Feb 14, 2011---Yeah it's that one holiday....again

Well, it is another VD day.  Some of us are showered by their lovers with delectable chocolate truffles and dozens of red long stem roses---the lucky few.  For those of use who aren't as lucky, I present a delicious, inexpensive, dessert that makes eating-in quite enjoyable.

We aren't going out on a hot-date tonight, and honestly I'm just fine about it.  But, I did make this to celebrate.  It's a heart-shaped, red-velvet, torted, single-layer cake filled and frosted with cream cheese frosting (and crumb covered with red-velvet cake crumbs).

And to all those that celebrate, I hope you have a great day!

W

Feb 13, 2011---Time to make the...Bagels

What else to do on a day off from school? 

Bake a little?  Of course!

I made these more into the "mini-bagel" size, which proabably is more of a real serving. 

BTW, don't feel prompted to eat these straight out of the oven.  As my mouth can attest, burned tissue isn't pleasant.

For those of my fans wondering....I used a bread machine recipe and ....my bread machine.  For this recipe, you make the dough, then you take the dough, manipulate it into little baby bagels, let them rise 10 more, boil the little suckers for 3 mins, glaze them with egg (add topping if desired), and bake 'em for 20-25 more.  Not bad. 

Try it Mikey, you'll like it!

W

Jan 28, 2011---Ugly Cake

So, we celebrated chocolate cake day yesterday.  But in the ugliest of fashions.  Let's just say that this cake reflected my sentiments toward yesterday---it was unpleasant to look at no matter what angle you choose.

Here are some tips if you want to have an ugly cake experience too: 

• have a crappy day, make sure you struggle to keep ankle-biters away from the hot oven while separating constant bickering from your older two children
• be hungry and cranky too
• don't properly grease your pans (or allow your 6 yr old to grease them)
• pull your cake out of the pan when it's too warm
• be sure to laugh maniacally if you start icing your cake and it falls apart
• continue laughing maniacally to prevent crying, but continue icing until either you need alcohol or a trip to the head shrinker
• get neither but indulge in super-chocolatey ugly cake

ahhhhh....can I say I'm glad chocolate cake day is over? 

W

Jan 27, 2011---Chocolate Cake Day (and other trips off of the wagon)

Today is chocolate cake day, and it's still up in the air if I will make some:)  Maybe I'll pass some down to one of the [MANY] pregos I know who might need a little chocolate in their life.

And in other news, we used our first gift card.  Let it be marked forever and indelibly in the annals of history---January 26, 2011, our little family ate out for the first time in over three weeks.  Actually, we ate in.  Jeff got take-out with one of our three cards (so tally it...we're down to two...two cards hahahaha).  What did we get?  The all-American fast food---McDonalds.  I had a southern chicken sandwich (with lettuce and tomato) and some EXTREMELY salty fries.  I'm thinking my tastebuds are in the process of regressing back to a time when we didn't have salted EVERYTHING. We broke down mostly because I think we were both suffering from headaches and "I don't wannas."  That's fine.

Tonight is a black bean soup recipe that a gal-pal passed along.  It has bacon, and as we all know, you can't go wrong with bacon, butter or chocolate.

Life is good and we're back on the wagon.

W

Jan 22,2011--- National Blonde Brownie Day (And Macaroons and how to gain 1000 lbs this winter)

How to gain 1000 lbs this winter, by me

When trying to put your body into hibernation, one should first love carbohydrates.  Love your carbohydrates in any form you can get them...into your mouth.  You should also love to bake, or know where you can acquire baked goods.  If you know how to bake, bake a ton (under the premise that you'll share) and then just share with yourself...some more...and some more.  And finally, if you are going to meet your 1/2 ton quota, please be sure to have reasons to indulge yourself everyday (it is great if you have some unresolved emotional issues that you need to address or it is also fabulous if you have raging hormones, even better if you have both). 

All jesting aside (kinda), coconut macaroons are the bomb-diggity.  I've always wanted to try my hand at making them, and last night was the night.  Of course, they are only good for those people who actually like coconut, as they consist primarily of ...coconut.

I dug around the internet searching for a recipe (as I was too lazy to get off my couch to look through the 1700 recipe books I have) and found numerous recipes for coconut macaroons...with sweetened condensed milk.   Alas, I didn't have nary a can of SCM, so....I hunted some more and found Alton Brown's recipe...and only slightly altered it (the tail-end).  After you put the finished macaroons on a cooling rack, place the parchment paper underneath.  Warm choco in the your-crowave, put it in a ziploc baggie, nip the tip, and drizzle over macaroons.  All I could hear was Sinatra singing "Heaven, I'm in heaven.....blah de blah....cheek to cheek...."

They might not be beautiful, but my tongue thought they were a w e s o m e. 

Just two few small tips:

• For the love of all that is holy, please don't scorch the chocolate.  There is nothing worse in this life than wasted chocolate...and the smell that emanates from said scorched chocolate.

• Pay veddy careful attention to the coconut when toasting it.  Very quickly it goes from a beautiful white to a not-so-pretty black (no joke, like 30 seconds).  It will be in your oven, oh-so-innocent, and go to char in a blink of 70 eyes.

W

Jan 13, 2011---Days all off, but what's new?

So yesterday officially was curried chicken day, so how did our little eating-in household celebrate? With deep dish pizza, of course!  Apparently I got my days confused, and made the MOST AWESOME deep dish pizza (most awesome mostly because 1) it was my first attempt EVER and 2) it was more than edible;)

I used an iron skillet (which we rarely use---mostly for camping and things on the grill).   It wasn't the lightest meal, so I paired it with some spinach salad and some peaches.

         The End Product......

I will say that I probably won't make this on a school night again, as it was time intensive when my children were being....intense.  It was literally a miracle that dinner was done at 6, and on any other night of the last year I would have just said "whatever" and gotten take-out. But, I'm holding strong! 

I used this recipe (http://www.food.com/recipe/pizzeria-uno-chicago-deep-dish-pizza-205279) except I altered it slightly (due to what I had and recipe recommendations from the feedback).  I used only 3 1/2 cup flour (and I used bread flour), and I didn't use basil, but canned tomatoes with basil already in it, and 

1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning (mine was salt-free). 

Tonight we're having crock pot curried chicken, as to help with the time in the kitchen at inopportune times.

On a side note, today is Peach Melba Day, so those of you participating, oh Happy Day to you!  

A well-fed Wondermom

Jan 10--National Bittersweet Chocolate Day (and other gifts from God)

So, today is bittersweet chocolate day.  In honor of one of God's greatest gifts, I'd like to submit a haiku, for your pleasure.

love my lovely heart

dark chocolaty blissful treat

fill my saddened soul

Beautiful in every which way, just like deep, dark, rich chocolate.  Chocolate truly is a matter of taste.  In this life of ours, there are :the few, and the disturbed, who do not like chocolate, the unfortunate souls who are allergic to chocolate,  those who are distinctly dark chocolate lovers and then there are milk chocolate aficionados.  Like a part of our personality, it is a marker that sticks with us like a tattoo.

If you haven't figured out which chocolate you are, just know that dark chocolate has awesome health benefits (Google flavinoids).

I made this goody for a baby-shower.  It's actually Rice Krispie treats (the bottom layer is peanut-butter, the top is white-chocolate (the fake chocolate) and raspberry).  The bottom layer is covered with a dark-chocolate ganache and the top layer is toped with white and dark chocolate swirls.

So today, whether you curl up with the movie Chocolat, or open a a big old box of Godiva Chocolates, just know that it is a delicious treat...to be shared!

So, which chocolate team do you root for? 

Wondermom

Jan 8---Happy English Toffee Day (and the adventure known as life

To celebrate English Toffee Day we made Heath Pie (apparantly like they serve at Perkins).  I googled and found the recipe here, but the verdict is still out.  I am wanting something well-set, almost custardy, and am afraid of glop come dinner time.  I did have fun however divulging the deliciousness to my fam; oh, how I love Heath bars!!

I'm also going to entertain the idea of a jalapeno cream cheese sauce for mexi-night!  I've eaten at a chainy (but local chain methinks) restaurant that has a jalapeno cream cheese sauce...and I think they put it in a broiler (or salamander I think they are called), because it comes out delicious and ooey and gooey with a slight brown on the cheese.  Perfection!  I'm also not really one for spicy foods (which might be a problem come hot and spicy food day), but this is tinged with a jalapeno flavor.

Wish me luck!  I'm just trying to keep things new and interesting---I have a while to go (357 days, 11:30:22...not that I'm counting)

Wondermom