Thoughtful Spot

A Party Without Cake. . .?

On St. Paddy's Day, we celebrated MamaNana's birthday. . .with three cakes.

Trying to be sensible, we limited ourselves to three cakes. . .nothing more. . .oh, wait, there was ice cream (chocolate chip mint - yum).

There were the dairy-free cake pops. . .

And the gluten-free chocolate torte. . .

And the bad cake. . .almond-scented white cake (not for those with dairy, wheat, or nut allergies).

Little Lori (who is 23) baked ALL day on Saturday.

Home-made cakes scented the house for a full twelve hours.

Heaven will smell like a house baking cakes. Somewhere in Heaven, i'm sure of it. 

Hello Dolly

i mean this Dollie. . .

Have you met this rich, old-fashioned dessert?  I was introduced Sunday afternoon, when the house was quiet and something sweet and simple was just what  a winter afternoon in January called for. . .Pinterest is so obliging.

Hello Dollies

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups graham crackers (about 8 crackers),crushed
1 cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (or pecans)
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk

Prepare a 9 X 10 baking dish.

Pour melted butter into the dish.

Sprinkle with graham cracker crumbs, mix well, and pat to fit the bottom of the dish.

Layer the next three ingredients.

Drizzle with the sweetened condensed milk.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Enjoy (but lace up those gym shoes for an extra trip on the elliptical!)

12/12/12

                                  ~One Dozen Donuts by Larry Preston

    Today is 12-12-12, the last major numerical date using the Gregorian or Christian calendar for almost another century. The next time three numbers will align (as they did on 9-9-09, 10-10-10 and 11-11-11) will be January 1, 3001, or 1-1-1.

    My friend Pamela is celebrating by Listing 12's on Facebook , like this. . .

12 men have walked on the moon
12 face cards in a deck of cards
12 inches in a foot
12 donuts in a dozen
12 hours on a clock
12 dozens in a gross
12 tribes of Israel
12 disciples
12 days of Christmas
12 men/women on a jury
12 cranial nerves
12 pence in a shilling
. . .can you think of more?

Meanwhile, how shall I celebrate such an auspicious occasion?  12 should be part of the equation. Mmm, thinking.

Broad Spheres of Gold. . .Fruit of the Tangled Vine

Ah! on Thanksgiving day, when from East and from West,
From North and from South comes the pilgrim and guest;
When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board
The old broken links of affection restored;
When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more,
And the worn matron smiles where the girl smiled before;
What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye,
What calls back the past, like the rich Pumpkin pie?
                ~John Greenleaf Whitter, The Pumpkin, 1850 

Nutter Butter Acorns

~lovely photo found at laurasici on flickr

 
These make me so happy. Won't you come over for tea tomorrow and help me make (and consume) of these lovelies?

i need the company - and the tea - you see, because i somehow thought it clever to line up all of my annual doctors' visits for tomorrow morning. what.was.i.thinking.

i found the Recipe over at Six in the Suburbs last fall and made them with my little neice.

1. Melt ½ bag of Mini-Chips {5 second interval in the microwave, stirring really well each time}

2. Dip the flat end of the Hershey’s Kiss into melted chocolate and top with a bite-size Nutter Butter.

3. Dip the flat end of a Mini-chip into the melted chocolate and stick it to the NutterButter.

4. Share with a friend, or a favorite neice, with tea in the garden listening to the Oaks scattering their load of acorns like shrapnel and watching the Dance of the Leaves (comes but once a year).

 Hope to see you there!

Chunky Monkey Banana Bread

For breakfast. . .with whipped cream. . .before going to the gym. . .and i wonder why i don't lose weight. . .*sigh*

i used a recipe similar to the one below from Barbara Bakes. Mine was from an old church cookbook. Delicious on its own, but so many possibilities! Toast a slice and spread with peanut butter. Or use a slice to make French Toast. omigoodness.

The Recipe

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 eggs, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coarsely smashed (chunky) very ripe banana (about 3 small)
1 6 oz. package semi-sweet chocolate chunks
1 cup walnuts, toasted, cooled, chopped

Preheat oven to 350º (325^o for metal pan)

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.

Cream the sugar and butter. Add sour cream, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl; beat until well blended. Stir in bananas. Add flour mixture to banana mixture, stirring just until moistened. Mix in chocolate chunks and nuts.

Spoon batter into an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 3-inch loaf pan coated with baking spray with flour. Bake for 1 hour and 5 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan, and cool completely on a wire rack before cutting.

 

Honey Bears Welcome

I woke up thinking about honey and honey bees today. 
Perhaps channeling my inner Pooh (bear, that is).

The search is on for honey-bear recipes.
If you stop by, won't you be so kind as to leave a clue? Thank you.

If you make it in time for tea,
I'll pour a cup for you!