Instead of walking in the snow . . .

I worked a full day (got a lot done--quiet because of the snow) and helped shovel our driveway then made a batch of sweets for the restaurant for valentine. 

Meringue kisses, some dipped in chocolate ganache, some with ganache and sprinkles and a couple just plain. 

Avoided a disaster while pre-heating the oven for my next sweet. I forgot I had the kisses drying out in the oven. Lost one tray. Thank goodness I made extra.

This is what I was pre-heating the oven for. 

Flourless Chocolate Black Sesame Cake. It's a special dessert for tomorrow night.  It has a very light texture because of the almond flour and whipped egg whites. And a slightly nutty taste. Decide to serve it with a drizzle of raspberry sauce and dollop off whipped cream. 

I mad about this black sesame flavor. And everyone who got to taste test it liked it, too. Hope to get picture of a slice all dressed up.

And I'm not only recipe testing . . .

I've been knitting away. In fact my goal is to knit away as much of my yarn stash this year as I can. I thought I'd try and sell the pieces I don't give away. My yarn stash is mostly made up with yarn I bought on sale with thoughts of make so kind of fun project. Too busy, no time. I decided to get knit short easier projects that I may be able to sell. 

Pouches
I been making some kind of version of these for a while. I started this while back probably a year ago. Never finished but remember that I had only a little bit more to finish and I needed a secret santa gift and I thought this would be perfect for the person. She travels a bunch for work and this would help her organize all electronic stuff and it's handmade.

Found a chevron pattern I liked . . .

Chevron Pattern: Adapted Opus Spicatum by Kate Gagnon Osborn
Yarn: Stitch Nation Full o' Sheep

added my flat bottom technique then add a lining, zipper and tassel pull. Hope she liked it.

I still have leftover green and teal yarn so I'm making up a hat. I have something started on needles but just saw an idea on pinterest and I may from what I've done so far to make up my idea. Stay tune.


Varigated Yarn
I got this yarn from a secret santa gift. My hints were cooking, knitting and no pink. This is the gift I got: varigated blue, brown and beige 100% wool. I love wool and this wool was nice, but just not my color. I tried it out as a hat for WG but frogged that. didn't like how the color were coming out. I made this cowl out of the same type of wool for my niece last year. The pattern was really easy for me  and it turned our really nice. So with my fingers cross I started this pattern with the hope that the pattern worked with the varigation. 

I think it looks good. Still need to block. And this maybe the first think I sell. 

Pattern: Maryse Cowl by Amy Christoffers
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool

Baby Gifts
I know three people that are having babies in the next couple of months and this is a good way to use up my cotton yarn. I'm been making these burping cloth and bibs. This is the first one I gave as a gift. I really like the combination. Easy, easy pattern and make you feel really good when it's done. 


Pattern: Baby Genius Burp Cloths and Baby Bib O' Love from Mason*Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Red: Lion Cotton; Ecru: Peaches and Creme

I want to knit up some leg warmer with some wool I have. Wish I started it earlier I'm thinking of sending it to my niece. She move to Almost Canada to Wisconsin after graduation. And she's experiencing the a really cold winter. I saw a picture of her in rainbow leg warmers and thought she could use another pair in a more subtle coloration. That's my next project after the burping cloth/ bib 3  and green/teal hat. Wish I could knit faster or stay up later. 

Green Hat Take 3

Started this project twice before. Different patterns--frogged! So I found this one in my pile of pattern printouts. Like the way this ribbing looks, hope the rest of the pattern is just as good. Looks like it will be a really warm hat. Good for this snowy cold winter. Stay tune.

Pattern: Lina by jokoknits

Yarn: Stitch Nation Full O' Sheep

A Bunch of Energy

So far this year I've had a bunch of energy and I've been putting it to good use. Besides the usual baking and jamming for the restaurant, I've been recipe testing and knitting my way through my yarn stash. I guess it doesn't hurt that it is bitterly cold outside and all of these tasks are prefect for a cold day. Here's a couple of recipes I've tested that came out great.

Recipe Testing

{Savory} Tried out two recipes from http://nomnompaleo.com/. No, I'm not on the Paleo diet. These recipes are great and really worth trying out. 

Slow Cooker Kalua Pig

A pile of shredded goodness

I know you can't beat the really thing but when you live thousands of miles away from Hawaii, you got to go to the next best thing. All done in my crock pot in 12 hours. Of course, I started it at 8:30am so it was done at 8:30pm. But my house smell delicious. And guess who came home and ate a bunch of it. I made it again and have a container in the freezer. I even made Kalua Pork and Cabbage with the little bit of leftovers that I had. Hmmmm. So good. 

Crackin' Chicken
I forgot to get a picture of this but this is a must try if you like crispy crunch chicken. A bit messy as the grease pops as the chicken is cooking. I had to scrub and wipe down my stove after. [I'm off to the dollar store for a splatter guard--totally worth the dollar]. I even made a small batch of the ghee to cook the chicken in. Very addicting. 

Did I mention how much I love snow?

Our path into the woods

This crazy girl from Hawaii just loves when it snow. Not sure how much we got but at least 6+ inches. Enough for WG to close the restaurant for the day. We used to always go for a walk in the woods when it snow [before we had the restaurant] and since I had a window of time between meeting. We went for our walked into the woods. No one there but us. Quiet, untrampled snow--so beautiful. 

Here's some pictures of our snowy walk in the woods: snow 02/03/14

Garden Update

Got picture of my garden without snow. Garlic is coming up. 4 out 8, not too bad as I wasn't sure if it was going to work. 

My Winter Garden

My garden after the snow

Haha! I thought I'd get a picture of my garden before the snow to show you the garlic. Oh well, I'll try and get it when the snow melts.

Surprise, surprise! My garlic is coming up. I pretty much forgot about it when the other day, I look out my window and I see little hints of green coming and remembered that I planted them. Doesn't look like much now but let's see when happen in the spring. 

The flat leaf parsley and scallions also don't seem to mind the cold and snow. 

My indoor garden seems to be putting up with my sporatic watering schedule. Did lose my poinsettia [waited too long to bring inside, never recovered] and the celery stalk [couldn't handle me going on vacation--WG is not a gardener]

My Hens and Chicks are tolerating it's location in the bathroom but I decided to move them with the rest of my indoor plants right in front of window in my dining room. Hope it like there better.