S'mores - Seattle Style

The hubby & I had a BBQ this Memorial Day weekend. We decided to make homemade marshmallows and graham crackers for s'mores on our fire pit. We followed the directions from jam it, pickle it, cure it & other cooking projects by Karen Solomon. If you like to try new things in your kitchen, this book is for you. I have to admit, I was a little intimidated at the idea of making my own marshmallows, but they were surprisingly easy to do - albeit quite messy. Just like a good s'more.

The marshmallows setting in the pan. I didn't get any cooking pics because the process happens pretty fast.

The hubby helping to get them out of the pan. Then you cut into squares and dip in powdered sugar.

Voila! Homemade marshmallows!

Homemade graham crackers. Again, didn't get any cooking pics, it was pretty busy in our kitchen!

The roasting of mallows. Note the jeans and fleece in the pic, yes, this is a BBQ in Seattle. A little cold weather and rain does not stop us! There were homemade mallows to be roasted people!

Get ready for it...

Ooey, gooey, s'mores goodness!

Garden Plan 2010: Ambitious/Crazy

The veggies and some fruits are now in the raised garden beds and several containers around the yard. I've decided the theme to this year's garden is Ambitious/Crazy. Here's what we've got growing and I'm sure you'll agree with me:

blueberries

artichoke

3 tomato plants

lettuce

pumpkins

snap peas

green beans

zucchini (for the record, if I can't get these zucchini plants to produce then I'm officially done with zucchini. There I've said it.)

radishes

green onions

carrots

cucumbers

basil

rosemary

a banana tree

Yes, you read that correctly, a banana tree. The hubby was doing a little research and discovered, if it's protected from the colder nights, a banana tree will grow in our neck of the woods. It's not a big one. It's in a pot and he moves it in and out each night and on the weekends he moves it around the yard to follow the sun. It's kind of cute. I'm quite skeptical. But if it actually produces fruit, I'll be sure to post about it and admit I'm wrong. We also planted a dwarf apple tree in our yard. I'm quite excited about that. Now comes the waiting game.

The lilac tree has bloomed. I find it highly ironic that I've been waiting to get some color in our back yard and now that the lilac tree has finally bloom, I discovered the flowers are white. Oh well, they still look pretty and smell quiet lovely.

Self Portrait Series: Girls weekend in Vegas

Sara & I are pretty famous for our self portraits.

But we couldn't leave April out of the fun (or Ms. Green M & M)!

Poolside fun at the Wynn (in the shade with SPF 70 of course)!

We had a little help with this one.

 Sara and April figured out they've been friends for about 20 years. Good thing they've also known me for 17 of those years! 

It was a great weekend filled with lots of laughter, lots of memories and a lot of fun! I miss not seeing them everyday like back in college, or even about once a week when we were living in Boise, but I'll take a weekend like this anytime!

A few things both knitting & non-knitting

To say that it’s been a bit busy around here is a bit of an understatement. I’ve been wanting to blog for quite a while now, but haven’t had the time/energy/motivation/etc. So in true type-A personality form, I’m doing a list to sum up a few things. Here we go:

• My sister came for a visit. We had a blast getting pedicures, shopping for furniture (nothing bought but lots of ideas) and drinking margaritas on the patio in some rare Seattle spring sun.
• My parents came the following weekend; more family fun, day trips, fixing things up around the house.
  
• I scored some sweet deals and even sweeter yarn at the Fiber Gallery annual sale. Details on projects to come soon.
  
• I cast on for my first big sweater for myself. I’m making the Minimalist cardigan out of some beautiful pink wool. However, between the pattern and the yarn, it hurts my hands. Like really seriously hurts my hands. Like, it’s the reason I’m not knitting these days. I think I’ve averaged about 4 rows in about a month.
  
• I’m trying to decide to proceed slowly with the project or rip it out and find another project.
  
• In an effort to get knitting again, I’ve cast on for the Simple Shawl pattern. It’s quite pretty and painless. So far I’m on row 8 and all is well. Fingers crossed.
  
• And in an effort to truly relax and get some much needed R & R, I’m off to Vegas for a weekend of fun at the Wynn with my dear friends Sara and April.
  
• I hope to be back up and blogging and knitting much more often when I return, until then, here’s to some R & R for you, and of course, happy knitting.