Commuter Projects 2015

Started commuting to Hoboken last February, set a goal of 12 projects by the end of the year. I post about setting that goal here. Here's the final count and just a quick run down of what I knitted and crochet this year.

Around 19+ project finished this year. Many made on the train/bus. I thought I documented all my finished projects but . . . But not too shabby for a year and all from my stash. Still knitting my stash away. Maybe next year it will all be gone?

Project 1: Linoleum dishcloth by Kay Gardiner x 2

many end to be woven in

Project 3: Seed Stitch Pouch

Finishing: hand stitching zipper in

Project 4–6: Set of 6 Crochet Buttons x 3

brunt orange buttons

Project 7: Crazy Yarn Log Cabin Throw

ends need to be woven in

Project 8–11: Market bag x 4

cotton scraps makes for fun market bag

Project 12–13: crocheted tiaras x 2

Princesses with their new tiaras

Project 14: crocheted basket

new basket, new cat

Project 15: lacy cowl

nice lightweight for the spring

Project 16–17: Graham hat for donations

for donation to Operation Gratitude

Project 18: Earflap hat for WG
This came out great. No picture. Thinking of making another hat in this pattern but need to find yarn in my stash.

Project 19: Eggplant for Ollie

Ollie and eggplant

I know there are a couple of other projects that I can't remember. But this is all I can remember. This is why my wrist hurt so much.

Walks

I decided to try take a picture [or pictures] from a my weekly walks. 

I sort of promised myself I'd try and walk or do some exercise at least 3 times a week for at least an 1/2 hour. Doesn't sound like much but at least it is a start and hopefully it will just start fitting into my crazy life.

From 010415: first neighborhood walk of the year

The charging station in my neighborhood

river running quickly because all the rain

Someone left this on the bridge?

Trees 

Leaves

From 010515: walk @ work; cold and blustery; forgot my calendar [haha, what was it thinking] phone, no pics.

From 010615: walk @ work; light snow and cold

a light snow as we walk

walking partner at work

tracks in the snow

To start my new year off

I baked two recipes that I had in my new recipe baking queue. Baking for the restaurant always put new recipes on at the end of the queue.

First up, smittenkitchen's Cranberry pie with thick pecan cumble. This has been in the back of my mind since I read the post. I love anything with crumble and this combination with of the tart cranberry filling and a sweet crumble sounded great. 

Right out of the oven

first slice, dust with powdered sugar and dollop of whipped cream

The cranberry filling isn't really that tart. It really goes will with the crumble and whipped cream. smittenkitchen's pie crust is so delicious, so buttery and flakey.  I'm sharing this one with the restaurant and hope the customers like it.

Next up, RasaMalaysia's Pineapple Tarts. Found these on pinterest and was hoping I had a free moment in my baking schedule to make these up. I think what got me was the pineapple jam. 

pineapple jam  and egg wash

tarts filled, scored and washed

golden brown

first bite, YUM!

With this recipe, it is all about prep. I made the jam first, takes a while to get out the water from the pineapple. Not like your normal jam that sticky and syrupy [I guess I could make it more like that with more sugar]. It's more chunky and not too sweet. 

Then I got the egg wash ready, I made this up now before I forgot. I add some condensed milk as the note at the end of the recipe suggested. Adding condensed milk to any this is good.

The dough at first looked like it was going to be trouble. But the more you kneaded it stop sticking and it wan't too hard after that. 

These tart are so good. The jam are perfectly sweet and the dough is light and slightly sweet. I think I may try this dough with an pan. 

For my last item of the first day of the year, Ozoni. It's a soup, clear broth, I usually make a chicken soup with mizuna [japanese mustard greens] with mochi. But I didn't plan this out well and didn't have most of the ingredients plus started to get lazy. So I decided to go to the restaurant to for the soup and add the mochi to it. Here's a recipe from PBS Food/Marc Matsumoto for Ozoni if you want to make up some. Ozoni is usually eaten on New Year's Day for good luck for the coming year. But it is a great filling soup for anytime of year. Have great 2015! 

Clear broth with mixed veggies and garlic oil from the restaurant with mochi