Category Archives: baking

Nov26

Plugging away

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Seems like I’m moving in slow motion today (Tuesday). All I managed to do was clear off the coffee table in the family room and move some stuff around in the basement trying to find a box for the below named gift. The box I found was not that great, but I added some stickers and pretty gray pearl tissue paper to it inside-much better. I did make a spaghetti dinner and some banana chocolate chip coffeecake (pictured below). My main thing tonight was watching the finale of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ (I won’t say who won for west coast readers). That is one awesome show to watch in HD. I sat and went through the Lakeside.com huge Christmas catalog and ordered about 19 things, a few things for most of the people on my list (and me to save Bri). I did order these to split up with mom. I have to hop over to Amazon (probably on Friday) and order a few things for Sean. I will then hit Wally World and Tuesday Morning and call it a holi’day’-hopefully. : )
No word from mom yet. I so hate disagreements!

siggie

Mar23

Birthday boys and Easter

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Nephew and Brian 12/24, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

This was taken in late December, but my nephew turns 12 today and Brian has a birthday on Monday!

Here’s the cake I made for Brian, it’s devil’s food with vanilla icing and I think a festive Easter look. : ) I used colored sugars (they sell them in a little set) and malted milk eggs.

Brian’s birthday cake

We went to church last night for their 2 hour vigil mass with candles, darkness, let their be light, baptism and confirmation! I needed some ice cream afterwards.

Off in a few to my uncle’s house. I am making scalloped potatoes and a pineapple/bread side my late mother-in-law use to make. I never made it before, but found the recipe on the internet.

Happy Easter to all!

Dec23

Love/hate cookie baking

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I do love making cookies but not when I’m baking down to the wire for a major holiday. I actually went to the grocery store-again!-with Bri so he could get some cheeses and meats for his dad. Every year we give him a food basket. When I got home, I got started on the lemon squares. I had let the butter sit out too long and the bottom part was like icing instead of crumbly. They came out good, but the lemon part separated from the bottom part. I have them really squeezed into a tin, so maybe the two parts will meet again. I also did the macadamia orange cookies and they are delicious! I just assembled a nice variety of cookies in a Chinese take-out container for Mr. Mailman and stuck it in a Christmas Glad bag and out it went to the mailbox. I’ve done that as long as I can remember-cookies for about 4 different carriers now.

I was sitting here thinking that I should make cookies a few times a month and freeze them to have. That way I could try different ones and pick the best for Christmas.

Well off to relax a bit. I was going to tidy up more, but ended up in the bedroom tidying up my clothes-whew-it looked like a cyclone hit!

I slept really well last night as I wasn’t cold for a change! We have some balmy weather and it makes it nicer for sleeping. Someday we will replace the door in the basement that has glass panels in it (that leads to the steps and metal doors) that is directly under our bedroom. It’s cold in the winter!

Congrats to my friend Barbara on the arrival on her new son Arden. Not sure if he was born on the 21st or 22nd. Her husband left a message in her comments yesterday and that’s all we know. Can’t wait to see a photo of him!

Dec21

Making this the quiet day

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Now 6 kinds of cookies is a lot and I can’t believe I want to make 2 more kinds! I must have lemon bars. And then there is the one with those expensive macadamia nuts. I need a breather though. I just can’t do anymore standing on my feet for a day or so. I can’t forget I had that dang procedure only 3.2 weeks ago!

The cookies with the caramel sauce were really sticky and I had to let them set up in the frig. And then I used cheap-o aluminum foil-don’t use that. I have to sit down and make sure the cut bars don’t have tiny pieces stuck to them. I had some in my mouth-I was lucky I don’t have many metal fillings left in there! : )

<—Go check out Alexis Stewart’s cookies and candies on either her mom’s blog or her ‘Whatever’ blog! She really goes to town with some extraordinary treats and packaging! She obviously only makes them and doesn’t eat them-skinny! I sample mine to make sure they are good. That’s usually enough for me until I want a cup of cocoa or tea…and a cookie!

Sean is coming home in the afternoon. His big present came today. I can’t say what it is as I’m getting mom the same thing and hers didn’t come, though hers has an accessory. If you want to guess in my comments what these are, go ahead. Think Longwood Gardens…..or any neat place…..

I have a list here:

Christmas stuff in the bedroom-need to go through stuff I purchased last year at then JoAnn’s sale.

Tidy up near sofa, eBay box and bookcase area (yes, books are on the floor too). The sofa area is doable-not sure of the other places. See all these books? They are the ones I had to move back in September. I think I could have hurt myself doing this.

Full bookcase!

What’s sad is that one full shelf is all Christmas books-crafts, decorations, those lovely Southern Living ones, and I didn’t open one of them this year. Not to say I won’t during the next year when I want to do more crafting!

Next on the list:

Finish cookies (not today!)

Fudge-takes 5 minutes. I just read that someone makes it the way I do, on the stove, and they whip it before pouring it in the pan! I’ll have to find their post about that again.

Christmas card for a family from our church who was concerned about me and the procedure. I was really touched that they sent me a card.

Bows on gifts-I told you why.

And I forgot to put my mini Belsnickle Santas out! I have to see if their display case can be hung up. I don’t have a ton of table space.

Thanks to all who commented on my decorations. I looked at 100 blogs-no wonder my eyes are tired-and I didn’t see any other snowbabies-yet.

Check out my ‘board of fame’-family, friends, Make A Child Smile kids and their thank you notes, pictures I like, postcards, my 30th reunion name tag! Can you spot the first photo of Bri and me taken in one of those photo booths (on the boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ)?

Ribbon board

Try to take it easy!

Dec20

Winding down

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Ever have a busy day and you know you should be getting shut eye, but the adrenaline just keeps pumping? I am getting there, very tired and yawning. Wednesday I made 4 kinds of cookies-Butter flavored Crisco Chocolate Chips (the best recipe), 7 layer cookies (from a box mix-so skimpy, I’ll make more), Russian Tea cakes and last but not least, Rum Raisin Cheesecake squares. Two were in a pan, so not too hard to make. My CCs are a little brown, I swear the first batch gets that way. Today I’m trying new recipes…involving ice cream caramel sauce, macadamia nuts, peanuts and peanut butter cookie dough-not in one cookie recipe! I have a ton of Reese’s peanut butter cups I should sub for Hershey kisses in that blossom recipe.

I’ve been watching ‘Clash of the Choirs’ as I’ve been in so many. It would have been awesome to be in the Patti LaBelle one! I sing soprano, but I can sing lower if I wanted to. : )

Wish my friend Barbara well, she may be welcoming her little kiddle into the world today! Good luck!

Oct8

2 figure ‘8’s and I don’t mean ice skating!

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Another very warm day through most of the country. I didn’t even venture out.

But look what I found last night when I was watering my flowers (yes still doing that because they still look fairly decent):

2 cukes

Very unusual to be still getting veggies in October! But Bri just piped in that he planted these late. We still have a few tomatoes clinging to the vine. I’d like to make some green fried tomatoes, but I didn’t feel like picking them the same time I got the cukes.

We had whole wheat spaghetti and turkey meatballs. The Classico spaghetti sauce was the three mushroom kind-very good. And after dinner I make a quick Pillsbury pumpkin bread:

Pumpkin bread

My sister-in-law is doing my hair tomorrow, so I’ll take them a loaf for their dinner. These are the mini loaf pans.

And it was about 88 degrees today! Unbelievable!

Oct5

Holiday Cooking Recipe exchange

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Holiday Cooking
I was invited to participant in this again, thanks Overwhelmed with Joy! Here’s my post from last year. I’m going to post a real winner first. Thanks Bisquick!

Melt-in-your-mouth pancakes (they really do!)

2 Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 eggs

1. Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat or electric griddle to 375°F; grease with cooking spray, vegetable oil or shortening. (Surface is ready when a few drops of water sprinkled on it dance and disappear.)
2. Stir all ingredients until blended. Pour by slightly less than 1/4 cupfuls onto hot griddle.
3. Cook until edges are dry. Turn; cook until golden. To keep warm, place in single layer on cookie sheet. Cover with aluminum foil, and place in 200°F oven up to 10 minutes.
(Total time will vary; cook or bake time is per batch.)
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Decrease baking powder to 1 teaspoon.Makes 14 pancakes
*breakfast* *dessert*

My father-in-law must have his coleslaw with his holiday meals

Tangy-Creamy Coleslaw
1/2 (16 ounce) jar coleslaw dressing
1/4 cup dill pickle juice
1/ teaspoon celery seeds
1 small cabbage, coarsely grated or finely chopped
1 large carrot, coarsely grated or finely chopped
Stir together first 3 ingredients. Add cabbage and carrot; toss to coat. Chill 1 hour. Serve with slotted spoon. 6-8 servings
*salad* *side*

Good for breakfast on Christmas morning:

Bacon and Cheese Strata

6 slices bacon
2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard with seeds
12 slices firm white bread
1.5 cups shredded Gruyere cheese (or Swiss)
9 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 tsp.salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
Cook bacon in the microwave on doubled paper towels and cover with single paper towel. Cook until brown and crisp-3 minutes and let stand 5 minutes. Crumble coarsely.
Grease 9″ x 13″ ceramic or glass baking dish.
Spread mustard on 1 side of each bread slice (to me this is a lot of mustard). Arrange 6 slices mustard side up, in the baking dish, cutting to fit. Sprinkle with half the cheese. Top with 2 Tbsp of bacon, then remaining bread slices mustard side up.
Beat eggs, milk, salt and pepper in a large bowl with a wire whisk until blended. Slowly pour the egg mixture all over the bread slices; press bread down to help absorb eggs. You may have to spoon the eggs on the uncoated bread. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes, or cover and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat over to 350. Bake strata 40 minutes or until puffed and golden and knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving. Serves 8.
*breakfast* *side*

This is the most tried and true recipe this year, though I have made the others too.

Microwave Oven Peanut Brittle

1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 pinch salt
1 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
Directions:
Grease a baking sheet and set aside. In a glass bowl, combine peanuts, sugar, corn syrup and salt. Cook in microwave for 6-7 minutes on High (700w) Will be HOT; mixture should be bubbly and peanuts browned. Stir in butter and vanilla. cook 2-3 minutes longer.
Quickly stir in baking soda, just until mixture is foamy. Pour immediately onto greased baking sheet. Let cool for 15 minutes or until set. Break into pieces and store in an airtight container.
Makes one pound. Great for a gift.
*candy*

Aug30

Almost 9 months

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Well I finally went to see my Uncle Don at his house after all that time. He definitely is more frail and uses his walker all the time. But in the time I was there, he got up several times and I offered to get his glasses for him or whatever, and he wouldn’t let me! My mom came right before I left to spend the night. I brought him some Beach Plum Jam from Fenwick Island, DE and some Dunkin Donuts. His housekeeper was there and was busy most of the time, but left about a half hour before she should have. I suggested that he have her run to the store or wash bedspreads, etc. to keep her busy for the $22 an hour she gets.

Not much new. I did make the 7 layer squares-(not cookies-opps) so I could ship them to Sean tomorrow. I couldn’t get the ground up graham cracker crumbs as they are usually available over the holidays. I ground up some in the Cuisinart. That was the hardest part. I am taking photos and will post them. Here is the recipe from a previous post. I noticed they call them ‘cookies’ and this isn’t the recipe I use. I bake them at 325 for 30 minutes. 6 of one, half dozen of another!

The main ingredients-not shown- the 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon of butter
Main ingredients
Ready to bake-the final ingredient-sweet condensed milk!
Ready to bake
An essential tool, my Graham Kerr cutter. Did anyone else love to watch ‘The Galloping Gourmet’ in the ’70s?
Essential tool
The finished bars, packed and ready to add to Sean’s first goodie box from home. : ) I’ll add the original shot to Flickr so you can see the recipe there. I made enough to freeze a small container for another time.Ready for the goodie box!

Before I went to my uncle’s house, I listed a few items on eBay, the first since May! I’m trying to get earn a little pocket money. I plan to go through craft books to find Halloween things to make and sell on etsy.

Jun9

Photo Hunt-Shoes

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PSHunt
Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

Ruby slippers
I found and bought these in Target or a similar store years ago because they reminded me of Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz. Here my little niece loves Oz too and I promised these to her when she can fit into them. In December, she tried them on again and they were still too large, so she kept them here.
The next photo is of an apple coffeecake I made for my company from New York who should be here shortly. We tasted it and it’s good! It has Activa vanilla yogurt in it as I didn’t have plain yogurt.
Apple coffee cake