Homemade Desserts and Butter Pudding

   

Here is a dangerous website to visit if you are hungry in the morning like I am.  This is an expat blog writing in Poland happiness-is-homemade.com/tag/breakfast/ I love this blog because its just jam packed with polish food pictures and hash tags to get you roaming around the blog.  Pictures like Savoury bread and butter pudding (Chleb zapiekany w jajku)  and Avocado & goat cheese sandwich / Kanapka z awokado i kozim serem.  I love the polish names for all the food she displays, it just rips of your tongue and makes you want to eat more.

Here's another blog if you are a big foodie, like I am www.davidlebovitz.com/  I wrote a blog post about David's popular book a while back and it became one of my most popular post so I was just as surprised to find that he has a blog on his famous French cuisine.  David Lebovitz is always writing about the comparison between American's and the French which I like because he's so funny and his comparisons are always right on.  This is what he writes in a post about desserts.  Americans bake to relax or as a hobby – in France, it’s something you do because, well…you need a dessert. They don’t make a big fuss about it or are all that concerned about appearances. I think people know they can’t compete with the professional pastry shop on the corner, so they’re just content to make what they feel will be fine for their guests.

Happy New Year

Remembering my year in 2014

I did yoga today.  You know what yoga is; downward dog and plank's pose that goes along with stretching every muscle in your body.  But today our Teacher told us to meditate take two long breaths and along with it think of two things that happened every month this year.  Those things could have been things like successes or challenges.  "Its important to reflect and take time to give yourself achknowledement for what you have done throughout the year." she said.

This is a list of my 24 things that happened to me throughout 2014
Breath in, Breath out

1.      Went to eat at my favorite restaurant Ocean (an Asian restaurant) three times

2.      Raced some people on the side roads

3.      someone passed

4.      Zahdi came to United States

5.      spent more time outside sitting on porch people-watching

6.      bought new used car by myself including loan etc

7.      found out my brother was moving out

8.      grandma passed on, I miss her tremendously

9.      helped someone

10.  read a big gigantic book called Little Friend by Donna Tartt

11.  read another big book called The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

12.  helped a friend get a job at a hospital

13.  went to Duluth

14.  Lost my $400 damage deposit to a woman who is a bad landlord and got it back by being assertive.

15.  Went to gym 12 times in a month

16.  Did some things I planned in October

17.  Helped My mom

18.  Said some heartbreaking words to people that I regret

19.  Took some people with disabilities to countless amounts of plays and outings

20.  Got recognized

21.  Lost two jobs

22.  Gained two jobs

23.  Found out that I am somewhat stubborn

24.  Enjoyed December holiday this year more than I have in the past 15 years.

 

Buttermilk Butter Berry Crumb Cake

Its hard to find blogs that really strike you but I think I found one today
www.mowielicious.com/ .  This blog is really the most elaborate, most detailed, most gorgeous dessert baking blog I came across today.  Mowie Kay, the writer, out does himself with huge handmade food houses made out of cashews, walnuts and dried fruits, as well as coffee cakes and loafs of bread.  Mowie Kay is a travel photographer which obviously adds to his delightful food writing posts.  His posts are published in magazines across London and beyond and you can tell why: shimmering gold touches are added to platters and spreads.  Colorful holiday backgrounds to add to the setting he's trying to establish in her pictures.


www.sproutedkitchen.com, I like this blog because along with the beautiful pictures of sprouts and beat salad recipes are long, extensive stories that describe the writer's life outside of just cooking.  I walk away feeling like I'm with the writer, Sara Forte,  on her journey to and fro her relative's homes, to her favorite shops to buy the food for her famous recipes, to get-togethers with her friends, and thinking about her loved one's who are sick.  Here is a recipe called Buttermilk Butter Berry Crumb Cake

Down the Twirly, Swirly List of Decadent Recipes.

Down the twirly, swirly list of decadent recipes.

http://www.cakespy.com/  by Jessie Oleson Moore writes a very cute site, the writer finds herself to be a detective seeking sweetness in everyday life.  She puts little cartoon smiley faces on most of her  desserts giving real emotion to your favorite dessert.  Here are the surprises that I found today and desserts I never heard of: and a few that I may or may not ever try including chocolate avocado pie, mini coconut pancakes, breakfast nainamo bars. 

www.wednesdaychef.typepad.com  Here is a great dessert blog by Luisa Weiss.  Much of Weiss desserts are from Berlin and one dessert recipe is called Yotam Ottolenghi's Raspberry Meringue Roulade dessert. Luisa also has desserts recipes like Dimply Plum cake and Better Than Robert Redford.  I love the fact that she includes the Robert Redford dessert because I have written many stories on the beloved cake including My Momma Makes it Better documenting my experiences with the cake. I guess its more than the name of the cake that attracts me.  There is also a Ukrainian Honey Cake recipe on her site as well.  Overall the blog is very nice.   I love how the writer decides she's going to go about the art of baking  I've been struck by the baking bug that shows up so reliably each year when the sticky, swollen days of summer come.

Sweet Side of Zumba

      
Yesterday, it was Zumba. We danced to I'll be There in Spanish


Here are some great Zumba Hindi songs as well

Writer's tips

       Writer's tips in Global Dig


1.When writing an historical novel you have to think of every last detail of truth even down to a spy character taking a casual picture with a tourist and the possible change in the spy's future from taking that picture.  You have to think of the things like whether certain trains would have been running in that time period and what would have been their routes or if the empire state building could have been seen from the distance that you had that character see it.


2.In a story, even a minor character's exchanges need to be specific.  You can't just say the tickets were given if there was no one in the scene to give the tickets.


3.  Body language in a scene is very important with a memorable character.  A character's actions need to be over emphasized on the paper whether its their reaction to another character's words or their drastic movements.

      












Writing Prompt:
Capture Life's Memories

Do I capture them with a camera
OR with my facebook App?
I'm not sure which memomies will do.
I'm not sure which Mark Zuckerberg will approve of.


South Minneapolis

      


We come to cut the grass:Unlikely things I will never do:

I won't become a Champlain so that I can pick up dirty diapers and heroine syringes off the church parking lot.
I won't shovel snow for the same reason either.
 I won't be an ear doctor for an ear load of crap or pick out some one's dirty dentures.
 No I won't play an accordion for a arm load of stone deaf seniors.
 I can't do that and I won't.

There are some things we can't imagine other professionals doing.

Do lawyers have to listen to lies from shady-old-two timers who secretly sell crack?
Do catholic preachers secretly take naps in the confession corners while confessors are picking their teeth?
Are those garbage drivers secretly hitting it off with dumpster divers? 

How to Eat a Cupcake

      


I'm reading this novel called How to Eat a Cupcake by Meg Donohue and there is a really great section where a woman asked her fiancé to picture their lifetime together.  I attached that great section below:




I see brunches and the Sunday Times.  I see us butting heads over the current state of world affairs and enthusiastically creatively making up all over the house.  I see myself dragging you to a lot of movies starring Will Ferrell, and I see you dragging me to a lot of movies that involve more reading than watching.  I see myself pillaging your brilliant brain time and time again for answers to any number of business conundrums that I'll face along the way of building this company.  I see us traveling-scuba in the Galapagos, island hopping off the coast of Croatia, eating our way through Asia.

      

 
A Short Story called:
Question of the Week

"Can I help you?" said the service lady
"Oh yeah. I got this Rug." Shirley said.
"So I see."
Shirley lifts up a flowered rug scrubbed dirty with yellow curry lentils, peppers and tomatoes.  The service lady nodded. 
She seen it all.  The putrid and the bare.  The vomit colored laundry, the Saturday after a Friday night next to an Indian restaurant.  And she had to bare it all.  Shaking her head, the service lady pointed to the gigantic tumbler which was big enough for a bike, a large storage rack and a few other miscellaneous items.

America's Best Pancakes and Cupcakes

     


At a time of the year when I want to take the stress off of moving, I turn to the best pancake and cupcake blogs. 


http://coleensrecipes.blogspot.com/2011/06/best-pancakes-ever.html- This writer has a great peanut butter cake recipe and the biggest pancakes I've ever seen.


http://www.jimspancakes.com/ a blog on the art of making great pancakes.


http://thefrostedcupcakes.blogspot.com/ great cupcake blog, also has an easy recipe for making great frosting for Georgetown Cupcakes Salted Caramel Cupcakes.

      

Short Story

Short Story on the Woman State Trooper   

"Please make it, please make it!" I said.

"Damn, Damn, Damn you f-ing car."  I hit it, hoping that it would move but it did not.

It never did.

It was the first time the car had died on the highway though, and it was the first time that I got a woman state trooper.

"Excuse me, Excuse me" said the Trooper taping on the window. "What are you doing?"

"Well I'm just waiting for someone to help."  I said, opening the door.

She stepped back in alarm, seeing that I did not open the window like I should have.

"Well, you can't wait here" she said blocking my steps towards her.  Her hand brushed the side of the yellow pistol in her holder.  

"Well, my husband is coming to get me." I said frantically.

"Well your husband can't stop here either,"  she stated in loud exasperation.  The hair from her bun tilted gently as she gave me a closer look. 

I didn't look much the part of a professional driver.  I still had my yoga pants on from the gym which were squeezed inside a furry pair of brown camisole boots and I had on a black sundress tucked under a Sean John overcoat.  She must have felt I was a batty because she began barking something into her walkie: codes that were unrecognizable.

223 on I-94 to route 394.

"Triple A can come and get me." I managed to say gaining some confidence after I noticed her paying more attention to the cars merging around mine.  

(will continue)

The Show Must Go On:Zumba 101

      
This post is thanks to another day at Dance Zumba class.  We danced to more Hindi songs and got our groove on.  Our instructor asked if we want to change from our routine Tuesdays at 9:30am to Tuesday 1:30, for which we all explained "No!"
  Do you know how hard it is to get the gym at 1:30 in the afternoon? When your day has already been done and started by then.


Zumba-my club team-Indian Music

Dum Dum Dum mast hai: The bollywood Class of Myoga Master Krish 
Dance dhamaka for DOOKUDU Poovai Poovai song at Dinaz Somajiguda  Dance dhamaka for DOOKUDU Poovai Poovai song at Dinaz somajiguda

Messy Kitchen

      

 

What makes a messy kitchen?  Well,  Culinary Arts College helped me find out.  Listed on this webssite are great Parisian Food Blogs.

 

 

www.doriegreenspan.com  Dorie writes a great Gingerbread baby recipe.This blog obviously explores the Parisian kitchen.  You begin to wander what makes a parisian kitchen, brass cooking pans for one, as is suggested on her cover page. 

 

 

www.bakeinparis.blogspot.com Kris writes a blog all about Parisian food and he has layered cakes as well as lemon cheese cake with caramelized cumquats, and orange tian, (of course french Tiramisu), chocolate and passion fruit lamingtons, caramel cake with caramelized butter frosting and Dobos Torta.There's something about layered cakes that I love. I don't care what's in between the layers as long as it isn't a surprise like some cakes that hide the flavoring right in the middle so that you don't know what your getting into by the time you get there.  Like a big gush of blueberry in the middle of a cake, no thanks!

 

 

 

 

Endangered Features:The Art of Baking from Scratch

After seeing the early emerging signs of the chocolate holiday ahead aka Valentine's day.  I wanted to do some research on the best chocolate blogs and see what makes chocolate blogs unique.

www.lakechamplainchocolates.com  I congratulate this business blog by Lake Champlain Chocolates and a post entitled spread chocolate cheer. 

Don't mind if I do..  I think, gazing out at their beautiful boxes of chocolate and an arrangement  of row upon row of chocolates I never seen before.  I'm like Forest Gump thinking life is like a box of chocolates you never know what your going to get.


http://www.chocablog.com This blog is unique in that it has exactly what I was looking for a chocolate tier dessert.  Now why am I looking for a tier dessert well after watching the movie The Departed there was a scene for which Matt Damon is eating a elegant tier dessert with his co-star Vera Farmiga and I was like I got to see more tier desserts.

 So here is one called chocolate-mille-feuille/ on this blog.  Here is another tier dessert called dalek-chocolate-cake wow very tall, its like the Eiffel tower version of a chocolate cake. 

If those blogs weren't enough for you William Curley has this business website called William Curley Pattisier Chocolatier and it has the most couture chocolates I've ever seen.  Chocolates with big chocolaty ribbons that loom over pastries like big waterfalls.

www.chocolateandzucchini.com This blog by Clotilde is absolutely amazing because it has all kinds of chocolates mixed with other food combinations that you never thought possible.  Coussin-de-lyon/ is a chocolate pillow dessert popular in France.

 It reminds me of desserts that I used to eat long ago at my Grandmother's house. I come from a long line of women who only eat desserts from scratch, (not box cakes and such) so I would love to come back to this blog and learn some more about the art of baking from scratch. 

 I like the fact this blog also has a vertical Paris garden wall.  I've never seen anything like it.  The writer also has a Chocolate-and-pistachio-surprise-cake-recipe

Eat, Drink and be Merry:You May Diet

   

Veggies have made an appearance in my life but like most American dishes they are put as an aside veggies like corn, carrots and broccoli  which have been put on my plate just for the purpose of saying I ate a veggie.  Here are some great blogs that emphasize veggies versus just throwin' them on the plate

www.veggierunners.com has  a veggie feta cheese pizza.  Now I don't eat pork but would l would still like to jazz up my pizza without having to return to the boring plain cheese pizza. 

Europeans love vegetable stock and here's a great soup from Kate Ford's blog  www.thevegspace.wordpress.com called hot and sour mushroom soup .  She also has a recipe for  

Chana Masala.

www.theppk.com This is very approachable vegetarian blog by Chandra.  It has recipe called rice paper roll with red curry peanut sauce- I'm in love with peanuts more than ever after making a peanut and veggie rice dish. Chandra also has a chana-masala   recipe.  Now ever since I've been shopping at the indian market on Central in Minneapolis, I've fallen in love with any form of orange masala and I will get to the bottom of replicating the to-go dishes they have at this Indian market even if it kills me,lol. Here's one last kale recipe .

When Home Feels like a Revolving Door

   


When home feels like a revolving door its nice to be able to explore food that can be made fast online. I like a few  food blogs in particular because their recipes can be made fast.  A lot of food recipes online will say that they are fast but then they require 20-30 ingredients.  I don't think that is fast.  Or they will say they are fast and then require you to use a food processor or blender which takes 15 minutes to clean.  These food blogs don't put you through that work.  Its my belief that when you can learn to cook easy and fast, you can learn to cook exquisite and great meals too.


www.iamafoodblog.com   Stephanie Le writer of this blog has a coconut almond rice krispie recipe and a 15 minute doughnut recipe. Also a two minute chocolate mug cake recipe.  isn't that the coolest thing ever! In two minutes you could be serving yourself a chocolate cake in a glass. These recipes are easy enough even for me!  

http://weelicious.com/ This is another great blog if your in the habit to search for the ingredients you have and work for their in order to throw together a great meal.

 

Housing Vs the Elements