Handmade Violet Soap

Sunday, June 15, 2025

Violet soap that isn't violet (because I didn't color it with anything besides sage powder and titanium dioxide). Despite infusing the distilled water with violet flowers, that coloring is not really intesive enough to stick in the final product. Same for scents, too! Despite infusing the olive oil with violet leaves, I mixed up some flowery essential oils to be the main scent for this soap.

I used thenerdyfarmwife's violet soap recipe but used some sage powder instead of chlorella, because it's what I had on hand.

Dried Flowers and Herbs

Sunday, June 8, 2025

Just me becoming the garden witch I always knew I was.

As a gardener, you end up drying lotsa handy things. For me, that means things to turn into "tea", either for consuming, or for making handmade soaps. These jars are a mix: dandelion petals, mint leaves, violet leaves, and dill. I have a mesh 4-layered drying rack in the basement that is very handy for this process. Just throw the items in there in a single layer and forget about them for a month, then jar 'em up!

Recipe: Cannelés Bourdelais [omg]

Sunday, June 1, 2025

I got a wild hare to make Cannelés de Bordeaux, a sort of fiddly French pastry. I used the recipe from Eat Live Travel Write as she did some extensive testing with molds, preparations, recipes, etc. The first batch (shown in the bottom row below) was a pretty good success, despite accidentally forgetting to turn the temperature down to 400-degrees! The second batch (shown above) was more brown, less black. There should be a bit of black - but I think I might like even less. And batches 3-6 (shown in the first row below) turned out the best. I've put in my minor adjustments into the recipe below.

Tasty, crunchy exteriors and soft custardy interiors. What's not to love?!

Cannelés de Bordeaux

Makes 16 cannelés

Ingredients

• 2c (500 ml) milk
• 2Tsbp (27 g/ 1/4 stick) unsalted butter
• 1c (200g) sugar
• 1c (150g) flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 c (60ml) dark rum (or rhum
• 3tsp pure vanilla extract
• Melted unsalted butter, small amount for the mold

Directions (day before)

1. Bring milk and butter to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and cool slightly, stirring occasionally to reduce some heat.
2. Whisk sugar, flour, eggs and egg yolks in a small bowl until a soft paste-like consistency.
3. Pour in the milk mixture whisking gently until you have a smooth liquid.
4. Add the vanilla and rum and give it one last stir (don't whisk air into the batter).
5. Using a wire strainer, strain the batter over a glass container (preferably something pour-able), cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 12-24 hours.

Directions (ready to bake)

1. Preheat oven to 450˚F (230˚C).
2. Brush silicone molds with a little melted butter. Coat the molds sparingly and turn the molds upside down over a paper towel to drain excess butter from inside. Set aside (at room temperature).
3. Remove batter from fridge, give it a stir and set aside.
4. When the oven reaches temperature, stir batter one final time and pour into the molds at about 3/4 full.
5. Place the silicone molds on thin baking tray and bake at 450˚F (230˚C) for 30 minutes.
6. Reduce heat to 400˚F (200˚C), cover with foil, and bake for 30 more minutes.
7. After 30 minutes, remove tray from oven. Carefully flip the cannelés out of the molds onto a cool, thin baking tray so they are right side up. They should slide right out of the molds.
8. Bake for 5-9 more minutes, depending on your preferred darkness.
9. Remove tray from oven, place on a wire cooling rack until reaching room temperature.
10. Best eaten the day they are made (after about 2 hours at room temperature). They can be kept in an airtight container overnight but they lose some of their crunchy exterior.

2.5 Week Packing List for Brazil

Sunday, May 25, 2025

I packed only a carry-on roller bag and computer backpack for my 2.5 week trip through Brazil. And I had to have clothing that would work for a research conference, as well as the sunny beaches of Rio de Janeiro, hiking around the national park in Iguazu Falls, and city sight-seeing in Sao Paulo. A tall order, but I think I nailed it.

Shirts are 2 LL Bean moisture-wicking tops, and a Boden pom-pom fringed T-shirt. A handmade pair of linen shorts, an LL Bean skort, LL Bean hiking pants, Title 9 Slaycation wideleg crops, 2 handmade Ashton tops, a bamboo cardigan, two pair wool socks, a few pair wool underwear, a Title Nine swimsuit, a sarong, a packable rain coat, packable hat, adventure sandals, neutral black sneakers, and a pair of beach flip flops. The usual, etc. etc.

Drop Spinning Through Brazil - Sao Paulo

Sunday, May 18, 2025

A quick stop in Sao Paulo where we walked through Avenue Paulista and the botanical gardens. Then the million-hour flight back! ...and some drop spinning to finish up at home.

Drop Spinning Through Brazil - Iguazu Falls

Sunday, May 11, 2025

From Rio de Janeiro we headed to Iguazu Falls to view a gigantic waterfall from both the Brazil and the Argentina sides. Somehow, we ended with a pool day which resulted in shopping, reading, and drop spinning! And loooots of caipirinhas!