late to the party

i know - it's been a while! but i have a really, really good excuse. if you're squeamish or easily grossed-out, click away NOW.

NOW.

i'm warning you...

okay, here it is:


right, maybe that was a little melodramatic.

i've been cooking and baking a lot lately - at least, during these long summer weekends when i can really take stock of whatever produce's sitting around the house slowly going soft. (we are normally a "oh it's 8 o'clock so just throw something quick in the oven" kind of couple.)


forget sugary jam; fresh, hot fruit compote is so much better. here with digestive biscuits and vanilla bean quark, which got all melty and gooey with the warm fruit on top. yumm!


mixed veggie latkes (potato, zucchini, and carrots) and pistachio-basil cornbread (i dunno, it worked!). the cornbread is what got me... it was safe and unassuming until i stuck a couple of slices in the oven with spiced black beans, heirloom tomatoes, and cheese on top... when it turned into the dish of doom! attempting to be a good recycling citizen, i stuck the bean can under the tap and whoops! sliced up my thumb. i went to the bathroom to bandage it up, came back to check on the dish, and then kind of fell onto the side of the open oven. man! but i'm a slave to supper and after applying antibiotic ointment and a bandage, i plated it, sliced up an avocado, and tucked in!

you might wonder where the knitting went. am i avoiding it on purpose? well, for about a week my arm was pretty stingy and i basically avoided unnecessary arm flexing activity. and now i can't tell you what i'm knitting because it is a surprise! shhh if you know - no spoilers in the comments. my other projects have been put aside as i speed-knit my way through this one (addi turbos purchased for the purpose). one clue and no guessing:


p.s. - cascade 109 is on sale at webs. they're out of the original pewter colorway but still have a lot of lovely colors at a great price, if you're looking to knit up a pair of bella's mittens!