Time For Cake...

One of our favorite cakes around here is carrot cake. I was bored yesterday, so I decided to make one. They are so easy to make from scratch, although I'm sure they have mixes as well. Looks good, doesn't it?

If you'd like to make your own, here's my recipe:

Carrot Cake

4 eggs
1-1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x13 inch cake pan. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and vanilla.

Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and pie spices. (Note: if you have an aversion to cloves, substitute the pie spices for 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.) Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans if desired. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans if desired. Frost the cooled cake and ENJOY!

Hunting Mitts...

My brother's birthday is next month, and I promised him a helmet liner and some fingerless mitts to use over Thanksgiving while he hunts. So I got started on the mitts the other day after I finished up my socks (so much for that mission to finish all my un-done pairs this month...) and they are turning out quite nicely. What do you think?

Probably a little hard to see in this state, but they are too big for me, so I was having a hard time getting a pic while wearing them...

Red Thatched Roof

I finished another pair of socks today. I've actually had them on the needles for far too long. I have too many pair of socks on the needles to be honest. I really need to finish them up! So, I'm on a mission to get a bunch of second socks knit up this month. Here's the first completed pair of the 5 I've been putting off finishing for one reason or another...

Pattern: Socks of Kindness
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Fire
Needles: US Size 3 DPNs

This yarn made a really thick and stretchy sock on these needles. I think that I could have gone down a needles size most likely, but even though this yarn is billed as fingering weight, it just seems heavier to me. Probably not quite sport weight, but still seems heavier than fingering. All in all though, I do like the yarn and the colorway is beautiful. These are going to be some warm socks for the coming winter.

Sock Yarn Club Deadlines...

The Quidditch Teams of the World Sock Yarn Club will close to sign-ups on October 10th. Space if very limited. This is a six (6) month club, and will feature 100% Superwash Merino, Superwash/Nylon Blends and Bamboo Sock yarns. The club also has a concurrent contest for Club members only. I can't reveal the details of the contest here since it is a surprise for members, but prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of the Club. Shipments start immediately.

This Club is open to U.S. and International residents alike. If you'd like to subscribe and join the fun, simply click the appropriate link below.

U.S. Residents can subscribe here!

International Residents can subscribe here!

Hope you'll join us for the best game of Quidditch ever!!

Reaping What You Sow...

Well now that autumn is here, we are enjoying the spoils of our labor from the summer garden. To be honest...we have tomatoes coming out of our ears! So, this afternoon I whipped up a batch of pica de gallo for the kids to enjoy with some tortilla chips tonight while they watch Halloweentown High on the Disney channel. Knowing my brood, the entire bowl will be gone inside 20 minutes! What do you think?

We used ingredients we grew in our garden, but you can purchase the same items in the produce department at your local market and enjoy your own anytime of the year. Here's how it's made:

Pica de Gallo

8-10 fresh ripe tomatoes
6-8 scallions (red onion is a good substitute if you don't have these)
Cilantro (a small bunch will do)
1-3 jalepenos, depending on your temperature tolerance
1 lime (optional)

Chop tomatoes, scallions, cilantro and jalepeno to a fine dice. Mix in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice from the lime into the bowl, stirring to mix thoroughly. Cover, and let sit in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour. (The longer the pica sits, the "hotter" it becomes as the flavors meld.)

Serve chilled with chips or over your favorite Mexican dish. YUM!

Starbucks & Yarn Swap - Fall

Today's the first day of the Fall Starbucks & Yarn Swap! I got my Blend members and their matches last night, and sent everyone their info today. I'm can't wait to get started on my buddy's package!

Twilight Personality Quiz...

Which Twilight saga character are you most like? Take the test for yourself here. My results say I'm:

Jasper Hale

You are most like Jasper Hale. You tend to be off to the side. You are soft-spoken. But you get the job done. Not to mention you never fail to cheer a friend!

Hmmm...I guess parts are right, but those of you who know me know I'm not the least bit soft-spoken! ROFL!