What is crochet?

I so love to crochet...so when I saw this article in Talking Crochet magazine, it so perfectly portrayed how I feel about it, I had to post it. Enjoy the article! ~Sue~

What Is Crochet?

For those of us who love crochet, there are likely a variety of reasons why, but I'm sure the one common thread (pun intended) that ties them all together is the pure enjoyment and deep satisfaction it gives us. Crochet not only allows us to express our individual creativity, but we can share it with others through our handmade heartfelt gifts.

I was reminded of this recently when I came across a wonderful piece written by Jean Leinhauser, a leader in the needlecrafts publishing industry for many years and former editor and publisher of Crochet! magazine. Jean wrote the following editorial in the March 2004 issue of Crochet!, and I thought it would be a lovely way to end this issue. I think you'll agree that it strikes a true chord with anyone who appreciates the beautiful art of crochet.

The man seated next to me on the airport bus asked why I had come to Chicago. I told him I was going to a crochet conference. He looked rather perplexed, and then asked, "What is crochet, anyway?"

I said, "It's a method of forming knots with a hook and thread to create a fabric." He stared at me, so I added, "It's making doilies." He smiled and nodded, "Oh yes, my grandmother used to do that." I realized later that I had given him a pretty poor definition. Here's what I should have said:

Crochet is that skimpy little high-fashion dress prancing down the runway at a designer show. It's a warm hat and scarf in bright colors worn on a gray winter day or a soft, cuddly teddy bear clutched in a crying child's arms.

Crochet is a glittery shawl thrown over a shoulder to accent a little black cocktail dress or a sleek little evening purse encrusted with beads. Crochet is a fluffy blanket that welcomes a new baby to the world or a pair of socks with a zingy heel treatment for a teenager to wear with clogs. It's a Christmas stocking, a gift from one generation to another.

Crochet is magically creating something from nothing. It's the love one pair of hands gives to another.

It's probably a good thing I didn't say all this; he would not have understood. But if you are a crocheter, you understand.

Until next time,

Carol Alexander
editor, Crochet! magazine
Member, CGOA Board of Directors

I made 'Puto'!!! Filipino sweet rice cakes...

I first tried 'puto' at my friend, Judi's house....and these were delicious! Even better for me...they were gluten free. But, when I looked online how to make them, they called for a special steamer and cups...so I thought I would 'try' them in tassie pans and steam in my big all clad pan...and it worked! I was so excited! Recipe to follow!

Steaming in the pan with about 1 1/2 inches of water. (I put the lid on of course)

The finished 'puto'! My littles ones especially like these, as did my friend, Melanie, who's baby shower I took these to. They were so quick and easy, they will definitely be a staple around here!

~Sue's Puto Recipe~ (and how I improvised!)

2 cups sweet white rice flour 1 TBlSp baking powder

3/4 cup sugar pinch of salt

2 cups coconut milk 2-4 tblsp water

1 tblsp vanilla

~Mix dry ingredients, add wet ingredients, mix thoroughly. Spray tassie pans (or mini muffin pans), fill each 2/3 full, then put pan in boiling water in large pan, put lid on and steam for 8 minutes. Be careful getting it out...it was tricky. (and hot) LOL turn out to cooling rack. and that is it! Very simple, but so good...best served warm or at room temperature. Enjoy! ~Sue~

Preserving the Harvest..

I love preserving for the winter time! But...I don't want to even LOOK at another tomato for a while! LOL Our garden has done fairly well...what the deer haven't gotten to, anyway. We're already planning on expanding and PROTECTING our garden for next year...with the advise of my parents (my step-dad grew up on a farm) and the wonderful elderly man across the street. (who's garden is doing very, very well...and is protected from the cute deer!) Just a sample of pureed tomatoes...the rest are in the canner right now. Ended up with 7 quarts and 2 pints...not bad considering how much salsa I've made over the past couple days! We bought a big bushel of 'seconds' tomatoes from our favorite farmers market, and got over 60 cups of fresh salsa plus all the tomatoes.
Also (since it was so nice and cool today!) I made 20 quarts of turkey soup. We had lots of it for dinner and this is what is cooling so I can freeze it. Lentil soup and cheddar garlic biscuits tomorrow night! With a fresh salad....Yum!

Everything here came from our own garden. We haven't had an excess of zucchini, but we've had a lot so far. Our cucumbers didn't do too badly either...although I don't think I'll grow cauliflower again next year. We're cleaning out that bed, this week, and will be planting some lettuce for fall. Next year...we're moving the beds and expanding.

Have only managed to freeze 2 bags of corn. (We love eating it so much!), but tomorrow, we're getting 2 dozen ears, so I'll freeze a good bit of that. No more canning this week....

Ah....fresh salsa!!! One of our families very favorite things! This is just some of it. It tastes just as good when defrosted in the winter time. It does get a little watery, but I drain that off and use the liquid in black bean soup...adds a nice taste to it.

~So....that is some of what has been keeping us busy! My brother-in-law is getting married on Saturday, so lots of excitement here. We'll be busy baking cookies towards the end of the week for the wedding....then after the wedding, visiting with family who will be in from out of town...then we get back into schooling again on the 8th! Can't wait! This will be an interesting, fun year. Well...off to add more tomatoes to the canner..then baths for my little ones, then popcorn and a movie! Tomorrow....a visit with friends, farmers market, then freezing more corn....have a blessed evening! ~Sue~

Sabbath Rest....Surrender All....

I know that the Lord has been speaking to me lately about our lives....especially how we spend our time, and who's opinions matter to us the most...today at church, we sang the following song in worship, and it touched me so much I wanted to post the lyrics here....hope everyone has a very blessed Sabbath today!!! ~Sue~

Surrender All

Take all I am, Lord and all that I cling to

You are my Savior I owe everything to

Take all the treasures that lie in my storehouse

They cannot follow when I enter Your house

So I...surrender all to You

I...surrender all

Take all my cravings for vain recognition

fleshly indulgence and worldly ambition

I want so much Lord, to make you my focus

To serve You in secret, and never be noticed

So I...surrender all to You

I...surrender all

Take all my hunger, for all that's forbidden

Every desire, and sin I keep hidden

Search me and know me, I want to bring to You

a life that is holy, and sanctified thru You...

Rich Dalmas, Sovereign Grace Music

Come rain...or come shine!

Sigh...we need the rain, and ordinarily, I LOVE rainy days, but for the 2nd week in a row...it has ruined our family plans! We were supposed to go to the big Westmoreland County Fair, but with thunderstorms and heavy rain all day, that was not an option....so....again, on to 'plan B'! I am an optimist...when life gives you lemons....you get the drift.

So, today, I'm now putting a new recipe in the crockpot, Vietnamese chicken to have over rice later on, recipe from this site www.365crockpot.com...then we have to meet my mom & step dad to drop Meghan off for the weekend that she is spending with them...and we HAPPEN to pass my chiropractor AND a Toys R Us....well, we NEVER go to Toys R Us, and Anna has a gift card to there, and Ronnie has his own money to buy some special Legos... so that is our 'plan B' for the day!

We'll come home later to a hot, healthy dinner, and games until bedtime. Maybe someday our plans won't be washed away by a 'Rainy Day'! Hope everyone has a very blessed day...come rain or come shine! ~Sue~

A "Tru" friend.....brought 'Truvia'!

I had a wonderful surprise today! A special friend from church arrived at my doorstep with a belated birthday surprise for me. She reads the blog, and read how I gave up coffee and stevia because the stevia was just too expensive...so in my little goodie bag, she put a book on friendships, a bag of Starbucks morning blend....and a box of 'Truvia'!!! Stevia sweetener! I got tears in my eyes at her thoughtfulness and generosity....thank you, Viv!!! Can't wait to try it!

I may save it for a special "coffee day" a week! Boy, would that make my gift last! Maybe make a special gluten free baked good for breakfast to go with it...scones, muffins or coffee cake sounds good to me!

I've actually been ok, drinking tea and honey in the mornings. Feel fine...no headache or anything...I"m still getting caffeine. At $1.95 for a large box of tea bags and $1.25 for honey at Aldi's.....I'm still saving money.....and you can bet that I'm going to make Viv's gift to me last! LOL

Gotta run...bought 2 bushels of tomatoes at the farmers market yesterday, today I"m making tons of salsa to freeze, tomorrow and Friday, I'll be canning. Want to make some "apple syrup" tonight for pancakes tomorrow. Read somewhere, to take unsweetened apple juice, I'll be adding honey, vanilla and a touch of cinnamon, cook it down to a syrup and use that on pancakes instead of maple syrup. I've also found a recipe for using Aldi's frozen, unsweetened strawberries, and I'll be using a little Truvia to sweeten, and making my own jam whenever I need it. Smuckers Simply Fruit costs almost $4 a small jar, and we love jam on biscuits, toast, pb & j.....finding lots of substitutions for expensive items that we can make ourselves.

Vivian...if you are reading this, "Thank you" from the bottum of my heart!!!! You are a sweet, generous friend!

Being gluten free AND frugal...it CAN be done!

I've been thinking a lot about this lately, and today it all came together. As my little ones would say "I made a new friend" last night...and while we were talking about living healthy, natural AND gluten free, it helped me organize my thought a little bit.

Today, we made a 23 lb turkey...talk about frugal! What a lot of meals we'll be getting out of that! But, I made over 10 quarts of cream turkey gravy and am freezing tons of it....since it is thickened with cornstarch, it is gluten free , and will be perfect for any recipe that calls for "cream of ....soup"! Add celery, and I have cream of celery soup...the same with mushrooms. I will be needing a lot of crockpot meals starting soon due to the children's activities starting back up again soon, so this will really come in handy!

One of the things that has saved us the most money eating gluten free, is having an electric grain mill. I do have a hand mill, but will probably only use it if necessary...as it makes my rice very gritty/grainy. We go to asian markets and buy huge bags of sweet rice to grind, tapioca starch and rice noodles, and order sweet brown rice, millet, navy beans, buckwheat and quinoa from a natural foods co-op....sometimes, we'll also go to Trader Joe's and stock up on GF pasta and GF frozen waffles (these, at $2.00 a box are great to have around!).

Once a month or so, I'll grind my grains and store them in big containers in my freezer...then I have them handy to bake with. We'll bake muffins, make gf pancakes, and sweet breads for breakfasts and lunches....we'll make gf (what I call) flatbread for toast or sandwiches, and biscuits to have with soups or stews. Buying my grains in bulk really saves a lot of money, and with my grain mill...I don't have to buy any mixes...my mill grinds so finely. I can also change the degree of fineness , to very coarse and make cornmeal as well.

The brand of grain mill that I recommend is called the K-Tec grain mill. It is the only mill (that I am aware of ) made in the USA, and grinds the finest as well. I have many friends who have mills and their's don't grind quite as finely. It is VERY loud, but saving so much money...it's worth it, I think! I've also had great customer service from them as well. I don't know how to link on this computer, but if you search for K-Tec Kitchen Mill you'll find it.

So...that is mainly how I save money gluten free...hardly any cereal, no mixes or pre-made things (except pasta and occasionally waffles)...we'll have tacos...and use corn shells. I just pre-ordered a cookbook and can't wait to get it that is all crockpot, and all gluten free! You can check it out

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/

Along the left side you can check out the recipes in alphabetical order, too. I'm off to have some dessert my oldest daughter made today...and maybe a game of Uno with the little ones. Have a blessed Sabbath! ~Sue~

New blog background...

Sounds silly, I know, but that last background was too bright for me...ok for summer, but I AM longing for FALL!!! This is called "warm cider"....sounded and looks perfect to me! ~Sue~