Mommy Cooks

Quaker Ridging Dishcloth

This dishcloth is based on the Quaker Ridging stitch in Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  It makes a beautifully simple cloth.

Quaker Ridging Dishcloth

Materials: 1 ball Lily Sugar 'n Cream in color 00084 Sage Green; US 5 (3.75mm) or 6 (4mm) needles.  Gauge: about 5 sts per inch/2.5 cm.  Finished size: approx. 7 x 5 in. (18 x 13 cm).

Cast on 45 sts.

K 2 rows, P 1 row, K 1 row.

Begin patt:

Rows 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10: K.
Rows 2, 6, and 9: P.

Rep these 10 rows 6 times more.  K 1 row.  Bind off loosely, and weave in ends.

Note: The cloth will shrink a little vertically with use and washing.  An extra pattern repeat has been added to make up for this.

Orange Sorbet

It was very hot today -- just right for orange sorbet, a perfect summer afternoon flavor.

This recipe is based on the one in "Cook's Illustrated"'s The Best Italian Classics.  They recommend that you add 2 teaspoons of orange zest, but we found this far too bitter, and after some experimentation decided that the juice alone made a sorbet that was a nice balance of sweet and tart.

We use Valencias from local groves, and have discovered that sometimes the sorbet is a pale, rather creamy orange, and sometimes brightly vivid, according to the particular oranges -- but always delicious!

Orange Sorbet

2 cups fresh orange juice
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vodka
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Whisk the sugar into the orange juice until completely dissolved.  Add the vodka and lemon juice.  Refrigerate if necessary until completely cold.

Prepare in an ice cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions.

Makes about 4 servings.  Active work time, about 3 minutes if you don't have to squeeze the oranges; freezing time, 20-25 minutes.