Last week Saturday, February 18, 2012 we had a family fun with our 3 dogs.  I ran 4.5 mls in my snow boots while my husband & our son, T rode on the 4 wheeler ATV along side me and the dogs.  It was a very gorgeous sunny day with gleamering  snow on the ground. My run started off a little slow going up in the mountain with rolling hills.  I ran with combination of walking to catch my breath while my husband encourages me with his fun loving coaching.  Once we got to the top, we took a nice break.  We played w our son & dogs in the snow.  It was load of fun.  Running back was easier, I ran really strong & hard.  Dogs were lagging behind.  I felt like I was flying.  It felt good to feel the cool breeze on my face.

When we got home, I made Tagliatelle Al Prosciutto/ Tagliatelle w Ham.  I made my very first pasta.  It turned out really good better than store bought pasta. I will be making my own pasta from now on.  Here is the recipe courtesy from my Italian cook book (Italy The Beautiful Cook Book) with some of my own twist added to it..  Hope you will try it.  FYI i cooked this on our wood burning stove:)

For the pasta called Tagliatelle  which is traditionally served w meat sauce or with simple cream and ham.
2 1/2 c all purpose flour
3-4 eggs (recipe called for 3, i used 4)
1/4 c water or more or less (recipe didn't call for this, i think they just forgot:))

Heap the flour on a board all med bowl, make a well in the center.  Add eggs & knead.  Slowly add water  (note: do not add all the water it might get too doughy) & work into soft, smooth dough.  Add more water if need.  Cover with towel & set aside.

Creamed Prosciutto/Ham (my version)
1-2 Tblsp olive oil or 1/2 stick of butter
1 small onion, chopped
3 gloves garlic, minced
4 carrots, finely chopped 2 c of ham, cut into cubed
4 celery stalk, finely chopped
2 c cooked ham
1 c heavy cream
3/4 to 1 c or more grated parmesan cheese
pinch of salt & pepper
coarsely chopped cilantro (optional)
note: you can use any veggies you like, I used what I have in the fridge)

Saute the onion and garlic with the olive oil or butter in a lrg pan until onion is translucent.  Add carrots, celery & ham cook for 5 min. longer or until carrots are soft.  Combine the cream, half of parmesan cheese into veggies mixture.  Turn heat down to med-low heat cook until sauce thicken.  Season with salt and pepper.  Note: if your sauce is too thick add pasta water to it.

Meanwhile, roll out the dough into a thin sheet on a floured surface.  Cut into taglieatelle 3/8" wide or less.  They expand when its cook.  Bring a lrg pot of water to a boil and cook the tagliatelle (pasta) until al dante.  It cook really fast like 5-6 min. so checked your pasta. Drain. Serve top w creamed ham sauce and the remaining parmesan cheese.  Top with cilantro.  Enjoy!

Valentine's Crochet Flower Necklace/Scarf

I have been working on crocheting a Valentine's flower scarfs/necklace.  So far it is looking good.  I don't have any pattern so I am just making it up as I go.  I will post pic soon when I'm done with it.  I'll be wearing to church this Sunday.  I am so excited with my new passion in crochet.  Taking a break from knitting.

Awakening My Creativity

So last night I was checking out Etsy's website I have to say that they are so MANY talented, gifted people out there!.  I was so INSPIRED by their talents that I brought out my yarns and crochet hook.  I am working on a Valentine's necklace.  So far it is looking good.

They are so many things you can do with yarns, hooks, dbl pointed needles, circular needles.  I have yet to venture to my creativity & things I am not familiar with.

Cooking On The Wood Burner Stove

Living in the woods is never a dull moment.  I have been challenged by my husband to cook on our wood burning stove instead of our gas stove.  His reason is this: since we are heating the house with our wood burning stove why not take advantage of it and cook our meals on it as well.  Of course I resisted at first but to my delightful surprise, I actually love it.  Not only do we save money on already expensive $2.80 per gallon propane gas but we are kept warm as well.  So far I've made scrambled eggs, country fries, bacon & sausage, clam chowder, beef tacos, spaghetti with meatballs, baked beans,  steamed tilapia with bok choy, and even baked bread!  Baking the bread was an experiment and it turned out really good.  My bread maker machine broke which I didn't know until I turned it on with all the ingredients already in the bread pan machine.  My expert husband said, lets bake the bread on the wood burner stove.  I wasn't for it.  I told him that just stick it in the oven but he persisted so I let him take charge of the baking.  Boy, when the bread was done, we couldn't believe how moist it was.  We ate a whole loaf of bread in less than an hour.  It was that good.  I feel like Caroline in the Little House on the Prairie cooking on the wood burning stove. Though our kitchen is twenty feet away from our wood burner, I don't mind the walking back & forth for my ingredients.  It's a nice exercise.