I haven't done any baking recently besides a few necessary loaves of bread. With a big Easter brunch coming up I'll be baking up a storm this coming week and weekend. In the meantime I decided to try two things that have been on my list for quite a while : canning and crocheting.
My brother and his girlfriend have a knack for picking out great gifts for me and for my birthday they got me this book about canning. I read cookbooks cover to cover like novels and by the time I was done read this one I was too excited to wait till fruit was in season to start canning. The recipes are easy to follow and make small batches which are perfect for my pantry. I decided to try the recipe for cocktail onions seeing as we go through a jar of them every couple of months in our house. I love a cocktail onion or two in my martini.
I went with a mix of red and white onions because she said that the red onions will tint the vinegar pink which sounded appealing to me.
The recipe is simple: You brine the onion for 8 hour or overnight, then you heat a vinegar mixture to boiling and pack it all into your hot canning jars.
This recipe doesn't need to be sealed in a hot water bath because they will be keep as refrigerator pickles for 4 months. However, I really wanted to see if I could get them to seal so I processed the canned onions for the specified time in boiling water. Later I heard and *pop* *pop* pop* of the cans sealing as they cooled. Now I really can't wait for spring and summer to get here so that I can make some jams! It's really satisfying to have a pantry filled with jars of things you made yourself.
Obviously canning and crochet are very different but they hold the same appeal for me. It's nice to have things in your house that you've made yourself using the same techniques and skills that have been passed down through generations. After seeing this post on the blog Ninewaysdown I knew that I wanted to make a big colourful afghan of my own. Luckily, there are lots of videos on youtube for left-handed people. Unluckily, I just could not follow the one for making a granny square. Instead of looking for another video I just started making up my own blanket pattern and so far its coming along nicely.
In fact, I only really have one issue.
Wellington and the yarn.
No matter where I keep the yarn Wellington gets into it. I had placed these on the floor to take a picture, turned around to grab my camera and Wellington had already scattered them and was making a move for the grey wool.
He can't decide which is better: playing with and biting the yarn, or getting into my yarn bag and sleeping on it all.
Even my crochet blanket isn't safe. The second I set it down he runs over and sits on it with his furry butt and covers it in cat hair.
Note the approaching cat foot in this photo. He's lucky that I think everything he does is adorable. Annoying and adorable.
I can't believe I am going to call onions beautiful but really they are! I am dying to try some cannong my self esp jellies and pie filling - fruit is soooo expensive now : ( I am hoping as things come into season to save them for winter.
...and how can you be mad a Wellington??? They all do that it's like they make out with the yarn lol.
The forsynthis is our only sign of spring so far if it snows here again they will have to make me a white suit.....
Posted by: Mylifeunderthebus | 04/17/2011 at 06:02 PM
Oh that's gorgeous... also I love your cat, can I have him? Hmmm I might have to look into canning with all the veggies I planted this summer, or freezing them. I wonder which is better?
Posted by: DK | 04/18/2011 at 08:39 AM
Beautiful colors you've chosen for your crocheting; I haven't picked up my crochet hooks in quite awhile, but now you may have inspired me to do so! I've always loved granny squares, but I'm very bad at making them; I always end up miscounting so they become lopsided. I should probably practice more. ^_^
I like your canning, too! That's something I've always wanted to try, but never gotten around to. Sounds like it has a great gifting potential.
Posted by: Mary at n00bcakes | 04/18/2011 at 10:35 AM
As a dog person I had no idea that cats actually love to play with yarn, I thought that was just something they did on Tom & Jerry! I also love to read cookbooks like novels. I have a few cooking/eating memoirs that I've just finished - A Homemade Life and Lunch in Paris. I just got The Sharper the Knife the Less you Cry in the mail today. Have you read any of these?
Posted by: Lisa | 04/18/2011 at 09:23 PM
The biting kitty pic is priceless!! hehe!
Posted by: Carrie | 04/20/2011 at 02:42 PM
Crochet and Canning seem a perfect cozy combination! Don't you just love preserving? I was surprised at how easy and satisfying it is. My husband has become a preserving fanatic and I love it. Must try those cocktail onions!
Thanks,
E
Posted by: yummy supper | 04/21/2011 at 08:49 PM
Just popping back in - I am sure you are whipping up some ridiculously fabulous Easter spectacularness!!!
Happy Happy Easter! XOXO Patty
Posted by: Mylifeunderthebus | 04/23/2011 at 07:50 AM
I have the same problem with cats wanting to play with my yarn. I don't know how many crocheted flowers have wound up under the fridge because of those jerks. I finally invested in a big plastic toolbox, so I can dump everything in there when I'm done working on it.
Posted by: Kelli | 05/06/2011 at 01:29 PM
I love the afghan you made and the colors are beautiful I would love to have the pattern I am a crocheter and I will be trying your recipes they look great!
Posted by: shirley | 10/29/2011 at 08:19 PM
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767721-cefdinir-300mg-capsules
omnicef sinusitis
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767577-cefdinir-package-insert
omnicef prescription dosage for kids
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14766639-omnicef-red-stools
buy omnicef no prescription
Posted by: sonPmy | 05/14/2012 at 11:40 PM
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767412-omnicef-wikipedia
cefdinir usage
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767829-omnicef-oral-suspension
buy omnicef canada
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767037-omnicef-lyme
omnicef prescribing information
Posted by: sonJph | 05/14/2012 at 11:51 PM
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14766143-omnicef-package-insert
cefdinir susp
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14766974-cefdinir-overdose
buy omnicef suspension dosage
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767028-omnicef-suspension
cefdinir dosing
Posted by: sonMyd | 05/15/2012 at 02:19 AM
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767055-omnicef-liquid
cefdinir alcohol
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767829-omnicef-oral-suspension
omnicef prescription dosage chart
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14766179-omnicef-dosage-children
what is omnicef used for
Posted by: sonKcx | 05/15/2012 at 02:31 AM
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767210-cefdinir-for-strep
omnicef and rash
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767223-cefdinir-300-mg-side-effects
buy omnicef antibiotic for children
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767685-uses-for-omnicef
omnicef bronchitis
Posted by: sonKeo | 05/15/2012 at 03:23 AM
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14766237-omnicef-300-mg
cefdinir price
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14767730-cefdinir-pneumonia
buy omnicef liquid storage
http://omnicef250mg.webs.com/apps/blog/show/14766933-cefdinir-generic
omnicef 300 mg capsule
Posted by: sonMpb | 05/15/2012 at 03:35 AM