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Showing posts with label Good Eats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Good Eats. Show all posts

Friday, 17 December 2010

Friday - the swirl on the cupcake

We learned to make a swirl on top of a cup cake this week in our cake decorating class.

Now on to the Friday Fill-Ins hosted by Janet from Fond of Snape Blog
If you would like to play along, just click on the image below.


So...here we go!


1. What in the world was the culprit that triggered this wicked migraine today? 

2. I like organic turkeys that are plump and well fed.

3. Go to a loved one right now and tell them how much you appreciate and cherish them(GO! I'll wait for you to get back to read the rest of my fill-ins)

4. After a visit with my doctor this morning, she sent me straight home to bed.

5. I keep on top of my chores around they house especially around the holidays just in case someone unexpectedly stops by for a visit.

6. I stood on the front step tonight, and look up to gaze at the millions of icy flakes falling from the sky.  We are getting snow like it or not.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to staying in my comfy bed trying to get rid of the migraine hangover, tomorrow my plans include some little leftovers of holiday shopping and Sunday, I want to make chocolates and cookies with the family!
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Thursday, 9 December 2010

The Icing On The Cake

I've been taking a cake decorating class at my local Michaels Craft store. It's been so much fun but the Cake Boss has nothing to worry about. It will be quite a while before I will be able to learn those fancy flowers and lovely cup cakes I oh so admire on those cake decorating shows on TV (if ever). But I'm have fun anyway and that is all that matters -- right?

The photo collage above are photos taken from our class last night. My cake is the one in the middle and bottom left.

Thursday, 2 December 2010

What have I been up to?

Hello Darlings,

How have you all been? I've been busier than a beaver in a coffee lake. This week I have been doing some heavy duty cleaning and preparing my house for the holiday season. I can't wait to get all my decoration up inside the house as well as finish putting up the lights on the outside of the house. I am also taking a cake decorating course, so that is keeping me on my toes too. I can't wait to actually decorate a cake though, instead of practicing flowers and swirls on parchment.


I have another thing I wanted to share.  I have two new (to me) cameras that I am oh so excited about.  The first one is a Polaroid 215 Land camera made circa 1966.  The other is a Ricohflex VI, circa 1950's.  I think I will wait until after the new year to load the Richo with some film.  120 film is getting more and more expensive to buy here and there isn't a camera shop in this city (that I know of) that still will develop 120 film locally -- it gets a little expensive to sending the film out to be developed.  Perhaps I will look into taking a film developing course after I fishing with the cake decorating.  I did however order some Fuji pack film for the Polaroid and it should be arriving any day now (I love Amazon).  If you have any suggestions for using either camera, I would so appreciate your input and expertise!

I will be back soon, hopefully with some photos from the new Polaroid and my first cake photos.  Until then have a great week and weekend!
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Monday, 11 October 2010

On this perfect October day

Hubby and I decided we needed to grab a coffee before we headed out to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner. We just had enough time to take the scenic route home which turns the regular 5 minute drive into a 30 minute drive. The weather today was beautiful, we rolled the sunroof back, opened the car windows wide, pulled out of the Tims parking lot with Frankie Valli's "Oh What A Night" cranked way up on the stereo, then we hit the road. The wind blew our hair wildly about as we sang our hearts out (we may have gotten a strange look or two from people on the street). What? They don't drive around blasting Frankie Valli???

I don't think people understand what music is about anymore. I think most youngsters are hyper stimulated when it comes to music; it doesn't touch their heart and soul like it did to my generation. But I digress...(another post, for another time)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with the family. I'm so thankful to have my husband and children with me on this wonderful day. I'm also thankful for loving family and friends and for this life I cherish. Oh, and music. I am thankful for music and a voice to sing out as loud as I want.

Happy Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, Indigenous People's Day, Día de la Raza, Farmer's Day.  Heck... Happy Monday to everyone!

{Some weekend photos}

Sunday, 28 March 2010

Happiness Is...


a slice of cake
+
pot of hot tea
+
lazy sunday evenings
......................

Buttermilk cake

{12-16 Servings. Prep: 35 min. Bake: 45 min. + cooling time}

Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 2-1/3 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup buttermilk
Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition (batter will be thick). Pour into a greased and floured 10-in. fluted tube pan.

Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan to a wire cooling rack, cool completely.

Chocolate Glaze
  • 6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Stir chocolate and butter in heavy saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add corn syrup. Add vanilla extract and whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly. Stir while it cools. Put cake on cooling rack. Line the counter underneath with aluminum foil or parchment or something under the rack for a quick, easy cleanup. Start pouring the glaze mixture over the top of the cake.

Wednesday, 17 March 2010

Saint Patrick's Feast Day

Celebrating our Irish heritage today 
with a good hearty feast

Crock Pot Irish Stew
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, divided
2 pounds boneless lamb cubes for stew
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 medium onions, cut in 1 inch chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut in 1/2 inch slices
1 celery rib, cut in 1/2 inch slices
1 turnip, peeled and cut in 3/4 inch cubes
2 parsnips, peeled and cut in 1/2 inch slices
1 pound red-skin or golden potatoes, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Mix the flour, salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon thyme in a medium mixing bowl. Add the lamb and toss until evenly coated; pat off excess flour and reserve flour mixture. Heat half the oil in a deep skillet (I’m totally going to admit that I used the bacon fat from breakfast this morning). Add the lamb to brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to bowl and set aside. Add the remaining oil to the skillet. Add the onions, carrots, celery, turnip, parsnips and potatoes. Saute until browned and barely tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a 5-6 quart slow cooker; place lamb on top.

Add the reserved flour and remaining thyme to the skillet and cook over medium heat until the flour is slightly brown, about 1 minute. Add the broth, heat to boil, and continue to cook, stirring constantly until slightly thickened. Add Worcestershire sauce. Pour into the slow cooker. Cover and cook 3 to 4 hour on high or 6 to 8 hours on low.

Add some Irish Soda Bread and 
you've got yourself a hearty meal for St. Patty's Day

Irish Soda Bread
2 cups (250g) plain flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
½ teaspoon baking soda
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
65g margarine, softened
½ cup (125ml) buttermilk
½ egg
FOR BRUSHING:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
40ml buttermilk
1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees C. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.  
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and the egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.  
3. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.


Friday, 5 March 2010

Whoopie! Pies + Friday Fill-Ins

Whoopie Pies
I made a delicious batch of Whoopie Pies this week and they are going fast.  What is a Whoopie Pie you ask?  Well, it is a sinful confection made with two round(ish) chocolate, pumpkin or banana cake mounds, with a gooey, creamy frosting that is sandwiched between the cake.  A whoopie pie, also called: a gob, black-and-white, bob, or "BFO" for Big Fat Oreo.

Recipe:
Ingredients
  • 2  cups  all-purpose flour
  • 1/2  cup  unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons  baking soda
  • 1/2  teaspoon  salt
  • 1  stick unsalted butter, softened (1/2 c)
  • 1  cup  sugar
  • 1  large egg
  • 1  cup  milk
Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Make cakes: Sift flour, unsweetened cocoa, baking soda and salt together into a bowl. Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl of an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add egg and beat at medium speed until fully incorporated. Change mixer speed to low and add dry ingredients, alternating with milk, mixing until just blended.
Drop batter 1/2 Tbsp. at a time and about 2 inches apart onto each sheet to make 18 cakes per baking sheet. Bake for 7 minutes, until mini cakes are springy to touch. Let cool on pan for 5 minutes, and then transfer to racks to cool completely. Change parchment paper and repeat to make 72 cakes.
Match cakes in pairs so tops and bottoms are similar in shape. Spread bottoms with cream filling and cover with top.
For Cream Filling, combine 1 stick of unsalted butter and 1 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar in a bowl and beat at low speed until blended. Then beat at high speed until mixture is fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract and 2 cups marshmallow cream; mix at low speed until blended well. (Makes 2 1/3 cups)

Note:  If you want to take the time to add the filling to a pastry bag and pipe the batter onto your parchment lined baking sheet, the cookies/cakes will come out in a more rounded shape.

Now on to the Fill-Ins.
Want to play along? Click on the button.

#166.  And...here we go!
 
1. Why are you making a mountain out of molehill?
2. I want you to take mother nature and give her a good hard shake for me today (brrrr!).
3. I'm learning to take control of anxieties and fears, then it will be on my terms.
4. Shake it up and see what happens.
5. I could use a record button for my mind these days.
6. I was feeling pretty confident about my outfit choice and then I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the window (Yikes!).
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going with the flow, tomorrow my plans include the usual Saturday errands, then spending the evening baking for a wedding shower for my sister-in-law and Sunday, I want to enjoy a nice brunch with the ladies!

Saturday, 24 October 2009

What Am I Craving?

Rolo Pretzel Turtles
Salty pretzel, topped with a gooey chocolate and caramel with a crunchy pecan on top.

What you will need:
Rolo
Mini pretzels
Nuts – toasted pecans (any nut will do)

Preheat your oven to 350
  1. Unwrap your Rolos. Place pretzels on baking sheet. Top with a Rolo.

  2. Bake in oven for 3-5 minutes, just until the chocolate starts to melt. The Rolo should be soft but not completely melted.

  3. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack. Gently push the nut down into the melted Rolo.
These little treats are totally addictive. My girls and I devoured an entire tray in a matter of minutes.
*please proceed with caution*

I made these little treat boxes for the turtle treats. So cute!


Download the PDF file:
Blue, Green, Yellow, Red

Monday, 30 March 2009

I could easily eat Italian cuisine for a year

Uno non può pensare bene, amare bene, dormire bene, se non ha mangiato bene. ~Virginia Wolf
Translation: One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if hasn't eaten well.

* Bistecca alla fiorentina
* Baccalà alla Vicentina
* Lasagne
* Pasta e fagioli
* Pizza
* Ragù alla bolognese
* Fettuccine Alfredo
* Salsiccia
* Veal osso buco
* Pollo alla cacciatora
* Risotto

Desserts

- Gelato
- Pies & Tarts
- Biscotti
- Frittelle
- Cenci
- Preserves
- Frittate

Oh, lets not forget the Wine

> Stella Pinot Grigio
> Villa Sandi Prosecco
> Saracco Moscato
> Produttori
> Antinori Peppoli
> Castello di Monastero
> Fontodi Chianti
> Righetti Amarone
> Marenco Scrapona
> Famiglia Anselma

Friday, 21 March 2008

Good Friday Goodies

Praline Cheesecake tarts



My contribution to Good Friday supper at hubby's aunties tonight...Mmmmmmm!
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