Good Food and Glove Love - This post is really long!

Since we have been spending less money on groceries, we have more money for fresh vegetables.  Tonight for dinner I made my classic salsa fresca.  Its extremely easy because of my Vidalia Chop Wizard.  Its actually pretty quality for an "As Seen on TV" product. I'd recommend getting one directly at Target or Bed Bath and Beyond.  They're great for salsa and veggie soup.

The recipe is very easy:


3 medium tomatoes
1 small onion
3/4 bell pepper (mine was yellow)
3 cloves of garlic
bunch of fresh cilantro
crushed red chili pepper flakes 
can of corn
can of black beans (optional)
salt
pepper


Directions: Cut it up.


God I'm so bored.  Yesterday I made dinner rolls: 

Here's a link to the recipe:  PW Dinner Rolls


They were good for my first attempt in making bread in a long time.  The recipe is a lot sweeter than I would have liked, but Zach likes them, so they will be eaten.

Drumroll please:


Finally the moment [Dean] has been waiting for:  The Toasty Mitts.  Based on THIS version of the pattern, I made a pair in a larger size to fit a man.  They are modeled here by the lovely Zachary.


Mods:  Cast on 40 sts. 
k2p2 for 3.5 inches.  
knit stockinette for 3 inches.
cast on 7 stitches for the thumb.
knit 1.5 more inches of stockinette
finish with 3.5 more inches of k2 p2 rib.


Very easy, but they took a lot longer than the women's version.  Adding 4 stitches really made a difference.  I don't plan on knitting any more of these for a while, though I do think they'll make good Christmas presents next year.


What's next for knitting?  I'm currently working on $5 in Paris.  It will probably be my last (large) project for a few months.  I'm getting ready to move, and additionally I'd like to get some reading in, mostly books about the Pacific Northwest in preparation for relocating.  I've never been there and I have no idea what to expect.  


I've been reading this book:

Northwest Basic Training:  Essential Skills for Visitors, Newcomers and Native Northwesterners

By Greg Eiden / Illus. Kurt Holloman

Sasquatch Books, Paperback, 2001

Its a little out of date, but its a quick read and is really full of information for someone who doesn't know what to expect out of their next life adventure.  Included inside are highly amusing tips like how to barter with hippies, how to order wacky coffee beverages and how to start a running for exercise.  Very fun.