Author: KalmiaMom3

The smell of pot roast in the crock pot reminds me of Sunday afternoons and my grandparents’ house.  It was something that my grandparents started in the morning and let cook while we were away at church. The savory aroma filled the house when we returned.

A pot roast is a fairly simple and low-maintenance meal.  When we have this for dinner I usually start the meat in the morning in the crock-pot, with enough water to cover about an inch or two of the meat, then add the seasoning.  That cooks on high for 4 to 5 hours.  About three to four hours before we plan to eat dinner I add the vegetables (potatoes and carrots). Then turn the temperature down to low. 

Before serving, I make sure the internal temperature of the meat is at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit.  We like to mash up the potatoes with a fork on our plate then add butter. The potatoes have so many flavors from the meat and seasoning, the butter adds to the savory taste.  Sometimes we have crusty rolls or sliced French bread with this meal, as well.

Share how you make pot roast and what you eat it with.  Whenever we use our crock-pot we like to use liner inserts before adding the food.  It makes clean-up so much easier. 

This post gives information and a pattern for a hand knit basket. There are many items to create with super bulky (size 6) weight yarn. I wanted to find something that was simple, practical and useful. Patterns came up for everything from heavy blankets and plushies (what I call stuffies) to beanies and baskets. I was already working on a blanket pattern (entrelac, for my mom). Plushies don’t seem too practical for me to knit. I have a favorite knit hat pattern that is my go-to with chunky yarn (Squarshy hat). Therefore, I wanted to attempt knitting a basket.

There are many patterns for knit baskets, both paid and free. Previously, I have knit the Oodles basket and the Entangle basket, both by Deja Joy, on Ravelry. Someone gifted me a kit for each of those from craftsy. Both of those projects were enjoyable and produced a lovely basket. However, I wanted something a little different.

Practical, simple to make (even for beginners), adaptable and useful were the particulars I was searching for in a knit basket. I found some patterns for a hand knit basket with those qualities, but none of the patterns were just right. So, I decided to come up with one on my own. I did not look thoroughly, but there might be a hand knit basket pattern that is the same or very similar.

I call my pattern a Kalmia basket. A Kalmia basket is a useful pouch to set somewhere. It conveniently holds small items such as hair ties, wrapped candies, washcloths, reusable face scrubbies and more. Please see the pattern below for what I did.

Yield: 5"x5"x5" basket

Kalmia Basket

Print

A pattern for a small hand knit basket, a very useful item.

Materials

• 5 DPNs in US 11
• 1 US 11 circular needle, if desired
• 4 stitch markers (1 unique marker to indicate beginning of round)
• tapestry needle (eye large enough for bulky weight yarn)
• scissors
• Lion Brand Re-spun Thick & Quick (100% recycled polyester) in 2 colors (MC = main color, CC = contrasting color)

Instructions

Base of basket:

With US 11 and MC, CO 17 stitches.

Garter stitch for 32 rows (knit every row for 32 rows)

Pick up and purl 16 stitches on each side.

Switch to DPN and moss stitch for 3 rows, placing a marker at each needle change:

Row 1: K1 P1 to end of needle, PM (4 times)

Row 2 & 3: K1 P1 to end, slipping markers when you come to them.

Body of Basket:

Row 1 and odd rows with MC, knit around, slipping markers when you come to them.

Row 2 and even rows, with CC, slip 1 stitch purlwise with yarn in back. Purl to the next marker, slip marker (4 times).

Continue both rows 9 times, to row 20, ending with even row.

Moss stitch 4 rows

Bind off tightly: K2 stitches, pass first stitch over second. K1 stitch, pass first stitch over second, continue to last stitch.

weave in ends

Notes

I knit rather tightly, so you may want to alter the number of pattern repeats. Remember to end on an even numbered row in the pattern.

When knitting the base, it will have 65 stitches around the sides. The odd number of (16, 16, 16 and 17 on each edge) makes the moss stitch work for the borders. However, for the body of the basket, the last row will look a little different from the rest.

I enjoy finding new patterns to knit. While looking on Pinterest for something new, this sweet mouse bookmark popped up. It had caught my eye before, and now I had a purpose to knit it. For the annual Farm Show one of the categories I wanted to submit an item to was a bookmark.

The Farm Show is kind of like a state fair, but indoors, in January and encompassing agriculture-related categories. A butter sculpture is one of the main attractions. Christmas trees, fruit, vegetables, mushrooms and their products are displayed and judged. Baked goods, cooking shows and cake decorating are other interests. Agricultural animals, from cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, birds, alpacas and more are in attendance. Bee education and a butterfly house are some exhibits. This is a huge event that lasts 8.5 days.

One year I submitted a knit accessory, a 3S shawl. I earned third place for that entry. The next year I wanted to enter some more knitted items. I entered another shawl, a small tote bag and this mouse bookmark. The shawl and the tote bag did not place. However, the bookmark earned first place in that category.

Making a mouse bookmark

This bookmark is made on double pointed needles. I did not own the correct size, US 2.5, and could not find any in a store near me. They were available to order online. Also, I ordered the yarn from DROPS, as the pattern calls for. For the Farm Show, the bookmark theme for that year was “country Christmas.” Therefore, I selected more Christmas-type colors to reflect that theme.

This was such a sweet and fun knit. If I were to knit this again there are some changes I would make. I would not make the arms and tail quite as long, or at least the arms. Also, I would want to try other colors. There are plenty of readers in my life to gift this to. I would use colors to suit their preferences. Let me know what your mouse looks like!

Potato Tot Casserole is usually a favorite when I make it, which has not been too often. This dish begins with a tater tot base.  A burger mixture is then added on top of that. Next is a soup mixture. Finally, it is topped with a good helping of shredded cheddar cheese. This savory comfort food is great for any time, especially cooler evenings. We like to pair it with a steamed vegetable, usually broccoli or california medley.

The Potato tot casserole recipe can be altered, depending on your specific tastes. For example, more or less onion could be used. Fresh onion or dried minced onion are options. Also, more or less cheese could be added. My family prefers less onion and more cheese. I like to use dried minced onion from a spice jar. A fresh chopped sweet onion is a possible substitute for the minced onion. Personally, I prefer to use the dried minced version because I don’t care for the effects of cutting an onion.

More or less tater tots can be added. However, don’t use much more than the recipe calls for. Otherwise the casserole might not cook properly and the first bite would be a mouthful of cold, almost frozen tots, topped with a hot burger mixture.  If there are not enough tater tots, the casserole will be too soupy. The potato soaks up some of the soup mixture, enhancing the taste of each bite.   

Chicken Pot pie is a yummy dish to make. The recipe I like to use is simple and straight forward. I made this recipe a few years ago and my picky eater did not care for it. However, when I made it more recently, he was excited to try it again. The comforting smell caught his attention. The texture could have been the previous cause for him to turn away from this meal. Or, an equal possibility, it could have been the onions.

Chicken in the pot

Growing up in central Pennsylvania the term chicken pot pie could mean two different meals. The Pennsylvania Dutch make a dish that is more of a soup, or chicken and dumplings. That meal includes chicken broth, some vegetables, spices, chicken pieces and from scratch pie dough cooked in a large stock pot until the chicken is cooked through. When it is cooked thoroughly, the dough has the consistency similar to a thick cooked noodle. This is called ‘chicken pot pie’ for the literal words. For instance, the meat is the ‘chicken,’ which is cooked in a large pot with the pie dough. For that meal, I have two recipes I have yet to try. One is from my husband’s grandmother. The other recipe is from my dad’s grandmother, my great-grandmother. The two recipes I have are similar, but I want to try them both or a mixture of the two at some point.

Meat pie

Classic chicken pot pie, the other way to make it, is the meal I am describing in this post. Some people know this meal as a meat pie. This meal is an actual pie. It is cooked in a pie plate with crust on the top and bottom. Between the crust layers is a mixture of meat, vegetables, spices and thick gravy. This version of chicken pot pie can be found in many grocery stores and at restaurants.

A Thoughtful friend

I was first introduced to this meal when a friend gave my family a meal. My church community, mothers groups and some friends would bless each other with meals on occasion. Those occasions included moving, adding a family member, a medical issue, a death or other life change. Generously, one of the moms in a mother’s group I was in brought me a chicken pot pie after I had my second baby. She had made it previously and put it in the freezer. The pie was frozen when she gave it to me, so we could thaw it out and bake it immediately or put it in our own freezer for later. That was helpful, as we were receiving a lot of food, sometimes more than what we could eat before it started to go bad.

Asking for the Recipe

After we ate it, my husband and I enjoyed this meal and wanted to get the recipe. The next time I saw this friend was at a family event. I asked her husband about the recipe and he agreed that the meal was very tasty. He told me it was an old family recipe that her grandma used to make. Uncertain if she would give up her family’s recipe, I asked if she would be willing to share it with me. She laughed a little and said she would message me the link for the recipe. It was not an old family secret, rather a recipe she found online and enjoyed making.

My Thoughts on this Chicken pot pie

When I make this version of chicken pot pie, I usually make at least 3 pies. They seem to freeze well as long as they are wrapped very well. We can either eat one at a later date or gift one to someone in need. When a friend needs a meal we like to get them pizza, subs or something similar from their favorite local shop. In addition to that, we like to give a previously made frozen meal so they can eat it at a later date. This recipe makes for an excellent option for a frozen meal, of course thawing and baking instructions are included with the gifted pie.

I have found that I must take care when I triple this recipe. The meat and vegetables can all be cooked together. However, I must make the gravy part one batch at a time. Otherwise, the gravy will be too runny and there will be a superfluous amount of it. It does not seem to thicken up well when I triple that part of the recipe.

Let me know how you like this meal and how you made it differently.

Find the recipe at Allrecipes.com, by Robbie Rice.

Beef barbeque is a great meal to make in a large quantity at one time. After being cooked then cooled, the mixture freezes well for later. It is a great meal for a busy evening. My picky eater likes this dinner very much. A fairly simple recipe, most of the ingredients might already be in your pantry. The main ingredients include ground meat (we like to use beef); brown sugar; onions; peppers; ketchup and mustard.

Mixing Beef Barbeque Ingredients Together

After fully browning and chopping the burger, add the finely chopped peppers and onions. Then, add the premeasured amounts of ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. Mix, or stir, well so all of the ingredients are evenly dispersed.

A Tupperware brand chopper

We chop the peppers and onions very fine. In order to obtain the right thickness, we use a Tupperware Chopper, the one with the hand crank. For my picky eater this makes a world of difference. With the onion and pepper finely chopped, it is more edible for him. I don’t know if it evens out the taste, gives the mix a different texture or what. He prefers it this way.  

This beef barbeque can be altered to suit your own tastes. We use sweet bell peppers. A substitution could be a hotter pepper, like jalapeno or habanera. We taste the mixture several times before being satisfied with the end result. Sometimes we add a little more ketchup and other times we need to add a little of everything. 

We like to complete this meal with corn on the cob and potato chips. Usually we add a slice or two of American cheese on top of the beef mixture, after an amount is on the bun. My other two sons (not my picky eater) even like to just have the beef mixture by itself sometimes. They omit the bun and sometimes even the cheese.

I found the diagonal stitch dice bag pattern online when I was searching for something small but useful to knit. There are many patterns for this type of dice bag. Actually, I had to look up what a dice bag was. It is, as the name implies, to carry and keep dice in. Some games require many die, of all different kinds, to play. A dice bag is small, about the length and width of an adult’s hand when the bag is laid flat. In addition to its small size, a dice bag usually has a drawstring near the top to keep the bag closed. There are many more ideas on how to use this satchel.

As I said previously, there are many patterns for this type of dice bag. Some of the patterns are top down, while others are bottom up. The top down begins at the opening, makes the body of the bag then ends with decreases to make the base. Alternately, a bottom up pattern starts at the base. If the pattern begins with double pointed needles, or circular (using magic loop), I find it to be very difficult. The many needles with so few stitches are not easy for me to hold. Sometimes I accidentally twist the stitches or drop a needle. I prefer patterns that start at the top and work down, ending with decreases.

Making a Dice Bag

The closure for this dice bag is fairly simple. A series of eyelets (yarn-overs and knit-2-togethers) are made about ¼ to ½ inch from the top of the piece. This pattern does not give specifics on what to use for the string. I like the look and simplicity of a regular i-cord. I tried both a two stitch i-cord and a three stitch i-cord, but l prefer the two-stitch i-cord better.  This particular pattern does not specify what to use and a single string of yarn is showed in the sample photo.

This specific pattern calls for any type of worsted weight yarn. Because of its small size, yarn with larger striping is not the best. For this project I liked to use yarns with sequins, beads, small stripes and splashes of color changes throughout. Lion Brand Mandala Ombre is soft and the color changes are great for this. Premier yarns Ever Soft yarn Multi has splashes of color throughout, and gives the satchel lots of color. One of my favorite yarns to create this project is Yarn Bee Glowing Yarn. However, it is difficult to find. I just happened to have some in my yarn stash.