Saturday Chat

We had a big thunderstorm Friday evening with lots of lightning. The rain smells wonderful and cooled things off a bit. The high temperature today is only supposed to be 98 degrees, which is an 11 degree drop from yesterday. Went to one of our favorite farmers' markets this morning. Have to support the local farmers and get great fresh produce!



Got some nice vegetables. Planning to make stuffed bell peppers next week and found some beautiful red ones. Going to do an herb roasted chicken with roasted veggies for hubby's birthday dinner tomorrow. It's one of his favorites. Got russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, baby bell peppers, onions and mushrooms to roast. We'll also be doing one of the cholesterol laden southwestern breakfasts he loves in the morning with maple bacon, eggs, a pot of pinto beans, tortillas and, yes, more potatoes.

Went off on a tangent yesterday and decided to start knitting a Christmas gift. All I will say is this is the softest boucle yarn -- absolutely yummy!

Also decided I want to learn Fair Isle knitting on the knitting machine. Working on a purse that was one of the learning projects in the book that came with it. I think it went well, although I had a few tense cuss word moments. Will put on a photo of it once completed, but here it is on the machine -- the back of the knitting shows where you can see the floats of yarn.



Have a great weekend, everyone!

Knitted Gift Pouch

My middle sister is having a birthday soon and I know she loves turquoise. We had spent the 4th of July in Prescott, Arizona, enjoying every minute of their wonderful celebration in Courthouse Square. There were hundreds of craft booths and -- as hubby mentioned a few times -- I looked at EVERYTHING in EVERY booth! There was a great booth selling turquoise jewelry and I found some beautiful silver dangle earrings with turquoise stones. Okay, done.



Now, what to send them in to make it more exciting. I decided to knit a little gift pouch. Played with it some and ripped it out and started over a few times. Settled on a moss stitch pattern and a button closure. Used size 6 needles and worsted weight acrylic yarn. Finished size, closed and buttoned, is 3-3/4 x 5-1/2".

Cast on 3 stitches.

First row (right side): Increase in 1st stitch, knit 1, increase in last stitch - 5 stitches total.

2nd row and all wrong side rows of flap only: Purl across.

Row 3: Increase in 1st stitch, knit 3, increase in last stitch - 7 stitches total.

Row 5: Increase 1 stitch in each of first 2 stitches, knit to last 2 stitches, then increase 1 stitch in each - 11 stitches total.

Continue increasing 4 stitches on right side rows until you have 23 -- this forms the pointed flap.

Body of pouch is in moss stitch: knit 1, purl 1 across every row until body portion is 7" long.

Bind off.



Single crochet around entire edge. Crochet a small chain for loop -- length of chain depends on the size of your button. I used a 1" button. Determine where button needs to sit and sew on. Seam sides of pouch together.



You could make this any size by increasing more stitches for width and adding more length. You could use different size needles and/or yarn or change the pattern stitch. You could make it without crocheting around the edge, but would probably have to block it to keep the flap from curling.

You could make a strap for it and carry it as a little "going out" bag. I remember shopping in the handbag section of a department store with my youngest daughter who was in her late 20s at the time. I picked up a tiny, tiny handbag and said, "What could you carry in this?" Daughter replied, "A driver's license and a clean pair of panties." I looked at her, shocked, and we both burst out laughing. Just then, a snooty old lady walked around a display and glared at us. We stopped laughing just until she had walked on by, then laughed even harder. Good times ...

I am posting this because my sister already received her gift in the mail yesterday so I can't spoil the surprise. Happy Birthday, sis!!! Love you!!!

Seeing Spots ... er, Flecks

So I have started on the shrug my baby sister requested for her birthday. It's still a few months away, meaning I won't have to pull any all-nighters, knitting 'til my eyeballs fall out -- I just hate when that happens. The first sleeve is underway.



The thing is, this is the same yarn I used for the cardi I recently finished for myself. It is black with flecks of color in it. It is gorgeous yarn, but after a while, I feel like I'm seeing spots. I mean, I am seeing flecks, but there are spots floating out there, too. It's probably just the black background.

I swear the next project I start will be a lighter color. Actually, it is, because the granddaughter has ordered a lacey poncho in a medium blue and white twisted yarn that I will begin soon. I usually have several projects on the needles at once because I get tired of working on the same thing for too long and switching back and forth keeps the boredom at bay.

The shrug pattern I've chosen for the birthday shrug is one I found on the Caron International website (see photo below). It's so cute, the model apparently lost her head!

Wordless Wednesday - Paddlewheel Cruisin'

Mississippi River Boat

Wordless Wednesday

What's Cookin' - Steak in Pesto Marinade

Beef Rib Steaks Marinated in Pesto

We recently watched a show on the Food Network called "The Best Thing I Ever Ate: for Breakfast."

Guy Fieri went to Matt's Big Breakfast in Phoenix, Arizona, where his favorite breakfast is a pork rib chop marinated in pesto, pan fried, then served with hash browns and eggs.

The pesto marinade is what intrigued me so we tried beef rib steaks marinated for about 3 hours in Buitoni Pesto with Basil.

Of course, you can make your own pesto, but the prepared pesto is delicious, comes in a 7 oz. container for around $5 to $6 and I found it in the refrigerated section of the grocery store. I used half the container on two steaks.

Steaming Broccoli

We also steamed broccoli, which is good with everything. The steaks were flavorful and tender. I think the pesto marinade would be good for just about any type of meat. We'll definitely try it on pork chops and chicken.

We were out of red wine but had a chilled bottle of Jacob's Creek Riesling, which was really good. The pesto marinade is a great thing, worth repeating and passing along.

Beef Rib Steaks grilled in Pesto Marinade and Steamed Broccoli

What's Cookin' - Caramel Peach Crunch

This is one of my favorite desserts that Mom made when I was growing up. I've made some minor revisions to the recipe over the years, but it is still a family favorite. Hubby is especially fond of this dish so I like to make Caramel Peach Crunch for "his" special days like Father's Day and his birthday.

Caramel Peach Crunch

Ingredients:

3 – 29 oz. cans sliced peaches, drained
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup uncooked rolled oats
1/2 cup butter, melted

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a 9x13"  baking dish or cake pan with cooking spray. Arrange peach slices in the dish. Mix together all dry ingredients, then add melted butter and blend well. Sprinkle the oats mixture over the peaches and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Serves 8-10, depending on how big you cut the pieces.

It’s great served warm with vanilla bean ice cream. Or refrigerate and eat cold for breakfast.

Top Knot

No one is safe when a little girl and a scrunchie are involved ...

Louie with a top knot

What's Cookin' - Boeuf Bourguignon

After reading the book, "Julie & Julia," and then seeing the movie recently, I was determined to attempt at least one of Julia Child's famous recipes. So I warbled my way through a good 4 hours in the kitchen yesterday making Julia's Boeuf Bourguignon from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" (page 315 in my copy).

Assembling the ingredients

It is truly delicious, although I used nearly every pot and pan in the kitchen -- and some of them twice.

Sautéing the bacon and beef

It's not a difficult recipe, just time intensive. Everything is cooked in a different skillet or sauce pan before all coming together in one dutch kettle at the end.

Sautéing the carrot and onion

I chopped and sautéed and braised.

Braising the pearl onions

I had a glass of the burgundy while I cooked. Peeling all those little pearl onions took some time.

Sautéing the mushrooms

We served it over long grain wild rice with dinner rolls and a glass of wine and, yes, it was absolutely wonderful! I loved, loved, loved the mushrooms sautéed in butter, of course. And the sauce is amazing.

Boeuf Bourguignon over Rice

After all is said and done ... and eaten ... and cleaned up, here are some thoughts:

• This is a dish to make when you have lots and lots of time.
• This is a dish to make for people you love more than anything or very, very special company.
• According to Julia, "...you can prepare it completely ahead, even a day in advance, and it only gains in flavor when reheated." I would definitely make this the day before company is being served.
• It is rich and satisfying -- I would classify it as comfort food.
• For being a home-cooked meal, it is not inexpensive to make. I think the ingredients ran around $25.

I know this will probably sound weird, but I love going outside and coming back into the house after a meal like this -- the fragrance is fantastic and the house continues to smell like heaven for hours and hours!!!

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Another prayer shawl is completed and I will be sending it to someone who recently lost her husband in an auto accident. She was injured as well and I'm sure the physical and emotional healing will require much strength and support.

I include a card with each shawl given that is appropriate to their particular situation whether it be illness, a new baby, a birthday, bereavement, etc. Following is a sample of the card given to someone who was going through chemotherapy:

This shawl was made just for you

To bring comfort

To know you are loved

To share in your joy

This shawl is to wrap you up

When you're cold

When you're hurting

When you need to snuggle

This shawl was knitted

With Blessings

With Love

With Prayers

 Another verse I like to use:

This is a prayer shawl

but it’s also a hug

Thousands of stitches

each made with love

 So wrap it around you

and let yourself feel

the love of your friends

every day of the year!

This prayer shawl is a combination of lace rib and stockinette stitch stripes on the knitting machine and the border was crocheted by hand.

If you are interested in a prayer shawl ministry or how it came about, click here. Many churches and charitable organizations are now embracing the prayer shawl ministry. It's a beautiful thing!

Ta Daaaa - Tie-Dye

I find it amazing that I have done so many different types of crafts over the years, including macrame in the 70's, and have never attempted tie-dye. I've always thought it was cool and it seems there is a tie-dye revival every so often. There is currently an entire booth devoted to tie-dye products at the local farmers' market.

So I had purchased a white terry cloth swimsuit cover up for myself and a white T-shirt for the granddaughter and we prepared to tie-dye both of them. Let the fun begin!

We got a 3-color tie-dye kit from WalMart for $9.99, laid out trash bags to protect the counter top and put aprons on to protect our clothes. I pleated and rubber banded my cover up and she decided to freehand her T-shirt.

I did find out that it's pretty much impossible to take pictures without getting dye on your hands while removing your plastic gloves and putting them back on.

The instructions said to wrap the items in plastic wrap and leave them for 6 to 8 hours. It nearly killed us, but we were able to wait 6 hours. :o  Then wash them in the hottest water possible.

And voila!!! Or should I say, "Wow, man..."  The finished product is fun and colorful and you can actually wear it. And now I can cross tie-dye off my bucket list.