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Monday, November 7, 2011

A wonderful website chock-full-o'-holiday ideas!

This website is really getting me in the mood for Christmas.  It actually would take a whole lot for me to be in the mood for Christmas-since it's not my favorite holiday-but-this site has me a whole lot closer to being ready to be ready.  :)  Check it out---I'm sure you'll see what I mean. 
http://www.holidaywithmatthewmead.com/

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Stuffed French Toast

I'm not sure where I got this recipe from.  But it is so delicious!  Perfect to make for a special occasion breakfast. 


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Here’s a list of everything you need: a loaf of French or Italian bread, eggs, milk, butter, cream cheese, cinnamon, and jam or fresh fruit (if you’re like me, you’ll use both). I also added slivered almonds just for the fun of it, but you don’t have to … unless you want to. If you do, let me know when and where I can invite myself over for breakfast. Thanks.
 Before you can invite me over for breakfast, you’ll need to know how to make this. Slice a loaf of bread in 2-inch pieces. You should get about six pieces all together, not including the end pieces. Using a paring knife, cut a deep slit across the top in the middle of each slice, approximately 4 inches long (as pictured above). This will form your “pocket.” Once you’re done, set the bread aside.
I decided to go with strawberries for the filling. They were almost too pretty to eat. You could use any fruit or no fruit at all, but I highly recommend strawberries.
Wash the strawberries, remove the stems, and cut slices in each one. Turn them a quarter turn and slice them again, adding them to a bowl.
Next, macerate the strawberries, which is fancy way of saying add a little sugar and mix it in. Set them aside and allow the sugar to release its magic.
Next, add jam to the cream cheese and mix both of them until well combined.
The cream cheese mixture now looks like strawberry yogurt. Yum!
Now comes the fun part! Grab a slice of bread and add about a tablespoon (or as much as you like) of cream cheese filling. Personally, I like about 2 tablespoons per slice. Do the same thing with the fresh fruit. Make sure to close the opening by gently pressing the bread together. This will make frying them easier and less messy. Set the filled slices aside.
Now it’s time to make the egg bath. Mix eggs, milk, and cinnamon together until well mixed. Turn the stove top on to medium-high to preheat the skillet. While your skillet is heating up, dip sliced bread in the egg wash for about 20 seconds on both sides. Only dip as many slices as you plan on frying. In other words, if your pan can only fry two pieces at a time, be sure to only coat two pieces of bread a time.
Add a little butter to the surface of skillet. This will help prevent the French toast from sticking. I heart butter.
Fry each slice for about 3 minutes per side or until golden brown. Remove from heat and serve.

If you’re interested in making your stuffed French toast a little more glamorous, sprinkle powdered sugar over the tops of the slices and garnish with fresh strawberries and almonds.




Look at how beautiful these babies are! Can you believe how easy that was, yet how fancy this looks by adding a little magic dust (a.k.a. powdered sugar)?
Final thoughts: although I loved this recipe, I would like to suggest a few things. For a whole loaf of bread, you may want to double the amount of cream cheese and jam the original recipe calls for. If you plan on using fresh strawberries for the filling like I did, I recommend using a 1/2 cup of chopped strawberries with 1 tablespoon of sugar mixed in. Also, because I found the stuffed French toast was plenty sweet on its own, I opted not to add maple syrup.

Minnie's Caramel Cake

Minnie's Caramel Cake
Makes one 9­inch layer cake
Reprinted with permission from The Junior League of Memphis, Inc. from The Memphis Cookbook , 
1952; recipe submitted by Mrs. Phil Thornton, Jr.
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 cups unsifted cake flour
3 teaspoons baking powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 ½ cups buttermilk
For the cake:
Pre­heat the oven to 350°F. Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium 
speed for about 20 minutes, or until mixture is light and fluffy. Reduce speed to low and 
add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the vanilla and mix until 
blended. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in another bowl. Slowly alternate adding 
buttermilk and flour mixture to the butter mixture; begin and end with flour mixture and 
make sure to scrape down sides of bowl frequently combined. Mix the batter until well­
blended and smooth. Prepare two 9­inch cake pans by lining the bottoms with parchment 
paper, buttering the side then dusting with flour. Divide the batter evenly among the two 
pans. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until cake is lightly browned and a toothpick inserted 
in the middle comes out clean. Remove the cakes from pans after cooling for 10 minutes 
and then cool completely on wire racks.
Creamy caramel frosting:
2 ½ cups sugar 1 large egg, lightly beaten 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter ¾ cup 
whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Mix egg, butter, 2 cups of the sugar and milk in a 
saucepan and cook over a low flame until butter melts. In a skillet, caramelize the remain­
ing ½ cup of the sugar over medium heat until brown and runny then quickly add to the 
egg mixture. Cook until it reaches the soft­ball stage (or until the mixture leaves sides of 
pan), about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, let cool slightly, then add the vanilla. Beat 
until right consistency to spread  (if it gets too thick, add a little cream).
To Finish Cake:
Place one layer on plate and, working quickly, cover the top of the cake with a thin layer of 
caramel frosting. Repeat with the next layer. Place top layer on and frost top, then sides, 
smoothing icing. Garnish with candied pecans and small white currants, if desired.

Joe's Nana's Famous Banana Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

 This is a family recipe and my husband's favorite.  He always gets this for his birthday.  I always buy the bananas well in advance because the more ripe they are, the more flavor that they will have. 

Joe’s Nana’s Banana Cake w/Peanut Butter Frosting

Cream together 1/2 cup shortening and 1 1/2 cups sugar.  Add 2 eggs that have been beaten until fluffy.
Sift together:  2 cups flour
        1/4 tsp baking powder
        3/4 tsp soda
        1/2 tsp salt

Add to other ingredients and mix for 2 minutes on low speed.  Add 1 cup mashed bananas (2 or 3 old bananas) 1/4 cup sour milk or buttermilk & 1 tsp vanilla.  (make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tsp vinegar to the 1/4 cup regular milk)  Beat until well blended, on medium speed of mixer.  Bake 30-35 minutes in 2 greased layer pans.  Oven at 350.

Frosting:
1 lb bag of powdered sugar creamed with 1 stick soft butter.  Add 4 tablespoons peanut butter and mix until spreading consistency.  Add milk as needed.

Pastry shell recipe

I found this recipe in some notes from a stash that Joe had.  It says that this was used since 1939 by Joe's Nana.  I need to try this someday!

2 cups flour sifted with scant tsp salt
Add all at once:  1/2 cup oil and 1/4 cup milk
Stir together with fork then shape with hands.  Divide dough in half. 
Roll each half between 2 sheets of wax paper until they are the correct size for you pie dish.  The thinner you roll it, the more crispy the crust will be. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Home Improvement or Remodel

In case you are looking for a great company with fair prices, 5 Star service,  knowledgeable staff, professional installation:  contact Joe@ At Your Service Flooring Discounters in Ft. Worth, TX.  Office number is 817.831.3113 or email at flooringdiscounters@verizon.net. 

Monday, August 8, 2011

It's Official-Winter is over in Texas!

In case you haven't heard on the news lately-those of us in Texas (or Hell-as I like to refer to it)----we are in the middle of a heat wave and drought type conditions.  What it boils down to is this---I don't go outside right now--unless it is absolutely necessary.  It is oppressive out there and I feel for those that have to work in this weather.  My MS is making it difficult to even tolerate a few minutes outside.  Lucky for me, some friends got me a "Frogg Togg" or chilly pad.  It has saved my life on quite a few occasions.  Anyway, we are in day 38 of 100+ consecutive days.  We've had more than that for the season but that's just the consecutive number.  It's looking like we will tie the 1980 record this Friday and beat it on Saturday.  If you're from here-all summers are measured up against that hot-fest in 1980.  I keep trying to figure out where I can live that is pleasant all year long.  I haven't figured out where that paradise is and even if I did-it would probably be too expensive to live there.  :) 
Anyway, I'm going to try to be more diligent and keep my postings up to date.  Or at least not be months apart!  My classes in the Spring semester took way more of my time than I imagined they would and I think my brain was just burned out from all of it.  I've been giving it a rest this summer! 
So, that's my little update for now....

Hope all of you are staying cool!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

"Baby-it's cold outside!"

This weather makes me wish our fireplace was operational.  It would be so toasty and warm.  Because at 18 degrees outside-it is way too cold for me!  Even the Yorkie, Sofie, won't go out in this frigid weather.  She looks out the door as if to say "You think I'm going out there?"  Dakota runs out does his business, then comes right back in.  So, we're at our 3rd day of ice here in Dallas, TX!  I'm ready for warmer weather but the weather guys say we may have snow tomorrow!  Geeeeezzzzz.  At least I think the rolling black outs are done.  Anyway, below is what Lucas' do when it's too cold to go anywhere!





I made 2 batches!  So that's almost 4 dozen of these beauties.  They aren't just pretty-they taste good, too!  This has been the best cutout cookie recipe that I have ever tried or made.  Most times in the past, the cookies just didn't make it from being cutout to the cookie sheet.  I made so many of these at Christmas and everyone loved them!  I just need to get the decorating down to perfection.  Joe and I decorated these.  It was a good project for both of us on an icy, cold winter day.

This weather is sure interfering with Super Bowl festivities!  I feel bad that all of the visitors for the big game aren't going to get a real idea of how great our state is!  I hope the fun can be salvaged in some way for them....
Well-I hope everyone is staying warm and toasty....
C-

Monday, January 24, 2011

The start of another week....

It's hard to believe that it's already the last week in January 2011!  The time just clicks by so fast!  We went to the lake this past weekend.  Saturday was beautiful and almost 60;  Sunday was dreary and drizzling.  The Sunday kind of days, make me appreciate the Saturday kind of days.  I'm trying to get back in the swing of homework and school assignments.  I know these classes will be more challenging than previous.  I guess I saved the most difficult for last!  Pretty typical, I'd say.  I know I can do it!  I just have to prioritize for a few months-the time will fly by fast and then I'll be finished!  I plan to take my math placement test in late May or early June.  That way I can enroll for the Fall semester and take the Algebra that I need.  Did I ever mention that I always hated Algebra in high school?!?!  It was probably my least favorite subject.  But, if all goes as I expect-I'll be able to officially graduate in December 2011!    If this Web Design class goes ok, then I'll probably take one or two classes towards that certificate.  I'm not even finished with the first week but I have taken a quiz and turned in an assignment that had to be coded in HTML and uploaded to my own web site, which I set up with my name through godaddy.com.  It was a little more complicated than that but it's way too boring to go in to details!  Anyway, I have started week 2 and did my studying for today.  I have a Dr. El-Feky appointment tomorrow.  Just a follow up so no big deal.
Hoping everyone (like there is an EVERYone! HA!) has a spectacular week!
PS  Bryan called us Saturday!  We always put him on speaker so Sofie can hear-she does recognize the voice and knows that's her Bubba she hears-she just can't figure out where he is!  As always, it's good to talk to him-along with my other two babies!  Love them all!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Let the fun begin....

Classes begin today!  I'm excited but also hoping that I am not over-doing it.  It'll be a lot of work, I know.  I mean really----Ethics and Astronomy all at the same time??   And don't let me forget to mention-PE and Web Design!  Although I am looking forward to learning Web Design.  I hope it's what I anticipate it to be and that it will feed that need that I have to always have something creative going on.  When I think about it, I realize that I can't decide on just one thing that I enjoy doing because I have this constant need to be doing something and learning something new-all the time!  That's why I do so many different things.  But, I really figure that I am always learning something-and how can that be a bad thing?  
So, yesterday, in true Virgo fashion-I organized the pantry!  I went so far as to put all my various flours and sugars in containers.  That's not so bad but, I took it one step further and labeled them!  I mean, could you tell the difference if you were just looking, between cake flour an regular bleached flour?  I can't!  So, I am justifying my labeling habit!  I think that the next thing on my list is to purge my closet again.  I try to do that at least once a year and it's been about that long now.  Joe started his last Sunday.  As long as I've known him (13 1/2 years), he has never cleaned his closet.  He found t-shirts that he had never worn and had completely forgotten that he had.  I'm proud of what he got accomplished but he still has a little ways to go to get it totally under control.  He does have some cool vintage clothes though!  Gale-Bird may be scoring some of them if Joe can let them go.  :)  I was able to get a Hershey jacket from his high school days!  I thought it was very cool and will wear it proudly (though it's a tad big).  
Well-must get my day going and start the school assignments-I've already finished one!  :)
Have a wonderful day people! 

Friday, January 14, 2011

Keeping Busy...

This has been a busy week full of Drs. appointments and infusions.  Today, I don't have much going on-thankfully!  My infusion was yesterday-it always makes me feel like I am just not on top of my game.  Brain-fog, if you will.  It usually lasts for a couple of days then I'm good as new (well-for me!) and ready to go.  I found a website that shows you, step by confusing step, how to put a roll-over in your blog. For those that don't know what I'm talking about, a rollover is a feature that allows you to put your mouse over a picture in a blog, and see another picture, that usually is related to the main picture in the blog.  Two for the price of one!  Yeah!  It's actually really cool for a before/after scenario.  I've seen them but never thought much about how to do them because I really figured it's way over my head.  It's all html code but I'll have to figure that out with my Web Design class anyway.  In fact, the instructor accidentally sent me the link to the class information in advance of class starting.  I got to read over a few thing before he shut me out! Dangit!  I was enjoying a head start!  Anyway, one thing I'll have to do is to set up my own domain name.  I actually already figured that out last week!  So, I may be moving this blog over to my own domain name.  Since it's early on in my blog-life, I'm thinking it might be a wonderful time!  And domain names are not that expensive.  $10 a year-or something like that!  You'd need to check out www.godaddy.com if you're interested.  That's one of the most popular places to get one.  I know there will be so much to learn in Web Design but I feel like I'm off to a good start.
I found a recipe on Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site that is a knock-off to Starbucks Vanilla Chai Tea.  I had my first one yesterday during my infusion so after wards I got the stuff at Whole Foods and made the tea concentrate last night.  It was so much better than I even imagined.  It's not calorie-free, so not something I'd have every day but it sure was a nice treat on a cold day. 
Ok-yeah-so I was going to put the rollover in to this blog post but I needed to upload before/after pictures of the living room remodel-that's taking forEVER so I'll have to play with that later!  For now, I need to get busy making a purse or two. 
See ya!
Charlene

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Snow Day Sunday

I love to watch the snow coming down like it is right now.  It's sticking nicely, too. 
So this morning I've been cutting out fabric for another purse.  This purse is a clutch that Gale-Bird has had for years.  She always gets compliments on it but sadly, it is about worn out.  I was able to draw out a pattern yesterday and had some fabric that Gale-Bird brought for the exterior.  For inside, I had a nice heavy-duty green twill on hand.  All I'll need now is some leather for the handle and top edge.  I'm thinking of going to the Goodwill store to see if I can find a leather jacket that I could salvage leather from.  Looking at a J. Crew catalog yesterday, they had some large purses made of "vintage antiqued leather"-their words.  Only a smooth $238!  Here's a picture of the fabrics for this new purse, along with the old purse.
The fabrics are similar in color but the new one is missing a bird.  :(  The old one has some beading sewn on the front so I will probably try to do a little bit of that.  I don't want to go crazy with it though! 
That's what I'm doing this Sunday!  I keep thinking I need to go get dressed but then I think "What the heck for???".  Today is just one of those days that is meant to be a pajama all day, day.  If we decide to run an errand (not likely since I don't do slippery areas very well!), then I'll throw on some jeans and a sweat shirt. 
I also added a link on the left side to a web site where the blogger has tips for organizing.  If any of you really know anything about me, you know that: 
1.  I'm a typical Virgo.
2.  That means (all by itself!) that I love to organize!  I am a bin/bucket/storage container addict!
3.  I feel zen-like when everything is in its place.  I think better.  I can't help it-it's who I am. 
If you could see my studio, you would understand.  I love the Container Store!  I could spend hours in their stores....that's why I have to stay away. 
So, the website Organize and Decorate Everything is fascinating to me. 
Have a great Sunday! 
Oh yeah!  I have a "follower"! I noticed last night!  Of course, I think it's my daughter but hey!  you have to start somewhere!  This whole blog thing is new to me and I admit that it was a little scary yesterday when I decided to post my blog link on Facebook.  It sort of puts you right out there!  Oh well-it'll all work out!  Things just do!
Charlene

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Did you know...?

I am a Scentsy consultant.  Have been for over 2 years now.  I haven't bought a candle since the day I became a consultant and I don't miss them at all.  Here is the January warmer of the month....I haven't seen it in person, yet, but I have to say that I want to order the new scent bar soon!  I always love anything fig smelling.  This one sounds so good to me! 
Call or email if you want to order anything this month-I can even have it shipped directly to you if you don't live local to me. 
My Scentsy web address is:   www.smellingyummy.scentsy.com

Talking to Myself....

At this point, I guess I really am just talking to myself.  :)  Oh well-this blog allows me to go on and on about nothing!  I finally have finished Gale's purse!  What a tough one!  The velveteen that I bought was so thick, it made it difficult to sew through more than one layer.  Anyway, I have just a couple of places to fix (totally me being picky!), and I can send it to Gale as her late Christmas gift! Whew!  Not sure if I'm ready to make mine, yet. 
On another note, I officially registered for my classes for the Spring semester.  I really wanted to make sure that if I changed direction now, that I would be doing the right thing.  So, I studied how many hours I needed in order to wrap up my Art degree and how many additional I would have to take if I focused on the Web Design degree instead. I found that there is a Web Design Certificate program which has many of the same classes as the actual Web Design degree program. And for my Art degree, I only needed 4 classes!  Wow---I was so close-I couldn't believe it.  I thought the smartest thing for me to do was to get those 4 classes behind me, and finish up the Art degree then to take the Web Design certificate classes along side.  I think the WD Cert is good enough to get me work in that field.  Plus experience!  Joe needs some WD done for his business and it will give me good practice to do that for him when I become more familiar.  So, to make this story shorter-I enrolled in a Physics, Philosophy, PE (I know-crazy!) and Web Design I class.  All online-by the way!  I would really like to get in and test for the Math because if I am able to test high enough-the Algebra would be the final class that I need to finish this Art degree up! 
Ok-so below are some pictures of Gale's new purse!   I hope she loves it....
And I made the Kindle pocket as well as a pocket that will fit her iPhone.  Plus a pocket for things that girls just need to have with them.  :)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

The New Year is HERE!

We are 6 days in to 2011.  So far, so good.  We had a quiet and relaxing celebration with friends at the lake house in East Texas.  So peaceful out there.  It always gives me the chance to recharge and begin another week with a fresh start and attitude.
Big decisions lately....I have about 12 more hours to get the Art degree but realistically, as much as I love art and anything related to creativity-it really won't get me far in terms of a career.  So, I did some research and think I will change gears and move forward with a degree in Web Design.  A lot of the classes that I've already taken will carry over and I think I'll need about 24 more hours to complete.  It seems crazy but it really made sense to me.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to escape testing in to a math class but at least it doesn't have to be Algebra now!  It can be just College Math.  :)  So, I've enrolled in Web Design, Digital Imaging and a database course (Access 2007).  All online, of course.  It's too hard for me to sit in a classroom for any length of time.  Did I mention that I got my GPA up to 3.89 and made the Dean's list with a 4.0 for the Fall semester?  Pretty proud of that!  It's not so easy taking online classes.  You have to be really committed to it.  And I am!  Anyway, so far this year has been good. I have no complaints! 

I did try a new recipe on New Year's day-actually-a couple of new ones!  But for breakfast Saturday morning I made strawberry stuffed french toast.  It was soooo good!  Joe is still eating the leftovers for breakfast.  Really yummy.  And of course on New Year's day-you have to have black-eyed peas and I found a recipe that was the best I've ever had.  Even better than mom's!  That's saying a LOT! I can't forget that I also made some Petite Vanilla Scones-similar to Starbucks.  Again, another incredible recipe!  If you want these recipes let me know and I will email the links.  At some point I should probably take pictures of the things I make since that seems to be the standard blog trend.  What can I say---I'm being lazy!

I have almost wrapped up the purse that I'm making for Gale-Bird.  It's turning out so cute even though it has been a huge pain sewing through the multiple layers of velvet.  I did add some custom touches though----I made an interior pocket that is perfect for an iPhone, a pen and makeup then on the other side I made a pocket that will hold her Kindle perfectly!  Then, (she doesn't know this part yet) I applied some fusible webbing to some of cut out interior fabric with birds on it and ironed that on to the pockets.    I will really try to post pictures when I'm finished.  Should be done today!  And I think with my issues of sewing through all of the layers of velvet, I am considering taking the ruffled strips to the seamstress and seeing if they can serge those edges for me.  Depends on what they charge!  But, it certainly would make my life easier.  I think I need to invest in a serger soon.  :)  But, I also want a Silhouette!  Tough decisions!  Anyway, if I'm going to get anything accomplished today, I better get in gear! 
Have a great day!!!