Smelts

Last week we were going to go smelting with some friends. Their daughter told them the best run was between 1 am and 3 am, it made us change our mind and not go. We were having an old moment, haha..

We went out last night, left here around 9 pm, got there to the Little Gravel River just before 10. It was really cold out, brrrr. They were not running well, and we didn't want to stay long. They got a few smelt every dip, and eventually we got as many as we wanted. They are not the smelt I remember from my childhood, they are like big minnows, actually some are the size of minnows. I cleaned them this morning, took three hours. I cooked half of them for dinner tonight. I shook them in seasoned flour, and pan friend them in olive oil, until they were golden brown. They are just as delicious as I remembered them to be. Yum!

Lake Superior smelts

Handwoven Felted Wool Sweater Rug

Yesterday I finished the second rug from my new bales of sweaters! It is always fun and a challenge at the same time,  to work with the colours I get in the bales.

This rug is a glorious combinations of blue, plum, purple, and rust!

handwoven felted wool sweater rug

Maple!

Much to my surprise and delight my treasury graced the front page this morning!

front page

my treasury with alternatives

Chocolate Bread Pudding

Last night I made this chocolate bread pudding from the Moosewood Restaurant Book of Desserts cookbook. It is delicious!

Chocolate Bread Pudding

3 cups milk (I used skim milk)

4 oz unsweetened chocolate 

2 tbsp butter

1 cup sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla

1 cup heavy cream (I used 1/2 & 1/2)

4 large eggs

4 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs 

(I used light rye bread, and made them in the food processor)

Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 2 - 3 quart round casserole dish.

In  a saucepan, heat the milk, chocolate, and butter until the chocolate has melted, about 5 minutes. Stir in the sugar and vanilla and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the cream and eggs until evenly coloured. Add the melted chocolate and the bread crumbs and mix well.

Pour the pudding into the prepared baking dish and bake until puffed and set, about 1 hour. The centre may jiggle a little but a knife inserted in at the centre should come out almost clean. Serve warm or chilled!

Serves 6 to 8.

Forget Me Nots, Rhubarb and Garlic!

We actually are having a nice late afternoon. The fog finally rolled back out to the Lake where it is just hanging, may roll back in at a moments notice. I went out back to sit on the step, a friend stopped by on his way home from a bike ride. When he left I strolled about seeing what I could see, in my gardens. I was quite delighted to spy a couple of tiny forget me not blooms in my side flower bed, so pretty! The rhubarb is growing so well, we will be eating before long! Our garlic patch is quite amazing though, Mark planted one whole garden in a variety of different kinds of garlic last fall and it is all doing really well! We are big garlic lovers here in this house! What a wonderful afternoon! It is so nice to see the new life bursting forth, in the gardens!

forget me nots

rhubarb

garlic

New Bales of Sweaters and a Big Beautiful Rug!

Two weeks ago I emailed my recycled textile supplier, and told him I was ready for two more bales of sweaters. We drove to the next town over, deposited money into his bank account and we were in business, as simple as that. I still can't believe what a nice guy he is! A good business man! His workers bundle up 75 pounds bales, as that is the limit for shipping with Greyhound, and then he personally delivers them to Greyhound for me. Greyhound actually has a very good service, the bales were here in a few days.

Mark carefully cutting the metal strapping

we just love how much the bale expands with each strap cut off

new felted wool rug, using some of the new sweaters

17 sweaters felted, cut and wove into this huge and glorious rug!

I love it!

Caesar Salad

I can't seem to get my head back home, I am off traveling in my mind. I am probably just a little tired. Too much happening in the last couple of weeks, out of my ordinary. It is still quite cold out, not warm spring weather yet. Yes the grass is slowly turning green, and the green shoots of my flowers are poking up in my flower beds. I am dreaming of summer... here is a salad recipe.

Caesar Salad

1 large head romaine lettuce, washed and dried
1 lb. bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces, fried crisp
4 oz. parmesan cheese
croutons, recipe follows
caesar dressing, recipe follows

Tear the lettuce into bite sized pieces. Place in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Add the croutons and bacon. Add dressing on your plate to taste.

Croutons:
6 slices of your favourite bread
3 cloves of garlic, minced
3 tbsp. olive oil
herbs of your choice

Cut bread into bite sized pieces. Heat a frying pan, and add the olive oil, when hot, add the garlic. Cook a few minutes ad then add bread and herbs. Cook on low heat until the bread is crisp.
I have also used less oil, and baked the croutons in the oven, for a lighter version.

Caesar Dressing

6 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp. white vinegar
1 cup olive oil
1 tsp. salt
black pepper to taste

Combine all of the dressing ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Set aside until ready to use.