Weeeee!!!

School is over, finals are D-O-N-E.

Last weekend I just kind of sat on the couch, feeling that I should do *something*.. but not sure what. Then it dawned on me.. I could read ANYTHING I wanted, do anything I wanted, without feeling like I needed to do something for school. Justin and I went to the library, where I got books on cookies and bread making.

I have been knitting, too. I finished one of my Monkey Socks:



I love the Risata. But with Christmas coming up, I set the socks aside, and I started a hat for Justin. I am using the Fake Isle Hat pattern, and using Lambs Pride Worsted. The last time I tried this the edge of the hat curled horribly, and I frogged it. So this time I used a size 5US on the ribbing only, and then changed to a 6US for the hat. And I also changed to a 2x2 rib.



I started it yesterday, so I think that's decent progress. Working with the mohair in the yarn makes me itchy sometimes, but it's just a hat, and I'm not gonna be the one wearing it. :-p And it'll make it warmer for Justin.

And speaking of Justin, his birthday was last week. I asked him what type of cake he wanted, and he said "cheesecake". So I kept sending him recipes, and he kept veto-ing them. (Hey, if I put all this work into a cheesecake, I want to make sure he *really* likes it.) And then I stumbled on this Oreo Cheesecake recipe. And it was love at first sight. I made it for him, and it took 2 pounds of cream cheese and a full box of oreos. And it was gone in a weekend. I'm sorry, hips.



Ok, back to knitting.

Cupcakes are good.

I spent all day yesterday revamping the blog layout - so if you read this on bloglines, make sure to make a stop by and check things out!

So I've just been plodding along on the plain vanilla socks. But I do have a recipe to share with y'all.. it's a cupcake that I made last week. Now, unfortunately, they were gone before I could snap any pictures. But they were so good!

Mocha Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup cold brewed coffee
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons cider vinegar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a small mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, coffee, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients; mix well.

Fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool.
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And since I managed to have over 2 pounds of chocolate chips on hand, I threw some of those in, too. I skipped the icing since the chocolate chips in the cupcake gave it that extra sweetness that the icing does. This recipe is one that is definately in my "keeper" files.

Wooo! Getting back into the groove.

It feels good to be getting back into the groove of things again!

I've been baking some. Cupcakes on Sunday, Muffins yesterday. I'm at the point where they aren't pretty, but they sure do taste good, if I can say so myself :-D

The cupcakes on Sunday were a simple yellow recipe with hint of vanilla. I didn't have the stuff on hand do make an icing, so I had to cheat and use a canned icing. I sprinkled sweetened cocoa powder on top.



And they were sooooo good. I ended up eating way to many of these.

And yesterday I made muffins using the To Die for Blueberry Muffins recipe. The topping REALLY makes the muffins good, and they are really light and fluffy. But, the topping also makes it hard to get the muffins out of the muffin pan in one piece, as you can see.. although I had already taken a bite :-D



This is a really good recipe to try, and its pretty easy, too. Perhaps next time Ill just use more Pam when I grease the pan.

Im also knitting one of these purses. Knitting from a non-American pattern is interesting, they don't hold your hand like American patterns do. But I like it so far. I'm not far enough to post a WIP pic yet, but I should be soon.