Tuesday, January 19, 2010
In the lip synced words of Milli Vanilli, I blame it on the rain.
This week California is suppose to get it’s quarter of a century record breaking rain. From 5-20 inches! Grreeeeaattt… I’m hoping my area is more towards the 5 inches spectrum rather than the 20 inches. But CB we could really use the rain. Ok that’s true. But you gotta understand something. I’m Asian. We already have a terrible reputation for being bad drivers. (I will neither confirm or deny the rumor per my lawyer’s instructions.) Add in the rain and that’s 2 strikes against us!
You were probably coming to my blog to read about some fabulous Tuesdays With Dorie dessert-ness but it’s cold, dreary, rainy and wet in my neck of the woods. All of which put me to sleep rather than give me a get-up-and-bake mentality. But check out Lillian of Confectiona’s Realm for the Almost Candy Bar recipe >> here.
Instead I decided to embrace the rain. Thank goodness for shop-a-holic friends, Target and text messages. For the last hour I’ve been looking at buying some rain boots after my friend sent me a text about buying some pink polka dot rain boots from Target. So of course I got the want-them-don’t-really-need-them twitch. But not fugly yellow ones that fishermen wear. Cutesy ones. Ones that make me forget the cold, dreary, rainy wet (Did I mention those adjectives already?) outside.
Do you want some rain boots too? Well today’s your LUCKY day!
Rules:
(1) Only one entry per person please.
(2) Only those who live within the US eligible to win prizes. (Sorry my international peeps!)
(3) Please make sure you have a valid email address so I can contact you if you win.
To enter leave a comment:
I posted some of my favorites from Target’s website. Which rain boots should I buy? (Sorry to rain on your parade but time’s up!)
Want an extra entry?
Just copy, paste and retweet about my giveaway! Leave me a separate comment with the link to your tweet.
RT @IHCuppycakes Embrace the rain in style! Rainy Day **GIVEAWAY** http://bit.ly/4USOKK
Deadline: Monday, January 22nd @ 11:59pm EST
Supposedly the weatherman is saying that we’ll get sunny skies again come Saturday but let’s give him a little leeway and make the deadline Monday. You know how reliable weathermen are right? HA!
Winners will be chosen by Mr. Random Generator.
* All Rain boots from Target $24.99
** Prize to be given in form of a $25 gift card to Target
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Ok I lied.
I know I said I’d have the winner of the giveaway up on my blog yesterday. But hey. It just goes to show you I can’t be trusted. Now you’ve learned your lesson. So really it’s your fault for giving me so much credit.
(I knew I should have gone to Law School.)
Special thanks to Jamie of Studio JK Vinyls for sponsoring this giveaway. Darling, you have a fan for life! *smooches*
… And the winner is.
Lucky Comment #1.
Now how often does that happen. Heck I find myself subconsciously NOT commenting first on giveaways b/c I know that the first person NEVER gets chosen. Guess Mr. Random Generator just proved me wrong today.
Congratulations Diane! Please email me your shipping address, what you want the 6 vinyls to say and color choice.
… and thanks to everyone that left me a comment.
Until next time.
“Any fool can tell the truth, but it requires a (wo)man of some sense to know how to lie well.” ~Samuel Butler
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I know you’re probably confused.
You’re probably thinking… CB, I read your blog word for word every day and you said this week would be Mrs. Vogel’s Scherben? Who’s Ms. Engineer?
Ok maybe you don’t read word-for-word or even everyday but you are right. This week should be Mrs. Vogel’s Scherben. Side note: Am I the only one that has no idea what a “scherben” actually is? It’s not even in the dictionary! (Yes, I looked it up. No, I’m not offended that you said NERD under your breath.) Apparently Scherben is German for shard. It’s deep fried dough that is sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Sounds like a funnel cake to me. I love funnel cake. Slap on gobs of strawberries and powdered sugar and OH BABY it’s better than a cupcake. Yeah I said it!
But I have a confession. I suck at frying. It makes me nervous. It’s gonna take me a little more time to get the courage to deep fry anything in my new house. I have this neurosis that I’ll burn my new house down. *knock on wood*
So my sincere apologies to Teanna of Spork of Foon, our Tuesdays with Dorie host this week, but it’s not you. You’re the coolest foodie on the block. It’s me. You still love me right? Don’t leave me hanging… I feel so guilty already.
Instead I decided to do a TWD rewind. I was bumming that I didn’t get a chance to make my foodie friend, McDuff of Lonely Side Car’s pick last month. You can find the recipe on her blog. Even though I’ve been bad on the blog commenting and email corresponding (I “just” found out that she’s engaged! *squeal*), me and McDuff are like this. *crossing index and middle fingers* Hmmm… maybe more like index+ring finger. Tight but hard to reach sometimes. She’s my second favorite Bostonian. (Nikki of Crazy Delicious Food is my Number 1. And she’ll hurt me if I don’t say that. I’m not kidding. Save me.)
This picture is dedicated to Mike of Ugly Dude Food who explained that my mental health would improve if I just took the pictures where they lay. No props, no artificial lighting, no digital enhancement. Aaahhhh… I can feel my stress level decreasing already although it’s driving me a tad crazy that the saturation needs to be bumped down a notch. I know. I have issues.
So to make a long story short. (Too late for that, CB.) I baked up the Cafe Volcano Cookies instead. Why the homage to Ms. Engineer? Well… Caitlin of Engineer Baker (Get it??) inspired me to switch out the espresso powder for double the cocoa powder. And also special thanks to Nancy of The Dogs Eat The Crumbs, Tracey of Tracey’s Culinary Adventures and Margaret of Tea And Scones for confirming my nut(ty) substitution. True to my unprepared form. I realized I had no walnuts or almonds at the last minute. So instead opted for double the pecans instead.
What I learned this week:
This are the EASIEST cookies I’ve ever made. No joke. Five minutes + baking time.
ENJOY!
Husband rating: A
It’s not his favorite cookie (he’s more of a PB cookie man) but he said that it would be awesome dunked in a cup of coffee.
Wife rating: A
I can’t believe that this turned out. There are only 4 ingredients: nuts, espresso powder (or cocoa), egg white and sugar. I remember thinking before I baked them there was no way this could turn out any kind of cookie. But once again The Great Dorie Greenspan proves me wrong. This cookie is oh so right. I agree with hubs. Would be yummy with a hot drink. Next time I might cut down on the baking time so it’s not as crunchy though.
Next week: Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars pages 114-115
Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner of Studio JK Vinyls! (and you thought I forgot didn’t you!?)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Like my subject line implies…
I can’t remember what number Tuesdays with Dorie recipe I am on now. I wanna say in the high 80s maybe? Then again my memory aint what it use to be back in my 20s now that I’m in my 30s so I could be WAY off on the count. All I know is it feels like FOREVER AND A DAY since I last participated. Anyone that tells you that you can buy a house, move into your house, unpack all the boxes, celebrate the holidays *AND* keep up with any other activities is Super Woman. I certainly couldn’t so unfortunately my little ol blog lacked any Tuesday with Dorie goodness lately.
Do I still have any readers hanging around? *echo echo*
But I knew I had to come back come hell or high water for TWD’s 2 year anniversary!
Psst… Come closer. Can I tell you a secret? I’m a little bitter that my campaign for the White Chocolate Brownies for TWD’s 2nd anniversary recipe got axed. Frick Da Man?!? The Cocoa Buttermilk Cake got picked b/c everyone likes cake. The Tarte Tatin got picked b/c every one likes frenchy frou frou stuff. What about the brownie? Show some love for the brownie! Ok I’m done with my vent.
Since my brownies didn’t get picked (AGAIN!!) I decided to go with the Cocoa Buttermilk Cake. Because like I said. Everyone likes cakes. Esp when I can make them into cupcakes so that I can give away to neighbors easily. Transportable desserts are the way to go for me. Just saying.
What I learned this week:
I am getting better at judging the ratio of ingredients when I bake now. I halved the recipe to make 12 cupcakes but when I was measuring out the amount of buttermilk I realized before it was too late that I forgot to half it. Whew! That would have been some runny cake batter. Runny cake batter just aint right.
Happy 2nd Anniversary Tuesdays With Dorie baking group!
It’s been a fun ride!! I’m looking forward to the next years and beyond… *MUAH*
Cocoa Buttermilk {Cup}Cake
You can find the recipe on Laurie’s blog or page 256-257 of Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan
ENJOY!
Wifey rating: A
I really like this “cake” recipe. It’s moist and full of chocolate flavor. Adding the melted bittersweet chocolate was optional but don’t skip it! I honestly thought it brought out a great chocolate flavor. I didn’t make the malted buttercream frosting though. I opted for a cream cheese frosting instead. My Hubby isn’t a fan of “malt” and since he’d be the one eating it I figured I better substitute his favorite.
Husband rating: A
He liked the “cake” but loves the cream cheese frosting. There’s just something about cream cheese.
Next week: Mrs. Vogel’s Scherben pages 157-159
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Hello Blog. It’s been 20 days since my last confession.
Oh wait! Wrong audience. *embarrassed blush*
I don’t know about you but this holiday wiped me out! I can barely remember what day it is much less who I’m talking to anymore. But now that I’ve had a few days after Christmas to recover I figure it’s about time to celebrate 2010 with a … wait for it… G-I-V-E-A-W-A-Y! *readers cheer*
Now I admit I’m not one for New Year’s Resolutions. It always seems like every year making a New Year’s Resolution is like setting myself up for failure. I think my problem is that I make these crazy resolutions that are way too specific. For example: By 2011 you will lose 50lbs. See what I mean? I can’t even remember the last time I lost 5 lbs much less 50 lbs. But it’s not *MY* fault. I blame Tuesdays with Dorie. Yeah I said it! Whatcha gonna do about it? *getting into my Karate Kid crane stance* Don’t mess with me. I aint afraid to use it.
So this year. I say PHOOEY on da man! (I’m eating a 3 day old red velvet cupcake as I type this to prove my point!) I decided to set my New Year’s Resolution BEFORE New Year’s. I figure it would take away the stigma and maybe I’d actually accomplish it. I decided to call it my Un-New Year’s Resolution. Ta da! The Mad Hatter would be so proud. And furthermore. I decided to ban any kind of weight loss, diet, South Beach, Atkins, low carb terminology in my Un-Year’s Resolutions too. Instead I want to focus on something that’s been on my to-do list for a long time: organize my kitchen!
Remember my recent tweet about these vinyl stickers?
It would be an understatement to say how much I LOVE.LOVE.LOVE these stickers. Talk about organization meets kitchen chic! Forget the Ikea shelves and wall racks that my husband installed for me. My favorite part of my kitchen are these glass jars and vinyl stickers. They make me smile every time I scoop out a cup of flour/sugar/brown sugar.
To celebrate my Un-New Year’s Resolution 2010, Jamie of Studio JK is sponsoring a set of 6 vinyl labels to one lucky reader. *golf clap
You can even customize it to your kitchen with the color and “words” of your choice. I went with the traditional black b/c I like how it matches with my stainless steel appliances but you could be more adventurous with red or blue or green or yellow to match your Kitchen Aid. How fun is that?
Here’s the fine print.
Rules:
(1) Only one entry per person please.
(2) Only those who live within the US eligible to win prizes. (Sorry my international peeps!)
(3) Please make sure you have a valid email address so I can contact you if you win.
To enter leave a comment:
What is your Un-New Year’s Resolution? (Remember ixnay on the ietday alktay please!)
Want an extra entry?
Just copy, paste and retweet about my giveaway! Leave me a separate comment with the link to your tweet.
RT @IHCuppycakes Happy Un-New Year’s Resolution **GIVEAWAY** with @studiojkvinyl’s vinyls! http://bit.ly/5JK1l2
Deadline: Monday, January 4th @ 11:59pm EST
Winners will be chosen by Mr. Random Generator.
A very merry Un-New Year’s to you! and you and you and youuuuuuu…
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