Best Recipe: Pecan Rice Pudding (Easy and Eggless)

Cook’s Notes: The perfect comfort food, ready in just 45 minutes. The method is similar to making risotto. It was easy to make in one pot on the stovetop. Erica G. shared the original recipe on allrecipes, and I made modifications (like omitting the egg and substituting pecans for golden raisins). She says, “This is my mom’s recipe for Rice Pudding. It’s the best I’ve ever tasted,” and I have to agree. Rice pudding is a favorite dish; this will be our go-to recipe. Thanks, Erica!

Yield: 6 servings

3/4 c uncooked white rice
1.5 c water

2/3 c pecans
2 c milk, divided (1.5 c and 1/2 c)
1/3 c white sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 T butter
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cook the rice: In a medium saucepan, bring 1.5 c water to a boil. Add rice and stir. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Tip: Make sure the rice is tender before you add the sugar. Fluff the rice, scraping it all up from the bottom of the pan.

While the rice cooks, toast the pecans: Spread pecans on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 1 minute on High. Stir the pecans, and microwave 1 minute more on High. Be careful; the plate could get extremely hot. Chop the toasted pecans.

Add 1.5 c milk, sugar, and salt to the saucepan with the cooked rice. Cook over medium-low heat , stirring often, until pudding is thick and creamy, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Stir in remaining 1/2 c milk and toasted pecans. Cook 2 minutes more, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, and stir in butter and vanilla. Serve warm.

Best Recipe: 1 Dozen Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cook’s Notes: 12 perfect chocolate chip cookies, just enough to satisfy a craving. It’s quick to whip up a batch of cookies that uses just one baking sheet.

2 T plus 2 tsp butter at room temperature
2 T brown sugar
2 T granulated sugar
2 T egg, well beaten (beat 1 large egg in a small bowl; then measure out 2 T)
1/4 tsp vanilla
3/8 c flour
scant 1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 c mini chocolate chips

Using an electric stand mixer, cream the butter and sugars. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients and beat just until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for 8 to 9 minutes or just until edges are light brown. Be careful not to cook these too long. They will continue to cook for a while after you take them out of the oven.

Recipe Source: The Green Jackfruit blog, who adapted the recipe from Small Batch Baking by Debby Maugans Nakos

One Ball HDC Noro Hat (Crocheted Toque)

Crochet, project #139. Completed 10/7/2007.
Brim up (on a 21-inch head)

Brim down (on a 22-inch head)

Yarn: 1 ball — Noro Silk Garden (45% silk, 45% kid mohair, 10% lamb’s wool), 50 g/100 m (about 109.36 yds). Color #84 (reds)

Hook: I-9 (5.5 mm) crochet hook

Gauge: Not important — no gauge swatch required! Continue increasing until crown measures 6″ to 7″ in diameter, and then work even until hat is as long as you’d like it.

Finished Size: One size fits most, 7.5 inches long

Pattern: “Crocheted Hats: Easy as Rnds 1-2-3”, Interweave Crochet, Special Issue 2004, page 94 to 95. Hat recipe based on Diana Evenson’s basic pattern. Order back issues directly from the publisher.

Wenda Hat

Knitting, project #138. Completed 10/3/2007.

Wenda is Waldo’s girlfriend; according to the series by Martin Handford, she takes the pictures in the books. I used the roll brim instead of ribbing after re-reading the delightful Where’s Waldo? The Wonder Book.

A basic, top-down hat with a reverse stockinette brim and a 3-inch pom-pom. The top was shaped with 8 increases per round. This hat was made for a Halloween costume; the pom-pom is just tied on and can be detached for regular daily wear.

And here are Waldo’s Hat and Wenda’s Hat together:

Yarn:
Encore Chunky (75% acrylic, 25% wool); 3.5 oz/100 g, 143 yds:
1 ball for main color (MC) and 1 ball for contrast color (CC).
87 yds total, plus 11 yds CC for pom-pom.
MC: 1.5 oz / 62 yds — White, #208.
CC: 0.5 oz / 25 yds — Red, #9601.

Two balls of yarn — one white and one red — was enough to make two adult-sized hats, and still have yarn left over.

Needles and Hook:
US size 10.5 (6.5 mm) double-pointed knitting needles
US size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for cast off

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 4 rows per inch

Finished Size: Large, 22 to 23″. About 8″ tall (brim is 1.75″ long but rolls under)

Pom-Pom instructions are from two sites:
http://www.helloknitty.com/pdfs/pompom.pdf
http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/killlerpompom/index.html

Roll Brim modified from instructions in Hip Knit Hats by Cathy Carron.

Waldo Hat

Knitting, project #137. Completed 9/28/2007.

A basic, top-down hat with ribbed brim and a 3-inch pom-pom. The top was shaped with 6 increases per round. This hat was made for a Halloween costume for a couple I know; the pom-pom is just tied on and can be detached for regular daily wear. Its companion, naturally, is the Wenda Hat.

Yarn:
Encore Chunky (75% acrylic, 25% wool); 3.5 oz/100 g, 143 yds:
1 ball for main color (MC) and 1 ball for contrast color (CC).
66 yds total, plus 11 yds CC for pom-pom
MC: 1.1 oz / 45 yds — White, #208.
CC: 0.5 oz / 21 yds — Red, #9601.

Needles and Hook:
US size 10.5 (6.5 mm) double-pointed knitting needles
US size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for cast off

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 4 rows per inch

Finished Size: Large, 22 to 23″. About 8″ tall with brim down (ribbing is 1.75″ long)

Pom-Pom instructions from two sites:
http://www.helloknitty.com/pdfs/pompom.pdf
http://marniemaclean.com/patterns/killlerpompom/index.html

Lace-Up Gauntlet Gloves

Knitting, project #140. Completed 10/12/2007.

Two gloves (knit flat) with offset thumb gussets that will be laced up with ribbon. These are for fashion, not warmth so much. But they are hot off the needles — and shown here, still damp, on the blocking board.

Yarn:
183 yds light yarn: 1 ball Cascade Yarns Cherub collection 4-ply (55% nylon, 45% acrylic), 50 g, 240 yds. Color: 25 (black)

Still to come: 4.5 yards satin ribbon

Needles and Hook: US 6 (4 mm) straight knitting needles
F-6 (4 mm) crochet hook for cast off

Gauge: 5.5 sts = 1 inch in St st

Finished Size: 12″ long, blocked to these custom width measurements:
8″ wide at the hand, 6″ at the wrist, and 10″ at forearm

Pattern sources:

• The foundation of these gloves is Nikol Lohr’s Criss-Cross Gloves pattern from Naughty Needles (changed gauge and size)
• I added the Irregular Rib pattern to the gloves, modified from sweater instructions by Teva Durham in Loop-D-Loop
• Thumb gusset is combined from two sources 1) Picot Edge Gauntlet pattern in the Knit.1 magazine, premiere issue, Fall 2004; and 2) Joan Hamer’s excellent instructions at http://www.knitlist.com/01gift/wristers.htm

Other wrist warmer patterns on the Web:

• Noro Kureyon Wrist Warmers pattern at http://www.lolajl.net/geniasblog/archives/2004/12/wrist_warmers_1.html
• Lace-Up Opera Gloves — these are so lovely: http://ysolda.com//wordpress/index.php/lace-up-opera-gloves/

Bradley’s Ultimate Crocheted Socks

Crochet, project #136. Completed 9/22/2007.

Pattern: Dorothy Hardy, http://www.crochetme.com/ultimate-crocheted-socks
Toe-up socks crocheted in one piece with a gusseted heel. The heel construction is just genius. Thanks for a great pattern, Dorothy!

Yarn: 1 ball ZwergerGarn Opal superwash (75% virgin wool, 25% polyamid), 100 g/425 m. Color: 1931, Neon series (purple, teal, and lime).

Hook: US F-4.0 mm hook for body of sock and US E-3.5 mm hook for cuff

Gauge: 20 esc / 20 rows = 4 inches (5 per inch)

Finished Size: Large, made to fit my friend Bradley, who wears a US men’s 10.5 shoe. Each sock used 41 g/ 175 m sock wool.

Top-Down Raglan with Waist Shaping

Knitting, project #135. Completed 9/7/2007.

Notes: Two months from start to finish to make a sweater for me, by me. This cotton/Lycra yarn is much more stretchy than wool. When wearing the sweater, the yoke stretched very wide, almost dropping off the shoulders. Adding rows of crochet around the neck fixed this.

Yarn: Breeze by Heirloom Yarns Australia. (30% Wool, 69.6% Cotton and 0.4% Lycra), 50 g, 95 m or 103.8 yds each
1075 yds (from 11 balls) MC: Color 009, Navy blue
52 yds (from 1 ball) CC: Color 007, Lt blue.

Needles and Hook:
US Size 9 (5.5 mm) circulars, 16″ and 32″
US size H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook

Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows = 4 inches (4.5 sts and 6 rows per inch)

Finished Size: 1X. The sweater is 22″ across chest under the arms. Raglan line is 13″ long: Next time, the raglan line could be made shorter by 3 inches for a shorter armhole drop.

Pattern sources and inspiration

• Neck calculations for 2-stitch raglan lines: My Knitting Island
• Knitting Fool’s Simple Worked-From-The-Top Raglan Pullover Pattern Calculated by the Percentage Method
• Ribbing at waist: Inspired by several designs in Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel
• Waist shaping: Inspired by several sweaters and instructions in Big Girl Knits, particularly the Bombshell T-shirt by Stefanie Japel
• Waist shaping, used Lucia’s Magic Formula Sleeve calculator online
• Sleeve shaping, used Lucia’s Magic Formula Sleeve, Top Down calculator

Garter Beanie in the Round

Free Patterns Copyright Statement: Non-Commercial, Share-Alike

It is my pleasure to share these patterns with the craft community. If you make one of these items, I would love to see a picture of it. This free pattern is not in the public domain. You may not use this pattern for commercial purposes. You may not receive compensation or charge a fee for this pattern or sell items made from this pattern. You may donate items you make from this pattern to charity. You may use items you make from these patterns for charity fundraisers, only if 100% of the money raised from the sale is donated to the charity.

Hat shown on a doll with 16-inch head.

Yarn: 62 yds (1.5 oz) chunky yarn.
Shown — Plymouth Yarn: Encore Colorspun Chunky (75% acrylic, 25% wool), 3.5 oz/100 g, 143 yds. Color: 7128

Needles and Hook:
US Size 10 (6 mm) double-pointed needles (dpn)
US Size J-10 (6 mm) crochet hook for cast off

Gauge: 3.5 sts and 4.5 rows = 1 inch

Finished size: Baby size, 6″ long and 16″ around

Approximate cost: $2.80 for project ($6.45 per ball)

Notes:
Knit from the top down with paired increases.
Purl all odd rounds, and increase 8 stitches in all even rounds.

Instructions:
Using the Figure 8 wrap, cast on 8 sts (2 per needle). Begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker at beginning of round. You will increase at each end of each needle on even rounds.

Shape the crown over 13 rounds:

1. Purl 1 round even
2. *KFB, KFB* around – 4 sts per needle, 16 sts.
3. Purl 1 round even
4. *KFB, K2, KFB* – 6 per needle, 24 sts
5. Purl 1 round even
6. * KFB, K4, KFB* – 8 per needle, 32 sts
7. Purl 1 round even
8. *KFB, K6, KFB* – 10 per needle, 40 sts
9. Purl 1 round even
10. *KFB, K8, KFB* – 12 per needle, 48 sts
11. Purl 1 round even
12. *KFB, K10, KFB* – 14 per needle, 56 sts
13. Purl 1 round even

Rise and Brim
Continue to alternate knit and purl rounds until hat is 6.5″ length from crown:
You have 12 garter ridges on the sides.

Applied I-cord Bind Off:
At the beginning of next round, cast on 3 additional stitches onto the left needle, using the e-loop cast on. These new stitches are added to stitches already on the needle.
*Knit 2 stitches, then K2TOG through the back loop (knit 3rd st together with the next st to be worked from the hat body. Slide the three worked stitches back onto the left hand needle. Then pull the working yarn tightly across the back of those 3 stitches* and repeat from * to *.

The result is a raised, I-cord edging running perpendicular to the body of the knitting. Pull yarn through last 3 sts. Sew or weave ends of I-cord together.

Pattern Sources

This pattern is by CD Cooper, based on information from several sources:

• Top-down shaping from the Karlchen pattern from Silke
• Top-down shaping from the Mossy Hat by Wendi Dunlap
• Figure 8 Cast On can be seen online at http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/FEATtiptoptoes.html
• I-Cord Bind off from knitty.com, including the square Peruvian hat
• Additional I-Cord Bind Off instructions from Mason-Dixon Knitting

Copyright Details:

You are free to share, copy, print out, distribute, display, or adapt this pattern in its entirety, as long as this notice remains intact and you give the author proper attribution. You may not receive compensation or charge a fee for the pattern. You may not use this work for commercial purposes or sell items made from this pattern. If you alter, transform, or build upon this pattern, you may distribute the resulting derivative works only under the same or similar license to this one. Any of these conditions may be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.

Top-Down Toddler Raglan Crewneck

Knitting, project 133. Date completed: 6/30/2007

Sweater on a hanger, with the right arm folded up

Yarn: 250 yds bulky yarn. 2 balls Plymouth Yarn, Encore Colorspun Chunky (75% acrylic, 25% wool), 143 yds, 3.5 oz (100 g). Color 7128.

Hook and Needles:
US 8, 24-inch circular for body ribbing; DPN for sleeve ribbing
US 10, 24-inch circular for body; DPN for sleeves
US H-8 (5 mm) crochet hook for cast off

Gauge: 3.5 sts per inch; 4.5 rounds per inch

Pattern: Ann Norling pattern #53, Kid’s Basic: Top Down Raglan, by Gail Tanquary. You can buy it online from One Fine Yarn

Finished size: Size 1, 24-inch chest, 16-inch neck

Leftover yarn: 0.7 oz/19 g, about 28.6 yds

Approximate cost: $6.45 per ball ($12.90 for yarn; $11.60 for sweater)

Notes: I changed pattern to do sleeves in the round and avoid seaming. Lucia’s sleeve calculator was helpful