Yes I learned to tat. My grandmother was 1st generation from Germany. It was really out of desperation though that I learned all of that stuff. My grandmother was one of those women that beleived idle hands are the devil's workshop, so she would have my brother and I outside in the summer cutting the lawn with a ruler and scissors. Needless to say that was not fun, so I talked my grandmother into teaching me all of that stuff in order to get out of grass cutting duty.
It has been really great that I learn this stuff for the most part. Though there have been times when I wish I didn't know how to do it. One example is when my daughter needed a hem raised on a dress she would come to me instead of her mom. You can imagine how that made her mom feel. I also suspect that some of the women I have met over the years have figured that I am gay because of all of these skills. Especially when you also consider how much of a clutz I am when it comes to mechanical things. I have trouble just changing a tire on my car.
I don't do much needle work these days because of my eye sight and difficulty with remember ing where I am on a project. The last thing I did was a comforter about 5 years ago for a friend that was having a baby. It was small enough for me to get through with the job. I have been hoping that my neighbor would get pregnant (she is 22) soon so I would have an excuse to make another one.
Dennis
I just got home from dinner with my friend. We had baked ham, peas & carrots,fried potatoes, yams, and Neo-tuscan boule bread for the meal. Of course we had the cheesecake for dessert, and it was so good. I think if I had used a chocolate crust it would have been too much as with just the small amount of chocolate I did use it almost over-powered the flavor of the cherries. Maybe if I had added some of the juice from the cherries more chocolate would have worked.
Orange blossom tea. Yummy! I have only had that a couple of times. The first was in Japan almost 40 years ago. The second times was about 10 years ago at a friends house, but they put a dash of cinnamon in it. I think I have seen a version of it made by one of those herbal tea companies.
Those cookies sound great. I have never though of using applesauce instead of butter. But then again I LOVE butter. Especially when having crab legs!
Here is another recent modification I have tried. I was making a standard pot roast and decide to throw some celery in it. Choped the celery up 2 stalks and the taste was wonderful. Gave the meat a slightly tangy flavor but without losing the overall flavor of the meat.
Dennis
Dennis,
Any time you want to cater a meal, come on north! The cheesecake combo sounds great and I may even have the ingredients on hand to try it after we eat our way through all the cookies and chocolates.
Now to the handcrafts - you really learned tatting? I didn't know anyone outside of Belgium made lace by hand. LOL Do you still do needlework or is that a thing of the past?
Be well,
Lulu
Arrowhead Mills make a chocolate cookie crumb crust, I think it might be organic, definitely yummy. I'm thinking a mud-pie version, with some espresso and chocolate flavoring it. Hmmm, the chocolate crust might even be good with the black forest cheesecake!
I love to cook and bake, but need recipes. I've learned to change them to my tastes. I tried to learn to cook by taste and feel, but my mom was no help and my efforts were pretty bad.
I do have a great sense of smell and taste so I can tell what the ingredients were in most things. I was stumped recently by some tea at a Moroccan restaurant, the owner delighted in testing me. Turned out to be flavored with orange blossoms, something I haven't run across before. I guessed rosewater, then maybe some jasmine, as there was a definite floral note, but the owner grinned so when he told me the secret ingredient that it was great.
My grandparents lived across the country, but one grandmother came for a visit and had time to teach me a single crochet, and to start knitting. I've crocheted lots of blankets and scarves, all simple single crochet. I learned double crochet from a friend's mother, but never did anything with it.
I have a healthy cookie recipe that I've adapted to many different tastes. It calls for walnuts and raisins, and I've changed it to dried apricots and almond, or chopped dried papaya, coconut, and macadamias. Instead of butter, it calls for applesause, so I've replaced that with canned pumpkin, used pumpkin pie spice, pecans, and dried cranberries. Another variation, mashed bananas, a touch of cinnamon, walnuts, and golden raisins. Oh, or chopped dried apples, apple pie spice, and whichever nut strikes my fancy.
It's fun to meet someone that enjoys adapting recipes!
Kathy
The basic recipe for the cheesecake is so simple it makes it really easy to come up with variations. So far I have made apple, peach, blueberry, cherry, strawberry, and banana varieties. Of course with the banana I use a nilla waffer pie crust which I like more than the usual crust. I am thinking of doing a pineapple or coconut rum version next. I am always trying to come up with new recipes for all kinds of food.
I have always been a very good cook. When I was a kid my grandmother lived with us and she tought me to cook, sew, tat, crochett, and knit. When it came to cooking she tought me the old fashion method of cooking by taste and feel which I use to this day. I have amazed many friends by the fact that I can taste something new and tell them exactly what is in it right down to the spices and herbs. I don't always get it right, but most of the time. My mother and grandmother would always get them right though.
Dennis
Thanks so much for sharing your recipe. I wanted to ask for the recipe, but was feeling shy as it might be your secret recipe. Sounds absolutely wonderful. I'm sure the Cheesecake Factory won't be any competition for you. Like Kathy, now I feel like running out before the stores close to get the ingredients. Yum, yum. Thanks again.
Julie
You rascal, you!
Now I'll have to go to the store to buy the ingredients, because it does sound really good. I'm sure a picture would have put me over the edge, and I'd already be out the door with a shopping list. I think I'll use semisweet morsels, as I prefer darker chocolate.
My printer isn't working, so I'll save it into a word document. Mmmm!
Thanks for making me laugh, I've had some bad news and you made me feel better.
Kathy