Green Harlot Slythersocks

They're done!    Actually, they were finished on Dec. 21st but that's just the kind of unreliable blogger I am.

Here's a picture of my Harlot Slythersocks....so named because I started them at my class with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee aka. The Yarn Harlot.   And they are a crazy green, almost Slytherin Green one might say...and since I was in Slytherin playing the Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup this term.

They are knit using the lever knitting style on dpns, which I was so desperate to learn, and did!  Yay!  I really enjoyed knitting them.  Now I just want to knit socks! socks! socks!

New bread recipe

This is the new bread recipe I'm trying...it's currently on it's first rise.   I used butter instead of shortening, and I used 1 cup 3% milk and 1 cup of water in place of the 2 cups water.   My new Christmas KitchenAid did all the work for me.... ohhhh I can't wait for fresh bread!   I hope it turns out.

Dec 31, 2012 update:  I realized that I didn't say how it turned out!  Well...it turned out quite well, but just not what I'm looking for.  I found it somewhat cake like...  not light and fluffy...It did slice very easily!   Perhaps I should try it again as written instead of adding milk.  Hmmm.   Overall though, I think my baguette recipe is closer to what I'm looking for.    Maybe I'll just try making it in loaf pans instead of baguette shaped....

Verdict:   Meh.....   I've gone back to other recipes

Amish White Bread

Basic white yeast bread recipe

Source: www.food.com

Course: Breads

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 Hr
Cook Time: 30 Min
Total Time: 5 Hr 30 Min

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 1/4 ounce dry yeast
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 cups water
• 2 1/2 tablespoons shortening
• 6-7 cups all-purpose flour or 6 -7 cups bread flour,
• 1/8-1/4 cup butter

Directions

1. 1 Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
2. 2 In large bowl, combine sugar, salt, 2 cups water and shortening.
3. 3 Stir in yeast mixture.
4. 4 Gradually add flour to form a soft dough.
5. 5 Turn onto floured surface and knead until smooth.
6. 6 Place in a greased bowl and cover and let rise for about 2 hours.
7. 7 Punch down and divide into 2 portions and form loaves.
8. 8 Place in greased 9 x 5 loaf pans and prick tops with fork.
9. 9 Let rise until higher than pans (about 2 hours).
10. 10 Bake at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
11. 11 Cool for ten minutes.
12. 12 Rub butter all over tops of loaves.
13. 13 Place pans on sides until loosened.
14. 14 Remove bread from pans and cool completely on racks.

Amount Per Serving
Calories: 145.7
Fat: 23
Cholesterol: 2.5 mg
Sodium: 203.7 mg
Carbohydrate: 26.7 g
Fiber: 0.9 g
Protein: 3.3 g

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Socks...and turkey

We've had this huge 12kg turkey in the freezer for too long.   I kept wanting to cook it, but the timing never worked out...or it was summer!

Just remember, when your husband suggests "this is a great sale, should I just get the biggest one I can find"   there is a limit to the size that is good.   When your oven rack bows like that, probably not a good thing ....it just barely fit into the roasting pan....  phew!

I always cook our turkeys from frozen now.  I don't think I'll ever go back.  There are so many benefits and the only drawback I can find is that you can't stuff it.   I'm not a huge stuffing lover so I don't really care.

So...yes... I've cooked a massive turkey.  Which means massive amounts of leftovers.  I've tracked down a bunch of recipes to use up the leftovers and I'll share them as I make them.    It's the week of TURKEY!!!

Oh, and I had another class with the Yarn Harlot!  Yes, I know, but don't be jealous :p    She showed me how to do the lever knitting on dpn's and a bit on circs.   I'm almost done my first sock.   I'll post a picture.

Now back to that turkey!    ...and the bread I'm baking so we can have hot turkey sandwiches.  It's a new recipe called Amish White Bread.    I'm still using Plan to Eat, so I'll post the recipe right from there  :D

knitting, knitting, and more knitting!

I really have been doing a lot of knitting lately....but...ummm...not posting any of it! Why? I have no idea! Here are some of my more recent projects from the last few months.

A sweater for a sweet baby boy (not mine) 

A sweater that was supposed to be done LAST fall, for my dear girl...it is too small now...

Aviatrix hat from my own handspun.  I LOVE it!

A SanDiego Chargers hat for my sweetums' birthday gift

A cute and bright owl headband for my swap buddy

Another headband for the swap

A sweet preemie bear hat, in memory of a sweet baby girl who was too good for this world

A crazy colour hat knit from my handspun

A little chemo cap for the niece of a lady in my bible study

Some little scrubbies...there were 10..but this picture is cuter than the one with all 10 in it.

A super last minute bunny ear hat for our "Max" of "Max and Ruby" for Halloween

Hats for a charity hat challenge

A beautiful blanket pattern...but...not working out for me in this yarn... I can't wait to find some nice superwash wool, this pattern is WONDERFUL!!!

A cowl for another swap... the colour is hidden so if someone finds the picture..they won't know :D

Now...HOW have I knit and crocheted so much!?!?!   Well...it turns out that I'm a wee bit competitive...and if you perhaps join some sort of knitting game...with points and challenges...and prizes...I will forgo the dishes in favour of knitting!!!  My poor house...LOL...

Our anniversary...all year long

So, I've found "Plan to Eat"  meal planning system.... I'm on my 30 day trial but I'm pretty certain I'll be buying a year subscription.   I'm really loving how easy it is.   Seriously...check it out!

There is a link on my sidebar.

Anyways....all those recipes I've been pinning on Pinterest...well...now I'm actually making some of them...because I can so easily add the recipe into Plan to Eat.  Then add it to my menu, and POOF!  All the ingredients are on my grocery list.  It's fabulous!

I made these the other day.   My husband really liked them.   He ate.... a lot of them...  At first he couldn't place where he knew this taste from, then I asked him about our anniversary.  We go to Red Lobster for our anniversary every year to "recreate" our wedding meal, of lobster and steak.   I usually end up having shrimp, scallops and crab more than lobster or steak!

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

Source: www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

Course: Appetizers

Ingredients

• Biscuits:
• 2 1/2 cups Bisquick
• 4 Tbsp cold butter
• 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• Butter Glaze:
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 3/4 tsp dried parsley flakes

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease or line one cookie sheet with parchment; set aside.
2. Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium bowl using a pastry cutter (I just used 2 forks). Don’t worry about mixing too thoroughly; there will be small chunks of butter in the mix about the size of peas. Add cheddar cheese, milk, and garlic powder. Mix by hand until combined, but don’t over mix.
3. Drop 1/4 cup portions of the dough onto the lightly greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes in preheated oven or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.
4. While the biscuits are baking, melt butter is a small bowl in the microwave. Stir in garlic powder and dried parsley flakes. Use a brush to spread the garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Sprinkle a little kosher salt on the freshly coated biscuits. Makes one dozen.
5. Need to use up some zucchini? Grate a small zucchini, about 3/4 cup. Strain the grated zucchini in a cheesecloth or some paper towels to get rid of the excess moisture. Add the grated zucchini to the biscuit batter when you add the cheese and milk.

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Easiest dye job ever!

 I had this yarn...which...I just did not love....

Enter my big jug of vinegar, my little bottle of blue food colouring, and my crockpot.

 And now I have this yarn.   Purple, blue, and green.   I love it!

I love it! I love it!   Now...what to knit with it....hmmmm... I do have a little something in mind...for a little someone...we shall see... I'm not totally decided yet.  :D

Perogie Casserole....super tasty...

 


This is so easy:
 
Spray or grease the bottom of your casserole dish
Frozen perogies in bottom of casserole dish.
Top with some pasta sauce,
Add some stuff, like ham, or whatever - I just added 1T of Epicure 3 onion dip mix
Top with cheese....we like lot's of cheese,
I topped with bacon bits... I put the bacon bits on top instead of underneath because I like'em crispy!

Bake at 350-400 for 25-35 minutes...

It's Salsa Time

10 new jars of salsa.  This is our second batch of the year.  The first batch was smaller (5 jars) and so delicious that there is only one jar left.
This second batch just came out of the water canner and I'm listening to the plink plink plink of the snap lids popping.

Goodbye my sweet Mindy Moo

I've been having trouble giving up one of my dogs...and I've been dwelling on it today.  My sister is coming tomorrow to visit for the weekend..and when she leaves, she'll take Mindy with her.    Well... I think God just sent me a sign that it's the right thing to do.   

I just had to pull Ruby away from a dog fight that was happening pretty much on her lap.   It's the first time that the dogs have fought when I've been around in at least 6 months...probably a year.   
I'm pretty sure both of their eyes are OK...but there are definitely bites and bloody parts....

I always make sure fights don't happen....but... I turned around, and Ruby somehow provoked one... not on her, but between the two dogs.    

I will miss my Mindy Moo, but for her safety, and more importantly the safety of our kids, these two (otherwise wonderful) dogs must be separated :(

We are giving up Mindy instead of Myah, because Mindy seems a little afraid of our loud toddler.   She also has done wonderfully with other animals in the past, whereas Myah does NOT do well with other dogs... my sister who is taking Mindy has another dog, so Myah just couldn't go there.  Also...Mindy is very dependent...and I think she needs a companion animal..while Myah will be fine on her own I think.     My sister has 3 teenagers in the house who will be gentle and loving to little Mindy Moo.   I will miss her soooooo much.  I feel like my heart is breaking a little bit. 

But...it's pretty clear... I don't think we have a choice anymore.

A Little Knitting

I'm working on a baby sweater for a friend for the Ravelympic....oops...I mean Ravellenic games...here's my progress.  Just the sleeves and button bands to go.

We Made Bagels!

Mmmm

I have a plan...and I'm so excited!

I have a plan for a bible reading quilt for my sweet Ruby.    I'm going to get my favourite bible verses for her printed on fabric from Spoonflower.  Then I'm going to make them all into a nice scrappy quilt alternating fabric with verses printed on it, with fun pretty fabrics.

I had a whole other plan...that involved the whole thing looking like a bible, and folding up and velcroing shut to look like the outside of a bible...but... I have decided on this idea..and I think it's going to be not only cute..but easier than my other crazy but difficult plan.

So... as long as photoshop cooperates with me (more like my horribly slow laptop cooperates with photoshop) then I'll be able to get all those verses picked out and printed....

the hard part will be the wait for the fabric to be printed and sent to me...I want to do it NOW!!!

Homemade Bath Salts, for bath or pedicure

So,  I love a pedicure...love.. I mean love!   I love those big massage chairs, and that whirlpool foot bath...and the hot water, and the quiet..or chit chat...whatever, I'm not picky ;)  I just love the little bit of time away and calm..and relax... oh.. and pretty feet!!!

Seriously, my feet get out of hand.  I just neglect them.  Badly.  It's gross really.  Sigh.

I used to take epsom salt baths all the time.   I got massages for my migraines (not the relaxing kind of massage!)  and then had an epsom salt bath after every one by order from my massage therapist.   I haven't taken baths in ages...since being preggers.   Monique said no epsom salts when preggers... I don't know why it's not safe, but I'm a bit of a paranoid preggo so I listened.

Anyways, I decided that to be frugal, I should really set myself up for pretty feet at home.   A bucket (ha!) some epsom salts, a foot file, nail polish.   I can give myself pedicures after the kids go to bed at night while I'm nearly passed out on the couch watching TV with my sweet husband.    Hmmm, I could even knit while doing this I bet.

I did the first one last night, and that led me to miss the pretty smell of the stuff at the spa.   Hmmm, I have a few bottles of essential oils.... can I just add them to the epsom salts?  Why yes!  After some googling effort (tough work people!)  it seems that is exactly what most people do.  Some add colouring, some add glycerin to moisturize, some add baking soda to soften skin, some add (insert something here).

Here's what I'm going to do... super simple:

My homemade bath salts:

4 cups Epsom salts
20 drops essential oil total*  (I have orange, lavender, ylang ylang, peppermint)
1Tbsp Baking soda 
*See the note at the bottom about some essential oils that should NOT be used in bath salts. 

Mix it all together in a bowl.   Spoon it into pretty little mason jars.  Label it with "Bath Salt" or "Pedicure Salt" and the type of scent used.  Make it look pretty by using ribbons, or scrapbook paper (I definitely have enough to spare!) or fabric scraps (got those too!).

I think this might end up being a fun little gift idea.   Imagine a little basket with a couple of jars of bath salt.  A cute bottle of lotion, a foot file or pumice stone, and a pretty nail polish.   Yep!  I'm doin' it! 
 

There is a nice little recipe on the Saltworks page that lists some essential oil combinations.   I'm planning on lavender and orange, although that's not listed there.

They also say that these essential oils should NOT be used in bath salts:  basil, oregano, thyme, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, and bay (Pimenta and Laurus)

Births...and Birthdays

We have been busy around here! 

We welcomed our sweet baby boy in April....and celebrated the 2nd birthday of our sweet girl in June...  we are so incredibly blessed.

Baking Bread....well....buns....

I tried a new bread recipe today...  I wanted to cook BBQ cheeseburgers for dinner...  it feels like spring ya know!    But...I had no buns....and I really hate grocery shopping, so I wasn't going to run out just to get some hamburger buns.     Pinterest to the rescue!   I knew I had a bun recipe to try somewhere.....

I found it!   It's this recipe linked right here!!!     I saw that it was whole wheat... and.... didn't have high hopes.   I do have a ww bread recipe that I like, but....it is denser... and I don't think I'd want to use that for buns....so I wasn't sure how this would turn out.

Well, I've found my new "go to" whole wheat bread recipe, and I know I'll be making this again and again.   It was easy, the explanations are fantastic...there are helpful hints throughout the wonderful photographic instructions....and there are even troubleshooting tips at the end!  (but I didn't need them)

Look how my buns turned out!    They light and fluffy (no pregnancy butt jokes please....I'm talking about the bread)...  Seriously... this has the fluffy texture of my white bread recipes...but...it's almost 1/2 whole wheat....   Look...yum!

 I wasn't sure how much to flatten them out before the rise...  I made them sort of like hockey pucks... they worked quite well as hamburger buns...we really enjoyed them!  I split the recipe into 6 buns and they seemed just about the right size...and I baked them for about 15 minutes... 

See....just right!    Dinner was DELICIOUS!!!   

fun at grandma & grampa's house

Dinner...so cheap

My meal plan didn't seem appealing....so i briefly considered pizza...then looked at my big bag of potatoes and went with suuuuper easy cream of potato soup....
When it was almost done I thought we needed fresh baguettes to go with...but, they take an hour...so...yummm bready snack for me later! Ha!
We got dinner, and a lunch meal each out of this for sooo, sooo cheap!
I'm suddenly on a mission!


Update:   The baguette recipe is this one.  They're not cooked yet in my picture...trust me...they look much better!  ha!

Seriously...it's fantastic, and only takes 1 hour from proofing the yeast to eating the bread...so good... so easy...so cheap. I've been using bread machine yeast...cuz I had it...  I've made this three or 4 times now and haven't managed to mess it up!   


Last time I froze one of the baquettes before letting it rise....then I just took it out of the freezer the morning that I wanted to use it....let it sit in the fridge all day.  Then, let it rise on the counter right before cooking as usual, delicious!


This time I think I'll try freezing one of the cooked baguettes.   


THE SOUP!    In case you're interested I pasted my soup non-recipe below after sharing it with my sister and a friend on facebook...  there ya be...  cheap and tasty meal!  

Super duper easy cream of potato soup
..a non-recipe

-buncha potatoes, I used 5 today
-2 cups milk
-onion of some form (real, powder, toasted, whatevs)
-salt
-pepper
-flour
-bacon bits (or ham...or whatever)

Peel and cut potatoes into bitesize pieces. Boil. Drain out some of the water....but leave just enough to not quite cover them. Turn the heat down to medium or low. Add about 2 cups milk. Mix up about 1/2 cup of flour with some water...as if you're making gravy, add it to the soup and slowly stir in. Add seasonings, tonight I used Epicure 3 onion dip, and Cheese Chives and Bacon dip.. 1-2T each...because I had them...but... I've just used onion powder, or onion flakes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Microwave bacon bits, (I pick out all the fatty ones) and throw them in the soup.... I let it thicken up...

We eat it with crackers....yummmm...
SOOOOOO CHEAP!

 Yes...I'm on a Dave Ramsey style snowball mission....and I'm madly excited by the possibility of paying off my student loans early... so... how cheap (and yet still nutritious) can we eat ... to accelerate the snowball effect...hmmmm?

I need a budget!

We took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course a few years ago (hmm....4 years maybe?).  It was wonderful!  It really changed us, and we did great!...for awhile....

Not like we've been horrible the last 2 years...but, we've certainly  not been gazelles....   my account tracking in excel is tedious to say the least....and while I track every cent...that doesn't mean that it equals out to the budget that I put on paper....     the major fall point has been working the budget during the month.... tracking actual spending to categories...

We've tried cash, and envelopes...and it works great some of the time, but honestly...we buy online a lot, we use debit a lot, we don't carry much cash, and neither of us are comfortable carrying it all around all the time (I know!  these are just silly excuses...I know!)...but...because of this...we'd often not have our envelopes with us!  Or... I would have them....DH wouldn't...so he'd spend from his pool of money and then we'd have to reconcile to the right categories later...etc.... hassle...hassle!    We just simply didn't do it!

So...anyways...  We really....really....need to get back to this!

There is a "Gonna Be Debt Free" group on Ravelry  (see...you knew I'd have to tie knitting in here somehow right), and one of the threads talked about online envelope systems!  Yes my friend....  ..
So, I started reading, and decided to give it a try... I downloaded the free trial of You Need A Budget (YNAB).

I'm now obsessed...partly because with me going on mat leave soon, and our hope of me staying home after, our financial situation is downright perilous!   Makes me realize just how groceryshrinky I need to be.   So..yes....I'm a little scared...but...also... I have renewed motivation!   We're going to do this.... I can be more thrifty...  I'm not sure where we can cut expenses other than groceries....so we'll have to start there.   Boy...it would be nice to not have student loans to pay anymore...I guess that will be our next big snowball, but right now, it's just about trying not to go INTO debt, preparing for our new baby, and living day to day.

Seriously....I've had this program for 2 days, and I already KNOW I'm going to go ahead and buy it..... DH even downloaded the iPad app, and said this is way more manageable than what we were trying to do before.   Yes!  There are apps for iPhone/iPad/iTouch, as well as Android...so you can keep track of your spending while you're out, and you can check in on your budget before you buy, and see if you actually have any money left to spend in that category.  When you get home, you just hit "sync" and it syncs your activity back to your main interface....nice right!   You can use multiple mobile apps and sync them all to the main interface once you're home...

Hmmm...makes me wonder if I can work an iPhone into the budget for me....bahahaha.... OK..maybe I should check our various reward points and see if we're anywhere close to the point of getting a free iPod Touch...that would work for me :D  and I really like FREE!

Third Trimester!

Woot woot!  It's here....the third trimester.    Technically, it started yesterday, but our poor little Ruby has been so sick, all focus has been on her.   I didn't even think about it yesterday.

Yay!  Baby!  I can't wait to meet our little man.  :)

Oh..and our camera BROKE!!!  Right after my fantastic weekend with the Yarn Harlot!   So.. well...glad it didn't break before that..... but...I'll be having a picture free blog for awhile :(

Freezer cooking!

Wowzers!  I just found this website

...and I've found a haven of recipes made for me!    I'm printing a bunch...and hope to start trying to build my freezer stash this week...

Oh...and I asked a question on the blog...and the writer got back to me, like maybe an hour later!  wow!  so helpful!

Operation baby!

So,  tomorrow marks 3 months until my due date with baby # 2.    With baby #1 I had great intentions of having a freezer full of food...and...I had some...but...not a whole lot.   There was a lot of pizza, and take out of other varieties...  wonderfully appreciated meals from friends and family, and then Superworks...which was wonderful also.     But!  This time I would really love to have a LOT more food stored away.

Thanks to one of my good friends for giving me the kick in the pants the other day to realize...it's about now that I can start cooking and storing.    She offered to cook for us!  and help build our freezer stash!  Oh...my..goodness.... this my friends...is an incredibly generous offer....   energy is limited... I'll never finish this on my own....but...now I have encouragement...  and ... gosh...help!

So...I must get at it.    Any favourites?  Anything you love to freeze?   I'm not into beans :(   I'm a comfort food kinda gal.... meat, cheese, carbs...oh yeah!   (wait...I'm supposed to have veggies in there too right?)

Yarn Harlot!

Yes that's right....tomorrow night, I get to go see Stephanie Pearl-McPhee speak here in London!  I'm so excited!  Now if I could just kick all this illness so that I'm well enough to go.

Even better!  There were cancellations for her classes... (I think I was 6th on the waiting list a month or so ago), and today I got a call that I have a spot in her classes as well!)   So..  my dear sweet amazing husband is sending me off for both classes.  Isn't he wonderful!

...now... I just have to pick out which yarn I'll take with me....goodness me!   How to choose!  ...I know it's just for the class...but... for some reason this seems like a huge decision!

Taken by Stephanie, and put on her blog...I'm wearing her knitting belt, it was wonderful!  Really..I want one!

Stephanie speaking on the Friday night

yarn wrapping for tension while lever knitting...don't want to forget this!

ugg...swollen preggo pasty skin girl!

Update:

What an amazing...fabulous...wonderful...spectacular time it was!  I loved it... Stephanie rocks!  ..but...you already knew that!

Look!  Look!  I made her blog!    Seriously...nothing could have tickled me more than this!   

Oh... Stephanie personally helping me pick out yarn for my striped scarf was pretty close...or...being taught to lever knit by the Harlot herself!  ...  really though... I'd be a bashful liar if I said I was totally ecstatic about a picture of me being on her blog :)