Category: In the Kitchen
These items have been tagged as "In the Kitchen"
Cookie Dough Bars
My cousin Clarissa had made these one year for her little boy's birthday party and they were so good. I made them last week to take to work and they were all gone by the end of night. The recipe is from Taste of Home's Dessert Lovers Cookbook but I'll share it with you because a good bar recipe shouldn't be kept secret.
Cookie Dough Fudge Brownies
Brownie Layer:
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350.
Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl. Cool slightly. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well. Stir in melted chocolate. Combine flour and baking soda then add to batter. Stir in walnuts.
Spread the batter into a greased 9x13 inch pan and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a knife or toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool.
Cookie Dough Layer:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3 tbls milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup chocolate chips
Cream together butter and both sugars. Mix in vanilla and milk. Gradually add in flour then stir in chocolate chips. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto cooled brownie layer then spread evenly. Cut into squares and eat.
These need to be stored in the refrigerator. You might want to explain to your husband that the dough stays soft on the top and does not become a brownie/cookie super duo, so when you offer him a bite of the finished product he doesn't look at it and ask "Are you sure you cooked it long enough? it's still doughy."
Enjoy!
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Sgt. Tibbs
He sits on the stool and watches you work in the kitchen.
But he spies that the left sink isn't in use. It's his favorite side of the sink to take a nap in.
He cries for someone to turn on the water because the water in the bowl tastes like dog spit.
Thank you. I was so thirsty! Be back in ten minutes for more.
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Happy Heart Day
I made this valentine for myself yesterday, using the template from Lisa. Thank you so very much, Lisa! It brought a smile to my week.
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And so did this. My apron for the Sassy Apron Swap came on Tuesday and I was so flippin' excited. it was made for me by Valerie in Louisiana and it is so fun and beautiful and makes me think of sitting with rapberry peach punch in the grass. Totally made my day, especially when I had to fish my decapitated mailbox out of the snowbank for the third time this winter. She sent along three recipes that I can't wait to try out, seeds for daisies, zinnias, and basil, a cute postcard, and some Mardi Gras beads. She even wrapped the apron in some extra fabric so that was a sweet little bonus. Thank you for an awesome apron, Valerie!
This is what I got for Valentine's Day- a heart shaped waffle iron! The cute plates were a wedding shower gift from my Aunt Nancy and cousin Kathy and they will be even cuter with heart waffles piled on them with melting butter and raspberries. Thanks, Scott. I love you the worst!
Have a good Valentine's Day!
xo -Andria
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Sweety Pie
Well I didn't do any sewing or quilting yesterday, but I did make this pie. It is a cream of wheat custard pie and it is so good!
Now you're supposed to use two cups of whole milk for the recipe. However, I don't think I've ever followed a recipe precisely. I always make substitutions and omissions, sometimes with disastrous results. Instead of the whole milk I bought heavy cream. What's the worst that can happen if I used cream instead of milk, right? So I ended up using one cup of cream and one cup of 1% milk. All turned out well and I wisked up the rest of the cream with some sugar to plop on the still warm pie. Perfect on a rainy afternoon.
The recipe came from this book . I had bought it a few weeks ago and have been drooling over it since. Pies are a big thing in my family and new recipes are usually a topic of conversation at get-togethers. I can't wait for berry season to roll around so I can try out more of these recipes, especially the Black and Blue pie- made with blackberries and blueberries. Yum!
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Rounding Up
Not in the mathematical sense but the in the cowboy way. Things have finally slowed down a bit and I have some time to get my thoughts together.
I had been working on this little quilt for two weeks and finished it last Thursday. It is Hop, Skip, & a Jump from Denyse Schmidt Quilts and it's the perfect size for a lap blanket for those chilly days that I am sure are ahead despite the current heat.
On Friday I headed back to Reedsburg to pick apples off Momma's trees to make sauce. When I got there everybody was out picking sweet corn so I helped shuck for a little while before I was told to get up to the house and can more tomatoes before they rotted. Gretchen and I diced them up and canned nine pints, all while cooking batches of corn. I finally made it out to the orchard and picked a small bushel of apples and we made three gallons of sauce. Saturday morning I spooned it into pint jars to be frozen.
That evening Momma, Gretchen, and Aunt Janet came and picked me up for our next adventure, the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market that took place on Sunday. It was so hot but I still managed to find some junk I probably didn't need.
Behold my bounty. I found lots of tablecloths and a few aprons, a pretty vintage dress pattern, refrigerator jars, an enamel bucket and tub, cake cookbook, paper dolls from the fifties, an aqua-rimmed Fire King bowl, a bag of cut calico quilt pieces- enough to make ten dresden plates,
Three pieces of luggage, which I fully intend to use as luggage,
and a plastic deer that was thrown in with a bunch of guide books my momma bought from a seller whose junk was all a dollar. You just had to root through it all like a little squirrel. True treasure!
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Bumper Crops
It is already starting out as a busy week here. On Sunday Olive and I headed out to the Sauey house. They had all just gotten back from the Sauey family reunion up in Door County and were tired but Momma still helped me can ten quarts of tomato juice that evening. This is the perfect base for chili and I can't wait until it gets cooler around here.
The next morning we sifted back through the baskets of tomatoes and we made spaghetti sauce. We got thirteen pints of sauce, which Grethcen declared tasted better then Prego. I have a few tomatoes of my own from our little garden and I'm going to see if I can put away some diced tomatoes on my own. It could be a disaster...
Then there are these little pretties. We picked a bowl of these peaches last weekend and I cleaned off what was left on Monday. This is the first year Momma's tree has had peaches so we were all very excited to pull one off and stand right there and eat it. Best thing about summer, peaches. Scott and I had three peaches on our tree last year and this year nothing. We're holding out for next year.
I'm really sad I wasn't able to make it up to the reunion and I'm sorry I missed everyone. I hope you are all doing well and I'll look forward to the next time we can get together. On a different note: Congratulations to my cousin Ingrid and her boyfriend Matt, who got engaged last week! I am very excited for the both of you and when you start to plan things out, feel free to come over and go through my extensive collection of Martha Stewart Weddings. Love you both!
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Some Folks Think Cucumbers Taste Better Pickled
I am certainly one of them. I am feeling quite a bit better than I was last week. Thank you all for the well-wishes. It is so nice to know you are in people's thoughts.
But I was itching to get things done. I had already made a bucket full of yo-yo's, they being just about the only craft, other than embroidery, that you can do while lying flat on your back with ice packs on your belly. My sister came to stay with me for a couple days to help out and she would sit next to me and work on her rug-hooking while I slept and made yo-yo's. Thank you, Gretchen.
However, what I really wanted to do was make pickles! Scott and I love pickles. Pickles are great on pizza and hot dogs and they make just about the perfect midnight snack. They are very easy to make and cucumbers are so abundant and cheap right now. Most of my family has this recipe but I'll share it with those of you who don't.
Ice Cream Pail Pickles
1 gallon-sized container (ice cream pail)
Cucumbers- enough to fill said gallon-sized container, sliced in rounds or quartered
1 large onion, sliced into large half rings
4-6 garlic cloves, peeled
4-6 dill heads and feathery leaves
1 teaspoon mustard seed
6 cups water
2 cups white vinegar
6 tablespoons canning/pickling salt
Place sliced cucumbers in pail, alternating layers with garlic, onions, and dill heads. Heat water, vinegar, salt, and mustard seed until all the salt is disolved. Pour the brine mixture over pickles and let stand until cool. Cover and refrigerate.
These pickles will last a year in your fridge, which is good because there are just about enough to get you through to next year's crop of cucumbers. Unless you eat them by the bowl-full.
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Still Here
I had surgery yesterday so I just wanted to pop in and let everyone know I am doing fine. It was just a week from my doctor's appointment to the procedure so it was a little short notice and I'm sorry if I didn't get a hold of everyone (call me Lindsey!). To prep for the surgery I was on a clear liquid diet. To distract myself from my rumbling belly I baked, of course. Momma and I had gone out to my Aunt Janet's house on the 4th and together we picked two ice cream pails full of raspberries and blackberries. With these little beauties I made and froze two pies for the dreary winter months, made my favorite raspberry upside down cake, and froze eight cups of plain berries. I still had enough blackberries for one more pie to enjoy now. Thanks Aunt Jenny! It was the only thing I wanted to eat today and it tasted so good with the blood orange sorbetto from Ciao Bella. Love you all.
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Brand New Bag
New tote bag? Check. Another one crossed off the list of good things to do. This is the Pleated Beauty Handbag pattern from Amy Karol's book Bend-The-Rules Sewing . I made some adjustments like increasing the width of the straps, adding an extra pocket, and making the lining fabric contrasting, but I suppose that is the purpose of her book: making things your own and not getting too bogged down with the instructions. I would have used stiffer interfacing, though. My fabrics are a little flimsy so the bag flops a bit. And the handles are a touch too long, but whatever. I'll use it all summer!
In other happenings...Momma and Gretchen swung through Prairie du Sac to pick me up for an adventure at the Henry Vilas Zoo . This blonde goat was sooo pregnant and she was trying her best to stay still and keep cool.
But these little guys are my favorite. There were so many tiny baby prairie dogs running around and squealing and fighting over kale. Just so flippin' cute and I do have a soft spot for rodents. I think its their beady eyes and small ears that get me.
The littlest one on the right was so funny. He kept falling asleep in the sun chewing on carrots.
That night we went to a birthday party in Madison for one of Scott's co-workers, Katie. It was so nice to finally meet her, as well as his other co-nurse, Jen. They are both a lot of fun and it was a good time hanging out with them and drinking forties!
Then to another birthday party on Saturday- my Aunt Bonnie's surprise party. There was great food from TJ's Catering , who catered our wedding, great music , and great company. It was good fun but we couldn't stay long as we were off to the wedding reception of my grade and high school friend Katie and her now husband Mark. It was a really beautiful wedding and it was so fun seeing everyone from school again. Congratulations!
There is no rest for the weary so on Sunday Scott, Olive, and I drove to the other side of the river to walk on the trails down to the water. We had never been back there and it was fun to explore. We found prickly pear cactus wich made me feel like I was with Eren in Texas. There was a nice patch of blackcaps all ripe, sweet and warm. I'll have to go back with a container and pick some for upside down cake as the raspberries at my Momma's house were "accidentally" thinned out beyond a harvestable number.
To round out the day Scott grilled some hamburgers and potatoes and I made a plum-nectarine buckle. It was very good right of the oven with some ice cream- I just love warm stone fruits. The best way to end a busy weekend.
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Strawberry Season
Today is the last day of my little vacation. It has been such a busy week spent mostly going to bridal showers and breakfasts, rehearsals and dinners, and participating in a wedding. I really just needed a day to myself, to be able to putz and not be on someone elses schedule. This required a drive up to The Berry Farmer outside of Baraboo to pick strawberries.
It was so busy. And hot. But I managed to pick two heaping boxes full in under an hour.
So I spent the rest of the afternoon making freezer jam
and shortcake. I froze three cookie sheets full of whole berries and still have most of a box left. I might make a strawberry pie tomorrow and maybe more jam.
And I'll be certain to save some fresh ones for this little girl.
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Nothing to Do But Bake
So there is A LOT of snow here. Just when I thought spring was on it's way, blamo! Six inches last night and 7-13 more tonight, blizzard warning. Bleckhhh!!
I was just thinking that I somehow need to increase the spread of my backside, and what better way to accomplish this goal than with baked confectionery goodness. Like this golden butter cake with chocolate frosting.
It tastes just like the ones I baked in my Easy Bake Oven that I finally got when I was seventeen (Thanks Daddy!). Spring should be on the way and I should be able to walk it all off. Should...
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As Promised
Here is the finished cabinet. It was done last week but I've been feeling a little under the weather and didn't have the enthusiasm to post anything.
I love this cabinet. All the orginal hardware is in great shape and shines so nicely. We painted the inside a pale pink called "confection" and the white is "glass of milk". Cake and milk, two of my favorite things!
There is even a towel bar on the back!
It is finally supposed to snow this weekend and Scott and I both have off. I am so excited and have been thinking of warm things to cook. Maybe some lentil stew with sausage, and peach cobbler, and beef potroast with potatoes. These all seem to be condusive to knitting weather, and I do have quite a bit of that to get done. I can't wait.
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Le Petit Déjeuner
This has to be my favorite breakfast ever, next to cinnamon rolls. When I went to France this is what we ate just about every morning. A croissant, a piece of fruit, and hot chocolate. I think there was some jam in there too, but I like to dunk the croissant in the hot chocolate with out all that fuss. You just eat the jam with a spoon or a knife, right out of the little plastic container (oh, I do love jam, too!). It's probably not the best breakfast one could eat, save the orange, but I usually eat some type of horse feed every other day of the week. Today is my day off and I thought I would treat myself. Scott and I have a number of errands to run today. Especially to buy paint so that the little island can be finished. And to buy bins to chuck the holiday decor in. And groceries, I guess. Then, if we get all of our chores done we can go play. We might go on a movie date tonight. For a newlywed couple with no children you would think we would be galavanting about the town more often but this is not the case. We haven't gone out on a date in quite a while. Maybe its because we have already been together for ten years? Ah, well. Au revoir, mes petits choux-choux!
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All is Calm
I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. I know I did. It was really good to see everyone. Even Andy's girlfriend, Lenny, was able to make it back for dinner at the Olson's. I got all of my presents finished and wrapped so I was able to relax once we got back to Reedsburg on Sunday. Everything was a flurry of activity, bouncing from one family fete to the next. Oh, and the holiday cooking! Many a food induced comas were had. Scott, Olive, and I were glad to be back to the little house last night. We were all
upstairs by 9 o'clock. Of course this was to try out the new heated mattress pad Scott's mom and dad gave us, but once we got the bed re-made and snestled under the covers we were goners. Even Olive couldn't resist. She brought up a new stuffie to chew on, I heard one squeak from it, and then she was out cold. A sixty-five pound lifeless lump sprawled across or toasty toes. I got plenty of sleep and was up rather early this morning. I made myself some orange-cinnamon tea, from Momma Olson, and just relaxed in the quiet. Since I spent the weekend working and finishing up presents, I neglected everything else around here. Today will be for tidying up and then it is off to work tonight for both Scott and I.
Just a little note to say congratulations to my cousin Chrissy and Jonah who are recently engaged. Yeah!!! I am so happy for you two!
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Good Weekend
I had this whole weekend off. It was so very nice not to have to do anthing or be anywhere. I did get ALL of my holiday shopping done on Friday by 1:30 in the afternoon. It was already very busy by then so I was glad to be heading out of Madison before things got really hectic. My little pup and I (and Tibbs) hung out in the girly room all
afternoon, watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents until Scott came home from work. He had to work the weekend, so on Saturday Olive and I loaded up and went to the Sauey House. Everyone was home so it was just very warm to be there. We made Scottie dog shortbreads and Krumkake and watched movies. My Mom and I stopped by my Aunt Lois and Uncle Gary's house and they had the most beautiful birthday present for me. These wonderful hand-embroidered day of the week towels. 
Each one has a different squirrel on it. The grey one on Wednesday is my favorite. I love them! Thak you with all my heart! On Sunday most of the fam went to my sister's holiday program at the highschool. The program was for the school choirs, orchestra, and band and it was lovely. It wasn't quite the Nutcracker that I so wanted to see but it was still wonderful and Gretchen did so well singing her heart out. By the time the program endend it was already getting dark. The pups and I packed ourselves back up and headed for our little house. So now back to work. This week will be very busy, I feel, and I only have Thursday off until Christmas. There is still one big gift I need to make and a couple of little ones as well. I will need to do some more baking, cookies and cakes and such. And the little house needs some attention, too. Things are quite messy around here, lots of laundry and , Gasp!, no laundry detergent. How can this be? I had better get crackin'.
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Finally, Cookies
It was a very ugly sort of day here, all spitting and grey. Cold too. So it was very nice to open the mailbox and find it stuffed with holiday cards, the new issue of Martha Stewart, and some goodies I had bought off Etsy. Oh, the fun in those little envelopes. I got some fabric covered pony holders, pins, and bobbies, a felty toast pin cushion, and a 1956 dress pattern, never open, in my size! I need a little more practice working with patterns before I start on a dress, though. Maybe a skirt would be a good jumping off point.
I at last got my cookies baked. i had made the dough on Thursday and Friday of last week. I didn't have time to bake so I stuck the dough in the freezer. The sugar cookies turned out fine but the pfefferneuse dough was very dry so I had to pitch it. I t probably wasn't even supposed to be refrigerated. I had added too much pepper anyway, better to start over.
And speaking of freezers, my Mom and Dad bought us a chest freezer for Christmas and it fits perfectly in our cellar. But we didn't have anything to put in it because we are so used to our little refrigerator-freezer. Tonight I made turkey meatball soup and lots of it. So I packaged it up and stuck it in our new freezer for another ugly day but it looks lonesome in there by itself. Maybe I'll just start making food to freeze in dinner-for-two sized portions. I think I will renew my Sam's Club membership.
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So Much to Do
This weekend was very good. I had wanted to go to Minneapolis but no go on that. Instead, I met the fam for dinner in Reedsburg at Erin's Snug. It was so nice to see cousins and aunts and uncles and especially my sister and brothers. We all wanted to go bowling after but it was league night at the alley, so maybe next time. I headed over to Larissa's house to meet her husband-to-be, Mark. They are recently engaged and I am very excited about being in the wedding, which is coming up this June. I am so happy for them and can't wait to get to know Mark better. Congatulations!
Otherwise the weekend was very unproductive. I was looking forward to baking cookies, pfefferneuse and sugar, but I didn't have all the right ingredients and it was too cold to drive to the store to get them. Incedentally it was not too cold to crawl on the roof to remove or fix the broken Christmas lights. Not a fun thing to do when its fifteen degrees and very windy. But they are fixed and pretty on our little gingerbread house. I did manage to get two presents on my list crossed off but I still have very large holes as I am not quite sure what to get for some people. Dads are just so hard to figure out. I'll keep thinking though and maybe inspiration will hit. I also found that I need quite a few supplies for other projects so I am kind of stuck until I can do some shopping. I always love the shopping.
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