Alsacian Biscuits

I spent Sunday baking some some alsacian biscuits from Suzanne Roth's book "les petits gateaux d'alsace". Here is the results:

Oatmeal macaroons:
200g oatmeal (I used porridge oat)
200g grounded almonds
225g sugar
3 egg whites
Beat the egg whites until fluffy and add the sugar while beating.
Mix almond and oatmeal and add to the egg white.
Roll the dough into 2.5cm balls and roll them in oatmeal.
Bake around 20 minutes at 120 C

Lemon stars:
100g butter
70g icing sugar
250g flour
1/2 tea spoon of baking powder
a pinch of salt
lemon zest
1 egg yolk
3 table spoon of cream
Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and lemon zest. Add the egg yolk, cream and butter (soft) cut in small pieces and beat together. Put it in the fridge for 30min to rest.
Roll out the dough and cut star shapes.
Bake 10 minutes at 180 C.
Icing: mix an egg white with the same quantity of icing sugar and some lemon juice.
Cover the stars (once cool) and let it dry.


Linz:
125g almond powder
125g butter
125g sugar
125g flour
1 pinch of clove powder
1/2 tea spoon of cinnamon powder
1 pinch of baking powder
1 egg
jam (I used bramble)
Mix the flour, almond, sugar, baking powder and spices. Add the egg and the butter (soft) and beat together. Make a ball and leave it in the fridge to rest for 2-3 hours.
Roll the dough into 2cm balls and make an indentation in the center with a finger. Fill with some jam and spread some almond on top.
Bake for about 20 minutes at 180 C.


I've tried these biscuits on my colleagues at work today and I am happy to say that there isn't any casualties to report (so far), therefore, they are quite safe to eat :oD

They are delicious actually and they will keep for some time in a metal tin.

Tradition

It is now a tradition! Every year before Christmas I send a parcel to my friend Camoun and at the beginning of the following year she send me one. I forgot to take a picture of the one I sent her, but I managed one of the parcel she sent me before I had a go at the chocolate...
As you can see, she's been extremely generous: 3 tablets of chocolate (there are only 2 left now...), a bag of bergamot orange sweeties (a speciality from Nancy, yum yum), a soap scented with bergamot as well, a recipe book to bake Alsacian biscuits, and a huge ball of yarn (50% yak, 50% sheep, dead soft :o) from Bellelaine.fr)


Tomorrow, I am going to bake some of these biscuits and try them on my guineapigs at work on Monday ;oD
I'll report here later...

Meandering Vines Shawl

I've been wondering for a long time what to do with 6 balls of Artesano inca cloud alpaca I had in my stash when I found this pattern: Meandering Vines Shawl. It is a free ravelry download. It is a very easy pattern and the result is really nice.
I did 6 repeats of the lace pattern on 5mm needles.
Before blocking it looked like a mess:


Once blocked, you can see the nice pattern:



It is a gift for a friend I will be visiting in June...

Hearts and Flowers socks

One more pair!
For me, as usual :o)
But I must admit that I am glad to have so many pairs (a dozen) of hand knitted socks because they are warm and cosy and, with the weather we had this winter, they've been put to good use!


The pattern is called hearts and flowers socks from Wendy Johnson book "socks from the toe up". I used one ball of Zauberball and 2.25mm dpn.

Now I have to decide on the next pair of socks I am going to knit (for me again, I am so selfish when it comes to socks). I like to have a pair to knit as it is a small portable project you can take anywhere :o)

1 sheep, 2 sheep, 3 sheep...zzzzzz

This is my first completed knitting project this year (started 1st january 2011):
A sheep yoke baby cardigan. The pattern is a free Ravelry download and can also be found here. I used 4mm needles and Jarol Heritage classic DK yarn (55% wool, 25% acrylic and 20% nylon). I've knitted the 9-12 months size. It is for my friend Ilka's baby who's due in 2 weeks.


She does not know what she is having, hence the versatile color scheme.
I've bet chocolate with another friend that it would be a boy.... we should know soon ;o)

Happy New Year

I wish you a lot of happiness for 2011!!!!

I can finally show you my latest creation, a despicable minion:

Free pattern here.

Take care and keep smiling :o)

Aeolian shawl

I've done a lot of knitting last week, and I finally managed to finish a beaded shawl I started in March. It is a shame, we can't see the beads (about 2500) on the picture but to give you an idea of the size, it is pinned on a king size fitted sheet. I probably should have done the shoulderette size, it would have taken much less time and would have been easier to wear...

The free pattern is here.

I used about 150g of lace weight baby alpaca. It is very soft.

I've also finished the socks I was showing you in the previous post. The pattern is called circle socks and is free on Ravelry.

I've started another pair of socks. The pattern is called hearts and flowers socks from Wendy Johnson book "socks from the toe up".

Now, I should pack my bag and I am away again till next year....

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Knitzi

Last month I decided to treat myself with a must have knitting accessory: a Knitzi!

It is a sock-in-progress holder. It comes in various sizes so I've chosen the one that fits perfectly my beloved KnitPicks dpn :o)

I also had to start knitting some socks before showing off!

I've done the foot plain, turned the heel and I now have to decide on a pattern for the leg.

The yarn, hand died 100% pure Blue Faced Leicester from Laal Bear, is a pleasure to work with.

The Knitzi is both beautiful and extremely practical so some of my fellow knitters at the knitting group have asked Santa to bring them one ;oD

Mirror mirror

With the first Christmas market only a few days away, I've started wrapping all the little things I made and finishing the bigger projects.
The gloves were done a while ago and I used the left over yarn to make some crochet flower brooches.



I also finished the mirrors this afternoon. They are about 35 x 22 cm.

I might do a few more stained glass suncatchers before the event.
Now I have to think of pricing these items...

Some craft

I am sorry I don't update this blog very often but this year is far too hectic!

However, I've decided to take some time to do 2 Christmas markets with my friends. They are very early, 3rd and 6th of November, so I do not have much time to prepare a few things!
I've only got a couple of weekend free before the events so I've started preparing some stock. I am making stained glass mainly which is time consuming!
This morning, I've wrapped some suncatchers and Christmas decorations:



I've made some progress on one of the mirror:


and I have to come up with a design for this one (I've got the color scheme!):

I have one more mirror (I don't have the color scheme for this one yet) and I will make a few more stained glass Christmas decorations. I also have knitted gloves that I made during the summer and I am making a few matching brooches.

Now, I have to prepare my suitcase, I am away again next week!