Chocolate Sunday...
I made a cake today, it was my niece's birthday which gave me a good excuse to make a very indulgent chocolate cake and not be tempted to overindulge as there were lots of mouths to share with. This cake is so light and moist and easy to make. I hate cakes that require loads of preparation as I'm a one bowl kinda gal, I love to just dump everything in there and work away. This cake is not too bad, just melt butter (so no having to wait for the butter to soften to room temperature) and chocolate in a pan over a very low heat, sift flour and cocoa powder into my trusty bowl. Add eggs, water and the chocolate mixture to the flour and cocoa powder and I always like to spice things up a bit with a generous sprinkling of freshly grated nutmeg and this time I added some vanilla extract. Whip it all up and into the oven it goes for about an hour and a half and then out it pops all brown and risen, let it cool and top with chocolate mixture. Delicious! Hubby and I saved our pieces until we were alone and had it with a scoop of Carte D'or Crema di Marscapone Ice Cream. Heaven!
I have done very little knitting this weekend as I decided to take the plunge and do something I have been threatening to do for a while and taught myself to crochet. It was infuriating at first and I kept ending up with a tiny ball of tightly knotted yarn that I had no chance of picking up loops from. So many times I threw the offending result of my efforts across the room in one direction and my book and hook in the other wondering why on earth I was wasting my time but after five minutes I would pick up the book and hook again, start with a fresh piece of yarn and perserve and this is how I spent most of Saturday evening at the end of which I managed to produce a small green square of something that somewhat resembled the image in the book. I am determined to learn how to crochet, though I must admit I do prefer knitting.
Speaking of which, this is my latest knitting project, it's the blue wrap top from Vogue Spring 06 issue. I have been working on it for ages and did put it aside for a while as I was getting bored of it especially as I virtually have to do the front twice as its a wrap over, never thought of that when I choose this pattern. Looking pretty good so far I think.
I love making different colours and textures so I made up this stripey pattern from 2 different textures of yarn together.
posted by Nikki at 15:55
4 Comments:
Mmmmm, I love chocolate cake, too. I also want to learn to crochet, but need about 5 additional hours added to the day before I can start! The blue wrap looks good so far!
Keep up the good work. I started crocheting and had to teach myself to knit! The key is tension. I find that even if you are a English/American style knitter...if you try to hold the thread in your left hand like a continental knitter your tension is better. It might take you a bit to get that to feel right...but you might want to give it a try. I'm a continental knitter, but that is because my grandmother taught me to crochet holding my thread in my left hand! I'm doing Free Form Knit and Crochet at them moment which is lots of fun. Check out my weblog and look at the pics from last week! I went to a workshop for free form and it was tons of fun! www.craftyorcrazy.blogspot.com
If you can knit, you can crochet!
You are doing awesome with the crochet especially to be self taught. Don't be discouraged you've done well!
That chocolate cake looks soooo good. Hello! trying to lose weight over here- doust thou tempt the?
beautiful colors...looks luxurious. I must say I find the mechanics of crochet easier in terms of dexterity. I just cant read the patterns!
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