BitterSweet

Chemicals added in to foods, be it for freshness, color, or flavor, quite honestly scare me. Endless shelf lives and attractive facades certainly have their draws, but not for the price paid by the consumer. Artificial colors and dyes essentially come from gasoline- Why on earth would I want that in my body? Not once will you see a fake ingredient in any of my baking or cooking, and I make a point of purchasing the most wholesome packaged foods possible, although I will be the first to admit that the term “healthy processed foods” is almost always an oxymoron. Being so vehemently against these foreign substances, the last thing you would expect to find in my home would be a sizable collection of those franken-food products, residing quietly like live bombs just waiting to go off. And yet… My friends, I must admit- This is exactly the case. Cola, and especially diet cola is my guilty pleasure, so deadly addictive that not a day goes by that I can resist the cravings for that fizzy chemical cocktail.

Attempts to wean myself off of the questionable drink have all ultimately failed, and come noon time I’ll inevitably start seeking out my daily fix, going as far as it takes to satisfy the urge. Whole shopping trips have been orchestrated as an excuse to simply buy another case of the cold, metallic cans, loading up the shopping cart with fruits and veggies with only one real item on the grocery list: Soda. Yes, I know that other drinks are wonderful too- Tea is in an endless supply here and I would be nothing without a cup of coffee in the morning, but midday when I need just a tiny kick of caffeine and some sweet bubbles to tickle my taste buds, nothing else comes close to a tall glass of that brown, carbonated soft drink.

But tell me, doesn’t everyone have bad habits? Aren’t I allowed some downright non-nutritious, completely health-unconscious treats, too? Besides, on a hot summer day with no end in sight, you just can’t beat a frosty cola straight from the bottle. Maybe someday I’ll kick this craving, but for now… It could be much worse, don’t you think?

[Knit cola inspired by this pattern for a knit beer]

Rising each morning to find a brightly shining sun already waiting to greet me, it’s hard to curl up on a chair with my knitting and stay indoors, let alone sleep in and stay in bed. While most people find summer vacation to be restful and relaxing, I’m discovering that I have even less time to just laze around, compelled by the energetic rays of sunshine pooling in through the kitchen windows, promising fantastic light to accomplish just about anything with. That’s not to say that all the light turns my brain only to work- Oh no, there’s nothing better than a mid-day berry-picking expedition, or a romp around the yard with good friends. As we enter these dog days of summer, the pieces of the puzzle seem to fit perfectly as I play catch with one of my canine acquaintances.

Youthful and full of spunk, I swear this young pup could chase after the same yellow sphere for days on end. Don’t let his size fool you either; When playing fetch with twigs, he’s been known to drag home enormous limbs that look like full tree trunks compared to him! Focused on the target, he faithfully returns whatever I throw his way, no matter the distance and mindful not of how far the mercury climbs as the sun continues to rise. Nothing could break his concentration. Nothing, except…

Momentarily loosing sight of the ball, he catches a glimpse of some ethereal beauty through the corner of his eye. What surreal apparition is this, this… phantom that managed to interrupt our game, despite all the enthusiasm this puppy exudes? Letting the ball drop out of his vice-like grip, it bounced dejectedly to a stop, becoming lodged in a perilously deep gopher hole. Forgetting that any game or play mate had ever existed, he turned his back on me to get a better look at this curiosity that so captivated his imagination. Watching helplessly, I could see my friend drifting away from me, both literally and figuratively.

But who could blame the young lad, faced by this dashing female dachshund with a gorgeous face and delicate ribbons garnishing long, curly hair? So love-stuck by this perfect pooch that he was practically drooling a river, I knew that he meant no disrespect by breaking up our fun, but was under the influence of a more heady desire. Bitten by the love bug a hundred times over, it was surprising that he didn’t barrel straight into her and whisk her off her four feet!

Unaware of all the attention being paid by my friend, the girl in question was occupied by her own feelings for this handsome dog she spied across the field. There’s no denying true love, and one look at these two confirmed that they were nothing short of a match made in heaven.

Sure, I’m plenty jealous and disappointed that he would abandon the playing field just like that, but I know that it’s more than just puppy loved that compelled him. I can see in their eyes how happy they are together, and I would only wish them the best. Besides, there’s plenty more fun to be had in the sun, indoors or out, maybe next time, they’d both like to join in, too!

Any day now, a friend of mine will find herself in the hospital, but for the best reason that you could hope for; She’s ready to give birth to her baby, as evident by a belly so rotund that she’s practically bursting at the seams! Cozy in the womb, this unborn infant is already proving to be handful, standing everyone up on her due date. All I can think each morning is “It could be today,” and I’m sure my friend echoes these thoughts with even more enthusiasm. It is still a shock that some one this close to my age is about to have a child of her own, such a difficult venture and life-long commitment, but I certainly wish her the best for it. I would never have a kid of my own, for lack of patience and fear of failure, but I just know that this friend will be the most loving mother anyone could ask for.

So any day now, I’ve been expecting the call to come, announcing the arrival of a sweet, smiling baby girl…

Despite my short temper when dealing with children, I can’t help but be excited to meet this new bundle of joy. So small and innocent, seeing the world for the first time with wide open eyes, she could become whatever she wants. Every door is open and the possibilities are endless- Who knows what hobbies she might pick up, what she’ll want to be when she grows up, who she might fall in love with some day? To contemplate the beginning of life with no restrictions is an overwhelming prospect to be sure, but so inspiring at the same time. Watching a newborn grow and develop into a walking, talking person… It truly is a miracle.

Still, I’m more than happy to observe from afar, having heard all too much about the pains of childbirth and of the sleep lost for months thereafter. If only there were a way to have a baby that is only quiet, well behaved, and appears on time, in less than a few hours after conception…

Head:

With any skin-tone worsted weight yarn and an F hook,
Sc6 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (12 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (18 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (24 sts)
Sc3, sc twice into next st* around (30 sts)
Sc4, sc twice into next st* around (36 sts)
Sc around for 10 rounds
-Embroider and insert safety eyes. Don’t forget the little curl of hair!-

Sc4, sc2tog* around (30 sts)
Sc3, sc2tog* around (24 sts)
Sc2, sc2tog* around (18 sts)
Sc1, sc2tog* around (12 sts)
Stuff firmly and leave a long tail

Ears: (Make 2)

Ch4, sc into second loop from hook, sc 3 times in next st, sc in final st (5)
Ch1, turn. Sc across, and then continue around and sc into backs of the first row’s sts (8)
Sl st into the last row to form an even oval, cut thread and tie tight.

Body:

In pink, Sc6 in a circle
Sc twice into each st
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (18 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (24 sts)
Sc around
Sc3, sc twice into next st* around (30 sts)
Sc around for 5 rounds
Sc3, sc2tog* around (24 sts)
Sc around for 2 rounds
Sc2, sc2tog* around (18 sts)
Sc1, sc2tog* around (12 sts)
Break yarn and tie off

Feet: (Make 2)

Sc3 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (6 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st (9 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (12 sts)
Sc around for 2 rounds
-Insert stuffing-
Sc2tog* around (6 sts)
Sc around
Break yarn and leave a 6 inch long tail to sew with

Arms: (Make 2)

Starting with the skin colored yarn, Sc6 in a circle
Sc around for 2 rounds
-Switch to pink yarn-
Sc around for 4 rounds
Break yarn and leave a 6 inch long tail to sew with

Bib:

In white, sc5 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (10 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (15 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* 3 times (18 sts)
Turn, ch1, sc 14
Break yarn. Whip out your red yarn, and attach that to one of the top corners. Sc into each st all the way around, sl st into the corner that you started in, ch 18, sl st into the opposite corner, forming a loop (It should look like a little necklace.) Break yarn and weave in ends.

To Assemble: Positioning the bib on the body so that the loop goes around the opening up top, sew on the head. Done correctly, this should prevent the bib from ever coming off (as long as the baby keeps its head together!) Cut a smile out of black felt and either stitch or use fabric glue to adhere it to the face. Everything else is very straightforward- Sew on the ears, arms, and feet as indicated by the photos.

Take care of your new bundle of joy!

After my most recent debacle with raw food bars, any person in their right mind would assume that it would be a long time before I tried to navigate such unpredictable and often unsavory waters again. Of course, my curiosity will clearly be the death of me, because hardly a week after that first disastrous trial, I discovered a “Ginger Snap” Smart Monkey bar on a road trip… To much the same results. And considering I paid $3 (!!!) for that one mound of unpalatable mush, I simply couldn’t allow myself to leave it in the trash, suffering through every last bite. Honestly people, it was so depressingly distasteful, I was afraid I might have a reversal of fortune right then and there.

Is there no hope for raw food bars?, I couldn’t help but wonder as those vile materials churned angrily in my stomach. I knew in my heart of hearts that there was some company out there who could make this concept work as intended- Seriously, how hard is it to not process fewer than 7 or 8 ingredients in a tasty way? Fearing that this mission to discover the full potential of raw food bars would lead me on a wild goose chase to even more dangerous culinary territory, I jumped on the opportunity to try a brand that I had heard good things about already: Larabar.

Feeling like a kid in a candy store upon seeing the rainbow of colorful wrappers that belong to 12 different flavors, I selected a small sampling of three with high hopes.

The cross section of each of these bars is basically the same- A thick, dark paste of dates holding together a copious amount of nuts. This one pictured right here happens to be the Cinnamon Roll flavor, which I grabbed right away simply thanks to the imagery of the title alone. I positively adore cinnamon, so to open up that shiny wrapper and inhale a plume of the spicy scent was the best first impression the bar could have made. Yielding easily to the teeth, it had a wonderfully soft, tender texture, accompanied by the delightful contrast of crunchy nuts. This time, instead of the off-putting bitterness that I had found in the other raw food bars, there was the most amazing sweetness that seemed to wrap around my entire tongue and tickle my taste buds. It was simply unbelievable that there was no sugar added, but it really was just the perfect amount of natural sugar to enhance all of the other components as well. After getting halfway through the bar, I swore that I really could taste the pastry of its namesake, too! How on earth they created the flavors of that decadent dough in only 6 unprocessed ingredients is beyond me!

Encouraged by such a delicious offering in a category that was looking more and more dubious by the minute, I couldn’t wait to chomp right into my next bar, this time snapping up the Apple Pie flavor. Tinted a slightly red color thanks to the pigment found in apple skin, the smell of cinnamon also wafted up from this bar, albeit slightly more subdued. Lightly fruity and mildly spiced, I’m sure that fans of the previous flavor would also enjoy this one, as they were really quite similar. The occasional large almond chunks were wonderful surprises though, and the mellow apple overtones were enough to give it character all its own.

Finally, as if I weren’t already convinced that these bars were worthy of the hype I had heard, I still had the Banana Cookie bar to win me over. So simple but so good, this combination of bananas, raisins, and walnuts tasted just like… Well… Bananas, raisin, and walnuts! A beautiful thing indeed, it was a delight to have real food in a compact form, shelf-stable and easy to grab on the go. Again, the sweetness was really incredible but still entirely natural, like a banana so ripe that it must have sported a solid black peel, but without any of that unpleasant mushy texture! Needless to say, I just loved this flavor.

I can only imagine that the remaining 9 flavors each hold just as much promise, not just nutrients and fuel, but a truly tasty snack. Food should not be some bitter pill meant to be swallowed just to keep one’s energy up, but really a thing of pleasure. Healthy food is by no means exempt from this definition, and these are the bars to prove it. As they say on their website, Larabars are both “satisfying and nourishing.”

Considering how much I adore travel and how little I actually get to do it, it just figures that one of my very own crocheted creations would go on to see with world… Without me!

Mere weeks ago, an innocent conversation with a talented food blogger lead to the proposal of- Yes, you guessed it- A swap. A half dozen smiling eggs for three jars of homemade preserves. Little did I know that a large plan was about to be set in motion, one that would involve so much more of the blogosphere than just the two of us. Creative and generous person that she is, Helen decided that as much as she adored the little fellows, there was simply no place that she could display them for all to enjoy, so what better way to show them off than to send them around for others to see in person? Now you too can join the Traveling Eggs Meme, and host them in your own neck of the woods too! If you’re interested in getting a half dozen little guests that don’t ask for much at all, guaranteed to be on their way shortly, and are a pleasure to entertain, you can find details on what’s involved on Helen’s blog.

Talk about some lucky travelers!

Fluttering gracefully through the sky on wings so delicate that even a sheet of paper could trump their heft, butterflies are the creatures of stuff of myths, captivating endless poets, artists, and young girls looking to for a first tattoo. Admittedly, I’m not typically an out-spoken admirer of the colorful moths, as the popularity of their image makes them seem so common, so overexposed. But if you were to forget about the cheap drawings and awful love songs, nothing compares to seeing a real butterfly just an arm’s width away. Watching this fragile creature push its way through the air with such strength is truly an inspiring sight, no matter what you may or may not have already heard about them.

About this time of year, when the butterfly bushes start to bloom and winged insects of all shapes and colors start stopping in for spell, there is no denying what beauty nature is capable of. This, my friends, is the first butterfly of the season, and I happened to catch it on film. I’m still in awe that it stood still long enough to give me a clear shot, as though it were posing for its close up. One picture was all it wanted to surrender though, and as soon as the shutter had closed, my yellow butterfly was on the move again, soaring high above the trees, up and up and up until it disappeared from view. Wishing desperately for a working pair of wings so that I might see it just once more, I returned inside and sighed heavily, sad that the moment had been so fleeting.

Shifting the camera from hand to hand, unsure of where to go from there, I noticed that the vase of flowers sitting on the kitchen table somehow looked brighter, more colorful, more…

…Alive!

A live butterfly, nestled right there between the bright green stems had made itself right at home, no invitation necessary. Confused and disoriented, it took me a good five minutes to stop staring blankly and form some sort of comprehensive thoughts again. Far-fetched to be sure, the only possible scenario I could invent was that this must have been a friend of the one that got away, but she following me inside instead of going along with her companion. What a quick little devil to have slipped in the door without my knowing!

This little winged bug was much more tolerant of my camera-happy tendencies, staying put and showing off her best side like a true model. Although her patience soon ran out as well and she headed back through the open window, it was such a treat to get a close up of such an ethereal creature.  If ladybugs are supposed to be good luck, then butterflies must have some sort of mystical powers as well, because it takes more than just plain luck to get near two of them in one afternoon!

Browsing through the blogosphere can be a very dangerous thing indeed, no matter what side of it you choose to delve into. Poke through a dozen food blogs and you’ll find yourself high-tailing it to the fridge, ravenous to taste some of the impressive culinary feats this skilled home cooks display. Investigate just as many craft blogs and instead you’ll be running for you wallet, chasing down some of the incredible hand-crafted goods being offered by some of those bloggers. I certainly know both of these dilemmas well from first-hand experience, and while it would be helpful to cut down the negative side effects from both of these sorts online explorations, but the expenses from impulse buys is perhaps most troubling at this point. Being able to boast of only a 9-hour work week at minimum wage, I have a hard enough time affording another skien of “super saver” acrylic yarn!

Luckily, bloggers are the kindest breed of humans that I have ever had the pleasure of interacting with. After stumbling upon Clare’s blog and online shop by chance one day, I knew that one of her adorable stuffed fruits was destined to find its way into my hands. Common sense prevented me from reaching for my credit card though, and instead I made a passing comment about how I would love to do a little swap for one of those hand-stitched beauties. Fearing that she wouldn’t want anything to do with my own creations I prepared for the worst, but to my delight, it took little persuasion to get the swap underway and let my poor checking account to recover from it’s previous expenditures!

From my own post office I sent out a crocheted cakelet, in a delicate palate of pastel pink and white, and topped with a “frosting” flower. Hoping that this variation on the first would please my gracious swap buddy, I wrapped the tiny package up and sent it out that very day, hoping desperately that this would make for an equal exchange.

Hearing that it had arrived safely and in record time, I was relieved that it seemed to be received well. When Clare’s side of the swap arrived in my box about a week later though, I was sure that I got the better end of the deal.

No, she didn’t send me a bowl of fresh strawberries- Take a closer look at the beautiful berry on top! The details in embroidery are just mind blowing, and all of the stitches look so perfectly even, it’s hard to believe that such a treasure was truly hand made. This is one sweet treat that defies all the dangers of blog-hopping; Enticing as it is, it didn’t make ravenously hungry, and it didn’t even empty out my wallet!

Thank you so much for swapping with me, Clare, your stuffed berry truly is a treasure!

When it comes right down to it, the only real way that I can gauge my success is through the happiness of others. If I couldn’t share my baking experiments, if my crafts didn’t put a smile on someone’s face, well, I don’t know that the whole process of creating would be quite as much fun. Of course, that wouldn’t stop me from going about my crafty ways, but it would certainly be a far less fulfilling path than what I have been lucky enough to follow up to this point. Seeing a friend’s eyes light up, hearing their voice brimming with delight and knowing that I was responsible makes every oven burn and the frustration of dropped stitches worth it.

Small tokens made from the heart always get to me, especially when they’re of the edible sort. Being vegan, I know that any friend who makes me a special treat is really going out of their way to accommodate my needs and still give me something enjoyable. Dietary restrictions are certainly tough to work around for even the most savvy baker, be it the need to limit sugar, exclude animal products, or remove wheat altogether. This last one has always proved to be a nearly impossible obstacle for me to overcome, because what is a baked good if not a product of wheat flour and sugar in various forms? After a good bit of thinking, it occurred to me that this is exactly how many people might view vegan baking- An impossible feat, only because they had never thought to approach this traditional craft in such an unconventional way. Sure, the first couple of tries are bound to fail and perhaps reinforce the stereotype to some, but for those who don’t give up, the eventual success is all the more sweet.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I might be so bold, I would have have to say that everyone loves cupcakes. It just kills me when someone is forced to turn down one of these miniature morsels of cakey delight due to health or moral issues, as I think that everyone should be able to eat cupcakes if they so desire. That’s why the request for a wheat-free version of my most popular recipe online, the Rootbeer Float Cupcakes, really took me by the throat and got my full attention.

Wheat-free cake has been one of my biggest stumbling blocks in this field, proving far more challenging to create than pedestrian baked goods like cookies and candies. Now, I’m a firm believer that trial can only lead to error so many times before success begins to enter the picture… And in the end, I’m happy to offer all of you cupcakes, suitable for vegans, sufferers of celiac’s, and omnivores alike. Trust me on this, these sweet treats don’t sacrifice flavor or texture for all that they “lack,” and you may be surprised what you can do without wheat if you just give it a chance. My only regret is that I didn’t do enough research to pick out a flour that was gluten-free, as spelt still can not be tolerated by those extremely sensitive to gluten. I guess this is a stepping stone to full-fledged gluten-free goodies… But I would bet that if you just used something like teff flour… Well, I need to experiment further with these, but for now, I consider this some serious progress!

And if you really want to treat your loved ones, isn’t baking with an open heart and open mind the sweetest gift of all?

Rootbeer Cupcakes:

1 Cup Rootbeer Soda
1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/3 Cup Canola Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 Teaspoons Rootbeer Extract / Concentrate
1 Cup Spelt Flour
1/4 Cup Brown Rice Flour
1/2 Cup Cornstarch
1 Teaspoon Xanthan Gum
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
Pinch of Salt

Ganache:

5 Ounce Dark Chocolate
1/4 Cup Soymilk
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup

Vanilla Frosting:

1 Cup Vegetable Shortening
3 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
2 Tablespoons Vanilla Soymilk
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a dozen cupcake tins with papers.

Combine the soda and vinegar and let stand for a few minutes. Add in the sugar and oil, whisking vigorously until slightly frothy. Integrate your extracts, and add in both flours, cornstarch, and xanthan gum. Mix well to ensure that there are no errant lumps hiding about, since you don’t need to worry about overmixing and forming gluten! Distributing the batter evenly between the prepared tins, fill cupcake liners approximately 3/4 of the way to the top. Bake for about 15 - 20 minutes. Allow them to cool completely before proceeding to make the ganache.

When the cupcakes are at room temperature, combine all of the ingredients for the ganache in a microwave-safe container and nuke for about a minute. Stir thoroughly even if it doesn’t look completely melted - It should come together after a bit of agitation, but if the chocolate still isn’t entirely smooth, return to the microwave for 15-30 seconds at a time, watching carefully to ensure that it doesn’t burn. Drizzle the ganache in squiggles over the tops of the cupcakes. Allow ganache squiggles to fully cool and dry before preparing the frosting.

Beat the shortening thoroughly using your stand mixer until creamed. Add in sugar and start on a low speed so as not to spray powder everywhere. Incorporate soymilk and extract, and combine thoroughly. Frost your cupcakes and share them freely!

What else might you call a gathering of bloggers? A pack? A flock? No, I definitely think that this sort of group would be described as a gaggle, and that’s just what I was lucky enough to be a part of yesterday afternoon. Led by Matt Armendariz of Matt Bites, how could I have resisted joining in on a class about the finer points of photographing and writing about food, especially when it was being held right under my nose at a Whole Foods Market in NYC! Now, I’m not exactly in my element at public events, and my fear was only augmented upon sight of the cozy classroom- Planning to hide in the back and quietly take notes while soaking in the talent surrounding me, this threw quite wrench into the gears. In this classroom that would hold no more than two dozen bodies, this strategy went right out the window, and I quite nearly turned tail and fled the scene. With my stomach tangled up in my throat, I picked a less prominent seat and held my breath.

Awestruck by the creators of the brilliant, insightful, funny, and gorgeous blogs that I frequent, my tongue abandoned me, and I simply couldn’t find the words with which to convey what a pleasure it was to meet them. A deer in the headlights, I’m embarrassed to say that my greatest contribution to the gaggle was an occasional nod of agreement. The only peep that managed to escape my lips was an awkward introduction, although I probably looked like I was about to burst into tears by the time I squeaked out my name. Anxiety took hold the minute I stepped through the door, but the panic attack was well worth it, considering all of the invaluable pointers I picked up. For an abbreviated version of some of the photography techniques mentioned, here’s my spin on a couple tips.

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