Whip It - A Baking Contest vs A Roller Derby Match

The trash is out at the curb.  Fridge cleaned out.  Dishes done.  So here we all are, trying to acclamate ourselves back into dealing with the demands of work after the hub-bub of Thanksgiving wraps up.  Is it hard to get motivated and back into the swing of things after 4 days off?  Oh, boy.  Yep.  Sure is.  Even for those of us that actually like our jobs a lot! 

So, I sit here on the couch and try to organize my thoughts of the things I'll need to focus on at work tomorrow as the dog steals yet another one of my flip flops and darts down the hall and under the bed with it.  Yes, I tried to stop him, yes, I chased him to the bedroom, and no, I did not win that battle.  He has figured out just how far under the bed to go so that I cannot reach him no matter how hard I try or how much I stretch my fingers.  Naughty and smart is a bad combination. 

One of the things that happened at work today that has definitely been occupying my mind tonight is an announcement that went out from our "Spirit Team" (our company morale booster squad) regarding the first annual company bake off contest!  WHOOOT!  How fun is that?  Four categories: Cakes, Cookies, Pies, and "Surprise Us"!!  I need to investigate the rules further to confirm that I can make an entry for each category.  Voting will be done in a manner so that voting employees don't know who made the tasty treats, and they'll be voting on taste and presentation.  I'm really excited about the "Surprise Us" category, personally.  I can guarantee that you will be hearing more about this in the future, with pictures to boot!

Onto another matter, for anyone who is a little restless and looking for something different to do, I would like to offer a suggestion.  Earlier this year, Tommy and I went to our first ever roller derby match, and we had a ton of fun.  If you've never gone, it's something you should do at least once.  At the match we went to, they were really good about giving out pamphlets that explained the players' positions, purposes, and the rules of the game.  It's pretty easy to get the jest of how it all works, and before you know it you're talking derby lingo like a pro.  It had a similar atmosphere as hockey, but a bit less aggressive, a lot less cold, and a ton more cheesy, fun flair! 

The Portland based roller derby group is called "The Rose City Rollers" and on their website, they note that they are sponsored, in part, by Pabst Blue Ribbon.  How can you go wrong???  One of our favorite teams was "Axles of Annihilation" with team members that had names like Blood Clottia, Honey Hellfire (she was really good!), Hurricane Skatrina, and Illegally Blonde.  We also liked the Break Neck Betties team with Soul Fearic Acid and D. Konstructor.  I have to say that it is fun to yell out their names when they do something fabulous or something bad. 

If you live in the Portland, Oregon area and have an interest, here is the link to The Rose City Rollers web site (click here).  The opposing group was Seattle's Rat City Roller Girls (click here), for those of you who may be a little further North. 

I think if I had a roller derby name, it'd be something like The Diabolical Dough Puncher.  Or maybe not?  Regardless, I hope you'll give it a whirl, or a whip.  You know... whatever works. 

Shameless Cake Blog

It doesn't take much to figure out that I really love baking cakes.  Bundt cakes, especially.  Oh, I love bundts!  But I'm creating this post for one reason, and one reason only, and it's to put one of my favorite cakes on full display.  Surprisingly, it's not one of my super incredible, much loved bundts.  It's a little ol' square cake that is just so full of wonderful yumminess. 

Seriously.

Will this help you understand?

Don't ya just wanna lick it?  This is a delicious Applesauce Cake with Butter-Rum Glaze .  The recipe works perfect for a standard square pan, but once you've tasted it, you'll wish you had doubled the recipe and made a bigger version.  I promise. 

The cake has a nice spice to it, and the applesauce just makes it incredibly moist and tender.  But the icing on the cake is, well... the icing on the cake.  The butter-rum glaze is so flavorful and tasty!  I'm pretty sure I never had rum flavored frosting until this cake, because I would have remembered it. 

If you have a sweet tooth moment one of these days and are looking for a quick fix, this can do the trick.  It's simple, it's small enough that it is a fast-bake, and it is the perfect compliment to either coffee or milk. 

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

Potlucks Rock!

Where I work, we had a Fiesta-themed potluck.  Mexican food is one of my favorites, so I was definitely on board with this one!  My biggest challenge is my recent conversion over to a vegetarian lifestyle.  (We'll save that conversation for another day!)

There were so many fabulous dishes that folks brought in.  Elaborately prepared pork (cooked in banana leaves), chorizo refried beans, homemade salsas, some very delicious vegan enchiladas, as well as some great desserts.  We had Guinness Dark Chocolate Cake (it was so good!), some beautiful, homemade Flan (which I've determined that I don't think I really like Flan), and a few other delectables. 

For my part, I brought in Sopapilla Cheesecake . 

It's always a hit.  I've yet to make it where at least a few people don't ask for the recipe.  It's the equivalent of a snickerdoodle cheesecake - cream cheese, cinnamon, sugar and butter.  How can that be bad?  And the real beauty of this recipe is how easy it is to make.  I made it the night before, stuck it in the fridge, then pulled it out and cut it into squares the next morning before taking it to the office. 

If you've ever tasted it and wanted the recipe, here it is!  If you've never heard of it or tried it before, I highly recommend you give it a shot!  You will not be disappointed! 

There's a very funny story behind this recipe that I won't be telling.  All I'll say is a big ol' thank you to my Aunt Kim for sharing the recipe with me!! 

As a follow up, the Guinness Cake was purchased from a bakery, and my next project will be to recreate it in a homemade form.  Really, it was *that* good! 

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

A Memorial Post

This post is completely and entirely dedicated to a very special person that abruptly passed away one year ago.  His name is Tom Foster, and he was my boss.  I worked with him as his assistant for 11 years before he died, and as a result of knowing him, working with him and losing him, my life has been changed. 

Tom taught me and many others a great deal about being caring, having passion, and doing the right thing.  He's the only person I have ever worked for that gave out reading assignments ("Getting to Yes", and I still know what it means to have a BATNA!).  If you messed up and apologized for it, he would say, without hesitation, "I'm glad you're sorry."  (That one always threw me for a loop, and those he said it to still laugh about it to this day.)  He ate largely vegetarian, although I've seen him inhale a pulled pork sandwich and fries without flinching.  He used some of the most interesting analogies that I've ever heard, but they were often memorable, which I guess is the point. 

I miss him. 

And I still can't believe he's gone.  Some days, it just doesn't feel real. 

At work, I now sit in the office that would have been his.  I make decisions that, if he were here, I would ask his advice on.  Things are so different now. 

And although the loss of Tom is so glaring because of my daily interactions that I had with him for so many years, there are many things that I have to be very grateful for, for certain.  I can't put value on the relationship that I've developed with his wife, Lyn, and how much it means to me to work beside her and Roxy every day.  I have amazing co-workers that continue to be dedicated and loyal to Tom's vision and the company (yes, he definitely had that effect on people!).  And, of course, I have my friends and family and my beloved pets.  The list, really, is endless. 

So, without getting overly emotional and swept away (because it could happen, and still might), I'll wrap this up with a few "Tomisms" - and those that know him, if you read this, will hopefully get a smile out of the short list I've come up with:

"You haven't done that yet?  Ok.  That's your albatross." 
"Good, better, best..."
"I'm doing good enough."  (I didn't particularly like this one, but he did say it!)
"I'm glad you're sorry."  (Usually followed by, "Because it means you'll try hard to not do it again.")
"Fate smiles on the prepared person."
"Writing maketh an exact man."
"I like the cut of his jib."  (He said this after he first met Tommy.)
"I thought you might like to read this."  (As he hands you an article he cut out of the newspaper.)
"All ships rise with the tide." 

This is Karla (one of my uber-fabulous co-workers and friends), Tom, Roxy, Me, and Bender at the March of Dimes walk back in 2009. 

I'll leave it at this, at least for now.

Darlin' I Love You But Give Me Park Avenue

Fall is definitely here!  And Tommy and I were headed to Costco to stock up on coffee, coffee and more coffee!  Preparations for buckling down, sipping some java, and cozying up with some football are being made!

As part of the drive to Costco, we realized that a local farm, BiZi Farms,  known for a variety of fun, farmy type activities was along the way, so despite the fact that we were wearing shorts and flip-flops, off to the farm we went! 

The corn maze was incredible.  The corn was tall, the maze was huge, and the path was a little on the wet side.  While there were some people that showed up prepared in their mud boots and jeans, Tommy and I muddled through just fine with our flip-flops.  Kinda.  We learned that they do splatter mud up the back side of your legs which is just lovely. 

The pumpkin launch was pretty cool.  Huge slingshots, really. 

And the pumpkin patch.  A tractor and hay ride out to the patch allows you to pick out your own pumpkins, any shape or size, wheelbarrows provided.  And then a tractor with a hay trailer comes back and picks you up to haul you and your new treasure back to the farm. 

We had a good time, although hindsight helped us to realize that we should have gone to Costco first.  It was impossible to get all the mud off our legs, feet and shoes, so after doing the best de-mudding jobs we could, we still had to go shopping. 

So, in the past couple of months, I've been trying to find or develop a cake recipe that I liked that has a real super duper lemon flavor to it.  Again, at the mentioning of a friend, I'm on a mission.  She said that she would love a lemon recipe that doesn't taste like a yellow cake with a little lemon flavor and lemon frosting added.  She wants mega lemon.  As I was purusing Southern Living's Holiday Edition of their magazine, I stumbled across what appeared to be exactly what I had been looking for.  These cakes are pure sweet, lemony goodness.   They are Mini Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cakes and they are just fresh and delightful!

This picture is pre-glaze, so they're not all glossy and sticky yet.  I think the perfect thing to go with these little lovelies just might be... coffee!  Good thing we are stocked up! 

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

Quick Fixes for Parties and Potlucks

The season for parties, get-togethers and potlucks is upon us.  With Halloween around the corner, I'm here to help you with the easy part of the celebrating by offering a couple of simple options to make and take with you.  As for costume decisions, you are totally and completely on your own.  If it weren't for the whole requirement of picking out a costume, Halloween would be so much more enjoyable!  I'm not sure what we will be doing this Halloween, but these little snacks will hold you over for party-going from now through the Super Bowl. 

First, I'd like to introduce what has been referred to by some as "meat wrapped in meat."  My husband has actually asked me to make this for dinner in the past.  Ok, so while I like them, I don't like them quite enough to have them for a meal.  And here you have it, Bacon Wrapped Lil' Smokies

Three ingredients makes this super easy - Lil' Smokies, bacon, and brown sugar.  Big score! (And a big thank you to Aunt Kim!)

Another easy party idea is Nutter Butter Bon Bons .  We're still going for easy, simple crowd pleasers, and this fits the bill.  A four-ingredient fix, these are a success with anyone who enjoys the delightfulness of peanut butter and chocolate combinations.  Oh, you would like a picture?  Here ya go!

I hope these quick recipes have been helpful.  I remain stumped for a Halloween costume and am not feeling particularly optimistic that I'll come to a resolution in time for the festivities, but I'm okay with that as long as Tommy dresses up in something silly (like the Beer Keg costume that we bought at an after-Halloween sale last year!) so that I can get a good chuckle out of it!

Enjoy!

"With the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible."- Julia Child

May the Force Be With You

It is the small things in life that make it fun, right?  I was in the car a  while back with my husband and our two nieces, Tailer and Jordan, driving home just after going out to dinner when this amazing sight caught my eye, sitting in a parking lot, so unassuming and interesting. 

Pretty sure no one else was paying attention enough to see what I had seen, I whipped the car into the parking area of the store, confusing everyone amidst questions of, "What are we doing?" "Why did you pull in here?" 

And then they saw it, too.  And cue the  "Ahhhhhh" sound reel. 

As you can see, we had a mini-photo shoot in the parking lot.  What a funny, geeky, awesome find!!