podcasts

Episode 156

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This episode contains the following segments: The Back Porch, The Front Porch, Ever-expanding Skill Set, and Off the Shelf.

Resources for Healthy Relationships

February is National Dating Violence Awareness Month and the week of Valentine’s Day is the Week of Respect. Everyone deserves a healthy and supportive relationship, but the signs of abuse can be difficult to detect.  This week, I will share posts on the subject of dating violence. Please share resources with teens in your life, and let them know that you care and you’re willing to listen.


The Back Porch

The snow day was the perfect opportunity to ply all spindle-spun singles of Shetland. Look at the beautiful array of color from one fleece.
The snow day presented the perfect opportunity to ply all spindle-spun singles of Shetland. Look at the beautiful array of color from one fleece. Seven ounces (200 grams) / 400 yards.

The Front Porch

I've begun to spin this precious Hog Island roving from The Ross Farm.
I’ve begun to spin this precious Hog Island roving from The Ross Farm.

 

I used my blending board to make rolags from combed top, silk, dyed locks, alpaca and angora -- 4 ounces for meditative spindling.
I used my blending board to make rolags from combed top, silk, dyed locks, alpaca and angora — 4 ounces for meditative spindling.

Ever-expanding Skill Set

Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Loaded Baked Potato Soup

My goal was to create a creamy soup without using a lot of milk or cream in the soup. This is the ratio I came up with:

3 cups stock / broth
1 baked potato, peeled and mashed
1 cup milk

Combine the stock and potato by whizzing together in a blender. Return mixture to a large pot, season with salt, parsley, etc. As mixture warms, drizzle in milk. I also whisked in two teaspoons of powdered cheese.

Meanwhile, I cubed four thin-skinned red potatoes into bite-sized pieces and cooked them in water until they were JUST done.

Add cubed potatoes to soup, bring up to a boil and top with your favorite baked potato toppings: bacon, scallions, cheese, etc.

This amount makes four servings; just keep the ratio and increase amounts to make more soup.

Curried Purple Cabbage and Sweet Potato Soup
Curried Purple Cabbage and Sweet Potato Soup featured on the Taproot blog — click for a link to the recipe.

Off the Shelf