Month: April 2020

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Hacking This Life and Social Distancing

This is quite a time we are living through. I know there will be an end to it and we will have what they are calling “the new normal” similar to the “new normal” after 9/11. What that will look like I don’t think anyone is really sure of right now.

What I am concentrating on is how to use this time to be creative, reflective and kind. Of course, like many people, I am reading, writing, cooking, baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting, video chatting with friends and family and walking the dogs a lot more. I finally found a puzzle online and it just arrived so I am working on that now too.

My dogs, I am sure, are wondering why I am home so much because I am usually on the go!

Being kind is what everyone needs right now. How can we do that with social distancing? I have been sharing baked goods and homemade soups with neighbors and friends. Also, just checking on people, especially the elderly, and letting them know you are thinking about them. I know even when I walk my dogs people I don’t even know have a big smile on their faces and say hello. I am guessing for most of us it is a feeling of belonging. We all are in the same boat.

We can also be creative about visiting with our friends and neighbors. I have one elderly neighbor that I visit with while I am in her yard with the dogs. She stands on her porch and we talk for a bit and share what we have been doing. Another friend and I met in the McDonald’s parking lot after we each went through the drive-thru at Tim Horton’s. She stayed in her car and I in mine and we talked for about an hour while we drank our coffee. Another time we met at the lake (coffee in hand) and fed the seagulls Cheerios. We drove separately, of course, and stood much more than 6 feet apart but it was a nice visit and a diversion from the regular routine. I would love for you to comment and share with us what you are doing to keep in touch.

One of the things I am trying to do everyday is put some cologne and makeup on and do my hair. I feel like that lifts my spirits. How about you? What are you doing to remain sane and calm in this unusual time?

I have always loved brown sugar. I keep a canister of it just like flour and regular sugar. It is so much richer and fuller flavored than just plain granulated sugar. A couple of the items I have baked recently used only brown sugar and I want to share them with you.

Recipes

Brown Sugar Cookies (*dinnerthendessert.com)

  • 14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 cups packed dark brown sugar
  • 2 cups flour , plus 2 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a skillet melt 10 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Whisk constantly until butter starts to brown, about 3-4 minutes. Pour into bowl, add remaining butter to same bowl and set aside.
  3. In a separate bowl whisk together sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, flour, baking soda, and baking powder.
  4. Add remaining brown sugar and salt to butter and whisk until smooth. Whisk in egg, egg yolk, and vanilla.
  5. Combine butter mixture with dry ingredients, stirring until a dough forms.
  6. Either roll dough out to 1/2-inch thick and use a cookie cutter, or roll into a ball and place on cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar.
  7. Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until cookies begin to set.

These cookies are a little chewy and ever so yummy!!

Brown Sugar Banana Nut Muffins

Brown Sugar Banana Nut Muffins (*celebratingsweets.com)

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed make sure it is fresh and soft
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups mashed very ripe bananas about 3-4 bananas
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon optional
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or swap for macadamia nuts, pecans or hazelnuts

Topping:

  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons chopped walnuts

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and 2/3 cup brown sugar until well combined, about 1 full minute. Add eggs, mashed banana and vanilla, whisking until combined.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and use a rubber spatula to lightly stir the batter until almost combined. Add 1/2 cup walnuts and stir until no streaks of flour remain. Be careful not to over-mix.
  • Grease 15 standard-sized muffin cups and divide the batter evenly among the cups. Sprinkle the top of the each cup with brown sugar and chopped walnuts (topping). Bake for 14-17 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Place the pan on a wire rack to cool.

* I used paper muffin cups rather than greasing the muffin tin. Also, I used pecans rather than walnuts. My muffins weren’t small, by any means, but I got 18 muffins out of the recipe rather than 15. I promise if you make these you will love them!

Hacks

Project

The latest project I have been working on is making masks. I have been making them from 100% cotton which is the recommended fabric and luckily I have a lot of it in my material bin. My first pattern called for using elastic to hook on ears. I am out of elastic now that I have used all the black and white 1/4 inch elastic that I had on hand. I will now have to make them using bias tape. Below is the link to patterns using bias tape and elastic.

http://kidgiddy.blogspot.com/2020/03/face-mask-tutorial.html?m=1

Here is a picture of some that I have made.

Stay safe, healthy and as stress-free as you possibly can! Until next time my fellow humans!

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