Jul 31 2006
Mosaic Monday
I don't get in a cooking mood very often… I love food (who doesn't?) but cooking is usually associated with precise and meticulous measurements (I like to "wing" it) and of course, when it is already pushing 100 degrees outside, I don't like to crank up the oven for energy-efficiency and comfort reasons…
But then I saw this recipe in the new Real Simple magazine (August 2006), for some reason, I became quite obsessed. Perhaps it is the diet I am on - I am limiting carbs, but not cutting them out completely (don't look at the calorie count…), and I needed a carb fix. This bread just looked SO good… so I made it. And I also made accompanying goulash with some fresh veggies and herbs from our garden.
1. Basil, 2. Okra, 3. "Real Simple" recipe, 4. Boddington's Pub Ale, 5. Kris eating bread, 6. Vegetarian Goulash - In the Pot
Needless to say, I was pretty darn proud of myself. It turned out so well! If you want to recreate this yummy meal, you can use the Basil Beer Bread recipe and the "basic" recipe I used for the goulash (I added okra and dill).
And with the end of the month, I tallied all of the yarn stashbusted for the Summer of Stash this month. Both purple projects this month were small - the Rasta hat was approximately 200 yds. of wool, and the Ballet Cami was about 600 yards. However, I gave away some yarn this month - specifically 3 balls to get my best friend Becca started on sock knitting - and that was 890 yds (sock yarn packs a punch!) and I sent 3 skeins of yarn to my Swap Pal, and that about 515 yds, so I estimate my total stashbusting this month at 2205 yds.
76144 - 2205 = 73939 yds.
This is down over 3000 yards and 1.7 miles from where I started at the end of May. Pretty cool! I feel pretty good about this whole stashbusting thing, and honestly, I think I could easily continue it past Labor Day (the official last day of Summer of Stash) and possibly through November, when I will be going to Stitches East in Baltimore, and to California for vacation (everyone needs to find a yarn shop on vacation - yarn is the best souvenir!)
And finally, the last traces of violet, before we welcome the neutrals tomorrow…
See ya on the 'flip' side!
Your busting that stash
love the ballet top you did for your sister too… I love the look of that bread… very rustic! My DH is a big baker, gotta show him this and the recipe… maybe I will get it this weekend 
You created such wonderful purple projects! I’m looking forward to see what you cook up for neutrals.
haha so long time no comment missy! jk not like i ever post anymore
i loooove the shirt you made that sarah-pants is wearing, quite nice 
talk to ya later!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I’m hanging on to purple dammit!
oh yes, you should take a slight reprieve from stashbusting when you visit SF because you MUST visit both Commuknity and Artfibers! Especially Artfibers. seriously, the best yarn ever.
Your dinner looks extra yummy! I loves me some bread
Great job on the stash busting! I am trying to stash bust as well. I may participate in the Destash & Restash group Fig & Plum Jessica started on Flickr.
Where in Cali will you be visiting? If you are coming to Southern Cali, I’d love to meet up! Wouldn’t that be fun, fun, fun?
omg, that bread & soup sound sooooo good. Good bread & good homemade soup are two of my favorite things about fall. Now that I’m in sunny NM, I can actually look forward to fall!
I already bought yarn for my first August PS project! whoo!
Just wanted to say that I found your blog recently and that I like it a lot. Your projects look wonderful and - my goodness! - what a great looking dinner!
Your dinner looks fab. I told Cobra about the recipe, and he said it sounded good, especially if you took out the basil and the bread
He’s a goofmonger.
Goodbye stash, goodbye purples. I love me some black…
I was so excited to see those basil recipes (esp. since I now have basil growing) I haven’t tried the bread recipe yet - so, you liked it?
Your meal sounds very yummy! I’ll have to try those recipes some weekend when I’m home.
Yeah on the stash busting! Looking forward to seeing what August brings for Project Spectrum!
You’re doing great on the stash busting. Wish I could do that but I have no will power when it comes to all things fiber.
That bread looks really good!!! If you like “guesstimating” when you cook, you should catch Rachael Ray (30 Min. Meals). She’s always telling you to just wing it, and teaches you how to measure in the palm of your hand. Her recipies are quick and easy and try to stike a balance too - usually it’s all about cooking healthy so you don’t have to feel guilty about what you are eating. She quite often had vegetarian options too. (Geesh, I guess I’m quite a fan, huh?)
Good job on all your stash busting too!!
yipee to bread, veggies and stash busting! I’ll have to try the goulash - looks good for the hot nasty weather we’ve been having! Can’t wait for stitches - the last time I got yarn was MD, then only 1 skein in DE….pacing myself….
The bread looks great. I saw that recipe and wondered how it would be. I have to agree I think yarn is the best souvenir also. Lately, that’s been the only purchases I’ve made. I’m going to continue the summer of stash until Stitches. Someone on the SOS site suggested we call it the Fall of Fiber.
You had me at Beer Bread.
Your photographs all look so beautiful! Love the collage of violets!
Hmm, I wonder why stomach is growling all of a sudden?? Congrats on the stash reduction!
Oh, you don’t need precise measurements when cooking…only when *baking!* I wing it all the time - recipes are merely suggestions. Adding okra and dill to the goulash was a great idea - as long as it tastes good, it’s good cooking!
I love okra. Mmmmm!
Your Summer of Stash is going great, and that soup looks terrific!
The LYS I went to on Saturday was, I believe, Cloverhill–Lizzy B’s local shop–and very nice it was, too!
Where will you be in California? Forgive me if I missed it….
Ahhh but the best part about being a great cook is that you no longer need to measure! Now baking, that requires precise measurement but cooking, I love the wing it meals, the ones where you open the fridge and just throw it all together. Great meals are developed that way!
I totally missed July’s Project Spectrum and I’m not sure how that happened but I’m ready for August and I won’t let it pass me by!
I love to bake bread…so, thanks for the recipe…think I’ll add it to my fall line-up of breads and cookies that I intend to bake…Love what you did with all the purples…and thanks for having Project Spectrum
That dinner looks so good. I haven’t had a dinner experiment in a while. Congrats on the stash busting!
You’ve done a great job on stash busting…I wish I could say the same. I too missed PS July but thanks for all the lovely purpley photos, I was able to live vicariously through your blog. =)
(That bread looks yummy! Gonna have to try it sometime.)
You gotta have carbs every once in a while, and honestly, what is better than beer bread??!! Awesome job on your stash busting! I wish I had been doing that well but my knitting has been a little stagnant what with summer school and all. Keep up the good work!
Oh my gosh, the meal looks so yummy!! Great work on the stash busting. I went through all my yarn last weekend and decided I have way too much. I can’t believe July is over…and fyi, I’m still planning on finishing and SENDING your postcard
That bread sounds really good! i’ll have to try it!
Yum! Everything looks delicious.
Great purple month, Lolly. Bring it on, August!
Stitches East. I’m there.
I love your purple pictures!!
the food looks so yummy! I need to make some bread soon!
Purple is such a great color on you blondes…Pixie looks good in it too!~
Real Simple is an AWESOME Mag…definately. I’llhave to get that issue.