Pesto Loaf: Version 1

Pesto Loaf

Version 1:

½ cup pesto (see below)

½ cup feta

¼ cup goat cheese

¼ cup olive oil

1 clove garlic

1 6-oz can tomato paste

salt and pepper

1 lb stir fry beef, browned and diced

2 tubes Pillsbury crescent rolls

Pesto:

1 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves

2 cloves garlic

½ cup olive oil

2 Tbsp red wine vinegar

salt and pepper

1.     Make pesto: Blend ingredients until smooth. Season to taste.

2.     Blend cheeses, oil, and garlic.

3.     Heat oven to 375* F.

4.     Lay dough in rectangle on baking sheet.

5.     Add filling: beef, cheese, paste, pesto. Wrap in dough.

6.     Bake 20 minutes, or until dough is golden brown.

Changes I would make:

Instead of layering sauces/cheeses separately, I would rather mix them all together; maybe even cook them with the beef (if using ground beef) like Lasagna Loaf. Next time, I would even use ground beef rather than stir fry beef. Also, less oil might be best, as some of the pesto leaked a bit as it was folded and first cooking. Again, nothing horribly wrong, but I think there might be a better texture and overall balance of flavors. In sum: a success for first time experimentation with these ingredients.

Changes

I have finished a few projects and abandoned others since I last wrote here. For now, I'm trying to keep my domestic life clean and frugal, which means facing the fact that some projects are not meant to be, and that others will require a lot more effort than I have been putting into them. One big part of the latter half is my writing. I used to flex those muscles frequently and fervently, but now they have atrophied to the point where even my academic writing has suffered. I wanted to change that last semester, but some part of my adult psychology shifted, and I ended up failing at much of what I was trying to accomplish. I did not even begin many of those changes in earnest.

Today, I'm trying to get a lot done. I've already cleaned the kitchen and vacuumed. I also want to finish a few crafty projects, order my textbooks, and other such beginning of the semester activities - last minute revels in freedom from anything but a diurnal lifestyle and limited budget, organizing and mind clearing to start this new year and semester as clean and smooth as possible.

I've always been a words person, but I will do my best to sit back and take a few pictures as well. I live with far more potential project models than I used to, so that is no longer an excuse, especially since several of these projects are for those folks.

2013, let's dance.

Slow Going

I have made many bentos this semester. Did I mention that before? I'm doing that now for my lunches. It is very exciting and tasty.

Also, I made things!

Namely, I made my first shawl. The other things I finished were commissions:

Not pictured: my first ever Dr. Who Scarf. Why is it not pictured? I failed to photograph it. However, there is enough yarn leftover that I sense I will be making another one, or at least something in that color theme.

Speaking of commissions, does anyone remember those Aeneid socks? No? That doesn't surprise me. I started them last year. I just finished the first sock this year. Are they that hard to make? Not really, no. But the charting was finicky. I am now on the third line of text of the second sock. Let's see if I can make my commissions timelier in the future, shall we?

Warning: Food Post

Cooking happened. Knitting happened. I have evidence of both!

Ecce, gyoza!

So, I didn't really cook this, aside from toasting the bagel, but it was a very tasty breakfast.

Crepes! Not shown here, the lunch crepes with freshly grated swiss cheese and Boar's Head ham.

Blueberry, Sausage, and French Toast breakfast casserole:
Blueberry Buckle:
Honey Ginger Buttons:

Earl Grey Chocolate Tart:

Somewhere, I also have images of welsh cookies, and I've made dinner rolls, and other things. As I find the pictures, I'll post them.

Next time, the knitting pictures. I can't go six months without posting and just photodump everything, now, can I?

Week 1: Knot the Stash!

Projects finished this last week:
- Jayne Hat
- One of the summer gloves

Project added to list:
- Taxi wallet
- Fluted choker

Does cooking count as a craft? Because I spent a good four hours on it yesterday. I made muffin-sized meat pies and lemon ginger scones for my family last night. As a post-graduate bum, I figure I will make up for my in-between undergrad and grad work by cooking a lot.

No pictures today, but soon! I promise! I'm casting on summer glove #2 now. It should be a quick finish, then I should really get back to those Aeneid socks... the second one isn't even charted yet, and I'm getting to the decreases for the ankle, which means I'm almost halfway through the first sock!

Knitting Away the Summer

Here's some advice for you: don't catch Mono. It is unpleasant and takes forever to recover from. This is the first time in three weeks that I've been able to swallow without my throat being sore.

In other news, I am joining my friend, Spiffy, in some stash busting this summer. I have a bunch of yarn that needs using. Some of it I have had for over a year, and knowing how fast I knit, I think this is unacceptable. Therefore, my goal this summer is to reduce my stash by knitting a lot of projects, at least one a week. Some I will give to friends as gifts, and others I will post online for sale and see what happens. I may even knit a few things for myself!

Spiffy set up some rules for this endeavor, so I will, too, although slightly altered. Knitting does not quite allow the same kind of abundant usage as sewing, especially as I am not fond of making plushy objects, like pillows and toys. And, at times, a project comes up that I simply don't have enough of the right kind of yarn for. With that in mind, here are...

THE RULES:

1) No buying anything. (This rule can be broken if you get a brilliant idea for a project that absolutely can't be completed in the stash, but planned things only, no random buys!)

2) There shall be approximately one project a week. They shall be determined and organized each week to balance long term projects with shorter projects. Stash shall be cleaned up and organized in between projects.

3) Try not to throw anything away. At the end of each week, scrap yarn that is too short even for knitted jewelry will be knit into squares for a blanket.

Another goal I would like to make for myself this summer is to take more pictures, mostly of things that I have made. A lot of times I forget to photograph projects before giving them away or wearing them, thus rendering them beyond my reach, or very worn looking. So, as I knit my way through piles of yarn, I will have my camera at my side.

In the midst of this, I am reorganizing my room. This includes setting up a crafting corner. Once this little niche is established, I shall take and post photos.

The current knitting project list is:
1) Jayne hat(s) (halfway through one, will have yarn enough for another one, maybe two)
2) Aeneid socks (1/4 done)
3) Summer gloves
4) Morgan scarf (started, but at no significant amount)
5) Tarot card bag (needs finishing touches only)
6) Sweater vest
7) Scalloped rib gloves (one glove made; need to find the project to knit the next one...)
8) Knee High Stockings (one cuff almost done... will probably go insane finishing the rest - definitely a long term project, may devote an entire week or two to it)

Gloves and Glossy Yarn

The commissioned gloves are long finished at last. Now, I have a list of projects, including a new commissioned pair of socks. Aeneid socks, to be exact! Inspired by "Hwaet!" by Sanguine Gryphon, one of my friends excitedly announced that I should make a pair with text from the Aeneid. My roommate then promptly commissioned a pair from me. But, I still have time to knit for myself, as the yarn I ordered for the socks has not yet arrived.

Thus, on my needles I have:
- Entrelac headband to match my fingerless mitts
- Second of Lynn's Scalloped Rib Gloves (fully fingered for a change)
- Eleanor of Toledo Stockings

Now, the last item is going to involve a bit of stubbornness on my part. I will finish this project that I cast on Feb 2 of last year. *crosses arms* Or. Else.

Of course, at home I have more things on the needles, but I consider those sleeping at the moment.

In the meantime, look! A glove!