Blissful Domesticity
Today was filled with baking and wrapping. My daughter's school Christmas party is tomorrow. Each child was supposed to make one food item and one dessert, then share it with the class. My Baby Bean asked if we could make creme brulee' and added, "but we don't have to torch it Mom". I guess that IS my child. hh heeee
We settled for raspberry chocolate cheesecake. If you call that settling. It is a little easier to make. We even put it in little cupcake tins. Here it is almost 10 pm, and I'm still baking. So far I've got fruit salad and baked mac-n-cheez.
Being a mom makes the holidays worth living. It's always fun to shop for your child. Everyone else is stressful, but kids are easy. I've found some of the cutest fairies on Ebay. And if you're into chocolate, LEGACY chocolates are the best. Hey! Soon, I will be sharing quick and easy gift ideas for the holiday season. I know it's not Halloween, but we have to do it. So, we might as well make it as painless as possible. Here's to cheesecake for 45......... 12 year old.
posted by Fabulous Lorraine @ 9:45 PM
17 Comments
17 Comments:
Talk about a coinkydink - I just spent most of the day today baking (5 recipes!). I used to give my baked goods out as holiday gifts because I was too broke for anything else. Then I stopped for a couple of years because I actually had an income. Being unemployed with a babe on the way means I'm back to baking - and so far the recipients have been so happy that I think I'm just going to have to stick to the baking every year. :D
Ooh, and since I know you're not the only chocoholic here, a recipe:
Chocolate Peppermint Crisps
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. water
1 tsp peppermint extract
8 oz. semisweet chocolate (chopped)
1. In a saucepan over med. heat, cook the sugar & water, swirling the pan gently until the sugar dissolves. Boil rapidly to 280 degrees on a sugar thermometer (if you don't have one, test the temp of the sugarwater by spooning a couple of drops into a bowl of cold water - if you can roll the sugar into a hard ball between your fingers then it's ready). Remove from heat & add peppermint extract. Swirl to mix. Pour onto a lightly oiled baking sheet and stick it in the fridge for 10 minutes to solidify.
2. Once cold, break into pieces and chop in a food processor until fine crumbs form.
3. Line 2 baking sheets w/baking parchment. Heat the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of hot water (low heat), stirring frequently until completely melted. Remove from heat & stir in the peppermint crumbs.
4. Drop small mounds from a teaspoon on the baking sheets. Use the back of the spoon to spread them into 1 1/2" rounds. Cool, then refridgerate for an hour or more. Peel off the paper and store in airtight container w/parchment between layers.
Mmmm, malena and mistressmousey that does sound tasty! I haven't done any baking yet, but my semester has ended (YAY!) and my daughters are coming home from college today (YAY!YAY!), so we will start baking soon. I miss the years of Christmas parties at school for them - I cannot believe it went so fast. Have fun and enjoy! Safe travel to all!
WOW, congrats on the preggers, Michelle! Very exciting.
It's nice to hear little admissions that having children isn't a total nightmare. :) I get a bit intimidated.
Thanks! And don't get me wrong - kids in general are often intimidating (especially when your 8 year old cousin is *clearly* smarter and more "with it" than you). It's just that they're completely worth it! (at least that's what I'm going with when I thing "eep! what the heck have I gotten myself into!")
I'll start baking this weekend with Fruitcake Cookies. I'm also thinking about baking a Red Velvet Cake in my rose bundt pan. Haven't decided what else I'll be baking/cooking in the next week.
Merry Yule to everyone! Solstice is the 21st, right after my birfday. ;)
and Happy Early Birthday to you Ariandalen! Mine was the third, so we are both december babes. Hmm, tonight is hot chocolate night with the daughters whilst we plot our baking strategy-hmmm, a friend of mine does naughty cutout cookies which could be fun to do, tho puppy chow remains one of our perennial favorites. Happy munching!
Oh mousey! I am so excited about this baby. I saw the cutest baby goth clothes the other day when Lorraine was here. We will send you something when the time comes. Little skull overalls and and spider bat onesees! Haaa I love it. My bean is out of school now and I am so happy to start relaxing a bit. Thanks for the Crisps recipe. Lorraine and I love chocolate. Who doesn't. She likes white and I love milk chocolate. I wish I could send you all presents. I do I do.
Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to all our December LaMies!
This year is going to be the best Christmas ever. Xander and Molly are just the right ages to totally flip out in glee at the sight of all of their presents. I can't wait.
Lisa Snellings-Clark's birthday is Monday..... sneak over to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday for me.
(oh she is gonna kill me.......)
Oooh, I make wonderful gingerbread cookies with royal icing and we paint the royal icing with intricate pictures. The special thing about the cookies I make is that I use fresh ginger which leaves shreds in the cookies. YUM!! That is what I'm doing today. Another holiday favorite which my pechupkin demands every year is meringues! Oooh!! And what makes those babies special is the chocolate which goes into the center! Yeppers!! Homemade baking is great. But I don't share that stuff, only with very special people!!
Okay, now for CHOCOLATE!!
I found this site a couple years ago and I don't think I have found anything better:
http://www.chocolate4u.com/about/
The International Chocolate Company features single-bean chocolates from around the world. It is so fascinating to try the different beans. Like the different coffees, chocolate beans from different regions taste differently.
Okay, and since I'm in a talkative mood I'll share my trick to awesome hollandaise:
Melt the butter in the microwave and get it really hot, then beat in the egg yolks. Of course add the lemon and white pepper. It works out perfectly. :-)
vanda
MOG! Malena - You've just made my husband's day. He's been dropping hints to anyone and everyone that black baby clothes are all the rage this coming year and that you should accept no substitutions (with the exception of the stuff at Wrybaby). I've even got black cotton jersey stock on order so I can make some stuff too. hee hee.
Yay for kids being the right age to go completely bonkers over pressies, Dan!
Mmm... gingerbread cookies.
And not to totally dominate this blog entry (sorry about that), but since she posts here regularly, I thought I'd let you know about Maureen (a.k.a. stardustgirl). Her dog, Jim Dandy (whose photo graces all her posts), died yesterday. He was 16 years old and she's very lost without him just now. She's been posting about it on her Live Journal account. :(
i got my "chocolate survival packages" today!
LaM - you guys are the best!
ivenotime - thank you so much for the goodie bag, yum!
Everyone, thank you so much, again, for the well wishes and advice.
i am feeling better, it's easier to laugh (abdominal surgery really hits a girl where it hurts, LOL), and move around. My overall recovery time will take at least another three weeks, but it's getting easier each day. Thanks!
a sincere farewell to the loyal friend Jim Dandy.
there is nothing like the companionship of a furry being.
here's hoping their little spirits have a jaunt around and decide to come back in some other vehicle.
be on the lookout.
my heart goes out to Maureen.
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