How Could I...

How could I have thought I could possibly get back to the swing of things so soon after moving.  It's been over a month since my last post and I'm still getting settled in my new home.  I'm trying to get into a routine for myself and it's not happening yet.  My time for baking and creating has considerably been cut due to my commute to/from home.  I no longer have the luxury of getting home and saying "oh, I think I'll do some baking tonight or work on an art project!"  There is no tonight.  Whatever is left of night, is dedicated to eating dinner and going to bed shortly thereafter.  My only option is the weekends, and those are still being taken up by other things non creative or fun.  I'm not complaining, just frustrated.  I know when looking at the bigger picture, I have a lot to be grateful for...

On occasion I dash out to my backyard and leave seeds for Cardinals, Doves, Finches and the like.  An act I would have never guessed would bring so much.  Yesterday I bought a window bird-feeder and this morning from my office I saw my first guest: a female Cardinal.  The males are traditionally vibrant red, unlike the females whose colors are either non-existent or very subdued.  But from my window pain I can see the female is underestimated.  Indeed she has color and life of her own.  And at this quite hour of 8am as we are separated by a foggy glass, she pecks away at seeds.  She leaves...then returns with another female companion.  Unbeknownst to them, they are being watched by a fellow female who for some years has viewed parts of her life colorless.  But as I write in this moment, nature is doing what it does best: revives ones inner creativity, brings color to life.  Thank you sister Cardinals.  And for some of you out there: stay strong my fellow sisters who maintain a relationship, have 9am-5pm job, and barely have weekends for "me" stuff -- we are not done yet!

So, below are some pics, including one little baking venture I did manage.  This is Sasha, peaking out from underneath one of our old dressers a couple of days before the big move.  She did not enjoy all the commotion.

In the new house:  Lucien loving his new spot in the sun and an old toy...

Sasha enjoying her new perch and view...

New beach and new friends...

And now: Peanut-Caramel Delight Bars.  To say they're sweet is an understatement, but I was told by those who loved them: "Coffee, this is great with coffee!"  In the end they're a great sweet/salty treat.  Below is the recipe, and if you want the complete details of how I made them feel free to email me.

Base:
1 1/2 Cups all-purpose gluten free flour
1/4 tsp Xantham Gum
2 tsp kosher salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter
2 cups (packed) light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract

Peanut-Pretzel Caramel
2 1/2 cups roasted unsalted peanuts
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups thin gluten free pretzels, coarsely crushed

Oven: 350 degrees
Baking pan size: 13x9x2

Hello!!...

I'm so excited to be back.  It's been 9 weeks since last I posted.  Hurricane Irene wasn't the only storm we needed to get ready for -- soon after we had to move.  It took weeks, and I mean weeks, to find a safe and clean home, but we did...three weeks ago.  We're in unpacking heaven (or hell) depending on how you look at it.  Don't get me wrong, we’re happy and relieved.   As you can imagine, I've been unable to bake--not even one cookie.  I'm especially sad I couldn't bake anything for my favorite holiday: Halloween.  I'm giving this unpacking business two more weeks, and then....click, click, click.  This weekend, that's the sound my new oven will make as I strike it up in preparation for some baking.  I'm currently looking for a simple recipe to christen the oven.  I can't wait.  Also!, I have some new pictures of the kids I think you'll love.   Look for my post on Sunday!

THOUGHTS & PRAYERS FOR YOUR SAFETY

Hurricane Irene is coming our way, I hope all who are in the same position are taking every step necessary to be safe.  Will be back no later than Monday.  My prayers are with you all, near and far.

The Darlings...

I was expecting a sunny morning for my photo shoot, but instead it is cloudy.  Oh well, I think I got a couple of good shots of the cupcakes I made last night.

The Splendor of Orange Begins #1

My favorite holiday is Halloween, and that means I like all things orange.  To begin commemorating the wonderfully ghoulish holiday, tonight I made Carrot Cake Cupcakes.  Besides my Devil's Food cupcakes, these are the best batch of cups I've made thus far.  I'm really proud of them.  So here goes....

1 1/2 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
3 eggs
2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 1/2 cups carrots, grated
1/2 cup pecans, toasted then chopped
Oven: 325
Bake: 15-18 minutes (no more)

I used a butter creamcheese top, added grated crystallized ginger, and finished them off with powdered ginger.  Nope, the ginger was not overpowering at all.

I count on daylight to take pictures, but by the time the cupcakes were done and decorated it was evening.  I'll take more pics in the morning and post them.  The other photos are pieces from my book of collages.  Last night I tried getting acquainted with watercolors, just try different things while having fun.  I decided to gently add color to a black&white photo of Jizos.

Widening Channels

I believe in all

I believe in all that has never yet been spoken.
I want to free what waits within me
so that what no one has dared to wish for

may for once spring clear
without my contriving.

If this is arrogant, God, forgive me,
but this is what I need to say.
May what I do flow from me like a river,
no forcing and no holding back,
the way it is with children.

Then in these swelling and ebbing currents,
these deepening tides moving out, returning,
I will sing to you as no one ever has,

streaming through widening channels
into the open sea.

~R.M. Rilke~

Cookies and Black Tie

For the last two weeks I was on the hunt for a dress.  Not just any dress, but a dress that would be appropriate (and comfortable) for a black tie event: a wedding.  I had no time for baking...well barely.  I managed to make cookies, which under the level of stress I was in due to the wedding, they turned out surprisingly good.

Chocolate Peanut Cookies
2 ounces semi sweet chocolate (melted and cooled)
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped roasted peanuts (I used salted peanuts)
Oven - 375 degrees
Bake - 8 to 9 minutes no more (seriously)

As for the wedding...

I am a small woman, in height, and could not find a dress to save my life.  Certainly not a simple one, nor one I didn't have to alter.  (I came across one beautiful blue gown, but altering it would've meant cutting two feet of material....ugh.)  Eventually I ran out of time and had to settle for a blouse I already owned.  I did all I could not to compare myself to all the glamorous looking women in the room.  The wedding entailed two very distinct but traditional ceremonies:  Hindu and American.  The bride of course looked beautiful...who happened to be my height, so I was glad to see she was able to find dresses.  I am a friend of the groom: I prayed he cared more about the fact that I was there, than the fact that I was the only woman not wearing a dress.  I felt bad.  And those glamorous women?  By end of night were wearing flip-flops on the dance floor.  Wish I had a photo of that!  So much pressure for nothing sometimes.  My guy looked very handsome in his James Bond-ish tuxedo.  I just loved the way he looked and am very lucky, as he is way more than his tux.  In the end, we both had a great time dancing and laughing.  I am not unlike my Chocolate Peanut Cookies: we may not be the prettiest of them all, but we sure are sweet.

Lastly, as would be expected of me, I bought an extra bow-tie for the other handsome man in my life.