Tail gate Warriors and aebleskivers

Whenever I watch the food network channel I get excited to try something new.  The week before I was watching the Ten dollar Dnners or less show.  It had some tasty concoctions going on, and a recipe for polenta that you start on the stove, but finish in the crock pot, which I do want to try.  I love things made with cornmeal.  Corn bread, being my all time favorite, but I love polenta as well.

This week I happened to see the Tailgate Warriors Championship.  These guys are ridiculous in their menus.  It reminds me of when we first started camping, and we would bring a variety of meal ideas, one always seemed to be to much work, but tasty all the same.  Seeing this competition had Seattleites competing I felt I must watch all the same.  Their menu included appetizers of jalapenos stuffed with cream cheese and bacon and wrapped in prosciutto, and grilled. They served them with a cranberry sauce.  These sound delicious and are variation of one I make already.  The person cooking them blanched them first, which I've never tried, but perhaps will now.  They also had roasted butternut squash soup.  YUM to soup anytime of year.

They smoked then deep fried turkey legs. Too much effort but it was appreciated by the judges.  stuffed mushrooms, and deconstructed green bean casserole went along.  I love stuff mushrooms, and green beans, so it all sounds delicious.  I'm not a fry person.  I don't deep fry anything. I barely pan fry. So its doubtful I would make their turkey legs.

Their desert though intrigued me, so much so I went to Sur La Table today and bought an Aebleskiver pan.
They made aeblskivers with apple chopped  inside, and dipping sauce of chunky apple and sugar. I'm thinking of cooking the apples with some cinnamon sugar, and using a little caramel as well.  They are kind of a donut hole type confection but also a danish pancake.  You cook them and turn them in the pan so that they form a round circle.   When you take them out you sprinkle with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar.
The judges seemed to think these were quite delicious.  If they can cook them on a grill in the windy parking lot of the San Francisco 49'ers I'm thinking I can manage them at home inside. 
Well perhaps you will see photos of my own aebleskivers!

costumes & Chop Shop

"So I went to consult on some costumes" and now I'm working on them.  I find this somewhat hilarious. It's always amazing to participate in someone else's artistic vision.  These are extremely simple and require mostly measuring for a balanced look.  I did put off doing them, but once I started you develop a rhythm that makes it easy to finish.  Unfortunately, I had to stop as we had an open house, that we prepared for, but the realtor failed, and I got a phone call while at the movies and 2 hours after it "started" from the person who was supposed to do it. "Hope I can make this up to you" he says.  Fortunately he left this as a message, because I was thinking, " You didn't open my house, which means you didn't sell my house, and how does that get made up? " Of course it makes me mad at my own realtor who is on vacation and had left me the email, about how she was sure we were in capable hands while she was gone.  I've been slightly fuming all week since and it leaves me wrapped up in a mood that is foul on the mind and the soul, I'm totally not good to be around. I am waiting for the day I can finally say, We've sold it!!!! 9 months is so long to deal with people traipsing through your home, disassociating yourself from your home and your belongings.  I want to quickly make a transitionnd  from this home to another, and begin living a normal life again.

 Have you heard of this Event- Chop Shop?  It happens in Bellevue the weekend of February 12 and 13th, at the Meydenbauer Center.  Its a hot bed of dance, and dance Master classes with three shows during the weekend. One of the dance companies appearing in the festival is who I'm helping with costumes.  I always find it a great event to attend as you see so much local talent from our area. 

Sunday Brunch!

Well this is one of those post that has only a little bit of info, but after a long morning of cleaning the house so our realtor could have an open house this afternoon, we headed out for brunch. 
 Ended up at Beach House Cafe on Lake Washington in Kirkland.    http://beachhousekirkland.com/   
We go here for happy hour but this was new for us.  Turns out they were trying out their Bloody Mary bar for the first time as well.  This was good, no limit on what you could take or add, they had lots of pickled veggies such as green beans, and asparagus, cocktail onions, Olives a couple types, as well as the pickled spicy veggie mix that comes with peppercini's, cauliflower, carrots, - YUM I love peppercininis' unfortunately my digestive system makes me pay dearly when I eat more than about 2-3 but they are so good.  They also had fresh celery, lemons, limes, tomatoes, and salami.  A selection of hot sauces you could alter the taste with.  It was a hit, we loved it, but I must say I really like the one in Haight Ashbury better, but this is closer to home!
The breakfast dishes were quite good too.  My hubs had the eggs Benedict, he loves the hollandaise sauce, which I don't, and I never make.  I had the Popeye omelet with spinach, artichoke hearts, and bacon, and tomatoes, with hash browns and fruit.  It was so good. and no cheese which is a nice change.

We were by the windows in the bar, so we could look across the lake, or out at the park, where many individuals walked their dogs.  It soon became clear which masters were well trained by their pets, versus the pets who were well trained by the masters.  Surprising variety that we saw which was on this day overwhelmed with the smaller variety such as Bison Frise, small terriers, and a few mid size dogs such as sheep dogs.  Despite the grey weather, and dark clouds above, there seemed to be no lack of traffic of pets and owners.  We even saw a few families taking the opportunity for a stroll.  The winds were brisk and breathtaking almost, so it appeared the majority of seagulls were camped on the beach and the ducks were grouped in the water near the shore.

New items

 Well I had some time, and new patterns to try, so I've made several new styles of booties for my etsy shop.
  From mukluk boots on the left here
  to cute Mary Jane's below.

Initially I did all newborn sizes,

 but will be adding more this week

 in 6-12 months size, and maybe

even a couple pair of toddler sizes

 Some of these are great slipper styles.  I've been using a merino wool blend that is delightful to work with and extremely soft against your baby's skin.

Find these at my etsy shop  RedandCurlyBebe
starting January 9th.

Hello 2011!

New Years Day and its bright and crisp here- really crisp, the temp is in the 20's, the ice is crunchy on the driveway, and street, and the snow is no longer soft but crunches when you walk through. 

We were able to be with friends on New Years Eve, going to the movies and happy hour.  The boys seen here, were excited to see Tron in Imax 3D wearing there HOT 3D glasses.  Prior to this we had been at Happy hour at Tejas.    We got home in time to enjoy the fireworks at the space needle in the comfort of our home which is was by far warmer, and less crowded than the actual needle.

I home preparing our good luck meal for year, Hopping Johns with Keilabasa sausage, Corn bread and Kale.  YUM!.  I'm not from the south, but have some southern roots I'm sure.

Hope you all started your New Years with family or friends to get off to a good start!

Look forward to sharing with you in 2011!