Hoot and Collar

I found the perfect Owl Cowl on Pinterest and when I saw it I knew I needed to knit it.  So I wrote the pattern out if anyone wants it here you go.

Abbreviations:
BO = bind off
C4B = Cable Four Back; Worked over 4 sts. Place the first 2 sts on cable needle, hold in back of work, K2, then K2 from the cable needle.
C4F = Cable Four Front: Worked over 4 sts. Place the first 2 sts on cable needle, hold in front of work, K2, then K2 from the cable needle.
K = knit
P = purl
sts = stitches
SS = Seed Stitch K1 P1*Repeat then P knit sts and K purl sts

Cast on 16 Stitches

Knit 10 rows of seed stitch

Owl Pattern

Row 1: SS 4  K8, SS to end.
Row 2: SS 4, P8 SS to end.
Row 3: SS 4, C4B, C4F, SS6 to end.
Row 4: SS 4  P8, SS to end.
Row 5: SS 4  K8, SS to end.
Row 6: SS 4  P8, SS to end.
Row 7: SS 4  K8, SS to end.
Row 8: SS 4  P8, SS to end.
Row 9: SS 4  K8, SS to end.
Row 10: SS 4  P8, SS to end.
Row 11: SS 4 , C4B, C4F, SS to end.
Row 12: SS 4  P8, SS to end.
Row 13: SS 4 , K1, P2, K2, P2, K1, SS to end.
Row 14: SS 4  P1, K2, P2, K2, P1, SS to end.
Row 15: SS 4  K8, SS to end.
Row 16: SS 4  P8, SS to end.
Row 17: SS 4, C4B, C4F, SS to end.
Row 18: SS 4  P8, SS to end.

Knit until scarf measures 10 inches BO

Attach ends to make point.

Sew contrasting colored buttons on owl’s eyes (optional)

Enjoy!

Banana Nut Beer Bread

I was chatting online and the topic of bananas came up and how some people didn't like them in any way, shape or form.  Someone said what about Banana Nut Beer and read  someone said Banana Nut Bread, and thought wow that would be delicious.

So I had to try to make it and I must say it was the most delicious Banana Bread I've ever made and I can say yes I will make it again and again.

INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3 medium bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter or margarine
1/4 cup beer


DIRECTIONS:
Preheat to 350 degrees . Lightly grease and flour a loaf pan.

In a large bowl blend together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, walnuts, and salt. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs until foamy before beating in the bananas, butter and beer. Combine the two mixtures, blending until the two ingredients are moistened.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean and the top is golden.

Remove from the oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes before removing the loaf from the pan.

Enjoy!

Crock Pot Tuscan Chili

I've been trying to come up with a few new ideas for crock pot cooking, working 10 hours a day, and trying to run two households cooking can be a challenge, a time challenge for sure.

I was in the local market and saw a bag of "chili" mix that had lentils, spices and a few other things, just add meat and tomatoes.

So it got me thinking and I can make chili with lentils, but what else do I put into it, and hot Italian sausage came to mind, and then what to go with it. Why not artichokes and spinach?

Ingredients:

1lb lentils

1 package hot italian sausage 

1 frozen package of spinach

1 can of artichoke hearts

dried onion and garlic powder to taste

2 bullion cubes

Directions:

Add lentils to crock pot with bullion, artichokes, frozen spinach and 4 cans of water (I used the artichoke can) so maybe 6 cups of water in total because it was a 12oz can, and soak lentils, I soaked them overnight in crock on counter

Cook on low for 8 hours in crockpot

Take the sausage out of the casing, crumble and brown, and add lentil mixture when there is about an hour left off cooking.

Finish cooking and serve and enjoy, this will easily serve 6 probably 8 people we fed three people for two meals and the dinner portion was huge.

I hope you like it, we loved it.