It's been so gray -- I can't even get inspired by pictures! And there are so many distractions here right now! Having a baby in the house makes it hard to do anything! If he's sad, you have to help out! And if he's happy, well, who can blog when there's a happy baby around!
And then people, including my babies, who are quite big, come to visit! And that is so much fun! I just can't do another thing with all this going on!
Did you all know this about babies?
Not to mention, and you know I never complain, that it has been dark. And gray. And cold. People, please try not to update your blogs and facebook profiles with stuff about how you see flowers and it's so warm and pictures of you running around barefoot. It just makes me gloomy. You must all pretend that nothing has happened yet to lighten up where you live, or I'll get a little crazy. There was frost on the car this morning, if you see what I mean.
This, dear friends, this is what I have for a picture.
A practically completely dark image. I've had to mess with it quite a bit just to get it so you can see anything at all in it.
Okay, I will tell you about a baby sweater and gingerbread.
I knit my first sweater! See it up there? On that little pumpkin pie?? Who's getting so plump and smiley and cooey? Who almost laughs? Yep, that's the one!
I found the most glorious wool/alpaca with a touch of something synthetic so it will wash, hopefully. I'm just loving this sweater! The yarn is fine and light but you can tell it will be warm.
If you look closely you will see my goofs. I was just in such a rush to make this! I don't even care. What's important is that I made it and he can wear it! I was so eager to put it on him that I didn't block it. I sort of patted it down while it was on the blanket, if that counts. (My notes are on Ravelry. I'm leilamarie.)
So, other than those blue buttons from my stash (aren't they cute?) this is an all-brown post.
What we have here below is gingerbread. I make gingerbread in the fall and during Lent. In the fall, it's obvious why anyone would make gingerbread. Why, it's hardly autumn at all until you have that cinnamon-y, ginger-y smell wafting around.
During Lent, I make it because folks get hungry for something, and this is bread. It's not cake. It's not a cookie. It says it right there in its name.
Ginger. Bread.
This is my recipe, adapted from the Joy of Cooking. It's very forgiving, so you don't have to worry about careful mixing. And if you wanted to fancy it up -- although it would still be bread, just like it says in the name -- you could put lemon glaze on top.
I'm giving you the proportions for a big hungry family or a sudden incursion of kids' friends. The original is less by a fourth.
Gingerbread
Butter a 9 x 15" lasagna-type pan.
Preheat oven to 350°
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp each cinnamon and ginger
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup molasses (measure these in a liquid measuring cup)
3/4 cup honey
In the cup that you measured the sticky stuff, measure:
1 1/2 cup hot water or leftover coffee
It doesn't matter too much about the order you mix this all in, except for the water/coffee at the end, which if things aren't smooth already will cause lumps if you pour it in, although I have done that and nothing terrible happened.
I suggest mixing the first 3 ingredients, mixing the dry ingredients and adding them, followed by the molasses and honey. When things are reasonably mixed, add the water/coffee.
Spread in the pan and bake for 30 minutes or until puffy and golden brown.
Remember, it's bread. Not cake. Bread.
