Life is often funny. Sometimes in the literal sense and sometimes in the ironic. Ironic is what I have going on. And more of the tragic irony. You see when we got the Daring Baker challenge(which I actually finished early again) I knew that I would have to alter the shape in some way. For we were making braided breads. I have a thing(not really a rule but a thing) in which I only bake braided bread when I lose someone to death. Having not lost anyone to death in awhile I did not want to “jinx” it so to speak(I am superstitious) and so I made bear claws instead. Really big ones....I call them bears on steroids claws, because I gave then like twelve claws each. I guess I was in the go big or go home mood that day(or the if I make them smaller it will take less time mood. :P ) This last Wednesday morning my father received a phone call letting him know that his best friend and a man we called my uncle Red had passed the night before from a heart attack. Now my uncle Red was … [Read more...]
The first picture says it all….
When I first saw this event I decided to ask my “American” friends what they thought of when I said the word Canada. Hockey, beer and maple syrup...oh and Canadian Bacon(it's called back bacon people!!!) All good things but I found it humorous that those were pretty much the same four answers I got over and over again. I did get a Bryan Adams the singer and “cold” thrown in now and then for good measure. If I hadn't felt so crummy as of late I would have made something involving back bacon and beer for the savory event that Jasmine is holding...I might just do that for me anyhow. :) Since I was only going with the one event, Mmmm Canada(the sweet edition), hosted by none other the Domestic Goddess herself, I settled on good ol' maple syrup(Canada does after all make more than 80% of the world's supply). Most people in the states think maple syrup is Mrs. Butterworth or Log Cabin...ugh(so does, surprise...my husband). Oh the horror. FYI- none of those actually … [Read more...]
Red, White and Brulee…
I would love to report that I am healthy but that would be a down right lie. I continue to suffer. Lucky me. I am hoping that it will be gone by my birthday(about a week and a half)...surely that is not asking that much of my body. Even though I was sick, I ended up going to a cooking class last week. It was already paid for and it was by one of my favorite cookbook authors, Greg Atkinson. We had a lovely menu of mango and avocado salad(which is over on Northwest Noshings), slow cooked halibut with spring veggies and a strawberry brulee. Knowing that this weeks TWD recipe was a Mixed Berry Cobbler(chosen by Beth of Our Sweet Life) I had planned on making a cobbler bottom, filling it with mixed berries and then doing the whipped cream/sour cream mixture on top. But then I got to thinking that the cobbler bottom would be too heavy for this dessert. So I went in a whole new direction, angel food cake. By doing that the recipe still remained refreshing, like what I had at the cooking … [Read more...]
Feeling Crumb-y…
I've had the sinus infection to end all sinus infections for the last two weeks. I've been a sad little looking creature, wandering the halls of our house in my faded penguin pj's with my greasy looking sick hair and Kleenex stuffed up my nose(because you can only blow so much...you have to stop it from coming somehow). A site that is no doubt beyond sexy to my husband. Ha. :P It is times like these that I am happy that I have “reserves” saved up from when I have been in a baking mood. For obvious reasons, little baking has been done in the last two weeks. Cooking neither. Awhile back now I was on the lookout for Hostess Crumb Cakes. I loved them as a kid. Come to find out, just like almost all things I love, they no longer make them(bastards). While I can still have my chocolate(chocolate-like) Donettes(yes, for some reason I love them), there are no crumb cakes. I thought for sure I could figure out how to make them. One Saturday morning while watching PBS, … [Read more...]
