I started making kreplach when I was 4! The first attempt ended in me almost dying when I fell off a broken chair and grabbed the pot of boiling water on my way down. The Polish neighbor who was assisting me, grabbed a towel and pulled all the skin off my burned leg and I ended up going through several skin graft operations and treatments as I could no longer walk. But I didn't lose my love of kreplach. My aunt Fanny was a real kreplach maker but hers wern't very tasty unlike my aunt Dora's who was a great Roumanian cook. She taught me to use the best cheese I could find. One day we were driving in Winnipeg Lake beach where she had a summerhome. She pointed out a cow in a backyard and we stopped to buy some cheese from the cow's owner. The cheese was still warm. It made probably the best cheese kreplach I've ever tasted. After that it was a very long time until I could really make a decent kreplach. I think my dear sister Bev still can't do it. But then she's been wasting all these years working as a doctor.
In the following recipe I write how I roll out the dough. It wasn't like that before I saw how they do it in Kowloon. The traditional POlish or Jewish way of perogie or kreplach making is to take at least half the dough and roll it out into a big rectangle with a regular big rolling pin. The dough is rolled out to be quite thin. Then a glass or cup is used to make circles throughout the rectangle. The glass has to be coated on the bottom with some flour so it won't stick to the dough. The major problem is that a lot of the dough is left after all the circles are made and this dough is used again. The next time the dough is much tougher and drier so it's a difficult job. It also takes longer and the dough just isn't the same on this new batch.
In Kowloon I was waiting outside a dimsum restaurant and in the window there were some Chinese chefs making the dough for dim sum. They took pinches of dough and rolled each one out separately for one dim sum and they used a small rolling pin. I couldn't find it in Hongkong but I did actually find it in Israel. I explained this method to a Ukrainian friend who also makes kreplach and she switched to my way also.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
red pepper pickled
1/2 cup vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
3 or 4 cloves or clove spice
black pepper optional
Bring to boil. Add 2 red peppers cut up and cook about 4 minutes. Serve with chicken.
1/4 cup sugar
3 or 4 cloves or clove spice
black pepper optional
Bring to boil. Add 2 red peppers cut up and cook about 4 minutes. Serve with chicken.
kreplach recipe
My kreplach recipe is very low salt but you can add salt if you want to the dough or to the boiling water or after; however, try it this way as it's very tasty.
Begin by boiling 2 large pans filled with water.
Dough:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup cold water
1 egg
Add part of the water to the flour and egg in a food processer and continue adding water slowly until the dough begins to move as one piece (rather violenty too)
If you have too watery a dough, just continue to knead it with more flour.
Put aside and make the filling.
Cheese filling:
200 grams or 8 oz of low salt white cheese. Can be farmer's cheese. My cheese is about 50mg salt in 100 grams of cheese.
sugar to taste (up to 3 TBSP)
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg, beaten
1 heaping TBSP sour cream (I use low fat 9%)
Mix all but the egg and taste. when taste is right, then add a beaten egg and mix well.
Blueberry or fruit fillings:
Fruit plus sugar
cinamon optional
Cornflour if watery.
Combining:
The pictures below show my small rolling pin.put flour on a level surface. I take a large pinch of dough and roll it into a circle about 2-3" in diameter. Roll fairly thin and then add cheese or fruit (small amount). I usually fold the circle over once and pinch up the edges. This technically is called perogie. To make kreplach, continue and take two corners and pinch them together.Be very careful that the dough is well sealed especially if the filling is fruit.
Boiling:
Add about 10 kreplach to the boiling water and after they all have reached the top of the pan, continue cooking about 10 minutes and then remove into a strainer. You might want to lower the heat while it's cooking and don't cover.
Serving:
For cheese I like melted butter (unsalted of course) and a little sour cream. For fruit, you might want to put a little sugar on each one. Taste first.
Begin by boiling 2 large pans filled with water.
Dough:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup cold water
1 egg
Add part of the water to the flour and egg in a food processer and continue adding water slowly until the dough begins to move as one piece (rather violenty too)
If you have too watery a dough, just continue to knead it with more flour.
Put aside and make the filling.
Cheese filling:
200 grams or 8 oz of low salt white cheese. Can be farmer's cheese. My cheese is about 50mg salt in 100 grams of cheese.
sugar to taste (up to 3 TBSP)
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg, beaten
1 heaping TBSP sour cream (I use low fat 9%)
Mix all but the egg and taste. when taste is right, then add a beaten egg and mix well.
Blueberry or fruit fillings:
Fruit plus sugar
cinamon optional
Cornflour if watery.
Combining:
The pictures below show my small rolling pin.put flour on a level surface. I take a large pinch of dough and roll it into a circle about 2-3" in diameter. Roll fairly thin and then add cheese or fruit (small amount). I usually fold the circle over once and pinch up the edges. This technically is called perogie. To make kreplach, continue and take two corners and pinch them together.Be very careful that the dough is well sealed especially if the filling is fruit.
Boiling:
Add about 10 kreplach to the boiling water and after they all have reached the top of the pan, continue cooking about 10 minutes and then remove into a strainer. You might want to lower the heat while it's cooking and don't cover.
Serving:
For cheese I like melted butter (unsalted of course) and a little sour cream. For fruit, you might want to put a little sugar on each one. Taste first.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Diakeito crochet
I spent several hours today figuring out the pattern in the Diakeito magazine shown here (cover is the project). The yarn is Dialien and it's a beautiful pastel ribbon. Color is LE 605. I think it's a linen, cotton blend. The ball is 35 grams and is 123 m. The pattern calls for 230 grams so I have enough too. I began with the "magic loop" and then went on to make 2 hexagons and connect them. To my amazement I was spot on gauge which almost never happens to me. The hook is a Japanese 2.0 which is called for in the pattern.
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
cucumber salad
This recipe from my old Betty Crocker book.
2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
2 TB sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper.
Slice cucumbers into bowl and add rest of ingredients. refrigerate 3 hours.
6 servings, 10 calories per serving
2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/3 cup water
2 TB sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper.
Slice cucumbers into bowl and add rest of ingredients. refrigerate 3 hours.
6 servings, 10 calories per serving
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Being grumpy
It's nice to be grumpy. At age 69 I feel I'm entitled and my daughter says it's fine to be grumpy here on my blog. Yesterday I was very grumpy and today less so. I decided to let off steam on the Beadchat email group about people who come to me for free beading lessons for as long as 2 hours of my time. These are people who can't read instructions for themselves, have almost no beads and materials and just try to learn for free using the cheapest materials. They also never bead on their own. I met some of them at the local retired center where there's a lovely woman who teaches crafts and seems to mainly teach beadwork. She's really good too. But in 2 hours with about 30 to 40 women all wanting her help, she really can't do that much so some of the ladies seeing that I'm pretty good, try to come and visit me for help. They come with poor materials that are not suitable and are not interested in buying the right stuff. Some think they can use mine. One lady came without her glasses which she really needed as she had a high cylinder number. AFter quite a few of these visits I finally popped. Well, today the beadchat email group responded. I thought I'd be burned for sure and was very surprised to read the outpouring of support by other beaders who had also been burnt by students and people wanting to learn for free. I got a lot of good ideas too and the big one is to just say: no.
I also posted a letter to knittalk which is a knitting email group and here I wanted to write about a knitting book published in 2003: New directions in Knitting. Several people said they had bought it and others wrote they were ordering it and it was available very reasonably now. So I just might send in a few more reviews. I know that people prefer positive reviews so I need to take a look at my large collection and see what is there. Now that I'm alone again, and dieting, I often take a few books or magazines to read while eating to eat less and it also gives me time to go back over something I had forgotten about and say: wow, I'd like to knit that.
I had to go to the dentist today after hours of pain yesterday. The lady dentist said it's time to take out the tooth. It didn't even hurt and she hardly used any pressure as it was so wobbly. Then she had to put that horrible thing in my mouth to get the measurement for the new tooth which will be added to the stuff I have. I'm so happy as it will be ready tomorrow. No waiting.
And today it's terribly hot and heavy. I don't usually feel much from the weather but sitting at home in my usually lovely living room, I felt a slight headache. And the weather tomorrow is going to be even worse.
I also posted a letter to knittalk which is a knitting email group and here I wanted to write about a knitting book published in 2003: New directions in Knitting. Several people said they had bought it and others wrote they were ordering it and it was available very reasonably now. So I just might send in a few more reviews. I know that people prefer positive reviews so I need to take a look at my large collection and see what is there. Now that I'm alone again, and dieting, I often take a few books or magazines to read while eating to eat less and it also gives me time to go back over something I had forgotten about and say: wow, I'd like to knit that.
I had to go to the dentist today after hours of pain yesterday. The lady dentist said it's time to take out the tooth. It didn't even hurt and she hardly used any pressure as it was so wobbly. Then she had to put that horrible thing in my mouth to get the measurement for the new tooth which will be added to the stuff I have. I'm so happy as it will be ready tomorrow. No waiting.
And today it's terribly hot and heavy. I don't usually feel much from the weather but sitting at home in my usually lovely living room, I felt a slight headache. And the weather tomorrow is going to be even worse.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Potawatomi weave
Potawatomi weave is shown in the Goodhue book "Indian beadweaving patterns". It is similar to Daisy stitch but I think faster and if you change the beads you can come up with some of the designs I made in my picture here. You can Google for it too. There's a lovely pattern by Carolyn Pedrick called Twilight necklace http://silverdesign.com
Books with it are "A Treasury of beaded jewelry" by Mary Ellen Harte (p.20-21) and "Beaded jewelry with found objects" by Carole Rodgers on p.30. It is very good for chains and she has a few in this book. Bead and button also had something on it some years ago. I find it works fastest with larger beads and in more than one color. I did it with 11s in one color and was quite unhappy.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
My favorite chili recipe
My daughter asked for this one.
3 TB butter or olive oil
1 large onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound chopped beef or red turkey meat
1 1/3 cups canned tomatoes with juice or substitute 2 cans of tomato sauce
1 green pepper, minced
1 cup water
2 TB chili powder
1 tsp cumin seed, crushed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/8 tsp basil
1 small bay leaf
1) Heat the butter in a large skillet. Add the onions and garlic and saute until golden brown. Add the meat and brown.
2) Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for about 3 hours. If desired, add 1 can of kidney beans and just heat through.
3 TB butter or olive oil
1 large onion, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound chopped beef or red turkey meat
1 1/3 cups canned tomatoes with juice or substitute 2 cans of tomato sauce
1 green pepper, minced
1 cup water
2 TB chili powder
1 tsp cumin seed, crushed
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/8 tsp basil
1 small bay leaf
1) Heat the butter in a large skillet. Add the onions and garlic and saute until golden brown. Add the meat and brown.
2) Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered for about 3 hours. If desired, add 1 can of kidney beans and just heat through.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Feminine knits- review
This book Feminine knits by Samsoe is translated from the Danish and the publisher, Interweave, has not bothered to change the yarns used. The cheapie way friends. Instead on p.126 they indicate where you can make substitutions of course using the more expensive yarns like Rowan. In addition the patterns are written for small sizes and generally don't give much extra width. Biggest sizes are about 43" around.
Now some of the patterns are inspirational so the excellent knitter (and why she or he needs this book I have no idea)can then fight with it and get the particular item they want at the gauge he or she wants. But after all that work, I say just use the patterns for inspiration and do your o wn thing and next time don't buy this book sight unseen. This book is best borrowed from the public library although here in Israel you can scratch that one too. And as for Interweave, well I've been burned before by them so now I will be that much more careful in the future.
The book got 3 stars from me on Amazon in my review and I think that was generous.
Now some of the patterns are inspirational so the excellent knitter (and why she or he needs this book I have no idea)can then fight with it and get the particular item they want at the gauge he or she wants. But after all that work, I say just use the patterns for inspiration and do your o wn thing and next time don't buy this book sight unseen. This book is best borrowed from the public library although here in Israel you can scratch that one too. And as for Interweave, well I've been burned before by them so now I will be that much more careful in the future.
The book got 3 stars from me on Amazon in my review and I think that was generous.
Knitting in the sun -review
I reviewed this book on Amazon and gave it 3 stars. Today I tried to figure out the yarns used. 32 patterns and pretty much 32 different yarns as well. I didn't find all of them but after a long search on 2 different yarn index sites came up with most of them. In the book many are not labeled correctly as there are different weights under the same name and the book doesn't indicate that so you need to check yardage as well. Already in this new book some yarns seem to be discontinued. The main problem here is that the book doesn't give indications of whether the yarns are worsted, dk or whatever. That's the old way. The new way is a cockamanie number system which is very useless especially if you happen to be a crocheter.
Since I don't live in the states and want to use my stash, it's important for me to know what kind of yarn is in the pattern as many of the yarns especially in this book are the newest latest thing. In general after all that searching I discovered that most of the yarns are either worsted or dk weight. But that doesn't mean that you will need the correct needle and here is t he big problem. Sometimes the pattern changes the gauge the yarn usually gets into something looser or tighter and if you want to make your item the same way, first of all you need to know what the yarn gauge is supposed to be and then figure out what you can do based on the pattern gauge. So that all makes this book a big headache.
Because of that, I now prefer to use this book and similar just for inspiration. Then I can madly go my own way. Now we are lucky here because this book has schematics and that is the key. With the schematic I can then do my own thing and try to come up with the same size. See? The life of a knitter just gets harder all the time.
And of course if you want to make your sweater a different size from the sizes here, well you're are definitely on your own. So therefore this book is not for the beginner who is planning to make something from it. In general she will fail.
Since I don't live in the states and want to use my stash, it's important for me to know what kind of yarn is in the pattern as many of the yarns especially in this book are the newest latest thing. In general after all that searching I discovered that most of the yarns are either worsted or dk weight. But that doesn't mean that you will need the correct needle and here is t he big problem. Sometimes the pattern changes the gauge the yarn usually gets into something looser or tighter and if you want to make your item the same way, first of all you need to know what the yarn gauge is supposed to be and then figure out what you can do based on the pattern gauge. So that all makes this book a big headache.
Because of that, I now prefer to use this book and similar just for inspiration. Then I can madly go my own way. Now we are lucky here because this book has schematics and that is the key. With the schematic I can then do my own thing and try to come up with the same size. See? The life of a knitter just gets harder all the time.
And of course if you want to make your sweater a different size from the sizes here, well you're are definitely on your own. So therefore this book is not for the beginner who is planning to make something from it. In general she will fail.
Sabta's Polish red peppers
I dragged this pickled pepper dish from Sabta who came from Poland.
Boil 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup sugar with some cloves and black pepper. Boil about 4 minutes and then cover and cook a few more minutes until peppers are tender. Refrigerate. Very good with chicken dishes
Boil 1/2 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup sugar with some cloves and black pepper. Boil about 4 minutes and then cover and cook a few more minutes until peppers are tender. Refrigerate. Very good with chicken dishes
chicken and rice dish
I travel a lot and I need my recipes but don't carry them along so this is a great way to access them. Not too many. I'm basically low-salt and dieting although my blood pressure with pills is fine and my drs don't t hink I need to lose much if at all but I have to compete with what I see around me.
My new friend Ilana is Persian and that inspired me to make a chicken dish with rice. It's fast and easy. Salt can always be added after. This is enough for me for 3 or 4 meals as I only am eating 100 grams of meat at a time.
CHICKEN AND RICE DISH
1 breast
1 onion, chopped
1 small carrot grated
1 tomato, small pieces
1 red pepper, small pieces
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup white dry wine
1 1/2 cup water
1 cup uncooked rice
Fry the onion and garlic a nd remove from pan. Flour chicken breast cut up into portions (3 or 4) and quickly fry til golden color. Remove from pan. Now return everything with chicken on top. Add spices. Can be anything. I use black pepper, tumeric or curry powder and something called chicken spices from Schwartz. Add 1 cup uncooked rice and 2 cups of liquid. I like to use some dry white wine and water. Cook uncovered a few minutes. Lower heat, cover, and cook until rice is done. About 20 minutes.
My new friend Ilana is Persian and that inspired me to make a chicken dish with rice. It's fast and easy. Salt can always be added after. This is enough for me for 3 or 4 meals as I only am eating 100 grams of meat at a time.
CHICKEN AND RICE DISH
1 breast
1 onion, chopped
1 small carrot grated
1 tomato, small pieces
1 red pepper, small pieces
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup white dry wine
1 1/2 cup water
1 cup uncooked rice
Fry the onion and garlic a nd remove from pan. Flour chicken breast cut up into portions (3 or 4) and quickly fry til golden color. Remove from pan. Now return everything with chicken on top. Add spices. Can be anything. I use black pepper, tumeric or curry powder and something called chicken spices from Schwartz. Add 1 cup uncooked rice and 2 cups of liquid. I like to use some dry white wine and water. Cook uncovered a few minutes. Lower heat, cover, and cook until rice is done. About 20 minutes.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
new c hair
This is my new knitting, beading and guest chair from Gary Alexander. Took 2 months, but it's here. The wood is gorgeous and the rest is black leather. It's a very heavy chair.
Kathryn Alexander sweater
I finally found this project in my stash going back about 4 years. It's the Kathryn Alexander sweater with lots of entrelac using a kit of her great single ply yarns.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
RAW earrings with and without clips
I made these earrings twice once for me and the second time for my first customer! Only she has no holes in her ears and wears clips or clippsim as it's called here. So I went out and bought some and saw I needed to glue something to the ugly empty spot in the front of the clips. I bought some cheap plastic flatbacks, some glue appropriate for them and to my surprise something like a q-tip but instead of cotton it has wax and this just adheres to the bead and you can easily put it in place. In fact much easier than using what we call a pincetta. Sorry, my English is going here. It was recommended to me along with the glue by the saleslady.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Peyote design from Yanti in Jakarta
Yanti is my student in Jakarta a nd when I returned on my last trip I was amazed to see her lovely peyote even count bracelet using beads I had sent her with my son. I recreated it here. Yanti is now one of maybe none who bead this way in Jakarta and I'm very proud of her. She is now probably creating something in RAW.
crocheted blankie shell stitch
After struggling for a few days trying to remember where I found this pattern it finally came to me. It's in the VK crocheted baby blankets book on p. 60. The pattern includes an animal head but since this is a lapghan for an adult I don't need that and also I wouldn't give a 100% wool blankie to a newborn. I like it so much that I dug into my stash collection and came up with another Te Awa yarn from Australia. I have several of them actually. I'm using a 5.00 hook and after going through my hook collection I found that a plain simple aluminum one with no name of the brand works the best on this one. I do love my Phildar hook too but it's quite heavy at this size and the American Boye is not as slidey as I like either. The pattern is very easy but I haven't found it in any of my stitch crochet books yet. It mainly uses sc, hdc and dc to make a sort of shell which then on the second row heads in the other direction. But except for the beg row, everything else is the same as row 2 which makes it delightfully easy and quick to make.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Grannies
Just finished a baby blankie in the VK Grannies book. Designed by Marilyn Losee. This was such fun to do. I used several variegated acrylics I bought here in Holon instead of the plain colors in the pattern. I even have enough left over for a second one. Now I just need to find a baby!
I saw my surgeon last week and also got back the blood test. Both were excellent. The surgeon isn't sure whether I still have the cancer but he thinks it's there only smaller and just wants now to check me again in 4 months.The hormone pill I'm taking is being very successful for me. So once more, I am so lucky. I told a girlfriend about it and she was amazed and told me to "go away". She has had to have chemo and it has spread to other parts of her body. She seems to think th at th e 3 marker tests on the blood test would indicate if there is cancer but I think she is wrong. One can't depend on that.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Cheer wools LYS
I forgot to take a picture of the new store for Cheer wools and they just moved on this visit farther up Hennessey not far from the football fields. I found some NOro yarns but pretty expensive and their selection of Japanese knitting books was slim for 2009. Also they had removed their older European knitting books but on my final visit it looked like they had put some of them out again because they do get a lot of "foreign" visitors. I was asked by one lady who was a tourist from Canada about finding a pattern in English for an afghan and when she told m e she was heading soon to Singapore I told her to wait and go to the Golden dragon which has a great selection of English wools (Sirdar and Rowan) plus Japanese yarns and lots of books and needles. Singapore knitters have told me this is the best LYS in Singapore.
Spring summer handknit collection for women
This is a Diakeito book and the cover shawllette uses the Diallien yarn. Most of the items are crocheted but there is some knitting. NIcest books for 2009 I saw so far so I bought it.
yarn purchases in Hongkong
I was really sticking to my yarn diet this trip but couldn't resist the following yarns left to right: Dialien color 605 from Diakeito. I bought 9 balls and it is probably linen with cotton in a variegated color. This will probably become some kind of crocheted vest or shawl. The next yarn is Diamist lame in color 707. This has some gold and silver colors an d 3 balls should be enough for a narrow summer scarf. Both are Diamond yarns. The third one is Diadomina in color 323 and is a variegated red and pink and other colors. I bought 9 balls which should be enough for a plain raglan pullover. The prices from Filokilo are approx the same with the discount as in Japan. You have to bargain but it also helps to be a good repeat customer. This store often has classes too. They carry some cheaper Italian yarns. None of the stores I've seen in Hongkong carry Chinese yarns although I believe there is a place somewhere in Hongkong. Just haven't found it yet.
another LYS in Hongkong
This Lys is on the same street as Filokilo so worth a visit. They only carry Filatura di crosa (at a nice discount) and some Cleckheaton from Australia. They also have lots of Clover needles. There's another store called Spotlight in Kowloon that I visited this trip with my daughter. They also have lots of Aussie yarns and books and I also found there some of the cheaper Miyuki delica beads plus I bought a pliers for split rings which I hadn't seen anywhere else. Didn't take a picture though.
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