Happy Birthday to Me

I know, I know, my blog is not good for much of anything, but it is good for one thing. My birthday list. Last year I was preoccupied and didn't post it, but I've realized that expecting people to give me gifts should really be a higher priority in my life.

Here it is:

Smitten Kitchen Cookbook
All of Us The Collected Poems by Raymond Carver
Monkey Bread Pan
Gloves
Slippers that fit
Pandora beads
Bath and BodyWorks stuff
Coco by Chanel
Earrings
Dove Milk Chocolate Covered Almonds
Hot Tamales
Good and Plenty
Cute Post-It notes
White Inkjoy pens
Modern Family Season 3

YouTube Cooking

Madeleine got me to try this recipe she found on YouTube:

1 lb chicken breast, sliced or diced
1/2 cup Asian Toasted Sesame Salad Dressing (Kraft)
1/4 tsp garlic powder or 1 clove minced garlic
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1/3 cup cashews
Stir fry the chicken, mix the other stuff (except the cashews) together and throw it in, serve over rice or noodles and top with the cashews (or peanuts). Throw a little steamed broccoli around the edges to make it healthier (and it looks nice, too). It was super fast and easy!

Here's a link to the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4t-1dJqp9M
Even though the recipe is right here, I did enjoy watching Chef John's demonstration.

Miscellanea

So lately I've been having great ideas on various things to write on my blog. Things that may not interest anyone but me, but that's still reason enough for me to write about them. The problem is, I always have these great ideas when I'm lying in bed at night, and even though I have paper and pen in my nightstand I don't write them down. I don't want to get out of the ideal sleeping position into which I've settled and I'm sure, every time, that I'll remember my idea in the morning. I never do.
I would resolve to do better but I probably won't. I'll just have to try to get better ideas when I'm not in bed.

Miette Lemon Cake

Yes, I have another cookbook, but I swear this is the last one for a little while at least. How can anyone resist San Francisco's most charming pastry shop? Here's my first attempt; the frosting isn't as smooth as Meg Ray's but I think it's still charming.

Perfection

It should be clear to most of you that I've been quite devoted to baking lately (probably as many as 80% of you, which would be four out of my five readers). For years I've wanted to try making croissants but didn't have the guts. It involves multiple steps, lots of putting dough in the fridge to chill, and folding and rolling repeatedly.
However, my love of croissants and the impossible task of finding a decent one without a long drive spurred me on. That and my totally amazing new cookbook which is providing me with an endless stream of fantastic recipes.
Call it beginner's luck, but they came out perfect the first time! I was on both a baking and a butter high. I'll post some pictures of the process next time.

Sarabeth's Bakery

Despite the fact that I haven't yet baked my way through the Flour cookbook, I couldn't resist this one. Who can say no to an apron full of brioche? I started with two breads, Cinnamon Raisin Bread and Apple Cinnamon Bread. They were both easy to make, and the fun part was literally throwing the chunks of apple cinnamon dough into the pan. All that work just to cut the slices in half and chuck them in! The results are worth it, since the bread is both funky looking and delicious.

King Arthur Flour

Last month I finally lived my dream of going to King Arthur Flour in Norwich Vermont. I felt like a kid in a candy store-if you'll pardon the overused expression-going around the store with my little cart (not big enough!) and choosing new baking accessories and ingredients.

Later we spent two hours at a class in the education center on portable pies. It was taught by guest instructor Sarah Copeland who works at the Food Network and has a cookbook coming out next year.

She was great, the company was great (thanks Terrie and Camille!), and it was definitely worth the drive. More on the day's activities later, including the general store that has everything. If they don't have it, you don't need it. Really.

Does This Make Me a Professional?

So I've recently acquired a KitchenAid Professional 600 series mixer, and I couldn't be happier with it. Sometimes as I pass by I have to reach out and give it a little pat - feel the sleek, shiny exterior and remove any stray specks of flour.

Does this mean that I can consider myself a professional baker? Oh wait, I think I have to make money for that. For now I'll have to be content with the knowledge that I can mix up larger batches of baked goods. More posts to come on the particulars.

New Year's Resolution

New Year's Resolution: Improve my blog. How? By actually putting something on it.

Of course, I'm already behind since I'm posting this on March 18th, but it's either that, or wait until 2012 to improve...

Birthday/Christmas List

Yes, it's that time of year again, time to buy me a birthday present. Unfortunately, as each year goes by I dread this special day more and more, so my birthday gifts have to increase in awesomeness in order to compensate. If they don't then I will be wallowing in self-pity and buying wrinkle cream by the five gallon bucket. So my mental health is completely in your hands - no pressure.

Good & Plenty
Pretzel M&Ms
BN or Borders gift card
The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde
Desk calendar pad
Cool cooking stuff (like a scone pan,
not cast iron and yes, I'm picky)
Pandora beads (click for example)
Rat merchandise (click for example)
Look Ma New Hands
(from Bath & Body Works)
Slatkin & Co. candle (ditto)
acceptable scents:
Winter Candy Apple
Vanilla Caramel
Vanilla Shortbread
Frosted Cranberry
Peppermint

Now of course, these are just examples. If you have a fantastic idea all on your own, then go for it! If you just won the lottery, then I'd like an iPad, a MacBook Pro, or possible a MacBook Air.

Now get shopping! You have ten days.

I'm a Winner!

I have a major muscle spasm in my neck, my house is a disaster, and no one in my family has had real food for the last few days. But I'm a winner! I made it to 50,000 words in 30 days.
Now I'm going to have a nap.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Here's another book recommendation if anyone's looking for something to read! I checked it out because of the odd title and I really liked it. It's about a girl who suddenly begins to feel the emotions of the person who prepared her food, starting with a lemon cake made by her mother. Unusual premise, really good book.

NaNoWriMo

This month, for the second year running, I'm participating in National Novel Writing Month. This involves writing 50,000 words in 30 days. Fortunately quality doesn't count, only quantity, and anyone who hits 50,000 words is a winner! It's like a Participaction award.
I'm posting a widget to track my progress and shame me into writing something every day. Here's hoping I end the month with a shred of mental health intact!

Already Sick of School

At the tender age of six, Carter is already sick of school. Well, he says he's "tired of going to school." And I believe him. Going to school all day, every day, for five days in a row has got to be exhausting after a year of half days in kindergarten and a summer of doing absolutely nothing.
There have been a couple of incidents, most notably during his first full week of school when I had to carry him out to the car. I did get to say: "I've carried your brother into that school, and I'll carry you too if I have to!" which for some reason is fun to say, but less fun to do. Fortunately he did walk from the car to the school after I pointed out the number of witnesses getting off the line up of buses outside the building. Unfortunately, he stalled at the office and wouldn't go any further. Thank goodness for teachers who don't want you to stick around.
Now he tries the sickness tactic. There have been a few unsuccessful attempts but the best came yesterday when he was lying in bed not wanting to get up and I was trying to coax him awake.
"But I have a fever," he tells me.
I feel his forehead. Perfectly normal.
"No you don't," I reply.
"It hasn't reached my head yet."
He has a great mind. I hope he puts it to good use some day.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

 Excellent book I read recently: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. It's fresh, funny, and I love Flavia deLuce. She's an eleven year old chemistry expert with her own lab in her house and she can solve murders to boot. It's the best thing I've read in awhile, and there's already a sequel, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag. Read it.

Got Milk?

You may think that this Got Milk? logo actually says Got Milk? You are wrong.
Claire has a new, ongoing, not so endearing habit of wanting to cling to me like some kind of baby monkey. In order to leave the house I have to go through a lengthy routine of good-byes and hugs and kisses. I assure her that there are people in the house who are fully qualified to take care of her in my absence and that I will, in fact, return.
At friends' houses she could be playing happily one moment, and then crying bitterly the next, all because she suddenly realized that she missed me (sorry Julie).
Sunbeams, which still isn't a smooth transition, is getting worse. In fact, she's probably frightening the other children. (My personal favorite is "Protect me from Primary!" Sorry Primary workers.)
So the other day she sees the signs: closets being opened, shoes removed and put on feet, jingling car keys, etc. She starts in on her usual one-girl protest movement and suddenly pauses to run to her backpack. She comes back with a Got Milk? sticker she got at pre-school, sticks it on my stomach and informs me (with a jab to the stomach to emphasize each word): "This says 'Don't Go Anywhere!'"
This is repeated several times before I manage to get out the door, sharp jabs accompanying each reiteration of her unique interpretation of her sticker.
Why oh why can't she find it impossible to live without someone who's not me?

Getting Her Cry Back

Last Friday morning Claire woke up on the wrong side of the bed - she was whiny, she was demanding, she was pitiful. She insisted on having something one way, and as soon as I leapt to obey her commands she then wanted the opposite of whatever she'd originally requested (requested being a euphemism here).
Well, she worked herself up into a fine lather. I couldn't even understand what she was saying half the time, but I could make out the word "Tissue! Tissue!"
Then we had the following conversation (ditto the euphemism comment):
Me: Do you want me to get you a tissue?
Claire: Crying noises
Me: Here you go...
Claire: Screaming noises, rejects tissue
Me: Do you want to get it yourself?
Claire: Crying noises
...and so on, and so on.
I then spent a few minutes trying to get a few words in between the louder spurts of crying, explaining that I can't understand her when she's crying, she'll have to calm down so I'll know what she wants. Eventually this works and she says that she wants to get the tissue herself. Why did she not just get the tissue then? I'll never know.
So I say (imagine me trying to hang onto my upbeat, soothing tone):
"Okay! You can get the tissue!"
Claire pulls a tissue out of the box and sadly says:
"But I need to get my cry back!"

Lemon Buns

I'm pretty much in love with King Arthur Flour. Not the flour itself, although it is good, but the website. I also drool over the catalog that I get in the mail. And the emails. Every now and then I just go through the recipes and print a few out, then try them over the next couple of weeks.
Just before Valentine's Day I got an email with a picture of Lemon Love Buns, which are just Lemon Buns made into heart shapes for Valentine's Day. I fortuitously had the lemon oil on hand since I'd planned to try a brioche recipe (still haven't), but you can use lemon zest as well.

The website often has step-by-step pictures of the mixing/shaping/baking process, which come in handy. These were so yummy and looked so good that I had to post it. (These are my actual handiwork, not a picture stolen from the website!)

In Which We Drive to Idaho and Look for a Bathroom

Anyone who knows me can tell you that I don't really like to put myself out there. For example, I wouldn't want to knock on a stranger's door and ask to use their bathroom. But somehow I found myself doing just that during the drive from Salt Lake to Rexburg.
Now, I have driven this road before, but it was many years ago and other, more capable people were actually in charge of things like driving and stopping for potty breaks. To make a long story short, we got caught in no man's land without a bathroom in sight.

I also learned that if there is no sign indicating the presence of a bathroom at an exit, then there really is no bathroom at the exit. We decided to get off anyway, thinking surely there must be a gas station somewhere, right? Someone lives here, somewhere, and those people need gasoline. No. No sign, no gas station. After almost ten miles of bumpy road we were beyond desperate. You're probably thinking 'What kind of idiot drives ten miles down a bumpy, virtually unpopulated road thinking that a bathroom will appear out of thin air?' That idiot would be me.
Thankfully, someone was home at the second house we tried, and was kind enough to let two idiotic tourists use her bathroom. She even apologized that it wasn't tidier. It could have been the most disgusting bathroom on the face of the planet, and I would have been happy to use it.

Baby Kate

I think Claire has the makings of a good babysitter. She definitely puts a lot of effort into it, but she does seem to think that a real baby is something like a baby doll, there to dress up however she'd like. When I told her that we needed to find baby toys, she came back with all of the baby things from the doll house: the high chair, cradle, car seat, and actual babies. I suppose I did say baby toys.