Old World Gingerbread House and Snow Queen Scarf

Food is an important part of the holidays for me.  It's not like that for everyone.  I've actually met people who don't recall any special food from their childhood associated with the holidays other than that they had a turkey dinner.  My Steve is one of those people.  It's taken us a long time but after 30 years together we've come up with some wonderful food traditions for our holidays and without a doubt building a gingerbread house at Christmas is at the top of our list.

The origins of our tradition began with a trip to Chile many years ago and our stay at the Hyatt Hotel in Santiago where in lobby they had an actual gingerbread house (made of cookie dough and frosted) that you could walk inside and from which they sold individual gingerbread houses and cookie boxes. During our stay we consumed several of these delicious houses in an embarrassingly short period of time and have been left wanting more ever since.

And it remained just a wistful reminiscence until Steve suggested that we try making our own gingerbread house.  And so we did.  With a success that has left us giddy with delight and has amused us in the process more than I can say. There is something very fun about frosting and decorating a gingerbread house that will bring out the kid in everyone. Just you wait and see.

The most important part of making a gingerbread house is to use a wonderfully rich and flavorful gingerbread  because a large part of the fun is eating the house.  And when I thought about it I realized that I already had the perfect recipe that I had been using to make gingerbread men for many years. This recipe works beautifully to construct a gingerbread house and makes exactly the right quantity and it is so so so much better frosted and coated in candy!

A couple of housekeeping points before I get to the recipe.  It's best to plan on making your gingerbread house over two days, although it can be made in one.  I recommend that on the first day you make the gingerbread dough, let the dough chill, and bake the individual house pieces.  On the second day you can make the royal icing and decorate the house.  I like to ice the entire house as it will keep the gingerbread fresh and tastes wonderful.

Old World Gingerbread House Recipe ~

Gingerbread Dough:

1 C. shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves or allspice
(note: if you like a lot of spice you can increase the ginger and cinnamon by 1 tsp and and the cloves by 1/2 tsp.)
1 C. granular sugar
1 C. molasses
2 beaten eggs
1 tsp. instant coffee moistened in a little hot water (I use espresso powder)
5 C. All purpose flour

Royal Icing:

1 lb. sifted confectioners sugar
3 egg whites
1 Tbs fresh lemon juice or 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

Suggested Decorations:

Candy Canes (You can use them whole or crush them for sprinkles)
gum drops
skittles (original soft style work best)
multi-colored sprinkles and sugars
Avoid unwrapped hard candies that will melt in the frosting

DAY 1 ~

Prepare the Dough Steps:
1. Cream first 6 ingredients;
2. Cream in sugar and molasses;
3. Add in beaten eggs and coffee (or espresso);
4. Add flour 1 cup at a time. After adding 3 cups stir in the last 2 cups by hand.
5. Allow dough to chill in the refrigerator several hours or until it's easy to handle.

Baking Steps:

1.  Preheat oven to 325 to 340 degrees (I generally preheat to 340 degrees) and prepare baking sheets by covering with parchment paper or silplat.
2.  While oven preheats download a gingerbread house template.  I highly recommend the free King Arthur Template. I divide the dough into half and I use a full half of the dough to make the 2 sides of the house.  I then divide the remaining dough into 4 pieces to create the roof (2 pieces) and the ends (2 pieces).  You want to divide the dough like this so that you use all your dough and that way you know your house is of the right thickness.  I typically have only enough scraps left over to make a small gingerbread man.  This style of gingerbread is meant to be thick and if it is too thin it will be dry and not as enjoyable to eat.

3.  Bake approx. 18-20 minutes (with my oven I generally preheat to 340 degrees and bake for 18 minutes) and cool on a wire rack.  You can then proceed to setting up and decorating your house or wrap the pieces well (air tight) if you plan on decorating the next day. If you intend to wait longer than a day to decorate I would freeze the house pieces until you are ready to keep them as fresh as possible.

DAY 2 ~

1.  Prepare a surface to construct your house.  I like to use a cutting board but any flat surface will work.  Lay out your gingerbread house pieces and find some soup cans that can be used to stabilize the house while it sets.  Before preparing your icing review the entire King Arthur Template for tips on how to set up your house.

2.  Preparing Royal Icing as follows*:  whip eggs whites until creamy and add either lemon juice or cream of tartar. Then add powdered sugar and whip until soft peaks form.  At this point I recommend you remove 3/4s of the icing and place into a sealed plastic bag (sealing the plastic bag will keep the icing soft) to use later for icing the house.  The remaining 1/4 amount of icing should be whipped until stiff peaks form (the longer you whip it the faster the icing will set and the harder it will dry). This firmer and fast setting icing is used to set up your house.  Scoop this icing into a small plastic bag and make a small cut in one corner which can be used to pipe out the icing as needed. Now follow the assembly steps in the King Arthur Template.  Once your house is assembled allow it to set 2 to 3 hours (or until firm) before icing and decorating.

3.  When your house is set use the icing you set aside earlier to ice all surfaces (icing all surfaces will keep the gingerbread fresh longer) and quickly decorate before the icing sets.

4.  Allow decorated house to set for a minimum of 8 to 12 hours (the longer setting time is needed because you are using a softer icing which is more enjoyable to eat that the firm icing used to set up the house).

*Alternative icing options:  1)  You can make two batches of icing.  The first batch (whipped until firm peaks) can be used to set up the house and the second batch (whipped to soft peaks) can be used to ice and decorate the house; 2)  If you are pressed for time you can simply use the firmer icing to both set up the house and decorate the house, but I don't recommend this as the firmer icing isn't as enjoyable to eat as the softer icing.

I hope this will become part of your family Christmas holiday traditions!

Adapted from Yankee Magazine recipe for Gingerbread Gentlemen (1993 issue).

Snow Queen Scarf

Before it gets lost in the shuffle I wanted to quickly share this scarf knit in a thick opulent combination of silk and wool, that makes me feel positively queenly when I wear it!  I purchased this yarn as a club offering several years ago from The Verdant Gryphon and the designer/dyer took her inspiration from The Snow Queen, one of Hans Christan Anderson's well known fairy tales. Although not nearly as well known as The Little Mermaid.  If you are not familiar with his work, all of his fairy tales are sad but they are beautifully told to reveals how through acts of kindness or selflessness anyone no matter how far they have fallen or how lowly they are in this world can achieve redemption. A thought provoking and interesting subject to explore no matter your age and is one reason his stories are worth telling and retelling through the ages.

While I chose not to use the design that came with this club offering I absolutely love the yarn and am also glad that I have the beautifully illustrated copy of The Snow Queen that came with it.  As always these clubs are risky as you have no idea what color, pattern and notions will be sent.  That being said I have rarely been disappointed in a yarn club.

Particulars:  Saroyan (free pattern) designed by Liz Abinante (Feministy.com); US 9 needles; 2 skeins The Verdant Gryphon, Codex (worsted 52% silk/ 48%wool 234 yds/113g per skein).  My only modification was to use 2 colors instead of a solid color.  To knit this using 2 colors simply twist the yarns intarsia style.  To maximize the amount of the light blue color I knit the entire edging in the contrasting color instead of simply the leaf.  Lightly blocked dimensions 66" x 10" (at widest point).

Wishing You a Merry Christmas ~

With the success of his calendar shot Simcha announced that he's available for kisses and autographs. For a price. Le sigh, despite our best efforts he still has a working dog mentality.

Until next time be well and love well and from all of us at The Knitting Blog by Mr. Puffy the Dog, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Honey and Butter baked Pears and a Super Soft Kidsilk Scarf ~

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down and appreciate the simple things in life.  It's a time to reconnect with family and friends, share the bounty of our table and remember all the many blessings and wonderful things that we have.  Sometimes the beauty of this holiday can be lost with all the stress of shopping and cooking and trying to create the perfect holiday experience.  That sadly misses the point.  What really matters is spending time together and recognizing that we have many things to be grateful for and that requires shutting out the noise and distractions that keep us from being fully present for others and contemplating who we are and what matters to us.  This is a perfect time to savor the simple pleasures in life and to that end I am sharing a very easy to make dessert that celebrates seasonal fruit; is sophisticated enough to serve to company; and is the perfect ending to any meal.  It's pears baked in honey and butter and I think you will find it is a wonderful warm dessert for cold winter evenings.

I am sharing with you a reduced fat and sugar adaption of the original recipe by chef Paul Cunningham.  You can definitely increase the butter and honey to taste (do so in equal proportions up to 1/4 cup each). But I found that even using a small amount of butter and honey created a sufficient sauce to brown and baste the pears giving them a wonderful sticky texture and flavor.  Steve and I eat a health conscious diet although baking is an indulgence I usually don't skip the ingredients on.  But when I see a dessert recipe that looks easy to adapt to reduce the fat and sugar content I do. As you can see from the finished pictures these pears browned up and caramelized beautifully and with this version you won't break the calorie or cholesterol bank.

Honey and Butter Baked Pears 

Ingredients ~ 4 servings

4 Bosc Pears, peeled, halved, cored (leaving stem intact)
1 1/2 Tbs. unsalted butter - shaved and/or diced
1 1/2 Tbs. honey (for baking I typically use Turkish honey sold by Trader Joe. I find it similar in flavor to Tupelo honey)
2 to 3 fresh thyme sprigs
fresh Bay leaf (optional - I did not use any bay leaf)
maldon sea salt flakes or kosher salt
optional garnish: heavy cream, chilled creme fraiche, or vanilla ice cream

Steps:

1.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2.  Line roasting pan with parchment paper or silpat.  Arrange pears cut side up in a single layer on pan.  Evenly sprinkle top of pear halves with shaved butter and season lightly with crushed salt flakes. Scatter fresh thyme and bay leaf (optional) over pears and drizzle with honey.

3.  Bake pears, gently turning every 15 minutes to coat in butter and honey until tender and caramelized, for approximately 1 hour.  Transfer to warmed serving dish, drizzle with any pan juices, and serve warm with a jug of heavy cream, creme fraiche, scoop of vanilla ice cream or, for family style, serve plain.

Adapted from Chef Paul Cunningham's recipe in Saveur magazine using Anjou pears.

Super Soft Kidsilk Haze Scarf

I am a huge fan of kidsilk haze and every winter I knit at least one item in this luscious fiber.  It's one of those magical combination that someone somewhere discovered goes really well together.  Like peanut butter and jelly, Ginger Rodgers and Fred Astaire; sunsets and tropical beaches, kidsilk haze is one of those perfect pairings.  It has mohair for loft and warmth and silk for vibrancy and shine that is spun into an amazingly soft and warm lace weight yarn.  It's very addicting to knit with.  Some even call it kidsilk crack.  But knitting with kidsilk haze can be tricky too so I'm going to share with you my tips for knitting with this yarn.

Tips for knitting with kidsilk haze yarn:

1.  Be aware that it's almost impossible to fix a mistake in this yarn because the fibers cling together creating a snarl almost impossible to undo unless you are incredibly patient.  It is possible though, if you slowly undo one stitch at a time.  This is a technique called "tinking" (i.e. knitting spelled backwards).

2.  The yarn strand itself is very thin and it's a little like knitting with a fine thread surrounded by a halo of fibers.  It will be easier for you to pick up this inner yarn strand if you use sharp pointed needles.  Needles that have sharp points are called "lace" needles.

3.  Again, because the inner thread is so fine it is helpful to use a needle color that contrasts with the color of the yarn you are knitting.  This will make it easier to see the thread that you are knitting.

4.  Don't give up. Once you get the hang of knitting with this fiber you will be addicted too!  In a good way.

5.  This last tip is a late addition and comes courtesy of Selma who writes the blog Knitting New England (she's a great writer and knitter and I hope you watch for her posts updates on my sidebar)! Selma's tips is to place your knitting into a plastic bag and freeze it for a couple of hours.  Apparently mohair has a fairly high water content and freezing it helps the fibers unstick.

There you have it.  Now go forth and try Kidsilk haze yarn fearlessly.

Scarf Particulars:  Kidsilk Haze Stripe Scarf (in Kaffe Fassett selected colors); free pattern download on Rowan's website; designed by Marie Wallin; 1 skein Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe (460 yrds); US 8 needles.  I simply knit until I ran out of yarn (these skeins are very large - double a typical kidsilk haze skein) and my finished scarf measures: 68" x 10."  Some of my past kidsilk haze projects include: The Fleur Wrap; Trieste Shawl; Willowy Scarf, Anisette Stole, Birch Shawl; and the Dove Shawl.

Until next time be well and love well and during this stressful holiday season slow down and enjoy simple pleasures such as easy baked pears or knitting a simple and soothing stockinette scarf.

I leave you with the beautiful music Hallelujah, composed and sung by Leonard Cohen a wonderful soul who will be greatly missed.  R.I.P. Leonard Cohen.

Brooklyn Tweed Sweater, Scarf Accessory, and a Frontier Style Breakfast!

I have long admired the beautiful designs of Brooklyn Tweed which embody the rugged American frontier lifestyle. Jared Flood and the designs he curates under the Brooklyn Tweed brand are both classic and functional.  And it was time I knit a Brooklyn Tweed design.

But I had sworn off knitting sweaters because I don't wear them often enough to justify the time and expense that goes into making them.  But then I had an epiphany.  It wasn't sweaters per se that were not functional in my wardrobe but rather it was my dressy sweaters that never got worn.

So I decided to knit myself a practical sweater to wear in the fall and winter months when the mornings and evenings are cool and often downright cold.  I wanted something that I could pull on in the mornings when I like to sit outside and enjoy my morning coffee or that I could slip into for my late afternoon hike with Simcha.  Something without fuss or bother in a neutral color.

It took a lot of searching before I settled on this design.  I already knew I wanted to use Shelter a worsted weight yarn manufactured by Brooklyn Tweed, but picking the pattern was more time consuming.  I finally settled on the Little Waves Sweater which is actually a unisex sweater (although there is different waist shaping for each sex).  I liked the long sleeves, the pockets, the cool textured design, and the button up front.

The finished sweater came out exactly perfect for what I wanted.  My thoughts on the yarn, Shelter, are a little more complex.  Shelter is described on the Brooklyn Tweed website as "an artisanal woolen-spun yarn made from the fiber of Targhee-Columbia sheep grown in the American West.  This yarn has been meticulously crafted to suit the needs of the passionate handknitter."  That might be true but for someone like me who knits a lot shawls and socks with merino wool it's a rough feeling wool to work with.  For that reason I actually wasn't too happy while knitting this sweater.  But then I tried the sweater on. Gone was the pain just that.  Similar to the pain of childbirth (so I'm told) it was forgotten and all I had left in my heart was love for this yarn and sweater.

It's hard to describe the feeling I had when I tried on the sweater.  The best I can do is say it was like pulling on a hug. The loftiness of the wool creates a light fabric but it's a thick worsted wool and somehow that comes together to imbue a feeling of warmth and coziness. So the bottom line is that I will definitely  knit another sweater using Shelter and I can understand all the love there is out there for this yarn.  It is however an outer wear wool in my opinion.

Particulars:  Little Wave Sweater designed by Gudrun Johnson (author of The Shetland Trader); Design is from Wool People Vol. 6 (a collection of designs curated by Brooklyn Tweed); US 8 circular needles;  9 skeins Shelter (100% American Wool grown in Wyoming) colorway Truffle Hunt.  I knit the smallest size and my only modification was to downsize the sleeves for a more fitted look.  I used slightly more yarn that the pattern indicates so I would suggest buying an extra skein just to be safe.  For tips on how to knit a sweater with a perfect fix see my post Knitting a Sweater and Tips to Achieve a Perfect Fit.   I bought the yarn over the phone as my LYS does not carry this yarn.  I found the staff at Churchmouse Yarns and Teas very helpful in picking a color.  The buttons are handmade from walnut wood and I purchased them on Etsy from Wooden Buttons Galore.  This is a well written pattern and a perfect fitting sweater.

N.B.  I lightened the last 2 pictures so you can better see the pattern detail of the sweater.  The colorway Truffle Hunt is a lovely rich brownish grey with blue flecks.

Scarf Accessory ~

I also knit the scarf that I'm wearing in these pictures. It's knit in a fingering weight yarn with beads added.  If I'm going to add beads to a project I like them to show up otherwise it's not worth the time and bother of adding them. The bead I used are oblong shaped with a pretty rainbow yellow color and they catch the light beautifully.  The soft yellow color of this scarf makes a perfect early fall accessory.

Particulars: Shallows Scarf designed by Bonnie Sennot (author of the blog Blue Peninsula); US 4 needles; 1 skein 200 Herriot (464 yrd) hand-dyed by Skeins in the Stack (Etsy vendor) in Chamomile colorway (I purchased this kit).  I purchased the beads from Earth Treasures Gems (on Etsy) and I used 16 grams Miyuki Long Magatama beads which is more than the pattern calls for because I used more yarn and knit a longer scarf.  This was an easy and enjoyable pattern to knit.

Frontier Style Breakfast ~

In the fall it's nice to start the day with a hearty breakfast.  After all it is the most important meal of the day!  I usually have a slice of my homemade bread with oatmeal but when the days turn cooler I like a stack of pancakes.  You could go for the decadent cake like pancakes that I like to indulge in a couple of times a year (I use this recipe Old Fashioned Pancakes).  But for everyday pancakes it's more prudent to choose buckwheat pancakes and I love the mix made by Kodiak Cakes.  Kodiak Cakes's box tells the story how flapjacks (i.e. buckwheat pancakes) were the hearty mainstay of frontiersmen from the fridged Yukon to the High Sierras.  These rugged mountain-men and homesteaders apparently relied on the rich, substantial taste of these flapjacks which contained a powerful source of carbohydrates, protein and fiber, with every little fat. You simply add water to the mix and I like to top them with local honey, fruit and granola.  For the picture I used butter and maple syrup, but that's not how I typically eat them.  The griddle should be very hot and I spray it lightly with olive oil.  Perfect every time.    

As much as I have a fondness for the frontier and pioneers I'll admit that my perception of the frontier has been influenced by Disneyland's Frontierland and it's Country Bear's Jamboree (remember I was a child when I first saw this).  I still love those rocking bears.  But I understand in reality the frontiersmen and pioneers had a very difficult life. In fact, if I had been a pioneer on one of the wagon trains I'm sure I would have been buried along the trail. Probably the first week out.  And everyone would have missed my cooking.

Finally to accompany your frontier breakfast you need a delicious cup of coffee.  This morning I'm drinking Irish Cream a flavored coffee by Christopher Bean Coffee. Love the aroma and smooth taste of this coffee.

Until next time be well, love well and enjoy fall and all the wonderful colors, flavor and foods of the season and especially the hearty breakfasts!

Fair Isle Scarf and the Dark Side of Ravelry Forums

I am wearing my Osebury Rock Scarf which is the fifth installment of Ysolda's 2015 shawl club and as you can see it's all about celebrating gorgeous autumnal color.  While I generally think of fall leaves when I think of autumn color, it was mounds of hot roasted root vegetables that gave Ysolda the inspiration for the colors in this scarf.  Knowing this you can see the colors of sweet potatoes, yams, beets, and parsnips that inspired this scarf (apparently Ysolda has a fondness for roasted root vegetables).  It makes for a very yummy scarf, no?

This is of course a fair isle project and maybe I've been sleeping during the resurgence of  fair isle (colorwork) knitting but it's only this past year that I've noticed that it seems to have taken designers by storm.  But these patterns have a decidedly more modern flare than the designs I grew up knitting. It's colorwork for a new generation of knitters and is adding bright splashes of color to everything from hats to scarfs and everything in between.  My last fair isle project was a very traditional design by Alice Starmore and that hebe hat post has more technical information and resources about this style of knitting if you are interested.

Instead of getting technical I want to talk about the importance of not sweating the details in knitting and how best to adjust when something does not go according to plan.  Because with knitting there are always variables and things that can go wrong. And it's okay to make adjustments, live with mistakes, or deliberately make changes, but you must always be aware of how those changes affect the overall finished design.

Speaking of which in this case I did not check my gauge (which I often fail to do with scarfs and shawls) and before too long it became clear that I would run out of the neutral colored yarn long before I finished the scarf.  So I compensated for this by substituting a similar shade of neutral colored yarn from stash into the middle of the scarf and holding back enough of the original neutral colored yarn so that my bind off border/edging would match the yarn used for the beginning cast on border/edging. This way the symmetry of the design was preserved and the substituted yarn looks like it is part of the overall design.    

The best way to keep track of whether you are using too much yarn in sufficient time to take corrective action is by weighing your yarn and estimating the yardage you have used and/or remaining. If you don't already have a digital kitchen scale I highly recommend you get one.  Not only is it an essential knitting tool there are many recipes online that use weight versus volume. Getting into the habit of weighing your yarn is the best way to detect a yardage problem in time to make an adjustment so that your finished project will reflect your personal taste and decisions rather than looking like you simply knit until you ran out of yarn.

Particulars:  Osebury Rock (Ysolda's 2015 Shawl Club); US 7 needles; 1 gradient set of EasyKnits yarn in Squidge colorway Osebury Rock.  Post blocking measurements: 11" x 54" (exclusive of fringe). Additional projects from Ysolda's 2015 Shawl Club are: Malton Oolite Scarf; Stac Shoaigh; Caer Idris; and Cockern Tor.  I should mention that for those that ran out of yarn Ysolda provided additional yarn at no additional cost.  A class act all around.


It's a Jungle Out There ~

Life is not always a walk in the park, and sometimes you don't even recognize the danger until it's far far too late.  I had that graphically illustrated to me this past week on something as seemingly harmless as the Ravelry knitting forums where you might (as least I did) have the expectation of civility and camaraderie.  Which is anything but the case.  So learn from my experience and have a care if you venture onto the forums because not all is as it should be there.

Not everyone will heed my warning and so, if you are like me, and don't have a social media crisis control consultant on retainer here are my two rules to follow when you unwittingly find yourself wading in shark infested forum waters.

Rule No 1:  Any idea to enlighten others or diffuse a situation that suddenly occurs to you whilst in the midst of a social media crisis is, by definition, a bad idea.

Rule No 2:  Before posting anything whist in the midst of a social media crisis, consult Rule No 1.

Kidding aside, I had become careless and forgotten that just like any forum Ravelry has its share of cyber bullies and those maliciously intended.  And yet, truthfully I'm glad I had this experience (not that I enjoyed it) because it forced me to evaluate how I spend my time online.  Like all of us I have limited time and should use that precious time wisely and that means using social media forums sparingly.  Time should be spent really living by being present with those that you love, enjoying nature, reading, learning, being creative and celebrating that which you enjoy and anchors you in this world. These are the things that create lasting memories, happiness, and a full and rich life well lived. Thank you for the reminder.

Until next time, be well, love well and enjoy this holiday season sharing, spending time with, and celebrating with those you love.

A Summery Scarf and Delicious Bread Pudding Recipe

It has recently occurred to me that for all the shawls that I've knit over the years happily thinking that I'm covering all possible basis for any outfit or color combination that I might own I have left a gaping hole in my wardrobe.  I have hardly any scarves.  And I'm not entirely sure why but all of a sudden all I want to wear are long flowing scarves.   

Maybe it has something to do with the desertification of California.  With the new arid desert climate it seems appropriate to wear more desert influenced fashion that is lightweight, streamlined and breezy such as my new Longshadow scarf designed by Anne Hanson.  Sadly California is suffering from an extreme and extended drought that is projected to last decades.  Residents are being asked (and in some areas like Topanga and Malibu residents are required) to reduce water usage by significant amounts.  Apparently some of us have been drafted to the front lines of the water wars. Pretty soon you'll know who lives in Topanga and Malibu because we'll be the ones taking sponge baths and using perfumes.  But we must learn to adapt to our new reality.  Note to self: read Arabian Nights.

In the past few years I've seen a lot of fabric scarfs being sold for summer but frankly I've never been a fan of fabric scarves.  And when lace is this easy to knit there's no reason not to create something unique and special that will make you stand out in the coming hot. sultry. desert. nights.  What are you waiting for!

Particulars:  Longshadows designed by Anne Hanson (Knitspot); US 4 needles; 1 skein Phydeaux Designs two-ply lace weight yarn (80% superfine merino wool, 20% silk) (875 yrds - 100 gm); colorway Grass.  This design like all of Anne Hanson's designs is superbly written. And because it has a resting row it was an enjoyable and surprisingly quick knit. You knit the scarf in two pieces and then graft together in the center so that the scarf is symmetrical with a scalloped edge on each end.I knit the small size but made it longer than the pattern directions as I wanted a long flowing scarf and ended up using approximately 675 yards.  Finished blocked dimensions 80" x 12."

Swallowtail butterfly alight on the wild sage growing on the Santa Monica mountains along the trails Simcha and I hike.


Bread Pudding Recipe

I'm not sure if you have noticed but lately I have been trying to focus more on healthy eating and lifestyle tips.  Truly I have.  But I believe that should also be tempered by the advice of my mother who at age 88 still enjoys life and is fond of saying "a little of what you fancy does you good." Personally I find occasionally eating something decadently wonderful does wonders for my outlook and one of my favorite indulgences is a special treat for breakfast on the weekend.  There's something about a special breakfast that sets the proper mood for the entire day.  And one of my favorite breakfast indulgences is bread pudding.  It's rather like gourmet french toast for grownups.

A bread pudding is an incredibly versatile and easy recipe.  You can add practically any combination of flavors to your bread and then simply pour over the egg custard.  Bake and wallah ~ a delicious breakfast treat.

Ingredients

Any bread that will easily absorb a liquid egg mixture (brioche or a similar bread that you would use for french toast or in a pinch even a store bought coffee cake for the ultimate in easy preparation).
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup whole milk - scant
+ additional milk to cover your bread filling

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1.  Select dish to bake your bread pudding.  You can use a pie dish or make mini-loafs (pictured below) or a glass bottom bowl (oven safe).

2.  Add torn bread pieces and toss with filling of choice.  Arrange filling so that it is roughly 2 to 3 inches deep.  Keep in mind the dish will rise as it bakes and then collapse as it cools.

3.  Whisk together custard ingredients (3 eggs, 1/4 cup sugar, scant 1/4 cup milk).  Pour custard ingredients over bread mixture.  Then add enough additional milk to just about cover bread filling.  Leave some areas of bread showing.

4.  Bake for approximately 1.5 hours at 350 degrees.  The time will vary depending on how deep your baking dish is.  The bread mixture should rise as it bakes and absorbs the custard and milk (it will then collapse as it cools).

5.  Serve slightly warm still from oven.

Examples of what to use for your bread filling are as follows:  in the first picture I used fresh brioche mixed with a few sliced strawberries and peaches and a few bittersweet chocolate chips scattered about (roughly 2 tablespoons or less).  I find that with fruit you don't want to use too much, but a few nice chunks work well or adding a few raspberries are wonderful too.

In the picture below I used homemade raisin bread.  While I love the raisins and cinnamon this version isn't nearly as light as it is if you use a soft rich bread such as brioche or a coffee cake.

Until next time be well and love well and this summer go ahead and treat yourself to something special for breakfast ~ everyone deserves an occasional treat!

Knitting the Blues and California Oranges

Miles and miles of gorgeous silky blue.  That's the best way to describe my new Caer Idris  scarf which is the second installment of the Ysolda 2015 shawl club.  This time it's all about the color and silky yarn that was specially dyed for Ysolda and it couldn't have been a more perfect choice for an early spring accessory.

The fiber artist Caerthan (of Triskelion Yarn and Fiber) who dyed the yarn for Ysolda has this to say about the color:

The late dusk sky was the inspiration for the colorway.  Idris was a legendary Welsh astronomer and giant, famous for watching the stars from his "chair" at Cader Idris.  The idea of a Welsh Kenning for the dusk sky caught my mutt (Welsh/Anglo/Saxon) imagination, hence "caer Idris" which means the fortress of Idris in Welsh.

I have no idea who or what he's talking about but I can tell you that this is one of the most beautiful yarns I've ever had the pleasure to knit with.

While I knit this scarf exactly as written I deviated dramatically is one small but important way. Instead of giving the finished knit a heavy block to create a superlatively long "wrap" I chose instead to not block it at all.  This created a scarf which I felt would be a more wearable accessory for me than the 120 inch wrap with large triangular shapes that a heavy blocking would create.  It's still voluptuously long at 81 inches but has what I would describe as a serpentine shape with soft curves undulating along one edge.  It's decidedly a scarf and not a wrap and the texture is amazing, so soft and warm and silky. And so while it makes a beautiful spring accessory I'm really looking forward to wearing this next winter wrapped around my neck multiple times for a cozy pop of color and warmth.

It's hard to see in these pictures because I did not give it a heavy block, but in person this pattern has a wonderful texture and design and *bonus* it's reversible which is a huge plus with any scarf.

Particulars:  Caer Idris, designed by Ysolda as part of her 2015 Shawl Club (this pattern - as all the club patterns - will be available for general purchase one year from date of club release); Triskelion Yarns and Fiber, Branwen 4-ply yarn (50% silk / 50% extra find Falklands Merino) exclusive dyed colorway Caer Idris; US 4 and US 5 needles.  I used the US 4 needles just for the first couple of inches at each end to provide a little more density but otherwise used US 5 needles.  I washed but did not block this scarf, i.e,. I laid it flat to dry.  Finished dimensions 81" in length.  This pattern is much easier and enjoyable to knit if you are comfortable "reading" your stitches and if you are unfamiliar with "reading" your stitches I provide some tips on my Ravelry project page.   If you want to see the first installment of Ysolda's 2015 shawl club it's blogged as Stac Shoaigh.

My Dad and his Oranges

My dad is a wonderful role model for his character and discipline but also for his healthy lifestyle. At age 86 he is a picture of health and he's pretty sure it has to do, in part, with his daily intake of the orange juice and since that's an easy healthy habit to incorporate I thought I would share it.  My dad uses his own homegrown oranges that produce the sweetest and juiciest oranges on this planet but if you are like me and don't have your own tree then you must make do with buying oranges.  Although, as his daughter, I am often shipped boxes of his oranges or given bags to take home with me when I visit. Thank you Dad!  Incidentally I used his oranges in the pictures below.

But do you squeeze or juice, that is the question.  My dad is a squeezer but I believe juicing is a better method because when you peel an orange for juicing you can leave on the white pith and that gives the juice a nice creamy flavor. Whereas my dad prefers to squeeze because he loves all the pulp that you get from squeezing.  Or there is always the option of simply standing over the sink and eating it by the slice as juice runs down your face and hands which is probably my favorite way of eating an orange.  

As I mentioned above my dad's oranges are the sweetest, juiciest and most delicious oranges you will ever eat which is the result of his loving attention and the perfect orange growing conditions of Southern California.  The only problem is that his oranges have begun disappearing.  It began gradually years ago and at first he suspected raccoons, which made my mother and I roar with laughter.  We asked each other if we had ever seen a racoon carrying an orange? Or could it be they brought a basket with them for transport?  Or maybe they rolled them down the road like bowling balls?  No, we laughed, we were sure it wasn't raccoons, but then again we didn't have an explanation for it either.  As it turns out the neighborhood children and hikers walking up the street have discovered his delicious oranges and collectively they are picking his tree bare.  An unfortunate dilemma.  I rather wish it had been raccoons.

Until next time be well and love well and make healthy choices!  Next time you are asked to bring something to a picnic consider bringing a healthy choice such as a platter of sliced oranges instead of a bag of chips.

Victorian Frippery ~ and Holiday Crafting

Knitting and making a project that is truly your own is largely a factor of picking colors and texture that best compliment you.  But don't overlook how much the color and texture contribute to expressing the style of your project.  For example, I wanted this Sand and Sea Shawlette to be a sophisticated accessory piece for my wardrobe so I chose a mass produced yarn with a silk component to give it a sophisticated finish and combined it with colors that remind me of Victorian times.  The result is "Victorian frippery" which simply means that it's not knit for utility so much as for adding style.

Southern California, where I live, is having one of the warmest Falls in recorded history and so this holiday season I wanted to keep my style simple and yet still feel I've dressed up.  This shawlette is just the ticket for me because old England and the Victorian era way of celebrating the holidays really resonates with me.   Of course in Victorian times I likely would have been a peasant and not enjoying myself all that much but I don't dwell on that.

Particulars:  Sand and Sea Shawlette designed by Never Not Knitting (Alana Dakos) from her Coastal Knits pattern book; 2 skeins Shibui Knits (Staccato) in the velvet colorway; 1 skein Koigu Premium Merino (KPM); US 6 circular needles; finished dimensions: 60" x 12".   Other designs I've knit by this designer are her Autumn Vines Beret and Oak Grove Mitts.  I made no modifications whatsoever ~ this is an easy knit and great piece.  The only trick is when picking up your stitches (using wrap and turn technique) make sure you use the correct technique to avoid leaving a hole in the fabric (the prior link is to a tutorial to help you do so).

Holiday Crafting with Paper Mache ~

I'm no Picasso but nonetheless I had fun painting this old world style Christmas Santa.  I purchased the paper mache form a vendor who sells unfinished (as well as finished) pieces and what I really like is that she uses chocolate molds and so her Santas remind me of candy shops and the pretty foiled chocolates they sell at the holidays.

Particulars:  Paper Mache form purchased from Linda Hill's Etsy Shop; prepared with a coat of Gesso surface prep (which sealed the paper mache and made it easier to see the design); painted with acrylic paint; and embellished with German Glass Glitter (purchased from Meyer imports) which I adhered using mod podge.  I also made the wreath pictured below using a wire form and evergreen cuttings, milk pods; holly; and moss.  The star ornament is the only non-natural addition.  To keep the wreath fresh I remove the star ornament and milk pods and soak it in a basin of water overnight.

Until next time be well and love well and since we will be away through the New Year I would like to wish everyone a joyous and meaningful holiday season ~ from all of us at Mr. Puffy's Knitting blog ~

The Year of Handspun

My first post of the year was a handspun project so it is only fitting that my last post this year is also using handspun.  Curious because prior to this year I had never knit anything using handspun and then for whatever reason it suddenly captured my attention and I've knit four projects this year with it (Handspun Scarf, Pamuya Shawl, Fingerless Mittens and this scarf).  Now I'm hooked on handspun and of all the many things that I've knit over the years, these projects are my favorites.

Before I tell you about this scarf, I'll tell you about the above picture.  It is taken in front of an old ruined cabin where only the rough hewn stone chimney remains.  I "discovered" this ruin with Simcha on one of our morning hikes.  I had shimmied up a mountain slope following what I believed was a trail only to have misgivings about half way up when I began to suspect what I was following was actually a watershed.  Parenthetically, it's moments like this when you look around and realize it's a steep climb up or a slippery slope down that the thought crosses your mind that it might be a while before your body is found if something bad were to happen.  But I managed to work my way to the top (Simcha had no trouble as he climbs like a mountain goat and I appreciated when he worked his way back down to encourage me on - we were in this together) where we then picked up a trail along the ridge that lead to this ruin.   How cool is that?  I love our morning hikes.

I also love my morning hikes for another reason, namely, they provide me with an infinite number of excuses as to why I need more yarn!  I can always rationalize a purchase with "I really need this to make something to wear on my morning hike.  It is cold, you know, early in the day."  See how well that works?

And this yarn was a splurge purchase where I used exactly that excuse.   It is a lushes heavy worsted alpaca in multi-color and it wasn't cheap but it's fabulous.  And, as is the case with most handspun yarns, they really rock in a simple design that focuses on texture.  You don't need to gild the lily here as the beauty is in the yarn.  A simple broken rib pattern with a fun ruffle edging and you have the perfect scarf to walk your dog any ole day of the week ~

Particulars:  1 skein Cherry Hill Alpaca, LLC (multi colored alpaca - dark) spun by Pam Wilkins, 6.5 oz 247 yards.  I used a free pattern (Misti International Ribs & Ruffles Scarf) as modified by using US 8 needles and fewer pattern repeats.  Finished scarf measures 4"x 64"

I threw in this last picture so you could see how the yarn looked still in a skein.  You can generally not tell from looking at a skein of handspun how it will look when knit up, and the bold blocks of color in this scarf just flowed naturally and were unexpected.

Peace on Earth

Mr. Puffy's Knitting Blog wishes everyone the gift of peace on earth this holiday season and all year long.

Decking the halls is exhausting work so follow Simcha's example and take plenty of time to relax and take naps.

I leave tomorrow and will be away through New Year, so until next time, be well and love well and have a happy and safe holiday season!  Steve, Claudia and Simcha xoxoxo