ALSO's Cakes, Pastries and More: January 2015

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Amelia's Princess Afghan

Here is the second blanket's from Jenn's grandma's yarn.

(I am trying a new collage app for my phone)

This was the first time using this pattern and I must say I liked it. I wasn't sure at first, but it worked up well. It won't replace my ripple, but I would use this again. This particular yarn is discontinued. I LOVE the colors! I almost wanted it for me. ;)

The big reveal

Details

Started: January 4th 2015

Finished: January 14th 2015

Pattern: Blanket and I also used YouTube HERE

Yarn: RHSS in Mint RHSS Jeweltones in Brilliant (Discontinued) both Grandma yarn, and Caron in Lilac (from Kate's blanket)

Hook: K

Measurements: 45 x 55 inches

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Owens Fruit Loops Afghan

I inherited some yarn from Jenn, it was her Grandma's, so I decided to use some of it to make her kiddos, Owen and Amelia, blankets. The colorway in the center was the inherited yarn (Red Heart Mexicana). I was off a few days for the holiday so I made it during that time.

Mom's Sanitizer Cozys

Mom asked for a few cozy's for her hand sanitizer, so when I was there last weekend I had her pick out the yarn and I made them while we were cooking chicken soup! mmmm

The Top one is for a smaller, 1 oz bottle (think Bath & Body works) and the bottom one is for a 2 oz Purell bottle. I made them both January 11th 2015, with an H hook in cotton yarn.

1 oz bottle was in Lava Lamp, pattern HERE, and 2 oz bottle, pattern HERE, was in Candy Sprinkles twist, both Lily Sugar n'Cream.

Friday, January 16, 2015

FO: Honey Honey Shawl

My first beaded shawl I am finally posting about! It's project name is actually "Is it done yet, Honey" because I felt like I was working on this FOREVER. In reality it was only a month haha. Fairy Yarn Mother Corrine helped with this- even sending me the wire needed to string the beads on. Before I blocked this out I kinda felt like "eh" about it and didn't know if I would make another. AFTER blocking I was like- THIS IS GREAT!

Details

Started: July 7, 2014

Finished: August 5, 2014

Pattern: Honey, Honey Shawlette by Nancy L Drew

Hook: How did I not note what hook I used...

Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy in Fingering Weight, 2 skeins....and let me TELL YOU it was close. I actually had to shorten the shawl a few rows. I also used 319 beads.

Measurements: 25 X 55 inches

Monday, January 12, 2015

Hamburger & Sausage Soup, with Recipe

Another soup!!

This recipe was inspired, again, by my Fix it and Forget it Christmas Cookbook. The recipe can also be found online HERE from Cooks.com

This was a huge hit. My mom even heard it calling her name when I gave her some =)

Hamburger Sausage Soup

Here is what I did, but the "real" recipe can be seen if you click the link above.

1 lb. ground beef
1 lb. Ground Italian Sausage
1 (1 1/2 oz.) envelope dry onion soup mix
6 c. boiling beef stock
1- 8oz can of pizza sauce (The "real" recipe called for diced tomatoes, oregano and basil...So I thought I'd just use this instead)
1 tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Sprinkle of Celery Seed (recipe called for celery...so no)
1 c. sliced pared carrots
1 c. uncooked elbow macaroni

In skillet, brown ground beef and sausage; drain well (cannot stress that enough). Place meats in crock pot and add seasoning and onion soup mix. Stir in boiling beef stock, Pizza sauce, soy and Worcestershire. Add carrots, stir well. Cover pot and cook on low setting for 8 to 10 hours. I made the pasta on the side but the recipe says you can toss the dry pasta in the crock pot one hour before serving.

Friday, January 9, 2015

FO: Kate's Afghan

I was beginning to think I would NEVER get to show off this afghan! I was so worried I would accidentally mention this to her...By the time we were able to give it to her it had been finished for a month and a half! The guys and I picked out some purples over the summer for Kate's Christmas Present and away I went. There were more pics of course but I narrowed them down =) I just LOVE this pattern. It works up quick and basically "tells" you when you messed up.

Frosty patiently awaits for Kate....

Open Box Face:

Aww

Here they are with each of their own afghans.

Q's blanket journey from 2013 is HERE.

Details

Started: August 23, 2014

Finished: November 9, 2014

Pattern: Neat Ripple Pattern by Attic24

Yarn: Caron One Pound in Deep Violet, Lilac and White

1.5 skeins of each

Hook: K

Measurements: 5 x 7.5 feet (the size of her other favorite blanket)

Q looked up the measurements of the Target blanket she normally uses when she was out of the room. When he told her that- she gave him the "Ok, Creeper" face haha

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Star Stitch trial....

I have been seeing this stitch for a while now and decided while I was off for the New Year's holiday I would try it as a washcloth/dishcloth. The pattern is from Knit Picks. I ended up having to watch a YouTube video to get it right-and that took several attempts. There is also a "wrong" side to this pattern which I am not a fan of.

I was skipping a stitch, therefore losing a "star" every row.

I then thought I had it...but instead of decreasing I must have started increasing stitches. It started as 5 inches for the first 4 rows...row 5- 5.5 inches...row 6- 6 inches...I don't see my doing this one again anytime soon.

Details

Started and Finished: January 2, 2015

Pattern: Fruity Loops Crochet Dishcloth

Yarn: Lily Sugar n'Cream Cotton, scraps

Hook: I

YouTube Video

Monday, January 5, 2015

Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup, with recipe

Hi All!

Here is a new recipe I made recently! I found it in a Fix it and Forget it cookbook from the library...but I don't remember which one. However, Taste Of Home online has the exact recipe, HERE. I really enjoyed this recipe, as did Mom, Arleen and Q.

Buffalo Chicken Wing Soup

6 Cups of Milk (I used 2%)

3- 10 3/4 Oz Cans of Cream of Chicken Soup

3 Cups of Cooked Shredded Chicken (about 1 lb.)

1-8 Tbsp of your favorite Wing/Hot Sauce, depending on how hot you like it

(I used Quaker Steak and Lube Golden Garlic Sauce)

*you can also not add it, and let your diners add it when they eat

Combine Milk, Soups and Chicken in slow cooker until smooth.

Cover and cook on Low for 4-5 hours.

When there is about 30 minutes left, stir in the Sour Cream & Wing/Hot Sauce, cover and continue to cook until warmed through.

**And because I thought this would be good almost stew like I added some cornstarch to thicken it up....oh and made pasta of course. =)

Saturday, January 3, 2015

2014 Blog Review

Credit

Here are my 2014 stats =) I attempted to do this for 2013...but never got around to it and Statcounter only lets you review the last 4 months of detailed info...which is why I now also use Google Analytics. I did manage to post stats for 2012 HERE. Which to date was still my most popular blog year! I must go back and see what I talked about haha. I think overall more guests stop by for the food, not the yarn lol.

Per Google Analytics:

December 2014 was the most popular month by far with 200 unique page views and 123 total visitors (New= 80, Returning= 43). The most popular page that month was Cup Cozys.

Overall for 2014 my most popular blog post continues to be my Spider-Man Pull Apart Cupcakes, Coming in second is Smurfette. It wasn't even a cake- just a cake pan, which leads me to believe maybe I should MAKE the cake this year. Both are posts from 2011.

There were 1241 unique page views, 1314 in total. I had 742 folks stop by for a visit (604=new, 138= returning). Most visitors are from the USA, German and the UK tied for second this year.

Per Statcounter:

This is an overall tallying for each year. Sorry it's so small.

	Page Views	Unique Visits	First Time Visits	Returning Visits
Total	7,020	3,865	2,964	901
Average	1,170	645	494	151

	Page Views	Unique Visits	First Time Visits	Returning Visits
2015	8	7	3	4
2014	1,147	724	631	93
2013	1,576	889	742	147
2012	2,170	1,183	810	373
2011	1,308	679	494	185
2010	811	383	284	99

Returning Visits - Based purely on a cookie, if this person is returning to your website for another visit an hour or more later

First Time Visits - Based purely on a cookie, if this person has no cookie then this is considered their first time at your website.

Unique Visitor - Based purely on a cookie, this is the total of the returning visits and first time visits - all your visitors.

Page Load - The number of times your page has been visited.

Per Blogger Stats:

Overall it states there have been 14,680 total page views. The Smurfette Cake pan is the most viewed of all time. The USA visits most often, with Germany being Second. The Counter on the main page says there have been 3865 visits to date. (I didn't have that counter for a while)

As of today this will be my 850th post since I created the blog in September of 2009. I think we will hit 1000 in 2015!!!!!!!!

Here is the breakdown as of today of how many blogs have been posted per year.

Blog Archive

FO: Lava Lamp Washcloth

My first Completed project for 2015!

I am not sure that I think Lava Lamp when I see this yarn colorway, but I still like it. =)

I saw this Stitch pattern in my latest edition of Simply Crochet Magazine, Issue 25, that took 100 years to get here but I won't go there, and knew I wanted to try it. It is similar to a pattern I used for the Spa Washcloths over the summer. I think I prefer the Spa Basket pattern.