Madhu Knits and Cooks

Violet's Baby Blanket - MadhuKnitsandCooks.com Original

I recently designed a new baby blanket pattern for baby Violet, who resides in Chicagoland.  The pattern relied on my trusty Lion Brand Cotton Bamboo - a wonderful yarn for baby blankets, as it is both comprised of purely natural fibers and machine wash/dry proof.  

To make the pattern, I combined two stitch patterns from the 365 Kniting Stitches a Year Calendar, the Vandyke lace panel (April 29) for the border and repeats of the Tulip Lace (May 1) for the center body of the blanket.  I wanted to design a blanket with a floral theme because of Violet's lovely name.

After some trepidation from designing a new blanket with a large center motif, unlike the multi-stitch panel repeats from Sonali's staggered fern blanket, I finally cast on and was quickly pleased with the results.  The pattern was drapy and with a pretty main pattern, and I really liked the way the border turned out as well.  And despite the 48-row stitch repeat, I finally got the hang of knitting the pattern toward the end of the blanket!  Full details, including the pattern, are below.

Violet's Baby Blanket

Pattern:  Full design is below.  Cast on 121 stitches.  Repeated pattern 3.5 times, with each full repeat measuring 6 1/4 inches.

Yarn:  Lion Brand Cotton Bamboo, 2.15 skeins in color #098 Magnolia

Needles:  One US 6 circular

Measurements:  Post-blocking measurements of 27 inches wide by 25 inches tall.

Full Pattern:

Rows 1 – 4:  seed stitch for border

Main Pattern:

Row 1:  k1, p1, k1, p1; *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; k1 to last panel; *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 2: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 3: k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k3, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 * repeat until last 4 stitches in panel, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k1, p1, k1, p1

Row 4: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 5: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k1 * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3 * repeat pattern between * * until last 6 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 6: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 7: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; k3, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 * repeat until last 4 stitches in panel, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 8: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 9: k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k across to last panel; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 10: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 11: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k7, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 *, repeat pattern between stars until end of the panel; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 12: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 13: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; k5, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3; rep pattern btwn * * to last 2 sts, k2; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 14: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 15: k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k7, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 *, repeat pattern between stars until end of the panel; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 16: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 17: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k1 to last panel; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 18: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 19: k1, p1, k1, p1; *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; k3, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 * repeat until last 4 stitches in panel, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2; *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 20: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 21:  k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k1 * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3 * repeat pattern between * * until last 6 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1; *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 22:  k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 23:  k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k3, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 * repeat until last 4 stitches in panel, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 24:  k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 25: k1, p1, k1, p1; *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; k across to last panel;  *k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, * k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2, repeat pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 26:  k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 27:  k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k7, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 *, repeat pattern between stars until end of the panel; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 28:  k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 29:  k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k5, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3; rep pattern btwn * * to last 2 sts, k2; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 30:  k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 31:  k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k3, yo, sl, k1, psso, k2, rep pattern between * * once more; k7, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 *, repeat pattern between stars until end of the panel; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k3, yo, sl, k1, psso, k2; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 32:  k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 33:  k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k to last panel; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; p1, k1, p1, k1.

Row 34: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 35: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k3, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 * repeat until last 4 stitches in panel, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1 

Row 36: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 37: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k3, yo, sl, k1, psso, k2, rep pattern between * * once more; k1 * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3 * repeat pattern between * * until last 6 sts, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k3, yo, sl, k1, psso, k2, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 38: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 39: k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k3, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 * repeat until last 4 stitches in panel, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k2; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 40: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 41: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k to last panel; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 42: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 43: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k3, yo, sl, k1, psso, k2, rep pattern between * * once more; k7, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 *, repeat pattern between stars until end of the panel; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k3, yo, sl, k1, psso, k2, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 44: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 45: k1, p1, k1, p1; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; k5, * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k3; rep pattern btwn * * to last 2 sts, k2; (k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso, k1) twice, k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 46: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1 

Row 47: k1, p1, k1, p1; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; k7, * yo, sl1, k1, psso, k6 *, repeat pattern between stars until end of the panel; * k2tog, yo, k1, yo, sl1, k1, psso,* k2tog, yo, k3, yo, sl1, k1, psso, rep pattern between * * once more; p1, k1, p1, k1

Row 48: k1, p1, k1, p1; p1 across; p1, k1, p1, k1

Ending Border:  

Row 1:  Knit side border, one straight row, knit side border

Rows 2 – 6:  Seed stitch

Row 7:  Bind off in pattern

Quick and Healthy White Bean Cilantro Dip

As MadhuKnitsandCooks.com readers already know, I love white bean dips.  I've made white bean dips with garlic and parsley, rosemary, and multiple fresh herbs.  Continuing with this experimentation, I recently made a white bean dip with cilantro to use up some extra cilantro in the fridge.  

Thankfully, the recipe required minimal prep work - just chopping some cilantro and garlic.

And then throwing all of the ingredients in the food processor.

The full recipe follows the image of the completed dip, which turned out wonderfully well.  Creamy; lots of flavor from the cilantro, garlic, cayenne and lime juice; and almost completely guilt free!  I recommend doubling or tripling the recipe if serving this dip for multiple people - the recipe below is perfect for one or two people though.

White Bean Cilantro Dip (Modified from Sunny Anderson's Food Network Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1 can white/cannellini beans, washed and drained
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 bunch cilantro, washed
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 tsp. lime juice
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 tbsp. reduced fat sour cream
• salt, to taste
• ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

• Chop the cilantro and garlic.
• Add all ingredients to a food processor, and process using pulses until you reach your desired consistency.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.  Recommend letting the dip rest for 20 - 30 minutes for the flavors to blend.  
• Serve with pita chips, toasted bread wedges or vegetables.

Not for a Lack of Trying - Just OK Gallo Pinto Again

After trying gallo pinto, a vegetarian black bean and rice dish, at a restaurant, I attempted to make it at home.  The result was fairly good, but only when I added a fair amount of Tapatio hot sauce to the dish.  

With some cooked black beans in my fridge recently, I tried to make gallo pinto again, but this time aimed for a version that would not suffer from a lack of condiments.

Although I tinkered with the recipe even further to add more flavor to both the rice and beans/sofrito mixture, the result was still fairly bland.  Maybe it is was it is was, but I think gallo pinto has now been retired from my recipe repetoire.

(black bean and sofrito mixture)

Gallo Pinto v. 2

Ingredients:

• 1.25 cups dried black beans, cooked beforehand
• 1/3 cup reserved black bean cooking liquid or water
• 1 1/3 cup rice, cooked with one vegan boullion cube
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 small orange bell pepper, chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• chili powder, to taste (optional)
• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• salt and pepper

Directions:

• Heat olive oil in large heavy bottom pot on medium heat.  When hot, add onion and garlic and saute until onion is translucent, reducing heat if garlic starts to brown.
• Add the bell pepper and bay leaf, and saute for another 4 - 5 minutes until bell pepper has cooked but remains firm.
• Add the beans, toss the ingredients together, and cook for another 7 - 10 minutes or at least until the beans have warmed through.
• Add the cooked rice to the pot, stirring to break up any cooked rice clumps.  Add the reserved black bean cooking liquid or water, to make sure that the rice does not stick to the hot pot.  Cook for another 10 minutes, sauteeing every few minutes or until everything is hot and the rice and beans are flavored with the sofrito mixture.
• Add salt and pepper to taste, as well as chili powder, and serve warm with hot sauce or other sides.

Lacy Blanket for Baby Adela

Baby blanket knitting has arisen anew!  My latest blanket was made for baby Adela, a northern California-based baby.  Given the moderate climate in the Bay Area, I decided to knit a lacy blanket with my new favorite lightweight baby blanket yarn, the Lion Brand LB Collection Cotton Bamboo.  

I found a great pattern on Ravelry, and modified it to make an approximate two-feet by two-feet blanket.   The pattern knit up extremely well, and although I don't usually repeat blanket patterns, I may do so with this great construction.  More details follow the pictures below.

Adela's Lacy Blanket

Pattern:  Red Heart's Lacy Chevrons Baby Blanket by Julie Hines, modified to 112 stitches cast on

Yarn:  LB Collection Cotton Bamboo, approx 1.65 skeins in color 098 Magnolia.

Needles:  US 6 circular

Measurements:  Pre-blocking measurements of 22.5 inches tall by 21.5 inches wide, and post-blocking measurements of 22.5 inches tall by 23.5 inches wide (machine washed and dried).

Thick Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

An expiring carton of rolled oats = excuse to try a new oatmeal cookie recipe!  For this new effort, I decided to go with a Cook's Illustrated recipe (shocking, I know) - the January 1997 Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies.  

Unlike many Cook's Illustrated recipes, this was a super simple approach to cookie-making and putting together the ingredients took virtually no time.  The only modifications I ended up making were that I ended up with 22 cookies instead of 18, and I baked the cookies for less time than the 22 - 25 minutes called for in the recipe.  I took out the tray that started on the bottom rack after 17 minutes, and turned off the oven at that point for the other tray in the oven, which was baked for 20 minutes.  I also used sea salt instead of table salt because I ran out of table salt at some point.

These cookies are definitely best after resting for at least 30 minutes.  Right out of the oven, you can't really experience the full flavors and texture of the cookies, which have a wonderful slight nutmeg flavor.  The cookies also had a great shiny exterior.  I would eat them within a day or two after baking though because they dried out a little too much after that period.  Definitely a must-bake again!