DIY Mittens from (Accidentally) Felted Wool Sweater

The past two mornings I've left for work it's been snowing.  One morning my car door was actually frozen shut.  The next day I was almost late because I sat in my car so long looking at the snow.  It's kind of a big deal here.  On these snowy days, by the time I get to work my hands are nearly nonfunctional due to the cold.  This got me thinking: if driving five minutes in the cold sucks, how much  more is walking to school (for an 8 o' clock class, nonetheless) next week going to suck?  I live really...

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Another Tomato Soup Recipe

There's a threat of ice and snow sometime between midnight and 3 am, and when it snows around here everything completely shuts down. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed about work tomorrow.) We really need groceries (like, haven't bought groceries since before Christmas), but whenever there's a winter weather warning everyone runs to the store to stock up on milk and bread, and I didn't feel like fighting with all of those people when I got off work earlier. Instead I decided to come home and throw any and everything we had edible into a pot and see...

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Pumpkin Bread

I decided to use my pumpkin puree to make pumpkin bread! I've been working all day every day this week, and while I'd much rather be at home watching movies in my pajamas, my consolation prize has been pumpkin bread and hot coffee in the mornings. This recipe is very simple and almost impossible to mess up. The spices can be adjusted according to your taste; I added a lot because I love the combination of cinnamon and warm flavors like cinnamon and clove. To make this tasty bread, you'll need: 2 C sugar 3.5 C flour (I...

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Family Dinner: Spaghetti Squash

This Sunday was devoted to our second annual trip to the pumpkin patch, followed by a customary family dinner of spaghetti squash, mulled cider, and front porch pumpkin carving. It was nothing short of divine. I love the pumpkin patch that we visit, because not only do they have more varieties of pumpkins than I've ever seen in one place, but they also have tons of winter squash. Last year we got a little one or two butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squashes and a few carving pumpkins. This year, however, I wanted to devote a considerable...

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Roasted Tomato and Carrot Soup

The temperature is steadily dropping around here, and yesterday I decided I wanted something that would warm me up a little. We have a two-day fall break from school this week (I go back tomorrow), which means I actually had time to make this wonderful Roasted Tomato Soup that I saw on Food People Want.  I slightly  modified the recipe to include carrots since I am drowning in them (thanks to an irresistible deal--5lbs of organic carrots for $5; I couldn't say no), and carrot-tomato combinations always end up being my favorites. I used: 4 large-ish roma tomatoes, diced...

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