Sunday, August 29, 2010

Gingerbread House Socks

Yarn:  Knitpicks Imagination - Gingerbread House
Needles:  Size 2 40" circular (magic loop method used)
Pattern:  Yankee Socks

I needed a "mindless" project while spending hours this week at the car repair garage and this is what I worked on.  Just a simple K2, P2 rib leg....nothing to "write home to mother about".  I like using the magic loop method as I don't drop or lose needles when I am somewhere that I may have to suddenly pick up and move.

Those of you who know me well know that for a long time I tried doing one new things per month.  Milk goats, make cheese, kayak, etc. have been on the list.  August has been so terribly busy (and sometimes painful) that it dawned on me that I had not adhered to the "new thing".  You know, it keeps me young thinking to do that. 

All I could think of in a hurry which is not really "new" but I haven't done in years is to make homemade yogurt.  It is so very easy and tastes so much better.

I started with 2 cups of "VERMONT" goat's milk (is there any other kind?) and 2 cups of cow's milk.

Slowly heat the milk up to 180 degrees.

This new cooking thermometer is so much better than the one I had.  It can't accidently rest on the bottom of the pan and give a "false reading".

Cool the milk to 110 degrees and add 4 tablespoons of plain yogurt (or purchased culture) making sure you mix thorougly.

Pour into your favorite yogurt maker (can be a crock pot or a number of other things).

This yogurt maker really is not as large as it appears.  After four hours, the yogurt is ready. It's still doing it's thing so I can't show you the finished product in this post.

I like my bananas very firm and barely yellow.  However, I do like really ripe mashed bananas in my yogurt so they now don't go to waste. 

It's back to work tomorrow.  I was on a "working vacation" seeing to my car, hoping to have at least one good weather day (I had 2-3).  

More knitting things to come.  Almost done with the baby sweater and a couple of other UFO's. 

Happy Knitting!

10 comments:

  1. I think my daughter would like to try this yogurt. Last week, she made banana/blueberry bread in her rice maker and it was really good. You asked me where I will be in Maine at the end of September--I will be in Portland. Is that anywhere near you? Just let me know.

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  2. I love the colors in the yarn and to top it off, you came up with matching decorations for the photo. I love the pic. Renate

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  3. Oh wow! I love the color of that sock! Great photograph, too, even though, I'm not quite ready for Autumn. Still a great photo.

    Something else that we have in common...I like my bananas very firm & barely ripe, too. And...I love yogurt. Have yet to try homemade yogurt. I can't wait to see your other projects.

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  4. It amazes me how many knitters are such 'home made' food lovers. Although, since I can buy organic yogurt relatively inexpensively, I think I'll past on making my own.

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  5. You're making your own yogurt? Wow! Earlier this summer, when my best friend was here, I told her I was going to make granola and serve it with Greek yogurt...she thought I said I was going to make yogurt. "Wow, girl...you're GOOD!" LOL!

    Cute sock - we always have to have these mindless projects. Hope the car is out of ICU soon!

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  6. Oh! Your gingerbread sock pic looks just like fall. I love those colors. Real yogurt is fun. I had a yogurt maker when I was first married, but I don't know what happened to it. Need to put that on my list.

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  7. Love the color for your socks!! I sooooo want a pair of knitted socks. :) I have never made homemade yogurt before. That could be a fun thing to make. And my daughter loves yogurt. :)

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  8. I picked up a Salton yogurt maker at Goodwill a few years back, and began making my first ever homemade yogurt. I couldn't get over how tasty it was. I'd never cared for plain yogurt by itself, but I found the homemade kind to be good enough to even eat plain!

    Your socks are so pretty. I really like that yarn. I think I'm going to give Magic Loop a try this week. I only have one circular needle that will work for it, and it's a size 5, so I guess I'll knit them in worsted. I actually love knitting with dpn's, but like you said, for knitting on the run, it would be good to not have to worry about losing a needle.

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  9. I've never made yogurt, didn't realize it was that easy. Somehow I thought it was a long process.
    Sandy
    Love the colors in the socks, that colorway would make an awesome sweater.
    Sandy

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