Knitting

If knitting was like baseball

September 3, 2023 annbh3564 Comments

hand knit triangular shawl with a cream colored star and orange accents

… the game would be tied 3 Scarves – 3 Shawls. An earlier decision to skip a summer sweater knit-along (KAL) did not result in a knitting hiatus but rather a steady flow of smaller projects, just perfect for gifts and silent auction donations.

Having worried I would be overwhelmed when I committed to two fingering skeins each month from the Happy Hand Dyed Yarn Club, multiple skeins of Heather Best’s rich color combos have gone directly from mailbox to needles. The purple and white shawl with a whimsical bobble edge was a Knit Camp mystery KAL pattern which paired one of the April skeins with stashed yarn. The deep teal was the second in the April showers yarn offering, again mixed with a lovely merino silk blend. Heather’s dye pots yielded totally different hues for August (reminiscent of a large scoop vanilla bean ice cream served in an old-fashioned waffle cone on a hot day) and these were transformed into Martina Behm’s Half Norwegian. My zigzag choice for Sommer Camp.

Gardening

Thyme: From pot to cupboard

August 20, 2023 annbh356Leave a comment

five sprigs of time on a wood background

Just as menus change seasonally – from crisp salads with freshly picked mixed greens and vibrant plump berries to hearty, wintery weather stews – my choice of herbs also shifts. Dried dill is among our often-used winter herb adding a smidge of flavor in a vegetarian quiche or a sprinkling of color to fresh Spätzli. Whereas thyme is a nearly daily summer additive on lightly sautéed yellow squash or roasted green beans (each later garnished with 25-year-old balsamic vinegar), it tends to be rare in my winter recipes.

Regardless of the season, basil and oregano are cooking staples and each has, for years, transitioned from backdoor terracotta pots to the kitchen shelf. For the first time and in an effort to prolong the lazy days of summer and its menus, I dried some of the potted English thyme. It took two harvestings as the first snipping of tiny, dried leaves filled less than a quarter of one 5-ounce glass bottle. With the words of the brilliant songwriter Jim Croce in my head while carefully monitoring the oven drying so as not to char the fragrant herb, I have thymus vulgaris in a bottle.

Knitting

Getting Ziggy

August 7, 2023August 27, 2023 annbh3563 Comments

While zigzags are not required, they are the theme for the 2023 Sommer Camp hosted by Martina Behm. This annual event begins today and provides the perfect opportunity to mix up my knitting repertoire as I have been stuck on repeat. My camp project will be Martina’s Half Norwegian; a new shawl pattern designed specifically for seafaring participants of a knitting craft cruise to Norway where she was the featured instructor.

Since the pattern requires contrasting colors, I’ll be able to use two of my stashed combo skeins from the Hand Dyed Happy Yarn Club. Plus, Sommer Camp will be an ideal bridge from summer fun with Swiss cousins speaking Schweizerdeutsch (Swiss German) while waiting for September’s Knit Camp at the Coast 2023 with Marie Greene.

Photo credit: Martina Behm

Gardening

Fresh to Dried

August 6, 2023 annbh3561 Comment

close up of lavender with a bee on a bloom in a blue pot sitting in river gravel

With two large written notes, one on the stove dial and the other on the oven door handle, I carefully monitored yesterday’s oregano harvest as it dried in the oven at low temp. Two fragrant bottles of dried herbs are now tucked on the cupboard shelf ready for future Italian menus after having paid attention – this time.

Earlier this gardening season, I destroyed three pans of oregano leaves. Not right away, of course, which made my brain fade all the more irritating. I had spent a morning washing and de-stemming the little green leaves and then I repeatedly checked the drying process from green to withered to brittle before leaving the baking pans in the oven to cool. Later, focused on an afternoon task of making the next day’s rhubarb pecan scones, I set the temp to 450 degrees, totally forgetting the resting herbs until a scorched smell eventually reached my senses.

Still suffering from the indignant memory of oven burnt oregano, I dried the lavender with a more time-tested method. Left to air dry on racks over many days, I captured the fragrance of potted lavender in sachets which will protect my wool knitting projects until they can find perfect homes.

Travel

Happy Swiss National Day!

August 1, 2023August 1, 2023 annbh3563 Comments

cake frosted like the Swiss flag with the German greeting beautiful 1 August

While this holiday always shows up on my calendar, it is special this summer as we have just said “Auf Wiedersehen” to ten cousins visiting from Switzerland, as well as an assortment of US relatives with Swiss heritage. Leading up to their arrival, I assumed the role of travel agent and booked housing and offered sighting seeing suggestions. Even though arriving in Chicago on different days, six on July 9 and the four landing on July 21, everyone’s destination was the micro-metropolis of Bloomer, Wisconsin, and the Kuster-Custer family reunion. The last family picnic was held in 2013 celebrating my Great Uncle Vincenz’s 1913 arrival in America and my grandfather’s visit to his brother a year later.

The challenge of planning sightseeing trips for Swiss visitors is understanding and accepting that the Midwest specializes in subtleties. We simply cannot compete with the panoramic vistas of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, rather Wisconsin and Minnesota offer gently rolling green hills, tall corn, and the mighty Mississippi, albeit moving slowing along.

In addition to the picnic, my tour guide itinerary included two trips to the Mississippi River (one for each of the two travel groups) with stops at Lark Toys to ride the hand-carved carousel, the Alma lock and dam to watch a tow go through, a scan of the valley from atop the river bluff, and wood-fired pizza at the Stone Barn, as well as 17 people joining Momma for Sunday Mass. Momma’s house was the gathering point for three dinners – lasagna for 9, a sandwich smorgasbord, and post-picnic snacks, enjoyed by 17, all served with a variety of red and white wines (moderately consumed) and gifts of Swiss chocolate in red and white foil wrappings.

In these few days, amid a great deal of laughter, a few tears for those no longer with us, and plenty of careful translation from Schweizerdeutsch (Swiss German) to English and back again, we, the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren of August, Vincenz, and Willhelm Kuster shared the joy of family together.

Photo credit: Swiss National Day graphic shared by Franz K. via WhatsApp

Gardening

Edible Fruit: Cucumbers

July 28, 2023July 28, 2023 annbh356Leave a comment

green cucumber with yellow bud watercolor painting on a pale cream background

Inspired by Mike Wohnoutka’s “cute little cucumber in watercolor,” I conducted a culinary cucumber audit. I can count on one hand, fingers only without even using my opposable thumb, the recipes I use featuring cucumbers, a favorite in our summer garden.

The most prevalent and showing up almost daily is a cold cucumber salad, ala Grandma Kuster, with thinly sliced cucumbers, salt, pepper, and vinegar. (I always use my thyme & peppercorn infused apple cider vinegar that I put up the previous growing season.) Quick adds might include dried or fresh dill, chives, finely chopped green peppers, or bits of tomato making the salad look like the Italian flag.
Cucumber sandwiches for the English high tea at church complimenting the Yorkshire Gold tea, scones, clotted cream, and a delicious assortment of other sweet and savory delectable treats.
Cold cucumber soup – refreshing on a muggy day.
Tzatziki – that tasty blend of grated cucs, Greek yogurt, lemon, dill, and garlic, delicious on grilled vegetables or spread on pita wedges.

Mike is an award-winning author and illustrator. A talented Minnesota treasure! Check out the Goodreads list of his books.

Graphic credit: © Mike Whonoutka

Gardening

A productive morning…

July 27, 2023 annbh356Leave a comment

… fresh from the garden direct to the kitchen!

four vinegar bottles on wooden table with a sprig of thyme — The robust potted thyme has been paired with apple cider vinegar and black peppercorns creating this summer’s herb infused vinegar.

five round rhubarb scone on a blue plate on a purple background — The last harvesting of this year’s rhubarb has been transformed into *Rhubarb Pecan Scones* and then tucked away for a chilly winter solstice breakfast.

Cooking

HelloFresh: A new experience

July 25, 2023 annbh356Leave a comment

pink background with blue plate featuring rice, green beens and pork chop

There are times when reading a cookbook is like having a new novel in hand; the excitement builds recipe-by-recipe as I imagine preparing each savory entrée and delectable dessert. But, lately, I admit to being in a mental food desert. My menu planning prior to grocery shopping has been boring and littered with old standbys which then translates into irritation brought on by missing ingredients all because I relied on memory when shopping.

Then a friend shared her positive experience with HelloFresh and we subscribed. Last night we tried our first meal kit – Miso Peach Pork Chops with Ginger-Lime Rice & Green Beans. The kit included all the ingredients, in pre-measured portions, even down to supplying just one garlic clove. Just as Goldilocks found the little bear’s chair and bed, everything was just right. Not only was there less food waste (I composted the chopped green bean tips and zested-squeezed lime rind), the packaging is also recyclable.

We did laugh when we realized another of our selected meals, Alfredo-Styled Spaghetti, included a zucchini when our refrigerator vegetable bin is full of this versatile vegetable. Oh well, those beauties can always be transformed into Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread.

Bon Appétit!

Photo credit: HomeFresh

Reading

On the Road with Banned Books

July 16, 2023 annbh3561 Comment

purple bookmobile with people in blue shirts waiting to enter and a sign that reads - banned bookmobile tour

Long ago, my bookmobile days were spent on the byways of rural west central Georgia and southeastern Minnesota. The custom-built school-bus sized vehicles carried a general collection of books and media for children and adults; fiction and non-fiction and, maybe, some of same titles that are on the new Banned Bookmobile.

Unlike a traditional bookmobile where materials are available for check out and must be returned to the mobile library when the route repeats every few weeks, the mission of the Banned Bookmobile is simply to get banned titles into the hands of readers. The titles in this giveaway collection include those most frequently challenged in schools and libraries. Titles like Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye, Amanda Gorman’s The Hill We Climb and the delightful picture book, and Tango makes three, based on a true story and re-told by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. When the Banned Bookmobile made its debut in Orlando on July 5, all of the copies were gone in just 10 minutes!

In the coming weeks, the Banned Bookmobile will visit Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wisconsin with a goal of “giving people access to books that are inclusive of the full diversity and experiences of all of our communities.” In addition to distributing free books, the tour will be customized by location and include presentations by authors whose works have been banned, as well as working with local officials and activists to encourage the freedom to read.

Photo credit: MoveOn

Travel

Up, up and away…

July 14, 2023August 1, 2023 annbh3561 Comment

white airplane wing above the clouds with a Swiss flag on the wing tip against blue sky

While we may not be traveling very far from home these days, we are soon going to enjoy hints of Switzerland. Six Kuster cousins landed in Chicago last Saturday, toured the Windy City, and are now heading north along the shores of Lake Michigan. They will spend time in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and beautiful Door County before driving west to my hometown, Eau Claire. Another four Kuster cousins will depart Zurich on July 20 for O’Hare and immediately head north for the all day Kuster-Custer Family Picnic on July 22 in the small burg of Bloomer (population ~3,700). At last count during yesterday’s Zoom planning session, we are expecting 180 picnickers, including our 10 Swiss visitors. Amazing to think what the two brothers, Wilhelm and Vincenz immigrating from Switzerland, created.

Photo credit: Marianne Deluca