Saturday, January 14, 2023

T Stands for Finishing up the Blackberry Ink

  T stands for Tuesday is where we join our hostess' Bleubeard and Elizabeth with a drink related photo in our post, and visit friends to see what we have all been up to. Find link in my sidebar to link to our hostess.

  I waited a couple days, as the recipe suggested, to strain the blackberry ink one more time. This was a good idea, I did not lose much ink and it filtered out a thick "sludge" I am very happy with the results.




I looked at this 1/4 pint canning jar and thought the ink should just fit in this smaller jar-and it did I have allot of these little jars when I would can up allot of wild mushrooms-miss that.



Watercolor inks and homemade inks need to be stored away from light. I had the perfect box for homemade inks and it has a fold over lid-so perfect


I did not save the coffee filter from the original straining as it was quite the mess, but I did save this one-rinsed it out and dried it and added to my mixed media papers stash


I did end up ordering the Ink making book I shared on last week's T post. I hunted all over for a used copy but this is still holding it's higher price. I ended up getting a new copy at amazon as I had enough money credits from last month to pay for the book except for 40 cents. So was thrilled about that.  I could probably keep searching for ink recipes online but this book looked really good. This is when a nearby library would be nice.

It has been very very cold here for most of the week what didn't get shoveled off is now a thick ice so am happy I cleared the steps right away and a narrow path up the hill. It will all melt away come Monday as we will be back to the mid 60's F again for a day or two and perhaps rain as well.

Saturday morning I asked Larry what he wanted for breakfast and he says if you are up to it I would love pancakes. I have a recipe from an old Tassajara Bread book that has a really good recipe for pancakes that I have broken down to one serving. So after I made his I made a batch for me with the gluten free flour-they turned our really good. We have pure maple syrup from a friend in Pennsylvania that gifted us a gallon many years ago-I am down to a little over a quart now. I had fresh blueberries so added those yum  and of course cast iron is the beat for these.

  Here is the recipe-when I was making all of our breads years ago, this was my go to book



  The photos are my gluten free pancakes





 I had been drinking so much of the herbal tea that I needed a pot of decaf coffee this past week. I found this coffee on Vitacost's site very delicious cup of decaf. I prefer a dark roast but this one has a rich flavor



Happy T


Oops I just realized I posted my T post on Saturday instead of Sunday all day today I keep thinking it's Sunday haha

56 comments:

  1. I would LOVE to try that decaf. Very cool on the blackberry ink. Such a neat thing and count me in for some GF pancakes! YUMMMMMMY.

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    1. These pancakes were really good-just substituted gf flour in the recipe. this is a really good decaf coffee am very pleased with the blackberry ink-will use it soon in a slow mail letter

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    1. thank you these were really delicious I just substituted the gf flour for the wheat

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  3. the ink idea is such a fun thing. It is just like natural dying wool . I love pancakes but rarely have them and I have a really good recipe for them that my grand loves.
    Cathy

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    1. yes I did allot of natural dyeing of wools and cottons and silk and so enjoyed that for many years. I think that is why I am enjoying exploring homemade inks so much-it's exciting too.
      Usually when I make pancakes for Larry I don't make them for myself-so this was a treat for sure.

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    1. thank you, these were really good pancakes I don't make them for myself very often. This is a really good coffee

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  5. Glad you got your ink finished. I keep my coffee ink in the fridge. I love pancakes, we had some last week for our midday meal, filled with red fruits and berries, yummy! Enjoy your coffee. Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie

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    1. Your pancakes sound delicious-that's interesting keeping your ink in the frig-thanks Happy T

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  6. Big, big WOW on the ink!
    And an eek on the ice. Good you were clever in the first place. Here it´s still "warm".
    Pancakes. Oh. We have a Homer Simpson´s pancake-maker, his face on the pan, and I will look for a hearty recipe! (I just think I cannot turn them so Ingo will have to do it - or do you know a trick? Plate as "parking space"?)
    You have coffee from a Swiss water process?! Strange! My fav Aunt lives in Switzerland. I haven´t seen her in ages.
    LOL, I lose track of days at times, too. esp on weekends!
    Happy T-Day and hugs

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  7. It's really interesting to see this ink making process. That filter will be great for making art. And I didn't know the ink needed to be stored out of sunlight. But that's good to know. (Thanks for the info). I also have the Tassajara Bread book. I'm glad you mentioned it because there's a yeasted banana bread recipe in it, and I have 2 very ripe bananas that need to get used up before they have to be thrown out. Thanks also for mentioning that, and I guess after I finish blogging I am going to go mix that up. Happy early T day and happy rest of your weekend too. hugs-Erika

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    1. Good morning Erika, I was thinking Elizabeth would say-"don't toss that filter" haha I have read few places to keep inks out of sunlight, winsor and newton watercolor inks said the same.
      The Tassajara book was by go to bread book for many years-I loved the process of their sponge that ended up with 4 loaves of bread-could do allot of different things with that. I also picked up their veggie book back then too.
      I have not made their yeasted banana bread sounds delicious. Happy T

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  8. I like sweet pancakes a lot, although I make them salty with different toppings and with a beer they are delicious!
    Regards Kathy

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  9. Nothing is better than the real-deal pure maple syrup on pancakes. Those looks wonderful.

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    1. I agree no fake syrup here haha we were gifted this maple syrup and also 5 or 6 years back a friend up in green bay wisconsin that has is own bees and honey brought me down several quarts-soo good

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  10. Well done on making the ink ...

    The pancakes look good.

    Enjoy the remainder of Sunday and have a good new week.

    All the best Jan

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  11. Ohhh I thought you were making jam. LOL That is a rich color of ink. Hmmm pancakes, I love them but I don't eat them. Have a great evening.

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    1. it does look like straining a jam-smiles I don't eat pancakes very often, so a nice treat thank you for visiting hugs

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  12. Blueberry pancakes are the best! Buckwheat blueberry pancakes are on my top 3 favorite morning meals' list. Happy to see that buckwheat is gluten free.
    Great ink making. How light fast is the ink if it has to be kept in the dark? Can you add something to make it light fast on paper?

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    1. I always loved buckwheat pancakes too but even though they are gluten free they make me sick like they do have gluten in them sigh
      I don't think these inks are lightfast, and not waterproof. I use micro glaze to rub over inks to make them waterproof but that doesn't help with the lightfastness I don't believe. These homemade inks are for fun and for my slow mail letter writing-so not archival for sure-smiles I will search into that if these can be made lightfast or not

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  13. Not sure how I got so far behind, but I LOVE the filter you kept. If you don't want it, I would gladly take it off your hands (JUST JOKING, but I love it). I think it's common sense to keep these inks out of the light. I have turmeric water I dye fabric with that I keep in a box in the closet in the basement. I think you are going to like that ink. It's a lovely color.

    I knew I should have eaten something before I checked the links. Now I want pancakes and real maple syrup. Yours looks SO good.

    I'm a dark roast coffee drinker, but I want caffeinated, please. I like that you bought fair trade coffee. I'm glad you enjoyed the roast.

    Thanks for sharing your lovely ink and filter and your pancakes and coffee with us for T this week, Kathy. Thanks again for the postcard.

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  14. I for sure want to make some turmeric ink for that pretty yellow. the pancakes were a treat-I make them for Larry when he wants them but I don't usually make me a gf batch-the blueberries are perfect. I had two pancakes left so I made me a peanut butter "sandwich" good eats-smiles
    You are most welcome for the postcard-I enjoyed making them

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  15. Your card that Elizabeth posted on her blog was just lovely! Your pancakes look good, and my daughter and granddaughter could eat them since they are glutten free. I am going to have to learn to cook differently when they visit. I read your comment about having a sandwich with the leftover pancakes. We do that, too. :) Happy T Day, and thanks for visiting me already!

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    1. thank you so much, I enjoyed making those to welcome in the new year.
      I used a favorite pancake recipe and only changed to a bobs red mill gluten free flour-they turned out really good. the sandwich was too fun-smiles Happy T

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  16. It is so cool that you make your own inks. I hope one day you will show us some of your creations with it. Happy T day!

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    1. thank you so much-I will share soon I played with this ink tonight a bit

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  17. It is nice to read about homemade inks and the process you followed. Glad it was a success! These pancakes look delicious too. I'd love to try at home...
    Thanks for the recipe. Happy T Day!

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    1. thank you much, I think making more inks will be a fun project. You are most welcome for the recipe I have used it many times over the years Happy T

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  18. Hello my friend. What a wonderful post. Your handmade inks are always a delight and I am always impressed with the and anything else you make. The pancakes look good too. Lost my sense of taste but not my memory of it - lol. Happy T-day and many hugz!!!

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    1. thank you-a very fun craft project for sure. I hope you get your taste back-a couple of friends of mine had that too with covid. hugs

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  19. Well Happy T day Kathy!!!! MMmmmm that ink looks good enought to EAT!!! lol I'm glad it came out so well for you!!! AND that you were able to score the book you wanted! I just had pancakes at IHOP the other day... But yours with blueberries look YUMMY!!! I don't know if i've ever had authentic maple syrup.. these days i have sugar free.. and i drink decaff right along with you! Mine this morning is McDonalds decaf from my Keurig.. Hugs! deb

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    1. we don't use allot of maple syrup or honey etc but I want to eat the "real" thing haha I am happy with this ink-will post later about art practice hugs

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  20. The blackberry ink looks like a lovely color. Pancakes! With blueberries! And maple syrup! That just screams comfort food. Happy T Day

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  21. Hello Kathy-to answer your question about the ink I used on the dragonfly drawing-they aren't alcohol inks or watercolor inks, but Ph Martin does make watercolor inks. I haven't used them yet. I'm very impressed with the Martin inks though-the colors are very strong and vibrant-they say they are lightfast too. I can't wait to see what you do with your latest batch of ink!

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  22. The ink is such a wonderful color. I want to see some of your writing when you use the ink and one of your special pens.

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  23. Wow, I bet it was so much fun making your own ink and it looks such a beautiful colour 😊. Your pancakes look so good too, Larry chose well with this breakfast treat - so yummy! Hope the weather is warmer for you this week. Take care and Happy T Day wishes! Hugs Jo x

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    1. this has been fun thanks yes a bit warmer weather for a few days before winter returns-Happy T hugs

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  24. Your ink looks lovely! Can't wait to see what you made with it. I have never heard of this kind of ink.
    Delicious looking pancakes.
    Happy Tea Day,
    Kate

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    1. thank you Kate-botanical inks they are lightfast or waterproof usually though-but fun to make and work with

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  25. What a beautiful colour! (the ink I mean). I think you will enjoy ´playing´with that.
    The pancakes look yummy. You have made me hungry now, perhaps I will make pancakes for breakfast as I'm not going to the gym so I don't have to hurry.
    A Belated Happy T-Day,
    Hugs,
    Lisca

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    1. thank you Lisca, yes since I am no longer dye fabrics from found botanicals this ink brings me back to that fun.
      the pancakes were really yummy a treat since I don't make them often. Happy T hugs

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  26. Hi Kathy, I hope your ink is ok and doesn't go off, usually it needs some kind of presevative to stop that, something like clove oil is what I use. The pancakes look delicious. I'm very late to the party. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx

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    1. thank you for still visiting Elle I do use a whole clove and drops of wintergreen eo for a preservative-I had forgotten to that right after I made the ink it's doing well now

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    2. ah cool, so glad you got something in there to preserve it

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