Since there are at least a few people who read this who are knitters, some who are very fond of purple, a few with a good eye for clothing, some excellent cooks and a few foodies, I think this is the best place to ask for advice.
1. My birthday gift from my parents just arrived, and it is yarn! Specifically, the same Dream in Color Classy that I so enjoyed knitting with when I made my mom’s sweater. (I might’ve mentioned how I liked it when she asked for suggestions…) Mom managed to pick colors that are simultaneously gorgeous and something I’d probably not choose myself (the gifting ideal, right?) and she sent 5 skeins, of 250 yards each, plenty for a sweater. Here’s the tricky part: two skeins are in the colorway Dusky Aurora and three in Visual Purple. (That’s why the link above goes to Webs and not DiC’s own website: the colors shown at Webs are much closer to the yarn I have. For some reason DiC is showing completely different colorways with the same names.) I think they go togther beautifully, but subtly: I don’t want to do something like a stripe because there’s not enough contrast, and I think a purple body with aurora sleeves might look odd. Yet they’re so pretty together I do want to use them in one thing, and not, say, make a vest of one and a bag of the other. What would you do?
One thing I’m considering is a sweater knitted in the round and begun in one color, then alternating with one round of the new color, a couple of the old, two of the new,one of the old – sort of feathering out color change, so it’s purple on top and aurora below or vice versa. What do you think?
2. Once I move, I will be able to leave work at 5 most days, rarely after 6. (Compared to always after 6, sometimes as late as 7, now. ) I expect to have a lot fewer night-time telecons, and I’ll just generally have more free time in the way that you somehow do when you’re on your own. Further, I’ll only have to cater to my own tastes and my own (relatively small) appetite – Ted eats a lot more and prefers a lot more meaty meals than I do. Since I intend to cook more instead of always eating out as we did when we lived in Eindhoven before, I hope to find a butcher (not impressed with the meat at the grocery!) and to visit the outdoor markets for better produce (for veggies, the grocery was OK but not spectacular, and they have a lot less fruits than in Taiwan). Tell me what you know about cooking for one and eating well, about cooking from meats and produce instead of prepared foods (less of those and they’re different than American ones), about making the best use of the great wines and breads and cheeses that are available there.
Something’s wrong with LJ this morning; trying to comment threw me out of Explorer — twice.
I won’t comment on the yarn — it’s pretty, but I don’t knit much these days.
Cooking for one, however. I have been doing that for a couple of years. My daughter cooks for us sometimes, but she’s a vegetarian, so if I want meat, I cook when she’s not around.
There are simple things, like a beef patty, a small steak, or a chop, that you can cook in a countertop broiler. A single serving of chicken, like a leg or a breast, can be cooked in either a microwave or a countertop oven. I buy mine alredy cut up, but you don’t have to. Change the seasonings for variety. It takes about 20-25 minutes at 375-400 degrees. (I bought a thermometer because, as I suspected, my little oven takes a long time to get hot enough.)
I buy only as much fresh vegetables as I can eat in a day or two. I happen to like most vegetables raw, even things like broccoli and cauliflower. Microwaving is easiest, but root vegetables can be cooked in the little oven; use a little oil over them and whatever seasonings you like.
For the yarn, maybe an adult surprise jacket (EZ’s pattern)? You could do the alternating rows, and even though it’s not in the round, it’s all garter stitch. 🙂
I know you’ll have limited freezer space so that makes my favorite option a bit tricky. I cook a decent sized amount of something and then divvy it up into individual meals, freeze and nuke later. Trying, of course, to either assemble meals that will reheat evenly or just make portions of a single thing and then put together a meal out of a few different things I’d bagged separately.
Definitely if you have time, hit the green markets. Steaming veggies in the microwave is terrific. A lidded Pyrex bowl is great for this. Throw in the veg, a tablespoon of water, clap the lid on and nuke. Often for just a minute or two. Asparagus is wonderful done this way.
Also there’s the big potato meal. Nuke a big potato until done. Scoop out innards, mix with sour cream, cheese, diced peppers, whatever sounds good. Pile back inside potato skin, heat for a just bit to get things melty. Eat!
I went heavy on the microwave options because those are quickest after work. Also if I’ve made myself a few frozen meals I’ll opt for those over just saying the heck with it and snacking all evening. Too many popcorn and cookie dinners that way. ~LA