tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70064232851329938832024-03-13T23:15:23.241-05:00Saffron & Semper FiRarity & Faith in the kitchenSABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.comBlogger135125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-12084855497411416442011-04-17T05:24:00.000-05:002011-04-17T05:24:15.898-05:00100 Greatest...<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">...Cooking Tips (of all time!)</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">**From Food Network Magazine**</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7H8YvB719ok/Taq_bI40i0I/AAAAAAAABIU/h_Fnm1W0UZY/s1600/food_network.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7H8YvB719ok/Taq_bI40i0I/AAAAAAAABIU/h_Fnm1W0UZY/s200/food_network.jpg" width="163" /></a></div><br />
<ol><li><b>Remember, ya'll, it's all about the prep. Take away the stress be doing the prep the night or day before. You'll look like a star.</b> -Paula Deen</li>
<li><b>The smaller the item, the higher the baking temperature. For example, I bake mini chocolate chip-toffee cookies at 500 F. for only 4 minutes. Perfect end result.</b> -Jim Lahey</li>
<li><b>Store spices in a cool, dark place, not above your stover. Humidity, light and heat will cause herbs and spices to lose their flavor.</b> -Rick Tramonto</li>
<li>Use a corse Microplane to shave vegetables into salads or vinaigrettes. You can create an orange-fennel dressing by adding grated fennel and orange zest to a simple vinaigrette. -Paul Kahan</li>
<li>Always make stock in a large quantity and freeze in plastic bags. That way, when you want to make a nice soup or boil veggies, you can pull the bag out of the freezer. - Charlie Trotter</li>
<li><b>If you're cooking for someone important - whether it's your boss or a date - never try a new recipe and a new ingredient at the same time.</b> -Marcus Samuelsson</li>
<li>Cook pasta 1 minute less than the package instructions and cook it the rest of the way in the pan with sauce! -Mario Batali</li>
<li>After making eggs sunny-side up, deglaze the pan with sherry vinegar, then drizzle the sauce on the eggs to add another dimension to the dish. -Didier Elena</li>
<li>After working with garlic, rub your hands vigorously on your stainless steal sink for 30 seconds before washing them. It will remove the odor. -Gerard Craft</li>
<li>Brine, baby, brine! Ya gotta brine that poultry ta really give it the super flavor! -Guy Fieri</li>
<li>Remember schmaltz? Your mom and grandmother probably used a lot of it in their home cooking. Schmaltz, or chicken fat, has a great flavor and richness; it has a deeper flavor than duck fat and can be used on nearly everything. I also love poaching fish in it. -Ton Maws</li>
<li>If you find you need more oil in the pan when sauteing, add it in a stream along the edges of the pan so that by the time the oil reaches the ingredient being cooked, it will be heated. -Anita Lo</li>
<li>When you deep-fry, hold each piece of food with long tongs as you add it to the oil. Hold it just below the oil's surface for five seconds before releasing it. This will seal the exterior and stop it from sticking to the pot or the other food. -Michael Psilakis</li>
<li>For rich, creamy dressings made healthy, substitute 1/2 the mayo with Greek-style yogurt. -Ellie Krieger</li>
<li>When chopping herbs, toss a little salt onto the cutting board; it will keep the herbs from flying around. -Joanne Chang</li>
<li>To make a great sandwich, spread the mayonnaise from corner to corner on the bread. People rush this step and just to a swoosh down the middle. Every bite should be flavorful. Now that's a sandwich! -Roy Choi</li>
<li>If you keep it simple and buy ingredients at farmers' markets, the food can pretty much take care of itself. Do as little as possible to the food; consider leaving out an ingredient and relying on instinct. -Tony Mantuano</li>
<li>Always season meat and fish evenly; sprinkle salt and pepper as though its "snowing". This will avoid clumping or ending up with too much seasoning in some areas an none in others. -Mary Dumont</li>
<li><b>For best results when you're baking, leave butter and eggs at room temp overnight.</b> -Ina Garten</li>
<li>Homemade vinaigrettes have fewer ingredients and taste better than bottled ones. No need to whisk them: Just put all the ingredients in a sealed container and shake -Bill Telepan</li>
<li>For an easy weeknight meal, freeze leftover sauces from previous meals in ice cube trays. The cubes can be reheated in a saute pan when you need a quick sauce. -David Burke</li>
<li>When making meatballs or meatloaf, you need to know how the mixture tastes before you cook it: make a little patty and fry it in a pan like a mini hamburger. Then you can taste it and adjust the seasoning. -Isaac Becker</li>
<li>Instead of placing a chicken on a roasting rack, cut thick slices of onion, put them in an oiled pan, then place the chicken on top. The onion will absorb the chicken juices. After roasting, let the chicken rest while you make a sauce with the onions by adding a little stock or water to the pan and cooking it for about 3 minutes on high heat. -Donald Link</li>
<li><b>Low and Slow.</b> -Pat Neely</li>
<li>After cutting corn off the cob, use the back of a knife (not the blade side) to scrape the cob again to extract the sweet milk left behind. This milk adds flavor and body to any corn dish. -Kerry Simon</li>
<li>Acidity, salt and horseradish bring out full flavors in food. -Michael Symon</li>
<li><b>Take the time to actually read recipes through before you begin. </b>-John Besh</li>
<li>Organize yourself. Write a prep list and break that list down into what may seem like ridiculously small parcels, like "grate cheese" and "grind pepper" and "pull out plates". You will see that a "simple meal" actually has more than 40 steps. If even 10 of those steps require 10 minutes each and another 10 of those steps take 5 minutes each, you're going to need two and a half hours of prep time. (And that doesn't include phone calls, bathroom breaks and changing the radio station!) Write down the steps and then cross them off. It's very satisfying! -Gabrielle Hamilton</li>
<li><b>Recipes are only a guideline, not the Bible. Feel comfortable replacing ingredients with similar ingredients that you like. If you like oregano but not thyme, use oregano.</b> -Alex Seidel</li>
<li>A braised or slow-roasted whole beef roast or pork shoulder can be made into several dishes and sandwiches all week. -Elizabeth Falkner</li>
<li><b>Taste as you go!</b> -Anne Burrell</li>
<li><b>Anytime you are using raw onions in a salsa and you are not going to eat that salsa in the next 20 minutes or so, be sure to rinse the diced onions under cold water first, then blot dry. This will rid them of sulfurous gas that can ruin fresh salsa. It's really important in guacamole, too.</b> -Mark Miller</li>
<li>Do not use oil in the water when boiling pasta: It will keep the sauce from sticking to the cooked pasta. -Missy Robbins</li>
<li>For safety, put a wine cork on the tip of a knife before putting the knife in a drawer. -Giuseppe Tentori</li>
<li>When you're going to saute garlic, slice it rather than mincing it - it's less likely to burn that way. -Aarti Sequeira</li>
<li>When you're browning meat, you should blot the surface dry with a paper towel so the meat doesn't release moisture when it hits the hot oil. Too much moisture makes the meat steam instead of sear, and you will lose that rich brown crust. -Charlie Palmer</li>
<li>To cut pancetta or bacon into lardons, put in the freezer for 15 minutes. This will firm up the meat and make it easier to cut. -Chris Cosentino</li>
<li><b>A cast-iron pan is a valuable kitchen ally. It offers an even cooking surface and is a breeze to clean.</b> -Linton Hopkins</li>
<li>Smash garlic cloves inside a re-sealable plastic bag with the back of a knife. That way, your cutting board and knife won't smell. -Laurent Tourondel</li>
<li>To get nice, crispy caramelization on roasted vegetables, simulate the intense heat of an industrial oven: Bring your oven up as high as it goes, then put an empty roasting or sheet pan inside for 10 to 15 minutes. Toss the vegetables - try carrots or Brussels sprouts - with olive oil, salt and pepper, and put them on the hot pan. This method will give you the high heat you need to caramelize the sugars in the vegetables quickly. -Naomi Pomeroy</li>
<li>Invest in a bottle of high-quality olive oil. Just a small drizzle can really bring out the flavor of pizza, mozzarella, pasta, fish and meat. -Nancy Silverton</li>
<li>Marinating meat with citrus can give it a mealy texture. If you like citrus, a little squeeze of lemon or lime is always a good way to finish the dish instead. -Tim Love</li>
<li><b>Add cheese rinds to vegetable of meat broths for another dimension of flavor.</b> -Paul Virant</li>
<li>When seasoning a salad, use coarse sea salt mixed with a little olive oil. It will stay crunchy when combined with the vinaigrette. -Paul Liebrandt</li>
<li>Always use sharp knives. Not only is it safer but it will make your work much more efficient. -April Bloomfield</li>
<li><b>Rest. Rest. Rest! Always let your meat rest - especially off a hot grill.</b> -Melissa d'Arabian</li>
<li>Plunge vegetables in ice water after blanching (boiling) them so they maintain a bright color. -Maria Hines</li>
<li><b>Invest in parchment paper for lining pans. It makes all of your baked goods super easy to remove, and it makes cleanup a dream (no butter-flour mixture or errant batter to scrape off).</b> -Matt Lewis</li>
<li>My grandfather taught me this tip: After you drain pasta, while it's still hot, grate fresh Parmesan on top before tossing it with your sauce. This way, the sauce has something to stick to. -Giafa De Laurentiis</li>
<li>Don't overcrowd the pan when you're sauteing - it'll make your food steam instead. -Ryan Poli</li>
<li>When you roast a whole chicken, the breasts always overcooks and dries out because the legs have to cook longer. This is a really simple way to keep a chicken breast moist: Separate the breast and the leg. Season as you normally would and roast as you normally would, but remove the breast sooner than the leg. -Tim Cushman</li>
<li>Buy fruit at its peak at a farmers' market and freeze it in an airtight container so you can enjoy it year-round! -Mindy Segal</li>
<li>Fresh basil keeps much better at room temperature with the stems in water. -Elisabeth Prueitt</li>
<li>Season all of your food from start to finish. Seasoning in stages brings the most out of your ingredients and gives you the most flavor. -Jose Garces</li>
<li>To cook a steak, I always start by cooking it on its side, where there is a rim of fat on its narrow edge. I render it down so there's good, flavorful fat in the pan for the rest of the cooking. -Alain Ducasse</li>
<li><b>Taste what you make before you serve it. I'm amazed that people will follow a recipe but not taste the dish to see if it needs more salt, pepper or spices.</b> -Brad Farmerie</li>
<li>Season fish simply and cook it with respect. The flavor of the fish is what you want. When it comes off the grill or out of the oven or pan, finish it with a little squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Always. There is something about lemon juice and fish that is heavenly. -Rick Moonen</li>
<li>If you're cooking cauliflower, add a bit of milk to the water with salt to keep the cauliflower bright white. Shock it in cold water to stop the cooking and then serve. -Michael White</li>
<li><b>When grinding your own beef for burgers, grind in some bacon.</b> -Sean Brock</li>
<li>Don't go tot he store with a shopping list. Go to the store, see what ingredients look good and then make your list! -Alex Guarnaschelli</li>
<li>When making mashed potatoes, after you drain the potatoes, return them to the hot pan, cover tightly and let steam for 5 minutes. This allows the potatoes to dry out so they'll mash to a beautiful texture and soak up the butter and cream more easily. -Wolfgang Puck</li>
<li>If you want to make a proper Louisiana Style Roux that's chocolate in color, rich in flavor, remember slow and low is the way to go. -Emeril Lagasse </li>
<li>For better tasting asparagus, cure the stalks: Peel them, roll in equal parts sugar and salt, and let sit for 10 minutes, then rinse off and prepare as desired. -Shea Gallante</li>
<li>When you grill, pull your steaks out of the refrigerator on hour ahead of time so they can come to room temperature. -Geoffrey Zakarian</li>
<li><b>Always measure what you're baking. No shortcuts in pastry: It's a science.</b> -Francois Payard</li>
<li>When using fresh herbs such as cilantro or parsley, add whole stems to salads and sandwiches, and chop and stir leaves into salsas and guacamole. -Aaron Sanchez</li>
<li>If you don't have time to brine your chicken, use this simple trick: Heavily salt the chicken (inside and out) about an hour before you cook it. Then pat it dry and roast. This ensures crispy skin and juicy meat. -David Myers</li>
<li>When made properly, risotto's richness comes from the starchy rice and the stock. As the risotto cooks, stir it with a wooden spoon in rhythmic movements that go across the bottom and around the sides of the pan. The rice should constantly be bubbling, drinking up the liquid as it cooks. -Suzanne Goin</li>
<li>Use a cake tester to test the doneness of fish, meat and vegetables. It's my secret weapon - I use it in the kitchen to test everything. -Daniel Humm</li>
<li><b>Serving cake: 1) Serve at room temperature. 2) Don't "pre-slice" cake more than 20 minutes in advance. It dries out too quick. 3) You don't have to eat the fondant! It's really pretty, but if you don't want a mouthful of sugar, peel it off! 4) The best cake comes from Baltimore. Just sayin'.</b> -Duff Goldman</li>
<li>To optimize the juice you get from a lemon or lime, roll it hard under your palm for a minute before juicing. (Or - never say I told you this - microwave it for 10 to 15 seconds.) -Patricia Yeo</li>
<li>For perfect vegetable soup, start with diced carrots, onions, peppers and tomatoes sauteed in oil or butter before you add any liquid. This brings out the taste and caramelizes the sugars. -Shaun Hergatt</li>
<li>Have your <i>mise en place</i> ready: Do all of your cutting of vegetables and meat and make your sauces before you start cooking. -Richard Sandoval</li>
<li>Try smoked fleur de sel: Use it sparingly to finish a dish and bring another layer of flavor. -Michael Schwartz</li>
<li><b>Clean as you go. (Dorky - but I swear, it really helps.)</b> -Rick Bayless</li>
<li><b>Shoes off, music on, favorite beverage in hand...Enjoy your time in the kitchen!</b> -Claire Robinson</li>
<li>Always buy the freshest garlic you can find, the fresher it is, the sweeter it will be. The best garlic has firm tissue-like skin and should not be bruised, sprouted, soft or shriveled. If you find cloves that have green shoots, discard the shoots; they will only add bitterness. -Todd English</li>
<li>Keep flavored vinegars near the stove so you won't always reach for the salt. Acid enhances flavor. -Art Smith</li>
<li><b>Don't be too hard on yourself...Mistakes make some of the best recipes. Keep it simple!</b> -Sunny Anderson</li>
<li>Fry eggs that Spanish way: Get a good quantity of olive oil hot. Before you add the egg, heat the spatula (if it's metal) in the oil first. That way the egg wont stick to it. Add the egg and fry it quickly, until it gets "puntillitas", or slightly browned edges. -Jose Andres</li>
<li>Prolong the lifespan of greens by wrapping them loosely in a damp paper towel and placing in a resealable plastic bag. That local arugula will last about four days longer. -Hugh Acheson</li>
<li>Want to know if your oil is hot enough for frying? Here's a tip: Stick a wooden skewer or spoon in the oil. If bubbles form around the wood, then you are good to go. -Aaron McCargo Jr. </li>
<li>When a recipe calls for zest, instead of grating it into a separate container or onto parchment paper, hold the zester over the mixing bowl and zest directly onto the butter or cream. The aromatic citrus oils that are sprayed into the bowl will give the dessert a zesty finish. -Pichet Ong</li>
<li>Use good oil when cooking. Smell and taste it: If it doesn't taste good alone, it won't taste good in your food. -Michelle Bernstein</li>
<li><b>Cook with other people who want to learn or who know how to cook.</b> -Laurent Gras</li>
<li><b>Cook more often. Don't study; just cook</b>. -Masaharu Morimoto</li>
<li>Make sure the handle of your saute pan is turned away from you so you don't hit it and knock it off the stove. It happens all the time. -Jonathan Waxman</li>
<li>Don't dress the salad when having a big party. Leave it on the side and let the people do it themselves. I've had to many soggy salads because of this. -Marc Forgione</li>
<li>For crispy fish skin, rest the fish on paper towels skin-side down for a few minutes before cooking (the towels absorb moisture). Then saute skin-side down over medium heat in oil and butter. Flip over for the last few minutes of cooking. -Govind Armstrong</li>
<li>When cooking eggplant, I like to use the long skinny purple Japanese kind because you don't have to slat it to pull out the bitter liquid like you do with the larger Italian variety. -Andrew Carmellini</li>
<li>Caramelize onions very quickly by cooking them in a dry non-stick saute pan over medium-high heat. They will caramelize beautifully in a lot less time than with traditional methods. -Michael Mina</li>
<li>To help keep an onion together while dicing, do not remove the root. -Jean-Robert de Cavel</li>
<li>Whenever you cook pasta, remove some of the pasta-cooking water (about 1/4 or 1/3 cup) just before draining. When you add the sauce of your choice to the pasta, add a little of the cooking liquid: This helps the sauce to amalgamate; the starch in the water adds body and a kind of creaminess. An old Italian friend of mine instructed me in this finishing touch early on, and I would never, ever leave it out. It makes all the difference. -Nigella Lawson</li>
<li>Making the best ceviche is simple: Use freshly squeezed lime juice and glistening fresh fish. -Douglas Rodriguez</li>
<li>When making caramel, use a nonsitck pot. That way when you pour the mixture out, there is no waste, and cleaning the pot is a breeze. -Jehangir Mahta</li>
<li>Don't be afraid to ask the butcher or fishmonger to see the products up close and to smell for freshness. Fish should never smell fishy. -Eric Ripert</li>
<li>Always start with a smokin' hot pan! -Cat Cora</li>
<li><b>When baking cookies, be sure your dough is thoroughly chilled when it goes on your baking pan. This will allow the leavening ingredients to work before the butter flattens out and your cookies lose their textural distinctions.</b> -Norman Van Aken</li>
<li><b>My general advice to home cooks is that if you think you have added enough salt, double it.</b> -Grant Achatz</li>
<li>Reduce the heat of chiles by removing the seeds. My method is making four straight cuts down the sides. This will create four long slivers, and the cluster of seeds will remain in the center of the chile. The result will be less heat and more great flavor! -Dean Fearing</li>
</ol><div>Phew! Did ya get through all that!</div><div><br />
</div><div>The ones that are <b>BOLD</b> and ones that I stand by, or that I would like to try or need to change. </div><div><br />
</div><div>I hope you find this some interesting reads! I sure did!</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-30837992564512660562011-04-15T20:46:00.002-05:002011-04-15T20:47:56.509-05:00Trying a new fruit........juice!<br />
<br />
So, wanting to try something new and exciting for dinner, I stumbled upon a recipe for <b>Pomegranate-Ginger Glazed Pork</b>. I asked the Hubby if he likes pomegranate seeds...he said not really, but he likes the flavor of pomegranates. So, with a slight alteration, I made the glazed pork minus the pomegranate seeds!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BmeRiOJ68b4/Taj0o1OOD5I/AAAAAAAABIM/Vz2krB7jE5I/s1600/POMPork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BmeRiOJ68b4/Taj0o1OOD5I/AAAAAAAABIM/Vz2krB7jE5I/s640/POMPork.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Pomegranate-Ginger Glazed Pork~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from <a href="http://www.wearenotmartha.com/2010/11/pomegranate-ginger-pork-chops/">We Are Not Martha</a>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">8 oz. POM Wonderful Juice</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. cornstarch</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. red pepper flakes</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 tbsp. soy sauce</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 tsp. ground ginger<b>*</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">6 tsp. garlic, minced</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 lbs. boneless pork chops (about 6 chops)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a med pot, over med-high heat combine the POM Juice, sugar, cornstarch, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Simmer over med heat until a thick syrup forms, about 10 min. Stir every now and then to make sure it does not burn. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Stir to combine and set aside. In a large frying pan, add a touch of olive oil, and bring to med heat. Place 3 pork chops in the pan and top with a spoonful of the soy sauce-ginger-garlic mixture. Cook for 4 min. and then flip and repeat with another spoonful of the soy sauce mixture. Cook for another 4 min. or until cooked through and remove from pan. Repeat this process with the remaining 3 pork chops and the remaining soy sauce mixture. In the same pan you cooked the pork chops in, turn off the heat and add the POMegranate syrup. Stir the mixture to incorporate all the pork bits and thicken it a bit. Add the pork chops back into the pan and coat with the mixture. Plate the pork chops with a generous amount of the syrup. Serve immediately! </div><br />
<b>*</b>You can also used fresh mined ginger as well. Ground is what I had on hand.<br />
<br />
You can also chop and see a pomegranate and top the pork chops with the seeds before serving.<br />
<br />
This meal was very very yummy. The sauce was sweet at first, but then there was a subtle heat from the red pepper flakes. It was not spicy by any means, but the heat was very pleasant and subsided after a while. The pomegranate flavor was not over powering either, so if you are not a huge pomegranate fan, you might like this recipe anyway!<br />
<br />
I served this meal with some cooked broccoli. The sauce ended up mixing with the broccoli and made it taste quite good! It now pulls double duty for both meat and veggies. I will be making this sauce again soon! I would like to try it on some chicken breasts next...<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-34769379804636780692011-03-16T05:28:00.000-05:002011-03-16T05:28:38.364-05:00Super Easy FishHere is a meal that I just made...it was super easy, and super tasty....just thought ya'll should know!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kiFUwbEzPUM/TYCQY_T30iI/AAAAAAAABII/dm6gvVtC8-8/s1600/HerbedFlounder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="487" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kiFUwbEzPUM/TYCQY_T30iI/AAAAAAAABII/dm6gvVtC8-8/s640/HerbedFlounder.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Herbed crusted Flounder~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 pkg. flounder (about 4-5 fillets)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 c. panko bread crums</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. parsley</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. dill</div><div style="text-align: center;">6 tbsp. melted butter</div><div style="text-align: center;">Salt & pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking pan with foil and spray with no-stick spray. Place the flounder on the baking sheet and salt and pepper each side. Combine the panko, parsley, and dill in a small bowl. Add the melted butter and stir to combine. Pat the panko-butter mixture onto the flounder. Bake in the middle of the oven for about 20 min or so, until the fish is light and flakey. Remove and let cool. Serve with a wedge of lemon. </div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-32276497794739357262011-02-25T05:45:00.000-06:002011-02-25T05:45:06.477-06:00A Little Bit About: SakeHere is a little post that I found on <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/">Serious Eats</a>. It is about proper Sake drinking. I decided to compile this post and some other information that I have gathered, into one informative post about <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">SAKE!!</span></b><br />
<br />
So, here goes:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKCNV4uYO_Q/TWeWIfiRCnI/AAAAAAAABIE/nM0lQkUnAJM/s1600/rihaku_wandering_poet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RKCNV4uYO_Q/TWeWIfiRCnI/AAAAAAAABIE/nM0lQkUnAJM/s320/rihaku_wandering_poet.jpg" width="120" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">A Little Bit About: Sake</span></b><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Brands:</b></span><br />
Juyondai - fruity and fragrant<br />
Isojiman - rich<br />
Kubota - light and dry<br />
Koshi no Kanbai - light and dry<br />
Michizakari - full and dry<br />
Kikusui - light and dry<br />
Hakkaizan - slightly full and fry<br />
Urakasumi - balanced<br />
Koro - fruity and fragrant<br />
Kokuryu - earthy and rich<br />
Denshu - rice-laden and rich<br />
(From <a href="http://www.sake-world.com/">Sake-World</a>)<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Drinking:</b></span><br />
The best glassware for drinking Sake is actually a <b>wine glass</b>. No need for the fancy little Sake cups that are abundant in Japanese shops. A wine glass that is already in your pantry is even better! Why is a wine glass better? Because it gives the Sake room to release its aroma. Once it is poured, you should check out the Sake's color. It should be clear, but it may have some pale yellow or even greenish hues. Once the color turns brown, or tan, its past its prime. It should also be free of floating debris, unless it is a specific type (nigori) which is meant to be cloudy.<br />
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After the Sake is poured and the color is inspected, give it a few swirls in the glass and take a whiff. You should look out for fruity, floral, and earthy scents. If you smell burnt or musty in your Sake, it has gone bad. Some Sake (rustic) has smoky and rice-centric aromas while others (unpasteurized) are more fruity and fresh. There are 3 different aroma stages in drinking Sake. The first is <b>"uwadachi-ka" or "initial smell"</b> (fruity) which is what you smell before tasting. The second is <b>"fukumi-ka" or "new fragrances"</b> (bitterness) which are the smells that you breathe in while sipping. Last is "<b>modori-ka" or "finish"</b> (peppery) which are the more subtle smells present after sipping.<br />
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The <b>flavor</b> of the Sake should match the aromas. For example, if you smell a mushroom-esque aroma, it should taste earthy. Bad Sake has a sour taste. There are also varying degrees of sweetness present in different types of Sake, as well as Sake's that are more dry on the palate. The texture of the Sake should be light, but there are some that are richer and pack a more powerful punch.<br />
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<b>Temperature</b> is a great element to play with while drinking Sake. Start drinking it straight out of the fridge, then slowly sip it every now and then while it comes to room temperature. Pay attention to the flavors and aromas, and how they change. More earthy and richer Sake's tend to stand out more at room temperature, while more fruity ones are better when slightly chilled.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Customs:</span></b><br />
There are some important customs that surround Sake as well. When drinking sake, <b>you should not fill your own cup or glass</b>. It is polite to fill someone else's glass and then they, in turn, fill yours. It is also rude to turn down an initial offering of Sake, if it is offered again, it is now acceptable to say no thank you.<br />
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What I learned is that Sake drinking is very similar to wine. There are similar aspects in the the way and process of drinking, like swirling and sniffing, and sipping and temperature. There also variations in flavor depending on the region where the Sake was made, and the rice that was used. Same as with wine and the type of grapes used.<br />
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I found all this very interesting and cannot wait to taste my way through some sake in the near future! When I do, I will keep you posted!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-23235241913964930392011-02-24T06:48:00.000-06:002011-02-24T06:48:12.537-06:00New ToySo, I have been seeing so many <b>Hipstamatic</b> photos all over Facebook now-a-days. I wanted to replicated that with just as much ease...so I downloaded the <b>Poladroid</b> App for Macs. Its pretty cool. Its basic, no fun lenses or effects, just a simple photo like what an old Polaroid would take.<br />
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Oh yeah, it makes that oh-so-cool developing sound too!<br />
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Here are some samples:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-InIcySF70-U/TWZScIDCPXI/AAAAAAAABHs/vvBkdKFMnqI/s1600/PDGreenPower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-InIcySF70-U/TWZScIDCPXI/AAAAAAAABHs/vvBkdKFMnqI/s640/PDGreenPower.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHf-cKnztbE/TWZSgXMrc6I/AAAAAAAABHw/AcVI_PGK5aM/s1600/PDHBeggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EHf-cKnztbE/TWZSgXMrc6I/AAAAAAAABHw/AcVI_PGK5aM/s640/PDHBeggs.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAmDLkvPICI/TWZSki7xbrI/AAAAAAAABH0/tt3NT0LrK1U/s1600/PDJapLanguage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nAmDLkvPICI/TWZSki7xbrI/AAAAAAAABH0/tt3NT0LrK1U/s640/PDJapLanguage.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmkitfC3Q8g/TWZSo-OlBSI/AAAAAAAABH4/KTyAInkTyBI/s1600/PDpower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmkitfC3Q8g/TWZSo-OlBSI/AAAAAAAABH4/KTyAInkTyBI/s640/PDpower.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FaKLkoMtnkg/TWZSt9IMs0I/AAAAAAAABH8/C0YYgeJ2TQo/s1600/PDPurpleClouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FaKLkoMtnkg/TWZSt9IMs0I/AAAAAAAABH8/C0YYgeJ2TQo/s640/PDPurpleClouds.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c479hNL0b1U/TWZSyj7sjGI/AAAAAAAABIA/frMsrEuSbUU/s1600/PDSunHangingFlowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c479hNL0b1U/TWZSyj7sjGI/AAAAAAAABIA/frMsrEuSbUU/s640/PDSunHangingFlowers.jpg" width="526" /></a></div><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-65559114314916462592011-02-22T04:10:00.000-06:002011-02-22T04:10:36.975-06:00IM BACK!Sorry to all my readers for the prolonged absence! I have been shifting my focus from project to project that has been going on in my life right now. I am having an issue deciding on what blogs I want to focus on. I have come to the realization that I can handle a few, if they are managed in an effective way though out the week.<br />
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I also missed having a place to share really random things. This was that place. I am calling it my online journal. It is where I can share anything! Crafts, recipes, music, pictures...etc. I need this outlet!<br />
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I have been doing a lot! Just not sharing it quite as much. I have not made a lot of new recipes because the hubby and I tried this new Whole 9 30-day Challenge/Paleo diet. It was more for him than me...but there were benefits of it that I liked. It is basically a diet focused on meat, veggies, fruit, and fat. You don't eat anything unnatural, processed, dairy, sugar, and made of corn or HFCS, etc. So it was very basic, but challenging!<br />
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I liked that we were not eating pre-processed foods, everything is natural. We at many eggs, bacon, apples, broccoli, chicken, pork, beef, and some seafood. It was a challenge as well! I made my first homemade mayo, and some BBQ sauce. They are both works in progress, but it has really opened my eyes to new ways of making things. Even if there is a little more work involved, it is worth it, just to say I tried!<br />
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I have been exploring the island as well! We went to a Dam, a Castle, a really dirty park, and a gorgeous rugged rock cape lookout. I am currently taking a cake decorating class, provided by Wilton, at the local craft store, and I look forward to taking the next lesson in Fondant and Gum paste.<br />
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That leads me to my next love! I have started a from-home baking business. It is called Sarah's Sweets & Treats. I do cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and some special requests. It has been a struggle getting my name out there. There are outlets that I cannot use and those that would not be wise to use due to some shady people and what not. So things are a little slow, but I am sure it will progress with time! I have hope! I just need to build my skills (hence the class :-)<br />
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My photography is also getting a work out! After getting my AWESOME camera form my Hubby for X-mas, I have been using it to photograph various things! But, I need to get caught up on my editing, which is proving to be a challenge...I need a place where I can sit for a few hours and work...i am not inspired (or maybe more distracted) at home...I have a few projects that I would like to get printed out and displayed. SOON!<br />
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But anywho, just wanted to post a little update! And, no worries, I will be back very soon and on a regular basis!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNhzY-MJM8c/TWOJUryIJbI/AAAAAAAABHY/f_U2aRG-bL8/s1600/LemonGlazeCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NNhzY-MJM8c/TWOJUryIJbI/AAAAAAAABHY/f_U2aRG-bL8/s640/LemonGlazeCake.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A lemon cake with lemon glaze</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96eH1WAHZpE/TWOJXcPjPoI/AAAAAAAABHc/nOlrWT7T9ZU/s1600/HeartCookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-96eH1WAHZpE/TWOJXcPjPoI/AAAAAAAABHc/nOlrWT7T9ZU/s640/HeartCookie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the cookies I made in class</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPsH2XtHheg/TWOJb5RoyaI/AAAAAAAABHg/BSPQ_78eHZc/s1600/GermanChocoCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPsH2XtHheg/TWOJb5RoyaI/AAAAAAAABHg/BSPQ_78eHZc/s640/GermanChocoCake.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A german chocolate cake I made for a friend's husband's birthday</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2scXe3CTyD8/TWOJfvZNUZI/AAAAAAAABHk/g3w1k5jVIZI/s1600/WRHeartSprinkles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2scXe3CTyD8/TWOJfvZNUZI/AAAAAAAABHk/g3w1k5jVIZI/s640/WRHeartSprinkles.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Heart with sprinkles (from cake class) for Valentines Day. I brought this into Hubby's work for the guys to eat!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kVZsHyszqXI/TWOJjtHhfcI/AAAAAAAABHo/wic-CJhKq_o/s1600/PLHDRAlt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kVZsHyszqXI/TWOJjtHhfcI/AAAAAAAABHo/wic-CJhKq_o/s640/PLHDRAlt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A glimpse at one of the projects I would like to start....</div><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-37076937055653301172011-01-18T20:17:00.000-06:002011-01-18T20:17:41.852-06:00PrioritiesMy priorities are shifting.<br />
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I am writing to inform my lovely readers that post on Saffron & Semper Fi might be a little infrequent. Here is why: I am working on starting my own home-based business out here in Okinawa. There is a market for what I want to do so I am going to pursue it.<br />
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Here is the link for the new business venture: <b><a href="http://www.sarahssweettreats.wordpress.com/">Sarah's Sweets & Treats</a></b><br />
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I have also been thinking about what this blog is to me. As of right now I am a little unsure, but I know that it serves as an outlet for me to post recipes that I enjoy, places I have been, and other food-related and photo adventures. I am starting to really market myself as a photographer and I need an outlet that is only Photo-related.<br />
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So, now I have 3 blogs to upkeep!<br />
1. Sarah's Sweets & Treats<br />
2. SABphotography<br />
2. Saffron & Semper Fi<br />
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As you can guess...its been a little hectic! I am getting into the habit of updating the one that is the most pressing at the moment. Which is mainly the baking website, because well, it is becoming a business! Please bear with me during this transition time!<br />
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I still do have some wonderful recipes and updates to share with my wonderful readers!<br />
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BONUS = PHOTOS! View and ENJOY!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZImyYuyrI/AAAAAAAABHA/rJ3awKN14IA/s1600/LPTriColor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZImyYuyrI/AAAAAAAABHA/rJ3awKN14IA/s640/LPTriColor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIjkM9t_I/AAAAAAAABG8/EO_Wp-JXenE/s1600/LPHeartColor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIjkM9t_I/AAAAAAAABG8/EO_Wp-JXenE/s640/LPHeartColor.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIdLNI6TI/AAAAAAAABG0/G39kUkBueWs/s1600/LPHeartBR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIdLNI6TI/AAAAAAAABG0/G39kUkBueWs/s640/LPHeartBR.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIYc0eTBI/AAAAAAAABGw/Y5pDv5gKL9E/s1600/LPHeartBlink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIYc0eTBI/AAAAAAAABGw/Y5pDv5gKL9E/s640/LPHeartBlink.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIf1SLnyI/AAAAAAAABG4/if9kw8wGHWk/s1600/LPHeartCircle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZIf1SLnyI/AAAAAAAABG4/if9kw8wGHWk/s640/LPHeartCircle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZJEbEvE0I/AAAAAAAABHM/OFZesPv7XJY/s1600/SpongebobCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZJEbEvE0I/AAAAAAAABHM/OFZesPv7XJY/s640/SpongebobCake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZJI0pq81I/AAAAAAAABHQ/OIkMWR984Bs/s1600/SpongebobCake2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZJI0pq81I/AAAAAAAABHQ/OIkMWR984Bs/s640/SpongebobCake2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZI7tWLTJI/AAAAAAAABHE/RW-CDUiaYwQ/s1600/JPGazeboSun.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZI7tWLTJI/AAAAAAAABHE/RW-CDUiaYwQ/s640/JPGazeboSun.jpg" width="450" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZJAxGL5dI/AAAAAAAABHI/6atxrvpOsDk/s1600/JPRockSun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TTZJAxGL5dI/AAAAAAAABHI/6atxrvpOsDk/s640/JPRockSun.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-12751675069105007342011-01-11T07:03:00.001-06:002011-01-11T07:05:41.908-06:00What's up with me!I'm starting my own business!<br />
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It's on a rather small scale, but its something none-the-less. AND there is a market for it! Thats what matters!<br />
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come check it out!<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.sarassweettreats.wordpress.com/">Sarah's Sweets & Treats</a></b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSxU-1SerLI/AAAAAAAABGs/39o92lnsQLA/s1600/YellowCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSxU-1SerLI/AAAAAAAABGs/39o92lnsQLA/s640/YellowCake.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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p.s. its more for people in Oki, but i hope it will be able to grow and travel with me where ever I go!SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-29659839414888978622011-01-09T08:30:00.000-06:002011-01-09T08:30:00.497-06:00A New Type of Sloppy.......Sloppy Joe that is! Or, in this case, a turkey joe because I made it with ground turkey instead of ground beef.<br />
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I was going to make Turkey Joe's for dinner anyway, but then I stumbled upon this recipe in my Food Network magazine and decided to make it.<br />
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Wow, what a combo of new and interesting ingredients...meat, spices, fruit...very Indian in nature and flavor and a spicy kick as well. Try this recipe, it gives the standard Sloppy Joe a new "face lift" so to speak!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSmIj6CFCHI/AAAAAAAABGo/FciH0G7xucY/s1600/BombayTurkey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSmIj6CFCHI/AAAAAAAABGo/FciH0G7xucY/s640/BombayTurkey2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Spicy Bombay Turkey Joe's~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Sauce</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. vegetable oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tbsp. ground ginger</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. chopped garlic</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. garam masala</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. paprika</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. chili powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. cayenne pepper</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Meat</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">3-4 tbsp. vegetable oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. raisins</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. shelled pistachios*</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. ground cumin</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lg. onion, diced</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 red bell pepper, diced</div><div style="text-align: center;">salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lb. ground turkey</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. honey</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Buns</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For the sauce:</b> Heat the vegetable oil in a med. saucepan over med. heat. Add the ginger, garlic, and peppers until the garlic browns a little, about 1 min. Add the tomato sauce and 1 c. water, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 15 min.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For the meat: </b>Heat 2 tbsp. vegetable oil in a lg. skillet over med. heat. Add the raisins and pistachios* and cook, stirring occasionally, until the raisins swell up and the pistachios toast slightly, about 1 min. Remove from the skillet and set aside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Return the skillet to med. heat and add the remaining 1-2 tbsp. vegetable oil. Add the onion, pepper, and cumin and cook until softened and starting to brown, about 5 min. Season with salt. Add the turkey, breaking up the big lumps, and cook until opaque, about 5 min.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Add the sauce to the turkey mixture in the skillet. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the mixture thickens slightly, about 10 min. Add the honey, milk, and raisins-pistachio mixture and stir to combine. Taste for seasoning. Serve on the toasted buns.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSmIegapgXI/AAAAAAAABGk/VrkiVmxc9gw/s1600/BombayTurkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSmIegapgXI/AAAAAAAABGk/VrkiVmxc9gw/s640/BombayTurkey.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br />
This was, again, a very new and interesting flavor. I really enjoyed the sweet-savory combo and the texture that the meat, fruit, and nuts provided. Hubby was not a fan of the raisins, they made it too sweet for his taste buds, but they can be easily subbed out or picked out.<br />
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Try this...its new, its good....<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-64751639362669277512011-01-07T08:30:00.002-06:002011-01-07T08:30:01.771-06:00New Ingredient Time!Its about that time again! Another new ingredient went into this dinner. Can you guess that it is? Here is a picture:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSXAOf8NP7I/AAAAAAAABGU/Q9rPKwlRRaA/s1600/JapPotato.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSXAOf8NP7I/AAAAAAAABGU/Q9rPKwlRRaA/s640/JapPotato.jpg" width="502" /></a></div><br />
Its a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;">Japanese Sweet Potato</span></b>. This is not to be confused with the ever popular and brightly colored Purple Potato that is also common in Japan. This sweet potato is purple on the outside, but not so on the inside, it is like a regular potato. It was a little softer than most potatoes that I am used to cooking, but it tastes pretty much like a regular potato, or whatever you happen to season it with.<br />
<br />
For this meal I just cubed the potato and baked it with seasonings. I paired it with a glazed-beef recipe that I saw on another blog and thought Hubby and I would like.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSXAWWEwJOI/AAAAAAAABGY/7aOE1fDrA2g/s1600/SpicyBSBeef3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSXAWWEwJOI/AAAAAAAABGY/7aOE1fDrA2g/s640/SpicyBSBeef3.jpg" width="536" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Beef w/ Brown Sugar Glaze~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(adapted from </span><a href="http://www.thewannabechef.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">The Wannabe Chef</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 lb. stir-fry beef strips</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. sesame oil (or olive oil)</div><div style="text-align: center;">5 tbsp. cornstarch (or flour)</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. brown sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. soy sauce</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. water</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tbsp. rice vinegar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. chili powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. garlic powder</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a lg. skillet or wok heat the sesame oil over med. high heat. Coat the beef with the cornstarch or flour and set aside. In a small bowl, add the brown sugar, soy sauce, water, vinegar, salt, chili powder, and garlic powder. Mix until sugar is dissolved.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Add the beef to the skillet. Cook, stirring, until all off the beef is browned. Slowly pour in the brown sugar-soy sauce liquid. Continue to cook as the water evaporates. It will eventually form a thick glaze, coating the beef. Once the beef is coated remove from heat. Add a drizzle of sesame oil, toss, and serve.</div><br />
For the potatoes I just winged it: I cubed them up, tossed them in olive oil, oregano, garlic powder, garlic salt, onion powder, rosemary...maybe some other herbs. I then baked them at 375 for about 30 min. Just keep an eye on them so they don't burn. The potatoes are done when they can be cut easily with a fork (aka fork tender). Remove and serve with the beef.<br />
<br />
Hubby really liked the beef. He said he could taste the difference with the sesame oil. To him it tasted more "nutty"....what a complement! I liked the sweet and savory aspect the brown sugar gave it. The potatoes were alright, nothing to special, they just tasted like plain old herbed potatoes...<br />
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The beef is highly recommended...Hubby asked for it to be served again. Stay tuned for the next installment of another new local ingredient!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-27594336048018790682011-01-06T08:30:00.000-06:002011-01-06T08:30:02.053-06:00Why I Love My Hubby.......He gets me <b>AWESOME</b> Christmas presents!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">First...I got these two stupendous gifts:</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW3F8qGyfI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Yul710Fbxx0/s1600/KnivesSet2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW3F8qGyfI/AAAAAAAABGQ/Yul710Fbxx0/s640/KnivesSet2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Set of Shun knives</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW2IYac7cI/AAAAAAAABGI/ez7B9BmdV54/s1600/KitchenAidM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW2IYac7cI/AAAAAAAABGI/ez7B9BmdV54/s640/KitchenAidM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Kitchen Aid mixer</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW2LBqiMRI/AAAAAAAABGM/VpmEcX3SpIk/s1600/OpenBoxCam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW2LBqiMRI/AAAAAAAABGM/VpmEcX3SpIk/s640/OpenBoxCam.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Then a few days later this box comes....I open it up....</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW1oLMagzI/AAAAAAAABGA/xqvjbaZBQjA/s1600/CanonRT2i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW1oLMagzI/AAAAAAAABGA/xqvjbaZBQjA/s640/CanonRT2i.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This baby is in there! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW1rhwe-bI/AAAAAAAABGE/W3kExjT7FC4/s1600/CamMan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSW1rhwe-bI/AAAAAAAABGE/W3kExjT7FC4/s640/CamMan.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I immediately set to reading the manual....I will master this beast! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hubby, THANK YOU, thank you, <b>THANK YOU!!</b> I love you so very much! You know how to make a girl happy...I will make you proud! (oh, and cook and bake you awesome food!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>ENJOY!</b></span></div>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-87531040154184116092011-01-03T09:46:00.000-06:002011-01-03T09:46:26.461-06:00Resolutions 2011This year I am working hard on some <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">RESOLUTIONS!</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/9/2/d/0/1194983991962367982paint.svg.med.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://www.clker.com/cliparts/9/2/d/0/1194983991962367982paint.svg.med.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Here are some so far:<br />
<br />
Create more <b>ART</b> = Paintings, drawings, crafts, etc.<br />
Finish a <b>365 Photo Series</b><br />
Invest <b>$$</b><br />
Make my <b>ART</b> a business<br />
Blog <b>95%</b> of each and every month<br />
Be more aware of how I spend my <b>TIME</b><br />
Eat more <b>HEALTHY</b><br />
<b>Weight train</b> - start a new activity (Swimming?)<br />
Be more <b>involved</b> (take classes, meet new people, volunteer)<br />
Read and study the <b>BIBLE</b><br />
Cook, cook, cook....and <b>BAKE</b><br />
Complete 12 months of the <b>D</b>aring <b>B</b>akers <b>C</b>hallenges<br />
Try and not <b>MANIPULATE</b> situations<br />
<br />
I am feeling good about these resolutions so far! I will check back to this post every now and then to make sure that I am keeping up with them. Some are harder than others...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSHvJLNdLzI/AAAAAAAABF8/SjUXTEWg2rs/s1600/HopScotch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSHvJLNdLzI/AAAAAAAABF8/SjUXTEWg2rs/s640/HopScotch.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's time to START!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-39154952690987746422011-01-02T12:11:00.000-06:002011-01-02T12:11:45.361-06:00Happy 2011 Part 2Here is the rest of my 2010 recap in <b>PHOTOS</b>!!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">August</span></b><br />
<ul><li>In California for vacation</li>
<li>Cook lots of food in North Carolina</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCu9HzOxdI/AAAAAAAABDU/L0-NVZN2zoI/s1600/Bubbly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCu9HzOxdI/AAAAAAAABDU/L0-NVZN2zoI/s640/Bubbly.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting off California with a trip to Napa and some bubbly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvKHB-rjI/AAAAAAAABDk/wCN5y48ZYso/s1600/NapaView.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="404" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvKHB-rjI/AAAAAAAABDk/wCN5y48ZYso/s640/NapaView.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Mr. Judkin's house where we spent the night. Looking down on St. Helena in Napa Valley</td></tr>
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvGURdKDI/AAAAAAAABDg/bZogF7wqlqk/s1600/MummNapa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvGURdKDI/AAAAAAAABDg/bZogF7wqlqk/s640/MummNapa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mumm Sparkling Wine</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvUGfa0TI/AAAAAAAABDo/pYLXVlxXL5Q/s1600/NapaWine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvUGfa0TI/AAAAAAAABDo/pYLXVlxXL5Q/s640/NapaWine.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4hmvS-lI/AAAAAAAABFc/RBGXWNcEbJE/s1600/TaylorsNapa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4hmvS-lI/AAAAAAAABFc/RBGXWNcEbJE/s640/TaylorsNapa.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What better way to soak up all the alcohol than with some burgers and fries?</td></tr>
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC3JPJ_t3I/AAAAAAAABFI/Mvk6iVp2iiQ/s1600/BranchBall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC3JPJ_t3I/AAAAAAAABFI/Mvk6iVp2iiQ/s640/BranchBall.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art work at a Museum in San Francisco </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC3PwuQpII/AAAAAAAABFM/UUA3zNMsWjE/s1600/SFArt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC3PwuQpII/AAAAAAAABFM/UUA3zNMsWjE/s640/SFArt.jpg" width="466" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It made cool shadows on the wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC2-7N-BLI/AAAAAAAABFE/RE9YdrqN_jc/s1600/SFCity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC2-7N-BLI/AAAAAAAABFE/RE9YdrqN_jc/s640/SFCity.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Fran</td></tr>
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</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">September</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Visit Raleigh, North Carolina</li>
<li>Massive going-away party for Hubby</li>
<li>Drive from North Carolina to Minnesota in 24 hours (First time making the trip with Hubby)</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCuNC4Z5_I/AAAAAAAABDQ/wduTgtCOhcQ/s1600/BlueBeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCuNC4Z5_I/AAAAAAAABDQ/wduTgtCOhcQ/s640/BlueBeer.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberry beer at Top of the Hill in Chapel Hill, NC</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvZ9q62cI/AAAAAAAABDs/koCHT6mY8aM/s1600/NCFMPeppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvZ9q62cI/AAAAAAAABDs/koCHT6mY8aM/s640/NCFMPeppers.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peppers at the Farmers Mkt in Raleigh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCxa8FsvrI/AAAAAAAABD0/9R98ALdD4f4/s1600/NCSandwich.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="606" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCxa8FsvrI/AAAAAAAABD0/9R98ALdD4f4/s640/NCSandwich.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome sandwich in Raleigh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvcfaJy_I/AAAAAAAABDw/3Wqs4A4xgF0/s1600/NCMoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvcfaJy_I/AAAAAAAABDw/3Wqs4A4xgF0/s640/NCMoon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last night at the beach</td></tr>
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</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">October</span></b><br />
<ul><li>Attend my alma-matter's homecoming/rival game. There was record attendance </li>
<li>Godfather's birthday party. I give him some of my photography as a gift</li>
<li>Go to Pine Tree Apple Orchard...have apple cider doughnuts for the last time in a while</li>
<li>Go to Hubby's alma-matter</li>
<li>Get my hair cut and colored! (I went from light brown to dark brown/red)</li>
<li>Lots of random activities (we were prepping to leave for Japan. Would be gone for 3 years = we went to lots of brunches, dinners, and what not with family, friends, etc.)</li>
<li>Leave Minnesota for Seattle for 3 day lay-over/family visit en route to Japan</li>
<li>Leave Seattle for Japan (24 hour flight w/ 2 stops then our final destination)</li>
<li>Get Japanese/SOFA status drivers license and learn to drive on the opposite side of the road</li>
<li>Buy our first car in Japan</li>
<li>Experience our first Typhoon</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0HMB_7iI/AAAAAAAABEo/2PHNmkIlPUM/s1600/PTAppleSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0HMB_7iI/AAAAAAAABEo/2PHNmkIlPUM/s640/PTAppleSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0C9OnbvI/AAAAAAAABEk/LdAl6d5doxk/s1600/PTApple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0C9OnbvI/AAAAAAAABEk/LdAl6d5doxk/s640/PTApple.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0MvTFxmI/AAAAAAAABEs/YfAjf3_U4V4/s1600/PTAODoughnut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0MvTFxmI/AAAAAAAABEs/YfAjf3_U4V4/s640/PTAODoughnut.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple cider doughnut</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4vFCf8nI/AAAAAAAABFo/jsi5rxlBvag/s1600/TopPotSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4vFCf8nI/AAAAAAAABFo/jsi5rxlBvag/s640/TopPotSign.jpg" width="460" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top Pot Doughnut...the original </td></tr>
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</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4lNsB38I/AAAAAAAABFg/4ibb4AGNvO8/s1600/TopPotMaple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4lNsB38I/AAAAAAAABFg/4ibb4AGNvO8/s640/TopPotMaple.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maple long john</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4oum2EjI/AAAAAAAABFk/twUFfzj2M2w/s1600/TopPotRasp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4oum2EjI/AAAAAAAABFk/twUFfzj2M2w/s640/TopPotRasp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raspberry raised doughnut...my favorite (but old fashioned instead of raised)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCuBEGh_3I/AAAAAAAABDI/xigFH5WsrYY/s1600/1stStarbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCuBEGh_3I/AAAAAAAABDI/xigFH5WsrYY/s640/1stStarbucks.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where it all started...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4W3diClI/AAAAAAAABFY/DZQwF4B-9Ns/s1600/StarbucksCup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4W3diClI/AAAAAAAABFY/DZQwF4B-9Ns/s640/StarbucksCup.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvBXLmXxI/AAAAAAAABDY/R_wQUHwautc/s1600/DukeEatSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvBXLmXxI/AAAAAAAABDY/R_wQUHwautc/s640/DukeEatSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside Duke's restaurant in Seattle</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0WVlI1CI/AAAAAAAABEw/_2PTZvj_PR8/s1600/SeattleFountain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC0WVlI1CI/AAAAAAAABEw/_2PTZvj_PR8/s640/SeattleFountain.jpg" width="288" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC3YZHyqDI/AAAAAAAABFQ/zuPDTx1Am_0/s1600/SpaceNeedleA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC3YZHyqDI/AAAAAAAABFQ/zuPDTx1Am_0/s640/SpaceNeedleA.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4M3u7nOI/AAAAAAAABFU/z6xtHxVxuy8/s1600/SpaceNeedleTrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC4M3u7nOI/AAAAAAAABFU/z6xtHxVxuy8/s640/SpaceNeedleTrees.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzANbX2vI/AAAAAAAABEU/KyyVaZaVXEI/s1600/PeroshkyDill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzANbX2vI/AAAAAAAABEU/KyyVaZaVXEI/s640/PeroshkyDill.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dill Salmon Peroshky</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzHuPBlsI/AAAAAAAABEY/5lwG84crKYE/s1600/PikeMkt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzHuPBlsI/AAAAAAAABEY/5lwG84crKYE/s640/PikeMkt.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzOi5nE5I/AAAAAAAABEc/F-5RZgTbiVg/s1600/PikeMktVeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzOi5nE5I/AAAAAAAABEc/F-5RZgTbiVg/s640/PikeMktVeg.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggies at Pikes Place Mkt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzSaipwfI/AAAAAAAABEg/0mUmvaX5p-Q/s1600/PikeParkingSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCzSaipwfI/AAAAAAAABEg/0mUmvaX5p-Q/s640/PikeParkingSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC11uuGOpI/AAAAAAAABE0/PD8ATyHTOSM/s1600/SeattleMt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC11uuGOpI/AAAAAAAABE0/PD8ATyHTOSM/s640/SeattleMt.jpg" width="506" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Rainier</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC2HdODunI/AAAAAAAABE8/bCWUB2nZ38Q/s1600/SeattleSunSet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC2HdODunI/AAAAAAAABE8/bCWUB2nZ38Q/s640/SeattleSunSet.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC1-yEOltI/AAAAAAAABE4/4awnKUclubg/s1600/SeattleNightMT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC1-yEOltI/AAAAAAAABE4/4awnKUclubg/s640/SeattleNightMT.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Rainier </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCuHEstnXI/AAAAAAAABDM/XbZWhfeEsIk/s1600/AsiaSunRise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCuHEstnXI/AAAAAAAABDM/XbZWhfeEsIk/s640/AsiaSunRise.jpg" width="492" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvDuY8m4I/AAAAAAAABDc/aLXVqZcyr0c/s1600/MtFuji.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCvDuY8m4I/AAAAAAAABDc/aLXVqZcyr0c/s640/MtFuji.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Fuji</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">November</span></b><br />
<ul><li>Move into our on-base apartment</li>
<li>Try new Japanese food</li>
<li>Attend Hubby Change-of-Command ceremony</li>
<li>Attend USMC Birthday Ball x2</li>
<li>Make 4 pies in 2 days (For single marine Thanksgiving)</li>
<li>Celebrate Thanksgiving with the families of marines Hubby works with</li>
<li>Purchase our 2nd car in Japan</li>
<li>Go to Zakimi Castle ruins</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCt7RQRsAI/AAAAAAAABDE/zIvss8PfTAo/s1600/SAttnFeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSCt7RQRsAI/AAAAAAAABDE/zIvss8PfTAo/s640/SAttnFeet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">December</span></b><br />
<ul><li>Add another member to the "Bancroft Bunch"</li>
<li>Hubby leaves for 2-week training exercise</li>
<li>Join a local photography group</li>
<li>Go to Naha pottery district</li>
<li>Make homemade Christmas gifts (<a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/glorious-granola.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;">granola</span></b></a>)</li>
<li>Take first Japanese language course</li>
<li>Get my PADI Open Water scuba certification</li>
<li>Complete my first blog "12 Days of Cookies" countdown</li>
<li>Explore more Japanese sights/foods</li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC6q1Dn05I/AAAAAAAABFs/fTV-40_F-vI/s1600/Orion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC6q1Dn05I/AAAAAAAABFs/fTV-40_F-vI/s640/Orion.jpg" width="418" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orion Beer - Hubby's new fave</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC7uB-kXyI/AAAAAAAABF0/J2fg6TTgxXg/s1600/CocosSign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC7uB-kXyI/AAAAAAAABF0/J2fg6TTgxXg/s640/CocosSign.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Coco's Japanese Curry House</span></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC72K6QKkI/AAAAAAAABF4/v1EnqwuFQJQ/s1600/GenSushiS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TSC72K6QKkI/AAAAAAAABF4/v1EnqwuFQJQ/s640/GenSushiS.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gen Sushi Restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><div><b>HAPPY 2011!!</b> Hope you have a wonderful year!<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!!</span></b></div>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-24700731081424345162010-12-31T09:26:00.000-06:002010-12-31T09:26:53.133-06:00Happy 2011 Part 1Well not quite yet but soon! I will be in the year 2011 before a majority of my readers, due to currently living in Japan...oh wells, I can tell you that it has been wonderful so far! (by wonderful I mean full of sleep!)<br />
<br />
So, for my New Years Eve post, I think I am going to do something different...<br />
<br />
A my year in <b>PHOTOS!!</b> (And some words)<br />
Note: All of these photos I took. Photography has been a past time of mine since college.<br />
<br />
So, lets start this new year post!<br />
<br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">January</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Moved back to Minnesota from North Carolina (Hubby deployed to Afghanistan in Dec 2009)</li>
<li>Started working at Nordstroms Rack, again</li>
</ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vd14ZoDI/AAAAAAAABCo/aTSAQRV83A0/s1600/TBShoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><i><img border="0" height="416" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vd14ZoDI/AAAAAAAABCo/aTSAQRV83A0/s640/TBShoes.jpg" width="640" /></i></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">New shoes from work</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">February</span></b></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Made awesome Valentines Day cookies</li>
<li>Colored my hair from blond to brown</li>
<li>Turned 23</li>
<li>Partied in Minneapolis</li>
<li>Took a sushi making class</li>
<li>Went snowmobiling and crashed (my friends dad was on the back. I totally lost control on some ice and the snowmobile sped up into the woods, it flipped on its side. I crashed into a tree with my thighs. My friends dad flew off. I was majorly bruised and my friends dad had to get stitches on a cut on his elbow</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vrhr7SiI/AAAAAAAABC0/8GjoOjurdBQ/s1600/VdayCookies2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vrhr7SiI/AAAAAAAABC0/8GjoOjurdBQ/s640/VdayCookies2010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentines Day Sugar Cookies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3szR9H9_I/AAAAAAAABBY/C3nNt9DjrKc/s1600/CrazyCake23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3szR9H9_I/AAAAAAAABBY/C3nNt9DjrKc/s640/CrazyCake23.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crazy Cake with cool whip frosting and raspberry filling</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vat4UU5I/AAAAAAAABCk/P-N4xjmTWTE/s1600/SushiSpringR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vat4UU5I/AAAAAAAABCk/P-N4xjmTWTE/s640/SushiSpringR.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy tuna spring roll</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3u-q4ydII/AAAAAAAABCY/AphQ7hueWq4/s1600/SpringRoll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3u-q4ydII/AAAAAAAABCY/AphQ7hueWq4/s640/SpringRoll.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spicy tuna hand roll</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3uzI5PY2I/AAAAAAAABCM/cdfyCMO5eyQ/s1600/Snowmobile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3uzI5PY2I/AAAAAAAABCM/cdfyCMO5eyQ/s640/Snowmobile.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yamaha Enticer circa 1980</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3u3LKOftI/AAAAAAAABCQ/lEv9K9lMqow/s1600/SnowMSun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3u3LKOftI/AAAAAAAABCQ/lEv9K9lMqow/s640/SnowMSun.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bone Lake winter sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>March</b></span><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Went skiing with my bother-in-law and sister-in-law</li>
</ul><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3t934beuI/AAAAAAAABCI/CKJQrf4GGqE/s1600/SkiChairlift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3t934beuI/AAAAAAAABCI/CKJQrf4GGqE/s640/SkiChairlift.jpg" width="538" /></span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3u6r_fryI/AAAAAAAABCU/w_xJZu7mxQY/s1600/SnowShadowAntq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3u6r_fryI/AAAAAAAABCU/w_xJZu7mxQY/s640/SnowShadowAntq.jpg" width="486" /></span></i></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span></b></span></div><b><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></span></div></b></b></span><b></b><br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b></span></div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b></span></div><b><div style="display: inline !important;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">April</span></b></span></div></b><b></b></b><b></b></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Made Easter rice krispy treats</li>
<li>Celebrated Easter in WI with family and in-laws</li>
<li>Celebrated my 3 year wedding anniversary (sadly alone)</li>
<li>Made my first ever theme cake = Baseball stadium! (Red velvet cake)</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tAhhgrlI/AAAAAAAABBg/9sM-3oMXZTw/s1600/EasterRiceK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tAhhgrlI/AAAAAAAABBg/9sM-3oMXZTw/s640/EasterRiceK.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice krispy treats decorated with white chocolate</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vXuFFBoI/AAAAAAAABCg/PTU6b3d1pIk/s1600/StormCake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vXuFFBoI/AAAAAAAABCg/PTU6b3d1pIk/s640/StormCake.jpg" width="576" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storm Stadium (Our store is called the Storm) Cake</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">May</span></b></div><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Found out I was moving to JAPAN!</li>
<li>Took my mother to the Conservatory for Mother's Day</li>
<li>Took the younger in-laws to the MN Zoo</li>
<li>Went to Franconia Sculpture park and took way to many photos</li>
<li>Went to the cabin in WI for "dock" weekend (we put in the dock and boats)</li>
<li>My college roommate and good friend got MARRIED!!</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tsoxR5VI/AAAAAAAABB4/nsGNEpf3J1c/s1600/PinkFlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tsoxR5VI/AAAAAAAABB4/nsGNEpf3J1c/s640/PinkFlower.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vlNVhtFI/AAAAAAAABCs/JFqklvZKnv4/s1600/TinyYellowF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vlNVhtFI/AAAAAAAABCs/JFqklvZKnv4/s640/TinyYellowF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3v8ig6J6I/AAAAAAAABDA/eWY490WmuN8/s1600/ZooSeaDragon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3v8ig6J6I/AAAAAAAABDA/eWY490WmuN8/s640/ZooSeaDragon.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Dragon</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3v3bqRqCI/AAAAAAAABC8/WEuGbYDUluM/s1600/ZooLeopard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3v3bqRqCI/AAAAAAAABC8/WEuGbYDUluM/s640/ZooLeopard.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vwECJY8I/AAAAAAAABC4/0dprZUrtqp0/s1600/ZooEagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vwECJY8I/AAAAAAAABC4/0dprZUrtqp0/s640/ZooEagle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tFGJB2gI/AAAAAAAABBk/W7gqNkyy_PM/s1600/LakeSunRise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tFGJB2gI/AAAAAAAABBk/W7gqNkyy_PM/s640/LakeSunRise.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bone Lake sun rise</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rZIPsgWI/AAAAAAAABBM/xB3cedPANCw/s1600/BLakeGrass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rZIPsgWI/AAAAAAAABBM/xB3cedPANCw/s640/BLakeGrass.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bone Lake grass</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tMxt0WkI/AAAAAAAABBo/IJ1fU0g_2PU/s1600/MaryWDress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tMxt0WkI/AAAAAAAABBo/IJ1fU0g_2PU/s640/MaryWDress.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tQP99vbI/AAAAAAAABBs/XOmNFRxRohY/s1600/MaryWHotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tQP99vbI/AAAAAAAABBs/XOmNFRxRohY/s640/MaryWHotel.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night after hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tV1Wl_QI/AAAAAAAABBw/4YKoQ6tcBuw/s1600/MaryWHotelBed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tV1Wl_QI/AAAAAAAABBw/4YKoQ6tcBuw/s640/MaryWHotelBed.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorated bed!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">June</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Babysat my new second cousin</li>
<li>Went to the cabin with family</li>
<li>Work, work, work</li>
<li>Find out when Hubby is coming home (YES!)</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3t4AtfYTI/AAAAAAAABCE/_7bBs7tmPWI/s1600/RobinEggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="462" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3t4AtfYTI/AAAAAAAABCE/_7bBs7tmPWI/s640/RobinEggs.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin eggs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vRvSnfyI/AAAAAAAABCc/8dw7JaZb07s/s1600/StevenBear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vRvSnfyI/AAAAAAAABCc/8dw7JaZb07s/s640/StevenBear.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hubby"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">July</span></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Quit my job at Nordstroms Rack (so sad, I will miss working there)</li>
<li>Have an adventure with my "sisters" (read: in-laws) Eat massive amounts of fro-yo and ice cream, shop till we drop!</li>
<li>Spend the 4th at the cabin and watch the best fireworks display right in front of our dock</li>
<li>Drive from Minnesota to North Carolina</li>
<li>Hubby comes home!!</li>
<li>Visit Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC</li>
<li>Fly to California to visit Hubby's grandparents, sister, aunt, uncle and cousins</li>
<li>Spend some time in Napa (lose a diamond necklace Hubby gave me for X-mas a while back)</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3t0dWmG_I/AAAAAAAABCA/V8HzHg_Ar4s/s1600/PurpleRoseFlower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3t0dWmG_I/AAAAAAAABCA/V8HzHg_Ar4s/s640/PurpleRoseFlower.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3s8EKK45I/AAAAAAAABBc/qfZPpAsdy04/s1600/DockLegs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3s8EKK45I/AAAAAAAABBc/qfZPpAsdy04/s640/DockLegs.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tukJ6f0I/AAAAAAAABB8/26T9baGWdbw/s1600/PreFirework.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tukJ6f0I/AAAAAAAABB8/26T9baGWdbw/s640/PreFirework.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rbegmUhI/AAAAAAAABBQ/pth0Jy4zNOI/s1600/BuickMirror1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rbegmUhI/AAAAAAAABBQ/pth0Jy4zNOI/s640/BuickMirror1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rdmGne6I/AAAAAAAABBU/ETzH_2kWLus/s1600/BuickMirror2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rdmGne6I/AAAAAAAABBU/ETzH_2kWLus/s640/BuickMirror2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pilot Mountain in western North Carolina</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vnaQuwPI/AAAAAAAABCw/4MDYxBa6aBM/s1600/TopsailBeach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3vnaQuwPI/AAAAAAAABCw/4MDYxBa6aBM/s640/TopsailBeach.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day before Hubby came home...at the beach reading a book</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tYooQvxI/AAAAAAAABB0/g_V3bRJUBT4/s1600/NCSunSet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3tYooQvxI/AAAAAAAABB0/g_V3bRJUBT4/s640/NCSunSet.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North Carolina Sun</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rWIR6O9I/AAAAAAAABBI/twzNRZIcEKs/s1600/ArlingtonBW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TR3rWIR6O9I/AAAAAAAABBI/twzNRZIcEKs/s640/ArlingtonBW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arlington Cemetery</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><br />
<b>THIS IS THE END OF PART ONE!! CHECK BACK IN TOMORROW FOR PART 2!!</b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-87618957743485699552010-12-30T08:00:00.001-06:002010-12-30T08:00:08.262-06:00It's a First & Some VeggiesGuess what!? I<b> WON</b> something! I entered my name for a drawing over at <a href="http://www.campfirechicblog.blogspot.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;">Campfire Chic</span></b></a> and I was picked by the random generator! I am speechless...wow...<br />
<br />
Well, what did I win? I won a wonderful e-book called "Better Blog Content: How to draw in your readers and develop your Blog." It is written by Amy Schubert at <b><a href="http://www.lemonandraspberry.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763;">Lemon & Raspberry</span></a></b>. The e-book covers various questions like:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Why is your blog content important?</li>
<li>What is your blog niche?</li>
<li>What do you blog about?</li>
<li>Who is your ideal blog reader?</li>
</ul>It also gives you time, resources, information, worksheets, and other wonderful goodies to help get your blog a goin'! Check out Lemon & Raspberry for more information and some other goodies!<br />
<br />
I would also like to give out a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">THANK YOU</span></b> to Campfire Chic for this wonderful giveaway.<br />
<br />
Now, on to the good stuff! Well, the veggies....but they are GOOD if you prepare them this way!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRwbbfWNhAI/AAAAAAAABBE/aolltops98M/s1600/SpicyCauliflowerPork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="522" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRwbbfWNhAI/AAAAAAAABBE/aolltops98M/s640/SpicyCauliflowerPork.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Spicy Cauliflower w/ Sesame Seeds~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 tbsp. olive oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. ground cumin</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 med. yellow onions, finely sliced</div><div style="text-align: center;">pinch of tumeric</div><div style="text-align: center;">Salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 med. cauliflower, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">4 dried red chiles, stemmed and halved</div><div style="text-align: center;">1-2 tsp. sesame seeds, toasted</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. minced garlic</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. ground ginger</div><div style="text-align: center;">Basil for garnish</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heat the olive oil in a lg. skilled over med.-high heat. Add in the onions and cumin and the tumeric and a few pinches of salt. Cook, stirring, until the onions caramelize a bit and turn lightly golden, about 7-10 min. Add the red chiles, sesame seeds, garlic, and ginger. Continue to cook for another min. Add the cauliflower and stir well. Cover the pan and cook the cauliflower over low-med. heat for 3-5 min, until just tender. If you need to, add some water to help cook the cauliflower.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When the cauliflower is nearly cooked, remove the lid, increase the heat a little to "char" the cauliflower a bit. Salt to taste and sprinkle with basil. Move to serving dish and serve.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRwbA1oSp2I/AAAAAAAABBA/sfIzzhndK1E/s1600/SpicyOnionPepperF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRwbA1oSp2I/AAAAAAAABBA/sfIzzhndK1E/s640/SpicyOnionPepperF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
This dish was okay, I would really like to come back and tweak it a bit though. That is why I have posted it here!<br />
<br />
I served it with a simple baked pork loin. I believe that it was garlic and herb flavored. Mmmmm I loves me some pork!<br />
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That is all....I am excited to get my new e-book.<br />
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In other news...I have started on a painting project. Actually many projects. I will post about them soon!<br />
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Have a great night and<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-55783900401990598212010-12-29T08:00:00.002-06:002010-12-29T08:00:08.403-06:00Glorious GranolaGranola is glorious, and it makes some great holiday gifts!<br />
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This first started when I made some granola and protein bars for my Hubby and his men when they were out in the field training. Then I had the idea to just make some more granola and use it as holiday gifts! Its a little better than baking cookies or sending cookies or bars in a jar (those are awesome ideas though!) especially for the heath conscious, granola seemed like a good bet!<br />
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I made some protein bars and granola bites for my Hubby and I made regular loose granola for gifts. All three were very easy and the recipes, after adapted, don't call for crazy hard-to-find ingredients either. Score!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRsd_WmOiVI/AAAAAAAABAw/woMVx0MyAno/s1600/GranolaBites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRsd_WmOiVI/AAAAAAAABAw/woMVx0MyAno/s640/GranolaBites.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bites~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(From </span><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">How Sweet It Is</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Makes about 24 bites</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 c. dry rolled oats (not quick cooking)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. wheat germ*</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. ground flaxseed (by the oats in the store)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. chopped almonds</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. chopped peanuts</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. chocolate chips, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. natural peanut butter</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. honey + a bit more</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat the oven to 325 F. In a large bowl combine the oats, flax, wheat germ, salt, nuts and chocolate chips and stir to combine. Add peanut butter and mix with 2 spoons, coating as much as you can. You can do this with your hands so it creates more of a "dough". Add in honey slowly and mix to coat thoroughly. If the granola will not stick together, add in more honey, 1 tsp. at a time until it does. Be sure to really mix the granola together as best you can.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Spray a mini muffin tin** with non-stick spray. Using an ice cream scoop, cookie scoop, or tbsp., scoop balls of granola into the tins, making sure they stick together as best they can. Bake for 25 min., checking every 10 min. or so to make sure it is not burning. Remove from oven and let cool completely - this is a must to ensure the granola sticks together. When completely cool, gently twist or use a spoon to remove the granola from the tins.</div><br />
*I may have used all wheat germ or all flaxseed. I can not remember. So, it would have been 1/2 c. of either wheat germ or flaxseed. Use whatever you have on hand.<br />
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**At the time I did not have a mini or regular muffin tin so I just used my cookie scoop and scooped out the granola onto a sprayed cookie sheet. I made sure they were really close together so that they kept their shape. It worked out well.<br />
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These were good, you could really taste the peanut butter and the chocolate chips. My type of granola if I am going to eat some! Hubby said they must have been good because they disappeared quickly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRseHWddpoI/AAAAAAAABA4/YFDgvoPh0_w/s1600/ProteinBarsF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRseHWddpoI/AAAAAAAABA4/YFDgvoPh0_w/s640/ProteinBarsF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Bars~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from </span><a href="http://www.snack-girl.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Snack Girl</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. whole wheat flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. ground flaxseed</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 c. rolled oats (no quick cooking)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. peanut butter</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tbsp. cocoa powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. maple syrup</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. canned pumpkin</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds (pepitas)</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 tbsp. prunes, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9 in. x 12 in. pan* with cooking spray. Combine the flour, flaxseed, oats, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, add the maple syrup, pumpkin, and sugar. Mix the peanut butter with the cocoa powder in another bowl, then add to the pumpkin and syrup mixture. Stir to combine. Add the wet into the dry and stir until well combined. Stir in the chopped prunes and pepitas. Evenly press the granola batter into the prepared pan. This may require some work as the batter is on the dry side, you will have to press and distribute the batter evenly in the pan to ensure even cooking.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bake the bars for 15 min. and no more! The will be done after the 15 min. Allow to cool, then cut into bars with a sharp knife.</div><br />
*I used a glass loaf pan to make my bars and it worked nicely.<br />
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This were very chocolatly and you could taste the peanut butter as well. They were a little more filling than the granola bites for sure! They were also less crunchy. Very different, but good none-the-less. Again, Hubby said they were gone in a flash!<br />
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I did make one other recipe to send with Hubby, but they were not very photogenic and they were probably my least favorite of the bunch.<br />
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Now, onto the granola that I sent as gifts to the family! I made two different types...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRsepQGLdRI/AAAAAAAABA8/8kacx9bt3JM/s1600/MPGranolaFinal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRsepQGLdRI/AAAAAAAABA8/8kacx9bt3JM/s640/MPGranolaFinal.jpg" width="611" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Maple Pumpkin Granola~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(From </span><a href="http://www.emmainthekitchen.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Sunflower Days</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. maple syrup</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. raisins</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. craisins</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. sliced almonds</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. pecans, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. macadamia nuts, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 c. rolled oats (not quick cooking)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl add the nuts, fruit, and oats. Sprinkle over cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix to combine. Pour maple syrup over the oat mixture and stir until well combined. Spread out on the baking sheet and bake for 30 min. Remove from oven and break up the mixture with your hands. Allow to cool completely then place into sealed containers. Can be kept at room temp. or in the fridge. </div><br />
This granola was my favorite. I love me some fruit in my granola. I like anything <i>sweet</i> in my granola for that matter! The maple and the pumpkin flavors come out quite nicely.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Nutty Vanilla Granola~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(From </span><a href="http://www.noblepig.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Noble Pig</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">4 c. old fashioned oats (not instant)</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. sliced almonds</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. walnuts, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. pecans, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. sunflower seeds</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. brown sugar, packed</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. honey</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/3 c. vegetable oil</div><div style="text-align: center;">3 tsp. vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl mix the oats, nuts, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, and oil and bring to a boil over med. heat. Remove from heat and slowly stir in vanilla. (not to quickly or it will burn) Pour the hot liquid over the oat mixture. Stir and toss until thoroughly mixed. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Spread granola evenly on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 18-20 min. stirring occasionally to ensure even baking. Really watch it carefully so it does not burn. Transfer granola to a large bowl and let it cool, stirring occasionally. Once cool, place in a sealed container. </div><br />
Again, another good granola. This one was Hubby's favorite so I made a little extra and kept it so that I could use it as a quick breakfast paired with some greek yogurt. Hubby is not a fan of dried fruit, so this one was right up his alley! It has a very nice flavor and the nuts give it wonderful crunch and texture.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRseCPVB6CI/AAAAAAAABA0/GbG5lUSac7c/s1600/GranolaGift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="260" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRseCPVB6CI/AAAAAAAABA0/GbG5lUSac7c/s640/GranolaGift.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The packaging....complete with a bow on top!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>These two loose granola recipes were packed in plastic containers, labeled with cute labels, tied up, and shipped out to my family, Hubby's family, and Aunts and uncles as Christmas presents. I sure hope they enjoyed them as much as we did!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-30725419505831675172010-12-27T08:00:00.000-06:002010-12-27T08:00:03.777-06:00I did it because I can!I did it, just when I thought I was done...I made another cookie.<br />
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For Christmas, I got my very own cookie press. So, for a party on Sunday night, I made spritz cookies. It just seemed fitting!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiMw9G4yNI/AAAAAAAABAs/16u_1ozv7q0/s1600/SpritzCookieT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiMw9G4yNI/AAAAAAAABAs/16u_1ozv7q0/s640/SpritzCookieT.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Spritz Cookies~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Old family recipe)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. salted butter, room temp</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 egg</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. almond extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 1/4 c. flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">Food coloring</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b>**</b></span>You will nee a spritz gun for this recipe<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">**</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat oven to 350 F. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and beat until incorporated. Add the almond extract and beat to combine. (You can also beat in food coloring at this point if using just one color) Slowly beat in the flour until just combined. Divid the dough into equal portions and color as needed, mixing the food coloring in until distributed evenly. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Fill the cookie press with the first color and press onto an ungreased, unlined baking sheet. Repeat until all the dough is used. (You can mix the remaining colors to make "tie-dyed" spritz) Bake for 8-10 min. or until the edges are just starting to brown. Remove from the oven and immediately transfer to a wire rack to cool. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiLyCvQ9VI/AAAAAAAABAQ/LAJmw_fOqQY/s1600/SpritzCookieW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiLyCvQ9VI/AAAAAAAABAQ/LAJmw_fOqQY/s640/SpritzCookieW.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: magenta;">*Note:</span></b> If you have never used a spritz gun before, it can be a little tricky to get the hang of, but once you do it rocks! You need to "shoot" it a few times to get the batter to come out of the shape ring you have chosen, then, place it on the baking sheet and squeeze the trigger and "shoot" it once for each cookie. If you do it twice, its okay, the cookie design will just get squished a little. Practice, its really easy once you get the hand of it!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiL5ufgRpI/AAAAAAAABAY/pdAch1OZa9s/s1600/SpritzPreBakeExample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiL5ufgRpI/AAAAAAAABAY/pdAch1OZa9s/s400/SpritzPreBakeExample.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is what a squished star looks like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I loves me some spritz! Buttery, light, and flavorful....they are ALWAYS on my family's cookie tray for Christmas. I did not use them in the 12 Days of Cookies because, at the time, I did not have a press! This time I made 3 different designs: trees, wreaths, and stars. Well, 4 if you count the one I used for the left over dough.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiLZ2q17cI/AAAAAAAABAI/c9B6xt73Iwg/s1600/SpritzCookieD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiLZ2q17cI/AAAAAAAABAI/c9B6xt73Iwg/s640/SpritzCookieD.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
For this party, I also made an hors d'oeuvre that I saw on a blog not to long ago. It sounded very yummy and easy, and something different than the same old party foods.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiME7oSbGI/AAAAAAAABAg/jE0AO0bfK1I/s1600/WAFwonton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="556" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiME7oSbGI/AAAAAAAABAg/jE0AO0bfK1I/s640/WAFwonton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Feta, Walnut & Apricot Wantons~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from </span><a href="http://www.carrotsncake.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Carrots n' Cake</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 pkg. Won Ton wraps</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 8 oz. pkg. feta cheese, crumbled</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. walnuts, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">10-12 dried apricots, chopped</div><div style="text-align: center;">2-3 tbsp. milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">Small glass of water</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat oven to 250 F. In a large bowl combine the cheese, nuts, and apricots. Add in 2 tbsp. milk. Stir until combined. You are looking for the filling to come together slightly, if it does not, add more milk until it does. Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Hold one wanton wrapper on the palm of your hand, place 1 tsp. or so of filling in the middle. With your other hand, outline the edge of the wanton wrapper with a bit of water and fold it over. Pinch it together until it sticks together. Place on the baking sheet. Repeat until all the filling is used. (This can be done in batches while others are baking) Once the baking sheet is filled, spray the top of the wantons with a bit more cooking spray. (this gives them some color) Bake for 12-15 min. or until golden brown. Let cool slightly, serve warm. </div><br />
This were yummy! The flavor complex was very interesting, and I would like to experiment with different filling ingredients. The wontons got wonderfully crunchy as well. And, they are much better for you than the fried version ;-) I highly recommend trying them for your next get together!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiMMsL_8DI/AAAAAAAABAo/99mrpOXVpm8/s1600/AsstCookieTray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="448" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiMMsL_8DI/AAAAAAAABAo/99mrpOXVpm8/s640/AsstCookieTray.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
After baking up the wantons, I assembled two plates of cookies and off we went!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiLtlSImJI/AAAAAAAABAM/z3ys5VzQxqE/s1600/SpritzCookieTray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiLtlSImJI/AAAAAAAABAM/z3ys5VzQxqE/s640/SpritzCookieTray.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Well, the party went off without a hitch! We drank, we ate, we played some games, ate and drank some more...typical party with great company! The hubby and I got home super late, or early? So the next morning we slept in. I made brunch: <b>BLAT</b> sandwiches. <b>B</b>acon,<b> L</b>ettuce, <b>A</b>vocado, and <b>T</b>omato sandwiches. BLA for me, I'm not a raw tomato fan... They were yummy and easy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiMJVMjXDI/AAAAAAAABAk/1WHY3TvtVsY/s1600/BLTAsand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="506" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRiMJVMjXDI/AAAAAAAABAk/1WHY3TvtVsY/s640/BLTAsand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-23789721680037898892010-12-25T08:00:00.005-06:002010-12-25T08:00:05.546-06:00Christmas: 12 Days of Cookies Round-up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXba7q3EiI/AAAAAAAAA_s/notsawDKjLg/s1600/XmasTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXba7q3EiI/AAAAAAAAA_s/notsawDKjLg/s640/XmasTree.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
Its here! Christmas is here! A Child is born....<br />
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Well, the Hubby and I spent Christmas eve relaxing. We watched some movies, baked some cookies, ate lots of food, popped a bottle of bubbly, opened gifts, and just enjoyed each others wonderful company!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbVAkCzqI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PYV0H3Va27g/s1600/BubblyGlass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="505" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbVAkCzqI/AAAAAAAAA_o/PYV0H3Va27g/s640/BubblyGlass.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Signs of a good night!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We also had to deal with some sort of fire damper alarm going off in our apartment...but thats just our luck to have it happen on Christmas eve! It took us about an hour to figure out what number to call. We did not want to call the fire department, because it was not an emergency, but who else would you call? So we called the base operator and they transfered me to about 2 other people and I let them know what was going on, and they said they would be over and lo and behold, it was silenced at about 10:00 or so. Finally!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXb-373LGI/AAAAAAAABAE/GRgR1Wo3rPo/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXb-373LGI/AAAAAAAABAE/GRgR1Wo3rPo/s400/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Well, back to this post. Here is the Round-Up of all the cookies that I made for the <b>12 Days of Cookies Countdown - Christmas 2010!</b><br />
<ul><li>Day 12: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/announcement-day-12-12-days-of-cookies.html">Peanut Butter Blossoms</a></li>
<li>Day 11: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-11-12-days-of-cookies.html">Choco-Peppermint Cookie Bars</a></li>
<li>Day 10: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-10-12-days-of-cookies.html">Chewy Spicy Molasses Cookies</a></li>
<li>Day 9: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-9-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Red & Green Dark Chocolate m&m Cookies</a></li>
<li>Day 8: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-8-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Perfect Gingerbread</a></li>
<li>Day 7: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-7-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Pecan Snowball Cookies</a></li>
<li>Day 6: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-6-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Pecan Turtles</a></li>
<li>Day 5: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-5-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Chocolate Espresso Cookies</a></li>
<li>Day 4: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-4-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Cranberry Swirl Cookies</a></li>
<li>Day 3: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-3-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Lemon Sugar Cookies</a></li>
<li>Day 2: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-2-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Fat n' Fluffy Snickerdoodles</a></li>
<li>Day 1: <a href="http://wwwssfi.blogspot.com/2010/12/day-1-12-days-of-cookies-countdown.html">Raspberry Poinsettia Cookies</a></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbQbp6dTI/AAAAAAAAA_k/EMtnDLmR9JE/s1600/12DayCookieRU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbQbp6dTI/AAAAAAAAA_k/EMtnDLmR9JE/s640/12DayCookieRU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
CHRISTmas! The hubby and I woke up early and just relaxed. He played his new game, and I plinked around on the internet. Then I made breakfast! We had maple pancakes with fried eggs and canadian bacon, and boy was it yummy! For the pancakes I just used a bisquick base and added in some maple extract and some cinnamon-sugar. You could really taste the maple! Very different and very yummy!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXb27ZsSEI/AAAAAAAABAA/umEFBvIIs4M/s1600/XmasPancakesP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="491" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXb27ZsSEI/AAAAAAAABAA/umEFBvIIs4M/s640/XmasPancakesP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbqCjPIvI/AAAAAAAAA_4/83Qr6fAUmG0/s1600/XmasPancakesCU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbqCjPIvI/AAAAAAAAA_4/83Qr6fAUmG0/s640/XmasPancakesCU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbunXYlcI/AAAAAAAAA_8/c8SRGWRh3r8/s1600/XmasPancakesCU2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="494" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXbunXYlcI/AAAAAAAAA_8/c8SRGWRh3r8/s640/XmasPancakesCU2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
After breakfast, we lounged some more, watched Tron, Get Carter (old one), and then went to the gym. Its been a rainy day so we laid low...no worries though! We are truly enjoying each others company!<br />
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Hope your Christmas celebrations went well!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXblbTZOkI/AAAAAAAAA_0/IBd8vjznCfs/s1600/XmasOrnament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRXblbTZOkI/AAAAAAAAA_0/IBd8vjznCfs/s640/XmasOrnament.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">E</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Y</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">C</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">H</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">I</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">S</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">T</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">M</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">S</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">!</span></span></b><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-25850199825661459452010-12-24T08:00:00.002-06:002010-12-24T19:00:21.041-06:00Day 1: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRRzfoKwVZI/AAAAAAAAA_c/eMGNFnPb44A/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRRzfoKwVZI/AAAAAAAAA_c/eMGNFnPb44A/s320/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Keeping things simple today: <b>Day 1</b> I am bringing you<b> Raspberry Poinsettia Cookies</b>.<br />
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I have a love-hate relationship with these cookies. If they turn out right, they rock, other wise they can be a little bit of a frustration. Sometimes they turn out and sometimes they don't, it totally depends! But, I still felt inspired to make them none-the-less! So, that must mean something right?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRRzSxTkZNI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/T9JJ0z9ii3s/s1600/RaspPoint2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRRzSxTkZNI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/T9JJ0z9ii3s/s640/RaspPoint2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Raspberry Poinsettia Cookies~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">3/4 c. butter or margarine, softened</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. almond extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 box 8-serving* raspberry flavored gelatin</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lg. egg</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 c. flour</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a lg. bowl, beat butter, sugar, almond, gelatin, and egg until combined. Beat in flour slowly until combined. Shape dough into 1 1/4 in. balls and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. </div><div style="text-align: center;">When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Place the balls 2 in. apart on the baking sheet. With a sharp knife make 5 cuts in the top of each ball, about 3/4 of the way through to make 6 wedges. Spread the wedges apart slightly. (Cookies will separate and flatten as they bake) Bake for 9-11 min. or until set. Cool 2-3 min. then remove from cookie sheet to a rack to cool. </div><div style="text-align: center;">To frost, mix powdered sugar, milk, and almond flavoring to desire constancy. Add yellow food coloring to frosting. Place in a ziplock bag and snip the end off. Pipe 3 little dots into the middle of each cookie. Let harden.</div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRRzO-npbbI/AAAAAAAAA_U/-EHwbajeiPA/s1600/RaspPoint1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRRzO-npbbI/AAAAAAAAA_U/-EHwbajeiPA/s640/RaspPoint1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the pre-baked balls should look like....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Again, these cookies are interesting, sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. But, at least they taste good even if they don't look good!<br />
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Which makes me think about the history of the poinsettia plant itself. Do you know about the plant? Well, it originated in Mexico. At the time, the plants leaves were a shade of green a majority of the year, and the plant was commonly used to line Jesus' manger in Nativity scenes, and when it got closer to Christmas eve, the leaves would suddenly turn a bright red! This is why in Mexico and in other areas it is known as "Flor de la Noche Buena" or Flower of Christmas Eve.<br />
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All I can say is that there were higher powers in guiding me to make these cookies on Christmas Eve night....even if a majority of them did not turn out...<br />
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A Child is Born...<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">ME</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">RR</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">Y CH</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;">ISTMAS!!!</span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-82023930251230390912010-12-23T08:00:00.001-06:002010-12-23T08:00:00.293-06:00Day 2: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3aJntV9I/AAAAAAAAA_I/zxrKWFIjCgE/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3aJntV9I/AAAAAAAAA_I/zxrKWFIjCgE/s320/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Okay, take a deep breath, its alright, everything will be okay....<br />
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Stressing out a little? Eat a cookie, it makes all things better! There are only 2 days left until Christmas! I am spending it with my Hubby, eating, drinking, exploring, eating some more, drinking again....hehe. We are going to open presents sometime soon too, although a lot of the good ones are getting here after Christmas. (snail mail during the holidays + customs = mail takes a loooooonnnnggggg time)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM39AfKaKI/AAAAAAAAA_M/4DbdIPbpKMI/s1600/SnickerDough2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM39AfKaKI/AAAAAAAAA_M/4DbdIPbpKMI/s640/SnickerDough2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
On this wonderful <b>Day 2</b> I am going to share with you a <b>Snickerdoodle Cookie</b> recipe that I found on another blog that I have been following for sometime now. I has accumulated a lot of recipes for snickerdoodles and I had to compare all the recipes and see which one I though I, and hubby, would like the best. Knowing his tastes and mine, this is the one I chose. Its a pretty classic and straightforward recipe for the cinnamon covered childhood cookie.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3Q0bQJyI/AAAAAAAAA_A/HX9lapNBj5E/s1600/SnickerDoodle3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3Q0bQJyI/AAAAAAAAA_A/HX9lapNBj5E/s640/SnickerDoodle3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Fat n' Fluffy Snickerdoodles~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from </span><a href="http://www.howsweeteats.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">How Sweet It Is</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. butter, room temp.</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lg. egg</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 3/4 c. flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. sugar + 1 tbsp. cinnamon, mixed</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon, set aside. In a med. bowl beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, beat well to combine. Stir in flour mix until the dough comes together. Add in the milk. Mix until dough forms a ball. If it is too crumbly, add milk 1 tbsp. at a time until is comes together. Cover and refrigerate for 30 min.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Remove the dough from the fridge. Roll dough into big 1 1/2 in. balls (I used a 1 in. cookie scoop) and dip the balls into the cinnamon-sugar mixture until completely coated. Place on baking sheet and use the bottom of a glass to flatten the cookies slightly. Bake for 10-12 min. or until firm.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3FTFB3FI/AAAAAAAAA-4/SoyUWvDiXm8/s1600/SnickerDoodle1F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3FTFB3FI/AAAAAAAAA-4/SoyUWvDiXm8/s640/SnickerDoodle1F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I was surprised at the resulting cookie. It was hefty, it did not spread much in the cooking process. It was dense and chewy. It tasted wonderful. Very nice cinnamon flavor. But, I would have to say that, in the case with snickerdoodles, I like them to be a little less dense. Don't get me wrong, these tasted wonderful, I would just like something with a little more 'air' if you will. More time to experiment and more cookies to eat!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3WL6nXQI/AAAAAAAAA_E/qU-jiLxbe8k/s1600/SnickerDough1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="514" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3WL6nXQI/AAAAAAAAA_E/qU-jiLxbe8k/s640/SnickerDough1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Hubby has yet to try one, but knowing that he likes a cake-y cookie he might be a fan of these ones! ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3LWUDxbI/AAAAAAAAA-8/NVPBxrK-ZXQ/s1600/SnickerDoodle2F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRM3LWUDxbI/AAAAAAAAA-8/NVPBxrK-ZXQ/s640/SnickerDoodle2F.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I am uber excited to bring you tomorrows post!! Hope you enjoyed reading them so far!<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-18344838835566349232010-12-22T08:00:00.003-06:002010-12-22T20:26:45.091-06:00Day 3: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKzK_FbQbI/AAAAAAAAA-0/D5JY6XtP2zw/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKzK_FbQbI/AAAAAAAAA-0/D5JY6XtP2zw/s320/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Three! Count them....1, 2, 3 more days until Christmas! We are getting closer peeps.<br />
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Did ya see what I made? Yup, I made the little emblem up on top. I am so very proud. Don't judge, I like it, and that is all that matters. Beside its cute, don't you think?<br />
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Anywho, one to the good stuff...the cookies! <b>Day 3</b> is <b>Lemon Sugar Cookies</b>. These cookies have a little twist to them. They are a basic sugar cookie with some lemon zest in them for some zing. And let me tell you, the lemon is a very good flavor in these cookies. I decided to make these ones instead of plain ol' frosted sugar cookies because Hubby is a huge fan of anything lemon flavored. I was also in the mood for something new, and I don't have my cookie cutter collection out here yet. (I know, sad right?)<br />
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So, here is the recipe that I used. I made a few changes here and there as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRHnyHL-3MI/AAAAAAAAA-A/Bld69j2VQkU/s1600/RGSugarCookie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRHnyHL-3MI/AAAAAAAAA-A/Bld69j2VQkU/s640/RGSugarCookie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Lemon Sugar Cookies~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from Bon Appetit Magazine)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">3/4 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 stick butter, softened</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lg. egg</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tbsp. lemon zest</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 3/4 c. flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">Colored Crystals</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in the egg, lemon zest, and vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add in the flour mixture and beat until smooth and fully incorporated. Cover and let chill in the refrigerator for 2 hrs. or until dough is firm.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Place colored crystals into small bowls. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and, using a tablespoon, spoon out the dough and shape into balls in your hands. Roll in colored crystals. Place on baking sheets about 1 in. apart. Use a small glass to slightly flatten the cookie. Bake for 14 min. or until golden brown on the bottom. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRHn2vXN_oI/AAAAAAAAA-E/vkEVOw1ANwo/s1600/RGSugarCookieDual.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRHn2vXN_oI/AAAAAAAAA-E/vkEVOw1ANwo/s640/RGSugarCookieDual.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
These cookies were wonderful. The lemon was great addition. They had a slightly crisp exterior with a slightly airy soft interior. They were wonderfully smack in the middle of a soft and a crispy cookie. Perfect. I think next time I would like to use almond flavoring instead of vanilla and see if that makes a difference. Maybe some more lemon too...or a lemon-sugar coating or glaze....ooooh the ideas are a-flowin'! Speaking of ideas, as you can see in the pictures above and below I did some dual colored cookies as well. I think they turned out okay, it was hard to keep the sugar crystals separated, but it still looks pretty cool!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRHn7bY5D5I/AAAAAAAAA-I/MRtInFu0pJ8/s1600/RGSugarCookieDual3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRHn7bY5D5I/AAAAAAAAA-I/MRtInFu0pJ8/s640/RGSugarCookieDual3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
On another note. I was reminded of something today. It was an old family tradition that my mother used to do with me about a week before Christmas. You see, we had this one ornament that was a clear ball with a red pipe-cleaner man with a cotton ball beard in it. Anybody know what this man was? He had 5 other little 'followers' that my mother would hide each morning before I got up and I would have to find them before the day was over. I can not for the life of me remember what their name was! It was something along the lines of tomtom or tinkin....i can not remember and I can't find anything on the WWW either! Jeez! Mom, help? I just remembered about them and I would like to make some for my own tree...<br />
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Anywho, hope all is peaceful on this wonderful holiday night.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-70299475664819990022010-12-21T06:09:00.002-06:002010-12-22T20:20:15.961-06:00Day 4: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKtPc2mgwI/AAAAAAAAA-U/a8C3LMOeayQ/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKtPc2mgwI/AAAAAAAAA-U/a8C3LMOeayQ/s320/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRCXqDKCTtI/AAAAAAAAA90/cABdy7NNz4A/s1600/CranSwirlCookieC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRCXqDKCTtI/AAAAAAAAA90/cABdy7NNz4A/s640/CranSwirlCookieC.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><br />
It's the final countdown! Can ya hear the music when you say that phrase? I can and it rocks! It makes me get excited about, well, about whatever comes at the end of the countdown. At the end of this countdown is....um, well, Christmas of course!<br />
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<b>Day 4</b> graces us with <b>Cranberry Swirl Cookies</b>. This cookie recipe is a new one for me. I did it because I have had a bag of cranberries in the refrigerator since Thanksgiving. I never used them and I have been waiting for a recipe to use them in. I must confess, this was the first time I have ever cooked fresh cranberries. I really like their tart and slightly sweet flavor.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRCXulk8i7I/AAAAAAAAA94/lj7WZRAsFe0/s1600/CranSwirlCookieRF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="466" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRCXulk8i7I/AAAAAAAAA94/lj7WZRAsFe0/s640/CranSwirlCookieRF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Cranberry Swirl Cookies~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(From </span><a href="http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/2010/11/cranberry-swirl-cookies/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Baked By Rachel</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">**</span></b>Takes 2 days to make<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">**</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. butter, softened</div><div style="text-align: center;">3/4 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 lg. egg</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. vanilla</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 c. flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 c. cranberries</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. water, divided</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 tbsp. cornstarch</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. cinnamon</div><div style="text-align: center;">zest from 1 orange</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a small bowl combine the flour, salt, and cinnamon. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, beat well to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add in 1/2 the dry ingredients, mix well. Add in the other half and mix until fully incorporated. Divide the dough in half and form each half into a ball, wrap in plastic. Chill for at least one hour.</div><div style="text-align: center;">To make the cranberry filling, place the cranberries, sugar, and 1/4 c. of water in a med. sauce pan over med. high heat. Cook until the berries pop, stirring frequently. Continue to cook, reducing the temp. to med. Add in the orange zest at this point. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and remaining 1/4 c. water. Add cornstarch mix to the cranberries. Heat and stir until thickened, this step happens very quickly so keep an eye on it. Add the cinnamon and stir until incorporated. Remove from heat and transfer the filling to a med. bowl. Let cool for 15-20 min at room temp. Once cooled, cover with plastic and chill completely.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When both the dough and filling have properly cooled and set up, you can construct your cookies. Remove one of the dough balls and the filling from the fridge. On a lightly floured<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>*</b></span> surface, roll out the dough into a large rectangle. Spread half of the filling over the dough, keeping it with 1/2 in. from the edge. Carefully begin rolling the dough from one end to the other. Pinch and seal off the ends. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil. Repeat with the other dough ball and the rest of the filling. Store in the freezer overnight. These can also be frozen for several months.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Once you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Take one log out of the fridge and slice into 1/3 in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on the baking sheets. Bake for 12-15 min. or until the edges just start turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 5 min. on the sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely. </div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: red;">Note:</span></b> I used powdered sugar...keeps things tasty! ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRCX3y3RBmI/AAAAAAAAA98/k0WJMRQdoUc/s1600/CranSwirlCookiePrepF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRCX3y3RBmI/AAAAAAAAA98/k0WJMRQdoUc/s640/CranSwirlCookiePrepF.jpg" width="578" /></a></div><br />
These cookies were okay. The dough was a little tricky to roll out. It kept ripping and pulling apart around the edges as I rolled it. Maybe it needs some more liquid? The cookie as a whole was okay. Not the greatest use of the cranberries in my opinion, but their flavor worked well with the cinnamon flavor in the dough. It might be a texture thing, with the crispness of the cookie part and the softness of the filling. There was something that was missing, or lacking, just not sure what yet!<br />
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In other news: I have an announcement! I just found out what one of my Christmas presents is! It's a digital SLR camera!! Ahhhh!! I am SPEECHLESS....my Hubby rocks, I love him so very, very much. Its a Canon Rebel 2Ti, yup pretty basic, but thats where I am at right now...but I have strong hopes for the future!<br />
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Happy Holidays!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-48171817537632907812010-12-20T06:17:00.003-06:002010-12-22T20:21:21.444-06:00Day 5: 12 Days of Cookies CountdownWooHoo! Day 5! Can ya feel the excitement in the air? I sure can.<br />
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I must confess. I have not made every single batch of these cookies on the day that I have posted about them. Sometimes I made 2 or 3 different kinds in one day. Yeah, Im weird like that.... So I made about 3 different kinds on Friday of last week....I should have listened to that little voice in my head saying that enough is enough, you need to take a cooking baking break. I made the pecan balls, prepped another cookies and made the cookies for todays post. I messed these cookies up...not big time, but I remember them being so much better! Maybe it was the fact that I used vegetable oil instead of canola oil. Or I mixed both dark and milk chocolate instead of just the dark chocolate. Maybe it was the recipe itself....but the pictures looked like what I remember. Who knows!? Well, I made them, and they were sub-par. They baked up super flat. They were edible, but they lacked flavor, texture, etc. Just barley squeaked by with this one! But don't get me wrong, next time I make these I am sticking to the recipe! Hehehe...can ya blame me for experimenting and using what I had on had? I guess thats why I don't feel so bad about it....<br />
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<b>Day 5</b> was <b>Chocolate Snowflake Cookies</b>. Here is what mine looked like.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ9I9HYN4mI/AAAAAAAAA9s/IvebfMC1DUw/s1600/ChocoCrinklesCU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ9I9HYN4mI/AAAAAAAAA9s/IvebfMC1DUw/s640/ChocoCrinklesCU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
So, here is the recipe that I would like to use in the future.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Chocolate Espresso Crinkles~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">4 tbsp. butter or margarine</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. chocolate chips</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 eggs</div><div style="text-align: center;">2 tsp. vanilla extract</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 1/2 c. flour</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 tsp. baking powder</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. powdered sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Put the butter or margarine and chocolate chips in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 45 seconds. Stir and cook in 10 sec. intervals, checking and stirring after each time to see if more time is needed. Take it slow, the chocolate can burn quickly! Set aside to cool.</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. Beat the sugar, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl until fluffy. Stir in melted chocolate. Add in the flour mixture and beat until combined. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Refrigerate the dough for at least 2 hours. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 325 F. Place the powdered sugar in a small bowl. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. Take out the dough from the fridge. Scoop up the dough a tbsp. at a time and roll into a ball and roll in powdered sugar until completely coated. Bake for 8 to 10 min. Remove from oven and let cool a min. on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ9JCqv323I/AAAAAAAAA9w/hho7TujVA_k/s1600/ChocoCrinklesPB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ9JCqv323I/AAAAAAAAA9w/hho7TujVA_k/s640/ChocoCrinklesPB.jpg" width="464" /></a></div><br />
I hope that these ones turn out better for me and for everyone else! I really like these cookies, and have made them before. I was majorly disappointed when they did not turn out how I remembered them....alas...I guess I will have to make them again! ;-)<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-560759527281965432010-12-19T06:44:00.003-06:002010-12-22T20:22:20.982-06:00Day 6: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKvNwcofYI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/fRdZfXxYpiM/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKvNwcofYI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/fRdZfXxYpiM/s320/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Day 6</b> is upon us! And with is comes <b>Pecan Turtles</b>.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The recipe for today is not actually a "cookie" by definition but in our family they are <i>always</i> made with all the other Christmas cookies. They are pecan turtles. My mother is known for them. She does not like them, but the extended family does, and a tray of cookies would not be complete without a turtle on it. </div><div><br />
</div><div>They are very easy. Here is what you do:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ39VOxQFPI/AAAAAAAAA9o/mjob-BIVJsk/s1600/PecanTurtleCU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ39VOxQFPI/AAAAAAAAA9o/mjob-BIVJsk/s640/PecanTurtleCU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Pecan Turtles~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">1 bg. pecan halves</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 pgk. caramel squares</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 6-bar pkg. Hershey chocolate bars</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat the oven to 300 F. Line some baking sheets with parchment paper. Dump out the bag of pecan halves and find the ones that are not broken. Unwrap the caramels and count how many are in the bag, thats how many turtles you can make with the pecans. (there seems to be the least of the caramels) Unwrap the chocolate bars and break apart the sections. </div><div><br />
</div><div>First, arrange the pecans like this:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38SYPu3jI/AAAAAAAAA9U/RyKnm4iez58/s1600/PecanTurtleS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38SYPu3jI/AAAAAAAAA9U/RyKnm4iez58/s640/PecanTurtleS1.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>This is your turtle 'base'. Make as many of these as you have caramels. If your pecans are broken, use broken halves for the head. It gets covered anyway. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Next, place a caramel on top of the center of the turtle.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38V2YjNbI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/u0iUWP3_dzk/s1600/PecanTurtleS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38V2YjNbI/AAAAAAAAA9Y/u0iUWP3_dzk/s640/PecanTurtleS2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Place them carefully, so you don't bump off a caramel, into the oven and warm for about 5 min or so. How long this takes depends on your oven, how warm the caramels are, etc. Just watch them. When the caramels get slight soft around the edges is when you want to pull them out. You dont want them to melting all around the turtle. Have a bowl of cold water ready by your side and the chocolates ready to go right away, the next few steps happen fast. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Take the trutles out of the oven and dip your fingers in water and squish the caramels down like this:</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38ZAvtieI/AAAAAAAAA9c/ZFyl5ar7Wbs/s1600/PecanTurtleS3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38ZAvtieI/AAAAAAAAA9c/ZFyl5ar7Wbs/s640/PecanTurtleS3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>This makes the back. Do this to all of the turtles.</div><div><br />
</div><div>Immediately place a piece of chocolate on top of the caramel. Wait a few minuets.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38bl1YuZI/AAAAAAAAA9g/WmUEGxZHw-I/s1600/PecanTurtleS4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38bl1YuZI/AAAAAAAAA9g/WmUEGxZHw-I/s640/PecanTurtleS4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Then swirl the chocolate in a circle to cover the caramel.</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38eBIW89I/AAAAAAAAA9k/ImajJBzOuaU/s1600/PecanTurtleS5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQ38eBIW89I/AAAAAAAAA9k/ImajJBzOuaU/s640/PecanTurtleS5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>This makes the shell of the turtle</div><div><br />
</div><div>If you can, place the turtles, still on the baking sheet, into the fridge to harden up. Once hard, remove and place into a tupperware container. Let come to room temp. before eating, otherwise the caramel is really hard. Then eat!</div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b></div>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7006423285132993883.post-57384612630518248432010-12-18T09:34:00.002-06:002010-12-22T20:23:00.719-06:00Day 7: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKvjqR3pfI/AAAAAAAAA-c/f3cLm2mIrtA/s1600/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TRKvjqR3pfI/AAAAAAAAA-c/f3cLm2mIrtA/s320/SABCookieCountdown.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Another day down and another day closer!<br />
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Today, <b>day 7</b>, I am bringing you the wonderful <b>Snowball Cookie</b>. These are the cookie with many variations, and with that comes many names....The most common variation is the "nut" part of the cookie. I used pecans, but I have also seen walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts, cashews, etc. There are also the add-ins of the liquid variety like maple syrup and liquor. Sounds good no?<br />
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I did, but i still decided to go the classic route....with Pecans.<br />
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I also learned a lesson with this recipe....read it! Even if you think you know what you are doing...read it through <i>thoroughly. </i>I neglected to do so, and I got lucky. The mistake that I made was minor. Let me see if you can notice it...Take a look at the picture below:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQzO8ZDlFsI/AAAAAAAAA9M/MYRZlzaZdvU/s1600/SnowballPrePostF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQzO8ZDlFsI/AAAAAAAAA9M/MYRZlzaZdvU/s640/SnowballPrePostF.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The cookie on the left it pre-bake and the one on the right is post-bake. Can you spot my mix-up? Yes, I coated them in powdered sugar <i>before</i> baking! Had a read the recipe I would not have done this. But, again, I got lucky and this did not ruin the cookies, the powdered sugar just "melted" on the cookies a little. So, realizing my mistake after all the cookies were baked, I remedied it by just re-coating them in more powdered sugar. It can't hurt right? It worked, they looked great, like a snowball is supposed to work, and surprisingly they were not too sweet either! Score! So, here is the correct recipe...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQzSVP9FckI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/xHERgnWhr70/s1600/SnowballCookiesCU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2CcCYAr57-E/TQzSVP9FckI/AAAAAAAAA9Q/xHERgnWhr70/s640/SnowballCookiesCU.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">~Pecan Snowball Cookies~</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(Adapted from </span><a href="http://www.sprinklebakes.com/2010/12/snowball-cookies-icicle-candy.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Sprinkle Bakes</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">2 c. flour, sifted</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. butter, softened</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/2 c. sugar</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 tsp. vanilla</div><div style="text-align: center;">1/4 tsp. salt</div><div style="text-align: center;">3/4 c. chopped pecans</div><div style="text-align: center;">1-3 tbsp. milk</div><div style="text-align: center;">1 c. powdered sugar for dusting</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Preheat the oven to 325 F. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until creamy. Add the vanilla extract and mix well. Add the flour and salt. Mix until partially incorporated and then add in the nuts. Mix until a thick and uniform dough is formed.<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">*</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Roll cookies into 1 in. balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 min. or until the cookies are slightly golden and fragrant. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely on the pan before trying to remove from the baking sheet. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Once the cookies have cooled, place the powdered sugar in a bowl and roll the balls in the powdered sugar until coated. Remove and eat! </div><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #ffd966;">*Note:</span></b> I had some issues with the dough so I added some milk. It came together a little bit, but it was really difficult to get them to come together. I really had to squeeze! I also rolled them a bit too big. Once bitten into, they also crumbled a lot, I guess that was a side effect of the too-soft dough.<br />
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While it was good to try a new recipe, I think I would like to try something different. These were good, don't get me wrong...I just know they can be better! So, the search continues for another snowball recipe. Maybe one with liqueur? ;-)<br />
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While baking up these snowballs, I was reminded of recess growing up. At the grade school I went to we had a large parking lot that was part of our recess area. It was plowed during the winter which resulted in massive snow piles around the surrounding fence. These piles were huge! I would say that some were up wards of 6 or 7 feet high. So, hugh snow piles + kids = snow forts! We built the best forts, with tunnels and little caves, everything. And what is a fort without protection? Yes, we even had snowball storage area were there were tons of snowballs just waiting to be used. (which never could be because snowball throwing during recess was not allowed) SO, tons of snowballs were all lined up in our forts and when I had all my snowball cookies all lined up on the baking sheet, I recalled this wonderful childhood memory!<br />
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Yeah, Im cool like that! ;-)<br />
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What's your best recess memory?<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENJOY!</span></b>SABhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13300208283740682334noreply@blogger.com0