Saturday, October 03, 2009

counting creativity

inspired, i'll admit, by my own post on mushrooms over on domestic sensualist, the new cooking blog that i share with the fabulous bee, i made a gorgeous chicken recipe last night and it was so good, that i'm going to count it as #73 in the year of creativity:



it involved five kinds of mixed fresh mushrooms (which i bought at the store, i didn't forage for them myself in the forest this time), an organic chicken, three shallots and a bottle of hard, dry cider. it was absolute heaven. and i'm using the leftovers in a risotto this evening, so it was even economical in that it will stretch to two meals. i'll be sharing these recipes soon over on domestic sensualist.

while it was simmering away in the oven, i preserved some pretty little pears in a gorgeous mixture of sugar, vinegar, ginger, cinnamon, vanilla and star anise. i'm going to try to resist opening them for a few weeks, but it will be difficult. i give you #74.



and this afternoon, we finished sabin's little plushie man. i'm counting it as #75 because of the level of help which i was required to provide. isn't it adorable? i'm not sure about how i sewed the head to the body, but am chalking it up as a learning experience. and keeping my fingers crossed the head doesn't fall off.



when we got home from sabin's riding lesson this morning (thankfully she has moved to a morning lesson on saturdays), there was an exciting package waiting for me. it was from the lovely christina of soul aperture. and proved once again that bloggy friends are the very best kind of friends. thank you so much christina for the card and the fun cupcake supplies, plus real american popcorn boxes! sabin insisted on making popcorn immediately and using one of the boxes. is there anything more cheery than a traditional red & white popcorn box on a rainy, grey saturday? and i've already put one of the eat me tags to good use, but that's a surprise, so i won't say more. a big, heartfelt thank you to you, christina, you really made my day!!



hoping your saturday is going well too....

8 comments:

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Those pears look absolutely gorgeous, as well as delicious! And I love Sabin's plushy man. Thanks for the visual treat! Now, I want to try out that chicken recipe... see you over at the domestic sensualist.

Char said...

yum!!! though my brother is a big burly southern man, I wonder if he would like the cider aspect. hmmmm

and what cute makings and gifts. I love those popcorn boxes too.

Tessa said...

A glowing gem of a post to brighten a dreary grey day that whispers icily of a winter to come. Thank you for such blissfulness.

McGillicutty said...

You have to be super woman to get all this done... do you sleep? I love the card, you're a lucky lady! Well deserved!

christina said...

sweetheart, i am over here oohhing and ahhing over the cutie you sewed for sabin... then i see your package arrived already! im so glad you liked it! one for me, one for you ; ) the best kind of shopping. ; )
xoxo

Cwybrow said...

le cute, CUTE softie!

Bee said...

I can't wait for this chicken recipe. And those pears look absolutely gorgeous. Do you have a pantry for all these beautiful jars, or do you just keep them on your counter?

spudballoo said...

Ooooooh eye candy a go go! How clever all you ladies are...Christina's 'eat me' tags really made me smile. FABULOUS! x