Look what followed me home!

Merely part of what followed me home today is below........

Okay, the Addi LACE turbos (ahhhhhhhhhhhhh) are for the Coreolis socks to be one of the travel knitting projects. I only have one set of Denise needles so only 1 size 6 circ. Now I have two and the casting on can begin! Sort of an unusual mix of needles but I figure the sock itself it unusual and all will be just fine! The DPN's are big ole' fatties for the hats, also travel knitting. The pumpkin? For muffins of course silly! The weather has finally decided that it will be fall and that has me thinking mightily of pumpkin. I'm going in to the studio late today so there's a batch of Pumpkin Muffins in the oven. Delightful!

Traveling requires for me a great (and dang cute) new tote bag. It is sort of like a new lunchbox and selection of fresh new crayons for school! I found the tres cute bag from Nine West at Macy's, it was on sale and I had a gift card so the whole shebang came to $30.00. Not bad! It is large enough to carry my laptop to and from work should I need to commute light, and for the trip it is large enough for a book (Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair), two knitting projects, my purse and my iPod. Can I leave now? Please???? I've been saving up Laurie's book and have been really, really good knowing it is just THERE. Okay, okay, I read the first chapter. That's all!!!!

I went to a favorite LYS, Knitorious and had yet more outstanding service there (as I always do) from Ann. We had a nice chatty visit and I wish I could have stayed longer! I'll have to pop in next Wednesday night for the knit group! I was in the back room (danger Will Robinson, DANGER!!!) looking for my misplaced copy of VogueKnits from last holiday season. I had to pass right by the sale wall and this novelty yarn just spoke to me. LOUD. I'm not usually a novelty girl, but since I'm in the gift shrug mode I think this yarn will be absolutely incredibly wonderful to shrug up! I have a vintage topaz button, big and honky that will be so cute with the topaz flags in the yarn along with the black, the cream and the gray. The photo doesn't do it justice!


And it matches my granite countertops, heck it must be meant to be!!!!

That can of pumpkin? Oh yeah................... incredibly delish muffins, easy to make and soooooooooo gooooooood! The recipe follows, I hope you'll give it a try!

Pumpkin Muffins with Cinnamon Sugar glazed pecans

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
  
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 can (15 to 16 ounces) pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon good quality vanilla
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans

TOPPING

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine the dry ingredients to include sugars and whisk to combine. In separate bowl, combine pumpkin, melted butter, evaporated milk, beaten eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add the wet and dry ingredients and stir gently.

For the topping, chop the pecans and toast them for about 5 minutes in a 375 oven. Stir the warm pecans, melted butter, sugar and cinnamon and return to the oven for another 5 minutes. The pecans should be a little crunchy and caramelized but not overly brown. Break up the nuts if neccessary.

Line 12-cup muffin tin with lightly sprayed paper liners. Fill the about 3/4-full with the pumpkin muffins batter, divide the cinnamon sugar pecan mixture and top the muffins. Bake at 375° for 20 to 25 minutes.

Serve warm or at room temperature. YUM!

The mitered square sweater? WOO HOO.............. it's almost done! I have knit in the sleeves with the attached I-Cord and am getting ready to I-Cord the edges. Then just the neckband remains. I'm pretty pumped to get it finished, I can take it on my trip!!!