Category: Crochet

Now that school isn’t an obstacle that must be planned around, I would love to while away all my summer hours getting better acquainted with my oven. Unfortunately, although time is no longer an issue, I simply haven’t had enough visitors or events to justify the production of the elaborate cakes or pastry creations I’m so eager to experiment with. Still, the show must go on all the same- How else would I continue writing new recipes? That’s why I’ve discovered the wonder that is known as small batch baking, and tiny cakes amounting to barely a tablespoon of batter each have been flying from the kitchen in record numbers. Appealing like a little cupcake but with all the charm of a standard layer cake, the temptation to neglect standard cakes is truly had to resist when faced with an army of these diminutive confections.

Don’t bother cutting yourself a slice, or even picking up a fork for that matter; It’s already the perfect size for one big bite! As you can see, I got out a big stack of plates for everybody to share, but the other tiny treats were just so enticing, I’m afraid that my voracious sweet tooth managed to spare only this little chocolate and strawberry cakelet. But don’t fret, I still want to share this remaining sweet treat with you! That’s right, it’s time for a contest, and the prize is this miniature crocheted cake right here. All you have to do is be the first person to guess exactly what this is a picture of:

 

Try to be as specific as possible, because the prize will go to whoever is the absolute closest before July 4th, at which time I will announce the winner. I know you guys are really quick, so I’m not giving any hints!

Good luck, I hope to see a guess from everyone!

EDIT: Wow, I really underestimated you guys! I would have to say that VeggieGirl takes the cake with the very first guess! Although they’re actually Joe-Joe’s and not Oreo-brand oreos, she’s still dead on, even going as far to recognize them as the same cookies I used on my Father’s birthday cake! Truly amazing… Next time, I suppose I’ll have to make this a whole lot harder!

Foodies aren’t the only ones going back to their “roots,” so to speak, and seeking out more uncommon produce these days, as awareness of the myriad of fruits and veggies at our disposal is reaching new heights even within the average American home. Before the last decade or so, what self-respecting housewife would have been able to so much as utter the word “arugula” without sounding like a crazed schizophrenic? Now it’s practically a necessity, right up there with enoki mushrooms, endive, and all other high-end vegetative material. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m certainly not saying that attention to these edible treasure that were previously shunned is a bad thing, it’s just that those caught just outside of the spotlight’s kindly gaze are becoming fast forgotten. These days, plain old potatoes aren’t nearly good enough to grace the dinner table, especially when you could have fabulous jicama fries instead. Forget those day-glow orange carrots; They’ve been served to death, be it stewed, sauteed, or raw. Sadly, the old classics just don’t seem to excite diners like they used to.

Losing sight of those most basic, everyday staples that we all were once more than happy to throw into our soups and salads is an easy feat when such exotic varitions are now possible, but that doesn’t mean the classics have any less culinary potential. Think of all those delicious just tragically average vegetables that are doomed to rot on their shelves, just because some newcomers stole the show. Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to take any of the supermaket’s bounty for granted, so I still peruse through the old standards, even if I know exactly what to expect.

Passing slowly by the walls of greenery, the sheer number and volume of plant matter is enough to occupy the eye even far into the distance, so I found it difficult to keep tabs on everything up for sale. All the same, one lone vegetable hiding way at the bottom did manage to catch my eye; Clearly misplaced with no family members in sight, just one small radish sat patiently awaiting a taker. Although radishes had always made an appearance on party platters at my grandparents’ house, I realized that I had never actually tasted these red roots. Figuring that there’s no time like the present, this little guy was clearly destined to land in my basket.

Try taking a step back from hoity-toity “gourmet” foods and rediscover how delicious the regular offerings can be! Even if radishes aren’t the epitome of great taste, they sure are adorable, so here’s a pattern to make one that you can admire endlessly and is guaranteed never to rot on you!

Radish:

With an F hook and white worsted weight yarn…

Sc 6 st in a circle, and leave the tail end of the yarn on the outside (or right side) of your radish. Trim it so about 1 inch sticks out of the tip.
Sc around (6 st)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (9 st)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (12 st)
-Switch to red worsted weight yarn-
Sc1, sc 2 into next st* around (18 st)
Sc2, sc twice into next (24 st)
Sc around for 2 rounds
Sc2, sc2tog* around (18 st)
Sc1, sc2tog* around (12 st)
-Stuff-
Sc2tog (6 st)
Break yarn and gather opening together, tying tightly.

Leaf: (Make 2)

Using the same hook with a dark green worsted weight yarn…

Ch20, sc into second ch from hook, sc in next 10. [hdc, dc, tc, dc into next st,] *4x
Continuing around in same st, tc, [dc, tc, dc in same st, hdc]* 4 times. Sl st, break yarn leaving a good length to sew with.

Simply attach the two leaves to the top using the excess length of yarn, tie tight, and weave in the ends. Enjoy the classic veggies along with the new, and don’t be afraid to pick up that misplaced oddity in the produce section – It may prove to be a treasure you’ll always remember!

Well, it’s official: Summer time has come to stay. The actual summer solstice may have snuck by me as the days have been flying by at an unreal pace these days, but I still would have felt the seasonal switch had I worn a blindfold outside. Brilliantly sunny but humid days are now followed by sudden, terrible storms, so powerful that they threaten to turn our front yard into a swimming pool. I certainly don’t remember this sort of weather pattern from previous years, but perhaps my fixation on the winter months has skewed my perception. Truthfully, summer is not my favorite time of year, stirring up memories only of sweaty tank-tops, bug bites, and a few horrible experiences with camping. No, I’m not a sun-loving beach-goer to say the least, but as one who appreciates extended hours of sunlight to work by, I do still welcome the atmospheric change.

To pay homage to this season and perhaps straighten out my mixed feelings towards it, I decided to put it all on the line, hold nothing back, and – get this – go to the beach. Hardly a cause for commotion in most circles, but practically unheard of in my book. Hey, if you can’t beat them, join them, right? A great idea… But in reality, not so much.

Scrabbling less than gracefully across the scorching hot sand like a spider in a frying pan, I found myself terribly misplaced within the oasis of bronze bodies and young families. Shade, where was the shade? I could feel the color rising to the surface of my sheet-white skin, promising to produce a nasty burn in no time. Searching frantically for some guise of shelter, I came across I wonderful idea exhibited by a similarly pale patron; A wide parasol spread above her like a protective UV filter, I couldn’t help but stare with envy.

But wait, who was this cool cat basking in the breeze? Donning a pair of jet-black sunglasses like a rock star trying to avoid discovery, I could have sworn I knew her from somewhere. Regardless, she could have been absolutely anyone and I would still be green-eyed with jealously, wanting only to dive under that parasol along with her. If only I had had the foresight to think of such preventative matters, but alas, my skin was now beginning to take on a tomato-red hue more suitable for a fire engine than a human.

One last furtive glance at the sun-shy cat couldn’t confirm or deny my suspicions of celebrity, for she looked just as regal but unidentifiable as ever.

With raw shoulders and cheeks, it didn’t take much longer for me to abandon the playing field, seeking the comforting glow not of the sun, but of my computer screen once more. Still, I think I might have to use that idea of hers next time, even if I end up taking a rain umbrella and looking like a mixed up fool – It would still be better than frying in the sunshine.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on my Flickr photostream, you may have started to notice a recurring theme lately: Ice cream. Ever since first discovering that delicious vegan ice cream really exists, I simply can’t get enough of the stuff. Whether purchasing new flavors on the market, trying new brands, churning my own, or dreaming up recipes to use it in, (milkshakes, ice cream cakes, frozen pies!) I am just entirely enamoured with this chilly delight. Guilty of consuming about a pint a day, including some amazing ice cream sandwiches, I think I’m making up for all the years of lacking this particular dessert in record time.

With numerous pints of the stuff taking up real estate in my freezer and occupying prime space in my mind, it was inevitable that my new-found love for the creamy treat would translate itself into yarn. What I didn’t expect, however, was that it would happen by accident. Beginning with the pattern for the “Sundae Oh La La Cheesecake,” (scroll down to the bottom) I had absolutely no intention of making an ice cream replica… But somehow, when it was all said and done, it was undeniable that this was no “cheesecake” but my frozen fixation manifesting itself once again.

And who am I to fight such an obvious fit? Nestled into a waffle bowl, it is right at home next to the a real container of dairy-less delight, begging only for a spoon. Although this version might leave a fuzzy taste in your mouth, at least it is guaranteed not to melt, even on the hottest of summer days!

Why is it that all around the world, in nearly every culture and creed, father figures are so quickly discounted as doing less than their share? It’s impossible to any accurate blanket statement that would either condemn or praise all male parents across the board, but in all fairness, I think that they at least deserve a bit more credit for their efforts; It’s no easy role to fill in the first place. In fact, it was just the other day that I spotted an extraordinary sight of a father going above and beyond the call of duty, leading two young daughters away from a busy road and out of harm’s way.

Sure, this may seem like a mundane event to most people, but in the duck world, such an act is unheard of. Males in this species are usually completely uninvolved in child care, concerned more about their next meal or mate than those tiny squawking fuzz balls. But no, not this determined duck- Waddling at a moderate speed, hat bobbing up and down like a dashboard knick-knack, it would have been easy for him to outrun his spawn, and yet he slowed his pace instead. Distant at times but always keeping an eye on his two daughters, it was clear that he would have been close to them no matter the physical distance.

Pausing for a heartbeat, the two little ones saw their opportunity and huddled in close, seeking the warmth and protection that only this parent could provide. Seeing them meander slowly to a safer patch of green field together and disappear within the long grass, I realized how lucky I was to have a dad who was just as dedicated to his parental duties. Not a trained seal who can act on command, these men simply follow their heart, and it’s often in the trivial, everyday occurrences that many show their love.

Happy Father’s Day to everyone out there. I just hope that you have someone just as special to celebrate as these myself and these little ducklings.

Looking outside right now, it could very easily appear to be April, or even March perhaps; Rain and clouds all day for weeks on end would be perfectly appropriate for spring showers, but here we are on the very cusp of summer itself and yet it lingers on as though time had never passed it by. Of course, the transition into summer had to be an awkward one, since all of the seasons seem either to overstay their welcome, or skip out early. Maybe it’s just this screwed up town I live in, or even just this house- I swear, some days I’ll be out at school, enjoying gorgeous sunshine, only to return home and discover that the sky suddenly opened up overhead and proceeded to pound the earth with so much rain that we end up with a swimming pool where our front yard used to be. No matter, I wouldn’t mind so much if it weren’t disturbing plans for picnics and outdoor parties that should be seasonally appropriate at this point. But even worse, I think that the screwy weather in beginning to take its toll on the poor animals as well.

At first glance it would be easy enough to mistake this little critter for a simple ladybug, crawling amongst the flowers. Upon closer inspection however, it becomes fairly clear that this is no insect at all, but actually a feline! Call me crazy, but I don’t think that normal, well-adjusted cats spend much time buzzing around bushes in ladybug garb. I only had so much time to snap this photo before it saw me and tried to fly off in fright, instead managing to sort of fall inconspicuously to the base of the plant. Clearly those wings weren’t made for flying!

Now, as confused as I may be about the outside conditions, I don’t think you’ll find me sitting in any trees trying to become airborne! I just hope that for the animals’ sake things clear up, and fast, before any other creatures get it in their heads that they are better suited as some other species!