Busy As the Falling Rain

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Now playing: Asia - Who Will Stop the Rain?
via FoxyTunes


Well, actually I like rain.....But it is supposed to turn to snow by tonight. We have had enough snow, save some for next winter please.

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Now playing: The Mamas & The Papas - Look Through My Window
via FoxyTunes

That is what is going on outside the window. Inside is pretty busy! We have plenty of spring birthdays, graduations and engagements to celebrate. We had trips to take. Respects to say to a loved one. There are seeds to plant and nurture, projects to complete, dishes to be made and served.


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Now playing: Spyro Gyra - Bittersweet
via FoxyTunes


Inside other "windows," on a human level, is feeling the emotions of a lost relative who battled cancer. There is also joy seeing my oldest getting ready to fly the nest- graduating college, she is engaged and moving away to New York state this summer. Feeling yet older as the kids grow around me- my 2nd oldest just turned 19 years old this week and my nephew is also graduating high school. I saw my grandfather in a nursing home, he was so happy to see us. Sigh......


I am really proud of her! :-)





One of the projects aside from knitting, scrapping, card-making etc, etc, was mentioned in a previous blog:

http://i-want-my-umami.blogspot.com/2010/03/with-any-luck-i-will-post-this-before.html

It can now be revealed!

A fabric ball for my niece, who's family is adopting a Chinese boy, named Joshua. Here you can read more:

http://tojoshuawithlove.blogspot.com/

I owe a special thanks to my friend Lucie who helped with this project with sewing advice and lots of actual machine sewing, the names in particular. She worked hard to make sure they were just right. Thanks Lucie!



Those are the different sections and below is what they form.





In the blog it explains the Chinese legend of the red thread:

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break."

The colours and idea for the ball came from the blog page- The words and the little outfit.

I am getting ready for the garden! These seedlings would like for it to stop snowing, ok?



For now they are warm in the house under grow lights.



I haven't stopped cooking!

Champagne Mango Habanero Quinoa Salad w/ Seared, Mixed Nut Crusted Ahi






Mango Habanero Sauce

3 Habanero peppers (put on gloves and remove seeds and membrane) - reserve one for mincing, and adding to the salad.
3 Champagne mangoes -reserve half of one to small dice and add to salad.
http://www.champagnemango.com/site/champagne
1/2 tsp. tamarind paste
1/4 c. rice wine vinegar
2 tbsp. brown sugar
2 dashes fish sauce ;-)

Puree all the ingredients, besides the reserved minced pepper and diced mango. Strain. Let this sit in the frig. overnight to develop and mellow the flavours.

To make the salad- add the sauce to prepared quinoa and sliced spring onions. Reserve a bit of sauce to use on the side. Fold in the reserved minced pepper and diced mango.

My dish is garnished with Lemon Sorrel from the garden, one of the few things growing there now. Sorrel likes it cooler.

Birmingham German Christmas Market

Birmingham, England is twinned with Frankfurt, Germany and they put on an annual Christmas market. The setting was in Victoria Square near New Street and The Bullring. I did think of you here Lucie.




Crafts


Sweeties and Snacks







More Sweeties! These were tasty, Lucie do you have the German name of these yummy marshmallows?






What do these cookies say?


These were called German burgers, served with fried potatoes and mushrooms. Are German burgers authentic? What makes them different to other burgers? I didn't try this food,but was intrigued.


Sausages. This is what I tried, both kinds!






The mulled wine warmed me just before it started to snow. I got my own mug to bring back for a refill next year.

Pretty painted votive candle, it looks like cut clay and is my kept trinket.


I would never eat these due to the sprinkles on top (it's a texture thing), but they are too cute! I love hedgehogs ever since I saw one in a garden here in England.





The mad dash to get out of the weather and onto a train northbound.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Ginger Inspirations

The inspiration for making a lovely gingerbread comes from several different sources. This all assumes that one needs justification for a good baking session....

* The blog of my friend Kathy a few blogs back.

http://bloominpics.blogspot.com/2009/11/comfortingwarm-gingerbread-served-with.html

* The combination of my favourite Tazo iced tea, lemon/ginger.

* The recipe I saw in a recent Imbibe magazine.

* A jar of stemmed ginger.

* The holiday season.

and....

* The weather!









I used the recipe from the November/December 2009 issue of Imbibe magazine, but I added a few twists.

http://www.imbibemagazine.com/

They quote the recipe from a cookbook called 'All Cakes Considered.' The producer of the radio program 'All Things Considered' is well known for bringing delicious cakes into work. The recipes were made into a cookbook.

http://www.amazon.com/All-Cakes-Considered-Melissa-Gray/dp/0811867811/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259094706&sr=1-1&tag=imbibmagaz-20




Gingerbread Cupcakes

1/2 c. butter
2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
1 lrg. egg
1 c. treacle (twist)
1 c. dark beer
2 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 8oz. jar stemmed ginger, drained of syrup and finely chopped (twist)
dash of salt
crystallised ginger

Icing:
juice of 4 lemons (twist)
2 - 8 oz. containers cream cheese
1/2 c. butter
3 c. icing sugar

Whip together until smooth. Set aside.




Preheat oven to 350 deg. Line a muffin tin with holiday cupcake liners. (twist)

Cream the butter and brown sugar. Add egg, treacle and beer. Beat well for a couple minutes. combine dry ingredients in separate bowl. Add to wet ingredients slowly until all is smoothly combined. Fold in stemmed ginger. pour batter into cups. Bake for approx 20 minutes. Cool completely. Frost with icing. Garnish with cut crystallised ginger.



These strongly flavoured cupcakes are guaranteed to give you a lemon/ginger kick in the pants!!! Believe me, that is a GOOD thing this time of year.