Chocolate Spice Pudding

Some days just call for chocolate pudding. Like when unseasonably warm temperatures return to seasonably lukewarm temperatures. Or seasonably slightly-cold temperatures. And when you want chocolate but have none in the house and are too lazy to go get any. And this is even better than regular chocolate pudding, if you can believe it. It would be amazing with whipped cream (which I never have around, sadly) and a little cayenne pepper mixed in with the rest of the spices. (I usually have cayenne but accidentally bought chili powder last time I was at the store instead.) As with all bek-cipes, this is subject to the little-more-or-a-little-less rule. (And/or personal tastes...)

Mix together in medium saucepan:

6 T cocoa powder
6 T brown sugar
1/4 c. cornstarch
2 1/2 t. ground cinnamon
1/8 t ginger
pinch cardamom
2 pinches nutmeg
1/8 t. salt

Whisk in 2 c. vanilla soymilk and 1 t. vanilla extract. Heat over low-medium heat, stirring constantly, until pudding thickens. Serve warm (if you are impatient or cold) or chill in refrigerator (if you are patient or warm). I don't know what to do if you are impatient and warm; maybe just mix yourself up a glass of chocolate milk.

Knitting Isn't Fun Anymore

So I guess that's heresy, but yeah, I said it. I was so excited to have this week off but every time that I've sat down to knit, I only make it about 5 minutes before I get bored and wander off. Part of it is the warm weather (a lap full of wool in 80 degree weather isn't particularly comfortable); part of it is that I've come to associate knitting with being in class. And part of it is that I haven't successfully completed anything but baby hats for as long as I can remember. I've got knitter's block...and I'm hoping to cure it this weekend. I'm going to rip out the shawl that I've been half-assing, and maybe make a bag on big needles, and sew on some funky buttons. Just to say that I've made something.

I am an idiot.

So. We all know that I'm forgetful. I regularly forget meetings, paperwork, names, faces, facts, and keys. (Though as far as that last one goes, it thankfully hasn't happened in a while.) Today I topped myself. I forgot my car at school. That's right. My car. Because (all together now) I am an idiot.

Moving on...I also made a hat. No pics -- it was for a friend at school and so I gave it to her right as it was finished. Here's my pattern though (as best I remember); I'd like to make another sometime in the future.

Size 10 needles, acrylic yarn. Gauge, approximately 4 st/in...no clue on rows unfortunately.

CO 86 sts. Work 6 rows of K2 P2 ribbing. (Row 1 is WS, row 2 is RS)
Row 7: K all stitches
Row 8. *P2,K2. Rep from star until 2 st remain; P2.

Rep rows 7 & 8 5 more times (total of 6 repeats).
Work 6 more rows of K2 P2 rib, then another 6 repeats (12 rows) of the row 7/row 8 "pattern".

Work 2 more rows of K2 P2 rib.
Begin decreasing for top of hat:
K2 P2 *K2tog P2. Rep from star until 2 st remain; K2.
Next row: K the Ks and P the Ps.
Next row: K2 *P2tog P2. Rep from star until 2 st remain; K2.
Next row: P2, K until 2 st remain, P2.
Next row: K2, P2tog until 2 st remain, K2.
Next row: P2, K2tog until 2 st remain, P2.

There should be 13 st remaining on the needle. *K2, K2 tog. Rep until 1 st remains; K. Cut a long tail, gather remaining st and sew side seam.