mobius strip cowl

All I wish to do currently is sleep.  The crud has still not gone away.  And I am moving like a little old lady due to a foot injury which is also playing with my hip and knee on the left side.  I know it is a message to slow down but I do not do that very well.  

I had a friend post a pattern for a knitted cowl on Facebook.  I really liked it and it is something that I can do in my chair, feel productive but not over due.  I got the yarn, which was one sale.  But then I got five skeins.  I also got knitting needles.  I tried.  But after three rows, the crochet hook came out.

And in no time at all, I had a mobius strip cowl/scarf made for the Tall Short Person. 

That is what it is:  a mobius strip.  I used a M crochet hook with one skein of homespun yarn from Lion's Brand.  I chained 20 and the did single t back and forth until the skein was gone but I had enough yarn to "sew" the ends together.  I twisted the strip and "sewed" the ends together.  I say sew because I did a flat seam with my crochet hook.

I figured since I have not sent all the Christmas packages yet, I can add some cowls in. There is one for the Tall Short Person (when she picks it up off my workbench), one for my Aunt, one for my Mom, one for my Best Friend, and one for me.  

It does keep me in one place.  Off the skateboard.  Off the surfboard.  But I have a wet suit to repair to get on the surfboard.  Sigh.

pajama pants for the tall short person

I fell over last night after work.  I think I am still fighting the overdoing.  But should I be surprised?  I am still making presents for my loved ones and going to work.  And then there is the thing about my allergies to cedar.  The combination means a lot of sleep.

These pajama pants were a huge hit with the tall short person.

Small Mister really liked them too!  He moved like a Jawa from Star Wars when he wore them this way but he liked wearing them this way a lot!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

It has been a quiet day here.  I spent much of it in bed due to a head hurting so bad I could not sit up.  With sleep and ibuprofen, it finally receded but I do feel like I have been hit by a truck.  I think it was a way of my body saying I need to slow down a bit.  Not really surprised.  I do like to do things.

Today's evening has been picture shows, curry, and chocolate toasties.  I used the banana bread I made yesterday.  Most of the loaf is gone because my Beloved really likes it.  He says the texture is so good he cannot tell it is gluten free.

So what are chocolate toasties?  Basically toasted chocolate sandwiches.  I used the chocolate banana bread and  a chocolate ganache in the middle.  I used my toaster oven but you could use a panini pan.  They are very yummy.  I was thinking they might be very good with a peanut butter filling too.  One of those ways to get creative.

chocolate toasties

two slices chocolate banana bread

chocolate ganache ( I melt a bit of chocolate and mix in heavy cream)

Spread the chocolate ganache one one slice of the bread.  Cover with the other.  Toast in a toaster oven or a panini pan.  Enjoy.

This is one of those that I think you could take anyplace you wish.  Use your imagination.

chocolate banana bread

It is funny.  So many people say they are tired of sweets this time of year and I find that is just really not true.  We like a bit of sweet with our dinner or after.  I try to not to each too much of it or make it something with fruit because it hurts less but I still like sweets.

I just pcked up Small Plates and Sweet Treats by Aran Goyoaga from the library.  One of the food blogs I read highly recommended it, I think.  Or maybe it was npr.org.  I cannot remember.  This cookbook I am impressed with.  I may have to buy it.  There is a chocolate banana bread in it that looked very interesting.  Since I had 4 1/2 ripe bananas I needed using, I decided why not.  I, of course, changed the recipe to work with what I had on hand as well as the extra bananas.  This turned out very well.  I will make this again.  I may even try with the chocolate ganache between to make chocolate toasties.

chocolate banana bread

4 1/2 bananas, ripe, mashed with a fork

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup sorghum flour

1/2 cup buckwheat flour

1/2 cup hazelnut flour

2 tablespoons arrowroot flour

1/4 cup cocoa (dutch processed preferably) 

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.  Butter or oil a large loaf pan.

Mix the bananas, sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla together.  Mix in the flours, cocoa, salt, and baking soda.  Pour into the prepared loaf ban.  Bake for 1 hour or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

I was amazed out how liquid this batter was and how nicely it baked up.  Even with my changes!

This was lovely straight out of the oven.  It was lovely whne it had cooled down.  I can see it lovely when it is toasted!  I have not used this combination of gluten free flours before and I will have to use them again.

cardamom sugar cookies

Cardamom seems to be the spice I have been playing with this season.  These look like my vanilla shortbread or the sables or the lemon shortbread but they are cardamom sugar cookies.  It is part of the Scandinavian flavors I have been trying.  There are some breads coming as well.

I really liked these.  I only baked a few and put the rest of the dough in the freezer for later baking because there have been so many cookies but I figure a little bit more dough would not hurt.  I would make these again.  Depending on how much other sugar is around, you may wish to cut the sugar bake a bit and make them closer to a shortbread.

cardamom sugar cookies

1 cup butter

1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar (the original recipe calls for the 3/4, definitely could cut back to 1/2 cup)

1 egg

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups flour

sugar for dredging

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Cream the butter and sugar together.  Mix in the egg and vanilla.  Mix in the spices and flour.  

Take a teaspoon of dough, roll into a ball, and roll in sugar.  Place on a baking sheet that is covered with a Silpat or parchment paper.  Bake for 10 minutes or until golden.

These are really nice with a cup of tea