Graphgan Review Part I

In a moment that can only be considered pure insanity I decided to crochet or knit all my kids a new blanket for their beds for their birthdays this summer.

I fell in love with this graphgan concept and decided to make them all that way.  Its insanity, I know that now.

So the first thing you need to make a graphgan is decide how to do it.  There are four different ways that I have seen.  

#1- Sew a million tiny granny squares about 1-2 inches each and sew them all together.  I actually did this.  I'm just not done yet.  After starting and getting no where I realized it was stupid and found other ways to do the rest.

#2- C2C crochet.  This is corner to corner crochet.  Google it.  Its amazing.  This is how I made this blanket.  

#3- Single crochet a pattern.  Each stitch is one block on the graph.

#4- Knit a pattern.  Each knit is one block on the graph.

After you have decided which technique to use (C2C!) you need to find a graph.  There is a crazy Perler bead craze and there are a ton of pictures on the internet for these.  That's what I used.  I even merged several.  There are also knitting graphs you can adapt as well.  

Then go crazy!  Not literally.

Awesome Sauce

Awesome Sauce

1 package “Traditional Hidden Valley Ranch” powdered dressing

1 cup mayo

1 cup buttermilk

2 tomatillos, removed husk and dice

½ bunch fresh cilantro

1 clove garlic

Juice of one lime

1 jalapeno (seeded)

                Mix all ingredients in blender until the consistency of salad dressing.

Chocolate Velvet Pie

Chocolate Velvet Pie

1 unbaked 9-inch pie crust

4 ounces semisweet chocolate

¾ cup cream

3 eggs, divided

1 egg yolk

10 Tbsp. sugar, divided

1 tsp. vanilla, divided

1/8 tsp. salt

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened)

¼ cup whipping cream

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  Prick holes in the crust with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.  Cool on a rack.

Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.  Combine chocolate and cream in a medium saucepan, heat over low heat and stir frequently until the chocolate is melted.  Add 6 Tbsp. sugar, ½ tsp vanilla, and salt.  Beat until blended.  Spread into the crust.

Beat cream cheese and 4 Tbsp. of sugar together until smooth.  Beat in the cream, 1 egg, and ½ tsp. vanilla.  Carefully spread this on top of the chocolate layer.

Bake for 40 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack and refrigerate for 2 hours.  Serve with whipped cream.

Maple Pecan Pie

This pie was amazing.

Pecan Maple Syrup Pie

Favorite pie crust

3 eggs

1 cup maple syrup

6 Tbsp. packed brown sugar

3 Tbsp. melted butter

½ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups coarsely chopped pecans.

Prepare your favorite pie crust.  Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Roll out pie crust.  Place it in your pie pan.  Bake for five minutes.

Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.  Melt your butter in the microwave and allow to cool.  Mix all the other ingredients into except pecans.  Mix well and then add the pecans. 

Bake for 45 minutes.  Check to make sure the edges aren’t getting too brown.  Remove from oven when set.