GAL #28 of 35

Yes, I did post out of 35.  I'm finally going with a 5 X 7 (5 Across, 7 down).  Only 2 or 3 GAL issued squares left.  Why 2 or 3?  I'm still debating on the dragon square. 

Square #28 takes me back to me teenage years.  I was first introduced to Douglas Adams in the early 80s, when a local radio station broadcast the BBC Radio show "Hitchhiker's Guild to the Galaxy", which included an edited version of the first three books of the Trilogy.  Since, I have read and listen to all 5 books, plus a sixth book released by Eoin Colfer, which makes 6 books in the Trilogy.  If you are familiar with the series, this isn't as confusing as it sounds.

If your trying to figure this one out, that is a thumb and fingers over a planet with a ring. 

Now, do you know where your towel is?

Weather, December and Knitting Stuff

This foggy picture shows the unusual fog we had for a couple days.

I have been to many light events this year.  Ethel M's Cactus Garden (Decorated in Christmas Lights), Opportunity Village's Magical Forest and Glittering Lights.

Because of the garden and one cat, I purchased two live trees this year.

 One with regular lights and the larger with solar lights.

Knitting:

I joined a knitting bag club, but I can but what I want, if I want.  The first one I had to join was Doctor Who "Exterminate".

Then for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, I found more.

I do have another on order, but they won't be released till Later in January.  It includes all of the Doctors.  This will be my real project bag, as it will be the larger tote.  January will be Monty Python's Holly Grail.  (Darn, another bag).

Scarf, with the pattern from one of my Fall Men's Knitting Retreat Friends.

I have two other scarves going, but no picture allowed, (Yet!)

GAL #27

Forgot to post this one.  This is the second in my GAL (Geek a Long) squares. 

One of the most influential early computer games I played was not a fancy console game, not a intense graphical game, in fact there were no graphics at all.  The game was called, "Zork".  It was early in the Text Based Adventure Games.  You had to draw maps, or buy them, otherwise you would have been lost.  Going North, you might not be able to go South and return to the same spot.  It also encouraged me to read, which lead me into the adventure of reading too.

It all started with:

You are standing in an open field west of a white house, with a boarded front door.

There is a small mailbox here.

Slow Cook Friday: Chicken Pot Pie

I looked at a few recipes, and decided to work those into my meal. 

Chicken Pot Pie

1# Chicken (Strips were cheapest)
1 can Peas and Carrots
1 can French Cut Beans
1 can Corn
Mushrooms
Celery (BB)
Onion
Aspargus (BB)
Couple handfuls of fresh Cranberries
Fresh Basil
2 Bay Leaves
1 jar Chicken Gravy

Put everything into slow cooker, and set on low for 8 hours.  Mix up Bisquick biscuits mix and place on top of everything.  Cook on high for 30 minutes.  Serve.

I had not seen using gravy before, but that would replace the needed thickener.  I've use Bisquick before and it works great.  I did not cut up the chicken, because if it is not precooked, it will break up easily when stirring. 

GAL #24, 25 & 26

Once again, I'm not keeping up with my knitting.

I've enjoyed the Narnia Series, especially the two versions of Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, and the different versions on both TV and Movies.  I had fun with this square too, because this was my second attempt using three colors.  I'm still not even sure which will be the front.

The is the first Current Television Show.  The square was originally titled Atom, but it is the atom used in The Big Bang Theory logo.  As I talked to knitting friends, the phrase know most from the series, was "Bazinga".  Unlike other charts, I had all three colors floating while using the yelow.

Growing up, I played with may different building sets, but my favorite, even today, are Legos!

Slow Cook Friday: Beef Stew?

I skipped the recipe and went with what I had in the kitchen plus a couple things.

2# Beef. I got the cubed because it was cheaper
Mushrooms (manager's sale)
Chili peppers
Left over bell pepper
Asparagus (BB)
Red potatoes (BB)
Bean (from the garden, including pods)
Couple handfuls of fresh cranberries
Corn
Kidney beans
Few leaves of Basel
Beef stock from cubes
Spices

Tossed all in slow cooker on low for 8 hours.

Slow Cook Friday: Clam & Bacon Chowder

CLAM & BACON CHOWDER  (From Get Crocked E-Book)

4 (6 1/2 oz.) cans clams
1/2 lb. bacon, diced
1 lg. onion, chopped
6 to 8 lg. potatoes, pared and cubed
3 c. water
3 1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 c. half and half cream or milk
3 to 4 tbsp. cornstarch

Cut clams into bite sized pieces if necessary. In skillet, saute salt pork or bacon and onion until golden brown; drain. Put into Crock Pot with clams. Add all remaining ingredients, except milk. Cover; cook on high 3 to 4 hours or until potatoes are tender.

During the last hour of cooking, combine 1 cup of milk with the cornstarch. Add that and the remaining milk and stir well; heat through. Serve in large bowls with crusty French bread.

-----

Side note.  We had a pumpkin patch at work.  Under the pumpkins were put a few potato plants.  These were from potatoes that started growing in my kitchen, from a batch of BB potatoes.    I put one in the microwave last night, and it was just like the potatoes I usually get.  Half the potatoes in today's recipe came from that batch.

 

Slow Cook Friday: Potato Soup

It is getting the season for soup.  I had potatoes that are starting to sprout, so:

(Added a couple chilis I got at the farmer's market.  No mashing potatoes)

• 6 large baking potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 quart low sodium chicken broth (for vegetarian use vegetable broth)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced (or pressed)
• 1/4 c. butter
• 2 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pepper
• 1 c. cream or half-and-half cream
• 1 c. shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3 T. chopped fresh chives or scallions
• 1 c. sour cream (optional)
• 4 slices bacon, fried & crumbled, optional (for vegetarian, eliminate bacon)
• cheese, for sprinkling, if desired

Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup is the perfect comfort food on a cool night.  This recipe can be altered to be used for a vegetarian recipe too – just omit the bacon and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.

1. Combine first seven ingredients in a large slow cooker.
2. Cover. Cook on High for 4 hours or Low for 8 hours (check to make sure potatoes are tender).
3. Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped, and soup is slightly thickened.
4. Stir in cream, cheese and chives/scallions.
5. Top with sour cream (if desired), sprinkle with bacon, more cheese (if desired) and chives/scallions.

http://www.getcrocked.com/2011/09/14/crock-pot-loaded-bake-potato-soup/

Garden Update

I've been looking through my garden at my different plants.  Both of my Pepper plants are ready to bloom their flowers.  I can see the white bud on both.

I have not been watching my bean plant carefully.  I realized today I had more than just flowers, I had bean pods as well.

Several failed seeds and transplants that never worked were next to my bean plant.  I though I saw something and left that area open.  This is what it looks like now.  What is it?  I'm not sure.

Everything but the peas seem to be doing well.  I look forward to my wandering my patio and seeing how my fall garden is doing.

GAL #21, #22 and #23

I just skimmed my blog and realized I'm missing squares from the GAL.

This is Sherlock (Sherlock Holmes).  I love the new BBC version, and I have been listening to the complete works of Sherlock Holmes.   I'm even more excited because BBC America just announced they will be showing the series, so I plan to set my DVR, since last I saw, they were still not on Amazon Prime.

My first real console game was an Atari 2600.  When I wanted to learn about computers, I found the 2600 Programming Cartridge was not worth the cost.  Where did I finally find the cartridge?  An Atari Computer Store.  What caught my attention?  The Atari 400 and 800 home computer.  Within a few months, after visiting the store a lot, was my own Atari 400.  It had 16K  (Not Meg), and an audio cassette recorder to store programs.  I later traded a bunch of cartridges for 48K of ram, giving me 64K of ram.  Hard to believe were computers went from there.

I stated that the 2600 was my first real game console.  I said that, because it was not my first console game.  Atari could change games, but my first console only had one game.  There were a few versions, but it was still one single game.  This is the game that changed not only the game console market, but was the first arcade game as well.  The first game was?  Pong!

Slow Cook Friday: Taco Soup

Crock Pot Taco Soup - from GetCrocked.com

1 lb. lean ground beef, browned and drained
2 pkgs. taco seasoning mix
16 oz. tomatoes with green chilies, undrained (Home Canned w/o chilies)
16 oz. black beans, canned, undrained (In the mood for kidney)
16 oz. corn, canned, undrained
1 can black olives, chopped or sliced
1 onion, medium, chopped
1/2 bell pepper, chopped (2)
4 tomatillos (optional), chopped
Dried Peppers (I'm out of fresh peppers)


1. Place everything in a large crock pot, add water, if necessary, to fill.
2. Cover. Cook on Low for 5 or more hours until flavors are blended.
3. Top each bowl with a handful of shredded cheddar cheese.
4. Serve with sour cream, taco chips and salsa on the side.
Happy Crocking!  

Garden #2

I went a little crazy at the garden center and Plant World.  I do have places to plant everything in pots, but there is some sharing. 

• My Existing bean plant
• Something in the middle?
• Basil

•  Anaheim Pepper
• Hot and Spicy Oregino
• Jalapeno

•  Lemon Catnip  (Yes I think there might end up being a few chew marks)

• Peas

• Apple Mint

Lets see what my fall garden looks like this year.  I'm past seeds, but I did get a couple and I know I will start early next year.

Knitting and Garden

Knitting:

After months of on and off work, my Fangtastic socks are done.  They are so named, because of the fangs in the heel, and the bats within the design..  Wendy from Knitter's Brewing Company is a creative designer, so I enjoy her patterns.

These socks do have an interesting side story.  I want to my old high school Friday, because they were celebrating their 50th Homecoming game.  Many Alumni from past years came to the game.  The socks were photographed by a friend, saying I was knitting him socks.   

I've also worked on the Hot Chocolate Run Polar Bear, which supported the Safe Passage charity.  I think the body is too large to the arms and legs, but most still think he is cute.  I will do another soon.

I am enjoying my newest knitting bag.  It was a special limited seasonal release from Slip Stitch Studios.  I found out about the site after hearing a Marly Bird interview.  I'm looking forward to my next bag.

Garden:

I  was dispointed this year, that most of the seeds I got started, did not survive transplant.  I have a bean plant that has been transplanted twice, and has been doing great.  It has two flowers already, so I hope for several bean pods.  I have a small bean plant that has started slowly.  After wandering through pots, I have found a few remains of transplants that have started to grow.  One I think is from a cotton seed.  A couple others I an still not sure what they are, but I hope will grow and mature.

I hope to check out the home improvement and garden store to see if they have any fall plants.

Slow Cook Friday: BEEF STROGANOFF

From the eBook:  Get-Crocked-450+-Slow-Cooker-Recipes

BEEF STROGANOFF

2 lbs top round steak, sliced thin across the grain

1 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 medium onion, sliced

1/4 tsp thyme

3/4 cup dry sherry  (Not so much sherry)

3/4 cup beef broth

3/4 tsp dry mustard (Mustard Seeds)

1/4 tsp garlic salt
- Worcestershire sauce 

1-1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup Wondra flour

Put all this in the Crock Pot, stir well and cook on low for 8 hours. Turn heat to high and

mix 1-1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup Wondra flour, cake flour works too, heat on high for

40 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles.

Slow Cook Friday + 1 Day

Why +1 ? I had everything ready to go yesterday and realized I had to bought any cheese.


ALL DAY MACARONI AND CHEESE (From the GetCrocked Cookbook)

8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
4 cups(16 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese (I used a mixed blend)
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- fresh bacon bits (just because)
- two bell peppers (was in the fridge)
- small onion (was the in fridge too)
- bread crumbs (container bugged me, so added some on top)


Place the cooked macaroni in Crock Pot that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking
spray. Add the remaining ingredients, all except 1 cup of the cheese, mix well. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of cheese and then cover and cook on low setting for 5 to 6 hours or until the mixture is firm and golden around the edges. Do not remove the cover or stir until it has finished cooking.

I'm off to the NASCAR Camping World Truck series today, so it will be a nice after race dinner.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Garden and KBC Cloth #2

I started my fall garden a few weeks ago.  Most of my seeds have not transplanted well, but I am getting some growth.

Here is my Garden Bean plant.  I have already had to transplant this twice, but it has still held on strong. 

This is one of last Spring's Mint plant.  This as other had wilted away in the summer, but there was still enough left of it, that it grew back.

 This is another pea plant.  I've tried a couple already, butu it didn't survive transplant.  Other seeds I'm trying to get started are:

• Chili Peppers
• More Beans
• Acorn Squash
• Basil
• Cotton

I'm going to leave out the pictures of the seeds in the sprouters, in hopes that some of them will survive transplant.

Here is my cloth for the football contest.  The needles are there to block the cloth, to get a good shape when it dries.

GAL #20 & KBC Dish Cloth

Here is #20.  This is the alternate square for the Star Trek Square.   This is the logo for Star Fleet.

I've mentioned Knitter's Brewing Company.  Their Ravelry Group plays several sports games through the year.  This includes both the Chase for the Sprint Cup and Football.  The entry for each game is one dish cloth.  Here is my entry for NASCAR.  Football comes next.