I'm full of the flu. But if I was to paint you a picture of things at my place it would include a mountain of tissues, boxes of cough lollies and nurofen, bottles of water and numerous pairs of pjs. I sweated through three pairs last night so they're currently in the washing machine ready for a repeat performance tonight.
Sorry for the pathetic mememe blogtoberfest entry today. I wish I had prewritten and scheduled more than the 2 donut posts when I started to feel a bit rotten.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Donuts - The Recipes
Here they are, the recipes I've been using lately.
The donuts have come from this site, it's a yeast based recipe but also egg free (and probably easily dairy free if you used rice/oat milk)
And the recipes below are the ones from my mum. It might sound weird to have sauces with donuts, but they are yum. I used to love the nutmeg one, but the lemon might be my favourite these days. Either way, they're both gooooood.
MUM'S DONUTS
1 cup sugar
3 ½ teaspns baking powder
4 cups flour
½ teaspn cinnamon
½ teaspn nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3 tblspns melted butter
½ teaspn salt
oil for deep frying
Mix dry ingredients. Beat eggs thoroughly and add. Add milk and melted butter. Roll about 1 cm thick on floured board and cut with donut cutter. Fry several at a time in hot oil until nicely browned. Dust with icing or caster sugar.
NUTMEG SAUCE
1 cup sugar
1 tblspn flour
1 cup boiling water
1 tblspn butter
1 teaspn nutmeg
Mix together sugar and flour and stir in boiling water, and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce bubbles and thickens slightly. Add butter and simmer gently 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg.
LEMON SAUCE
⅓ cup sugar
1 tblspn cornflour
1 cup water
3 tblspns butter
½ teaspn grated lemon rind
1 ½ tblspns lemon juice
pinch salt
Mix sugar and cornflour together in a saucepan. Add water and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles. Simmer gently for a few minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon rind and fresh lemon juice and salt. Serve hot with pudding (donuts!)
The donuts have come from this site, it's a yeast based recipe but also egg free (and probably easily dairy free if you used rice/oat milk)
And the recipes below are the ones from my mum. It might sound weird to have sauces with donuts, but they are yum. I used to love the nutmeg one, but the lemon might be my favourite these days. Either way, they're both gooooood.
MUM'S DONUTS
1 cup sugar
3 ½ teaspns baking powder
4 cups flour
½ teaspn cinnamon
½ teaspn nutmeg
2 eggs
1 cup milk
3 tblspns melted butter
½ teaspn salt
oil for deep frying
Mix dry ingredients. Beat eggs thoroughly and add. Add milk and melted butter. Roll about 1 cm thick on floured board and cut with donut cutter. Fry several at a time in hot oil until nicely browned. Dust with icing or caster sugar.
NUTMEG SAUCE
1 cup sugar
1 tblspn flour
1 cup boiling water
1 tblspn butter
1 teaspn nutmeg
Mix together sugar and flour and stir in boiling water, and cook, stirring constantly, until sauce bubbles and thickens slightly. Add butter and simmer gently 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in nutmeg.
LEMON SAUCE
⅓ cup sugar
1 tblspn cornflour
1 cup water
3 tblspns butter
½ teaspn grated lemon rind
1 ½ tblspns lemon juice
pinch salt
Mix sugar and cornflour together in a saucepan. Add water and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture bubbles. Simmer gently for a few minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in butter, lemon rind and fresh lemon juice and salt. Serve hot with pudding (donuts!)
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Donuts - The Tradition
Recently my friend Margaret pointed out a donut recipe she has stumbled across and been using successfully (I'll post recipes and links tomorrow) and it brought back a lot of childhood memories.
My mum is a great donut maker. When we were kids, my mum would let us choose whatever we liked for our birthday dinner. I always loved it when my sister Sarah's birthday came around because she pretty predictably chose donuts (I think I tended to pick lemon meringue pie, but my friend Ruth recently mentioned on Facebook that she remembers eating donuts at our place as kids, so I'm guessing that was my birthday and she was the chosen friend I was allowed to invite that year).
Mum would make a huge roasting dish batch of donuts and we'd drizzle these delicious homemade sauces over them and then gobble them down, licking the sauces from our fingers.
So when friends of mine started talking about donuts and making them, I thought I'd give it a go. I'd like donuts to be part of my kids happy childhood memories just as they are part of mine.
And for my first time ever deep frying, I think I did really well!
The first time I used the glazes that accompanied the recipes. They were goooood.
The second batch was to eat while we watched the All Blacks play France in the Rugby World Cup. Go the AB's! They were cinnamon-sugared and accompanied by the legendary lemon and nutmeg sauces.
And while I enjoyed them, I was relieved to find that they definitely are only a special occasions food. You can only eat a couple before feeling full so a batch goes a really long way. And I think I am sufficiently donut-ed for a while now.
My mum is a great donut maker. When we were kids, my mum would let us choose whatever we liked for our birthday dinner. I always loved it when my sister Sarah's birthday came around because she pretty predictably chose donuts (I think I tended to pick lemon meringue pie, but my friend Ruth recently mentioned on Facebook that she remembers eating donuts at our place as kids, so I'm guessing that was my birthday and she was the chosen friend I was allowed to invite that year).
Mum would make a huge roasting dish batch of donuts and we'd drizzle these delicious homemade sauces over them and then gobble them down, licking the sauces from our fingers.
So when friends of mine started talking about donuts and making them, I thought I'd give it a go. I'd like donuts to be part of my kids happy childhood memories just as they are part of mine.
And for my first time ever deep frying, I think I did really well!
The first time I used the glazes that accompanied the recipes. They were goooood.
The second batch was to eat while we watched the All Blacks play France in the Rugby World Cup. Go the AB's! They were cinnamon-sugared and accompanied by the legendary lemon and nutmeg sauces.
And while I enjoyed them, I was relieved to find that they definitely are only a special occasions food. You can only eat a couple before feeling full so a batch goes a really long way. And I think I am sufficiently donut-ed for a while now.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Co-ops...once you start, it's a slippery slope
Omg, co-ops are bad! I've been asked before what a co-op is, it's when a number of people join in together to buy something in bulk, normally saving on shipping and often getting a bulk order discount.
This is a pic from one of Hannah's recent Red Riding Hood Yarn co-ops. One that I avoided because I know it's either all or nothing with me, but one that afterwards I drooled over the pics of. I didn't think she'd mind me using her pic, all blog entries need one.
Co-ops suck me in. Where I hang out online someone will ask "Anyone keen on some *insert all kinds of random things*?" and all of a sudden I think, why yes, maybe I need one/ten of those, in every size/colour available (because that's a flaw of mine)
I've joined in on co-ops for all kinds of random things, off the top of my head I know I've bought:
- yarn (no surprises there, but from memory I've done Wool Company, 100purewool, Bendigo Woollen Mills, Woollywumpkins, Jolly Jumbuck, Lollytree, Family Roots)
- jigsaw puzzles
- merino (I had such good intentions making the kids all stuff for winter, I bought oodles, cut out none)
- summer weight long sleeved boys pj's...in sizes 3, 4 and 5. Anyone want some?! I'm thinking I might cut off the sleeves and rehem them...but they're in the 'to do' pile. I'll probably think about doing something when they're too small for both my boys.
- aluminum or stainless steel (I forget which!) drink bottles
- KP circular needles from Vintage Purls
- baby bobux boots
- mocka bike
I've tried hard to avoid accumulating stuff I won't use, I've been soooo tempted to buy a couple of the lazy Susan mechanisms on offer at the moment but I know they'll just gather dust in the garage!
Go on, others out there must've bought some random stuff from co-ops in the past? And if you are looking for good yarny co-ops near you, have a look at the company name group on Rav. I know places like Family Pendragon, Family Roots, Mosaic Moon, Lollytree have groups with co-op info.
Come to the dark side with me!
Co-ops suck me in. Where I hang out online someone will ask "Anyone keen on some *insert all kinds of random things*?" and all of a sudden I think, why yes, maybe I need one/ten of those, in every size/colour available (because that's a flaw of mine)
I've joined in on co-ops for all kinds of random things, off the top of my head I know I've bought:
- yarn (no surprises there, but from memory I've done Wool Company, 100purewool, Bendigo Woollen Mills, Woollywumpkins, Jolly Jumbuck, Lollytree, Family Roots)
- jigsaw puzzles
- merino (I had such good intentions making the kids all stuff for winter, I bought oodles, cut out none)
- summer weight long sleeved boys pj's...in sizes 3, 4 and 5. Anyone want some?! I'm thinking I might cut off the sleeves and rehem them...but they're in the 'to do' pile. I'll probably think about doing something when they're too small for both my boys.
- aluminum or stainless steel (I forget which!) drink bottles
- KP circular needles from Vintage Purls
- baby bobux boots
- mocka bike
I've tried hard to avoid accumulating stuff I won't use, I've been soooo tempted to buy a couple of the lazy Susan mechanisms on offer at the moment but I know they'll just gather dust in the garage!
Go on, others out there must've bought some random stuff from co-ops in the past? And if you are looking for good yarny co-ops near you, have a look at the company name group on Rav. I know places like Family Pendragon, Family Roots, Mosaic Moon, Lollytree have groups with co-op info.
Come to the dark side with me!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Hi my name is Julia and I'm a yarnaholic
There it is. I've blogged it, it's official. Acknowledging it is phase one in dealing with my addiction.
If you stick around for a few more blog entries during blogtober you'll get to see some of my favourites in my stash, a pic of my disgustingly huge stash about a year ago (I really mean disgusting, it was such an eye opener it really made me feel ill) and preventative measures I'm taking to slow the growth of it any further. I do also knit what I think are some pretty nice garments/accessories too, so the plan is to show a few of those.
Part 1: The background of my addiction
I blame you TNN! I blame you totally for the threads about the new colours in The Wool Company and Ashford Tekapo *shudders*.
See, I had learned to knit as a kid. My mum very patiently taught me how to knit as a leftie, when she herself was a righty. I knitted stripey garter stitch scarves and numerous half finished toys. I eventually knitted myself a jersey (omg, I still have it, I might have to fish it out from the back of the wardrobe) and a homespun type jersey for one of my sisters while we were at uni (homespuns were pretty common at the time). And then I didn't knit for a long time. Not even when I was pregnant with my daughter! That's what nana's are for right :)
Probably not till my Dad was dying in 2007 did I consider knitting like my sisters and mum were while sitting at hospital. I think the first thing I knitted when picking up the needles again was a cardi and hat set for my sister's babe, who actually just turned 4 yesterday. I had bought the yarn off trademe (never again now, but at the time that's where I bought yarn!). I don't think I even knew what Raverly was then!
I don't have a photo, but this is my oldest project on Rav as far as I can see...I cringe now looking at my twisting leftie knitting! Again, using yarn bought from trademe. I was told it was DK but it definitely wasn't so I double stranded it. I still don't know how to do lazy daisies.
And so, my stash began. With yarn from trademe. But I yearned to join in some co-ops for this 'beautiful' yarn TNN'ers were knitting with. Yarn I'd never even known existed.
I'm happy to say, I definitely no longer have any trademe yarn left from my early days of knitting.
But I have accumulated an awful lot of yarn in the past 4 years!
Have you got pics of some of your earliest crafting? Or some pretty substantial stashes of fabric, scrap booking, art, yarn etc materials? Go on, share with me!
If you stick around for a few more blog entries during blogtober you'll get to see some of my favourites in my stash, a pic of my disgustingly huge stash about a year ago (I really mean disgusting, it was such an eye opener it really made me feel ill) and preventative measures I'm taking to slow the growth of it any further. I do also knit what I think are some pretty nice garments/accessories too, so the plan is to show a few of those.
Part 1: The background of my addiction
I blame you TNN! I blame you totally for the threads about the new colours in The Wool Company and Ashford Tekapo *shudders*.
See, I had learned to knit as a kid. My mum very patiently taught me how to knit as a leftie, when she herself was a righty. I knitted stripey garter stitch scarves and numerous half finished toys. I eventually knitted myself a jersey (omg, I still have it, I might have to fish it out from the back of the wardrobe) and a homespun type jersey for one of my sisters while we were at uni (homespuns were pretty common at the time). And then I didn't knit for a long time. Not even when I was pregnant with my daughter! That's what nana's are for right :)
Probably not till my Dad was dying in 2007 did I consider knitting like my sisters and mum were while sitting at hospital. I think the first thing I knitted when picking up the needles again was a cardi and hat set for my sister's babe, who actually just turned 4 yesterday. I had bought the yarn off trademe (never again now, but at the time that's where I bought yarn!). I don't think I even knew what Raverly was then!
I don't have a photo, but this is my oldest project on Rav as far as I can see...I cringe now looking at my twisting leftie knitting! Again, using yarn bought from trademe. I was told it was DK but it definitely wasn't so I double stranded it. I still don't know how to do lazy daisies.
And so, my stash began. With yarn from trademe. But I yearned to join in some co-ops for this 'beautiful' yarn TNN'ers were knitting with. Yarn I'd never even known existed.
I'm happy to say, I definitely no longer have any trademe yarn left from my early days of knitting.
But I have accumulated an awful lot of yarn in the past 4 years!
Have you got pics of some of your earliest crafting? Or some pretty substantial stashes of fabric, scrap booking, art, yarn etc materials? Go on, share with me!
Monday, October 3, 2011
A Little Late to the Party
But only a little. It's only the 3rd today. I even managed to blog on the 2nd!
Actually, it was when I was looking at my much neglected blog that I noticed that my friend Georgie has signed up for Blogtoberfest.
I've avoided Blogtoberfest in the past, but I really feel like I need to reclaim my blog. I've got a few things in my head I've been planning on blogging about, NON 'work' related (ie, not about my patterns) and so I thought I'd sign up for it.
Speaking of being late though, does anyone else find that since having kids they are always late? I used to always be on time for things, but these days I find I often don't even leave the house till the time I am meant to be somewhere (besides kindy pick ups, I'm never late for those. Can't stand the thought of my Penny being the last kid waiting on the mat with those big sad eyes of hers). I don't like being late, but it seems to be much less avoidable these days. I'm blaming the kids. It couldn't be anything to do with my time management or organisational skills ;)
Actually, it was when I was looking at my much neglected blog that I noticed that my friend Georgie has signed up for Blogtoberfest.
I've avoided Blogtoberfest in the past, but I really feel like I need to reclaim my blog. I've got a few things in my head I've been planning on blogging about, NON 'work' related (ie, not about my patterns) and so I thought I'd sign up for it.
Speaking of being late though, does anyone else find that since having kids they are always late? I used to always be on time for things, but these days I find I often don't even leave the house till the time I am meant to be somewhere (besides kindy pick ups, I'm never late for those. Can't stand the thought of my Penny being the last kid waiting on the mat with those big sad eyes of hers). I don't like being late, but it seems to be much less avoidable these days. I'm blaming the kids. It couldn't be anything to do with my time management or organisational skills ;)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
In search of a knitter?
I've just added a little directory page to my blog if you are in search of a knitter to knit you one of my patterns. There are fabulous knitters listed for NZ, Australia, US, UK and Ireland! And I know that some are definitely willing to knit and send to other countries too, I know of a couple of Kiwi's knitting for little Aussies at the moment!
Go and visit their shops and pages! Such beautiful knitting!
Here's an assortment (I apologise, this doesn't picture something from each 'shop' but it gives you an idea of the talented knitters)
Go and visit their shops and pages! Such beautiful knitting!
Here's an assortment (I apologise, this doesn't picture something from each 'shop' but it gives you an idea of the talented knitters)
Jaimie from Hot Off the Needles: Knits for Kids and Bubs
Nikki from Little Ladybug Handknits
Rachel from A Little Bit of Everything
Ali from Coco Kids
Kate from Coco Kids
And this cutey, well I'll take credit for him and his hooded cardy
I'm just about to add a page too for purchasing a cottage license, it's very easy and I think a very fair price - contact me if you'd like any more information regarding it.
xx
Julia
Friday, September 23, 2011
Rugby World Cup Competiton
As a bit of a hurrah for a few things I’d love to run a competition (because I love competitions!)
To celebrate:
- the update of The Little Rascals e-book
- the launching of my own Rav group (squeeeee)
- the Rugby World Cup, which just happens to be hosted in New Zealand this year.
To enter:
Knit a kids rugby jersey using one of my patterns in the colours of your favourite team(s).
I think the Hotshot with or without a collar is ideal and also very practical for this time of the year for both Hemispheres - Spring here in the Southern Hemisphere, Autumn/Fall for the Northern Hemisphere.
I knitted one for my Penny to wear for her kindy black-out days. Here she is modelling it, along with my Timothy. I was hoping to be able to whip one up for each of the boys too, but they're both still waiting!
Enter the details into in my group here, pop the picture up in the thread and tag your FO with j-j’sRWCcomp
You can start anytime now, the closing date is the same date as the final for the RWC which is the 23rd of October…but you’ll want to finish your FO before then I’m sure, so your kidlets can wear them while watching the games!
There’ll definitely be a prize…hmmm, it could include yarn, chocolate, perhaps even a swift if you live in NZ/Aus and need one and definitely some fabulous stitch markers made by my friend Deb. I’ll organise the details for deciding the winner/prize soon :)
Here are the entries so far!
To celebrate:
- the update of The Little Rascals e-book
- the launching of my own Rav group (squeeeee)
- the Rugby World Cup, which just happens to be hosted in New Zealand this year.
To enter:
Knit a kids rugby jersey using one of my patterns in the colours of your favourite team(s).
I think the Hotshot with or without a collar is ideal and also very practical for this time of the year for both Hemispheres - Spring here in the Southern Hemisphere, Autumn/Fall for the Northern Hemisphere.
I knitted one for my Penny to wear for her kindy black-out days. Here she is modelling it, along with my Timothy. I was hoping to be able to whip one up for each of the boys too, but they're both still waiting!
Enter the details into in my group here, pop the picture up in the thread and tag your FO with j-j’sRWCcomp
You can start anytime now, the closing date is the same date as the final for the RWC which is the 23rd of October…but you’ll want to finish your FO before then I’m sure, so your kidlets can wear them while watching the games!
There’ll definitely be a prize…hmmm, it could include yarn, chocolate, perhaps even a swift if you live in NZ/Aus and need one and definitely some fabulous stitch markers made by my friend Deb. I’ll organise the details for deciding the winner/prize soon :)
Here are the entries so far!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
The Little Rascals e-book, now updated!
On the 1st of September I released the update of my The Little Rascals e-book. It's been a big job but it's done!
Here's the blurb from Ravelry:
The Little Rascals e-book is a collection of 3 unisex, easy to knit, seamless (topdown) and versatile patterns. They’re great for wearing out and about and for mucking around in the backyard.
The Little Rascals are all v-necked garments - Little Hoodlum (jersey), Hotshot (vestee), Young Einstein (jacket/cardigan) - making them easy to pop on a bib if necessary or for bigger kids who don’t like yarn up against their neck.
The e-book is a comprehensive, detailed pattern with almost every imaginable extra possible! The new improved pick-a-path style pattern has so many options to allow you to choose your own way through the pattern, creating your own unique garment for a loved one.
The updated e-book now contains instructions for:
Contrast colour edge
Moss or garter stitch edge
Hood
Collars in either rib, moss or garter stitch
Wide or tapered sleeves
Cables in the raglan, kangaroo pocket or hood
Kangaroo or patch pockets
As well as exclusive Watermellish embellishment charts for:
Bulldozers
Daisies
Ladybugs
Caterpillars
But wait! There’s more!
Also included is PupPup’s Mini Hotshot pattern (for teddies), so you can knit matching sets for beloved teds.
Sizings for the patterns range from newborn up to 10 years (15-28 inch chest)
The patterns can be knit in either DK (8ply) or worsted weight (10ply) as long as a 20sts gauge is achieved. Information is also provided for substituting yarns of other weights.
Now this update should’ve gone to everyone who has purchased this pattern in the past via Ravelry. If you haven’t got your copy and you purchased it there, click on ‘my notebook’. From the list of options, select ‘purchases’. In there you’ll find access to the latest version.
If you bought it directly from me, please contact me for an updated version. If you could tell me when you purchased it or have a copy of correspondence with me (if it makes searching through emails easier my email address is jstanfield at xtra dot co dot nz.)
This pattern is intended for personal home use only. Commercial use of this pattern is permitted only through a cottage license, please contact me if you're interested in a Cottage License.
If you'd like to buy a copy, for September and October it's at a special price of $10USD. If you click the button below you'll be taken to purchase it :)
A huge thank you to all my wonderful testers and collaborators xxx
Here's the blurb from Ravelry:
The Little Rascals e-book is a collection of 3 unisex, easy to knit, seamless (topdown) and versatile patterns. They’re great for wearing out and about and for mucking around in the backyard.
The Little Rascals are all v-necked garments - Little Hoodlum (jersey), Hotshot (vestee), Young Einstein (jacket/cardigan) - making them easy to pop on a bib if necessary or for bigger kids who don’t like yarn up against their neck.
The e-book is a comprehensive, detailed pattern with almost every imaginable extra possible! The new improved pick-a-path style pattern has so many options to allow you to choose your own way through the pattern, creating your own unique garment for a loved one.
The updated e-book now contains instructions for:
Contrast colour edge
Moss or garter stitch edge
Hood
Collars in either rib, moss or garter stitch
Wide or tapered sleeves
Cables in the raglan, kangaroo pocket or hood
Kangaroo or patch pockets
As well as exclusive Watermellish embellishment charts for:
Bulldozers
Daisies
Ladybugs
Caterpillars
But wait! There’s more!
Also included is PupPup’s Mini Hotshot pattern (for teddies), so you can knit matching sets for beloved teds.
Sizings for the patterns range from newborn up to 10 years (15-28 inch chest)
The patterns can be knit in either DK (8ply) or worsted weight (10ply) as long as a 20sts gauge is achieved. Information is also provided for substituting yarns of other weights.
Now this update should’ve gone to everyone who has purchased this pattern in the past via Ravelry. If you haven’t got your copy and you purchased it there, click on ‘my notebook’. From the list of options, select ‘purchases’. In there you’ll find access to the latest version.
If you bought it directly from me, please contact me for an updated version. If you could tell me when you purchased it or have a copy of correspondence with me (if it makes searching through emails easier my email address is jstanfield at xtra dot co dot nz.)
This pattern is intended for personal home use only. Commercial use of this pattern is permitted only through a cottage license, please contact me if you're interested in a Cottage License.
A huge thank you to all my wonderful testers and collaborators xxx
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Time For A Little Spring Clean
Phew, that's better!
A new header, courtesy of the lovely Tanja of Watermellish. Thanks so much Tanja!
I've been working with Tanja lately on the update of my pattern which was released on the 1st of September, I'll blog about that later. If you're into knitting and embellishing though, you should definitely go check out her website, she's incredibly talented!
But with the update on the 1st of September came the first day of Spring, time to Spring clean! I've been feeling the need to declutter a bit later, simplify a few things since the testing is done and the pattern is updated. My house is awash with bags of things to rehome, my blog a little too busy with things that need updating and editing. I think it's easier to flick a few buttons on my blog than to tackle the grown out of baby clothes!
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