28 June 2014

27 June 2014

Friday Question: Tabasco

I scored these little 59ml bottles of Tabasco for free.  Never been a fan but now that I'm baking with vinegar, I thought I'd give them another go.

Which brings me to today's Friday Question: Who likes Tabasco?  What do you put it on?  Have you baked with it?  For me, I'm going with a spicy muffin or scone.  See how that goes.


25 June 2014

Who Wants Cupcakes?

A new batch of Carrot Cupcakes are in the oven, the maple frosting is ready, and my dishes are done.  Now I'm just waiting for Frankenberry to get home with the pizza.

It's date night.

I just heard my first timer go off.  Gotta check the oven.  I'm back.  Just a bit more should do the trick.  The kitchen smells great, and the carrot cupcakes have homemade carrot juice.

Since I'm energized from the bake, I might as well go scrub the crappers and do laundry.  Even though I really want to do another bake.  But the crappers are a callin', so they win.

You boogerbutts have a great day and to those who asked in my last post, no, the dogs don't get the mistake bakes.  We eat them.  Eating is the best way to learn about food.  Not by cooking, but by eating.

Catch ya later and boogie boogie.

Baker's Report: Traybakes

The Apple Crumble Cake I made, didn't quite work.  There wasn't enough apple taste, and my test batch was too small.  So I switched pans and called it a traybake.  Needs a second draft but I'm headed in the right direction.  Plus, I came up with an idea for something else.

Sometimes, it's the mistakes that teach me the most.  Each day I think, what if I try it this way?  Would this ingredient work?  When I would ask Mamam (grandma), she's always said in her thick Hungarian accent, "Vee try.  If no good.  Vee try again."

She was a lot of fun to bake with.  Always up for a challenge, and to me, that's the fun of baking.

Meanwhile, no pictures today.  But if you're interested in baking your own traybake, click BBC GoodFood.  Where you'll find lots of fun treats.  Even better, it's all in metric, as all good bakes should be. 

Thanks for reading and boogie boogie.

21 June 2014

Apple Crumble Cake is in THE OVEN ....

Now I wait.  Though I should be doing cleanup but I needed to sit down for a minute anyway, so I might as well write a quick post.  Only five minutes in the oven and already the kitchen smells like cinnamon and apples.

No idea if this bake will work or not.  I've never done this before but either way, I figure I'll learn something.

Meanwhile, check out my interactive True or False (one post back).  For me, it was true.

So what's in your oven?  Anyone else baking on this fine Saturday afternoon?  For us it's an Apple Crumble Cake and after that, wholemeal rolls to go with tonight's burgers on the grill.  I love that grill.  So much flippin' fun.

PS: Tim discovered Amazon Prime now has music, so it's been fun listening as I work in the lab.  That's all from me, you Boogersbutts have a great weekend and boogie boogie.

PS:  It's 4:04 and I didn't even plan it.  I rule.

True or False?


20 June 2014

Friday Question: Fried Rice

I love carrot fried rice.  Crunchy organic carrots, a few onions, celery, good habanero sauce and peanuts.  Eaten from my favorite little bowl, two chop sticks, and a hot cup of lemongrass decaf green tea.

Seriously good eats.

How about you?  Do you like fried rice?  If so, do you have a top pick?

Or ... maybe you have a least favorite fried rice?  For me, it's chicken fried rice.  I like chicken and rice cook other ways, but I dislike it greatly when cooked fried rice style.

I dunno why, it just doesn't work for me.  But carrot fried rice, why I'll eat that all ding dong day long.

19 June 2014

Mad Scientist

Thanks for yesterday's comments.  I rested up, but good.

Today, I'm back in my lab.  I'm thinking something with lemon.  Or maybe orange.  Ohhh, apple.  Apple sounds nice.  Maybe a little square apple cake, layered with vanilla frosting in the middle, and some kind of crumble topping.

Not sure yet which bake I'll do, but I did have a lot of time to come up with formulas as I rested all ding dong day long.

Here's what I did last week, using my Babycakes Cupcake Maker (that Tim bought for $5).  It's a frosted brownie, in the shape of a mini cupcake.  Tim said to me, "You're like a mad scientist.  Only with rainbows and cupcakes."

18 June 2014

Tangled

Yesterday morning I woke with my neck and spine in a terrible tangle.  Today, I'm headed to the doctors for a crack, followed by lots and lots of doing nothing.

No bakes.  No cooking.  No chores.  Just me, two lazy
pups, and one Lemon Tart Room. 




17 June 2014

Baker's Report: Method & Technique

This past weekend Tim bought me (using a coupon), Chloe's Vegan Desserts, to help me better understand the art and science of cupcake making.  I don't know what I'm enjoying more.  The baking.  The eating.  Or applying new techniques to my own bakes.  Probably call it a three-way tie.

I'm having a blast.

I started with Chloe's Carrot Cupcakes using the new-to-me method of combining the leavening agent baking soda (bicarbonate of soda), with an acidic liquid.  I used Bragg's Organic Raw-Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar.  The combination of the two, binds the bake together and replaces the egg.

The second tip was to lightly dust the raisins in flour before gently folding them into the batter.  The flour prevents the raisins from sinking to the bottom.

And you know what?  Both techniques worked. 

The carrot cupcakes were moist and airy and for the tops, I used my own Maple & Vanilla Frosting (also vegan), which put the whole thing over the top.  These cupcakes were killer.  I loved what I learned.  So much so, that I immediately got to work on my own bake.

Chocolate & Banana Muffins.

Draft 1 had too much banana and not the right-sized chocolate chunks.  So I quickly whipped up draft 2, using 100g less banana mush, and switched to miniature semi-sweet flour-dusted, chocolate morsels.  

And it worked.  The muffins were so airy, that they were borderline cupcakes.   Dig the image below, where I peeled back the wrapper to highlight the chocolatey bits.

Insert swanky cupcake stripper music, here.

That concludes today's Baker's Report.  Thanks to everyone who commented on my last few posts.  I'm hiding in my lab but will be out soon, to play catch-up on your blogs.

Thanks for reading and boogie boogie.



13 June 2014

Friday Question: Cupcakes vs. Muffins

Thanks to Dezzy, I have a Friday Question for this week.  Cupcakes vs. muffins.  I love muffins, both sweet and savoury.  But now that I've got this new Babycakes machine (for $5), I'm learning my way around a cupcake.

Which is fun, because I'm not a big cake baker or eater.  Though I'll never say no to a carrot cake.   If you give me carrot cake, I have to eat it.

As for muffins, gosh, I have so many.  Pumpkin Spice, Banana Nut, Banana Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Cranberry Orange, Apple Spice Crumble, the list goes on if we're talking muffins.  Oh my gosh, I forgot corn muffin.  I love those.

One time I wrote a corn muffin recipe.  Then I went back another time to remake it, only I doubled my butter because I can't read, but I tell you what.  Best corn muffin in the history of ever.  We still talk about it.

So which do you eat most often?

Cupcakes or muffins?  Sweet or savoury?  Is there one cupcake and/or muffin that you cannot refuse?



12 June 2014

My First Vanilla Cupcake

It was super hard yesterday not to publish a second post so quickly after my first one.  But I'm trying to reach 204 days of blogging in a row, and I didn't want to blow my wad, and not have a post for today.

So now it's today.  Check it out.  I used my own vanilla pizzelle formula, added leavening agents and bam, mini vanilla cupcakes, using my Babycakes machine.

I've never made vanilla cupcakes before.  I'm not a big cake eater so I wasn't sure if this trick would work, but I'm happy to report it needs a few adjustments, but I'm in the right direction.  I tell ya', I love the creativity of baking.

Love it.  Love it.  Love it.

11 June 2014

Internet-Free Zone

Hot dog!  I know what the name of my coupon book will be.  Came to me during Monday's writing session and I am thrilled.  You know when something just fits?  And you can't stop smiling?

That's how I feel.

Meanwhile, as of last Friday, my writing desk returned to an Internet-Free Zone.  I mistakenly thought my online coupon computer, could work in the same space as my writing.  Only the two stations weren't getting along.

So I moved my writing desk and laptop under the bar that faces my lab, and my online computer is behind me, sitting on the coupon station.  This setup works so well for me that the title of my book/zine popped into my head during my first writing session this week.  Almost like it had been there all along, only I was too distracted to notice.

But now that I'm back to proper scheduled writing sessions, at my beautiful writing desk, my world makes sense again.

Now, if you'll excuse me.  Frankenberry just did the morning monster shuffle down the hall, and I want to get him fed and out the door.  I've got major food writing to do today, and I don't want him eating the test batches before I snap photos.  Not that I've ever done that, myself.

You Buttnuts have a good one.  Cheers and boogie boogie.

10 June 2014

Bottom Teeth & Toenail

My plan was to snap photos as I molded and closed.  However, I'm quickly learning that working with dough, meat, cheese, lighting, AND the camera will take some practice.

Meanwhile, I rolled these three different ways.  All were good.  Even the last one.  Next, I'll practice making and shooting food at the same time.  But not today.

Today, I've got a Babycakes machine with my name on it.  Not sure what's for supper yet.  But you can bet your bottom teeth and a toenail, supper will be shaped like a cupcake. 

Or a waffle stick.  Really, it could go either way.

07 June 2014

Muffin' Makin' Hangover

Last night I played with my new Babycakes Cupcake Maker (see yesterday's post).  But today, I woke with a muffin' makin' hangover.  Neck sore, head pounding, as I did the zombie shuffle down the hall. 

Meanwhile, I dreamt of orange cranberry muffins, homemade tater tots and mini lemon pies.  All to be written and baked in my new machine.  But not right now, as I want to get dressed and maybe hit Dollar General for a few deals.  If you're headed there, you can snag a $5 off $25.

Click Dollar General coupon to get yours.

And that my Pooper Scoopers, wraps up this post.

06 June 2014

Friday Question: Culinary Gadgets

Check out my new Babycakes Cupcake Maker.  Tim found it yesterday at the thrift store for five bucks.  Not a dent on it and no bad smells.  Doesn't even look like they used it.

And I'll admit, prior to getting my Bella Waffle Stick Maker, I thought these novelty items, were silly.  Meanwhile, now I'm writing funky monkey waffle stick formulas, right and left and more so, loving every minute.

So for five bucks, we'll give this baby a go.  And, rather than go buy that classic round waffle maker, I talked about yesterday, we're going to hunt thrift stores and yard sales.

How about you?  Do you like to hunt for culinary gadgets at thrift stores and yard sales?  What's your best find?

PS: Yesterday, before Tim got home I found my old Chocolate Chunk Muffin formula.  Then Tim told me about this machine.  I love when stuff like that happens.

PPS: Have a yummy weekend and boogie boogie.

05 June 2014

INNARDS

Spent yesterday redoing the innards of three bake cabinets.  Took awhile to reassign spaces but thankfully, everyone found a new home, including all those FREE paper towels.  I even reserved a spot for my upcoming purchase (w/coupon), for my new classic-style, round waffle maker.

Meanwhile, here's a funny bit that Alex left on Robyn's blog.  It's actors reading mean tweets about themselves.

Never let your voice put your face to sleep, is one of Tim's favorites.  Although his new word for the night is, dickturd.

Enjoy.


03 June 2014

Today's 4 Letter Word

Yesterday, the girls at the doctor's office gave me a bag of coupons and Tim came home with a stack of P&Gs that he garbage picked.  Which is perfect because today, it's my left leg elevated, spine resting, pups snoozing, Lemon Tart Room, coupons everywhere, and The Nanny on DVD.

Meanwhile, if you guessed that today was brought to you by the letter F, then you get a star on your forehead and an A on your paper.  Because these suckers, were FREE.  Plus, they gave me another $20 back in Shop Your Way Rewards.

I love that.

And now, it's time to heal and get clipping but first, I'll make a pot of good black coffee.  Only instead of creamer and sugar, I use real local maple syrup.  So flippin' good.


02 June 2014

How is it Monday?

How is it Monday?  The staycation flew by.  Though the end of it didn't go all that great (see yesterday's post), the start of it was sure fun.  So much fun, that I want to incorporate more of that staycation feel, into our daily routine.

I say that every year, and for a little while it works, but before I know it, it's next year already and we're ripping the phone out of the wall and bolting the windows shut.

But today, the phones go back on, breakfast has been served and I'm about to prep for this week's coupon haul.  After that, I get cracked and have to rest for a wee bit.

Then if all goes well, off to the Big K to spend $25 in FREE money (rewards), only to have them put another $20 right back on my rewards card.

Zero OOP for me, and useful freebies for the house.  All in all, a good way to start a week.  Speaking of which, there's breakfast dishes that need done.  So best get to it.

Cheers and boogie boogie.

01 June 2014

Staycation vs. The Bad Belly

Last day of staycation and thankfully we're both feeling better.  But I tell ya, it sucked that we got shot down in the end with a nasty tummy virus (Tim) and a whack-a-do spine (me).  Although, I still feel recharged and thankful.

As I write this post (outside and long-hand), Tim's at his desk calculating Manor sales, the pups are running around, and I'm about to take notes on a blueberry waffle formula I wrote today, using white rice flour and spelt.

I like how the white rice flour added an additional airiness.  But I'm off with regard to the liquid.  Next go, I'll take it down by 10-20ml, and see how that works.

Anyone who wants to try white rice flour (or any Bob's Red Mill product), click Bob's Red Mill and snag a coupon.

I also recommend the organic spelt.  As some of you know, I'm crazy for spelt.  Whatever I can put it in, I do.  I even use it to make gravies, sauces, leves, and goulash.

Love it.  Love the spelt.

And that my Buttfaces, concludes another broadcast day.  Thanks for reading and boogie boogie.