Slouchy Hat Crochet-a-long Link Up

At the beginning of December I joined a crochet a-long link up over at The Curious Pug, a blog written by a delightful young girl (I am at the age now where I can say those kinds of things. Shoot me).

The original pattern is from the gal over at Little Things Blogged.

Here's how mine turned out. I used a cotton/bamboo mix. It's not a warm hat, but fine for spring. Hopefully it won't stretch out from being on my ginormous head.

I know, the shirt is most excellent.

Also, please note that I like salt and that I have a lot of crap on my fridge.

You should join the crochet-a-long with us. The next project will be posted at The Curious Pug on January 1.

Happy crocheting knitting needlepointing dip-a-flowering or varnishing of completed jigsaw puzzles.
Whatever you do!

xo


Elpoo

Apres Holiday

Hi there,

Hope your holidays were all you hoped they would be! Or at least that you survived them and that you got some decent loot.

Sally from Charlie Brown once famously said "Christmas is for getting all you can while the getting is good". Words to live by, Sally, words to live by.

We had a nice quiet day. My mother made the trek east and we invite our elderly neighbour over for Christmas dinner every year, but other than that, it was a solid week of lolling around, lifting our hands languidly toward to cookie tray and wondering should we "do" something today? And then laughing.

Mom helped me with my knitting and I've almost completed a wonky scarf. Thanks for the tips, mom! We have a good time.

I love knitting and visiting with my mom. She gets so distracted with counting her stitches that I can weasel her into telling me secrets from her past.

Brian spent the entire week in the basement with his dog, beer and sports from 20 years ago. Seriously. He was yelling at the TV while watching a game from 1992. This is Brian's idea of heaven. He also got caught up on pvr'd episodes of American Horror Story - Asylum because I've decided I can not longer watch it. There's enough creepy evil in the world. Jessica Lange is fabulous, though, to be sure.

Least Christmassy show ever.

Now mater has returned to her wintery home in the frozen tundra of just outside Winnipeg.

 Her cats gave her a hearty welcome and we can resume our online games of Scrabble (to be honest we still played online Scrabble while she was here, taking turns at the computer. What has the world come to!)

Tomorrow the in-laws come for lunch and presents - my mother in law is bringing, basically, the entire menu, so there's not much for me to do. Other than vacuum. I mean, a lot of vacuuming. And that will herald the close of festivities for 2012. On to 2013 and new mild adventures and craft treats and stories about my cat and my huge feet.

Happy Holidays all!

xo
Elpoo

Banana Bread

Ryan and I went on a field trip to Michael’s Craft Store last week because Sarah was too terrified to go. She says it’s overwhelming. Like going to IKEA on a Saturday afternoon after taking acid. 

I wonder how she would know what that’s like. She’s had a wild past, I guess.

Anyway, Ryan and I fared just fine and I only got a little sweaty. I got some so much very very needed craft supplies and I also picked up four adorable little ceramic loaf pans that were on mega deep discount. I only regret not getting 12 of the little bastards.

So I made banana bread because I am amazing. I’m going to put ribbons on them and give them to the neighbours.

I used a recipe from the Veganomicon (vegan bible), but made a few twists. The original recipe was posted HERE.   I added mushed up pear and some ginger and allspice. I also forgot to add the .5 C apple sauce the original recipe called for. I know. Idiot. It was the whole point. But I guess the pear helped. 

So it’s pretty darned good, must say. Not terribly sweet, so if you like it sweet, pour a bag of sugar over it and maybe some corn syrup.

You’re welcome.

Lower-Fat Banana Bread 

Makes one loaf or 4 adorable mini loaves

Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease your loaf pan(s)

2 large very ripe bananas and one ripe, cored and peeled pear

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

2 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

a few dashes of Allspice

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mush up the banana and pear really well.

Add the oil, molasses and sugar. Combine.

Sift in the dry ingredients and stir until just combined - it’ll be all lump-tastic.

Plop into loaf pan(s) and bake for about 50 minutes (40 for mini loaf pans). Oven heats differ, so I’d check your bread after 35 minutes or so. Toothpick should come out clean after poking into the centre of the bread. But you know that kind of stuff already because you’re a superstar.

Oh, and Sarah’s not getting any of this banana bread because she wouldn’t take me to Michael’s. I guess we’re even because I told her I wouldn’t got on her eleventy billion mile charity bike ride with her.

What is up with her?

Jeez.

I love her.

Except when she won’t take me to Michael’s.

And she’ll probably get some banana bread.