“From a can. Two cans, really. Then you spread cake mix on top, right out of the package. Nuts if you want them, and you bake it and it all turns into a cake.”
Back in the living room, people concentrated on their cake and ice cream for a few minutes, punctuated only by Nell’s comment that the cake could be made with fresh fruit and it would be a lot healthier.
“Well, I think it’s delicious,” Bettina said. “And the recipe sounds like just my kind of cooking—easy. I’m dying to try it.”
Pamela waited until forks had been deposited on empty plates and all offers of second helpings had been refused. “We have some club business to discuss,” she said.
“In that case . . .” Melanie rose and began collecting plates and forks.
“You can stay,” Pamela said. “We’re not a secret society—but at this point we’re down to five members. So if anybody knows anybody who likes to knit . . .” She surveyed them—sweet little Karen Dowling; Nell Bascomb, with her gentle face and her do-good projects; Roland DeCamp, still as tightly wound as ever, despite the knitting; and her faithful best friend, Bettina. “We’ll be meeting next week, of course, so be thinking and ask around.”
Nell’s eyes widened and she gave an exasperated sigh. “It’s my turn to host, isn’t it?”
“I think so,” Bettina said.
“Workmen are coming. It was the only time I could schedule them, and the dining room ceiling is just about to come down on our heads.” She smiled sadly. “The joys of an old house.”
“We can meet at my house,” Pamela said.
The people facing her looked at one another in alarm. Finally Bettina spoke up. “I don’t know, Pamela,” she said. “At your house knitting is, well, murder.”
KNIT
The Frugal Knitter’s Scarf: Bohemian Chic
If you’ve never knitted, it’s easier to learn the basics by watching than by reading. The Internet abounds with tutorials that show the process clearly. Just search “how to knit.”
You only need to learn the basic knitting stitch. Don’t worry about “purl.” That’s used in alternating rows to create the stockinette stitch—the stitch you see, for example, in a typical sweater. If you use “knit” on every row, you will end up with the stitch called the garter stitch. The garter stitch is actually better for making a scarf, because the knitted piece won’t have a tendency to roll up at the edges, as happens with stockinette, and it won’t have a “wrong” side. It will look the same on both sides.
To knit a scarf you will need at least 200 yards of yarn—more if you want it to be longer or wider. A typical skein of medium-weight acrylic yarn from the hobby store contains 170 yards. The fun of the Bohemian Chic scarf, however, is that it’s made from random bits of this and that. If you’re a knitter, you probably have many interesting yarn remnants left from other projects. Another source of yarn is tag sales. It’s not unusual to come upon a whole stash of leftover yarn at a tag sale—especially if it’s one of those sales in which a whole house is being emptied.
Collect your yarn, the more colors the better. If you have different textures—like angora, mohair, or bouclé—consider using them too, alternating them with smoother yarns. For this project, use medium-weight yarn and medium-gauge needles (size 8, 9, or 10).
Casting on 40 stitches will make your scarf ten inches wide. If you want it to be narrower or wider, cast on fewer stitches, or more. Use the simple slip-knot cast-on process or the more complicated “long tail” process. Either works fine. “How to knit” tutorials usually include casting on, or you can search “how to cast on.” Now pick your first color and knit an inch or so, which will come out to five or six rows. Then graft on another color. To do this, just cut off the strand of yarn for your first color, leaving a tail of at least three inches, and tie the end of your new color to it, also leaving a tail of three inches beyond the knot. When your scarf is finished, you will weave these tails into the knitted fabric to hide them. If you cut the yarn off right at the knot, the knot can loosen, and then stitches will unravel. Keep knitting, adding new colors every inch or so, occasionally returning to a previous color. If you want a really random look, you can change color in the middle of a row.
If you don’t have a lot of different colors, you can use the alternating-color idea at both ends of the scarf and buy a skein in a coordinating color to knit a long one-color stretch in the middle. A scarf can be as long as two yards, but take into account how you want to wear it, and measure scarves you have and like for reference.
When the scarf reaches the length you want, cast off. The instructions for this process are usually part of a “how to knit” tutorial as well, or you can search “how to cast off.” Leave a tail of about three inches after you cast off the last stitch.
Now it’s time to hide your tails. Use a yarn needle—a large needle with a large eye and a blunt end. Thread the needle with your first tail and work the needle in and out of the knitted fabric for an inch or so. Pull the yarn through and cut off the shorter tail that’s left. For the striped parts, hide the tails in the knitted sections that correspond to their colors.
For a picture of a finished Bohemian Chic scarf,
visit PeggyEhrhart.com.
NIBBLE
Autumn Apple Cake
Use crisp, slightly tart apples; even Granny Smith or other green apples will work.
Ingredients:
3 large or 4 medium apples
2 cups sugar
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts
Powdered sugar
Core and peel the apples. To do this easily, quarter them first, then slice the cores out and peel the quarters. Chop or coarsely grate the apples. You want about 4 cups’ worth. Place the apples in a small bowl, add the sugar, and let the mixture sit for an hour. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, and spices into a large bowl. Using a beater, mix in the oil, eggs, and vanilla, and then stir in the apples and sugar, and the walnuts, by hand.
Turn the mixture into a greased tube pan and bake for one hour at 350 degrees. Let the cake cool, then invert it onto a serving plate. Sprinkle it with powdered sugar. To do this evenly, put the powdered sugar in a small sieve and shake it over the cake. Cover the edges of the serving plate first to protect it from the powdered sugar. If you like, you can offer whipped cream or vanilla ice cream when you serve the cake.
For a picture of the finished cake,
visit PeggyEhrhart.com.
Murder, She Knit Page 23