Category Archives: Baking

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Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop!: Favorite Recipe

If there was ever a time for warming up the house with the oven, it’s right now. In a fit of frugality, The Man is trying to avoid turning on the heat until November 1. It’s starting to get chilly!

When I saw this week’s  Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop! prompt Favorite Recipe, I figured I would be baking something, if only to warm up the house for a little while.

As it turns out, I had a friend who needed a little cheering up, so I baked that person’s favorite cookie: Snickerdoodles.

And they turned out really well, if I do say so myself!

Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

2 3/4 c flour

2 tsp Cream of Tartar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 sticks of butter, room temperature

1 2/3 c sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Sugar and cinnamon for rolling

Directions:

1. Whisk together the flour, Cream of Tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla; beat until mixed.

3. Add dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix until it forms a ball.

4. Using a 1/2 TBSP measuring spoon, roll the batter into balls. Roll the balls in the sugar/cinnamon mixture.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 -12 minutes.

 

Easy peasy! This recipe made a lot of cookies, so I’m going to be bringing the extras to work. My co-workers will be happy with me today!

Gussy

What is your favorite cookie? Maybe I will bake if for you if you need a pick me up. :)

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Show & Tell 10/21/2011

Whew! What a week. I can’t believe that October is 2/3 of the way over. Where did it go??

I am getting my Christmas presents started; I feel like I’m pulled together. :) I sewed this sweet little gem for my niece from this apron pattern. It came together quickly. I think it took me less than an hour from start to finish. And look – it’s reversible!

I wanted the colors to be child-like without being too girly princess sparkle magic. These fabrics definitely fit the bill!

This pattern is so clever; instead of sewing on straps, you make a casing under each armpit. Then you string the tie through both casings. It makes the apron adjustable as the child grows. Brilliant, right?

I love the way this turned out, and I can’t wait to finish up some more presents!

What have you all been doing this week? Did you make anything amazing?!?

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Links I Love 4/25/2011

1) Tracking time by knitting – pretty much the metaphor of my life

2) Love this:

“Creating a welcoming environment for all citizens should be the cornerstone of our transportation policy as well as bicycle advocacy. Instead what we have in the U.S. is a giant fuck you to anyone but the super brave, the self-confident, the fitness enthusiasts and the daredevils. It is a shame that this is the reality the U.S. has chosen to embrace.”

3) My next foray into homemade bread: English muffins. They actually seem pretty easy. I can’t wait to try them out! I might have to borrow a round cookie cutter though, because I don’t have one. I don’t want wonky English muffins.

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Links I Love 4/17/2011

1) I made these Guinness cupcakes this weekend. With Bailey’s buttercream frosting. Amazing! I made a dreadful mistake – I only made a half batch (which made 14.5 cupcakes, BTW). Next time, I am definitely making a full batch.

I love that this recipes doesn’t have any weird, fancy ingredients. I was able to pull it together with staples from my pantry, except for the Guinness. But the Man picked some up for me after I twisted his arm. (Not true; he was buying Guinness anyway.)

2) I had so much success with those cupcakes on Saturday that I decided to make some more on Sunday. Enter vanilla cupcakes. Also amazing. I think I beat the cake batter too long, so the cupcakes had a heavier consistency, almost like a pound cake. But still delicious. I was able to choke them down. Especially with vanilla buttercream frosting.

This is why I don’t bake very often. Then I eat what I bake. Dangerous.

3) Someday I dream of bike commuting. I want to look as fabulous as this. (Check out the archives on that blog Bike Fancy. Definitely some good-looking cyclists!)

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Pita magic

I have been trying to save some cash on food. One of the things I always buy that I could probably make myself is bread. I know that I can make loaves of bread, but we don’t usually eat slices of bread. So instead of making loaves, I thought that I would try making pita bread.

Until I stumbled upon this recipe, I thought that pita bread was made my magic. I never occurred to me that I could make it all by myself.

I followed the recipe almost exactly, although I did substitute 1 cup whole wheat flour in place of 1 cup of the all-purpose flour.

This is one of those things, like yogurt, where it takes a few hours to get to the point of cooking, but the actual active cooking time is pretty short. I would definitely recommend trying this recipe.

Watching the pita bread bubble in the oven is still like magic.

What is something that you always thought was hard but turned out to be easy once you tried it? Share!

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2011: The Year of Happiness

I know most people did these “resolutions” or “intentions” posts at the beginning of the year.  But hey – I’m not most people.

Instead of trying to plan for 2011 during the hectic winter holiday season, I really started my reflection and analysis during January.  I like to think that I am not late, just taking my time.  :) The process been really helpful.  Generally, I like where I am in my life right now and want to keep improving in a lot of areas.

As a way to focus my energy and improve my life, I have decided to set my intention for 2011 as Happiness.  Especially when I am not at work, I am going to do things that make me truly happy.  This sounds ridiculous, but it has taken me about a year to really get back to things I enjoy.  I am not sure where my life got de-railed, but during January, I realized that I feel more centered than I have in a long time.

Here is a quick list of things that make me happy – in no particular order:

- Creating (knitting, quilting, sewing, baking)

- Physical activity (running, dancing, biking)

- Drinking tea

- Saving money

- Enjoying the Arts (theater, museums)

- Connecting with friends & family

- Traveling (Ireland!)

Going forward, I want to focus my energy and really be happy in 2011.

Have you guys made any resolutions or intentions for 2011?  How are they going so far?

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Links I Love – Solstice Edition 12/21/2010

1) Michelle Obama in Vintage!

Our First Lady is so classy.  *Sigh

2)  Five Easy-to-Make Deluxe Gifts for Under $15, a guest post by Max Wong on Wise Bread

Wow!  I’m going to keep this in mind for gifts throughout the year.  I love the idea of giving orchids, succulents, and miniature rose bushes as presents.  And I am not even good with house plants!  But this article makes them seem so easy and achievable.  Also: re-purposing cashmere sweaters into hats & mittens?  Brilliant!

3) Free Simple Baking eBook by Jules Clancy of Stonesoup

I love Jules’ recipes.  They are spot on.  And her simple recipes (most with 5 ingredients or less) are delicious and easy.  Also since I’m usually only cooking for me and the Man, it’s great to see cooking and baking recipes for two people.  Yea for minimal leftovers! 

Anyway, I was thrilled to see this holiday baking ebook.  I have made the clafoutis recipe.  Amazing.  And I was drooling on myself reading the ice cream section.  And the cheesecake recipe.  Amazing.  I am planning to make the Little Bailey’s Cheesecake for a holiday dinner party I am having on Sunday.  Easy.  And amazing.

Happy Solstice!  Did you see the eclipse last night?  Me neither.  I was sleeping.  Anyway, we will have more daylight for a while.  Hooray!