2 FOs, a WIP and a muffin recipe

As with most people, February was a blur. Work was outta control busy which didn't leave me with a lot of free time to do the things I needed and/or wanted to do. So now we're in March and I have no work to distract me so I'm playing catch up, or catsup if you're hungry.

Speaking of hungry (which I am all the time) I've been trolling two food blogs. I think Michelle introduced me to 'em but I can't remember. These blogs make my tummy grumble faster than... well, something that grumbles. The Pioneer Woman Cooks! and Smitten Kitchen make me drool on a regular basis and I'm not kidding.

Now I've been craving muffins for a bit. But not the sugary/floury/carb-licious ones that are like little cakes. No, I've been craving a (fairly) healthy one. See Starbucks** used to have a fruit and bran muffin that I really, really liked and then they took it away from me. I've been on the hunt ever since. Smitten Kitchen added a new feature and its called "Surprise Me!" You click the link and it usually takes you to a recipe. Click it again and it takes you to an entirely different recipe. I was bonking on that link over and over seeing each surprise and thinking "I gotta make that some day." when the muffins I've been looking for these past long, lonely months popped up.

What was funny was that I didn't realize they were The Muffins. As I was reading the ingredients and looking at the photos I swear I could have tasted them but I knew that was impossible since I had never made anything off the site (yet). I convinced myself that I was just hungry and that I should make a list, run to the grocery store and bake them. And that's what I did. And I'm pleased as punch to report that my muffin craving has been satiated. Hurrah! The recipe? Sour Cream Bran Muffins. I used yogurt instead of sour cream and my dried fruit was a mixture of cherries, strawberries, cranberries and blueberries. And even Paul, who doesn't like blueberries (in any shape or form) was all over them. I ate two for dinner. I recommend them. The end.

Now that you're back after making your own muffins, let's talk about knitting! 2 FOs and a WIP. What could be better than that? Other than 3 MCs and 1 DJ*? I can't think of anything.

FO#1:

GENERIC CUFF DOWN
Started: Feb 1, 2009
Completed: Feb 28, 2009
Pattern: generic cuff down
Yarn: Lang Jawoll Cotton
Color: 8853
Skeins: 2
Needles: 2.5mm/US 1.5 Knitpicks Options
Notes: cast on 64, heel worked over 38 stitches
Ravelry deets here.

FO#2:

TRAVEL COWL
Started: Feb 24, 2009
Completed: March 3, 2009
Pattern: Sherbrooke by Lauren Weinhold
Yarn: Haldespun
Color: Clematis
Skeins: 1
Needles: 5mm/US 8 Knitpicks Options
Notes: length is 10"
Modifications: row 2: *k1,p1*

Ravelry deets here.

WIP:

Whatdya think of the action shot, huh? Lady February Sweater coming 'actcha, yo! I'm loving this sweater. The yarn is so squishy and yummy I just want to hug it and squeeze it and call it George. I'm making better time on than expected since I was so busy. I'm going to guess this will be done by the end of March. More deets later.

*For those who don't get the reference, may I present Beastie Boys with "Three MC's and One DJ:"

** Please don't give me a hard time about going to Starbucks. Sometimes they do things right, like the bran muffin. I know most of the time they do things wrong, like taking away my bran muffin. My defense is "desperate times call for desperate measures."