Knit: Hat

This was meant to be a slouchy hat, but it is sort of in-between.  No matter to me, it's super cozy and I love the color (rather, the non-color).  Mushroom-grayish-brown is one of my new favorite non-colors.  And it's plenty long, so it covers my mass of crazy hair without me having to keep stretching it down.

 Supplies:

• Worsted weight yarn - I used Rowan Cocoon 80% merino 20% kid mohair...I think.  I usually have multiple projects going on simultaneously and I'm notorious for losing and/or mixing up the yarn labels.  Regardless, pick a yarn that you like and use the measurements on the label to figure out how many stitches to fit your noggin.
• Size 6 double point needles - Again...I think.  I measured my head and used the stitches/inch guide and the recommended needle size on the label.  You could probably use a circular needle, but I always work with dp needles, so I can't help you out there.

Instructions:

1) Cast on the desired number of stitches, taking care not to twist the needles.

2) Knit in single rib (k1, p1) until the piece measures about 1 inch.  If I knit this again, I would make it 2 inches.

3) Knit every row until the piece measures as long as you need it to be.  Mine ended up 10 inches.

4) Now the tricky part...  split your work evenly across 4 needles.  So, if you cast on 100 stitches, make sure you have 25 on each needle.

Needle 1 (w/ 25 stitches)

Needle 2 (w/ 25 stitches)                                             Needle 3 (w/ 25 stitches)

Needle 4 (w/ 25 stitches)

5) Bind off needle 1 and needle 4 together using a 3rd needle.  So, treat needle 1 and needle 4 as 1 needle, like you are knitting with 2 strings of yarn held together.  You will end up with yarn on 3 needles.

6) Now, just work with needle 2 back and forth, until it is 2 inches longer.

7) Bind off needle 2 and needle 3 together.

8) Weave in the ends, and wash/block.

Need help washing/blocking?  Fill a clean sink with lukewarm water and a few drops of Dreft detergent (It's gentle and smells soooo much better than Woolite.  Sort of like fresh babies.  Instead of wet dog.).  Gently push the hat through the soapy water, but don't twist or scrunch or ball up.  Drain the sink and use cool water to rinse all of the soap out.  Gently squeeze the excess water out and lay on a dry towel.  Gently (notice the repetitive use of "gently"?) roll the hat up with the towel, getting the rest of the water out.  Lay the piece out on another dry towel, and shape how you want it.  You can even use stainless safety pins to pin into place as it dries.

Chicken Cacciatore - ish

Autumn is here!  Time for pumpkin breads, pear tarts, cheesy foods, and soups/stews/crockpots.  Here is a chicken cacciatore recipe from Martha Stewart that I modified to fit what I had on hand.  It's fast and great for a week night, but is also an easy dish to cook on Sunday and then box up leftovers for the week.  I think it was even better the next day.

Original ingredients:

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

salt & pepper

1T olive oil

1lb mushrooms, trimmed and quartered

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 can (14.5oz) stewed tomatoes

1/4t dried oregano

My modifications:

- Chicken - I boiled the chicken breasts and cut into chunks.  Bone-on/skin-on would work as well.

- Mushrooms - I used a few generous handfuls of organic crimini mushrooms and then roughly chopped.

- I used italian stewed tomatoes and then omitted the dried oregano.  I also added some fresh tomatoes from the farmers market.

- I added zucchini and onions.  And more then 2 cloves of garlics.  Kale would be yummers too.

- I served with herbed mashed red potatoes, and topped with fresh cilantro and parmesan.  Parsley would be good, but Ken isn't a fan.

Instructions:

1) Cook the chicken.  The original instructions say to heat the oil in a skillet, and then add the chicken.  I boiled it.  You could also bake it, or go super easy and buy a pre-cooked rotisseries chicken.  Whatever, cook the chicken however you like, and then cut into smaller pieces.

2) While it's cooking, chop up all of the fresh veggies.

  3) In a saucepan, or in an awesome french oven like my hubby bought for me, heat up the oil.  Add the onions and garlic and saute until clear and fragrant.

 4) Add the mushrooms and zucchini and cook until softened.  Then add the tomatoes, and whatever spices you want.  Let it stew and bubble and fill the house with yummy smells.

 5) Add the chicken and any accumulated juices.  I know, doesn't that look awesome?

 6) Dish up some taters, some cacciatore, and top with cilantro and parmesan.  Mmmm...