making gnocci with chopsticks

today Rodolfo's cousins mom (who lives in Buenos Aires usually) is showing me how to make homemade gnocci!  So far, we've boiled water, added salt and then 1 cup self rising flour per cup of water.  (1 cup of each per person)

So...I just witnessed the coolest thing!  When she added the flour to the boiling water, she used CHOPSTICKS!

This is something I haven't really considered doing before, but seeing someone else do it and see how easy things seem to mix together, I'm inspired to give it a try.  It seems to mix better then when I use a big old spoon with less clumpiness and it's not as messy as a whisk!

So cool!  I'm converting to the sticks!

dreams of things

As always my friend and fellow blogger Kyria is always inspiring me with her ideas and thoughts on the world.  Just today I read her blog called Less is More.  Having traveled in some of the same places at around the same times, ever since we met, I love checking in on what she's up to and thinking about, because our thoughts for some reason tend to run parallel on lots of things.

After traveling, as you know, R man and I decided we wanted to return to normal life for a while. 

A job.  An apartment.  Cell phones.  A kitchen.  It's lovely, absolutely lovely.  All of it.
(Sarah does a happy dance)

We are to the point that we are even quasi redecorating!

I'm not that 'type' of gal who lives at Crate and Barrel  - although I AM the oggling type passing by plate and glass display windows, so I'm using the term 'redecorate' lightly, in terms of major essential household furniture purchases and such.

We still don't want to be tied down to stuff in case the feeling hits us that it's time to leave (which we both decided is important to us), but as handy and useful as a card table is, it's not the same experience to eat on when inviting..say...your in laws or your boss over for dinner.  Nothing says, "enjoy this fine meal" like a folding chair as they sit down to eat!

We 'needed' a table.  

So!  Something had to be done!  After scanning ads for IKEA and target and staring dazed and terrified at furniture websites with tables and chairs for $2,000 each, we went the craigslist route.

We ended up scoring a gorgeous old antique wooden dining room table complete with original extendors (it can sit 8 people!  8!) with chairs for 4!  WITH CHAIRS! All for $35.  Awesomeness!
We were even physically able to carry it home the required 5 blocks!  I have the arm bruises to prove it!

But...there's a big but....this purchase?  Goes against a lot of what I've come to believe is the lifestyle I want and crave.  Not to be tied down to things.  Not to buy more then what is essential for a happy life.

We wanted something used and a bit beat up...and yes, cheap...not only to fit the budget, but so that we wouldn't feel bad when the time came to put it up for auction again.  Now that it's in our 'dining room,' we've both mentioned how unique and awesome it is and how much we'd rather rent a storage unit to save it, then to let it go to the junk heap....so....are we turning to the dark side?  Is it bad to crave comfort and pretty shiny things?!?  I don't know.  But at the moment, that pretty old antiquey table that's mine?  IT'S MINE!!!! HWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!  No backsies!

=)