Happy New Year!

A new year has arrived. I hope that this one will be better for everyone. I wish you all health, happiness and peace. Tomorrow will be the first New Years Day that I won't be at work in 16 years. Somehow I think I will be wanting to go to work to clean up from the post Christmas mess.

Baking Frenzy for the Fall

Couldn't stop myself today. I started the morning with a freshly brewed cup of coffee, compliments of the hubby. Mom is coming for dinner tonight for the poor mans chicken parm and pasta dinner. If you wonder what that is....imagine precooked, breaded chicken patties, melt some mozzarella cheese over it and pour on the Ragu. A side of spaghetti , and a tossed pre packaged salad.....wah lah dinner is done!

So I feel guilty that it is my day off and I'm taking the easy way out for dinner....hence the baking frenzy. I started with some dense chocolate cookies, Mayan Surprise. Easy to mix up, frig them while you mix up the lemon sugar cookies. Next a quick melting of chocolate with the addition of cream, espresso powder, Kahlua, and cinnamon....the truffle mix now joins the cookie mixes in the frig.

After whipping up the chocolate pumpkin pie for dessert tonight and popping it into the oven, I quickly make a delicious vanilla muffin batter for the mini vanilla muffins.

Dessert took a little longer to bake then I thought it would...by the way it is a vegetarian dessert....no eggs. Anyways, once it was done the muffins baked up in no time followed by the two cookie mixes.

You may wonder why a woman that can complete all these dishes in 5 hours, along with cleaning the living room and washing 3 sink fulls of dishes isn't more organized at several aspects of her career....so do I. I like to think that the kitchen is my therapy couch.

The next question you may have is....will you eat all of those treats? NO! I have to be able to get out the door and into my little VW folks. My associates that work for me at Macy's will be the recipients of these delicious bites of joy.

OK the recipes

Vanilla Muffins

1 1/2 cups flour Sift the dry ingredients together and sit aside

3/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup butter or margarine Whip butter and add vanilla, mix until lightened in color,

2 tsps vanilla extract about a minute. Add the sugar in four additions and mix

1 cup granulated sugar 1 minute. Scrape the bowl and add the eggs one at a time

2 large eggs

1/2 sour cream Add the flour mixture alternating with the sour cream and

blend just till mixed.

Portion the dough into muffin tins lined with muffin papers. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp of sugar on top of each muffin. Bake 350 degrees for 23-25 minutes.

Lemon Crisps

1 1/2 cups flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/8 tsp salt

Mix together

2 small lemons

5 tbls butter

1/2 c granulated sugar

1 large egg seperated

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Grate the lemons directly into the mixing bowl and squeeze out 3 Tbls of juice and set aside.

(Hint...if you nuke the lemon in the microwave for 10 seconds, you'll get more juice)

Add the butter to the zest and beat till combines. Add the sugar a little at a time. Add the egg yolk only and half of the flour mixture. Blend then add the lemon juice, vanilla, and rest of flour. Beat till combined. Shape dough into an 8 inch roll and wrap in plastic wrap...frig it for at least 3 hours. Preheat the oven 350 degrees. Line 2 Cookie tray with parchment or silpat. Slice the roll of dough into 40 slices. Brush the tops with the egg white that you beat with 1/4 tsp of water. Sprinkle a little sugar on the tops and bake 8 tp 10 minutes.

Mayan Surprise Cookies

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp fresh gound black pepper The surprise!!!!!!!

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

semi sweet chocolate bits

Cream the butter and sugar together. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and blend together. Add the egg and vanilla and mix just till batter becomes uniform. Frig it for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven 350 degrees...or if your like me that old oven has been on for hours:)

Using your hands roll the spponfuls into balls the width of a quarter. Tuck a few chocolate bits on top and bake for 10 minutes on a silpat lined cookie sheet.

Chocolate Pumpkin dessert

Melt 4 oz of bittersweet chocolate first.

To the cooled chocolate add:

1 cup pumpkin

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup oil

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cocoa

1 Tbls cornstarch

1/4 tso baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

Mix this and spread it in a 9 inch springform pan that you have sprayed with cooking spray, spread it into the edges.

pumkin layer

1 cup pumpkin

2 Tbls cornstarch

1/2 c soymilk

1/3 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp ginger

1/4 tsp cinnamon

pinch of nutmeg and pinch of allspice

Mix together and por over brownie crust, but try to keep away for the edge. BAke in 350 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes till fairly firm and cracked at edges a bit. Cool for 20 minutes and then put in the frig at least 1 1/2 hours before serving. Sprinkly choc bits on top when you serve.

Okay... I'm pooped! Bye for now......Enjoy the treats!

A few days off. I watch the leaves turn to gold and red, falling to the ground. I am in the mood for pumpkins and spice. I tried a new vegan cookie recipe this morning.

Ginger Molasses Cookies

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

blend together and sit aside

3/4 c maple syrup, grade B not that Aunt J stuff

1/4 c molasses

1/2 c applesauce

mix together and add to dry ingredients. Stir to blend and add 5 Tbl fresh grated ginger....

Now I didn't have 5 Tblsp worth so I grated up the 2 Tblsp that I did have and added dry ginger, about 2 tsps to the mix too.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes on a slightly greased cookie sheet (silpat is awesome)

coolc for about a minute on the sheet then move to cooling rack.

Tomorrow it is back to work. And I will wait patiently for another day off.

Short story posted at Goodreads.com

Hey I have a spot at goodreads.com I list books that I have read and have begun posting writings there. Check it out and leave your comments.

vacation 09

I FOUND THE BIGGEST CONCH EVER AT MYRTLE BEACH!!!!!!!!!!

JOHN AND I IN THE EVENING AT THE BEACH

We saved and scrimped for two years, and finally we stimulated the economy and returned to Myrtle Beach. Shell searching and long walks on the beach were in order for the week. We tried to hit the beach early every morning, but someone was always on the beach before us! These people get up earlier here now. We spent our mornings on the beach, returning to the condo at noon, the time our daughter and her friend were getting up to go to the pool, then spent our evenings out playing putt putt, going to movies, out to eat, or shopping. Saw the funniest t shirts at the Stupid Factory.....come to the darkside we have cookies!

We explored more this time, just driving around. Had dinner at The Melting Pot one evening. Our waiter, Drew, was great. John jokingly said that he couldn't believe that he spent 200.00 for dinner and had to cook it himself.

We walked from our condo to the Apache Pier. Not bad when we started out, but 1 1/2 miles each way through crowds and hot sand makes it seem a lot longer of a walk.

As we walked through the downtown Myrtle Beach....tourist trap central, I laughed.... we are walking with our daughter and her friend , Brooke, and these unsavory type young males make a comment as they walk by....something to the effect of "Hey, How ya doin?". Of course the girls were in shopping mode and completely ignored them, but boy my husband who was a few steps behind the girls, in his toughest tone replied...."their doin just fine". I laughed as we walked by because these guys were shocked that the DAD was right there.

Shell seeking was ocd and time consuming. I know that I should have been looking up at the shore and the ocean, but the treasures on the sand interest me so much more. However I discovered that after a few days of bringing back shells, and my family began to bring them to me that they found! I trained them well!!!!!

Leaving on vacation Friday. Myrtle Beach bound. Shell seeking, ocean watching and sunning as much as possible. Will post vacation pics when I return.

Ahhhhh sunshine

Spring has finallly gotten to Ohio. Before the rain today I managed to go for a run/walk to drop off the water payment ( 2 miles ish), dig up daffodils that were and have been too crowded and buried to deep for too many years, passed some to my lovely neighbor lady, got a touch of heat stroke ( just really hot from digging, you know, bright red face, whoozey feeling, and everything is tinged in yellow), cooled down in the house, baked vanilla and chocolate chip scones that I forgot to put baking powder in, so they didn't raise, and spent sometime just relaxing in the fresh air and got a touch of sun.

Back to work tomorrow. Whoopee!

Age and ages

Just finished a week of vacation with very little baking involved. I spent my week getting ready for a single day garage sale. Saturday my family had some bonding time from 8 to 1. Mother Nature was backing us....she didn't start her downpour of rain until 1:15, love her!!!!

Cleared enough to almost pay for the rental car that takes us to Myrtle Beach on the next vacation. Not bad for a bunch of stuff the john said was junk and no one would buy. I thing he is a believer.

Had tests done this week and results are in.... no celiac disease, but cholesteral is moderately high. Not to interested in managing it with meds like the doctor wants, will try to lower with diet and walking.

Back to work tomorrow but as the finale of vacation, I get to go to dinner with my daughter and several of her clasmates for French class at Chez Francios.

forever, I swear that I haven't had any chance to blog. What have I tried to cook lately? An absolutely, hands down, fabulous lemon raspberry scone that little sis says is way to refined of a flavor to share with her husband, and I made Meena's lemon rice....which my husband and I both enjoyed. Today I tried a grilled chicken breast with a chimichurri sauce with roasted potatoes. The sauce was so good that John and I were dipping our potatoes in it. Tomorrow I will try a crock pot version of fajitas.

I feel sorry for my daughter, Meghan. Yes she may be enjoying the sun and warm temperatures in Florida for spring break.... but she is missing some really great taste sensations.

No pictures of what I have experimented recently.... I'll post them the next time... we ate everything to quickly. Tee Hee!!!!

What's your opinion on the Guardisil vaccination? I am torn. Do I get the set for Meg or not? Lots of information out there has shown that the shots have some very serious side effects. Scary stuff.

Back to work

I returned to work Monday. Time becomes limited for my trial and error experiences in the kitchen. I thought that I would be waiting till June for my next vacation which will be a traveling one so the opportunities to bake are few and far between when Myrtle Beach's shoreline beckons, when what to my wondering eyes should appear....but a vacation log sheet that shows I have one in the middle of May!!!!! Whoa Hoo!!!!!!



A few people at work now know that I have this site so I will try to be politically correct in my views of work and workplace stuff. If I should say something that you don't understand, please note that I vent in many ways but.....I really and truly love my job and all the people that I work with. My motto has and will always be that I AM AN ACTRESS AND MY LIFE IS MY STAGE..... hope you like the show and remember that any extra cash I earn comes from the generous tips you wonderful people will drop in my cake pan as you leave, Hee Hee!



The one disappointment I encountered today was that as I returned to work from lunch I thought that a wonderful finish to the ham and cheese that I had to eat in a wheat hotdog bun( let's just say that I was rushing home on lunch and grabbed the first bread item I could find) would be a butterfinger quake from the pretzel place at the mall. Oh horrors!!! They were out of butterfinger pieces. Had to settle for a twist of chocolate and vanilla soft-serve instead.

Maple Oatmeal Scones and a sad goodbye

Today I tweaked a recipe for maple oatmeal scones. Here it is:

Preheat your oven to 425

Mix together
1 egg yolk, save egg white to brush on top of scones before baking
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tbls pure maple syrup (none of that Aunt Jemima stuff)
set aside

In food processor mix
1 1/2 c flour
1/4 c old fashioned oats (there I go being sneaky with the healthy grains)
2 tsp cornstarch
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c sugar, white
process to blend than add
6 Tbls unsalted butter, cold and cut into chunks
process to cut butter in, about 7 -9 pulses

add your liquid mixture and process just till blended and dough comes together, not too much.

Turn this out onto a floured silpat and knead 4-5 times. Form a circle about 6-7 inches in diameter and about 1 1/2 inches high. Cut this disc like a pie into 8 triangles and put these on a silpat lined cookie tray, (I swear by silpat....nothing sticks to this stuff!!!!!)

Brush tops with beaten egg white you saved at beginning and then sprinkle tops with demerara cane sugar crystals.

Bake for 15-18 minutes till golden brown. Cool on wire rack and enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea.

Just the right sweetness to take off the edge of sadness as we bid farewell for a time to our adopted son Ross. Okay, we didn't actually adopted Ross, he is the son of close family friends. His mom and dad have been friends with my husband since school days. Ross has spent many nights with us for dinner, helping John work on cars or clean garage, and tease and torment Meghan like a big brother does.

He leaves this afternoon for boot camp as he begins 6 years with the US Navy. We will miss him tremendously but wish him well on his quest to become a diver. Can't wait for him to finish all his training so that we will be able to stay in touch with the internet.... until then his laughter and quick smiles will be what we think of. Take care of this wonderful young man Uncle Sam and please keep him safe.

cooking experiences for today

Tropical Paradise scones

1 1/2 plus 2Tbls of flour

1/4 plus 2 tsp sugar

2 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1/3 c coconut

Mix the above together than add

2/3 c of white chocolate chips and macadamia pieces

fluff this than you add

1/2 c heavy cream

1/2 c lime juice

1 tsp lime zest, grated

roll( I pat with my hands) on a well floured silpat pad and cut with a biscuit cutter (see hint below)

put on another silpat lined cookie sheet and brush top with melted butter and dust with sugar.

Bake in 375 degree preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned around edges.

Cool on rack.

HINT: If you don't have a biscuit cutter, I use a small tin can that I removed the top and bottom lids and washed well. Tuna cans stink but the tomatoe sauce ones don't smell.

As I tasted the scone (a good cook always tastes their work before the masses get their hands on them.....sometimes its the only taste I get:) it was not too sweet and the lime flavor comes through in the after taste. I'll keep it a secret that there is any coconut in it..... my family doesn't really care for it, but hey, if their not allergic(which they aren't) what they don't know won't hurt them.

Coconut isn't the only food ingredients that I sneak into my dishes. I'll use brown rice in place of white and whole wheat pasta for casseroles. Call it my contribution at improving their health.

I also rolled my truffles today. I mixed up a new flavor, white chocolate lemon truffle that I will roll in toasted crushed pecans tomorrow.

I am blessed with a family that loves to try new flavors, nothing has been listed as off limits so far with the exception of 3 things, liver and onions, corned beef, and sushi.....all because I won't fix them....too distastful for me.

I'm now on an India-inspired quest. I have a friend at the store, Meena M., that will bring me in the most awesome vegetarian dishes from her indian background and let me tell you, after one smell I was in love. The spices, the colors, the heat flavor.....oh my I can't wait to try to make some at home. Meena was so sweet.... one day I asked for a recipe for my daughter to make one of her dishes for school (they were studying India) and Meena not only gave me the recipe but also brought me in the cumin seeds for the dish. Now I need to reciprocate with something that a strict vegatarian can enjoy. Any suggestions for a baker like me?

I realize this pic has nothing to do with my day but I thought I would post me and my husband , John, on the bike riding for the Teddy Bear Run for Firelands Hospital and Fischer Titus Hospital last year. I don't spend my entire life in the kitchen. I do get out and have fun.

Today I made raspberry scones, ok if you can get past the pink color. The recipe called for raspberry syrup which changed the color of the dough to bright pink. I did add some white chocolate chips to the dough and sprinkled sugar on top before baking, sugar freak that I am, plus my addicition to chocolate always makes me look for ways to add some extra to baked goods. I also mixed up the base for cappuchino truffles and fire/ice truffles. I will try a lemon pecan scone tomorrow.

Chocolate chip cookies for my husband, John, tonight. He is feeling under the weather and really needs some pampering and special care. I've tried so many different recipes for these, even one that you add a small box of instant pudding, but I think I will bake the recipe on the back of the bag.

cranberry scones

The Cape Cod Cranberry scones were very good. But I think that I may have chopped the cranberries up to much. Next time I will leave some whole so that they will cook and explode in the scone.

Tomorrow I take my mother to visit her aunt in Bluffton. Chance of rain, hope it is a small chance. May need to stop at Deitches(sp) for a treat while passing through Findlay.

Going to try the cinnamon praline scone on Thursday. I will also be making cappuchino truffles and fire n ice truffles. Got to spoil my selling specialist at the store, it's specialist appreciation week and I plan on bringing treats to them every day with the exception of Sunday.

Week ending 3/21/09

Ah vacation at last! While it will be spent around the house and locally, it still is a break from work. Daughter is is school doing practice tests for the OGT, husband in at work and I have a full cupboard for baking scones and making truffles plus a stack of new books to read from the library. Life doesn't get much better than this. I baked a white chocolate lemon shortbread cookie yesterday. It is crisp, lemony with a surprise of sweet chocolate......delicious. I need to take some to my mom and her aunt, they will enjoy them.

This is the week that I am committed to starting my walking again and to trying new recipes. I had to laugh yesterday as I thought "Didn't I just do all the dirty dishes? Why do I have half the sink full of them again? " Then I realized that my kitchen is a kitchen that an amateur cook/baker lives in. There will always be dirty dishes. I can live with that. Cooking and baking help me release my stress, it's the way that I show my family how much I love them, and it opens up new worlds that I may never see but I can taste.

This week I plan on making cappuchino truffles, maple syrup scones, chocolate chip scones (for my little sister....she loves them) and to try a few recipes for dinners for my family like a sweet buffalo wing night. Last night was Stuffed Taco Pasta Shells, which we all love. We had a dear friend, more like an adopted son, over for dinner last night. Ross has enlisted in the Navy and leaves for basic training next week. We will miss him so much, Ross is always in a great mood and quick to smile. He helped us teach Meghan how to ride a dirt bike and how to play eucher.
I hope that he will be safe and keep in touch with us.

SCONES SCONES SCONES

I am on a mission to master the scone. Doesn't sound to hard, does it, but I have baked some that are delicious and some not so...... I googled scones and came up with a site that lists sones of just about every flavor so why not try each recipe. I started with one that I had the ingredients on hand, banana macadamia, these came out a little rubbery, not flaky like the chocolate chip scones that my little sister begs me to make for her.

I'll be trying Cape Cod Cranberry Saturday.

I can't believe how much time it takes to keep up on a blog. Geez! I am writing while watching tv and have to say that those Banner Mattress commercials really irritate me with that annoying back ground noise in it. It sounds like my cell vibrating and I keep checking to see if any one is calling me, only to realize its that commercial AGAIN!!!!

Survivors on..... haven't seen any sodes yet so..... got to go