OhSewCrafty Blog

I started this project in 2004, probably finished the bulk of the work within a few months, but the finishing took years.  I just didn’t feel like knitting a 1×1 ribbed narrow band for 135 cm, and then seaming it all around the fronts and around the neck.  I also had grave reservations about the style… let’s face it, who over the age of 21 or so needs extra fabric around the stomach?  Last summer, I finished it off, decided I could wear it with a cute sundress, but never did.

Enter my gorgeous little sister, whose chest is about the same size as mine, but she’s shorter, has a smaller frame, and most importantly, not quite 15 years old.  She liked the sweater, and she can rock the style, so it’s hers.  I hope she gets some use of it, but even if the sweater only gets worn once, that would be better than aging quietly in a drawer, I suppose.

So the occasion for the family meetup was Father’s Day.  My dad is possibly even more crazy about chocolate than I am, and I was dying for an excuse to try this cake I found on Smitten Kitchen.  The recipe was easy, if time consuming (requires a lot of time cooling/chilling, otherwise, it would be near impossible to work with).  The cake is perfectly moist and quite light for a chocolate cake- there’s no butter in it, the primary liquids/oils were water, canola oil, and sour cream.  Then there’s a cream cheese-peanut butter frosting.  I’m not a huge fan of cream cheese icing, but you couldn’t even distinguish the flavor, really, it was only salty-sweet, fluffy, and peanut-buttery!  I went pretty light on the frosting and had some leftover- did a crumb coat, which worked great and allowed me to use less overall.  On top is the peanut butter chocolate ganache- that was the most fun, dumping warm ganache on a cool cake…. Well, the cake was a success, judging by the complete silence from my dad’s end of the table as he devoured his slice in short order.  Honestly, if you like the chocolate/peanut butter combo you have to try this recipe.  Follow it to the letter and you will not be disappointed.