Adventures in Baking: Sourdough Buns & No-Knead Bread

I have to wonder at what point one's partner becomes concerned that a new interest may have gone too far. I'm not sure exactly where that line is in knitting, or on which side of it I sit (though my husband may have something to say about that). However, I think I came close to that line on Monday with regards to the renewed sourdough baking interest.

So far I've been focused on bread, with brief forays into pizza dough to use up the discarded starter. But Monday I decided to try making hamburger buns. To the non-baker I'm sure this sounds similar to how the idea of making socks sounds to a non-knitter ("You know, you can buy a pack of those at WalMart for a few bucks?"). But, just like socks, the handmade ones are worth the effort (and the effort was a lot less than socks. And, unlike socks, these were very close to the same price as the ones you'd get at the store, but much better.

I used this recipe with a few slight modifications: I used whole wheat flour for about 1 cup, I used 1 cup starter and 1 cup discarded starter (because I didn't have enough fresh starter) and I used vegetable oil instead of butter (because it was there, but the butter probably would have given better flavor). I also brushed them with an egg wash and sprinkled sesame seeds on most of them before baking. Here are a few photos of the process:


I used a small springform pan to cut out the rings, this is just after I cut them, but before they rose. I thought I got pictures after the rise but before the oven, but I guess not.


I probably crowded this pan a bit (this is not the one above), and then as they rose they smooshed together a bit as they rose, but still good.

The final product, Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki (with the Greek salad hiding in the back)






I also made a loaf of no-knead sourdough bread that day and it wasn't a total success. I followed a recipe that had me do the last rise in the dutch oven, and it spread out a lot so I ended up with a flat disk of bread instead of a beautiful boule.






I also burnt it a bit around the edges (I think the oven was too hot). Both of these things made it very hard to get out, luckily I'd put parchment of the bottom, but the sides were stuck very well and I didn't want to scrape the pot so i had to use a plastic bowl scraper. But the flavor was good (very sour) and the crumb was good, just need to revise the prooving/shaping methods.

Still Tinkering

I've been trying to make to columns here wider (which one would think blogger would make easy). Luckily I've managed to find good instructions here, but it will take a while to work out the kinks so bear with me as things may be a little messy for a bit.

Cupcakes for the Grown-up Set

My blogging MO seems to be a spurt of posts and then silence. Really I have no excuses other than laziness. And I've even had a decent amount to blog about in terms of both knitting and cooking.

On the cooking front the big one is that I'm getting back into more baking including recently sourdough bread (which will hopefully get its own post). The first up was an attempt to use a ton of limes I had (from a semi-failed attempt to make Cochinita Pibil, which I'll blog about if I ever make a version that is worth writing home about). I had the limes, and felt like baking something sweet, so my mind drifted to the good things I'd heard about the Margarita Cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World. Now, I'm not vegan, and I'm not even a huge fan of tequila, but the idea of vegan margarita cupcakes just warms my heart. So, after a quick google search I found the recipe here.

I ended up making a double recipe, because there were supposed to be 11 people at the dinner and 12 cupcakes for 11 people just seemed wrong. I thought about making 1 1/2 of the recipe (and because there were no eggs, it would have been really easy to do so), but figured that more cupcakes was better than more math. I'm very happy with the decision to double the recipe.

The cupcakes were a big success, the perfect grown-up cupcake. The flavor of the lime and tequila came through so well, but it wasn't overpowering at all. While the cupcakes were a little dense, it was more that they were just very moist (which is a good thing in my book), not dense in a bad way.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the greatest pictures, but here are a few. I tried to do the rimming with green sugar, but it was really messy. I think it would be better with a coarser sugar instead of the sprinkles I had.





I wanted to find little lime candies, but wasn't able to find them last minute (and on Easter Sunday), so I decided to candy some limes for a little extra decoration. They didn't turn out as pretty (or tasty) as I hoped, but they were a cute addition.



I followed the recipe, but used butter for the frosting. I'm not sure if it was because of that, or something else, but the frosting was not as thick as I would have liked, even after adding more sugar than called for (and it was getting rather sweet). Next time (and there will be a next time, these were so good) I'll try to do something to make the frosting a bit thicker.

Really, all I have to say about these is yum. They were just so good. But, if you are looking for other excuses to bake with booze, I also recommend this recipe for Chocolate Whiskey Bundt Cake which I made last year into a pirate cake pan for my FIL's 60th birthday. The picture is not the greatest, I forgot my camera and and to rely on others.

Excursions in Stash Busting

I'm really trying to knit only from my stash. It helps with the wallet and helps with the space issues in the apartment. But, one of the side effects is that I they buy patterns to work with stash yarn.

I've been spending a lot of time looking at the photos of my stash on Ravelry, trying to find inspiration. A lot of the yarns that haunt me are variegated yarns I bought, but now can't find something to make them into. Some were bought we I first started knitting, but for many there just isn't an excuse.

One of these is some Berocco Calico that I bought at Stitches from the Heart (okay, maybe my excuse is that it was for charity). I've been searching for something to make with the Calico and I keep coming back to Pismo. It is one of the few patterns I was able to find which (1) looked good in the yarn, (2) was something I might actually wear, and (3) was something I have enough yarn.

I wasn't planning on buying the booklet now, but just wanted to see if it was out there and how much. However, with the assistance of the ever helpful Google, I was able to find it at The Knitting Zone for $2.99 (regular price $6.00). Turns out they are reducing most of their inventory to focus on wholesale distribution on Hiya Hiya needles, and their patterns (other than downloads) were all marked down tremendously.

I have a hard time passing up sales, and a hard time paying shipping on one small item, so, after some browsing, I was able to find a few more patterns that I "needed." But I was good and resisted the yarn. Over all, I got 6 patterns/booklets/magazines for under $30. The shipping wasn't cheap, at over $11, but still it was a great deal. And the shipping was so fast, I put in my order late Thursday night (Friday for most of the country) and the package arrived today. Here's what I got:

FiberTrends:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/felt-bird-houses-222, Felt Alpacas and Llamas (207), Gotta get a Gecko (233), and Felt Koala(205)

Other:

Berroco Booklet #241, Berroco Booklet #278, Rebecca #31


And, just to show that I actually have been doing some knitting, here are the baby socks I just knit. The pattern is the Little Sky Learning Sock from Cat Bordhi, and I can't wait to try the technique on a sock for me. I used some Cascade Cotton Rich that I had one skein of in my stash (that I think may have come from a swap). It probably wasn't the best yarn for this, as it wasn't very stretchy which made some of the decreases and other techniques a hassle, but it was just sitting there and since the intended baby (no, not mine!) is here in Hawaii, the cotton seemed appropriate.



I think I'm going to start the Felted Koala, also using stash yarn, to give with the socks. Hopefully I can get one done by this weekend when the baby shower is.

Companion Cube!

Last week at Aloha Knitters meeting Kai asked how many of us had knitting blogs, and almost everyone's hand went up. I followed up and asked how many have actually updated in the last few weeks.... significantly less hands in the air.

So, here's my little update on my most recent FO: The Knitted Companion Cube.

For a few weeks last year the husband (who is currently on my shit list, but that's another story) was obsessed with the video game Portal.

Now, I've never knit anything for my husband. I keep threatening argyle sweater vests (for some reason, he hates argyle), but living in Hawaii he doesn't really need any of the things he'd actually appreciate (hat/gloves/sweater). So, I was rather excited when I saw a pattern based on one of the elements (characters?) in the game: the Companion Cube. I thought about it for Christmas, but was bogged down in other knitting, and couldn't locally find a light gray wool (I hat the other colors in my stash). But, on our trip to Maui I found a light gray Cascade 220 at Ben Franklin (why they had the color when none of the Oahu ones do is unknown).

So, I decided it would be a perfect Valentine's Day gift... a cube for my companion.

This was the first time I'd done fair isle with long floats, and I'm not sure if I did them totally right, as the floats show through a bit. Here are a few in-progress shots:



Of course, I was late getting started on it, and started about 10 days before v-day, but I was making good progress despite not being able to work on it while he was home. On the morning of valentines day I had about 5 more rounds to go before finishing the knitting. I was working on getting those done when I snapped the cable of the needle right at the join. Luckily I didn't drop any stitches. And I had another circular in the same size; however, it was shorter and the stitches barely fit which made the knitting very slow. But I got the knitting done, and started the blocking. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the blocking, but I set wrapped it around a pop-up sweater dryer, pined the edges down and set two fans blowing on it. I left it there for a while and went out to Wal-Mart to buy the foam for inside.

Here it is once it was blocked:

Sorry for the bad lighting, but it was night by this time and I wanted to get a picture of this stage.


Next up was the steeking. This was the first time I've ever done steeking, and I feel like this is the one technique knitters can legitimately be afraid of. All other techniques (other than felting) can be undone, you can always frog and start again. But with steeking, once it is cut, there's no going back. So I pulled out the sewing machine, and started.



After I'd sewn the reinforcement, there was nothing left to do but cut. I took a deep breath and cut; I wasn't really afraid it would unravel (the wool was tight and grabby, and the stitching gave extra confidence), but it was still nerve wracking. But I did it, and then suddenly I had transformed a tube of knitting into six squares of knitting. In the rush I missed getting pictures of the sides cut out.

Next up was the seaming, which isn't something I have a ton of practice with. I brushed up with a few books and got to work. It was about 9pm now, with the husband due home a little after 10pm. He got home when I had one and a half edges left to seam up, so I had to hide in the bedroom for about 10 minutes to finish.



Over all, the recipient was very happy, which made it all worthwhile. If I had to do it over again I'm not sure I'd knit all 6 squares in one round; instead I think I'd do the four sides together (skipping the steeking and therefore without knitting the gutters, but maybe a twist slip stitch or something at each edge) and then the top and bottom separate. I though the seams would add some structural integrity, but instead they just add bulk on the inside (especially at the corners) and aren't really that necessary. But hey, I conquered steeks!!! I'm now thinking about using them a lot more because I like cardigans, but don't really like purling.

The Exponentially Expanding List of WIP

I've lost count of how many new knitting projects I've started since the beginning of the year. But I can quickly tell you how many I've finished: zero! Here are my pathetic excuses:

First up was Arbor, which after 20 or so rounds (at 270+ stiches each) I was able to try on and it's way too big. So, that needs to be frogged and re-started at a smaller size.

I think the next was a swatch for the Minimalist Cardigan. I've decided I need smaller needles, and I think I'd prefer using metal needles, so I'm waiting on an order from Knit Picks. But I'm still not sure I have the right yarn for it; I'm trying to use a silk, but I think that a wool/wool blend would be better. I'm also debating if I want try knitting this continental, the advantage of this would be much faster (eventually) with the seed stitch. The disadvantage is that I'm still very slow in continental, and I think my gauge may change as I get better.

After setting aside the Minimalist, I decided to try swatching for the Dollar and a Half Cardigan. I'm having some issues reading/understanding the pattern, and I was getting frustrated with all these false starts.

So, I decided to start a third cardigan attempt. Third time's a charm, right? This time I went with something simple, the Garter Yoke Cardigan from the most recent Knit 1 (I would link to their website, but it is really bad, and there's no way to link to that pattern, or even any thing more than a photo of the pattern, not even the name). I think this might be the first time I've ever started a pattern from the current issue of a magazine, I might even finish this while it is still on the newsstands. I'm using a gorgeous color of Lana D'Oro that has been in my stash for years; I'd tried to use it for a Sunrise Circle Jacket, but I think this is a much better use for it.

So far, I'm progressing very well, and I'm almost to the point where I need to increase at the end of the waist shaping (this isn't a current picture). I've made a few modifications (one on purpose, one by slightly mis-reading the pattern a little). It has been just the kind of, power-through it knitting I've needed. I'm really looking forward to the sleeves, however, because I my wrists and all the purling aren't getting along great.

But, despite the progress I'm making, I've set it aside for yet another project because there is a deadline to this one. I'm not going to reveal details yet, just a WIP photo, but hopefully this will be done in time to gift it to the husband for valentines day. This will be the first thing I've ever knit him, and it will also involve a technique I've never used before.



While I'm not knitting it in front of him, it has been sitting on our couch for the last week, he hasn't once asked about it. But I'm chugging along, and about 2/3 of the way done with the knitting. Considering it took me 3 days to get this far, I think I can have it done by v-day; it may still be a little wet, but hopefully it will be done!


PS- I decided to check my projects page on Ravelry, just to make sure I hadn't forgotten any other projects I might have started this year. Yep, there was one. One that might get it's own post someday if it ever grows up into a full-fledged, wearable item.

Gift-Mas Recap.... Better late than never

I did an amazing thing this year, and actually had all my Christmas gifts finished on time. In the last few weeks I did scrap one or two projects, but everyone who I planned to give a knitted gift to got at least one.

Center Squares
I made five of these hats. First up were a trio of Center Square hats for my mother-in-law and two youngest sister-in-laws (age 9 and 14). I also made two more for a husband and wife.

Pattern: Center Square
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash; each hat used less than 1/2 of the ball of each color.
Notes: These are really quick, about 3 hours each. I really like the pattern, and it was my first attempt at color work. Very fast and fun. I highly recomend it as an introduction to fair isle knitting. I did a bit more ribbing than called for in the pattern and changed the decreases, making a rounder top with the spiral decreases. The small one (purple and teal is) the same amount of stitches, but I used spiral needles. Also, as others have noted, this yarn grow a lot when washed, though it seemed to shrink back mostly if dried in the dryer.

Pony Tail Hat

Pattern: This is mostly the Hannah Hat, but, inspired by the Robin's Egg Blue Hat I made the border in seed stitch and only used one button.
Yarn: Noro Kochoran, less than one ball.
Recipient: Oldest Sister-in-law
Notes: Fun pattern and idea. The yarn is really fuzzy and I'd end up covered in the fuzz. This would have been quick, but it took a few attempts to work out the gauge issues and figure out the decreases.

Pirate Captain

Pattern: Pirate Captain Doll (non-ravelry link)
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool and Elann Highland Wool (shirt)
Notes: I'm not sure if I'm really done with this. I'd like to get better fabric (instead of the ribbon shown in the picture), and I bought more beads but then couldn't find them in the mess of my apartment. The pattern directions weren't always clear on how to do the finishing sewing, but I was able to figure it out and I'm pretty happy with the results.


Stow-Away Shopping Bag

Pattern: Stow-Away Shopping Bag, Out Couture AC 306, purchased at Isle Knits.
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (turquoise), Lily Sugar and Creme (ombre and orange)
Notes: I made this a little longer than the pattern called for and made the straps thicker, and I think that made it a bit tight in the pocket. This was an easy pattern, and one I'll be using again. I might hold the yarn doubled next time for the pocket/bottom of the bag to create a more solid fabric.

Mitered Mittens

Pattern: Mitered Mittens (May) by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn:
Nashua Handknits Wooly Stripes, just over 2 balls (I could have used just the two, but I broke into the third to match the stripes on the thumbs.
Notes: I've recently become a bit enamored with mittens. Unfortunately, I don't really have a place to wear them, so these were a gift for my sister. Like many others I modifeed the thumb construction based on the instructions here. Other modifications were 7 rounds of 2x1 ribbing on the cuff and I didn't decrease to a point at the end, instead decreased down to about 10 stitches and then Kitchenered them together.

Sheep!

Pattern: A Felt Flock by Bev Galeskas (Fiber Trends)
Yarn: Elann Highland Wool
Notes: For the bigger one I held the yarn double, the smaller one was just a single stand of yarn. These are so fun, just the like the Hedgehog and the slippers the shaping is done with shortrows. I needle felted on the eyes.


Monkeys for Mom

Pattern: Monkey Socks
Yarn: Koigu KPPM
Notes: The infamous Monkey pattern, I think everything to be said about the pattern has already been said. I'll be making more of these, maybe a no purl version.

Last, but not least, Felted Clogs

Pattern: Felted Clogs (AC-33) by Bev Galeskas
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool
Notes: Officially the longest UFO ever. These were supposed to be a gift for my mother for Christmas 2004 (or maybe 2003). No, that is not a typo. I knit one pair for my mom and one for my dad. The knitting and felting was done on time, but I had the hardest time sewing on the sole. I finally got my dad the pair for him a few months before he passed away, but the pair for my mother had languished. I'm so happy to have finally finished these.