Tag: cake

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Teetotalers Unite!

Hello everyone! Do you like tea? Do you like regular orange or black pekoe? Or do your tastes run toward herbal or flavored teas? I like regular old tea that I drank as a child. My Mom would give us tea and toast when we were sick. I associate it with comfort and Mom. As a grown up a friend of mine, Rody, and I would get together for a cup of tea here and there. I learned to love Earl Grey and Constant Comment teas. I favor the ones made by Bigelow’s.

A couple of weeks ago I went to visit my son in Ithaca, NY. I wanted to have a cup of tea in the evening. (I have recently started doing that as a comforting little end to my evening.) He didn’t happen to have any flavors that I liked and didn’t have regular tea so when we were in the grocery store I picked up some Constant Comment. He asked what the flavor was. I told him I knew there was an orange flavor and some spices but that I wasn’t sure what spices were used.

Of course, I went right to Google to be able to answer the question. I didn’t find the answer because Bigelow’s only will say that “sweet spices” are used. However, I made a great discovery while researching. There is a “Constant Comment Cake”! Well, now, you know I had to try it! The result of my baking this cake can be summed up in one word; DELICIOUS! You would like it even if you don’t like tea. It is similar to a spice cake. See below for the recipe which also can be found at: https://www.bigelowtea.com/Tea-Tips/For-Entertaining/Recipes/Dessert/Constant-Comment-Spice-Cake#.WntBlainGM8

Constant Comment Cake

Ingredients

  • ½ cup milk
  • 5 Bigelow Constant Comment® Tea Bags
  • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs, room temperature
  • 1-⅔ cups flour
  • 2-½ teaspoons baking powder
  • Confectioners sugar

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a 9″” round cake pan. Combine milk and tea bags in a small saucepan. Heat over medium/low heat until bubbles form around the edge, stirring occasionally. (DO NOT BOIL.) Remove from heat and let cool (15-20 minutes); remove tea bags squeezing out liquid. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs and whisk to blend. Add the cooled milk; continue to whisk until thoroughly combined. Add flour and baking powder; mix until a smooth batter forms. Pour batter into pan. Bake approximately 35 minutes, or until center of cake springs back when touched. Cool on wire rack before removing from pan. Let cool completely before serving. Dust top with confectioners sugar.

Notes: They recommend using the decaffeinated version for the recipe but I used “the leaded version” (That’s what my brother and I call the caffeinated version of coffee or tea) Constant Comment. I wouldn’t change another thing about the recipe. My oven took the full 20 minutes to completely bake the cake.

There are also shortbread cookies, cupcakes and banana bread made using Constant Comment tea. If you have been reading my blog you know that I am bound to try one or all of the other recipes. Ahhhhhhhhhh, Pinterest is a wonderful thing!

It has been kind of busy for me this week as far as little projects. I wanted to tell you about what’s new at my little bungalow!

I have been decorating for Valentine’s Day. I set up some of my vintage Valentine’s Day cards, as I usually do every year. These cards are from the 1930’s and 1940’s. A couple of them aren’t politically correct but it is fun to get a window into those decades by these mementos. I have collected them from household sales over the years and most have little messages to someone’s Valentine written on them. I display them on an old wire card display that I have painted gold with spray paint. The old finish was not visually appealing.

One new item to my Valentine’s decorations was a conversation heart “tree”. I made this using a Styrofoam cone. I painted the cone red. Then I hot glued conversation hearts onto the cone. It is displayed on an upside down, pink, depression glass as the tree trunk.

  

The only thing I would do differently is that I would paint the cone a pale pink if I did another one. There are bound to be small gaps between hearts here and there and I think the pink would blend better than the red.

Recently, I had an occasion to go to a new doctor. You know how you have to fill out the reams of paperwork when you first go to a doctor? Always included in that paperwork is a list of medications and surgeries. For a few years now I have carried a list with me in my wallet of medications of which most of mine are vitamins and supplements. It doesn’t matter, you still need to list them and the dosage (which is the part I don’t remember off the top of my head). The paper list always gets crumpled and worn. I decided this week to fix that. I used a spreadsheet to list medicines, dosage and frequency. Next to that I made a list of surgeries and the year. When I printed it out, I simply folded it in half so that now it was the size of an insurance card and two-sided. I then laminated it and it fits right in my wallet with my insurance cards! If you don’t have a small laminator at home you can use clear package tape to coat yours so that it doesn’t get worn. I was going to post a picture of my card but then decided that it might be a little to personal for me to show you my lists! LOL

I have 3 dogs. Now, don’t get excited.  I am not a “crazy dog lady”. Well, I might be………….. However, my dogs are all little. Together they only weigh  in at about 41 pounds. I am not even sure that counts as a good-sized medium dog. Anyway, there names are Duffy, Missy and Rudy. Like many pet owners, I worry about them when I am gone. I started leaving the radio on for them when I left but sometimes reception isn’t great. On Amazon (which has every darn little thing anyone could want or even conceive of) I ordered 3 music Cd’s to keep them calm when I am gone. Get this! There is even a holiday version! What a hoot! I put one in my stereo and press repeat so that it will play until I get home and turn it off. Before you even form the words to ask I will tell you, yes, I rotate through the Cd’s. We don’t want these little darlings getting tired of their music, do we?

Have a fantastic week! Trust me! Spring will come.

  Whoops! Forgot to mention Yoda, the cat who thinks he’s a dog!

 

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88 Degrees on October 22!

As my title indicates, we are having a wonderful Fall day in Western NY. To top it off the Buffalo Bills won the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers! Life is good.

In The Kitchen

Today we are celebrating my youngest daughter’s birthday. It was really Friday but as a family we tend to do our parties on Sundays since that day works better for most of the family.

Since Sara’s birthday is in the second half of October her chosen treat usually involves Halloween or Fall. One year when she was little I remember making a grave yard with cookie headstones for her and buttercream frosting ghosts. This year she requested pumpkin cheesecake. I was more than happy to make it because it is a no-bake recipe and I love pumpkin flavor too! The recipe was really easy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

2 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1/2 c. butter

3 – 8 oz. packages of cream chees

1 c. heavy whipping cream

1 c. powdered sugar

1 1/2 c. pumpkin puree

1 t. cinnamon

1 t. vanilla

whipped cream or whipped topping for garnish if desired

Combine the graham crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Press firmly into the bottom and up 1″ of the sides of a spring-form pan. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine room temperature cream cheese and cream until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until smooth and fluffy.

Pour the filling into the pan. Cover and refrigerate until set, about 6 to 8 hours.

Garnish with whipped cream or whipped topping if desired.

*I used prepared graham cracker pie crusts to make this dessert. The filling filled two pie shells nicely. The filling is not overpoweringly pumpkin. It is just a nice taste!

On Facebook, a friend of mine shared one of those recipes you see quite often. Thanks, Sue! It was for bean soup and I love bean soup so I made it yesterday. It is delicious.

Crockpot Bean Soup

6 c. chicken broth

1 lb. dried Great Northern beans

1 lb. ham (chunked)

1 med. onion (chopped)

Salt and pepper to taste

Parsley and oregano to taste

Put all ingredients in the crock-pot and cook on low for 8 hours.

*I added about a half pound of baby carrots chopped in half to the ingredients  because I could! LOL! No, really, because I like carrots in my bean soup. I left my crock-pot on while I went to the zoo and shopping and I was gone longer than 8 hours. The soup was fine but now needed a little more broth. So I just added about a cup and a half of chicken broth to it. Perfecto!!

TOH Tips

Last week I gave you a couple of Taste of Home tips from chef Kari Kartch. I want to bestow more knowledge on you this week!

Do you cry when cutting onions? We all do! If you cut each end off an onion and take off the peel you can then place your onion in the microwave for 15 seconds. It isn’t long enough to really do anything to the onion except release the odors that make you cry.  Give it a try!

Don’t salt and pepper your eggs before or when you first start cooking them. They should be at least 70% done before you season them. It gives the eggs a rubbery texture if they are seasoned at the beginning of the cooking process.

If you have any other tips to tackle these problems or others please leave a comment and share! I would love to know and I am sure that your fellow readers would too.

Grab and Go!

I wanted to talk a little about disaster preparedness. We have had some disasters in our country recently and they’ve been scary. People are still dealing with the aftermath and my heart aches for them.

This made me think of when I lived in Germany in the late 70’s to 81. We were told to keep a “Go Bag” ready at all times in case something required our immediate evacuation and we didn’t have enough time to think let alone gather all the needed supplies. We had a small suitcase packed and stored in our closet the whole time we were there.

I have read a couple of articles lately about keeping a “Go Bag” now so we could be prepared to evacuate if needed. Even here in Western New York we live on a fault line and have had minor quakes in the past.  It is my opinion that no one in our country is exempt from some sort of natural or man-made disaster. At the very least it is an insurance policy but at the most, it could be life saving.

What might you include in your “Go Bag”? There are some basics you should have in it and then maybe some other things you might add depending on the demographic you’re packing for.

The Basics

Electronics – an extra phone charge, a portable battery pack in case you have no electric, a long lasting LED flashlight, a small portable radio with extra batteries

Personal needs – travel size of every toiletry you and your family uses in the morning to get ready for the day, backup eyeglasses, first aid kit, baby wipes and a multipurpose tool which would have a knife and a can opener

Clothing – Pack a few days worth of clothes for each person in your household that are easily layered, lightweight rain gear and waterproof boots

Meds – Pack at least 3 days worth of each of your prescriptions for all household members

Paperwork – Use a zip-lock bag to hold copies of your important papers for each person such as your birth certificate, driver’s license, health insurance cards, power of attorney, will, marriage and adoption certificates, medical and immunization records and finally information about your ATM and credit cards

Food and Drink – Bottled water, granola, energy bars, and other small and filling items enough to last at least 3 days

Cash –  enough money for a few days including small bills and a roll of quarters in case you need to purchase something from a vending machine

In my household I have dogs. I would pack copies of their licenses and proof of vaccinations. I would also include food for them and something to put water in for them to drink. You could also make these same adjustments when you pack for any pet.

Pack your “Go Bag” and view it as part of your insurance policy!

Money Saver

In a previous post I have told you about the Plenti card where you accumulate savings when you use your card while making a purchase at participating businesses. Examples of those businesses are Exxon, Rite Aid, Macy’s and Chili’s. If you would like to sign up or learn more please follow this link, https://www.plenti.com/

I am mentioning this now because 2 weeks ago I put gas in my car at a local 7 Eleven store which sells Exxon gas. When I swiped my Plenti card I was informed that I had $9.74 I could use toward my purchase. I don’t really keep a close eye on how much I have accumulated because someone at a business usually tells me and I immediately use it. However, I was unaware that I had that much. What a great surprise!

Have a wonderful week. I hope that you have found some things you could use in this post. Please let me know if you have anything to share with all of us. I am always on the quest to know more (about literally anything!).

 

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Summer Sundays Reign Supreme

Hello there readers! I now have 62 followers and as you know, my short term goal is 100. Help me get there by encouraging one of your friends to check this blog out and if they like what they read, sign up!! I appreciate all the support!!

We have had some really hot and humid days as I referred to last week. You know the kind, where you facially sweat that it’s embarrassing. My dogs were even not appreciating the weather for a couple days there. No bueno! Or more correctly, no esta bien. (I like no bueno better even though it is not correct!) Today is much less humid and pleasant.

It has been a busy week around the homestead. Meetings, breakfasts, work, baking (Yes, I said baking in this weather and I know I have lost it.), errands. You know the drill. I want to share some of the things that I have done this week with you.

HANDY TIP

I saw on the front of one of my magazines I was reading watermelon cut into little fingers. Of course, I needed to try it and the great news is that I don’t think I will ever cut watermelon the traditional way again.

                                                                                 

First, I cut the watermelon lengthwise all the way through. Next, I cut slices off of each half about 1 and 1/2 inch thick. Out of those slices I cut finger food size sticks. Either end of each slice was all rind and I tossed those. They are easy to serve in a bowl as in the first picture and easy to pick up and eat without a lot of mess. Loved it!!!

Continuing with the summer eating theme, I have a handy way to make s’mores that I learned from a friend of mine many years ago. It is cheaper, easier and I think less messy.

What you need to make the “new wave” s’mores are chocolate covered graham cookies and marshmallows. You roast the marshmallow as you usually do. Instead of using a piece of a chocolate bar and graham crackers you use the chocolate covered grahams instead! Brilliant and just as tasty as the original!

      

RECIPE

A friend who has been my friend for 55+ years is having a birthday soon. Since she lives out of town, we celebrated yesterday when she was home for a visit. I was making the cake for her and decided to go “old school” and make an mayonnaise cake.

For anyone who hasn’t ever tasted one they are super moist and rich and have a slightly different taste than a normal chocolate cake. I think this is due to the teaspoon of cinnamon that the recipe calls for.

Immediately, when I think of mayonnaise cake, I think of peanut butter frosting. (Think Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup here!) As my brother, Doug, says, “There’s nothing wrong with chocolate and peanut butter!”

I was looking around for a recipe. I have only ever made one from scratch before and couldn’t remember the proportions. While looking I found a recipe for mayonnaise cake using a chocolate cake mix. Hey, great idea! You know I had to try it.

Mayonnaise Cake

1 chocolate cake mix

1 cup of mayonnaise (don’t use low-fat or the olive oil type)

1 cup water

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients together until the cake mix is incorporated. Don’t over beat. There will be lumps. Poor batter into a sheet pan or two round layers that have been sprayed with non-stick spray and lined with parchment paper (you could use waxed paper instead if need be). Bake for 30 minutes. I checked mine early around 25 minutes and decided it was done. Each oven is different so watch yours carefully the first time you try this recipe. Place on wire rack for cooling.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1 cup butter

3/4 cup peanut butter

3 cups confectioner’s sugar

3 or 4 Tablespoons of milk

Allow the butter to soften. When it is soft combine peanut butter and butter using a mixer. Slowly add the 3 cups of confectioner’s sugar to the butters. The mixture will be thick. Slowly add the milk 1 Tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency for icing the cake is achieved.

* We used to call confectioner’s sugar powdered sugar or 10X sugar. The 10X refers to the times that the sugar is processed to achieve the fine powdery consistency. The terms used for this sugar seem to be associated with the region where you live. Powdered sugar is used in the Northwest U.S. whereas in the Southern U.S. the term confectioner’s sugar is used. I’m in the Northeast U.S. and I have used all of them. I find it very interesting.

MAKING MONEY AT HOME

(I’m always looking for a way!)

I have been trying several survey sites to make a little side money. One of the ones I have been doing is Harris Poll. They are a legit company and have been around for years. You take surveys and accumulate points that you then exchange for things like Amazon gift cards. It is  a slow process with them since you only get maybe 5 or 6 surveys a month but I am fine with it. I also do other sites and have gotten my first products to test for one of them. I am placing a link to an article about such sites with the top survey sites listed. Check them out.

https://www.surveyssay.com/

WARNING!!!!

If they ask you for money to sign up run away quickly. This is illegal to do and a BIG red flag that somethings is not right. Do some research before you sign up for any site.

Have a wonderful week everyone! I hope you found something that interested you. Please leave a comment and let me know about any life hacks you have.

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Hello world!

I’m glad you stopped by! I’m  going to post a new blog entry once a week with the eventual goal of posting twice each week.

The vision I have for the blog is to share little life hacks that I have found and incorporated into my life that save time, save money, make life easier, more organized and add JOY. A part of my joy is cooking and crafting so that will be included too. Hopefully, there will be something of interest to you in each entry.

I would like to share a little bit about myself so that when you stop here it will be like a conversation you’re having with me over a cup of coffee at the kitchen table. I have 5 adult children who live in the area, 3 dogs (yes, I said, 3!), and 1 cat. We, my “pack” and I, live in a small village in Western New York. For all of you who hear New York and think New York City, I am all the way across the state and live on the shores of Lake Erie. It is a beautiful place to live. We usually have hard winters and more than our share of snow (think near Buffalo here) but the Spring, Summer and Fall are amazing! I am even that kind of person that doesn’t mind the Winter! There are a few of us you know.

Having a large family, a home and a career has led me to look for ideas, strategies, and the like to keep my life manageable and with as little stress as possible. This blog is about that search and the things I have found along the way.

There are those of us who thrive on organization and others who strive to be organized. In either case, organization tips are usually of interest no matter where you fall on the spectrum. I have found that if you want more organization in your kitchen and don’t want to spend a lot of time getting there, the simple answer is to cut back on your stuff. That’s right! Eliminate stuff = less to take care of (think less to put away, less to wash, etc.). If you never use more than one frying pan at a time, cut back to one small and one larger one. If you live by yourself and only have company occasionally, limit yourself to four of everything – four plates, four bowls, four glasses, four coffee mugs, four forks…. Well, you get the idea. Less is better in this case. An extremist might just have two of each item. I was being conservative. This approach encourages you to wash your dishes more often. I mean, if you need a knife and you have used 4, better get the dish soap out! It also allows you to have more space for what you do have and immediately things look less cluttered! WIN!!

 

This idea can be carried throughout your home. Just last year I decided I didn’t need four sets of sheets and pillowcases for my bed and various odds and ends of linens. I could get by with two complete sets! It was an epiphany since linen closet space is at a premium in my home. Now, technically, you could get by with one set. You would just have to wash it and put it back on but that is a little too austere for me. With two sets I can remake my bed and not wait for the weekly wash to be done. As an aside,  I purchased two new sheet sets and made them ones that feel good with designs that make me happy!

Let’s stray from the organizing topic to a new cake technique that is on trend. It is called the “naked cake”.  As a long time baker of cakes for weddings, birthdays, and all that jazz, I was taken in by the thought of a cake with less icing. A cake where you actually could see the cake through the layer of icing. Who would have thought! Anyway, I was asked to make a small cake for a wedding reception and I asked if I could do a “naked cake”. The bride agreed and off I went. The cake was a three layer white cake with vanilla butter cream frosting. Admittedly, I used less of the frosting on the exterior of the cake but I did make sure there was plenty in between the layers for the frosting lovers. I used burlap ribbon and silk flowers to decorate the cake and everyone thought it was beautiful. I will share a picture below. Due to the use of the burlap ribbon you don’t see much of the cake showing through the icing but I think you will still get the idea. It was also so much easier and less stressful when I didn’t have to worry about the cake showing through the frosting!

 

Today I leave you with a little “warm fuzzy” in the form of the leader of the pack, Duffy. If this doesn’t make you smile I will be surprised.

 

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