Busy bees

A baby photo of me and my flatmate Kirsty. Yes, Kirsty who made the awesome Wonder Woman jumper that got Boing-ed. That Kirsty.

Our parents have known each other since they were teenagers, and I've known Kirsty since before I could speak. We've shared a flat together for six years now. We joke that when we do finally stop living together we'll never manage to disentangle our joint knitting needle collection. In truth, it'll be a lot more than just that.

She is a bit under a year older than me. Which means she's got to do most things first. She learnt to speak, learnt to walk and learnt to knit first. She went to university first, she left university first (something I'm still struggling to do). She was even Alice before me, as it's her middle name. And she turned 30 first too, yesterday to be precise. See her failing to blow out all the candles in one go.

On such a momentous occasion, I could bang on about what an amazing person Kirsty is, how much she has taught me, how much she means to me. But it's not really my style. Or hers. Or our relationship's. Or this blog's. Instead, I'll show you one of the birthday present I knitted for her and take some photos of her feet. 

Legwarmers, covered in bees. One hundred and eighty bees to be precise. Nine sets of bees, each containing ten bees.

They are based on Pinneguri's bumblebee socks, but legwarmer-ised (larger circumference, and no toe or heel). I also striped brown and yellow yarn, rather than use self-striping, and stuck to just the three colours. I think the amazing yellow yarn really makes them, it's Jitterbug in "Vincent's Apron".

The project is ravelled here which includes full details of yarn and needles and link to pattern.

It was part of a bee-themed collection of presents (largely inspired by the legwarmers, Kirsty has no special "thing" about bees, though obviously we all know bees are cool). This included sponsorship of a beehive, honey bath things, an actual pot of honey, and a bee-covered honey and chocolate cake.

Easter Nests

My cousin Iain tweeted that he'd made some "Easter nests" the other night. Cue: wave of nostalgia for childhood Easter holidays covered in chocolate. For some reason I always associate these little piles of chocolate-coated breakfast cereal decorated with Mini-Eggs with my Aunt Susie (Iain's mum) so I guess she always made them. Our families would often see each other at some point around the Spring holidays. I'm the one with the long hair trying to be a scary lion.

I'd planned to bake brownies for my mum and little brother instead of giving them a chocolate egg each but, after reading Iain's tweet, decided Easter Nests were in order. You should use mashed up Shredded Wheat for nests because it looks the most stick-like. Nestle products aren't allowed in our flat, so I ended up using Co-op Bran Flakes instead. Much more fiber, plus fortified with iron (people who like magnets: follow that link). I also used plain rather than milk chocolate, which I melted with some golden syrup to sweeten and give a slight chew to the texture. The result are rather grown up Easter Nests, best eaten slowly over a cup of tea. Flatmate-Kirsty had a glass of milk with hers. They are strong and earthy, but very good.

I made a round of brownies for mum and Jim too. He'd only complain otherwise (apparently baking brownies is what big sisters are for, even when you're both speedily approaching 30).

I used this awesome recipe. They are also exceedingly chocolaty and best eaten in small quantities with a cup of tea, especially as I decreased the sugar quantity slightly to bring out the chocolate. Still, I dare say Mum and Jim will get through them. Kirsty beat me with the whole Easter baking though, because she fought with some slightly old yeast to make annoyingly perfect hot cross buns (everything Kirsty makes is annoyingly perfect).

Normal knit blogging will resume in a week or so. I've got an arm and a half to do on my top-down Demi and only about another half ball more to knit of the leaves scarf, so I hope I'll have an FO to show. You can also find more work related blogging from me here (including piece about a 1958 Girls-own chemistry set which featured a pink microscope).

Hot Cross Chocs

These aren't bland sweeties, but the white crosses balance the delightfully dark, spicy balls underneath. Plus, unlike most truffles they don't contain cream so they're not too rich (and should last a bit longer - if you let them!).

Ingredients

• 200-250g ginger cake crumbs (I blitzed a Jamaica Ginger Cake in a food processor).
• 50-75g ground almonds.
  
• 50g crystallised ginger, finely chopped.
• A generous teaspoon of ground ginger, more if you really want a kick (you could add a pinch of pepper or tiny bit of chili for real heat).
  
• 200g good quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa).
• Small amount of marzipan thinned down with water to a pipe-able almond paste OR melted white chocolate OR other white frosting to make the crosses.
  

Mix the dry ingredients while you gently melt the chocolate.

Gradually mix the dry ingredients INTO the melted chocolate, to make a smooth and even, but dense paste.

Roll into balls and place in small cases. DO NOT leave them in the fridge before making them into balls (as you would with truffles - this recipe doesn't have the cream and butter).

Using your choice of icing, make crosses on the the tops, al la hot cross buns.


I made my own thin almond paste with left over ground almonds, a bit of water and a few drops of almond essence and piped them on with a sandwich bag - I'm sure a more experienced cake-icer armed with proper equipment could do a neater job!

Makes about 35-40.

Inspired by this recipe for xmas pudding truffles, though I think my spicy version would suit that season too. They went down really well today at family lunch, I may well make some more for Marcus' family next week.

I also managed a batch of real hot cross buns. I used Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall recipe from the Guardian, modifying his tutti-frutti for some tea-soaked raisins and substituting milk and butter for dairy-free options. A very yummy Easter all round.