I know that most of us can only handle so many pictures of the ocean/trees/Puget Sound, however I needed to post this one of Brad. Last Friday we took a personal day together (we blew off the gym, our to do lists, his work, housecleaning, and a few others I'm sure) and it was fabulous. The morning was perfect for a little kite flying, both our new one (in pix) and the fighter kites that we constructed ourselves, then promptly destroyed. The tide was higher than I've seen, but still yielded a few good rocks. As the morning progressed, the skies warmed to blue, the turtles came out of the pond, and we indulged in a child-sized burrito at Gorrdito's (and by child-sized I mean the-size-of-a-small-child, "Get in ma belly!").

Saturday morning I awoke to the knowledge that I needed to feel water. Some days are like that, and I am blessed with time in my life that I can leave dishes in the sink and the bed half-made, in order to nourish my soul. I made the short drive to Golden Gardens (after picking up another friend who also needed soul nourishment), the beautiful beach that separates the Puget Sound from the city. It was grayish and windy, with a promise of rain on the horizon, but I saw so much color. What began as a collection of vibrant stones from the Sound became an Andy Goldsworthy-inspired project.

It was one of those mornings that I wish I could have every day. So much in fact, that just writing about it now makes me want to leave my computer, throw on a jacket and put my feet in the sand. I think I might.

The (In)Famous Granola

So it seems that every time I make a batch of granola, about half of it goes to like-minded friends whom I feel need the kind of love that only homemade granola can give. Unfortunatley, I am either selfish or generous (depending on how you look at it) because no one has received this little gift twice. This has caused a small stir of clamoring for the recipe, so I finally had to sit down and write out what goes into the mystery mix. Keep in mind that my granola has never abided by a set recipe, so all the quantities are pretty loose. In other words, feel free to experiment with confidence - I have yet to use a measuring implement, but have never had a bad batch!

Hippy-Snippy Granola

1 1/2 Lbs Rolled Oats (I always buy these in bulk, and this quantity in organic is usually about $1.25)
1 /1/2 - 2 Cups Nuts of Your Desire (I love almonds and cashews, but I have used pecans, hazelnuts, and macadamia nut as well)
1/2 Cups Sunflower Seeds
2 Tbs Sesame Seeds
1/2 Tbs Cinnamon (or more if I'm feeling zesty)
A good shake of Nutmeg

So mix all this good stuff up in bigger bowl. Then go on to the wet goods.

1 1/2 Cups Applesauce (This is the one thing you can not skimp on)
3/4 Cups Brown Sugar
1/3 Cups Maple Syrup (Don't even think about using the fake stuff!)
1/3 Cups Honey (get the stuff that comes in a honey bear - it needs to be runny honey)
2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Mix up this sweet concoction very well, then pour it over the dry goods. Here I use a mixing technique with two spatulas. I stick the spatulas on opposite sides of the bowl, then lift and squeeze them together. By really squishing the granola up (rather than just stirring), the wet can work its way through the whole batch instead of just coating the out sides. Once you have a consistence that looks like sticky little clusters of granola, you're ready for the baking part.

Heat your oven to 350*. Spread the granola in a thin layer over two baking sheets that have been lined in parchment paper (not wax! repeat, never put wax paper in the oven!) or foil. Cook for ten minutes, flip the granola with a big spatula, and put both sheets back in (I change which one is on top every time I flip, just to make sure they cook evenly). Continue on like this for about 35 - 40 min. When the granola is nicely browned (Malibu stacy style) then you are done. Let it cool completely, then enjoy with yogurt and fresh berries!

Walking up Pine St. yesterday I had the super excitement of seeing a knit cozy for a street light. It may have been a
Knitta, Please piece ( I know they have members in Seattle), but there was no tag left for certainty. Since finding their site a year ago I have been secretly (O.K., not so secretly) hoping to see a knit in action, and this was the first.

One of the greatest ways to start your day is with a really good cup of coffee, and mulitple packages from your postman. Today I recieved my jewelry tree from Claudine's Closet and a beautiful pair of earrings from Mikkelina (Happy Birthday to me! Thanks M & D!). My morning plans have changed to reconfiguring my vanity and playing with my jewelery - pix will be posted when I am done!

Maybe I am a little bit of a foodie. I get so excited when our Pioneer Organics box arrives on Wednesday afternoons; its like a big present (with a bad, plastic, grey wrapping job) that I tear into, scrupulously checking out each item (by that I mean the snif test) and laying produce out like a grocery wish list come true. The produce really is that good, and I have been widening my circle of veggie knowledge each week with a local, seasonal item that could be a bit scary. This week its mizuna, last week it was raab (delicious sauteed with garlic and crushed red pepper!).
I have also become addicted to a new blog, Orangette. Orangette's writting is beautiful, and her recipes have proven to be even better. The chocolate-apricot-espresso cookies have been a huge hit (even though our terrible apartment-grade oven threatens to murder anything I attempt to cook) and I have dinned on her spring-chopped-salad about 11 days in the past two weeks. And she lives here, in the fabulous, pouring rain of the PNW (Pacific Northwest for all you out of towners). So she must be great.