If I knew you were coming, I’da baked you a cake

I am in love. I stumbled across videos by Tiger In A Jar, and they are adorable! Cute. Vintage. Sweet. Creative. Quirky. Love them! Makes me want to try to make my own video!

 

diy valentine’s cakes from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

Stir Crazy

The past two days I have been unable to leave my driveway due to an inch of ice that my car just doesn’t want to deal with. Because of this, Munchkin and I got to spend a ton of time together! Yipee! Sadly, it seems he is of the age where he no longer takes naps. My baby boy is growing up (and slightly driving me bonkers).

 

We read books. We watched movies. We pretended we were super heroes, but it wasn’t cutting it. So, we got out the craft supply box and this month’s Better Homes and Gardens and set to work making a valentine garland. Basically, glued a page with roses all over it to some red construction paper, cut it in strips and made into hearts. Bam! Fun, cheap, and pretty.

 

 

 

On a side note, when I first moved in I thought the electric fireplace was insanely cheesy, but since it got cold, I’ve learned to appreciate it. It also gives me a spot to set out some of my fun trinkets. I guess it can stay for now.

It’s not Easter, but I’ll eat like it is

 

Being stuck in the house, I’ve had an overwhelming urge to bake things. Yesterday I made the bagels. I made them plain because that is what the Munchkin wanted, even though I REALLY wanted cinnamon raisin. While my bagels were baking I continued to browse my “Betty Crocker’s Best Bread Machine Recipes” cookbook and saw a recipe for Hot Cross Buns. It had raisins. It had frosting. I had all the ingredients.

 

Munchkin helped me measure everything out and roll the buns and even snip the crosses on top. Because I cannot think of Hot Cross Buns without singing the children’s song, I decided to look it up online. Apparently it  is a food eaten at Easter, and is said to bring good luck. I’ve never had them before, and all I knew about them was the song.

 

Maybe I’ll continue my nursery rhyme food binge and make some more foods from songs. You can say you know the Muffin Man…er…lady.

Bagel Bagel

I was stuck at home today due to the ice…couldn’t get out of the driveway. I hear tomorrow is supposed to be even worse. What to do when I need a break from work? Make some bagels, of course! Why? I don’t really know. It just sounded good.

 

I used another All Recipes recipe. Bread Machine Bagels by Cristy.

 

Mix the dough.

 

Shape the bagels.

 

 

Boil them.

 

 

Bake them.

 

And then you enjoy them!

 

 

What I learned in making bagels:

• You don’t have to make the hole THAT big
• You really should use cornmeal (I didn’t have any)
• Skip the floured surface.
• If you make them smaller, don’t cook them as long.

 

Overall, it was quite fun to make them. I think next time I’ll make big huge batches and freeze them.

The recipe from AllRecipes.com:

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3 quarts boiling water
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 egg white
• 3 tablespoons poppy seeds

Directions

1. Place water, salt, sugar, flour and yeast in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough setting.
2. When cycle is complete, let dough rest on a lightly floured surface. Meanwhile, in a large pot bring 3 quarts of water to a boil. Stir in 3 tablespoons of sugar.
3. Cut dough into 9 equal pieces, and roll each piece into a small ball. Flatten balls. Poke a hole in the middle of each with your thumb. Twirl the dough on your finger or thumb to enlarge the hole, and to even out the dough around the hole. Cover bagels with a clean cloth, and let rest for 10 minutes.
4. Sprinkle an ungreased baking sheet with cornmeal. Carefully transfer bagels to boiling water. Boil for 1 minute, turning half way through. Drain briefly on clean towel. Arrange boiled bagels on baking sheet. Glaze tops with egg white, and sprinkle with your choice of toppings.
5. Bake in a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until well browned.

Recharging my soul’s batteries.

This past weekend I went to Florida. That’s right, I flew 1,000 miles so I could spend 34 blissful hours with friends, sunshine, and good times.

 

First, it was a stop off at the Leon Pub with Mr. M where they do crazy things like serve Guinness in Coors Light glasses.

 

 

The next morning Mrs. M and V and I took a trip to the park. It was GORGEOUS outside! 78 degrees and sunny!

 

 

The off to No. 1 Stirfry for some lunch, where I indulged in one of my favorite things…Diet Mt. Dew on tap! It is so very bad, but I love it! I have never been able to find it on tap anywhere else.

 

 

I said hello to Mr. and Mrs. M’s cat, Smokey.

 

 

And met the newest addition to the family, Pickles.

 

 

We ate more, laughed more, told stories more, and before I knew it, it was time to go home. Bye bye sunshine. Bye bye Mr. and Mrs. M and V and Smokey and Pickles.

 

 

Hello snow. 😦