Happy Birthday -- to ME!

Yes, a bit unorthodox, but it's my birthday and I can do what I want! 

I woke up to the Diva serenading me. It was cute. Before you ask, I am only as old as I look and it BETTER be younger than I really am!!! I've gotten past the need for birthday celebrations, or so I thought. I knew Diva and Elvis wouldn't be home today so we had 'birthday ice cream' on Tuesday, the last day of the week I know we will all be home at a reasonable time to do something, but somehow it wasn't the same.

Today I woke up and decided to make this my day. I whipped up a cake and even had orange juice pancakes for brunch (nothing fancy, pancakes with oj instead of water). My little birthday gift to myself. 

I could have made a regular cake, but not today! I dug deep for this one.

Domestic Goddess' Applesauce Birthday Cake

1 cup sugar
1 T butter
1 cup applesauce
2 cups flour
2//3 cups raisins
1 t baking soda
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t cloves
1/4 t salt
1/4 t nutmeg

Sift together the soda, spices, salt and flour. Cream the butter, add sugar, applesauce, dry ingredients and raisins. Put the mix in a spring-pan. Bake in a moderate oven (350*F) for about 40 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

Don't be afraid of making risotto

Stand tall, grab your skillet and let's get cooking!

Yes, you can make risotto too. It's so simple and is a nice change of pace. If you don't have a box of risotto rice at home - and who really does - use regular long grain rice (sorry, not instant). You're cooking in Your Kitchen, not Hells Kitchen, get creative and enjoy.

This is a recipe for an easy cheese risotto - you can change it around by adding things such as different spices or vegetables. Other than the cheese, don't omit anything I have in my recipe, or it won't be risotto anymore.

Cheese Risotto
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/3 cups uncooked long-grain rice
4 cups water
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 cup grated cheese

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat (*), then add the rice. Cook and stir for a few minutes to toast rice. Stir in water, and season with chicken bouillon and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Cover, and simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat, keep covered, and let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the cheese.

(*) if you want to add 1/3 cup vegetables (ie: onion or mushrooms) now is the time to do it

The Not-So-Domestic Goddess Bread

I love the smell of bread baking... but, I don't always have time to prep it. 

(I know, I heard you gasp, you can't believe it either!)

This is a super simple bread recipe and it's less than 2 hours from pantry to table. No fancy ingredients. No expensive equipment.

The Not-So-Domestic Goddess Bread

3 cups flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tablespoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast

1 2/3 cups warm water

~ Mix all the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add the water.

~ Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan. 

~ Cover the dough with a tea towel and let rise for an hour.

~ Bake in a 400F oven for about 45 minutes. 

That's it!!

Easy Bagel Pudding

I made this tonight with left over blueberry bagels and it came out SO good that I had to share it. Yes it has calories. No, I don't know how many... Quit looking at me like that!!!!

5 regular-sized bagels (torn into bite-size pieces)
2 cups milk
3/4 cup sugar, more if you like it sweet
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 large eggs, beaten

optional - fruits (like blueberries)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
Generously, butter 9 x9 inch glass baking dish

Place torn bagels in large mixing bowl; pour milk over and let absorb for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt butter and let it cool. When cooled, mix with beaten eggs and remaining ingredients.

Combine with bagel mixture (add any fruit you had now)

Pour into prepared baking dish; place in center of oven. Bake uncovered for about 35-40 minutes or until knife inserted in center come out clean.

I've been keeping myself busy. I crocheted a few things... a few 'bowls' and a bunch of tawashis. I also made a hat for Diva and Elvis wanted one too, so now I am making him a
Balaclava.

Pictures of everything to follow, but I thought I'd share.

Elvis' Balaclava

Size G (4.25 mm)

2 skeins Vanna's Choice (if you use a chunkier yarn, use a bigger hook. Elvis loved the blue/white look of the yarn I had in my stash)

Directions:
Worked in BACK LOOPS ONLY - all stitches are HDC

~1: chain 3, 8 hdc in the third ch from the hook
~2: 2 hdc in each stitch around (16)
~3: *1 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (24)
~4: *2 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (32)
~5: *3 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (40)
~6: *4 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (48)
~7: *5 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (56)
~8: *6 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (64)
~9: *7 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (72)
~10: *8 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (80)
~11: *9 hdc, 2 hdc in next stitch* x8 (88)

Work over 88 sts until piece measures 8 inches (or until comes to eyebrows)

Chain 26 ,skip 24 sts, continue working around until piece measures 10 more inches (or until bottom of neck). Fasten off and weave in ends.

Sweet and Savory Stew

Watching the snow fall, I decided that I am going to make this versatile stew on Monday night. I like it because there is little prep and I can already imagine the wonderful aroma filling my house. Pop it in the crock pot and you're good to go. I am going to use turkey and squash this time, but any meat and veggie will work.

This is an adapted version of a recipe printed in Family Circle

1/3 cup flour
2 teaspoons paprika
2 pounds 'meat' trimmed, cut in 1" cubes and blotted dry
1 tablespoon & 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 scallion bundle (or 1 large onion) chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
1 1/4 cup broth
1 pound veggies, peeled and diced
1 tablespoon brown sugar

* 3 cups cooked rice (side dish)

~ Combine flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika in a large resealable bag. Add meat to bag in two batches, shake to coat with flour, then remove from bag. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook meat for 5 minutes, turning occasionally, or until browned. Place meat in slow cooker.

~ Reduce heat to medium, add 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add scallion and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each paprika, salt, pepper and cinnamon. Cook 4 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, cook 2 minutes. Place in slow cooker. Add tomatoes and broth to skillet, bring to a boil, pour into slow cooker.

~ Cover, cook for 5 hours on high or 7 hours on low.

~ When there is 1 1/2 hours cook time remaining add veggies.

~ Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon each paprika, salt, pepper, cinnamon and brown sugar just before serving.

~ Serve over rice.