Hounds In The Kitchen » valentine’s day

Pi Day 2011

Rachel — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 06:01:17 +0000

It’s Pi Day 2011! Get it? 3.14 aka 3/14 aka March 14?

Celebrate the transcendental constant π with Hounds in the Kitchen by including your favorite post about pi or pie in the Linky below. Feel free to link to a recipe, homeschool lesson on circles, or geometry related story. It’s fine if the post is an older one – we want to read what you think about 3.14159265359…

I want to share how I decorated a very special pie exactly one month ago, on Valentine’s Day.

This sour cherry pie was already going to be memorable because Lil, Alex, and I picked the cherries in July from a friend’s neighbor’s tree. Alex and I hand-pitted the cherries, froze them on sheet trays, sealed with the vacuum sealer and tucked them away in the deep freeze.

Fruits of such provenance, those we had patiently avoided until February 14, demanded an extraordinary preparation.

The cherries were mixed with sugar, flour and nutmeg and a bottom crust rolled out. Then, Lil and I cut dozens of hearts out of the top crust, reserving the cutouts. This process tested every bit of Lil’s patience and mine, as she wanted to eat the raw dough and I wanted to crust to be beautiful. There’s no re-rolling a crust in this house so we had but a single chance.

The Valentine’s day treat was assembled including placing the heart cutouts around the outer edge. Our heart pie cooked, bubbling sweetened juices all over the oven.

Fully baked, it was a lovely centerpiece for our family afternoon tea. It tasted tangy and sweet, with the refreshing flavor of summer in the midst of winter.

What’s your Pi Day story?

PS. Pi Day is an annual tradition on our homestead. Read about Pi Day 2010.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Pi Day 2011 is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

A Handmade Valentine’s Day

Rachel — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 14:21:28 +0000

Shut in by ice and snow and illness, Lil and I spent a lot of time crafting for Valentine’s Day last week.

Plump hearts spelling LOVE adorn our (faux) stained glass window.

Friends and family are receiving heart felt personalized cards from Lillian.

Lillian painted ceramic mugs for Alex and I at Grandview Clay Cafe.

I sewed a hand embroidered conversation heart pillow for my girl. I think I am now experienced enough to tackle sewing my name onto my Made by AmyD apron.

We’re celebrating as a family with afternoon tea including a sour cherry pie made with fruits we picked this summer and froze for just this occasion.

Did you make anything for Valentine’s Day?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A Handmade Valentine’s Day is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

Friday Five: Sweet Things for Your Valentine

Rachel — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:02:21 +0000

Five gift ideas for the food lover in your life:

1) Cooking class for two – I’m loving the vegetable centric class at Hills Market February 23 or check out North Market, Franklin Park Conservatory or Sur Le Table for something that suits your sweetheart’s interest.

2) Iced vegan sugar cookie from Pattycake Bakery – Choose from their nice or naughty messages or create one of your own. Budget friendly at only $3 each.

3) Hand painted coffee mug, cereal bowl, or serving plate from Grandview Clay Cafe

4) Food or Dessert Tour from Columbus Food Adventures

5) Fruit tree – We love our Meyer lemon tree for giving us a dozen lemons this year. The fig tree we gave Alex for father’s day is just starting to send out new leaves and our lime tree rescued from the clearance cart is looking good too. We keep them indoors in winter and move outside in summer.

My valentine Alex is receiving one of these gift ideas. Can you guess which one?

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Friday Five: Sweet Things for Your Valentine is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!

My Loves

Rachel — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 14:18:00 +0000

I am a fortunate woman to have so many loves.

My inquisitive daughter Lil and playful husband Alex,

in the awesome snow fort they built

precocious beasts Devorguilla and Hawise,

loving each other, for the moment at least

a functional comfy kitchen, a garden full of promise,

taken last May

and a bevy of friends and extended family.

May you also be surrounded by love this Valentine’s Day.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

My Loves is a post from Hounds In The Kitchen.
If you like what you read, please consider supporting us with a donation or visit the Hounds in the Kitchen shop for ebooks and favorite tools. Thanks!