A day at the beach (with knitting)…. a.k.a A very short post

Yesterday was Employee Appreciation Day where I work….otherwise known as get paid to go to the beach!!  What did I do with my lovely day at the beach, you ask?

That’s right I’m knitting The Neverending Sweater at the BEACH!  Pardon the weird expression, it was super windy- the umbrella is actually closed not because we wanted to soak up the sun, but because it was threatening flight

So…. Am I the only crazy person to knit at the beach or is this something others do as well?   In other news, with the long weekend coming up I’m hoping to finish my new dress- I’m pretty stoked about it!

[Once again the lovely gypsysarah took the picture]

Works in Progress III

Well, it was a cloudy, breezy, rainy weekend here courtesy of Tropical Storm Ana.  Which is kinda good ’cause I can stay inside all day cooking, sewing and knitting and not feel guilty about not enjoying the great outdoors, because really, who wants to enjoy a downpour!

First up, we have the delicious Mushroom and Leek Galette. I adapted it from this recipe.  I left out the fennel and olives (because gross!) and increased the mushrooms and leeks (because yum!).  I also substituted Gruyere cheese for Fontina cheese, because…reasons that’s why!

And since the husband doesn’t like mushrooms… it’s MINE ALL MINE!!!  I’m calling it a work in progress ’cause I’m going to be eating that bitch all week for lunch 🙂

I’m back on the sewing train attempting my very first Full Bust Adjustment…. here’s hoping I don’t derail!  I’m using my Colette Sewing Handbook and this post for references.

I actually saw the green eyelet fabric last summer and just HAD to have a summer dress lined in navy… which didn’t happen.  Then I decided I HAD to make the dress for a wedding…..which was last weekend.  Oh well, better late than never! [ask me how my husband’s Christmas present is coming along ]

In other news, the garden has started to come in!  We picked our first handful of green beans.  However, the husband is weird and doesn’t actually like fresh green beans.  So, not everyone was as excited about this development.  [In his defense despite not liking them he will eat pretty much anything I put in front of him-except mushrooms….and raisins]  Maybe at some point I’ll share they way I prepare them so he actually likes them 🙂

And finally, dear reader, we have what I have re-named The Neverending Sweater!  I’m about 2/3 of the way through the first sleeve.  I really can’t blame the sweater though, I have a bad tendency to stop a project for weeks (or months) when I come to a logical stopping point…like say finishing the body.  I always come back to it though….eventually

And so that concludes what I’ve been working on.  The school year is over, which means I should have more time for sewing, knitting, etc- HOORAY!  But it also means I’ll have less hours and less money- BOOO HISS!  So, tune in next week to see what progress (or lack of progress) I make… or you know don’t 😉

Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies….now with more Chocolate!

A few weeks ago one of my cadets (I work at a military college FYI) requested a treat for his birthday- I have a tendency to bake for my cadets.  When I asked him what he wanted, he said “Something chocolate-y”  And with that I tweaked a recipe and came up with Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies!  They were such a big hit that they were requested again when I offered baked goods to people who were able to pass an important test early….don’t judge, I am not above bribery!

A note on eggs

I now use duck eggs in all my baking…. they are AWESOME!!  I buy mine from a local farmer.  If you ever have the opportunity to get some you buy ALL the eggs ’cause they are worth it!  Below you can see the size difference, these are left to right: Goose egg, Duck egg, and Chicken egg.

Both the duck (and goose) eggs add a richer flavor and a more tender finished product in baking, I find.  They are larger in general, but also have much larger yolks (hence the richness).  From my research, it seems two duck eggs equate to three chicken eggs, but I’ve often gotten away with a 1:1 substitution.  Also, FYI one goose egg equates to two chicken eggs 🙂

But enough about eggs- you’ve come for cookies and chocolate!

Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies

The original recipe was from Gourmet, but you can see I’ve adapted it….

Yield: 2.5 dozen -ish (enough for 10 hungry college students with leftovers)

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (don’t cheap out- get the good stuff, i.e. Dutch Process)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (baking always calls for unsalted butter, which I never have…..I usually compensate by being stingy on the actual salt)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs (I used two smallish duck eggs)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Whisk together flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

Beat together butter and both sugars in mixer (or with an electric beater or you can do it by hand if you’re strong….and crazy) until pale and fluffy.  Add in eggs and vanilla, mix until combined.  Add flour mixture 1/3 at a time, beating after each addition.

Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake in batches in middle of oven until puffed and set- about 9 minutes (rotating halfway through).  Allow to cool for 5 minutes on baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.