From Peach to Jam.

What I did on the weekend? Several things, the one I choose to share ... jam. Lately I've been experimenting with making jams without pectin, aka: certo. I usually make very small batches, just in case the experimentation goes awry. So far I've been lucky..although there is one batch of peach raspberry that came out more like peach butter..I don't like it, but the Em does so it's not a total loss. This weekend there was the Peach Raspberry butter and Ginger Peach jam. The ginger peach turned out awesome. The only problem with the small batch idea ... if it's really good, there's not enough and since I'm dash and pinch kind of cook, it is sometimes difficult to exactly replicate the results. I find myself actually writing down the recipes as I create, something I've not often done. Anyway, back to the ginger peach jam. I photo documented its evolution for the sake of posterity, well, and the blog( hi Kelly!).

Randomness.

Work ended prematurely today due to a nifty power outage, which gratefully did not affect my home. This means, the cats and I had an afternoon nap. Tonight's menu; spinach, tomato and bocconcini pizzas on naan bread. They were very yummy. Here's photographic evidence.



On the knitting front, Ravelry is my new addiction. There is just so much to look at.

On the cat front, a photo of a kitten (who loves mashed potatoes) in her natural habitat.

In the spirit of self discovery and sharing, I took this quiz. Does it sound like me?

You Are a Warrior Soul

You're a strong person and sometimes seen as intimidating. You don't give up. You're committed and brave. Truly adventuresome, you are not afraid of going to battle. Extremely protective of loved ones, you root for the underdog. You are picky about details and rigorous in your methods. You also value honesty and fairness a great deal. You can be outspoken, intimidating, headstrong, and demanding. You're a hardliner who demands the best from themselves and others. Souls you are most compatible with: Old Soul and Peacemaker Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

Tidbit Tuesday

Here we are again, it's Tidbit Tuesday. To begin, a photo, taken by me. This is in fact, my favourite photo taken of my summer garden. It shows an orchid petunia, my Mexican luck pots and one little bacoppa blossom. Interesting trivial fact, this arrangement is actually just to the side of the back kitchen door.


Speaking of kitchen, here's look at dinner this evening. It consisted of Maple pork chops with applesauce, red potatoes with butter & fresh dill, and pan fried brussel sprouts. There was mint chocolate chip ice cream and chocolate cupcakes for dessert.


Finally, on the knitting front, here's a peek at the progress on the orange toddler sweater, with a cute little Jack O'lantern for mood. Interesting trivial fact (or maybe not so interesting), this photo was taken on my bed.

Recipes currently under consideration ... Cranberry Jalapeno Relish, Crantini Jelly and Spiced Apple & Red Pepper Jelly

A Day Off...

Today was my day off, and in celebration the cats and I slept in. I then took advantage of the wonderful autumn breeze and hung out laundry to dry. After a well deserved afternoon nap I went shopping at my very favourite food related place, Sunripe. They have the most wonderful produce, not to mention great meats and cheeses. I picked up a fabulous applewood smoked cheddar, plums, peaches and some spinach and bocconcini for mini pizzas. After dinner I turned the plums and one peach into a really yummy spiced plum and peach jam. It's a recipe idea I have been fiddling with for a bit. It turned out really well (the kidlets were eating it right out of the pot), and the recipe makes only two cups, so if it were to turn out badly, it's not like you have a whole batch of awful jam. There is also no pectin, or additives involved, so I suppose it's more natural. No matter, it looks glorious and tastes as good as it looks.



P.S. The jam was still warm when this picture was taken.

A bit of Transfiguration.

Today was a day for some cooking. In explanation of the title of the post, to me cooking is a little bit of magic. Taking a mix of often unrelated ingredients and transfiguring them into something completely different, that hopefully turns out to be delicious. I especially feel this way about baking, jams, sauces, stews and soups, maybe that's why those are some of my favourite things to create in the kitchen. Today's magic was successful. I transfigured this .....


Into this ... A thick, comforting and wonderfully tasty yellow pea soup full of chunks of maple cured ham.


It was my first attempt at pea soup and everyone loved it, there is even some leftover. It took most of the day to cook, but really wasn't too much work. I would definitely make it again, though I would probably make more next time ... so there would be more to freeze.

There was knitting. I have made the divisions for the sleeves in the orange toddler cardigan and am on the home stretch for the body. There was also movie watching Practical Magic, LotR-Fellowship of the Ring and National Treasure. Sean Bean is so handsome.

Life Span of a Cabled Scarf

Here is a look at the progress I've made on the cabled scarf, the one intended as a gift for Emma's friend. It's a fairly easy knit, with a nice soft yarn and was actually moving along quite well, until . . .




Until Em had a look, and decided that it looked very... "Old Lady". So, after much thought, discussion, yarn perusal, and some swatching here is how the cabled scarf is currently looking. How's that for progress? Kids .. just can't please 'em.



Have no fear though, a new, and hopefully much less "Old Lady" scarf has been begun. It's just on the back burner until I catch up with all of the other knitting on my list.

Glory's Finale ?

This is the sight that greeted me when I walked along the path to my back door after work today. Isn't it lovely? It definitely brightened my day, which was in dire need of it. This beautiful flower also made me just a little sad. The days have turned cold and the sky is a little grey .. this will probably be the last of this year's Morning Glories, I will miss their bright, colourful faces greeting me as I head out in the morning. Wondering which colour will bloom next. It's okay though, I have saved the seeds and will plant them in the spring as always.





Tonight is a quiet evening. Knitting, Supernatural and Grey's Anatomy. Here's a look at a little progress on the cabled scarf.

Yumminess & Knitted bits.

Holy blog posts Batman, two in two days!



The stew was a hit, at least everyone who's tasted it has enjoyed it .... maybe they're just lying to boost my ego, either way, I consider it a success.




I almost forgot to share the Thanksgiving goodies. It was quiet, non-traditional, and celebrated a day early. The flowers were pretty and the food was tasty, it was very nice.




There has even been some progress on the knitting front. I'm steadily working away on the bright orange toddler sweater. I'm pretty much making it up as I go along, trying for as few seams as possible. I really hate seaming knits. I've decided on a knit 3, purl 2 rib, and I'm loving the way it looks.



Began a soft cabled scarf for a friend of the teen. It's a very simple pattern and I love the yummy yarn, one of my faves to knit with. I think it'll turn out be quite nice, a slightly quirky classic, just like it's intended recipient. In the works is also the purple and black Kittyville for Charlie. Then there will be a pink bonnet for the homecoming of a yet unarrived baby girl. I kinda like this pattern, but will have to run it by the mom first.

Tidbit Tuesday

Wow, I must work harder to post on a more regular basis.

As the title says, today is going to be a Tidbit Tuesday. What's that you ask...well, I suppose it'll be a lot like my cooking, a bit of this, a dash of that, a pinch of whatever, hopefully all combining into a tasty experience enjoyed by all who partake.

First, a photo. I took this just over a month ago, at the last meeting of the 4H knitting group I was lucky enough to help out with. It was taken at The Wagon Shed, this awesome weaving, spinning studio in Arva. The reason that I'm sharing this particular photo is that I absolutely love the way it turned out. I love the colours and how they seem to compliment each other, the reds of the couch and the quilt, the red of the cat, even the hint of a red undertone the lighting seems to bring out in Emma's hair. I would love this photo, even if it wasn't of my Emma. Sprocket the cat, a full time resident at The Wagon Shed, seemed to really enjoy the attention.



There has been much cooking going on as of late in the Moonlit Knit household. There has been chili, pasta sauce, and maple applesauce. Friday was chicken with corn, mashed potatoes & gravy. Saturday, I made some homemade cranberry sauce and this .....


Nope, it's not jam. Can you guess? A hint? Well, it was made from a half bag of mixed frozen berries discovered when I defrosted the freezer. Rather than return them to the freezer, to possibly be forgotten forever, I wanted to transform them into something delicious. With the help of a little sugar, a drop of honey, a pinch of cinnamon and a little cooking success was had. Have you guessed yet? Another hint?



That's right, you guessed it, Ice Cream sauce. Forgotten frozen berries metamorphisize into a seriously yummy, sweet, slightly tart, triple berry ice cream sauce.



Today's undertaking, to convert this ...



.... into a gorgeous pot of succulent beef stew. I'll let you know how it turns out.