The internet provides us with such great advice . . . Okay, it provides us with some laughs some of which might hit rather close to home.
You can tell it is going to be a bad day if . . .
1. Your car horn stays stuck as you follow a pack of Hell’s Angels on motorcycles.
2. You walk to work and discover your dress is stuck in the waistband of your pantyhose.
3. You see a 60 Minutes News Team waiting in your front yard.
4. Your pet rock snaps at you.
5. Your car costs more to fill up than it did to buy.
6. The boss tells you not to bother to take off your coat.
7. You turn on the news and they’re showing emergency routes out of the city.
8. The bird singing outside of your window is a vulture.
9. Your four year old tells you that is almost impossible to flush a grapefruit down the toilet.
10. Your income tax refund check bounces.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Throwing some creativity into the mixing bowl . . .
Most everyone either has a favorite chocolate brownie recipe or a must-have brownie mix that is a staple in their cupboard. Nothing like the aroma of baking browinies to bring people into the kitchen to see what is happening.
I've found there is a lot you can do to brownies to make them even more special, your own take on a common subject, so to speak! Here are a few ideas I've used with some success for changing a regular brownie into a nice change of pace.
Add some freshly grated orange rind and a generous teaspoon of cinnamon to give it a South of the Border flair.
Add some instant coffee to the batter or a good splash of coffee brandy or some sort.
Increase your chocolate tolerance and add chocolate chips to the mix.
When the brownies exit the oven put down a layer of flavored chips (chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc) over the hot brownies (One flavor, only!), let it set a minute and then gently spread it out and finish cooling the brownies and you have an instant glaze.
Finely chopped, dried pineapple goes great with chocolate. Just add this extra ingredient to the batter before baking.
One of my daughters like chocolate and mint as a combination and you can often find mint chocolate chips or even just plain mint chips to add.
I have even added a teaspoon of chili flakes to the brownie batter and came up with a chocolate brownie with a tang no one can figure out.
I've found there is a lot you can do to brownies to make them even more special, your own take on a common subject, so to speak! Here are a few ideas I've used with some success for changing a regular brownie into a nice change of pace.
Add some freshly grated orange rind and a generous teaspoon of cinnamon to give it a South of the Border flair.
Add some instant coffee to the batter or a good splash of coffee brandy or some sort.
Increase your chocolate tolerance and add chocolate chips to the mix.
When the brownies exit the oven put down a layer of flavored chips (chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, peanut butter, etc) over the hot brownies (One flavor, only!), let it set a minute and then gently spread it out and finish cooling the brownies and you have an instant glaze.
Finely chopped, dried pineapple goes great with chocolate. Just add this extra ingredient to the batter before baking.
One of my daughters like chocolate and mint as a combination and you can often find mint chocolate chips or even just plain mint chips to add.
I have even added a teaspoon of chili flakes to the brownie batter and came up with a chocolate brownie with a tang no one can figure out.
DECADENT COFFEE CAKE
DECADENT COFFEE CAKE
Definitely not for the diet conscious but very comforting on a cold evening.
¾ cup vegetable shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping:
1½ cups dark brown sugar
½ cups chopped nuts (chose your favorite)
1 stick butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8-to 9-inch square baking pan.
Thoroughly combine the shortening and sugar. Beat in each of the eggs. Add the flour, baking powder, cream and extract and mix until just combined.. Spread into prepared pan. Set aside.
Combine the topping ingredients and spread over batter. Bake approximately 20 to 30 minutes until set and brown. Cool slightly and serve.
This coffee cake is definitely dense so don’t expect a light ending to a meal! Hot, it tastes sort of like french toast and syrup. Cold, it ain’t bad either!
Definitely not for the diet conscious but very comforting on a cold evening.
¾ cup vegetable shortening
1 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping:
1½ cups dark brown sugar
½ cups chopped nuts (chose your favorite)
1 stick butter
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8-to 9-inch square baking pan.
Thoroughly combine the shortening and sugar. Beat in each of the eggs. Add the flour, baking powder, cream and extract and mix until just combined.. Spread into prepared pan. Set aside.
Combine the topping ingredients and spread over batter. Bake approximately 20 to 30 minutes until set and brown. Cool slightly and serve.
This coffee cake is definitely dense so don’t expect a light ending to a meal! Hot, it tastes sort of like french toast and syrup. Cold, it ain’t bad either!
Machines . . . interesting inventions . . .
For once, we did it correctly and looked up the belt we needed to repair our vacuum cleaner. We looked up the model and purchased a belt for that particular model. Well, you can buy a vacuum for this model in either self-propelled or not. Ours is not the high-end model so we went for the belt for the low-end type. Seems, our low-end model takes the high-end model belt . . . which my husband discovered about taking apart the vacuum, getting lots of vacuum dust all over the carpet and finding it out that it doesn't work. He is off to return the first belt and go with the belt that really, really works in our vacuum cleaner . . . I hope. Meanwhile, I will avoid looking at the mess in the middle of the living room and concentrate on dinner preparations. Less chance of me getting irritated! Hate getting irritated when there is absolutely no immediate solution. Clearly sainthood material!
The summer temperatures are creeping back in but we are promised rain by the end of the week. Uh, hope it is wetter rain than the storm that did not happen this weekend.
The summer temperatures are creeping back in but we are promised rain by the end of the week. Uh, hope it is wetter rain than the storm that did not happen this weekend.
It's an interesting world . . .
There is a woman in our parish who doesn't use the sense God gave her when it comes to finances. Her house has been in foreclosure due to her own fault and when she 'borrows' gas money, she ends up using it for her dog's weekly styling or her own haircut . . . and still can't get around because she used the 'borrowed' money for everything except filling up her tank.
It came to my attention, several years ago, that a generous parishioner has had extra cash given her through a charitable organization. He asked to remain unknown because that is what real generousity is all about - not flaunting his kindness. The woman continues with her ways and she is not all that is kind to her secret beneficiary, at times. He eventually ran out of extra cash and patience so the woman is on her own resources, again. I can't help but ponder over how many people God sends into our lives to help us and how we could be unkind to the very person that gave us a boost up when we needed it most. You never know who is praying for you in the pews!
It came to my attention, several years ago, that a generous parishioner has had extra cash given her through a charitable organization. He asked to remain unknown because that is what real generousity is all about - not flaunting his kindness. The woman continues with her ways and she is not all that is kind to her secret beneficiary, at times. He eventually ran out of extra cash and patience so the woman is on her own resources, again. I can't help but ponder over how many people God sends into our lives to help us and how we could be unkind to the very person that gave us a boost up when we needed it most. You never know who is praying for you in the pews!
A new day . . .
No matter how my yesterday went, I always try to view the morning as a fresh start. I like to get up before everyone else and enjoy the peace and quiet of my own thoughts. It gives me a chance to regroup my thoughts and propose personal changes that will help me cope with what is to come in the breaking day.
My husband often has trouble understanding why I would get up 30 minutes earlier than I have to each day. I explain but this quiet time is something you have to experienc on your own level. Everyone has their method of welcoming their 'second' chance presented in the gift of another morning.
Although the heat wave is rolling in after a beautiful weekend, it still isn't the worst of summer YET! I'm trying to live out of the cupboards this pay period so meals will get interesting and as I substitute and change to accomodate recipe ideas. Tonight, I'm thinking roasted chicken pizza and am just wondering still if the chicken should be barbecued or not! Stay tuned!
My husband often has trouble understanding why I would get up 30 minutes earlier than I have to each day. I explain but this quiet time is something you have to experienc on your own level. Everyone has their method of welcoming their 'second' chance presented in the gift of another morning.
Although the heat wave is rolling in after a beautiful weekend, it still isn't the worst of summer YET! I'm trying to live out of the cupboards this pay period so meals will get interesting and as I substitute and change to accomodate recipe ideas. Tonight, I'm thinking roasted chicken pizza and am just wondering still if the chicken should be barbecued or not! Stay tuned!
Sharing some laughs for a Monday!
"Old age is the most unexpected of things that can happen to a man."
-- Leon Trotsky
"A magician pulls rabbits out of hats. An experimental psychologist pulls habits out of rats."
-- Anonymous
"USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population."
-- David Letterman
-- Leon Trotsky
"A magician pulls rabbits out of hats. An experimental psychologist pulls habits out of rats."
-- Anonymous
"USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population."
-- David Letterman
It could be worse . . .
Churchill had it right. With a lot of previous history to show for it, democracy might not be the perfect form of government but the alternatives could be worse. What amazes me is that so many politician elected by the democratic system, go so far out of their way to ruin what works!
It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.
Winston Churchill
It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried.
Winston Churchill
Way back in history!
Such a long time ago yet these events are still so much a part of our present.
1949: NATO Established
1968: Martin Luther King, Jr assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee
1949: NATO Established
1968: Martin Luther King, Jr assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee
A culinary marriage . . .
One of my favorite flavor combinations is peanut butter and chocolate. I don't even have to mentione what candy bar I'll indulge in before any other given this fact about myself. I usually have a bag of peanut butter chips in the freezer for those moments when I need something of that flavor - need being purely in the mind of the hungry homemaker!
This is another recipe my family enjoys . . . and I don't mind eating, too! No, I don't weigh in at 600 pounds! I can limit myself to a moderate taste but have to admit the temptation is always there!
Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cheesecake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
½ cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine above ingredients and press into a seven or eight-inch springform baking pan. The crust should go about three-fourths of the way up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate until real to use.
Filling:
3 8-oz. Packages or cream cheese, softened
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 ½ cups peanut butter chips
Place softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat at medium speed until cream cheese is thoroughly creamed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is well-combined. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Mixture should be thick and smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate until just blended. Fold in the peanut butter chips. Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Top will crack and brown. Cool 8 hours or overnight before serving.
However much we may be watching our calories, cheesecake will always be our downfall! And our fall from caloric grace is never too serious . . . four children see to it that there are not any excessive leftovers!
Cheese cake always lends itself to so many delicious innovations! The basis of the recipe, I learned from my mother who was never quite sure about my creative ideas. We always, however, came back to a meeting of the minds over the eating of it! My mother is no longer with us but I am insuring my children have a copy her favorite recipe with the encouragement to adorn it as the mood takes them.
This is another recipe my family enjoys . . . and I don't mind eating, too! No, I don't weigh in at 600 pounds! I can limit myself to a moderate taste but have to admit the temptation is always there!
Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cheesecake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup granulated sugar
½ cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine above ingredients and press into a seven or eight-inch springform baking pan. The crust should go about three-fourths of the way up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate until real to use.
Filling:
3 8-oz. Packages or cream cheese, softened
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted and cooled
1 ½ cups peanut butter chips
Place softened cream cheese in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat at medium speed until cream cheese is thoroughly creamed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is well-combined. Add vanilla. Gradually add sugar, beating well. Mixture should be thick and smooth. Beat in the melted chocolate until just blended. Fold in the peanut butter chips. Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. Top will crack and brown. Cool 8 hours or overnight before serving.
However much we may be watching our calories, cheesecake will always be our downfall! And our fall from caloric grace is never too serious . . . four children see to it that there are not any excessive leftovers!
Cheese cake always lends itself to so many delicious innovations! The basis of the recipe, I learned from my mother who was never quite sure about my creative ideas. We always, however, came back to a meeting of the minds over the eating of it! My mother is no longer with us but I am insuring my children have a copy her favorite recipe with the encouragement to adorn it as the mood takes them.
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