Wool Gatherers Lunch

Yesterday the gals from the Wednesday night Wool Gathers group and the Wednesday afternoon knitters gathered at A Yarn Outlet for lunch and knitting. Betty brought the most wonderful chicken and pasta dish and Jeya added her Indian rice dish that had just the right kick of spice. I brought my black bottom cupcakes. I forgot that we were going to exchange receipes so I will post mine at the end of this entry.

Trying to remember everyone's name is a real trick. Betty, who scrapbooks, is going to make use name tags so the next time we gather we will be able to remember each others names. It was great fun looking at what everyone was working on. Someone had crocheted a beautiful dress and coordinating wrap to wear to a wedding. In my dreams I could create something so exquisite. Our sock maven Victoria was hard at work on another pair of socks, Shelly was working on a bag and oh I can't remember the other persons names. But the comraderie was great.

I only briefly met and spoke to Rikki but learned more about her after she left. A knitter since she was 8 she has done it all. Someone said she was among the many knitters who knitted socks and other garments for the soldiers during WWII. I am anxious to talk to her again. Maybe I can video our conversation and she can be my first knitters story.

Betty is just learning to knit. I met her while I was in the shop several weeks ago buying, buying and buying yarn. Her enthusiasm is contagious. She and I spent a lot of time together as I showed her the purl stitch and bind off. I left her with some pages I copied from my Kids Knitting book that should keep her busy until I return from my conference.

To add to the excitement a reporter and photographer from the Bradenton Herald was there to do a story on the shop. Not only did they get an earful from all the ladies but good food to boot. The article comes out next Friday. Just when I get back from San Fran.

I will only have a few weeks left until I have to back north and back to work when I return. I am going to miss the new friends I have made but hope some of them will come by the shop on Saturdays when I am back in town again.

The recipe I used for the Black Bottom Cupcakes came from one of the Rachel Ray magazines. But alas the first bunch were awful. I went over the receipe to make sure I didn't miss any of the ingredients. The batter was sooo thick. The picture showed it as much more liquidity. So I went online to check to see if there was a correction to the receipe but there wasn't. But I found the same receipe with a few variances that proved successful.

Black Bottom Cupcakes
(makes 24 - maybe)

8oz cream cheese
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 c semisweet chips (regular size or mini - your preference)

Cream the cream cheese, egg, sugar and salt together. Fold in the chips. Set aside

In a larger bowl add the following:

1 1/2 cups Flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup coca powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

stir this all up and then make a well in the center. Then add the following in the well:
1 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Oven is preheated to 350
Using a 12 cup muffin pan - line with foil cupcake liners and fill each 1/3 full
Top each with a tablespoon of cream cheese
Bake for 25 minutes

I had enough batter for 20 cupcakes and more cream cheese filling leftover to do another dozen cupcakes.

I will probably make these for my homeroom students or my tennis players. If so I think I will double the batter recipe and see how far the cream cheese filling will go.