Reading, lunches, and the boys' friends.

This morning was 'Breakfast & A Book' again at the boys' school. We all went, and while there, I also gifted their teachers with some cute, homemade goodies (to be shared about in a separate entry). I then walked the halls and gave the rest away to other teachers that happened to be milling about, as well as the entire office staff and the librarian. Then A.J. headed off to class, and Philip and I brought Jack home for a little bit.

The boys had their regular dentist check-ups yesterday, and Jack needed to go back this morning to have some sealants done. He's got the same substantial "grooves" on his molars that A.J. did years ago, and they want to prevent cavities in those grooves by sealing them now. I took him to that appointment, and then back to school before 9:30. While in the office, another teacher was asking me about the goodies, saying she'd already heard about them from several folks. Fun!

Then I went back at 11:00 for my regular Wednesday lunching with the boys. I'd forgotten to look at the school menu, so I had all my fingers crossed that it was something good... TACOS! I can always support tacos. ;-) A.J.'s group of friends was particularly talkative today, and that was fun. I had put a special, sealed bag in his friend Jade's desk early that morning, and she was BEGGING me to tell her what was in it. I shook my head, and promised her it was worth the wait! Then Jack's group of friends is always so much fun, and I love knowing all of them by name, and continuing individual conversations with the kids from week-to-week. Today, I let his friend Noah Dettmer know that I had *just* spoken with his mom and RSVP'd for the fun 'Mystery Theater' birthday party he's throwing this Saturday. He was very excited, and was *fist-pumping* the air. :-)

As I headed to the office, I was stopped by a few more folks, asking about the goodies. I apologized, saying I was now fresh out, but they still wanted to know how to make 'em. Then it became a baking jamboree discussion in the office, and I love that so many are so interested!

A.J. asked if we could head to Borders after school, and I've got a Bath & Body Works birthday giftcard burning a hole in my pocket, as well as a birthday giftcard to Wheatfield's, so... sounds like a plan to me!

Tales From the Kitch.

From the kitchen audiofile library moments ago:

A.J.: Mom, what are these little brown things in the fridge?
Me: They're part of the special dessert I'm making.
A.J.: Do they go with the marshmallow stuff you were doing, too?
Me: Nope, that's a different one.
A.J.: Are they for the cookie cutters we bought?
Me: Nope, that's another one.
A.J.: Wow. Then these must be some REALLY SPECIAL desserts if it's taking you a couple days to make them!

*grins*

I'm in the kitchen, I'm baking up special things, and I'm having loads of fun. Love this! :-)

Silky.

I just made the creamiest chocolate cake batter ever. Seriously. It was just a boxed mix, but dang - it was SO.SMOOTH. coming out of the batter bowl.

I hope it tastes as great as it looks right now. Next, though, I'm going to crumble it all up. ;-)

Cheesecake and brownies and salad, oh my!

It's college season, and that means that several of our peeps at work are heading off for the year. It's my tradition to make a special dessert for anyone leaving, and last week I took in both Patric and Chad's requests.

Chad wanted cheesecake, and that's easy. It feels like I make those all the time. My springform pan is really starting to fritz though (it won't hinge-lock, therefore it's not a tight seal), and while it was baking, I called up my Pampered Chef® consultant and ordered a new one. I made two cheesecakes, and I gave 1.5 of them away, saving just three pieces for us (Philip doesn't like cheesecake). Chad received half of a cheesecake, and it was a TON on the plate. And even though I cut the cakes into eight pieces, they were still too large and too rich to eat in just one sitting - eep! Chad yummed his cheesecake up with strawberry topping, but I like mine plain, thank you.


Classic Cheesecake.

Patric requested Brownie Cookies, which I'd never heard of before. I feared that he would only enjoy a family recipe - "Gram's Trusty Brownie Cookie" - or something of that ilk, but he promised me that anything I came up with would be wonderful and appreciated. So I set about researching recipes. In the end, I settled on a super-rich recipe: Double Fudge Brownies, and then I added three types of chocolate - Hershey's® Special Dark™ (one of those really large bars), a tin of Godiva® Dark Chocolate Pearls™ (about the size of my palm), and Nestlé® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (half a bag). The batter was very thick to work with, and when I scooped out the dough, it looked like I was serving up chocolate ice cream!


Close-up of the scoops.

And the final result, which the author suggests pairing with an ice-cold glass of milk:


Brownie Cookies.

I also made up a batch of Snickers® Apple Salad for Allison. It wasn't her last day, but I have a ton of leftover Snickers bits, and it's so easy to make. I ate a small serving of it, and Philip liked it enough for two bowls' worth, and then I took the rest to work for her to have. I believe she claimed her tastebuds were dancing. ;-)

And now Dan has requested me to make Butterfinger Brownies for him, and also a girl in the National Office has agreed to do a payroll item request for our store, but only IF... and she was very clear on this... I agree to make Peanut Butter Cup Brownies and mail them again!

Pastries!

Like I said, I was giddy with glee that the pastries turned out so well. :-)

First up: Baked Apple Pastries.


Puff pastry layered with homemade pastry creme, fresh apple slices, and topped liberally with cinnamon and sugar.




Next up, I made the pastries I had most been looking forward to. You see, I fell in love with a seasonal item at Panera®, and they haven't brought it back since the fall of '07. But now? Now I don't need them! I can make my own!

Second: Caramel Apple Pastries.


Puff pastry topped with pastry creme, layered with fresh apple slices, dusted with cinnamon & sugar, then liberally coated with caramel sauce. Fresh out of the oven, I sprinkled them with powdered sugar.



The final attempt was Strawberry Pastries. I first baked a few with the berries on, but those didn't turn out so well. They tasted fine, but the strawberries lost their bright color and firmness in the oven, and they just weren't very aesthetically pleasing (hence, no photos). So I baked a couple more without the berries, and as soon as the timer went off, I pulled the hot pastries out and popped the fresh berries into the moist creme in the center. Ta-da!

Third: Fresh Strawberry Pastry.


Puff pastry layered with pastry creme, then topped with fresh strawberries and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Lastly, and not really planned, I baked a couple "plain" Cheese Pastries. I dusted the creme with a bit of cinnamon & sugar before baking, and I took a picture of them alongside the Strawberry ones. A.J. really liked these. :-)



Success! I will definitely be making these again. :-)

I am absolutely giddy that my pastries are turning out smashingly. :-)

I never use this icon anymore.

I just pulled a Devil's Food cake out of the oven. I already made homemade Buttercream frosting for it, and I will frost it as soon as it cools. I've been craving this combo for weeks now, and it will be dessert for tonight.

In other news, I called Philip around noon, and this conversation followed:

Me: Hey, have you eaten your lunch yet?
Him: Yep, why?
Me: Well, I was just wondering if you could bring your lunch dishes home?
Him: Right now??
Me: Yes. Because I just unloaded the dishwasher from last night, and I'm doing another load right now with lunch and cake dishes, and I want to put your leftover dishes in there.
Him: (laughs) Hmmm.
Me: Because making fried chicken for supper makes a LOT of dishes in itself.
Him: (laughs more) I see.
Me: So... yes?
Him: I'd love to, but... I can't. I wish I could for you.
Me: (sighs because I knew that before I called, but I wanted to call anyway) Yeah, I know.
Him: (smiling in his voice) Sorry, honey!
Me: Well, since you're no help at all, I'm gonna finish up this load and get it washing then.
Him: Okey doke.
Me: I'll talk to you later. Love you!
Him: Love you too.
*click*

He emailed me (just as randomly as I originally called him) a few minutes ago to tell me how happy he had been to hear my voice today and how beautiful I looked last night (I wore a jammie that he picked out and that I hadn't worn in many months). I emailed him back, asking if he would be interested in "cake" tonight as well.

He emailed back an enthusiastic reply (*such* a guy!), and he also requested chocolate syrup with his "cake."

Goodness. *shakes head* I think we're in for a sticky night, but he promises he'll clean it all up. ;-)