Clover Training

Clover has had a leash pulling problem and we're trying a no pull harness on her. So far we've had to trade it in for a smaller size and we're still not sure if it's going to be effective but may be worth a shot. It looks so uncomfortable to wear but this happy dog doesn't seem to mind one bit <3

World Cup

First USA game at the World Cup and many were out celebrating. Even in the waters around Seattle. These guys stirred up some yelps and woohoo's while we were enjoying the sun. Really a fun day to be at the park!

Fremont Troll

Finally visited the Fremont Troll this weekend. Huge, ugly and a perfect bridge troll if I ever saw one!

Masala Yums

This one took awhile since I soaked the beans & barley(in veggie broth) and basmati(in milk) all day. Masala was the easy part because I tried TJ's simmering sauce and it was AMAZING! Add some nan and dinner was delicious! i even have beans for some lunch and dinner left-overs later this week...yay!!

Rottger & Meredeath

Meet my new zombie pals! They followed me home while seeking out a replacement lamp for my dining area (no luck yet btw). Among the stowaways were these two, a pair of gigantic rubbery goldfish, a corked bottle and a bag full of tiny paper parasols. All under 10 bucks too! Right now these adorable zombies are resting comfortably on the backs of my goldfish until I decide what to do with my newly acquired accoutrements.

Lake Sammamish

The sun decided to show it's face all day today! After making a quick stop at the post office we whisked the dogger out to Lake Sammamish to check out the park. There were a lot of people but the park has at least two dozen grilling areas, a playground, a few pavilions and trails all over so it wasn't crowded at all. They had a little horse shoe game area and we saw some big fields that groups had set up volleyball courts in. It's a really nice park even though it was a bit muddy from the rain all week. Gotta get used to that living here though.

If you want to check out some more pictures from our outing check out my Flickr album.

Poached Egg Success

I've always been terrified to poach an egg. Afraid that it would end up as scrambled goop. I've seen a dozen chefs on TV and even in films poach eggs so this morning I tried my luck. I must say, surprisingly easy and SO delicious!! I tried eggs over easy as a child and was disgusted so I wasn't looking forward to trying the runny egg yolk again but I'm glad I did. So rich and almost like thin cheese sauce. DELIGHTFUL!

Pictured is flaxseed toast, hollandaise sauce w/ cayenne pepper and a poached egg of course.

Tiny Art

Perused the Fremont Sunday Market again today and found this tiny little treasure. Found it a home on a wall in my home moments after I walked in the door. I love it so much!!

Matryoshka

For 20 years Fremont, a local Seattle neighbor and "center of the universe", hosts a European-style street market every Sunday. With deluxe junk, estate sale finds and nik naks galore it was a delightful way to spend last Sunday! After browsing the many tiny tents and digging through bins filled with anything from antique clock parts to vintage photographs I stumbled onto this adorable matryoshka doll. My obsession with dolls coupled with a dirt cheap price brought her to live with the rest of my pale painted faces.

Skully Tags Pockets

Got a request this week for a skull tags pocket so I made one for her and an extra. I love how they came out! Super cute and girly!!

More pictures of them on my Etsy Shop!

Banana Pudding

Rainy days call for some southern style banana pudding. Makes the house smell like visiting Grandma <3

Mango!

First mango of the year and it was soooooooooooooo good! Excited that all the yummy fruit is coming back into season. Can't wait for huge blueberries, strawberries, melons, cherries, peaches and nectarines! Our neighborhood farmer's market has their grand opening this Thursday and I can't wait. Seattle is great in that almost every neighborhood has their own farmer's market. Plus there are some excellent seafood markets as well. We're definitely food-spoiled here!

Disco Kitchen

My boyfriend took it upon himself to decorate my kitchen this evening. He comes home from work with strange and wonderful gadgets and a neon light kit showed up this week...haha!

Bonita

It's Star Wars Day! I wanted to make a picture with an old Ewok toy I got at the FAO Schwarz in San Fran back in the early 90's but couldn't find him. Instead I stumbled upon Bonita, a marionette that has been a part of my bedroom since I was an infant. I'm not entirely sure where she came from, but my Mother seems to vaguely remember finding her at an Indian festival in southwest Florida. She's one of the few treasures from my childhood that has stood the test of time.

Spring Repotting

I've been meaning to replant my little green children for a few weeks now. Jon and I stopped by Home Depot last night and picked up a few gardening necessities and I woke up to a SUPER sunny day so the timing was perfect! Drilling holes into the bottom of the new and much larger planter proved to be a slight obstacle, but mission accomplished after charging my power drill. Getting some of the more spiny succulents out of their previous homes was a bit challenging as well, but after much delay, a few splinters and wrestling a bag of potting soil, my plants are finally settled into their new homes.

Now, to tidy up this little home of ours. There's yarn bits everywhere and my kitchen needs some attention! Enjoy your Thursday everyone!!

Cupcake Noms!

Today I decided to take on the task of baking cupcakes from scratch. Now, having baked cakes and caked goods from a box my entire life this was a bit daunting. I really should have attempted this sooner. Not only was it fun, but they taste AMAZING! I really had no idea there was such a difference in taste!

First came the preheat(350) and cupping of the muffin pan.


It's a huge deal that my mise en place is fully prepared before I cook/bake anything. I get easily distracted while cooking so if things aren't measured out and ready before I start tablespoons get confused with teaspoons and amounts become easily skewed. I'm a spaz, what can I say?

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (113 grams)butter, room temperature

2/3 cup (130 grams) granulated white sugar

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups (195 grams) wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup (60 ml) 2% milk



To make my batter I use a KitchenAid Mixer, which btw is a magical device! I beat the room temperature butter and sugar together until fluffy(nearly doubled in volume). Add eggs one at a time and make sure each is completely mixed in before you add the next. After that, add the vanilla and mix until completely blended.

Separately whisk the flour and baking powder together in a bowl.

With your mixer on low alternately add the flour and milk in three intervals. I always start and end each interval with the flour (flour/milk/flour, flour/milk/flour, flour/milk/flour). Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go so you make sure to mix everything.



Now it's time to fill up our cups and bake our cupcakes! I fill each cupcake cup a little over halfway to make sure they don't overflow and cause a cupcaketastrophy! Bake them for about 16 minutes or until you can push a toothpick through the center and it comes out clean.

After they're baked I put them on a wire rack to cool while I made the frosting.

Frosting was a breeze!

Ingredients:

2 cups (230 grams) confectioners sugar or powdered sugar, sifted

1/2 cup (113 grams)butter, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons 2% milk

1/4 cup cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar (for thickness)

I creamed the butter in my mixer then added the vanilla until it was completely blended. Mixed that on high for about a minute just to make sure none is seperated. Then, with the mixer set to low, I added the powdered sugar gradually. Scrape down the sides and add the milk and mix on high for about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and cream of tartar and mix on high another 3 minutes. It should start to whip up a little. I put it in the fridge for a little over an hour to get nice and cold before I frosted the cupcakes.


So there you have it, my cupcake adventure!

Cheers!!

Million Dollar View

Too pretty to stay in this afternoon so we took a quick drive over to Cougar Mountain. Clover gladly posed for a few pictures. Here are the rest!

Fridge Cleanout

Went TJ shopping last night and noticed too many things that had to go, so mr. chilly lost a few pounds today!

Sweet Potato-Pie Cookies

Baked these tonight while a Just Cause 2 session played in the background. Sweet Potato-Pie Cookies with Orange Glaze. That's my southern baking for the week. They're still cooking but they smell AND look super-yummy!!

Best if Frozen

I never liked peeps at all as a child. My little sister put them in the freezer with all the other Easter candy when I was in high school and now, they're my favorite. ONLY as frozen like little sugar coated rocks though.