I love the smell of coffee brewing but don't much care for the taste of the hot liquid. However, put that scent into a cookie and I'm all over it. This is such a cookie and a one-pan baking which is always a plus when you are in a hurry or just have several batches of baking to get done in one afternoon.
Coffee-Orange Bar Cookies
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup solid shortening
1 large egg
1 tablespoon freshly-grated orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup hot strong coffee (sometimes I use espresso with good results)
1/2 cup dried cranberries (raisins will substitute nicely)
1/2 cup toasted, chopped walnuts
Line a 13x9x2 rimmed baking pan with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, extracts, and zest.
Mix together the dry ingredients and add with the coffee to the creamed mixture. Stir in the cranberries and nuts.
Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Cool on rack and then dust with powdered sugar. Cut into serving pieces.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Amusing with underlying thought . . .
"I belong to no organized party. I am a Democrat."
-- Will Rogers
-- Will Rogers
"The only thing wrong with immortality is that it tends to go on
forever."
-- Herb Caen
-- Herb Caen
"Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."
-- Karl Marx
-- Karl Marx
"After all is said and done, a lot more will be said than done."
-- Unknown
-- Unknown
Words to the wise?
Always
read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
- P. J. O'Rourke
Without a battle scar . . .
This is the morning that we take Mrs. Black Cat to her new foster home. My husband was thinking of traps and plans to catch her. I got up first, put out a can of canned clams (my sacrifice from the cupboard for the event!), grabbed her, and put her in the carrying cage. After that, I figured out the cat could escape if the top and bottom latch wasn't properly in place, got another can of canned clams, and repeated the procedure. She is currently on our entrance way inside the house awaiting her transport to her new home. She isn't happy about the loss of freedom right now. I do have to say that she was very nice and didn't even try and scratch or bite me.
On the plus side, for me, I'm having an easy time working on the computer as our own cat, Marcela, is entranced with the fact that there is a cat in her house and is sitting on top of the carrier peering at Mrs. Black Cat. I'm thinking this is also not sitting well with the expectant mother.
I had a moment of dismay, this morning, when everyone (including an unknown tom cat!) showed up for breakfast except for the subject of transport this morning! I was worried that she had given way to her pregnancy and had the babies during the night and I know we'd never find where she had them until they could walk enough to follow her here . . . like the last time! About 20 minutes later, she came waddling up the walkway and, as they say, the rest is history.
Finding homes for these porch-dwelling cats has been interesting. I've sort of enjoyed getting to meet them and love the one we kept but I'm ready to put away the litter box in the front yard and go back to our boring existence. We still have the two black kittens and the other mother cat to get adopted but having found a home for a massively pregnant cat was a gift from Heaven. Who would have thought Mrs. Black Cat would be so lucky? And these small town cats are go far afield! Two of the other litter of kittens found homes in San Diego which is two hours from our house. Mrs. Black Cat is going to live in San Clemente which is along the coastal area. At least they are moving up to the better real estate!
On the plus side, for me, I'm having an easy time working on the computer as our own cat, Marcela, is entranced with the fact that there is a cat in her house and is sitting on top of the carrier peering at Mrs. Black Cat. I'm thinking this is also not sitting well with the expectant mother.
I had a moment of dismay, this morning, when everyone (including an unknown tom cat!) showed up for breakfast except for the subject of transport this morning! I was worried that she had given way to her pregnancy and had the babies during the night and I know we'd never find where she had them until they could walk enough to follow her here . . . like the last time! About 20 minutes later, she came waddling up the walkway and, as they say, the rest is history.
Finding homes for these porch-dwelling cats has been interesting. I've sort of enjoyed getting to meet them and love the one we kept but I'm ready to put away the litter box in the front yard and go back to our boring existence. We still have the two black kittens and the other mother cat to get adopted but having found a home for a massively pregnant cat was a gift from Heaven. Who would have thought Mrs. Black Cat would be so lucky? And these small town cats are go far afield! Two of the other litter of kittens found homes in San Diego which is two hours from our house. Mrs. Black Cat is going to live in San Clemente which is along the coastal area. At least they are moving up to the better real estate!
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Surprising yet happy news!
A silver lining appeared in our stray cat problem - we found a foster home for the pregnant cat today! It necessitates a 45-minute drive to drop off Mrs. Black Cat at her new home but it is worth it to not have to put this pretty cat down. Busy day as half the family sees to the college chauffeuring and the other half goes with the cat to her new home. And here we figured the pregnant cat would be the hardest one to place! I talked to the 'foster' mom and she is totally excited about her new house guest. I'm so glad for this sweet but tough kitty that has been on the streets for her whole life to finally find a stable home out of the element with regular meals and lots of love.
Now, we can concentrate our efforts and prayers on finding the two kittens and the other cat a home, too.
Now, we can concentrate our efforts and prayers on finding the two kittens and the other cat a home, too.
Fridays aren't my favorite day of the week . . . from now on!
I used to look forward to Fridays because it was the start of the weekend, I had my husband home for two days without having to head into the office, no driving children to school . . . After this Friday, I don't think I will feel quite the same about that day, anymore.
We have spent the last couple of months trying to find homes for cats that never belonged to us in the first place. We were blessed to have placed four of the six kittens but now have two, half-grown male cats who are going to the shelter this Friday. I wouldn't feel so bad if they even had a chance but all reports are that cats and kittens are not even given a chance to be seen but exterminated soon after they are turned into the shelter. Too many people not taking responsibility for their animals and too many cats needing homes. It is the fact that I've heard from reliable sources that the cats are not exactly euthanized humanely but gassed with a bunch of other cats. I know they are just animals but the thought of gentle cats being terrified and suffering like that is abhorrent to me. We have, however, exhausted all other avenues.
We thought about having them more humanely put down at a vet's office but at over $75 each, we can't afford that. I wish the heirs of the man who was keeping so many cats in our neighborhood had taken care of the problem their father started before they just cleared the house and turned it over to the bank for sale. I guess we should be thankful because, at one time, the guy must have had over ten cats!
It is heartbreaking to see the two, black kittens appear out of our bushes and immediately start purring. We have kept our distance except to see that they had water in this heat and a minimum of food. They left a dead rat on our doorstep so I guess they are thankful for that. :-) There are also two, year old female cats. One is the most beautiful, long-haired cat with a motley assortment of fur colors and the prettiest cream-colored paws. The other is heavily pregnant shiny black cat with what looks like about 100 wiggling kittens inside of her. Counting the pregnant cat, probably expecting about five kittens and the other three, we are looking at taking nine cats to their death which goes against our grain and will probably never leave my mind!
I'm still holding out hope that something turns up for this bunch of cats before Friday but it sure doesn't look likely right now.
We have spent the last couple of months trying to find homes for cats that never belonged to us in the first place. We were blessed to have placed four of the six kittens but now have two, half-grown male cats who are going to the shelter this Friday. I wouldn't feel so bad if they even had a chance but all reports are that cats and kittens are not even given a chance to be seen but exterminated soon after they are turned into the shelter. Too many people not taking responsibility for their animals and too many cats needing homes. It is the fact that I've heard from reliable sources that the cats are not exactly euthanized humanely but gassed with a bunch of other cats. I know they are just animals but the thought of gentle cats being terrified and suffering like that is abhorrent to me. We have, however, exhausted all other avenues.
We thought about having them more humanely put down at a vet's office but at over $75 each, we can't afford that. I wish the heirs of the man who was keeping so many cats in our neighborhood had taken care of the problem their father started before they just cleared the house and turned it over to the bank for sale. I guess we should be thankful because, at one time, the guy must have had over ten cats!
It is heartbreaking to see the two, black kittens appear out of our bushes and immediately start purring. We have kept our distance except to see that they had water in this heat and a minimum of food. They left a dead rat on our doorstep so I guess they are thankful for that. :-) There are also two, year old female cats. One is the most beautiful, long-haired cat with a motley assortment of fur colors and the prettiest cream-colored paws. The other is heavily pregnant shiny black cat with what looks like about 100 wiggling kittens inside of her. Counting the pregnant cat, probably expecting about five kittens and the other three, we are looking at taking nine cats to their death which goes against our grain and will probably never leave my mind!
I'm still holding out hope that something turns up for this bunch of cats before Friday but it sure doesn't look likely right now.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
ABC Baking Recipe for the Day!
This recipe will fall under any of the first three letters of the alphabet as far as filing them away for future reference goes. I just this minute finished baking a batch of these cupcakes and they are really interesting, amazing, and tasty. The bacon enhances the chunks of apple and leaves you wondering what that extra flavor could be. Not too sweet but still the children will probably ask for a second one.
Apple Bacon Cupcakes
2 sticks of softened butter
1 cup of brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1 2/3 cups milk (I used 2% fat milk)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups finely diced apple (I left the peel on the apples)
1 cup finely diced bacon, fried crisp and drained (measure it uncooked)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with liners.
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together. Add in the eggs and beat until well combined.
Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to the creamed mixture. Measure in the milk and stir to just blend. Fold in the vanilla, apples, and bacon.
Scoop into prepared muffin pan. Fill about 3/4th full to allow for rising. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes or unti the top bounces back when lightly pressed. Makes about 24-30 cupcakes. Serve warm or cold and see if anyone guesses the 'odd' ingredient!
Apple Bacon Cupcakes
2 sticks of softened butter
1 cup of brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
4 cups all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons of ground cinnamon
1 2/3 cups milk (I used 2% fat milk)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups finely diced apple (I left the peel on the apples)
1 cup finely diced bacon, fried crisp and drained (measure it uncooked)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pan with liners.
In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together. Add in the eggs and beat until well combined.
Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon to the creamed mixture. Measure in the milk and stir to just blend. Fold in the vanilla, apples, and bacon.
Scoop into prepared muffin pan. Fill about 3/4th full to allow for rising. Bake for approximately 12-15 minutes or unti the top bounces back when lightly pressed. Makes about 24-30 cupcakes. Serve warm or cold and see if anyone guesses the 'odd' ingredient!
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