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Diet, Dessert and DogsDiet, Dessert and DogsWeight loss musings, healthy food and baking recipes, and comments from my dogs. 
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Sweet Things (Times Three)
2008-08-17 16:20:00 [Sweet Potato and Ginger Salad--recipe below.] Ah, yes, life is sweet. Not so much in the “I’m a celebrity, I haven’t a care in the world, I’m revoltingly rich, beautiful and vacuous” kind of way; but more in the “every which way I turn I see or think ’sweet,’ most recently the chocolate chip blondies I devoured last week” kind of way. Also in the “I’m finally finished marking for the semester and it feels so sweet to be able to breathe for a few days before it all starts up again next week” kind of way. But I wouldn’t want to forget the “blog readers are truly some of the sweetest people in the world and the principal reason I’m so thrilled to be back here and blogging again” kind of way, either. I have to tell you, as a rule, I consider myself pretty lucky in the friends department. I mean, I’ve made some really great pals over the years (in fact, I’ve known... More About: Times , Things
Pre-Blog Entry Blog Entry
2008-08-14 15:42:00 Just poking my head in now that I finally see an end to all this work. I wish I could tell you I’ve been away so long because I’ve been galavanting in Europe, or galavanting in Australia, or even galavanting in the Muskokas–but nay. Sadly, I’ve just been entangled by a monstrous pile of assignments to mark. Have you seen the movie The Brother From Another Planet? Well, right about now, think of me as that brother, at the instant he tumbles from the sky and lands on Earth. It’s sort of like that spacey feeling you get after shopping in a huge mall for hours at a time. You know the one: you’re moving at breakneck speed–say, during the holidays–and you’ve been searching all afternoon but still can’t find anything for Aunt Miranda or cousin Sheila or baby Pookie. And then you finally realize you haven’t eaten in, like, four hours and your legs are weak and the air is somehow thinner than usual and it&rsquo... More About: Blog , Entry
Wait No Longer: Sweet Potato, Quinoa and Black Bean Bites
2008-08-01 16:24:00 [Ooh, look at those widdy bits of black bean and sweet potato in there! Who could resist?] Even as I slog through my pile of assignments and tests, I’ve been sneaking in here to read everyone’s comments, with much gratitude. Thanks so much for the “ooomph” I need to complete all this work, and your wonderful support! You are THE BEST. And since my willpower for staying away from the blog is about as good as my willpower for staying away from chocolate, here I am again–but only today, and then it’s back to the books. Why am I popping in, you ask? Well, since so many of you asked about these squares, it felt shameful to keep you waiting for a recipe that isn’t even mine! Those Sweet Potato , Quinoa and Black Bean Bites that people are drooling over (and which I ate for breakfast the other day, heated up–divine!), are an easy-peasy adaptation of this recipe. I basically followed the recipe verbatim, though my version of b... More About: Wait
Hi–and Hiatus
2008-07-28 04:41:00 For those of you who drop by DDD regularly, you may have noticed that the frequency of my posts has slowed down considerably of late. Well, once again, it’s that time of the semester when I’m deep into a marking blitz and consequently feel as if I’m neglecting this blog. That, paired with an impromptu visit from the CFO this past weekend, and I’m more behind than I’d like to be (to say nothing of having more “behind” than I’d like to have). And while I find it frustrating to be sitting on a plethora of photos patiently waiting for blog entries to accompany them, rather than post in haste, I will instead reluctantly bid you adieu for a short while (to return post-haste) as I scramble to complete the work and write up several entries I’m dying to share with you all. I’ll still be reading all your blogs, however (wouldn’t want to eliminate all my blog-related pleasures during this period!). I can’... More About: Hiatus
Flash in the Pan: Mex-Ital Tofu Scramble
2008-07-24 03:36:00 [I've decided to offer a mini-post every once in a while, for a dish that comes together incredibly quickly, or else is so easy to make that no recipe is required. Here's today's "Flash in the Pan."] [Non-salsa version] Oooh. . . I’m feeling the crunch. I wish I could say that’s the “crunch” of a lovely rice crisp-filled chocolate bar or the crunch of ice in a gin and tonic as I lounge by a pool, or even the crunch of my feet as they traverse a lovely woodsy trail with The Girls, but no; the crunch I am experiencing is the crunch of marking as the semester nears its end. And now that we’ve reached this critical juncture in the term, I’m afraid I won’t be able to post as often as I’d like, at least for a couple of weeks. I did discover that I’ve got quite a few photos from previous cooking adventures, however, patiently waiting for posts, so I’ll try to clear out some old files over the next while as I simultane... More About: Tofu
Mrs. K’s Date Cake
2008-07-21 03:09:00 Recently, the HH and I spent a couple of evenings with my old friend Phil, first in Montreal and then again here in Toronto. It was wonderful to see an old friend with whom I share so much history (we’ve known each other since we were both 15). She’s supported me through high school angst, sweet sixteens, no date for the prom, moving away to attend university, my first real boyfriend, moving to Toronto to attend graduate school, my starter marriage, my traumatic divorce, my first house purchase, and finally, meeting the HH and “adopting” The Girls. The list of events on her side to which I was witness is similar (minus the divorce and plus a couple of children). And yet the strange thing is, when we get together, we rarely talk about the past. It’s more than just deference to the two men in our lives (who weren’t around when we experienced the early Phil-and-Ricki escapades, and who only made each other’s acquaintance at the tail ... More About: Cake
Minted Peach and Corn Salad
2008-07-19 04:30:00 There are certain food combinations that strike one as just so naturally compatible, you couldn’t imagine them any other way. Consider the seminal chocolate and peanut butter, for instance: could there be a happier marriage of sweet, salty, creamy, smooth, and enticing? Or what about vodka and orange juice, or pancakes and maple syrup, or french fries and gravy, or macaroni and cheese, or apple and cinnamon or–I could go on. On the other hand, it’s always gratifying to discover alternate matches that may seem bizarre at first glance, yet actually work once you give them a try (funny, why did the HH suddenly come to mind?) When I was an undergraduate at the University of Windsor, my wacky room mate had a friend who ate her pizza with peanut butter where the tomato sauce should have been. She swore it tasted great (I declined to sample a slice). During my childhood in Montreal, my friend Gemini II used to eat liver sandwiches with cream cheese (again,... More About: Corn , Salad , Peach
Ten Photo Meme
2008-07-17 23:52:00 I must say, I never expected my little apple butter sauce to cause such a stir (no pun intended–oh, all right, pun intended). It always amazes me which blog entries elicit a strong reaction while others, like Andy Garcia, might be on par with their (more popular) contemporaries, but for some reason still don’t garner the recognition I think they deserve. I’m glad so many of you liked the idea of apple butter in a BBQ sauce on tempeh. (And now the pressure’s on to create some other ostensibly innovative or creative recipe for my next blog entry. . . . collard cake? Turnip pasta? Eggplant cookies ?–oh, forgot, I actually did create that one). Well, I’ve got nothing on the cutting board at the moment, so I’m afraid it will have to wait just a bit. You see, I’ve been spending a lot of time at my computer recently, working on that pile of papers and online course work. Mostly, I’ve been feeling frustrated because (a) ... More About: Meme , Photo
Sweet and Spicy Tempeh
2008-07-14 23:49:00 After the HH and I had been dating for about four months and he’d already passed the “willing to tolerate my multiple quirks and neuroses” test, I decided it would be acceptable for him to finally meet my family and old friends in Montreal. I cajoled coerced begged invited him to join me one weekend as I headed east. We arranged to stay at the CFO’s place, to visit with the rest of the family, to attend a dinner party at my friend Babe’s, and to spend the remainder of our time sight-seeing; the plans were all set. And then, during the drive across the highway, the HH contracted some bizarre, sci-fi worthy flu virus and ended up spending the entire visit in bed–febrile, congested, inflamed and sullying tissue after tissue with unsavory bodily fluids. My relatives encountered a slightly dazed, highly medicated, Rudolph-nosed guy who didn’t make the greatest impression (he’s made up for it since). Ever since that snifflin... More About: Sweet , Spicy
Zucchini and Pineapple Mini Loaves
2008-07-12 05:04:00 You know, there are days when I just marvel at how much my life has been enriched by joining the world of blogging. I’m amazed at how many positive experiences this little outlet for self-expression, culinary creativity and the occasional star-struck reference to my favorite soap opera has brought my way. At the forefront, of course, is YOU–the readers and commenters. What an inspiring group of compassionate, intelligent, witty and loyal people you are! Thank you for coming back here on a regular basis; thank you for your thoughtful comments (I am, literally, thrilled every time I see one appear at the end of a blog entry–and they keep me coming back here, too); and thank you for your feedback and knowledgeable advice (I’m so excited to start cooking from my recently-acquired cookbooks, courtesy of your suggestions–yay Crescent Dragonwagon!). Truly, a blog is a sorry, desolate place without its readers. Along the way, I’ve also disco... More About: Pineapple , Mini , Zucchini
Warm Dandelion-Potato Salad
2008-07-09 18:14:00 To me, summer means potato salad season. And coleslaw season, and watermelon season, and ice cream season, and gin and tonic season. . . but primarily, potato salad season. So, quick: when you think of potato salad, what type do you think of? Well, there are the “smooth and creamy potato salad” people. There are the “tangy, vinegary potato salad” people. There are the “small cubed potatoes potato salad” people and the “big, honkin’ chunks of potato potato salad” people. There are the “grilled potatoes potato salad” people. And there are even the “radishes and potatoes potato salad ” people (an iteration I’d never encountered before this summer). And moi? I like ‘em all. The HH is a huge fan of potatoes in any form, prepared using any cooking method and dressed with any and all toppings or seasonings (unfortunately, his sole requirement is that they be plated alongside a pie... More About: Salad , Potato
Dog Day: Dog Days of Summer
2008-07-08 02:39:00 The Girls love the glorious sunshine and heat, but spending too much time frolicking outside can take its toll. . . . ["Oh, Mum, I just adore summer--especially getting sprayed by the garden hose!"] ["Really, Chaser, how puerile. Personally, I prefer to keep my distance from the hose and hang here by Dad's foot."] ["Ooooh. . . maybe I have overdone it, just a bit. . .just need to rest here a minute under the patio furniture. . . "] ["It IS beginning to feel rather hot out here about now, I must admit."] ["Ah, thanks for letting me in, Mum. It's much better here in the house, on these cool ceramic tiles. . . "] ["Zip it, Chaser, I'm trying to sleep. "] More About: Summer , Days
The Dirt on Cleansing
2008-06-08 22:08:00 For those of you who read my blog regularly, you know that I’m on a cleansing diet this week, an outgrowth of the Total Health course I’ve been taking for the past month and a half. Well, I hadn’t intended to post yet another non-recipe entry this week, but since I’ve received quite a few questions about why I’ve chosen this particular cleanse and how it works, I thought it might be useful to share a bit about cleansing in general and my own choice for this week in particular. I’ll warn you, though: what follows is a fairly long post (word count: 2443). If you’re simply interested in the food I’ve been eating, I’ll post that later–so feel free to come back then! [Please note: This is a condensed and somewhat simplified account of the process, based on what I learned while studying to become a nutritionist, my own reading on the topic, and my personal experience with cleanses over the past five years. It is by no m... More About: Dirt , Cleansing
Prufrock Special*
2008-06-07 05:05:00 *Or, Do I Dare To Eat a Chilled Peach Soup? Well, I’ve just completed my second day on my Total Health cleanse, also known as the Grain Drain. (I must interject here just to say thank you to everyone for your great comments, suggestions and encouragement–I am truly blown away by all the positive wishes and love hearing from you all. And it makes a huge difference to know that the support is out there!) After two days of eating this way, I’m feeling a tad self-reproaching. You see, so far, I’ve found the diet nowhere near as difficult as I’d anticipated. In fact, it’s been downright easy–one might go so far as to call it enjoyable, even. (I know–I was shocked, too!) I mean, what could be wrong with a fresh and juicy Earth Bowl for breakfast? Or a classic Three-Bean Salad for lunch? In order to keep my blood sugar levels steady, I’ve been munching on nuts and seeds, baby carrots, prunes (or, as they’re now cal... More About: Special
Dog Day: No Food Today
2008-06-06 04:45:00 No food today, my love has gone away. . . No, not really (well, unless you count chocolate going away). However, today’s blog title is a bit of a double entendre: first, since today was Day One of my detox regimen (no wheat, animal products, sugar; and NO GRAINS), I do somehow feel as if I’ve had no “real” food yet (though I must admit, I actually ingested a fair amount); second, as a result of today’s overcast, dreary, and very glum weather, I have no food to share with you all on the blog. Oh, I prepared something, all right; I was just unable to produce a photograph in which you could actually make out anything recognizable as food (or anything else) beneath the obscuring veil of gray (a pox on that inadequate, gratis camera, I say!). For now all I can share is this: I prepared a soup; and the HH and I practically licked our bowls clean when we ate it. I promise to try again tomorrow (no hardship having to eat it again, believe me)... More About: Food , Today
And You Shall Be Cleansed
2008-06-05 05:57:00 Well, as we round the final corner of this Total Health course I’m taking (only two weeks left–where have the past seven weeks gone?), the class has been asked to embark on a “cleanse” (detoxifying diet) as our final piece of homework. Our teacher, the very embodiment of “tranquility,” has asked each participant to eliminate something from her/his diet that would ultimately lead to a cleaner, less toxic and healthier body. Each one of us, she suggested, should begin exactly where s/he is right now; for the instructor herself, this might mean embarking on a water fast (something she’s done for up to 10 days at a time in the past). For one particular participant, this would mean cutting out red meat for the week (and retaining the rest of the animals on his plate). And for me? Hmmn. Hard to say. I’m reminded of a lecture I once attended at the University of Toronto many years ago. As I recall, the gist of the ...
Mint Smoothie
2008-06-04 05:41:00 The home I grew up in could very well have been the original inspiration for the mantra, “Reuse, Repair, Recycle.” My dad, the quintessential progeny of The Great Depression, still saves everything from empty jam jars, to twine from UPS boxes, to old socks, to almost-moldy tomatoes, and puts them to use again in some other context (pre-Nalgene vessel to transport iced tea on a road trip; means to repair broken screen door latch; protection for hands while emptying garbage; and lunch, respectively). Seems I’ve earned my title as Femme Frugal honestly. Besides, I’ve always considered myself pretty eco-friendly, being the bag-saver, container-reuser, water-conserver and late-night clothes washer that I am. With all the talk of eco-consciousness, carbon footprints, 3 R’s and whatnot these days, I fully expected I’d eventually go ”green”; I just never imagined it would be quite in this way. You see, our lives have been overtake... More About: Mint
Spontaneous Carob and Date Pancakes
2008-06-02 03:17:00 Thanks, everyone, for all your wonderfully supportive and encouraging comments about the osteopenia diagnosis. I’ve been boning up on the topic (sorry-ouch) and have some great recipe ideas to share in the next while (and even one today). I’ll also get to my responses asap. . . sorry I’ve fallen behind a bit! Last week, out of nowhere, I made a monumental resolution. Flushed with excitement, I rushed home from work and announced to the HH, ”I have a great idea. I think we should be more spontaneous from now on.” He appeared flummoxed (this happens all too often when I make my pronouncements, it seems). ”Okay, so now we’re making plans to be spontaneous?” Hmmn. I SO hate it when he’s right. “Well, how about this, smarty pants?” I countered. ”I went grocery shopping today and I spontaneously bought these overripe tomatoes on sale, even though I had no specific plans to cook anything with them.&r... More About: Pancakes , Spontaneous
Shock and Ossify: Raw Fig and Cherry Bars
2008-05-30 23:26:00 [Yep, another raw bar. . . and so soon! But there's a good reason. . . ] Well, it’s finally happened: after years of needless anxiety before every annual medical check-up (only to be told each time that nothing’s wrong). . . this time, something was wrong. And I must admit, I’m shocked. When I saw my doctor a few weeks ago, she sent me off for all the standard tests appropriate for “someone my age.” Then yesterday at the call-back appointment, I was informed that I have osteopenia. Sounds scary initially: osteopenia is the (potential) precursor to osteoporosis, as the word means “thinning of the bones.” Osteoporosis means “porous bones” and is a greater danger. Even as she was speaking, questions caromed around in my mind: What, exactly, does this mean? Doesn’t everyone experience thinning of the bones as they age? How serious is my situation?–etc. Apparently, the test, called DEXA (&rdquo... More About: Shock , Bars , Cherry
Radish and Grapefruit Salad
2008-05-29 02:42:00 In the past, I’ve always thought of radishes as kind of a poor cousin to beets: smaller and more anemic, they obviously missed out on the family jewels. Without well-heeled connections or an established vocation, they’re much like the street punk with the pugilistic attitude, slamming your jaw with a peppery punch every time you dare take a bite. And besides, radishes seem to me more or less a one-hit wonder: like the obnoxious neighbour (you know the guy: loud, grating voice; beer belly) who always gets drunk at the annual Bar B Q and tells the same joke every year, radishes were used for one thing and one thing only: salad. And they were always raw. And they were always sliced. Not horrible, but not exactly inspiring, either. Sort of like Julia Roberts: no matter what the context, no matter what else surrounds them, no matter what time of year, they’re always pretty much exactly themselves. Even when carved into one of those fancy garnis... More About: Salad , Radish , Grapefruit
Flash in the Pan: Cocoa Nibbles (or, La”Raw” Bar)
2008-05-27 14:19:00 Sometimes, you just want to eat something now. I’ve decided to offer a mini-post every once in a while, for a dish that comes together incredibly quickly, or else is so easy to make that no recipe is required. Here’s today’s “Flash in the Pan.” (I know, “Cocoa Nibbles” sounds like a children’s breakfast cereal. . . but these are much better!) Even though I’ve continued to bake a little during this Total Health course I’m taking, I’ve been trying to avoid consuming very much of what I do bake (my colleagues are very happy lately. . . oh, and they appear to have gained some weight). Apart from my tumbling head first off the wagon after I baked those evil PB-Chocolate Chip Cookies, I’ve remained (more or less) on track. Still, even when you’re eating healthfully, sometimes (okay, all the time) you crave chocolate. These little bites are what I whip up when I’m dying for something that&rs...
You Say Potato Curry, I Say Aloo Masala
2008-05-26 03:35:00 In my imagination, I’d love to live on a farm. I say “in my imagination” because, in my reality, I’m actually the farthest thing from a farm type of gal (”What the-? What do you mean, 5:15 is the normal time for the rooster to crow?!!” OR, “What do you mean, it’s almost 2 hours to the closest Barnes and Noble?” OR, “What do you mean, ‘that’s just what manure smells like, so get used to it’???!!!”). Um, nope, I don’t think so. Still, in my fantasy, I’m a latter day Lisa Douglas. Mid-afternoon, I turn to my HH Wendell Douglas and casually remark, “Oh, dahlink, what shall we have for dinner tonight? I think I vill go out back to our vegetable patch and pick something fresh.” And then I cook it and we eat it and it’s delicious, of course. Well, now that it’s finally beginning to look a lot like Christmas hockey season reruns springtime here in Toronto,... More About: Curry , Potato
Swiss “Cheese” in a Mosaic Salad
2008-05-15 03:29:00 When it comes right down to it, (and like most Canadians), I’m pretty happy living in this country. Oh, sure, I complain about the health care system and the excessive taxes, but secretly I’m proud. When I went to Europe, I openly displayed a Maple Leaf on my backpack (in those days, only actual Canadians did that). I don’t mind the stereotype that we’re all hockey-and-beer obsessed (both of which I can’t stand), since it seems to be balanced by another stereotype, that we’re the peacekeepers of the world. Over the years, I’ve also taken pride in the fact that, as opposed to the U.S. “melting pot,” we here in Canuk Country offer a “multicultural mosaic.” Because Toronto is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world, its denizens contribute generously to that multi-faceted, multi-colored variegation. A quick mental tally tells me I’ve taught students from six continents and almost 70 countries ... More About: Cheese , Salad , Mosaic , Swiss
French Toast Souffle with Summer Berries
2008-05-13 03:09:00 [NB: A huge "THANK YOU" to all of you who sent good wishes my way yesterday. I really wasn't intending to sound so "woe-is-me" (I do that quite enough around the diet issues, thank you), but just reflecting on how the day could elicit positive vibes for all concerned. Your comments sure worked toward that end for me, though: big hugs to all of you! ] In my mind, here’s the perfect way to wake up on a Sunday morning: Outside, the weather is balmy. A mild breeze whispers through the slightly opened window, curtains undulating softly with each invisible breath. The sun makes its presence known through the diaphanous curtain as it tickles the pillows of our bed with little sparkles of laughing light. Elsie pads quietly over to my side of the bed and, as gently as a rose petal floating to the ground, taps my open palm with her soft, moist nose. I open my eyes slowly. Glancing toward the window, I stretch luxuriously and think, ”Ahh, yes! Another lovely, su... More About: Summer , French Toast , French , Berries , Toast
Dog Day: Still a Happy Day
2008-05-11 21:16:00 Having lost my own mother over 15 years ago (yes, far too young, for both of us) and never having personally enjoyed the tangle of emotions that is motherhood, I tend to overlook today’s particular holiday, celebrated by the bulk of the Western world. While catching up on my ever-expanding list of blogs on Google Reader, I happened upon Ashasarala’s poignant post for today. It got me thinking: aren’t I still a daughter? And what about those other “mothers” I’ve known in my life (both actual and figurative), from my beloved CBC to my older sister to a couple of my best friends? This seems the perfect day to connect with those mothers, whether through birth, adoption, extended family, or simply psychological ties. So here’s a wish for all of you who are, have been, or just feel like mothers today: may you enjoy meaningful, happy and loving encounters on this day, with the people (and pets) who mean the most to you–whoever they ar... More About: Happy
Close Encounters with Cookies from Another Planet
2008-05-10 23:11:00 [Unretouched photo of unidentified, disk-like objects, hovering in the air over my kitchen table] Before I metthe HH, I’d read exactly one science fiction novel (Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End, when I was about twelve) and seen only the standard TV shows or movies, such as Star Trek (in all its incarnations–though Deep Space really was an inferior specimen, don’t you think?) or Planet of the Apes. It’s not that I’m uninterested in what might be happening on other planets or other universes; it’s just that, frankly, I have a hard enough time dealing with just this one–I mean, who needs more stress? Still, as a huge fan of all types of film (except anything with violence–which, I suppose, eliminates just about everything on screen these days, even down to Shrek the Third or Get Smart ), I was perfectly agreeable when the HH offered to introduce some of his favorite SF films to me, shortly after we first go... More About: Cookies , Close , Close Encounters , Encounters
Easy Millet and Red Pepper Pilaf
2008-05-09 17:20:00 Well, it’s certainly been a poster week for “Beginning of the Summer Semester” at the college: long lineups outside the Chair’s office (but really, doesn’t it sound better as “Office Chairs”?), students transferring from one class to the next, questions, emails; scheduling changes so speedy that students barely have time to check their timetables before they’re registered in a new course. Yep, it’s kept me on my toes, with nary a minute extra to indulge my extra-curricular activities (really, now! Get those minds out of the gutter!). Activities such as writing this blog. (Oh, and to all my students this term: Hi, Guys!) Taking part in my Total Health course hasn’t actually helped much with the dearth of spare time, either. Now, don’t get me wrong; I am loving this course, and it’s kept me on the Path of Righteous Eating for the past 2-1/2 weeks (and I must admit, I am feeling MUCH more energetic and ... More About: Pepper , Easy
Vanilla Versus Vanilla
2008-05-07 05:39:00 [That's our little Vanilla , in the middle] So, I heard somewhere that it’s hockey season now. Oh, don’t look so surprised: despite having been raised in Montreal (a hockey town if ever there was one), I am indifferent to the sticks-and-pucks revelry. Personally, I’d rather read about the latest face-off between, say, brownies and blondies than between the Habs and the Flyers. In fact, I can’t say that I’m too interested in any team sports–or, come to think of it, any sports at all. Is it any wonder? Perpetually the “anchor” in tug-of-war; too uncoordinated to hit a baseball with a screen door; lacking even the modicum of balance necessary for hockey (though I did go skating, once, when I was about 15, soley to impress a guy I had a crush on. Oh, I made a lasting impression, all right–somewhere on the upper right thigh, just where my skate sliced through the flesh, if memory serves.) This is not to imply that I don’t ... More About: Versus
Flash in the Pan: Cranberry Preserves
2008-05-05 14:57:00 Sometimes, you just want to eat something now. I’ve decided to offer a mini-post every once in a while, for a dish that comes together incredibly quickly, or else is so easy to make that no recipe is required. Here’s today’s “Flash in the Pan.” One of the advantages of having a little baking business as a sideline is that you can buy some ingredients in bulk, and save a little on the price of more expensive items (such as nuts or dried fruits) by purchasing them in 2-kilo or 5-kilo bags. At the same time, one of the disadvantages of having a little baking business is that you end up with 1.8 kilos or 4.9 kilos of leftover bulk items, such as nuts or dried fruits, when no one happens to order baked goods that contain those ingredients, and they’re left languishing in huge plastic bins in your basement, and you sometimes have to throw them away, and they end up costing you more than if you’d just bought the regular size at the retail ... More About: Preserves , Cranberry
Baking Like Blanche Dubois
More articles from this author:2008-05-05 04:36:00 When I was organizing my photos this weekend, I came across a fair number that I’ve never used in blog posts. Not sure why; maybe it’s that my (relatively new) blog-related compulsion to photograph virtually every dish I cook, bake, or eat has produced a backlog. It also struck me that I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers to provide inspiration, unique recipes, or novel combinations of ingredients that often direct me in my cooking and baking exploits. And what better way to acknowledge their inspiration than to showcase some of these photos–and their recipes–here? Since I began my ”Total Health” kick just over a week ago, I’ve steered clear of most sweets, including my greatest desire, chocolate. I have to admit that the restriction feels a tad less torturous this time than during the WOCA, when I would have hopped on the nearest streetcar named “Chocolate” and happily gone wherever it took... More About: Baking 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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