My First Knitted Cowl

Posted on January 18, 2013 by simply0637
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In the winter I love my scarves, neck warmers and now my cowl!!  Even after I have come inside and taken off my jacket – I will keep my neck covered – keeps me toasty warm.  The thing I really like about neck warmers and now my cowl is that it is not bulky under my jacket and it does not get in the way when wearing in the house.  My next cowl I think will be long enough to also be a hat/cowl!!  I came across this pattern from a Google search – what did we do before Google?!

I purchased this yarn over a year ago – fell in love with it at the local yarn store!  When I decided on this cowl – I knew exactly what yarn I was going to use.

Warm and Scrunchy Cowl (http://www.tentenknits.com/tentenknits/2010/10/snow-cowl.html )

Items Needed

2 skeins bulky yarn
US 13, 24″ circular needles

1. Cast on 60 stitches.

2. Place marker and join in a round, making sure not to twist.

Rounds 1 & 2: Knit

Rounds 3 & 4: K1, P1, repeat to end of round

Rounds 5 & 6: Knit

Rounds 7 & 8: P1, K1, repeat to end of round


Work until cowl measures 17inches, you run out of yarn or until desired length ending with a knit round.

Cast off all stitches.

Stella has already requested her own cowl – so Google here I come!  Searching for a template for a kids cowl – stay tuned!

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Kids Craft Corner – Making Alum Crystals

Posted on January 17, 2013 by simply0637
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This year Stella was accepted into the Science Challenge program at school and she is loving it!  She chose to do the more intense program – which was to learn about experiments and then put together your own experiment.  Since we are rock hounders, Stella decided to do her research and experiment on crystals.  We have mined for crystals in Arkansas and New York and she has found some beauties.  The research began and she typed and turned in her paper and then the experimenting began.

Her first round of experimenting came with disappointing results.  She followed the directions to produce alum crystals and then changed up the directions to see what would happen there – both experiments did not produce crystals.  Stella and I discussed why the one that should have worked did not – we are not sure why – was it that the water was not hot enough, did she not stir enough for the alum to become dissolved, is because bowl was moved or was it because it was a pottery bowl used?  Not sure – but another round of experimenting moved forward.

Making Alum Crystals

Items Needed

 

1/2 cup boiling water
2 1/2 Tbl alum (can get in the spice aisle at a grocery store)
Glass mixing cup
Glass bowl

 

1. Pour 1/2 cup boiling water into a glass mixing cup.

2. Add the alum and stir until completely absorbed.

3. Pour the mixture into a glass bowl – do not disturb.

In a couple of hours crystals should begin to form.

Experiment 1 – Following directions

Experiment 1 – end results

The counter experiment was using blue food coloring and half the water and alum.  Using hot water stirred to dissolve and then put in the refrigerator.  End result – no crystals.

 

 

 

 

Stella was never was able to create a crystal.  She did 4 additional experiments and the last one was done after reading internet postings as to why a crystal is not forming. She tried using boiling water, cold water and a heating source, hot tap water and then letting the solution settle and only pouring the liquid into the bowl.  She typed up her observations, printed her pictures and brought it into science challenge class to put on the poster board – can’t wait to hear what her teacher had to say.

Cold water experiment over a heat source

End result from heat source – water all evaporated – no crystals

Boiling Water experiment

Boiling water end

I felt a little guilty that I did not help Stella with her experiments and assignment.  Why you ask – because several of Stella’s friends’ parents did most of the assignment and sat with them telling them what to type up – so will they get a better a grade than Stella or will the teacher realize the difference between the turned into assignments?  I did review her assignment and made suggestions, but I did not do any of it and am very glad that I let her do HER assignment.  Hoping the next one has the outcome she predicts!

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What’s For Dessert? Apple Crumble!

Posted on January 16, 2013 by simply0637
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During our vacation my sister in law made a wonderful apple crumble.  As I watched her put it together, I started thinking and we started talking about other topping recipes – so when I came home I had to try to make a re-make of her recipe.  This was such a hit in our house that I had to make it again 2 nights later!!!  We are not that piggy, but instead of 2 for dinner, recently it has been 5 for dinner – so food and especially dessert goes fast!

No matter what I do during the winter months I cannot keep my brown sugar soft.  I have tried everything and if I think about it a day before I am going to use it – I will cover with a damp cloth so that it is ready the next day, but usually I think about making a particular dessert the same day I am going to make it.  So, in the winter months I tend to bang the bag against the counter until the clumps are loosened and then break it up in my hands to get brown sugar grains similar to regular sugar.

Apple Crumble

Ingredients

4 large organic Granny Smith apples or other tart apple
3/4 cup packed brown sugar (I just do the same amount but not packed)
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup almond meal
1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick)
3/4 tsp cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling
3/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3 cup butter, slightly soft

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In a bowl combine the sugar, flour, almond meal, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg – mix.

3. Cut up butter and add to the dry ingredients.  Using your hands or a pastry cutter – mix the butter with the dry ingredients until it resembles crumbs.

4. Peel, core and cut up apples and place in a 8 or 9″pan.  You can leave the skin on the apples if you prefer.  Sprinkle the apples with cinnamon.

5. Sprinkle the topping over the apples – covering all – if you can.

6. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes – the apples will be bubbly and the topping with be browned in spots.

Scoop into bowls and serve plain, with fresh whipped cream or homemade ice cream.  It will disappear fast!!

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Homemade Herb Bread

Posted on January 15, 2013 by simply0637
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What is soup if you have no bread to go with it.  This was a first time make for me on this bread and I liked the recipe and the simplicity of it – but I would add more herbs to it and possibly use a stronger tasting flour.  Very good with the soup – since the taste of the bread did not overpower the taste of the soup.  I am in search of  a bread that I can make weekly for our use.  Next is a sourdough rye – but that will take time since I need to start a starter!

Herb Bread (Recipe thanks to Ladle, Leaf & Loaf by Lisa Cowden)

Ingredients

1 tsp honey
1 cup lukewarm water
1 package yeast
1 large egg
1 tsp sea salt
About 3 cups flour
1 Tbl butter, room temperature
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp chives

1. In a large mixing bowl, preferably glass, combine the honey and water.

2. Add the yeast, stirring to dissolve.  Set aside and let stand until foamy – about 3 – 5 minutes.

3. In a small bowl beat the egg and salt together, add to the yeast mixture.

4. Beat in 1 cup of flour and then gradually mix in the remaining 2 cups of flour.  I added it a 1/2 cup at a time.  I added a little bit more than a total of 2 1/2 cups of flour.

5. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead in the butter.  Continue to knead until the dough is smooth and elastic.

6. Lightly butter a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl.  Butter the top of the dough and cover with a damp cloth.  Place in a warm area and allow to rise for about 1 our or until double in size.

7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, 15 minutes before you are ready to put loaf in oven.

8. Butter a 5×9 loaf pan and sprinkle with corn meal, set aside.

9. Punch down the dough and flatten it into a rectangle about 1″ thick.  Sprinkle the herbs over the surface and roll dough into a log.  Pinch the ends and turn under to shape loaf, transfer to pan.

10.  I let my loaf rise again for about 20 minutes, but you do not have to do this step.

11. Bake for 45 minutes or until bread makes a hollow sound when tapped.  Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

This is a very light tasting bread and works well with soup, toast for your eggs or just toasted with butter and a drizzle of honey!

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Relearning How To Make Chicken Soup

Posted on January 14, 2013 by simply0637
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After 20+ years of being a vegetarian – I am in the re-learning phase of a “new” diet.  In the past couple of months I have added some meat products back into my diet and with that is re-teaching myself how to prepare them.  I purchased a whole chicken and then quickly put it into my freezer.  I want to make it, but I was a little nervous and I also realized that I no longer owned a roasting pan!  I thought about the chicken in my freezer, but still could not make myself cook it.  After what seemed liked forever of looking and reading about roasting pan – I purchased one – the time had come to cook the chicken!

I buttered and seasoned the bird, added the vegetables and put it in the oven to cook.  I checked on it a couple of times, covering it and adding some butter.  I took it out and it looked beautiful – now to remember how to carve – not so good on that one – but over time I will get better. The meat was moist and tasty.  After the meal – I took the rest of the meat off the bones and decided to make chicken stock.  The bones, the veggies from roasting and all the good juice from the bottom of the pan went into the soup pot and the simmering began!  After many hours the stock was ready, poured into mason jars and allowed to cool.

Chicken Soup

Ingredients

Chicken stock/broth
Carrots
Potatoes
Onion
Broccoli
Garlic
Barley
Seasoning

1.  Cut all your vegetables and set them aside.

2. Pour your broth and water, if broth is thick into a soup pot.

3. Add your vegetables and barley or other grain to the pot – bring to a small boil and then simmer for at least an hour.

4. Add seasonings – once you have allowed to simmer and cook – it is ready.  Stella seems to only like soups that are pureed at the moment, so…

5. Take the soup off the heat and allow to cool slightly.  Using a hand held immersion blend – puree the soup.

6. Return the soup to the heat and bring to your desired temperature.

This soup was good and even better with some bread (recipe coming tomorrow).  Stella loved it – only if I added some freshly grated Parmesan cheese!

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Making Your Own Hand Sanitizer

Posted on January 11, 2013 by simply0637
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I have been asked by many friends how to make the hand sanitizer that Stella uses – and since it is that time of year, again – I figured why not re-post.  We have been using this hand sanitizer recipe for a year now and love it – it works great, does not dry your skin and frankly is free of all the chemicals that are used in the store bought brands.

This was first posted on January 6, 2012.

It seems like everywhere I look there is hand sanitizer – every doctor’s office, entering the grocery store, health food store and on the counter of most retail locations I go to.  I, myself am opposed to hand sanitizer and prefer to wash my hands more often during the cold and flu season, and that is what is most recommended, but I guess for some hand sanitizers come in handy.  As part of Stella’s school supply list – hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes are a part of the list and each year I cringe as I put them into my shopping basket.  Stella has been asking me to buy hand sanitizer for her, since of course all her friends carry some in their backpacks.  I can not bring myself to buy it for her – so I told her that we would figure out a way to make our own.  After some research and consultation with Stella, we came up with a recipe.  Some of the recipes that I found said to use water and aloe vera or water and essential oil – but Stella wanted something as close to what her friends have as possible.

Homemade Hand Sanitizer

Ingredients

2/3 cup rubbing alcohol
1/3 – 1/2 cup aloe vera
10 – 20 drops essential oil (we used a combination of orange and grapefruit)
Squeeze or pump containers (I found some travel containers, but Stella recycled a pump container from the recycling bin)

You could use tea tree, rosemary or lavender which all have antibacterial qualities.

1. Measure 2/3 cup of rubbing alcohol

2. Add 1/3 – 1/2 cup aloe vera – we went on the more side since Stella wanted it goopier. Mix well.

3. Add the essential oil – mix well.

4. Pour into containers.

Note: you will not need as much of this as you would commercial brands.

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Make Your Own Lip Balm

Posted on January 10, 2013 by simply0637
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Stella was very fortunate with all the gifts she received for Christmas.  One of her gifts was a book with recipes on how to make our own bath and body products!  With it being winter – Stella tends to get very chapped lips – probably would help if she did not lick her lips all the time -but it is what it is!  Looking through the book we came across a recipe to make your own lip balm – so – of course – we had to give it a try!

Moisturizing Lip Balm (thanks EcoBeauty by Lauren Cox)

Items Needed
(to make 3 oz.)

 

6 tsp beeswax
6 tsp coconut oil
3/4 tsp vitamin E oil
3/4 tsp vanilla
Glass containers (I washed and re-used the jar for my eye and face cream)

 

1. Place a glass measuring cup in a pan with several inches of water.

2. Measure the beeswax, coconut oil and vitamin E oil and place in the measuring cup.  Turn the burner on medium-low and melt the ingredients – stir to help it along.

3. When all is melted turn the heat off and add the vanilla and stir until well mixed.

4. Pour into containers and allow to cool completely.

Stella put some on and wanted to eat it!  It is so creamy and feels so good and the smell is wonderful!  Enjoy!

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Cold Weather Knitted Hat

Posted on January 9, 2013 by simply0637
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Now that Christmas is over I can leisurely enjoy knitting my projects and making some for myself.  This project I think will be a birthday present, but the jury is still out on that – since I really like the hat!!  I am not sure if it is the pattern or the yarn that I love so much.  When I tried the hat on it had a wonderful feeling to it – soft, snug, warm…  There really is a difference when you make something yourself – you weave in love and happiness and peace into each piece – or at least I feel that I do.  For me knitting, quilting, crafting, cooking, baking are my form of meditation and spirituality – I focus on what I am creating and all other thoughts leave me.  If I am creating for another I think of them – memories, gratitude, love, joy and how can that not become a part of the creation?!

East Knitted Hat (pattern from Fave Crafts)

Items Needed

Size 9 knitting needles
1 Skein worsted weight yarn
Darning Needle

Gauge: 16 stitches = 4 inched

1. Cast on 73 stitches.

2. Work in stockinette stitch (knit 1 row, purl 1 row), starting with a knit row until the piece measures 7″ – ending with a purl row.

3. Shaping the top

Row 1: K2tog, K14, slip 1, K1, psso (pass slipped stitch over knitted stitch), place marker – repeat 4 times, K1

Row 2: Purl

Row 3: K2tog, k to 2 stitches before marker, slip 1, K1, psso, repeat 4 times, K1

Repeat row 2 & 3 until you have 9 stitches left on the needle.

Cut a long tail and thread onto your darning needle.  Slip the stitches off the needles onto the darning needle, pull tight and fasten. Sew up hat.  Weave in all ends.

Wear with happiness!

 

 

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The Best Molasses Cookies, Really!!

Posted on January 8, 2013 by simply0637
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When we lived in Colorado there was a wonderful deli/bakery at the health food store we went to.  They had the best molasses cookies I have ever had and every time that we had family come into town we would stock up on these cookies, even taking them with us for family gatherings out of Colorado!  They were sweet, chewy, bitter – perfection!  I became friendly with the owner of the bakery/deli and after about a year of me raving about the cookies – I got up the nerve and asked if he would share the recipe with me – and he did!!!!  I have had this recipe now for 7 years and this past weekend was the first time that I had made them.  To be truthful for awhile I forgot that I had it and then about 2 years ago I came across the piece of paper in a cookbook and said I have to make these – but never did.  I took one bite and all the anticipation and taste memories did not dissapoint.  I made them much smaller than Brian did, almost bite size – but I could easily sit down and eat these until I was sick – they are that good!!!  I will be giving most of these away in the holiday tins – thank goodness!  If you love molasses cookies – this is must try recipe and it will be a keeper!!

The Best Molasses Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ginger
1 tsp cloves
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
3 1/2 cups flour

1.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Cream the butter and sugar together.

3. Add the molasses and eggs, mix well.

4. Add the spices, mix well.

5. Add the flour, 1/2 cup a time mixing well in between.  About 2 cups in I switch from the electric mixer to a wooden spoon.

6. Make about 2″ balls and place on a cookie sheet, pressing them flat.  I chose not to, but you can roll them in sugar prior to placing on cookie sheet.

7. Bake for about 10 minutes – I like my chewy.

8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Enjoy!!  After a couple of days these get harder and are great dipped into a cup of tea!

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Counting My Blessings

Posted on January 7, 2013 by simply0637
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I don’t consider myself old, but do any of us really?  When someone asks me my age, I have to think about it for a minute – I really can’t believe that I am 44.  I don’t really feel it and from what others say – I don’t think I look it – but don’t get me wrong I know I am getting older – the wrinkles that show me how much I have enjoyed life, to the changes in my shape occurring, well – everywhere.  Getting old is part of life or nature, but I do things that I hope will give me the best life I can have for as long as I can have it – eat right, exercise, don’t get too stressed out, laugh, have fun and surround myself with positive people who care and love me and want the best for me.  I have to say having a daughter helps tremendously – she teaches me a life lesson almost daily, truly loves me and reminds me to have fun and enjoy my  life!  I am blessed in so many ways and I am truly grateful.  All of this was made even clearer to me in the past couple of days.

A friend that I have known for over 15 years had a stroke this past Thursday night, she is 44 years old and has a child a year older than Stella.  We met when we both lived in San Francisco and have remained friends.  We both moved but always stayed in touch.  She moved to the East Coast.  After my divorce we were talking on the phone when I was trying to decide where I was going to move to and she said that the duplex next to her was becoming available – a month later I was living in Tarrytown.  They bought a house on the same street and we live 5 houses apart.  Her son, Stella and Mateo another neighbor play together all the time and we have pulled together to do whatever is needed.  Her husband does not drive.

Since I was given the news I have been in a daze, a fog – driving somewhere and then not even realizing.  Things really can change in an instant!  Luckily she was at home and so was her husband and son – when she said that her left side of her face was numb and then her left side – her husband called 911 with her saying why are you calling the ambulance everything is going to be fine – but it was not and is not fine.

Up until Saturday night none of us were sure of what was going to happen.  They had ruled out an aneurysm. but they still were not sure if she had had a stroke – there was a clot in her brain and there was bleeding – it was a wait and see game – she was moved into ICU. She is paralyzed on her left side.

I went to visit her – afraid of seeing her, of my reaction, of my emotions, how would she be, how would she look, would she remember me, would she make sense, how would she be?!  I walked into the room, her husband was with her and she was laying on the bed, eyes closed.  She opened her eyes looked at me and offered her hand – I took it, tears filled my eyes and we  just looked at each other – we didn’t have to say anything – the ice had been broken.  I stayed for about an hour – we joked, she was there and not there.  I asked if a doctor had been in and her husband said he had not spoken to a doctor since the previous morning and had not been given the results of the last scan.  I walked over to the nurse and told her this and asked her to get a doctor in to speak with him – he was thankful.  He told me he had not even thought about doing that – he is in shock.  The doctor did not come while I was there, but I had to leave.

I have been picking her husband up each night and bringing him home, when the call came Saturday night – I was out the door in less than 5 minutes.  I picked him up and he got into the car and told me that the doctor had come and spoken to him and that it was all good news and then he cried – I pulled the car over and just wrapped my arms around him and just let him feel and be with his feelings.  It was a stroke, the blood is being absorbed back into the brain and she should have her speech fully back in 2 – 3 days and then she will be assessed for physical therapy.  It will be a long recovery, but she is expected to make a full recovery!!

I feel so blessed and am very conscious of all the ways.  Stella has been hugging me more than usual and I am grateful for those too.  As I told Stella, when things like this happen that is when your friends and family are here and do whatever needs to be done to help the individual, family through it all.  Count all your blessings and send a prayer for my friend, Donnette and her family – I thank you!

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