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Journal (The Ember Update)

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Thursday, November 24

Happy ThanksIndians!

Magic Garden

Here's an activity we recently enjoyed: Frank and Leah gave us a Magic Garden earlier this year, and we finally put it in action. It took about 12 hours to finish growing, and then was VERY fragile when being moved (we lost a tree right away), so if you ever grow a Magic Garden yourself, do so wherever you plan to display it. The crystals aren't hard, they're almost like a fibrous dust … touch it and it becomes a powder. Click on thumbnail to view animation (660k).

Tuesday, November 15

We've been busy! Just after my brother's birthday dinner at the end of October, an old co-worker of mine, Eduardo, came for a day visit and toured around the area with us to see the fall foliage. We went to Sarah's birthday party the night of November 4th, followed by our own event that Saturday. Then last Friday Skip came for dinner. The next day, Kevin M. drove down and stayed for the rest of the weekend, and Chris B and his girlfriend joined us just for Saturday evening. In addition to all the socializing, I've been cooking a LOT, and we've been pricing flooring for my studio. Every floor that's nice is too expensive, so I'm going to go with the suggestions of a couple of my teachers, who've recommended a good grade of plywood, properly installed, sanded, and finished/painted. We figure that'll cost between $3-400, if we do it ourselves.

Burning the Snake

Two weekends ago we had a party for Kevin's birthday and invited some friends over to help celebrate. Michelle, Ben, Frank, Luisa, Dylan, Marco, Christian and Mayhe joined us. The first of many burn theme parties we hope to have, this one was: Burn the Snake!

Kevin and I built the snake out of hollow logs Kevin collected, and stuffed it with kindling and fireworks. We gave the snake a tongue, eyes and tail, made from different types of sparklers. It was a success! The snake shot off most of the fireworks early and burned for many hours. While most of it performed wonderfully, we learned something about sparkler (and air vent) placement, 'cause the eyes took 3 hours to ignite, which meant most of us missed that part.

Many of our guests enjoyed our new swing and Luisa currently holds the record for highest, with the help of Dylan. Our new friend Marco gave Kevin a complimentary professional birthday massage, setting up his table right in front of the fireplace. Maddy, Ben and Frank were hanging out on the back porch, watching the remains of the snake burn hours after it ignited, and they agreed with Frank that it resembled "a burning chateau on a hill."

The party coincided with the peak of the Northern Taurids meteor shower, and several people reported seeing shooting stars during the course of the night. Sunday morning I made a new dish called Dutch Apple Baby, and everyone scarfed it down. Kevin recieved gifts of a glass mushroom paperweight and a really fun knit cap with protruding froggy eyes and ear flaps. It's so cute!

Dutch Apple Baby is, or was, served at the Little River Inn in Aldie, VA. This recipe's from Viginia Wine Country (1987, Lee & Lee, 0-932620-87-6), a history, winery description and cookbook all in one.

Dutch Apple Baby

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Serves: 4 to 6
Prep time: 10-15 minutes
Cooking & Assembly time: 15-20 minutes

3 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
3/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
2 to 3 tablespoons butter [I think two is plenty, one might even be enough]
Apple Filling* [or heated fruit filling of another type, like blueberry or peach]

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Blend eggs, milk and flour at high speed in blender for 30 seconds. Scrape sides down with rubber spatula, cover and blend again. Place batter in freezer while skillet is heating.
• Place butter in a 10 inch heavy cast iron skillet and place in preheated 450 degree oven until skillet is hot and butter sizzles [I think until the butter foams is good enough, don't burn it!].
• Pour batter into hot skillet. Bake 15 minutes.
• Open oven and pierce center of puffed pancake with fork several times so that center deflates. Remove skillet form oven; carefully lift pancake from skillet and place on heated plate. Fill center with prepared fruit.* Sprinkle with confectioners sugar, cut into wedges and serve.

*Apple Filling

4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon chopped pecans [I've used both sliced and slivered almonds]
1/4 cup raisins
3 to 4 apples, cored and sliced [I usually peel them too]
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Small amount of apple juice, optional [I've never needed it]

• While pancake bakes, prepare fruit filling.
• In saucepan, over medium-low heat, cook all ingredients until apples are softened and moist.
• Add small amount of apple juice if mixture seems dry.

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