AfricanKelli

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Namaste Bag

I’ve noticed many friends in spin and yoga classes juggle a dozen little things in their hands coming and going. Keys, membership cards, iPods, water bottles, heart rate monitors, all seem to be jostled here and there in lieu of bringing in a big bag or a purse. I do the same and it is silly. I always end up with something stuck in a pocket that later ends up in the washing machine.

Fine when it is your membership card. Not so great when it is your iPod. (Actually, my latest iPod kamakazed into the tub — but same difference.)

This jostling is all the more annoying when you are off to yoga and trying to manage a mat and towel too. In turn, the Namaste Bag. A cross-body gym tote with a front papoose pocket for a yoga mat or rolled towel. The inside has divided pockets for those aforementioned little items and the entire thing is pre-washed cotton so when it gets a funky badass workout girl scent, you can throw it in the washing machine. (Full circle, this post.)

I’ll create a tutorial if there is any interest. Otherwise, tomorrow — what to include when gifting the Namaste Bag.

~K

Books!

Yeah, these photos are terrible, but it is what you get with a Blackberry camera from 25 yards away. That is Barbara Kingsolver, one of my very favorite authors. I know, I know — I’ve already shared how much I enjoyed hearing her speak last month. How does this have anything to do with advent?

Well, I’d be remiss to put together a list of thoughtful ways to celebrate Christmas without including books. As a reader, nothing thrills me more than having a friend hand me a book and say, “This. This is a story you’ll love.” In truth, I’ll read just about anything with that introduction. “The Lacuna” is one of my favorite books of 2009. It is so very good. But there are many others! Here are my suggestions for a holiday shopping list:

For the adventurer/traveler/person who loves politics:  “Whispering in the Giant’s Ear”

Runner up: “The Monkey Wrench Gang”

For the chef: “The Art of Simple Food” (best cookbook ever, in my opinion)

Runner up: “A Platter of Figs”

For the children in your life: “14 Cows for America”

Runner up: “I love you Stinky Face”

For anyone — thoughtful, interesting, entertaining reads:

“Unaccustomed Earth”

“Left to Tell”

“The Syringa Tree”

And books about nature I just think are wonderful:

“Trout: An Illustrated History”

“Bear Portraits”

“Monkey Portraits”

~K

Gingersnap Scarf

Pattern adapted by my super talented knitting friend Zarah:

Materials:
Heavy worsted weight yarn, approx 385 yards (280g)
Size 9 needles, or size recommended for your yarn
Cable needle

Directions:
Cast on 64 sts using your favorite cast on method.

Row 1 : (RS) *K2, P2* across
Rows 2, 3 & 4: Repeat Row 1
Row 5: (RS) *K2, P2* across 28 sts, C8F, *K2, P2* to end  (cable should fall in center)
Row 6: Repeat Row 1
Repeat rows 1-6 for desired length, ending with row 4.
Bind off in K2, P2 pattern.
Weave in the ends.

Flip scarf over and over and marvel at it’s reversibility!
Key to reversible cables:
C8F: Slip 4 sts to a cable needle and hold to front, K2, P2 from your left needle, then K2, P2 from the cable needle.

~K

Squash and veggie lasagna

Did you follow that? Well, directions then:

1. Find a friend or family member who is down on his/her luck. Figure out when he/she will be home and call the morning before. Say, “You know what? I know you are having a rough time and it sucks and there is nothing I can do about it. BUT! You know what is awesome? Hot homemade dinner you don’t have to cook. So I’m going to be there around 5ish and if you aren’t home, I’ll leave it on the door. I know you don’t like asking for help. You also know I love you. So, um, lasagna. See you later!”

2. Buy the following ingredients:

2 squash (your choice. Acorn squash were on sale post-Thanksgiving for $1 a piece.)

4-5 zucchini or other squash

4 cloves garlic

1 box of whole wheat lasagna

1 small container of whole milk ricotta

Can of tomato sauce (lower sugar/organic varieties are so much better)

1 package (8 ounces) of shredded mozarella

dash of oregano

dash of hot peppers

dash of onion powder

dash of basil leaves

3. Remove seeds from squash after halving it. Roast squash and garlic on a cookie sheet at 350 for 45 minutes. Easy peasy. Drip a bit of olive oil over them before you roast. In the meantime, line your dish with the first layer of lasagna, then sliced zucchini, then add your spices, then another layer of lasagna, then wait for the squash to come out of the oven and have 20 minutes to cool.  (leave the oven on) In a big bowl, mix your ricotta and the roasted squash and garlic. Add this to your lasagna. Top with another and final layer of lasagna. Top with tomato sauce. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Deliver.

Voila — dinner for friends and another celebration of the joy of advent!

~K

Music Zip

So, I’m not making/baking everything I’m giving this year. While that would be lovely, it also leaves me scratching my head when it comes to gifts for men in particular. There are only so many beanies one brother can own.

I thought I’d share a few of the other creative gifts I have planned that do not require a sewing machine or spatula — but just a few minutes of thought.

The beauty of these inexpensive drives is that the technology has increased in leaps and bounds. The first one I purchased in grad school was ten times the price for one-tenth of the memory. What will I do with these little drives? I’ll load them with photos and music to share. Music I’ve purchased that I am loaning, not illegally giving away that is…

Plus, talk about cheap shipping or the perfect stocking-stuffer!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Delights

So, you’ve all had a chocolate chip cookie. You’ve probably enjoyed an oatmeal cookie a time or four too. But I’ll go out on a limb here to say this is one of the tastiest combinations of two you’ll ever inhale.

Cookies are one of my favorite desserts to bake. They are easy, they make just about everyone happy and they take very little time. Plus, they are a great way to spice up the otherwise bland “loaned tupperware container return.”

Oh, you know what I’m talking about — that stack of tupperware in your cabinet that you’ve collected from leftovers at friend’s homes. It should be called “mysteryware.” If there is a corresponding lid to be found, I call it a good day. If I can remember where it came from in the first place — a great day.

This container had birthday dinner leftovers in it from more than a month ago at Adam and Kim’s place. This morning it was returned with chocolate chip oatmeal delights.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon cardamom
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

And if you are lucky like me, you’ll pull them out of the oven with a sweet birdie potholder. My friend Tina surprised me with this yesterday and I already put it to great use. Love it!

~K

Finny,

Well, November came and left in a flash and I didn’t get a single project on our craft-along list completed. In all fairness… Nope. I don’t even have an excuse. You were busy writing more than 50,000 words with NaNoWriMo and smoking a turkey and what was I doing? I don’t really remember, but nothing that incredible.

So, let’s extend those three great projects through the month of December and promise to finish off the year with a bang of prizes, announcements for the new year and kudos to participants.

Sound good?

Love,

Donk

Christmas Cap for Kids

I bought 8 skeins of Blue Heron Cotton Woven Ribbon four years ago for a sweater that was never to be. I remember taking the knitting book to the store, spending $100-plus promising myself this was going to be the pattern that would break through my “major knitting project” fears. Alas, I’ve tried that pattern several times and it just never worked. That said, I didn’t want to give the yarn away. It is so very pretty and different. Cotton ribbon is flat — just like it sounds. And stretchy.  Plus, this color lends its self to wonderful holiday projects.

Have any little ones in your life you want to spoil for Christmas? This hat knits up within a matter of a couple hours.

{Here is a great knitting tutorial for newbies.}

Christmas Cap for Kids

Details:

Yarn: 1 skein Blue Heron Cotton Woven Ribbon (or any ribbon or chunky yarn)

Needles: Size 11 circular needle, 16″ long

Other supplies: scissors, a stitch marker, tape measure, yarn needle

Directions:

Cast on 50 stitches on the circular needle. Join in the round, placing stitch marker. Work knit 2, purl 2 for 5″ to create hat brim. At the start of a new round, after your 5″ are complete, knit only for an additional 2″.  To begin decreasing for the crown:

R1: K5, k2tog

R2: Knit

R3: K4, k2tog

R4: Knit

R5: K3, k2tog

R6: Knit

R7: K2, k2tog

R8: Knit (you may need to go to double pointed needles at this point)

R9: K2tog

Cut yarn, leaving 12-inches. Use yarn needle to thread remaining stitches together. Pull tight and knot to secure. Weave in ends.

Voila! A quick, cute Christmas cap for a sweet wee one!

~K

Secret Sweet Delivery

Have you ever made homemade bread? If so, you know the yeasty scent that fills your home after the dough has risen to the occasion. You’d think you’d smell this in a bakery, but I think the deliciously baked bread overpowers the more earthy scent of yeast. It is a smell I will always associate with good times. I tend to fan the flames of love and kindess with homemade baked goods — as many of you can attest. There is rarely an event or celebration where a cake, plate of cookies or Pyrex of brownies doesn’t show up when I’m invited.

When Thanksgiving rolled around this year, I had a bunch of family friends invite me to their tables. I was touched. With my parents in Texas and my brother in Colorado, the holiday wasn’t going to be the same. Thanksgiving has long been my favorite holiday, namely because it involved gathering for such a great meal with the people I love most — without the pretense of gifts, religion or any of the other things that often cause strife at the dinner table. Instead, it’s just the family, a giant bird and a lot of carbs.

Okay, sometimes there is still strife; for the most part it is such a sweet, comforting, relaxing holiday.

This year, I was sick. Before I fell ill, I managed to celebrate the holiday with two families who have tentatively added me as the olive-skinned leaf on their otherwise fair family trees. I cannot tell you how much I love these two clans, but needless to say — I am very thankful. Something I ate Wednesday provoked food poisoning and ended up in bed early Thursday night and stayed there for the next 36-hours or so. (Netflix is not a good roommate. While she entertains, she refuses to go to the drug store and her soup is crap.)

Before the stomach bug caught me, I launched a master plan to bake and deliver six pans of homemade cinnamon rolls to celebrate the many friends who are my Phoenix family. I should have made twice as many. I didn’t have enough to give away.

Today’s adventathon is yet another project really anyone can do. I know my food  photos often provoke “how I wish I could do that!” comments, but let me be completely honest: if I can cook it, so can a trained monkey. I have no natural talents or abilities in the kitchen. In fact, we weren’t allowed to cook in my parent’s home and my first culinary “delights” were over an illegal hot plate in my dorm room. Emily (the fabulous college roommate) would tell you — I managed to screw up ramen most times.

Like anything else, cooking just takes practice and patience. I find these come easier when I really want to eat what I am cooking. I also find being in the kitchen relaxing and I truly believe there is no easier way to share your love than by giving someone food you’ve made with them in mind. I quickly heard from all six recipients. The cinnamon rolls were still warm and I could almost hear them licking their fingers over the phone.

So, give the recipe a whirl. And consider finding a handful of friends to celebrate with a pan of warm, baked love. I can promise you that this act of kindness won’t soon be forgotten. Also, it is a very inexpensive way to provide a lot of happiness to your community.

Here are the changes I’d make to the recipe in the future:

- I’d add a cup of walnuts and Craisins

- I’d add a dash of nutmeg and cardamom

- I’d use the same amounts but only bake 4 large casserole dishes in lieu of the intended 7 small pans

~K