Switching gears December 23, 2009

I spent the morning embroidering, the afternoon shopping and the evening cleaning.

Why?

Tomorrow is the 23rd and its the day traditionally reserved for cookie baking.  I’m trying to clear my schedule of gift-making to make cookies.  Actually, I’m making 4 dozen vanilla cupcakes as well as french bread besides the 4 different types of cookies I’m making this year.

Which cookies did I decide were worth the effort to be on my list?

Chocolate chip; Linzer; Gingerbread; and Sugar cookies.

I’m hoping that by keeping it simple that it won’t be quite so exhausting but I know I’ll become the cookie nazi before the second batch gets baked.  I’ll be sure to let y’all know how it turns out.

all that is missing is the groom December 21, 2009

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mine was the bottom tier

As I have mentioned, this pastry chef bombshell takes tests in a different sort of way. Today we had to assemble a 3 tier wedding cake. It came out so very lovely. Now, all this bombshell needs is the groom.

Anyone know of any single gentlemen of a suitable sort for me?

A girl and her voice December 20, 2009

No, I am not hearing voices.

at least none that I’m willing to admit on here

But it does sound like I’ve lost my voice.

So, I’m not congested,

I don’t have a runny nose,

I do not have a cough.

And yet I sound like a hoarse froggy version of myself.

Although according to my sister in law, I sound like I’m whispering… the sort of whispered voice one uses to murmur sweet nothings in someone’s ear.  So she says that few people will believe I’m sick if they heard me.

So I will continue saving my voice and eating soft foods… with the hope that I will be all better sooner rather than later.

PS! Aside from the blog where you can follow the life of my cute as a button nephew, my sister in law has begun a blog of her very own.  So show her some love and support by heading over that way to see the little vignettes on her life and thoughts!

Working on a secret Bombshell mission December 20, 2009

Ok… so it’s not a mission.

It’s more like a project.

As I mentioned, I plan to make a lot of my gifts this year.  The few things I was going to shop for have already been bought.  But now that Christmas is this coming Friday, I’ve realized the enormous task I’ve set for myself.  I thought I’d be done by now and to be honest, I’ve barely scratched the surface of all I have to make.

The only things I have done were for my sis in law because they had to be mailed.  Everything came out beautifully!  I would show pics but then it would spoil the gifting surprise.  By this time next week I promise to post pictures of everything I made and everything given away.

Until then, you will just have to be content in knowing that I am embroidering my fingers off!

I think I’ve developed the beginnings of a callus on my left index finger.

But I’ve made a list, checked it twice and will work systematically through it until I run out of time.

Not to mention I have to find time to make cookies.

Everyone who wants to help can report to my house on the 23rd.

And to complete this update… my throat is not all better but its not any worse.  Antibiotics might finally be kicking in but I still sound like I swallowed a frog.

Still missing solid food December 18, 2009

Well, when I think I’m feeling better, I wake up and feel miserable enough that swallowing solid food seems like a far off dream. So luckily we made some typical holiday desserts and I have a few plates in the fridge. They are all very soft and its nice to have something besides soup and soft boiled eggs.

Therefore I will share this recipe for Tembleque.

What is Tembleque?

Well, the best I can describe it for people who have never had it is that its a chilled coconut dessert. Its sort of a cross between pudding and jello, with a texture a lot lighter than flan.

Tembleque

- 4 1/2 Cups Water
- 6 Cups Milk
- 2 1/4 Cups Sugar
- 2 1/4 cans Coconut Cream
- 2 sticks cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- dash or two of salt

- 1 1/4 Cups Corn starch
- 1 1/2 Cups Water

1) Bring first 7 ingredients to a boil over medium heat; leaving cornstarch with second addition of water together in a separate container to form the slurry.

2) Once liquid has boiled, pour 1/3 of hot liquid in with cornstarch slurry, then pour this slurry back into the pot.

3) Stir the mixture over med-low heat until it thickens so that it coats back of spoon and does not run off it.

4) Pour out into plates or desired bowls and chill completely. Don’t forget to take out the cinn sticks and decorate with a dash of cinnamon.

Enjoy!

shop ’til you drop December 16, 2009

I never understand why people take so long shopping. When I do my holiday shopping, I really do it in about 3 trips: one trip to each shopping mall in the towns of Ponce, Mayaguez and Yauco. I could do it all in the all inclusive mall in Mayaguez but some stores are better in other places and it does not have a Walgreens.

The only person I stress over is my mother. But when I actually bother to settle down and put my brain to work on a great gift, it usually works for inspiration. This is a good thing as I steer others when shopping for my mother as well.

And because I am so very efficient at shopping, I also help my very busy mother with her shopping. Especially for my sis in law since I know her the best.

In the end, I have to say that I have done great this year. I had a tiny budget and I am going to make beautiful things. So that covers about 10 people with only about $150 to spend. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

A girl with a throat infection December 15, 2009

Uck.

That is the sentiment I have for the day.

Last night I began to run a low fever and tonsils were feeling funny.  When I tried to wake up today, I was just miserable.  So by midmorning I hauled my sick booty to the doctor. He was quite nice and we happened to have the same last name.  Therefore the was the obligatory attempt to figure out the family tree but there was no real connection as far as I can tell.

In the end, my tonsils have gotten all infected.  Its been a while since I’ve gotten this.  But I walked away with a prescription in hand and a follow-up appointment to have my ears checked out.

In the end, I just felt that I have a few words to share.

I miss solid foods…

And being able to swallow without flinching.

That is all.

take a cookie, share a cookie December 14, 2009

As Christmas day draws closer, so too does the day I spend making cookies. For, as most of you might know, this bombshell believes that it does not matter if she was naughty or nice when she can bribe Santa with cookies! Its a Christmas tradition to try and get a spot on my cookie list. I am a cookie Nazi. Get on my bad side and you get “No cookie for you!!!”.

So, my sis in law has reminded me of the diverse cookie recipes I have already posted on my blog. But I have a new discovery that I must add to my list.

Sugar cookies are simple and delightful treats. Whether you just dress them up with sprinkles or dare to make masterpieces with frosting, they are something quick and easy to make.

The following recipe I will share makes something like 12 dz cookies. So feel free to scale this up or down as required.

sugar cookie
– 2 lb butter
- 2 1/2 lb sugar
- 4t salt
- 8 oz eggs ( about 4- 5 large eggs )
- 1 cup milk
- 4t vanilla
- 5lb all purpose flour
- 2 1/2 T baking powder

1. Cream butter and sugar. Blend in eggs, vanilla and milk slowly.
2. Mix in all dry ingredients. Dough should be soft but not sticky.
3. Roll into 6 logs. Wrap in saran if you choose to store and freeze. If not, alive into approximate ounce pieces and ball up.
4. Place on cookie sheet and flatten with palm or floured bottom of glass. Decorate with sprinkles, if so desired.
5. Bake 375F for 8-11 min until edges and bottoms are a light to medium golden brown.

Enjoy!

A girl pondering what to gift December 13, 2009

As the days count down in the month of December, I’ve come to realize that there are very few shopping days left!  Now, I’m lucky and I have a lot of wonderful ladies in my life that will appreciate the lovely hair accessories I’ve been working on.  However, there are 2 gentlemen in my life that I have to buy for and little flowery things will not cut it for them.

Then there is my mother.

That is a task unto itself.

Last year I was able to pull out all stops and she got lots of things she wanted from all different fronts.  There was toasters and books and a new blackberry!  This year… I’m drawing blanks.

Guess I’m just going to have to ask her what she wants.

The problem is that she knows I don’t have much money to spend, so she won’t really bother to give any suggestions.  Which sucks since my entire family depends on me to know what she wants and then divide the things amongst them.

How does everyone else handle their shopping?

Anyone going to make me feel bad and say they have finished their holiday shopping already?

The completed houses December 12, 2009

So it is that my little brother and I spent 2 hours of our lives putting together the two gingerbread houses.  They look amazing!  And they are just huge.

Two houses ready for the holiday!