It's late, but it's finally here!  The "After Valentine's Day Special".  No, actually it has nothing at all to do with that holiday at all, but (belated) Happy Valentine's Day to all of you anyway!

Post a review at the iTunes music store to let others know if you enjoy this show!  (Go to iTunes music store, type "The Knitting Cook" into the search engine, then post your review from there)

A thousand thank-you's to everyone who shared their stories and encouragement with me after the last episode.

Today we talk about spinning, knitting handspun, and the proper way to dispose of a tree.

Online yarn shop mentioned in today's show:
Spunky Eclectic fiber club (she also has a sock of the month club!)

Thank you to Jennifer for her thoughtful little gift.

Kathy (AKA Linda) has a new blog address.

Listener Blog Spotlight: Kate at These Are The Knits I Know
(For a chance to have your blog in the spotlight on this show, simply leave a comment about anything here -- I check out all the links, and I feature one blog per episode that catches my eye.)

Stick a pin in the Frappr map and be counted!

Book Reviews:

• Cast On, Bet's Off audio book written and narrated by Jack Olesker
• Color In Spinning by Deb Menz
• The Twisted Sisters Sock Workbook by Lynn Vogel

Upcoming book review for next episode:
Victorian Lace Today

ATC swap at Creative Mom Podcast

Check out my blog for upcoming post on photography tips, pics of my handspun mittens, and more.


Today's Recipe:

Blueberry Buckle
Recipe by my mom's neighbor, Barbara.

Preheat oven to 400 (F)

Cream together:
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar

Add and beat until combined:
1 egg

Sift into wet mixture and stir until combined:
1-3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Add and stir until smooth:
1/2 cup milk

Fold in:
2 cups blueberries, lightly dusted with flour (this keeps the blueberries from sinking to the bottom while baking)


Crumb Topping

Combine and mix until crumbly:
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon (or more to taste)

Pour batter into a greased 9" pan and sprinkle with topping.  Bake about 35 minutes.  Buckle is done when toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (topping will be golden brown).

This does work as muffins as well, although it's a little bit tricky to get the sort-of-stiff dough into the little muffin cups.  Also, the crumb topping has a tendency to stick to the edges of the pan -- just be sure to use paper liners if you decide to do that.  Also, it'll only take 25-30 minutes to bake (once again, test to be sure before removing from oven).

Drink with a tall, cold glass of milk or a mug of bitter coffee.

Enjoy!

I've gotten a few questions from would-be listeners who can't get the podcast to play on their computer (via Windows Media player, or other non-iTunes program) or MP3 player (non-iPod).  The reason is because I release the episodes as MP4 to conserve space in my Libsyn (company that hosts each file) account.  At the moment it costs me almost nothing to put the show out each month, but all of that would change if I started releasing the files as MP3's.

This is how you fix the problem on your end: download iTunes (free, and works with both PC's and Mac's).  From iTunes you will be able to listen to the episodes with no problem (go to "music store" and type "The Knitting Cook" into the search engine.  From there, click "subscribe" and you'll never miss another episode.), but if you still want to transfer it onto your MP3 player, highlight the episode file after it downloads, then click "advanced" on the menu at the top of your screen, and then choose the option to convert the file to MP3. 

If you have an iPod, you probably already know that none of this applies to you, and the MP4 will work just fine, because iPods are super awesome.  :-)

If there are still unanswered questions, please feel free to leave a comment here or email me, and I'll update this post accordingly.

ETA: link to the pattern to my King Kong Cable Footies, Alison of the blue blog who is knitting through Itty Bitty Hats, and link to my Frappr Map.



Quick note:  Today's Fiber Tale is a rather raw, uncut talk through of my past month, and I'm not sure how cohesive it is, but I didn't want to have to record it again and once again relive all of it; it was difficult enough to talk about the first time through.  I feel a little hesitant about being so open, but I am sharing this with all of you in the hopes that it might help someone else who's also trying to find themselves.


Patterns:

1. King Kong Cable Footies (pattern for guys!)
   
2. Swallowtail Shawl, Interweave Knits Fall 2006
   
3. Sheldon, the adorable big-headed little turtle
4. Two At Once Toe-up Sock Pattern (the perfect cast-on?)
5. Fiber Trends Baby Basics (beautiful hat and booties, pattern at discounted price here)
   
6. Pea Pod Baby Set by Kate Gilbert, free download at Interweave ("Four Gifts To Delight A Little Person")
7. Baby Bolero from One Skein by Leigh Radford
   

Yarn and fiber sources mentioned in this show:

1. Spunky Eclectic (monthly Spunky Club to coordinate with Project Spectrum!  Choice of either fiber or SOCK YARN!)
2. WEBS (huge yarn sale!)
3. Paradise Fibers (awesome customer service, great fiber, yarn and tools)

Book reviews!

1. Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson --  yarn for most of the projects in book on sale at WEBS (Susan was interviewed on episode #46 of Craftsanity)  Watch Alison at the blue blog conduct a personal knit through of this book.
   
2. the Crafter's Companion, edited by Anna Torborg (Interviewed on episode #40 of Craftypod)

Check out what's newly off my needles, and what I'm working on now at The Needle And The Damage Done (my fiber blog).

Cooking and leftover tips today, courtesty of Claire, Elizabeth, Erin, Kathy (AKA Linda), Kristi.

Most of the music (including theme song and intro to Fiber Tale) on my show is by Havalina, who has generously given me permission to use it.  (Free music downloads on their site, since the band does not exist anymore.)

Ending song "Blow This Town" by Thee Pirates, used with permission.

Other music and soundbytes are from GarageBand.

Random bloopers and forgetfulness include but are probably not limited to:

1. Forgot to give link to Frappr Map.  Stick your pin in the map!  Frappr just changed their format, so at the moment, until they work out the kinks, the only people that I can see who have recently joined are those of you who have also uploaded pictures.  So upload a picture and get a mention in the next show!
   
2. Blog spotlight.  Whoops!  I guess this show doesn't have one.
3. New Listener Response Question.  Umm, I guess this show didn't have one of those either.
   
4. New podcast shout-outs.  Ready Set Knit by the Steve and Kathy, owners of WEBS America's Yarn Store.  Recent episode includes interview with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee!
5. Anna Torborg (Editor and contributor of Crafter's Companion) is interviewed on episode #40 of CraftyPod.
6. Knitty "surprise" patterns are up!
7. ATC swap over at the Creative Mom Podcast (what's an Artist Trading Card?  Go over there and find out!)
   

I'll most likely find more forgetful oversights, just give me time.  (You'd think that I didn't ever use shownotes!)

Speaking of forgetfulness, if you emailed me or left a comment on the podcast blog or my fiber blog before I released this show, and you need a response, please email me again, because I got a little behind/overwhelmed.  I do read every single one of your comments and emails, and appreciate them so much. 

Listener feedback is so important to me; it makes the effort of producing the show well worth it.  Whether or not I have the time to respond to every single comment and email, I love hearing from you!  (I especially love hearing about your experiences with my recipes, and it thrills me to no end to find you talking about them in iTunes reviews!!)



White Bean Spinach Soup
by Faith

This soup is economical, good for you, and pretty darn tasty.


4 quarts chicken or vegetable stock
Splash of olive oil
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 lb spinach
1/2 lb ripply, chunky pasta (or whatever you feel like)
One good chunk of Parmesan cheese (the real thing, not the shelf stable stuff that's powdered and in a can)
2 cans (15 oz each) Northern White Beans or other tender, small white bean
Salt and pepper to taste

Bring the soup stock to a boil in a 5 quart pot.

In the meantime, heat a large saute pan until a bit of water sizzles on the surface.  Add oil and garlic.  Saute for a few seconds, then add spinach (rinsed and chopped if big).  Cover and cook until just barely wilted.

Add pasta to soup stock and cook until just done.  When the pasta is nearly cooked through, add cheese and beans.  Add spinach.  Salt and grind in fresh black pepper to taste.