Fuzzy Open Shell Scarf - Crochet

Good morning,

Here's another project that I started awhile back and have just finished. 

This is a lovely fine yarn and I'm glad that I have quite a bit of it to make a variety of items.  It is fuzzy so when using a lacy type stitch, the "fuzzies" fill in the spaces.  It's light and soft, so is nice perfect for cool Spring day and just as perfect for next Fall.

Enjoy!

Lois

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Fuzzy Open Shell Scarf

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Materials:

2 skeins Patons Lacette (#2 Fine) yarn, 50 gr. 1.75 oz skeins

H  crochet hook.

Row 1 (rs): chain 43, sc in second ch from hook, skip 1 ch, *(dc, ch 1, dc) shell made in next ch, skip 1 ch, sc in next ch, skip 1 ch. Repeat across ending in sc in last ch.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as first dc and ch 1) and dc in top of sc of previous row, *sc in center space of shell of previous row, shell in next sc of previous row. Repeat from * ending with shell in last sc.

Row 3: ch 1, *work sc in center of shell of last row, shell in top of sc of previous row. Repeat from * ending in sc in top of last shell.

Repeat rows 2 and 3 for pattern.

Work 54" from beginning.

Break off.

Weave in ends.

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Patons Silk Bamboo Yarn - Sea

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Girls' Night In

Good morning,

On a beautiful early spring type of day when it was warm and sunny during the day and cold at night, my daughter, Catherine, and I had a Girls' Night In.  

We treasure our days at home when we can enjoy the house and garden. We like having big family dinners when Dad is home (my honey was in Finland for a few days on a business trip this day) and all three of the kids and their kids are here, but this was not the case this time.

This was just a relaxing mother-daughter Girls' Night In.  Links to the recipes are below.

In the morning before she went to her office Catherine made cabbage rolls in the crock pot. The aroma was wonderful all day and the dinner that night was terrific.

I went outside to enjoy the sunshine and pull some weeds from around the emerging flowers

while I had some bread started in the kitchen.

I made my egg bread and divided the two loaf recipe into a large standard loaf, a round loaf and six buns.

Nice Buns!  Grab Some Today!  ;-)

The round loaf at the top left was to give to a neighbor who lives alone, the standard loaf top right was for our family tomorrow.  The six buns accompanied those cabbage rolls.

Everything we make in our kitchen is Lab Tested.  Here is the Lab Testing Department.  :-)

It was a lovely day and evening, but it is always nice when the rest of the family can be here, too.

Recipes:

The Cabbage Rolls.

The Rich Egg Bread.

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Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Recipes for Two: For the Small Slow Cooker

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Ranch Dip Bread - Recipe

Good morning,

More bread!

I travel with my husband about half of each year, so being home is a time to relax and enjoy things we can only do here.  While home I make fresh bread almost every day.  There's just nothing like the aromas and taste of fresh bread. The special flavor in this bread is the ranch dip.

By writing up all of my recipes and getting them here I am finally making a record of them.  I have been making bread for so many years that I just go to the kitchen and make it; I had no written recipes until now.

So, for family and friends who have asked for my recipes and for anyone else who would like to have them, here is another bread recipe.  :))


Lois

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Ranch Dip Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup sourdough culture - If you don't have sourdough culture, use 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup water, and an additional t of dry yeast in addition to the one listed below.  The dry yeast will cause your bread to rise, but you won't have the sourdough flavor.

2 eggs

2 T vegetable oil

1/2 cup ranch dip

cup water

3-3/4 cups flour

1 rounded t dry yeast

Place all ingredients in large capacity bread machine in order given. Set on dough cycle and turn on.

The first dough cycle on most machines is about 40 minutes. Watch the action to be sure a dough ball forms at least 1/3 way through the cycle. Add a little flour or water if necessary to get the correct consistency.

When first dough cycle finished, remove from machine and place in a greased bowl for first rise. Place the bowl in a warm place such as the oven with the light, but no heat turned on. If you place it out on the counter in a warm place, cover with a damp cloth. This batch required about one and a half hours for the first rise. Keep in mind that the temperature in your kitchen and the mood of the sour dough yeast can change the time required for the dough to rise.

Grease 6 small bread pans.

After the first rise, knead the dough to remove bubbles. Divide in 6 parts, shape in loaf shape, and place in bread pans.

When it is finished rising the second time, bake at 350 F for 35 mins.

Remove from oven, turn out to cooling racks immediately.

Click here for more of my bread recipes.

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Victorinox 10-1/4-Inch Wavy Bread Knife, Black Fibrox Handle 

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Neck Warmer - Knit

Good morning,

The neck warmer is basically just a sweater collar without the sweater.  It's oh-so-easy and is such a nice item to have in your wardrobe. It can be used under a shirt as a dickey, too, to add a touch of color to a plain shirt or sweater. It is especially nice to wear pulled up over your nose and mouth on really cold days when walking the dog/s and you don't want a scarf flying around when you are handling one or more leashes.

I was moved to make this because I had a ball of this gorgeous yarn left over from another project.  I love the color and like the feel of it next to my skin so this is a perfect use for it. 

I just can't let any little piece of yarn go unused. :)

Very best,

Lois

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Neck Warmer - Knit

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Materials: about 2 oz. of #4 yarn, #9 circular knitting needles

Cast on 88 st, place marker, join being careful not to twist, and work in round.

k2, p2 for 8 "

Bind off in pattern.

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Red Heart Soft Baby Steps Yarn-Kitty Print

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Light and Sweet Whole Wheat Bread - Recipe

Good morning,

We love bread at our home and we love home made bread. 

I've used both sourdough culture and dry yeast in this recipe. This is because I don't have the time to wait for the sourdough culture to do its thing. By using the culture and the dry yeast, I'll get some of that great sourdough flavor, but will have my finished bread in time for dinner with the beef stew that is already in the crock pot. :)

Enjoy,

Lois 

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Light and Sweet Whole Wheat Bread - Recipe

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Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups sourdough culture - If you don't have sourdough culture, substitute 3/4 cup flour and 3/4 cup water in addition to the ingredients listed below. The dry yeast will cause your bread to rise, but you won't have the sourdough flavor.

1 egg

2 T vegetable oil

2 t salt

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup water

1/4 cp honey

1 cup whole wheat flour     

2-1/3 cups bread flour (or all purpose, but not self-rising flour)

2 t dry yeast

Place all ingredients in large capacity bread machine in order given. Set on dough cycle and turn on.

The first dough cycle on most machines is about 40 minutes. Watch the action to be sure a dough ball forms at least 1/3 way through the cycle. Add a little flour or water if necessary to get the correct consistency.

When first dough cycle finished, remove from machine and place in a greased bowl for first rise. Place the bowl in a warm place such as the oven with the light, but no heat turned on. If you place it out on the counter in a warm place, cover with a damp cloth.  

This batch required about two hours for the first rise. Keep in mind that the temperature in your kitchen and the mood of the yeast can change the time required for the dough to rise. Also, the sugar and honey slowed down the action of the yeast so the rise took a little longer.

If you are using crockery or glass pans/dishes for baking, set the them in a warm place, too. I use my second oven with the light turned on.

This recipe will make two standard size loaves. For this batch, I'm using six small loaf pans and a small pie plate for a round loaf. By making multiple smaller loaves instead of two larger ones, I am able to share some of each batch with family and friends.

After the first rise, knead the dough to remove bubbles. 

Grease bread pans.

Divide into the number of parts as the number of pans you will use. Shape in loaf shapes, and place in bread pans.

When it is finished rising the second time, bake at 350 F for 45 mins. for two standard size pans.
  
Remove from oven, turn out to cooling racks immediately.

Click here for more of my bread recipes.

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 USA Pans 8.5 x 4.5 Inch Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan with Americoat Loaf Pan

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Indoor Picnic

Good morning,

Does that cheeseburger look terrific or what!

Sometimes we just can't wait to have a picnic when the sun is shining and it is warm outside.

These images are of my son and his four children and my daughter at our indoor picnic.  It's still pretty chilly outside for picnics and this particular day it rained, too.  My daughter braved a few raindrops and grilled the hamburgers outside and put the picnic spread out on the table in our dining room.

What a fun day! 

The kids will enjoy seeing themselves here and their cousins out of town are also invited to take a look.  My honey will also see these pictures for the first time since he was in Finland on business and missed this picnic.  We'll have another one soon, Honey.  :) 

Very best,
Lois

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 Little Tikes EasyStore Table 

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Ribbed Hat - Knit

Good morning,

Here is the very easy pattern for a hat to match my Ribbed Scarf with Ruffles published earlier.  The yarn is so very lovely that even the most simple pattern produces an elegant piece.

I made this hat to accompany the scarf as a gift for a young girl in our family.  It's easy to do the math to make it in a larger size if that's what you need.

This hat and scarf set will be a gift next Fall, but I make many gifts well in advance and put them in the "gift box" until needed.  In fact, warmer months are a great time to make smaller items that aren't too warm to have on your lap while working.

Very best,
Lois
 

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Ribbed Hat to Match Ribbed Scarf with Ruffles

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Materials:

Size 5 needles: 1 set dp needles, 1 24" circular needle

2 skeins Patons Lacette (#2 Fine) yarn, 50 gr. 1.75 oz balls

matching sewing thread and needle

yarn needle

1" fancy button

Size: Child or Adult Small

Finished size: 20 " diameter (slightly stretched); 11" height

Gauge in k2, p2 rib: 28 st (not stretched) = 4"; 16 st (stretched) = 4"; 28 rows = 4"

Start at bottom:

Cast on 100 st.

k2, p2 for 10"

Begin decreases at crown (switch to dp needles when needed):

Round 1: * k2, k2 tog, repeat from * (75 st)

Round 2: k

Round 3: *k1, k 2 tog, repeat from * (50 st)

Round 4: k

Round 5:* k2 tog, repeat from * (25 st)

Round 6: k

Cut yarn 18" from work.  With yarn needle thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull tight. Take a few stitches to hold in place.

Sew button in place, break off, pull end inside hat.

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Patons Angora Bamboo Yarn-Low Tide

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Egg Bread with Flax Meal

Good morning,

Here's another bread recipe.  Flax is one of those plants that gives us fiber for linen fabric and seeds for our diets.  Flax meal is said to be good for the skin.  It also adds to the moistness and texture of this bread.

It's so good to be home and able to make bread every day again.    Let me know if you like this one.  :)

Enjoy,
Lois

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Egg Bread with Flax Meal

1 egg

2 T vegetable oil

2 t salt
 
2 t sugar

2 T nonfat dry milk


1 cup warm water

1 rounded t flax seed meal

3 1/3 C flour

2 rounded t dry yeast

Place all ingredients in large capacity bread machine in order given. Set on dough cycle and turn on.

The first dough cycle on most machines is about 40 minutes. Watch the action to be sure a dough ball forms at least 1/3 way through the cycle. Add a little flour or water if necessary to get the correct consistency. 

When first dough cycle finished, remove from machine and place in a greased bowl for first rise. Place the bowl in a warm place such as the oven with the light, but no heat turned on. If you place it out on the counter in a warm place, cover with a damp cloth. This batch required about one and a half hours for the first rise. Keep in mind that the temperature in your kitchen and the mood of the yeast can change the time required for the dough to rise.       

If you are using crockery or glass pans/dishes for baking, set the them in a warm place, too. I use my second oven with the light turned on.

For this batch I used four small loaf pans and a round pan. Or, this batch will make two standard size loaves.

After the first rise, knead the dough to remove bubbles.

Grease bread pans.

Divide into the number of parts as the number of pans you will use. Shape in loaf shapes, and place in bread pans.

When it is finished rising the second time, bake at 350 F for 35 mins. If using 2 standard size loaf pans, bake at 350 F for 45 mins.

Remove from oven, turn out to cooling racks immediately.

Click here for more of my bread recipes.

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Pyrex Bakeware 1-1/2-Quart Loaf Dish, Clear

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Garlic and Cream Cheese Bread - Recipe

Good morning,

This batch of bread was made for my daughter to take to a board of directors meeting at her AKC dog club.  The dogs were not there for the meeting so the humans got all the snacks.   

We didn't have to worry about left overs.  :)

Happy eating!

Lois

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Garlic and Cream Cheese Bread

Ingredients:

1 egg

2 T vegetable oil

2 t salt

2 t sugar

1 oz cream cheese
    
3/4 cup warm water

1 T minced garlic

3-1/3 cups bread (or all purpose, but not self rising) flour

2 rounded t dry yeast

Place all ingredients in large capacity bread machine in order given. Set on dough cycle and turn on.

The first dough cycle on most machines is about 40 minutes. Watch the action to be sure a dough ball forms at least 1/3 way through the cycle. Add a little flour or water if necessary to get the correct consistency.

When first dough cycle finished, remove from machine and place in a greased bowl for first rise. Place the bowl in a warm place such as the oven with the light, but no heat turned on. If you place it out on the counter in a warm place, cover with a damp cloth. This batch required about one and a half hours for the first rise. Keep in mind that the temperature in your kitchen and the mood of the yeast can change the time required for the dough to rise.

If you are using crockery for baking, set the empty bread pans in a warm place, too. I use my second oven with the light turned on.

For this batch I used an oval Roseville dish and two smaller loaf pans.

After the first rise, knead the dough to remove bubbles.


Grease bread pans.

Divide in 1 larger and 2 smaller parts, shape in loaf shapes, and place in bread pans.

When it is finished rising the second time, bake at 350 F for 35 mins.

Remove from oven, turn out to cooling racks immediately.

To serve that large oval loaf as pictured at the top of this article, cut a hole in the top/center, break up those pieces and place them around the side of the plate for dipping. Score the rest of the top so pieces can easily be broken off. Fill the hole in the center with spinach dip.

Click here for more of my bread recipes.

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 CorningWare 2.5-qt. Oval Casserole with Lid - French White

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View of Skyline of Cincinnati from Newport on the Levee

Good morning,

We recently met with friends at Newport on the Levee in Northern Kentucky to go to dinner. 

Our friends were in town to visit relatives in the area and to take the kids to the Newport Aquarium that is part of the Newport on the Levee Complex.

While we were waiting, I took a couple of snapshots of Cincinnati from the Kentucky side of the Ohio River.  I was surprised to see the new major construction going on over there.

The picture to the right is taken from the same spot, only looking up the river at the Purple People Pedestrian Bridge and Mt. Adams beyond.

We met at Newport on the Levee where there are plenty of good restaurants, but we were in the mood for German food at the Hofbrauhaus that is across the street.  We were not disappointed!

It was a day and evening of great food and company.

Yum!

Lois

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1 Liter HB "Hofbrauhaus Munchen" Dimpled Glass Beer Stein

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