Diane’s White Bean Soup
4 cans white beans, most of liquid strained out or one bag of white beans, sorted and soaked over night, then strained
4 cans chicken stock
1 small yellow onion, chopped
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
Handful of chopped pancetta (or bacon if you cannot find pancetta)
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp dried Italian herb blend
2 bay leaf
¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Fresh ground pepper, to taste (about 4-6 twists)
Fresh basil, cut into ribbons
Fresh baguette, thinly sliced, toasted and topped with fresh shaved Parmesan cheese
Saute onion, garlic, pancetta/bacon and carrot in olive oil until onion and garlic are translucent in large stock pot. Add stock, beans and all other ingredients except fresh basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cook for one hour. Remove about four cups soup, ensuring that you are getting mostly beans and some liquid and place into blender (blend one cup at a time), then return pureed soup to pot and allow to simmer an additional ten minutes.
Serve with fresh basil, top soup with toasted baguette slices and additional grated Parmesan cheese.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
FInished in the St. Nick of time....
I am really pleased with the way that this turned out. I pick it up from the dry cleaners this morning and off in the mail it goes.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Block n' Roll
This has been a bear to block. I am trying to get the edges as flat as possible and am struggling. It's difficult to see any detail in this picture- the yarn is pretty fuzzy. I am about half-way finished with the other front and then I can do the edges, sew up the seams, slap on some nice leather buttons and be done with it. This has been a tougie. Actually it's been a yawner. It's big, it's grey and has no fun cables or lace patterns. Just lots of stockinette. Yaawn. Done on #4 needles with DK weight, it has gone painfully slow. It will be so worth it and I know it will look great on the giftee.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
vested
Christmas gift for someone special who might read my blog. Unisex Vest pattern by Lionbrand in Berocco Ultra Alpaca will be nice, toasty and natty.
A cardigan that fits!
Love this- I just need to find a great button for it- a nice big button. This fits me just right, not to loose, not too snug. Like the 3/4 length sleeves. Lionbrand CottonEase is great for bargain knitting. I will certainly do another project with the stuff. This cost me less that $30.00! Best of all, it is a microfibre blend, so it should not get all streatched out and funky while I am wearing it. Joy!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Knit Kit
This watch cap is from an original Red Cross pattern printed in the 1930's. I am knitting it with two strands of wool sock yarn so it should be nice and warm. Last night was chilly. I hope in some small way that this cap will help. I guess it could be worse- you could be a homeless veteran living in Wasilla, AK or some other really cold place, don't chya know.
Knit Your Bit
As part of Knitters for Obama, I am knitting a hat for a homeless veteran. In WWII women at home were asked by the American Red Cross to "knit their bit" by making wool socks and hats for GIs over seas. I will do my bit by making a hat for a vet here at home. They are not hard to find. There is one man who I see in front of Trader Joes. This once bright, handsome fellow who served in Viet Nam is begging for food and money on the streets of Santa Rosa. I usually get him a sandwich and hand it to him on my way out of the parking lot. I wonder if he enlisted or was drafted? He deserves better treatment- both mental health and healthcare. It is a crime that he does not have a home. We did not learn from that war that these guys needed treatment for PTSD. They were left twisting in the wind. I do worry about the men and women fighting in the Middle-East and what they will face when/if they get home. We need to do better by them.I found this cool little "Knit Kit" which came with a sock pattern, knitting needles and enough yarn for a couple pair of socks or watch caps and it came in this nifty tin. I plan on knitting up a cap for my BF and for Soldier Joe.
Mr. Greenjeans is almost done
My Mr. Greenjeans cardigan project is part of the Ravelry 2008 Football KAL (Knit-A-Long) and just needs sleeves to be complete. I needed a project to take me through December (when the season ends) but, alas have been able to crank this bad-gal out pretty quickly. I love the idea of KALs- you get great ideas on what to knit next, plus advise and photos of what others are knitting. I saw about 500 examples of this sweater alone on Ravelry, modeled on just about every body type, using all kinds of different yarns. It really is inspiring.
Monday, October 6, 2008
weeeeee-haaaaaaa!
We had the BEST seats- front row! It was also colder than a witch's you-know-what. The ampitheatre is right on the lake and we got the wind right off of it. As luck would have it, there was an old moving blanket in the back of my car (Kozmo's blanket!) it saved the night. We got past the furry, doggy, groddiness of it when the sun set and were able last through the show. Don't know what we would have done without it! THANK YOU TISH AND CRAIG!!
A dream realized....
Last weekend my sister, her husband and my guy-friend went and saw Allison Krauss and Robert Plant. It was a GREAT show. Plant still has it- a great voice and as easy on the eyes as ever. OK, he is a little grizzled, but WTF, we all are a little bit. Krauss is amazing and has one of the strongest voices I have ever heard live. Together they were amazing.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
i love my dog
He really has not changed much, just a lot bigger. I came across this photo and recall that I was working night shift at the time and was trying to sleep during the day. These guys really are like having a baby. They never want to sleep when you want them too. Luckily, they grow up and all they do is sleep. Just look at those paws- they are huge.
Mr. Greenjeans
Yes, that is the name of the sweater pattern. I am doing it as part of Ravelry's 2008 Football Knit-A-Long. It will be for me when it is done. So far, so good.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Miss Lilly
She may never get used to the black dog. This is where she spends her time when she manages to sneek past Kozmo.
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