Chocolate Fruit Bread

I believe I have mentioned that every recipe I've tried in Chocolate (Practical Cooking) has been pretty tasty.  Sadly, the majority of the book has remained untried.  I tend to stick with the recipes I know and love rather than trying lots of new stuff.  I am attempting to remedy that.  I wrote up a wish-list of recipes to try from this book (and another chocolate cookbook) with a goal of trying several new recipes this year.

I had breakfast club last week, so I treated my coworkers like guinea pigs and experimented on them:  Chocolate Fruit Bread.  The consensus?  It's a keeper.  The recipe listed a number of substitutions for the fruit and the chocolate.  I made mine with chocolate chips, raisins and craisins.  It wasn't overly sweet, like some quick-breads.  It also wasn't quite as dense as I expected, which was nice.  The recipe suggested possibly using white, milk and dark chocolate.  I may have to do a combo next time.  But certainly no complaints with the semi-sweet chocolate chips.

It took a lot longer to bake than the recipe called for.  I could see the center was still quite liquidy after an hour in the oven. I may have to do a little less eggs or maybe up the temperature.  So although this recipe needs a little work, it will be added to my regular breakfast club (and possibly tea-time) repertoire.

The recipe, for those who've asked:

Newbie Annivesary

Two years ago, in the dark of night, I brought home two nervous little rodents.  One was so curious, she instantly won me over.  Her roommate was so cute and soft, I needed to bring her home as well.  They were soon named Pinniped and Bertie.

Bertie and Pinniped

I can't believe I've had them for two years.  I am also amazed that Willow is still kicking around with them.  Of course, that's why they're still called The Newbies.   Compared to that cranky old bat, Willow, they're young hotshots.

This is the longest time by far that I've had three guinea pigs.  Pippin and Willow overlapped with Victoria for a mere six months.  It's too bad I couldn't keep all three together.  It would have been fun to have a single herd.  The latest cage layout lets Willow touch noses and steal hay from the Newbies and keeps peace in the household.  Whatever works!  At least they can all roam together for floor time and in the outdoor pen.

So happy anniversary to my Newbies!  May we have many more.

Nightshirt

As a little kid I always wore a long flannel nightgown to bed.  You know the kind:  red plaid with a lacy color that screamed '80s.  Then I discovered flannel sheets; so much warmer than normal sheets.  Alas, flannel sheets and flannel sleepwear don't mix.  It's a little like veclro - get into the bed and don't move until morning because nothing's gonna budge.

Then I discovered a long nightshirt that was made of flannel back satin.  Perfect.  Fuzzy warm without the velcro.  But it's amazing how hard it is to find as just a nightshirt.  Stores seem to carry two-piece sets and I didn't want the pajama bottoms. <sigh>

I was folding the laundry a few weeks ago and realized my old night shirt was very similar to a button-down shirt I had made.  I loved the shirt pattern and have been meaning to make another.  Hmm... find some flannel back satin, change the cuffs, add about four inches and it would be the perfect night shirt.  Right.  Why look for a new pattern when I can hack apart and modify an old one?

So I gave it a try and it turned out just as I envisioned.  Working with the flanneled satin wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared.  The whole thing whipped together in a few hours.  I admit I totally cheated.  I simplified the cuff and sleeve to remove the button.  I didn't bother interfacing the front or collar.  I skipped most of the top stitching for both the cuff and the front of the shirt.  I rolled-stitched the bottom hem.  And those five buttons down the front?  There's no button holes.  I sewed buttons and both sides together in one fell swoop.  It's a pullover that looks like a button-up.

It's so comfy!  I think I need to buy more material and make another one.

Remembering Pandora and Abercrombie

Pandora and Abercrombie were the first two pigs I bought as an adult.  They came from a big pet store chain and had been in a pen with at least another two dozen pigs.  They were all so cute and so tiny!  We figured they were somehow related, since all of the pigs in that pen looked so similar.

Abercrombie and Pandora

They loved to be held, and got along very well.  I would often sit with the two of them in my lap, curled up together.  I loved these pigs, but these two were a set of lessons learned the hard way.  Within months of owning them, Pandora started having health issues, one after another.  I lost them both at a young age.


Abercrombie
Abercrombie was the smartest pig I had.  I would have loved to seen all the mischief she could have gotten into.  Unfortunately, she only lived 18 months and died of a congenital heart defect.  Losing her made me swear off buying pets from big name pet stores.

But in the short time we had her, she was very entertaining.  She loved running around and popcorning during floor time.  She did this so much at first we thought she was having seizures.  Abercrombie was smart enough to lie ("Guinea Pigs Lie: Abercrombie").

Remembering Teddi and Eclair

I bought Teddi and Eclair from a local pet store in 1998, hoping they'd be healthier and I'd have less trouble than with Pandora and Abercrombie.  They were half-sisters:  they had the same father and were born on the same day, but had two different mothers.  They were the first abyssinians I had ever had.  I wasn't sure if I'd like the bed-head look, but I fell in love with them.

They were so tiny when we brought them home; only six weeks old.  I think Eclair missed her extended family.  She'd jump on top of the hidey house and wheek and wheek at the top of her lungs.  Teddi was terrified.  She tried to hide under Eclair who wasn't much bigger than Teddi.  It was ridiculous.  Eclair would have a bewildered look with her feet dangling around Teddi wondering how she got like that.

Outdoor Pen How-To

These are instructions for building a portable lidded guinea pig pen that could be used indoors or outdoors.  Please note: This pen is not intended to be animal proof!  It is designed to keep guinea pigs contained and to slow down a passing predator that may see them as an easy meal.  When this cage is in use, it should be monitored at all times.

The measurements in these instructions are based on a 14" grid, so if you have grids that are a different size, you will have to adjust the lengths of the PVC pipe.  And the instructions assume you are somewhat familiar with cage building as seen on GuineaPigCages.com.

Cross Stitch

Quilting isn't the only stitching I do. I've done a number of needlepoint projects as a kid and did counted cross stitch in college. The dragon sampler was my first big counted cross stitch - it took two years to complete.


These three pieces are all designs by Teresa Wentzler.  I love how intricate her patterns are.  Everything is woven together and very detailed.  Of course that means they're terribly time-consuming to stitch!

Contra Dancing

Growing up in the Midwest, I had the usual run-ins with square dancing. I went to my first contra dance during a college event.  I immediately fell in love with it, but had no idea that it was something I could go to regularly in the area.  Oh, if I had only known there were dances so close to me!

Once I started attending the Scout House dance regularly, I found dances all over.  The Rehoboth dance has been my "home" dance since 2004. I also regularly go to the Scout House and the dance at  Brown. There's special events, like NEFFA, the Fall Ball and Snow Ball in Peterborough, NH.

For those of you who have never heard of contra dancing, it is set dancing (similar, but not like, squares) that is called (dancers are told what to do) and is usually accompanied by live music.

My favorite definition of contra dancing can be found on: What Is Contra Dance?

And, of course, Wikipedia has a a more clinical description:  Contra dance - Wikipedia

The dance community is wonderfully diverse.  I've tried some other dances that I've heard about through contra dancers:  Mostly Waltzes, English dance, and a Cotillion and Fezziwig's Ball, which feature dances from over a century ago.

Contra dancing is all over. And I dare you to find a nicer group of people. Its a fun, social, community activity. Try it out!