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Forget the bad stuffed bears or balloons or goofy flowers that even sort-of look like carnations. Baking something for someone always says more.
Take the friend who asked me for this recipe, she’s saying “Hey honey, sorry about all my diet food in the house, here’s a big batch of gooey carbs for you to indulge in before I ask if you’ve found a job yet”
But you might want to say something different.
Brownies
1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 ounces unsweteend chocolate
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Toppings:
1 cup powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter at room temp
1 Tablespoon milk
1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract (I use a bit more just cause)
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
The brownies: Stir butter and chocolate in small pan over low heat until smooth and set aside. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add chocolate then flour, the extracts and salt, stir just until blended, add nuts last. Pour into a lightly buttered small square baking pan and bake at 350 about 25 minutes. Cool slightly.
The toppings: Beat powdered sugar, 2 Tablespoons butter, milk and extract in bowl until creamy. Spread over warm brownies and chill to set, about 1 hour. Stir chocolate and the other 2 Tablespoons butter in small pan over low heat until smooth. Cool slightly. Pour over mint topping, spreading evenly. Cover and chill to set, about 1 hour. Cut into 20 squares.
Cosmetics counter dilemma: I want the 14$ concealer I came in for but what about the $42 eye cream? A year ago I might have been embarrassed to say NO. But I looked around and felt the collective support of my fellow shoppers as I proudly said “Not right now, I can’t afford it.” Suze Orman would have been so damn proud.
Hallefuckinlujah! Being careful with our money is now so cool, it even has a name, “Recessionista.” And I’m definitely okay with the spending less and living within our means. I never did relate to all the credit card chargers. Of course I feel awful for those truly suffering, and that it’s all been at such an extreme.
Me and my savings, living happily ever after together, for now anyway.
Made this again for friends a few days ago. It’s easy, looks cool and tastes yummy too. Turns out I love bleu cheese after all.
3 ripe Bartlett pears peeled and chopped
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 white or whole-wheat baguette
6 sage leaves, chopped
1/4 cup crumbled mild bleu cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1. Preheat oven to 375°. Melt 3 tbsp. butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add pears and salt. Cook and stir occasionally, til pears are soft, about 10 minutes.
2. Toast now or a day ahead and keep sealed, cut baguette into 16 slices about ¼ inch thick. Spread slices with remaining 1 tbsp. butter and arrange on a baking sheet. Bake slices until toasted, about 10 to 15 minutes.
3. When pears are soft, stir in sage and remove from heat. Top toasted slices with pear mixture then bleu cheese. Sprinkle with pepper. Serve warm and enjoy the compliments.
Oh come on, we all do it. But do we admit to it, shopping for clothes at Target or WalMart? Gasp, I even saw a Kmart commercial yesterday with what might be some cute stuff, that had me thinking hmmm…why is there is no damn Kmart near me. They used to have cool Martha Stewart kitchen crap, but I haven’t been to one in years.
The girls in my office have no shame, and I love that. We’re crazy proud of our bargain finds. A cool Target sweater that was only $15. We uhhhh and ahhhh over it, impressed at how cute it is plus it looks like it came from the Gap. That fab 10$ shirt from Old Navy just got you voted Queen for the day around here.
Resale and thrift store sales are up these days I hear. It feels like recycling, YAY, even if it’s only cause we’re all spending less. Or just finally, living within our means. Suze Orman would be so proud.
Pssssssttt…cutest sweater vest of the season is at WalMart right now for less than 20$.
Imagine the surprise when my mom called me, with a cooking question. She was at our country house. Out in the middle of the country I mean, in Oklahoma. Where there is no internet, and I am the spokesperson for Butternut Squash. Turns out everyone loves it but isn’t sure what to do with it, ravioli is next to try. So here’s the squash lasagna I made for my Book Club recently, it was a big hit. I found it in Sunset magazine. Hey don’t laugh, they have great recipes and cool gardening designs.
Whole-wheat lasagna with butternut squash-serves 8
** for the squash-only instructions
4 tbsp olive oil, divided
1 medium red onion, peeled and sliced
3 peeled garlic cloves-1 minced, 2 whole
2 14 oz cans crushed tomatos
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp each salt & pepper
6 cups, about 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes, it’s like cutting up pumpkin so get ready, or just buy it already cubed
1 pound Lacinato kale-also called dinosaur or Tuscan
9 whole wheat lasagna noodles-about 8 ounces
1 15 oz container part skim ricotta
1/8 tsp nutmeg
2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided
Preheat oven to 400 for the squash
The sauce: Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onion and minced garlic, stir and cook about 5 minutes until onion is translucent. Add tomatos, oregano and ½ tsp each S&P. Reduce heat and simmer about 30 minutes. (I didn’t love the stringy onion in here, but do your sauce any old way you like)
The squash: While sauce is simmering, toss the cubed squash in the last 2 tbsp of oil, S&P to taste and garlic cloves, all onto a cookie sheet for baking 10-15 minutes. When it’s done, reduce oven to 350 and puree squash until smooth.
** For my mom or anyone else wanting to just make squash, cook for less time and don’t puree.
The kale: Tear leaves from ribs and boil until soft, about 5-8 minutes. Drain and let cool, squeeze out the water and chop. ( Ok now I know how to use kale. But too much trouble for the little specks of green when cooked so I suggest more kale or some other vegetable)
Boil the noodles, drain and rinse.
Mix ricotta, nutmeg, remaining S&P and 1 cup cheese in a bowl.
Start layering: Coat the bottom of your 9 by 13 inch dish with 1/3 sauce. Lay in 3 noodles. Top evenly with squash. Sprinkle ½ of the kale or something else here. Now 3 more noodles and top then spread the ricotta. Remaining kale and noodles next. Then rest of the sauce and last cup of cheese on top. Bake about 30 minutes, let stand about 10 before cutting. I made it a day ahead, wrapped in plastic in the fridge until baking time. Deelish.
I bake for friends. And anyone posing as my friend. Some people are surprised when you show up with homemade goodies in hand. Oh sure, it’s way cooler to say the treats are from a trendy bakery. But I enjoy making things the old fashioned way. I knit and I own a sewing machine. So maybe I’m Amish. Or just a dork. I’ve made this yummy Flourless Chocolate Cake a few times and it’s always a big hit. Plus it’s super easy and nice and light.
You’ll need:
8 ounces of bittersweet chocolate cut up
4 ounces of butter
5 large eggs, separated
pinch of salt
2/3 cup sugar
1) Butter and flour, then line with parchment paper, the bottom of a round 10-inch cake pan.
2) Melt the butter and chocolate on very low in the microwave.
3) Whisk together the egg yolks and all but 3 tablespoons of the sugar. Add the melted ingredients to this and combine well.
4) In a large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on medium until soft peaks form, slowly add in your remaining sugar and whip until stiff but not dry.
5) Now slowly fold the chocolate mixture into the egg whites, fluffy huh, and pour into the pan.
6) Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Immediately turn out onto your serving plate. As it cools the center will sink and crack like in the photo.
Dust with powdered sugar or splurge and serve with whipped cream.
Where do they find the crazy bitches for this show? Who signs up to be on a tv series known as “I am the bridal monster.” If you’re that nutty don’t you keep that shit to yourself? Must be a low point in life when the producers call and invite you and your off the charts wedding rage to be on display.
“We’ve heard you’re a real lunatic and we’d love to film you in action.”
I can’t believe it’s for real, and that I watch it every week. Last episode the woman was so completely hysterical I felt like I needed to write the poor groom and warn him. Then I remembered….it’s too late, they are already hitched. He must like going ball-free cause she had his in her pocket. She scolded him like a child and took great pleasure in “owning” him. It was creepy.
My sister got married recently. I was prepared for anything. I’ve seen enough episodes to know the danger. She was a little stressed but no one lost their balls. No tantrums, no drama. Sorry Christen, you’re just not crazy enough to qualify.
When I was 10 one of our field trips was to the Shipleys Donuts. My friends dad owned it so we got to behind the scenes. Talk about impressive, we sat and watched as the pretty little things came out of the hot oil and took the conveyer belt to icing city. Warm and gooey right off the highway to heaven, we ate as many as possible. Milk was essential, regular or chocolate. There was something so perfect about it all, it’s one of my happiest memories.
Even today, warm donuts make everything better.
Of course she’s living the high life and has someone come to her house and spray tan her skinny ass. My tan in a can is the next best thing. Forget the gruesome Mystic tan where you stand naked, like a weirdo in shower cap while the too dark paint sprays you. It starts rubbing off in 2 days, and not in a natural way.
A friend told me about this and I think it’s the next best thing to a real tan. Neutrogena spray mist, about $9 at Target. I go out on my patio, dried off after a shower and spray away. It takes 1 minute, it’s easy and almost goof-proof. I blow dry my hair while it dries, then get dressed. It starts looking like something after a couple hours. A few quick coats and I looked like a less freckled, darker version of myself. I’ve tried most of the tanning lotions and potions, and this is the easiest. It’s my favorite. Gotta go hit the beach, on my back porch.
