September 30, 2009

Pumpkins


Pumpkins
Originally uploaded by 'mstea'
I made a stuffed pumpkin for dessert the other night... mmm.

Stuffed Pumpkin

Prep Time 20 Minutes
Cook Time 1 Hour
Servings about 4
Difficulty Easy

Ingredients

1 whole Sugar Pie Pumpkin, Small-medium
1 whole Apple, Gingergold Or Granny Smith
1 whole Pear, D'anjou (or Peach)
½ cups Brown Sugar
2 teaspoons Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Nutmeg
¼ teaspoons Allspice
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
¼ cups Raisins, Optional

1. Take a small to medium-sized sugar pie pumpkin, wash well and cut out the top.
2. Scoop out the seeds (save for roasting).
3. Stuff the pumpkin with a mixture of sliced apples/pears/peaches (any fruit available). Leave enough room to place the top back on.
4. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, lemon juice, and if you want, raisins.
5. Gently mix the ingredients.
5. Replace the top and bake on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees for at least one hour. The dessert is done when the pumpkin is fork tender and the fruit inside is soft.
6. To serve, scoop out the fruit mixture and sauce, making sure to get some of the pumpkin.
7. Serve on its own or with vanilla ice cream.
8. Top with roasted pumpkin seeds (optional).

messing with photos

I have been playing around with a photo and just thought I would post about it. This is a bird I snapped in Tucson while at the zoo. He was not in the zoo. He was a visitor like me, zooming and flying around the water feature.

You can click on the photos to get a bigger picture.

Original Photo













Edit 1 - a softening of the picture, darkening the edges













Edit 2 - color focus around the subject; b&w for surround

September 27, 2009

Long and Winding road yarn

Even though we are leaving very soon for Euro 3 (third trip to Europe), we took a very nice trip to Portland for La Boheme and IKEA this weekend. We also managed to get in a visit to the Japanese Garden.

Why IKEA again you might ask? Well, we were in search of a cabinet for storing linens and bottles of sorts AND a yarn winding station.

Yes. A yarn winding station that is in the form of a trestle with a shelf. Vika Artur is the name of the item. Here is someone else's picture as an example.

HERE IS A PICTURE OF MINE! I PUT IT TOGETHER THIS MORNING! I even caked a hank of Malabrigo Aquarella in the Solis colorway. This is for Alan's neckwarmer.

Isn't that just clever? I never know where to put each piece and you can only hold it for so long. Try winding 2,000 yards of yarn while holding the winder. Crazy!

September 18, 2009

now what?

Today is my last day at work. I have been there almost 4 years and have made some great friends.

I now have the chance to do some things that I really love to do, travel and bake. I am nervous as I have always worked, since I was old enough to work. I even worked during my undergrad years.

We are off to Oktoberfest in Mt Angel this weekend and are going to spend time with Jenn. I have never been to an Oktoberfest celebration so I am bringing my appetite and camera. We will post info and pictures on the travel blog when we return.

September 2, 2009

Bits and pieces

So... I am not a collector of things. Well, I have lots of cookbooks but they are not fancy or worth much.

Wedding planning is fun but it can hurt your brain, if you let it. Alan and I have been on the hunt for some items that we think will give us the 'look' we want at the wedding. When I say we, I probably mean more me. :) Alan is kind, patient, and willing to indulge my crazy ideas.

The problem is, the pieces are want are collectibles. People, not me, collect them because of who made them, when they were made, etc. That makes the items somewhat expensive if you don't get lucky and find them for sale in a junk shop.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the start of our collection. The cake plates are so lovely I could cry. I want to make all sorts of desserts now just so I can use them!


September 1, 2009

Drum roll please

So I have some announcements...

  1. I am going to go to culinary school. I am going to be a baker/pastry chef. Hello Portland, here I come.
  2. I am leaving my job in order to complete announcement #1. My last day is September 18.
  3. Alan and I are going to Europe again! We will be going to Juelich, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; and Rome, Italy. We are looking forward to hanging with L&K in Barcelona and checking out the wonders of Rome.
That is all for now. :)

Insurance

When sending glass items in the mail, get insurance. Really. It is what, $1.75?

This should have been a cake plate.

Oh bother.