GOOD.RANDOM.FUN. {WEEK 7}

 wineries "dot" the California coastal region

it's GOOD we had a "tad" of rain, but we need more!

RANDOM pics... playing with my camera settings

camera FUN.

it's time for me to be feeling better! Bronchitis g-o  a-w-a-y!

Posting HERE!

Tamar @ Random-osity shared her recipe for a warm, tasty soup...

check her blog to see why she made soup.

6 EGGS, 2 STICKS BUTTER, CUP of SOUR CREAM

Last night our kitchen smelled amazing!

TANGY LEMON juice scented the air,

as we finished bowls of lentil soup!

JPE had a "BAKING BUG"

at the end of our HOLIDAY visit, THE SKIDS

{the "best-est" of friends from Lakewood}

had given us a bag of LEMONS

{picked from from their tree}

 JPE used them to make
LEMON SOUR-CREAM POUND CAKE

{we shared a sliver for breakfast this morning}

dense. flavorful. enjoyed small bites.

this recipe is a K.E.E.P.E.R.

RECIPE FOUND HERE
 

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 3.9.13

I'm sorry I missed last week's SHS... I loved the words!! I had even taken a couple of pictures to post. AND, I did receive some very nice messages (thanks, HONEY MOMMY) that told me they were missing me! I have to say, "bloggers are the nicest friends"...

I also have to tell my SHS blogger friends that I had to add word verification to my blog for a brief period of time. I had 300+ spam posts to a recent blog post. I'm clueless as to how spamming works, but it was disturbing that they continued to happen. My blog is read by family members, including my 9 year old granddaughter...  

Now, on to this week's words (some great ones!):

#5, WORD OF THE DAY, SHARING, WIGGLE, & COOKIES.

I'm hoping for a couple of new COOKIE recipes when I check over at RAMBLING & PHOTOS. AND, I'm very curious about everyone's WORD OF THE DAY. 

#5

Adding egg #5 to this decoration. Have you started decorating for Spring?

WORD OF THE DAY

Yesterday, the WORD OF THE DAY was "time" --- JPE resets the clocks to Daylight Savings Time on Friday (after work!) so he can get used to the "time" change. It works for him, but really throws me off --- I was constantly asking him what "time" it was.

WIGGLE

Lola WIGGLING in the grass. She's a WIGGLER! When she's happy, the back end of her body goes into action.

SHARING

SHARING a couple of photos taken at the Chapman House in Shell Beach. The house sits on a cliff overlooking the ocean... the afternoon sun was falling behind the Avila Beach hills. I get a "peaceful feeling" visiting the ocean.

COOKIES

The hunt for COOKIES had me believing I should think about making my famous cut-out sugar cookies. I have the pastel colored sprinkles, the carrot cookie cutter, milk, eggs but we decided to go to the movies instead.... we saw "The Quartet" a very sweet movie!

And, again, I want to apologize for adding "word verification" to my blogger friends who post comments. I plan to remove it when I notice the spam disappears!

Please keep coming back...

SMELLS A LOT LIKE......

my "new" favorite... CANDY CANE BISCOTTI

JPE spent most of yesterday baking BISCOTTI...

he loves to give it as gifts to friends, family & co-workers!

 CANDY CANE BISCOTTI

(from Land o' Lakes)

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

3 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2/3 cup finely crushed peppermint candy canes*

1 (14-ounce) package (candy cane flavored) candy coating

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

*decorator candies, sugars

or crushed peppermint candy canes

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine butter & sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add eggs; continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low. Add flour & baking powder; beat until well mixed. Stir in crushed candy.

Divide dough into fourths on lightly floured surface (keep your hands floured when working with the dough). Shape each into 9" x 1.5" logs. Place logs 3" apart on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until tops are cracked & ends just start to turn light brown. Remove from oven; reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Cool logs 10 minutes on cookie sheet.

Carefully remove logs to cutting surface. Cut into 1/2-inch slices with sharp serrated knife. Arrange pieces on same cookie sheet, cut-side down. Continue baking for 12 to 14 minutes, turning once, or until cookies are lightly browned & crisp on both sides. Remove to wire cooling rack; cool completely.

Place candy coating in microwave - thirty seconds, stir, thirty seconds, stir - continue until smooth. Stir in peppermint extract, if desired.

Dip each biscotti half way into warm coating; shake off excess. Place onto waxed paper. Immediately sprinkle with decorator candies, sugars or crushed candy canes, if desired. Let set at room temperature until coating is hardened (about 1 hour).

A BAKER'S DOZEN?

Actually, JPE made TEN batches of biscotti...

which would you like to taste?

:: Double-Chocolate Walnut ::

:: Cranberry Almond ::

:: Candy Cane ::

(this container is 24"x16")

& heavy!!

 (you wouldn't want to accidentally drop this on your foot)!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 3.4.12

all pics taken 3.4.12

TODAY'S the DAY...


:: That JPE comes home from Cincinnati, OH (his "home turf"... he's made three trips since Thanksgiving. AND, thanks for your concern... this trip was not an emergency related to his dad's health)...


:: To enjoy the last week of darkness before DAYLIGHT SAVINGS time kicks in next Sunday...


:: To tidy your gardens in preparation for SPRING, which begins March 20th...


:: To participate in SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY with Ashley @ RAMBLING & PHOTOS. YEAH!!

No time to plan my photo shoots this week... this was a quick, down & dirty, short-time project (35 minutes)...


I won't say I love what I'm posting, but it was FUN ~ once I set the timer)... Enjoy these words: 

ROUTINE, MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY, SHOW ME YOUR STYLE & MISMATCH.

ROUTINE

During the week, I rarely deviate from my ROUTINE. My work bag, purse, shoes & lunch-bag leave with me every morning & arrive home with me every night (ready to be packed again)! Everyone at work takes a lunch because we'd have to drive 15 minutes to buy lunch, coffee or a snack. No corner coffee shop for us! ummm! that's great on the $$$ but can be boring.

Lucky for me, I often have meetings in the afternoon (off-site) which give me some flexibility in my ROUTINE. 

MUSIC

JPE has played MUSIC since he was a youngster! stand-up bass, guitar, and drums... In his work with high school students, he often starts a drum circle as a way to release some of their energy! JPE's a runner! he doesn't play his drum (or guitar) at home, but he often grabs his drum before heading to Men's Group... 

TECHNOLOGY

I consider myself pretty tech-savvy - but looking at the dining room table this morning, you might question that statement!
I LOVE my TECHNOLOGY (I-Phone, MacBook, I-Pod Touch) but I also LOVE my work calendar (with color coded meetings), my planner with tabs for the months, and my checkbook. 
I pay the majority of my bills online - but some items just need to be paid by check. AND, you probably remember my fond-ness for PAPER & PENS... 

SHOW ME YOUR STYLE!!

Well... the truth is... I DON'T have a STYLE! I'm one of those gals that is still trying to figure out how to dress stylish, but comfortably.
I dislike clothes shopping - seems like such a waste of time! My body is just not made for the style of clothes I see in magazines, online or in the stores. I'm certain there are quite a few of us non-fashionistas... but they don't seem to be designing clothes that are favorable to my budget, figure flaws & comfort...
SO - I'm SHOWING YOU MY PREFERRED STYLE... which is jeans, tshirts (sorry, I had to pull this out of the laundry basket), casual shoes, low-cut socks & a scarf to add color. Retirement clothes?? currently, weekend clothes!! ahhh! comfort clothes!

MISMATCHED

When I got home from work on Friday, I noticed I'd worn two MISMATCHED earrings! Honest mistake - easy to make! one is pearlized & the other has a flat finish. Both earrings change, depending on what color (purple, teal blue, gray) top I'm wearing! I don't buy expensive earrings... when I lose one, I just buy new ones. Perhaps if I got a nice little jewelry box, I'd lose fewer earrings? NOPE! I prefer to toss my earrings in that adorable red dish. AND, no, I don't store my earrings in a lemon! just a prop for photographing purposes. 

So - here's my contribution for SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY... 

Next week's words: WATER, LIGHT, CHOCOLATE, ANIMAL & CROWDED.

Bet you can't wait to see what I post for CHOCOLATE....

A TASTE OF LEMON...

:: A TASTE OF LEMON ::

Monday evening, I baked mini-bundt cakes for 

my girlfriends... 

I've been making this recipe for a dozen years!

(recipe courtesy of sister-in-law)

it's dense & quite tasty with a cup of coffee or tea!

LEMON LOAF

1 medium lemon

2 1/4 c flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 c sugar

3/4 c butter

3 eggs

3/4 c milk

1. PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees (F).

2. GRATE 1 TBSP lemon peel & SQUEEZE 4 1/2 tsp lemon juice; then set aside.

3. GREASE a 9"x5" loaf pan; or 4 mini-loaf pans. If you double the recipe, you will get 15 mini-bundt cakes.

4. In a large bowl, MIX flour, baking powder, salt & sugar with a fork. Use a pastry blender to CUT in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. STIR in grated lemon peel.

5. In a small bowl, BEAT eggs slightly & STIR in milk. MIX until flour mixture is moistened.

6. SPOON into greased pans. FILL loaf pans 3/4 full. If using mini-bundt pans, SPOON 1/2 c of batter into each section.

7. BAKE 9"x5" loaf for 65-70 minutes; mini-loaf pans for 45-50 minutes; mini-bundt cakes for 15-20 minutes.

8. COOL in pan on wire rack. REMOVE from pan.

filled TOO FULL!
removed two teaspoons of batter from each cake

LEMON GLAZE

8. In 1 qt sauce pan (medium heat), HEAT 4 1/2 tsp of lemon juice (see #2) + 2 TBSP of sugar to boiling.

9. COOK, STIRRING continuously (until slightly thickened) about 5 minutes.

10. With pastry brush, SPREAD sugar mixture over top of bread.

11. Can be served WARM or COOL... 

NOTE: If serving the next day, consider making more glaze & spoon it warm over slices of the LEMON bread 

(& add a few raspberries & a dollop of whipped cream).

glazed mini-bundt cake

The glaze is sticky, so I wrapped the bundt cakes

in waxed paper before dropping them

into a cellophane bag! 

added a bit of ribbon & mini-ornament.... 

VOILA...

cellophane bags ~ World Market

ribbon & mini-ornament ~ Michael's

platter ~ Target 

TASTY TREAT

for my "girlies!!"

We met at Ventana Grill, overlooking the Pacific Ocean...

knowing our group of ten like to talk

(sometime all at the same time), 

we asked to be seated where we wouldn't disturb anyone... 

our waiter (Dick) was exceptional, the food excellent 

& we played our "STEAL 'EM GIFT EXCHANGE"

 without being asked to leave the restaurant!!!

HOPE YOU ENJOY THE RECIPE!!!

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY 11.6.11

my favorite pens ~ 11.5.11

Welcome to SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY! This week's hunt = Food, Purple, In Disguise, Shapes & Photographer's Choice.

FOOD

Tea time! & our favorite coffee cake... care to join us? the recipe is HERE! Coffee cake is one of our favorite FOODS to share during afternoon tea... oh, & homemade scones. (JPE does the baking - aren't I lucky?)

PURPLE

Shades of PURPLE! from craft paper, to my favorite ZIG markers, to my MacBook (with PURPLE cover), to my favorite bracelet ("60 Pearls of Wisdom" ~ handmade by ACE to commemorate my 60th birthday)... PURPLE is a dominant color in my life & wardrobe.

IN DISGUISE

IN DISGUISE ~ Part 2

Didn't seem fair to share my IN DISGUISE picture without giving you a better glimpse at what you are looking at! Look what I found in my garden shoes... a lovely, yellow furry caterpillar. 

SHAPES

I'm a curvy person! YEP! a curvy body too! anything circular, round, oval, swirly, or a SHAPE that resembles motion is bound to be photographed!  

PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE

This photo is not that unique ~ but it's symbolic for me! I took this on my morning walk today... 9 months ago I broke the 5th metatarsal in my left foot & I'm finally back to my "loop walk" (up a steep incline, a gradual climb, a flat area & through the K-Mart Shopping Center, across a bridge & one more parking lot - then we're home = 45 minutes)... whew!

My PHOTOGRAPHER'S CHOICE was taken at the beginning of the steep incline, when I stopped to tighten my shoe laces!

Thanks for stopping by to peek at my SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY pictures... hope to see you next week!!! 

DE-LICIOUS DAY...

"testing for done-ness" ~ 10.15.11

CINNAMON SURPRISE COFFEE CAKE

3 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c butter (room temperature)

1 1/2 c sugar

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla extract

16 oz sour cream

:: Grease 12" BUNDT pan; set oven temperature at 350 degrees.

:: Combine first four ingredients in large bowl; set aside.

:: Mix together butter + sugar; then beat in one egg at a time.  

:: Stir in vanilla extract + sour cream.

:: Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. 

:: Place the following ingredients in small bowl; mix with fingers.  

1 TBSP cinnamon

4 TBSP butter (room temperature)

1/3 c brown sugar

2 TBSP flour

:: Spoon half batter into BUNDT pan.

:: Crumble cinnamon filling over batter & swirl knife thru layer.

:: Add rest of batter to pan.

:: Bake at 350 degrees (F) for 50-60 minutes.

"cooling"

:: Cool on wire rack. Invert onto plate after 30 minutes.

Afternoon treat w/a cuppa of tea!

JPE ~ you are the "BEST"

(baker, gardener, friend, husband, travel-partner...)

BTW ~ do you use an uncooked piece of pasta

to check your baked goods for done-ness?

YUMMY!!!

POTLUCK at WORK TODAY...

::  LESSON LEARNED ::

ask everyone to provide a LIST of the ingredients

in their potluck dish!

I took JPE's secretary

to the Emergency Room

in the middle of our luncheon!

She has a severe allergy to shrimp & didn't see the tiny crustaceans in the pasta salad she was eating!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MISSOURI 

Broccoli-Cauliflower Salad

(a favorite recipe from my Mom's family)

:: MIX ::

1 head of broccoli

1 head of cauliflower

1/3 c diced green onions

:: PREPARE ::

1/4 c tomatoes (seeded & chopped)

2-3 hard boiled eggs (chopped)

:: COOK ::

7-8 pieces of bacon (crumble)

:: WHIP ::

1 c mayo (used light!)

1/4 c sugar

2 TBSP white vinegar

:: PACKAGE ::

bacon & chopped egg in separate containers

pour dressing in a jar

keep ingredients chilled

:: SALAD INGREDIENTS ::

mix & serve

YUMMY!!

Leftovers for dinner!