Baked Project #9

So I am sick yet again and today I was craving something nice and kind of healthy. I baked Banana Nut muffins but they came out more like blah-nana muffins. This recipe was so tasteless! I usually use a different recipe to make banana loaves but I thought I'd try something new. Big mistake. I will stick with my old recipe.

Knitting Project #3

This wasn't the hat that I was going to make, but after having no luck finding double pointed needles US 10 in the UK, I decided to try something else. I usually shy away from things that are just purl or knit because I don't find them very challenging but I have to admit I really love this hat. It took no time at all and was a very relaxing project, which is what I need right now.

It's called the Republic hat and it was a free ravelry pattern. I actually knitted a bit more than I needed to because I was someone was visiting and I was knitting and talking at the same time (a bad combination for me!!). But it fits me perfectly. I used Big Softie yarn from Sirdar and I love it because its soft and its cheap!!

Baked Project #8

I finished another week off work by baking some cookies to keep my sanity. The recipe says the last chocolate chip cookie you'll ever make. I'm not convinced. It is not a bad recipe by any means but it is not the best. I've made it twice, the first time using the chocolate called for. It was far to bitter and I ended up throwing away the whole batch.

This time I used milk chocolate with a bar of white chocolate thrown in and it came out much better. I grew up making chocolate chip cookies based on an old aunt's (that I never met) recipe that was sneakily similar to the one on the back of the nestle tollhouse chocolate chip bag! To be fair to the aunt her small changes do make a big difference.

Anyways, I live in Scotland and I can't get nestle tollhouse here. And if by chance I do find it, it is usually in places like Harvey Nicks where you have to mortgage your place to buy anything. So I used Sainsbury brand chocolate and its just not the same.

So I think I will continue looking for a chocolate chip (or chunk like this recipe is) recipe.

Baked Project #7

I made cheesecake!! It was my first ever attempt at the cheesy goodness and it was really successful. I didn't even like cheesecake until I got married and then my husband extolled its greatness upon me.

It is made with strawberries in it and with a strawberry syrup on top. It was supposed to be raspberry but the shop didn't have any today. I am going to try it again with raspberries or maybe blackberries next time.

I haven't had much time lately to make anything due to a redesign of my website that is taking ages. But I did start a sewing class and am making my first dress! I have been to two classes thus far and I already have most of the bodice made. I bought gorgeous Liberty fabric and I want to wear it on my anniversary on the 27th. We are going to Amsterdam and I think the dress will be perfect for a night out.

Baked Project #6

Billy and I decided to make a three course meal tonight. Billy made the appetizer and the main (which were amazing) and I made the dessert. I opted for a shortcake with cream cheese frosting and fruit topping. I was going to make a blueberry pie but the timing for the main course and the pie wouldn't have worked out very well. And well we are in Scotland and shortcake is quintessentially Scottish.

I made the tarts in normal size cupcake tins which only made twelve. I had so much frosting left over it was such a waste. But overall it was a really nice recipe.

Embroidery Projects #1 & 2

I have spent the last week laying on the couch with a viral infection that made me nauseated every time I moved. So to fight the boredom I embroidered two projects from Sublime Stitching. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with them. The butterfly is for my mom and the rose will probably go on my wall somewhere. I really don't like leaving them in the hoop permanently as I think its a bit wasteful but it may just have to stay put.

Knitting Project #2

So this hat will look great on a 8 year-old. On me it looks like a small ski cap. But I really do like the pattern. I used US 9 double-pointed needles for the whole project. I will be making this hat again for me in the gauge recommended. I could see this hat in several colors so I might make many for the dark days of winter.

It is a super easy pattern to make. I used a cable needle instead of the stitch holder I have always used. Wow the difference is incredible! It is so much easier to knit straight off the cable needle. Why oh why did I not try this before?

Baked Project #5

I love blueberry muffins!! But what I love more is when there is a sugary crumble top and a soft and moist bottom. Enter the perfect recipe. The top bit is a cinnamon crumble that compliments the blueberries amazingly. I have never made muffins from scratch before and I am super pleased with the results. Best yet, my husband loved them and said he was impressed. Coming from him that was a great achievement for me!

Baked Project #4

One of my favorite baked good ever is Zucchini Bread (or courgette bread if you're British). My mom's coworker used to make one for me every time she did a batch. I didn't used to like zucchinis though I didn't like ANYTHING when I was a kid. I wouldn't eat anything that I didn't know but somehow this treat snuck through my tasteless barrier. And thank goodness for that. I know eat EVERYTHING! Well maybe not everything. I won't eat Lamb because they are cute or bunny rabbits.

Anyways, I love this bread and I have made it with several different recipes trying to get it right. I'm not in love with the recipe I used as the mix was quite dry and I had to add milk to it. I also was low on ground cinnamon so it wasn't as tasty as it usually is. I think I will continue on my quest to find the perfect zucchini bread recipe.

Knitting Project #1

So, I know it is summer time and the last thing I should be doing is knitting a winter hat, but after a long hiatus with my needles I found myself really wanting to make something. I don't like supper slouchy berets because they make my head look weird, so I found this tutorial on the Purl Bee website.

My hat is a bit different because I only had one skein of wool to use. Last year for our anniversary, Billy and I went to the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland. There I found the most remote knitting shop I had ever seen. We drove for miles on single track roads stopping for the highland coos (cows) and finally came to Shilasdair. I could only afford one skein as it was a bit pricey and well my husband was there so I couldn't sneak a few more. So this hat is my remote isle anniversary hat!

I am going to make it again with red wool that I have a ton of. I had to cut so many rounds out of my Shilasdair hat that it doesn't really resemble the tutorial hat. It was super easy and a nice relaxing project.