Dishcloth Knitting Tutorial aka What in the world is "Mercerized Cotton" and what do I do with it.

Back last fall my friend sent me a message that read "I have huge bags of yarn and other crafty things.  Want them?"  To which I replied "DUH."I have a serious yarn habit.

I can home one day to THREE TRASH BAGS FULL of yarn and stuff on my front porch.  I literally squealed.  I went through and separated everything into piles and ended up with some stuff called "mercerized cotton".  It looks like embroidery floss, but thicker if that makes sense and was on all these little spools.  So, I got to googling.

According to WiseGeek.com :    Mercerized cotton is cotton which has been treated with sodium hydroxide to bring out certain properties first discovered by John Mercer in 1851.

Ok. So I know WHAT it is, but not what to do.   I threw it back in my plastic tub and flash forward to last week, I decide to do something with it.  I knew I didn't have enough to make clothing from, plus it is an odd feeling.  The slippery is weird.  I decided on dishcloths!

Again, off to google.  I saw TONS of tutorials for "Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth" and decided to go that route.  Most used normal yarn and since mine was so thin, I decided to double up on the threads.  Not really sure WHO to give credit to officially so I thank all knitting Grandma's out there for this one!

With the size of the yarn, I decided to use size 2 needles.  My needle length is 13.5inches. This was my determining factor in the size of the cloth.

Cast on 4
Knit across all four.
Next row Knit 2, yarn over, knit to the end.
Repeat the last row until you get the width you want.  

I ended up going until I had 80 stitches across.  When beginning to knit this you are making a big triangle.  By doing yarn overs you are adding additional width as well as the cute little holes on the sides. Yarn overs are literally just that.  Take the yarn from the back and loop it around the needle. After turning and going back across treat that as a stitch to knit.


Once at the width you want, time to start decreasing.
Knit 1, K2Tog, Yarn over, K2Tog, Knit across.
Repeat that until you are down to 4 stitches left on needle.
Bind off.
Weave in ends.

BOOM. Done.

 So, there you have it.  Super easy pattern to mindlessly knit, kill time, and bust your yarn stash!

Update on Nate for those interested.

As I mentioned last year, we have started weaning Nate off his meds. I really have no clue how my mom did this with me. It is so darn stressful.

The anti-seizure meds that he is on have to be slowly weaned off of. He was never on a super high dose to begin with, but this process is maddening. We have dropped his meds about 30% now (it took a month!) in morning and night. By the end of February we should be totally finished!

The super scary part is that he has a 50% chance of having another seizure within the next six months.  The likelihood of having another get less over time, but never fully goes away. Apparently, I could have one at any moment. 

I am trying to be a glass-half full kind of girl, but it is SO hard sometimes. 

I was just talking to Eric while I was making dinner how around this time three years ago, we were gearing up for a trip to Disney World. It was such a rough year with Nate having the seizures and V having her first throat surgery, it was an awesome time to unwind.

Who knows. Maybe I'll get picked to be a Disney Social Media Mom this year and I can get a trip back! A girl can dream, right? 

Kind of like the two ends of a book. Epilepsy was not a book I wanted opened and I will be SUPER happy to see it closed.

Where did the year go?

I know everyone talks about the busyness of the holidays, but being the crafter that I am, the end of the year is INSANE for me.

First, you have Thanksgiving. Then V's birthday.  Then start getting ready for Christmas. Throw in not one, not two, but THREE craft shows (one being huge and an hour and a half away) and my sanity is shot.

Every year at the point when the shows are over, I crash.  Literally.  My body says STOP and I get all the sickness.  Everything that everyone had for a month comes upon me and I turn into a zombie for a week. Necessary evil though because all the shows this fall went to Christmas gifts.  I literally paid for every single gift given to my family and extended family with money I made from shows. 

I know, I know....Eric helped purchase the supplies to make my wares, BUT I crafted, sewed, and peddled the wares on my own.  (Well, my friend Holli did help me when I was in Missouri. Can't forget that!  It isn't every day you have a friend volunteer her time and house to help you out!)

It felt great.  I stay home, help to raise the kids, keep the house clean (yeah,right), am a transporter of kids to and from, but I always feel bad about finances. Being able to give back to the family in a monetary way feels AWESOME.

So, here is to the end of the year.

I wish all of you a happy SAFE New Years Eve tomorrow.  I hope you get to spend it the way you want, whether it be hanging out with your loved ones, trying to convince the 8 year old that he in fact does NOT have to stay up until midnight (Oye. Aidan wants to this year), partying it up in the clubs (aka the good ole days) , or just sleeping (how I spent the first NYE with Aidan. Eric and I were passed out at 10pm!)

One last thing....resolutions...I know people do the "I am going to lose weight, exercise more!  blah blah blah."

My resolution...I don't really have one for this year.

I plan to work more (I have an online job) and I plan to take more me time.  I realize that I get very cranky without a down time in my day.  Maybe the gym? Maybe reading? Maybe a movie?  Who knows.  All I know is this mom needs some ME time after 8 years.

What about you?  How was your holiday season?  Did you survive? Resolutions....do you have any?

See you next year!  (And I know...this is a day early.  I am starting the ME time before the year starts!  RULE BREAKER!!)

What's Cookin' Wednesday!

My Gram was in town last week.  So, taking care of my three kids, having a 90 year old Gram to look after, and then I got the cold from Hades, my meal plans flew out the window. SOOOO....I have repeats this week. 

Eggplant Parmesan  Garlic bread to be added.  As well as spaghetti!

Cumin Lime Black Bean Quinoa Salad  and Roasted Cauliflower.  I REALLY liked the cauliflower when I made it last week. My hand was a bit heavy with the salt though.  Note to self....add less salt.

Turkey Burgers and Broccoli Apple Salad   I typically pride myself on my burgers. I normally just add Worcestershire Sauce and season salt.  I figured I would try a new recipe.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches   and Mostly Not Potato Salad

Taco Salad   Kids will get quesidillas.   I think they could live off of those.

Last but not least. This recipe is awesome.  Cucumber Salad  with Sour Cream and Dill Dressing  This is just a side for something. What that is, I don't know.


Desserts: 
Jello with strawberries and cool whip. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Oreo Pudding Poke Cake

Have a great week! 

Backyard Gardening...do you do it?

I haven't talked much about my garden this year, just because I was scared it would fail.  Seriously.  Last year I had squash and it was going fantastically.  I saw a lot of odd looking ladybugs, they were kind of orange. Ladybugs suppose to be good for a garden though, right?  I heard they eat aphids.  Then these happened.

 They look like cute little Minions from Despicable Me, don't that?  They are bugs sent straight from hell.  They eat through your squash plants.  They destroy them.  It was going fan-freaking-tastic....then death. Within a matter of days, the squash was gone.  RIP 2013 Squash.

So I was hesitant about the garden again this year, but I still planted.  I wanted to get that bumper crop of squash and zucchini that other people get! I wanted fresh veggies!  It is finally happening. The garden is growing.  

The devil bugs came back again.  I have been inspecting every day and picking them off and killing them.  I finally went to the nursery and got some "powder" stuff.  That didn't work.  I got sick of them and we headed to Lowe's and got some Sevin Spray .

I know,I know....poison. BUT this one it is safe for gardens and DOESN'T penetrate the plant. I wash off all my crops anyway before eating.  One quick spray/water killed the evil bugs. This says it kills on the plant and in the ground.  So far, so good.

This year I planted corn, asparagus beans, peas, squash, zucchini, peppers, and carrots. I had a few more things, but my squash over took the garden and no sun equals no plants. My zucchini never grew.  I went to the nursery and grabbed some cucumber plants and shoved them in. They MIGHT get some sun.  The squash is giant.  We are actually going to build another garden bed next year to plant all the poofy plants in.

See, giant. It is covering a good quarter of my planting area. THe bottom right is where I put the cucumber.  I am pretty sure I have some random flower growing there.  lol

So now you get to look at my random plants and ooooh and ahhhhh.  First up...corn!

I tried corn before and it failed.  The area we originally planted a garden got covered with trees.  I planted them in the actual garden this time.  It is going AWESOME.

When I told a friend I was planing asparagus beans, she reply "huh?"  Think: crazy long green beans.  I was getting REALLY bummed because nothing was happening. Just vines. Then one day, I had a gorgeous purple flower.

The flower was dead by the afternoon.  I was bummed. Then I noticed it was slowly sliding off.  Coming out of the dead flower was....A BEAN!!!! Seriously, how cool is that?

 

We did potatoes in the garden last year and they worked great, BUT it wasn't able to get very deep. I wanted lots of potatoes, so I figured I would do potatoes in a bucket. I had a bunch of green tubs that I got on super clearance at Walmart. I had Eric drill drainage holes in the bottom.  You throw some dirt in and place a potato on top.  Then throw more dirt on it.  I bought some of those "guaranteed to grow" potatoes at Lowe's.  I have found that guaranteed to grow does NOT actually guarantee growth.  I have tried strawberries twice. NOTHING.  So I figured I would give these a shot.

Nothing was happening.

Until something did.  Three of the 5 are growing!! Once they get a bit more "stalky" you add more dirt and keep repeating. This suppose to yield a BUNCH of potatoes.  You can read more about it HERE.

 I have about a million small flower pots, so I decided to grow some odd things too. I have artichokes. Once they get bigger I need to plant them in the ground.  They suppose to grow GIANT. I have 4.  I love artichokes.  I hope my neighbors do too!

 On our railing I have strawberries in pots.  I bought the "guaranteed to grow".  They didn't.  So I bought a flat from Lowe's. They are doing great! The birds are well fed! I need to buy a deterrent. Maybe a fake owl? That sounds more fun than just netting.

 In this mornings harvest I actually picked the first squash and TWO strawberries!!  Got them first ya filthy birds!

 Those are peas in the pods! Look how cute when you open them. My fingernail sliced a few. 

Last, but definitely not least....my fig tree.  It is growing so huge. It is a Chicago Hardy Fig. I probably should have kept the base trimmed a bit more then I first got it.  It has only been in the ground for a few years.

 This year is going to have a bumper crop of figs!  Normally I get a few at a time. Look how many are growing! I have to research some recipes!

 So excited to watch it grow this year!  I also have a pot of mini cucumbers. They suppose to get about an inch big and look like Barbie sized watermelons. They just started growing!

Do you plant "traditional" plants, or throw in some odd balls like I do?

What's Cookin' Wednesday Week 3

Yeah.....week three of What's Cookin' Wednesday didn't happen.  I had dance recital rehearsal that lasted until 9pm on Tuesday evening. It actually was later, but we left as soon as Nate was done.  Then I ran 900 errands the first day of summer vacation, then out of town guests, then recital, then Grandma sitting...and now it is Wednesday.  lol  Excuses, yep. I got them.

One thing I have noticed that I never keep up with is actual DAYS when I am making certain things.  So, I think just a bucket list of recipes for the week will work better.  Here goes!

Spaghetti with garlic bread.  I think I make the best garlic bread ever. Get a loaf of French bread, slather it with butter (half a stick on each side).  Make sure to leave it out a bit to get it soft before hand. After you slathered, sprinkle on oregano, parsley, garlic salt, garlic powder, and basil.  Put it on a pan and put it under the broiler in the oven.  You REALLY need to keep an eye on it.  It will toast fast, which means it will burn fast.  Sometimes when I don't have a loaf I make this on normal sandwich bread or hamburger buns. We aren't fancy here.

Chicken Enchilada Casserole.  (Stacked enchiladas)  These were SO good. It makes a bunch,so you will have leftovers.  I used used a large can of mild enchilada sauce.  I want to try her recipe though!  It sounds super easy to make.  TIP: If you need to get shredded chicken and don't have any made, grab your slow cooker.  I threw 4 boneless, skinless breasts in there and then added two cups of vegetable broth. You could use chicken if you have it. Turn it on high for four hours and leave it alone.  When it is done you can literally lift if out and shred with just one fork. You can just smoosh it and it shreds. So good and easy!

Squash Casserole Pretty sure this is Eric's new go to recipe. It is really yummy!  We were running late so we just served this with peas and salad.  Not the best "dinner", but it would be an awesome side dish!

Brown Sugar Meatloaf   Don't think less of me....I love meatloaf.  Well, turkey meat loaf. I haven't eaten beef or pork in 20 years.  HUG A COW AND PIGGY!  This recipe looks super yummy and I think it would go great with sweet potatoes.  One of Grandma's favorite foods.

Eggplant Parmesan I LOVE eggplant.  What I hate is frying the eggplant before you bake it. Eggplant sucks up SO MUCH OIL.  This recipe you bake the eggplant.I found it a while ago and it is now my go to.   I typically make spaghetti with it to throw the eggplant on top of and throw together a quick salad for the side.

Roasted Cauliflower  I love cauliflower and am planning on this for lunch one day.  Look how yummy it looks! I plan on eating it with Cumin Lime Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Cumin Lime Black Bean Quinoa Salad  It looks SOOOO good.

Desserts this week:

Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream

S'mores Ice Cream...RECIPE COMING!!!

Happy Eating!!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream Recipe!!! (or how I gained 5 lbs over night)

Back on May the 4th, we went to a comic book store for Comic Book day.  We had time to kill before we were allowed in and went to check out the ice cream store that was next to them.  Nate got Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Ice Cream and hasn't stopped talking about it since.

This week I figured I could be the coolest and try to recreate it.  I succeeded.  He told me it was BETTER than the ice cream shop.  Score one for mom! 

This ice cream is so good. You have the cinnamon of the ice cream and then the hunks of cookie. If you are an anti-raisin person, I still like you.  Just omit them from the recipe.  This recipe DOES call for planning. I baked my favorite oatmeal raisin cookies for this recipe.  You can do that as well, OR buy cookies. Either way, you need to have the cookies ready before the ice cream. The cookies are cut and frozen before being added to help keep them from falling apart in the churner.  I have a Cuisinart 2 quart Ice Cream maker and LOVE it.

My FAVORITE oatmeal cookie recipe is the Quaker Oats Vanishing Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Recipe.  If you don't want extra cookies, I would half the recipe.  I don't even really understand what I just wrote.  Who wouldn't want extra cookies?  Go ahead and make the whole recipe and eat one, or four, while they cool.  They have oatmeal, raisins, and eggs.  You could probably eat them for breakfast they are so healthy.

I have mentioned it before, but if you don't use a cookie scoop, you should.  A scoop helps to yield in uniform size cookies.  This is awesome for baking purposes because they cook at the same rate.  Plus, my kids like to be the "floppers".  V is a pretty awesome flopper.

After the cookies are cool, I grabbed about 10 and cut them into pieces.  This is where uniformity comes in. I did each cookie across in 3 or 4 pieces, turned the knife, and sliced across again 3 or 4 times. That way you get nice little squares.

Grab the squares, put them in a freezer safe container, and pop them in the freezer until they are ready for the ice cream. You should probably sample a square here...you know...quality control.

Time to make the ice cream!  (ice cream recipe adapted from The Live-In Kitchen)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup sugar (or 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup maple syrup)
• 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons cinnamon (to taste)
• 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt

Directions:

1. Pre-fill the sink with cold water and ice.
2. In a medium saucepan add the milk, sugar, and cinnamon.  Whisk them together and heat over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved. 
3. Remove from the heat and add the heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and salt.  Stir.
4. Take the pan over to the sink and hold it in the water being careful not to get water in the milk mixture. SLOWLY and carefully stir the milk mixture until it cools down.
5. Remove pan, dry off bottom, cover with plastic wrap, and stick the pan in the refrigerator for AT LEAST an hour, up to overnight  You need the base to be COLD.
6. Pour the base into your ice cream maker and process it according to your makers instructions. Mine was about 15-20 minutes. 
7. Add cookie pieces from the freezer and process it for a couple more minutes.

 At this stage I just turned off the machine and scooped the base into a big freezer safe bowl and stirred in the rest of the cookie chunks. My poor maker couldn't handle all the cookies in the bowl.

Ice cream makers are AWESOME, but it comes out like a soft serve typically. I like to be able to scoop it, so I threw the bowl (covered) into the freezer for another hour.

I ended up with perfection.

Enjoy!  S'mores ice cream coming later this week!