Christmas Tree 2012

Finally got some ornaments on the tree. The lights have been on for weeks. I've been so busy baking and organizing that I haven't had time to decorate the tree. That and I wasn't sure what I wanted to put on it.  I've got the Woodland tree on the front porch, the Candy tree in the dining room. Last year I did glass balls. I've been taking advantage of the nice weather to get up in my attic and sort and organize and convert all the cardboard boxes to plastic bins. I realized that I have three boxes of Hallmark ornaments. I've been collecting them since the 1980's starting with yarn dolls of Raggedy Ann and Andy. Some things I have complete sets. Others I'm missing a piece or two. About 5 years ago, I only bought pieces that I really absolutely loved like the Nutcracker Barbie. And Snoopy. I like to buy first in series also. I have some sports figures thinking that they'd be worth money someday. I checked Ebay. They're not worth more than I'd paid for them. So I decided that it was ridiculous to keep them in boxes in the attic and I decided to put them to use this year.

This year is not my best tree but I'm not all that broken up about it.

This was a basic Biscuit mix cinnamon roll recipe and this person changed the recipe and said "These are great. I changed the recipe a little, and the dough was extremely moist after baking. You may think it's still sticky when trying to roll it out, but it'll be perfect. When baking these, you'll want a slight golden brown on top." 
My comments and adjustments are in blue. 

DOUGH ADJUSTMENTS
2-3 Tbsp of Butter
1 cup of Milk (instead of 3/4 a cup)
3 & 1/4 cups of Bisquick (instead of 3 cups)
1/4 cup of sugar
1 egg

Roll out onto liberally floured (baking mix) surface, hands and rolling pin
Cut the rolls using string. Slide string underneath the rolled up dough, circle around the dough, and pull.

Bake at 350°F for 20 minutes (These will expand!)

FILLING

4 TBS - MELT butter, dough is so soft it will rip otherwise

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tsp of cinnamon

Drizzle melted butter onto dough

GLAZE ADJUSTMENTS

1 1/3 cups confectioners sugar

2 TBS milk
3/4 Tbsp of vanilla

The dough was so sticky I was sure that this recipe was a joke. I just threw a handful of baking mix onto the board ( I also used a silpat) and the dough was fine. I also rubbed  baking mix all over my hands. I kneaded the dough a little bit to incorporate baking mix from floured surface. 

I used a knife to slice rolls and that was difficult. Use string next time. 

Pressing on, I put the concoction in the oven and watched in horror as the rolls expanded past the edges of the large cookie sheet with butter and cinnamon sugar oozing out all over. 

However.... The result was  the lightest heavenly cloud of a cinnamon bun ever. The glaze was literally the icing on the cake. And I usually hate glazey things. 

Whoever made these adjustments is a baking alchemist. Kudos!

Star studded SNL Christmas Special

Carrie Brownstein and Pat Smear. hearts.

There are just no words today......

 I really don't think there's any way to make sense of the senseless. I wish that I had an answer. My heart goes out to the families and the community.



Hug your children.

EYE OF TIME clock

http://www.vat19.com/dvds/eye-of-time-clock.cfm

Jewellery by BeautySpot in Kiev, Ukraine.

Jewellery by BeautySpot in Kiev, Ukraine.

Snowy winter lane

Things that make you go hmm...

Sans Soleil - Chris Marker - 1983

skeleton spine shirt

Ooh. this is cool. my niece would love this.

Stormy winter sky trees

Winter sky trees

Pomegranate salad

What to do with all those leftover pomegranates?
Peel pomegranates and lay seeds on a baking sheet. Place in freezer. Put in plastic bag. They are great in salads. They hold up well after freezing.

Christmas Tree Salad. Pomegranate. Pecans. Raw Chard…RECIPE

Baked avocado

 baked egg in avocado seasoned with salt, pepper, cumin, chipotle powder. From this super simple recipe.   http://foodbeast.com/content/2012/01/13/idea-baked-avocado-and-egg/

• preheat oven to 425, have cast iron pan in there
• Slice avocado in half, take out pit
• take pan out, put avocado half on, crack egg om
• put whatever you want on top
• place in oven and cook till your eggs desire

 I've had avocado tempura that is so deliciously decadent when it's done right. Fried on the outside and the avocado is creamy on the inside. I request it when we go to our local sushi place because it's not on the menu. I can make it at home but it always tastes better when someone else makes it. 

Winter Wonderland

Snowy Birch

I want to see SpongeBob's claymation Christmas special

Squidward’s version of holiday spirit

Sick Puppy

So it started with the dog being sick the day after Thanksgiving. We have no idea what's was wrong with him. But he's on 3 different antibiotics and now prednisone. BTW and FYI, the vet says that the dog can get the flu AND meningitis and that we can catch those things from him.  Then my husband got sick. That lasted 4 days. Then JW got sick. He went to the doctor. Note to self. Make an appointment with the grown up doctor for him. He's 18. He probably shouldn't be going to the pediatricians office anymore. She gave him Tamiflu. Did you know that Tamiflu is a PIA to get out of the package. Here you are all sick and now you have to wrestle with the Tamiflu packaging resulting in crushed capsules. Then I started to feel like crap today. Late in the afternoon. I have been drinking OJ with powdered vitamin C from Trader Joe's. That always does the trick. Not so much this time. Must be a strong bug. I stopped at the market and got 2 chickens to make soup. $1.49 a lb. I also stopped at Aldi's and the chickens there are .89 a lb.

Got the chickens home. Put them in  pots. Used Andrea Watman's (Zabar's) recipe. Jewish penicillin. and yum. What sucks about being the mom is that I have to make my own chicken soup (although really as the mom I'm technically not supposed to get sick) and then I have to clean everything up afterwards.

My hands are raw from washing them so much. I am slathering calendula cream all over them and wearing white gloves everywhere. One thing that's nice is now having my own computer. Now that JW graduated high school in June he has his own. The keyboard is a germ infested petri dish but now the germs are mine all mine.

I should go to sleep. Early day tmw. It's Christmas time. I can't be sick.

Rafflecopter contest

I just entered  a contest on iambaker.net for a Motorola Droid Razr HD.

CHRISTMAS 2012 BAKING LIST

• Chocolate dipped biscotti- possibly pistachio?

• Oreo cookie truffles
• Cake batter truffles? Good way to use up all that cake mix in the freezer- yellow cake, red velvet cake....
• Traditional Truffles- Zabar's recipe?

COOKIES

• Lemon cookies
• Double chocolate chip cookies
• Split Seconds -jelly cookies- http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/split-seconds/66726dd9-0eca-4e52-9c83-d9f8b6b29a95

• Accordion cookies-  http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/accordion-treats/c23792ad-a412-4578-880b-e302138b4b40

• Peanut butter cup cookies
• Snickerdoodles

And when I get through looking at the three new cookie cookbooks that I recently bought, I'll probably add 3-4 more to the list.

QUICK BREADS:

• Christina Tosi's Gruyere and bacon quick bread as seen in Oprah mag- http://www.oprah.com/food/Bacon-and-Cheese-Quick-Bread-Recipe but then I also found this recipe:  http://theenglishkitchen.blogspot.com/2011/03/bacon-gruyere-bread.html 

I will do the Tosi recipe (it got good reviews on oprah's website) it'll be more appropriate for gifting but the english kitchen recipe looks good to do if you're in a hurry.

• Zabar's German Marble Cake  http://zabars.typepad.com/recipes/desserts/
• Eggnog Bread

Oh Lordy! 

NYC LIGHTS UP

I've actually seen this happen from the top of the Empire State Building. Magical.

Shonen Knife 'Sweet Christmas'

Shonen Knife "Space Christmas"

MxPx Christmas Night of Zombies

I couldn't find an official video for this so this (someone's-not mine) homemade version will have to do.

Mr.Snow Miser/Mr.Heat Miser Song.

I will never not love claymation. I still find it fascinating.

2010 - August Burns Red - Carol Of The Bells

The Killers - Don't Shoot Me Santa

Relient K - Sleigh Ride(Official Music Video)

Don't Be a Jerk It's Christmas

There are Spongebob Lego's?

I Hate Christmas - LEGO

Actually, I rather like Christmas - and this song

Krispy Kreme - Christmas

Note to self- Put Illmatic on my iTunes wishlist

The Pogues Featuring Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale Of New York (Official V...

 It's Officially Christmas Season!