Low-fat chocolate chip oatmeal cookie (yes, I said low-fat).

I know I'm not known for low-fat creations.  I blame it on a lot of things, mostly The Pioneer Woman, Smitten Kitchen, and the hereditary gift of a high-metabolism that allows me to test decadent recipes with abandon.  I keep hearing, however, that  my body has all sorts of surprises in store for me this decade.  I am warned that things will shift--both with my metabolism as well as my energy level.  And I hear that the shift will not be in my favor.  This is not happy news.

In preparation, I've come up with a two part plan as I head into the second half of my first year of my fourth decade. (didya follow that?  Because I'm also all about keeping those neurons firing...)

Part 1:  I've signed up to run the Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon again.  I didn't run a race last year and often found myself adrift, running-wise, without a goal in front of me.  Charlie is running it as well, as are several good friends.  We're also putting together a group to run the Run Amuck.  Running in mud and tackling obstacles?  Oh yes.  Yes, please.

Part 2:  Testing out some cooking blogs with a low-fat focus.  My favorite thus far is Skinny Taste.  The first recipe I tried was her low-fat chocolate chip oatmeal cookie.  I could not believe that a recipe calling for merely two tablespoons of butter could yield a satisfying cookie.  But it certainly did.

I also tried several main meal recipes from Skinny Taste and they were delicious, too.  Hopefully this will keep me focused on healthy eating.  And by the way, the fact that I ordered and recently received XX* boxes of Girl Scout Cookies is neither here nor there.  As far as I'm concerned, it simply establishes that my friends have ridiculously cute daughters.

*I will not go on record providing an actual number

Low-fat (yes low-fat) Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients

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Blue.

Dear Caryn. 

I know I had you on blue yarn watch.  I know I asked you to intervene and steer me away when I try to beeline for skeins with bluesy names like chambray, denim, midnight, wedgewood, cobalt, nantucket, azure, ultramarine, cornflower, and cerulean.  I could go on, and often do, but that's enough for now, right?  Because you know and I know that there is not a solitary shade of blue yarn that, once created, I won't feel compelled to stash.  I love blue yarn beyond reason. 

But guess what?  I picked up some skeins recently that weren't blue.  They were devoid of blue, in fact.  They were white.  Too white it turns out.  So they...and I...and my dyepots...well, we intersected.  And now, you guessed it, they are blue.  We blue addicts are sneaky. 

Sandra 

Valentine's Day, 2012.

Hope you are having the sweetest day.

Are you wondering if we did the cards again?  Well of course we did.  I think three years in a row makes it a tradition.  The boys are becoming quite adept at their assembly line duties.  And I am getting better at letting go and letting them do it their way.  I didn't even obsess about punching the holes just so.  I mean, who cares if they are not perfectly lined up with little fists to best play up the "here's your lollipop" effect?  Nope, not me.  Didn't care one little bit.  Packed up those levitating lollipops without regret, thankyouverymuch.

But I admittedly found some inner peace having control over the pop placement on Will's cards (used an Xacto knife on his).

I also enjoyed the creative turn of tweaking Max's a bit for a no candy rule...the phrase "Write On!" cracked him up.  He appreciates a good homophone joke.

The boys also delivered balloons to their teachers.  We continue to luck out with having the most amazing teachers.  The tag is hard to read in the picture, I know.  It says You Lift Me Up.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sandra

Cream of Portobello Mushroom and Leek Soup.

My sister-in-law gave me this recipe and we just love it.  I originally planned to insert a picture of the soup.  But honestly, I think that would deter you from trying it.  How does one take an appetizing picture of brown, splotchy soup anyway?  I have no clue.

Plan B:  cue the leeks.

Cream of Portobello Mushroom and Leek Soup (my mods are in italics)

• 2.5 tbsp butter (I use olive oil)
• 4 portobello mushrooms stems removed and cleaned and chopped (I like to remove the gills)
• 2 leeks while and light part only, cleaned well to remove sand and grit
• 1 cup chopped sweet onion
• 3 cups vegetable stock (chicken broth works well too)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• 1.5 cups of half and half (a cup of milk + some cream worked well, too)
• 1/4 cup dry sherry or white wine (I usually skip this)
• Chopped chives for topping (optional)

Melt the butter/oil in a soup pot over med heat.  Add the mushrooms, leeks, and onion and sauté until tender, 5-6 minutes.  Add the stock, salt and pepper and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are soft, 10-15 minutes.

Transfer to blender in batches.  My SIL uses an an immersion blender--I use my pro Blendtec blender.  If you don't have a pro blender and plan to blend it, do it in small batches.  Return to pot and add half and half and sherry and mix well.  Simmer, uncovered, until the flavors are blended, about 10 minutes.  Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with chives, if using.

Serves 4-6.

This week I'm going to try a mushroom blend to see how using non-Portobellos affect the flavor.  Oh, and last time I added a few pieces of bacon when cooking the veggies.  Yum!

Sandra

Chambord.

Well, it looks like I could have waited a day for yesterday's post and skipped the sneak peek.  Babycocktails released the Chambord pattern today and I can't say enough good things about it.  It's such a clever little number, shaped to disguise some extra holiday squish if you know what I mean. 

And if you do not know what I mean, I'm not sure we can be friends.

Project notes here.

Sandra

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

I say that a lot around here.  I have three boys you see...and am spectacularly unoriginal at times.  But this time when I said it, I was talking about a freshly blocked new knit.  And yes I was rubbing my hands together like a child about to get a treat because this is my kind of confection.  I can only reveal a bit for now because it's a test knit for this pattern. 

A test knit, you ask?  Why yes.  For Thea Colman.  You know,  Babycocktails. 

What's that?  Oh sorry.  I did indeed drop that.  Here, let me pick up that name. 

Can you tell I'm giddy that I got to test knit one of her knits?  I sort of have a crush on Thea's designs.  They make me appear to be a far more skilled knitter than I actually am.   I'm knitting her Drambuie next. 

I had a bit of a panic attack that the color (MadelineTosh DK in Nectar) was all wrong.  But then I received some positive feedback on Ravelry so I'm good.  Plus, my knitting guru Jenn commented on the project page that pink is a necessity in February.  And one should always listen to their knitting guru. 

Sandra