That is what I hear from the folks after tonight's dessert.



Apple dumplings from the Pioneer Woman, a cooking blog that rosesarered23 got me hooked on. Wonderful recipes with lots of wit and photos. I stumbled on this recipe and decided to make it tonight.

Mind you, Mom was in the kitchen making her own dinner and I was doing a 'lying by ommission' running commentary [I didn't mention they included two sticks of butter]. I already poured the sauce over and then I said, "Now for the kicker: one cup of Mountain Dew."

Mom: Hm?

I repeat the statement.

Mom: Oh? Let me have some also. I would like to have a cup.

Me: o.o?? O-kay...

Anywho, they came out fabulous. Mom thought they were too rich, and she was right. I mean, two sticks of butter? Paula Dean would be pleased.

I mean look at them!



Wait a tick, something is missing.



There we go.

Yesterday morning: omelette de champignons aux fromage [mushroom and cheese omlette]

I think that's how it's done. It was done with two eggs, sauteed mushrooms, and motzarella cheese. :)

Now that I'm all okay right now, let me inform about last night, and the proceedings thereof.

We went over to Lisa's for a New Years party/firework/cookie swap. We were to make cookies [about five dozen a batch] and to just bring ourselves over. We decided to stay the night, which was unsurprising to everyone involved.

So we got there to find Lisa setting up cocktail food [stuffed mushrooms, chicken balls, buffalo wings, tamales, etc.] and she set up her Christmas gift from Mom: a two tray buffet warmer, which really came in handy. Gloria came in a bit after us with the kids, husband, and a bottle of Disaronno and sweet&sour mix. Soon after that she gives me a rather large tumbler of Amaretto Sour, which I gingerly drank in front of Mom [who rolled her eyes for most of the time].

Then we got all of our cookies together...



Clockwise, starting upper left: Orange Cremes [by Lisa], Chocolate Triple Chocolate Chips [by me], Choco-Nut Chippers [by Stan and the kids], Chocolate Chip Snowballs [by Gloria and the kids], and Lime Coolers [by Diana].

After that, we helped ourselves to the food. Gloria brought over deli rolls and her Deviled Eggs also. I had everything and another drink [pinapple juice and Malibu] that was mixed so strongly that I took a few sips and poured the rest down the sink.

The Swap occured after the guys went out for fireworks. We [including the kids] took a plate and helped ourselves to four to five of each cookie [the kids took two each], and we commented on them. Everyone said my cookies went with milk, which I agreed. I said that the Chippers were a bit on the salty side, but I'm guessing it was the nuts. Mom also brought her bunellos, which was okay.

Also had Gloria's in-laws come over, much to my surprise. They stayed a bit, had some cookies, and left.

Also got another Sour, this time alarmingly large. Drank half and poured the rest down the sink.

The fireworks were alright, didn't do much, since it was drizzling a bit and dampening things.

Midnight rolled around and I got to calling various people on my phone. Got to hug everyone and wish them happy New Years. Got another plate of food.

Soon everyone had to leave and I got my yarn skiens and started on the other sock. Read a bit and talked with Mom and Lisa [Diana and the kids left with Gloria]. Then we went to bed [around two a.m.].

This morning had me shower, eat a breakfast of eggs and tamales, knit, read, and chat with Lisa and Mom. Oh, and watch Soapy play with her new toy:



Combination walker and car. That will help her.

Went home with a better mood and a full stomach. Now I'm here. :D

As I made myself a cheese omlet this morning, my mind wondered if I had enough stuff for a cake.

[Now, to all of the newcomers and newly minted readers of this LJ, I bake exceedingly well, cakes and whatnot are my specialty.]

Checked the fridge: Yep, plenty of eggs, lots of milk, tons of butter.

Checked the pantry: Flour and sugar. Ooh, chocolate! And there's the vanilla!

Went to my room and took out my long-time cake cookbook: Susan Purdy's A Piece of Cake. Plenty of cake recipes and tips on how to sucessfully bake. Along with various recipes for frostings, fillings, toppings, assemblies, etc. Flipped 'til I found what I was looking for - a classic 1,2,3,4 cake, named so because of the amount of the ingredients it has (one cup butter, two cups sugar, three cups flour, four eggs, along with one cup milk and a tablespoon of baking powder).

However, due to my inquisitive nature, I wanted to see how it would be like if I seperated the eggs, according to the recipe [cause I never did whenever I made this cake]. Followed the instructions: whipped up the whites and folded them in when the batter was ready. Poured it [which was far more liquid-y the last time I made it] into the heavily greased/floured bundt pan, and put it in the oven.

While it was baking I was A) bemoaning the fact that I have no extracts other than vanilla (which is still going well, after five or so years of use), B) flipping through the pages on that kind of decoration it is going to need [probably chocolate, can't think of anything else], and C) cleaning up and jamming out to my iPod.

Now it's gently cooling on the counter. Probably when the kids come I'll be making some chocolate glaze and let them see as I pour it all over the cake. Maybe.

mmmm, the freshly brewed cup of green tea.

Yeah, that lil' tea strainer Mom got Monday is working like a charm. And making good tea cuppas. Perfect for my breakfast. Or my eveningtimes, when I'm craving a cuppa.

Let me see...I've tried chai, green, green w/peppermint, green w/pomogranate, hibiscus, Earl Grey, Darjeeling, jasmine, camomile...and I think that's all for now. Oh, and not to mention the classic Lipton iced, but that is put under the 'generic' brand of tea. ;)

And I'm still willing to try more. But then you already know that. >.>

mmm...Thanksgiving...

Lots of things done, not much writing done.

But hey, I spent the day with family, not infront of a computer, no matter how much tempted I was to do it, so it was a good thing.

So, I'm still in my Sister's house while the others are home. I just felt like staying here.

Anywho, the menu:

Entree:

Deep fried turkey, omg, fucking delish (Bro-in law did this)
Mashed potatoes w/giblet gravy (First sis did this)
Sausage & spinach stuffing (Second sis did this)
Pork butt stuffed with cornbread stuffing (Mom did this)
Green bean cassorole (other bro-in law did this)
Savory sweetpotato&apple cassarole (third sis did this, and she actually paused while I took a bite out of it, mmm)
store-bought whole berry cranberry sauce

Dessert:
Pumpkin pie (everyone pitched in and made them)
Pumpkin cheesecake (I made)
Chocolate cake w/pumpkin filling (Second sis did this)
Sweet potato cassarole w/pecan strudel (First sis did this)

You might be wondering where the others (bro and fourth sis) were. Out with the other families. More food for us, in all honesty. :D

Onward!!!

From kajafoglio

http://homepages.tesco.net/~janefisk/discworld/discworld.htm

Basically it shows the step-by-step how-to of making a Discworld cake, complete with beautifully done scenery.

After so long, I've got the gumption to make a cake.

From scratch!

Even now, as the layers are cooling, the perfume of freshly made cake fills the house. When they are cooled, I'll frost them with a delightful chocolate frosting. Maybe spiked with a little of kahula? With some chocolate chips in the middle? The mind reels.

I've always been home with a stove and oven. I used to bring foodstuffs in my highschool classes. I also did baked goods every Saturday. Hopefully, when I stand on my own, I'll be able to revive that habit. :D

So, I wake up, and the first things I hear before washing up:

Mom: Go print out the recipies of Paula Dean and How to Boil Water.

Yeah, she loves Ms. Dean. I have this whole folder of her recipes that mom wants to keep and use. I'm sure that we'll use them someday. Someday...

One of the recipes is most intriging: Bill Nicholson's Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce. I would be amazed if someone can go up all the way up to Corpus just to get the doughnuts. Very amazed.

Speaking of amazement, the truffle cookies are no longer with us anymore. Yep, they were eaten yesterday by my sisters and the nephews/nieces. And I'm talking about four to five year olds, eating them, and then wanting more. I need to copy the recipe...and to make another batch. >.>

Alright, done with the Dean printing. Next up with the other stuff. *waits for page to loads*

*also hands the printed recipies to mom, who also is intriged by the pudding* ^_^