21 posts tagged “baking”

Inexpert icing piping, sheer heat, and me holding the cake platter aloft while taking this picture all contributed to it's not-so-wonderful crooked look.  Ah, well, can't say the kids minded at all!

Yesterday, my first floor was 84 degrees!  Yes, that's in the house.  Yes, that's only 5 degrees less than what it was outside.  I'm not going to even tell you what the second floor was.  Or the third floor.  That rain never showed up yesterday either--but it's looking good out there for sometime this morning!

Despite the heat, I've wrapped up a few painting projects I hadn't gotten around to.  I 'discovered' in the basement a half of a quart of leftover trim paint from the previous owners and I used that to repaint the dining room door.  The dining room door sorely needed to be painted because that, too, was salvaged from the basement when we found it shoved in a corner about a year or so ago.   I remembered that Missy had left that can of white paint here so I used that to paint the ceiling in the two places that were still lacking paint from when Mike did all of the drywalling for us in the hall.  That one I've been putting off because I wasn't sure how I would reach the areas I needed to get to.  Luckily, that ladder Rick picked up about 2 months ago was taller than our other step ladder and I was able to reach just fine--though accompanied by a mild panicky feeling whenever I had to stand on the ladder and reach out across the steps with paintbrush and edge tool in hand.   I used the leftover white paint to paint the one side of the basement door that needed it and also the walls going down to the basement.  The paint helps, but only a smidgen because my basement is one of those funky old-time basements--it's 87 years old!  My grandmother isn't even that old.

Still on the subject of paint, I took the ancient can of trim paint to Busy Beaver where George and I spent about 30 minutes trying to match the color.  We couldn't do it.  The formula written down on top of the rusty lid doesn't convert into the new way of mixing paint.  George said that he thinks the paint was mixed in the 1960's because that was when they used that type of formula!  I don't know though, because the paint that was left in was not dried up and worked perfectly, so I don't think it could be that old.  Plus, the price tag was still on the can and the price seemed 'steep' for the 1960s.  Anyways, afterwards, Ray tried helping by attempting to locate a store that still mixes that brand of paint and is nearby but didn't have any luck.  I really would like some more of it so I can do some other touch-ups on the woodwork.

Yes, I really do know some of Busy Beaver Guys by name and others by sight.  That's how many times I've been in there in the last 2 years.

Recently, I discovered a new love:  Indian Food.  I simply cannot get enough.  I don't have a cookbook yet but by patching together various recipes found in various places I was able to get a close approximation of one of my favorite meals.  I attempted (and I think it came out reasonably well too!) Chicken Tikka Masala, Basmati Rice and Naan.

One of my favorite things about summer and baking is that when you go to make something with yeast in it you already have the perfect rising temperature---outside!   This bread has a really quick rise time too--only about an hour and no second rise.

I didn't bother to photograph the rice becasue my picture taking skills just make rice look appealing so I left it out of the picture. 

I would like to get a few Indian cookbooks.  Definitely one of the Big Beautiful Cookbooks and maybe another one or two that were written (hopefully) more on a 'mom and pop' level.

When I dropped off Tristyn's prescription this afternoon at Giant Eagle, I noticed cherries were reasonably priced.  Time for a cherry pie!  They weren't loose and only came in pre-wrapped enormous bags of them but that was okay because I just made two pies with them.  The second pie was brought up to 's house for her to bake (because everyone knows half the fun of a pie is the yummy smell it puts in the house as it bakes) and to enjoy with her family.  I'm hoping hers turned out as well as ours did.

Sometime ago, I brought over a cherry pie to my mother-in-law's house and she was suprised to hear that I had pitted all of the cherries by hand.  I was equally surprised to find out that they made a kitchen gadget to do the job.  I love kitchen gadgets and couldn't believe I hadn't known about it.  It wasn't long before she gifted me with one.  I finally got to try it out today and it works AMAZINGLY.  Thanks again Pat!!  I still managed to stain my fingers purple anyway. =P

Fresh from the oven--Cherry Pie made with Pate Brise Crust.

I know that cherry pie probably doesn't go very well with Indian food but  no one around here seemed to mind!

I'm not usually that a big chocolate fan.  Nine times out of ten I will always choose a different flavor.  I prefer candy like Nerds or Skittles to Hershey's.  But...every so often nothing will do but to have a little bit of chocolate.  The chocolate raspberry fudgy brownies  of the other day?  No interest.  The chocolate cupcakes for Tristyn's last day of school?  Not for me.

Here is what is for me:

And yes, I did eat it before writing up this post. =D

Today is Tristyn's last day of school.  Last night, approximately 5 mins before he went to bed he pulled a typical kid stunt. 

"Mummy!  I need cupcakes for tomorrow. Can you make 20 of them?"

Ever poised to bake (and only a teeny tiny bit annoyed he didn't ask sooner so I could plan better) I asked him what type.  Chocolate with chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles was his request and I set about making them.

After making his cupcakes, I had two left.  Rick got his last night but since Maia was sleeping she had to wait until today.  I took this picture this morning just before I told her that I had made one for her too.

Yes, the Strawberry Shortcake plate IS necessary! =)

Today's offerings is a Chocolate Raspberry Fudgy Brownie. (excuse the lack of a tablecloth--the one I use has finally met it's fate in the washing machine since the plumber finally came this morning)

Yesterday Maia, Riley, Bob, Catharine, and I went to Peter's Creek.  Since I have already have posted pictures from Peter's Creek I won't bore anyone by doing it again.  Maia brought her bike but she didn't have a very good riding day.  She tired out quickly (usually she doesn't at all) and the clouds of gnats everywhere did nothing to improve her mood.  She has a bit of a cold--coughing and such--and I think that might have contributed a little to her being tired.  When we stopped to play in the creek she did perk up and spent a good while collecting pretty rocks to bring home with us.  The dogs, of course, had a lot of fun as usual. 

I made chili the other day and to make the leftovers a little more interesting I made Freckle Bread to go with it.  (Maia's name for it).  In this picture, one side is cooked already.  Maia especially loves to watch it cook because great big bubbles of air make the wrap puff up.

All finished!

The recipe I have makes 8 fair sized sandwhich wraps.  It is really easy recipe.  It can be completed before you could drive to a nearby grocery store, buy some, and return home.  We used it to wrap up chili, lettuce and sharp cheddar cheese.

Oh!  And everything is finalized.  Rick just got the confirmation email that his credit card was accepted and our date is reserved in September for our beach house.  It's in the OuterBanks, North Carolina.  We went there last year and had a good time.  This year will be even better because the Aulick family will be joining us!

It's only 100 feet away from the beach!!

...but finally near perfect!  This one took just under four years to perfect.  What am I talking about?  Why, my cookie sheet of course!   In today's picture (that I couldn't quite capture very well despite numerous attempts) once you take your eyes off of the shortbread cookies (and stop rolling your eyes perhaps at how 'plain' they are) notice the cookie sheet.

It isn't pretty.  It's discolored and dark, scared and quite ugly.  It's perfect.  (Yes it is washed after every use.)  It came from the store a 'proper' shade of silver at one point but it was far from perfect.  Nearly 4 years from perfect.  Finally, I can say it is properly seasoned.  I can bake ANYTHING on it and never ever have to grease the cookie sheet in preparation.  Nothing sticks to it.  

This evening i made a lego cake for catharine's son whose birthday is tomorrow.

I am not satisfied with it at all.  the taste i am not concerned about--it's the botched decorating job i've done.  i warned her that while i claim to be able to bake..i do NOT claim to be able to decorate.