Tuesday, November 12, 2013

warm and woolly

Handknits in action! Erik has been a model of sartorial splendor when it comes to cozy knitwear.
out for an autumn stroll in his owlie hat and zig zag pram blanket

 enjoying brunch in his bitty cabled cardigan

 watching football in his bitty cabled cardigan

 looking a wee bit grumpy in his tiny trees baby vest

sporting his crochet earflap hat

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Amazingly I've actually done a few things in the kitchen in the past couple of weeks. These banana chocolate chip muffins were a big hit.



Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins



makes 12 muffins

1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
3 large ripe bananas (about 3 cups mashed)
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
dash of cardamom
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3/4 cup chocolate chips (or substitute chopped nuts or raisins or any combination thereof)

- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Oil or spray a muffin tin or use paper liners.

- In a large bowl, with an electric mixer or by hand, beat the oil, sugar, eggs, and mashed bananas well until blended. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients – be careful not to overmix. Fold in the vanilla and, if using, the chocolate chips, raisins, and/or nuts.

- Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins and bake for 20 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool muffins on a baking rack.

adapted from the Moosewood Restaurant Book of Desserts

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

memory lane

Turns out that a giant granny square made out of Noro is perfect for cuddling up and watching football, snuggling with a baby, or reading a good book. Who knew? ; )


I started this way back in February 2010, and while I finished crocheting it two years ago, it sat neglected in a corner with lots of loose ends. I was making this for Paul since I thought he would appreciate its rustic look, and I wasn't sure why I was so reluctant to weave in those ends.



Then I remembered that this had been Kylie Cat's favorite project. She loved crochet in general, and the sheepy, lanolin smell of the yarn I used for the border exerted a siren's song over her. It was just too hard to finish it while the memory of saying good-bye to my funny tabby cat was fresh.


And now another cute little creature is enjoying snuggling up with it. Erik's sweet little cardigan (complete with sheep buttons!) was knit by Heather from my knitting group. Knitters are the nicest people!