The Perfect Scoop

Have you seen anyone else talk about this book? This gem seems to have made the rounds of some of the food blogs. It's The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz. It came in the mail Thursday or Friday. This weekend we made the pineapple sorbet (fresh pineapple, water, sugar), but in popscicle form, which was one of the suggestions in the book. Delicious. and Easy.

Also made the Vietnamese Coffee ice cream. (used our leftover morning coffee, sweetened condensed milk, half and half, a pinch of ground coffee). Used the ice cream freezer. It was pretty soupy still after the ice cream freezer, but I'm pretty sure that's user error or a climate issue. It was still delicious. And once we threw it in a tupperware and froze the rest, it's been fairly easy to scoop. It's good plain, good with chocolate syrup, also good with sliced bananas, chocolate syrup, and ground up peanuts. Not only is it reminiscient of Vietnamese iced coffee (sweetened and milked with sweetened condensed milk), but also reminiscient of the Starbucks ice cream flavor Java Chip, one of our favorites.

There are a variety of custard and non-custard recipes. I don't have the courage yet to try custard ones (I have scrambled egg and attention to wisking issues), but there are step-by-step illustrated instructions in the beginning so I might. There are so many delicious looking non-custard recipes that I had a lot of trouble limiting it to just two to try this week. And I didn't - I got ingredients for the pineapple sorbet, the Vietnamese coffee ice cream and peanut butter ice cream. I only put the freezer gizzy for the ice cream maker in the freezer this morning, so peanut butter might have to wait. The recipes seem like they will be a delicious way to use up in-season fruit.

How bout some knitting? And some flannel?

I've gotten out of my baby block. The EZ sweater was no fun to knit. I decided it was because of the gauge. Size 3 needles with the STR heavyweight does, indeed, make a sturdy fabric. However it was a lot like knitting a dishcloth on too small needles. I'm not sure that Blue Moon Fiber Arts really had that in mind, nor did EZ. I did a little swatching. The yarn wants to use a 5. So I'm making the pattern that I made for my little friend Victoria. I like it soooo much that I'm way past where I was when I took this picture.



Next up socks:

The monkey cuff nearly knit itself. But the heel flap is much slower. It's about halfway done. Haven't picked up DH's sock in a while.

Before we get to the flannel. I was surprised to find inspiration in this magazine, but I think this is the quilt for the new baby. It's from the Sep 07 issue of Quick Quilts. I'm planning to use a whole slew of flannel and then neutral solids. I think the flannel will be the big squares. Neutral solids on the small ones. But who can say, really.



I took Tuesday off to go to the dentist. I tell you, the novacain they let pregnant ladies use is not the high-test. I got a lot done. It's really much cheaper for me to go to work than to stay home. After the appointment, I picked up La and we went on an adventure at the mall. There were some really good clearance sales. She got a Spiderman shirt for $4.

I cut most of these out before the appointment.

For the new baby. Size 0-3 mos.

For a couple little boys. size 18mos, and size 3.

These were done recently, except the elastic. size 6 and size 18 mos.

These are the ones for the monkey. Next to the ones for the whippersnapper. size 12-14 next to size 0-3 months.

When I cut out the baby ones, I had a momentary freak out that I cut them with the picture upside down. Turns out that the legs are shorter than the waist-crotch length, and the pictures were right side up. I put some pins in the top to help me remember. Oh, and I picked up some white onesies to make them coordinate with the flannel pants. Haven't decided if it'll be through applique or freeze paper stencil.

I might have a flannel problem.

First there were these. Lobster pants. A pair for each of my nephews, one for La. I found out that it only takes me about an hour to cut and sew each pair. Dangerous knowledge.

Then this. Cut out (and since sewn) more flannel pajama pants. This time for my neighbor girls (age 1 and 3). Their mom admired La's lobster pants. Apparently, that's all you have to do. The fabric was stash (from the same purchase as the lobster.) Clearance. And not La's style.



The monkey saw the lobster pants on La. Found out that there was enough left for the baby to get a pair too. Then he asked for a pair. Surprised the heck out of me. So, I had to go back to the fabric store to get a couple yards for him. Had to. While I was there, I slipped. The flannel was on sale. And I had a 10% off coupon on top. Decided that there were flannel pants for Christmas for my little friends and nieces and nephews. And sister and BIL. I cut out the slightly psychadelic flowers tonight. One for my 5 year old niece. One for a 6 month old little friend.

This is the stash of flannel for flannel pants for the baby. Haven't cut the first pair yet. And I seem to have shelved all of the knitting projects for the whipper-snapper too. Not sure what that's about.

Finished this dress for La last weekend. The circles were an adventure. I had my resident steady hand cut them out. Used wonder under. Then when I found that the edges were dodgy and probably wouldn't hold up to 4 year old use, zigged and zagged around the perimeter. Came out better than I had dared hope. Of course the dragon buttons barely fit through the button holes. Behind the green dress is La's flower girl dress. From Talbot's, not handmade.

You want to hear about the knitting? Dh's sock is on the home stretch - I turned the heel and finished the gusset. The first monkey sock is coming right along - I'm on the heel flap. Kind of regretting that I followed the pattern and didn't do the *slip 1 k1*/slip 1, purl back flap that I usuall do - this one is plain stockinette.