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I Made A Quilt, Fools

December 27th, 2013 by pladd

I know you haven’t been able to contain yourself, wondering what my Super Secret 7th Goal was for this year, and I can finally tell you! I came up with the idea exactly one year ago today, 12/27/12, my parents’ 29th wedding anniversary. I thought, “That means next year will be 30! That’s a big deal! I need to do something.” And somehow I decided that something was to make a giant ass quilt.

It might not look super giant, but in work hours it’s the size of a house

My mom is always making quilts for people, so I figured it was time someone made one for her. I started January 2nd, because I knew it would take me forever. It pretty much did, since I basically had to teach myself how to do it along the way. The library helped, and some Internet tutorials too. Here I am maybe four or five months in, after finally completing the top:

And Steven helped… me move the furniture

At this point Rob was like “You’re done! Yay!” Not even close, my friend. A quilt is made of a sandwich: the fancy quilt top I spent some months sewing together, the batting that makes it warm and bulky, and the backing fabric. There are many methods to get those three to stick together, but I chose hand quilting because I’m hardcore. That took a further six months.

The reason the quilt top took so long to complete was the embroidery I did to make it personal (hardcore). Close ups: Read the rest of this entry »

Tagged: 2013 goals, quilting

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven, Fabric, Things I've Made |

2013 Goal Update: Final Wrap Up

December 20th, 2013 by pladd

What up, team. I’ve still got 11 more days in 2013 to complete my goals, but I’m calling it early, mostly because of how much I rock. Check it:

1. Make at least one recipe from each of our cookbooks: 100%

DONE SO DONE LOOK HOW DONE I AM

Yeah, there were lots of pictures for that one I could have chosen, but I’m not sorry.

This goal was a complete success, although I guess I made Steven make some of the recipes, but the rules never stated I had to complete all my goals solo.

2. Read 200 Books: 100%

WOOOOOOOOOO!

And that screencap was taken like the first week in December. I may have read one or two more books since then. Get psyched for my annual book wrap up posts where I give you The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, this year with over 200 books to choose from!

3. Knock off one state from my map: 100%!!!!

I know you know, because I won’t shut up about this one.

Whatever, it was nice

4. Lift Weights at Least Once a Week: 100%

YOU FOOLS, SOON I WILL BE INVINCIBLE

5. Knit a Cardigan: 70%?

Okay, so technically I knitted 70% of a cardigan this year, but then I got mad at it and took it all apart again. So I don’t still have 70% of a cardigan. However, since the goal says “knit a cardigan,” I’m giving myself partial credit since I did 70% of that at some point. Deal with it.

6. Send Out My Entire Stash of Postcards: 100%

Yeah, you loved it. Brian got one that was just the lyrics to The Thong Song because he is lucky. James Fox is less lucky and just got one covered in stickers of baptismal fonts because once I bought a scrapbook variety pack sight unseen and I’ve reached the bottom.

7. SUPER SECRET SEVENTH PROJECT: 100%

GET PSYCHED FOOLS YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW

I still can’t reveal the super secret seventh project, but I will before year’s end and you will be SUPER IMPRESSED! Well, actually, probably not, BUT YOU SHOULD BE. Because damn.

Total: 95%

I’ll take it

Previously:
Halfway Point
Quarter Quell
2013 Plans

Tagged: 2013 goals

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven |

2013 Cookbook Project: DONE!!!!

November 15th, 2013 by pladd

Woo! Finished with my goal to make one recipe out of each of our cookbooks! That’s 35 in all!

Nothing is better than seeing 100% on a spreadsheet

Here’s a breakdown of the final 4 since last time we talked:

The Cooking of Italy by Waverly Root and the editors of TIME-LIFE BOOKS

Sorry for the all caps, but that’s how it’s formatted on the title page. It doesn’t surprise me that Time-Life books can’t figure out how to get their caps lock off. Check out the weird cover too:

Not even a title. I guess they think that picture says it all

I’m like 96% sure Steven bought this at Half-Price one day because he’s compulsive and only recently learned that there are lots of recipes on the Internet. It’s cool, this book is pretty alright. It’s organized by region of Italy and has a section at the beginning of each chapter where it talks about life in that region and specialties. We chose to make spinach ravioli with pesto:

Ta-Dah!

Neither was very difficult, especially since I made Steven do all the work:

Kitchen Hack: coerce someone else

The Hungry Scientist Handbook by Patrick Buckley

This book is more about theory and crazy things that take too much time, effort, and equipment for the likes of me. Steven was really into the section on catching wild yeast to bake with, but that seemed too time-consuming and iffy. You have to check pretty regularly to make sure you aren’t catching mold instead.

I mean, I have my own labcoat, but I mainly wear it while making spreadsheets

However, there was one recipe I thought I could excel at! Wonton wrapper cranes! Basically, you get wonton wrappers, which are already little squares, and then fold them using the power of origami! Then you fry that sucker and it becomes a chip shaped like a crane!!!! Well, that’s the theory. They’re really hard to fold without breaking.

My ridiculous attempt, with a paper one for comparison. See if you can spot the difference

Steven was way better at it than me, probably because he has more patience:

Also, he refused to put a shirt on for this process, even though I TOLD him I was taking pictures for the Internet

So you get bonus footage of Steven’s man-nipple. Enjoy!

Eventually, I gave up on cranes and turned to the only kind of origami I can reliably fold: fortune tellers!

What will your wonton fortune be????

Oops, you’re going to die

The frying process was also fraught with peril, because the origami shape would unfold in the oil if you didn’t kind of hold it awkwardly in place with some tongs.

It took a few sad tries to perfect this process

Here are the after shots:

Fortune teller: not really recognizable

Cranes?? Or blobs?

Hard to believe that that was the easiest thing in the book I could find!

Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook by Terry Pratchett

This one is kind of a joke, supposedly written by one of the characters from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books. It has some good illustrations, life advice, and also some legit recipes.

I REALLY wanted to make Cut-Me-Own-Throat Dibbler’s Sausages Inna Bun, but I don’t like sausages

So I had to go for the next-most famous: Banana Soup Surprise. Nanny Ogg has this to say about the soup:

People say: ‘What’s so surprisin’ about bananana soup?’ And I say, it’s got banananas in it. Of course, if you’ve ever read my book The Joye of Snacks you’ll spot that some of my special ingredients have been left out. People complained they made the soup a bit too surprisin’.

The recipe involves cooking mashed banana (or bananana) with vegetable stock, sherry, and some spices. What really stands out, though, is the presentation:

Laaaaaadies

Unfortunately, the soup didn’t taste that great. Maybe if we had a higher quality sherry or I had used the food processor to puree the bananas. As it was, it mostly tasted like banana chunks floating in sherry. Ew.

Still, can’t beat the presentation

Cake Pops by Bakerella

Look at this

This one was the last cookbook, and I’m not ashamed to admit, I was putting it off for a reason. Look at that cover! These cake pops are way too advanced for me. And I found that I just didn’t care enough to gain the necessary expertise even to fail at making them for you. My cooking strategy is very results-based to maximize deliciousness and minimize effort. I’m not adverse to work when it pays off, re: my homemade pie crust or bread, but if you’re spending hours on something that’s just cosmetic? Yeah, I’m good. Plus, unlike the last time I sucked at art for this project, I would have needed to buy a lot of stuff I would then proceed to never use again ever, so I just said screw it and made the “basic cake ball” recipe. You remember how to make cakeballs, right? That was probably the last time I made cakeballs, actually, two whole years ago! Also in the corner of one of those pictures is my old purple netbook.

I miss you purple netbook! So stylish

Anyway, this time I let Steven choose the flavors, and he went with lemon cake, cream cheese icing, and milk chocolate coating on the outside:

Deformed as always, but delicious! Just the way I like it

That’s two of my 2013 goals down!

Tagged: 2013 goals, cookbooks, Steven

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven, Uncategorized |

2013 Goal Update: Only 3.5 more months!

September 12th, 2013 by pladd

9 months into 2013 and I feel like a terrible person. I’m afraid I haven’t made a lot of progress since the last time we talked. Whatever. We’re like 75% of the way through this year, so I officially have senioritis when it comes to 2013.

1. Make at least one recipe from each of our cookbooks: 89%

I’m actually doing good on this one!!!

89%, fools!!!!!!!

According to my spreadsheet, I only have 4 books left! Yay! I’m glad we can start this post of shame on a high note! The final four are:

The Cooking of Italy
Cake Pops
The Hungry Scientist
Nanny Ogg’s Cookbook

The latter is kind of a joke book based in the Discworld universe, but I think most of the recipes are still valid. I mean, once I convert from weird UK cooking measurements (Gas 4? What?)

2. Read 200 Books: 65%

Barf

I know this doesn’t look good, but I’m still confident I can meet this one. So I may spend the whole month of November reading children’s books, but I was probably going to do that anyway, so it doesn’t count as cheating.

3. Knock off one state from my map: 100%!!!!

I know you know, but I COMPLETED SOMETHING SEVEN MONTHS BEFORE IT WAS DUE.

And it was fun

4. Lift Weights at Least Once a Week: 75%

I’m on this one, gang. I’m on it.

5. Knit a Cardigan: 70%? 0%? Who freaking knows

So I’ve still done nothing new on this at all. It’s like an awkward-looking sleeveless cardigan right now, and I think I also have half of one sleeve. I feel like I may give up on this one, unravel what I’ve done, and use the yarn for some other project. Or like a hundred other projects. I have so much freaking goldenrod yarn.

6. Send Out My Entire Stash of Postcards: 30%

This is the one I always forget when I think of them in my head. I’m probably going to fail to complete it, just out of forgetfulness. Or on December 29th James Fox is just going to receive 48 postcards from me at once. Whatever. Pretty sure he doesn’t read my blog, so this won’t ruin the surprise.

7. SUPER SECRET SEVENTH PROJECT: 85%??? 90%??

I really have a hard time judging this one. But I am hell-bent on completing it, even if I have to jettison the other 5 uncompleted goals to do so.

Total

73% of the way there! Until I unravel that cardigan, then my score will actually go down. Sigh. Maybe seven was too many goals. I should have listened to that infectious disease and just bummed around all year. Oh well.

Previously: Halfway Point
Quarter Quell
2013 Plans

Tagged: 2013, 2013 goals, resolutions

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven |

Cookbooks: Extra Credit

July 24th, 2013 by pladd

Last weekend I knew I wanted to knock the book of ice cream recipes that came with our ice cream maker off my cookbook list. Every time I use the ice cream maker we have, I’m shocked by how easy it is.

This thing was not pricey, but is completely amazing. I recommend it 100%

I decided to make the cream cheese ice cream… but it was almost TOO easy, you know? With this thing, you mix the ingredients together in a bowl or whatever, then chill them for a few hours. Then take the bowl of the ice cream maker out of the freezer (where it lives), hook it up, pour the stuff in, and let it go for like 20 minutes. Then you have soft serve! You can then freeze for longer if you don’t like soft serve for some freakish reason. Or if, like me, you decide to make red velvet ice cream sandwiches!

Ice cream goes in a cake pan to firm up so that I can cut out rounds with a biscuit cutter

After making up the cookie dough and chilling it in the fridge overnight, I rolled it out and cut out cookies with the biscuit cutter:

I thought this step would be the hardest, but it was way easy compared to rolling out pie crust (which I am, of course, a pro at)

Then you chill those guys on the baking sheets for awhile and stick them in the oven. They don’t take long.

Cookies!! Wait till they get to room temperature before putting them in the freezer too

After everything has been frozen to satisfaction, it’s assembly time!! Unfortunately I didn’t get any pictures of this because I had to work fast so the ice cream didn’t melt. Using the same biscuit cutter, you just press out rounds of the ice cream sheet and smoosh them between two cookies. Then Steven was in charge of wrapping them in plastic wrap.

Now they are just waiting in our freezer!! Happy summer!

The cookbook project is now at 69% completion because I (well, Steven) got through The Ultimate Book of Cocktails the same day! He’s way better at mixology than me.

Planter’s Punch: Steven version

According to the book, “This long, refreshing, old colonial drink originates from the sugar plantations that are dotted throughout the West Indian islands.”

1 measure/1.5 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 measure/1.5 tbsp orange juice
2 measures/3 tbsp dark rum (we always use KRAKEN, because that name. And it’s delicious)
0.5 measure/2 tsp grenadine (Steven uses the juice from a can of maraschino cherries. Because we’re classy)
dash of bitters
soda water of lemonade, chilled

Steven is more of a gin fan (to me, it tastes like Fresca that hates you) so for himself he made this:

Horse’s Neck!

Apparently: “The name derives from the shape of the lemon rind that hangs in the glass.”

1 lemon
2 measures/3 tbsp gin
dry ginger ale

Cut the entire rind from a lemon, spiral-fashion. Dangle it from the rim of a tall glass so that it hangs down inside. (I think Steven skipped this step because it was too annoying even though it is the whole point lol)
Add cracked ice and the gin, and then top up with ginger ale. You can also add a dash of bitters if the mood takes you (see? this book is awesome).

“Let me take a picture of your process”

Tagged: baking, cocktails, cookbooks, dessert, ice cream

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven |

Three Cookbooks In One Night

July 17th, 2013 by pladd

According to my spreadsheet, I’m about 59% done with my cookbook project, despite only working on it once since the last time we talked. How have I accomplished this? By knocking out three in one night!! Okay, so Steven did like half the work, but still.

Lemongrass and Sweet Basil: Traditional Thai Cuisine by Khamtane Signavong

We made the entree out of this book, which is divided up by region and has a lot of great pictures. We chose mussaman beef curry. It was stew-consistency, with rice, and cooked for about 4 hours so our apartment smelled great.

Maybe it looks weird, but it was super tasty!

Then we made a side dish out of Japanese Cooking by Shunsuke Fukushima. It was really simple, but completely delicious and refreshing.

Cucumber pickles!

The name is kind of misleading since there’s no vinegar used at all. It’s just cucumbers, cabbage, seasame seeds and salt, but the salt makes the cucumbers express water if you let it sit for about an hour.

Finally, I decided to try out this book for dessert:

Mini Pies: Irresistible Pies to Make and Bake

This concept is awesome. Pies you bake in cupcake pans? Individual tiny pies? Sign me up! Unfortunately, the subtitle should read “How Many Different Expletives Can You Yell At Your kitchen?”. Nothing about this was really irresistible including, sadly, the finished product.

Look at these freaks

If I had thought about it for half a second, I would have realized this would not be fun. It’s like twelve times the work of a normal pie, and then when you’re done you have less pie. After you make the pie crust, you have to cut little circles of it to smoosh down into the cupcake tin. Of course I didn’t have a round biscuit cutter big enough, so I used the top of a canister. It didn’t go great. Then you have to cut little strips to be the “lattice” on top, which went about as well as you can see. This process took way too long. I am just not into it. Ugh and then I still had to make the filling which involved pitting cherries and a weird mascarpone-yogurt concoction.

It’s possible I picked the wrong recipe to try. Because this filling was weird. It was like it was trying to be cheesecake but didn’t want to make the effort to actually taste like it, and was just settling for being squishy and disappointing. I made Steven take them into work because otherwise I would have punched them, individually, into my kitchen counters, and the one coworker who had any comment about them at all just said “The fillings kind of blah but the crust is amazing.”

Of course I ignored their crust recipe and used mine. So, way to fail, Mini Pies. They’re less messy to eat than a real pie, so maybe they would be good for a picnic or something, but I can’t see myself doing it again ever. It’s just too much work for not enough pay-off. Plus, I now hold an irrational grudge against this book. I made a beautiful delicious pie crust, Mini Pies, and you made me waste it on mediocrity.

Looking at the cookbooks I have yet to complete, they mostly involve desserts or cocktails, so the rest of this year is going to be fun.

Previously: Halfway Update

Tagged: cookbooks, pie, recipes

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven |

2013 Goal Update: halfway point

June 4th, 2013 by pladd

So six months in to 2013, and here’s how my list of goals is going:

1. Make at least one recipe from each of our cookbooks: 50% complete!

Steven tried to help me with some of the Roman ones by making some kind of cheese dip that just tasted like salt. It somehow tasted saltier than just eating straight salt. Still have the ice cream AND ice pops books to do, just in time for summer!! Also, this weekend we finally tackled the sushi book, and it turned out deliciously:

Not gonna lie: Steven did all the work for this one

2. Read 200 books: 40% complete

So I’ve read 80. Whatever. How many have you read?

3. Knock off at least 1 state from my map: 100% COMPLETE!

West Virginia!!!

4. Lift Weights At Least Once a Week: 50% complete, I guess?

Since this has to happen every week, I can’t finish it early.

5. Knit a cardigan: 70% complete

So I’ve done nothing on this since the last time we talked. It’s fine. I still got this.

6. Send out my entire stash of postcards: 5% complete

Whatever, I do what I want.

7. SUPER SECRET SEVENTH PROJECT: 50% complete???

Am I halfway done? Will I make it? EVEN I DON’T KNOW–that’s how secret it is.

Total

On average, I am 52% of the way to meeting my goals. That’s good enough for me!

Let’s talk again in September.

Tagged: 2013, 2013 goals, life goal, resolutions

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven |

West Virginia!

May 22nd, 2013 by pladd

I need to thank Brian for inspiring this trip, when he pointed out that West Virginia is only like 4 hours away!! Sometimes I get stuck in the central Florida mindset of thinking that if something is in another state, it’s way too far to drive to for the weekend, but here in North Carolina that is not the case!! Look at this 2013/Life Goal accomplishment:

One day, Nebraska. One day.

West Virginia surprised me. I did not have high hopes, mainly because its wikipedia page reads like an obituary, and I’ve seen at least 3 horror movies set there. Surprise! West Virginia was beautiful and everyone was really nice! I guess that could have just been the part we were in. We spent the weekend at Pipestem State Park, which has 2 hotels, a golf course, and a bunch of other sporty things besides its many hiking trails.

The mountains were so pretty!

It was kind of drizzly both days we were there, with some patches of sun, but that just meant it didn’t get too hot. The best thing about Pipestem was definitely the aerial tram that takes you to one of their lodges/restaurants down inside the gorge!

Kind of like Disney World, but no one was wearing demeaning costumes

It was cool to be able to see the forest and hills from a different viewpoint, and to not have to hike all that way. The bucket cars did rock a lot more than I would have liked, especially at the beginning. Steven laughed at me for clinging to the pole in a death grip the whole way:

My face is trying to be nonchalant about it in this picture

It was really peaceful and quiet at the bottom! Except for some guys fishing and starting off on a canoe journey:

Canoes can ride the tram for free!

The park also had a “nature center” with different kinds of bird nests and a lazy snake in an aquarium. Also, this educational display:

I have no idea what’s going on here

Everyone we met was really friendly. You couldn’t pass by someone in the hall of the lodge without them wishing you “Good Morning”, and I had a strange amount of longer conversations with cashiers, waiters, and park rangers who I’m more used to just exchanging a few words with. Probably most surprising was the way everyone, even the older people, reacted positively to my hair. I’m used to a lot of people just giving me strange looks, and sometimes being obviously disapproving. The closest I came to that was an older woman staring at me from across the room, but then she came over and started talking about what a beautiful day it was and “Look at that hair–that’s just amazing” so it turned out alright.

It’s possible hair dyeing technology hasn’t made it up the mountain yet

Probably the best part was just sitting on the porch of the lodge reading and enjoying the beautiful views of the clouds coming up over the mountains:

Maybe West Virginia is Best Virginia?

I hope the rest of the states I have to visit to complete my map go just as well!

Tagged: 2013 goals, map, west virginia

Posted in 2013 Magnificent Seven |