The Cozy Life

We have heard rumors of frost so it is time to bring in the harvest, ready or not. The red pepper is a ripe version of the lighter green ones in this pile. Gypsy is the variety and usually, if planted in a good spot are really prolific. I didn't plant them in a good spot, so the results are piddly. The dark green peppers are poblanos and they were also put in a less than perfect spot. We have eaten several before these, in chili and salsa. I put them in before I had the raised beds out in the sunnier fields, so next year, I will have the right spot to plant them.

When it is chilly outside and the fireplace is going strong, I feel the urge to make dough. Baking is so rewarding. Just ask my thighs. But I had apples, and some store bought piecrust I want to use up ( bought previously for a rustic spinach artichoke tart I saw on Food TV) which turned into this apple pie. Amazingly the piecrust from Wal-Mart was really good. Two packets in the box, rolled into a tube and encased in cello or whatever that stuff is, the resulting crust is just as good as homemade, and of course...instant! I used Cortland Apples which are soooo white, until dusted with cinnamon and brown sugar. Sweet enough that they need a drizzle of lemon juice to sparkle the flavor. I always toss in a few raisins and if they need plumping, I might zapp them in the microwave, covered with bourbon. O my! The struesel topping is my lazy answer to a top crust. Oatmeal, brown sugar, white sugar, butter, cinnamon and walnuts, all crumbled together and sprinkled over the surface, CRuuNNCH.

Earlier I had made creamy potato-chive soup and soup needs HMB (home made bread) so that started the daily loaf routine. This rustic loaf was crunchy and holey, with a subtle sourdough tang and is already completely gone. No matter, loaf #3 has risen overnight and ready to bake off for breakfast. Recipe here.


Tummy full, it was time to put the feet up and knit.
My plan worked! Knitting is so amazing, and especially modular knitting. In this design, everything is based on the largest diamond being 70+1 stitches. From there, a half diamond is 35+1 and triangles are half of that or 18. The quarter diamonds at the end of the insert begin with 9 stitches. No brainer!

Almost finished with the inserts and then getting them inserted is the next challenge. After that, the neckline, blocking and I am finished! So satisfying. I love the colors and I will be making the pattern available here on the blog and on Ravelry.

Dave is doing well, and here is a tiny clickable picture of his bruises. So colorful. I made it small so if you are squeamish you don't have to look.