We have internet again! Hooray!

Recent Recipes

I attempted an Indonesian meal for the first time last week! I had to make some substitutions based on what we had available, but everything was delicious. 

• Gado Gado
• Nasi Goreng
• Sayur Lodeh

Also made:

• pineapple-ginger glazed chicken & carrots, orzo, and salad
• breakfast burritos
• upside down shepherds/cottage pie (baked potatoes with cottage pie filling on top)
• pasta bake (to freeze)

I don't really have recipes for any of these as I mostly winged it. 

Holiday baking

Since our St Louis trip was delayed until this coming weekend and R & I celebrate Christmas on the "Old"/Julian Calendar (January 7), I have not yet truly embarked on Christmas baking. Tonight is also Old Calendar Santa Lucia Day, but since I work I don't think I'll manage to bake anything. Maybe next year!

My plans are a mix of family traditions and new recipes:

• Lebkuchen
• Stollen
• Sugar cookies
• Chestnut teacake cookies
• Chocolate caramel crackers

Birthday cards

I need to get a wiggle on for 2023 birthday cards! This year I'm going to try to make all of my cards at once so I don't lose steam in, say, March. 

Ornaments 

I made some felt ornaments for my family's Christmas presents this year and was happy with how they turned out. I have the pieces to make some more and might try to work on them over the year so it's not a rush in November and December, aka my worst months. I have a lot of leftover felt so I'll have to think about what I want to make with it. 

Knitting

My recent knitting has also been very focused on family presents--I made potholders and coasters for my mom & siblings. The coasters were linen stitch and I'm really pleased with how they came out! I do want to pick up the sweater that I've been working on for R soon. Although I'm still not happy with the way it's turning out and the needles I got in Oregon are a pain to knit with (the yarn snags on the join between the plastic curve and the wooden needles). 

2023 plans

I'm trying to find the balance between my desire to do everything and try everything and my need to not overwhelm myself and burn out. I do want to try to make some different decorations for the house, new recipes, and gifts for people. So we'll see how it all goes! 

Knitting

I'm very into knitting baskets at the moment! I used some homespun (drop spindle) yarn to make a somewhat lumpy but overall useful fruit basket and I'm almost done knitting a set of nesting baskets. It's a great way to use up some stash yarn. 

Spinning

I finished a skein! I wanted it to be all one color of roving and I didn't quite get there, but it's still exciting. Not sure what I'll use it for yet. I think I'm definitely getting better as far as spinning action and tension go. 

Cooking & Baking

• Orange beer-glazed chicken and onions; roasted potatoes; green salad with herbs & flowers
  • Glaze: 1 can beer, ¼ c frozen oj, dollop of chili garlic sauce, squeeze of tomato paste; reduce to syrupy and baste
  • Boil pan juices until reduced and pour over chicken
  • Potatoes: sage, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, olive oil
• Perfect blueberry muffins (Smitten Kitchen Every Day)
• Fruit compote (blueberry, strawberry, mango)
• Buckwheat baby with salted caramel syrup (SK)
  • mine did not puff up this beautifully but it was still delicious!
• R: soft shell tacos
• Peach & blueberry cornmeal cobbler (SK)
• Noodles with minced beef (Terry Tan)
• Paprika chicken pasta salad with mozzarella, tomatoes, red & green onions 
• mediterranean quinoa salad with chickpeas and spinach
  • neither of us loved this one, tbh
• Pizza with zucchini and mozzarella
• Build your own salad: greens, pecans, parmesan; hardboiled eggs, chicken (sage, oregano), onion, tomato, fruit; honey dijon dressing; chicken soup; toast (cream cheese, strawberry, nectarine, blueberry)

No active knitting projects at the moment, although theoretically I'm knitting R a cardigan. I should...figure out where the yarn is...Clove & cinnamon chocolate chip cookies

I set up my spinning wheel on Saturday! It's exciting to have that actually ready to go now. It's an unfinished Ashford Traditional, if there's anyone who's into spinning details! 

Cooking hits (sources linked or noted where available):

• spicy labneh--we had a snacky dinner with this + pita + chickpea salad + veggies
• slow cooker salsa chicken thighs--literally just a good green salsa dumped into the slow cooker and cooked on low 6-8 hours. Delicious as taco filling!
• grilled sausages with peppers & garlic aioli
• clove & cinnamon chocolate chip cookies (The Cardamom Trail)
• strawberry buttermilk shortcakes
• blackberry coconut macaroon tart (Super Natural Every Day)
• turkey black bean chili 
• Infused water and fruit syrup with seltzer water have been in a regular rotation this month—very refreshing and not too much trouble to make!

April was mostly about house stuff, but I'm excited to get back to making postcards and birthday cards for friends this month!