Last night I went to see Julie/Julia again with my good friend from work Diane. I loved the movie more the second time than I did the first!! After the movie, we made a detour through Borders (thanks for the cookbook Diane!! LOVE IT!!) and once again I was drawn to the biography section where Julia Child's broad face stared back at me from the cover of "My Life In France".
And that got me thinking.
Julia Child was a woman who didn't start cooking seriously til she was 37 years old. She lived in Paris with her husband Paul, and for a time, struggled as many of us do to find something to occupy her time. She made hats, took bridge lessons, and wondered what she was good at.
Turned out she was good at eating!
So, despite the odds, she enrolled in cooking school. The rest, as we know, is history.
Why can't I just say 'the hell with everything!' and do the same? Why do I feel like I have to take care of everyone else's needs and wants before I take the time to meet my own?
What would happen if I did?
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The Ugly Duckling....Cake?
Do you remember the story of the ugly duckling who became a beautiful swan? Well, this cake starts out ugly and doesn't really get much better after it's done, but ooooohhhh my!!! Is it tasty!!
I love cake. One of my favorite candles is birthday cake scented. I've made cakes for baby showers, bridal showers (made a weenie cake once for my sister-in-law, complete with brown tinted coconut hairs...you get the idea!), and wedding cakes. Scariest wedding cake I ever made was for my boss Lynda's daughter---would I get fired if they didn't like the cake?
Sadly, since my lap band surgery this May, cake and I don't get along too well. But that hasn't dampened my joy in baking them one bit! If anything, it's enhanced my enjoyment, because now I know there is no way I can eat half a cake and get away with it. I might take a bite or two, and I'm completely satisfied with that.
And that's enough.
For those of you interested, here's the recipe for The Ugly Duckling Cake. I don't know where it came from--its something my sister Kathy made for years. One of those recipes that just sorta came to be....so if I'm infringing on anyone's copyright, my deepest apologies!
For this cake you need:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 box vanilla pudding mix, 4 serving size
1 can fruit cocktail with syrup (do not drain!)
1 Cup coconut (plus more for topping)
4 eggs
1/4 Cup oil
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Place all ingredients except brown sugar and nuts in large bowl and mix 4 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes and top with hot butter glaze.
Hot Butter Glaze:
Combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup evaporated milk into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 1/3 cups coconut and pour over cake.
So that's it!! If you decide to try this cake, I hope you enjoy it. As a matter of fact, there's one in my oven as I type this for me to take to work tonight!! This is my crazy knitting friend CJ's favorite cake, and since I've been trying to barter knitting lessons for baked goods, I thought this might tip the scales in my favor!! Enjoy!!!
I love cake. One of my favorite candles is birthday cake scented. I've made cakes for baby showers, bridal showers (made a weenie cake once for my sister-in-law, complete with brown tinted coconut hairs...you get the idea!), and wedding cakes. Scariest wedding cake I ever made was for my boss Lynda's daughter---would I get fired if they didn't like the cake?
Sadly, since my lap band surgery this May, cake and I don't get along too well. But that hasn't dampened my joy in baking them one bit! If anything, it's enhanced my enjoyment, because now I know there is no way I can eat half a cake and get away with it. I might take a bite or two, and I'm completely satisfied with that.
And that's enough.
For those of you interested, here's the recipe for The Ugly Duckling Cake. I don't know where it came from--its something my sister Kathy made for years. One of those recipes that just sorta came to be....so if I'm infringing on anyone's copyright, my deepest apologies!
For this cake you need:
1 package yellow cake mix
1 box vanilla pudding mix, 4 serving size
1 can fruit cocktail with syrup (do not drain!)
1 Cup coconut (plus more for topping)
4 eggs
1/4 Cup oil
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Place all ingredients except brown sugar and nuts in large bowl and mix 4 minutes. Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 inch pan. Sprinkle with brown sugar and nuts. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes and top with hot butter glaze.
Hot Butter Glaze:
Combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup sugar, and 1/2 cup evaporated milk into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 1/3 cups coconut and pour over cake.
So that's it!! If you decide to try this cake, I hope you enjoy it. As a matter of fact, there's one in my oven as I type this for me to take to work tonight!! This is my crazy knitting friend CJ's favorite cake, and since I've been trying to barter knitting lessons for baked goods, I thought this might tip the scales in my favor!! Enjoy!!!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Blogging: Day 1!!
So I finally figured out how to start a blog..but what to write about?
My recent addiction to facebook? My utter lack of self control anytime I get near Michaels or any other craft store? Maybe my love/hate relationship with my job?
Nope!
While all those are true, they don't really get to the core of 'me'.
What really excites me, makes me get all goose-bumpy and short of breath, is cooking! My poor coworkers know that pretty much every Sunday night when I come to work I will be toting a load of something baked along with me.
Cookies. Brownies. Lemon Bars. If its bad for you and can be eaten in a couple of bites, I'm all over it. My recent obsession has been cupcakes--little handheld delights that intoxicate you when the lid is lifted off my handy dandy 36 cupcake capacity carrier....oh....how I love that smell!!
My husband thinks I have a serious problem with cookbooks. How can a collection of a mere 600 or so be deemed a problem? Just because the pantry is full of books and not food shouldn't be grounds to get touchy!
The love of all things food has been a life long one. I can spend HOURS in the Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table stores in Fresno, or even downtown at Pacific Treasures. The grocery store is another favorite hangout--most shoppers randomly throw items into their carts and get the hell outa there.
But me?
No way! I take my time, slowly cruising the aisles. So much to see, touch, smell.....it gets even better when I get my bounty home, getting ready to chop, sautee, grill, bake, broil....
The smell of onions and garlic sauteeing in butter and olive oil....HEAVEN!!
When we have friends over, I am usually asked, "What can I bring?"
My standard answer is an appetite!!
My recent addiction to facebook? My utter lack of self control anytime I get near Michaels or any other craft store? Maybe my love/hate relationship with my job?
Nope!
While all those are true, they don't really get to the core of 'me'.
What really excites me, makes me get all goose-bumpy and short of breath, is cooking! My poor coworkers know that pretty much every Sunday night when I come to work I will be toting a load of something baked along with me.
Cookies. Brownies. Lemon Bars. If its bad for you and can be eaten in a couple of bites, I'm all over it. My recent obsession has been cupcakes--little handheld delights that intoxicate you when the lid is lifted off my handy dandy 36 cupcake capacity carrier....oh....how I love that smell!!
My husband thinks I have a serious problem with cookbooks. How can a collection of a mere 600 or so be deemed a problem? Just because the pantry is full of books and not food shouldn't be grounds to get touchy!
The love of all things food has been a life long one. I can spend HOURS in the Williams Sonoma or Sur La Table stores in Fresno, or even downtown at Pacific Treasures. The grocery store is another favorite hangout--most shoppers randomly throw items into their carts and get the hell outa there.
But me?
No way! I take my time, slowly cruising the aisles. So much to see, touch, smell.....it gets even better when I get my bounty home, getting ready to chop, sautee, grill, bake, broil....
The smell of onions and garlic sauteeing in butter and olive oil....HEAVEN!!
When we have friends over, I am usually asked, "What can I bring?"
My standard answer is an appetite!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
