morning time

The morning view from our deck and from our bedroom window.

inheritance

Usually when you move into a new apartment or house there is something left behind, either purposefully or accidentally. Our condo in Boston had no such treasures as we were the first people to live in it after it was gutted and converted into condos. In Lincoln we found $5 up high on top of the kitchen cabinets, a bottle of cheap champagne in the fridge, and assorted containers hidden behind a drawer. Below are some of the "treasures" we found here in Kansas.


We have two hoses and a sprinkler tractor that drives around watering our grass. Clearly the driver of this tractor must have been on strike due unfavorable working conditions (too hot) because our lawn is brownish and crunchy. Jim managed to get him back to business this morning.

This hidden gem was located in our closet.


ooo, fancy

helping amy

My dear Amy just wrote a lovely entry about one of her students and a giant zucchini. Clearly the previous post on jalapeno cornbread is not going to help her with this larger than average vegetable.

Maybe something here can help...

Simply Recipes is my go to food blog. It is so well organized and you can find anything. Elise, the author, is amazing.

Stuffed zucchini

Zucchini Fritters

Then of course there is Martha who knows every thing about anything including zucchini

Then there is my mother. When I was a kid we had a garden that also produced an enormous amount of zucchini. After making all the fried zucchini, zucchini bread, and anything else should could think of she turned to freezing it. She would shred the massive vegetable and then divide it into the proper amount for a loaf of zucchini bread. Then freeze each section in its own ziploc bag making fresh zucchini bread possible anytime of year.

Amy, make that kindergarten student proud. Bring him a picture of your creation! Actually, knowing you I bet you already have a scrapbook layout in mind.

this might be rushing it

Summer is not my happy time. It's hot and yuck outside. The calendar tells me that Fall is coming up soon. The stores are showing me that it is time for Halloween, I see all that tempting candy. If I had a TV it would show me that it's almost time for football. Oh Fall my love, I'm glad you're on the way. However, the weather outside tells me it's not ready to let up..whatever.

Jalapeno Cornbread


Makes one 10inch round cornbread or
Makes four small loafs or
A vast number of muffins (12)

Ingredients
-1 tablespoon vegetable oil
-4 fresh jalapeno, diced
-6 scallions, white part and green, thinly sliced
-2cups stone ground yellow cornmeal
-1 ½ cups of flour
-2 tablespoons of sugar
-2 tablespoons baking powder
-2 teaspoons salt
-2 eggs
-2 cups light cream, half-and-half, buttermilk, or milk… whatever you like
-1 stick unsalted butter, melted
-1/4 cup cilantro leaves

If you just want regular cornbread take out all the fun stuff (jalapenos, scallions, cilantro) and increase the sugar to 1/4 cup

I only like my spicy food to be slightly spicy, so there is no way I am using 4 jalapenos. Also, I'm not the biggest cilantro fan so I'll cut that out all together.

Directions
1.Pour the oil into a small sauté pan and add the chilies and scallions. Place over medium heat and cook just until slightly wilted, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
2.Set a rack in the middle level of the over and heat to 375.
3.Combine the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl and stir well to mix.
4.In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, cream, butter, the cooked chilies and scallions, and cilantro.
5.Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture all at once and use a large rubber spatula to fold them into the liquid.
6.Scrape the batter into whatever buttered and floured pan you decided to use. Bake until the cornbread is risen and passes the toothpick test. About 3o minutes for the 10 inch round pan, less if you make muffins
7.Let it cool for 5 minutes or until you feel like eating it!
8.Enjoy

sale

I stopped at Boarders to pick up a book for the girls I tutor. I was shocked that no library in Kansas City had a copy of Mouse Paint, that's just wrong. Lincoln, has by far, the best library system of the four states I've lived in.

Anyway, in the vestibule area of Boarders where they pile sale books was my second favorite baking cookbook. Second to Martha's Baking Handbook. It was on deep discount, only $5.99 for a beautiful hardcover book filled with bunches of delicious recipes and pictures. Don't tell Jim, but I bet I've paid more than that in late fees borrowing it from the library.



Happy to finally own it and for such a great price. Only 7 more days until I have a really real kitchen again

8-18-82

I really enjoy birthdays. I mean a celebration all about me, or whoever happens to be having one that day. Today it happens to be me. However, not all my birthdays went the way I hoped they would. Here are some examples...

Once on my birthday I really really wanted it to snow so I wore a turtleneck shirt and a pair of pants (no air conditioning) Sadly wearing snow appropriate close won't make it snow in August.

On your birthday you get to choose what kind of cake you want, right? I mean it's your birthday. I always wanted vanilla cake, vanilla icing, and vanilla ice cream. My mother refused to make it, said it was too boring and no one else would want it. What does that matter for?

It's not like anyone is actually coming! When your birthday is in August in New York no kids come to your party because they are all still at camp. Don't even get me started on mid August in the mid west. Why do you start school so darn early?

Moving on to this year. Jim has decided that the my birthday should be postponed. Can he even decide that? I guess our shabby apartment does not easily lend its self to the carrot cake creating that I demand of him on this occasion. Homemade, double layer, cream cheese frosting, carrot cake takes some space and equipment.

So now I get to pick a new birthday. Just for this year...I hope.

just thinking about it makes me want a big glass of milk

A few people commented on the previous post. Most people I talked to had positive things to say so lets give it a try. No fancy site or pay pal account yet. I'll use the blog, facebook, and my email to manage everything for now. Thanks to Jen, Courtney, and Audrey for being my potential first subscribers/guinea pigs.

The menu -for now -photos to come
Chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate chip cookies with pecans
Double chocolate chip cookies
White chocolate chip cookies with craisins

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies
Oatmeal chocolate chip with coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans (yum!)
Oatmeal butterscotch

Peanut butter cookies
Chocolate Nutella Cookies

Brownies –Chewy and Chocolaty
Regular
Mint
Double chocolate
Turtle (pecans and caramel)
The Blondie -not so chocolaty

Chocolate shortbread bars
Cranberry Bliss Bars (think Starbucks at holiday time)

*Everything is made with really real ingredients like butter, sugar, chocolate, nuts, homemade caramel, etc. No margarine. Everything will be made and shipped on the same day to ensure the best possible freshness.

Subscriptions
3 month $60
6 month $120
9 month $180
12 month $220
All subscriptions include 3 dozen cookies or 24 brownies/bars, shipping, joy in knowing you are helping a baby make it from an orphanage to a home.

What you have to do
Choose your subscription
Decide what you want and when you want service to start
Send me an email at trisha.tylick@gmail.com
Upon receiving your check I'll get started on your order.

Note-September is the first possible month I can send anything out. I don't have a house yet!