Gardening and cooking

It's what I do best. Today was a great day to be outside in the dirt. I put potato seed out in a raised "container" made from chicken wire and used the neighbors gorgeous compost they don't use. Also I cleaned out a bed and put compost on top so it is ready to be planted! I called the garden show on the radio this past weekend to see if I could move my asparagus crowns, he said I could, but it is proving to be a tougher job than I anticipated. The roots I knew were long, but they are crazy! I can not find the end to them, I also now know I planted them too close together. I love being in the dirt! Cooking is fun too, I made chocolate chip cookies for snack, and a carb free pizza crust for dinner. Beila's blood does better without carbs so when I saw this recipe I knew we had to try it. 1 package cream cheese mixed with 2 eggs, garlic powder, salt & pepper, and 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, i also added some italian herbs. Bake in a cake pan on 350 for 15 minutes or so, till firm. It smells yummy, I think it will be like a savory cheesecake texture. We'll let it cool then top it like a pizza with a tomato sauce without sugar, mozzarella, and lots of veggies! Hope you have a great dinner planned, have a great weekend!

New Toys

i went to the restaurant supply store with the Greek's mommy today to get some doo-dads for her fine italian eatery. let it be known, i am like a tiny kid in a candy store in one of those places. even after not working in a commercial kitchen for years i drool at all the shiny things surrounding me. wide eyed i walk around slowly touching and feeling everything my fingers come in contact with. a microplane with a pink handle! a salad bowl i could fit all three kids in! a tiny mortar and pestle! i am nuts. now i want to run back to a commercial kitchen and cook till the cows come home. i did get a "treat" while we were there. i guess D thought i was being a good girl and bought me two new 9" cake rounds with, here's the kicker, two 9" silicone baking mats!!!!!! one- my cake rounds are old, battered, rusted, and dented, i needed new ones. and two- i will never have to trace my cake round onto parchment, and cut it out for the bottom of my cake pan, never ever again. i didn't know that that was a possibility. the angels were singing all around me when i saw those. i cannot wait to bake a cake now. anyone have a birthday coming up? anyone? bueller?

Gingerbread Men and Christmas Gift Guide

time to make Christmas cookies!
1/4 c. softened butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. molasses
3 1/2 c. flour
1tsp baking soda
1 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt

1/4-1/3 c. water

cream your butter and brown sugar together

it's good and creamed when it is all incorporated together and starts to form a ball

add your molasses. if you spray your measuring cup with a non stick spray, it will pour easier.

mix together. don't taste, molasses is yucky. wait till it is gingerbread.

sift your dry ingredients together.

mix your flour mix into your wet mix in 4 steps with water in between.

it will be crumbly, but knead it to a ball. you can do it.

see.
if it won't come together, add a tiny bit more water till it comes together, not sticky.

roll your dough out onto a floured work surface.

roll, roll, roll. the cookie does puff slightly when baked, so if you want a thin cookie, roll 1/8 in thin.

cut with your cookie cutters.

have fun!

these star wars cookie cutters would make a great gift as well!

oh yeah, bake at 350 degrees F. 10-20 minutes, depending on the thickness and hardness of your cookie. so watch them!

Christmas Gift Guide, Matryoshka Measuring Fun

if you know someone who likes to cook or bake, these matryoshka measuring cups and spoons by fred and friends are super fun. my best friend's mom gave me a set for Christmas this year, i know because she told me:) i can't wait to play with them, errr...i mean utilize them in the kitchen with my children while baking nutritious muffins and cakes.
these would be great for newlyweds, kids getting their first apt, people who need to jump start their kitchen life, and people that just love awesome things. i think i will probably find these in the kids' playroom on many occasions after they are opened.


image from www.worldwidefred.com