Hello!
So the plans are in the works. Palm desert is the destination. 3 1/2 weeks is the time. And trust me I'm counting. Jono and I are spending the week hopping from one room to another with his family at their timeshare. It's going to be a blast. Jono and I are going to cook dinner for everyone at least one night. That's 10 people. 10 people used to good food. His other mother is an amazing cook and I am in constant awe of what she can whip up on a work night. And it's all so good. So like I always get before I cook for people I am worrying. Jono is not. At all. How he can have such faith in my cooking when he sees all the mistakes at home I really don't know. He has seen me throw out dish after dish that I'm managed to completely mangle. But he says it will be fine. He wants to make pies. Pies that we made on a whim to use up extra pastry tart shells I had. Pies made up of what I could get my hands on in our fridge. Now they were good but not perfect. Not up to the standards of the family. At least I don't think so. So this next weeks will be filled with the making of pies. Lots of pies. I have been looking up dough recipes, and worrying over filling. Jono said we can do them just the same but I think I can make something better. I will be experimenting. It will also be my first real foray into cooking without a recipe in mind. I have changed recipes while I cook them but I have never gone completely off on my own. I am also going to make a bunch of desserts ahead of time as a peace offering if this whole dinner thing is a bust. Sugar cures all ill will. right?
I will keep you all updated on the progress of the hunt but it may be a bit scary. I will post my failures as well as any success I have.
wish me luck!
hugs +kisses
mce
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Jam Tartlets
Good Morning!
The sun is shining and the world is well. I made something yummy. Some munchings and crunchings. It was a bit labor intesive but that is all to the good right now.
Jam tartlets
(adapted from the Sono baking company cookbook)
Ingredients
1/2 recipe Pate Sucree
(Full recipe)
2 cups flour
1 cup butter (room temperature)
1/4 cup Sugar
1 tsp Coarse salt
1 Large egg
1 Large egg yolk
Streusel
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Pate Suree
in the bowl of a sand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat butter, sugar and salt on medium-high until light and fluffy about 3 minutes. scraping down the sides as you go. Add the egg and yolk. Mix until combined. Add the flour and beat until it has been absorbed.
Turn out dough of bowl, working with half at a time, on to plastic wrap and create 2 discs. refrigerate for at least 2 hours. I left them in there for about a week.
Tartlets
on a lightly floured surface roll out dough to about 1/8 in thick. use what ever size tart pans you are using (I used 4 in ones) to cut out circles enough to fill the pans. Place in mold and refrigerated again. I let them chill for about a day.
to make the streusel- in a medium bowl use a fork to stir together the flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add the butter and work into the dough with your fingers. Work until it looks like bread crumbs. refrigerate until you are ready for it.
Pre-heat oven to 350f.
spoon in about 1 TBS jam into each mold and spread it out. Make sure it is not too thick. Place the streusel onto till it covers all the jam and mounds a bit in the middle.
Bake on a baking sheet for about 20-25 mins. Until the edges are golden brown and the streusel is cooked. Let cool on a wire rack.
eat!
I hope you all like the recipe! they are really good and not too sweet. Very good with a cup of coffee. you might want to share them if you make them using the 4 inch pans.
hope you all have a great day and some sweets to share.
hugs+kisses
mce
The sun is shining and the world is well. I made something yummy. Some munchings and crunchings. It was a bit labor intesive but that is all to the good right now.
Jam tartlets
(adapted from the Sono baking company cookbook)
Ingredients
1/2 recipe Pate Sucree
(Full recipe)
2 cups flour
1 cup butter (room temperature)
1/4 cup Sugar
1 tsp Coarse salt
1 Large egg
1 Large egg yolk
Streusel
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 cup cold unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Pate Suree
in the bowl of a sand mixer fitted with the paddle, beat butter, sugar and salt on medium-high until light and fluffy about 3 minutes. scraping down the sides as you go. Add the egg and yolk. Mix until combined. Add the flour and beat until it has been absorbed.
Turn out dough of bowl, working with half at a time, on to plastic wrap and create 2 discs. refrigerate for at least 2 hours. I left them in there for about a week.
Tartlets
on a lightly floured surface roll out dough to about 1/8 in thick. use what ever size tart pans you are using (I used 4 in ones) to cut out circles enough to fill the pans. Place in mold and refrigerated again. I let them chill for about a day.
to make the streusel- in a medium bowl use a fork to stir together the flour, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Add the butter and work into the dough with your fingers. Work until it looks like bread crumbs. refrigerate until you are ready for it.
Pre-heat oven to 350f.
spoon in about 1 TBS jam into each mold and spread it out. Make sure it is not too thick. Place the streusel onto till it covers all the jam and mounds a bit in the middle.
Bake on a baking sheet for about 20-25 mins. Until the edges are golden brown and the streusel is cooked. Let cool on a wire rack.
eat!
I hope you all like the recipe! they are really good and not too sweet. Very good with a cup of coffee. you might want to share them if you make them using the 4 inch pans.
hope you all have a great day and some sweets to share.
hugs+kisses
mce
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The rain is Pouring down
Good Morning!
I have decided not to think about all the stress and problems that has come up these past weeks. I am not going to think about money, at least for a few hours. The best way I know to not think about these things is to cook. I have found a sanctuary in the kitchen. As the rain pours down and lashes against the windows I will bake and cook in the warm comfort of the kitchen.
Over the past week or two I have fallen in love with a cookbook. More of a baking book. It's called "the Sono baking company Cookbook" by John Barricelli. Truly amazing. I was looking for a good book for baking both sweet and savory. I have found it. Everything I have made out of it turned out amazing. Here is one of the recipes I have decided that I need to have on hand at all times in the house.
Buttermilk Scones
(from Sono baking company)
2 cups flour (plus more for dusting)
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
6 TBS cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cups buttermilk
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
work the butter into the flour mix with your hands until it looks like bread crumbs. (the book says coarse bread crumbs but I never get it looking like that)
Add 1/2 cup of buttermilk and fold until it is absorbed. Continue adding the rest of the buttermilk just until the dough is together and there aren't any dry spots.
turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Devide the dough into two balls and make those balls into two disks about 1 inch thick. Cut into equal slices. I do about 4 out of each disk but if you want them smaller you can do 6 or 8.
Chill the slices on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper in the fridge for an hour.
Now these are best eaten the same day so I freeze them at this point. Once they are chilled I put them in a plastic bag and freeze them till I want them.
Preheat the oven to 400f. Bake from frozen till they are puffed and golden. About 20 minutes. It says to let them cool at this point but I never can wait. I cut them open and put butter and jam on them.
I have started making these for breakfast. I start preheating the oven when i get up and they finish just before I walk out the door. They really are amazing.
I don't know what I will make this weekend but I will make something yummy. I will be happy and calm. Yesterday I may have cried at work (the kids were amazing too. I got the biggest group hug ever) but today I will put that all behind me and just be happy.
I hope you all have a good weekend.
hugs+kisses
mce
I have decided not to think about all the stress and problems that has come up these past weeks. I am not going to think about money, at least for a few hours. The best way I know to not think about these things is to cook. I have found a sanctuary in the kitchen. As the rain pours down and lashes against the windows I will bake and cook in the warm comfort of the kitchen.
Over the past week or two I have fallen in love with a cookbook. More of a baking book. It's called "the Sono baking company Cookbook" by John Barricelli. Truly amazing. I was looking for a good book for baking both sweet and savory. I have found it. Everything I have made out of it turned out amazing. Here is one of the recipes I have decided that I need to have on hand at all times in the house.
Buttermilk Scones
(from Sono baking company)
2 cups flour (plus more for dusting)
2 TBS sugar
1 TBS baking powder
1 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
6 TBS cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
3/4 cups buttermilk
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda.
work the butter into the flour mix with your hands until it looks like bread crumbs. (the book says coarse bread crumbs but I never get it looking like that)
Add 1/2 cup of buttermilk and fold until it is absorbed. Continue adding the rest of the buttermilk just until the dough is together and there aren't any dry spots.
turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Devide the dough into two balls and make those balls into two disks about 1 inch thick. Cut into equal slices. I do about 4 out of each disk but if you want them smaller you can do 6 or 8.
Chill the slices on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper in the fridge for an hour.
Now these are best eaten the same day so I freeze them at this point. Once they are chilled I put them in a plastic bag and freeze them till I want them.
Preheat the oven to 400f. Bake from frozen till they are puffed and golden. About 20 minutes. It says to let them cool at this point but I never can wait. I cut them open and put butter and jam on them.
I have started making these for breakfast. I start preheating the oven when i get up and they finish just before I walk out the door. They really are amazing.
I don't know what I will make this weekend but I will make something yummy. I will be happy and calm. Yesterday I may have cried at work (the kids were amazing too. I got the biggest group hug ever) but today I will put that all behind me and just be happy.
I hope you all have a good weekend.
hugs+kisses
mce
Monday, February 27, 2012
Monday Morning Coming Down
Good Afternoon!
Yes I know the reference is off by a day. Oh well. I did so much this morning. And with the girls too. I cleaned the kitchen, which involved unloading, loading, and unloading the dish washer. Cleaned all the dishes in the sink, and cleaned out the fridge. All this was done while watching the girls and making them pancakes. I also baked two loafs of white bread and chicken. I have decided not to talk about why I needed to clean the kitchen while I was working or why it hadn't been done at all over the weekend. I am just going to be happy that it's done now. And all clean. I know there will be the start of a mess when I get home again but I don't care. I am proud of what I did. Now on the the bread.
Doesn't that look great? It tastes good too. I made it since I didn't have any bread to make the kids sandwiches on. I thought it would be kinda boring and lame but it was for the kids so whatever. It turned out really good! It tasted like the bread I remember my dad making when I was little. it made me wonder why I ever bought white bread ever. Not that I have done that recently, white bread is one of those things you cut out when you are engaged to a personal trainer. I have taken to having something to feed the kids at my house since I need to take them there sometimes and don't always have time to either pack them a lunch at their house or drive back to their house to get something for them. Now I will make sure to have this white bread for them. Really easy and yummy! I will post the recipe soon, I promise!
I also did some cooking/baking over the weekend. Not as much as I had planed but that's ok. I made more bread on Saturday, which was very hard to make. It was a very sticky dough and it was for a version of Italian bread. It turned out yummy if a bit flatter loafs then I thought they would be. I also made more balsamic glazed onions. I'm slightly obsessed with them. They are good on anything and I have taken to keeping a jar full in the fridge. I also made balsamic tomatoes. Still working on that one though. Jono and I had Brazilian takeout one night and got what they called bushetta. It came as toast, mozzarella, and this container of balsamic tomatoes with basil seasonings. I am trying to recreate it. Not so easy. I also made Blueberry tea cakes. I got a mini bunt pan and mini loaf pans. It has a lemon glaze and turned out really well. Overall it was a good weekend and I feel good about it. I always feel better starting the week knowing that I got things done over the weekend and didn't waste it and laze around.
hope you all had a great weekend and a good start to your week!
hugs+kisses
mce
Yes I know the reference is off by a day. Oh well. I did so much this morning. And with the girls too. I cleaned the kitchen, which involved unloading, loading, and unloading the dish washer. Cleaned all the dishes in the sink, and cleaned out the fridge. All this was done while watching the girls and making them pancakes. I also baked two loafs of white bread and chicken. I have decided not to talk about why I needed to clean the kitchen while I was working or why it hadn't been done at all over the weekend. I am just going to be happy that it's done now. And all clean. I know there will be the start of a mess when I get home again but I don't care. I am proud of what I did. Now on the the bread.
I also did some cooking/baking over the weekend. Not as much as I had planed but that's ok. I made more bread on Saturday, which was very hard to make. It was a very sticky dough and it was for a version of Italian bread. It turned out yummy if a bit flatter loafs then I thought they would be. I also made more balsamic glazed onions. I'm slightly obsessed with them. They are good on anything and I have taken to keeping a jar full in the fridge. I also made balsamic tomatoes. Still working on that one though. Jono and I had Brazilian takeout one night and got what they called bushetta. It came as toast, mozzarella, and this container of balsamic tomatoes with basil seasonings. I am trying to recreate it. Not so easy. I also made Blueberry tea cakes. I got a mini bunt pan and mini loaf pans. It has a lemon glaze and turned out really well. Overall it was a good weekend and I feel good about it. I always feel better starting the week knowing that I got things done over the weekend and didn't waste it and laze around.
hope you all had a great weekend and a good start to your week!
hugs+kisses
mce
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Bread and Field Trips
Good Morning!
So far this short week as been great. The kids have been good. It's hard to have a bad day when as soon as I walk in the door I am greeted with "good morning mattie! I love you!" everyday. Yesterday they had a really full day. It was a Wednesday, which is the day I plan field trips for them, and they had been begging me to take them back to the Getty Center. So after I picked them up from school we all heading up to the Getty. They had a ton of fun. They really love it there which is a constant amazement to me. They have grown so much. Before I wouldn't be able to stay there for 20 minutes before they would all go crazy. After the Getty they wanted to go to the library. So we stopped on our way home and ended up staying there for at least 30 minutes maybe closer to an hour. Again an amazement. Here are some pictures of them at both Getty Center and Villa.
On another note bread has taken over my life. I an obsessed with finding new recipes and baking bread. This is the main culprit.
Isn't she pretty? I love her. I did a ton of cooking this past weekend. As you can slightly see in the background of this picture I cooked two Cornish game hens. Also these lovelies.
And they smell as great as they look! I was very proud of myself. So needless to say I have checked out about 6 different bread cookbooks. And raided my boss's collection of cookbooks for two more bread books. I'm am really excited to make some more this weekend. Maybe even make some with the kids tomorrow.
Hope you all have a great day!
hugs & kisses
mce
So far this short week as been great. The kids have been good. It's hard to have a bad day when as soon as I walk in the door I am greeted with "good morning mattie! I love you!" everyday. Yesterday they had a really full day. It was a Wednesday, which is the day I plan field trips for them, and they had been begging me to take them back to the Getty Center. So after I picked them up from school we all heading up to the Getty. They had a ton of fun. They really love it there which is a constant amazement to me. They have grown so much. Before I wouldn't be able to stay there for 20 minutes before they would all go crazy. After the Getty they wanted to go to the library. So we stopped on our way home and ended up staying there for at least 30 minutes maybe closer to an hour. Again an amazement. Here are some pictures of them at both Getty Center and Villa.
Hope you all have a great day!
hugs & kisses
mce
Monday, February 13, 2012
Mixer!
Good morning!
So I have something very exciting to tell you all. I got a Kitchenaid mixer! It was a surprise to me too. My mom got me one out of nowhere and then Jono exchanged it for the biggest one they make. So it was about half and half. I wouldn't have gotten one at all if not for my awesome mommy! So now I have a huge powerful mixer that can do anything! Ok maybe not anything but almost. There are so many things I want to make I don't know where to start. I have read up on it and it says not to start with a heavy dough like bread. So cookies and cakes are first. It's so exciting. I just don't know what to make first!
Other then that excitement Not a lot as happened in my life. Oh there are little things that happen every day but nothing life changing. It's been hard getting used to the new hours and I am becoming a lot closer to the kids every day. It's going to be very hard when/if they move. I feel less like a nanny now and more like a second mom. When you spend upwards of 61 hours a week taking care of kids they become almost yours. They take up my every waking moment monday thru friday. It's been balanced out nicely now with my weekends with Jono. We have been more social lately since we are able to get more time together we don't mind sharing our time with others. Before we had so little time together we wanted it to just be us for the little time we had.
I have also been reading a lot more. I thought I didn't really need a kindle since I wasn't really reading that much. But it turns out I wasn't reading as much because I didn't have a kindle. I've been reading almost constantly. I've lost track of how many books I've read since I got it. It's all "fluff" books so nothing too deep and all quick reads but it makes the days go past faster. I can read while the kids play or while they nap. Once I have a little more off time I can read something that takes a little more work to read through.
I hope you all are having a lot of fun and happiness.
Hugs+kisses
mce
So I have something very exciting to tell you all. I got a Kitchenaid mixer! It was a surprise to me too. My mom got me one out of nowhere and then Jono exchanged it for the biggest one they make. So it was about half and half. I wouldn't have gotten one at all if not for my awesome mommy! So now I have a huge powerful mixer that can do anything! Ok maybe not anything but almost. There are so many things I want to make I don't know where to start. I have read up on it and it says not to start with a heavy dough like bread. So cookies and cakes are first. It's so exciting. I just don't know what to make first!
Other then that excitement Not a lot as happened in my life. Oh there are little things that happen every day but nothing life changing. It's been hard getting used to the new hours and I am becoming a lot closer to the kids every day. It's going to be very hard when/if they move. I feel less like a nanny now and more like a second mom. When you spend upwards of 61 hours a week taking care of kids they become almost yours. They take up my every waking moment monday thru friday. It's been balanced out nicely now with my weekends with Jono. We have been more social lately since we are able to get more time together we don't mind sharing our time with others. Before we had so little time together we wanted it to just be us for the little time we had.
I have also been reading a lot more. I thought I didn't really need a kindle since I wasn't really reading that much. But it turns out I wasn't reading as much because I didn't have a kindle. I've been reading almost constantly. I've lost track of how many books I've read since I got it. It's all "fluff" books so nothing too deep and all quick reads but it makes the days go past faster. I can read while the kids play or while they nap. Once I have a little more off time I can read something that takes a little more work to read through.
I hope you all are having a lot of fun and happiness.
Hugs+kisses
mce
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Field trips and pancakes
Good morning!
I am sitting at my own desk in my house. I know you may look at the time and the day and say "shouldn't you be working?" well I am! I have the twins here and they are watching disney movies. Right now it's Snow white. I've gotten into the habit of bringing the twins here after I drop the older two off at school. I make pancakes and they see Jono and watch cartoons.Thank you Grandma! They have fallen in love with Grandma Marti's pancakes and insist on them almost every morning. If I run out I am told in a very matter of fact way "well you are going to have to make more then". I use this time in the morning to clean the house and get my lunch together and sometimes start dinner. So there is now a never ending supply of pancakes in my house.
Today I am trying something a little different. Wednesdays are always the hardest days since the older two get out 2 hours early. So to deal with this extra time I am taking them to the Huntington Gardens. I have high hopes for this since there really aren't too many rules there and they can run around a lot and play. I have packed them lunch and packed the car and hopefully it will all go well!!
hope you all have a load of fun today!
hugs+kisses
mce
I am sitting at my own desk in my house. I know you may look at the time and the day and say "shouldn't you be working?" well I am! I have the twins here and they are watching disney movies. Right now it's Snow white. I've gotten into the habit of bringing the twins here after I drop the older two off at school. I make pancakes and they see Jono and watch cartoons.Thank you Grandma! They have fallen in love with Grandma Marti's pancakes and insist on them almost every morning. If I run out I am told in a very matter of fact way "well you are going to have to make more then". I use this time in the morning to clean the house and get my lunch together and sometimes start dinner. So there is now a never ending supply of pancakes in my house.
Today I am trying something a little different. Wednesdays are always the hardest days since the older two get out 2 hours early. So to deal with this extra time I am taking them to the Huntington Gardens. I have high hopes for this since there really aren't too many rules there and they can run around a lot and play. I have packed them lunch and packed the car and hopefully it will all go well!!
hope you all have a load of fun today!
hugs+kisses
mce
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