I know it’s an odd title but there is a story behind it. You’re in luck, it’s a short story.
The talented tatooist, Jennifer Moore, and I often talk about food when I go in for my tattoo appointments. We’re on similarly restrictive diets, so it’s always good to throw out recipes and ideas with another. We eventually got on the subject of Gnocchi and together we came up with this recipe.
See, short.

Sweet potato Gnocchi (vegan and GF)
2 large sweet potatoes - cooked and mashed.
1 flax seed “egg” *
1 cup rice/spelt/flax/buckwheat flour mixed with 1 tsp baking powder**
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground nutmeg

*Flax seed can replace an egg but you need to use it right off, it’s not something you cna make a bunch of and save it for later. Grind/pulverize 3 Tbs of flax seeds, then mix with 3-5 TBS of water. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, it will have the gelatinous texture of an egg white.

**As you know, all the different flours have a different flavor, so give your favorite one a try or try a new one. I used Buckwheat flour and it was really good. I mixed in 1 tsp of baking powder because flours that aren’t wheat based sometimes seem flat, I wanted there to be a touch of air in them, so I added a bit of the baking powder - you can leave it out, it’s not crucial.

Mix all dry ingredients together and set aside. Make a well in center of potatoes and cover all over with flour mixture. Place the flax “egg” in the center of well and using a fork, stir into flour and potatoes. After it’s all mixed well, kneading gently until you form a ball that is dry to the touch. Gentle is key here, don’t over knead or be too rough, ot it will turn out a little rubbery.

Roll out into a worm shape about an inch in diameter then cut into 1 inch chunks. roll these or flick pieces with a fork to create that Gnocchi look (or if you’re lazy like me, just chop up the pieces 1/2 inch chunks and call it good). Drop the pieces into boiling water and cook until they float. When the gnocchi float remove them with a slotted spoon and dip into cool water to stop them from cooking. Toss them with your favorite sauce or topping and serve.

I know it’s a little time consuming, but it’s worth it. Even the girls ate it last night so it sounds like a restrictive recipe but it’s good, and that’s what counts. They ate it with a little bit of Parmesian Regiano. I fried up some vegetables to go with it. Originally it was discussed that a simple topping of fresh basil would be good. I didn’t have fresh basil, so I went with sauted onions, garlic, and mushrooms. I also added in a bit more sea salt and some Oregano to my topping.

Next subject….
I have no knitting for you today. I’ve been trying to finish up that commissioned project. I have about 3 hours of knitting, and 1 hour of pattern editing to do and I’ll be done. Fingers crossed it will be done in the next 2 days I can go back to obsessing about the socks.

Friday Miss Frecklegirl didn’t think that the “Hot Cup of Hoffee” was a good thank you. Well, it wasn’t my favorite video so I’m posting my favorite. I’ve posted it before and I think it’s good enough to post again. I’m hooked on a feeling. How’s that?

I’m not sure if the comments are working again. They stopped over the weekend so we’ll see what happens. I’m close to giving up and installing Haloscan on the site.

It’s not exactly Saturday’s Sky. I took this series on Monday of a storm making it’s way across my backyard. All of these were taken in a 10 minute span. Gotta love the crazy March weather.

I wish I had a before picture because it was a bright day with a few clouds in the sky.
The storm moves in quickly.

It starts snowing

Then the snow comes down pretty fierce

And it’s gone.

That’s right. All that in 10 minutes.

I must be dense. Ok, I know I am
I hadn’t gotten comments in 2 or 3 days so I just figured I had no comments. Little did I know you all spent time and left me some great comments.

WP has decided unexpectedly to stop sending me comment notification. I’ve tried every fix and plugin I can find. Nothing. It’s frustrating to now be able to write back to you all. I’m not giving up yet. I’ll keep trying. Until it’s fixed, resonding will be difficult. Please email if you have a question.

In the meantime - THANK YOU for all your congrats and conderful comments.
By way of thanking you, I give you a Big cup of Hoffer.

EDIT**Comments are working!!!
*backing away from the code slowly…….

I mentioned last week that I needed to be knitting some thinner socks.
Of course this means I needed new yarn. Why, I’m not sure?
I bought this beauty from Union Center Knits:

I should be shot for taking such a bad picture of really nice yarn. I believe the name is Grape Slush but I could be wrong. The yarn arrived and I went into a frenzy, much like the whirling dervish created by the Tazmanian Devil. I tore off the yarn band and wound it into a ball and sat down ready to start.

Needles, where are my needles. I need to start.
Off on a hunt to find needles, I have these….

These are for a gift that I don’t need to have done for another month or so. I’m really good at procrastinating. Still I should be able to free these needles first.

Skinny Socks - Walkabout colorway. One is done and the second wouldn’t take me long if I actually worked on it. I think these could easily be freed next.

Sisu Sparkle - 2 socks on 2 circulars. I didn’t enjoy the technique so there they languish. I don’t care if I free these needles.

Spunky Handpaint - I think these are meant to be socks. The pattern I have inside is only in my writing and is little more than charts for a fair isle pattern. These need too much work to think about freeing those needles fast.

Opal - Love the socks. They are done on 0’s which are a little small for my need now.

Spunky Handpaint - These have size 2 needles and I really wanted to use 1’s for the new project.

Cascade superwash 220 - I’m not a fan of these needles for socks, nor am I fan of brown. The socks are coming out nicely in this yarn. I might change the needles before I start on them again. Next to the fair isle ones, these are the least ready to give up their needles. Not that it matters the needles are a size 4 and wouldn’t help me any if they were free.

Sockotta - ok, these have no needles with them. I included them because they’re socks that aren’t done.

I know what you’re thinking. Why not just buy a new set of needles?
Normally that is my answer. I’m trying to actually finish up some long languishing socks. I’d love to end this year with only socks on the needles and no more single socks. Which is leading me to the idea that I might be ripping some socks out. When finding these I found other socks. Actually that is what I did the other day when I was going through the socks. I ripped out a tan sock and a striped green one. 2 down, 8 more to go.

But don’t think this won’t stop me from casting on a new pair. As soon as I free one set of needles, I’ll be starting them. Maybe what I should hope for at the end of the year is to have all new languishing single socks. That might be more plausible the way that I knit.

I know a couple of you have been curious about this…..

The shop is open. Although I’m not ready for a “Grand Opening” It’s mostly set up and there is actually quite a bit of fiber and yarn there.

I suppose I haven’t really made a huge announcement because it’s small (about the size of a double booth at a fiber show). I don’t have the remodel done, heck it hasn’t even really been started. The remodel will make the space HUGE and there will be a giant dye kitchen.

Obviously the pictures don’t show all that is there. I have a few more pots of spindles, 3 more tubs of fiber, 2 more tubs of yarn, 3 more wheels that are set up and 2 flip looms that aren’t shown.

Right now I’m open Mon, Wed, and Saturday 10am-3pm or by appointment. I’m working most days just not always at this location. I need to be at the other location dyeing. Which is why I need to build a new dye kitchen at the shop location then I’ll be there at least 5-6 days each week. I’m hoping that within 6 months or so I’ll be able to have it done. I’m not sure if I’m being too ambitious but I’m going to sure try to get all of it done. Then when the shop is bigger I can have a spinning group and classes. Even without it done I might do some classes out on the patio. The patio is nice for doing some dyeing or fleece prep. I’ll make sure to keep everyone posted. I’ve also signed up for a bunch of shows, I’m just waiting to hear if I’ve been accepted.

While we’re on the subject of shops, some of you may have figured out that I’m selling to a few of your local shops. Check it out HERE to see where you can find me off the web.