Preface- I had this all typed up the way I wanted it, but stupid internet stopped working, nothing would save, so I'm back to the first draft that did save - and I'm way too dang tired to try to type it up again and can't remember what I had and just want to get it posted and be done with it, since I've been trying to get it posted for three days now. I'm done!
Baby girl is about to hit 3 months and maybe has decided that life is not such a horrible thing. She even gives us smiles and laughs.
So, back to baking. The 2 year old still loves to bake, though he'll pass on it if Dad offers him a lawn mower ride. He is equipped with his own play oven, two aprons and spatula. Everyone says he's going to grow up to be a cook - he did watch Seseme Street for the whole hour for the first time - it may have been because it was a cooking themed Seseme Street. However, if my interests as a two year old predicted what I would've been; I would've been a lion (I remember telling my Mom I wanted to grow up to be a lion).
# 195 Fudgy Macaroon Bars
We've been making a lot of bars lately, they go quicker than cookies.
So my friend, that I hadn't heard from in about four years, called up out of the blue. She had moved back to the cities and is now an Usborne book consultant. Yep, you guessed it, would I host a book party. They are quality books and we ended up getting a lot of books, but they're a little expensive and as a teacher I have access to a lot of quality books for not a whole lot of money. Plus, we already have a ton of books. My biggest thing is I hate hosting these parties. I love having parties and having people over, but I don't want anyone to feel as though they have to buy anything. So I sent out the invites - to about twenty or so people. I got 3 to actually come. No one wants to come to these types of parties. Even my SIL, got an invitation (not from me, but from someone else) - she went because she felt obligated to. I haven't met anyone who actually likes to go or host these tupperware like parties (except maybe the CABI people - those clothes are great - but no one comes to that party when I host it)
Anyways, I made these bars for the Usborne book party. They were wonderful. Brownie type base, coconut middle, brownie topping with a little choc. frosting.
4 squares (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate 1 cup butter
2 cups sugar 1 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs (lightly beaten)
Filling
3 cups coconut 1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla 1/2 tsp almond extract
Topping
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
In a microwave, melt chocolate and butter; stir until smooth. Remove from the hear; cool slightly. Stir in the sugar, flour, salt, vanilla and eggs. Spread half of the batter into a greased 13 X 9 in. pan.
In a large bowl, combine the filling ingredients. Spoon over chocolate layer. Carefully spread remaining chocolate mixture over filling.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until the sides pull away from the pan. Immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips. Allow chips to soften for a few minutes, then spread over bars. Sprinkle with walnuts. Cool completely before cutting.
#196 Lemon Glazed Pecan Slices
Baby girls baptism. Went well. Nothing to report here. These are like lemon bars, but better. As Joan Hallford (the baker from which the recipe came) from Texas says A tart lemon icing pairs well with these decadent bars that resemble pecan pie".
#197 Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
It's the beginning of summer - Memorial weekend up at the cabin.
These cookies are a bit odd - really soft and chewy, but I wonder if they wouldn't be better if they weren't so soft and chewy. How do you make a cookie not so soft and chewy when they are supposed to be soft and chewy.
#198 Rhubarb Custard Bars
MORE RHUBARB - is what Joey kept saying as we had to keep going out to the garden to pick rhubarb. This recipe calls for 5 cups of rhubarb (finely diced) - I'm loving my food processer. You need a lot of rhubarb to make 5 cups worth.
Annual Neighborhood Block party.
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