Christmas Tree

The thrill of the hunt for the most perfect Christmas tree...mission accomplished!

Ornaments to be continued...

Vegan Apple Pie

One of the coziest recipes we have found.  For more, purchase The Joy of Vegan Baking, by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau.


Crust
2 1/2 cups of unbleached flour
1 teaspoon of white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup nondairy butter
1/3 cup of ice water


Make sure all ingredients are cold.  Combine flour, sugar, and salt.  Cut in butter so that butter is pea-sized.  Leaving chunks of butter will ensure flaky crust.  Add cold water until the dough will hold together.  Separate into two parts and flatten into small disks.  Refrigerate for about 30 minutes and then flatten out until dough is about 1/4 inches thick.


Pie
4-5 medium apples peeled, cored, and sliced
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2-3 tablespoons of unbleached flour
1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
pinch of salt
1 tablespoons of nondairy butter cut into small pieces


Mix apples with the sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Let sit for 15 minutes to let apples soften.  Put flattened dough in pie pan and fill with apple mixture.  Top with the second layer of dough.  Use a sharp knife to cut vents in the top layer of dough.  Bake at 425 degrees for 30-45 minutes.

A Vegan Thanksgiving

On the Menu:
Green Bean Casserole with Mushrooms and Caramelized Onions
Spaghetti Squash and Marinara Sauce
Garlic and Onion Mashed Potatoes
Champagne with Cranberry Juice

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

DIY Mason Jar Lantern

Here's how to make your own mason jar lamp.  First draw a circle on the inside of the mason jar lid, small enough to hold the light fixture tightly.  Cut out the hole with a sharp knife.  Next,  affix light fixture to the mason jar lid and screw in a lightbulb (we found that 25W works best).  Then, screw on the lid, hang the lantern, and bask in your new light.  

Homes We Love

Vaskivesi, Finland from NYTimes

Portland, Oregon from Dwell

Charleston, South Carolina from Dwell

Kermit the Frog and Bret McKenzie

"Life's a Happy Song"

Hot Cup of Cheer

Here's a hot winter drink that will warm you up when it gets chilly outside.  It's our version of a Hot Toddy.

2 shots Brandy

1 cup Chamomile Tea

1 Tbs Brown Sugar

2 Cloves

1 slice of lemon

In a sauce pan, bring 1 cup of water to a boil.  Mix in 2 cloves and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.  Add a chamomile tea bag and let simmer for 3-5 minutes.  Pour 2 shots of brandy into your cup.  Next, pour your piping hot tea mixture into the cup.  Squeeze fresh lemon slice into the drink.  Enjoy while hot.

DIY: PineCone Light Garland

1. Gather pinecones from your local forested area
2. Tie string around pinecone 
3. Affix string to christmas lights 
4. Repeat until pinecones are evenly spaced across the whole string of lights
5. Turn off lights, drink hot cider, and enjoy :)

Saturday Night Live - SNL Digital Short

"I don't know, I just never thought of myself as a v-neck kinda guy..."

Autumn

Leaving autumn.

Early Christmas in California

We went down to Chino, CA for a very early Christmas celebration with Garrett's family since we wouldn't be able to make it down in December.  We hung out in Long Beach, explored the Claremont village and college campuses, visited Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House, and sang Christmas carols around the artificial Christmas tree.  Merry Christmas!! - November 2011.

#1 Burger Joint in Seattle

Restaurant Review: Uneeda Burger (Seattle: Fremont neighborhood)
For those of you who don't already know, we are vegetarians.  This makes finding good burger joints a difficult task.  As one enters Uneeda Burger, scents of fresh wood, autumn spices, and fried onions fill the air.  Their creative menu and quirky flair make them a Seattle local favorite.  

We ordered the Emmer Vegetarian Burger, Odin Ruby Ale, Manny's Pale Ale, and fries.  Their gourmet presentation, full and complex flavors, and genuinely really good food rounded out what was an A+ meal.

Needless to say, we will become regulars and we implore all to partake in this deliciously sinful cuisine.

How to Pickle a Cucumber

We like to garden.  Part of gardening is making the harvest last as long as possible.  One way of doing this is canning.  We decided to give pickling a shot.  Here's what to do:

Select your cucumbers, try to make sure that they are not too ripe, we don't want any developed seeds.

Buy some vinegar, salt, and pickling spices.

Thoroughly wash and sanitize jars. 

Fill jar with vinegar and spices and screw cap on tightly.  Leave 1/4" of air space at the top.  Boil for 10-15 minutes.  Carefully remove from the boiling water.  Once the jars have cooled, make sure that they have sealed properly by pushing on the lids.  The lids should not pop if sealed correctly.

Store and enjoy for up to a year.