Whole30 Day 2

Back to my routine today!  Today's success was largely due to lots of meal prep.

I did not sleep well last night--at all.  I think this was probably more anxiety than anything diet-related, although as I was trying to relax I did feel hungry.  The sleep I got was restless and I didn't get out of bed early enough to work out, but I did leave for work on time.  I was apprehensive about the 3 meal, no snack model. I am usually starving at 10 and 3, ready for my snack!  I made my breakfast and lunch a little bigger than I thought they needed to be to keep between-meal hunger at bay.

What I ate:
Meal 1:  banana, bulletproof coffee, 4 baked eggs with 1/2 serving of ham, grape tomatoes, spinach

Meal 2:  more of last night's salmon with chimichurri but over about 3/4 cup of plain zoodles this time. About 1/2 cup roasted sweet potato and 1/3 cup cooked beets. 1 mason jar salad of tomato, bell pepper, celery, and baby spinach dressed with olive oil and lemon juice.  Finally, 3/4 cup of double celery soup (roasted celery root and celery blended with homemade turkey stock) Told ya I made meals 1 and 2 on the large side!  It took me 45 full minutes to eat all of my lunch, but I still didn't feel stuffed.  Win!  Salad only pictured:

Meal 2.5: 1/2 cup baked egg whites with ham, grape tomatoes, and spinach.  10 baby carrots.  I intended to eat a serving of avocado with this but it tasted off so I skipped it

Meal 3:  1 cup zoodles, 1 serving pot roast (recipe from One Pot book by Martha Stewart), green beans with homemade bacon fat/whole grain mustard dressing

Evening: 1 cup Natural Calm (1/2 tsp), 1 cup Chamomile w/ Lavender tea

Thoughts: I did 30 minutes of Turbofire in between Meal 2.5 and 3, and I was starving before eating each of these times.  I was still hungry after dinner so I think I need to add more protein or fat to my meals.  I made a ground beef stir fry to eat tomorrow night, and I snuck a few tastes of that.  I can't wait to eat it for a meal!

Whole30 Chronicles: Day 1

When I decided to try out the Whole30 I scoured the internet for meal plans, tips, and anecdotes from other Whole30 eaters.  I was almost overwhelmed by the food ideas available.  Thank you, Pinterest!  That made shopping and meal planning even easier. However, the posts I really devoured were the stories, both successes and tribulations, shared by others.  I decided to document my experience both as accountability for me and in the hope that this might help someone else, whether it be an internet stranger or someone I know and love.

I began my Whole30 journey on Sunday, January 3, the day before returning to work after a 10 day break.  This gave me time to have a few drinks on New Years Eve and enjoy the hummus and gluten free pizza I had in the fridge/freezer.  Then I still had January 1 to recover (and drink the leftover champagne) and January 2 to shop and prep.  Beginning on Sunday rather than Monday would hopefully make the transition from staycation to work life and a healthier way of eating a little less jarring.  I'll try to post updates every day.

What I ate:

Meal 1: Banana and almond butter.  Coffee with almond milk  I know this lacks protein and veggies, which are the most important parts of the meal map. However, I ate this meal about an hour before I was going running, and I cannot stomach protein or veggies before a run.  I ran 3 miles and felt good.  Not my fastest or strongest, but I didn't feel like dying.  When I ate my breakfast, I planned to run at least 5 miles, hence the carb-heavy meal.  I got distracted by taking pictures of my cats and only had time for 3 miles.

Meal 2:  3 eggs scrambled with 1 serving of leftover ham (no sugar of course), lots of baby spinach, about 1/2 cup of sweet potato, and 1/3 of an avocado.  About 14 oz of blood orange kombucha.  I was starving before eating, which makes sense considering my light breakfast and late morning workout.  

 Meal 3:  about 6 oz broiled salmon topped with an olive oil-based chimichurri (Recipe from Jan/Feb issue of Eating Well--I HIGHLY RECOMMEND), steamed broccoli, 1/2 cup mashed red potatoes prepared with bacon fat and horseradish.  I would have skipped the potatoes, but I was hangry and it was Day 1.  Baby steps.

After dinner: cup of Natural Calm (1/2 tsp), cup of Lemon Ginger herbal tea

Thoughts:
Overall, day 1 was a success!  I didn't have any cravings or unusually strong hunger, even through a Costco trip.  Saying no to non-Whole30 compliant samples was no issue at all.  I was very hungry before I ate each meal, but stayed satisfied for hours after eating. I admit my almond milk is not homemade, but according to the ingredients list it is compliant.  I may phase out using almond milk in coffee this week because I am afraid that almond milk from a carton is not in the spirit of the Whole30. I will also try to avoid meals without protein, even before a workout.  Maybe sweet potato would be a better choice than fruit if I need carbs before a run. 

Thanks for reading!  I'd love to hear from you if you are on a Whole30 journey.  And if I don't post for a day or two, please poke me to see if I am still on track!

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I've been gluten free for about 18 months now, and there are very few gluten-filled foods that I miss.  Pasta?  Never liked it.  Bagels?  Feels like lead in my stomach now.  Bread?  Well, ok I miss some kinds of bread.  But pizza?  I have never tried to deny my love for pizza.  The truth is, gluten free versions can never come close to that crisp on the bottom but doughy as you bite in and pull the slice away from your mouth sensation that good brick oven pizza brings into your life.  

I love choosing my toppings and enjoying a taste of each in every bite.  

Pizza can be casual or cozy. 

It is one of the most comforting one-dish meals.  

And it can also be one of the most unhealthy indulgences.

Never having mastered a good gluten free flour-based crust, I decided to try a cauliflower version, and I have to say I am in love with the results!  This is all fresh, made from scratch, and took me less than an hour from the moment I stepped into the kitchen to the moment I took my first bite.

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

yield 4 servings

Ingredients:

about 1/2 head of cauliflower

1 egg, beaten

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp basil or Italian seasoning

Procedure:

1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and prepare your baking sheet.  I used a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, but you may also use a pizza stone or a well-greased cookie sheet.

2.  Rice the cauliflower and then steam in the microwave for 8 minutes.  To rice, pulse the cauliflower in a food processor or a blender until it resembles the size and texture of grains of rice.  Option for microwave free cooking: Steam cauliflower florets in a steamer basket first, then rice them.  If you choose to steam first be mindful that you don't overprocess the cauliflower as it will rice more quickly.

3.  Mix the cooked riced cauliflower with the other ingredients in a large bowl.  The mixture should stick together a bit but will not come together like a traditional dough.

4.  Place the crust mixture onto the baking sheet and form into a pizza shape, about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.

5.  Bake for 25-30 min until golden brown.

6.  Remove crust from oven and add your toppings.  Return pizza to the oven and heat until cheese is melted and toppings are heated through or browned, about 5 minutes.

A note on toppings:  Remember that this crust is not as gluey and sticky as a traditional pizza crust, so choose lighter toppings.  You will not need much cheese due to the Parmesan in the crust.  You may wish to choose toppings that are already cooked or require less cooking time because they will only be in the oven for a few minutes.  I chose a homemade tomato sauce, mixed greens, black olives, and a little fresh mozzarella. 

Enjoy your gluten and grain free pizza!

Gluten Free Banana Peanut Butter Cupcake Win!

When you look at this photo, you may think, "Hmm, it looks like that frosting was just slapped onto those poor cupcakes."

If you thought that you would be correct.  I don't believe in skimping on frosting, and these batches were especially thick and delicious.

Yesterday I posted about improv cooking, which is a show that frequently plays in my kitchen.  More often than not, it gets rave reviews.  Improv baking, on the other hand, is a much more dangerous game.  However, it is a game from which I will never back down.  You see, like most creative individuals, I often have a very specific picture in my head of what I want to achieve, but quite a nebulous plan to achieve my desired result. I'm rarely satisfied with any one recipe I can find, so I simply improvise.  I have been improvising more and more since going gluten free, and my successes are so very sweet.  Like this one:  Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes!  There's chocolate cupcake in the picture too, but we won't mention those.  I actually followed a recipe for them and was not thrilled with the result.  Banana Peanut Butter though, OMG.  I could die right now.

I should mention that I did not make these cupcakes purely for my own pleasure.  My little sister turned 22 this weekend, and she decided to celebrate her birthday by running the Atlantic City Marathon.  She finished in just over four hours (4:02) and placed 19th in her age class.  A performance like that surely deserves some protein and potassium in the form of a delicious miniature cake.  Don't you agree?

Here's what I made for her (more or less)

Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes
makes 12 cupcakes

2 cups all purpose gluten free flour (I like Bob's Red Mill)
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp guar gum
2/3 cup sugar
2 mashed bananas
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 - 1 cup peanut butter (sorry, I did not measure.  It was probably closer to a cup)
1/2 cup hot water

Wisk together dry ingredients.  Mix in wet ingredients and beat until smooth.  Fill a lined cupcake tin and bake at 325 degrees for 22 minutes.  Perfection.

Oh, what's that?  You noticed that these cupcakes are vegan?  Yes, yes they are.

Hmm?  What did you say?  That's right.  The only fat comes from the peanut butter.

And yes, they have a fabulous moist crumb.  Honestly, if I did not know they were gluten free I would never have guessed.  My sweets-spurning boyfriend even ate two.

Now vegan frosting?  No,  no, that will not happen in my kitchen.  I have tried to make vegan buttercream with coconut oil, and it was a total bust.  I love coconut oil in other things, but not on top of my cupcakes.  I frosted half of these with a cinnamon honey buttercream and the other half with a dark chocolate buttercream.  Sorry, no real recipe for those.  Buttercream is stupidly simple:  beat a bit of confectioner's sugar and  your flavoring into a softened stick of butter.  Continue to beat and slowly add sugar until your mixture tastes like frosting instead of butter.  Done.  No excuses to ruin these babies with canned frosting.  Happy Birthday and Congratulations on your awesome marathon time, Sarah!

Improv Soup: Loaded Baked Potato

I am somewhat of an improvisational cook.  Sometimes this results in amazing, one-of-a-kind meals, and sometimes it results in somewhat of a failure.  Some soothsayers may say that nothing I cook is a fail, but case in point of a less than successful dish was last week's Sunday dinner.    I was pretty tired after my long day in the kitchen, and I may have made some shortcuts that didn't pay off when making cornmeal-breaded chicken tenders and buffalo dipping sauce.  My sweet boyfriend ate it anyway, but his confused tone when he asked, "So what is in this breading?" was a clear tip off that it was not tasty.
Anyway, this Sunday's foray in the kitchen was much more successful, and for once I remember what I did to construct such a lovely meal!

After two entire weeks of more acid reflux than anyone should ever experience (no more coffee for me!) I was craving simple yet tasty foods, so a potato soup came to mind.  However, my usual potato soup is pretty acidic with vinegar and mustard to spice it up.  Not feeling an acidic dish, I decided to try a loaded baked potato soup without making another trip to the store.  I threw all of this into my crock pot:

Loaded Baked Potato Soup
serves 6-8

5 Yukon Gold potatoes, diced
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups almond milk (any milk or milk substitute would work)
1 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter (had I used actual dairy or a milk with a higher fat content I would have reduced the amount of butter)
onion powder (an actual diced onion would be fab, but I didn't have one)
1 clove garlic, crushed
dried chives
black pepper
salt to taste

I set the slow cooker on low and left it for about 6 hours.  Then I used an immersion blender to blend most of the soup, leaving some chunks of potato.  Next I cooked about a half pound of bacon in the oven (425 degrees for 15 min--thank you pinterest!)  and diced it after it cooled.  Once I stirred in the diced bacon and a little bit of bacon fat, dinner was ready!  Instead of unconvincingly reassuring comments and quizzical looks, this time my boyfriend said something along the lines of "This soup is bangin'!  You nailed it!" (This was not a direct apology for threatening to put me back into the binder of women when dinner was not ready promptly at five, but I chose to take it as an indirect apology ;-)) With a nice texture and bacon in every bite of the soup, I had to agree--I nailed it.  Even my mostly vegetarian sister had some...although she had just run a marathon.

Albeit delicious, this is NOT shaping up to be a low fat week.  Tomorrow I'll tell you about the gluten free peanut butter banana cupcakes I engineered!  Perfect for marathon recovery, don't you think?

Revival Book Review: Fifty Shades Series

It has been a while since I posted here, and I've missed my little sounding board.  Most who know me are aware that little intrigues me as much as literature, pop culture, and human sexuality, so the popularity of the Fifty Shades of Grey series by E. L. James seems like the perfect opportunity for a blog revival.  Spoiler alert:  This post contains spoilers from Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed.


Back in January of February when I heard about how library patrons were clamoring to get this unavailable novel, Fifty Shades of Grey, I bought it for my Kobo reader without even reading reviews or a summary.  Needless to say, I was surprised that fanfiction erotica was what mainstream America was buzzing about.  I'll be honest--knowing that probably wouldn't have stopped me from buying the book, but I worked my way through my to be read pile before I finally read Fifty Shades.


Fifty Shades of Grey reads like fan fiction--simple, cliche, saturated with sweeping yet not engaging descriptive language, and predictable.  The sexy scenes are just that--sexy.  Not mindblowing and a little too full of spontaneous orgasms for my taste (seriously, I would like to meet a woman who orgasms that quickly that soon after losing her virginity.  If she exists she should submit to some sort of scientific study!), but just enough to pique one's interest.  Sure, this whole novel could have benefited from (a lot) more editing, but so would have its inspiration, the Twilight series.  What really bothered me was how the story line and characters were so exactly cast in the image of Twilight and its ilk.  I found Bella and Edward to be annoying at best and unhealthy role models at worst, and Ana Steele and Christian Grey aren't very different.  I would have thought that building upon Meyer's childish love story would have left James no where to go but up.  I was wrong.  Nevertheless, I slogged through the whole series.  It wasn't the writing, characters, or plot line that kept me going.  It was the sex.  I don't mean that in a salacious way.  As someone trying to promote a healthy sex-positive attitude in a culture that sometimes does exactly the opposite, I wanted to see what got so many normal American women reading a novel with more than a few elements of BDSM. 


After reading all three books, I realized that it was not the sex or  "forbidden" ideas of bondage and domination that kept these other women reading.  It was the fact that this innocent, "smart" girl manages to change a "damaged" man.  She takes him from only being capable of having relationships with women as his submissives to being a gentle, loving, vulnerable, albeit controlling boyfriend and eventually husband.  I have heard women who loved the Fifty Shades series say that it's about compromise, choosing your battles, and finding a middle ground.  This is partially true, but the changed habits and personalities in the book come about so quickly it's just not a healthy or realistic model.  Whether it was on the playground or just last week, every woman as at one point thought that she could change or heal a desirable yet flawed partner with her love.  In the vast majority, if not all cases, this simply does not happen, yet many delusional women continue to live the dream and end up hurt, under appreciated, and without her needs being met.  I have been one of those delusional women, so I'm not passing judgement, but I don't think we need any more sources of pop culture encouraging us to try and change our lovers.  It's not fair to either party.


Now onto the kink element of the series.  James presents male lead Christian Grey's propensities towards beating little brown-haired girls as a way to work out his anger over the neglect he suffered from his drug-addicted mother.  While I'm sure some people come into the BDSM lifestyle for reasons like those, that is just not a true or healthy representation of the BDSM or kink community.  I believe that any sexual act between two consenting adults not closely related by blood is good and healthy.  There are some (many) things I could never ever imagine myself doing, but that doesn't mean that it's wrong for others to have those experiences.  If you and your partner truly want to experience something, and you both feel better after that experience, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it.  I am pretty sure that those are the philosophies held by those in the kink community.  Presenting a BDSM lifestyle as a symptom of or result of childhood abuse or trama is a gross and unfair misrepresentation.  Still, the love-everyone, sex-positive, education-promoting part of me wants to believe that any work that gets people reading and revitalizing their sex lives is a good thing.  Perhaps the kink lifestyle will never gain widestream acceptance or understanding, at least not in our culture.  And even if it did, it would be a pretty tall order to expect that kind of revelation from a fan fic inspired tome of weak erotica for the masses.

Confession: I'd rather burn a book than our flag.

This may very well be the most controversial blog post I have ever written.

Contrary to what most people assume, I do not hold books sacred.  Working in a library for years has cured me of that ailment.  In fact, I believe some of them should be thown out or recycled periodically.

Now that you've closed your dropped jaw and picked yourself up off of the floor and before you start citing Farenheit 451, let me explain.  I love knowledge, exploration, and stories.  But I do not hold every printed and bound piece of these ideals dear simply because it exists as a book.  Many outdated, dusty, moldy books exist on our bookshelves, and I am not merely referring to their physical condition.  It is not our responsibility to be the custodian of all books, but to maintain and share the best most relevant books, just as only the most accurate scientific theories stand the test of time.  That is why I loved the following blog entry from a school librarian.  She provides a much more comprehensive and eloquent perspective than mine as she reponds to the perennial exclamation: "I Can't Believe You're Throwing Out Books!"

Pattern Release: Waffling Hat

Finally, a new pattern!  The Waffling Hat was released into the wild today.  It is always gratifying to finish a project as involved and detail oriented as releasing a self-published knitting pattern, but even more so when the design holds sentimental value.  Sentimental value may be taking it a bit far, but this hat embodies my first design inspiration from almost exactly two years ago.  Since the idea's inception, I have tweaked, enhanced, and improved the design a lot, and I am very proud to present the finished product.



Sizes: S/M (to fit 19-20.5” head), (M/L (to fit a 20.5-22” head), L/XL (to fit a 22.5-24” head))

Gauge: 16 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in thermal pattern
Skills needed to knit this pattern: knit, purl, work in the round, Kf&b, k2tog, p2tog, pick up stitches (optional based on brim style choice), yo (optional based on brim style choice)
Materials:
1 (1, 2) skeins of Malabrigo Yarn Worsted Merino (210yd/192m to 100g/3.53 oz.) or 150 (180, 230) yards of worsted weight yarn.
US 6 16” (4 mm 40 cm ) circular needle or needle about two sizes smaller than size needed to obtain gauge
US 8 16 “ (5 mm 40 cm) circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge
US 8 (5 mm) dpns or size needed to obtain gauge

1 stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the round

1 safety pin or removable stitch marker (optional)
1 button approx. 1” in diameter (optional based on brim choice)
tapestry needle
Waste yarn (optional based on brim choice)




It's hard for me to choose a favorite element of this design.  Is it the button? 



Is it the squooshy* yet organic texture of the waffle stitch? 



Is it the customizable brim? 

It would be delightful to hear what you love about the design.  Comment here or on ravelry to let me know!

Math4Knitters Podcast and a Sneak Peak

It has been way too long since I last blogged.  I've been very busy with work, friends and family, and moving.  I guess it's just life in general, but I've let it consume me and I've spent decidedly less time knitting and zero time blogging.  However, now I have some fun and exciting news to report.  This past week I was interviewed by Lara of the podcast Math4Knitters.  We chatted about my burgeoning designing, specifically Hestia and its unique sizing and construction.  The show will air on Sunday February 27, so you can catch it then or anytime after that on Lara's website.  Lara was lovely to chat with, and it was so very flattering for my designs to be noticed.

Knitting-wise, I've been in a gift knitting and finishing fog lately, and I couldn't find the brainpower to write up or properly photograph my newest design. Luckily something clicked last weekend and I am in the groove again.  Here's a sneak peak at what I'm working on now:

It's hard to tell from this sneaky shot, but this is a beret in a cozy thermal or waffle stitch.  Yes, eagle-eyed knitters, that is a buttonhole in the brim!  This design will be the perfect opportunity to showcase a special button, so break out the stash and get ready!

I'm also working up a beanie and a slouch version of this hat, as well as coordinating mitts and an infinty scarf.  If all goes well these patterns will be available both individually and as an e-book in the next 4 weeks.

I'm having a Cyber Monday sale on my pattern Hestia!  It is 20% off today, Monday November 29 and Tuesday November 30 with the coupon code "cybersale"

That's all the news I've got now--I haven't been knitting much due to a minor hand injury, and I'm way behind on my photography due to never being home during the daylight!  I hope to make up for that this week.  At least the knitting.  Unless I do some early morning photo shoots I may  not have time to photograph things until Sunday. 

I hope everyone celebrating Thanksgiving had a warm, delicious, love-filled holiday.  I know I did!

Look Who's Blocking...

My High Line Shawl!  I admit to wearing this a few times before blocking.



In fact, I put it on immediately after I cast off the final stitch and wore it while I added fringe!  It is so cozy, and I cannot wait for it to dry so I can wear it again! 

The Importance of a Name

Juliet may have said That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 2.2), but I have to say that in the case of knitting patterns, I do not agree.
 


 A name is your first impression.  It may draw you in or repel you.  It may intrigue you or disgust you.  Ok, disgust may be taking it a bit far, but I admit to being one of those knitters who may be inclined to buy a pattern simply if I like its name or the story behind it.  Silly, I know, but I find myself driven to satisfy the same kind of knitter/customer that I myself embody, so while I was completely in love with my new plaid shawl pattern, it felt incomplete without a name.



Being that the showcase of this shawl is the plaid, I knew I could either go the prep route or the punk route for my name inspiration.  I threw around a few ideas, but nothing really stuck out as a winner or sang to me in any way.  A knitting friend from Angelfire Studios gave me some advice, and I started googling, listening to lots of The Clash, The Ramones, Sex Pistols, Patti Smith, and reading up on the stories behind the songs.  Still, it was my lovely sister Sarah who led me to Sheena is a Punk Rocker


Well the kids are all hopped up and ready to go
They're ready to go now

They've got their surfboards

And they're going to the discotheque a go go
But she just couldn't stay
She had to break away
Well New York City really has it all
Oh yeah, oh yeah

Sheena is a punk rocker  
Sheena is a punk rocker
Sheena is a punk rocker now
Sheena is a punk rocker


The lyrics really spoke to  me.  Simple as they are, they embody what punk rock meant to me, especially in high school.  It's the perfect escape--just like knitting a great shawl.  And couldn't you totally see Sheena rocking this one?



The pattern is now with some wonderful test knitters, and I hope to have it ready for release in approximately 3 weeks.  I knit this sample in two colors of Malabrigo Sock, Black and Indiecita, and a size US 5 needle.  More details are on my ravelry project page, and more information will be available upon the pattern's release.

Finally Featherweight

I've been wanting to knit Hannah Fettig's Featherweight Cardigan pretty much ever since the patten was released.  I knew that this would be just the perfect little cardigan to throw on over anything and class up almost any outfit.  I couldn't knit such a staple wardrobe piece in just any yarn, now could I?  Perhaps this is why it took me a year and a half to choose the best possible yarn for the project.  I changed my  mind a few times, as I am apt to do, and finally decided that it was just not the time for me to knit Featherweight.  Then one day in September I suddenly had a craving for a yellow/orange sweater.  Instead of buying one like a normal person, I set out to find the best yellow-orange yarn for my skin tone and knit a sweater.  After settling on Madelinetosh tosh lace in Warm Maize, I instantly knew that the yarn needed to become a Featherweight Cardigan. 


Pattern:  Featherweight Cardigan
Yarn:  Madelinetosh tosh lace in Warm Maize
Needles:  US 5
Modifications:  I lengthened the body by about 4 inches but knit everything else according to the pattern--even the rolled stockinette collar that so many have modified.

I think the most amazing thing about this pattern is that I managed to knit it from one single skein of yarn!  Sure, that yarn happens to have 950 yards per skein, but I still expected to dip into the second one.  



At first I foolishly tried to photograph this sweater by myself, and as you can see from the above shots, that didn't work out very well.  Luckily I managed to catch my mom one day when we were both available during the waning daylight hours for proper outdoor photos.  No more dreaded mirror shots!

Another Hestia

After I wrote the pattern for Hestia and knit my original sample in tosh sock, I decided to test out another yarn, Malabrigo Sock.  I intended to use my sister Sarah as a model for this pattern, so I knit a smaller size than the one I would want for myself.  However, Sarah went to Ireland in August and hasn't come home yet.  I decided to put on the sweater I knit for her, and even though it's kind of too small, I still enjoyed wearing it.  If I lose a few more pounds, this sweater will permanently become mine.  Sorry, Sarah!

Pattern:  Hestia by Jacquelyn Ridzy (me!)

Yarn:  Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky

Needles:  US 6

While Malabrigo Sock does create a very soft, light fabric, I think I prefer a slightly thicker yarn like tosh sock for this pattern.

If you have knit this pattern, I'd love to feature you on my blog!  Email me photos and tell me about the yarn you used.  I'll feature you in a special blog post!

New Pattern: Hestia

The idea for this design was born nearly a year ago when my LYS Angelfire Studios received its first shipment of Madelinetosh tosh sock.  I was completely taken by the colorway Turquoise (shown above) and I knew I had to make it into a cozy flyaway cardigan to show off the tonal variegation of the yarn, keep me warm but not boiling, and add another gorgeous layer that will work with almost any outfit.  I couldn't find a pattern for what I wanted, so I set off to write my own.  After a lot of ripping, reknitting, testing, and perfecting, I have a garment and pattern that I am proud to share.

 Hestia can be worn so many different ways:  open, belted, pinned, tied...your imagination is the limit.  I've worn mine so many times since I finished knitting it nearly 3 months ago.  It has quickly become my favorite cardigan.

Hestia is for sale on ravelry.com.

Materials: 3 (4, 4, 4, 5) skeins of Madelinetosh tosh sock or 1100 (1250, 1380, 1500, 1700) yards of fingering weight yarn

US 6 40” or longer circular needle or size needed to obtain gauge

US 5 circular needle or double pointed needles or needles one or two sizes smaller than those needed to obtain gauge
US 6 double pointed needles
2 stitch markers (at least one should be removable)

Gauge: 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch in blocked stockinette stitch using larger needles
Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) with a measurement of 12 (13, 14, 15, 16) inch back width (between armhole seams).

Clover Shawl

It's not often that a knitter receives hand knit gifts herself.  I guess people assume, well, she can make it herself!  Although I do make myself plenty of beautiful knits, it still tickles me to receive a gorgeous item that I didn't have to make.  It's sort of like cooking.  Sure, you may love it, and you may enjoy knowing exactly what you're eating, and you may take pleasure in serving yourself and your loved ones.  But isn't it delightful to sit down and indulge in a meal that someone else lovingly prepared just for you?



J, E, Jacqui in Clover Shawl, AM, and AC at a friend's wedding



In the above picture, I'm wearing the The Clovers, a shawl knit for me by Tricia, sfcorgi on ravelry.  I suppose this shawl was more of a prize than a gift.  I won it in Tricia's auction to raise money for the susan G. Komen 3 Day Walk for breast cancer that she did this fall.  I am so happy that I was able to contribute to this cause.  Hopefully someday there will be a cure for this disease that touches so many of us, but until then early detection is our best defense.  In fact, that is the key that saved two of my online knitting buddies, Katie and Stephanie.  This past year the two of them, both in their late 20s and early 30s (the same ages as the women pictured above), beat breast cancer that they discovered early on by doing self exams.  Tricia's Susan G. Komen 3 Day fundraising page is here.  If you would like to contribute, donations can be made until November 1.



Book Review: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

As much as I enjoyed this book, I just did not understand it.  I am slightly embarassed to admit this.  I'm an intelligent young woman.  I majored in English, and it was always my best subject.  There is very little that has left me scratching my head.

This book started off intriguing and wonderful.  People often say that food is "made with love," but what if you could really taste the emotions that were coursing through the chef's psyche as he or she prepared your food?  Nine year old Rose develops this mystical skill on her birthday.  Instead of tasting fresh lemon and chocolate in the birthday cake her mother bakes her, she tastes insecurity and desperation.  

As teenagers or adults we realize that our parents are flawed.  Imagine discovering their true feelings, imperfections, and secret affairs when you are an innocent child.  These complex plot points are augmented by author Aimee Bender's lyrical prose.  I could actually taste the foods and emotions along with young Rose.  However, the plot veered more from magical realism to weirdness, for lack of a more technical term.  Rose's older brother has mystical secrets of his own, which completely tear the already detached family apart.  I trusted the trajectory of the story and expected some sort of explanation or insight to wash over me, but I just did not understand the ending.  Bender obviously tried to compare Rose's extraordinary taste to her brother's strange detachment, but I just couldn't wrap my brain around the analogy.  If you've read this book and you have a more salient idea about the meaning of this, can you clue me in?

Pumpkin Pie

For me pumpkin pie is completely hit or miss.  I've had some that was not so good and some that was great.  Given my recent obsession with roasting pumpkins, it is only natural that I'd attempt to make my own pie, even though I've never done it before.  I started off by roasting two small sugar pumpkins (why make one pie when you can make two?) and pureeing the flesh in a food processor.  I modified this recipe from Spiced Pumpkin Pie from allrecipes.com to create this healthy, delicious desert.  I didn't know pumpkin pie could be this good...I am never using canned pumpkin again.  The quantities I've given are for two pies, so just half them for one pie.  Most of the substitutions I made were purely due to availability (I ran out of pumpkin pie spice and I forgot to buy brown sugar) except for the milk--I am lactose intolerant, and the almond milk worked well.


Spiced Pumpkin Pie
makes 2
 4 cups pumpkin puree
1 cup egg substitute
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 tablespoon Chinese five spice powder
12 fluid ounces of almond milk
2 9 inch unbaked pie crusts

1.  Preheat oven to 35o degrees Fahrenheit.  
2.  In a medium bowl mix together the pumpkin, egg subsitute, sugar, molasses, spices, and almond milk.
3.  Pour half of the pumpkin pie mixture into each of the pie crusts.  Bake in the preheated oven for about 80 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.

The five spice powder gives it an interesting complexity.  If you use evaporated milk like the original recipe calls for, you may want to double the amount because it is so much thicker than almond milk.  Try the recipe and let me know what you think!

Sneak Peak and Good Wishes

Happy 20th Birthday on the 20th, Sarah!  I hope this day is just perfect!  I know you'll like the colors in the knitting photo below, and for now that's all you're getting!

I haven't been doing much knitting lately.  Actually, I guess I should say that I haven't finished many knitting projects recently.  I've been working on so many different things, knitting and otherwise, that I just haven't been able to focus and dedicate myself to getting anything done. 

The photo on the right is a sneak peek of a project that is almost finished.  I have so many "almost finished" items lying around, and I plan to finish and share them soon!

Book Review: One Day

Even at quite a young age, I loved When Harry Met Sally.  I loved the idea that two people can dance in and out of each others' lives as acquaintances, friends, lovers, and enemies, and maybe, just maybe, end up together.  The easiest way to describe One Day by David Nicholls is to say that it's  a British version of the Nora Ephron modern classic that spans 20 years yet only looks at one day per year of these two star-crossed friends' lives.  But that would be doing this novel a disservice.  One Day is not only a story of two friends, but also the story of how each individual overcomes personal demons and comes into his or her own.  Sometimes the arc of their lives intersect, sometimes they do not.

Emma and Dexter meet on the day of the college graduation in 1988.  They both feel an attraction towards each other, but their lives are quickly moving in two very different directions, so they choose to remain friends instead of embarking on a surely doomed relationship.  Emma, a distinguished scholar, ends up working in a tacky Mexican restaurant for years instead of unleashing the political literary guru inside her.  Is she stuck in this dead-end job because of the recession as she proclaims, or is Emma herself lacking in talent or determination?  Dexter, a mediocre student, launches on a world tour only to fall into a lucrative yet short lived career as a television personality upon his return to England.  Will he remain an overnight sensation or will his hardpartying and womanizing ways be his downfall?  This is only the beginning of each of their lives.  Peppered with nostalgic pop culture references, Emma and Dexter experience 20 years of personal growth, failure, career changes, and life changing events, all while remaining a part of each others' lives.  While a bit archetypal and predictable at times, I found both Em and Dex's journeys to be entertaining, and their interactions so very real. 

Verdict:  One might think that 20 years of will-they or won't-they would get boring, but Nicholls' storytelling device of revealing only the events of July 15 of each year kept me turning pages, often in frustration over a missed encounter or the rabid desire to read more about Em and Dex's sexually frustrating trip to Greece.  Don't expect a stuffy literary masterpiece when you pick up this novel, but do expect to be completely absorbed and invested in the events and outcome of this lifelong friendship.  And if that's not enough to convince you to read, a film version starring Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess is slated to be released in 2011.