Food In Many Forms

Well, I definitely have eaten vegetable dumplings before, but I feel like making dumplings merits crossing #13 off my list . When I found dumpling wrappers in the Asian market near my house, I knew that I had to try and make them! But when I thought about it, I didn't really know what vegetables you wrap inside. Upon investigation, I found pre-made dumplings in the freezer aisle made with carrots , celery , mushrooms , sesame oil and taro powder . I bought celery, carrots, scallions and and a mixture of maitake, cremini and portabello mushrooms to stuff the dumplings. Not sure how to combine the ingredients, I tried chopping the carrots and celery in a food processor. Before I knew it, the entire package of dumpling wrappers had disappeared into the steamer basket - probably 50 dumplings ! I was trying to think what the insides of vegetable dumplings look like when you go to a restaurant, and really all that comes to mind is a dark mass of unknown ingredients. I want to learn mo...

My new favorite organizational tool is definitely the itso storage system from Target. (That's pronounced tar-jay :P) I had this grandiose idea of building shelves that could hold books or have foldable fabric shelves to tuck away clutter, but it turns out Target read my mind and made itso! I already bought two of the white plastic ones, and they got filled up almost inmediately. And for $13/box - I find it hard to believe I could make my own much cheaper. Especially considering how prone I am to making large mistakes... Unfortunately, the plastic version has a lot fewer options, but I don't think a college apartment merits anything sophisticated. There is something so exciting about re-organizing! I love knowing where everything is and spending the time to explore under the bed and beneath piles of old magazines and school binders to find that long-forgotten necklace or an old pair of knitting needles that are still perfectly good. I have been searching everywhere for this sk...

Wow, I have been going through my list faster than I thought! Last weekend I went blueberry picking at Butler's Orchard with my friend and her family. Normally, the season is halfway over about now, but there were barely any left! We had to comb over a lot of bushes to get the amount that we did. It seemed like an obvious choice to make blueberry pie since that is #23 on my list, but this recipe for blueberry crumble seemed so delicious. I will try and post the recipe; it was cut out from an old Washington Post article about blueberry recipes.

With #1 on my to-do list under my belt, and summer classes behind me, I am feeling rather ambitious. I am due to do something crafty. After all, that is the point of this blog. Hopefully, I will be going berry picking on Saturday - #2 on my list - so maybe I will make a pie - #23 on my list :) I think the most ambitious project I am going to be able to start is hemming my new pants. I have yet to find the perfect school bag pattern and I need the dimensions of the window before I can make curtains. It's a tough life keeping yourself busy!

Okay, I know it's finals time, but I made this wonderful list and I had to share. I am going to see how many of these I can cross of the list by the end of the summer. 1. Go on a day trip to the beach 2. Pick fruit at homestead farm or butler's orchard 3. Visit Boston 4. Go to the pool 5. Visit Eastern Market 6. Take a day trip to a pretty nature place (PA, WV) 7. Make sweet plantains 8. Go to a water park - Hershey/SixFlags/Bush Gardens 9. Go running 10. Catch a free concert in Bethesda/ Rockville 11. Get crabcakes from the crabcake place 12. Watch free movies at Strathmore 13. Try some new kind of food - Vietnamese? Middle Eastern? Belly dancing place? CRAZY Sushi? 14. Couples massage 15. Go clubbing? 16. Sell stuff on ebay 17. Look at Carnival Cruises 18. Picnic in the Park 19. Dance in the Rain 20. Catch a great sunset 21. Go paddle-boating at Rio in Gaithersburg 22. Go antiquing in Leesburg, VA 22b. Go outlet-shopping in Leesburg VA 23. Make pie 24. Test drive fancy cars 2...

Just 10 days until summer session is over and my projects go into full swing...well after I go to Ocean City...see you in two weeks y'all!

I have had the same school bag for about two years now and it is showing its age. I think Vera Bradley bags are so cute and fun, but the problem is that I keep wearing them out. The foam is popping out of the shoulder straps where they rub against my shoulder and the outside pocket is falling apart from my butt rubbing against my iPod inside. Well, I just so happened to be at the Maryland Sheep and Wool festival with my cousin and she said I should knit my own bag. I found this amazing brilliant turquoise wool that I want to use; I just need a pattern. My cousin even offered to show me how to felt it so it would hold up better to my heavy abuse. The only problem is that I need a pattern. So many patterns are for purses or do not have enough space for all my books. If I am going to knit a bag, it better be practically perfect in every way. Whatever pattern I choose to follow, I will most certainly have to add pockets all around the inside of the bag because that is what I love about Ver...