Just getting started
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Cousins
I also wanted to put in a plug for my seventh grade girls tech class e-cookbook. It can be found here Here's What's Cookin..... Check it out. We will be adding some helpful cooking tips and interesting food trivia as well as some more recipes, so check it out from time to time.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Long Time no Update
It's been awhile since I've updated this blog. Quite a bit has happened since I posted last. For one, I've been busy knitting Christmas Stockings for the grandkids. What fun. They turned out better than I hoped. In fact, I like them so well I may make some to try and sell. Take a look.
Here's two of the five I made. They were a lot of fun to make but rather hard on my hands. I really built some strength every time I had to knit two honkin' big stitches together, or pick up those stitches along the heel flap to make the gusset. I used some big, bulky yarn. Now I'm working on just regular sized stockings again.
One of the reasons I was able to get five stockings knit in such a short time is because I sat at the hospital every afternoon or evening with Mother for six days. Yep, Mom's been in the hospital again, but she is home now with oxygen full time. Doctor says she's done everything she can do for her, and now we see what happens next. I'd say at 91 the doctor has definitely done all she can for Mother, and done a darn good job of it. Maybe too good. Sometimes I wonder where her iron will to keep living comes from. She has to have pretty much 24 hour care and she can't knit anymore. However, she still enjoys her talking books and visiting on the phone. Oh yes, she is enjoying her food too. What she can eat anyway. That's another issue. Here gums are so sore it makes it very hard to keep here dentures in to eat. Oh well, we just take one day at a time.
Believe it or not, I even have part of my Christmas shopping done. I wrapped presents today.
My baking has been neglected, but that's okay. I needed a break from that because I always eat too much of what I make. With winter setting in I best take it easy in the eating department.
We had a relaxing Thanksgiving this year. This is the first time in several years that Jerry and I haven't hosted Thanksgiving dinner. Nope, we went to KC, stayed in hotel, and took Jan, Devin, and the boys out to eat. They came to the hotel and swam in the indoor pool and then we played board games in the lobby. It was quite relaxing and stress free. Believe me, after Jerry's stress at work, a relaxing few days out of town was much needed.
We ended the weekend with a second Thanksgiving dinner at Jerry's sister's. It was great and we had a lot of fun playing Sequence in the afternoon. I'm going to have to get that game.
Today it was back to the real world of work. Three weeks and I'll be off again for about two weeks. Yippee!! I love Christmas break.
One of the reasons I was able to get five stockings knit in such a short time is because I sat at the hospital every afternoon or evening with Mother for six days. Yep, Mom's been in the hospital again, but she is home now with oxygen full time. Doctor says she's done everything she can do for her, and now we see what happens next. I'd say at 91 the doctor has definitely done all she can for Mother, and done a darn good job of it. Maybe too good. Sometimes I wonder where her iron will to keep living comes from. She has to have pretty much 24 hour care and she can't knit anymore. However, she still enjoys her talking books and visiting on the phone. Oh yes, she is enjoying her food too. What she can eat anyway. That's another issue. Here gums are so sore it makes it very hard to keep here dentures in to eat. Oh well, we just take one day at a time.
Believe it or not, I even have part of my Christmas shopping done. I wrapped presents today.
My baking has been neglected, but that's okay. I needed a break from that because I always eat too much of what I make. With winter setting in I best take it easy in the eating department.
We had a relaxing Thanksgiving this year. This is the first time in several years that Jerry and I haven't hosted Thanksgiving dinner. Nope, we went to KC, stayed in hotel, and took Jan, Devin, and the boys out to eat. They came to the hotel and swam in the indoor pool and then we played board games in the lobby. It was quite relaxing and stress free. Believe me, after Jerry's stress at work, a relaxing few days out of town was much needed.
We ended the weekend with a second Thanksgiving dinner at Jerry's sister's. It was great and we had a lot of fun playing Sequence in the afternoon. I'm going to have to get that game.
Today it was back to the real world of work. Three weeks and I'll be off again for about two weeks. Yippee!! I love Christmas break.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Kringle Recipe
I've tried this recipe several times now, and not once was it not fit to eat. It's very good and really not all that much work. However, I usually don't advertise that last bit of info. I like for my friends and co-workers to think I put many diligent hours into my successful baking adventures. And if it doesn't work out??? I throw it in the trash and never let anyone know I even tried. (This system works for me pretty well. )
Using a pastry blender or two knives, in a large bowl, cut butter into flour and salt until particles are the size of small peas. Add yeast mixture, sugar, warm milk, and egg. Beat until smooth. (Dough will be very soft.) Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but not more than 24 hours.
When ready to use, remove from refrigerator. Punch dough down and divide in half. Return other half to refrigerator. On a well-floured board and working quickly before dough softens, roll into a 15 x 10 inch rectangle, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. (If dough gets too warm from handling, return to refrigerator for awhile.)
Spread half of the cream cheese filling down the center of the dough rectangle in a two-inch strip.
On top of that, spread your favorite jam.
Fold sides of dough over filling, overlapping 1 1/2 inches. Pinch edges to seal.
Oval Shape
Form roll into a circle and pinch ends together. Place seam side down on a large greased baking sheet. Repeat same process with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until double in size.
Preheat oven to 375° and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes. Spread Glaze and sprinkle top with chopped pecans or walnuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Note- I sometimes try to make a little fancier looking Kringle by cutting the edges into 1/2 inch strips and criss-crossing them over the filling instead of just overlapping the edges like it says in the recipe. I haven't perfected it yet, but am still trying. Heck! I don't even have the oval shape perfected yet! No matter, it still tastes wonderful.
Dough
1 pkg. active dry yeast (I buy yeast by the jar and use 1 tablespoon.)
1/4 cup warm water (110°-115°)
1/2 cup cold butter
2 cups all-purpose flour (I always end up using a bit more. You just have to get a feel for it)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup warm milk (110°-115°)
1 egg beaten
Filling
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Your favorite jam (I use apricot)
1 Cup chopped nuts
Mix the first 3 ingredients with mixer on medium speed until smooth.
Glaze
1 Cup powdered sugar
4 – 5 teaspoons water
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Whisk until smooth.
In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water.Preparing the dough
Using a pastry blender or two knives, in a large bowl, cut butter into flour and salt until particles are the size of small peas. Add yeast mixture, sugar, warm milk, and egg. Beat until smooth. (Dough will be very soft.) Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours but not more than 24 hours.
When ready to use, remove from refrigerator. Punch dough down and divide in half. Return other half to refrigerator. On a well-floured board and working quickly before dough softens, roll into a 15 x 10 inch rectangle, approximately 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. (If dough gets too warm from handling, return to refrigerator for awhile.)
Spread half of the cream cheese filling down the center of the dough rectangle in a two-inch strip.
On top of that, spread your favorite jam.
Fold sides of dough over filling, overlapping 1 1/2 inches. Pinch edges to seal.
Oval Shape
Form roll into a circle and pinch ends together. Place seam side down on a large greased baking sheet. Repeat same process with remaining dough and filling. Cover and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes or until double in size.
Preheat oven to 375° and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and let cool for 15 minutes. Spread Glaze and sprinkle top with chopped pecans or walnuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Note- I sometimes try to make a little fancier looking Kringle by cutting the edges into 1/2 inch strips and criss-crossing them over the filling instead of just overlapping the edges like it says in the recipe. I haven't perfected it yet, but am still trying. Heck! I don't even have the oval shape perfected yet! No matter, it still tastes wonderful.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday night Knitting Club
Yes, it is official. I am now a member of a knitting club. One Tuesday a month I get together with six other hip, needle savvy ladies who enjoy knitting or crocheting. Some are beginners; some are experienced. Me??? I'm somewhere in between. We have a lot of fun sitting around knitting or crocheting and sharing our yarn crafting stories and showing off our latest creation. And... it's all right to brag! Nobody rolls their eyes when one of us shows off the sweater we just finished or the dishrag that is finally done. We really appreciate each other's unique talent. We also pick up some pretty useful tips, or get some help if we're stuck somewhere in a pattern of a project we're working on.
This month's get together was at my house and there was quite a range of projects being worked on tonight. The needles were really clicking. Two of us were working on socks, one was working on a baby sweater, and three were working on scarves. Most were knitting, but we did have one crocheter in the group. One thing I like about this group besides the knitting is meeting new people. We're a pretty diverse group of females, but one Tuesday a month it doesn't really matter how different we are or what our political or religious views are, or what our philosophy is on child rearing. We don't gossip. We don't talk about work. We talk yarn, patterns, and what our next project is going to be. I love it!
This month's get together was at my house and there was quite a range of projects being worked on tonight. The needles were really clicking. Two of us were working on socks, one was working on a baby sweater, and three were working on scarves. Most were knitting, but we did have one crocheter in the group. One thing I like about this group besides the knitting is meeting new people. We're a pretty diverse group of females, but one Tuesday a month it doesn't really matter how different we are or what our political or religious views are, or what our philosophy is on child rearing. We don't gossip. We don't talk about work. We talk yarn, patterns, and what our next project is going to be. I love it!
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