One of the best things about having a few days off is that I *really* have time to cook. Throwing little simple meals together is okay during the week, but on the weekend it is so great to put on some music and get serious in the kitchen.
Last night I made Szegedine Goulasch with red cabbage and spaetzle noodles. The recipe calls to layer the goulasch with sauerkraut, but I think that makes the taste too overwhelming so I usually leave it out. For me, this meal is the ultimate in German comfort food. The last few times I’ve made spaetzle it has taken forever and made an unholy disaster in my kitchen, but they turned out really well this time. Having a spaetzle grater makes a lot of difference. I decreased the amount of liquid for the dough and used half and half instead of milk, and they turned out fabulous. Need to put a note in my cookbook for next time. Continue reading 'Taking the time to eat right'»
About a month after my brother utterly failed with his April Fool’s Day prank to convince me that I was about to become an auntie, Rob and Michelle announced (for real this time!) that they will be parents by early 2005.
I have been joking with my family for years that I am going to be “Cool Aunt Jenn” who spoils my nieces and nephews rotten but never has any kids of my own, but I didn’t expect any of them to take me up on it so quickly!
My first project as “Cool Aunt Jenn” is to knit something absolutely stellar for the newborn. I have a really great idea for a new pattern, codename “Not your average fluffy pastel baby booties,” and if I can get it figured out correctly I’d like to submit it for publication. There are way too many cutesy baby bootie patterns on the market, and I have got something in the works that has some real personality to it.
The catch? If I’m going to submit the pattern, it would be helpful to borrow a baby who can try on the booties and model them once they are completed. The only person I know with a newborn lives several states away, and I’d prefer to take the pictures myself. Thinking that I’m either going to need to start making some new friends or dig up the CPKs from my youth. (Yes, I still have them – I’m an archivist and a documentarian, dammit!)
Anyone have any other suggestions?
Greyhound Pets Adoption Northwest hosted an adoption event today at Cannon Beach City Park, and we found homes for four dogs! When we left Portland this morning all of us had dressed for rainy weather, but we were pleasantly surprised with a beautifully sunny day once we arrived. We set up the X-pens and canopies next to the tennis courts, and people started arriving to meet and greet with our “ambassadogs.” The park was a terrific place to host the event because it made it very easy to have the dogs with us on leashes and not in the X-pens. Continue reading 'Greys at Cannon Beach'»
Some of my volunteer assignments over the years have been interesting, but this is the first time I’ve ever been a character companion. The official job title was handler, but I think companion sounds much nicer.
The gig: A fictional animal character meet and greet with a group of nursery school kids
The assignment: Get the character in and out of costume, escort the character into the event, assist with photo ops, and so on.
Continue reading 'Meet and greet in costume'»
The drizzle didn’t seem to scare anyone off for the opening day of Hollywood Farmers’ Market at NE Hancock and 44th. Many local area farms as well as an assortment of butchers, bakers, and candlemakers participate, and it all smells so good!!! Plenty of greens, peas, strawberries, asparagus, cut flowers, local honey (and beeswax candles!), smoked salmon, oysters, fresh bread, and so much more was available. I filled my bamboo beaded bag with romaine, zucchini, sugar snap peas, and an artichoke. Continue reading 'It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood'»
