Back to Boondoggle (Gimp)

Boondoggle is gimp.  I didn't know that...but when I was getting back into the gimp groove I needed some guidance as the instructional packet included with the gimp just wasn't quite cutting it and I found boondoggleman.com.  Yes, it is a man, who will very kindly go through each kind of pattern that you can make on a youtube video and also has detailed step-by-step pictures on how to make the different patterns. Here's my new collection of gimp 

I like it because it's very colorful and happy and nostalgic.  Honestly though I'm not really sure how I figured this out when I was little.  Maybe it was easier because my hands were smaller back then, but some of the patterns are kind of complicated and I had to look at multiple websites to figure it out (the internet wasn't even available back when this was popular - I seriously don't know how people figured this out back then).  This all started because I lost my car key - which I don't keep on a key chain and this drives my boyfriend crazy.  When I was looking for my car key, I looked under the refrigerator (just in case) and saw an old gimp key chain that I had made when I was in grade school (I have no idea how it got down there but I'm sure it had something to do with the cats).  Then later when Steve was telling me how crazy it is to not have a key chain, I decided that I would make a small, understated gimp key chain.  I was only half motivated to do this until I found a pack of it at Walmart for less than $6 and then I was inspired.  I started off with the design I can remember making - which is the square stitch.  

The square stitch

Actually, I can't remember doing any stitches besides this one, and I also have a strong memory of begging the child care worker at my day care to do the starting stitch for me (which is a little more complicated).  Besides being a little difficult (once again, maybe due to my ogre hands) I'm surprised that children like making these because it takes some patience, which might be why all the gimp I can find from when I was little had gaps and kinks in it.  Anyway, I decided to tackle the cobra next...

The cobra stitch

I like this stitch because it is very easy and very fast (and it looks nice).  But then I wanted to make something very special for Steve's backpack (we are becoming a completely gimped out couple - he already has a key chain) so I wanted to tackle a stitch that was the next level up - THE TWIST STITCH!  It's two circle stitches next to each other (which is just a diagonal square stitch) so I thought, can't be too hard...WRONG!  Lots of boondoggle going in every direction (not really sure if boondoggle describes the string or the product??).  This was quite tricky and my hands hurt a little when I was done, but I was pleased with the finished product.

The Twist Stitch

Now I'm practically a professional gimp stitcher!  Actually there are people out there that make crazy stuff like this...made in 2008...not in the 1990's as I would have suspected.  People are still doing this - I'm not the only one! 

Made by Yonatan

People are also making some classy jewelry out of gimp which I would love to figure out how to make.  It's the ending part that would be tricky to make look nice.  

Boondoggle is back baby!

Falafel Pitas with Cucumber-Yogurt Dressing

Coming to you from Pullman

 

I have been exploring some new food options and I stumbled upon falafels!  A fun new word (except I'm having trouble getting it mixed up with the word frittata) and pretty good tasting as well.  I've never had one before so I don't really know if I'm making it right, but I thought it was pretty good.  I got the recipe off my recipes.  I'm really into garbanzo beans right now so I would probably like anything made with them. 

 

Falafel

•  1/4 cup mined red onion
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• can of garbanzo beans
• 1 slice of whole wheat bread torn into pieces
• 1 large egg
• 1 large egg white

So, I know it's weird that it asks for an egg and an egg white, but might I suggest making hollandaise sauce?...that calls for an egg yolk and then you will have an extra egg white laying around.  I coincidentally had just made hollandaise sauce and saved the egg white in the refrigerator wondering what I was going to do with it - well thinking that I would eat it with toast, but that it was a little silly to save.  Then, 30 minutes later I go to make falafel and BAM! - It just worked out so perfectly.  Anyway, you put this all in a food processor and then fry in olive oil.  I just used cooking spray so it didn't cook through correctly (I think), but it was good enough.  Then I just popped it in a pita with some lettuce and cucumber-yogurt dressing.

 



 Cucumber-yogurt dressing

• 3/4 cup plain fat free Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup diced seedless cucumber
• 1/8 cup minced red onion
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Mix all this together in a food processor and that's it.  This is the recipe halved and it still makes quite a bit for one person.  I'm sure I'll find a way to use it all up.  The 3/4 yogurt is a little more than it called for (proportionally) because it didn't look thick enough so I added more...it didn't help much, but really the texture is good and it could have been because I put the watery insides of the cucumber in (I don't have time to cut that out!).  Anyway, happy to have discovered this food and I think it's pretty healthy.

-Michelle