Les Croissants

Today (or rather over the last 3 days), I made croissants. They are a little browner than they should be but, man, are they good.

The recipe is from Fine Cooking magazine - the Feb/Mar 2009 issue - and is quite easy, and despite 3 days of steps, not very time consuming. The first day is less than 20 minutes (other than the part where I had to make the dough twice because after kneading the first batch, I noticed the softened butter sitting on the stove ... kind of an important ingredient in a croissant. I did try to whirl it into the already kneaded dough but it wasn't accepting it. It turned out a big greasy mess and so with a curse, went into the compost pail and a new batch was made).

Like with all bread-type recipes, you just have to find a time when you can be around the house at key points over the 3 days to get the steps done. Day 2 was the most labour intensive and today had the longest total time. The most difficult part was the rolling out after the second 20 minute freeze on day 2. The dough was quite resistant to the rolling pin but perseverance paid off in the end.

The dough itself is fantastic to work with. I loved the texture on my hands as I was working with it. It's very smooth and doesn't stick to anything. The finished product is flaky and crumbly and oh so tasty. I made a salad for lunch (mainly so I wouldn't eat all 15 croissants) and enjoyed one on the side. Now I'm going to have one for dessert with homemade strawberry jam. Bliss awaits!

Latest Projects

I am really in love with the patterns in Made in Brooklyn by Jared Flood. So far I've made these three projects and have loved them all. The patterns have enough challenge that they keep me interested and wanting to keep going rather than bouncing to the next project. I did knit one mitt twice, the second time on bigger needles. A big failing; I don't generally check the tension on small projects. It backfired on the mitts. I had to go up another needle size or wear slightly tight mittens which in the middle of winter might not have been so nice. I would say the green tam was my favourite of all these. I'm not sure a tam really is my thing but it was definitely fun to knit and when it's really cold outside the level of caring whether it really suits or not declines dramatically! I could give it to someone for Christmas I suppose but the only person on my shopping list who might like it goes to Florida for the winter so probably wouldn't need it.

Anyway, next up is the shawl from the book and there are a couple of sweaters I am thinking about. I'd really like to finish a couple of sweaters on the needles before I get to those though. I am really trying to reduce the buried in yarn and fabric feeling by finishing some projects. Completely exciting yarn, fabric, patterns will still be at the store for me later. It might be different yarn, fabric and patterns but still just as exciting as the stuff I see now. I will keep repeating that to myself and see what happens.

Also a big first for me yesterday. I made a great chicken braise from the book All About Braising which I bought to go with my fantastic new braising pot. The first wasn't the braise. The first was lighting brandy on fire. I've always been intimidated by this when I've come across it in recipes, and ignored the instruction, but actually did it this time. Quite the flame and I hadn't yet read the part of the instructions where it said the flame would last for a couple of minutes so I was a bit worried when it did. But of course, it extinguished itself after about a minute and I continued on. Very fun.

Baby Socks

I've been in a serious stash reduction frame of mind for quite a while now. I haven't really been achieving this reduction at any great pace but am using the hot summer as an excuse.

I did come up with a way to use up some left-over sock yarn ... baby socks. Obvious, fun, quick and very cute. Here's what I did with regular sock yarn. I think these both came from the Sweet Sheep but as is the beauty of stash, I have no idea what yarn they are made of. I used 2.75mm double pointed needles.

Cast on 36 stitches

Rib - k2, p2 until desired length is reached (mine are 3 1/2" long - this is enough length to fold them down or leave them long).

Work the first 18 stitches, leaving the remainder on a holder, as follows:

Row 1 - (sl, k1, sl, k1) repeat until all 18 stitches have been worked. Turn

Row 2 - purl. Turn

Repeat these last 2 rows until 18 rows have been worked

Row 19 - repeat row 1

Turn heel

Row 1 - sl1, p12, p2tog

Row 2 - sl1, k8, slip 1, knit 1, pass slipped stitch over (skp)

Row 3 - sl1, p8, p2tog

Row 4 - sl1, k8, skp

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until 8 stitches remain

Pick up and knit 9 stitches down side of heel

Knit the stitches on holder (or maintain the ribbing pattern on the top of the foot)

Pick up and knit 9 stitches up the side of the heel

Knit 5 stitches from the heel - the middle of the heel is now the new beginning for the row.

Readjust stitches on needles as follows: 14 stitches on N1, 18 stitches on N2 and 14 stitches on N3

Now start the foot:

Row 1:

N1 - Knit until 3 stitches remain - ssk, k1

N2 - Pattern across 18 stitches

N3 - Knit 1, K2tog, knit until the end

Row 2:

Pattern around the needles with no decreases

Repeat these two rows until there are 9 stitches each on N1 and N3.

Continue in pattern until approx. 3 1/4" is completed

Work toe:

Row 1:

N1 - Knit until 3 stitches remain - ssk, k1

N2 - Knit 1, K2 tog, knit until 3 stitches remain - ssk, k1

N3 - K2 tog, knit to end

Row 2:

Knit around without decreasing

Repeat the last 2 rows until 16 stitches remain. Knit 8 stitches from needle 1 on to needles 3 to divide these evenly on 2 needles.

Graft the toe.

Sew in ends and enjoy.