Chinese?

I'm so baffled. I keep getting comments written in Chinese. What's up, Doc?

No-Knead Bread

This is my new favorite thing - No-Knead Bread. It is so miraculous. All you have to do is put ingredients into a bowl, and wait for about 12 - 18 hours. Then you punch it down, and turn into the bread pan or dutch oven, and let rise again for another couple hours. Then bake. So easy. The only problem I foresee is being able to plan ahead for when I want warm bread, fresh out of the oven.

I've been trying to take a hike with the dog everyday. It is good for both of us to get out of the house. I took some pictures today. I just haven't been wanting to take "snow pictures", I mean, who wants to look at more snow? But I took some, nonetheless. I suppose I have a bit of spring fever. Today Libby was tracking all the deer prints we came across. She would just veer off our path and into the woods, with her nose to the snow.

Swedish Pancakes

So, way before I was born, or even conceived, my parents hosted an exchange student from Sweden. I guess maybe he was homesick or something, and mentioned that he loved Swedish pancakes. My mother's ear's of course perked up, "what is a Swedish pancake?". And so the legend begins. These were not everyday fare. We would have them for desert, maybe once a year. To start with, you need a "plet" pan, or a mini-pancake maker pan. My loving sister Rachel bought one for me years ago. (Thank you sister) The batter is basically crepe batter, very egg-y and delicious. Then you need sour cream (I often use plain yogurt because I never have sour cream), and lingonberry sauce. I NEVER have lingonberries (unless I go to IKEA), so we substitute cranberries. Once you have assembled all these ingredients, you get to stacking it up. Pancake, sour cream, berries, pancake, sour cream, berries, etc. I like to stack about 5 or 6. Then once you put your fork into it, it all falls to pieces into a gooey, delicious mess. I love it so much.

Swedish Pancakes

3 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
3/4 cup flour
3 TBSP sugar
3 TBSP oil (I use canola)

Beat eggs well and add sugar, salt and flour and milk. Add oil and blend all together (I use a food processor or hand-held mixer). Get out your "Plett" pan. I use 1 TBSP batter for each cake. Make pancake ahead of time and store in fridge. Serve with cooked cranberries and unsweetened yogurt.

Almost A New Year

This is what we have been doing in the LaFollette household. Her name is Libby Duppydog LaFollette. Our Clara never showed up, so the best we can hope for is that she has a new home, with a nice warm doggy bed. The saddest news is that Capone passed away. He was such a good, loyal dog.

The holidays are almost past, and I feel like I haven't taken the time to enjoy them. We are going to Mom's tomorrow, and I plan to take the time to enjoy my family and my many blessings. It is so easy to forget how blessed I am, and easy to focus on the many irritations and annoyances that plague me every day. Maybe this should be my new resolution for the New Year. At any rate, I'll try and we'll see.

Oh Where, Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone???

Clara has disappeared. It has been 2 whole days now. I have called places, looked places. So now I am feeling sad. But this is her picture, and if you see her, please let me know!

Monkey Bars

These are pictures I took of Claudia and her friend Megan last weekend.

Happy Autumn

Finally!! I finished my big rug-hooking project. It took me 2 years from start to finish. It is also my first real rug-hooking project. I should learn to start small. I dyed some of the wool, and all of it is recycled. I have a couple projects in the works of my mind, but haven't executed anything yet. I did clean out my craft/sewing room, and when everything is in its place, I will take a picture. I am grateful for having such a space, but I do wish it had more storage space.

Claudia is home again today. All of her playmates have tested positive for H1N1, so I am assuming she has it, also. She is feeling much better, but gets tired easily, so I kept her home. It has been a good incentive for me NOT to home school. I don't know how others do it. My patience is wearing thin, and we haven't even had big problems with the homework. There is just so much of it. She needs constant motivation to keep at it. I am easily distracted by all the other "stuff" that needs doing. She really just wants to watch Pinocchio, and we will, she just has to get her work done. Then we will lay down for a rest.