D134: Risotto for Bambino

Today I experimented with an idea I've had for a while - chicken & corn risotto for Bub.

Here is the prototype recipe I did tonight:

1 can of creamed carm (310g)

1 small can of corn kernels (optional)

300g minced chicken

1/2 cup arborio rice

1. With a bit of oil in a medium saucepan, fry the chicken and break it up as much as possible.

2. Add the corn and rice.  Stir until all the rice is wet.

3. Add the creamed corn and combine. Stir until it's reduced a little.

4. Add about a quarter cup of water and stir. Continue adding water and stirring until the rice is cooked. 

5. Blend or process to a consistency your baby prefers (or not).

Variations

Use chicken stock instead of water

Add chopped omelette* or peas at the end

Begin by frying an onion

I've found chicken stock to be quite salty and a very strong flavour for Bub.  Although I bought salt reduced stock for this meal, I decided to skip it and go conservatively for a new dish.

Another variation I'm considering is to fry the rice a bit first, add at least half a cup or so of water and then corn, and then the chicken.  Cooking the minced chicken in water would break it up more finely, I think, and make it less chewy for Bub.  The creamed corn would go in as the second batch of water.

I don't yet know whether Bub will take to this one, so cannot report any success.  She likes chicken by itself but hasn't had corn before.  We'll see after a week or so I suppose.

In other news, I've completed the parts of the Baby gift I'm knitting and have begun the decorating.  I'm choosing to decorate it while it's flat, rather than once assembled, as I think it'll be a bit easier that way. Especially if I make mistakes or make changes.

*If I were to add egg it would make it a very fowl dish indeed - the chicken, its food and its egg!  I should call it Chicken Coup Goop.

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Next day update:  Bub says nnnnope. But, you know, I've got about 20 tbp of this so don't worry Bub THERE'S TIME.

Fortnight later update:  A few days ago Bub ate two cubes of this - about 3 tbp!  I've been giving it to her for lunch and, at half way through the batch, I've eaten most of it myself.  However, these last few days have been a success and she's getting some good food into her!  Hurrah!

D133: Not quite...

With only the collar of this garment to go, here's what I had left after finishing all the other pieces...

The gauge for this garment is 24sts x 24rows over a 10cm wide/tall section "when slightly stretched".

My gauge is very different, with many more stitches fitting into the 10cm breadth, so a lot more yarn used over the distance.  It takes quite an 'assertive stretch', I suppose, to get the my stitches to match the gauge.  But I do have 25 rows in height, which is very close.  (I might look into the difference between row and stitch tension and how to influence that. Sigh.)  

I don't know why anyone would include stretching in establishing gauge.  What's 'slightly'?  A centimetre?  When it doesn't bounce back?  So you can see the hidden rib?  It seems like a terribly fuzzy thing to introduce into what's meant to be your guiding parameters.

I'll confess I didn't do a swatch, and it seems I could've done this garment in a 6.00mm or 5.5mm needle and benefited.  It's also why I went off to my oh-my-goodness-I'm-so-lucky-to-live-in-this-area local yarn store today: one more ball. (Brownie points to me for only buying what I needed.  Mind you, choosing yarn I want would require bringing a snack.)

D132: Tip of the Day - Cutting Mandarins for Babies

Mandarin pieces need to be halved for babies, both to prevent choking and to remove pips.

Chop first! It's hard to see here but I've already removed the pips from this one.  

I'd let Bub have a go at pulling them out by herself if only she didn't play Chubby Bunnies* with all her favourite foods.

In other news, we're up to the neckline in our knitted baby gift.  Hopefully I'll finish the front tonight.  :D

*Remember the Chubby Bunnies party game? Stuff a marshmallow in your mouth and say "Chubby Bunnies". Repeat. Whoever can still say Chubby Bunnies with the most marshmallows in their mouth wins.  I'll be putting my money on Bub.

D131: Saturdelights - not a particularly crafty post...

Today didn't start out that well. Well, actually, it was a glorious morning, weather wise, but my plans were thwarted early on.

I've not been feeling strong enough, or 'back together' enough to go back to the exercise I did before becoming pregnant.  Jaunty swing dancing and bouncy running just feel beyond my ankles and strength right now. There's this phenomenon that occurs for some people after pregnancy: weak wrists. It's gotten me good and I think it happens to the ankles too. Every time I try to break into a jog I just marionette into the ground.  I was thinking Pilates might be a good option.  I've done it before and it's challenging enough, but after talking with my osteopath I'm flummoxed as to why I hadn't yet properly considered his suggestion of yoga.  Yoga!  I can do yoga!

So an online search said there are yoga classes at a joint nearby.  Within walking distance.  On a Saturday morning! This Saturday morning!  IT WAS A SIGN PEOPLE.

I arrived to a locked door.  I was that person peering into a clearly dark, empty and closed business, checking for another entrance, reading all the posters about Wednesday night's class but seeing no sign of the Saturday class their Facebook page promised.  And then, as I texted hub to see if he'd mind me taking a second brekky, the instructor turned up to let someone in and explained how there had been signs announcing the cancelled Saturday classes.  Hmmm, not on the online places though.  In good form, she offed me a freebie class for Wednesday.  I'm yet to decide...

So I went to the new cafe a few doors up.  By pure coincidence, I took the table the yoga instructor and her friends abandoned (too small) and felt only slightly awkward about her being across a small room.  I enjoyed a very good coffee with an almost perfect French toast and had a good uninterrupted think about the opinions of The Age readers and editors.  Silver lining win thanks to small pleasures.

And the day continued on that curve...

Some warm sun, finally...

...post-pool fuzz...

...good quality ingredients - juicy sultanas and apricots.

Mmmm, buttery sweetness. Or sweet buttery butter. Ghhhhh....

Cookies!

And a good long-tail cast-on.

D130: Second sleeve done!

That is all.

A little compensation:

I'm thinking of making a pair of knitted slippers for Bub.  She has these great, cosy little boots, but they're a bit of a struggle to put on.  I'd like something I can chuck on her feet without the fuss, but with a bit of warmth.  I have a French version of these Baby kimono slippers, which looks rather quick & appealing.

Years ago I made a striped cushion in a Linen Stitch.  It's a lovely woven stitch, easy for anyone familiar with stocking stitch, and looks glorious with variegated yarns.  While you have to do about 130% of the rows to get the same height as regular knitting, its density pays off.  I thought I could use this stitch in a little slipper to add warm and strength.  With a firmer sole, I can more easily put some puff paint or something on a slipper sole so Bub has a little grip.

Click this picture for a tutorial I found via Pinterest

The other appeal of the kimono shoes is that, as they are knitted flat and are very simple, I suspect I could adjust the dimensions as I need, which would be necessary since I'd be using a different stitch.  Hmmm..... ponderponderponder...