Twirly Skirt 2.0

Main Entry: skirt
Part of Speech: n
Definition: a one-piece garment extending downward from the waist and not joined between the legs, worn especially by women and girls.
Etymology: 1250–1300


Twirly Skirt 2.0 is a birthday gift for my niece Morgan, who turns three next week. Her skirt is a smaller version of the one I knit her big sister, and is the final item in my eight-sweaters-in-2009 project. Here's hoping she loves twirling every bit as much as Chloe does.


Pattern: Barefoot Knits Twirly Skirt* by Christine Schwender & Paula Heist by Lee Wood Juvan
Yarn: Berroco Comfort
Started: November 27, 2009
Finished: December 5, 2009
Raveled: Here

* I modified the pattern to knit in the round - all my modifications can be found on my Rav page for the project.

Martha's Red Delicious (Velvet Cake)

In honor of December and a small holiday gathering we hosted this weekend, I made my first ever Red Velvet Cake. Unsure exactly what to do, I went straight to a source I trust (Martha Stewart) and found a recipe that spoke to me on several levels:

1. The name of the cake has the word "Montclair" in it. As in Montclair, NJ - a town I spent several years enjoying back in the late 1990s.
   
2. The recipe called for buttermilk, so I knew this would be a dense, moist cake - exactly what I was looking for.
3. It was for a traditional red velvet cake -- aka chocolate cake with red food coloring.
   

Not wanting to put a cream cheese frosting on the cake, as Martha recommended, I frosted it with a Marshmallow Frosting from one of my King Arthur Flour cookbooks. I'm not saying I know more than Martha -- but I can admit that this red velvet cake with a minty marshmallow frosting has become my crowning glory.

If you are looking for a sweet and festive cake this winter -- spend the time and make what I've dubbed "Martha's Red Delicious". You'll be happy you did.


MONTCLAIR MARTHA'S RED VELVET CAKE
(from Martha Stewart)

What you'll need
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pans
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising), plus more for pans
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 one-ounce bottles liquid red food coloring
3 tablespoons lukewarm water
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Marshmallow Frosting (see recipe below)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Butter two 8x2 inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper and butter again. Dust with flour and tap out the excess; set aside. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, and baking soda; set aside.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter and sugar; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy; about 15 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, food coloring, and water; beat - scraping down the sides of the bowl until everything is well combined. Add reserved dry ingredients in additions, alternating with the buttermilk; beat on low speed until well combined.

3. In a small bowl, stir together baking soda and vinegar; add to batter. Beat on medium speed for 10 seconds. Be sure not to over beat. Divide batter between pans and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean (25-35 minutes). Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack for about 15 minutes. Turn cakes out of pans and let them stand to cool completely.

4. Frost layers - sprinkle crushed candy canes or peppermint discs on top.


MARSHMALLOW FROSTING
(from King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion Cookbook)

What you'll need
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup lite corn syrup
1 1/2 cup marshmallow fluff
12 (+/- to your liking) peppermint candies or candy canes (crushed to your consistency)

1. Beat together the shortening, butter, salt, vanilla and confectioners' sugar until fluffy.

2. Beat in the corn syrup, a bit at a time, until well blended.

3. Beat in the marshmallow fluff and crushed peppermint candies, just until blended.

4. Assemble cake - sprinkling with additional peppermint candies if desired. Serve.

Memory Lane

About a week ago I came across an old box of mementos. Funny, interesting, nostalgic stuff that I spent hours looking through. As I reminisced I found myself singling out a few special items to look at again before closing the box back up.

Among the items I set off to the side were a poem about two little girls; sisters, off on an adventure at night, and a couple of handwritten letters including one from my Mom recounting the night of my birth and several from my siblings written back when they were just silly little kids writing notes to their older sister who lived away from home.

At the end of the day, when all was said and done, I wasn't quite ready to pack the reserved items back into the box, so I tucked them together in an original envelope and stuck them in my purse. In the days since their discovery, I've been surprisingly unable to leave them alone. I've re-read each one almost every day and am continually amazed at how papers so light and old have made me feel so incredibly loved and happy.

Tonight, I've decided, I'll pack them back up and put them away, but not before I make a copy of each to send to their respective writers --- who will likely enjoy a quick trip down memory lane every bit as much as I did.

Pinecone Elves

Inspired by the December issue of Martha Stewart Living, I took a stab at making three little pinecone elves for my holiday decorating this year. I pulled them together in an evening, using supplies I had on hand -- a quick, adorable, get-me-in-the-mood-for-the-holidays craft, with really sweet results.

click on the image to make it larger

To make a pinecone elf or two of your own, visit Martha's website.

Gratuitous (but fun)

A few more images from our photo shoot with Saydi Shumway -- who Joe and I highly recommend for ALL your Metro-Boston photography needs:

This One Goes Out To The One I Love

People Magazine recently announced it's annual "Sexiest Man Alive" list. And while I agree that Johnny Depp, Ryan Reynolds, and Jake Gyllenhaal are all handsome men, they pale in comparison to this guy:


I'm just sayin'.

The photos above were shot by the amazing Metro Boston photographer, Saydi Shumway, who came to our house recently for a shoot. She captured Joe and I perfectly. A sneak peek of our time with her will follow in another post. For now, I'll leave you with this one, that I adore:


Culling through a hundred excellent photos for a few favorites isn't gonna be easy!

Grand Plan

Remember back in March when I posted my love for Adrian Bizilia's Fiddlehead Mittens?

copyright © carolynh

Well, the obsession lives on! I never did 'clear my knitting schedule' so I could knit a pair of these for myself. But I did buy the pattern and some yarn, and now as a week of vacation comes into view, I've formulated a grand plan:

Me + Week Between Christmas & New Year = One Pair of Fiddleheads

It's gonna be a very happy union!