Month: May 2011

Mix it Up

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Cake mix has turned many of middle-of-the-road cooks into rock stars. It happens when a competent cook comes across a recipe and says, “This has got to be really good and better yet, it’s amazingly easy, I’m claiming it.”

I saw it in action when a friend of mine offered me biscotti that she had made.

I said, “Biscotti?”

She said, “Yeah, it’s better than the biscotti you used to get from Kay.”

“Really,” I said. That biscotti was pure grade Italian issue, with a lot of time devoted to cooking, drying and cutting. But I was game. She had given me a full zip-lock baggie, I reached in, grabbed a hunk and bit down.

So this is a keeper.  Change it up if you want different flavors, butterscotch chips with caramel frosting, or walnuts for almonds, for instance. But here are the basics:

Image from Holiday Gourmet

Almond Chocolate Biscotti
1 pk chocolate cake mix
1 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1/4 cup  chocolate syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 pk (10 to 12 oz) vanilla or white chips
2 TB shortening

1) Beat cake mix, flour, butter, eggs, chocolate syrup and extract until well blended. Stir in almonds, chocolate chips. On un-greased pan, half dough,  shape into a 12 x 2 log.
2) Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until firm to touch. Cool on rack for 20 minutes.
3) Transfer to cutting board cut diagonally with a serrated-edge knife into 1/2″ slices. Place cut sides down on baking sheets. Bake 10-15 minutes until firm. Cool.
4) Melt chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over biscotti; store in air tight container.

Han-dee

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I am a little behind in picking up leaves hiding out under and behind bushes in my yard. I was hoping that they’d break down a little and turn into mulch all by themselves but last time I checked, they are as sturdy as ever.

Action photo of Jumbo Hands.

On the up side, it is a good excuse to spend ten bucks on a pair of jumbo garden hands from the Walter Drake catalog.

They are big (14″ x 11″) forked plastic lids that let you scoop up a lot of leaves at one time. They come in an attractive shade of garden green in case you care about that.

Could be a Father’s Day gift as long as you stick something really good in the package with it.

‘Cause, let’s face it, getting garden hands for Father’s Day (even if they are jumbo) would be about as much fun as getting a double boiler for your birthday.

Deviled Eggs

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Believe it or not I have never made deviled eggs. Or if I did I don’t remember it. I was talking to my sister about it and she couldn’t believe it and offered to walk me through it since it is one of her specialties.

I know how to boil eggs, but she gives me some tips – first, on peeling the eggs, keep them under cool running water all the while you are peeling them — and  the shells will break smoothly away from the eggs. (Yes, it works!)

An hour later,  I have some pretty amazing eggs staring up at me from their tupperware boundaries. Following her directions, I had mixed the egg yolks with mayonnaise, dijon mustard, horseradish, worcestershire sauce, and a splash of hot sauce.

Then I had (so totally against my better judgement) put the egg mixture in a plastic baggie and cut a slit in a corner). Yes, it works!

I am going to be such a star at the memorial day picnic that Sig’s family is having tomorrow because My sister knows deviled eggs.

My Wish List

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If I was forced to talk about the down side of picking up a coffee grande, I’d say the coffee is too hot to drink right away — but then it turns cold waay too fast. I haven’t yet found a coffee mug that keeps coffee at that sweet spot of hot.

With Coffee Joulies, every mug is a keeper. The brainstorm of two coffee drinking guys both named Dave, Coffee Joulies are stainless steel coated pods filled with a material that cools down hot liquid faster than normal. And then,  — uses the stored energy to keep the liquid at just the right drinking temperature.

Joulies are about half the size of a chicken egg and 1 works well with 5 oz. The largest coffee size will take 5 or — about 15% of your coffee real estate.  It’s an easy trade-off for me to have a coffee good to the last drop.

Right now, the two Daves are in a Oneida manufacturing plant somewhere gearing up production for the 8,000 preorders they’ve tallied up. Give ’em your e-mail and you’ll find out when you can buy your own.

I want to drink to your blood.

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Mix yourself a tall  Bloody Mary, find yourself a comfortable chair and heave a toast to the man. The man being Bram Stoker who gave the world Count Dracula on this very day in 1897. Though Stoker’s Dracula was the beginning of a vampire heyday, the aristocratic fiend was imagined over 80 years before.

It was a weirdly rainy summer in 1916 and a group of five friends were hanging out in Lake Geneva. Cooped up in the villa, they entertained themselves by taking laudanum and telling ghost stories. Then they began writing their own because they knew how.

It was the writer, Mary Shelley; her husband, the poet Percy Shelley; and her step sister, Clair Clairemont. The home belonged to the poet and novelist, Lord Bryron, who had invited his personal physician, John Polidori. By the time the rain let up, Clair was pregnant with a little lady, Mary had written Frankenstein and Doc Polidori, no less, had written a short story he called The Vampyre.

Flash forward 5+ decades to Carmilla, a tale of a lesbian vampire by Le Fanu and then Varny the Vampire which appeared in a penny serial.

Twenty years later Stoker picks up the character and makes history. The working title for his book was The Dead Un-Dead and his protagonist was Count Wampyr. He stumbled on the name Dracula while doing research on Romanian history.

Good choice. If Stoker had gone with Count Wampyr instead of Count Dracula, I don’t think we’d be drinking any Bloody Marys tonight.

Put Yr Lips Together

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I doubt that I will ever grow up and out of the irrational notion that if I blow out all of the candles on my birthday cake, I’ll get my wish. (As long as I don’t blab about it.)

The custom is rooted with the ancients, when people believed a herd of gods lived in the sky. Smoke wafting from blown-out candles evidently had a fighting chance of reaching a wish granting spirit.

Since birthday wishes are such a time-honored tradition, there’s job security in  cake baking.  But some bakers are probably more secure than others.

Cake Wrecks is only interested in cakes gone wrong. For instance, it was just as well that little Trudi Smith didn’t know how to read when it was time for her to blow out the candles on her purple cake.

Overheard.

“Well, I guess Nuts is Peter Allergy’s brother or maybe sister? Good lookin’ bushes, doncha think?”

“Yeah, nice. Let’s move on. We have to finish one more for a 5:00 pick-up, we gots to hurry.”

“Okay, here’s the gab – it goes on the white frosted swirl two decker round.”

“H 85th (Grand.Mom)?”

“Yeah, that’s what it says. I think it is some kinda computer code or somethin?”

“Alrighty. We’re done.”

(Thanks Meghan for passing this along.)

Big O Count-Down

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If you want, with a few clicks of your mouse, you can sign your name to a big farewell card being assembled by AOL to mark the end of Oprah Winfrey’s 25 year talk show run.

Image from Media Outrage.

Well, gee. What’s going on?

Is it the threat of a random debilitating disease? Is it an emerging cause that demands 100 per cent of her passion and energy? Is it simply fatigue and a reckless “I need to start over!” plea? Boredom? Hunger? Ennui?

Her curiously bewildered fans turn to each other and screw up their faces in deep  concentration. They start to describe their Oprah moments; one by one they recount their favorite guests, topics, clothes and the stupendous giveaways that dazzled audiences through the years.

“To OWN,” one of elders among them finally says. “Right,” another chimes in, “To OWN.”

“O. W. N?”

“Oprah Winfrey Network.” The chorus murmurs in reply.

“AAARG! You have GOT to be effing kiddin’ me!”

Public Service Announcement

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Since the rapture was re-scheduled, you may be a cook facing a big dilemma for your Sunday dinner. You certainly would not have hauled out a big rump roast from the freezer yesterday. Who knows, did you already donate your best pans to charity? Hmmm. What to do?

Here’s a suggestion guaranteed to make you glad you are still of this earth.  Ease on down the road to your nearest Sonic and wheel into a parking spot. For a measly $1.99 each, buy Chicago Dogs for the whole family.

Image from Grub Trade

It’s an all beef hot dog topped with pickle, relish, tomato, peppers, celery salt and mustard served in a soft, warm poppy-seed bun.

There are other dogs on the menu but I think the Chicago Dog beats up the others.

The celery seed and the poppy seed combination gives it a nearly-there gourmet impact.

I have to tell you the first time I tried one I was enraptured. ‘Course, I am also really partial to Sonic’s diet cherry limeades. So maybe it was the combination that brought me close to the edge.