Lazy Cooking: Pumpkin Cake

Jane Deere, one of the foodie blogs that I read, shared a great recipe that I just had to try out last night.  It technically requires only 2 ingredients however, since we can't make things too easy... I used 5. 

Cake Ingredients:

- 1 box cake mix (I used spice cake as it is my favorite, though Jane Deere says you can use Vanilla, Chocolate, Buttered Pecan, or Carrot)

- 1 15oz can pure pumpkin

- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (optional)

- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)

Basically you mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until all the lumps are gone (I did this by hand and it took awhile).  Then you spoon the mixture into a well greased bundt pan and bake it at 350 degrees until a skewer or toothpick comes out with just crumbs on it.  Jane Deere recommended 20-30 minutes baking time, but I found I needed 40 to have the skewer come out cleanly.   So, I recommend that you start with the 20 minutes, poke the cake and stick it back in for 5-10 intervals until it's done so you don't accidentally overcook it. 

Rather than dusting with powdered sugar I opted to make a quick icing to dribble over the cake slices.  Consisting only of powdered sugar and water (and perhaps a little vanilla) this icing is super easy!  You start with about 1/4 cup of warm water and slowly add powdered sugar until you have a drippy, lump free consistency that you like.  I found that putting the mixture in the microwave for 20 seconds at a time to help the sugar dissolve removed almost all of the lumps without having to sift the powdered sugar beforehand.  Then all you have to do just drizzle it over the whole cake or just the individual slices.  I brought this cake to my office and the general consensus was that it was Yum!!!

My little blogging hiatus is officially over!

So, life's been pretty busy, then I was pretty lazy.... but never mind about all that, I'm back!  My little fall break from blogging is over and I'm ready to catch you up on the fun stuff I've been up to.

Leicester Harvest Fair - Sept. 17, 2011

This is my second year demonstrating along with other members of the FiberKnots at the Leicester Fair.  It being World Wide Spin In Public Day, I demonstrated spinning on my wheel Elphaba.  It's pretty cool telling people all about spinning...  all the little kids are really interested in how the spinning wheels work and often they just sit there and stare at you spinning away.  This year, in addition to demonstrating on my wheel, I entered a couple items to be judged.  I submitted some handspun I had made of the summer and a photo I had taken of a frog that came out particularly nice. While I didn't win anything for my picture I did get first place for my yarn, so that made me very happy :)  The fair is always a really fun day where I get to spend all sorts of extra time with all my knitsibs.

Tower Hill Botanical Garden - Sept. 18, 2011

The day after the Leicester Fair, my mom and I took a trip to Tower Hill Botanical Garden, which is one of our favorite places to visit.  We actually hadn't been there in a few years so it was cool to see just how much the gardens had grown in that time.  While we were there, they had some cool metal art placed in the gardens. 

They were also featuring a succulent show and sale when we were there.  The succulents tended to be very small and very interesting to look at.  There were lots of cactuses and other plants featuring very thick leaves.

While wandering through this garden and by this lovely fountain, we ran into a couple people my mom knew from work, who I knew as well, so that was a really nice surprise. 

Apple Picking - Sept. 24, 2011

 This is year.... uh.... more than two.  Right! of us going apple picking.  I'm sure it's been something like ten actually, but my brain isn't working right now.  This year we went to Stowe Farm in Millbury, MA.  We got to take a couple hay rides as the orchard we were picking from was a little ways down the road. 

I think we picked a little late this year as there were lots of apples already on the ground.  Nevertheless we gathered up our bags and set back off for the second hay ride back. 

  

I'm trying really hard to remember to take pictures of myself so I don't just document what other people are doing but actually include myself in the group.  Not always so easy, but I think I'm getting better about it.  Luckily lots of my friends are good photographers, so I can hand off my camera with confidence.

Trip to Maine - Oct. 7-10, 2011

Mom and I went to the farmer's market in Bath on a beautiful Saturday morning.  We bought lots of produce including some from the farmer that is using some of my family members' fields on the island.  It's really nice to see the farmland actually being used instead of sitting fallow.  We got my dad a giant club of brussels sprouts... yes, I know that sounds weird, but the sprouts pop out of what looks like a giant blunt force trauma weapon.  I'm bummed I forgot to take a picture of it :(  You can learn more about Tarbox farm on their website at www.squiretarboxfarm.com

That afternoon, once Brian made it to the house, we took a trip to the Sweetgrass Winery and Distillery in Union where we had a tasting for I believe just $2.50.  I tried some apple and cranberry apple wine as well as their maple cranberry smashes.  Oh my, that cranberry smash was sooooo good!  It's more of a dessert wine or a cordial that a regular wine, but it was so yummy.  I also tried their rum which pretty much knocked me on my butt, lol. 

Mom and Brian with their tasting glasses and the little of spirits to try.  Too bad one of us had to drive home!  You can check out the Sweetgrass Winery at their website www.sweetgrasswinery.com

NY Sheep and Wool Festival - Oct. 15, 2011

This was me second trip to Rhinebeck, NY.  I drove out with one of my knitsibs and her two kiddos.  It was a fun but very long day.  I got to pick up some yarn I have been itching to get my hands on for awhile and I also got to meet a couple of the podcasters that I listen to every week on my commute.  In the picture below, I'm with Melanie and Deborah of the Savvy Girls Podcast.  They are absolutely hilarious to listen to and I was really happy to get to meet them both.  Thanks ladies for making my first fangirl experience a good one! If you want to learn more about the New York Sheep and Wool Festival you can check out their website at www.sheepandwool.com

King Richard's Faire - Oct. 16, 2011

To end my adventures, Brian and I went to Kind Richard's Faire this past Sunday.  We had meant to go earlier in October but the weather would just not cooperate.  While we were only there for a few hours, we listened to some awesome pipers and drummers known as Cu Dubh as we ate very yummy turkey stew.  Afterwards Brian finally was convinced to go get his picture taken with the hawk and I picked out a new flower wreath for my hair to match my faire costumes.

We finished the day by watching the joust, which Brian had actually never seen before.  We had a lovely time, I just wish we had been able to go with our friends the day before.  Instead, someone was gallivanting with yarn and sheep in NY.  I wonder who?

Finished Object Friday:

I know I've been a bit quiet lately.  Had loads of stuff going on at home and at work.  I should be back to doing more regular posts soon, but today I wanted to share the most recent project I have finished, which is my pair of Elegant Fingerless Gloves.  Ok, so I don't have a picture of both of them together since I haven't had time to take the final pics for Ravelry, but I do have this picture of one of them. 

I would take one of the pair now, but they are currently in the hands of a fellow FiberKnot who was kind enough to submit them to be judged at the Leicester Harvest Fair since I can't get there in time tonight to submit them myself.   I'm really excited about entering them since I love how they came out.   They are just so skooshy and warm, which is especially nice since recently it's decided to act like it's fall outside.  I also entered a skein of my merino handspun and a photo I recently took of a frog.  I'll make sure to update you on how I did after the fair is over.  Hopefully I'll come home with a ribbon or two, but who knows. 

Fiberlicious Friday: Madelinetosh Tosh DK

So, I started a new and fun project and it's actually for me!!!  Yeay :D  I picked up some gloriously squishy Madelinetosh Tosh DK when I was up in Maine back in July and really had no ideas of what to make with it until I came across the Elegant Alpaca Fingerless Gloves pattern on Ravelry (link to pattern below).  You can also download the pattern at the Cascade Yarns webpage if you don't have access to Ravelry.

I had a bit of time to myself last night, so I decided to cast these babies on.  For one night's work I actually got pretty far. I did make some changes to the pattern to ensure that the gloves fit me properly.  This patten makes gloves that go up to the upper arm and since I have a lovely pair of chunky upper arms (grrrr), I decided to increase the starting stitch count to 68 from the original 56.  I just had a feeling that casting on only 56 stitches would cause me much misery and frogging...  Because of this alteration I will most likely have to do more decreasing as I work down the arm since in comparison to my large upper arms, my wrists are decidedly tiny (again, grrr).  I'm going to have to just make alterations as I go to make sure of a good fit.  It should be a nice little challege withou being too difficult.  I think I can handle it :)

So Very Soon!

Lol, is it wrong to be so excited about my tomatoes finally starting to ripen?  Cause that's what's happening!  I snuck out and took a peek to see how the big guys were faring and I saw a hint of red!  YIPPEE!!

Ok, I know it's silly, but really, stuff like this just puts a smile on my face.  Since I've mostly focused on growing herbs for the past 5+ years, the concept of growing produce is just cool.  Since I seem to be able to grow tomatoes AND finally managed not to kill my basil this year, I think I'm going to try cucumbers next summer.  That is if I can find baby cucumber plants... I don't start from seed because it takes too long and I don't have the space to let them grow inside before the frost stops.  Maybe I'll try growing from seed once I have a house, but I make no promises!

The "I Must Be Crazy" Lacy Simple Scarf Update

So, after working on this scarf for about two weeks now, I am happy to report that I have not yet gone crazy and I have actually made some very good progress!  Through the prodigious use of lifelines at the beginning of each panel of lace (and in some cases, many, many more) I am almost complete with the first half of the scarf and very happy with how it is turning out.  I just have the last lace section to go before binding off.  Then I get to do the whole thing over again. Sigh... did I mention how much I hate knitting the same thing twice?

I've mostly been knitting the scarf during lunch breaks or before work with the occasional long stretch at knit night or at home on a weekend.  I find I can listen to tv when I work on it, but not very closely, so Food Network or HGTV is my background noise of choice.  I'm making this scarf for charity, so I do have a bit of a deadline and some stress about doing a good job knitting it.  I think I can get it done in time though... as long as I don't get distracted by something else for too long.  I think you might know just how easily I can get distracted by other projects.

 

In a frenzy to take a nice picture of my progress when it's been raining pretty much for two days, I went to a local coffee shop after work today and plunked myself down in a chair to knit and enjoy an iced coffee.   Ok... I got some quiche too, but don't tell anyone ok?  It's a secret!  I'm supposed to be behaving myself :)   On that note, I think it might be time to make some dinner, so I guess I'll finally stop chattering and show you what the completed section of the scarf looks like.  Until next time!

How Does My Garden Grow?

Well, I would have to say, pretty darn well! :D

All of my herbs are flourishing (even the BASIL!!!!) in all this sunshine and heat, although I do have to be careful about watering them every day so they don't get droopy and sad looking.  The only one I barely pay attention to is the basil.  It almost never needs to be watered and likes it that way thank you very much!  So, after 4 years of horrible basil death, I have finally been able to get 1, just one, measly plant to survive and do well.  But, I'll take it!  We used our first harvest of the herbs in some burgers and meatloaf this wek, so I think it's safe to say that my victory is complete...

Come to think of it, I've been able to harvest quite a lot from all of my lovely plants so far, with the exception of my tomatoes.  Don't get me wrong, they are doing just fine.  It's just that the cherries haven't quite ripened yet and the larger ones (I have no idea what they are called) are still in the growing stages and haven't even started turning anything resembling reddish in color.  

 

My cute cherry tomatoes just after a watering.  This plant has been producing so many flowers and then fruit, it's just amazing!  I think there are over 20 little guys developing right now and it just keeps growing!

These are my big fellas.  I have two plants of these and while there aren't as many of them in process, they look very healthy and started producing fruit much later than the cherry plant.  I have 3-4 clusters of 2-3 tomatoes each on these plants.

While it is getting late in the season for my lilies, I have been able to take some nice pictures of the two varieties I have.  I love this ivory one especially.  The other one, picture below, oddly enough matches a yarn I made for Tour de Fleece almost exactly.  Strange huh?

Speaking of Tour de Fleece, I was actually not so good about it this year.  I did make some nice yarns, but I kind of got bored and moved on to other things for the last two weeks of the tour.  I'm ok with that and I did get some nice yarn spun up in the first couple weeks, so while I wasn't a real competitor, I did participate and I think the two weeks has really helped my spinning skills.  I even learned to long draw during the tour, which is one of the methods of drafting fiber that I had never done before.  

Long draw basically means allowing the wheel and the twist you are putting into the yarn to draft out the fibers for you rather than strictly controlling the supply of fiber by using both hands and pinching the fiber at the point where the twist comes into it.  Long draw generally makes less dense yarns because there is more air trapped in between then fibers.  It's still not easy for me, but I CAN do it with some concentration now, so I've very happy about that.  The video below is a good demo of what long draw or woolen spinning looks like.  As an added bonus, the music is pretty good too :)

And finally, the hyper rose has slowed down pushing out its usual riot of pink flowers.  So, the whole plant looks pretty boring right now.  But, I did see a few new flowers and buds poking out, so maybe we're in store for yet another set of blooms.