Procrastinating Knitter: Finished Project of 2009

Well the end of the year is finally here and as some of you know my goal this year was to finish my WIP (work in progress) knitting projects. I really did not have much hope if truth be know, I only finished one project in 2008 and that took me until July.

Linda keep saying she thought I was close to 12, but I only agreed with her to be polite. In my mind I was like no way, then I started counting in my head, then I started searching the house and rounding up the finished projects and what do you know? I DID IT!! She was right, 12 project in 12 months!!

These projects are not listed in order of completion, but I did try to group them a bit.

1) Strawberry Shawl, I need to block this still but I streached it out a bit on my chair so you can see the lace pattern. At moment it is long enough for a shawlet, just something across my shoulders, but once it is blocked it should have nice drape. I think I cast this on 2006 or 2007

2) Shrug, ok so this is SOOO not blocked either, its for the summer when you want to wear a tank top but feel you need something on your shoulders. I cast this on 2008


3) Leo Bunny, this is a pattern I created myself, knitted on one circular needle, multiple pieces are knitted at the same time then assembled like a sweater. One of these days I am going to publish this pattern. Cast on 2008

4) Blue Green Socks, originally I bought the yarn for stupid boy but since he was stupid they are all mine now!! Cast on July 2008

5) Running Socks, the arch is knitted in a ribbed pattern like those I have seen at the Runners shoe store, also the natural fiber helps wick away sweat to keep my feet cooler. Cast on 2007 for the Denver Marathon, my first 1/2 Marathon.

6) Noro Socks, I knitted these to loosely and should have gone down a needle size at least. They are very soft and comfie but one of the heels wore out. Cast on 2008

7) Blue Socks, the pattern I also made up has a small single stichs that cross over on a diangle, it looks really cool with the self stripping sock yarn. Started probably 2006 or 2007

8) Feather and Fan Scarf, you can't really see it but the scarf is about 4 1/2 or 5 feet long, I hated this pattern mostly because I never really wrapped my head around it. I started this probably 2006, maybe even 2005.


9) Naomi's Scarf and actually the first project I finished this year, I cast it on December 2007 while I was in California for Christmas. I still have to knit her the matching hat!! hahaha


10, 11, 12) Matching Scarf, Hat, and Fingerless gloves, These were the fastest items knitted up, the scarf took me about a week, the hat 3 or 4 days the gloves about 2 days.

These were all knitted within the last 3 weeks. The hat and gloves took longer because I froged them many times, many MANY times, the pattern is very quick and easy though and it is really something a first time knitter can do.



I am going to frog the gloves one more time and knit them top down like real mittens. The reason I did not do it this time was that I was not 100% sure that I had enough yarn, but I think I made the cuffs really way to long for me so if I frog them I'am sure I can get two yummy matching mittens out of them. That is SOMEDAY but for this day, they count as a finished item.



Well that's it, it is December 20, 2009 with 11 days to spare and I have successfully completed 12 projects in 12 months.

I am not sure if I will try this again next year but I am finding that like when I focus on one project at a time. I enjoy the process more when I stop fluttering between multiple projects, and really get into what I have in my hands.

I currently have 2 sweaters, a shawl, a log cabin blanket and a couple of socks on the needles as well as a few ideas for sweaters and shawls that are still percolating in the back of my head. OK so I probably have more than just those project already on the needle but I can't find them at the moment since they are hiding in my stash. (teehee)

I am now going to focus on my two sweaters as they are the closest projects to being done and being that it is cold out I can actually wear them now.

OK so maybe I will work on the fogged entrelac scarf again tonight but that's all Brie's fault after seeing her beautiful Elenore yesterday at the holiday party!!

Chery

Procrastinating Cooking: Cheesy Beer Bread and Herb Crusted Salmon

It's Friday night and there is cooking happing dans le ménage de Legendre, (in the Legendre household) you say I should be painting, yes I should be painting and sanding, I should not be having yummy salad and hot bread in a kitchen with a large section of new unprimed drywall and two other walls half painted. Walls that are standing there mocking me, but I have a song in my head, I can't hear you, not listening la la la la!

Both recipes are from Tasty Kitchen
http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/breads/cheesy-beer-bread/
http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/main-courses/herb-crusted-salmon/

The salmon will be plated with Organic Herb Salad tossed with hot olive oil and grated cheese, hot bread with sweet cream butter and a glass of cold beer, wow just saying it sounds impressive.

The cast of characters, as PW likes to say are; Wheat and White Flour, Baking Powder, Salt, Sugar, Butter, BEER, Garlic Salt, Salmon, Flavored Olive Oil, Herb Bread Crumbs.

The beer was made by my friend Mike, there is just enough left after the required 12 oz for the bread to have a short glass of it with dinner. It is very dark, I think chocolate flavor? I am not sure, Mike is the expert on that, but I did take a wee sip and let me say, YUMMY

The recipe calls for 3 cups of flour, I used 1 cup of wheat too 2 cups regular flour, I hope it will give it a nuttier flavor and texture.

I was a bit liberal on the garlic salt sprinkled on top and am now sitting here blogging watching the butter bubble up the sides of the bread pan with the sent of garlic and fresh baking bread in the air.

I wonder, is there such a thing as over filling? are there different size bread pans? The recipe just said "bread pan", but it is getting a little "BIG" in there. As it turns out the pan was the perfect size.

The Salmon I know will cook really fast compared to the bread so I am going to make the bread then let it rest while the fish is baking.

The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a teaspoon of garlic salt and 2/3 cup of herb bread crumbs, wrap the Salmon in aluminum foil and pop it into an oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

The recipe on line started with frozen salmon however mine is fresh so I can cool it in less time, 10 min then flip it over and cook for another 10. I hope that the packet seal will hold in the moisture and flavor as well as ALL that oil, but just to be sure I placed a pan below (every once in a while I do think quite well).

OK, I wrote the above before I actually prepared the packet and guess what someone forgot she did not have in her cupboard anymore, BREAD CRUMBS!! Pepperidge Farm to the rescue

I took about 6 or 8 of the Toasted Sesame crackers ground them up in the coffee grinder and poured them on top of the salmon, dang! I forgot to measure if it was 2/3 cups, oh well on wards and up wards!

I think I might have ground them up a bit to much, I find I do that with my coffee beans as well, does anyone else have that problem?

OK another point WAY to much olive oil in there, trying to snap a picture while pouring was probably not a good idea. LOL

And HERE is the end result, after 20 min I felt the fish was not properly toasted so I cranked up the oven to broil, unwrapped the fish, exposing the top and got an excellent blackened finish.

Side note, did anyone else know that Kenmore electric oven has a fire sensor? and the code is F2? ask me how I know that? LOL

Mike dude, seriously GREAT BEER!!!

Now I am settling down for a movie, Julie & Julia, on the needle is the never ending A-symmetrical Sweater.

de moi à vous aimez beaucoup (from me to you, much love) yes someone found a English to French translator web site tonight

Chery

Procrastinating Cooking: Scones

Back in the kitchen, this time I am attempting my first scones. On the whole they came out good, I forgot the egg wash with sugar so they did not have that crispy-sugary topping but other than that they were good.












The recipe is a whole wheat version, 4 cups of whole wheat flour, sugar, salt, baking power, 4 eggs and cold heavy cream, the only ingredient I did not already have was the heavy cream. After a quick Google search I found out that I could substitute other types of milk, and while it might not be the exact same texture it would work, I used a cup of evaporated milk instead.

The recipe also called for dried blueberry's which I did not have and since I am really trying to cook with what is already in the pantry I rooted around and found a jar of pears my friend Lisa gave me that she had canned herself. (THANKS LISA!!!) I cut them into small pieces and gently folded them in after mixing all the other ingredients.

Following the recipe (for a change) they came out light, nicely browned with small chunks of pears. I think I might have mixed it a bit to much but all and all they were a good density and texture.

I made one tray of square scones and the rest I shaped as one round cake, sliced in wedge shapes similar to what I typically see at the coffee houses.














I think my next Goodwill search will include a pastry knife to help cut in the butter and more cookie sheets.


Going with tradition I topped my scones with butter and jam, and they were AWESOME!












Now I for some quality football and knitting,

Chery

Procrastinating Cooking: Vegetable Soup

I am back in the kitchen cooking up a storm, a soup? Soup Storm!!

I found this recipe online as part of the Cabbage Soup Diet, you make this big pot of soup and eat some of it every day.

AND NO its not all you eat, but it provides the needed fiber and vitamins.

Ok first go to the store and buy a BUNCH of vegetables!!













THAN chop chop chop













Even though I am using a veg soup mix I still need to add a little more ZING!













YUMMY!! ok I don't like Mushrooms but DANG this looks good













This is what it looks like after simmering after 1 hour, one more hour to go and then DINNER!













THIS is what it looks like when its DONE!! the kitchen smells like some kind of wonderful let me tell you!













Look MOM I am eating my vegetables!!













OK so now its time to snuggle down on this cold evening with a hot bowl of soup and some mindless knitting,

What is on the needles? glad you asked, I am working on my sunrise Asymmetrical sweater.

I have to do a bit of frogging as I decreased to much on the sleeves.

Procrastinating Knitter - No Post...Post

Ok so I noticed that this is my knitter blog and I have not been doing any knitting blog, why you may ask.. well cause.. you know.. have not really been knitting....

Ok so its not called Procrastinating for nothing...ok.. will post from the coffee shop tomorrow...


See this really was a No Post, post! :o)

Love you World!!

Procrastinating Remodeler: Kitchen

Walking into the kitchen I am feeling bored, can not meet friends for drinks as I am pinching penny until payday, don't feel like ACTUALLY cleaning, trying to stay away from the chocolate in the cabinet and the sherbet ice cream in the freezer, what to do, what to do. Hummm I KNOW! maybe I should knock down some walls!!

Ok so there was a bit more thought put in to it than that but yes folks I am tearing out walls again in my little bitty home. This time up on the chopping block is the short wall dividing the kitchen area which has always made the room feel small and awkward.

I started out by taking down a cabinet on the back wall so I could move the refrigerator, then get this I actually prepped the area by removing everything on BOTH sides of the wall! Then I started pounding away.

The kitchen already feels bigger and more user friendly and really I only took out a 4’wide dividing wall that’s it.

I original wanted a second archway (when I was leaving the wall intact) but my Dad said a second arch would be kinky (translation = weird) and guess what, for a change I totally agree with him, someone should mark this date down in a calendar I never agree with that man!!

I think a nice wide archway would still allow more movement and light back and forth BUT give me the added benefit of wall space to be able to hang my Ikea shelf's and racks.

Of course now that the wall is down he has to come back and move the electrical outlet, but if I can at least get that done I can live with the narrow archway for a while until I can get him back out widen it.

All that is left to do is repaint the kitchen, re-hang my Ikea shelf’s and spice racks, and take a good hard look at the flooring.

So here are the before and during pictures, oh and sorry for the spots on the camera, I guess I need to clean the sheetrock dust off the leans.

Stay tuned!!

Before, this short wall divided the kitchen with the laundry/pantry area,

See the refrig was on the other side of the wall





Bam BAM BAM BAMM












This is after the demolitions, defiantly going to need to paint the whole kitchen the same color now. Before it was such a clear definition of the two areas that two colors worked but not now.

I am thinking of a nice creamy yellow, more on the yellow side but not sunny bright yellow.


Really the walls are not covered with dust, its the camera lens.

Procrastinating Cooking: Buttered Rosemary Rolls

I found these rolls on The Pioneer Woman Blog and in honor of going to her book signing in Denver tomorrow night I decided to see if I could make them.

Now no way can I cook like she can, but I figured, I don't have to MAKE the bread, only tear open a bag, really how hard can it be?

Come to find out, kind of not hard but maybe a little, the problem I had was getting the frozen dinner rolls to thaw enough to raise as required.

Come to find out that when you put frozen rolls in to a cold cast-iron pan, into a cold oven in a cold kitchen, its not a situations that is conducive to activating yeast. :)

Here is where I started










After, 2? 3 hours, practically no change!













I than took them out and placed them in a sunny spot












Better but little progress, my friends to the rescue!!
I was advised to try a warm oven with the door open and SURPRISE!! Something happen!!












As advised I let them set 20 more minutes but no real change so I figure, right, next step!
Melt butter in the microwave safe dish, (vintage Pyrex!) and season with Rosemary and Sea Salt.












Now Ree used fresh rosemary, I imagine she has a great little herb garden in her kitchen window or green house but lets just say I do not have a greenest green thumb, I have been know to kill cactus so the dried type works well for me.

I did crush the rosemary in my hand before sprinkling

Here is what they looked like before baking.












AND VOILA!!! fresh HOT Buttered Rosemary Rolls!!












The kitchen smelled WONDERFUL,and I could not resist I had to eat one.

OK so I had TWO they were THAT good!!

Thanks Ree, YOU ROCK!! See you tomorrow!