Saturday, October 26, 2013

Sweet Pomegranate Guacamole

As the holdiays approach everyone needs a new recipe to impress their guests. This dish is also a great snack food for those looking to watch their weight. A mixture of two exotic fruits, the pomegranate and avocado, for an enticing food experience

Sweet Pomegranate Guacamole


Ingredients and Items Needed:
One avocado (soft)
One pomegranate
1/3 measuring cup
1 bowl
A knife
A cutting board
A fork
A mortar and pestle (or a cup and a large spoon)
A paper towel
(Optional additions: Crushed red pepper, lemon juice)

Instructions:
1. Cut up and extract pomegranate seeds


2. Take 1/3 cups (or slightly less, depending on the size of your avocado - my avocados are quite large) of non-crushed pomegranate seeds, using mortar and pestle (or in a cup with a large spoon) mash the pomegranate seeds (Note: The pomegranate seed juice will fly everywhere when you crush the seeds so make sure to cover the cup or pestle with a paper towel while crushing the seeds)


3. On your cutting board, cut the avocado and peel off the skin. 



4. Mash the avocado in a bowl with your fork.


5. Mix the avocado and the pomegranate mush together


Delicious! If you want to spice up this dish more think of adding crushed red pepper for a sweet n' spicy taste. Another addition could be adding some lemon juice for a sweet n' sour taste.

I suggest eating this guacamole with Triscuits or Wheat Thins, I particularly like the Roasted Tomato flavor.
Good luck!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Loving Crochet Headband

Recently Ive fallen in love with headbands. Ive always found the little stray hairs that fall into my face particularly annoying but this cute and stylish solution is simple and easy!

Loving Crochet Headband


Required Materials:
Yarn
A crochet Hook
A sewing needle
Thread
A button
(For this headband I used Loops and Threads Super Fine Sock Yarn in "Redwoods: Color #5" and a "G" (4.25mm) hook)

Directions:
1. Ch 4
2. Sc 4, continue until approx. 11 1/2 inches long depending on head size 
(Note: This is the measurement for my head size, which is rather slightly smaller than average, therefore if you have a larger head size you should increase the length by 1/2 to 1 inches)

3. Using your sewing needle and thread sew the button of your choice to one side of the headband
(Note: I found buttons with four holes in their center versus 2 holes in the center to be more stable)
4. On the other side of the headband tie on a piece of your yarn into a circle in an appropriate size that can fit over your button
5. Viola! Your new headband is complete!

Friday, October 11, 2013

The Back-Loop Stitch


THE BACK-LOOP STITCH

As the winter season approaches its time to crochet those sweaters and socks! Therefore you should know how to "back-loop stitch". The back-loop stitch is tightly woven together but, because the new stitch hinges off the previous stitch, it very stretchable. Therefore this stitch is great for cuffs on sweaters, the tops of socks, or headbands.


Above is an image of how to would normally do a single crochet. The image below is how you would do a back-loop stitch. The main difference between these two types of stitching is that instead of using both loops from the previous crochet, you are only using the back-loop (You can also do front-loop stitching by only using the front loops)

If you are still having difficulty with which loop is the back loop, below is another image with the back-loop being held.

Now that you know which loop is being used you can being your crochet masterpiece! The back-loop stitch is completed as a normal single crochet would be. Good luck!