Down and out dishwasher

The dishwasher isn't working... again.  Hubby called Bosch and they said they'd cover parts and labor to repair it, but it has to be their repair person who does the work.  This is the same dude who "thought" it was the drain pump.  I have little faith in him, but it's on Bosch's dime.   All I know at this point in time is that I won't be buying anything by Bosch in the foreseeable future. 

Melted Snowman Cookies

Frosty's Bachelor Party in Florida!

I made about 33 of these little fellas for a "Goodie Exchange" at work tomorrow.  The base is a sugar cookie, the middle marshmallow, pretzel arms, then it's all covered in white chocolate.  Mini chocolate chip eyes, mini M&M's for buttons, a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup for a hat, and a nose made of orange frosting.

Keeping the Kidney

Toughest decision I've ever made.  For over a month I've grappled with the idea of donating a kidney.  Researched what I could on living donors and didn't like what I learned.

The stress from the constant thinking, worrying, and wondering about if I would, what would happen if I did, how this would shape my future in terms of not just financial security, but my health... it was acute.  Early in this process my days were consumed with thinking about my friend, his situation, his family, my family, my health, the medical procedures involved, the recovery, how I'd feel after, what if it wasn't successful, what if I developed high blood pressure, or kidney problems of my own...?  It was an endless parade of happy thoughts (friend's healthy would hopefully be greatly improved), terrifying thoughts (my health possibly greatly diminished), and everything in between.  I lost sleep over this.  I had headaches, many, many headaches (which I don't typically have).  My stomach was upset.  I felt very tired, more than usual.  It was just a very unusual sensation, being more aware of my body, and the way it's affected by thoughts - good and bad.   

I'm grateful for this experience.  It's been one hell of a journey, but one I wouldn't trade for anything. 

Walking

The hubby and I have taken to the streets.  We walk about three to five times a week, sometimes we even take the dogs.  It's been wonderful as it's not too cold yet.  And, with the dishwasher still not working, it's great to have a few eateries within walking distance.  Though, I fear the food available pretty much cancels out any benefit the walking would have otherwise provided.  Oh well, at least it gives my dish pan hands a break! 

Thankful it's over

One thing I find really odd about Thanksgiving and the upcoming shopping scam of buying a bunch of useless crap for all the people you've ever come into contact with in the last seven months, is dishes.  Yes, yes, I'm back to that.  If you've read the previous post you know I hate washing dishes by hand more than my dogs hate being bathed.  Which is to say I have a very high tolerance for dirty dogs, but yet, not dirty dishes.  Anyway, as usual, I digress.  My point, dishes.  Perhaps you have everyday dishes, fine china passed down for generations or a lovely wedding gift from some distant relative who's name you can never remember, and maybe even "Holiday Dishes".  It's the last bit I'm referring to.  I can understand having everyday plateware that can withstand the abuse of a clumsy husband and/or children.  But "Holiday Dishes"?  Really?  A set of fancy plates, bowls, etc. that are only eaten off of once, twice, or maybe as much as three times in a single year?!  And since these dishes are so special it's terrifying to put food on them, much less take a fork and knife to the delicate surface for fear of scratching, chipping, or marring it in any way.  I'm pretty sure if such an object is damaged in any way it's grounds for divorce, abandonment, or capital punishment, whichever penalty is most horrific.

I find the concept of "Holiday dishes" ridiculous.  Storing a set of such special eating ware that's only worthy of the most special of occasions is just plain silly.  Clearly I don't own any such thing, nor do I care to.  What's the point?  Tradition?  Don't even get me started on that.  Anyway, cupboard and storage space in my home is so scarce the mere of idea of stashing away anything to be used on the rarest of events makes me want to bathe my dogs, which is as likely as me teaching my dogs (or myself for that matter) calculus.  It's not going to happen.  The cups, bowls, plates, silverware, stemware, decanter, etc. that I use everyday are good enough for all the foolish Holidays Hallmark has ever made a card for.  I find every meal, whether it's a dead bird brined to perfection or a hot dog on a stick, to be special.  Food is fabulous and regardless of what it's served on, it's to nourish the body, not induce fear of bodily harm for ruining what it's eaten off.  Besides, these emblematic eating receptacles usually need to be washed by hand, and typically shouldn't even go in the microwave.  How special can it be if the microwave turns it into a Fourth of July spectacle?  And, if I can't place in the dishwasher alongside its lowly cousin, the commonest of eating ware, it's just not worth having.  Make life simple people, get rid of all that extra junk you don't need and find yourself thankful.  Thankful for more room, thankful for less fire hazards cluttering up your life, thankful for what remains.  Less is more and the less you have to wash by hand, the better!

Dish pan hands

The dishwasher still isn't working.  The hubby called the repair place yesterday and was told the part should be in tomorrow or Monday... let's hope that's the case.  I've had it with doing dishes by hand.  The hubby tries to help out and do dishes but I'm anal and very particular about how dishes should be washed - scalding hot water, lots of soap, clean/new sponge.  I hate sponges, but since the husband is obsessed with them I relent, and we use sponges.  I buy them in bulk so that we're both, more or less, happy.  I'm also very particular about drying dishes and putting them away, but don't worry, I won't bore you with the banal details of my neurosis.

Anyway, my dishwasher woes have led to Thanksgiving day woes.  We were going to host it, then I asked my friends if we could have it at their house instead because the number of dirty dishes that would be generated in the making and eating of Thanksgiving dinner was making me break out in hives (well, almost).  Friends said, "sure, ok."  Then, the night before they call to say, "NO!  We're really, really, really looking forward to having Thanksgiving at YOUR house."  My reply, "fine, but we're eating off of plastic plates, drinking out of plastic cups, and using plastic forks, knives, and spoons."  GASP, a loud sigh, and other such noises emanated from my friend.  She was NOT pleased with this response and offered to do some of the dishes.  No dice, I'm way, way to abject to even consider such a thing.  The food will taste the same whether we eat it off fine china (which we don't own), everyday dishware (which we own two non-matching sets of) or lick it off the floor (though admittedly not nearly as comfortable as eating at the table).  If she wants to bring her own dishes she may, I'll even admire them kindly as I make a big show of eating off the plastic plates we purchased last night. 

Anyway, I at least have an amazing pumpkin pie I can devour to help console me.  Did I mention that the pie has a whole of of whiskey in it?  Oh, well, it does.  Almost enough to help me forget about that damn piece of useless equipment next to the sink.

Donating an organ is not like fixing an appliance

A couple weeks ago the washing machine died.  A repairman looked at it and noted that he could fix it, however, it would cost as much as replacing the machine with a lesser model.  We chose a new machine with a warranty.  The new washer was installed on a Sunday afternoon.  The next morning, the dishwasher wasn't working properly, nor was it draining.  That appliance, fortunately, is still under warranty (for about a month!).  Another repairman came to the house, looked at it, made a mess of my kitchen, and has ordered a part, a drain pump.  Hopefully within a week or two that machine will be operational again. 

Meanwhile, I can't help but think that my kidney is not an appliance.  It doesn't have a warranty.  I can't just go to Sears and pick out a new model and schedule a delivery time.  If I donate my kidney, that's it, that's goodbye forever.  If the recipient doesn't take to it, he's back to where he is now and I'm out a kidney.  I realize his body will reject it and he'll need to take drugs for the rest of life to fight his body fighting the new organ.  It's amazing this is even possible, however, I'm not sure I'm amazed enough myself to fork over my kidney.  I want to help my friend, but all the stats and data I've read is just a huge jumbled mess. 

For living donors "...some studies have shown a slightly higher risk of high blood pressure and proteinuria. These risks can be monitored through regular physical exams, blood tests, and urine tests. Interestingly, Switzerland established a living donor registry in 1993 to track living donors and to ensure they are regularly examined by their personal physician for blood pressure and renal functions. No such registry or post-operative protocols exist in the U.S. or other countries. Some transplant centers will follow up with you after a couple of months, but such follow up is not mandatory and the results are not used in constructive ways (e.g., research). The UNOS Living Donor Committee has proposed a standard medical and psychosocial follow-up protocol, but UNOS has yet to adopt the suggestions."

A slightly higher risk of high blood pressure and proteinuria? How much is "slightly"?  2%, 7%, 45%?  Switzerland is tracking blood pressure and renal functions... anything else?  What about donors who experience depression, PSTD, and a host of other issues after donating?  And the US, what are we tracking?  Oh right, the recipients.  I'm all for tracking the recipients, but what about the living donors?  Donors aren't appliances where you takes the parts from one to fix up another.  Even if Switzerland has an adequate track record of its living donors and their health, how does that translate to American donors?  Would an American donor receive comparable care and as often? 

Studies have shown that up to 40% of living donors do not have health insurance. Consequently, they skip out on follow-up care, and will not see a physician when they experience a complication or problem due to the transplant.


But wait, there's more!  If I donate an organ it's then considered a pre-existing condition.  Insurance companies do not like pre-existing conditions.  Amazing how when I'd need insurance the most (after donating an organ) that's when insurance companies want to turn me away, I'm too much of a risk for them.  Insurance companies are in business to make money.  Pre-existing conditions, care, treatment, follow-up, etc. is expensive.  Do the math.  I currently have health and insurance and as long as I'm employed in my current job I'll maintain that insurance... but if I get laid off or fired, ugh, I don't even want to think about it.

Well, it's time to take the car in for a check-up.  It's been leaking... something.  I'm not a mechanic so I don't know what exactly is wrong, but it's likely it can be fixed.  If that's not a viable option, the car is replaceable.  People, not so much.

Interesting how if an appliance or vehicle isn't working properly I'll do something about it.  However, when it comes to my body I tend to neglect it, I figure it sucks getting older.  Oh those headaches?  Stress.  Not sleeping, it's due to stress.  My period being five days late, stress again.  Wait a minute... if I'm experiencing all of these fabulous side-effects thanks to the stress of considering donating a kidney, what the hell will my body do if I get testing and go through with the donation (assuming I'm a match)?  I can't even begin to imagine. 

Should I Stay or Sould I Go?

That's what my kidney wants to know.  I thought I was kickin' the little bugger out, but now I'm not so sure.  Turns out that little fella does a whole lot for me and hasn't once complained, about anything, ever. 

This is a huge commitment and one I'm having trouble making.  I want to help a friend, but I don't want to risk my health or go broke trying to get a CA kidney to a TN friend.   The more research I do, the more it freaks me out.  I've never had surgery (ok, except when they yanked out my wisdom teeth, but I got to keep my clothes and shoes on, so that doesn't count).  Being naked on a cold steel table gives me the heebie-jeebies.  The fact that there is very little data kept on living donors isn't comforting.  I don't know how much data and information I need to make an "informed" decision and if there ever could really be enough info, but what is available seems grossly inadequate. 

Seemed so easy when I first encountered this.  Friend needs kidney.  I have a kidney.  If only life was that simple.

Bourbon Blondies

Made some Bourbon Blondies for a party.  Typical blondie recipe but instead of a teaspoon of vanilla I added three shots of Bourbon.  Of course, if one does that you have to increase the amount of flour to offset the added liquid and that's a dicey proposition... too much flour and it'll taste like cake, not enough and it'll never bake.  They turned out and were quite good, but I think next time I'll add more flour.  A fun treat for when you want some different. This is the recipe I found and then modified.  Enjoy!

Living Kidney Donation

I'm in the process of finding out it I'm a candidate to be a living kidney donor.  It's a very exciting and scary opportunity.  Those little fist-sized organs are amazing.  The more I learn about them, the more I'm horrified to realize how little I know about my own body?! 

How did this even come to be?  I have a friend who lives in TN.  I live in CA.  So, for anyone considering doing the same, finding someone who is geographically desirable will make this process a lot easier!  But, if that's not an option, please don't let it discourage you.  It's still an amazing journey regardless of geography.

Anyway, this friend's wife wanted to donate her kidney to him, but during the final stages of testing discovered she couldn't.  I could tell she was devastated.  I know I would be if it were in that situation.  If my husband needed a kidney and I couldn't donate to him I'd want somebody to come forward.  I wondered if I was a potential match, so I e-mailed my friends explaining I wanted to help, was there anything I could do, and that my blood type is O+.  Realize, at this point I know next to nothing about any of this!  Turns out blood type is extremely important, which I figured it would be, but blood is an interesting thing.  Remember high school human biology?  Anyway, being O+ is helpful, makes me a universal donor to all other blood types.  My friend is also O+.  This is a good thing since O's can give to anyone, but they can only receive from other O's.  Ok, lecture over, you can do more research here if you're really interested.


I decided on my own that this was something I wanted to do.  I discussed it with my husband.  He freaked out, which is to be expected.  This is quite the bomb to drop on someone!  Of course, it's not usually a topic of discussion, so how to bring it up in the first place is probably going to be awkward enough.  But, it did come up and we've been talking and sharing out fears and concerns about this ever since.

I've shard with friends and co-workers my desire to donate a kidney and everyone has been extremely supportive!  I'm very lucky to have such fabulous people in my life.  As I said, this is exciting and scary, so having the support of friends and family is vital.

Some of things I've learned are, I'm just like a lot of people, all of the following stats apply to me:

• Most kidney donors (45%) were between the ages of 35 and 49.  I'm 36.
  
• 71% were white, 13% black, 12% Hispanic, and 2% Asian.  I'm white.
  
• The majority (58%) of donors were female.  I'm a female.
  
• 45% had type O blood, 38% type A, 13% type B, and 4% type AB.  I have type O blood.
  
  Source: OPTN Data as of February 28, 2008
  

I find this to be very encouraging.    Live kidney transplants have been happening since 1954, longer than I've been on the planet! 

This is just the beginning for me.  As I learn more I'll share it here (I have a lot of data and information I'm still processing that I'll post later).  If you have any questions please e-mail me or comment here.  If you know anyone is has been through this or is considering it, please let me know.  There are thousands of people who donate live kidneys each year, yet to the best of my knowledge, I haven't met any of them, but I'd like to. 

Resources:  all information was retrieved from the http://www.livingdonorsonline.org/kidney/kidney.htm site.  This site is also very good site:  http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingDonors/index.cfm

I'm sure as I do more research I'll find more sites.  If you know of any that I should check out please let me know.  Thanks!

Violette Lemon Baby Bundt Cakes

The hubby makes a fabulous Aviation Martini (check out link above if you're so inclined to try this, I highly recommend it!).  In honor of my baby's mad-drink-making skillz I created a dessert to go with it.  The Violette Lemon Baby Bundt Cake:

This is a standard lemon cake mix, but instead of adding water I used Buddha's Hand Vodka, Limencello, and a bit of lemon juice for added flavor.  The frosting is Creme de Violette, butter, cream cheese, and powder sugar.  A little food coloring was added to give it the beautiful lavender color.  The lemon drop candy and lime "leaves" were added for decoration.  Very tasty.  We had two dinner parties over the weekend and I made this for both occasions - it was a hit! 

Active

This morning we walked the dogs to the groomers then had brunch at a local eatery, Scrambles.  We followed that up with a little shopping at Casa Bella.  Purchased a few Holiday items for Grandma, and Mom G., as well as a couple of birthday gifts for various friends.  We had a nice walk home sans doggies.  Vacuumed then mopped the floors.  Next we shopped for groceries.  Had a late lunch/early dinner of bagels and lox with a side sliced cucumbers.    The groomers called to say the girls were ready to be picked up.  Drove to get the prettified critters and came home.  The dogs are beautiful and Karma's white again!  They even smell nice, much to their chagrin.  Did a little yard work, weeded, raked, mowed, trimmed... just glad it's done.  Now we're relaxing and enjoying Aviation martinis.  A nice way to end an active day.

Access, 2007, the Final Frontier... well, not really

I'm taking an Access 2007 course at the local community college.  I'm rather impressed with the book, though I did NOT pay the $150 new book price.  I purchased an electronic copy for only $53 smack-a-roos.  The book is well written:  clear, easy to follow, great examples, and lots of pictures of "how to...",  who knew Microsoft had it in em?  The same appears to be true of the Excel 2007 book (which I also purchased an e-copy of).

Both Access and Excel have new features that the previous models do not.  Great features that I really like and are easy to use.  Of course, my employer still has 2003 for all Microsoft programs so these fabulous things I'm learning won't be of much use to me at work... yet.  I'm ever hopeful they'll upgrade.  If not, hopefully potential future employers have the newer programs.

My Saturday mornings are now all about homework.  And, I'm enjoying it?!  I guess that's a good thin.  I'm hoping by the end of the semester to know enough to create a Fantasy Football thingy for the hubby.  He's really into that stuff, and I figure, "hey, why not let Access do all the heavy lifting?  Import some data, run a few queries, and presto:  it'll spit out the names of who should be played that weekend."  And next year, hopefully this little database will assist him in drafting his team.  I don't pretend to understand all the ins and outs of this Fantasy Football stuff, but luckily I don't have to, that's they hubby's passion, I just want to put my schooling to good use.

Baking... just not posting

I have made a few items over the last few weeks, mainly banana nut bread and brownies.  I did manage to remember to take a few photos, but haven't loaded them yet.

Then, horrors of all horrors, I ran out of baking soda?!  I don't know what's happening to me, last time I ran out of Bourbon.  At least with Bourbon I can easily swap Brandy or Rum or whatever... but baking soda, nope, no sub for that.  The banana bread was very pale and somewhat dense, but fortunately it tastes fine.

The previous batch of brownies were coffee toffee, but heck if I could taste either of those flavors.  I need to kick that up several notches. 

The most recent batch: peanut butter brownies.  Mmmm, the peanut butter taste is present and good. 

However, the hubby's and Kelly's favorite are still the orange brownies.  I have nothing against orange, but I'd rather not have that mixed in with my brownies, hence the attempts with other flavors.  Next I want to try something with marshmallow and/or caramel.  Wish me luck, seems I need it these days.

Homework

Homework is consuming more of my time than I imagined. Fortunately, so far, I'm enjoying the course work, but the idea that it's cutting into my baking time is a bit saddening. I'm taking Access 2007 and Excel 2007 courses at the local community college. These classes will be good for work, but mainly I'm doing it for me. I've always liked Excel and once I started dabbling in Access I just knew I had to learn it in more depth. Up until now I've been self-taught in both these areas, but realized that the programs have so much more to offer and I goofing off on my own wasn't the answer if I really wanted to have a full understanding of what each program truly has to offer. So, until the classes end, in December?!, I'll probably not be baking as much. On the one hand that's probably good for my waistline, however, sitting in front of a computer for hours and hours on end isn't.

Orange Brownies

The hubby made me fresh squeezed OJ for breakfast, along with French Toast and sausage. It was wonderful. He also zested the oranges, so I used that zest in brownies along with Grand Marnier. The brownies are soooooooooooo good, the hubby LOVED them (said they were the best brownies he has ever had), as did our friends. I love this particular brownie recipe, so far every variation of it has turned out great. Of course, most recipes that call for 1 cup of butter, 2 1/4 cups of sugar and 4 eggs, 1 cup of cocoa, etc. etc. tends to be pretty darn good! I'm looking forward to trying marshmallows, caramel, peanut butter, or mint next time, not sure which one, but eventually I'll each of those flavors.

Out of Bourbon?!

Somehow I ran out of Bourbon?! Not sure how such a thing could happen, but no worries, I used Brandy instead. Note to self, buy more Bourbon. Anyway, we had some bread that was past its prime, the solution - bread pudding cupcakes! Brandy, bread, and white chocolate chips came together to create a rich, moist, and slightly crunchy topped cupcake - doesn't even need frosting.


I also made two loaves of zucchini bread... sans booze, but I'm sure it'll still taste good. These I made for a friend of ours who loves zucchini bread.

Out with the old

Eww! What's that ugly range doing in my kitchen?

It must go, it must!

Ahhhh, much better. I like, I love, I'm oh so happy!

Pretty, but wait, there's more! It works and I can actually see through the window. Life is grand.

Eventually we'll replace that HUGE eyesore of a white microwave. I can hardly wait.

Yummy Summer Dinner

Spinach salad with fresh black berries, strawberries, pear, and pistachios. The hubby made a wonderful dressing for it.

Cold cucumber and avocado soup. Fabulous on a hot summer night. Very refreshing.

The hubby's awesome quiche, so good!

Muffin Medley & Cherry Overload

I was hungry for something small and sweet for breakfast and couldn't decide which type of muffin to make, so I made three, from left to right: apricot white chocolate, blueberry almond, and banana walnut. I like all three and it's just as easy to make 72 muffins as it is 24, so why not? Of course, after that I realized I had a ton of fresh cherries I needed to use before they went bad, so I pitted them (staining my hands a bloody red, looked like I had just committed murder!) and cut them into little pieces. These I added to corn muffins:


and the rest of the cherries I added to devil's food cake cupcakes:


The frosting is a chocolate cream cheese, sour cream. Very rich and creamy, quite delicious.

Bourbon White Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding Cupcakes

I made Martha Stewart's 7-minute frosting for these cupcakes. WOW! It's good stuff, tastes like marshmallow. It's kinda a high-maintenance frosting as it requires boiling sugar, water, and light corn syrup to 230 degrees and whipping 6 egg whites into a frenzy, then adding the boiling mixture without scaling yourself, and finally whipping all that for about 7 minutes... but it's so worth it. Melts in the mouth. Mmm mmm YUM!

The hubby likes bread pudding, me, not so much. But, hey, it's the 4th of July so why not give it a shot. I figure with enough booze even bread pudding can be good - right? I found your typical bread pudding recipe online, however, I greatly modified it to make them into cupcakes. I didn't use any milk, just a cup of Bourbon! Anyway, I added the white chocolate chips simply because I had them. For the bread we had two loaves of sandwich bread: French and Sourdough. I used about equal amounts of both torn into little pieces and mixed thoroughly into the wet batter. I wasn't really sure if these would turn out or not, but they did. Yeah! I doubled lined the paper cups to be on the safe side and that worked nicely. The flavor of these bad boys is wonderful.... the bourbon is present, but not overwhelming. The white chocolate chips impart a nice sweetness, and the over consistency is fabulous: not dry, not mushy, but just right. A success if I do say so myself! Can't wait to hear what our friends think about them. I'll be bringing these to the 4th of July cookout, along with the Raspberry/blueberry corn muffins.

Raspberry & Blueberry Corn Muffins

Happy 4th of July! For the cook out we'll be attending later I made raspberry/blueberry corn muffins. Very simple recipe the hubby found online. And, quite tasty! Hope our friends like them.

Cheese cake and cupcakes

This is a cheese cake with a sour cream mixture on top... I can't wait to try this. I made this from Kelly's dad's mother's recipe. I hope I did it justice.


The cupcakes are white cake, from scratch, and the frosting is a butter cream with Kahlua, dark chocolate and coffee. These are a few of Kelly's dad's favorite flavors, hope he likes them. Probably the best thing about the cake is that it only makes a dozen cupcakes instead of the usual two dozen, so I'll probably be adapting this recipe a lot.

The dough for the focaccia is still resting. I'll knead it one last time and prep for baking about 45 minutes before Kelly, Steve, and Kelly's dad are due to arrive. The hubby's making pasta and sauce from scratch for the evening meal. Should be good. I think we have enough veggies on hand to make a simple salad to round out the dinner.

The bar is built... mostly

This was what we started off with. It worked, but we knew we could do better.



We purchased stock cabinets, upper cabinets since the depth of the area wasn't deep enough to accommodate a standard cabinet, and here's Jordan the cat inspecting our progress:

We managed to get it level, but heck it we'll ever get it squared with walls that aren't plumb! As long as the booze stays on the shelf I'm happy.


The booze in need of a proper home.


Ta-da! A more or less proper home. Someday, money permitting, we want to clad the top in copper! But for now, it does the trick.

We've finally done it, built a place to house all our booze. Woo hoo, let's have a party.

Bourbon Brownies & Strawberry Cupakes with Tequila Frosting

Yesterday I made Bourbon brownies and strawberry cupcakes with Tequila frosting. The brownines were wonderful, I can't wait to make more. The strawberry cupcakes were good, but I was bummed that the 7-minute frosting I made didn't turn out quite as intended. It tasted just fine, but didn't set up properly. No worries, I topped of the cupcakes with some lemon cookies and a Lemon Drop and everything was fine, see:

No TV - Day 18

Things are going well. Now I don't even miss TV or even think about it. I thought I'd do a lot more baking, but have been busy with other endeavors. I've been reading more, spending time with friends, and making cards. Tonight Kelly and I plan to make lemon cupcakes. I'll post pictures later.

Bitburger Beer Cupcakes

These wonderful cupcakes were indeed made with Bitburger Beer. The frosting was butter cream with malt. They weren't sweet nor bitter, but just right. And they were a huge hit at the Post Office.

Too Tired

I'm too tired to bake cupcakes?! I find this very distressing, but it's probably a good thing as I'd just eat them - which is the last thing I need right now. Rest would probably do me some good. Of course now that I've challenged myself to NO TV, all I want to do is veg out and watch TV, but I'm going to grab the Kindle and read instead.

No TV Challenge

We don't have a television in the house, but my handy-dandy laptop enables me to watch TV. There are several programs I enjoy, but once I sit my butt down and get comfy I'll not move for hours! Thus the "No TV Challenge!" I started when we returned from visiting the in-laws in Houston. I haven't watched any TV in 4 days. So far so good. I've not really even been tempted to watch anything. When I think, "hmm, maybe I'll catch the latest episode of Bones" I instead grab my super fabulous Kindle and read. When I finish a book, I just download another. I've been reading a lot more and that's great, it's a better use of my time.

Also, there's always the kitchen calling me, "Come bake! Make something tasty!" So many more wonderful options than watching TV. Hopefully I can break my last "No TV Challenge" of 3 months. That was when I was single in St. Louis and boy did I ever bake. I made banana nut bread, cheesecake, cookies, brownies, and turnovers all from scratch and boy did my neighbors love me!

The hubby's been great about getting to work earlier and coming home at a reasonable hour which allows us to walk the dogs. Exercise that we ALL need! The dogs sure enjoy the walks and it's great to catch up with my sweetie about his day and what's happening in his life, how his book is coming along, etc. And, right now the evenings are spectacular! Nothing better than being outside in this wonderful weather.

Oh and there's card making and scrapbooking too! After our trip to Houston I want to capture all the fun in a little scrapbook. And with Father's Day, co-workers' birthdays, etc. coming up soon there are plenty of cards to be created. What fun!

Plenty to do, don't know why I'd ever watch TV again... well, at least not for more than 3 months as I want to break my previous record.

Darn Diet

I've been wanting to make more cupcakes... but now that hubby's on a diet it's just cruel to tempt him. Oh yeah, and I need to shed a few pounds too! Cutting down four trash containers worth of tree branches has helped, but I gotta keep up the exercise if I'm ever going to get rid of that last ten pounds.

I think I'll expand my baking horizon and try to make French bread or some other semi-healthy items to devour. The hubby asked me to make croissants, sure they're French, but I have no idea how that would be helpful to his diet goals as croissants require a ton of butter?! I LOVE croissants but as I understand it, they're a lot of work. Maybe I'll attempt this when I can actually move without moaning. Right now my my arms, legs, and back are sore, so I think I'll take it easy.

200 and counting

I was baking and baking and baking and loving every moment of it! For a friend's 40th Birthday Bash I made over 200 cupcakes (48 regular size, the rest the little minis).

The regular size (and kid friendly cupcakes) were chocolate with coco malt butter cream frosting, as well as vanilla with vanilla frosting, see:





The more adult cupcakes were the minis and these came in three varieties:

Vanilla cupcake with rum and macadamia nuts with a toasted coconut vanilla butter cream frosting. These were interesting as the rum is very light and created very puffy cupcakes that were much lighter in texture than the others.



Kahlua chocolate cupcake with a coco malt butter cream frosting. Rich, moist, and quite tasty.



Mai Tai (surprisingly enough no booze in these?! I was going to add rum to the frosting, but ran out) - strawberry, pineapple and coconut cupcake with a vanilla butter cream frosting. These were soooooooooooooooooo moist due to the pineapple/pineapple juice. I'm not a huge pineapple or coconut fan, but these were fantastic! Plus the pretty pink color is always fun.



What I discovered during this baking extravaganza is: I need a bigger kitchen, more cooling racks, and more cupcake carriers.

Chocolate Caramel Orange Cream

One rich bad@$$ cupcake! This fella is filled with a creamy caramel cocoa. It's a basic yellow cake mix with a hint of orange. The frosting is an airy butter cream with cocoa and malt. This light (in texture, sure as heck NOT lite in calories!) sinful treat literally melts in the mouth. Oh yeah!

Strawberry Maragrita

What this cupcake lacks in looks it more than makes up for in its taste. It's your basic lemon cake mix, but for the liquid I added a strawberry puree and Tequila! The frosting is a cream cheese with lemon curd and more strawberry puree. According to the hubby it tastes just like a Strawberry Margarita. Mmmm, wanna get drunk off cupcakes? Andale, andale!

Orange Almond Cupcakes and Bon Bons

Tonight's delight is yellow cake with a touch of orange topped with a butter cream frosting consisting of Grand Mariner and crushed almonds. I also made cake bon bons, which is cake, frosting, and caramel mixed together and rolled in a crushed almond and powder sugar mixture - very rich, but quite tasty!

Chocolate rum malted milk ball cupcakes

These are chocolate rum malted milk ball cupcakes with 3 milk balls baked within each cupcake. The frosting is a wonderfully light and airy coco malt butter cream. Sweet, but not cloyingly so. The hubby LOVED them. The rum taste is very present, but I don't think it's overwhelming, since the malt flavor really helps temper it. I think these will be a hit at the hubby's presentation today. He's giving a speech on the topic of "Separation of Church and State." Here's a cupcake with a chocolate covered graham crackers to help emphasis the point of hubby's presentation.

My new favorite website

While looking for malted milk powder to make a rich, yet not too sweet frosting, I chanced upon this site: http://www.kingarthurflour.com/

I'm sure there are thousands of wonderful sites but this one caught my eye. Some of the recipes look amazing and I can't wait to try them - as cupcake toppers! Like this one for instance (click here for the recipe):



I feel like Homer Simpson, drooling all over myself at the mere idea of these bad boys. Just imagine a bit of this atop a cupcake?!

Orange Chocolate Almond Cupcakes

Tonight Kelly and I made Orange Chocolate Almond Cupcakes. We made 2 dozen regular sized cupcakes and just under 2 dozen minis. They're quite interesting. Chocolate cake with an orange and almond butter cream frosting. The reason for the almond in the frosting was to cut down on the sugar, and it worked. Plus, it also gave the frosting a lovely speckled look. The almonds were basically a powder, so I used a lot of that to off set the powder sugar. The frosting was very rich and just a little sweet. I didn't have any oranges so I zested grapefruit to add a little kick to the frosting. The cupcakes have a chocolate covered orange candy piece inside (from Trader Joe's of course!).

Toffee crunch, malted milk ball, and marshmallow cupcakes, oh my!

This is Kelly! She's fun, as if you couldn't tell from the photo?! Anyway, NO that's NOT her glass of wine in the picture, it's her hubby's. She doesn't drink. Guess that means more booze for the rest of us.

Anyway, last week Kelly and I made three different types of cupcakes: toffee, malted milk ball, and marshmallow. I forgot to take pictures, so no photos of these bad boys, I apologize. They were quite good though.

The toffee cupcakes were minis, and the toffee and chocolate chips were mixed into the batter. It of course all sunk to the bottom of the cupcake, but that's ok, they were good, good, good! The frosting was a rich butter cream with almond flavoring. These were a hit.

The malted milk ball cupcakes were the regular size. After filling the liners with batter I plunked a malted milk ball into each cupcake. Frosted these fellas with the same almond butter cream frosting and topped with a malted milk ball. Quite yummy. The "baked" malted milk ball tasted great.

The marshmallow cupcakes were, um, interesting. Just like above, placed batter in liners, plopped in marshmallow and baked away. The marshmallow basically blew up in the oven, but fortunately didn't make a mess. When removed, the marshmallows deflated and cooled to become a little crispy on top - in a most wonderful way! But these guys were so sticky I put them into little glass containers then frosted them. They were beautiful and the sweet crunchy flavor imparted by the baked marshmallow was fabulous. I want to try this again, and tweak it a bit. Not sure how to avoid the stickiness of it, perhaps coat the cupcake in coconut? I don't know, I"ll figure something out.

Next time I'll try to remember to photograph them.

I had some left over toffee batter so I made this itty-bitty cake. Technically not a cupcake, but at least you have an idea of what the toffee cupcakes looked like.

Spicy Little Devils

I'm not one for spicy, usually, but these are really, really good. I made them for the hubby since he likes things hot! These are the mini-cupcakes.

• Box of devil's food cake mix, follow the directions listed
• Container of Trader Joe's "Dark Chocolate Chipotle Hazelnuts"
• 24 ounces Cream cheese (3 packages)
  
• Powdered Sugar (2 pounds)
  
• Almond or hazelnut extract, liqueur, creamer - whatever liquid you have that's a nutty flavor - 1 to 2 ounces total
  
• Chipotle spice - ground
  
• Cinnamon
• Cocoa

Once you're little devils are in their backing cups drop in a TJ's Dark Chocolate Chipotle Hazelnut (or two or three - depending on the size of your cupcakes). Bake according to the cake mix directions. While those bad boys heat things up in your oven, get your frosting groove on!

Cream cheese (room temp, or nuke it a touch if it's chilly-willy) and mix on low in a KitchenAid stand mixer. Once it's very creamy add in some powdered sugar, slowly and completely incorporate before adding more. Add to taste, if you like it sweet like I do, go crazy and put in two pounds worth or so. Once it starts getting a little stiff add some of your liquid (almond or hazelnut extract, liqueur, creamer whatever you have that's flavored, have fun with it, this is not an exact science! But do be careful, a little liquid goes a long way! Add only about 1-2 ounces). Once the frosting is rich and creamy add the cocoa, chipotle, and cinnamon to taste. I added a lot because the cream cheese really balances it out and I wanted to have this frosting smack me upside the head - just a little, I didn't want to be knocked unconscious, but a bit of kick is good.

Now the fun part! Once your devil cakes have cooled off, cover the bottom of a container with frosting, plop in the cupcake and add more frosting to cover. Drop a few Dark Chocolate Chipotle Hazelnuts for garnish and viola! Something spicy to heat up your night!

Chocolate Caramel Cupcakes

These were good, but I still need to figure out how to make them better. Standard box of chocolate cake mix, then before baking I snuggled a chocolate covered caramel in the the batter within the cupcake. The frosting is a coco-cream cheese. Very rich, and very sticky! Due to the cream cheese frosting I stored these in the fridge. I think at room temp they'd be easier to eat. The chocolate/caramel melted and settled on the bottom of the cupcake and was very chewy. Aside from that, they're great! I'm not sure how to keep the chocolate covered caramel in the middle of the cupcake... everything always sinks to the bottom. Oh well, still darn tasty.

Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

These were my favorite that Kelly and I baked. Again, just a standard box of chocolate cake mix. Then once the batter was in the mini cupcakes we plopped a peanut butter cup into it. After they cooled we frosted them with a peanut butter cream cheese frosting - sounds a little odd, but really works! Good stuff. The hubby complained that these cupcakes were "too rich." Bah, as if that's possible?! I thought they were damn good.