Month: September 2010

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Special Gingerbread

very special gingerbread
very special gingerbread

Maybe I have seen the ‘Count of Monte Cristo’ one too many times, but I wanted to make some gingerbread (in the shape of coins) for shipment to someone stationed in a modern day Chateau D’If far away from home.

The nice thing about gingerbread is that it lasts for a very long time and will withstand the most abusive of baggage handlers, plus my daughter Kristin said it was one of the things she was most fond of recieving from home.

I tinkered with the recipe a bit adding more spices ( which is to my liking) and some honey to the molasses.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup molasses
1/2 cup honey
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
7 cups flour
approx 1 cup water
2 teaspoons baking soda
10 teaspoons of my spice blend*

*( 8 parts ginger, 4 parts cinnamon, 1 part cardamon, 1 part allspice, 1 part cloves, 1 part nutmeg, 1 part mace, 4 parts orange zenst, 3 parts lemon zest)

bake: 350 degrees for 13 minutes

.... on it's way tomorrow!

Oh Yes, it is very good… and time only makes it better!

“And I had but one penny in the world. Thou should’st have it to buy gingerbread.” – William Shakespeare

enjoy!

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remembering Labor Day

remembering Labor Day!
remembering Labor Day! CLICK to follow my favorite Union!

Karla contributed this wonderful drawing of her sisters ( alter egos) and her celebrating Labor Day! For those who you might not now the complete history of Labor Day , here is a link to the Department of Labor’s summary:  CLICK HERE!

What do I remember most about Labor Day? I remember how I joined Local 93 of the Teamsters Union while working through college, the fun of Labor Day Picnics and the unwavering support of Labor in running for elective offices… I enjoyed winning, but when I lost it was not their fault.

Remember Labor Day! Have an enjoyable time.

Roger

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little temptations and the diet

hungry during a diet?
Hungry during a diet? That’s normal… but why do I always find interesting things to explore when I am dieting?? CLICK on picture for something fun!

 I have always found dieting a bit challenging, after all it doesn’t seem at all a very natural thing to do. However, I am sure the evolutionary psychologists might tell me that periods of feast and famine were very nature in the human experience and that I am only duplicating the experience of my ancestors. However, knowing why I do something doesn’t make it any easier.

Obiously the tempting Concord Grapes dangling over 12 feet of picnic tables and patios is only a slight irritation, but finding recipes new bagels designed to hold several times the goodies that a regular one might hold doesn’t make it any easier! CLICK on the picture above to see what I mean.

With Thanksgiving not all that long away, I am ready for something extravagant… maybe, another yummy Ostro-Turgoosen ducken bird!

😉

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brown sugar biscotti with pine nuts and almonds

Brown Sugar Biscotti with Pine Nuts and Almonds

I remember asking my grandmother once how she ‘improvises’ in the kitchen and she gave the usual ‘trial and error’ answer, but on closer inspection I realized that she worked in two very distinct ways. First, she would vary the proportions and types of ingredients which offered a few extra notes to the basic recipe. But more importantly, there were times when she would depart significantly and approach the ‘problem’ in an entire new way. For example, why use the same ingredients in making certain noodle with sauce recipes that were designed before the advent of real refrigeration? Logic must triumph over tradition at times.

This goes a long way to say that I tried a variation of our Biscotti recipe with the addition of brown sugar. Using brown sugar has some significant limitations… but under the heat of making the biscotti added something nice. Oh yes, I added a small amount of pine nuts to the project, not enough to make Laura object ( as they are around 11 calories each!), but enough to make an effect.

Yummy there were!