06.23.09
Posted in Look, Make at 7:36 pm by Erin
The people have spoken, and they want 50% more furry feline content. Thus, I give you a few of the many moods of Juliet:
Playful Juliet
Relaxed Juliet
Contemplative Juliet
Immodest Juliet
I think I’m going to make her my spokescat for Paper Rose Designs, since she has captured the adoration of the masses. Hee hee.
I made her bed myself; if you’re interested, the instructions are here. The original instructions aren’t very clear–there are more elaborate instructions on page three of that thread. It makes sense when you’re sewing (assuming that you’ve sewn before). And, hey, if it doesn’t come out perfectly, your cat won’t know the difference.
Permalink
06.17.09
Posted in Make at 1:41 pm by Erin
When I think of the weekends I spent as a child, what comes to mind are pancakes, cartoons, and PBS. It was a common occurrence on Sundays to be treated to a mighty stack of delectable flapjacks, then settle in for an afternoon of The Woodwright’s Shop. While my abilities to use a lathe remain untested, I’ve definitely inherited a love for pancakes. This is a recipe I invented last Saturday morning.
Begin the topping first, so that the simmering allows it to thicken while you’re making the pancakes.
Banana-Pear Topping
2 firm but ripe pears, diced
1 banana, sliced
1/2 cup orange juice or so (could be more–I didn’t measure)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1/8 teaspoon allspice
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Mix all liquid ingredients and spices in a medium bowl, until the maple syrup is well-incorporated. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the diced pears, then pour the liquid mixture over them. Allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is thickened (right before serving, add the sliced banana). Meanwhile, start making the pancakes:
Pancakes
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup buttermilk (if you don’t have buttermilk, you can mix milk with a few tablespoons of yogurt together, or 1 cup milk and a teaspoon or so of vinegar or lemon juice. Let sit for a few minutes to coagulate).
2 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 cup raspberries
In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and stir just until moistened. Add in the raspberries, and fold gently.
In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add a tablespoon or so of oil to the pan to coat the bottom. I used about 1/2 cup of batter per pancake, but you can make them as big or as small as you dare. You’ll want to flip them when the outer edges start to look a bit cooked, and the batter is bubbling.
When golden-colored, remove and add the banana-pear topping, which should be thickened by now.
Yields: 6 large-ish pancakes.
Permalink
06.16.09
Posted in Look at 5:00 pm by Erin
A mere half-hour drive from Laramie–past saddle shops, ranches that welcome guests, and a charming little town of 100 with a mercantile and historical buildings–one reaches the winding paths up the Snowy Mountain Range. Here, we discovered that we can go sledding and skiing in June, which strikes me as magical (being from Ohio and all).
Permalink
06.12.09
Posted in Look at 6:06 pm by Erin
In an area where cowboy iconography/mythology/actuality plays such a huge role in regional identity, how is the matter of Native American identity addressed? The answer, to my newcomer eyes, seems to be: it’s not. Sure, there’s a prominent sculpture of Chief Washakie that greets people as they enter the University of Wyoming campus, but by and large, the issue seems to just be skirted. Even in a state with Native American reservations, they seem largely absent.
There is an exhibit of Crow regalia at the University of Wyoming art museum right now, which does not have as much explanatory material as I would like. The matter of ethnic representation in museums is a hot-button issue (who describes the objects, how they are displayed, messy issues around provenance, and the very idea of turning people into study objects for academics are all argued).
The museum also hosted a Pow Wow. I’d never been to one before, and I wondered how the practitioners felt about performing their traditions for a bunch of Euro-Americans. How would it feel to be made exotic in your homeland? To be trotted out as an educational opportunity? I don’t know. I am working on an oral history project, interviewing locals about this area’s history, and their place in it. Maybe it will help to answer some of my questions.
Permalink