The problem with visiting food blogs … is that when I’m done with my rounds, I have another set of recipes to add to my to-try pile.  The same holds true, of course, for watching Food Network and reading cooking magazines.  Of course that doesn’t stop me, but sometimes, the clippings, well, they threaten to take over.  Case in point: a few weeks ago, I headed to The Pioneer Woman’s semi-new cooking forum, Tasty Kitchen.  A co-worker wanted me to make a recipe from there and I had misplaced my copy.  Once there, I lost all track of time and some forty-five minutes later, another ten recipes to make, I found what I was looking for.  One of the recipes I printed out was this one for Chocolate Espresso Bars.  You might remember seeing the picture in a Weekend Photos in Review post recently.  Technically, on The Tasty Kitchen, they are called Coffee Toffee Bars.  I wasn’t getting the “toffee” part, and renamed them in my head right away.

The recipe is crazysimple and the hint of coffee in the dough gives you a nice little java fix from the get-go.  The bars cut super-neat, and they smell amazing while they’re baking.  I bet you even have the ingredients on hand already, making it a fun sweet treat to whip up on the spot when you need to satisfy a craving or have last-minute guests pop in.

Project 365
March 18, 2010, Photo #66

I am not a big flip-flop fan. Never have been, though I’m working on it. Madeline, on the other hand, has got that area covered. And then some. Every morning, when I get her ready, I put on her socks and shoes. Once we get downstairs, I head to the kitchen to get her morning milk, and she has, within minutes, taken off her socks and shoes and put on Nick’s flip-flops. There are constantly little socks left in her wake around the first floor, and very often hidden wherever she feels like stashing them. I missed a class last week because not only had she hidden her socks, but her shoes too. So maddening sometimes, it’s a darn good thing she’s so cute.

A year ago today … a tasty weeknight meal courtesy of Sausage Stromboli.
Three years ago today … big, fat delicious chocolate chip cookies.
Four years ago today … a field trip to a local foodie haunt.
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I have a very small sweet tooth. Ever so slight. The problem is that when Easter rolls around, and with it, the abundance of candy available, my slight sweet tooth goes into overdrive. It just happens that a few of the things that I like are available now. Cadbury Creme Eggs. They totally do me in. Jelly beans. Love them. And the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the shape of eggs. All this from someone who doesn’t really have a sweet tooth.

I’ll never forget the day I signed up with a personal trainer to get me in shape for my wedding. A local drugstore had all their candy marked down to 90% off. I had bought way too much a bagful of Cadbury Creme Eggs for 5 cents each. Just too hard to resist.  As I sat at my desk, talking with the trainer, I tried to push the bag further underneath my desk so he wouldn’t see it. As soon as he left, I threw them away.

Even though we’re adults and with our own kids, my mom still makes Easter baskets for us. I love that. Sometimes it’s nice to feel like a kid again and forget all those weighty responsibilities we deal with day to day. This year I told her “no candy. Please.” I just don’t want to be tempted. I have so far managed to avoid the Easter candy that I’ve seen while out and about, but I knew if she bought it, I’d give in. And I didn’t want to.

Then recently, I read that 10 jelly beans is only two Weight Watchers points. I’m not on Weight Watchers completely (more on that next week), but to me that meant that maybe I could relent. Just a little. I e-mailed my Mom. “Jelly beans are ok. But nothing else.” She responded with “Oh good, because otherwise you’d be breaking a ten year tradition.” Nothing like a little good Catholic guilt to get me back on the wagon. See, every year I buy the bags of jelly beans. I eat the red, purple, pink and white and then pass it along to my mom, who eats her two favorite colors, and then my dad gets the last two colors, which happen to be his favorites. It works out quite well actually.  We’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember. Apparently ten years now. And to think I almost stopped! So, for now, our glass cookie jar is filled with jelly beans. I’m rationing. Ten a day. Continue reading this entry…

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Many years ago, to celebrate my sister’s birthday, we had a family dinner at Carmine’s in New York City.  The dishes are all massive and served family style, everyone digging in for a helping of this and that.  One of the appetizers we ordered to share was a bread pudding.  It was the first time I had eaten a savory version of bread pudding, and I was instantly hooked.  We all were.  Ever since then, I’ve had savory bread puddings in the back of my mind, tearing out clipping after clipping of recipes to try to find one that was as good as the one at Carmine’s that day.   I’ve tried a few of them along the way, but after this recipe, I think I just may call off the search.

I found this recipe on A Good Appetite, who got it by way of Jam and Clotted Cream, who got it from BBC’s Good Food magazine.  After seeing the original, I’m definitely adding that one to my list as well, since it’s looks different enough to get its own shot.  Usually, if a recipe has bleu cheese in it, I’m there.  I just love the flavor of it.  An important thing to point out about this recipe is that it’s forgivable.  Although it called for leeks, I used one yellow onion and one shallot (to give it a little sweetness).  Then, I used the basic method to put the individual bread puddings together, doubling the recipe along the way.  I loved the fact that these were served in individual ramekins, and they made a delicious start to a recent dinner we had.

Creamy, cheesy, and sinfully delicious from the first bite.  With the individual portions, you can stop yourself before you devour more than your fair share.  Well, assuming you stop at just one ramekin.  Whether you’ve been on a similar hunt for an excellent savory bread pudding recipe or not, this is one to try.  You won’t be disappointed.

Tomorrow?  Going the Wordless Wednesday route with the Jelly Bean story.  And Thursday?  The Chocolate Espresso Bars you got a peek of here.

Project 365
March 16, 2010, Photo #64

At Nick’s Cub Scout meeting tonight, there were having a Uniform Check, which sent me into a momentary state of panic.  I have all these badges that he’s collected over the last year or so, and I have been a little lax in getting them onto his shirt and vest.  I don’t sew.  At all.  But I spent one hour tonight sewing two badges onto his shirt so he would pass inspection.  See those nice little blue stitches along the bottom of that badge?  Two badges in one hour is pretty pitiful.  Nick kept coming over and asking me if I was done yet, and what was taking so long.  No matter.  I’m pretty proud of the fact that they’re still affixed to the shirt, that I sewed them into the right place, and that they’re only ever so slightly crooked.  Now to tackle the rest of the badges… must find friend with sewing machine.

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Two days a week, after getting done teaching 25 second graders, Jamie volunteers at a prison, helping a group of guys prepare for their GED.  It’s a good thing she’s 24, but she is pretty darn tireless.  Were we all so tireless at that age?  Twenty-five seems like so very long ago.

So regularly, she gives the guys a test so she can judge how well they’re picking up the material, and how ready they are to take (and pass) the GED.  Since they are in prison, after all, she recently decided that she’d try to give them incentive for doing well on the tests.  If they all passed the in-class tests, she’d bring in cookies the next time they met for class.

A few weeks ago, they did well on a test, so she baked them a batch of cookies that her Mom used to make her when she was growing up.  She brought over a few for us the next day, and we bit in.  She knew I was kidding, but I asked if the cookies were meant to be a reward or punishment.  They were a bit … dry.  Of course, dry cookies versus no cookies, the men gobbled them up.

And in the meantime, I set about to right the wrong.  These men need edible cookies!  They had a test on fractions last Friday, so I spent some time this weekend deciding on a new recipe and baking up a batch for Jamie to bring to them today.  When I saw the Chocolate-Cherry Heart Smart Cookies in a recent issue of Cooking Light magazine (January/February 2010), I thought they’d do nicely.  Relatively healthy, tasty, easy to transport and, most importantly, not dry.

Originally I gravitated towards these cookies because Jamie’s favorite are these Chocolate Chunk and Cherry ones.  I thought they would be a nice healthy alternative.  I was wrong.  Aside from the cherry ingredient, they’re really nothing alike.  That being said, if you’re looking for a quick and easy cookie to bake up that you don’t have to feel guilty about … or if you need to reward a bunch of men struggling to pass their GED … give them a whirl.

P.S.  In keeping with one of my Lenten promises, I subbed raisins for the chocolate for this recipe.

Tomorrow?  I teased you with a picture recently and then promptly forgot to tell you about the recipe… Savory Caramelized Onion and Bleu Cheese Breading Pudding is coming your way.

A year ago today … decorating class at Pottery Barn.
Four years ago today … an ARF round-up and one of my favorite vegetarian sandwiches.

Project 365
March 16, 2010, Photo #63

My kids are crazy. And clearly don’t need toys. Madeline absconded with Nick’s laundry hamper and threw it over her head. Then she sat on the ground and told Nick to pull her. Around the house they went, giggling and happily shrieking all the way. Crazy.

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From the time I picked Nick up from school Friday afternoon, until mid-day today, I didn’t leave the house.  This is why.

This is a major intersection downtown. Closed all day. People were actually standing down there, fishing.

A closed exit from a major highway through our downtown.

Pretty picture, right? If only it wasn’t a flooded restaurant parking lot.

The baseball field downtown.

One of our playgrounds downtown.

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