Bakers Love

Name changes.

My guys, Dexter and Felex have decided that they need new names.  I guess that after 10 and 7 years respectively, it is time to change ones name.   In High School, I remember deciding to change the spelling of my name, only to cringe when I see it in print.  I also recall a few friends shortening or lengthening their names.  I am sure a child psychologist can explain why this phenomena exists. My guys have decided that they want to be called REX (Dexter) and FOX (Felex).  I am not too upset, not necessarily thinking that the kids hate their given names.  Rex to me does not sound as cool as DEX.  I keep thinking of Rex Smith, a 1980's pop star that was fairly lame if I recall correctly.  As far as Fox is concerned, I just think of Mulder from the X-Files.   So, I introduce to you, Rex and Fox.  I will keep you posted on any further changes.

Back.

 

Back indeed.  We have finally returned to our home after quite the whirlwind travel excursion over the holidays.  We left Redding and landed in Santa Cruz to visit friends.  After our visit we then hit the road and landed in Las Vegas of all places to visit Westley's Dad that we had not seen in about 12 years.  After Vegas we worked our way to my mothers in Huntington Beach. Given the choice of Disneyland or the beach, my kids ALWAYS choose the beach.  I think I can see why.

More inappropriate uses for bacon

I seem to be finding more and more uses for bacon that I was unfamiliar with.  Last night in Santa Cruz we came across a ice cream shop that has a new creation.  The flavor is called a ''Vegan Nightmare.  Maple ice cream with chocolate covered bacon chips.  I was actually surprised that my husband, lover of all things bacon, was not even remotely interested in this flavor.  I suspect that his decision had something to do with the maple ice cream getting in the way of the bacon flavor.

Cookie Monday

Welcome to the second installment of Cookie Monday.  Today I thought we would celebrate the fall season with a pumpkin cookie.  I know what you are thinking, "PUMPKIN cookies!  Belch!"  Trust me, these cookies are fantastic.  The combination of pumpkin and chocolate is smooth and comforting.  A perfect compliment to these delicious cookies would be a nice cup of Mexican hot chocolate.

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cookies

2 sticks of butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 Tablespoon vanilla

1 cup canned pumpkin

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Cream the butter and sugars together until light and fluffy.  Add one egg at a time, waiting until the first egg is incorporated prior to adding the next egg.  Add vanilla.  In a separate bowl, add all dry ingredients, mix together.  Slowly add half the pumpkin and half the flour.  Add remaining flour and pumpkin.  Mix until combined.  Add chocolate chips and mix.  Scoop out the dough to desired size.  Bake for about 15 minutes.

My heart aches

 Photo by Tom Cruz

 

Wow.  I thought I had seen it all when it came to deep fried delights.   County fairs take deep frying to an entirely different level,  tossing in Oreo cookies, Twinkies, candy bars, cheese, peppers, and well, just about anything to the delight of cardiac specialists everywhere.  My heart ached this morning when I opened an email from a friend announcing this addition to the deep fried hall of fame.  BACON. 

Yes.  BACON.  Raw bacon that has been egg washed, dredged in seasoned flour, and then deep fried.  The chef must have stock in a defibrillator company because he then serves the deep fried bacon with a side of good old country sausage gravy. 

 

 

 

Yo Yo! Yo Yo.

My guys have gone ape over yo yo's.  Last night I was an audience of one for their first yo yo performance.   The show included such tricks as 'green macaroni,' 'gravity gripper', 'cosmic spin', 'flossing your teeth', and of course 'walk the dog'.  I remember a brief interest in yo yo's when I was younger, the only trick I could recall was 'rocking the baby'.  The grand finale of the show was when Dexter just about clocked his own head attempting the 'green macaroni' trick.  I think a better name would be the ''black eye' or the 'giant raspberry on the forehead'.

Tuesday with Dorie DISASTER!

Well, it was bound to happen at some point.  Something I made did not turn out.  AT ALL.  There is no saving it, no dusting with powdered sugar to hide imperfections, no dimming the lights to keep the guests from noticing a dessert that was not quite up to par.  No, this was a disaster of tossing proportions.  Our Tuesday with Dorie  project was Aborio Rice Pudding.  I love rice pudding, and make it all the time.  I had some black rice and thought, hummm....this could be good.  I pictured black rice pudding with cherries and cardamom.  Instead I created something that resembled the droppings from a family of rodents.  I will spare you a photo.  Please travel over at the beautiful blog Les gourmand Isesdisa.  She has beautiful photos and the recipe.  Leave the black rice for another dish.

Cookie Monday begins with a kiss

I thought I would start a new feature on my blog.  I am taking the idea from my friend Suzanne over at Alive in Wonderland.  Suzanne has started a new video feature on her blog called Thirty Second Sunday.  Each Sunday she is showcasing a different area of Orange County.  I love the idea of a weekly feature.  Currently I participate in  Tuesdays with Dorie , where I bake with a group of talented bakers.  But I need more.  So now I will begin my Cookie Mondays.  Each Monday I will bake a fresh batch of cookies.  Come on over, bring the milk!

Peanut Butter Kisses

Chocolate Kisses

1 cup unsalted butter (2 sticks)

1 cup peanut butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

4 Tablespoons milk

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

3 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Sprinkling sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove wrappers from kisses. Enjoy a few for your hard work.

Beat sugar and peanut butter in the bowl of your mixer. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time until incorporated. Add milk and vanilla until combined. In a separate bowl add all dry ingredients. Mix together. Slowly add the flour mixture into the peanut butter mixture. Mix until combined.

Scoop out cookies into desired shape and size. I use a small, ice-cream scooper. Roll in sprinkling sugar and place on cookie sheet. I pop the entire sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes. I like letting my cookie dough’s rest before baking, assuring that the flavors marry and the cookies do not spread.

Bake cookies for 12 minutes or until lightly brown, the cooking time will of course vary due to size of your cookies. Immediately place a kiss in the center of the cookies.

Enjoy!!

A new old bike

Thank you Craigslist.   Your list has made our son incredibly happy.  He has been asking for a bike for about three months.    I spent many hours looking at your listings of used bikes.  We were patient, waiting for the right bike, at the right time, for the right price.  Look at the treasure I found on your list! 

 

Thanks again Craigslist,  here is a picture of your big fan Dexter.

Back in the bake

Today at Tuesdays with Dorie we were introduced to All purpose girl.  APG has a great blog featuring many of the joys of baking.  Our recipe challenge was Kugelhopf.  Kugelhopf is traditionally baked in a tall decorative tube pan similar to a bunt pan.  I decided to bake mine in loaves.  I wanted some for home and one to give to a friend.  Kugelhopf is a delightful breakfast bread served in European homes.  I love Kugelhopf toasted, my kids like when I make French toast out of the leftovers, and my

 

favorite is the best grilled cheese for lunch.  For this delight I use Gruyere cheese and thinly sliced apples.  Absolute perfection when slowly grilled and served with a simple salad of mixed greens.