Knit & Nosh

what to knit when you're expecting

Everyone who sees this book has the same thought, "I can not believe no one has done this book before!". It does seem amazing. I do not have any babies in my life, or my near future, but I still want to knit everything in this book!

What To Knit When You're Expecting by Nikki Van De Car begins with some basic knitting techniques, just in case it has been a while since you have picked up your needles. There are notes on yarn choice and sizing with the patterns running from size newborn to 12 months. From there it goes right into patterns that are grouped by trimester. Trimester. Brilliant!

Patterns in the first trimester are larger, requiring more time to finish.

 

Things like blankets and a jacket.

 

 

But also the necessities, like thrummed mittens,

 

 

and bloomers.

The second trimester acknowledges that the sex of the baby may be known.

 

 

Lace sweaters,

 

 

the sweetest dress,

 

and a very handsome cardigan.

The third trimester leaves time for the little things. Hats, stuffed toys, burp cloths,

and of course booties.

If you know a knitter who is, or will soon become pregnant, What to Knit When You're Expecting will be a welcome gift. If the mom-to-be does not knit, then imagine how much fun you will have providing her with sweet knitted items to wrap around the little baby bundle.

 

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the books keep coming

The stack of books I have to review is threatening to to take over my desk. There is a similar stack on the bedside table. With the holidays approaching, new books are coming into the house almost daily, and boy are there some goodies.

In an effort to be helpful with your upcoming holiday shopping, I will try to get two reviews a week posted. CookBook Review Monday will remain, and there will also be a craft book at another point during the week. As a bonus, many of these books will include a give away!

Also, there has been knitting progress. I know, I am surprised too, and of course jars.

Stay tuned and join the fun.

 

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the rabbit hole beckons

I have done a good job of ignoring all mention of Pinterest. Just the few things I spot out of the corner of my eye tell me I do not have time to go down that rabbit hole. Then this morning I was searching my blog for a recipe. One of the great things about posting recipes online is that I do not have to keep track of errant pieces of paper. So, I type in "Knit and Nosh Pear Butter" and a Pinterest page comes up. I had to click. Dozens and dozens of my photos on people's boards. I had no idea! It was kinda nice to see them all together. Before today I did not realize a had a style of photography, but they are definitely my photos.

I set up an account. Maybe the next time I am sick in bed I will peek down that hole.

 

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homemade grenadine

When you hear the words "grenadine syrup", does your mind immediately go to a bottle of neon syrup?  A color similar to and just as frightening as maraschino cherries?  Me too.  Or at least it did until I began making my own.  It could not be easier to make, so there is no reason not to have a bottle in your refrigerator at all times.  Sure, it works in cocktails, but I love to pour a splash into a tall, cold, glass of bubble water.  No radiation suit required.

Grenadine Syrup

4 cups pomegranate juice, I like this kind

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Combine the juices and sugar in a medium, heavy bottomed pan, and set over medium heat.  cook, stirring from time to time, until the sugar has dissolved.  Continue to cook, stirring more often until the liquid has reduced and is the consistency of syrup.  It will take about 45 minutes.

Cool, pour into a jar, and store in the refrigerator for up to six months.

I have come across recipes that call for Pommegranate Molasses.  Use the above recipe and continue reducing until VERY thick, about an hour.

pear liqueur

Almost every month we have a musical jamboree at our house. Musician friends (and their partners) get together for some amazing food, laughter, drinks, and music. I try to have a particular cocktail in mind for these get togethers, and last month Debra told me we should explore tequila. Mary Cass is also a tequila fan, so I knew this to be a good idea.

Enter Imbibe Magazine. Are you surprised to learn I am a subscriber? Didn't think so. Imbibe posted a drink recipe, La Perla, that calls for tequila, pear liqueur, and manzanilla sherry. I knew right away that would be the cocktail to serve at the next Jamboree. The booze locker is full of tequila, so I just needed to find manzanilla sherry and pear liqueur. Or did I? Pear liqueur is easy to make and tastes amazing.

 

Notes:

~The recipe calls for two pears. One will be used at the onset, the other 5 days later.

~I used Bartlett pears, because that is what I had, but any type of pear will be fine.

~I used Amaretto as my secondary flavor, you can use something else if you like. Vanilla or maple would be very nice. You could even spice it up with a cinnamon stick.

~A quart sized Mason jar will not hold the steeping liqueur. I started with a jar and then switched to a glass ice bucket covered with plastic wrap for the second part.

 

 

Pear Liqueur

 

2 ripe pears, wash well especially if not organic

1 cup brandy

1/4 cup Amaretto

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

 

Remove the seeds and core from one pear, leave skin on, and chop.

Place the chopped pear in a large sealable jar and top with brandy and Amaretto. If the alcohol does not cover the pear, then add a little more. Place this mixture in the fridge and let steep for 5 days. Give it a little swirl when you think of it.

After 5 days, chop the second pear in the same manner as the first. Add the newly chopped pear, water, and sugar to a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Let cool.

Once cooled, add the pear mixture you just made to the pear mixture that has been steeping for 5 days. Give it a stir and let steep an additional 2 days. Taste. If it has reached the flavor you like it is time to strain, if not, let is sit a couple more days.

First, pour the pears and their liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Strain a second time using coffee filters or a jelly bag. Pour into a pretty bottle or jar and enjoy.

 

The original La Perla recipe can be found here and you can learn about manzanilla sherry here.

La Perla

 

The deep fruitiness of a reposado tequila meets the richness of an elegant pear liqueur, with the delicate flavor of manzanilla tying the ingredients together.

1 1/2 oz. tequila reposado

1 1/2 oz. manzanilla sherry

3/4 oz. Mathilde pear liqueur

Ice cubes

Tools: mixing glass, bar spoon, strainer

Glass: cocktail, chilled

Garnish: lemon twist

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into glass. Garnish.

 

Jacques Bezuidenhout, San Francisco

Imbibe Magazine

 

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horrorgami

Today's crafty Halloween book provides projects much simpler than Knitmare On Elm Street and will be great around the office. Place a knitted Halloween diorama on your desk and people may talk, but a few oragami bats and a grim reaper adds a festive touch.

Horrorgami, 25 Creepy Creatures, Ghastly Ghouls, and Other Fiendish Paper Projects by Chris Marks. The book begins with general instructions and symbols for origami. As with the knit and purls of knitting, origami has its own basic moves. The instructions are clear and I was able to fold up a "difficult" project without any trouble at all. The projects themselves are broken into sections of difficulty, and each project has clear instructions that include visual cues. I am not an origami person and found the step by step instructions easy to follow.

All of your ghoulie favorite friends are here.

 

Beastly Bats

 

Frankenstein's Monster

Gruesome Ravens

 

For Tan, a Phantom of the Opera.

I love that the table of contents has a silhouette of each project, making it easy to find what your are looking for. The cherry on top is the back cover of the book that holds a pack of origami paper! Bet you can't make just one.

 

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knitmare on elm street

Just in time for Halloween, Knitmare on Elm Street, 20 Projects That Go Bump in the Night by Hannah Simpson.

I never thought I would consider Freddy to be cute, but this guy makes it easy. The book has everything you need to knit up your own little horror show.

There are the crazy moneys clanging their cymbals.

Shrunken heads in a jar.

How about a Necronomicon iPad cozy? You know I love a good cozy.

There is a clown pillow, that is too scary to photograph. An Abominable Snowman that I may have to whip up once the snow starts, and a Zombie Marionette. There are Voodoo Doll Cat Toys and a Kraken Tentacle that really is a must if you have a fish tank.

You could add a knitted diorama to your Halloween decor.

This little guy is my favorite.

I have a soft spot for the original Nosferatu movie and this is perfect.

The book begins with a knitting refresher course and helpful hints on shaping and other needed techniques. Small, easy to make projects that will work all over the house. Diorama across the mantle, creatures in the bookcase, a bowl of shrunken heads on the end table...so much fun!

If knitting is not quite your thing, tomorrow I will show you another crafty book, Horrorgami. Mwahahahah

 

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cbrm - Dadgum That's Good, Too!

It would be sexist to call Dagum That's Good Too! a man's cookbook, but it is true that many men love their food grilled, smoked, and fried.  This is a cookbook for them, and the people who love them.

There is an entire franchise behind this title that I was not aware of.  The whole not having a television thing keeps me out of so many loops.  The author John McLemore manufactures Masterbuilt smokers and has regular TV appearances everywhere.  This man knows his outdoor cooking. You would think with all that media power behind him he would have turned out a slick coffee table sort of cookbook.  Dagum is the exact opposite of slick.  Written in a chatty style that includes stories about his kids, family, and friends, it feels like something you would pick up at a community event.  There are photos galore!  Not only of the delicious food, but also of the people who matter most, his friends and family.  It is a thoroughly sweet book that leaves you wishing you would take the time to write something similar.

At the core, we are talking about a cookbook, so what about the recipes?  The variety is surprising for a book dedicated to smoking, grilling, and frying.  Smoked Baby Back Ribs with BBQ Sauce, and Balsamic Rib Eye Steak Sanwhiches are here, but also Bacon Buger Dogs. Why Bacon Burger Dogs? "The kids love hot dogs, the adults love burgers and everyone loves bacon."  He is right.  Here are three words that will change your life, Deep Fried Ravioli.

Around here we grill our Thanksgiving turkey, but my brother in law always deep fries his.  It is a technique that intrigues me because moisture is locked in and the cooking time is FAST.  Dadgum provides a recipe and I have been given permission to pass it along.

 

 

  


  
 

 
 
 
 
  ***I was sent this book by the publisher or their PR firm with the hope that I would write a review for the blog.  No money changed hands and my opinions are my own.
 
 
 
 
 
 






 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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