random amusements

3 random thoughts...

#1
Tonight is game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals VS. the Flyers.

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!!!


#2
If Thumper had a credit card, what do you think he'd buy me.....?


#3
Going to be working in the yard today, getting the garden planted.



Have a great day, everyone!

Casey's Birthday Cake

While I can totally appreciate the convenience of boxed cake mixes, I have to say that cakes made from scratch really ARE better.

Chocolate Malt Cake for Casey
(adapted from a Food & Wine recipe)

2 1/4 c. cake flour
3/4 c. flour
1 c. malted-milk powder
1 T. baking powder
1/4 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 c. solid vegetable shortening, at room temperature
2 c. sugar
1 T. pure vanilla extract
2 c. ice water
4 large egg whites

Preheat the oven to 325°. Butter and flour three 8-inch cake pans.

In large bowl, whisk flours with malt powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.


Using electric mixer, beat the butter with shortening until creamy...

add sugar and vanilla and beat at medium until fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Beat in dry ingredients in 3 batches at low speed, alternating with ice water, occasionally scraping down sides of bowl.


Beat egg whites at medium-high speed until soft peaks form...


...fold egg whites into batter....


Divide batter between pans evenly.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then invert onto rack and let cool completely. (I didn't use parchment, and I didn't cool them on the racks; they did not stick to the pans much at all.)



Frosting:
4 squares (4 oz.) bittersweet chocolate
1 2/3 c. powdered sugar
3/4 c. heavy whipping cream
1 stick butter, softened

In glass bowl, heat chocolate and cream in the microwave, stirring frequently until chocolate is melted.

Stir in powdered sugar.

Place frosting bowl into another larger bowl filled with ice; stir until frosting cools.
Beat in butter with electric mixer.

Chill frosting in fridge (or freezer) until it sets up enough to spread.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASEY!!!!!!!

random amusements

What I have been up to lately:

Yardwork...

...the big scary snake that my friend Collin caught...

...normally, snakes don't scare me, but this one was BIG and we were having trouble identifying it. All I know for sure is that it's not a copperhead or a cottonmouth...

May 23rd: two truckloads of dirt for the garden beds...




May 21st - yellow irises are blooming:



May 19th - first purple irises blooming:



May 16th....truckload of new mulch...



...that's my new bird feeder there, too.

Coreopsis:


a columbine from my mom (b-day gift):



wallflower:


Two weekends in a row now we have been shoveling mulch and dirt out of the back of the pickup truck. And now I'm sunburned and feeling kinda sick. I have to work today, and tomorrow is Casey's birthday, but I will try to post some food photos soon. Probably of Casey's cake tomorrow, if I have time.

~Goldie



p.s.
The Hawks knocked off the SJ Sharks to move into the final round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I'm so proud of those guys! I have to admit that I got a little teary-eyed when defenseman Duncan Keith took a puck to the mouth and lost several teeth...but, of course, he's a hockey player, and was back on the ice after some repairwork. :)

Orange Cappuccino Bread

This smelled delicious while baking, and the scent permeated every corner of the house...

Orange Cappuccino Bread
(adapted from Betty Crocker's Best Bread Machine Cookbook recipe pg. 50)

1 c. warm water
1 T. instant espresso
2 T. butter, softened
2 t. fresh grated orange peel
3 c. flour
1/4 c. dry milk powder
1/4 c. sugar
1 1/4 t. salt
1 pkt. quick active dry yeast
tiny dash of: cardamom and nutmeg

I made this in the bread machine, on the "sweet" cycle; but, you could also mix it by hand and bake it in a loaf pan. (see other bread recipes on this site for general instructions on making bread by hand.)

fresh grated orange peel is a key factor...


enjoy this bread with Nutella or butter, and make sure you have a cup of coffee handy!



I just made this, and I had to post the photos!!!

Salmon-Cheese Patties

These are similar to my low-carb tuna bites, but I made them in a regular-sized muffin tin, instead of the mini muffin tin.

Salmon-Cheese Patties w/ Ricotta on Top

1 can salmon, drained & cleaned
2 eggs
1/2 c. cheddar cheese, shredded (I really didn't measure; I just threw in 2 handfuls)
ricotta cheese for topping (optional)
dash of: celery salt, black pepper, tarragon

1. Mix salmon, eggs, and cheddar in a small mixing bowl. Add seasonings; mix well.
2. Spray pan with cooking spray; press mixture into mini muffin pan. Top them with some ricotta, if you'd like.
3. Bake at 350˚ for about 30 minutes; until cheese looks bubbly. Serve on a bed of greens or with a side of steamed veggies.



sorry about the blurry photos!!

random amusements

This was my birthday dinner....I know there were side dishes to go with it, but I can't remember what they were now...and, really, does it matter?! LOL!

random amusements

Casey: ....remember when you were a kid...that game with the ball on the rubber band, and you hit it with the paddle...?... What was that called?

Me: ....paddle ball?


[which lead to...]

Me: ....remember when you were a kid...that game where you hit the ball and ran to the bases...?... What was that called?!!!

Casey: ....DUH, baseball?!!!


[which lead to hysterical laughter]

[which lead to more silly questions (See also: basketball; ping pong; and tennis)]

[which lead to a bad case of the giggles]

[which lead to a serious lack of sleep]

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

Casey never liked Brussels sprouts until I made them like this...

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts

1 pkg. frozen Brussels sprouts, thawed
2 T. butter
salt
splash of lemon juice

This isn't really a "recipe"...you just cut the sprouts in half, get the pan nice and hot, throw in the butter and sprouts and cook them until they're nicely browned. They'll caramelize a little bit like onions do, and that adds to the flavor. Don't over-cook them and turn them into mush. Dash with salt and lemon juice. Enjoy!

Rustic Savory Tarts

This was "leftovers night" and also included "whatever can be found in the pantry." I used a pizza crust mix, a can of salmon, and some leftovers that were in the fridge...

Savory Tarts (because Casey wouldn't let me call them "Pizza")

1 box Jiffy pizza crust mix
leftover chunky-style mushroom spaghetti sauce
leftover spinach dip
1/2 can salmon, drained and cleaned
ricotta
a bunch of cheese slices (not sure if it was brick, mozarella, or Monterrey Jack...?)

1. Heat oven to 400°.
2. Prepare pizza dough. Roll out dough into 2 rectangles; place side by side on cookie sheet. Pre-bake 5 minutes; remove from oven.
   
3. Spread one with the spaghetti sauce; spread the other with spinach dip.
   
4. Add ricotta to the spaghetti sauce; top the spinach dip with salmon.
   
5. Layer cheese slices over both 'not-pizzas.'
   
6. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and browned to your liking.