09 Wednesday Nov 2011
Tags
apples, baking, cinnamon, Flowers, Love, productivity, Will Bake For Food, work
Today was a good day.
Productive at work. Added several things to my personal “Done” list. My house has a lingering scent of cinnamon and baking apples as I test recipes for Saturday’s bake sale.
And I came home to these.
Someone loves me. 🙂
What provided you with happiness today?
05 Saturday Nov 2011
Ready to have your cake and feed with it too? Okay, I know that’s not quite how the saying goes. But what if you could have an opportunity to eat some sweets to help put food on the tables of your neighbors this holiday season?
Many in our community struggle each day to feed their families. Brainchild of Seattle food bloggers, Jenny Miller from Rainy Day Gal and Jenny Richards of Purple House Dirt, the Will Bake for Food – A Food Blogger Bake Sale is an annual event that unites local food bloggers to fight against hunger. Last fall the Jennys held their first event that was hugely successful and featured over 60 blogger bakers selling over 1600 items, raising nearly $1000 and collecting one ton of canned goods.
I was there last year as a baker for this very special day and will be participating in the 2nd annual Will Bake For Food next Saturday. This year the event will benefit the Emergency Feeding Program who’s mission it is to provide an emergency response to the nutritional needs of people in crisis hunger situations throughout Seattle and King County.
Grandma Keehn's Popular Pumpkin Bars
Here’s how it works – Simply gather your non-perishable donations, bring them next Saturday to the bake sale, collect tickets for the number of items you bring, then redeem your tickets for goodies baked with food lovers care by local food bloggers like me! See the food bloggers participating here.
I will be baking my grandma’s pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting – these were a huge hit last year! You will not want to miss these! Also at my table will be peanut butter blossom cookies – my favorite cookie! – as well as some apple cake.
My German-born mother-in-law, who is staying with us, is even getting in on the action this year and will be baking some yummy treats – which just might include her fabulous German stollen!
Here are the particulars of the sale:
Who: Seattle food bloggers, the Emergency Feeding Program, and YOU!
What: Food bloggers from all over this fair city will be baking up their favorite tasty treats with proceeds benefiting The Emergency Feeding Program.
When: Saturday, November 12th, 2011
11am-2pm (or until we run out!) Come early for the best selection!
Where: University Heights Center
5031 University Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
How: Bring your sweet tooth, along with non-perishable food items or a monetary donation. For a list of the items the Emergency Feeding Program needs most, click here (PDF).
Will I see you there?
14 Monday Feb 2011
Tags
baking, Chinese food, chocolate, family, Holiday, Love, Pink, Red, Table setting, Tablescape, Valentine's Day, White
Things have been a little crazy around here. Last week we lost one of pet family members – our dear Storm cat, then my mother arrived from out of town for a visit, and on top of that I was busy helping to plan a family birthday party for my grandfather. With everything that was going on, I realized yesterday that I really hadn’t given Valentine’s Day a whole lot of thought.
No worries though. A quick, pretty, festive table doesn’t have to, and shouldn’t be something that one stresses over. I threw together this tablescape this morning with things I had on hand from around the house. I think it turned out well.
It’s all ready for our family dinner. I just need to add three things; flowers (I hope to receive these from my honey 😉 ), some take-out Chinese food, and a decadent chocolate dessert. I’m making these delicious chocolate cupcakes to add to my red cake pedestals.
Happy Valentine’s Day my loves! Hope you have a wonderful time with your family, friends, or a special someone!
05 Saturday Feb 2011
Tags
baking, beef, cake, cake pops, chex mix, chicken, chocolate, entertaining, family, football, guacamole, snacks, taquitos
I’m getting ready for the big game!
One of my favorite (holi-)days of the year is Super Bowl Sunday. I remember as a kid it was always a big affair – a day filled with family, friends, and food! But I always get a little sad when Super Bowl Sunday rolls around. As much fun as it is, I know that it is the last game of the season, and oh, how I do love my football! For me, it’s not only about watching the game, though I do love watching. But I really just enjoy those lazy weekend days when it’s cold outside, lounging around on the couch with a cozy blanket and intermittently nibbling and napping. Sometimes made even more delicious with a nice fire and a good book added to the mix.
So I am planning my snack spread for Sunday because, who are we kidding, it is really mostly all about the food. (And the commercials :-))
Each of my family members has weighed in on their nosh of choice and here’s what we’ve come up with:
GAME DAY MENU
Husband – Ribs
Son #1 – Taquitos
Son #2 – Fried Chicken Hearts (didn’t see that one coming – did ya?)
Me – Guacamole
Dessert – Chocolate Cake-y Item
Plus various chips, crackers, cheese, veggies – whatever I have on hand.
Hmmmm…speaking of that last list item, my husband found these the other day in the store! Chester’s Fries!
Have you ever had these? They are very hard to find around here in the Pacific Northwest but we so enjoy them when we visit my mom in Florida. Guess they, as is so often the case with foods we love, are a memory inducer – going to the warm sandy beach in Florida…yes, please!
Okay, enough dreaming of warm, far-away, peaceful places…back to the task at hand.
Of course, I started my menu planning with dessert and this chocolate-cake-lovin gal wanted to marry these cake pops from Bakerella when I saw them. I was originally thinking about making brownies and cutting them out into football shapes, then piping them with white icing laces, but when I found these I was totally enchanted!
So now that I have dessert all planned out…
On to the snacks – I just think this edible Chex mix bowl from Food Network, featured on Persona Gift Pail’s Blog, is so fun!
Chester’s Fries in this?
It’s a maybe.
Since I had never made taquitos, my search was on for the perfect recipe. And to my delight, what recipe came up listed 2nd on the page of my Google search but Life’s Ambrosia’s food blog? Desiree is a local food blogger that I know which was a definite selling point – And just look at those! When I saw these I just wanted to put my face through the computer screen and stuff my mouth full of them!
‘Nuff said. This is the winner!
I think some guacamole would go very nicely with these! Here is my recipe. I don’t put cilantro in my guac, but you can add it if you like.
Guacamole
Lightly mash the avocado – be sure not to mash the avocados too much because when you add the other ingredients they will further break down and you don’t want it mushy. Chop the onion and tomato. Add all other ingredients, and mix. Refrigerate for an hour to let all the flavors incorporate, but then pull the dip out well before you need it – it is best served at room temperature.
Now, about those chicken hearts. That’s what’s got you really curious, right? My love for these goes way back.
When we were kids my stepmother used to make fried chicken, but back then people would always buy the whole chicken and cut it up. There were always one or two chicken hearts in that little bag that comes along with the gizzard and the liver. She would cook up the gizzards too but us kids didn’t care for them much – we always fought over the hearts – until one day my dad discovered that we could buy whole packages of just chicken hearts. We were in heaven.
These days I have a hard time finding them, but discovered by accident one day I could find them at the local Asian market. I picked these up today!
Now, I have never actually made these myself as my husband is grossed out at the thought of chicken hearts. But my son, who has had them now several times at Grandma and Grandpa’s house has been asking for them for so long – I figured what better day than a snacky day like the Super Bowl? My husband has acquiesced. He says he’s just going to hold his breath all day. What a sweetheart!
This recipe was given to me by my stepmother with no measurements and is the same one that she uses to make her fried chicken. I have guessed at the amounts, so if you decide to make these you will just have to feel your way through as I will be doing on Sunday.
Fried Chicken Hearts
Combine flour, paprika and salt in a plastic or paper bag and shake to mix. Rinse and pat dry chicken hearts. Coat bottom of cast iron skillet with oil and place in oven while it pre-heats to 425 degrees. Salt chicken hearts and then dredge in flour mixture. Place in heated pan in a single layer. Cook 15-20 in oven then turn and cook for another 15-20 minutes until done. Drain on a paper-towel-covered plate.
Mmmmmm! I just can’t wait for Sunday! What are you doing for the big game? Are you cooking or do you order in? If you are cooking, what are you making?
