Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Oops!

I had every intention of writing a real blog post today, I swear. Somehow, that just didn't work out.

I got home from work late and ate dinner. Then I had to go out and buy a light bulb for my hallway which has been out for a week or so, and get some gas in my car so I can get to work tomorrow. Then I started watching YouTube videos, like this one and this one. Then I checked my email, Ravelry, and Twitter. Then I drew a stickman.

(PS yes I know this post is full of links. That was intentional and they're all normal, you should be able to see the urls at the bottom when mousing over.)

Anyway, I got distracted, and now it's dark, and I don't have good lighting in my apartment, so writing a blog post with pictures like I originally intended is pretty much impossible. (I am also aware that the preceding sentence is pretty much ridiculous.) Plus, it's bedtime and I need to get some sleep.

I will post again later this week, but I can tell you for now that I am currently working on this pattern- http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/irish-hiking-scarf, though I may have to interrupt that soon to make this one- http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marte-a-crocodile-stitch-hood for my mom.

Happy crafting! I hope you all had a fantastic Christmas/holiday/long weekend <3

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

WIP Wednesday!

Finished my little knitted gift, and decided... I don't like it. Will have to try again, it doesn't take long and I do have Friday off so I might have time. Maybe. If I knit really fast! Otherwise, there's always next year. (Note to self- start EARLY this year. For real this time.)

I've also decided that the time has finally come to cast on for my "first knitted project." I knit this swatch what seems like forever ago, as soon as I was confident in my ability to knit and purl. It's not a gauge swatch or anything, more of a curiosity swatch. I wanted to find out if I could cable.



Those look like cables to me! A little off maybe, but nothing a little practice won't fix. It's getting more winter-y here and I need a scarf either way, I seem to have lost all of mine in the move. I have a lovely emerald green color to knit it with too, I would take a picture but the light is so bad in my apartment at night that I would never do it justice.

Wish me luck, and happy crafting!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

WIP Wednesday- sort of

I have a new project! I do, I do! I don't think I should post about it now though, because I decided to knit a small holiday gift for someone who may or may not read this blog. (Why do I do this to myself?! December is not the time to start holiday presents!) More on that will be coming soon.

In the mean time, please enjoy these pictures of my lovely kittyfaces.

Smudge aka Mudge/Mudgie

Chirper aka Chirps

Aren't they cute? I might just be a sucker.

Or maybe you'd enjoy some easy baking inspiration? Cut your brownies into shapes!

Ninja brownies!
My next brownies, or cookies, or any shape-able baked goods are most definitely going to be cut into moose, squirrel, and whale shapes. My mother in law found the cookie cutters in Ikea awhile ago and sent them my way, woohoo!

Sorry this post is so short and scatterbrained, but real life got in the way. Apparently I'm convinced that today is Tuesday AND Thursday, but somehow definitely not Wednesday.

Good luck to all of you attempting to finish homemade holiday gifts!

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Pumpkin Muffins!


I love pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin coffee, pumpkin smoothies, pumpkin butter... but my favorite by far is the humble pumpkin muffin. Specifically THESE pumpkin muffins. They are simple and delicious. They do not (usually) make a ginormous mess of my kitchen. They can easily be mixed by hand, and don't require too much attention.


The recipe I'm about to share with you is very accommodating. Don't want so much sugar? Leave some out. Want more pumpkin? Add it in. Accidentally added too much oil or pumpkin pie spice? That's ok! This recipe is so forgiving that you can bring it to a holiday party or a work potluck the first time you make it and get rave reviews. Just try it.

Cute muffin wrappers are a bonus

Muffin goodness!





Ingredients

1 ½ cups all purpose flour
1  tsp baking powder
1  cup (ish) canned solid-pack pumpkin*
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice**
1 ¼ cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line or grease muffin cups.
2. Sift first 2 ingredients into a medium bowl.
3. Combine pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, 1 ¼ cups sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.     Whisk until smooth.
4. Mix dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture just until combined. Do not over mix! It may be a little lumpy.
5. Stir together cinnamon and the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar in a separate bowl.
6. Divide batter among prepared muffin cups, filling until approximately ¾ full. Sprinkle tops with cinnamon sugar mixture.
7. Bake until muffins are puffed and golden brown. Tester inserted in center should come out clean- approximately 25-30 minutes for normal muffins, 10-15 minutes for mini muffins.
8. Cool in tray for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.


*I started out using 1 cup of pumpkin, but now I have a better method (for me.) I take a 1 cup dry measuring cup and squish as much pumpkin puree in there as I can without spilling, and use that much. It adds more pumpkin-y flavor and I love it! Also, please note that you can freeze the extra pumpkin for later use. I do it all the time!

**If you do not have pumpkin pie spice, make your own! You can find a bunch of recipes using google, just pick the one that sounds best to you.

Husband's note- these taste sweeter and more pumpkin-y when completely cooled.

Have fun!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

WIP Wednesday (a little late)

Ahhh! I'm late, I know I'm late. It's not midnight yet, so I'm not too late, am I? I hope not. 

Anyway, I'm finally done with the hat! Please excuse the poor little cell phone photos, we don't have much light in the apartment and my hand was shaking. Eventually I might even remember I have a camera, instead of reaching for my phone all the time...


Modeled by my awesome husband. He's such a good sport.


There was supposed to be a third picture for this post, of just the neckwarmer being worn without the hood, but it came out blurry. Oh well, that's life, right?

The hat/facemask/neckwarmer has been delivered to it's new owner. Hopefully it will keep him nice and warm this winter.

On another note, this week has been tough. Lots more working then expected. The job security is nice, but I've been pretty tired. Right now I'm sitting here, writing this, drinking some special (decaf) coffee, and trying to relax. But I can't. I have no current project and my fingers are itching. It seems like so much effort to pull everything out for the half an hour or so of pure knitting time I can muster up before bed lately, so I haven't. I'm on a little crafting hiatus, but hopefully I will be bringing you the start of something new by next Wednesday.

Happy Wednesday!