Beyond the Peanut Butter Cup

Since the peanut butter cups were such a success I thought I would try to make a few variations. Two of John’s favorite candy bars are Almond Joys and Turtles. I figured I would have a go at making a home made version of each, along with more peanut butter cups at Evan’s insistence.

The Almond Joy’s were fairly simple. I had looked up a few Almond Joy copy cats recipes to try and get the coconut filling right. I boiled ¼ cup of Karo syrup and added it to 2 cups of coconut. It looked and tasted like the inside of an Almond Joy.

When I went looking for caramel squares to melt I couldn’t find any. I did find Kraft Caramel Bits. I haven’t seen them before. The bag even said “unwrapped for easy melting”. I placed 1 cup of the caramel in a measuring cup, and micro waved it in 30 second intervals until it was melted. The mixture was sticky, gooey and very hot.

I also toasted the almonds and pecans in the oven for about 8 minutes before I began assembly.

So I had all my baking cups lined up on a baking sheet. A little of the same chocolate mixture that I had made for the peanut butter cups went into the bottom of each one. Evan helped me with the assembly line I had going. I topped each cup with either half teaspoon of the coconut or caramel mixture. The caramel was a pain in the butt to work with. It was hardening up really fast. Evan was right behind me putting 2 of the toasted almonds on top of the coconut mixture and a pecan on top of the caramel. They all got topped with more chocolate and either an almond or a pecan (so we would know which one was which). We made about 15 of each but I didn’t have hope for the Turtles using that caramel. Looking back I think I should have added something to it, like cream or milk. Oh well.

We then made another batch of chocolate and made about 30 peanut butter cups.

We set them in the breeze way to cool. When they were finally set I cut one of the Turtles in half. Just as I had suspected, the caramel was hard as a rock. Back to the drawing board on those. The Almond Joys came out really good. I didn’t really know how much of the coconut mixture to put in, so I started off with half a teaspoon. I think I could have used a little more.

I can’t believe I am about to type these words, but I am so sick of chocolate at this moment I can’t even look at it right now. My whole afternoon was filled with it and just the thought of it is turning my stomach. I’m sure tomorrow I will feel totally different.

Chicken and Broccoli Stir Fry

I had every intention of making an authentic Chinese stir-fry this weekend in honor of the Chinese New Year. Well authentic did not happen, but delicious did. I just kind of threw together a bunch of stuff that I thought would taste good together. No recipe to follow, which is how I like to cook best. So here's my version of stir-fry.

Chicken & Broccoli Stir Fry

4 boneless chicken breasts cut into thin strips

2 large heads of broccoli, cut into bite size pieces

1 package of portabella mushrooms, sliced

2 carrots, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 tablespoon sesame oil

3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 pkg frozen Chinese vegetables

Fresh grated ginger

Stir-Fry Noodles

Cornstarch mixed with water

Fill a pot with boiling water and get that started for your noodles.

I started off by marinating the chicken in the rice wine vinegar. I'd say I had them marinating for about a half hour before cooking. In a very hot pan add the chicken, oyster sauce and sesame oil. When the chicken was about 1/2 way done, I threw in the broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, garlic and put a lid on the pan. I know this isn't traditional stir-fry, but I wanted to steam the broccoli a bit. After about 5 minutes I took the cover off and added some grated ginger, about a 1/2 teaspoon. At this point I added in a bag of frozen Chinese veggies that my grocery store just started it carry. The are a knock off of the Steam Fresh veggies and are really tasty. I nuked them for 5 minutes and threw them in the pan as well. There was a good bit of liquid at the bottom of the pan now so I thickened it with some cornstarch mixed with water. When everything was just about ready I threw in some stir fry noodles into the boiling water. They only take 3 minutes to cook.

These stir-fry noodles are my new favorite food item. They are cheap, made with only 2 ingredients (whole wheat flour a plus for me!) and cook in no time. I buy them buy the bunch so I always have them handy when I need to cook something quick.

I transferred everything into a large bowl, tossed and served. It was really good and good for us too.

Honey White Bread

My third try at bread baking went much better then my first and second attempts. Am I finally getting the hang of this?? My yeast even bubbled! Success at last! This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe that I saw on a great food blog called Cookie Baker Lynn. I must have spent 2 hours on her site just drooling over all her baked goodness. I hope my loaves did her (and Ina) proud!

Honey White Bread

Makes 2 loaves

1/2 cup warm water - (110 degrees F)

2 packages dry yeast

1 tsp sugar

1-1/2 cups warm whole milk (110 degrees F.)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1-1/2 tablespoons honey

2 extra-large egg yolks

5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 egg white, lightly beaten

Place the water in the bowl of an electric mixer with the paddle attachment in place. If the bowl is cold, be sure the water temperature doesn't drop below 110 degrees. Add the yeast and sugar; stir and allow to dissolve for 5 minutes. You should see bubbles forming on the surface at this point.

Add the milk, butter, and honey. Mix on medium speed until blended. Add the egg yolks, 3 cups of the flour, and the salt. Mix on low speed for about 5 minutes. With the mixer still on low speed, add 2 more cups of flour. Raise the speed to medium and slowly add just enough of the remaining flour so the dough doesn't stick to the bowl.

When the dough forms a ball that comes away from the bowl, switch to the dough hook attachment. Knead on medium speed for about 8 minutes, adding flour slowly as necessary.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand for a minute, until the dough is smooth and elastic. Grease a bowl with butter, put the dough in the bowl, then turn it over so the top is lightly buttered. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and allow it to rise for 1 hour, until doubled in volume.

Grease two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with butter. Divide the dough in half, roll each half into a rectangle as wide as your loaf pan and twice as long. Roll it up into a log the width of your bread pan, and pulling just a bit so that you don't get big air bubbles inside. Pinch together the ends and edges. Place each seam side down, in a prepared pan. Cover again with the damp towel and allow to rise again for an hour, until doubled in volume.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. When the dough is ready, brush the tops with the egg white and bake the breads for 40 to 45 minutes, until they sound hollow when tapped. Turn them out of the pans and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

We practcially devoured a loaf at dinner. Tomorrow we have already planned toast and jam for breakfast.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

I had scribbled this recipe down and stuck it in the wicker basket that sits on top of the computer desk along with all the others. I call it my "to try" basket. I weed through it once and a month or so and see if there is something interesting to try.

I know Valentines Day is Thursday and it would have been nice if I saved my cupcake baking for then, but the weekdays are just too hectic for me, so I did some baking today....besides, chocolate and peanut butter don't need no reason.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

1 1/2 cups flour

3/4 cup cocoa powder (I used Dutch processed)

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs, room temp

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup warm milk

Preheat oven to 350. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. In medium bowl sift together flour, cocoa, baking soda & powder and salt. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugars. Beat the eggs in one at a time. Add vanilla.

Add the flour mixture and milk, alternating in 3 additions, ending with the flour.

Evenly distribute into muffin tins. Bake for 15 - 17 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Cool completely on wire rack.

This frosting recipe comes from Natalie at Bake & Destroy. I'm not even a peanut butter fanatic, but this is truly a wonderful thing. Evan happily ate what was left in the bowl after I finished frosting the cupcakes.

Peanut Butter Frosting

2 cups confectionary sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

pinch salt

2 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter.

Beat first 4 ingredients. Add peanut butter and stir until creamy.

Circa 1991

I think Tati's pants say it all.

Saving my pennies.

I want a digital SLR camera. I want one so very badly. I absolutely despise point and shoot cameras. I use a point and shoot digital camera now. I hate it. I curse every time I use it, ask anyone in my house. They can attest to the cussing.

I have been taking pictures for as long as I can remember. I was always the girl with the camera in her hand at every party or social gathering. I am so glad I was that girl now because most times I am the only one who has a picture from back in the 70's when I was a teenager, or all those concert photos when I smuggled my camera in, the parties in the woods, etc. I might have been annoying, blinding people with flashes to the face, but I have photographic evidence of my teenage years to present. When Jesse was born, oh lord, I took so many pictures, thousands upon thousands. Everyone said, "he's your first, you won't take as many with the next one". But I did.

I have made 2 major camera purchases in my life. When I was 18 I saved up for over a year and purchased my first real grown up camera, a Canon AE1 Program. I still have it. For it’s time, it took some beautiful pictures. I was very into photography during my teens and twenties. I did a few weddings in my day (which I despise also), I took pictures for family and friends when requested, that sort of thing. Mostly I took photos for myself. I really miss the days of heading out into the woods or to the water and just taking pictures all day. I haven’t done that since I had Jess in 1995. I miss it.

Just before Jesse was born I bought a Canon Rebel. Not a digital camera, the old model Rebel G I think it was. I have that camera in the attic I think. I always seemed to go back to my AE1 Program. I just love that camera. I remember when I went to buy the Rebel G, the guy at the Photo store handed me the camera and it was so light I thought it was a dummy model, so I asked him if he had a "real" camera for me to see. He explained that was a real camera. I turned red. I was so used to my AE1, which was pretty heavy by today's standards.

So now the digital age is upon us. Had I know it was coming so soon I would have waited, and saved my money for this:

The Canon EOS D5 12.8 Megapixel . Isn't she prutty?? Pretty expensive too. What you are looking at right there is over $2,000. Body only, no lenses. I want it so badly, but I know we can't afford it so.......I am now looking at this:

The Nikon D80 10.2 Megapixel. I have never owned a Nikon. I have always been kinda partial to Canon, but this camera intrigues me (and the price is much more reasonable for me). A little over a thousand and that includes a 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 Lens . Not bad.

Tati has this running joke with me. Whenever she would look at my pictures she would say "your camera takes great pictures" and I would growl, roll my eyes and reply, "it's not the camera it's the photographer". She still says it to this day, just to aggravate me.

I have my mind made up. I can no longer use the piece o' shit point and shoot matchbox of a camera that I won in a raffle (it's true). So let the savings begin. It might take me a year, but I've done it before, I will do it again. I'm going to try and think about it this way.....by the time I save up enough money to buy it, it will probably go down in price!

You know what you get asked that question "what would be your dream job?" For me, without a doubt, it would be freelance photographer. Getting paid to take pictures. I can only imagine.

Things that make me sad #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9......

Losing the Super Bowl and not achieving a perfect season.

Very sad indeed.