Sunday, May 9, 2010
I don’t know how it happened but 6 days ago I was informed that Mother’s Day would be at my house this year. Ok! Sure no problem. It’s just the Hubs’ family. So I can handle 6 people. But 3 days later I found out it had multiplied like rabbits into a 25 person party.
WHAT… THE… FRICK.
Commence panic now.
But I’m happy to say now that everyone’s left, company was awesome, dishes are done, my feet hurt, my voice is hoarse from laughing and all the food is gone. Of course being a foodie I made everyone wait to eat until I got some pictures. HA!
Happy Mother’s Day to all my XX family and friends out there.
Group shot!
Puff pastry baked bried with herb crackers and Granny Smith apples. You can find the recipe (here).
Spinach+Artichoke dip in a bread bowl. You can find the recipe (here).
Asian Noodle Salad in a Wonton Cup. This is one of my FAVORITE salads but no offense to Pioneer Woman, it was missing something. Wontons! I made the wonton cups with 2 wonton wrappers, brushed with vegetable oil, in a jumbo muffin pan. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 375F until golden and crispy. You can find the recipe for Asian Noodle Salad (here). Just chop up the components a little smaller to make it fit the cups.
It’s not a party without chips and dip! I heart guacamole. Nom nom nom.
Margherita English Muffin pizzas. You can find the basic recipe (here).
Strawberry Pistachio and Pastry Cream Mini Tarts. I’ll post more on Tuesday for my weekly Tuesday With Dorie post. But the short of it… A fan favorite with EVERYONE at the party.
Vanilla Cupcakes with Raspberry Chambord+Vanilla Buttercream Swirl. You can find recipe for Chambord frosting (here). I also use a vanilla buttercream to make a dual color swirl.
We also had some guests bring wine, deviled eggs, mini quiches, more chips, veggie tray and fruit tray. Needless to say no one went home hungry! Until next year…
****************************************************
To my Mom, I know we aren’t as close as some mother-daughters but I’m so happy that our relationship has gotten better and better as time goes on. I cherish every moment we spend together. Happy Mother’s Day. I love you. xo, Your ClareBear
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
♪I SCREAM
You SCREAM
We all SCREAM
For ICE CREAM!♪♫
Oh don’t even give me that look. You knew that song was coming sooner or later. Actually I’d be really surprised if you don’t see that song oh… about 300x today. Yup! The Tuesday With Dorie Bakers are channeling their inner ice cream (wo)man. Can’t you just hear the ice cream truck music playing? Brings back fun childhood summer memories…
Confession: I’m not really an ice cream person. Most of the time it’s a convenience thing. It’s not much more than taking the pint out of my freezer and grabbing a spoon. Bowl… optional. But I’m a cake girl at heart. Not brownies, not muffins, not cookies, not bars, not ice cream… CAKE. But I’ll make an exception for this ice cream. It’s THAT good. It converted me. You know what that means? You should stop reading my post and go make it. NOW.
Well since you’re obviously still reading… Why does no one listen to me??
This week, our hostess, Becky of Project Domestication chose Burnt Sugar Ice Cream. You can find the recipe on her blog or buy the book. Now there’s something you need to know about Becky. She also has another blog: Utah Loves Cupcakes. Obviously she lives in Utah and she loves cupcakes. I guess I can forgive the Utah part (little smack talk b/c Utah Jazz and LA Lakers are in NBA Playoffs right now) b/c she loves cupcakes. I love cupcakes. Someday I wanna go visit Becky so we can gorge ourselves silly on cupcakes. Now that’s what I call a vacation.
And since we’re kinda sorta on the subject of cupcakes and ice cream… My good friend, Stef of Cupcake Project is co-hosting her yearly Cupcake+Ice Cream event. I had a game plan. I’ve been harassing Stef for months (Right Stef?) b/c I knew exactly what I was gonna create months ago. But after making Dorie’s Burt Sugar Ice Cream, it changed everything. Out with the old plan. In with the NEW AND IMPROVED plan! You’ll have to check out my cupcake blog later to find out more. Isn’t the suspense just killing you? muhahaha… You know how you can get back at me? Join the fun. Enter the competition. Take away my chance of winning the Cuisinart Ice Cream maker prize. Wait! What am I saying?? On second thought. Don’t. HA HA!
What I learned this week:
I need to bust out my ice cream maker more often. It is way easier (and tastier!) than I thought to make home made ice cream. This may or may not be a good thing during bikini season though.
Burnt Sugar Ice Cream page 432
I’ve made caramel a couple times on the stovetop and every time I think it’s magic when the sugar dissolves into the water.
After sugar dissolves, it’s so hard for me to put the whisk down and let it mellow on the stove. I have to fight the urge to stir. Is it just me? At least my idle hands can use a pastry brush to satisfy the meddling craving.
Take my advice. Don’t walk away! It might seem like forever but it always happens to me. As soon as I turn my back, the sugar can go from clear to caramel brown in a matter of seconds. I think overall mine took about 12 minutes.
Dorie warns you to step back from the boiling sugar+water when adding the milk+cream but I’m starting to live dangerously and actually cackled when I added the milk+cream. When the combination started bubbling violently, I felt all “mad scientist”. Don’t worry if the sugar gets chunky. It happens when you add the cold milk+cream. Keep stirring and the chunks will melt.
Temper the eggs by adding the hot liquid slowly. Chunky egg ice cream is no bueno.
Return the ice cream custard base to the saucepan and stir until slightly thickened. Love Dorie’s advice about how the custard will coat the back of your spoon and leave a track if you run your finger through it. It’s always nice to go by the look at the food versus trying to find my instant read thermometer. Don’t forget the vanilla extract!
Chill the custard base in an ice bath and/or in the refrigerator until cool. Then transfer to ice cream maker. I set my KitchenAid to Stir (level 1) for about 25 minutes until it was soft serve yogurt consistency. Then I transferred to a freezer safe container and let chill overnight to set.
ENJOY!
Husband rating: A
He’s a peanut butter+chocolate ice cream man but I think he was really impressed that I could make this from scratch. Actually I think his exact words were… “You can make ice cream in your KitchenAid? If I had known that I would have gotten you one sooner!” HA HA
Wifey rating: A+
Even though I don’t need to change anything about this ice cream recipe b/c it’s so FRIGGIN amazing, I have recently discovered my love of all things strawberry+caramel and I’m thinking that version 2 might have some frozen strawberry chunks mixed in. YUM!
Next week: Quick Classic Berry Tart page 377
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
How do you load your utensils in the dishwasher? Up or down?
Since my BIL+SIL had my nieces 3 months ago, I’ve been spending alot of time at their house being a nanuntie (nanny+auntie). Initially I was coming over for 6 hours a day to give my SIL a break, keep an eye on the kids, feed, change diapers, burp as needed, so she could sleep since she’s barely getting 2 hours a night right now. But since the twins’ needs are simple: eat, sleep, poop, repeat, I do have some down time esp when their eating+sleeping patterns are in sync. Rare but appreciated anytime I can get it.
During the down times I noticed that babies come with alot of “STUFF” and it’s overflowing everywhere. Much to the dismay of my BIL who is the quintessential neat freak. And at that moment, I realize that my BIL+SIL barely have time to take care of 2 newborn girls that require their constant 24/7 attention much less do dishes. So being the AWESOME nanuntie that I am, I’ve been helping with light household chores too. Washing bottles, taking garbage out, loading dishwasher, etc
But the first time I loaded their dishwasher I realized that they put their utensils standing up. It kinda surprised me. I always put mine down. Don’t ask me if they get cleaned better doing it my way. I do it down b/c I’ve poked myself one too many times loading the dishwasher when they are standing up.
There’s no right or wrong answer.
Just different.
Monday, April 26, 2010
If you’ve been reading my blog lately you know these cookies aren’t for me. But if you’re a new reader (Hi there!) let me get you up to speed. (Old readers, you can skip the next 2 sentences.) My SIL gave birth to identical twin girls about 3 months ago. You can see a couple pics of the 2 little cuties (here).
She’s been trying to breast feed ever since they were born but her (.)(.) aren’t pumping out enough milk. TMI? Now I’m not a breast feeding expert but I’m under the impression it’s more about having 2 mouths to feed rather than her supply being lower than the average new mother. But don’t quote me.
Last week she showed me some lactation cookies she bought from Yummy Mummy Cookies and even let me try a little piece. It was kinda crumbly and tasted like a healthy cookie. Not bad but no [insert favorite cookie here]. She said it didn’t seem to be doing much for her milk supply and since they are kinda expensive (I think it was $12/8 cookies), she started looking at lactation cookie recipes online. It’s no secret in my family that I love any excuse to bake so she asked me if I’d be interesting in trying out a recipe she found. Of course I said Yes!
You should have heard me trying to explain lactation cookies to Hubs. Classic.
Here’s a little snippet of our conversation.
Me: Hey baby, wanna try a lactation cookie?
Hubs: Um… *scared look* Will I start lactating if I eat one?
Me: No, you won’t start spontaneously lactating. Besides you’re a guy. Last time I checked, guys don’t produce milk.
Hubs: You can milk anything with nipples.
Me: *groan*
Damn you Ben Stiller. I think Hubs just waits for those rare times he can use that line. It’s getting old. Ten years old to be exact. Can you believe it?
White Chocolate Oatmeal Craisin Lactation Cookies
Recipe adapted from Recipe Zaar
Makes 4-1/2 dozen (I got 57 cookies)
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
4 tbsp water
2 tbsp flax seed meal (I used Bob's Red Mill)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2-4 tbsp brewer's yeast* (I used 4 tbsp)
3 cups rolled oats (not quick oats)
1 cup chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli white chocolate chips)
1 cup craisins
* I found brewer's yeast at Vitamin World.
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix flax seed meal and water and let sit for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, salt and brewer's yeast and set aside.
In a stand mixer, fitted with a flat beater, combine the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Add eggs, mixing well after each one. Add flax seed meal and vanilla. Mix well. Slowly add flour mixture to the butter mixture. Stir in oats. Fold in white chocolate chips and craisins.
Scoop rounded tablespoons onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Let sit on baking sheet for a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.
ENJOY!
Husband rating: A
It’s not a peanut butter cookie but he was really surprised at how yummy these cookies were considering “brewer’s yeast” make him cringe at first. HA HA!
Wifey rating: A
These cookies were DAMN good considering all the “healthy” stuff I put into it. I was actually really surprised!
Other rating: A/A+
SIL says that she loves the taste of the cookies and that it REALLY helps her milk supply. It says 4 cookies/serving so at first she was just eating 4 cookies over the course of a day but the day her milk really got going was the day she ate 4 cookies in one sitting. Good to know.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
I don’t know what came over me. It was Friday night. About 12midnight. And I got the twitch. The DIY twitch. So from 12midnight to 3am I started hatching a game plan.
I saw, what is known as Resolution Subway Art, in Potter Barn months ago and thought to myself “I can do that!” (Famous last words.) At the time I didn’t know it was Subway Art until I started googling “word canvas art” and not getting what I was looking for. Us, Southern Californians don’t have public transportation like New Yorkers. I think I’ve only been on a subway 2x in my whole life. I’m sure I got lost both times too. Those maps are way too confusing. But eventually around page 15 of my google search I got the terminology that opened up a whole world of DIY-ers that had the same “I can do that!” attitude that I had while standing in the middle of Pottery Barn.
I decided to follow Ashley of Lil Blue Boo‘s Subway Art instructions but adapted it a little for my lack of power tools. You really don’t wanna see me with a saw anyways. I kinda like having 10 fingers. Of course I also put a humorous bathroom spin on mine too. Life’s too short to be serious all the time.
MATERIALS
11×14 canvas
can spray paint (I used Design Masters Deep Blue and Bright Olive)
spray adhesive
scissors
ruler
brayer (I used a kitchen scraper)
pencil
contact paper
template, enlarged to fit 11×14
sealer (I used Krylon matte)
INSTRUCTIONS
Since I knew I wanted to put my Resolution Subway Art in my master bathroom, I chose to continue the blue and apple green color scheme (See the Cetaphil lotion bottle on my over-the-toilet rack? That’s where I got my bathroom color inspirations. Funny, eh?) although I adore the classic black and white version too.
I bought a 11×14 canvas from Joann’s Fabrics. Mine came already primed so I didn’t bother to buy primer but I’m sure it wouldn’t hurt if you wanted to. I sprayed the canvas with 1 coat of blue paint and let dry for about an hour. (It doesn’t take that long but I am overly cautious with paint.) While the blue paint was drying, I prepared my template using the Helevtica font on Power Point. (If anyone is interested in the template I can email as a PDF. I just don’t know how to link on my blog.) I went to Fed Ex/Kinko to enlarge about 155% on 11×17 paper. I think each copy costs $0.18. I ended up spending almost $2. All my math whiz readers can probably figure out how many times it took me to finally get the look I was going for. HA!
Next I cut out each line and used spray adhesive to glue to front of the contact paper. (Remember you will be peeling off the back so make sure you know what is front or back.) Then trim the sentence as close to the edge as possible. Line them up on your canvas and using a No.2 pencil, mark guidelines. I gave mine a 3/4″ border all the way around and each line was 1/2″ apart (or sentences that took up 2 lines were 1/4″ apart). I also made marks at every letter so that spacing between letters were even.
Cut out each letter, peel off the contact paper back and adhere the letter to the canvas. Repeat for.every.single.letter. (TIP: If you have a Cricut you can make that process 10x easier. The Cricut will do all the cutting contact paper work for you. Unfortunately I forgot that option until I was all done. Doh!)
Then I used a good ol kitchen scraper (or you can use a brayer) to make sure all the letters are securely adhered to the canvas. Apparently I didn’t use my spray adhesive liberally enough b/c some of the letters started to peel off the contact paper. But that’s ok. As long as you have the contact paper letter intact. So I ended up peeling the letters off the contact paper. Next I sprayed the green paint over the contact paper letters. I ended up doing 3 coats, letting each coat dry before applying the next coat, before the blue stopped showing through.
Sorry these pictures came out dark. Took them after the sun went down.
When the last coat had thoroughly dried, I carefully peeled off each letter. (TIP: I used the pointed end of a pushpin to lift up 1 corner to make it easier for me to peel each letter.) Finally I applied a sealer coat since mine is going in my bathroom and I was concerned about condensation. If yours will be indoors, away from water or direct heat, you probably don’t need a sealer but I’d recommend it.
I’m officially addicted to Subway Art. I think my next one will be a huge 18×24 for the livingroom.
Hopefully all this hard work will help my Hubs to remember to put the toilet seat down. HA HA!
Any thoughts, questions, comments? Just ask!
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