Less than a fortnight to go

Well, it's been quite a while. Between Pesach, wedding preparations, work and other assorted things, my computer time has been limited. I have been doing some knitting. I am currently have two pairs of socks on the needles. One for me and one for my husband. I will post the works in progress soon. I am also working on my dress for the wedding. It is cut out and waiting to be sewn. I'yh Motzei Shabbos will be a busy time at the sewing machine.

Akiva's aufruf is this week. Chana is coming to Toronto next Tuesday. Lots of last minute details to deal with. We are very excited about sharing this simcha with our family and friends.

When in Rome...

Purim in Toronto was a week-end extravaganza. Our theme this year was "Survivor - Galus through the ages."

Rooks joined our team on Thursday, and the Balabans arrived Friday afternoon.

Preparations for Shabbos and for our themed feasts got underway. Rooks was a big help with the grocery shopping...


and the girls found something that would be put to good use!



As things heated up in the house, outside, the weather was wild!

Our first Nisayom of the weekend occurred Friday evening. The toaster oven was left on broil by accident. Gam vu l'tova... out of all this we "met" a neighbor whom we invited to join our festivities on Sunday thanks to Rooks!


Instead of sitting at the table as usual, we reclined on couches for the meal. The meal began with Roman bread and the spirits flowed!

We posted several sayings in Latin around the house. Our theme for the day, was on the front door.


"Do you own a skinny orange cat?" Naw, not us!



Not only did we "survive" the weekend, we had a great time doing it! L'shana habah....

Mazel Tov!

Mazel tov to the Pliner and Horowitz families. Chana is engaged to Akiva Horowitz of Brooklyn, NY. I'yh the wedding will be on Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day) in New York City. Details to follow.

Well, I can't believe it's been over a month since I last posted. January was truly hectic... in a good way. I got a lot accomplished, but was too busy for words! Over the next week, I'll be posting some of the projects that I finished, which include a patchwork quilt, 2 lace scarves, and 2 sets of wrist warmers/fingerless gloves.

The black pair are made from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (wool & a little cashmere blend). The orange pair are pure cashmere (a real treat to knit with) and are a gift for someone. Thanks to Eli for modeling. The pattern is Fetching from knitty.com


The first 2 weeks of January involved the usual stuff.. kids, school, library, cooking, cleaning (occasionally!). Last November, I accepted a graphics job for the end of January. At the time, I thought that our school break was the last week in January, so this job fit perfectly into my schedule. The job was due to the printer the 3rd week in January. I figured I'd work really hard and then go on a little vacation during break.

Well, things didn't work as planned. First, I made a mistake with my calculations. Vacation was the 3rd week of January. Second, Chana and Akiva became engaged. So between driving to New York for a surprise L'Chaim, working 50 hours (with the kids home and husband off in Atlanta), and then driving back in New York for an vort, I'd say it's been hectic in a good way.

Finally, the freelance job/book is finished, wedding plans are under way and I even managed to complete several knitting projects. I can't read in the car, but I can knit in spurts.

The major project that I finished in January was a quilt for one of my granddaughters that I started over a year ago. Patchwork-wise, it was a bit more challenging than previous quilts. The kids helped pick out the backing, and I am pleased with the way the colors work together.

I found this backing at Walmart. I actually brought home a couple of different choices. This is what the kids voted for. Funky, but it works. You can't see it in the picture, but the circles on the back are echoed in the circular quilting I did on the front.

Remember the esrog compote? Well, last Shabbos being Tu B'Shvat, we celebrated by eating it for dessert. I even took some to family in NYC. I enjoyed eating it enough to look forward to making more next year!

Ceasar Salad & Dressing

This one is for Temima.

1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard
4 tbsp. vinegar
3/4 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed (add more if desired)

Romaine Lettuce
Croutons
Imitation bacon bits (optional)

Mix all ingredients together. Pour over lettuce, add croutons and imitation bacon bits. This dressing is great over any kind of salad.

Chanukah 5767

Chanukah was a whirlwind of activity. Yerucham and Yishai spend the first Shabbos of Chanukah with us in Toronto.

Thursday, we headed to NYC. We lit candles with Lee, Barb and family. Then we all headed out to the ice cream store.

On Friday, we visited Temima at work.

Shabbos was spent relaxing with the grandkids.

We arrived home early Monday morning and were welcomed by a silent fish, one lonely, meowing cat, a warm house. It's cold here, but no snow as of yet.

Chocolate Bundt Cake

Happy birthday T. Although this isn't the traditional birthday cake that I make on everyone's birthday, it is an absolutely delicious cake. This is one cake that disappears every single time I make it. I'm usually just a follow-the-recipe kind of person, but I created this one by combining and adapting elements from several different cakes. It's the only recipe I've developed and written down. Hope everyone enjoys it. The only complaint I've heard is that it is too chocolately. Go figure!

Chocolate Bundt Cake

3/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup hot water
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup shortening
1-3/4 cup sugar
3 eggs

2-1/4 cups flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup soy milk
1 package instant chocolate pudding
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bundt pan with shortening and coat with flour or bread crumbs. Set aside.

Mix cocoa, water and vanilla together and set aside. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs and continue mixing.

Mix flour with baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with the liquid cocoa mixture and the soy milk. Add instant pudding and stir just till mixed. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into prepared bundt pan.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes. (check with toothpick). Don’t over cook, it should be moist. Let cool for 20 minutes or so and invert.

Chocolate Glaze
1/4 cup cocoa
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons margarine
2 tablespoons corn syrup
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Stir cocoa, water, margarine and corn syrup together over low heat until smooth. Removed from heat and add sugar and vanilla. Stir till smooth. Spoon over warm or cool cake. If mixture is too thick, add a little (1/2 teaspoon at a time) water. Let extra glaze pool in the center of the cake.

For a special occasion, sprinkle just-poured chocolate glaze with colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, shaved chocolate or coconut flakes.

Pre-Chanukah busyness

It seems that time is moving quickly, but my knitting is moving slowly. My lace scarves are getting longer, I'm about 1/4 of the way along. I still have to finish off my wrist warmers.

Last week I worked 2 nights of Arbonne skin care shows at a shul pre-Chanukah gift bazaar. I'm not known for my "decorating", but here are some pictures. For a first time, I think things looked pretty nice.


I'm getting ready for Chanukah, I've already "surprise, surprise" purchased wicks, oil and gelt. Now I just have to polish up the menorah. We are expecting "guests" for Shabbos. Rooks is due in Thursday and Yishai is arrive i'yh on Friday. Can't wait for Shabbos/Chanukah.

Thanksgiving is in November

This has been a very busy week. Even in Canada, we benefited from the American Thanksgiving (the Canadian Thanksgiving was back in October).

Babi,

Deens, a friend from NY
and Chan spent Shabbos with us.

Over Shabbos, we tasted the esrog compote. Hmmmm. It was a bit bitter. I will have to adjust the recipe before I serve it. The menu included turkey, pumpkin pie and birthday cake.

I was going to take before and after pictures of the food, but things were too rushed right before Shabbos so this is it for the pictures. Afterwards, there wasn't much "after" to take pictures of except dirty dishes. It was really wonderful having everyone visit. Deens was even able to stay until Tuesday morning. With Chanukah only about 2 weeks away, I look forward to more visits from family.

Recently, I finished a baby hat for Chan's friend's baby, and Chan gave it to her this past weekend.


It is made with a variegated 100% merino wool sock yarn (very soft) from Fleece Artist. I adjusted a kids' pattern to fit a 3-6 month old. It came out very cute. I'm ready to start another one.

I've almost finished knitting fingerless mitts in black (yarn ends need to be sewn in).

I have started my first lace project, a scarf (or rather 2 at once) made from a wool/silk yarn. It's not mindless knitting. Every row is different, and I really have to pay attention and remember which row I'm on.

Next week is going to be very busy. I have a table for 2 nights of gift shows for my Arbonne line. I have products to wrap and price so I'll be busy Sunday. I hope everyone has a restful and uplifting Shabbos.

Can-do attitude

I always enjoy learning, especially how to do new things.This week I added canning to my repertoire of things I have tried. Sunday morning began with a marathon cooking session at a friend's house making esrog compote. I collected esrogim and have been soaking them (changing the water every night) for 2 weeks. I felt like I have 3 pets in the house...

Jake, Blue
and the estrogim (off which I neglected to take a picure).

So Sunday morning I headed out with 14 esrogim and 21 quince apples and 5 lbs of sugar.

At 2pm, I returned with 1/2 of the booty (3 jars are for a Tu B'Shvat treat for school), 2 large and several small jars of compote. The actual cooking and canning took about 2 hours. The longest part was getting the seeds out of the estrogim. Each one must have have 20+ little seeds. It took over 2-1/2 hours just to do that. Next time, I'll prepare the estrogim the night before. I'yh we'll get our first taste this weekend. I'll save a large jar for Tu B'Shvat. It was my first experience canning. It really gave me an appreciation for what our ancestors had to do to put food away for the winter

I didn't get any knitting done this week yet because of Rosh Chodesh. I didn't manage to finish one fingerless glove Sunday while waiting for the compote to cook. The other will have to wait till next week. It has gotten colder here. There was ice on the windshield this morning. I think it's time to clean out the garage and see if the cars will fit.

Even though it isn't Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend, we are benefiting by having several guests.

One score and one year ago...

Lastly, a happy birthday to Deens...