More Knit Lit - Vogue Knitting Stitchionary

I was almost at a loss of what to blog about today (if you can believe it!). I have at least one or two things on the go (including an easy and simple dessert treat), but nothing completed, and most of them I have already shared with you. But luckily, when I went to fetch my mail today, I found a lovely little package from Chapters with my latest knitting purchase.

A big thank you to Jessica for introducing me to the series of stitch books by Vogue Knitting. Each volume focuses on a different topic, and the two that I picked out this week were Volume Three: Colour Knitting and Volume Two: Cables. Both are great reference books filled with stitches and ideas, and I think they will be referred to often and regularly; I'm excited to begin browsing through them to pick out my next project. Feel free to check out some of the stitches on the Vogue Knitting website.

As far as I can tell, there are five volumes, including lace, crochet, and basic designs using the knit and purl stitch. Sometimes when you have a project in mind, turning to a reference book like this will help get the project rolling. If I am working on a relatively simple project (like a laptop case, for example), having a stitch book is great for inspiration. That was why I was excited to pick up the colour book. The cable book is also great for adding a bit of something extra to perhaps a plain project. If you haven't attempted cables because of how difficult they look, they are actually really quite simple, once you get the hang of them. Then they are a piece of cake!

I also subscribe to two different magazines, Knit Simple and Vogue Knitting, and I always get excited when I receive the latest edition. I quickly turn to the pattern section to see what catches my eye and the instantly begin plotting when I can make my next trip to the yarn store for supplies. Debbie Bliss and Interweave Knitting are also magazines I like to browse through at the news stands, but I find some times there may not be very many appealing projects, so they might just end up staying on the news stand.

Now to crack those books!

Felted Laptop Case

Since I seem to be experiencing a bit of a felting bug as of late, my latest project was a birthday gift for Matt. For Christmas he received the cutest little laptop that tends to travel with us everywhere (I think that was the point), so I whipped up a cozy little felted case for it. Not only will it keep it safe and warm, its also pretty stylish (in a manly way...).

 

Knit in the Steelers Football colours (black and gold), the design is houndstooth, although after felting, it looks more like a checkered board. That just made me think that I need to go bigger the next time, which makes a whole lot of sense...the purpose is to shrink, after all! A black band at the bottom ties it together, and a flap at the top for easy access (although to be honest, the flap was supposed to fold over to make a pocket, but it didn't really work out that way...).

I didn't work from a pattern, per se. I measured the dimensions of the laptop, and then browsed the internet to see what I could find. I found a general formula that said to knit the width 1.2 times larger and the height 1.5 times larger than your desired dimensions (felting tends to shrink more in height than in width, but that also depends on the yarn, size of needles, stitch...). The case actually came out a bit smaller than I had planned (gotta love that trial and error...), but overall, I was happy with it. And Matt seemed to like it, too.

I love finishing a project and sharing it with you all for a number of reasons, but the two main reasons are: 1) I need things to blog about on this here blog; and 2) finishing one project means I get to start another!

I always have something on the back burner....

Bacon Potato Soup

If you're looking for a new soup to whip up on a cold winter's day, may I suggest a creamy bacon potato soup? I came across this recipe in one of my cooking magazines (Cooking for Two... perfect for DINKs...Double Income No Kids) and thought it would be a great for a quick meal one night. It was also my first attempt at any type of soup, and since it turned out so good, its been added to our dinner list. It also freezes very nicely, so you could make a double batch and save the leftovers for another night.

The original recipe didn't call for bacon, but I had some left over from a Sunday brunch, and really, doesn't bacon make everything better? But if you're watching what you eat these days or cooking vegetarian, feel free to leave out the bacon. As with any soup (I assume...), you really can add or take away ingredients to suit your own liking (for me, any recipe that includes mushrooms are immediately deleted!).

Recipe

1/2 pound each of small unpeeled red and white potatoes, cut into chunks

1 1/2 cup chicken broth

1 cup water

1/4 chopped onion

2 tsp canola oil

1 tbsp flour

1/4 cup milk

3 tbsp cream cheese

1/3 cup shredded Swiss cheese

3-6 strips bacon, cubed

1. Place potatoes in large saucepan; add broth and water and bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 10-15 minus or until almost tender.
2. Meanwhile, in a small skillet, saute onions and bacon in canola oil until cooked; add to potatoes.
3. In a small bowl, combine flour and milk until smooth; add to potato mixture and bring to a boil. Cook and stir until thickened.
4. Reduce heat; stir in cream cheese and season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer until cheese is melted and potatoes are tender, stirring ocassionally. Garnish with Swiss cheese and crisp bacon bits.

For extra flavour, the second time I made this soup I actually used herb and garlic cream cheese, and often I'll add a touch of red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. Feel free to experiment! I think once you have the basics down, you'll be able to make a different soup every time...  

National Thank You Month

Dear Readers,

Did you know that January is National Thank You Month?

As such, please allow me to take a moment and share with you all a genuine and heartfelt THANK YOU. I know many of you out there are friends and family, and your support really means a lot to me. Kind readers, thank you for spending a little piece of your time with me each day. Thank you for sharing your feedback and posting your comments.  I love reading each and every one of them. I love the suggestions and hearing what you're cooking or crafting.

Blogging with you has become one of my favourite things to do each day, and as long as I can continue to think of things to blog about, I hope you'll stay tuned in and continue on this ride with me.  

A big virtual hug,

BusyBeeBets

Trivia Tuesday

G'day mate! Today's Trivia Tuesday (hey, that's three alliterative T's!) is happy to announce that it is Australia Day! In honor of Australia, I thought I would share some fun and unusual facts about our sister country down-under.

Did you know:

• In 1838 it was declared illegal to swim at public beaches during the day! This law was enforced until 1902;
• In 1954, Bob Hawke was immortalized by the Guinness Book of Records for sculling 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds. Bob later became the Prime Minister of Australia;
• Australia was the 3rd country, after the US and Russia, to launch a satellite into orbit. It was for the British, using a 'Blue Streak' rocket;
• Australia's first police force was a band of 12 of the most well behaved Convicts;
• Australia was founded by Convicts. Its homicide rate is 1.8 per 100,000 population. The United States was founded by religious zealots. Its homicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000. Almost 400% greater than Australia;
• In 2007, it was estimated that 22 per cent of living Australians had a convict ancestor;
• Australia is the smallest, flattest, and driest inhabited continent in the world. It is the only country which is also a whole continent;
• With less than 1 percent of the world's population, Australia has more than 20 percent of its poker machines;
• Australians refer to lazy people as 'bludgers'. The word is derived from 'bludgeoner' which is a prostitute's standover man;
• The name Australia comes from the Latin Terra Australis Incognito which means the Unknown Southern Land;
• The name for the Australian marsupial Kangaroo came about when some of the first white settlers saw this strange animal hopping along and they asked the Aborigines what it was called. They replied with 'Kanguru', which in the native language meant 'I don't know';
• Dropbears are an evil species of koala that fall from trees and attack humans. The evil strain of koala don't actually exist. The story was created to fool Americans;

Source: http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/facts.htm

A lot of those interesting facts I did not know... nor could have guessed! If you have some time at work/home/school today, feel free to take this Humorous Australia Quiz to test your knowledge of Australian Stereotypes. 

And throw another shrimp on the barbie, mate!

Fat Friday...Was Replaced with Slow Cooker Sunday

This past week was a busy one! And while we usually look forward to a nice dinner out on Fridays, this week we were celebrating Matt's birthday by having drinks with friends, so we opted for a quick meal at home. But this was not such a bad thing, as we got to try out our new griddle/grill to make Panini's... another new item to add to our ever-expanding list of dinner meal ideas!

I know some of you might be bummed to missing out on this week's Fat Friday installment, so instead, I bring you Slow Cooker Sunday. If you don't own a slow cooker, you may be missing out on a fast and easy way to make delicious meals. The food simmers all day, filling your house with delightful smells of meat and vegetables, and everything turns out super moist and delicious.

Last night's meal consisted of roast beef, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, and green beans (one of Matt's favourite meals, and since it was his birthday, I was happy to oblige). The roast beef is what I cooked in the slow cooker, covered it with beef broth and added Lipton's Onion Soup Mix (the magic ingredient for many of my dishes), and let it slowly cook for 4-5 hours while we enjoyed some Sunday Football. The roast potatoes I just cut into quarters, coated with olive oil, and roasted in the oven, and the green beans I just cooked in the micro.

And what is a Sunday dinner without Yorkshire pudding smoothered in gravy? If you haven't already discovered the pre-made frozen ones in your freezer section at the grocery store (and you enjoy Yorkshire pudding but not the fuss of actually making them), then you are in for a nice surprise. They cook up in just 4 minutes and are equally as good as the real thing.. And the gravy is super easy to make from the liquid in your slow cooker. Simply transfer the desired amount to a small pot, add some Bisto or other thickening agent, bring to a boil while stirring, and voila! Gravy to complete your meal.

The slow cooker is also great for stew and chili, two of my other favorite slow cooker Sunday recipes. There's nothing like a warm bowl of either on a cold winter day (which we are surely to see more of...), or a hot meal after a long day of work. The slow cooker allows for both without too much fuss.

What's in YOUR slow cooker?

A Sneak Peek...

I have a new project in mind that I thought I'd give you a sneak peek at... The two yarns are from the same ball. "But how is that possible," you might ask? It is no trickery of the eye or camera... I am experimenting with dyeing my own yarn! (The one on the left was dyed purple.)

Yes, what better than to create your own colours if you can't find the ones you like in the yarn stores? I have been doing a lot of research on the web for different techniques and materials, and turns out everything you need can be found right in your kitchen. I got the inspiration when I mistakenly ordered the cream coloured yarn online, and when it arrived, I was a little disappointed with the colour (lesson learned! Shop in stores unless you know already what colour you want!). So then I realized that I could change the colour by dyeing it.

Turns out, food colouring works great! So does Kool Aid, for that matter (didn't you ever experiment with colouring your hair with Kool Aid?! I'm not speaking from experience...). I have already picked up the supplies (vinegar, rubber gloves, and food colour), so I am anxious to post the results of my first attempt. I'm still working on the project, however; my idea is to knit up two mittens (from the felted mitten pattern), and then dye them before felting them. I just finished one of them, and hope to have the other completed shortly... I'm not sure which colour I will go with, but my intention is to end up with a variegated version, where the colour is dark at the bottom and gradually lightens. 

Keep an eye out in the coming days for the results! 

Just Add Hot Water - Felted Mittens

If I haven't said it already (I'm pretty sure I have), I am in LOVE with felting! The stripped bag was my first attempt, followed by the felted needle case, but now I have moved on to mittens! I received a pair for Christmas from Diane, and then immediately asked for the pattern so that I could make my own (the pattern itself is much easier than the other mittens I have made, so I am actually going to adapt it to work for non-felted mittens as well!).

Working on such large needles and few stitches (size 8mm and 28 stitches), you can probably knit the pair of them in one evening (if you knit as much as I do...), and then throw them in the wash to shrink them down. I will say that they do take some monitoring if you are planning on making them in different sizes. For this first attempt, I used up some leftover yarn and just let them run through the entire wash cycle. When they came out, as you can see from the photo (the magazine is for size comparisson), they reduced in size a fair amount, and actually fit my small hands quite nicely.

I realize that not everyone has small hands, so you will want to keep an eye as the wash cycle goes, and check frequently to see what size they are at. When they get to the desired size, take them out and rinse any remaining soap out in cold water, then lay flat to dry. You can also stretch and shape them a bit while they are still wet, so you can give that a try if they came out a wee bit too small.  And they are really warm! By felting them, you compress all the fibres in the yarn to make a thick, solid fabric, sure to keep the bitter winter winds at bay.

So, what next to felt? Well, I really like the idea of knitting felted stuffed toys, so I think I'll be checking out the library to see what resources they have there. It would be a great gift to give to a new mom (I have a few people in my life expecting new bundles of joy...), especially if they are not finding out the gender of the baby. Toys are great for being gender neutral that way...

Adventures in Tortilla Making!

Last night we decided to try our hand at making our own tortillas. If you have ever had fresh ones, you'll know that they simply do not compare to the store bought ones, and frankly, how hard could they be to make (that may sound sarcastic, but they really did turn out to be pretty easy)?!? I had also been given a tortilla maker/press for Christmas (thanks Erin and Brad!), so that also helped inspire us on our quest for fresh tortillas.

The recipe was very simple - flour, salt, water, and lard (I substituted butter as I was fresh out of lard that day). Mix together until it forms into a nice little dough ball, let rest for 30 minutes or so, and then begin forming them into individual balls and pressing them flat. It turned out to be quite simple and kind of fun, and something that both Matt and I could do together (I used his brute strength to help get the dough flatter...).

Simple, right? Place ball in centre of press, flatten, turn, and repeat (I did end up giving them a little roll with my rolling pin just to flatten them out a bit further).

Then fry in a warm pan with a little butter or oil; keep covered and warm in the oven until ready to serve (next time I might try cooking two at a time on our grill press. That might help keep them a little flatter, and move the process along a bit faster).

And when you're done, you have yourself a nice little tortilla to serve fresh with your favourite ingredients. Last night it was chicken fajitas, but I could see this working very well with beef tacos as well.  They are so moist and delicious, that believe me, the ones you get from the store will probably never suffice again. And I don't mind the extra bit of work it takes to make these ones, because they do taste so darn good! And if you find yourself with a few left over ones, just drizzle a bit of honey on them and you have yourself a sweet dessert for afterwards!

Trivia Tuesday

Photo Credit: foodanddrinkphotos

Did you know that today is National Popcorn Day?!?! Probably not, because neither did I until just moments ago. But now that I know, I'm super excited to share with you some perhaps unknown popcorn trivia.

Did you know:

• Popcorn was the first food to be deliberately microwaved.
• In an average bag of popcorn, the number of yellow kernels will outnumber the white ones by 9 to 1.
• Became a big snack food in theaters during the U.S. Great Depression.
• Threading popcorn onto a string is a very common Christmas tree decoration during tough times.
• The “Popcorn Capital of the World” is claimed by at least six mid-western states in the United States, but the majority of popcorn is grown in Nebraska and Indiana. Texas production is on the rise.
• Kernels that do not pop at the correct temperature where they should are known in the popcorn industry as “old maids”. A popped kernel is known a “flake”. 
• Popcorn kernels can pop up to 3 feet in the air.

And what goes better with popcorn than movies!? If you're like Matt and I (probably more like Matt), then you know that heading to the theatre means a big bag of buttery popcorn (just make sure that you buy enough for both of you to share!). So, let's test our knowledge today of Movie Trivia.

I hate to report that I only scored 20%... guess my movie knowledge is not that great! Good luck to you all, and let me know how you did.

And if you're in the mood for popcorn tonight, don't forget about my Caramel Popcorn Recipe...

 

 

 

Fat Friday - Beer Bistro

We finally made it to the Beer Bistro this weekend, and what a GREAT meal!! The ambiance was very hip, and it's a good thing we made reservations (we learned our lesson last week). A couple ahead of us walked in off the street about 6:20, and was told that there was no available tables until 9:00. It's a popular place, it seems.

As you can see from the photo, there is a lot of food! We opted to have four starters to share between the two of us, and paired it with some new and interesting beers. Each of the food is cooked or flavoured with their own beers, and hence their name. Even if you're not a beer lover, I would recommend visiting the Beer Bistro. If you haven't already, a great way to do so on a budget is Winterlicious, starting on the 29th. With a fixed price menu, you are sure to enjoy a sampling of their food.

Let me share with you what we indulged in, for your drooling pleasure:

From left to right, we enjoyed: The Cheese Fondue and The Belgium Fries

Followed by The French Onion Soup Dumplings, and the Kobe Beef Tacos

And, of course, a dinner is not complete without a sweet bit afterwards. For this we enjoyed a brownie sandwich:

Overall, we walked home stuffed but satisfied. We tried some really great dishes, and also had a nice sampling of beer. I fell in love with a new beer, Ephemere Cassis, a fruity flavoured beer from Quebec, and I'll be on the lookout at the beer stores to try this one again. And we'll certainly be going back to enjoy more of what the Beer Bistro has to offer.....

Toffee-Pecan Bars

As you may remember, the holidays were filled with not only shopping and wrapping, but baking, too! And yes, the holidays may be long forgotten, now that we are hard at work again and Christmas decorations have all been boxed up and stored away for another year, but that doesn't mean I still can't share with you a tasty treat.

These were Matt's favourite of the season, so I share with you now the recipe for Toffee-Pecan Bars.

Ingredients for Crust

3/4 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
2 cups flour



Ingredients for Filling 

1 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup corn syrup

2 cups coarsely chopped pecans

1 cup milk chocolate and caramel chips


Directions 

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bottom and side of 15x10x1-inch pan with shortening or cooking spray (do not use dark pan).
2. In large bowl, beat 3/4 cup butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar with mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg; beat until well blended. On low speed, beat in flour until dough begins to form. Press dough into pan.
3. Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat 1 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar and corn syrup to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Boil 2 minutes without stirring.
4. Quickly stir pecans into corn syrup mixture; spread over partially baked crust. Bake 20 to 23 minutes or until filling is golden brown and bubbly.
5. Immediately sprinkle chocolate and caramel chips evenly over hot bars. Let stand 5 minutes to soften. With rubber spatula, gently swirl melted chips over bars. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Cut into bars.
   

When choosing which cookies and treats to make over the holidays, I always look for quick and easy bars. You get the most bang for your buck by making one tray of goodies, without having to spend the time making dozens of individual treats. Just a small tip to keep in mind...

Off Topic: On another note, our Fat Friday dinner has been postponed until Saturday, so look for that update on Sunday. We have already made reservations at the Beer Bistro, so we are sure to make it there this time...

Guest Writer - Matt's Top 10 List

Every year, my fiance Matt puts together a list of his favorite television shows and series to share with his family and friends. I am happy to share this with you today, my friends, for your reading enjoyment (if you have not already read this...).

Hey everyone, it’s time for 2009’s Top 10 list…and only two weeks late (better than last year’s end-of-January list). To recap, I started this a couple years ago and people seem to enjoy reading it every year (based on the comments I get, such as ‘you are an idiot – you have terrible taste’), so I guess I’ll keep offering up my unsolicited opinions …

A big question I often get is ‘how do you find time for so much TV?’ I guess a more accurate name for this list would be Matt’s TV 2009 (dropping the Top 10) since the only shows I watch are the ones listed below (if a show is not keeping me interested, I stop watching). Plus a New Year’s resolution that Beth & I have to read more and watch less TV may make next year’s a Top 3 list…

Also, the usual disclaimer: these shows are ones that I (personally) watched in 2009 (and since I don’t have pay TV, some shows (e.g. Dexter) won’t be watched until this year on DVD).

First, the sub-categories:

1. As an avid-Anti Reality Show person, the three ones I actually do watch: The Amazing Race (still enjoyable), Survivor (Russell made it exciting again), Top Chef (mmmmm)
2. Shows that I used to enjoy but find truly unbearable now: Scrubs, Weeds, Heroes, SNL, Flash Forward (bonus points: this last one only took half a season!)
3. Honurable mention: Castle (fun guilty pleasure) Big Bang Theory (consistently funny), Office (still good but not what it once was), Rick Mercer Report & Dragon’s Den (these two are proof that my tax dollars can still churn out something worth watching)
4. Shows that are waiting for me on DVD so they can make next years’ list: Dexter (yes, I’m a little behind), The Wire (I know, I know, it’s the best show ever), Rome

And the Top 10 for this year:

10. How I Met Your Mother

I often hear ‘but it has a laugh track’…..when you generate this many laughs, even I can overlook that. This is more than just a means to an end (who even cares who the mother is); it’s an entertaining look at a group of friends growing up in New York City. A solid cast led Neil Patrick Harris plus writing that rewards loyal viewing puts this on the list for the second year in a row.

9. Better Off Ted

I’ll be pretty surprised if anyone reading this watches this show – the ratings are horrific (so it is probably two weeks away from cancellation). From the gifted comedy mind behind Andy Richter Controls the Universe (the cult show that I enjoyed watching again on DVD this summer), it’s a great send-up of corporate culture at a large U.S. conglomerate. Solid performances led by Portia DeRossi (who proved she could do killer comedy in Arrested Development) + sharp writing make this one a winner.

8. Glee A show unlike any other: completely over-the-top but never playing it safe. One of the most buzzed about shows of the fall, it’s got music (showcasing the power of great pop songs), comedy (Jane Lynch is top-notch), and drama (the reality of wanting to belong in high school). The show misses sometimes (pregnancy storylines, another ‘Glee club is doomed’ story) but it’s so nice to see a show try something different that it can be forgiven for those sins. I’m looking forward to the shows return….unfortunately, not until April.

7. Friday Night Lights

Thanks to the investment by DirecTV, this low rated but critically loved show received a third season (and the fourth is on its way to NBC this spring/summer). One of the best depictions of small-town USA life, it is anchored by the top notch performances of Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton. There’s been some turnover in the show’s young cast, but that only further adds to the realism of the show (people do go away to college, you know). A show with heart, humour and drama.

6. Fringe

A show from last year’s ‘Futures Pick’ list, it has become the next great sci-fi show. Whether the episode is part of the overall show arc/mythology or simply a creepy, self-contained episode, I find myself consistently enjoying it every week (and making in one of my first PVR playbacks from Thursday night). John Noble is brilliant as the eccentric Walter but the entire cast gives solid performances. Complex but not too myth-heavy, a show that has really hit its stride in its second season.

5. 30 Rock

Still one of the top laugh providers on my weekly TV schedule, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey really deliver. With a tone that veers from biting satire to absurd over-the-top humour, this show has introduced phrases such as ‘Shark Farts’ and ’I Want to go to There’ to my vocabulary (which no doubt makes me seem weird to people who don’t watch the show). As someone who works for NBC-Universal, I’m interested to see if the show incorporates the sale by GE into the plot this year….

4. Modern Family What a gem: the last comedy I remember arriving of the scene this fully formed was a little show called Arrested Development. Modern Family combines a snarky/sarcastic sense of humour with a good dose of heart (but not too sweet) for the fall’s best new show. The cast is solid overall, but early standouts include Ty Burrell as clueless dad Phil and Eric Stonestreet as son-in-law Cameron.

3. Breaking Bad

Bryan Cranston (who won his second Emmy in a row for this show) anchors this complex, darkly humorous and tragic look into the life of a man dying of cancer and the lengths he goes to to provide for his family. Finally getting a full season (Season 1 was cut short due to the writers strike) we became immersed in this world and, at season’s end, were left wondering where the web of deceit will take us next year.

2. Lost

Down from #1 last year but fully expected to regain that title for next year as we head into the final season. Definitely a more sci-fi heavy season last year but still unbelievably executed with amazing acting, writing and directing. The cliff hanger ending has only left us fans salivating in anticipation of the Final Season Premiere in just 3 weeks! Will the final episode satisfy everyone? Most likely not, but I’m just glad we’ve all been taken along on this exhilarating ride.

1. Mad Men

The jockeying between this and Lost for the #1 show seems to alternate in the last few years, but this year Mad Men was the show I found myself most looking forward to once the current week’s episode had ended. As Don Draper is finally forced to confront some issues he had so easily avoided before, the acting by Jon Hamm was second to none. January Jones and the rest of the cast also chipped in top notch performances and Matthew Weiner and his writing team delivered great drama against a historical backdrop. The season finale reset all the pieces & I already can’t wait for Season 4.

So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree?

New Year's Eve in Montreal

I know that I alluded to our New Year's Eve Dinner in Montreal in a recent post (I'm Trapped), and it was because I thought I had already shared with you all our delictable spread of cheeses and bread and wine. But alas, I was incorrect (I was probably getting confused with having posted our pictures on Facebook. Feel free to browse...).

To elaborate, Matt and I spent a few days over the holidays in Montreal exploring the sites and eating the food. We lodged at Hotel St. Paul, a really great little boutique hotel nestled in Old Town. We feasted on Poutine, of course (we wandered the streets for quite a while looking for an open cafe that actually served poutine! Turns out a lot of cafes/stores are closed for the two weeks of Christmas and New Years... who knew?). Then we raised the bar and enoyed some delicious Steak Frites, Montreal Smoked meat (at Schwartz's, no less..Probably the best I've ever had), and Montreal Bagels. Throughout it all, to feel less guilty about the food intake, we explored museums, the Science Centre, and art galleries. It was a really great cultural experience, and a really great way to spend some time together.

I'm not generally a fan of big, elaborate (expensive) New Year's Eve plans, so when Matt suggested a quiet night with just the two of us, I was all for it. We had our dinner out on the 30th (to combat the high prices at restaurants on New Year's Eve) and decided on a little picnic on the 31st. We stopped at the market for a fresh bagette and grapes, and picked up a few pepperettes and some really great Brie and aged cheddar (the picture is of the crumbly 5 year cheddar...yum!).  

After enjoying our meal and wine while cheering on Team Canada, we headed down to the harbour just before midnight to enjoy some fireworks and ring in the New Year. They were really great fireworks; in fact, we might have just created a new tradition for the two of us. I would not be opposed to heading back there every New Year!

Trivia Tuesday!

You might remember back to a previous post called Fun Facts. My intention was to keep this a re-occuring weekly post, but some how, time seemed to intervene and it was pushed to the back burner... as most great ideas do. I also wanted to have it occur on a particular day of the week (you know, to keep some structure in my life), but since I already had Fat Friday, I can't also have Fun Fact Friday (and I do love my alliterations...).

My fans seemed to really like the Fun Facts (ie, all 2 of them), so today I introduce to you, what should be re-occuring weekly, Trivia Tuesday! These will be fun quizzes that you can surely enjoy while procrastinating at work or while drinking your morning coffee, and I invite you to share your scores by posting a comment.

Today, let's test your General Knowledge about Popular Culture.

My knowledge is apparently not that great, as I only scored 40% on this particular challenge. Can you do better?

Knit Lit

I thought it might be fun to share with you my current bit of light reading: Friday Night Knitting Club. It was a gift last Christmas from Matt (he's so thoughtful that way...), and he continually bugs me that I haven't actually read it yet. So, I came across it and started into it, and not only is a great read, it's also very inspiring! I'm not that far into it, but the characters instantly grabbed me. I look forward to bedtime now to read a few extra pages. Secretly I have this dream to open my own store of crafted goods; this story may just be the inspiration I need. Either that, or it will inspire me to write a book...

I can't take the credit for the catchy "Knit Lit" name; most knitting magazines have a section of knitting related books, mainly reference type books, but this one happened to be fiction. There is a second book already out (Knit Two), and the first one has been made into a motion picture, which I might see after reading the book (I will probably have to find a girlfriend to watch that one with me...).

Matt and I have both decided that we watch way too much television at night, so it's going to be one of our New Year's Resolutions to watch less TV and read more (my goal is read two books a month and visit our local library more). It will be a challenge, because we have become fans of some good TV shows, so filtering out which ones stay and and which ones go could prove to be a challenge. The comforting thing is that most shows appear on DVD in the summer, so we could always catch up on them then.  We'll see how that goes...

Fat Friday - Les 3 Brasseurs

(My apologies that the photo is not that appetizing...)

This week's Fat Friday turned out to be a little bit of an adventure, and, I'm sad to say, also a bit of a let down. Our original plan was to eat at the Beer Bistro, but after arriving at a packed house and looking at a good 20 minute wait for a table to free up, we decided to dine elsewhere. At that point, however, it was well after 7, we were starving, and with it being very cold out, I think we were just thinking of what's close and what's fast.

So, we thought we would head up Younge St to The Hard Rock Cafe (and enjoy one of their burgers), but instead stopped to check out the menu at Les 3 Brasseurs on the way. It had been on our list of places to visit, and since the menu looked good and there was no wait, it was decided we'd eat there.

The atmosphere was pretty cool, and they offered plenty of local beers, which we were keen on trying. We settled on the Blonde and Wheat Beers, and decided to split between the two of us a Blonde Beer Burger and Pulled Pork Sandwich. We were a little disappointed that they wouldn't substitute the french fries for onion rings (even after suggesting we pay the difference...), and honestly, the burger and sandwich were not really anything special. Of course, we weren't too sure if that's because we had our hearts set on the Beer Bistro, or if the food just wasn't that great... We might go back to try the pizzas another day, however.

And can I just say thank goodness for the Toronto PATH! It was such a great way to avoid the bitter cold winds blowing along the streets, and do some window shopping along the way. Everything was closed, and there weren't very many people, but I think that just also added to the charm. It seems everything you need is right there...during open hours, of course...

I'm Trapped!

It may not come as much of a surprise to some of you when I confess that I LOVE CHEESE! Yes, if there is a place to add cheese while cooking, I will. On pizza, well, that's a given. On salad, yes please. In a hot pot, melted and gooey to dip bread, oh yeah! But even on its own, it really is a favourite treat of mine.

So I was pleasantly suprised to see the above in my stocking this Christmas. It's a cheese cutter that looks like a giant mouse trap! How clever is that!?! The 'hinge' is the slicing tool and is not attached to the board, but when storing it together, it looks very cool.

While I do not love all kinds of cheese (you may keep your blues, thank you...), it is fun to try different types and flavours, and discover what the local cheese shops have to offer. Leslieville Cheese has some good ones (and they have two stores, one of which is on Queen St W in our neck of the woods). Plus, they have Gourmet Grilled Cheese, which combines some really unique meats and cheeses and comes with yummy dipping sauces. 

As you know, our New Year's Eve dinner consisted of some really great cheeses, including Old Cheddar and Brie, and we've also discovered a recent fav called Niagara Gold. It's very smooth and creamy, and, well, just plain delish! I wonder how hard it is to make your own cheese? Perhaps that may be one thing I'll leave to the professionals...

A Full Pair of Mittens...

Following my previous post on mittens, I did manage to completed a full set (2 whole mittens!) in time to give to my friend for Christmas(the small round spot in the picture is a button I added as an extra gift, so not really part of the finished mitten, in case you were wondering...). They were quite simple to knit up, and I really enjoyed coming up with this spiral stripped pattern. I am loving the variegated yarns that knit differently when you work them in the round or back and forth, and loved seeing the patterns unfold each row. Plus, if you haven't noticed by now, I do have a thing for stripes...

The original colour pattern I worked from was good, but it didn't quite have the right look that I was going for. After finishing one mitten, I then spent a good half an hour or so deciding on what colour pattern would be right, and then modifying the pattern as such (there is actually a LOT of math involved in knitting!). I liked the way they turned out, at least the design, but I think I still have some tweaking on the actual fit of the mitten.

But now that I have another pattern for mittens (the pair Diane gave me), I think I'll be able to use that one going forward. It is essentially the same, but I like how they work the thumb and finish the top better than the pattern I worked from (is this all gibberish to you non-knitters!?!). Just another item to add to my collection... I really should be keeping track of these!

A Key Hole Scarf...

I came across this very cute scarf pattern in one of my many knitting books, and with some leftover yarn (you may recognize it from the felted needle case), I decided to whip up one of these scarves as an extra Christmas gift (because why don't I add another project to my list...?).  But, it was a great project to have with me on our many hours of car travels over the holidays, and since it worked up so quickly, I ended up making two (of course, that was more based on the fact that I ran out of yarn - again! - and had to buy a second one, so then I had extra of that!). It is meant to be a lot shorter than a regular scarf since you just tie it around your neck and then feed the end through the key hole, so it really does knit up quickly.

I really liked the shape and design of the petal-shapped ends, and knitting the key hole was not nearly as complex as I was fearing it might be. Simply divide your 30 stitches onto two double-pointed needles, alternating each stitch to the front and the back, and then work each side separately (that makes complete sense, right?!).

There are so many different variations to this scarf with colour, texture, and pattern, that it might be one I add to my repitoire and knit when I have any leftover pieces of yarn. Plus, I might experiment with felting one, just to see how it looks and feels. I have heard that felted fabrics are very warm, so that might be a good alternative to yet another design feature. In fact, I have the perfect wool waiting for just this project...

Why not make three?!?

Another one of my Christmas projects was to sew a bag for Matt's sister, Erin, who has recently gotten back into knitting. I was thinking just something small for her to keep one of her projects in, and for me, it was all about the choice of fabric. I also like to make things reversible (for you sewers out there, you know that it also means less seaming!), and that way, I get to pick out TWO fabrics!

While we were down in New Mexico, Matt took me to a fabric store, which mainly specialized in fabric for quilters. At first, I was hesitant to go in, as I'm not a quilter, but then the beautiful colours caught my eye, and with this project in mind, we spent a good 45 minutes in there (me browsing the fabric selection, Matt browsing the internet...thank goodness for Blackberry!). I was immediately drawn to the teals and browns, and found these two fabrics that I think compliment each other really well. And then Matt had a great suggestion (at least he thought so...). He suggested we make three bags, each one successively smaller than the previous, and give each to Erin and her two daughters. I, too, liked the idea, but that also meant a bit of added work.

But, after quickly sketching a pattern, I was able to knock out all three bags in just 2 days (we had a little sweat shop running out of our condo kitchen...). If you notice in at the very right of the picture above, you'll see a small coffee cozy, which I made for Erin's husband (I didn't think he needed a bag...). I also added their names to each bag with iron on letters, and I think they were a hit! Emily seemed to like hers....

I think these are really great little gifts to give, and I love making them. I sometimes make them as lunch bags, sometimes just totes, but they are really simple to sew up, and, let's be honest, a girl can never have too many bags/purses...

Felting 103 - Needle Case

It seems now that I've got the basic understandings of the felting process under control (you know, read the pattern, knit, wash, and repeat if necessary - it really is as simple as that!). My third felting project for the season was a felted needle case for Matt's mom to hold all of her knitting needles (or at least a portion...).

I found this great variegated green yarn and away I went, knitting just a basic rectangle, which you then fold in three to create the case. The most exciting part with felting is seeing what the finished product is going to look like, and in this case, I was really pleased. Sometimes the fabric does lose its shape after washing, so it might be necessary to stretch and shape it back into the original design. In my case, the rectangle seemed a little out of sorts, but the great thing with felting is that you can trim the edges to square it up and your work will not unravel! In my case, I trimmed the outside edges once I had sewn on the inside fabric.

Finding the right fabric for the inside, however, was a bit more of a challenge. Since the yarn was all sorts of shades of green, it was a decision between trying to match them all, or find a contrasting colour. In the end, I found this really great polka dot fabric (with Matt's help, of course. He usually is the one to find the right one...), and I think it turned out really great.

My next project is probably a pair of felted mittens, which I received as a gift from Matt's mom. I simply HAD to ask for the pattern and start knitting a pair...