More Sticky Chewy November 18, 2009

In the last week I’ve made two new recipes from the Sticky Chewy Messy Gooey cookbook.  Both awesome of course.   Double Crumble Hot Apple pies I made for my baby bro’s 17th birthday.  It’s a crisp and a pie– the best of  both worlds.  PLUS it’s double the crisp, which is always how I prefer it.  I even burned the top layer of crisp and had to pick it off, and still there was plenty.  I think I’m going to make another for craft night tomorrow night, just so I can experience it with full crisp.  No pictures unfortunately.  OH I and drizzled caramel sauce on it too.

I did however get a pic of the Rich Risotto Rice Pudding, which was close to my favorite so far.  I love the ultra rich chocolate desserts, but rich and creamy milk with real vanilla bean?  Oh yes.  I also used the other half of the caramel sauce drizzled on this, topped with a dollop of homemade whipped cream.  The picture does not even come close to giving you an idea:

Bread Baking November 12, 2009

Just thought I’d rave some more about this cookbook. The above bread is  100% wholewheat and flax flour.   No white!   No dense healthy bread here.

October Update November 2, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things have been a little crazy here– things happy and sad.  I’ve needed a little break, but I’ll try to make up for it this week!  Beware a horde of posts!

Outside:  Our yard is covered in a foot of leaves all around.  That is going to take a lot of raking.  Maybe I should hire my little (6 foot tall) brother.

In My Kitchen:  Baked the master recipe on Saturday from my awesome new cookbook. There is seriously absolutely no reason to not have homemade bread every single day anymore.  Even if you’ve never baked bread before in your life.  Revolutionary.   I also made the pumpkin cake pictured above from Cooking Light.  YUM.

I am wearing: flip flops, jeans, cotton shirt, and sweater jacket.  What can I say– I love flip flops.

Can’t Wait For:  Taking the kids to the zoo tomorrow with friends.

Current Read:  Just finished a couple books including Jane Austen Ruined My Life.   Now I’m just reading A History of Christianity, which I’ve actually been working on for a while.  It’s interesting, but hard to compete with Fiction.

I am hoping: That I’m not getting a cold.  I’ve been sneezing since last night.  Also, to get a lot of sewing done this week.

Around the house:  Picking up the pieces from our busy weekend– see previous slideshow.  Plus, GG’s party was here.

Simple Pleasures: My kids playing nicely together… I think that just ended.  I’m trying to get the kids to wait until 1 for naptime, but daylight savings is messing that up.

Plans for the Weekend:   Having some neighbors over for dinner, which we’ve been wanting to do for a while.  Not sure what else yet.

Family Update:  My parents are adopting two children.  So, looks like I’m the oldest of 6 now.   And we’re REALLY spread out now. hehe.  28 (should I stop admitting my age at this point?), 26, 20, 17, 13, and 11.   And my first sister (besides the in-laws that feel as close as real sisters anyway– we even fight every once in a while–hehe).

Lillian: Has been a little crabby lately (for her), and so I’ve been carrying her a lot. I guess my back is getting strong.   She’s very attached to her red rain boots, and wears them around the house all the time.  She makes a beautiful fall ballerina.

Brendan: says he is Lillian’s hero.  At least when he is dressed up as Batman.  He’s really into Kung Fu Fighting right now.  And coloring a lot.

House: Lots of half done projects (that’s being generous).  Maybe someday they’ll be done?

Long Overdue September 30, 2009

An  Update!  Thanks to Facebook I hardly ever do these anymore.

Outside: I’m stilling harvesting tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini, jalapenos, herbs, and peppers from the garden.   I don’t know how much time I have left, but I’ll enjoy it while I can.  On Saturday my Grandma and I took the kids to the Red Barn Farm up in Weston.  We took a horse drawn hayride out to the huge pumpkin patch and picked a pumpkin to bring home.  I also picked out a pretty white one from the ones they had sitting out.  Fun times.  I have some Martha Stewart plans for them, so maybe I’ll be sharing a pic soon.

In My Kitchen:  Still working my way through the Sticky Gooey cookbook.  Last Saturday was my nephew’s and little foster “brother’s” birthday party.  So, I made the banana bread pudding.  Didn’t get a picture of course, but I’ll just tell you– delicious!  I also tried a cookie recipe from the latest “Everyday Food” magazine.  I used their caramel recipe (which was awesome and fairly easy) to make the icing that was sandwiched between two chocolate cookies.  I’m sticking with that caramel recipe from now on.  Not bothering with the lesser one in Sticky Gooey.  Amazing– I have a criticism of my favorite cookbook.   Sometimes Martha just knows better. OH YEAH. I’m very excited about the new book: Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids!!!!

I am wearing: I went for a jog/walk with the kids in the double stroller, and now need to get in the shower.  So, I’m wearing my jogging shoes, navy pants, and aqua tank top.

Can’t Wait For:  Tomorrow nights date night with C– he has free tickets to see Zombieland.    I’m a sucker for Zombie movies, and this one looks really funny.

Current Read: Kristin Lavransdatter is the only one I should admit to.  But I already talked about zombies so why not Mr. Darcy, Vampyre too. lol.

I am hoping: To start feeling good enough to keep up with my house.  Today.    I think it’s been like a month since I felt good. bleh.

Around the house:  See above.

Simple Pleasures: Cinnamon rolls.  Sunny days.  Wee kisses.

Plans for the Weekend:   Maybe a school carnival and a neighbor’s birthday party.

Family Update:  C and I just celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.  (see pic above)  I would put an after pic too, but I wouldn’t like it so close to the before pic. lol.

Lillian: getting lots of teeth and new words suddenly.

Brendan: has improved tremendously on handwriting and coloring (staying in the lines) just in the last month.

House: C is chugging away at the kitchen and bathroom remodel.  Slow work.  We have had some helpers lately though.  I have hope it may someday be done. ::)

Summertime June 17, 2009

Good things:

Strawberry Cake

Flowers (these ones are from Chad).

Not so good:

Poison Ivy.  This is not even the half of it.  *Whine*!

More Yummies June 10, 2009

Belatedly, here is the other dessert I made for C’s b-day.  He did get two birthday parties after all.  This ultra-rich dessert was, of course, from my favorite cookbook.  Why bother with any other, really?  This is a super chocolatey brownie cupcake, vanilla icecream, and a whiskey caramel sauce.  Now I’m craving them.  You should all really buy this cookbook.    And I should get paid for all the advertising (to my 3 readers).

C’s Birthday June 1, 2009

There was a lot going on in my kitchen over the weekend, thanks to C having his birthday.  These pics are from the family party we had for him on Sunday evening.  In the mixing bowl is the spicy sweet and sour chicken, eggrolls from Sams, then two different kinds of long life noodles.  One with Buckwheat and one with lo mein pasta.  Plus, I made egg drop soup.  All of it turned out good considering I’ve hardly made any chinese before (mostly just stir fries).

To top off the evening– Banana Bomb!!  Layers: banana cake, chocolate swirl icecream, pistachio almond, chocolate banana ganache, vanilla, semisweet chocolate, and almonds!  Yum!  This came from one of my Martha Stewart magazines.  I was browsing through some that a friend gave me, and I knew I had to make this for C!  Glad I did too.

Car “Cake” May 5, 2009

This year B’s cake was made of rice crispies/captain crunch crispies, and candy.  Actually a lot faster than a cake made and decorated from scratch.  I got the idea from Martha of course.

The theme was dinosaur hotwheels, which he selected in December.   He has a good memory.

Advertising April 1, 2009

Just wanted to let everyone who might be going to the FCA Spagetti Dinner on Friday night to look out for your very own chance to finally try one of the recipes from Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey that I’m always going on about on this blog (although I can’t find a pic of the cupcakes, even though I made them before).  And, if all goes well, you are not going to want to miss the “Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cupcakes with Caramel-Butterscotch Buttercream Frosting”.  So, be on the look out!  hehe

A Late “Happy Valentines Day!” February 16, 2009

We’ve had a super busy Valentines weekend.  Date night, birthday party for my brother who came home from college, meeting the new girlfriend, lots of games with the fam.  Above is a pic of the brownie cupcakes I made for him curtesy of Martha.   I used the same icing recipe on the sugar cookies I made at Christmas time.

The results were quite good. Time to sing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Light” to Brendan for bed…