don't eat.

In this country, we tend to think of yoga as a strictly physical practice. Stretching, posing, balancing and twisting come to mind. In its origins, yoga is much more than a physical practice. In fact, the physical postures (asana) are a very small part of what yoga is all about.

The first person to actually write down details about yoga was a man named Patanjali, sometime between 500 and 200 BC. His writings are known as "The Eight-Limb Path of Yoga", also called "The Eight-Fold Path." They describe eight different parts (or limbs), which are further broken down into 196 succinct lessons on the nature of the human condition, human potential, and how the potential can be realized. The asana (postures) are only one of the eight limbs.

Two of the limbs are the yamas and the niyamas, which are the five moral restraints and five observances, respectively. Narrowing our focus to the yamas, we look at the very first yama, which is ahimsa. Ahimsa roughly translates to mean "non-violence." When I first thought about non-violence, I thought about physical violence, and I was almost dismissive, thinking this couldn't possibly apply to me! I am not a physically violent person! However, as is often the case, non-violence goes much deeper than the physical level.

Ahimsa pertains to non-violence to self and to others, in thoughts, words and deeds. Oh. I get it. The very first thing I thought was: Oh, I am so stupid! The second thing was: Oh, wait a minute. Was that thought violent towards myself? And the simple answer: Yes. Listen to the chatter in your head. How often do you think bad thoughts about yourself? If you are like me, it's a scary realization how often I put myself down in my head. What about thinking bad thoughts about others? Gossip? Just being mean? These are all the things I work on, constantly.

Many people believe that ahimsa is the cornerstone of yoga, perhaps even the most important aspect. I have heard of ahimsa being described as "the opposite of love." When I was in my yoga teacher training program, my teacher just assumed we were all vegetarians. I admitted I was not and didn't understand what eating meat had to do with yoga. I came to understand that non-violence to others doesn't just refer to other humans. My teacher asked that I stopped eating meat for at least one month and studied ahimsa, and how it pertains to animals. That was the beginning of my vegetarian journey.

I stopped eating meat and I felt so much better, and happier, and... lighter, maybe. And I studied and learned and deepened my understanding of ahimsa, how it relates to me personally, and how it relates to our world. I don't expect everyone to agree with or understand my decision. I try not to be judgemental of what anyone chooses to eat. I understand that our society defines food as "meat and potatoes," and I don't forget that, for most of my life, so did I. This month, I celebrate my 10th year of being vegetarian. I am not, nor have I ever been perfect! To me, it's more about being aware and making conscious, informed choices, about the food I eat, and about the way I live my life.

Come and Bake With Me!!

2008-11-03T13:56:00.004-06:00

Am I the only one who likes "falling back"? I love waking up feeling well-rested and refreshed and realizing it's only 7:00am! I love it when the days get shorter, and it gets dark earlier, and I can snuggle up inside with a fire in the fireplace and cookies, cobbler or pie in the oven. Yes, that's what I said: Cookies and cobblers and pies, OH MY!

Yes, I am very health and nutrition conscious. I watch and worry about everything my family eats. I am into healthy eating; I'm NOT into deprivation! Besides, I know the kids are going to eat baked goods anyway. I'd much rather have them eat something I bake at home than anything store-bought. I know I'm not alone here!

So this year, as the darkness creeps in earlier and the holidays approach and the urge to bake strikes, I am more prepared than ever. I am not going to dig out the index cards, the newspaper and magazine clippings, or the post-it note recipes. I have everything I need in one place: "The Joy of Vegan Baking" by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau!

WAIT!!! Don't close the blog window just because you saw the word "vegan"!! I promise you, these are recipes that everyone will love. No weird, hard to find ingredients; just pure delicious! I have made an embarrassing number of these recipes and I assure you, not one crumb has been left by any vegetarian, vegan or omnivore who cared to indulge!

This is a big, beautiful book filled with color photos. Colleen gives clear explanations about all of her substitutions, including what to use for eggs and butter. There are tips throughout the book for making the preparations even easier, not that any of them are difficult. There is also a lot of fun "food lore," with which you can dazzle your friends with your brilliance, or pick up a few extra points while playing "Jeopardy."

And the recipes. Oh, the recipes. Let's be clear: these are not health food recipes. They are REAL baked goods, with sugar and spice and everything nice; just no animal products or by-products. The chapters include muffins and biscuits, quick breads, cakes, pies, cookies, pastries, yeast breads, puddings, candies, smoothies, beverages, toppings, and so much more. No one is recommending that you indulge in these foods every day; but when you do indulge, these recipes are the ones you should make. (Although, I could easily make a case for eating the Waffles II every single day! The recipe is oil-free and you just whip up the waffle batter in your blender!) But, I digress.

I have to say a few words about Colleen, who I have never met, yet I feel like I know her from her blog and podcasts. She is a fantastic cook who is passionate about sharing her compassion for animals. Please, check out what she has to say at: http://www.compassionatecooks.com/ I guarantee that you will be both educated and moved by her words.

Colleen gave me permission to share one of her recipes with you. It was a difficult choice, because honestly, every single thing I've made from her cookbook has been wonderful. In the end, I decided to share her recipe for chocolate brownies. This is a recipe I've made several times and we all love it. These are thick, moist, chewy brownies, sure to please. I feel really good about these brownies because, while there is fat from the chocolate chips and nuts (ooh, ooh, nuts have GOOD fats:-), there is no added oil or fat. Here is my latest batch, fresh out of the oven: (sorry I didn't clean up the baking dish a bit, but notice it's my Le Creuset dish:-)

Chocolate Brownies

1-1/2 C granulated sugar

3/4 C unsweetened applesauce

2 Tbs water

2 tsp ground flaxseeds

1/2 C water

2 tsp vanilla extract

1-1/3 C unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 C nondairy semisweet chocolate chips

1 C coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. With canola oil, grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.

In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, applesauce and 2 Tbs water.

In a small bowl or food processor, combine ground flaxseed with 1/2 C water. Add this to the applesauce mixture, along with vanilla and stir to combine.

In a separate small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt, chocolate chips and nuts. Add to the applesauce mixture and stir just to combine.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes, or longer if you like a cakier result.

Let cool before cutting. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days (AS IF!!) or in the freezer up to 3 months.

You will love these, and all the recipes in this book. No, it's not "healthy" food, but it's a much better option. Better for your body, better for the animals, better for the planet.

Knitterly Ramblings...

2008-10-31T12:44:00.005-06:00

So, it's Friday, it's Halloween, and it's time to talk about knitting! Let's get something out of the way: I am not a really good knitter. I don't design anything. I don't spin or dye yarn. For a long time, I felt badly about this. If this is my craft, well, I should do it all!! As time passed, it became clear that what I really enjoy doing is just knitting. Give me a pattern that someone else has already worked the bugs out of. Give me some awesome, well-spun, beautifully dyed yarn that someone has created. Give me some needles, and let me KNIT!

I am so happy for and proud of the people who spin and dye and design! Truly, their work is artistic and beautiful. I'm just not one of them. I am really, really busy and I have lots of hobbies and 3 kids and I'd prefer to just spend my extra time knitting, plain and simple. I've let go of the guilt and the need to do it all!

I'm a pretty good knitter, but not great. I don't understand all the intricacies, but I can figure most stuff out. I should probably practice my color work, and I've ripped out more lace than I've ever finished, but what I do knit, I enjoy. And that's the point, right?

So, here's what I'm working on right now:

It's a footie sock... maybe an anklet? The yarn is Sockotta, and I know a lot of you don't care for that yarn, but it's a cotton/wool blend and it seems like the perfect yarn for a pair of socks for "someone" who lives in a very warm climate. Ahem. Yes, Christmas knitting. Not to diminish the yarn, but I bought it at a yarn swap for $1. Don't you love a bargain? Yes, that is sock #2 on the needles, that I just started. I know, I know, I wasn't supposed to start it until I finish this:

It's the Cozy V-Neck sweater from "Fitted Knits" by Stephanie Japel. Yes, I did start it last spring and just tore through the first 80% of the sweater. Then, it got hot and I lost interest and it went into "the bag" for the summer. Then, it got cool and I started on the sleeve! Then, it got warm again. Oh, I will finish it, maybe this weekend. Only about 4 inches to go on the sleeve, and then the ribbing around the v-neck. I know I can do it!!

One thing I'm not very good at is choosing colors. In fact, I'd say I'm pretty hopeless. Now, this is one thing I DO want to improve on. I'm reading a book called "Kristen Knits" by Kristen Nicholas and it's all about color. Kristen knits in big, bold, beautiful colors and I'm hoping for some inspiration and perhaps, a few pointers. Oh, and I'm browsing a few sock books, too, just in case...

One more thing. Lest you think I have incredible self-control, feel comforted in knowing that those aren't the ONLY projects I have on my knitting needles right now! They are just the only ones I am willing to share with you:-)

It's Only Stretching, Right?

2008-10-29T14:39:00.002-06:00

I can't tell you how many times people say this to me about yoga. They can't figure out why on earth anyone would want to practice yoga... it's just stretching, right?

Well... wrong. Very wrong. But... what if they were right? What if yoga WAS "only" stretching? Would that be a totally bad thing? Would that be unvaluable?

I don't think so. Our bodies are made up of approximately 600 skeletal muscles. Muscle tissue easily stretches, and it can be safely stretched up to 50% of its resting length! Stretching these muscles helps to maintain the health of our joints, muscles and connective tissue. It also helps to maintain the resilience of muscles, which allows pain-free movement.

Underuse of muscle tissue causes atrophy and weakness. Overuse causes strains and tears. Gentle stretching keeps the muscles in an optimal state. Excessive tension in muscles causes tight spots and chronic aches and pains; stretching can ease this tension. Aging in the body can cause a loss of range of motion; stretching can help to prevent some of this loss. If you're a "weekend warrior" and did a little too much gardening last weekend, stretching can help to relieve muscle soreness.

Stretching helps to preserve and maintain the joints of the body by bathing them in synovial fluid, which is a lot like "oiling" stiff joints. Stretching before a more vigorous activity can help prevent injuries; stretching afterwards can help to realign muscle tissues and prevent soreness. Why wouldn't you want to stretch?

Of course, yoga is so much more. Physically, yoga increases flexibility and also increases strength. Connecting your yoga practice with your breath increases lung capacity and is beneficial to your entire respiratory system, heart and circulatory system. Yoga helps to increase your energy, stamina and endurance. It improves your balance. It improves your overall quality of life.

Call it stretching if it makes you happy; I'll keep calling it yoga because I know it is so much more than simple stretching. Whatever you decide to call it, don't underestimate the power of a good yoga class!

Le Creuset, How Do I Love Thee?

2008-10-27T09:21:00.004-06:00

Let me count the ways.

Okay, this post isn't necessarily about veggies, but more about what to cook veggies IN. And I have the answer for you in two words: Le Creuset.

When my friend Shannon mentioned this cookware to me, I thought two things: one, that's waaaay to expensive for my budget; and two, cast iron, heavy, hard-to-clean. Let me address your concerns and assure you that you, too, will fall in love with Le Creuset cookware.

Money first. Yes, the cookware is on the high end of the scale, but it's not out of reach. There is a Le Creuset outlet at the Legends Mall in Kansas City, KS. In the outlet, they have a huge selection of "seconds." The flaws in the seconds are very, very minor, for the most part, and the store employees are more than happy to help you examine the pieces and choose what is right for you. I can't even find the flaws on my seconds! Best of all, the seconds cost considerably less than the first quality items. Add to that: coupons. If you go to the Legends website, you can print out a monthly coupon which has discounts for many of the stores at the mall, including Le Creuset. Print it out for an additional 20% any item! Better yet, join the "preferred customer" mailing list (it's free!), and you will receive coupons in the mail, up to 35% off. I've been buying one piece at a time, which is the way to go for me.

So, if you're like me, you are reading a lot about plastics and all the problems they are causing in the environment and in our bodies. I am trying to use the healthiest cookware, serving ware, and storage ware that I can find. Most of my cookware has a non-stick coating. I honestly feel it is relatively safe, but still, I worry. Everything I've read says that cast iron, coated or not, is the healthiest choice. Le Creuset is heavy, but it heats and cooks perfectly evenly. You never have to cook over high heat; once the pot or pan is heated up, it stays hot on very low heat. You can cook on the stovetop and then put the pot straight into the oven. Best of all, the cookware has a lifetime guarantee. Guaranteed, no matter what. Seriously. Does it get any better than that?

Clean-up is a breeze. Anything that is crusty or baked on or cheesy or seems impossible really isn't. We just soak the pots in hot water for about 10 minutes and everything comes right off. Do I sound like an advertisement? For the record, I have no affiliation with the company whatsoever. I just like it!

Let's get to the veggie part. This deep frying pan is my favorite piece, for right now anyway. You'll notice that the inside is black, instead of the usual off-white color. Why? For BROWNING foods!! That is so exciting to me! I love veggie sausages, especially the Tofurky brand Italian sausages and kielbasa. One of the main downfalls is that they don't really brown very well, unless you saute them in a bunch of oil. And, if you overcook them, they actually get softer instead of firmer. This is no longer a problem! The Le Creuset pan browns the sausages easily without all the added fat.

So here is an easy recipe, using Italian sausages, vegetarian or not, Le Creuset or none:

First, brown your veggie sausages, then remove them from the pan. Next, heat a little bit of oil in the pan and saute sliced onions and garlic. Add some sliced bell peppers. When the vegetables are soft, add a can of diced tomatoes, a can of plain tomato sauce, basil and oregano to taste. When it's all hot and bubbly, dump the sausage back in and warm it all up and serve it on top of the pasta of your choice. Good on anything; especially good on ravioli!!

Socks and Me

2008-10-24T08:34:00.004-06:00

Handknit socks, how do I love thee? Why do I love thee? It's crazy, I know. I can go to any number of stores and pick up a lovely pair of socks for a couple of dollars and wear them for years. I can throw them in the washer and dryer, run around outside in them, let the dogs play with them. They always fit me perfectly. If I lose one... oh, well. It's a no-brainer, right?

Why, then, do I choose to handknit socks? Why do I spend $10 to $20 on yarn for one pair of socks, and then spend hours and hours knitting them? Why do I coddle the finished socks: hand or machine wash in a lingerie bag, but always hang to dry, never wear outside. Even inside I frequently wear another pair of socks OVER them! The dogs and cats don't come near them. Losing one is like losing a family member. And do they fit? Well, sometimes...

I used to feel like you do. Why would anyone knit socks? After I'd been knitting for a while, I thought I'd try it for the challenge. Learn a new technique. Maybe knit one pair, just to say I did it. My first pair was pretty bad. Well, they did look like socks; socks that the jolly green giant could wear. Let's just say my gauge was a bit off. Oh, and they were so big that I ran out of yarn, so one foot was much shorter than the other one. I was rather devastated, but my wonderful Mike swore he loved them and he wore them faithfully a few times. Then they found a comfortable spot in his sock drawer and slept there for a couple of years.

So, I had knit a pair of socks, but surely, I could do better. Off to the yarn shop, another skein of sock yarn, a better gauge swatch, socks that actually fit! They were so warm. So beautiful. So... perfect. It might be nice to have two pairs, you know, just for back-up, for when it got really cold. And maybe a pair with cables? Lace? Pink? Blue? Socks for the kids! Socks for the relatives!! Socks for everyone!!!

An obsession was born. A perfect little knitting project. Fits in my purse, so I always have knitting at hand if I have to wait somewhere, anywhere. I discovered I wasn't alone! Books and books on sock knitting: toe up, cuff down, sideways, double pointed needles, circular needles, two at once. Yahoo groups. Other people obsessed with socks!

So, what am I saying here? Never say never. And learn to knit socks!

And, what about that very first pair? Well, I recently pulled them out of hibernation, ripped out the old toe, and re-knit the shorter foot to match the other foot, and then re-knit the toe in different, non-matching yarn. I'm happy to report that they are being worn again! Here's what they look like: (I've put a regular sized sock next to them, for your amusement :-)

Good doggy!!

2008-10-22T07:58:00.002-06:00

People always say things to me like: If you could only do ONE yoga pose, what would it be?

Believe it or not, that's an easy one: Downward-facing dog! (Adho mukha svanasana)

If I only have 30 seconds to practice a yoga pose, this is the one I do. After a jog, before a party, when I wake up, before bed. Before tennis, after tennis. Tired, sad, mad, lonely. This is my "go to" pose.

Downward dog stretches out your shoulders and back, your hamstrings, calves, arches... the whole back of your body. It really strengthens your arms and legs. It is both energizing and calming at the same time. It can help digestion, insomnia, back pain, and fatigue. It's great for runners and walkers who need to lengthen and stretch hamstrings and calves.

When you first start practicing this pose, it might not feel wonderful. Women, especially, might not have a lot of upper body strength, so it might be difficult to hold the pose for longer than a few seconds... that's okay! You will get stronger very quickly by practicing this pose.

I'll give you some instructions here, if you want to give it a try. Don't try this if you're pregnant or if you have carpel tunnel. It's always best to learn from an experienced and/or certified yoga instructor, but I know some of you are do-it-yourself-ers :-) Maybe, if you like this pose, you will be inspired to learn more! The crazy thing about yoga is: the more you do it, the more you WANT to do it! (Oh, you might recognize your favorite puppy in this pose. Dogs (and cats) do this stretch almost every time they get up! We really can learn from our pets.)

Here goes:

1. Start out on your hands and knees, with your knees right underneath your hips and your hands a few inches forward of being under your shoulders. Spread your fingers wide, middle fingers pointing straight ahead.

2. Turn your toes under and lift your knees up off the mat. Keep your knees softly bent for now.

3. Straighten your elbows. Elongate your spine. Relax your neck, letting your head rest between your arms. Lift your sitting bones up towards the ceiling. Draw your shoulders down away from your ears and press the mat away from you with your hands.

4. Now straighten your knees. It's okay if your heels are up in the air! You might want to try "walking the dog," by first bending your right knee, and pressing your left heel down, then bend your left knee, and press your right heel down. Come to rest in a comfortable position. Hold for 1 to 3 minutes, then rest.

These are really pithy directions! There are lots of places on the web where you can see more pictures and get more complete directions. Here are a few:

http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/491

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/info/downward-facing-dog.asp

http://www.yogalearningcenter.com/asanas/DownwardFacingDog.cfm

And now, for the most important rule of yoga: HAVE FUN!!!

Granola Munchin'

2008-10-20T08:43:00.003-06:00

It's a beautiful fall day in Kansas City! Rumor has it that cold air will be sweeping in later this week, so I plan to enjoy it while I can. I've gotten a little bit lazy about my running lately, but today is the day I get back on track. (By "running", I mean slowly jogging. By "back on track", I mean 3 to 4 miles. Don't get too excited :-)

Yesterday, Mike and I took the boys to a fencing tournament in Des Moines... our first visit to Iowa. The fall colors were beautiful! I watched all the farmland rolling by, trees and ponds, farmhouses with big porches, and a little part of me longed to live a simpler life. Oh, I know that farm life is a LOT of work, and I'm really not sure that I have it in me!! Maybe it's just living closer to the earth that is so appealing. (Those who know me can stop laughing now!)

At any rate, it's Monday, so it's veggie day. Since I was pretty much on-the-go all weekend, I didn't get much veggie inspiration. On Saturday afternoon, I started thinking about what I could prepare that would be a healthy snack for Connor to take to the fencing tournament. Something filling, yet healthy. Whole foods. Protein. Aha! Homemade granola!

For the record, we didn't end up taking this granola with us for a snack! This recipe doesn't have any added oil, and the granola isn't chunky at all, so not the best for snacking. However, it absolutely IS the best for eating in a big bowl with some form of milk poured on top and a big spoon in your hand. This recipe was inspired by the recipe for "Nutty Sunny Granola" in John Robbins' book "May All Be Fed: Diet for a New World." Wonderful book for learning about how your diet can impact the world, and also, for the delicious recipes!

Granola
(makes about 6 cups)

3 C old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 C wheat bran or oat bran
1/2 C wheat germ
1 C coarsely chopped almonds
1/2 C sunflower seeds
1 C raisins
1/2 C coarsely chopped pitted dates or other dried fruit
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 C pure maple syrup

Preheat oven to 275. In a large bowl, combine oats, bran, wheat germ, almonds and sunflower seeds; mix well. Spread mixture over a large baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Stir it up, spread it out, and bake for another 15 minutes.
Transfer to a large bowl. Add the raisins, dates and cinnamon and stir well. Drizzle in the maple syrup and stir to distribute evenly.
Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

(Don't plan on storing it for too long, because it definitely won't last!)

Making a Comeback!!

2008-10-18T13:00:00.003-06:00

It's true. For those of you who care, I've decided to make a blog comeback! I've been hanging out for over a year now, trying to find some blogging mojo. Trying to conjure up creativity. Trying to thinking of something to write that someone will actually care about!

Here's what I've come up with:

On Mondays, I will blog about veggies. Recipes, gadgets, tools, books, foods, etc.

On Wednesdays, I will blog about yoga. Classes, poses, books, breathing, etc.

On Fridays (or thereabouts), I will blog about knitting. Patterns, yarns, projects, books, etc.

Genius, huh?

That's me. VeggieYogaKnitter.

Stay tuned!

Just Checking In...

2007-08-06T08:06:00.001-06:00

Getting ready for vacation! What could be better than that? In some ways, the preparation for vacation is more exciting than the actual vacation! You have all the anticipation: imagining lying on the perfect beach with the warm sun beating down upon you. In actuality, the beach may be stinky with seaweed, or buggy, or muggy. You get to plan your snacks for the joyous family drive, which, somewhere in the back of your mind, you know will be anything BUT joyous. You imagine perfect weather, though you did buy that hurricane insurance, just in case. Optimistic, yes. Stupid, no.

Still, I'm folding the laundry and setting aside piles of stuff and making my lists, holding on to my vacation innocence for as long as possible. Looking forward to seeing Deb and Nancy and exploring the Asheville, NC area a bit. Excited about long, lazy days on the Outer Banks. Oh, and don't forget those frozen drinks!

Okay, stepping back into the here-and-now for just a few moments! I thought I was done with Sockotta sock #1. Honest, I did! I did the super stretchy knit bind-off around the cuff and, while I did have a brief, fleeting thought of "that leg looks a little short," I quickly shrugged it off. NO WAY! I always make my leg 7 inches long! I slipped my foot into the sock. The foot was an absolutely perfect fit! I pulled the sock up onto my...?ankle? It was way too short, and I immediately knew why. When I make cuff down socks, I always knit 7 inches +/-, THEN I knit the heel flap... which adds 2-1/2 inches or so. Oh. I just had that 7 inches in my mind, so I knit the leg of the toe-up sock 7 inches, INCLUDING the heel! Where did my brain go?

Okay, I did let myself think I was okay with a short-legged sock for a couple of hours, but that didn't last long. I knew I had to fix it. This required major surgery. I had worked the leg pattern, then 1 inch of ribbed cuff, then the stretchy, intricate, never-to-be-removed bind-off. I had to get out my scissors. I threaded my needles into the socks below the cuff and I CUT the yarn below the bind-off, until I found a spot where I could unravel the leg down to my needles. Sounds easy enough, except that I picked up some of the purl stitches in the row below the knit stitches, so I had to spend some time with the tiny crochet hook, picking up all those dropped stitches. Still, I fixed it, knit up to 9+ inches, bound off again, and began sock #2. Whew.

I am taking all my fall knitting magazines on vacation, to better plan and strategize my fall knitting. I'm not sure who I think I'm kidding: fall knitting will be the same as always; a few hats, mittens, scarves, and socks. I'll start a sweater. Maybe I'll finish LAST fall's sweater! Then, the spring knitting magazines will come out and I'll start dreaming of tank tops again.

Some of my most interesting cooking adventures this summer have been exploring the foods I have received from my CSA farmer, Jill. I have heard of all of these foods before, even tasted many of them cooked by someone else, but I haven't ventured there myself. Kohlrabi, pattypan squash, and okra have all been explored for the first time. (Well, I've dumped okra in gumbo or soup, but I've never addressed it on its own:-) I've learned that, for my family, cheese is the ultimate food saver. The kids will eat ANYthing, and I do mean anything, if it has cheese on it. Funky vegetable? Add cheese, they eat it. Personally, it's not my thing, but you gotta do what you gotta do. (The second ultimate food saver is ketchup, but we won't go there:-)

This is how I made my okra. It won't make you an okra lover if you hate the stuff, but it's NOT slimey and at least Kaitlin and I loved it! (no cheese, by the way!)

1 Tbs olive oil
1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bag of okra
1 large tomato, diced
salt and pepper and cayenne, to taste

In a large skillet, drizzle the olive oil, scatter the garlic, and spread the okra. Turn the heat on low and cook for 10 minutes, til things start heating up. Don't stir it. Scatter the diced tomato on top, cover with a lid, and cook over low heat for another 30 minutes or so. Don't stir, but you can sort of lift it around a bit to mix up the garlic. Salt and pepper to taste, a dash of cayenne if you wish, and that's it. Eat it up.

I think it's good to mix things up once in a while, don't you? Everyone didn't love the okra, but it was different. I made a corn and quinoa pilaf for the kids, not expecting much, but they LOVED it! You just never know.

I just have to throw in, this goes for yoga practice, too. I found myself in a rut and began doing things in a different order, holding some poses longer, trying new stuff, and it really rejuvenated my practice!

So, variety IS the spice of life. If all else fails, add cheese.

I'm Still Here....

2007-06-30T19:17:00.000-06:00

It started out so innocently: I'll just check my email in the morning, and then get on with my day. Soon, it was about an hour on email/ lists/ blogs/ fantasy shopping. Quickly grew into two hours. Then I had to catch up several times a day. I joined the bloggers, joined cooking lists, knitting lists, you name it! Yes, it was fun, but I had to just face the facts: I was spending way too much time on the computer. In fact, I was spending more time reading about knitting than actually knitting. More time reading about cooking than actually cooking. I wasn't really doing anything, but I was learning so much!

As much as I love the www, something had to give. I couldn't go cold turkey, but I had to cut way back, and so I did. I unsubbed to some lists, went no-mail on others, and totally limited my screen time. And that's why I haven't been blogging. My plan is to carve out some time each weekend to blog about the week, just to keep in touch, so here I go. I may have to limit photos and such, because when my time's up, I gotta go and actually do something!

We have been caught up in a whirling dervish of cultural activity!! (Don't you just love that visual of a whirling dervish? What is a dervish, anyway??) At any rate, that's where we've been, in case you were wondering.

We started out by taking the kids to a live performance of "A Prairie Home Companion." I will admit it right now, I was not really very excited about going. Mike loves PHC, and the kids enjoy listening to it, too, but I am sort of on the fence. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I'm just not in the mood. Mike wanted "good" tickets, so I moaned and groaned and paid up and it was so, so worth it!! The show was wonderful and it was a night we will all remember.

Next came "Romeo and Juliet" at the local Shakespeare in the Park performance. The show was good, if a bit melodramatic, but the best part was the kids' Shakespeare dialogue. I could hardly keep up, which is good, because I hope my kids are smarter than I am!

We ventured out to the Impressionist Exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Art Museum. If you haven't been, and you like Impressionism, GO!! We all loved it.

Mike and I went to see Oklahoma! at the dinner theater. Seriously, one of the best performances I've seen. (expert that I am) (just kidding, of course) (Okay, I DID count my high school's performance in my comparison, but this show was really good!!)

While we're talking cultural events... who went to the Harry Potter book parties last night? We were there. Kait was a death eater, Connor was Dumbledore, and Kyle was Dobby. It wasn't very well organized, the store was SO HOT, and we didn't get our book until 1:20am. Still, I wouldn't have missed it. The kids were so excited. They played the trivia games, entered the costume contest and just enjoyed themselves. I was about to pass out from the heat and the smell of all the people and the crushing mass of bodies, but it wasn't really about me, now was it? For the record, this has always been Mike's job, but he was out of town for this book release. That won't happen again.

Let's see... I did finish my lacy shawl, in the car, on the way to Oklahoma! I love it; it's perfect. I have not yet felted Amanda's Squatty Sidekick. No real reason, except that it's kind of hot to felt. (is that lame?) I finished one of the toe up socks I started using the ex-tennis sock yarn. This is the first time I have made a complete sock toe up. As of right now, I like cuff down better, but I reserve the right to change my mind:-) And, I did a short row heel, but I actually like the heel flap better! I'm getting ready to start sock #2.

I've also just started a scribble shawl, a la "Mason Dixon." I am using a ribbon yarn from Colinette which is so beautiful, and also Rowan kid silk haze. It should go fast on size 17 needles! Pics will follow.

And what have we been eating? Salads. Coleslaw with lemon dressing and raisins. Spinach salad with pecans, red onion, feta and dried cranberries. Green bean salad. Black bean salad with avocado. Green bean and potato salad. Corn salad. Oh, and corn bread. The best corn bread I've ever made. (okay, this is not counting that one time Mike talked me into making corn bread in bacon grease in a cast iron skillet when we first got married. Sound disgusting? Sorry, but it was "slap your grandma" delicious!!)

Here is the corn bread we all adore:

(adapted from "The Bread Bible" by Beth Hesperger)

note: I just make my own "buttermilk" by adding a tsp of white vinegar to a cup of soy milk and then just letting it set for a few minutes.

another note: You can use real butter, or Earth Balance, or even olive oil. They all work fine.

1 C flour

1 C cornmeal

1/4 C sugar

1 Tbs baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs (or egg substitute)

1 C buttermilk

4 Tbs butter, melted

1 C fresh or thawed frozen corn kernels (optional)

Preheat oven to 400 and lightly oil a 9-inch baking dish or pie plate.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt.

In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk and butter.

Add wet ingredients to dry, adding the corn kernels if desired, and stir until JUST BLENDED.

Spoon into dish; bake 25 minutes, cool 10-15 minutes before cutting.

My time is up. Serve up some cornbread with a can of baked beans and bask in the glory:-) (Or, serve with pressure cooked black-eyed peas. Or Cuban black beans. Or any bean salad.)

(See what I mean? Is there a 12 step program for computer addicts???)

Lazy Days, Lazy Blogger

2007-06-07T16:56:00.000-06:00

So there I was, running around at the beginning of June like a crazy woman. Dance recital, fencing camp, return Kaitlin's computer to school, tennis, haircut, classes, trainings... then, IT happened!! I woke up one morning and I looked at the calendar and it was... empty. That's right, one ENTIRE day, no obligations, no pick-ups or drop-offs, no library books due, no nothing. My heart started beating faster... can it be true? I checked the other calendar, by the computer, and the OTHER calendar in my briefcase... nothing! One day of total freedom! I laid down on the couch and stared at the ceiling fan for a few minutes, grinning gleefully. What would I do with this lovely, free day? I could catch up on cleaning and laundry. I could plant the plants languishing in the heat in the backyard. I could bake. I could knit. I could take a walk. Go shopping! Hit tennis balls! Write on my blog! The possibilities were endless.

You know exactly what I did, don't you? That's right: absolutely nothing. Not a thing. I lounged around. Caught up on all the blogs I read. Made a smoothie and drank it. Checked out the boys' computer game. Cleaned the crumbs out of the toaster. Shaved my legs. Watered some plants. Read the paper. Put my pj's on at 6pm. You get the idea. All day long I thought hard about what I could do with an entire free day, and then I proceeded NOT to do any of it. I have to say: it was the perfect day!

Isn't it the ultimate truth, though: the less you have to do, the less you actually do. Every once in a while, it's so delicious to just enjoy being.

Okay, here is my tennis sock before: And after:

Yes, I had to frog the entire thing. As usual, I tried to shrug it all off: Yes, the cuff around my ankle was too loose. Oh, well, better than too tight, right? Um, yes, and the heel flap was too short. Oh, well, you can't really see it, right? Okay... the combo of loose cuff and short heel flap, doesn't that mean that the sock will be likely to slip down into my tennis shoe? Yes, it does. I kept pretending that it would be fine, but it would NOT be fine. It didn't fit right. The lucky tennis socks weren't starting off very lucky if they didn't even fit right. I know how to fix them and make them fit better, so I might as well do it... right? (Please, agree with me! Nod your head! Let me know that you are with me on the trip to the frog pond! It was a painful trip!) So, the tennis socks went into the "starting over" pile.

I stared at the re-wound skein of sock yarn for a few days, and I realized that I had totally lost the urge to knit tennis socks. I like the ones I buy, with the thick, padded food. Why, this yarn simply didn't want to be tennis socks!! It was begging for some ribbing, not tiny ribbing, but chunky, 4x2 ribbing. So, I got back on that horse and started again:

Yes, I decided to try something new. I am trying some toe-up socks, using the Eastern cast-on. I really hope these fit!!

Here is my "Amanda's Squatty Sidekick." It's chunky yarn instead of worsted weight, and size 15 needles, and I really don't know how it will turn out, but it will be great! (Don't ask about the orange and purple. I think it will felt up beautifully and all sort of blend together into something lovely. Hey, it's the yarn I had when the mood struck!!) Okay, it does sort of look like a pumpkin, now, but just you wait!! :-)

Isn't it crazy that I'm knitting in this heat? I know.

So, it's hot, and getting hotter, no better time to fire up the pressure cooker! Delicious food quickly, no heating up the house. Here is a recipe for Red Lentil Dal, from the VegSource pressure cooker board: (note: it's not exactly like a "true" dal, the kind you get in an Indian restaurant, but it is cooked lentils with curry powder, and it is delicious, so give it a try!!)

Pressure Cooker Red Lentil Dal

1 lg. onion, chopped

2 tsp oil or water

1 Tbs. crushed garlic

1 quart of veggie broth + 2 C water

1-1/2 C red lentils

1/2 lb. chopped carrots

1-1/2 lb. chopped red potatoes

1 Tbs. curry powder +/- to taste

Saute onion and garlic in oil or water. Add remaining ingredients, bring to high pressure and cook 5 minutes. Quick release. Serve over brown rice, over raw spinach, or over salad. (or spinach on top of rice.) Trust me, this is great. The hot lentils sort of wilt the spinach and it's perfect! Definitely drizzle some tamari/ soy sauce on top!! Add some diced avocado if you wish.

You can also make this on top of the stove, but you will probably need to cook it for about 30-40 minutes. It will still taste fantastique!!

I'm going to go and make a smoothie and sit on my deck and stare at my toes for a while.

Pondering Karma...

2007-06-03T11:29:00.000-06:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about karma. You don't have to call it "karma"; you can call it "you get what you deserve", or "what comes around, goes around"; or "you reap what you sow", or... you get the idea.

Sometimes, karma just slaps you in the face and calls you an idiot. Like the time I bought 2 small avocados and 1 large one, and the grocery clerk charged me for 3 smalls. I realized it as I was walking out of the store. The little voice inside my head said, "Just go over to customer service and pay for it." The louder, more obnoxious voice said, "Oh, it's only a dollar! No big deal! YOU didn't make the mistake! We're in a hurry! We have to get home!" The big mouth won. I went home and cut into my big, beautiful avocado and... it was totally rotten. I didn't have enough avocados to make guacamole. Still, I had to laugh. Instant karma.

Sometimes, karma gives you a chance to make it right. Like the time I came home from Whole Foods with a basket of blueberries I didn't select and didn't pay for. My kids asked, "What are you going to do, Mom?" I said, "Well, Whole Foods is a 25 minute drive. Next time I go in, I will talk to customer service and offer to pay for the blueberries." We were all satisfied with that, and began happily munching on our free blueberries. I went to Whole Foods and totally forgot about the blueberries. I went a second time, and forgot again. About 2 weeks later, I came home from the grocery store and the red new potatoes I bought for potato salad, (selected, bagged and PAID FOR), were not in my bag!! Damn! NOW I remember those blueberries. (I sent Mike back to the store for the potatoes:-) Still, score another one for karma!

Sometimes, however, things happen that have no rhyme or reason. Try as I might, I can't really find the karmic lesson. I am talking about my tennis league. I joined the TenCap Tournament, which is a little summer, outdoor league, strictly social/recreational, where tennis players from all over the Kansas City area meet up to play some matches. People are matched by their ability, and there are actually other players out there at my level:-) I am an excellent tennis player. (This is me, working on the power of positive thinking!!!) Okay, we all know about my tennis abilities, but that's not what I'm talking about.

I showed up for my first match and my partner never showed up. I called her (no answer); just a no-show, and I had to forfeit my match. It turned out that she had worked late the night before and overslept. I played my second match (with Marcia) and we lost, but it was a good match. I was scheduled for a week off last week, but someone needed a substitute to attend a funeral, so I volunteered. I was just trying to help someone out and I was available to play, so I did. Guess what? My partner never showed up! I called her, her husband said he had no idea where she was. This time, she said it was raining at her house, so she assumed the match would be canceled. (Do I even have to mention what happens when you ASSUME something??) The match was not canceled; it was warm and partly sunny and I had to forfeit. Again.

So, I've been pondering the lesson here. I've thought about reverse karma: maybe this happened to prevent me from embarrassing myself? Nah. It's only tennis; I can live with losing a few matches, even getting creamed. I've decided it's more about forgiveness. Both women apologized and I graciously accepted. I tried to look inside myself for the times I've made mistakes, or bad decisions... and I didn't have to look very far! I was reminded of one of the prayers of St. Francis of Assisi: "It is in the giving that we receive; it is in the pardoning that we are pardoned..." I hold on to the hope that, when I need it most, when I screw up badly, someone will find it in their heart to forgive me, too.

Hey, maybe it is karma, in a way, after all! Or, maybe it's only tennis.

My Random 7

2007-05-30T09:31:00.000-06:00

Okay, I was tagged by Vanessa to join in on this 7 Random Things thing. I am one of the least technically savvy people I know. My daughter had to set up my blog. I depend on my kids and my husband to keep all the technology in our home up and running. I had to email V and admit that I have no idea how to go about this! I did check her blog, and it was full of links and color and everything I do NOT have on my blog!!

Anyway, here are the instructions:

The rules: Each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves. Those who are tagged need to write on their own blog those 7 facts as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag seven other people and list their names on your blog. Then you leave those you plan on tagging a note in their comments so they know that they have been tagged and to read your blog.

HA!!! I just did a color change! I am really progressing, huh? Well, I don't personally know 7 people who have blogs, so if YOU have a blog and you are reading this, consider yourself tagged.

Here are my 7 Random Things About ME::

1. I have moved 23 times in my life. (Yeah, it's getting old.)

2. I am a book-aholic. It's truly a disease. I love books, I save them, I collect them, I hoard them, I sneak them into the house and shove them onto the bookshelf, pretending (to myself) that they've been there all along.

3. When I was a kid, I wanted to be a teacher. I let myself get talked out of it. Now, I homeschool my kids, teach yoga and teach knitting. I was a technical trainer for a while in the professional world. I guess you can't deny your true calling.

4. I long to be an artist, but I am a scientist, through and through. I love to cook... with a recipe. I love to knit... with a pattern. I think myself very daring if I make a small change in a recipe and it actually tastes good! My inner artist is begging to come out!!

5. I really don't like other people's feet. I even hated trimming my kids' toenails when they were babies! Feet are just sort of knobby and sweaty and bumpy and... gross. Fine words from a sock knitter, eh?

6. I'd prefer a nice bowl of tortilla chips and salsa to a dessert, any time. I love tortilla chips. I despise cheesecake. There are those days I NEED chocolate, but that doesn't really count as dessert... does it? I could survive on chips and salsa, I think. Toss me an avocado once in a while and I'd be a happy camper.

7. I enjoy washing dishes. That's right, I like it! I don't like to wash big pots and pans and baking dishes; Mike does those:-) I just like the warm water, the soap, the instant gratification of a pile of clean dishes. Seriously, we only run our dishwasher about once a week! Don't get me started on all the cleaning chores I DON'T like!!!

Okay, there's my 7, about as random as you can get.
Enjoy the rest of your week!!

House of Champions!

2007-05-27T10:10:00.000-06:00

May I brag about my kids, just this one time? Thank you. All 3 of my kids began fencing last fall. First, it was just the boys, but they made it sound so great that my daughter had to try, too! They all love it. It is a once weekly class and they won't miss it for the world.

Yesterday was the annual fencing tournament for recreational fencers! All 3 of my kids were nervous. Kaitlin was nervous because she had no idea what to expect; she suspected she would be one of very few girls, (she was correct!); and her age category was "open fencing," which was very...open. Connor wasn't too nervous; he was up for the competition, just uncertain of where he would end up... and that boy likes to WIN. Kyle was extremely nervous. He is the youngest kid in their fencing class and usually loses. He had never fenced anyone in his own age group and I think he just wanted to prove to himself that he is a good fencer.

I'll spare you the details. Kaitlin and Connor had to fence each other several times. They usually go back and forth winning in class, but yesterday, Kaitlin won. In the end, Kyle won a silver medal for the age 10 and under category! This was big for him; he had to defeat a lot of kids and I could see his confidence soaring. Connor won a tie for third place in the open fencing, and ended up with a gold medal for the age 12 and under category! It took the sting out of losing to his sister:-) A real confidence-booster for him, too. Kaitlin ended up winning the gold medal for the open fencing category! Her final bout was won by one point. She fenced a young man who is actually a competitive fencer, and a very good one, but he was fencing yesterday with his left hand in the recreational tournament. She was so proud; I don't think she thought she could actually win. I believe all of her dancing really helped her footwork, which was graceful and controlled. Mike and I are just bursting with pride!

Moving on. Thanks for your comments and suggestions and ideas about how to continue knitting despite my shoulder issues. I must confess: except for an initial slowdown, I have not cut back on my knitting! I have tried to be very conscious of my position, constantly adjusting my shoulders, taking more breaks, stretching out frequently. I am searching for shoulder stretches and reading a lot about shoulders. I'll keep you posted.

Meanwhile, I'm still working on the shawl, which is coming along nicely. I wish it were finished already, as I've had many opportunities to wear it! All in good time, I guess. Also, working on the foot of my first tennis sock! I am using the Sockotta yarn, cotton/wool/nylon blend, and a plain "vanilla" sock pattern with the leg/cuff cut down. They are pretty and very soft, and I hope they will bring me luck on the tennis courts:-)

(That's Luka, checking out my sock)

Okay, I did say we are a "house of champions," but perhaps I should say the kids are fencing champions, and Mike is a golf champion, but Cheryl is NOT a tennis champion. Not by a longshot. I played in my first league on Friday. Marcia was my partner, luckily, because she is pretty good. We lost, 7-5, 6-1. Everything I have ever done wrong, I did wrong. I swung on the volleys (out of the court); I didn't follow through on my forehand (out of the court); I twisted my racket on my backhand volleys (out of the court); I did some dumb one-handed backhands... out of the court! Okay, room for improvement, right? It was still fun, believe it or not! The ladies we played against were super nice, we didn't get creamed, and now I know what I need to work on:-)

It's sort of a rainy day and I'm craving homemade baked macaroni and cheese. Here is a simple recipe for our favorite:

Baked Mac and Cheese

1 lb. elbow macaroni or other small pasta, cooked and drained

2 Tbs. butter or Earth Balance

2 Tbs. flour

2-1/2 C milk (lowfat, soy milk, or rice milk all work fine)

2 C grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided

2 chopped green onions

breadcrumbs for topping

Melt butter in saucepan over med. heat. Whisk in flour, then add milk and cook about 5 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in 1-1/2 C cheese and season with salt and pepper. Combine with noodles. Stir in green onions. Pour into a 9 x 13 glass baking dish that has been sprayed with oil. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top, then sprinkle on some breadcrumbs. Bake 30-40 minutes, until the top begins to brown.

I'm off, for now. More soon!

The Flip Side

2007-05-15T21:39:00.000-06:00

I really wanted to share all the wonderful things I experienced at the yoga workshop last week. I wanted you all to realize how really great it was! I hope you did.

And now, for the flip side.
(I know some of you are too young to remember vinyl records, (Vanessa), but the flip side is the OTHER side of the record, the side that does NOT have the hit song on it!)
Here is the flip side of my yoga experience:

I talked with Max frequently throughout the week, adjusting my body to the postures, trying to figure out which things would work best for me. We worked at length with my shoulders, which are sort of tight and "crack" a lot, and have a somewhat limited range of motion. He kept assuring me that we could work with them and that they would get better.

On Thursday, I returned from the lunch break a little bit early. I decided to knit a few rounds on a sock I'm working on. I was chatting with another woman in the class who was also a knitter. Max came trotting over to me. Excitedly, he said, "Cheryl, how often do you do that?" I stared blankly. "Do what?" "THAT!" He pointed at my sock. "Oh, knitting? Every day, I guess. Why?" "How long do you knit for every day?" "I don't know." I faltered. I had a sneaking suspicion that something bad was about to happen. "Sometimes a few hours a day, I guess." I knit while the kids are taking piano lessons. During soccer practices. And games. During fencing. While watching American Idol. A lot.

Max was... ecstatic. "That's it!" he said. "That's what?" "That's what's causing your shoulder tightness. I sat right here and watched the movement of your shoulders and it's not good. You've got to stop!" "Stop what?" I stared blankly. I looked at the woman sitting next to me. She looked horrified. "Surely you don't mean... stop... knitting?" Now I was horrified. Max said, "Well, no, not stop, you don't have to stop knitting, you just have to cut back. Do it a lot less. Find something else that you want to accomplish so you don't have an empty feeling. I think your shoulders will feel a lot better!" He walked away, smiling, obviously pleased with himself.

I almost fell over. I was stunned. I stared at my knitting friend; she stared back at me. "I can't stop knitting," I said. "NO, you can't," she agreed. "You can't stop. You shouldn't stop. You don't have to stop." She was sputtering. I nodded in agreement. I don't have to stop! She said, "Sometimes I prop my elbows on pillows while I knit. I bet you could modify the way you hold your needles." I grabbed that one. "Yes! I'll modify! I'll adjust! I can still knit!" She nodded, and we smiled at each other, encouragingly. And then Max rang the bell (actually, the bowl), and class began.

Okay, I'm not going to stop knitting. But ever since Max mentioned it, all I can think about is my shoulders. I stop every few rounds and stretch them out. I do a few asana, just to make sure they aren't freezing into a knitting position. (Would that really be so bad?) And... I feel guilty. I don't want to fill my time with something else; I want to knit. I can't run, because of my ankles. My chiropractor told me that tennis is not the best thing for my back. And now my yoga teacher wants me to stop knitting?? I think we are all in agreement here: there is surely, most definitely, some sort of compromise... right?

Now you all know the flip side of my yoga experience. To tell you the truth, I almost didn't write about this. I didn't want to tell anyone! I thought about it a lot and decided if there IS a compromise, or a modification, my friends could help me find it. So, what are you waiting for? Help me! Any suggestions are welcome.

I wonder if I could actually knit while doing yoga??

Sorry I Left You Hanging!

2007-05-13T19:36:00.000-06:00

Waiting with baited breath for the grand finale:-)

Okay, first, I must send out wishes for a happy mother's day to all the women in my life. You might not have children, but you have nurtured someone, or perhaps a furry "someone", and nurturing, loving, caring for anyone who needs it, that's what mothers do. I celebrate the Great Mother in all of us.

Back to yoga. The final session was very poignant. I know I wasn't the only one on the verge of tears for most of the day. As always, Max was the Master Teacher that he is, and he directed and handled our energy to perfection.

Most of the session was spent giving us final instructions in how to be the best teachers we can possibly be. We learned how to order our verbal instructions and how to speak so others can best understand us. We learned the best ways to sequence our classes to keep our students safe. Jamie gave us some final pointers in human anatomy and suggested points to reference in every posture.

The final pose we studied, practiced, learned and taught was handstand. This was planned to perfection. Max told us, at the beginning, that handstand is a very rajasic pose, meaning that it generates intensity and heat. He told us that handstand is a pose that is inspiring, exciting, confidence-building, and even life changing. We all got to experience handstand, several times. We all got to teach handstand to another person and to help them experience handstand. Max was right. The energy in the room exploded! We were all happy, excited, proud, accomplished. It was the loudest day of the workshop. Everyone was touched. We all left feeling capable of teaching yoga, capable of changing our own lives, capable of helping others.

Later last night, we all gathered at Jennifer's house to relax and connect with each other one final time. It was the perfect finale, filled with happiness and hope. I introduced Mike to Max. I have to add that Mike does not practice yoga and really, has no interest. I could tell that he definitely felt Max's presence. He really enjoyed everyone he met and had a great time. I don't know if he will turn into a yogi, ever. I'm still glad he was willing to share the experience with me and keep the possibility open.

So, I do have one more thing to add: I know some of you reading this have already experienced the wonderful things yoga can do for your body, your mind, and your spirit. Some of you have tried it, and are not convinced. And, some of you have yet to dip your toes into the vast ocean that is yoga. I urge you, all of you: try it, and try it again. You might not find the style that is right for you immediately. You might not find a teacher you connect with on the first try. Keep on trying; it is SO worth it.

I hope I get the opportunity to teach you, or to learn from you, or both.

Om, shanti-
Cheryl

Gratitude

2007-05-12T21:59:00.000-06:00

Well, I made it through an amazing week. What I feel right now is gratitude. I'm grateful for this fabulous opportunity to study with Max, to learn a fraction of Jamie's anatomy knowledge, to have met such wonderful people. Everyone should have a chance to spend a week like this.

I want to share all I learned today, all I felt, all I experienced, and I will... tomorrow. We had a little "wrap up" party this evening and it's 11:00 pm and I'm so ready for sleep. My heart is full.

Peace-
Cheryl

Day 5... Almost There....

2007-05-11T21:02:00.000-06:00

Happy Friday! It's with mixed feelings that I end this week. First of all, the workshop is not over. We have a session tomorrow, Saturday, noon-4pm, so I still have another day of learning opportunities left! Still, I am 5/6 of the way done. I feel proud to have made it through this far, my body is tired, I have tons of information to sort through. I feel both excited about all I have learned, yet overwhelmed by everything I still don't know!

We started with morning asana with Max. Reviewed positions in postures and worked on sequencing as well as added a few new postures to the mix. Max talked about ahimsa and assigned us homework: to write about how we incorporate ahimsa into our lives and how we could do better. I think about this a lot. How can I write only one page? :-)

In the afternoon, Max talked with us about Presence, Gratitude, Forgiveness and Peace. One thing that really stuck with me: we talked about all the attributes that give someone Presence; what makes us want to be around some people? We mentioned awareness, calmness, happiness, vitality, a good listener, making eye contact, in the present moment. No one mentioned that you have to be good looking, or smart, or athletic, yet these are all the things we THINK we have to be. Why is that?

He talked about gratitude. You cannot feel gratitude and resentment or anger at the same time, so if you can find something to be grateful for, your anger and resentment will diminish. Humility builds balance and when you are humbled, you are able to forgive. Forgiveness allows for Peace.

As you might imagine, it has been a very emotional week. Doing a lot of bodywork and a lot of deep breathing brings a lot of emotions to the surface and we have all experienced it. I feel like I just need some quiet time. I feel vulnerable, very raw. Emotions are close to the surface; it takes very little to make my eyes well up with tears. Others have expressed feelings of anger, but I haven't felt that. People have shed tears in certain postures, or during sivasana. It has really drawn us close together as a group. It is an amazing dynamic.

Later, Patricia's husband, Bob came to our class. He lined up along with other class members to represent a "typical" yoga class, with flexible people and tight hamstring people and everyone in between. Max and Jamie "taught" the class, showed adjustments, how to make everyone feel comfortable yet challenged in the poses. The end of the day we spent working in some adaptations of more advanced poses, like ustrasana (camel), Natarajasana (king dancer), and Urdhva Dhanurasana (wheel). They were supposed to be "easier." Let's just say my thighs are still burning!

Til tomorrow...
Namaste

Yoga: Day 4

2007-05-10T21:43:00.000-06:00

Another interesting and enlightening day!

Jamie started us out with asana practice this morning. The first hour or so was pretty vigorous and I was standing in a patch of sun shining in through one of the skylights. It was so HOT! I finally had to move my mat into a tiny corner that was not in the sun so I didn't pass out! Luckily, Jamie moved into some more "healing" poses. I don't mean that they were easy, because they weren't. However, we got to move our mats to the walls so I was able to get away from that sunny spot:-) We learned poses you can do to relieve or stretch injured hamstrings, sciatica, and other back imbalances.

After lunch, we sat in a circle and everyone shared their physical injuries. This was amazing! Out of 33 people, only 2 people had NO injuries in their bodies! Everyone else is currently dealing with something: shoulder injuries, knees, hamstrings, groin, back, neck, compressed discs, broken or sprained parts, and more. This opened my eyes to a few things: first, I am not alone in my injuries. I even met another woman who sustained a rather serious injury from a yoga class and we commiserated! Second, I need to dig deeper into my student's injuries. People really don't like to talk about them, or they forget about them, or they don't think the injuries will matter in yoga. They will matter, they do matter, yoga teachers and other body workers need to know about them.

After this, we practiced teaching shoulderstand and all variations, and adjusting people in shoulderstand. I had sort of mixed feelings about this part. First of all, some of the things we learned about some of the asana were very different from things I have learned in the past. I asked a lot of questions! Max and Jamie assured me that the things they were saying are correct. I felt confused until other students started coming up to me and saying that they ALSO learned things the way I learned them. I don't mean to be cryptic here, but I don't want to cause further confusion, either. At any rate, we all sort of decided that Max and Jamie are teaching the very safest ways to practice and teach the asana. I'll just add their information to my bag of tricks and use it as I need it.

During the practice session, I was told that I am "too nice" when I teach, and that I need to be more forceful with my directions. So, LOOK OUT yoga students!! Get ready for boot camp! That's an order!
Just kidding. I appreciate all the input and direction and I'll do my best to learn from all the things I'm being taught this week.

Today I met even more yoga teachers, so now I have an entire list of classes I am anxious to try. Feast or famine, huh? Also, I met a lady with fabulous curly hair! She lent me her curly hair book, gave me a list of curly hair products, and referred me to her curly hairdresser. I am dreaming of having beautiful curls, just like Megan's!!

Good night, now.

Day 3: Noodle Arm Day

2007-05-09T18:24:00.000-06:00

This morning, my arms hurt in every single direction. Out to the side, overhead, back, arms straight, arms bent, across the chest... yup, they all hurt. My legs feel like I've run many, many miles. Isn't yoga great?

Okay, I'm still popping up early in the morning, excited to see what's in store for us at yoga! Perhaps "popping up" is a bit of an exaggeration, considering the condition of my body, but I am still eager! This morning began with 2 hours of yoga asana with Max. We learned some new breathing exercises, reviewed the asana from yesterday, added new ones. We learned new tips and teaching techniques, ways to work smarter in each pose.

The best part of this workshop has been meeting the other students. I am surprised by the number of yoga teachers in the class! They teach all over the Kansas City metro area, and beyond. People teach in yoga studios, fitness centers, churches, homes, everywhere! The yoga community here is so diverse. I am getting a real sense of community and connectedness that I have been longing for. I am looking forward to sampling some of these classes around the area.

Yoga people are very genuine. Everyone has been friendly and open and very supportive. It is fun learning where people have trained, who they have studied with, who they like to work with, and about all of their experiences. I feel like I am on the right path in my yoga journey. Everyone has validated my experiences and hopes for the future.

The afternoon session was taught by Jamie, all about anatomy. It is so amazing that the human body is made up of so many different parts, and that we can all be put together just a little bit differently. There are many things that can go wrong, but nearly everything can be corrected or healed, partially or completely, if you are willing to put the time in doing the work. I now have some great references for all sorts of injuries or illnesses! I can't wait to put together a program for myself, working on my back and my hip, and my tight shoulders. I believe that once I see progress in myself, I will be able to help many other people, too. And that's what yoga is all about.

I'm off to bed now, for real!

Yoga Day 2: It Was a LONG Day...

2007-05-08T20:23:00.000-06:00

We didn't finish today until 6:15 pm. The very last thing we worked on was chaturanga dandasana (the yoga push-ups). Note to self: do NOT save this pose until the end of class! My arms were like noodles and I could barely hold myself up! Other students seem to do fine, though, so maybe it's just me....

Okay, this morning's asana class focused on teaching basic poses. Max really likes you to teach something very basically, emphasizing only two or three points, then repeat it several times, adding something each time you repeat it. I did learn a few fine points about teaching some of the asana, including virabhadrasana I and II (warrior I and II), trikonasana (triangle), and sarvangasana (shoulderstand.) I also learned new ways to actually get into the poses. I really tried to focus on my breathwork this morning, knowing that if I do it, you will do it, too:-)

The afternoon session was the long one. Jamie Elmer arrived. She is a yoga instructor and a pilates instructor and assists Max and is, apparently, the anatomy/physiology expert. She certainly knows her stuff! Wow.

Max started out by telling us that in our lives and in our yoga practice, we need balance. There are three major centers: the physical, the mental, and the emotional. Most of us tend to feel most comfortable in one of these centers, and we need to make an effort to balance all three of them. Being more balanced leads to a feeling of "wholeness" or "completeness", which leads to more happiness! I had no trouble finding myself and figuring out what I need to work on.... how about you?

We had a bit more discussion about the bandhas, when and how to engage them, the benefits of each. (hint: especially in balancing poses!!)

We then moved into learning how to teach the poses and how to perform adjustments. We got into poses and deliberately (or not!) messed them up, and took turns trying to adjust each other. It was fun, but a lot of work. The best part was working on things I have actually seen in my classes and not really known how to correct them, even though I knew they were wrong. It was great to have the collective energy and knowledge of the class to work through these things. I know this will improve my teaching; I can't wait to give it a try!

As I mentioned, the final asana was chaturanga dandasana. Max and Jamie came around and adjusted each of us individually. By this time, I was... less than stellar. And I really needed some chocolate. I have a whole new level of sympathy for my students. Seriously. And maybe, that's the most important lesson of the day.

Til tomorrow....

Yoga Workshop: Day 1

2007-05-07T18:08:00.000-06:00

The day just flew by. I can't believe the first day is over already!

The morning started with a few comments and introductions from Patricia Gray, owner of the Yoga Gallery, and Max Strom, our guest teacher for the week. Everyone got settled in for a week full of great information. The class is geared towards teaching yoga. The students seem divided equally between those who already teach yoga and those who wish to teach. Both men and women, a wide span of ages represented, all levels of ability. It's very comfortable.

The morning session consisted of a yoga asana session. It was not too vigorous, but perfect for allowing Max to assess our levels and us to sample his teaching style. One thing he showed us was how to easily alter a very basic class to make it more difficult for advanced students. He demonstrated how holding a pose for a long time or moving quickly through a vinyasana sequence will increase the difficulty level of the class. He also emphasized teaching every asana in every class to multiple levels. He reminded us that, no matter how hard we try, we will always have someone in the class who is at a different level. We must focus on giving everyone a workout that is appropriate for their level and also keep each student safe. This is information that will definitely be useful in my classes!

In the afternoon session, we spent a lot of time focusing on pranayama: teaching breathing, connecting the breath with the body, ALWAYS focusing on the breath. One thing I hadn't realized before: the order in which you teach a posture really affects the way the posture is learned. If we teach a posture with 8 or 10 points and the breath is the 9th or 10th thing we mention, if will probably be forgotten. The students are really trying to focus on the first two or three things you mention; the later things get lost. We need to mention the breath FIRST. This is something I'm definitely going to work on in the classes I teach.

We started learning the particulars of some of the asana, how subtle changes and rotations in your arms or legs can affect the asana, proper positioning of the pelvis, legs, arms, shoulders, etc. It was very powerful to actually experience how a minor change in body position can affect your breathing, your stability in a posture, or even cause injuries. (okay, I didn't actually experience that:-)

We closed the class with a demonstration of the power each of us holds in our own hands. We performed an "adjustment" on another student without actually touching them. We sent our energy through our hands to another person's heart center and were able to actually see a change in breathing or position, and feel the energy moving us. Totally awesome.

I'm tired. I know tomorrow will be even more intense, so I'm going to try to relax and go to bed early tonight! (famous last words.....)

Now You See Me...

2007-05-06T09:46:00.000-06:00

Apparently, now you don't! I don't know what's going on or how I get so busy that the days just fly by! It gets harder when Mike has to travel and I have juggle the kids' activities and schedules and my own, and also cook meals, do laundry, and keep the furballs off the floors. So, let's catch up!

I must start with knitting. I finished the textured rib socks. You read correctly: they are DONE! I do love them. They fit like a dream and are beautiful, too. I'm not sure if I'll keep them or gift them. It's pretty warm for wool socks right now, so I guess I'll just wait and see. It was so inspiring to actually finish them that I immediately started knitting like crazy on my lace shawl, then started another project! I started working on the Lutea Lace-Shoulder Shell from the newest Interweave Knits magazine. I really like the pattern. I don't LOVE it, but it looked easy and I had some yarn I've been holding onto for about 2 years now and it just seemed like the right pattern and the right yarn. What yarn, you ask? Okay, don't laugh. I had 3 skeins of TLC CaraMia yarn that I bought on sale at least 2 years ago. The gauge was right on and the yarn is soft and easy to knit with. I love the fabric. I just hope the yarn holds up well, as it is...inexpensive.

Speaking of yarn... I drove over to KnitWit in Olathe yesterday to take advantage of their sale: 30% off all yarn! I bought all of this:

For: another Lucy bag, the Little Silk Shrug from Lace Style, the Ogee Lace Skirt from Interweave Knits,(that's for my daughter), and a pair of tennis socks for moi! Yes, I have decided to knit some tennis socks for myself. The hardest part was selecting a yarn. It couldn't be all wool, or too thick, or too thin and flimsy. I wanted some cotton, but not too much. I chose Sockotta. It is a cotton/wool/nylon blend that I think will hold up well and also produce a sock that stays up! I know, this will also depend on my ability to knit at the correct GAUGE, which is not my forte, but I'll figure it out, one way or another:-) More detailed info on the projects will follow, as I knit them, if and when I get to them. (I do have lots of yarn in my stash, all designated for projects, so we will see what mood strikes me next!)

Just a word here about a knitting book I love: Lace Style by Pam Allen and Ann Budd. It is part of the "style" series, along with Scarf Style and Wrap Style, and I love them all. Lace Style is filled with lace patterns, ranging from easy to difficult, fine yarns to heavier, small projects to a complete, full-length dress! The photographs are beautiful and inspiring and I'm sure you will enjoy browsing through this book.

Moving on to food, another favorite subject! I'm continuing to explore the raw foodstuffs. For the record, I don't have any intention of becoming a total raw foodist, or converting my family, or anyone else, for that matter. I am interested in eating healthier and also, anything that will help ease my digestive woes. So, on I go. I've tried a few new recipes: first, I made some "raw" hummus. You actually simply soak the chickpeas and then use soaked chickpeas instead of cooked ones to make hummus. Simply add the chickpeas, olive oil, water to thin, lemon juice, tahini, garlic and salt to your VitaMix and blend til it's smooth and creamy. The taste is delicious. It is a bit more bitter than traditional tahini, so you will need to use the lemon juice and salt to adjust it to your taste, but it's really, really good.

This morning I made almond milk. I soaked almonds overnight, then just blended them with water in the VitaMix. Okay, you are supposed to strain out the solids through a cheesecloth and I ran out of patience, so my milk has some almond bits floating around in it! I only wanted it for breakfast, on raw oats or raw granola, so I don't really mind. OH, it's really bland. I added some honey and some vanilla, which helped, but I'm now considering adding some maple syrup. (I do like it sweet:-)

I will give you two recipes today. The first one is called "Mediterranean Kale" from Raw Food Made Easy by Jennifer Cornbleet. This book has a lot of very basic recipes if you are new to raw foods, like I am. This dish can be made with kale or swiss chard or spinach or whatever. Marinating the greens in the dressing makes them softer and tastier.

Mediterranean Kale (1 serving) (easy to double or quadruple)

4 kale leaves, stems removed, sliced into thin strips, then chopped

1-1/2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil

1-1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1/8 tsp salt

1/4 red bell pepper, diced

1 Tbs pine nuts

3-4 sliced black olives (kalamata are good!)

black pepper to taste

Place the kale in a bowl with the olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Toss well with your hands, working the dressing into the greens. Add the red bell pepper, pine nuts and olives and toss gently. Marinate at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Adjust salt, add pepper if desired.

The second recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks, Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker by Robin Robertson. I've been looking for things I can prepare ahead of time and I suddenly remembered my crockpot! This is a dal recipe. Not exactly traditional, but easy and the whole family loved it. I served it on basmati rice and put out tamari, lemon juice and cilantro as optional garnishes.

What a Dal

2 Tbs olive oil
1 lg. onion, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp minced fresh ginger root
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1-1/2 C dried brown lentils, picked over and rinsed
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3 C water
salt and pepper to taste

Pour oil into crockpot and set on high. Add the onion, garlic and ginger, cover and cook while you assemble the other ingredients. (just cook until it starts to soften, to take the raw onion taste out)
Stir in all the spices and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds.
Turn setting to low.
Add lentils, kidney beans and water, cover, cook on low for 8 hours. Season with salt and pepper before serving to taste. If desired, you can puree 1-2 cups of the finished product and then return it to the crock pot, to make a smoother texture.
(I used a bit more water. It looked sort of dry to me, so I added even more at the very end. Maybe up to 4 C altogether.)

I plan on using a few more crockpot recipes this week, so I'll let you know how they turn out. Why, you ask?? Well, it is finally here: my week-long yoga intensive workshop with Max Strom!! It is right here in Kansas City, so I will be able to come home each evening (and often at lunchtime!), but my days will be spent at the Yoga Gallery, immersing myself in all things yogic. I am going to try to post during the week about my experiences and thoughts and feelings during the workshop, so please, check back, so you can share in what I am sure will be an awesome week.

I'm off to complete my pre-workshop reading. Have a beautiful week, and stay dry:-)

Namaste-

Cheryl

Aged to Perfection

2007-04-22T10:04:00.000-06:00

I seem to spend a lot of time talking about age and aging, don't I? Well, I think I've discovered the very best age: age 10. My youngest son, my baby, just turned 10! It was a thoroughly delightful and enjoyable day. He relished being "king for the day," yet he was constantly checking to make sure that everyone else was having as much fun as he was. And we were; watching him was a blast!

The highlight of our day had to be the Build-A-Dino workshop. It's one of those places, like Build-A-Bear, where you choose your dinosaur and they stuff it for you, and then you can spend all kinds of money buying clothing and accessories for your new friend. I've always stayed away from those sorts of places:-) However, little man recently renewed his interest in dinosaurs. We saw the movie "Dinosaurs in 3-D" at the IMAX theater and he decided he definitely wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up. Those of you with children know that the career choices change at approximately the same rate as the phases of the moon, so you have to grab the one closest to the birthday and encourage it and go with it, before the next phase moves in.

At any rate, the workshop was filled with young kids, ages 4-6 seemed to be most prevalent, and then there was my son, towering above them at 10 years old. He didn't care. He chose his dinosaur and thoughtfully made a wish on its heart before stuffing it inside. He carefully chose a pair of shorts and a paleontologist kit for his dinosaur, an ankylosaurus he named Ace. We printed up a birth certificate for Ace and I paid, trying not to wince.

So, we walked around the T-Rex Cafe store, and my son talked to Ace the whole time. Every once in a while he'd reach in and pet him, adjust him in his box a little, rub his tail. We went to dinner, and he thoughtfully opened Ace's box and "fed" him bits of lettuce. When we got ready to leave, Ace was ready to sleep.

These memories alone are worth the price of Ace, and then some. 10 year olds can play games with the big boys, play on the computer, read novels, paint dinosaurs, dive into the deep end, and fall asleep hugging their stuffed dinosaurs. What could be better than that??

So, how about some healthy recipes to keep you feeling like a 10 year old, even as time marches on? Okay, let's go.

First, Quinoa Tabbouli, a favorite modified from "Diet for a New World" by John Robbins. Don't forget to thoroughly rinse your quinoa under warm water, rubbing it through your fingers, to remove the natural bitter taste which serves as an effective pesticide, courtesy of Mother Nature!

1 C quinoa

1-1/2 C water

2 tomatoes, diced

3 green onions, chopped

1 cucumber, diced

1 small green pepper, diced

1/2 C finely chopped fresh parsley

1/4- 1/2 C chopped fresh mint, to taste

Dressing:

1/4 C freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 C olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp salt

dash cayenne pepper, to taste

Rinse quinoa thoroughly. Bring water and quinoa to a boil; reduce heat, cover, simmer until tender and water is absorbed, 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cool completely.

Stir remaining salad ingredients into the quinoa.

Whisk together the dressing ingredients, then pour over salad and toss well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled.

Next, a recipe from Mollie Katzen's "Still Life With Menu Cookbook." This is always a big hit at potlucks!!

Jeweled Rice Salad

Dressing:

1/3 C olive oil

6-8 Tbs fresh lemon juice

1 tsp salt

1 clove garlic, minced

1 Tbs. honey

Salad:

2 C uncooked short-grain brown rice

4 scallions, minced

1/4- 1/2 C minced fresh parsley

1 C chopped, toasted pecans

black pepper, to taste

2 C red or green seedless grapes

1 C cooked chickpeas, optional (canned is fine)

a handful toasted pecan halves for garnish, optional

Cook the brown rice. Then, spread it out on a large platter to cool.

In a large bowl, combine dressing ingredients. Add cooled rice and stir well. Add scallions, parsley, chopped pecans and pepper; mix well. Slice the grapes in half, saving a few whole for garnish if you wish. Gently stir the grapes into the salad, along with the optional chickpeas. Cover tightly and chill well. Garnish with whole grapes and pecan halves, if desired.

Both of these recipes are summery and delicious!! They are easily adapted to variations and very forgiving. Yes, my kids DO love the rice salad with grapes... who wouldn't?

Knitting.... still plugging away on the shawl and socks! Here is a picture of the shawl, which is maybe halfway completed:

(You Just Might Find) You Get What You Need

2007-04-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I drove out to Lawrence to attend a knitting workshop with Sally Melville. She is an absolute knitting guru; amazing, creative, brilliant. That said, the workshop was not at all what I had hoped for, not what I had envisioned when I signed up. It was a two-part workshop; part one was "Learning to Love Intarsia" and part two was "Emergency Measures." I thought I would leave there LOVING intarsia knitting and knowing everything I needed to know about fixing knitting mistakes.

The actual theme of the workshop was less about mechanics and more about the creative process... much, much more. How to choose a picture to knit. How to envision it. How to graph it. What elements to look for. How to make it work. How to bring your vision to reality. This was NOT Sally spoon-feeding us a pattern; it was Sally sharing her creative process. Hmmmm.

Emergency Measures emphasized using mistakes as learning tools. You would think I'd be familiar with this; I tell my kids all the time that "making mistakes is how we learn!" Somehow, my knitting mistakes seem to frustrate me, though. Sally showed many examples of her own mistakes and how they forced her to come up with creative solutions and think beyond the pattern. Again, she never said "if you mess this up, do this." She said, "if this happens, think about these things and then decide what you want to do."

I left feeling sort of unsettled. This wasn't a knitting class! I didn't drive home with a new hat in my bag and the feeling that I had "made something" in my heart! But, it got me thinking. I came home and got out a whole pile of knitting books. I started looking at the details. I looked at simple patterns and thought of ways to change them and embellish them and to make them my own. I thought about color and texture. I started thinking differently. I talked with a friend on the phone about what I had learned, and I realized: I had learned a lot. I learned a new way to think about things. So, as it turns out, I didn't get exactly what I wanted; however, I got exactly what I needed. Inspiration!

Now, for those of you who are tired of hearing about my same old knitting projects, I have actually finished something: a baby kimono!! Okay, the seams aren't sewn yet, and I must sew on the snaps, but the actual knitting is done!! Oh, it is so adorable. It is for a neighbor who is expecting in a week or two... can you believe I've finished it early?

I held my first yoga class at Beth's house last week. It was peaceful and relaxing and I'm looking forward to many more. Molly called me about possibly teaching a class at the Nature Center, and I've also been talking to some people about teaching "Yoga for Tennis." I don't know if any of these things will happen, but I know the possibilities are out there, and that's something.

I have to talk about tennis for a minute. Okay, most of you know that I am VERY much a beginning tennis player. I am not going to waste time putting myself down, but I am not the most athletic sort, so learning a new sport in my mid-40s has been challenging, to say the least. Last Thursday I took a private lesson with Lisa. Let me just say it: I was awesome! Amazing! Seriously, I was hitting everything, right where I was supposed to. Okay, not ready for the pro tour, but for ME, it was excellent. I was so excited and I felt great. That was Thursday. On Friday morning I woke up and I could barely move. Every muscle in my body was sore. Both arms. My back. My butt. (?) Everything. I was not deterred, though. On Saturday, I could hardly wait to play with my friend. I was so pumped. And guess what? I stunk. I could barely hit a ball over the net. My serves were all over the place. I was horrible.

I have been told that it takes time for your body to catch up when you learn new things in tennis, when you change things, or adjust your serve. I can only hope this is true! I hope, in the long run, I'll find, (once again!!) that I get what I need.

I've been seeing some of those beautiful, thin, spring green beans in the stores lately. Here is my favorite green bean recipe, from "Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home":

Not Your Mother's Green Beans

1/2 C pine nuts

1 pound green beans

1 shallot, minced, OR 1/4 C chopped scallions

1/4 C balsamic or raspberry vinegar

1/4 C olive oil

2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley or basil

salt and pepper to taste

Toast the pine nuts until golden brown; cool.

Trim the green beans. Lightly steam or boil until just tender. Drain.

Combine the shallot or scallions, vinegar, oil, and herb in a medium bowl. Add the beans and toss well. Stir in the pine nuts and salt and pepper. Serve warm, or chill for 20 minutes and then serve. This is delicious- I love it best served warm.

Enjoy the beautiful spring weather!!

Al Dente

2007-04-07T08:56:00.000-06:00

I know I promised to age gracefully. I'm trying, really and truly. But may I please, just one time, digress? (Since it's my blog, I'll take that as a yes!)

Did anyone ever tell you that, as you age (gracefully), your teeth will fall apart? No? Me either. Now, those of you reading this wide-eyed, thinking, "What the heck is she talking about? My teeth are perfect and straight and pearly white and I've never had a cavity or a filling or a crown in my life!"-- you people can just scroll down for the recipe. For the rest of us, those who have 2 or 6 fillings, a crown or two, a chipped tooth here and there... get yourself a cup of tea and buckle your seat belts.

First of all, I just found out that fillings have shelf lives... who knew? They last 15 years, give or take, then they start cracking or "leaking" and the dentist has to dig them out and replace them. Of course, if the "hole" is too big, he will have to replace it with a crown! And, if you don't take care of it NOW, you will probably end up needing a root canal, which is dental-speak for unbelievable pain and suffering. I never knew this. Now, every time I go to the dentist, I hear, "Number 3, crack; number 4, leaking..." ad nauseum. Then I make the appointments and go back for an hour of shameless shaking while the fillings get re-done, with crossed fingers, hoping NOT to hear the words "root canal."

Sorry, but this is only part one of the bad news. You've heard the phrase "long in the tooth"? Me too. I just didn't think I was actually long in the tooth yet, but... I guess I am. You see, as we age, (gracefully), our gums start to recede. Yes, even perfectly pink and healthy gums. The 'when' actually depends a lot on genetics. (Again, the image of my grandma with the gray, curly hair and the long teeth.) As the gums recede, they start to expose the roots and nerves of the teeth, causing extreme sensitivity. So, the dentist "roughs them up" along the gum line, (yes, it involves the drill!), and then fills it in. Yes, your circular reasoning is correct. In about 15 years, give or take, I will have to have all of these replaced, too. SIGH. Yet another thing I took totally for granted in my youth. I am starting to see the logic of dentures!

Perhaps we should move on to happier subjects, like food!! I found this recipe online somewhere, many years ago, and it is a favorite. I'm still in my salad mood, even though the weather has reverted back to frigid. Hope springs eternal, I guess!

Tofu Rice Salad

salad:
1 C diced tofu
3-4 C cooked brown rice or quinoa
1/2 C pine nuts
3/4 C golden raisins, plumped and drained (Or use regular raisins, Or currants)
1/2 C chopped green onion

dressing:
1/3 C olive oil
1/4 C rice vinegar
2 Tbs tamari
1/4 tsp. pepper, or to taste

optional:
paprika dusting or parsley for garnish

Whisk the dressing ingredients together, then gently toss with the salad. It's great!

On the knitting front... let's not talk about my knitting. No point in repeating the same things over and over again! Let's just say, I'll let you know when I finish something:-) However, exciting stuff: I am attending a workshop next weekend with Sally Melville!! (for you non-knitters, just think of knitting royalty!) The first part is called "Emergency Measures," which I assume is about fixing things you've messed up, and the second part is called "Learning to Love Intarsia," which I hope to learn to love. My homework swatches are all done; I'm such a good student, proud product of Guilderland Central High School. I just hope my knitting knowledge is sufficient to keep up with the rest of the class!

New yoga class starts this week... don't forget! Hope to see you there!

Shoes, and Other Random Thoughts

2007-03-31T13:53:00.000-06:00

What is it about shoes? They can make or break my outfit, my mood, my day. I have become friends with people because I consistently liked their shoes. I have spent days with one of my friends shoe shopping (hi, Margs!). The perfect outfit is absolutely no good without the right shoes. I love them, I wear them, and I save them. My husband looks at my boxes of shoes and says, "How can you POSSIBLY not have any shoes to wear with that outfit? How can you possibly need another pair? How many pairs of shoes can you possibly own?"

He's right... and he's oh, so wrong. I have at least 10 pairs of classic, high-heeled pumps that I wore in my days as a medical rep. Black, navy, brown, tan, spikey-heeled, low-heeled, crocodile -textured, spectators, patent leather, suede. Most of them pinch my feet now, but they are all in good condition and... you just never know! Am I right here?? Then there are the clogs. Black, brown, red, green, closed back, open back, fleece-lined, suede, flat, high. And sandals, both casual and dressy. And sneakers, old ones for painting and new ones for tennis. The odd hiking boots. Flip flops, in rubber, leather and pleather. I know you are the same way. Unless they are totally trashed, I never throw them away. Do you? Luckily, I have a big closet:-)

So, as I sat in my big closet, musing over my shoes, I started thinking about the special events connected to them: the shoes I wore on a job interview. The ones I bought for a special new year's eve. The silver ones I wore to Mike's graduation. The ones I only wore once, because they hurt my feet, yet I love them too much to part with them! My mind continued to wander to the people connected with them. Oh, I bought those when Deb and Nancy were here. I wore those the first time I met Lynn. (She noticed them!) And so on. And really, aren't those shoes a lot like friends?

Sometimes, with friends, it's love at first sight. You know, when you meet that person and you just instantly know that you want to be friends with them! It often works out... sometimes, it doesn't. They looked great, but gave you blisters. Sometimes, they didn't strike you as being so great at first, but they were an absolutely perfect fit, and they grew on you. No matter what, unless they are truly worn out to nothing or absolutely hideous, you save them. Maybe you only see them once in a while, but they are there for you when you need them. Maybe you only wear them with your fat pants, but they fit perfectly and you love them.

So, this is the part where I thank you all for being my friends. I love you all, truly, I do. Thanks for putting up with me, even when I give you blisters or don't quite match your favorite sweater.

Speaking of sweaters... (am I smooth, or what?) Okay, the cabled sweater front is frogged. A big pile of wavy spaghetti looking yarn. I need to rewind it and start anew and I'm ready for it. Of course, I'm just a wee bit side-tracked on my knitting. I'm constantly drawn to the ever convenient-to-carry-around sock #2. I've become re-enamoured with the portofino shawl. It's knitting up so beautifully and it feels so soft. I'm picturing myself sitting on the beach, watching the sunset, the shawl wrapped around my shoulders like a warm hug. That picture in my mind, along with the fact that we really have rented a beach house for a week in August, have led me to believe that perhaps I can truly knit an entire summer wardrobe! Yes, beachwear. A couple of tank tops, easy. Maybe a big, loosely knit swimsuit cover up. (No, Mike, I am NOT knitting that bikini!! At least not for wearing in public!) (He has been begging me to knit that for years. Those of you who know me personally know that me, in any bikini, would send young children screaming for their mothers!) Anyway, I've been browsing my knitting books and magazines, mentally assembling my summer wardrobe.

Okay, let's get real here. Tomorrow is April 1st. I'm not a fast knitter. My neighbor is about to have a baby and NEEDS knitted baby things. (She doesn't know this yet, but she will.) I have to face the fact that I will be lucky to finish the portofino shawl in time for the beach... and maybe one tank top, too, okay??

I only have one piece of yoga news, but it's very exciting: My friend Beth has offered to host my yoga class in her basement! I'm back, baby! I'm so excited to start teaching again; I didn't realize how much I missed it. Let me know if you are interested. (Thank you, Beth!)

"The Raw Food Detox Diet" is going pretty well, thanks for asking. I haven't actually weighed myself, since I hate being depressed, but some of my pants are looser than they were, so I think and hope I'm heading in the right direction. I'm just trying to do fruit/fresh juice until noon, and start with salads, and eat reasonably. Yes, it could very well be that I'm only wearing pants that are stretched out from wearing them before :-) We'll see. In the meantime, I want to share my absolute favorite recipe, slightly modified. This is from "The Raw Food Detox Diet" by Natalia Rose:

Hearty Corn Salad

3 portobello mushrooms, chopped
1/4 C balsamic vinegar
1/4 C olive oil
1 Tbs. maple syrup
3 C fresh corn, +/- (fresh is best, but I usually use thawed frozen corn)
2 scallions, sliced
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 tomato, diced small
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Whisk together the vinegar, oil and maple syrup. Marinate the mushrooms in this mixture for about an hour. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl. Pour the mushroom mixture on top and mix well. That's it! Best eaten right away. Mike and I love this stuff. I can't wait for the summer corn to arrive, and tomatoes... it will be even better! I have added cucumbers, left out the tomatoes, added celery, it's all good.

I think that's it for now. I do have more to say, but I'll save it for another time. Sorry to go so long between posts! I'll try not to do that again. Leave me a comment! It's not much fun to write if no one reads it:-)

Flirting With Summer

2007-03-14T18:58:00.000-06:00

Today the temperature got up to nearly 80 degrees!! It was definitely a tease though; the temp is dropping already and the next few days are supposed to be considerably cooler. Isn't it amazing, though?? Just when you can't take ONE MORE DAY of stepping into your freezing closet, the temperature rises and all is right with the world again. By the same token, when you can't take another day of sweating in the closet by the end of August, the temperature drops. As though Mother Nature knows exactly how much you can take before you blow your stack. (note: Perhaps your closet is not located over the garage and against two outside walls, leaving it vulnerable to the whims of Ms. Nature. You get my drift :-)

Anyway, the warmer weather has most definitely whet my appetite for the foods of summer: salads, fruits, vegetables, grilled food. It all sounds great to me! Those gigantic zucchini, the ones I couldn't bear to look at by last September? Oh, I canNOT wait!! Spring is a time for new beginnings, for trying new things, for opening up your heart and mind to the possibilities. So, I will tell you about my latest journey into open-mindedness.

I received an email from my new friend, Marcia. (Hi, Marcia!) Okay, we've never actually met in person, but we've exchanged intimate info online, so we are now friends. Anyway, she invited me (and anyone else who was interested) to a class about raw foods. I responded that I would love to go, but couldn't make it to that particular class. I added that I just wanted to learn some more recipes; I am not actually interested in "going raw." I took a raw foods cooking class a couple of years ago in San Diego. It was fun, the food was great, it took the "experts" all day to cook an entire meal. They brought in laundry baskets full of greens which were quickly blended down into nothing. Seriously. There was just no way I would have the time, energy, money or refrigerator space to feed my family this way.

Marcia agreed, but asked me if I'd ever read a book called The Raw Food Detox Diet by Natalia Rose? No, I had not. She told me to check it out, so I did. I borrowed the book from the library and it was endlessly fascinating to me. Natalia says that you don't have to eat a completely raw diet to gain the benefits of raw foods. She has tons of information about "detoxing" your body, adding a few raw foods at a time, food combining, easy recipes, and so much more. Okay, stop rolling your eyes at me!! I know, I know. BUT, I have to say, I have recently developed some digestive problems. Nothing is really "wrong" with me, but I just seem to be having bad juju in the digestive area. Okay, I was desperate to try something, anything. This was interesting, new, fun, and perfect for warmer weather food.

I bought a juicer and I started drinking the green lemonade in the morning. This is good stuff; almost addictive! You simply juice romaine lettuce leaves, kale leaves, a lemon, 1 or 2 apples, and a chunk of ginger root. Tastes yummy and feels healthy! Mike held his nose, but he likes it, too, and seems disappointed if he misses his opportunity and I drink it all. The other thing I do is just eat fruit/fruit smoothies until noon. It's not hard and I get to eat fruit!! Am I detoxing? I don't know, but it's fun! Everyone loves smoothies!

The snack the family LOVES: Take a romaine leaf. Spread about 1 tablespoon of almond butter on one end. Squirt a little honey on top. Roll it up, like a spring roll. Man, it is delicious! It's got to be better for you than a bag of chips! (Hey! I'm not dogging the chips! I'm just saying....)

The salad dressings are really, really good. You can make the lemon dressing and then put it on grated cabbage with a few raisins and have a delicious coleslaw. I could go on, but I'm not sure how much I'm allowed to share before I start breaking some laws!

Bottom line: check out the book. I ended up buying it online for about $10. I don't know about the science or the detox or the weight loss, but I do know you'll find some fun, different recipes, perfect for this time of year.

As a natural segue, we will move from summer eating on to sweater knitting. (Sorry, but it must be discussed!) I'm talking about the cabled sweater I have been knitting (or not knitting) since last August. Okay, I found the pattern, I had the yarn, I loved them both, I started knitting. I knit the back, got a bit bored, moved on to other projects. Back to the sweater, knit one front piece, started the other side, hit a major snag: when knitting in the buttonholes, some beautiful, one row buttonholes I learned from Candace Eisner Strick at a knitting workshop, I screwed up. I knit one buttonhole on a purl row of the buttonband, and one on a knit row. I was only thinking about perfectly spacing them, NOT about the mechanics. They ended up not lining up. Obviously not lining up. Well, I was frozen. Could I live with the crooked buttonholes? No. Could I bear to rip out all that work? No. So, I did nothing. I ziplocked the baggie and moved on to other projects.

The sweater has been haunting me! I love it, I want it, I want to wear it. I don't know what happened. They say time heals all wounds, and I guess it's true. I just made the decision to rip out the entire piece of the sweater with the buggery buttonholes and start it over. I haven't actually ripped it out yet, mind you, but I've made the decision, so that's a start.

Springtime, starting over, fresh starts, open mind, open heart. (I knew I could tie it all together in the end!)

Playing Catch Up

2007-03-08T13:52:00.000-06:00

Okay, let's start with the phrase "playing catch up." This implies that you are behind, and you have work extra hard to catch up, right? Is there anything playful about that?

There is one thing that I rarely do: I rarely buy a bunch of yarn when I really don't have a project in mind for it. Oh, I might buy one or two skeins of something that catches my fancy. I know I can always come up with a hat, a pair of mittens, a scarf, or whatever. But eight balls? What was I thinking? I am talking about the Portofino yarn, of course. And let me confess right here and now: I bought it because it was a good buy. A good deal. A bargain, if you will. I liked the pale gray color, almost blue-ish gray. I liked the cotton blend. I liked the feel of the yarn, the texture and the drape. I liked the yarn; I just didn't love it. So... drop the price and I guess I'll buy anything.

So, I have a bunch of this yarn. Not enough for a sweater. Not enough for a big lace shawl. Not really the best yarn for a vest or a tank top; doesn't seem like it will hold it's shape very well. I'm starting to see why it was on clearance! I don't feel the need for a lightweight, cotton hat, or scarf, or mittens. Too flimsy for a bag. Not a good color for a baby. I think you get my drift.

So... I decided that it WILL be the perfect yarn for a shawl or a wrap of some sort. Yes, it WILL be. Some people wait for their yarn to tell them what it wants to be. I seem to be more of the wrestling type. First, I started with my knitting books. (I have a lot of them!) I thumbed through every single one but, alas, no suitable patterns. Next, I decided to browse my pattern collection. (Two notebooks full!) No dice. I turned to the magazines. This took a while. I frantically flipped through several years worth of several different knitting magazines. I was obsessed with this! Magazines in the kitchen, in the bathroom (duh!), in the laundry room, on the coffee table, on the dining room table. The worst part was when I found a pattern that was a "maybe," then I forgot which magazine it was in. I THOUGHT I'd remember, can you believe it? Oh, I'll remember, the one with striped sweater on the cover. Uh huh. After a few days of this, I had my "maybes."

I started swatching. Too open. Too tight! Too ugly. Very ugly. Ugly. Wrong gauge. Wrong.

Next, I whipped out good old Barbara Walker, volumes one and two. By this time, I had some sort of idea of what might work with my yarn. Believe it or not, I just couldn't envision it. Nothing in BW was floating my boat. I knew it was time to take a break, but I could not. A new magazine came in the mail. I frantically flipped through to see the picture of the ONE shawl. It was laceweight. It wasn't beautiful. I didn't covet it. I wanted something bigger. Still... I decided that it was the one. I didn't swatch or calculate my gauge or figure out how much yarn I had or how big it was going to be. I just cast on.

I knit a few pattern repeats and... the cast on edge was too tight. I ripped it out and started over. I knit a few pattern repeats (again) and... I liked it! It worked! It didn't look like the picture, thank goodness. The fabric felt soft, like a comfy sweatshirt. I roughly figured out how big it would be: perfect! I have the right amount of yarn. It's not too fancy, not too plain; it's just right.

With knitting, sometimes you have to plan and swatch and measure and calculate. Sometimes, you have to just do it. I cannot believe I've written an entire blog entry about this shawl. That's right, even MORE time spent lamenting the shawl!! It better be a good shawl. I'd better love it and carry it around with me all summer long and wear it out!! (Whether I love it or not, you will either see it on me or receive it as a gift!)

Answers to Some Questions

2007-03-04T14:39:00.000-06:00

I've had some questions about some of my previous posts, so here are some answers:

Pressure Cookers

Buy stainless steel
Make sure it's large enough. You can only fill them 2/3 or 3/4 full, so even though they look large, you will need a decent-sized pot to make a decent-sized batch of chili, or whatever. I think mine is the 7 liter size.
You will have to replace the rubber gasket at some point, and you may have to replace other parts, so make sure you can get in touch with the manufacturer, or whoever sells replacement parts. I think I replaced my gasket after 2 years, but your mileage may vary. It's inexpensive and easy to do.
There is no maintenance; just keep it clean and maybe rub some oil on the gasket to keep it supple.
Yes, you can freeze cooked beans. Just put them in freezer baggies in 1-1/2 or 2 cup portions (similar to a can of beans) and freeze. Cheap and easy!
Potatoes? Yes, here is a recipe: Cut a bunch of potatoes into bite-sized chunks and throw them into the pressure cooker. Any amount of potatoes, 1 pound or 2 pounds or whatever you have. Any kind of potatoes will work, though the starchier potatoes will fall apart more. Add 1 cup vegetable broth. Now you can add any kind of herbs you want; my kids like a few cloves of garlic, or you can add rosemary or whatever you like. Put on the lid on and bring it to high pressure. Lower heat and cook under high pressure for 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat, quick release and open the lid. I usually smash the potatoes around a bit with a spoon, add salt and pepper, you can add a drizzle of olive oil if you like, or minced fresh parsley. Eat. You will love these! I make them for lunch a lot; quick and easy and everybody's happy!
Yes, I did have a pressure cooker accident ONCE. The vent got clogged with chickpea skin. It wasn't a disaster and no one got hurt, just some spraying of chickpea juice. It was my fault. First, I filled the cooker too full, and I knew it; I just wanted to use up all my chickpeas. Second, I did NOT add a tablespoon of oil to prevent sticking to and clogging of the vent, as I knew I should. Third, I had fair warning. The cooker was making a funny sound. I heard it, I ignored it. It won't happen again :-)

Yoga

Yes, I do want to teach again. I'm looking for a place to teach and I'll keep you posted!
I have many, many yoga books that I love. I will try to review some of them on the blog, eventually. One of my favorites is definitely The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness by Erich Schiffman. It is suitable for all levels, beautifully written, and will teach you a lot about yoga and different philosophies. Right now, I am working with Yoga Mind, Body and Spirit by Donna Farhi. It is also suitable for everyone. The thing I am especially enjoying about this book is that the approach is different from what I learned and usually practice. Donna teaches you how to approach the pose through and with the breath, which is different from the structural way I usually practice. She also emphasizes learning how to feel the pose in your body. I like this, since many people want to see themselves in the mirror!
I do not regularly practice with yoga videos or dvds. I think they are great, but they just don't work for me. I don't like to constantly have to look up to see what's going on! On the other hand, I own several videos and have learned a lot from just watching them. I've gotten a lot of great ideas from videos. They are worth the investment, even if it's just for inspiration. My preference would be a video done by a "yoga person," as opposed to a "fitness person."

Knitting

You are right, I haven't been knitting that much lately! (Okay, no one asked me about that:-) The skin on my right thumb got so dry that it just split open. It stayed an open sore for a few days, which was very painful and uncomfortable and not conducive to knitting! It healed, but then I had the dry chunks of skin, which caught on the yarn constantly. I'm happy to report that it's healed now and I'm back to knitting!
Yes, I do have 2 of the Barbara Walker Treasuries, Volumes 1 and 2. I bought them online, used, and I love them. They are worth the price just for the sheer inspiration. In case you aren't familiar, the BW books were written...in the 70s I think. They are simply huge books filled with stitch patterns and black and white photos of each one. Barbara does comment on many of the patterns and offers suggestions, but it's basically just a springboard for your own patterns and imagination. Oh, FYI, there is now a website where people are posting color photos of stitch patterns from the BW books.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend! I'm posting without photos because Mike is "ready to go!" More soon, with pictures, I promise :-)

Aging Gracefully

2007-03-02T20:50:00.000-06:00

For as long as I can remember, I wondered why people dreaded getting older. Why was it so bad? Why did people dread it, fight it, avoid it? From a very young age, I remember thinking that I would be different. I would embrace aging. I was going to age gracefully.

My first sliver of reality occurred at the age of 19. I was brushing my hair and saw something glimmering in the bathroom light. I looked closer. Could it be? No. No way. I was only 19! No way did I have a gray hair! I carefully examined my entire scalp, using mirrors and positions I now only dream about. Well, that was it. Only one. It had to be some sort of fluke. I carefully plucked it out of my head and threw it into the garbage can. The kitchen garbage can. Underneath some other stuff.

Somewhere in my mid-twenties, I noticed a couple more gray hairs. Just a couple. They didn't really bother me. When I was 33 and pregnant with my son, my hairdresser said, "Whoa! After you have that kid, give me a call and I'll take care of those grays for you!" That's exactly what I did. It's okay, I reasoned. Curly hair that grays early runs in our family. No big deal.

I've been through years of coloring, highlighting, orange hair, chunky streaks, you name it. Every six months or so I think back to my promise to myself about aging gracefully. I decide to let my gray grow in. I usually last a couple of months or so; then I see my grandmother's face staring back at me from the mirror (the one with the curly gray hair), and it's back to the coloring. One time, a friend I hadn't seen for a while said, "What is up with your hair????" "Uhmmm, I'm trying to be more natural?" I whispered, hopefully. "Yeah, well, you look old. Here's the phone, call the salon or I will." And I folded, just like that.

And so it goes.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I gained 54 pounds. I lost 60 pounds fairly easily and was wearing a bikini the next summer. I silently wondered what all the fuss was about. Baby fat? No problem. Those were the days when I could eat an apple for dinner for two or three nights and drop 5 pounds.

Then I hit 40-ish. I don't remember the date, but I remember the jeans. (I might even still have them.) I'd spent the summer wearing stretchy shorts and loose-fitting skirts, and when the weather turned cooler, I pulled out my jeans. They were too tight and riding right up my butt. Huh. I must have put these in the dryer... for a really long time... and forgot about them. So, I pulled out the Gap khakis. Same story. Shrunk in the dryer? Suddenly it hit me: I had gained weight. I was shocked and appalled. Okay, I can deal with this. I spent the winter in stretchy elastic waisted pants from Costco. I tried every diet you can think of: low carb, low fat, cabbage soup, rice, grapefruit... did I forget any? I jogged, I aerobicised, I lifted weights. I never got back into those jeans. Now, at age 46, I am starting to slowly accept that this is my body, and it's as good as it's ever going to be.

I don't think I'll go into the sagging body parts. Let's just say that everything that was once pert and perky is no longer.

My latest aging woe has hit me hard. I injured my back about 4 years ago, and it was a bad one. The doctor said it was probably a pulled muscle. Then it moved into my hip and down my leg into sciatica. I went to a chiropractor. Oh, yes, I was all out of alignment. He adjusted me and it helped, for a while, but it never really totally healed. A sudden movement could send my back into spasms and cause pain for days. The acupuncturist helped, too, for a while.

For the past couple of months, the pain has been progressing. I resisted seeing anyone, thinking that it was going to heal. All by itself. Okay, I'd buy a new mattress, then it would be better. I'd find some magic supplement, I'd eat right, I'd exercise right, I'd lose weight, I'd meditate. Somehow, it was going to get better, I just knew it, I held on to that hope. Maybe even a miracle would occur! A miracle cure! Maybe I could cure myself?

Meanwhile, I was in pain. I broke down and made an appointment at the chiropractor everyone I know recommended to me. (Thank you, Kelly and Anne and Karen!) He was wonderful. The Derek Jeter of chiropractors. He listened to my story, then expertly ran his fingers down my spine. "Oh, there it is, " he said. Yes, that was the spot. "Yeah, it's the disc at L4. You have sort of twisted your spine in compensation, and you have tightened up right here." He touched below my left shoulder blade. Yes, more pain, he was right. "You know," he said, matter-of-factly, "once you have a disc injury, it never really totally heals. You will always have a weak spot there, for the rest of your life." I don't know why, but for just a moment, my world stopped. For the rest of my life?? So, I wasn't going to get better? I wasn't going to be able to practice all those yoga twists? I wasn't even going to be able to practice headstand variations? This was it? It was all over????

Okay, it wasn't just yoga. I have to be careful any time I bend over to pick something up. I even have to watch it when I step into my pants in the morning. Secretly, in my heart of hearts, I knew. I knew it was a disc, and I knew the injury would always be with me. Still, until I heard someone say it to me, I could deny it. Those days were over.

So, the good doc feels my cervical spine and moves my head around a little, and says, "Oh, you've also lost a little bit of rotation in your neck." "No I haven't!" He smiled, then demonstrated how my head moved easily in one direction and not so the other way. "I couldn't have lost rotation; I do YOGA!" I exclaimed. "That probably helped, and helped your shoulder, too. It could be a lot worse."

I got my adjustment. I bought the supplements and I'm taking them. I've made my next appointment. I came home, and I cried. Yes, you do gain wisdom and confidence, and the wrinkles aren't so bad. It's the loss of the dreams that hurts. And now, I get to put my resolution of aging gracefully to the test.

Lost, and Found!

2007-02-27T14:40:00.000-06:00

This post is going to be a bit self-indulgent. I won't mind a bit if you are not interested in sharing a piece of my yoga journey; just scroll down for other stuff.

Do you practice yoga? If so, you are surely a victim of the allure of the yoga mat. You know what I'm talking about... you are carrying a load of laundry, thinking about dinner, mentally trying to figure out how you can get all 3 kids to their activities, when out of the corner of your eye, you see your yoga mat. Oooohh... I couldn't possibly... but, maybe just ONE downward dog, to stretch out my shoulders... Next thing you know, the laundry is on the floor and you are all stretched out and loving it. Maybe it's just one pose, maybe two or three, maybe 30 minutes. Then, you get on with your day, feeling a little bit... happier.

Well, this is the story of how I lost, then found, my yoga mojo. Actually, I didn't really lose it or find it; it just disappeared, then reappeared, when I was ready, just like "they" tell you it will.

Last summer, right before moving to Kansas City, I admit that I was totally overextended. I was teaching a few yoga classes each week, teaching knitting, my kids were involved in 4H, dance, soccer. I loved everything I was doing, and everything the kids were doing. I didn't want to quit anything, even though I could feel myself burning out. The energy was draining out of me; I wasn't doing anything well. I felt like I was busy nurturing everyone except myself.

So, the big move arrived. After the hustle, bustle and general misery of moving, I told myself I would have plenty of time to practice my yoga, for myself. And I did; but guess what? I had lost my yoga mojo. Totally gone. I would unroll my yoga mat, do a few half-hearted stretches, stare at the ceiling... nothing. I attended a couple of classes but, honestly, it felt like calisthenics to me. A month went by. Then another one. I wondered if I was done with yoga? I couldn't imagine my life without it, yet I wasn't compelled to practice, or read about it, or anything. I kept getting out my mat, hoping.... but, nothing happened.

There was no "aha!" moment. I didn't suddenly whirl into a yoga frenzy; it was very subtle. I decided to organize my yoga music on a separate shelf. I found one CD that I love and decided to listen while I got dressed. I started playing the music more and more, in the morning while cleaning, in the afternoon. One day, a yoga sequence popped into my mind and I just had to try it, so I did. It turned into a 45 minute practice, and it was back! I had rediscovered my yoga mojo!

I am not one of those fabulously flexible people. I don't walk around on one hand. I don't amaze people with my contortions. I'm just a middle-aged Mom with a stiff back and a lot of years of yoga experience. I find peace and joy in my yoga practice. I believe there was a lesson in my yoga void, probably more than one, and I'm anxious to explore each and every one of them. I think there is such beauty in being in the present moment and in not taking anything for granted. I believe that sometimes, you just need to take a break. I believe in learning from those who have gone before me, and in having confidence that things will happen in their own time, when it's right, when you are ready. Don't give up.

So Many Ideas, So Little Time!

2007-02-25T10:02:00.000-06:00

I don't know where this week went! I have so many things I want to blog about and time just flies by, doesn't it? I'm back now, and I'll *try* to be more consistent.

I'm starting with knitting today: I finished the piano bench cover! Here it is, blocked and drying in the guest room, far away from felines and canines. I really like the way it turned out. It was sort of unshapely when I finished it, but the blocking really helped. Now I am focusing on the textured rib socks (from the frogged Jaywalkers' yarn) and also the lace wrap. I will post a picture of the lace soon... I know, it will look exactly like a hairnet, won't it? The secret of lace is all in the blocking. I wouldn't believe it if you told me that, either, but I've seen it for myself, and now I am a true believer. So, stay tuned....

I also have this little pile of Portofino Souffle yarn, purchased on sale at KnitWit for a very, very good price. It is a cotton/acrylic blend, definitely perfect for a warmer weather wrap of some sort. I have some patterns in mind, but I have to swatch the yarn and see what it wants to be.

If you are in the mood for some knitting fun, you should check out Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark. I love this book! No, it's not just another celebrity knitting book. The patterns are beautiful and well-written, the stories are funny, the photos are lovely. There are lots and lots of things I actually want to knit. I've already made the "Luxe Neckwarmer" and the "Grownup Bonnet" (photos in previous posts); they were fairly easy to knit and I love the results. I already bought the yarn to make the "South Seas Table Runner," which will be perfect for our kitchen table. I'm considering the "Pimlico Shrug" or the "Lacy Hug-Me-Tight" for the Portofino yarn. There are baby clothes, men's sweaters, family sweaters, a tea cozy, hats, bags, legwarmers, and more. Check it out!

I think it's time to talk about one of my other kitchen loves: my pressure cooker! The first thing I must say is: do not be afraid! This is NOT grandma's pressure cooker! Yes, I personally know 2 people who have had pressure cooker explosions; both were the "old-fashioned" kind of pressure cookers, and both people admitted that the mistakes were probably theirs! The newer pressure cookers have several safety release valves. There are stovetop models and electric models. All shapes and sizes. I definitely use mine at least once a week, usually more often. You can cook beans, soups, stews, potatoes, grains, meats, vegetables, anything, in a fraction of the traditional cooking time. You simply load up your cooker with food, bring it up to high pressure, set your timer. When the cooking is done, release the pressure, adjust the seasonings and serve. Lentil soup cooks in 7 minutes; split pea soup in only 6 minutes. You can soak dried chickpeas overnight, then cook them up in about 18 minutes for the best-tasting, creamiest chickpeas you have ever tasted! (Which, of course, equals awesome hummus!!)

You will definitely want Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure by Lorna Sass; it's the pressure cooking bible. My pressure cooker is a Kuhn-Rikon, and I bought it on Amazon. There are lots of good cookers out there, but remember, you get what you pay for. I originally bought a Fagor for around $20, and I don't recommend it. First off, it is aluminum, and you really want stainless steel. Secondly, I had a hard time getting it up to high pressure. Things never cooked evenly or completely. Go for the good one.

I asked Mike to buy me some greens at Whole Foods last week. He came home with Dino Kale. I didn't know what to do with it, but beans and greens are always good, right? Here is what I made: (you can easily adjust this recipe for cooking on the stovetop; simply follow the recipe but cook for 1-2 hours, until your beans are soft.)

Pink Beans with Greens (served on brown rice)

2 C (about 1 lb.) dried pink beans, rinsed and soaked (or pinto beans, or white beans...)

1 onion, diced

1 Tbs. oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 carrot, thinly sliced

1 large celery stalk, diced

2 tsp chili powder, +/-

5 C veg. broth (approx.)-- I used water and 1 Tbs. veg. bouillon

1 piece of kombu (optional)

1 bunch of dino kale, chopped

In the pressure cooker, saute onion in oil until soft. Add garlic, then carrot and celery and mix well. Stir in the chili powder. Add the beans, kombu and broth. Cover and bring to high pressure for about 8 minutes (will vary with type of bean used.) Remove from heat and release pressure. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add kale, stir well, and cook over low heat for a few minutes, until kale is cooked. Serve over rice.

Sorry, I don't have a photo, as it is GONE!! That's it for today; more soon!!

Fun with Fiber

2007-02-18T13:56:00.000-06:00

Okay, I couldn't resist. Yes, I will write about knitting fibers, but I'm starting with another sort of fiber: vegetable fiber, both soluble and insoluble. We need them both, and lots of them, and very few of us get enough. I always thought, somewhere in the back of my head, that since I am a vegetarian, surely I get plenty of fiber. I read that women should consume 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day. Just for fun, I decided to keep track of my fiber intake, and the results surprised me. Even starting my day with a very high fiber cereal (9 grams right there!), I often did not get enough. And those days when we don't have time to eat right? Not even close!

I know there are all sorts of fiber supplements out there, but I believe the best way to get our nutrients is from whole foods, so I decided to share some recipes. These will center around the humble legume, or bean, if you will. Beans come in many different shapes, sizes and colors. Their tastes can be surprisingly complex. You can buy them dried, canned, frozen, or (sometimes) fresh. You can serve them hot or cold, whole or mashed, with grains, in tortillas, in soups, stews or salads. And on and on; the possibilities are endless.

I personally think that beans taste best when they are either fresh or dried and then soaked and cooked to order. I know this takes time and forethought, so I am also a huge fan of canned beans. Just rinse well and drain and proceed with your recipe. You really can't go wrong. I have to put a plug in here for another one of my favorite kitchen appliances: my pressure cooker. Cooks beans, soups, stews in mere minutes. More on that another time.

Since we are all looking for quick and easy, here is my favorite Q and E Black Bean Soup. It is adapted from an old McDougall recipe, and there are lots of variations, so make it your way:

Quick and Easy Black Bean Soup

2 cans of refried black beans

1 can whole black beans, rinsed and drained

1-1/2 to 2 C vegetable broth (I use water, then add a Tbs. vegetable broth powder)

1 C salsa (from a jar works fine)

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp chili powder

cayenne pepper or tabasco, to taste

Pour the refried beans and broth into a soup pot over medium heat. Stir to mix; adjust amount of broth to your liking. You can use your whole beans whole, or you can mash them a bit with a potato masher, depending on how chunky you like your soup. So, add your whole beans, salsa and seasonings. Cook for about 10 minutes and serve. Garnishes add a nice touch; try fresh cilantro, some finely sliced green onions, avocado dices, extra salsa, a dollop of sour "cream" or yogurt.

Here is another simple bean salad recipe. I'm going to give general amounts, but you can double or triple the recipe, use dried beans, or add things to your liking.

Cannellini Bean Salad

2 cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 medium tomatoes, diced

1/2 red onion, diced OR 2-3 green onions, diced

Optional: 1 avocado, diced

Optional: 2 ribs celery, thinly sliced

Dressing:

juice of 1/2 a lemon

Optional: 1-2 Tbs olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

dash cayenne

Combine salad ingredients EXCEPT avocado. Whisk dressing in a small bowl and then pour over salad. Mix well. Add avocado; mix gently. Adjust seasoning to taste. (Tastes great without avocado; I just throw it in if I have a ripe one!)

I guess that's enough for now, but don't forget to have fun with your fiber! Keep some canned beans in your pantry. Add them to soup; mix with marinara sauce and serve on pasta; sprinkle on top of your leafy green salad; add a can of beans to a can of RoTel tomatoes.

I'll move on to knitting fibers, in case beans aren't your thing! I cast on the Regia yarn from the now defunct Jaywalker sock for a new sock. I am making a simple textured rib patterned sock, using size 1.5 needles instead of size 1. I think this yarn is much, much happier in the new sock. The pattern is a lot stretchier and springier and I'm enjoying it much more.

If you are even thinking about knitting socks, there is one book that is essential. Actually, you could knit socks from this book for years and not run out of ideas! It's Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch, and it is the ultimate sock knitting book. You will learn how to knit socks cuff down, toe up, on 4 dpns, on 5 dpns, on 2 circular needles, in any size, to fit any foot. There is a "class sock", a mini sock with detailed instructions, for beginners. Ribbed patterns, slip stitches, cables, eyelets, lace, fair isle, basketweave, and combinations of all those, and more. Essential for your knitting library. She has a new book called More Sensational Knitted Socks. I haven't seen it yet, but I have high hopes:-)

Finally, I have this skein of yarn. 100% wool. 165 yards. I'm so intrigued by the colorway, sort of chartreuse into mauve. It really wants me to knit it up into something, but what?? I've been thinking about some fingerless mitts.... still thinking....

The Perfect Food, Cooked Perfectly

2007-02-15T10:36:00.000-06:00

I can't believe I've written 8 posts already and have not yet discussed rice, or my beloved Zojirushi rice cooker!! Rice, the most basic food, the world's most popular grain, the diet staple of many countries. Dress it up, serve it plain. Sweetened for breakfast, savory for supper, leftover for lunch. What could be better? I have always liked rice, but, I must confess, unless it was cooked at an ethnic restaurant, my rice attempts barely went beyond Minute Rice. As I began experimenting with vegetarian cooking, I knew I needed to make some decent rice.

I browsed the bins at Whole Foods, totally bewildered. Basmati, Texmati, arborio, forbidden rice, red rice, black rice, Jasmine rice... very confusing. I experimented, but I thought to myself, "Surely, there is an expert amongst us??" And, I was right! Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann wrote "The Ultimate Rice Cooker Cookbook," which has become my rice bible. They taught me everything about rice, where the varieties come from, what they taste like, how to cook them, how to serve them, basic recipes and hundreds of variations. They also taught me everything about rice cookers, the appliance I never knew I couldn't live without.

Long ago, I had a rice cooker/ steamer. The rice often burned and stuck to the bottom, and brown rice was hit or miss. After much research, I decided to invest in a REAL rice cooker. I bought this little beauty, the Zojirushi. She has neuro fuzzy logic-- very fancy, indeed! She cooks any and all rice to perfection. Don't be confused: this is not a machine to cook rice quickly. She is often slower than stovetop. However, it is always perfect. There is a warming cycle to keep it warm for hours. There is a porridge cycle that makes creamy, warm porridge. There is a brown rice cycle, and then you can choose softer or harder rice. If you buy the rice cooker AND the cookbook, Zojirushi becomes even more. She cooks all sorts of grains, pilafs, polenta, puddings, applesauce and poached fruits. And more. It's a good thing.

By popular demand, here are the finished loaves of bread. We went through 1-1/2 loaves at dinner that night; the rest never made it to the freezer:-)

On the knitting front, here is my JayWalker sock:

That's right, completely gone. Here's my story: I kept thinking it looked kind of big, but I checked and re-checked my gauge and it was right on. I had about an inch to go on sock #1 before the toe decreases. I was admiring the beauty of the pattern, and I suddenly noticed how dense the fabric seemed to be. It was NOT very stretchy at all. I ignored this for a day or two, feeling that dreaded feeling in the pit of my stomach. Today I decided to try it on. It would not stretch over my heel. I couldn't get it on. I lined up my kids, like Cinderella and her step-sisters trying on the glass slipper. Unfortunately, I didn't find my Cinderella. No one could get the darn thing on their foot. Off I trotted to the frog pond. I think I'll look for a different pattern to try!

It's snowing like crazy right now and my bird feeder is the most popular spot in town. If only they wore socks!!!!

Every Picture Tells a Story, Don't It??

2007-02-12T16:00:00.000-06:00

I have lots of pictures today! New batteries in the camera and it was just begging to be used, so I did!!

First, here are a batch of vegan cupcakes, chocolate with chocolate "butter"cream frosting. I cut one in half so you could see how moist and rich they are. Okay, that is a lie. I cut one in half so I could eat it, and it was delicious! My daughter made them, and she used Z Trim in the cakes and in the frosting and didn't even tell me! I couldn't taste a difference at all.

Here are three loaves of Sesame Whole Wheat bread, rising nicely, almost ready to bake. Should be delicious with dinner tonight. I don't know what dinner will be, but as long as there is freshly baked bread, it will be good. Actually, dinner will probably be a soup from:

this book, Vegetarian Soups for All Seasons by Nava Atlas. Nava is one of my favorite cookbook authors. I own several of her cookbooks and every recipe is easy to prepare and enjoyed by the entire family. This is the new, updated edition of Vegetarian Soups. She has made all of the soups vegan and there are 20 new recipes from the original edition. Here are some recipes I've tried: New England Clam-less Chowder, made with baked tofu and soy or rice milk, creamy and delicious; Curried Red Lentil Soup, with sweet potatoes and swiss chard, a wonderful combination; Chickpea and Tahini Soup, very rich and spicey; Mock Chicken Noodle Soup, made with baked tofu, as good as the original; Potato Soup with Pink and Green Beans, I liked it, but not a family favorite; and Chickpea and Bulgur Stew, classic, Italian flavors, hearty and filling. Highly recommended. At the beginning of the book there are a few recipes for vegan staples, like tofu sour cream. At the end of the book are a few quick breads and muffins you can make to enjoy with your soup. Are you hungry yet? :-)

I turned the heel of the Jaywalker. I love turning the heel; it's like a little miracle every time I do it. Now I just have to speed through the gusset decreases and down the foot, to the toe. It's kind of drizzly out right now, and cold, a perfect night to stay home and knit!!

I love this cable pattern. It is from Fiona Ellis' book Inspired Cable Knits. I really love many patterns in this book, very inspiring. I want to take this cable pattern, which is on a yoga bag, and was inspired by vrksasana (tree pose), (can you see it?), and put it on something else. It's still in the "thinking" stage right now, but stay tuned!!

Monday is the day I try to stay home, get caught up on laundry, do some cleaning, bake if I had time. I was able to do all these things today, so it was a good day, overall. Last Monday, I worked on my online banking, and I discovered a charge I couldn't identify. After much digging and many phone calls, it turns out that someone used my husband's credit card number. I just want to warn you about this. It is very common, so check your statements often and don't let anything slide. At first, I saw a charge for $19.95, and I figured I must have bought something and forgot. But when I saw the $68.95 charge, I knew something was fishy. We caught it right away and the bank refunded our money and canceled our cards, but it was inconvenient. Still, I feel fortunate that the damage wasn't worse.

Today, I was working on a bill from our dentist. I called the billing office with a question and I was so insulted! This is not the first time I've been told, "We bill your insurance company as a courtesy," as if I should be thanking them or something. I am the customer; they should be thanking me for my business and accomodating my needs... am I wrong here? I did have to set her straight on this one! I was irritated for a while, but I'm over it.

Okay, the bread is in the oven and smells heavenly. Time to work on the soup!

My New Best Friend

2007-02-10T14:20:00.000-06:00

Here she is! She's warm and soft and I don't know how I ever lived without her! If you know me, you know I am always cold. This recent Kansas City cold wave has not helped matters at all. I try to dress in layers, wear scarves, etc., but I couldn't get warm. So, I broke down and bought this down jacket from Lands End. I know, the color (blue paisley) is NOT me, but I was feeling whimsical, so there you go. I needed a new excuse to knit mittens and scarves and hats in all new colors for myself, and now I have one. Love it!

I had two knitting epiphanies this week! This could be a record! First, I was working on the piano bench cover. I had measured and calculated carefully, but something wasn't working out. I ended up ripping out about 6 rows, and I didn't know what to do. I decided to stew on it for a while. All of a sudden, while standing in the shower, the answer came to me! I happily picked up my needles and knew exactly how to make the pattern work. I'm more than halfway done; I'll post pictures when I'm finished. I love it when that happens!!

My second epiphany was more of the "DUH" type moments. (In the end, I felt more dumb than smart :-) I was working on my JayWalker socks. If you know the pattern, you know that it is NOT difficult at all. It is simple and straightforward and not complex at all. I did read the instructions, honest!! I was struggling with every round, because the increases and decreases changed the number of stitches on each needle every round, so I had to slip stitches to work the pattern. It was time consuming. I kept thinking there had to be a better way. Hmmmm.... Last night, I remembered that the pattern DID say to work the socks on 5 dpns, not 4; I had switched to 4 dpns because I prefer to knit with 4. I decided to try it on 5 dpns, with the stitches divided the way the pattern instructed. Novel idea, huh? Well, what do you know? Problem solved. The pattern allows even distribution of the increases and decreases, no slipping stitches or adjusting, easy to keep track of the increases and decreases. Is there a lesson here? I'm about to start the heel flap; I'll post pictures once that's done.

I do have a few faults. Just a few. One of them is that I am a bonafide bookaholic. I don't just love books; I buy them, I collect them, I hoard them. I earmark them, I read and re-read. I do try to borrow books from the library. Honestly, I borrow them, I love them, then I buy them. Occasionally, I'll borrow one that I don't buy and I feel so proud and virtuous!! I thought I'd start reviewing some books. These are not new books, just recent borrows or acquisitions.

First up, "Interweave's Compendium of Finishing Techniques" by Naomi McNeely. This book describes ways to finish your projects in sewing, knitting, crochet, weaving, knotting, and embroidery. There are edges, seams and joins, trimmings, closures, and more. I'm not much of a sewer, not at all a weaver, so I skimmed through those parts. There were some neat ideas for fringes, such as all sorts of braids and knotted cords. I liked the embroidery part, though they were pretty basic designs. I focused on the knitting and crochet part. I have to admit I was pretty disappointed with the knitting sections. There were only a few edgings, and the knitting finishing techniques were not described or pictured very well, in my opinion. The crochet section was much better, to me. The crochet techniques were much more clearly illustrated and there were some neat ideas. I don't crochet very often, but I think crochet edgings really add a nice finishing touch to some knitwear. This book had some great ideas for that.

I won't be buying this book. The ideas I really liked I can easily find elsewhere. There was a lot of information I would simply never use. However, if you are very crafty and dabble in multiple crafts, this might be a book you'd be interested in. There is a ton of info in this little book.

Okay, ONE more book! This one is "Lorna Sass' Short-Cut Vegetarian." Okay, I love Lorna and I love this book. I own "Great Vegetarian Cooking Under Pressure," the pressure cooking bible, and I have probably sold enough copies of this book to deserve royalties. (If you don't own it, you should!) I also own "Lorna Sass' Complete Vegetarian Kitchen," yet another winner.

The "Short-Cut Veg" was published in 1997. I'm not sure how I missed it! It is full of quick ideas for appetizers, soups, salads, main dishes, veggies, breakfasts and desserts. Lorna focuses on things you can throw together with staples from your kitchen. Not boring, but not too complex; lots of stuff that the kids will like. There is some chopping and dicing, but she uses canned beans and some packaged foods to speed up the prep and cooking time. My favorite part of the book is her special mixes: she has an "Unlimited Waffle Mix", "Super Scones", "Crispy Cookie Mix," and more. Basically, you make up little baggies of the dry mix ingredients and pop them in your freezer. When you want to make some, say, waffles, you just pull out the baggie, add the wet ingredients, and cook. Each mix has several variations you can make; no worries about getting stuck in a rut! I'm definitely trying it out. My kids love waffles and scones, but I am usually short on time. This should help. I believe everything in this cookbook is vegan, though I may have missed something. Yes, it's on my list!!!

Happy weekend!!!

The Genius of Children

2007-02-06T16:22:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I think we are all born really smart, and life has a way of just draining it out of us. Aren't these gorgeous? My daughter knit them for a little girl she babysits for. My daughter is 14 and a fabulous, fearless knitter. The most remarkable thing about these little slippers is: the toes. Look at them! Kitchener stitched to perfection!! My daughter asked for help with this. I picked up the first slipper and did it for her. I didn't teach her how to do it; I simply talked to myself: Knit, off, purl, on, purl, off, knit, on. Can you imagine my surprise when she turned around and did the second one, perfectly, all by herself? No one told her this can be tricky. No one planted the seed in her mind that she might have trouble with it. She just assumed she could do it, and she did.

This is a lesson I need to remind myself of all the time; in knitting, in tennis, in life. Believe in yourself; believe you CAN do it, and you will.

I homeschool my children. I see this over and over again: they don't have to be told how to do every little thing, or when to do it, or why. I always want the recipe, the pattern, the formula. They like to figure it out for themselves, with a bit of guidance. Yes, this can be messy, or inconvenient, or even a failure. There is always a lesson, though, so I guess even a failure is successful on some levels.

In yoga, we always try to stay in the present moment. I tell my students that the joy is in the journey, and it is! It is so easy to lose sight of this simple truth.

On the food front: I tried the Z Trim in my Super Bowl baked artichoke dip. I substituted half of the mayonnaise with Z Trim. No one noticed and the baking dish was licked clean! (Let's keep this to ourselves :-) I could not taste a difference at all.

Another new food we've been playing with is PlayFood. It is a vegan cheese substitute made primarily from raw cashews. They make a cream cheese sub, a sour cream, a cheddar cheese and a nacho cheese. I love the cheddar cheese on pretzels! My daughter has been going crazy making vegan cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World! by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. (a birthday gift from Barbara-- thanks, Barbara!!) Our favorites are the plain vanilla cupcakes with lemon "cream cheese" frosting, using the PlayFood. Absolutely fabulous. I know they are not "health food", but I feel so virtuous eating them! Cupcakes rock!!

One last knitting thing... I know, I'm jumping around here, but, who cares?? Here are my February socks (well, sock). The pattern is the Jaywalker. My gauge says I'm okay, but don't they look kind of big to you, for a ladies' sock?

A Super Bowl! (of Guacamole)

2007-02-04T14:17:00.000-06:00

Are you a "good cook"? What makes someone a good cook? Most bad cooks know they are bad, and they don't mind admitting it. I think I'm a decent cook. I love trying new things; results are... mixed. Most are edible; many will never be prepared again.

If you want to choose a specific category, there is one in which I excel: Guacamole. I make great guacamole! People who HATE guacamole LOVE mine! Children who won't eat anything green simply inhale my guacamole. I'm going to share my recipe with you today.

I know there are many variations. You can mash an avocado and dump in some salsa... voila! Guacamole! But if you want something fresh and delicious, try this one. Here is my one piece of advice: make it your own. If you hate tomatoes, leave them out. If you only have red bell peppers and no green, use red. Yes, you can use lemon juice instead of lime juice, if you must. As long as you follow the basic steps, my guac is your guac. I must add one more thing: I love cilantro, Mike HATES cilantro. I don't add it to guacamole for family consumption, but if I'm home alone... well, that one time I was home alone, and decided to have chips and guac for dinner, I did add cilantro and relished it!!

Here ya go!

Mince some onion, about 2 Tbs., + or -. Mince it really small, and put it in a bowl. Add some salt, about 1 tsp. Using the back of a spoon, mash the salt into the onion until it is all mushy and the onion sweats and it's pretty liquidy. Add 2 avocadoes. Using a fork, mash the avocadoes well, mixing with the onion and salt. This is the basis for your excellent guacamole. Next add one diced jalapeno (or to taste), 1/2 diced bell pepper, 1 large clove of garlic, minced, and some finely diced tomatoes, as much as you'd like. Squeeze in the juice of 1/2 a lime. Mix it all well, with a spoon. Add chips and you've got a party!

I have another knitting project to share. This is the "Luxe Neckwarmer" from Knit 2 Together by Tracey Ullman and Mel Clark. I love this project. It's simple and quick to knit; a basic "feather and fan" pattern. Using kind of big needles and fairly thin yarn, it's fun to knit. The finished product is so warm and so practical. It gives you the warmth of a scarf without worrying about the tails dragging in your soup. It's perfect for indoor wear and adds a touch to any outfit. I'm going to show you some photos. Okay, the one where I am wearing it DOES kind of look like I have a neck brace on, but I do not. I was trying to show the neckwarmer at its best angle, which wasn't the best angle for me. Oh, well.

The Scoop on the Skinny

2007-02-03T13:37:00.000-06:00

Have you every heard of "Z Trim"? I was reading an article about a school in Pennsylvania which had decreased the fat in their cafeteria foods. One thing that caught my eye was that they reduced the fat in their Ranch dressing and the kids never even noticed. Salad dressings are one of my downfalls; I have never found a fat free or even very lowfat dressing that I really like. A nice, no fat salad can suddenly become 500 calories (or more), thanks to the dressing.

I dug around a bit and found Z Trim. It is a fat replacement "fibergel." It has zero calories, zero fat, zero side effects, and is totally vegetarian, made of water and bran fiber from the hulls of corn, oat or soy. (see www.ztrim.com ) You can mix it with prepared foods (like bottled salad dressings); you can bake with it and replace half the fat (or more); you can whip it with butter or cream cheese and decrease the fat. It is supposed to give the same "mouth feel" as fat, and also, the fiber makes you feel full.

I whipped some with some Earth Balance today and served it on toast. It wasn't very homogenous; probably would have been better if I used the food processor, but once it was on the toast it tasted just like the full fat product. I also added some to some packaged macaroni and "cheese" in place of the optional butter. It didn't change the taste, but it did feel like there was fat in there. I'm looking forward to experimenting!

One of the first things I will try to replace is the oil in my favorite tahini dressings. I love tahini dressing on everything: salad, grains, vegetables, EVERYthing! I promised Angie some recipes, so here are two of my favorites:

1. Greek Tamari Dressing ("The Kripalu Cookbook," Atma JoAnn Levitt)

3 Tbs. sesame seeds, lightly toasted and cooled

3/4 C canola oil

3 Tbs. lemon juice

2 Tbs. tamari

2 Tbs. tahini

2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp ground mustard

1/2 tsp. chopped garlic

1/2 tsp. salt

dash cayenne

dash black pepper

1/2 C water

Combine in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

2. John's Tahini Dressing ("Diet for a New World," John Robbins)

1/4 C lemon juice

1/2 C canola oil

1/4 C tamari

1/3 C tahini

1 Tbs. finely chopped onion

1 garlic clove, chopped

1 Tbs. maple syrup

1/4 C water

Blend as above.

Switching gears... I started (yet another!) new knitting project. I am still working on the JayWalker socks and the lace stole (photos coming soon), but they are both using very fine yarn and small needles and I needed a break! I've had some chunky yarn reserved for a piano bench cover for a while now, so I decided to work on that. I am knitting in a diagonal pattern, like a diagonal scarf, just sort of improvising for now. (It's really not very difficult!) The finish is worn off of my piano bench and I'm not very experienced in furniture refinishing, and I have no interest! More fun for me to knit something to cover it up with!!

Finally, something fun: I was browsing my knitting lists and people were talking about their favorite knitting bags. One woman posted some from Dick Blick (www.dickblick.com ). I just fell in love with this one and it was ON SALE for only $14.99!! I can't pass up a bargain like that! It arrived in only 2 days and it is so cool! I love all the pockets around the outside. I love that it stands upright and then sits open if I want it to. The yarn feeds out of the sides easily, even when closed. Plenty of room for all my projects and books or whatever. Truly, a great deal!

A Tale of Two Dishcloths!

2007-02-02T13:37:00.000-06:00

Like the cobbler whose children had no shoes, this knitter whined "I have no dishcloths!" So, I got busy and knit up a ballband on Wednesday night. The cheerful colors make me smile while washing the dishes!

I met my friend Shannon for coffee yesterday. She gifted me with birthday goodies, including this:

So, now I have two dishcloths, handmade and beautiful. (Thanks, Shannon!)

In other knitting news, I wanted to post some pictures of my "scood." My son named it a scood, because it is actually a scarf with a hood, but it is really the pattern for the "Grown Up Bonnet" from Knit 2 Together. I knit it in Blue Sky Alpacas hand dyes worsted, and it is warm as can be. Also, great protection for my curly hair from the snow!

I cast on for my February socks. I decided to make some JayWalkers from Regia yarn I bought on sale. I had a hard time measuring my gauge on these. I am using some size 1 needles and I THINK they are okay, but I'm not sure. They look a bit big. I guess I can always rip them out, or find someone around here who will fit into them! (So much for knitting socks for ME!)

I went to yoga last night, a class through the Johnson County Parks and Rec. Molly, the instructor, is so kind and enthusiastic; I really like her. I'm trying to keep an open mind about different styles of yoga, and hers is a lot different from mine. I teach a lot of alignment and she does not. It's all I can do to keep myself from walking around the room and adjusting people! She asked me to demonstrate "my method" of ardha chandrasana last night (half moon pose), which was a lot different from her version. I was happy to demonstrate, but I left feeling kind of funny about it, since it was completely different from her version. It's her class; she should teach whatever she wants to. I've been struggling with this. I've been careful to keep my mouth shut up until now. It's important that her students have confidence in her. I am just so trained in proper alignment, I really can't (and don't want to!) totally change my yoga.

I came close to quitting tennis yesterday, I was that bad. Mike convinced me that I just need more experience playing games, so I guess I'll hang in there for a few more months. I dragged myself to cardio tennis this morning, quite a feat in 9 degree temperatures!! I focused on the tennis part and felt I did a bit better than yesterday. I also scheduled a game for next week, to work on my skills in action.

Yesterday, I read about two studies which discovered that people whose ring fingers are longer than their index fingers tend to be more athletic than those whose index fingers are longer. Guess I blew that theory right out the window :-) Do you ever wonder who thought to study the relationship between finger length and athletic ability? Why? Who funded such a study? And who cares???

Another snow day!

2007-01-31T17:11:00.000-06:00

It was barely an inch of snow, but enough to wreak havoc on Kansas City! The roads were slick, there were accidents and pile-ups, and everything was cancelled. I found myself with an unexpected snow day!

After doing the necessary, (laundry), I decided to bake some bread. I just wanted something plain and simple, and I didn't want to make a sponge, since it was already after noon when I started. I ended up with some simple buttermilk honey bread, though, of course, I had to change the recipe! I soured some soy milk with vinegar to make the "buttermilk"; I subbed canola oil for the butter; I used half whole wheat flour and half white flour. I ended up with 2 beautiful, brown loaves of bread, begging for soup, which is what I will make for dinner.

While the bread was rising, I decided to pick up my knitting. As I was doing the dishes, I realized that I have given away every single dishcloth I have ever knitted! I started a ballband dishcloth with leftover Sugar 'n Cream; hopefully, I'll finish it tonight. I'm using scraps of yarn, so the finished colors may be quite different from the way it looks now!

I want to also post some pictures of my latest socks. These are knit from Cherry Tree Hill Super Sock yarn, gypsy rose colorway. I really didn't like the bright pink color while I was knitting them, but I love the overall final effect, so I guess they know what they're doing! The pattern is a simple garter rib from "Sensational Knitted Socks." This is the first time I tried the garter stitch edging on the heel flaps, which came out neat and pretty. These socks go in the mail tomorrow to my friend Martha, my roommate from college. Happy Birthday, Marth!!

Finally, I'll start introducing you to our zoo. Three cats, two dogs, one hamster. It seems like every time we get the camera out, the animals have to see what's going on and get their pictures taken, too. First is Duke, our biggest ham bone! (Isn't his head gigantic?) He likes to be in the middle of everything, and do NOT try to give any other animal affection without giving Duke an equal amount, or more.

Secondly, his partner in crime, Noel. The fastest dog on the planet, I am not kidding. She can RUN. She also has a great set of lungs and barks at any being who dares to cross her path, real or imaginary.

The rest of the menagerie will follow soon...

-Cheryl

Entering the Blogosphere...

2007-01-28T16:51:00.000-06:00

Here I go, stepping into the land of Blogs!

This is mainly to communicate with friends far and wide, and perhaps to make some new ones. I was trying to come up with a name for my blog to include things I am passionate about, and things I will probably write about. I am a vegetarian and love trying out new veggie recipes, so I will probably talk about that and post some recipes here. I am a certified yoga instructor and love yoga, so I will discuss my search for a yoga studio and teaching job here in my "new" home town of Kansas City. Finally, I am addicted to knitting! I am sure I'll want to talk about my knitting projects and post photos of my finished objects.

I am a homeschooling mother of three. Of course, I am passionate about my family... what mother isn't? I am also a tennis novice, hoping to improve, which is taking a LOT of work :-)

Our family recently moved from southern California to the Kansas City area. It is very different! Despite missing our friends and southern Cal lifestyle, we are really enjoying Kansas City, especially the NO TRAFFIC part! People are very friendly here and we've already made lots of new friends.

So... new home, new year, new blog!