Sunday Happy

Happy first week of Spring! How has yours been? Here is Vt it has been pretty freakin fantastic if I do say so myself. A little dreary with morning rains, chilly enough for a heavy sweater but no need for winter coats, I have even been wearing my sandals. The trees are budding, the mud is thick, and there are signs of new life coming up out of the grown. This is the good stuff, the type of weather that I get excited about. I just hope it lasts this year and that it doesn’t all of a sudden get stupid hot and all summer like early. I am not and will never be ready for hot summer. Yuk!

The week. Another one spent mostly in one of the studios. All pots have now been trimmed and bisque fired so that is all good. Now I am working my way through glazing. It’s been a slow process because whenever I go to glaze, I end up doing something or helping someone with something else. The studio (where I work and fire) has had a change of management (the studio manager left) so now it is ask Colleen everything. Every time I go to work on my own stuff I get bombarded with wants and needs and it’s a bit much. I can’t wait for someone else to come in and deal with everyone for a while so I can just load kilns and do the things in peace!

Other then that, it was mostly uneventful but I did start seeds. Oh, and the dryer shit the bed. Lucky the mr is just so good that he was stroring an old dryer that needed fixing and brought it home and fixed it. Works even better then the piece of shit one that we bought brand new 4 years ago. ((Samsung washer and dryers SUCK!) But it all ended well so good riddance. We also managed dinner and haircuts with Miley, her friend boy, and Barb. I did the cutting, they did the eating, and we ended the night at the park. They are grown ass teenagers doing god knows what when left on their own but still want to be taken to the park to play. And you know what? I couldn't have been happier to do so. I mean they weren't asking us to buy them beer so that right there…

And now it’s Sunday, the last one of the month. My only really plan for today is to spend most of it glazing pots. I have to get everything glazed and into the kiln by tomorrow morning to fire it off before the market this weekend. Hopefully I can knock out a good portion of what needs to be done early enough to have some time to walk around outside somewhere and maybe think about things other then pots. Ha! And read. I haven’t finished a book this week and that is just plain wrong. I usually ready one, if not to books a week. What is even happening?

Internet from the week

-I used to want to make hand made ceramic tiles and do tile installs..Maybe I still will. Elements of Architecture: Colorful Hand-Painted Tiles by Italian Designer Elisa Passino

-I am always shocked when people allow shoes in the house, it just seems so wrong. Ask anyone that has come over to my house, the first thing I say to you is going be, “Shoes off!”. Scientists explain why wearing shoes inside is just plain gross

-It is officially mud season here in VT and it is BAD. Mud Season Madness: A dirt road expert answers your questions.

-Italian scientists hacked pizza physics to make dough without yeast. I’m good doing it the old fashion way using my sourdough starter.

-Wash it cold. Why It’s Better to Wash Your Clothes in Cold Water,

-Tübingen: Europe's fiercely vegan, fairy-tale city. I think this is now on my wish list of places to go.

-Whoa, that is crazy. Aerial Photos Document the Expansive Greenhouses Covering Spain’s Almería Peninsula

-Kind of obsessed with this wallpaper.

-Just Give Up On Your Sheet Pans. People with clean and perfect sheet pans are witches and wizards and I don’y trust them. HA!

Pictures from the week.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Carrot Muffins

The people in my family, they really enjoy a muffin, so I find myself making muffins more often then any other baked good. This is fine by me because muffins are pretty easy to whip up and the flavor choices are endless.

This past batch of muffins were for the purpose of a dessert like treat so I made them chocolate and because it’s spring and carrots go hand in hand (right?) they needed to have carrots too. And sure some might question the flavor combination of chocolate and carrot but let me just stop you right there and say that nothing but good things happen when you pair the flavors. Would a 15 year old girl stuff her face with these muffins otherwise?

No, no she would not.

And so I declare this another winner for delicious muffins that the people in my family will now bug me to make them. Oh the burden of being an awesome baker. It is hard sometimes. 😂. But for real.

Now to the muffins!

The stuff. Carrots, cocoa, flour, baking powder and soda. Salt, cinnamon, brown and white sugar, plant milk, oil, chocolate chips, and some walnuts,

First you need to prepare the carrots so chop them up into chunks.

Place the chopped carrots into a pot with some water and steam until tender. Once tender, blend them up into a smooth puree.

Mix all the dry ingredients together.

And dump the carrot puree, milk, sugars, and oil into a big bowl and mix until completely combined. Add in the dry ingredients and mix until the dry is incorporated into the wet then fold in the chopped walnuts and chocolate chips.

Scoop batter into greased or lined muffin tins and pop into preheated oven.

Baked muffins.

When baked and all nice pop them out if the pan and place on a wire rack to cool.

Then you got yourself muffins to eat at your pleasure. Share if you want. No pressure.

-C

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Chocolate Chocolate Chip Carrot Muffins

makes 16 muffins

• 1 1/4 all purpose flour

• 2/3 whole wheat flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 1/2 baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 1/3 cup cocoa powder

• 1/2 cup neutral oil

• 1 cup plant milk

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 1/3 cup brown sugar

• 1 cup carrot puree (about 4 large carrots and 1/3-1/2 cup water)

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

preheat oven 350

Take whole carrots and cut into small chunks. Place into a pot with enough water to just cover them and place on medium heat and cover. Cook for about 8 minutes, checking after 4 or 5 minutes, unitl tender. If water completely evaporates before, just add more.

Once carrots are tender, place in a blender with about 1/3 cup cool water and blend until smooth. Add a little more water if needed to get the carrots to a smooth puree.

In a medium bowl mix together the flours, baking powder and soda, salt, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. In a large bowl mix together the oil, carrot puree, milk, and sugars until completely combined. Add in the dry and minx until everything is just incorporated (don’t over mix), then fold in the chocolate chips and chopped walnuts.

Scoop batter into well greased or line muffins pans, filling each well up about 3/4 of the way, then pop the pans into preheated oven. Bake for about 17 -20 minutes or until a poke test comes out clean.

Once baked remove from oven and pop muffins from pan. Place on a wire rack to cool.

Eat. Store muffins in a airtight container at room temapture for up to 5 days. They also freeze great as well.

Sunday Happy

How did you adjust to the time change? Usually it doesn’t get to me too hard but this year it kicked my ass. I was all tired and off and hungry at not normal times, staying awake past 8 pm and still waking up at 3 like some kind of 20 year old. But I am feeling more adjusted now and am happy for the change. I like the adventure of it all. Something to look forward to.

The week. Well I basically spent it like a troll in the basement studio throwing lots and lots of pots. I am doing a art market in a couple of weeks and I needed to get all the stuff thrown so it can be fired and glazed and fired and all the jazz before the day so I crunched. And now my back hurts and hands are dry as shit but I feel accomplished and good so no complaints here. And besides I was still able to get a lot of good spring walks in, watch the amaryllis bloom giant flowers, and even had the boys over for an afternoon of tennis ( Jonny McEnroe style…Coco can get really heated), side walk chalk, and food. Simple good times. Can’t ask for much more.

Today I am going into the studio for a few hours to maybe load a kiln? and glaze as much stuff as I can. After that I am coming home to start the seeds!!! I feel like I am running behind this year but I don’t know, am I? Probably not but you know how time is these days, all weird and shit. Oh and I’m also determined to clean out the car. It has been a long winter of salt and snow. Its time for a good cleaning.

Internet to browed at your leisure.

-Holy shit this place is freaking AWESOME! Tree Hotel with all the birds

- Sunrise at 9am in the winter….that would suck ass. How permanent daylight saving time would change sunrise and sunset times.

-These are the news articles that I am here for these days. Here's how a videographer reimagines Hollywood blockbusters as cat videos

-Why We Use “lol” So Much. I am sorry but I HATE lol. I actually hate most acronyms

-The Case For Giving Guys Flowers. I think I give the mr flowers way way more then he ever give me flowers and he always love them. It is part of my love language.

-Get all the plants. 12 NASA-Approved Plants That Actually Improve Air Quality

- Last week I mentioned needed to paint my kitchen ceiling. I am still thinking I must but I have a new color in mind. Chartreuse (Is It A New Neutral?).

-Some people aren't ready to stop masking, but it can be tough to go against the grain. I am still wearing my masks and could give a fuck less if that is a problem for you.

-Watch out! How too much mindfulness can spike anxiety.

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

Did you have an hour taken from you in the middle of the night? Oh oh ohhhhh, I did and I am already feeling al sorts off. I think because I am so regimented, that I wake up exactly the same time every morning and go for a run at almost the exact time every day, that it takes me a hot minute to adjust. But I guess that what naps are for.😁

The week. Weather wise it has mostly been super spring like and I have been hit with all the feelings of spring and basically want to tear my house apart, repaint all the walls was ceilings, get rid of everything, and then rum away. But really, the feelings are strong and I wake up from crazy dreams (anyone else have crazy dreams in the spring?) in the middle of the night about crazy things that need to be done. On the note I have convinced myself I HAVE to paint my kitchen ceiling mint green. My dream self knows.

Other then that, just the usual bumping around, doing he stuff, playing with clay and hitting the calculator to adding up numbers. Nothing overly exciting, well if you don’t count watching my amaryllis flower grow and start to open. It happens so fast and really is super cool to check how much its grown everyday. But yeah, just saw a few of my peoples, deep cleaned the fridge, went to the neighborhood seed swap and got me some seeds. Ended the week with a little snow storm so I got to spend some time shoveling some heavy ass snow. A try to lead a simple life.

Today the plan is low-key and go with the flow.. The mr has some work he needs to this afternoon and I have a bunch of pots that need to be trimmed so we figured we would take this morning to go hang with the littles for a bit, try to get them to leave their house and enjoy the last bits of winter, maybe build.a snow person!?? It’s getting harder and harder convince those little shits to do things. They have their little heads stuck in video games and cell phone crap and I am just not that cool anymore(shocker right?) but I am determined and might just end up dragging their limp little bodies from their caves and throwing them I a snowbank. I’ll do it. I really will. Haha!!

Internet from the week.

-Why This Start-Up Thinks Storing Containers In Space Is The Future. So what the actual fuck. I am pretty freaking sure that this is just a really bad idea. It actually pisses me off when I think about it.

-I am going to be fancy now. HA! This Is How They Do Those Swan Towels At Fancy Hotels

-45 Mandela Effect Examples That Will Blow Your Mind. Weird how the mind remembers the wrong things.

-I don’t want to drive anywhere. Gas is so EXPRENSIVE! How to Save Money on Gasoline

-Why uncommon baby names are surging. When I was a kid I used to think I would end up with twins and I was going to name them Outlet and Radio. Still holds up.

-I love pansies, they are so sweet. Pansies: More Than Just A Cheerful, Spring Beauty

-I like mt veggies raw or burnt so I am all for this. The Case for Cooking Vegetables Way Past the Point of Just Tender

-Can someone tell me why matches and not just a lighter? 16 Match Holders That'll Look Insanely Good Next to Your Candles

-Love it.  Designer Charles de Lisle Transforms a Crumbling Cabin Into a Seductive Country Retreat

Pictures from the week.

Miso Almond Cabbage Slaw

I see cabbage in your future. Why is that? Because cabbage is amazing and delicious but also because it is St. Patricks Day this coming up week and every single food store is having a massive cabbage sale. Word of advice. Buy as much of that cabbage as you can. It will last for weeks and really is super versatile, can be eaten is sooo many different ways, but basically because it is tasty as all hell.

This is just one yummy and simple way to prepare and enjoy the cabbage. Shredded up nice and fine, roasted until tender and slightly chard, then coated with a creamy miso dressing. Topped with almonds for crunch and goodness, a simple dish with all the complexity of a complex thing.

Get that cabbage.

Now to the slaw!

The stuff. You need cabbage( red and or green) plus tahini, soy, miso paste, minced garlic, powdered ginger, maple syrup, a lime, some black pepper and lastly, some almonds.

First thing first. Finely shredded up the cabbage.

Palce cabbage on a baking sheet and pop into a hot oven.

While the cabbage is roasting, mix up the miso dressing. Place everything in a bowl, mix together with a little hot water until creamy and not to thick, and that’s it.

Pulled from the oven you have tender and chard cabbage. So good.

Dump cabbage into a big bowl and pour on the dressing.

Toss it all around, then toss in the almonds.

And there you have it. The goods. All ready for eating so you should do that .

Enjoy all the cabbage!

-C

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Miso Almond Cabbage Slaw

side for 3-4 people

• 5 cups shredded cabbage (red and or green)

• 1/3 cup toasted almonds

• 2 teaspoons tahini

• 3 teaspoons miso ( I used red miso but any of your favorite miso paste will do)

• 1 teaspoon soy or tamari

• 1 teaspoon maple syrup (more to taste)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

• 2 cloves garlic minced

• 1 lime or 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons warm water

• black pepper

Preheat oven to 425.

Grab cabbage and shred with a knife or mandolin, super finely until you have 5-6 cups of shredded cabbage. Place on a lined of very lightly oiled baking sheet and spread around so the cabbage is evenly distributed . Now pop into hot oven.

In the meantime make miso dressing. Add miso, maple, soy, garlic, ginger, and the juice of the lime (or the vinegar) to a bowl and whisk until combined. Add in the hot water to thin out a bit.

Once cabbage starts to wilt and char on places, around 20-25 minutes, remove from oven. Dump cabbage into a big bowl, pour on the dressing ans toss until the cabbage evenly coated. Rough chop up the almonds and toss in. Top with black pepper to taste.

Eat.