Applesauce Pumpkin Bread (at high altitude)

We enjoy it with a little cream cheese spread.

I’ve finally started to master quick breads at high altitude. The trick seems to be halving the leavening agent, which seems opposite of what you’d expect to do to fight against solid brick loaves.

This my favorite pumpkin bread recipe, modified from Libby’s Harvest Apple Pumpkin Bread. Basically, I substitute applesauce for the chopped apple and apple juice, and I also take out a little oil and replace it with more applesauce. Eliminate a little sugar, but probably not really because it goes back in with the cinnamon applesauce I use, then half the baking soda for lovely rounded loaves at almost 7000 ft.

Applesauce Pumpkin Bread
3 cups flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 2/3 cups sugar
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin (I love you Libby’s, but I also love our local brand)
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup cinnamon applesauce

Directions
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease and flour two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans.
COMBINE flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Combine sugar, pumpkin, eggs, vegetable oil and applesauce in large mixer bowl; beat until just blended. Add pumpkin mixture to flour mixture; stir just until moistened. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.
BAKE for 65 to 70 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Beanie pdf with New Chart

Especially for you non-Ravelers: Here’s an updated pdf of the Flower Bud Beanie. Now includes a chart!
download now

Flower Bud Beanie

I’m offering this pattern for free. For a PDF copy visit the Ravelry page. I’ve knitted it twice, but would love for any of you to test knit it for me and let me know of any errors, which I will correct promptly.

This beanie knits from the bottom up quickly, with a lace pattern that is easy to memorize. It is very stretchy, making it one size fits most. Add or subtract 8 sts. to adjust size for different gauges or ages.

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” in stockinette
Needle: 16” circular and DPNs, size 8/5mm or size needed for gauge
Yarn: 100-115 yds/91-110 m worsted weight (#4 med.)
Finished Size: 17” will comfortably fit an average woman’s head. (My head is 22.5″)

PM: place marker
St(s): stitch(es)
Yo: yarn over
P3tog: purl 3 sts together
Pfb: increase by purling into the front, then into the back of the same st

CO 88, join to work in the round. PM.
Rnd 1: (Yo, k1, yo, k2, p3tog, k2) to end. (88 sts)
Rnd 2 and all EVEN rnds: Knit.
Rnd 3: K1 (Yo, k1, yo, k2, p3tog, k2) to last 7 sts. Yo, k1, yo, k2, p3tog, k1.
Rnd 5: K2 (Yo, k1, yo, k2, p3tog, k2) to last 6 sts. Yo, k1, yo, k2, p3tog.
Rnd 7: K2 (P3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2) to last 6 sts. P3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo.
Rnd 9: K1 (P3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2) to last 7 sts. P3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k1.
Rnd 11: (P3tog, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2) to end.
Rnd 12: Knit.

Repeat these 12 rows 3 more times. (48 rows, 88sts).
If you think you would like to shorten the hat skip rows 1-6, work rows 7-12, then repeat rows 1-12 three more times.

Crown Decreases:
Rnd 49: (Pfb, k2, p3tog, k2) to end. (77sts)
Rnd 50: (P2, k5) to end.
Rnd 51: (P2, k1, p3tog, k1) to end. (55sts)
Rnd 52: (P2, k3) to end.
Rnd 53: (P2, P3tog) to end. (33 sts)
Rnd 54: (P2, k1) to end.
Rnd 55: (P1, k2tog) to end. (22sts)
Rnd 56: (P1, k1) to end.
Rnd 57: K2tog to end. (11sts)
Rnd 58: Knit.
Thread tail through remaining stitches, cinch up. Weave in ends.

For personal, non-commercial use only. Without my express permission you may not distribute or sell electronic or paper copies of this, though feel free to link to it. You may not sell any items produced using this pattern.

Whirlpool Now Available

So I’m super excited to have released the Whirlpool pattern yesterday and already 2 sales this morning! The pattern is available as a pdf, which you can purchase for $3 via etsy (weetoesandnoggins.etsy.com) or on Ravelry. The actual blue one that I completed while re-writing the pattern is available for sale in my etsy shop also.

Crazy weather we are getting here for sure. Yesterday it was in the 70’s. Last week there was one late start, which cancels my son’s AM kindergarten, and two snow days… this after he’d been off for a 2 1/2 week fall break. So Cosette and I got out in the snow when he finally was back in school, me sporting my new beanie. I’ve since reworked the decreases at the top to make it a little more interesting. This’ll be my next pattern, which I’ll offer for free since it’s so simple. You could easily knit it up in a evening or 2 depending on how fast you are. It measures about 16″ but is very stretchy, comfortably fitting my 22″ head. I should have made the second one in a solid color, but I just really liked the look of the yarn… yep, it’s a acrylic… The pinkish one is done in Moda Dea Vision, Karma (65 wool/35 acrylic). The second in Red Heart Collage, Wood Trail.

This week I’m working on test knitting a ruffled version of this pattern. It is very simple, but I love it so far. The pattern doesn’t indicate what sort of increase to do, so I started by making one, then started over doing a yarn over… then I realized that won’t work well on the decrease side. But I’m going with it and will do something like k2tog, yo, 2ktog.

Whirlpool

I’m done with my first pattern!  It’s currently being tested by 7 people.

I’ve written the pattern to include 3 sizes: small – 18″, medium – 20″, and large – 22″. It is fairly easy to adjust either way by just eliminating an increase row. Once test knitting is complete, I’ll be offering the pdf pattern via my etsy shop for just $3. The blue hat was done in Red Heart Eco-Ways Bamboo Wool. The sample at Joann’s shows that you can felt it, and it comes out shiny! Not that I am felting with it, but I like the soft, smooth texture of it. The charcoal one below was done in a 100% alpaca, DK weight.

In other news since my last post, my husband was offered a great job just a week after getting laid off. Praise God! So my crafting gets to go on as planned. The other “secret” project was set aside while I worked on this hat, but I’m still hoping to finish it up so that it can be submitted somewhere for perhaps a fall issue. My next thought is to create some sort of luscious hooded scarf that wold be good for the chilly fall weather we’re getting here… since my med. weight jacket doesn’t have a hood. I just want a hood that doesn’t have a bit point on the back of my head though.

Designing

I’ve been working on that “secret” knit design of mine, and I have the pattern pretty much down, but I’m still knitting.  It’s turned out a little larger than I planned, but I’m still loving it.  My husband is being laid off from his job tomorrow, so I’m trying to decide between self-publishing or submitting the pattern to an online magazine (a few months wait for the season probably).  I really want to try for submitting it, but I’m leaning toward just getting it out there.  And because I’m horrible about keeping secrets and just want to show it off!!  I’m gonna finish the article before deciding.

I’ve also started a hat.  I friend of mine bought me some lovely yarn, and since fall is starting out cold (we got snow on the last day of summer last week!), I need a cute hat.  I’m working on writing up a pattern for this hat – on Ravelry, she says it’s an improvised design, so I just have to figure it out.  So far so good.  Never mind that I started like 10 times already, and literally spent all day figuring out how to start it!!  Sometimes I think I have the aptitude for this, and other times I’m thinking who has time for this?!  I do apparently.

Project Roundup

Goodness!  I kind of forgot about my craft blog again!  A month and a half later, knitting continues to be my obsession.  I finally got to one of the local yarn shops, Knitter’s Kove.  The first time I went in I wasn’t terribly impressed (mainly because I’m cheap and can’t justify some yarn prices, to be honest) and just ended up looking.  I went back a few days ago and came home with some Cascade 220.  I’d almost forgotten to ask about getting my skeins wound into balls when the lady offered, so I thought that was very nice of her. With this yarn I’m working on my own design of a shawlette. I don’t know yet whether I’ll try to submit it somewhere or just publish the pattern myself, but it’s coming along nicely and seems very promising (to me at least!)  …I never knew the day would come when I’d think I could never have too many scarves, hats, and keep-me-warm accessories!  I’m loving Colorado.

These are all gonna be Ravelry links, so if you are not on there, you just have to get to it… I love Ravelry!

I’ve started a bunch of new projects recently.  I started and finished another Anthro-Inspired Scarf for a friend.


This was made with Knit Picks Andean Silk, on size 8 needles.

I got an early start on a lace scarf for a Christmas gift. This Juliet Scarf should be perfect for the amount of yarn I have left from the Global Warming sweater, and I think it’ll look really pretty in this lace.

Since I wanted to get some Knit Picks Yarn for that scarf, I decided to just get a little something for other projects and save on the shipping. I got some Shine Worsted in Green Apple which is soo soft, and I’ve got a whole inch of ribbing done on the Sexy Vesty. I’m amazed by how great this little sweater vest looks on everyone.

Then I got some Cotlin in island coral, which I’m using to make Buttercup. I love this shirt.

And then there’s the sweater I’m working on for Connor. I’m a little worried about how itchy it will be in the Fisherman’s Wool I started it in. Here’s the Inspiration photo I was working from, and what I have so far. Mine is more raglan, where the original has a round yoke, and my cables are a little different. Mine’s also gonna have a button at the neck just for cuteness, and well, because my 5 yr. old has a man sized head!

Boys Cabled Sweater by Mona Schmidt

Knitting Book Bargains!

Last night I went to Barnes and Noble with a friend hoping to pick up a couple knitting magazines just for fun.  The magazines are so expensive!!  Especially if you only like one pattern in there or something.  So my friend suggested we look at the bargain table… I wasn’t really interested, thinking I wouldn’t find anything worth buying.  But we were on our way to the knitting book section when we saw a table of random books at 75% off.  The first thing I saw was Beautiful Knitting Patterns and then The Best of Vogue Knitting (only one copy of each)!!   I got the first one for $3.75 and the Vogue book for $7.50!

I thought the Vogue book would have a few patterns in it, but it’s actually just a collection of articles on tips and techniques. But I think it will still be quite helpful, and it’s an interesting fun read. And I love stitch pattern books. This one has like 250, though the first section is just knit and purl pattern combos that didn’t seem worth listing. I love the lace patterns though, especially anything that has a nature/leaves look. I really like the “wheat” pattern above, too.

A few days ago, I volunteered again to test another pattern by Samantha Roshak.  This one was the Summer  Loving Scarf.  I really like the NaturallyCaron.com Country, so I tried the Spa version this time.  It’s so soft! I just finished it this afternoon and I’m blocking it now.

Enchiladas

I’ve really missed having a good, authentic, Mexican enchilada dinner since moving from Southern California.  No offense, but CO just doesn’t know how to do Mexican.  I’ve never made enchiladas before just because I don’t like the canned enchilada sauces at all.  But I was at Costco last week and got to sample the Del Real beans and rice (yum!), and that just inspired me to try some homemade enchiladas.

Oh yes.

That’s what an enchilada plate is supposed to look (and taste) like!

I’ve always get enchiladas rancheras if I can, so I used this recipe for ranchero sauce from Epicurious.  I wanted my husband to eat them, and the sight of vegetables scares him away, so I pureed the sauce after cooking the veggies.  I forgot to add the cayenne pepper, but enchiladas generally haven’t been spicey when I’ve had them anyway.  It took about an hour to make the sauce, cook it, prepare the enchiladas, and cook them. After making the sauce, I fried corn tortillas in oil for  a couple minutes and let them drain on a paper towel.  I dip just one side of the tortilla in the sauce, place a good handful of cheese on the sauced side, roll it up and place it seam-side-down in a dish.  Then I poured the remaining sauce over all and topped with more cheese.  I threw some left over taco meat in a few of them, which the husband liked also.  Then I baked them for about 25 minutes at 375.

So I was shocked, literally shocked, when my husband simply said they were “good.”  And later he said that they are the best he’s ever had.  Oh yeah!  Not bad at all.

Sewing Machine Meme

What brand and model do you have?
Janome 4623 LE

How long have you had it?
7 1/2 years.

How much does that machine cost (approximately)?
$300

What types of things do you sew (i.e. quilting, clothing, handbags, home dec projects, etc.)?
quilts, handbags, clothing… probably in that order for frequency.

How much do you sew? How much wear and tear does the machine get?
I tend to use my machine every other day for 6 months, and then it sees no action for 6-8 months.  (I haven’t touched my machine since March and just dragged it out today for the picture!)

Do you like/love/hate your machine? Are you ambivalent? Passionate? Does she have a name?
I’ve never been into naming inanimate objects, but I do love my machine. I think she’s pretty with her pink and curves.

What features does your machine have that work well for you?
Needle up/down button, automatic button hole maker, hard case/cover, see-through top-loading bobbin
I bought a 5 piece I think?) set of quilting feet – I love the walking foot.  The applique foot is handy.  The so-called “perfect 1/4″ foot” isn’t so perfect.
I never really use all the special stitches, but I guess it’s nice to know they are there if I ever need them?  I wish it had a plain old blanket stitch.

Is there anything that drives you nuts about your machine?
Can’t think of a thing!

Do you have a great story to share about your machine (i.e., Found it under the Christmas tree? Dropped it on the kitchen floor? Sewed your fingernail to your zipper?, Got it from your Great Grandma?, etc.!)? We want to hear it!
Nothing too exciting.  I took every sewing class possible in jr. high and high school, but never had a sewing machine at home.  My mom finally got this for me for my 24th birthday, and I have to say it’s my most favorite gift I’ve ever received.  The first thing I made was a baby quilt and bedding set for my not-yet-conceived first child!

Would you recommend the machine to others? Why?
Yes, for all the above reasons.  I think for $300 it’s a great machine.  I’ve only had one problem with it ever and it was easily fixed with a regular check-up and oiling at the shop.

What factors do you think are important to consider when looking for a new machine?
In no particular order…

• What you are going to sew
• What sort of convenience features you want
• How much you would use it
• Quality of the machine’s construction (ie. ‘ve heard a certain popular brand has a lot of plastic innards which sounds odd to me and not very reliable)
• What sort of attachments are available and how much you’re going to have to spend extra on what you need
• Price for quality (I’d rather spend a little more for something that would last then get something “cheap” that’ll konk out after a couple years)

Do you have a dream machine?
I’ve been so satisfied with what I have that I’ve never had need to look around.  When I get old enough and the kids have moved out, I would love to convert one of their rooms into a craft room and have a long-arm quilting machine, maybe something that does embroidery, too.  Let’s face it… if I was rich I would have every kind of machine I needed, and they would all be computerized.