What’s been up lately. . .

I passed up to the next level in figure skating: Freestyle 2! I’m so excited, I’m just dancing on clouds.

Also, I’ve just finished reading “The Mysteries of Udolpho” by Ann Radcliffe, written in 1794. It was a good book with several passages worth committing to my commonplace book, but the heroine kept fainting into the convenient arms of a beautiful guy, which I found irritating. It’s sort of like the “Twilight” of it’s time, but back then it was considered to be just a reading novel and not improving of the mind. It affected *my* mind though, and manner of talking that has not quite worn off yet!

In other news, I found the Curly Girl technique, and it looks like this on my head:

I sort of like it. I made my sisters do it too, and it looks fabulous on them too. Here’s a link to a website of a group that loves this method: Here.

I shall soon post a new recipe, I’ll find a good one!

~Sophia

I’ve added something else yet. . .

And just when you thought that I had added all I could to my blog ; )

See the page on the top? It says Recipe of the Week. As you can probably guess, I’ll be posting a new recipe every week.  Soups, desserts, appetizers. . . Whatever I’ve got!

A propos de bottes, I’m just at this moment trying out Windows Live Writer. It’s a blogging program,  you can blog from your desktop without having to go online, it’s really cool. You can save drafts then tell the program when to publish them, you can easily add videos, links pictures and the like, it’s very convenient.

Wait, where’s the publish button?

~Sophia

Today's Culinary Arts Class

Today's assignments were: Make chocolate roses from couverture chocolate and make a perfect cake. My 14 yr old sister made the roses and I made the "perfect cake". I think it turned out great! It's a lemon flavored cake with a tight crumb; raspberry preserves; and light, creamy, fluffy, lemony buttercream frosting; and the cake is sprinkled with sweetened shredded coconut. It only needs strawberry preserves to be my perfect cake.
I was joking to Mama that if I ever got married and had children, my family would be rather fat because I like to bake so much. Hopefully we're almost through this culinary arts cycle; I'm feeling fat myself.

Take a look:Slicing,

Spreading,

Layering,

Ta-da! Finished product! I'm making a tutorial because Mama took so many pictures. Let me know if you want me to post it.

Here's my sister's project: couverture chocolate roses.

White chocolate mixture. Melted and molded,

Chilled and rolled out,

Colored, cut,

Shaped,

Voila! Aren't they gorgeous? We thought that she had brought in some roses for reference, but it's still winter! I love the one on the far left.

~Sophia

What Happens To Historical Cheaters

Or more accurately, One of the Most Embarrassing Moments I Can Remember. Oh yes, read on, it's quite amusing.

As most of you know, I reenact at a living history museum, Fort Nisqually, set in 1855. I have this very pretty outfit, complete with the slim waist, the dropped shoulders and the voluminous skirt.
For those that already *ahem* know what I'm talking about, here's the whole story:

As I set out to get ready for the monthly A/I meeting (Apprentice Interpreter), I felt nauseated and didn't want to go. I felt better after a while, but dressed rather sloppily. I added every layer I owned, except the extra chemise and the drawers. I always wear them, but this *one* time I thought, "Who's gonna know?". Yeah, you're catching on. . .

As I pulled on my knee-length stockings, I realized I was missing a garter, so I ran to the sewing room and grabbed the first fabric I saw: a bright yellow and orange batik print (much brighter and louder than in the picture). I ripped off some appropriately sized lengths and tied up my period-correct stockings.


The meeting was about music and dancing. We sang a few songs then went outside. The skillful musicians started the music and we danced in the cold grass. It was so fun, I hadn't danced in months.

We started this dance we usually do. At the Fort we call it "Jump in, jump out" but it's known by other names. It's a contra-style dance, danced in a circle. As a lady, you walk forward four, back four, repeat, jump in, jump out and you're twirled to the middle. You jump again then are passed to the next gentleman and repeat all until the music ends.

I was dancing with a very nice young gentleman, he's a new A/I this year. Forward, backward, forward, backward, jump in, jump out, twirl- a little too fast- WHOOSH!!! My skirt was up in the air, and everyone saw my beautifully improvised undergarments!!! *All* my stockings, my lovely garters, my bare knees, and *hopefully not* my chemise were revealed to the Fort, visitors, A/Is, and staff!!! (My English curriculum says don't try to be "cute" with more than one exclamation point. The author wasn't there.)

Luckily the light, drizzly rain put out the fire on my face, leaving it very brightly red. I kept quiet and as demure as possible until the next guy tried to twirl me. I couldn't stand it. "DON'T TWIRL ME!!!" I said desperately. Everyone knew by then. I think that scared the other guys, 'cause they didn't twirl me after that. I think my face remained red for the whole day. Now that I think about it, it's not that bad. . . Depending on what people saw. . .

Anyway, I have some sewing to do. I'm making another set of drawers and a very long petticoat.

~Sophia

Oh yeah. . . it's okay, you can laugh.

Recipes

The recipe for the cookies (below) are just your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe with specialty chips! Here's mine at RecipeZaar. *Yes* do all the mumbo-jumbo with the stirring! I promise you, it is well worth it; the best cookie you will ever eat.

The chocolate bars (also below) are in a lovely cookbook called Pure Chocolate by Fran Bigelow, on page 44. The recipe is called "White Chocolate Coconut Cream Bars". This is an amazing cookbook, I have it home from the library, but I may have to pay them for drool damage. I would post the recipe, but I don't know about copyright so here's an online recipe that's similar, if your library doesn't have Pure Chocolate. Another RecipeZaar.

Happy baking!

~Sophia

Shoes and Cookies

I got a new pair of shoes!

Aren't they cute? They're Roxy Tsunami's and they're really hard to find nowadays! I got the smallest size and they're a little too big yet. My henna tattos are all faded now except for the ones on my feet.

The other day my little sister had to go to a church event (AWANA), and she had to bring a treat to share with her class, so I made some chocolate chip cookies:

And they went over pretty well. I offered an extra one to my brother and he said, "Oh no, I couldn't." I looked at him questioningly and checked him for a fever, and he said, "I just couldn't steal from the church." Which made me crack up : )


In other culinary news, a groundbreaking new recipe has been made at my house.


Check it out. A chocolate filled shortbread layer under a white chocolate laced with coconut layer under a fudge-like chocolate layer. It is *so* good.


~ Sophia

A song

You've probably seen this song by this brilliant guitarist:



Isn't that just amazing? I love it.

~ Sophia

What's Your Personality Type?

I just love personality types! I refer to the Myers-Briggs personality types, which are perfectly accurate. Here are two links to my personality type, if you want to know everything about me (It's all true, too) , Wikipedia and typelogic.

You can take a test at Personality Info. It's pretty accurate. You need to make an account, but it's no big deal (they won't spam you, and you can delete the account when you're done). Comment and let me know what personality type you are!

~ Sophia

Amazing Skater!

I sometimes wish that I had T.V.
About every 4 years for the Winter Olympics. I'd just love to see the skating, and I hope that my Aunt remembered to tape it! My skating teachers keep referencing it, and one even said, "Wait, you don't have T.V., do you?" Anyway, I like looking at YouTube skaters, like this little girl:



She's only seven and she's amazing! I'd be upset, but she's so cute : )

Oh yeah, it would totally make my day be cool if I got comments more often. Just say hi : )

~Sophia