the nerdiness abounds

So, The Fellowship of the Ring to the accompaniment of the CSO while picnicking at Ravinia on a beautiful night was pretty much awesome.

What made it even more awesome?

Lembas to sustain you on your journey. Recipe and mallorn leaf pattern here. Apparently the elves were actually big fans of lemon-flavored scones! The leaves are cut out of felt rather than foam, simply because there was already a plentiful cache of green felt in my craft supplies (why, I don't know, but I was happy to go with it). Sadly, we were forced to drink Crispin cider and Half Acre beer (brewed 1/2 mile from my house) in lieu of miruvor.

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I threw caloric considerations out the window and made that easy beer mac and cheese recipe on Saturday! I wasn't up for another trip to the market, so there was some improvising (i.e., cleaning out the cheese drawer and skipping the basil leaves). I used cheddar, gruyere, a wee bit of Parmesan, and  Cotswold Double Gloucester (which just happens to make the best grilled cheese sandwiches ever). The bites with the Double Gloucester were AMAZING! Next time I'd zing up the recipe with a little bit of onion, cayenne pepper, and ground mustard.

ETA: I've found Cotswold Double Gloucester at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. I'm guessing that a good specialty cheese/wine shop might carry it, too.

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Another baby gift has not only been finished, but also given to its intended recipient!  The new mom's a knitter, so I didn't want to post here until it was safely in her hands.

pattern: Baby Kina, by Muriela

yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 1.75 skeins

needles: Clover US 4 bamboo circs

size: 6 months

my Ravelry project page

notes:

Fantastic little pattern! Very easy to knit, and not fiddly at all. I love the gathering at the yoke. The yarn is wonderful to knit, and I'm sad that my Baby Cashmerino stash is pretty much depleted now (although I suppose that's a good thing, as there's plenty more yarn marinating in the craft room).

I wonder a bit about the buttonhole placement. They seem a bit off center -- I might move them closer to the edge of the button band next time. I'll definitely knit this pattern again! There's even a version for grown-ups.

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linkety ~ projects I'd like to start right away but know I oughtn't

- free pattern for a colorful bull's eye crochet blanket at Tangled

- tutorial for making a very cute cable knit pillow cover at Craftastical

harvest time

I baked carrot cupcakes for a birthday gathering for Paul that we hosted last weekend.

The carrot cake recipe was unremarkable, but I do want to share one tip. I added 2 tsp. orange zest to the cream cheese frosting, and it was quite nice!

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I'm crocheting some autumnal-looking granny square covers for throw pillows for our downstairs den.  The yarn is some long-stashed Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool, and I'm using a D hook, which feels TINY! Usually I crochet with worsted or chunky weight yarn.

My Greenfield cardigan is in time-out right now, as the first sleeve turned out enormous.  Crazy big. My gauge is spot-on, so I'm very annoyed.  I'd love to wear this cardigan over winter break, though, so I'll have to rip way back and add a whole bunch of decreases.

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 Cooking Light's recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta was delicious the other week!

I loved the contrast between the sweet roasted squash and the crispy bacon.  Be forewarned, though, that this is a complicated recipe -- lots of dirty pots and pans, plus a rather odd recipe for white sauce. Lots of flour, no butter -- the sauce itself tasted a little weird and floury, but once incorporated into the recipe it was just fine.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

summer's bounty

numero uno

If you're a Doctor Who fan at all, you need to go check this out immediately (hat tip to Hilary). 

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in the kitchen

One of Paul's coworkers generously shared a bounty of tomatoes from her garden with us. 

Inspired by a certain rooster, I made a French tomato tart.  Delicious!  I used plenty of strong, French whole grain mustard, chives, fresh goat cheese, and a drizzle of Wisconsin honey.  An aged goat cheese would be delicious, too, but I was feeling budget-conscious (and too lazy to trek any further than Trader Joe's).  I, too, cut down a bit on the butter in the dough, and it was plenty wet without any additional water.

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off the needles

Already off the needles and onto my feet!  An actual pair of socks -- first pair since August 2007.  Granted they're more like footies, but still, it feels like a milestone. Or perhaps a turning point?  We'll see.

Pattern: Turkish Bed Socks,  by Churchmouse Yarns & Teas

Yarn: Koigu KPPM, 1 skein (175 yds)

Needles: US 2.5 Knit Picks Harmony DPNs

my Ravelry project page

Details:

A clever little pattern with a very unusual construction technique!  There's some seaming midway through, and you have to pick up some stitches pretty carefully to avoid getting holes, but it's not bad.  The socks are cute and comfy, and they go well with my Danskos.  A slightly smaller ankle opening would be nice, but I'm not sure that I care enough to fool around with the pattern.  I'll definitely be making more of these, as they're quick and useful.  I'd like to think that this pattern might help me make a dent in my stash of sock yarn, but it takes so few yards that it isn't really the case!  I had a bit of yarn leftover from my 1 skein of Koigu, so no need to be stressed about running out of yarn.