27 February 2010

What I {Take Credit For} Today

In case you didn't already know...it's Purim!
In case you don't know what Purim is...read about it here.

Basically some guy named Haman (BOOOO!) tried to kill the jews.

Another guy named Mordecai was like "Oh hell no"

A woman, Queen Esther, got to represent for her people (but only got to her position of power cause she was hot and the King's old wife was well...old)

So to celebrate we get dressed in costume, eat preserve filled cookies, and drink until we reveal our innermost selves. 

I'll spare you from a post about the last part and instead share my journey to find a "kick-ass" hamantaschen recipe.

After several days of googling I finally narrowed it down to a few contenders.

All the recipes I could find had the same basic ingredients with slight variances of measurements.

Now some hamantaschens can be cake like (BOOO!)

Some recipe's tried to get all fancy with extracts and zests (BLAAAGH!)

Some recipe's called for oil and others for butter.

Some required water and others eggs.

I wanted a crispy flaky cookie texture. I figured the butter/egg combo would yield those results.

So using my minimal (VERY minimal) knowledge of baking I decided to tweak and combine elements of all the ones I had found into my own mutant hamantaschen recipe.  And they came out perfect! So I'm gonna take credit for it.

So here it is!


Rachel's Kick-ass Mutant Hamantaschen Recipe

Dough:
  • 3 cups flour
  • 3 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup room temp butter (= 1 1/2 sticks for special people like me who have to google things like that)
  • 2 eggs
Filling:
  • Your favorite fruit preserves.  I'm a fan of apricot. I'm also quite lazy so store bought was the direction I went. You could get fancy and make your own but you're gonna have to google that yourself.
Directions:
  1. Sift together  flour, bak pow, and salt. Set aside.
  2. Using mixer cream together sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
  3. Mix in eggs one at a time until combined.
  4. Stir in dry ingredients a little bit at a time until a ball of dough forms.  I gave up on the spoon and used my hands cause I'm just a hands on kinda girl.
  5. Stick in the fridge for a bit.
  6. On a floured surface roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thick. You could go thinner but I hulked out on the thinner batch I made and had to keep starting over.  But don't go too thick or you won't be able to work with them.
  7. Using a cookie cutter or drinking glass, cut into 3 1/2 inch circles.
  8. Place onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or one of those super cool slipmats (which I heart)
  9. Drop 1 tsp of preserves onto each circle. This is a universal rule: ONLY ONE TEASPOON!  Every recipe I read said only one or you will be met with an oozy gooey mess.
  10. Form into triangles.  This is where another great debate occurs.  There are two schools of thought: pinch, pinch, pinch VS. fold, fold, fold.  I opted for fold and I think it payed off.

  11. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 10-15 minutes until golden brown.  The oven I use is crazy hot so 11 minutes was perfect. Just use your best judgment.
  12. Put on a ridiculous costume, drink until you reveal your innermost self, and eat waaaay too many of your freshly baked homemade hamantaschen!  
  
Michelle and Jason's glasses measured exactly 3 1/2 inches.  I was pleased.


If you don't have a slipmat, get one.  You will heart it. I promise.

 
JUST ONE TEASPOON!

. 

fold, fold, fold

 
cheat, cheat, cheat


cool, cool, cool

  
eat, eat, eat!

Happy Purim!

24 February 2010

What I {Watched} Today

As I mentioned previously, Mia is learning to crawl!

Today I watched her do the worm all over the living room.  I caught some of it on video.

My phone can only take video 1 minute at a time.  So there are 3 videos.  

I'm sorry.

I speak in all 3 videos so you have to listen to my obnoxiously high voice. 

Again, I'm sorry.



It's not perfect nor is it the classic definition of a crawl, but she really gets where she wants to and she moves pretty fast.  My day will never be the same.


Post Script - Have you noticed the new feature I added?  Just below each post there's a section for "reactions".  Since no one likes to leave comments except Mags (thanks Mags), I figured I'd make it easier for you.  You can anonymously check off a reaction.  Although I do know that SOMEONE has figured out this feature as they labeled one of my posts as "lame".  So thanks for that.  I don't need/want comments all the time but when I ask you a question I want answers! 

SO... 

Why do you suppose monkeys and other animals develop  so much faster physically than humans and humans develop so much faster intellectually?

20 February 2010

Que J'ai {Mangé} Aujourd'hui

For my non francophile friends out there...

What I {Ate}Today

Earlier today Michelle was sitting in traffic and looked to her right.  She saw an unassuming brick building she had never glanced at before today.  Upon further inspection she discovered that she was looking at a French Bakery. 

She called me.

I googled.

We went.


It was so authentic and SO delicious!

I started with the tomato basil soup.  It was killer.

Michelle went with the caesar salad with homemade caesar dressing.  Killer as well.

Then I got the Panini Poulet.  There was chicken, tomatoes, a ton of melted brie, and this red onion spread. I cried a little it was so good.

Michelle got the Croque Madame.  It had turkey, sauce bechamel, cheddar cheese, and a fried egg on top.  I think she cried a little too.

After lunch we were dragged by some invisible force over to the bakery section.  There we purchased some goodies to bring home so we could devour them like dogs in the comfort of our own home.


Hello my loves.



These pictures could keep me from ever feeling hungry again.


Bonjour Tiramisu!


Je t'aime Strawberry Shortcake!


Zut alors! Pain au chocolat!


Oh la la...la baguette!  When we bought this it was still warm from the oven.  We flipped the baguette around in the bag trying to pretend we hadn't already ripped into it in the car.  It was so crispy on the outside, chewy and soft on the inside.  The bag smelled like France. 


ughughughughugh


Just look away.


I quickly set down the camera and Michelle and I destroyed this plate.  It was barbaric.  But so delicious.

In addition to gorging ourselves on food we went to a stationary shop and found these cool rings made from vintage buttons. We wanted them all.  We used some self control and bought three...each.  So we can share!


They were on sale! Can you really blame us?  These are the three I picked.


Please pardon my dry, un-manicured, freckled hands.


These are the three Michelle picked.


I heart them.


In unrelated news... Mia is learning to crawl!


She gets up on her hands and knees


and rocks back and forth...back and forth.  The legs know whats up.  The arms just aren't there yet.  It's a work in progress.


Apparently this baby looked super cute today.

I think it was the footwear.


Post Script : Mia is wearing a headband by Katie of blueeyedfreckle.  She makes FANTASTIC headbands for adults too. I have one. I heart it.  You should have one too. She also has a blog about all of the amazing things she makes.  She is incredibly talented so check her out!

14 February 2010

What I {Love} Today

My parents.
so lacey. 
so 70s. 
so lovely.

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20 January 1974
I'm the same age as my dad is in this photo. Creepy.

My siblings.


Yes, even the faux ones.


These Valentine's.





They make me kind of anxious.  I think that's why I love them.

Puppies.



Rhinestones.

The Olympics.

American Idol.
My boss.


My friends.

Sushi.

My red shoes.

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Laughing.

My hobby.

My bestie.

This lotion.  Seriously it smells that good. 

The cookies I baked.
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My heart socks.

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Getting flowers from a boy.  Well, one boy in particular...

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My life.

and of course...you.

Happy Valentine's Day Darling!

11 February 2010

What I {Started} Today

My biz-nass!

I'm sorry I'll never do that again.

But really, my Etsy site is up and running! Yaaaayyyy!


Do you know any babies?

Want to put things on their head?


Do you have a head of your own?

Want to put a headband on it?

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Well then please check out racheldid!

Who made that?

Rachel did.

Get it???

I'm going to make other stuff as well I just haven't been able to get them up there yet.

Oh and become a fan on FB!

Please and Thank You.
P dot S dot Can anyone make a banner and logo for my page for me?? My faux bro was supposed to be working on it...I won't hold my breath! I can't pay you much. I'd prefer to pay you nothing...just let me know!

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