28 February 2013

Legless Skeleton of Death

There's a gamer named Matt over at Rended Press, and he's holding up my artwork on his blog.  And he made me laugh.  So I'm posting it here for all you Boogerbutts to see.

And now, I'm off to do today's bake.  I'm thinking chocolate.

27 February 2013

I Know IT'S Coming for Me

I know it's coming for me.  By this time tomorrow that I will be in more pain.  Today, I was hardly in any.  It was wonderful.  I baked, cleaned, and farted about online.

I had a fantastic two days home.  And Tim surprised me with a half-day.  We Doctor Who'd it, and had lunch, followed by another chocolate chip scone loaf. 

This time I got a picture.  It's not a fancy shot, but it was all I could manage before breaking off the piece on the right.

It was so warm and nummy.

That being said, it's not quite all the way there yet.  I had to cut my baking powder in half, using 3g instead of my usual 6g.  It's all about the wiggle room (see last post).

Here's the shot.  It's made with organic brown flour.  Click image to 800px.  Cheers and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.

One can never had too many wiggles.


Wiggle Room

My shoes are big.  They were yesterday and then again today, and that means the edema (inflammation), is going down.  I've got a long way to go, and I'm still in a good bit of pain (especially at work), but overall, we're moving along.

Go me.  Rah.

And if THAT wasn't good enough.  I have a second day off, in a row.  That's 2 days, off.  Together.  Right in a row.  Not parted out between 9 or 12 days, or even 6, but 2 in a row.

Together.

Meanwhile, last night's bake was so good.  Chocolate chip scone loaf.  Only we gobbled it all up so I don't have any pictures.  But here's a shot of my morning feet.  You can't tell but there's lots of wiggle room in those sneakers.  And that makes me very happy.  Because I'm seeing results.

Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.





26 February 2013

I'm a Cupcake

Kitchen work is labor-intense.  Where I work, the prep cooks make all of the food that goes directly on the three bars; soup, salad and dessert.  And the line cooks do all the burgers, fish fries/chips, and various other meats and potatoes. 

Everyone working before 5PM does their own dishes, there are no head chefs, and corporate decides the menu.

But I don't care who makes the menu, just so I get to leave the house at 6:30 each morning, and go to a job I love.

Yesterday I did hot side (soups).  We have huge cauldrons filled with all kinds of heavy stuff.  Thankfully, I work with the best prep team, EVAR - and they lift the water jackets.

Because I am a cupcake, and cupcakes can't lift water jackets.  Well I could, but probably just the one time.  And that's not how I'm going out.  So I rely on my prep buddies.  They're the best, and I'm thankful to work with them.

And in good news, my inflammation (edema), has gone down a great deal since my last post.  It's amazing what the right healing foods can do to aid the process of healing.

Meanwhile, I'm still doing daily bakes, and on my rest time, watching a buttload of YouTube cookery shows.  Because you never know, I might just start shooting from the trailer. 

I might be a cupcake,  but I do a mean bake.

That's all from me, boogie boogie.

21 February 2013

Bucks for Brownies

I can't believe I get paid to start my day by making brownies.

Brownies.

I don't eat them, but I bake them, along with other desserts, salads, veggie chops and the like.  It's a great job.  And I know I've told you before, but I'm real happy to be back.

Really, really.

As for yesterday's bake.  More bean curd with tomatoes, green peppers and onions.  Simple, I know, but I love it just the same.  And now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to work.  To make brownies.  For which they will give me a paycheck. 

Life is good.

20 February 2013

Rest Shmest

I'm supposed to be resting again today, only I don't so much feel like it.  So I showered and got almost all the way dressed.

The only thing mismatched is my thermal jam top with my jeans.  But it's cold outside now that winter's back.  Burr.

Both pups are arguing in the room behind me, I've got a stack of dishes and if I get my ass outside, Kmart has a few groovy stackable Canadian-made containers for sale.  Would be great for my baker's stockpile.

So that's the exciting post for the day.  I know, not very.

But hey, every post can't have a pecker in it.

19 February 2013

British Football Bakes

Off work today.  You know how it is, off for a month from one job, start a new (old) job and then two more days off.  Just the way the schedule worked out.  Thursday my ass is back in prep.

Did a peanut bake today.  Wasn't good but it's re-workable.  Which brings me to nearly bake 60.  I think.  I'm losing track of the days.  I just know I keep on until the spring equinox.

But mostly I spent the morning watching bake shows on the 360.  One had two British footballers competing in a bake off.  A little funny.  But not educational.  Still not too bad to look at.  The footballers, not the sponges.  Those were horrible, but with faces like that, who cares if they can bake.

18 February 2013

Cookie Crumb Dust

Today was my first day back in prep and I loved it.  I'm sore, hurting and totally pooped, but I don't care.  It felt great to be back at my station.  And before I knew it, I was covered in cookie crumb dust and brownie batter.

Not a bad way to begin the work week.

Meanwhile, for today's bake I sliced potato rounds (about 1 cm thick), sprinkled with good hot pepper flakes, and olive oil.  Then at the very last minute I tossed in organic spinach.

So simple and delicious that I gobbled it all up before getting a picture.  And yesterday's bake included almonds, dates, coconut and peanuts.  I don't have any pictures of those either.  I just might be the worst food blogger, ever.

But that's okay because it's three in the afternoon, I'm done with work, showered, ate, and already in my jams. 

All in all, a very good day.

15 February 2013

Spotlite on My Hubby (no nuts today)

Check it out.  Tim was interviewed over at Rusty's blog.  And, the latest issue of The Manor is out as well.  Then when I'm done here, I'll remove the hearts from his blog.

All in all, not a bad week for Poopyhead.

I honestly don't want to remove the hearts from his blog.  But he said if I didn't, that he was going to put flying penises on mine.  And really, I don't want flying peckers on my blog.

Not so much.

14 February 2013

My Husband's Nuts

I don't know how it is at your house but here, we enjoy our battles.

Like our back deck spatula duels.  It's like in Star Wars only no one gets dead and we use pancake flippers.

Then there's the deodorant fights.  It's where Tim gets me with his stinky man deodorant and I get him with my girly fruity stuff.  I never win those.  And it's hell to get that stuff off the side of my neck.

But you get the idea.  And I dunno.  Usually I'm not into Valentine's Day but things change, and this year I'm celebrating.  So please, if you haven't gone there yet, do check out Tim's blog post, A Post to My Wife and when you're done there, read A Post to My Husband.

Because right now, Tim's heart post is his highest hitting post.  And I'd like to see it go a wee bit higher.  After all, nothing says I love you, like bustin' my husband's nuts.

Smooch.

PS: After I wrote this post, I found this at Rather Gamey's Place.  It's titled, For Tim and Ivy.  I love it.  Thanks, Ark.  

13 February 2013

I'm Back, Baby

Just got back from signing the last of my paper work.  And I'm thrilled to report, that I am officially a prep cook again.

I am happy.

12 February 2013

A Post to My Husband

I see your "stick your big fat thumb in my baked bread", and raise you, I know how to remove the pretty little red falling hearts from your blog, and YOU don't.

Muhahahaha.

For those who haven't seen.  Please click, Tim's Girly Blog

Dumbass

Since I started work at the pizza shoppe, my diet changed.  I went from mostly scratch cooking, to eating from a fast food window.  I don't know exactly where things all went wrong, but before I knew it, the passenger side of my car was lined with McDonald bags.

What a sad thing.

I guess now that I write this, I remember getting my first McDouble, no pickle and medium iced coffee, on the ride into work.  Work started at supper, so I'd eat on the ride in.   And I'd eat that same meal, anywhere from three to four times per week.  Or basically, every Cinderella (closing) shift.

What a dumbass.

Then if I was closing with a turnaround the next morning, I'd stop and get a McGriddle and medium iced coffee.  That would be at least once per week, except for back when they had me on continuous close open, close open.

Then I'd eat more.  I'm not sure how many more times I can type the word dumbass, but you get the idea.

And the truth is, before this, I NEVER understood how people ate out so much.  I was the biggest food snob.  One, I'm a WAY better scratch cook.  Two, my food is less expensive.  And three, it wasn't good for my heart.  But even with all this, I still managed to land a seat on the Fast Food Train.

Dumbass, it is.

PS:  As I was finishing this post,  I got a call from my old boss called and I'm officially hired back.  Just have a bit more paperwork to do tomorrow and then if all goes well, I'll be back to work next week.  Because after all, I'm not dead yet.

PPS: I was going to wait to show you these but I'm here now so what the heck.  Yesterday I snagged a bag of Bulgur Wheat Cereal.  Or that's what the package reads.  Either way, it's something I've wanted to try but haven't.  So I'm giving it a go.  I'm thinking, homemade sesame sticks.

That's all for now.  Thanks for reading.

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11 February 2013

Fighting Back

Right before the weekend I had a painful set back.  I moved the covers to shooting pain in both my right shoulder and center of my chest.  I felt like a character in Once, and the Evil Queen was squeezing my heart.

Trip to my doctor told us I have edema (inflammation).  Trip to my next doctor, will tell us how much and why.

So I had myself a good cry and then decided I would do what I could on my end, and that's fight back with food.

Before I started eating meats and cheeses, I was a whole foods cook.  I ate from my garden and I didn't eat anything refined or processed.  I even made my own corn chips.

I had more energy, my scoliosis didn't hurt, my eyes were brighter, I never ate in the car, and my hands didn't swell.

Now I want all that back.

Which is good, because I've got a good bit of fight in me yet, and I'm ready to do the work to get there.

Meanwhile, dig my Bean Curd Bake, loaded with veggies.

You can see that I baked this sucker in a glass pie dish.  The veg bakes great and the pie dish is super easy to clean.

Two very good things.  That's all from me.  Boogie boogie.

================

Addendum: I'm adding this after the written post.

I never stopped being a whole foods, scratch cook.  I love cooking with whole foods.   BUT ... what I didn't always do was eat fast foods and processed snacks.

So what I want back is the absence of that crap.  My bad for not explaining myself correctly in the original post. 

Thanks for reading and again, boogie boogie.

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07 February 2013

FEAR ME

Today I'm on the warpath.  Projects that once mocked me while resting on the couch, now fear me.

That's right.  I said fear me.

So far I've de-cluttered, dusted, moved lite stuff and reclaimed our living space.  Which, sadly, we've long outgrown.  And since buying a house is put on hold, I'm going to have to make peace within these trailer walls.

Or as Tim calls it, our really long hallway.

I love him.

But I don't love these partial projects mocking me, so I best get back to kicking their asses.  And, even better, I'm mobile with nowhere near the amount of pain I've been in.  

And dig this, my doctor cleared me to return on the 18th.  So if everything continues well, I'll soon be a preppie again.

Life is good.

06 February 2013

Today's Bake

This morning I made an Egg, Mushroom & Colby Bake.  My gosh it was so good.  This is the first time I ever baked eggs in the oven and I can tell you, I'll be doing it a lot more.

This was super easy.

First, I diced baby bella mushrooms and seasoned with Hungarian sweet paprika, Kosher salt and organic cayenne, and baked them.  Then I sprayed a personal size dish, beat two eggs, added Colby cheese, along with the mushrooms.

Bake for about 12 minutes and bam, it was done.

Hard to tell from this, but it was super fluffy and loaded with flavor.   I can't wait to play with other combinations.

Baked eggs.  Who knew?

PS: When pre-baked the bellas, I used a wee bit of
butter and olive oil (non-virgin).


Boogie Boogie

Last night we went out to eat because the kitchen was a mess.  Plus, I felt like celebrating.  Even though I don't have clearances just yet, I'm feeling the excitement of hope.

Meanwhile, Today I woke in less pain.  Actually since my last adjustment on Saturday, I've been in less pain.  And that makes me want to do housework.  But just a wee bit. 

After all,  I want to make sure I save some for Tim.  Don't want him to feel left out and all that.

But first, I'm going to make myself an omelet with horseradish cheese and mushrooms.  I've been baking mushrooms lately and I love it.  So much flavor, and beyond nummy.  As for the horseradish, not sure if it will go with paprika roasted shrooms, but what the heck?  I'll give it a go.

That's all from me.  Thanks for reading and boogie boogie.

05 February 2013

Bake 44 & Old Job Back

Wow, I'm almost half-way through my 100 Days of Baking Challenge.  And aside from one bake, the rest I wrote myself.  At the end of this challenge I'll have a solid first draft of a baking book.

Cool beaners.

In other news, my old boss called and pending clearances from my doctor, I've got my old prep cook job back.

Old boss said it's not a problem that I can't lift heavy water jackets or unload the heavy truck stuff.   He just needs to know what I can't do, so he can schedule around my limits.

Pretty darn cool.

I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, and I'll see if it's safe for me to go back into prep work. I hope I can go back.

Meanwhile, I best get to bake 44.  I have just enough dark chocolate chips left to write one yummy bake. 

Catch you Boogerbutts again soon.

The very last of my stockpile chocolates.

04 February 2013

1 Year of Couponing

One year ago today, I did my first coupon run.  Since then we saved a ton, but even better, I no longer stress shop.

I went from someone who stress ingredient shopped, to owning a nice little stockpile of freebies and low-priced goodies.  Because of that stockpile, I'm able to take time off to heal my spine.  Which is good, because today the doctor said he wants me to take at least another eight days.

I think if I wasn't couponing, I would have went stress shopping right after he told me that.  But thankfully, I no longer consider ingredient shopping as a way to feel better.  Instead I puzzle out my trips, and save as much as possible.

I love that.

Although last night I had a nightmare that I was leaving Wegmans.  When I looked at my receipt it read 0% Savings.

Ack!

01 February 2013

Cast Iron Baking

See that groovy cast iron.  It's round and flat-edged and perfect for my almond meal desserts.  That's why I bought it.  But then I started this 100 Days of Baking Challenge, and boy did I go through a crapload of baking paper.  Every batch of cookies sucked up more paper, and more money.

I don't like that.

So I thought I'd give cookies a go on the cast iron and you know what?  I frickin' love it.  I had to increase bake times on every cookie I tested so far, but that doesn't matter, because the end result is a more evenly baked dessert.

How cool is that?

Note: This cast iron is only used for desserts.
No burgers allowed.