Sunday, October 25, 2009

Pierogies- Potato and Cheddar

Pretty easy to make, although time consuming. It's better if you have 2 people once you get to the rolling-out/filling the pierogies.

Recipe:

Dough:
3.5 cups all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons of buttermilk, sour cream, or plain yogurt

Filling:
2.5 cups of instant potatoes, water, butter and salt as called for on box
1 cup cheddar cheese (or whatever you like)
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1.5 teaspoon onion salt

While dough is resting, make filling. Prepare potatoes to package directions, with the exception of adding the spices to the boiling water. Mix in the cheese after adding the instant potatoes.



Combine the flour, eggs, sour cream (or whatever you're using) and half of the water, and stir vigorously to mix in the eggs.

Stir in the rest of the water and mix until dough begins to form. Turn out onto a floured surface, and knead GENTLY, lifting and stretching the dough as you go, for about three minutes. DO NOT overwork. Dough will be smooth and somewhat sticky. After dough has been kneeded, place into a storage bag and place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. While dough is resting, make filling.Form dough into 1.5 inch balls, and roll out on a floured surface into a 3.5 inch round about 1/8th inch thick. Cover as you go with a damp towel.

After dough is rolled out, add filling. Put about a tablespoon (or less, it's a judgement call) of filling in to the center of the dough. Close by folding gently in half, making sure not to touch the seam with the filling as it will not seal properly. Press dough together, making sure that it is sealed so the filling does not leak out while you're boiling them.
Fill a large pot with water and a little salt. Drop pierogies gently into boiling water, and boil until they float to the top. If for some reason the pierogies do not stick to the bottom, boil for about 5 minutes. Remove from the water, and place on a plate. Drain any excess water.

In a frying pan on medium high, heat butter or oil and fry pierogies on each side until they're as dark as you like them. I like mine crispy!


Remove from pan, let cool a bit (they'll be pretty hot) Enjoy!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Gingerbread Pancakes with Butterscotch Apples

I'm pretty mad that I can't find my camera charger, so I can't take good pictures. So... once again, terrible quality pictures from my BlackBerry. They were SO delicious!



Friday, October 23, 2009

Video!

I was thinking about starting to add video to some of my blog posts! So let me hear it, what do you want to see? (For those of you seeing this on FaceBook or another outside site other than my blog, please follow my direct link, http://valamode.blogspot.com and leave your comment on this post!)

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Hat With Cables





Download/Print PDF
A few more pictures on Ravelry

My first cable project!

Pattern:

Ribbed and Cabled hat pattern

Size 8 US double point needles (5)
Cable Needle
Stitch Marker
One Skein Lion-Brand Wool-Ease Thick-And-Quick yarn in the color of your choice, mine was done in denim.
Yarn needle to weave in ends

Note: this pattern makes a hat about 20 inches in diameter, and it will stretch some if you need it to. If you need to decrease or increase, any increment of 5 stitches should keep it very easy for you to still follow the pattern cable wise, but if it's not an even number of stitches it will throw you off on ribbing. I'm doing a k3 p2 ribbing on my smaller, child-sized hat, and will be posting instructions for that if asked.

Using your method of choice, cast on 80 stitches (20 on each needle), join being careful not to twist. I used the sling-shot cast on. Place marker between first and last stitch.

Knit in Knit 2, Purl 2 ribbing for 1.5-2 inches.

Start Cable pattern:
Rows 1-3: Knit 4, purl 1
Row 4: Using your cable needle, Slip 2 stitches from the left needle, move to the back of your work. Knit 2, Knit the 2 slipped stitches, Purl 1, repeat to end of row.

Repeat cable pattern rows 3 more times. You will have 4 cables.

After your last cable row, Knit 4, Purl 1 for 2.5 inches.

Decrease Rows:
Row 1: Knit 2, Knit 2 together, Purl 1 to the end (64 stitches remaining).
Row 2: Knit 3, Purl 1 to end of row.
Row 3: Knit 1, Knit 2 together, Purl 1 to the end (48 stitches remaining).
Row 4: Knit 2, Purl 1 to end of row.
Row 5: Knit 2 Together, Purl 1 to the end (32 stitches remaining).
Row 6: Knit 1, Purl one to end.
Row 7: Knit 2 Together to the end (16 stitches remaining).
Row 8: Knit to the end.

Cut or break yarn, leaving a tail of about 10 inches. Using yarn needle, draw yarn through the remaining stitches and pull tight. Turn hat inside out and weave in ends. You're done, good job!

Questions, email import_goddess_85 at yahoo dot com

I added new pictures!

This pattern is for personal use only. Pattern and hats made from it cannot be resold without express written permission from me, Valarie Fletcher.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Adventures in Alternate "Fibers"

It really IS easy to make "yarn" out of plastic grocery bags! If you want to know the technique, please leave a comment (on the blog post itself, not on facebook if this is posted there). I knit up a quick gauge so I could see how it felt. It's not bad. Takes a little getting used to, but overall it's pretty easy. I did garter stitch on US 8 needles, casting on 10 stitches. I think I'm going to find a bunch of bags and make a bag! This was with one plastic bag. Best thing about it? Well, besides it being recycled of course! If you need more "yarn" you don't have to do a lot of work, just loop more on!




Maybe I'll make a door mat for wiping icky winter feet on!

Twitter!