Sorry, sorry, forgot where I was for a moment -- "Let the Games begin!"
I cast on yesterday afternoon -- needed some time to myself with this Old Norwegian cast-on, which still looks a bit wonky, but I knitted on the sock proper during the Opening Ceremonies. I'm liking the colors a lot -- a lovely mix of teal green, almost-navy, periwinkle, and deep rose-pink, with the different combinations where the colors blur. These are my first socks! I'm using Ann Budd's sock shaping, with a K3, P1 rib.
Here is one of my favorite recipes for scones, this one from Shepherds Tea Rooms in Chichester --
Shepherds' World-Famous Scones
3 cups/450g self-rising flour
1/2 cup/100g sugar
1/2 cup/50g chilled butter, cut into bits
1 1/2 cups/225g dried apricots, chopped
3/4 cup/150ml milk, plus extra for glazing
Preheat the oven to 350° F/175° C.
In a bowl, sift the flour and sugar together. Add the butter, and blend with your fingers or a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal. Stir in the dried apricots.
Add the milk, a little at a time, and stir until the mixture forms a soft but not sticky dough. Add a little more milk, if necessary. On a lightly-floured surface, roll out the dough about 1 1/2 inches/4cm thick. With a 2-inch/5cm cookie or biscuit cutter, stamp out rounds. Gently roll the scraps together, and repeat until all of the dough is shaped.
Transfer the rounds to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (butter the baking sheet if you don't have any parchment), brush the tops with milk, and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly golden and the bottoms sound hollow when tapped.
Makes about 12 scones.
I've used my Ann Budd book so much the binding is starting to fall apart. Another book I recommend is Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch. I'm knitting a ribbed lace pattern that is just a joy to work up and I started a chevron pattern yesterday that is equally addictive. My 10 year old loves homemade scones. I'll have to surprise him soon. Thanks for the recipe.
Posted by: Kerstin | February 12, 2006 at 04:54 AM
Beautiful color yarn...yeah socks!
And a novice question - why when I try to add your blog to my bloglines, I can, but the latest log entry is in October?
Posted by: Shelagh | February 13, 2006 at 05:47 AM
I'm afraid that I have no clue about Bloglines, so if anyone can help Shelagh, please give her a shout....
Posted by: Jeanne | February 13, 2006 at 08:32 AM
Yum. More scones. There was a slight knitting crisis when I ran out of Earl Grey but I am back on board now. Your first socks are looking well on their way. Love the colourway.
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 13, 2006 at 11:05 AM
Oh -- yet another inspired photograph, composed of seemingly simple elements. Those scones look lovely, with apricot bits, no less! (Miss Marple would be a tad surprised.) The swatch colours are glorious...and even the pale off-white beige of your hot-water-and-milk (a.k.a. 'tea') looks charming. As you know, my preferred tea colour is closer to that of the table top. Hee.
Posted by: Helen | February 16, 2006 at 10:28 PM
I beg your pardon, Helen, that was three minutes' steeping!
Posted by: Jeanne | February 16, 2006 at 10:39 PM