IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!! And I have to make something to bring in for my "food day" tomorrow at work. I tend to try new things when I'm feeding the masses...that way I get lots of feedback (no pun intended). (And if it bombs, at least I don't end up with a ton of leftovers at home.)
This is from Taste of Home's Holiday Cookbook 2002. My version is much more fun. I promise.
FAT-BOTTOM BROWNIE:
1/4 cup butter (no substitutions, exchanges, or refunds), softened
1 cup sugar
2 squares (1 oz each) unsweetened chocolate, melted & cooled
2 eggs (separated)
1/4 cup milk
1 t. vanilla
3/4 cup flour
1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
TRUFFLE MOUSSE:
2 cups (12 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 T. instant coffee granules
5 egg yolks, lightly beaten*
3 T. vanilla
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
1/3 cup cold water
1 cup whipping cream, whipped (whip it...whip it good)
14-16 creme-filled Pirouette cookies, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
*Cook up leftover egg whites and feed to your favorite little buddy:
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I'm still so green when it comes to the blogging community. And it isn't easy being green. So, imagine my surprise when I was nominated for the Liebster Award! A big shout-out and thanks to Nicole at Southern Charm! And we must be kindred spirits because we both clearly love the Cherry Cream Soda font.
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Well, it's April...otherwise known as the month of a thousand birthdays in my family. I haven't done much "gour-met" cooking lately since I've been completely involved with house plans. (Excuse) And I just haven't felt like cooking. (Truth)
But our youngest turns 21 this weekend and he's requested Chicken Parm for dinner. This month is also my birthday, my Mom's birthday, my Dad's birthday, my niece's birthday, my late Gramma's birthday...you get the picture.
This is one of my favorite dishes, so I thought as long as I was putting forth the effort to make it, I should share it as well.
We'll get started with the sauce, which is very similar to my pizze! sauce. Why aren't they exactly the same? I have no idea. I guess because the pizza sauce is a bit thicker. And I probably didn't realize I had 2 similar recipes. I love them both. And they're even better if you make them a day in advance.
Sauce (totally tweak as you see fit):
2 T Olive Oil
1 medium onion, chopped
28 oz can Hunts crushed tomatoes
2 (15 oz) cans Contadina extra thick and zesty tomato sauce
3 cloves garlic, pressed
2 t. dried oregano
1 Bay leaf
4-6 t. sugar
1/2 t. salt
sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes
1 oz chopped fresh basil (added about 30 minutes before the sauce is "done")
Saute
onion in oil until translucent. Add pressed garlic and saute about one
minute (!!don't let it burn!!). Dump in everything else (except fresh
basil) and let it simmer all day.
Remove bay leaf and add your basil when you're about done simmering the sauce.
Now I'd like to introduce you to my lovely little buddy, Pietro.
He's my pasta maker.
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Hey there, and Happy Friday!
A few of you may be a tad familiar with why I started this ingenious little blog in the first place.
We're building a house!
So today, I have a bit of an updated version of our plan to whet your appetite for DIY-homebuilding. My lovely new friend, Danni, invited me to guest post over at the Inspiration Café!
This is Our (new) House. In the Middle of Our (new) Street.
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I'm not vain enough (or ridiculous enough) to pretend ALL my ideas are actually my ideas...they have to spark from something else I've seen.
But this one is a no-brainer. I TOTALLY stole this idea from Danni at Silo Hill Farm. Clearly I need a little work on my recycling skills. Thank you, Danni, for schooling me.
Danni made this totally adorable vase out of a plastic juice bottle. And guess what? For 2 whole weeks I've had an empty maple syrup bottle sitting on my kitchen counter since Philly has refused to throw it away.
Perhaps he thought it might self-refill.
Re-Phil.
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I am SOOO glad I got the flu mist this year, because that meant MY flu was only 8 days of near-death with my temp reaching 103 and my feet barely reaching the floor. Go prevention.
I guess we'll just call it the "epic fail mist."
Oh, and I started putting this post together on my first fever-free day, so no guarantees here.
I've had this quilt rack for quite some time...well, since whenever my sister gave it to me I guess. I've been so bored for the past week and I didn't want to start in on anything that would require me to exert myself too much, or "strain my milk," as Philly would say.
(Yeah...those wells dried up a loooong time ago.)
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Ever have one of those days where nothing goes the way you want and expect it to? Yep, this is my day.
I was attempting my first graphic transfer to fabric. I've already done several transfers to furniture, including Pierre and his family, as well as Frédéric-Franz.
So, I was really wanting a new "dress" for my buffet (that I inherited from my grandmother), and it just so happened I had the PERFECT amount of drop cloth left over from making my DIY curtains. Hoho! A DIY table runner!
My buffet...ain't she gorgeous?? (And yes, I've thought about painting it, but I'm pretty sure my Gramma would haunt me if I did....)
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So, Penguin Girl has been away at college for 2 years now, and she's about to make the giant leap from dorm dwelling to apartmenthood. I'd like to shove her out the door with a personalized piece of furniture.
Did I just type that out loud?
So I dragged (trust me on this folks...it IS dragged, not drug--your grammar tip for the week) this sad, old chest of drawers that has been housing funk, junk, and DVDs for the past 15 years. (It's probably been in the family for 50 years or so...my Mom had it for-evah before she passed it to me.)
Anyway, Emma's a music major (remember the quilt?), so natch we had to do a music theme!
Here's how Frédéric-Franz started out:
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Hi there! Welcome to the real reason I started this blog. I want to keep a detailed account as my hubby and I plow through the adventure of building our forever home together.
Forever home? I sound like a rescue dog. Oh wait...Here's OUR rescue dog, Eddie!
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Or...Déjà vu
all over again.
I thought Groundhog Day was behind us, until these magically appeared in my basement (the French Provincial furniture...not mon chien):
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Now that I have your attention.
I've never had new bedroom furniture in my life. I don't know how many people have or haven't, I just know I fall into the "haven't" category. I'm not boo-hooing, I'm simply stating a fact.
I've actually saved up money and have even picked out my fabulous, new bedroom furniture.
And I would name it George. And I would hug it and pet it and squeeze it.
I've also picked out the dumpster I'd like to throw my current furniture in. Until...
Let me backtrack by saying that I've been living with circa 1983 bedroom furniture since [Prince's] 1999. My husband purchased this furniture brand new when I was 13 years old. No, he was not my husband at the time.
Because that would just be creepy.
So, here you have it...the ugly 80s bedroom furniture:
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