Between cookies for the family and pies for the dinner at Steve’s house tomorrow I have been in the kitchen all day long. I do not mind I love to bake and I have had help today, my 6 year old Grandson David has been helping and if you have a 6 year old you know that it will take me longer to clean up the mess than it took to bake the cookies, but I do not mind it was a pleasant experience watching him absorb the cookie making process, and it will not be long and he will be ready to make cookies himself. A man that can cook is always a plus around the house. I think we are ready for Santa to visit tonight and I can not wait for the presents.
Organizing the Spice Cupboard
This morning while I was looking for some cinnamon, I decided that I was in dire need of some kitchen spice racks. I opened the cupboard and I had an avalanche of spices fall out of it. My kids are all teenagers, or out of their teens now, and they have started to try their hand at cooking. Needless to say, they don’t put my spices back in the cupboard the way I like to have them, and since I have literally nearly every spice one can imagine, when they are finished cooking I can’t find what I’m looking for.
I have one wall in my kitchen, that I think a big wall spice rack would look great on and the spices would be organized plus close at hand for everyone to use. I like the idea of the spices to be displayed so we wouldn’t have to dig through the cupboard to find what we are looking for. I’m thinking about getting one for my baking spices, and then my cooking spices. Perhaps even one that would hold the various oils I use when I make candy.
My mom has some really nice looking spice racks that my sister got her for her birthday, and since she doesn’t have a whole lot of cupboard space, she has hung hers on the wall where everything is handy for her. I’m looking forward to getting rid of the clutter and have my spices organized.
Banana bread
I made some very good Banana bread muffins for supper last night and they were gone by morning, I love to bake and Banana bread is one of the best things that my family really likes a lot. Big guy like the blueberry muffins the best but for the rest of us Banana bread and muffins is the way to go, and by the way he eats his share of the Banana bread and muffins just like the rest of us. I guess I will have to make some blueberry muffins soon enough, got to keep everyone happy it’s the mom’s job you know.
Cookies
My oldest got wrangled into making 6 dozen cookies for a bake sale, and guess who really gets to make the cookies? If you guessed me then you win the prize which at this point would be a dozen cookies of your choice of either chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin, since those are the two kinds I am making for the bake sale.
As I am slaving away, my daughter is on the phone and has not helped one bit. If I thought I could get by with it I would just go to the store and buy the cookies and save myself a lot of work.
Soup is good comfort food
When it turns cold I tend to fix food more for the comfort and warmth than the ease of cooking. So I make a lot of soups and chili to keep on hand for the kids and for me too for that matter. Good wholesome warm food is always a good thing when the weather turns cold, last night I made a brisket in beer sauce it turned out fantastic and everyone loved it. The entire house smelled of the chili sauce in the recipe and when I walked in from work that was a very nice smell let me tell you. Today is going to be left-overs and soup so get ready it is a day of rest for me today.
Blueberry muffins
One of the special little treats we have from time to time are blueberry muffins. I really love them and the whole family really like the change of pace from regular bread. I make a few muffins and the rest of the batter I make into a loaf pan and it makes a very nice loaf of blueberry bread. We had some last night and the left overs have made a couple of very nice snacks today I think next time I will make banana bread muffins just as a change of pace from the blueberry muffins.
Sunday cookout
I’ve just about got everything ready for the spur of the moment cookout I decided to have. I think when I got up early this morning I was in a cooking mood. I made potato salad, a tossed salad, deviled eggs, jello and fruit salad, and we have corn on the cob and chicken, steaks and hotdogs. No one wanted to have hamburgers. I also made some other things, and have chips and munchies. Have to go to the store and get some soda pop and the sun tea is good to go. It’ll be a filling supper, if nothing else. I like days like this!
Too hot to cook inside
It has been so very hot, it is to darn hot to cook inside. I refuse and we are going to live off sandwiches and if some one wants to fire up the grill they can cook outside. I hate summer in this house it does not have an up to date air conditioning system and it gets so very hot in a couple of rooms including the kitchen. So after it gets hot I stop baking and only cook breakfast, that is while it is still cool from the night. No more chicken and dumplings no pies and worst of all for me at least no turkey and dressing. These will just have to wait until it cools off a little.
Garden
Living in the city of Nashville, I do not have a large space for a garden but I still want to have some fresh vegetables available to me. I have planted a couple of tomato plants in pots and some pepper plants in a couple of planter boxes just to have some produce available to me. My tomato plants are blooming and are growing rapidly. Just being able to grow a little garden is a great way to enjoy life and spend some time in the yard that I would not get to do with-out my little garden.
Already December and Lets Try Fruitcake
It seems like it was just last week that I finally was warm enough outside to wear a tank top and shorts. And now, we are getting hit with ice storms. Where does the time go, or has the weather changed so drastically over the years? I vote on the weather changing so drastically. But that is my personal opinion.
We survived Thanksgiving dinner and my new pantry is still in it’s planning stage until after the New Year. I figure I can wait that long…sort of…
It’s nearly time for me to start my fruit cake. Now mind you all, I don’t like fruit cake. No, no, no. So I’ve decided to make up a new recipe of my own that I know I will like, and I bet I’ll even get my guys to like it. Wish me luck, since I have no clue as to what I am doing. Maybe though… if it turns out, which I have a conceited feeling it will. I’ll post the recipe and photos! 🙂