lemon ginger sand dollar cookies

I'm craving a trip to the beach.  The east coast shoreline.  Where we used to find sand dollars and shake the doves around.  I would love if my children were to experiment that.  I'm not actually sure it is even still legal to collect them.  
When I spotted these cookies in the Summertime Anytime Cookbook, I knew I had to give them a whirl.  The shape and flavors caught my eye.  Problem is, I have been on a gluten-free diet since April 1st to try to clear my eczema issues.  Yep, that darn skin issue that I was able to keep under control with  a magic steroid cream that a doctor, in San Mateo, California, developed and the attached Pharmacy created.  Problem was, the doctor passed away and the compounding pharmacy went out of business.  I called the office and begged and pleaded to get the name of pharmacist.  Offering monetary gifts and even place mats for her kids, and all the kids she knew, if she could just share his information.  I'm surprised she didn't have me arrested.  I'm sure she thought I was cRaZy.  I just HAD to have the cream and I couldn't find another Pharmacy that could duplicate it. (I swear he never gave his whole formula.)  I was a total addict of this magic cream. Anyhow, that was a couple of years ago.  I googled causes of eczema and one was gluten.  And, because I have had it all my life, decided to try the gluten free thing.  I did it for a few months and low and behold my eczema started to go away.  But then, I started to crave cookies and the good pasta and breads and it returned.  So, here I am at it again.  And in the end, clearing something the natural way is a much better way to go.  
This recipe was not gluten-free, however, i just used the gluten free flour and viola!  Gluten-free cookies!
I made them on the crunchy side, but if you prefer your cookies chewy, reduce the baking time by 3 minutes.  Here is the real recipe.  My substitution is in ( ).

::Lemon-Ginger Cookies::

1 stick unsalted butter
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 large egg
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp lemon extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp grated lemon zest
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1 3/4 cup gluten free flour with 1/2 tsp zanthan gum)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tarter
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
3 TBLS minced candied ginger

::Preheat oven to 350˚.  Cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add the egg, sour cream, extracts and zest.  In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tarter, salt and ground ginger.  Add to the butter mixture along with the candied ginger and mix until thoroughly blended.  Roll into balls and flatten them down slightly with the palm of your hand.  (They spread, so leave some space.) Bake 12-15 min.  Carve sand dollar-like slits into the cookies with the tip of a knife before they cool::

Dream you're on the beach with eczema free hands.

devotion

Well, I finally finished a sweater.  And boy, did it feel good.  Just looking for the time to knit has been my problem lately. I still have plenty of desire, trust me.  It's just all. about. time.  
I love how this turned out.  And to tell you the truth, i think it's the perfect little sweater. Great for spring.  Or fall.  Or winter if you are on the warmer side.  A lot of stockinette.  Seed stitch edging.  A little cable detail.  Sleeves that end just as soon as you cast on.  Perfect!
Pattern:  Devotion
Yarn:  Mountaintop Vista by Classic Elite, 7 hanks
Needles:  US 6
Size:  36 1/2

I have a few mitts on the needles.  However,  I'm on the hunt for a new sweater pattern.  Anyone have a favorite?  I'd love if you shared it with us.

t o g

When in Beaver Creek we had lunch at Zach's cabin where I was served an awesome meal. The menu referred to it as zucchini pasta with a smoked sun dried tomato pesto.
I have been craving it ever since we came home and had to try to duplicate it.  
Not the smokey part.  Just the rest.  The yummy sun dried tomatoes, the basil and parmesan from the pesto.  
We thought they probably used the little, baby zucchini.   
That way, you could use the peeler to slice down the entire length of the zucchini, while managing to keep the width in tact.  
I thought about sauteing the zucchini, but decided to just steam it instead by placing the slices in a colander and steaming them over a pot of boiling water.  
It really was one of the most delicious little combinations, I just had to share.  
It's so good, I can seriously eat it with a spoon.

AND... after much consideration decided to name it "t o g".  Because, hey, this is my knitting blog after all.  And, there isn't anyone I would rather share this with than my knitting friends.
{tog:: knitting or purling stitches (ingredients) together.}

t o g (paste, spread, chutney, pesto, topping...)
Ingredients::
1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in oil (do you have any canned from last summer?)
3/4 cup pesto (mine was from the garden last summer, hanging out in the freezer.)
1 sweet onion
1 tsp red pepper flakes
Directions::
Saute the onion in the oil from the sun dried tomatoes until tender.  Combine all ingredients in a food processor or blender until blended.  Toss with steamed zucchini.  Sprinkle fresh parmesan (and fresh parsley or basil if you have any around).

You can use this with just about anything, really.  Use over grilled chicken or fish.  Spread on toast or a bagel with cream cheese.  Spread over crackers.  Toss with pasta.  The possibilities are endless!

i made a hat... and you can, too!

Happy April!  
Can you believe it?  
April!  
Just back from our Spring Break where the boys and I headed to Colorado so the boys could ski.  Libby took a girls trip with her best friend to my extremely fun, awesome sisters home in Florida.  
Everyone was happy.  So, so happy.  Love that.  
I finally finished a hat.  (AND, I have a finished sweater!  Really excited to show that, too!) 
A hat that Nichole designed and is published in the One + One : Hats.
The triangular wedge hat is knit just like that.  In two wedges with opposite patterns.  You then pick up stitches for the crown of the hat.  Nichole knit the pattern in two colors.  I decided to switch it up a bit and knit it in one color.  I must admit, I like it in two colors better, but I like that we can see how one color looks.  
Nichole would love to send one of my readers a copy of the book.  32 patterns in all including this fun to knit gem.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Sunday the 7th 5:00pm EST and I will have the random generator choose the number.

{And that?  That's Charlie.  My now seventeen year old, six foot, skinny, long haired skier. Life is FUN!}