New Years Resolutions

It's a brand new year...

Which means it's time to make a few goals... I suppose that's what I'd rather call them instead of resolutions, you know?

Such as...

1. Pay off more of my credit cards. I don't have many anymore but I do have a few around that I keep just for the rewards or so that I know I can always shop at those stores. One is definitely within range and the pay off plan is going to work. :o) I'd like to again make a significant dent in the other few - I tend to get them really paid off before vacation and then go ahead and use them but forget to pay them down again.

2. Blog more than I do now... maybe back to the way I was trying to at first - once a week at least. with or without pictures... LOL

3. Continue to do whatever it is I'm doing to lose weight. After vacation in July, I really didn't do anything structured but still managed to lose 36 pounds by December. yay me! LOL

4. I would like to not still be "unrelationshipped" by this time next year. That would mean a possible date for New Years Eve and **hopefully** someone to drag home for the holidays.

5. Cook more. Bake more. Not just the same things. I am going to try to cook recipes from a cookbook twice a month. And bake something new once a month.

Okay, I think that's enough goals for one year. LOL Maybe I'll accomplish them...

Halloween treats... no tricks...!

Spiderweb cup cakes with cup cake truffle spiders... cupcake truffle bloody eyeballs and chocolate coating dipped witch fingers.

Macarons

The 2009 October Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Ami S. She chose macarons from Claudia Fleming’s The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern as the challenge recipe.

I made pumpkin pie spiced macarons... look...! I got feet!!! I was a bit worried and as you can see from the picture below, I had some issues with piping. It is not my strong suit... and after a blow out with the disposable bag I was using, well, I just put some blobs down on the parchment but those turned out rather well actually... (the small ones were actually piped...)

I filled mine with an Apple Butter Cream Cheese icing... they taste really good... nice crunch on the bite, chewy in the middle... As yummy as they are, I think I will have to defer to my favorite place to get them in Seattle... Honore Artisan Bakery, 1413 NW 70th StSeattle, WA 98117... they make much better Macaron's than I do... I love their lavander ones - they're filled with a lavander chocolate ganache...!

Vols-au-Vent.... say what?

The September 2009 Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Steph of A Whisk and a Spoon. She chose the French treat, Vols-au-Vent based on the Puff Pastry recipe by Michel Richard from the cookbook Baking With Julia by Dorie Greenspan.


I had some camera issues.... um... who remembered to get new batteries...? *blushes* So no pictures of the process other than baking...

My larger Vols-au-Vent were filled with BBQ Beef and topped with shredded cheese...

My smaller ones... which were fab... were filled with Key Lime flavored no bake Cheesecake and served with Whipped cream and Lime Zest...

Fun challenge... my arms have never been so sore but I will happily make them again...

July daring bakers... better late than never...

The July Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Nicole at Sweet Tooth. She chose Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Cookies and Milan Cookies from pastry chef Gale Gand of the Food Network.

I swapped out sugar free chocolate chips in the filling and dipped the edges of a few in sprinkles...

And then shared them with Stitch... LOL He liked them a lot...

Vacation...

So I'm currently in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada... on vacation visiting my best friend. ;o)

So far, it's been quite the adventure.

The day I arrived... was nice... not too hot... not too cool... but just as night fell, the wind picked up and sent trees rolling through parking lots... brought down the canopy of one of the big downtown towers on someone... and the next day, lots and lots of trees were looking very worse for the wear.

But since then, it's been nice... got a sunburn yesterday... Rode the Mindbender at the West Ed Mall on Tuesday... Ate poutine for the first time on Sunday... Donair for the first time yesterday... and have discovered that dipping fries in gravy isn't really that strange of a thing after all.

I have been eating my way from Tim Horton's to the next Tim Hortons... it was the easiest thing to locate and program into my GPS for the way here. LOL I don't eat at all of them... seriously. But each and every A&W has become a running joke because that is my choice of on the road restroom and drink stop. At home, the only A&W's really left are a combo with KFC... and they put ice in the root beer! gasp... the horror... .I've long since forgotten the taste of an A&W in a frosty mug and I will happily admit to drinking regular root beer in these stops instead of Diet... but I guess that just helps because at least it's root beer so no caffiene.

I have had Ketchup flavored chips... caved in and purchased cookies by george... yummo! And have introduced my friend to Crystal light in tubs. Apparently they only come in big packets here. I have walked the entire mall at West Edmonton... up down and all around. LOL

It's been a great time and when I can reuinte with my computer and camera then I will make sure to post some pictures.

Oh... but for what I forgot to take pictures of... was my dinner at the Unheardof restaurant.

OHHHH!!!!

But more of that soon... I have a dish or two to try and recreate... ;o)

Well... it dawned on me that I've been very slow in posting what I've been up to... ;o)

How in the world could I have forgotten about my bread pudding? Sourdough Bread, dried cranberries, dark chocolate chips and almonds... it was yummy!

Then, recently... there were the sugar cookie beachballs for a beach themed work party...



and the lemon cake, lemon frosting cupcake bites for a friend's wedding - matching her wedding colors....

And... coming soon... what did I manage to do with these luscious Oregon Strawberries? mmmm... just like home, fresh picked, sun warmed... ?