Baby blankets

I finished the spiral baby blanket. After I finished with the final skein of yarn I realized why it folds over so much. I misread the pattern and instead of adding 26 extra stitches to each row I was adding 52! So instead of having the frilly border the pattern called for I just decided that I was doing a simple border and leaving it at that. I figure I'll try again but next time increasing much slower...

However I did decide I wanted to start this other checkered pattern. I used Caron's Simply soft  yarn in Orchid(9717) and Off White. It calls for 2 skeins of the main color and 1 of the 'white', however since I'm using a slightly larger hook I think I will most likely go through 3-4 6oz skeins of the main color(Orchid) and at most just over 1 of the off white.
This blanket has gone very fast. I started it just over a week ago I think. Although I did quite a bit over the holiday break.

The left picture has a pencil in the middle for size comparison. These are three of the 5 strips needed to make the blanket. They are all the same. Starting with 10 rows of checkerboard pattern

The next two rows will alternate with these and start with 10 solid rows. 6 oz of the orchid got me through almost 2 of these rows but since the next 2 rows will include more solid blocks then checkered so I expect to use more yarn. I currently have about 3-4 oz of orchid left and I most likely will use at least 3 per row.

Since it's close to the end of the semester I expect work on this to slow down (Or at least I hope so since I have so much work to do!) But even still this is an addictive pattern so I expect it to be done in the next 2-3 weeks :)

Quatro Queso Dos Fritos

So after watching an episode of psych I decided that I have to try and make these wonderful sounding fries.  So here goes my recipe









Ingredients:
Bite size potatoes(at least 12)
5-8 oz shredded 4 cheese mixture(I used mexican cheese mixture)
black pepper
salt
1/3t cayenne pepper
1/2 t garlic powder
2 T olive oil
oil for frying
1/2 cup milk
2t butter
1/2t old bay
4T corn starch
~1/2 cup flour
sour cream
hot chili oil
chives(dried or fresh)

useful utensils:
chopstick
coreing peeling thingy
slotted spoon


boil as many potatos as fries you want (my batch was about 12) Since they're small they don't take long to boil.
As it boils take a small about of the butter and melt it in the microwave in a small bowl. once the butter cools a bit mix in about 1/8-1/4 cup of the shredded cheese then let sit
Let cool till you can handle them.



Use a sharp knife to slice off the very top of each potato, just enough that it can stand flat
use a chopstick or small corer to scoop out the middle of each potato saving the middles.

Take your shredded cheese and mix it with the black pepper. Then stuff it using the chopstick into the hole of each potato being careful to not puncture the skin. After stuffing cup the potato and use the fat end of your chopstick to compact it and add more cheese if necessary.




Take the butter and cheese mixture which should now be the consistency of putty and place it in the top of each potato so that the hole is filled and you have a convex shape back.

Next take the excess potato and mix it with the 1/2T milk, old bay and 1 1/2 T corn starch.
divide the potato mixture into as many balls as potatoes.
cover each stuffed potato with the mixture making sure to cover the open end with the cheese even if the whole potato doesn't get covered.





Place the now potato covered potatoes on a sheet so they are not touching and put into the freezer for at least half and hour.
Heat up oil so a drop of water sizzles right away but doesn't pop.(most likely about 375)
fry the potatoes about 3 at a time for 30-50 seconds (potato should be a light golden brown) scoop them onto a paper towel.

Next mix some flour, milk, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Then mix in corn starch. Alternately add flour and oil till you get a thick batter and enough of it to coat the potatoes.

Re-heat the oil to about 350

Once the oil is heated dunk each potato in the batter covering it completely and then lowering it into the hot oil again only frying 3 at a time. Fry for about 45 sec-1 min. Then place on paper towel. 

Mix together sour cream and some hot chili oil and top with chives.









Serve while still hot and enjoy :)

I had some extra potato left over the first time I made it so I decided to make these tiny ones the next day:

Final Product!

 I will cover the production steps I'm skipping in later posts but for now I would like to show the final product!

Ignore the background apparently crafting last minute creates the same mess as a tornado....

 The corset came out great! I'm glad it stayed on. It took 3 people to get me into it. One holding it shut at the top one pulling the laces and one tightening as they went down!

At the party! Granted I only stayed a little while since I was so tired from the day but at least I got some pictures!