March 2010 Archives

A good friend of mine started "cook through" blog awhile back where she is cooking her way through The Joy of Cooking. Although I read several "foodie" blogs I really enjoy her posts. As she is someone who wanted to start learning how to cook and just started at it, which is exactly what I did, learning as I went.

One of her posts that I kept thinking about was for "Nutty Meringue Kisses". Airy crunchy cookies studded with pecans that are surprisingly low in fat, sign me up! So I got out my copy of The Joy of Cooking I scored at the thrift store but alas, that recipe wasn't in my version!



From her description of the recipe I set out scouring the web to find something that sounded similar. The inclusion of almond extract is what really sold me, I love almond extract! I could not find a recipe that looked spot on but I found a decent looking one and modified it. They were worth the hunt, delicious. They even earned a rare Mr. PieKnits approval (he typically doesn't eat sweets).



Pecan Meringue Cookies

• 2 egg whites
  
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
  
• 2/3 cup superfine or granulated sugar
  
• 1 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
  

1. Preheat oven to 250°F. Cover baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Beat egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add the salt and continue to beat/whisk at high speed until the whites barely hold soft peaks.

3. Gradually add sugar, approximately 2 tablespoons at a time, beating in each addition until mixture is stiff and shiny and stands in peaks.

4. Beat in extracts (can use all vanilla, all almond or half and half like I did). Fold in pecans.

5. Drop meringues onto cookie sheet using two spoons. Alternately fill pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch tip and pipe on to sheet.

6. Bake 45 minutes. Switch off oven and leave in cooling oven for another 45 minutes.

Makes about 12 cookies.

I haven't been getting much time to knit lately (or blog consequently!) but I manged to finish this little sweater and get it sent off before my niece grows too much more!



When we visited recently I got to bring my booties and matching bonnet I made to go with the sweater, despite the sweater not being quite finished in time. Somehow I forgot to take a photo of the bonnet. It was the Feather & Fan Bonnet by Larissa Brown. It used the same yarn as the booties (Red Heart- Heart & Sole), with the base part where the ribbon goes through in the same yarn as the sweater, to tie them together.

The sweater is the Offset Wraplan by Sara Morris (raverly link). When we visited I had it nearly completed but then found my niece is quite the little grower, in the 90 percentile for length! Of course one of the great things about knitting is customizing, so I ripped back the sleeves and body edgings and worked them for the length of the next size up. The yarn is Knit Picks Shine Sport, which is really a nice soft cotton-blend.

Sometimes I get an idea in my head and I just have to act on it. Despite telling myself I probably don't really need another top hat. But pshaw, where's the fun in that?



I had been searching for a feltable yarn in this color for awhile when I saw Debbie Stroller's (of Stitch N' Bitch fame) new line of yarn, Stitch Nation. This yarn is the Full o' Sheep in Aquamarine, a worsted 100% wool single ply. I'm really curious to see how it will felt. The line has some great vibrant colors.

The pattern is of course my modified version of Dark Twist's Miniature Top Hat. I've made the brim a little longer this time as I'm planning to decorate it with needle felting and some little forest figurines. I think pre-felted knits always look a bit pathetic but I was trying to capture the wire I've inserted into the I-cord bind-off on the brim. The ends have been left long and sticking out, hopefully allowing them to adjust to the final fulled size. I've been meaning to order some actual millinery wire, but until then I'm winging it with a bit of floral wire.

I may just have this finished in time to go see Alice in Wonderland!