Knitting Banter #4
30 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Knitting Tags: aran jumper, knitting, quick, ravelry, shrug, slow
So the super secret project which I hinted of in my last post is ripe for being revealed – ’twas an Aran (ie cabled) sweater, destined for a birthday present.
Took 5 weeks, which, barring my initial knitting project is the longest ever time I’ve spent on knitting a single thing… it would have taken longer if it hadn’t been the summer holidays… then again, it would have taken a shorter time if the shock of there being some sun in Glasgow hadn’t caused me to be outside and not knitting for a good few days amidst that.
Voici le pull:
I figured Ruth wouldn’t mind me trying it on in case it was horrendous (tbh, she’d have got it anyway after that amount of knitting 
) and for blog-posting purposes.
The pattern was http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/knitted-aran-sweater-1101 and I think it was quite a good introduction to cabled sweaters… not that I’m planning on doing many more of them, unless under a far diminished time restriction! Made a couple of mistakes as I’m not used to cabling, but sorted them out and ended up being quite quick by the end as I got used to the pattern, which I think’s to be expected.
Didn’t want to blog about too many projects one after another,
so didn’t post about this shrug on Saturday: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbed-lace-bolero
This was quick (did it in 2 days, maybe took 15 hours of actual knitting and sewing up) and I think it looks quite good! The photo’s not the best as my camera was about to run out of battery, and the sleeves aren’t really that uneven. It was also a good way of using up all the aran wool that’s lying about our house due to various cardigans and jumpers.
In other news,
tomorrow is D-day. All packed (ish) and ready to go! Wishes of luck and prayers much appreciated (particularly the latter) – going anywhere new alone is always a bit daunting and is especially so when there’ll be the language barrier, and the staying-in-uni halls (a new experience for me!)
To anyone that knows me: my skype is my email address minus the “@gmail.com”. Add me and schedule a chat! 
Knitting Banter #3
26 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Crafts, Knitting Tags: crochet, easy pattern, fingerless mitts
I’ve not updated my knitting in quite a while ‘cos I’ve been working on a super secret project (and also, preparing to flee leave the country before they catch up with me for my third year of study abroad, in amongst other things. But in amidst that project (more of which later), I’ve had time for a quick couple of projects:
[1]
Learning how to crochet courtesy of my gran’s friend. Though the thought of adding another needlecraft to my repertoire was appealing, turns out I couldn’t be bothered crocheting any of the animals which seems to be the main use for crochet these days, granny squares being out of fashion. I then stumbledupon http://www.igobykatie.com/2010/09/diy-tunisian-crochet.html which details how to crochet a makeup removal square, and in the interests of reducing my very environmentally unfriendly cotton wool habit, I thought I’d have a go. It… kinda worked:
[2]
Knitted more fingerless mitts to this pattern for someone’s birthday – hope they fit; she’s coming round tonight so we’ll see!
On a side note, I just had a microwaved banana with melted chocolate and squirty cream on top. If anyone has found a better tasting dish than that, I’d love to hear it, because I haven’t!
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Cookies
26 Aug 2011 2 Comments
in Cookies, Recipes Tags: afternoon tea, baking, banana, chocolate, fruit, recipe
Even if you don’t like peanut butter, its addition makes these cookies taste very good. Alternative use for peanut butter: spread some on the hollow of a piece of celery, then stick raisins on top*.
On a somewhat unrelated note, blogs may be sporadic over the next few weeks as I’m in the process of déménager-ing to France. So expect some updates with a French tinge to them… and recipes which don’t involve any ovens as (shock, gasp, horror), I won’t have one! I’ve a Breville cupcake maker, and a microwave, so we’ll just have to see how I cope.
Crumble
23 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Desserts, Recipes Tags: baking, dessert, fruit, pudding, recipe
I tend to make this with apples, but if you’ve pears, raspberries or strawberries going spare then chuck them in too! You can experiment with lots of different fruit combinations, and also with sloshing in some apple juice, or apple-and-raspberry juice if you happen to have some about. With about 7 big apples (peeled and cored, of course), this makes enough for about 8 people – or some can be frozen or just kept in the fridge for having the rest of the week.
Chocolate Bar Cookies
19 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Cookies, Recipes, Traybakes Tags: afternoon tea, baking, chocolate, recipe
Not really sure what to call these… possibly something akin to a blondie, but really just chewy cookie cuboids. For some reason both my flatmates thought they tasted of nuts, though no nuts were involved. Yummy, anyway
Gourmet Chocolate Chunk Cookies
16 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Cookies, Recipes Tags: afternoon tea, baking, chocolate, recipe
A yummy recipe which intriguingly came from a book of recipes of food sold in Disney World. Think these are sold in a bakery in the Magic Kingdom. They may not be quite as neat and aesthetically pleasing as some cookies, but they are pleasing to the palate, and were compared by a friend to Millies Cookies (I have a feeling she was exaggerating out of politeness, but there is some resemblance )
Fudgy Chocolate Cake.2
12 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Cake, Desserts, Recipes Tags: baking, birthday, cake, chocolate, decorative, dessert, recipe, special
A definite contender for my favourite chocolate cake ever awards… Though I think the Dark Fudgy Chocolate cake just has the edge on this. The original recipe just called for double the filling and spread butter icing on top as well, but I had double cream going spare, so thought I’d do a ganache over the top; worked really well, if I say so myself!
Apple Cake
09 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Cake, Desserts, Recipes Tags: baking, cake, dessert, fruit, recipe
If life throws you apples… make apple cake! Fed up of apple crumble all the time and had a few eggs to spare, so thought I’d try this recipe, adding some cinnamon and mixed spice to give it a little extra oomph. Tastes best just out of the oven, though can be eaten cold and/or heated up in the microwave. Lovely with a bit of double cream.
Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins
05 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Cupcakes, Recipes Tags: afternoon tea, baking, chocolate, cupcakes, fruit, muffins, raspberries, recipe
The tartness of raspberries is perfectly offset by the sweetness of the white chocolate (see also: white chocolate and raspberry cheesecake). Muffins taste best the first day they’re made, hence why this is quite a small batch.
Moroccan Veg and Chickpea Tangine
02 Aug 2011 3 Comments
in Meals, Recipes, Vegetarian Tags: meal, student meal, student meals, vegan, vegetables, vegetarian
If you, like me, have had a tin of chickpeas malingering at teh back of your cupboard for a while, this is an excellent way of using them… I’d even go so far as to say that if you do not have such a tin then you should go out and purchase one specially. Now now, don’t look at me askance (Rosanna), chickpeas can be tasty. As well as being protein-rich. And it’s always good to have a vegetarian (actually, this is even vegan) dish to add to your repertoire. Chop and change whatever veg you fancy or have.
Also, a word about the couscous: it’s vastly underrated; tastes really good mixed in with some vegetable stock!
And thirdly: apparently it’s pronounced “Tan-jean” and does not rhyme with “bikini”. Don’t say I never help you out.
