Because YOU Asked For It!

The following people have requested the recipe:

Bob
Jon
Sandra
Jay
Dr. Spo

I aims to please!  And I challenge Blobby to make this for himself and 710!  I would also like to see Fearsome Beard try this!

tomato soup cake

2 cups flour
1-1/3 cups sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 can (10.75 oz) tomato soup (like campbell’s)
1/2 cup olive oil (or canola or sunflower)
2 eggs
1/4 cup water

*********************************************

preheat oven to 350 degrees F

spray a bundt pan with non-stick cooking spray

dump all ingredients into a mixing bowl

mix for 1 minute on low speed, then for 4 minutes on high speed

pour batter into bundt pan

bake for 50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean (your oven, your mileage may vary)

let cake cool on wire rack for 20 minutes before removing it from bundt pan

frost with buttercream or cream cheese icing

this makes a nice spice cake; you would NEVER guess the secret ingredient (the tomato soup) because you cannot taste it!

The Cobbler Recipe AND a New Boyfriend!

My my my, it seems EVERYBODY wants a slice of my cobbler!

So now you can make it for yourself!

Fruit Cobbler (easy version)

1 can pie filling (cherry, blueberry, peach, apple, etc.)

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 cup sugar

*******************************************

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Pour can of pie filling into an ungreased 8 x 8 baking pan

Melt butter in microwave

Mix butter, flour, baking powder, milk, and sugar together in a bowl

Spread batter over fruit in the baking pan

Bake cobbler for 45 minutes; serve warm with whipped cream

Now, if you are ambitious like Buddybear and his family, follow this recipe.

Fruit Cobbler (hard version)

3.5 cups fresh/dried fruit

1 cup boiling water

3/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup milk

1 cup sugar

*******************************************

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Place fruit into an ungreased 8 x 8 baking pan

Mix boiling water, sugar, and cornstarch together; pour over fruit

Melt butter in microwave

Mix butter, flour, baking powder, milk, and sugar together in a bowl

Spread batter over fruit in the baking pan

Bake cobbler for 45 minutes; serve warm with whipped cream

And now let me introduce you to a new boyfriend on the scene: Average Gay Dude!  He's cute, has mad drawing skillz, is artsy/craftsy, lives in South Florida, and is a vegan!

AGD, go check out these skilled friends of mine:  Dr. Spo (scroll down and see one of his famous spo-shirts) and Sassybear (check out his crocheted accessories) and Fearsomebeard (he knows how to bake).  I have some of the most creative friends in the universe!  Ain't I a lucky girl!

Brain Puke XVIII

Lots o shit swirling around in the toilet bowl that is my brain. Let's capture some of it here.

It's been hot as fucking hell for a fucking week now.  My energy is zapped.  Fuck you, global warming!

My boss gave me a 5% raise!  Spouse's boss gave him a 4.5% raise!  Yeah, we still in the 47% though.  Fuck you, Mittens Romney!

I still wanna punch George Zimmerman in his ugly face over and over and over again.  Fuck you, Florida!

OK, enough rants; on to happy things!

I just had vanilla frozen yogurt with fresh berries (straw, blue, black, rasp) for lunch at menchie's.

Miss Nyla sitting pretty on the sunporch.  She has her eye on some squirrels.

  

Thanks to Ron and RJ, I can now label this as a butterfly bush  (heh heh heh, I said "bush").

Wild strawberries.

 Belladonna (no sign of Stevie Nicks though).

 Black-eyed Susans (why not Gertrudes?  or Millicents?)

Spouse's first garden pickings; cherry tomatoes!  45 of them so far!

And it would not be a blog entry without something from the kitchen, right?

Since NJ (pronounced joisey or joy-zee) blueberries are in season (and cheap) right now, I made a blueberry cake.  Spouse doesn't really like blueberries, but he loved this cake!  And damn if blueberries are not good for ya too!

What's in it?  Flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, blueberries.

What's NOT in it?  High fructose corn syrup, artificial anything, preservatives, additives.  You can pronounce all the ingredients without needing a degree in chemistry.  BOO YAH!

Here is the recipe for all my devoted followers (you know who you are):

1-1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup + 2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 stick butter (melted)
1 pint blueberries (or raspberries or blackberries)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.   Spray an 8 x 8 pan with cooking spray.

Dump all ingredients (except berries) into a bowl and mix well.

Gently fold berries into batter.  Pour batter into pan.  Sprinkle batter with 1/4 cup sugar.

Bake 45 minutes until a tester comes out clean. Your oven, YMMV.

Brain Puke XVII

Lots o shit swirling around in the toilet bowl that is my brain. Let's capture some of it here.

Time for some pussy pix for all you pussy (heh heh heh) lovers out there.

Meredith and Nyla checking out the birdies.  The yellow lid in the background is part of my large wheeled recycle can (goes out every Tuesday).  I usually fill that can every week.

Nyla caught in a "who me?" moment with a mousie toy.

Meredith passed out in the sun.  The bird feeder is right outside; keeps them entertained for hours!

This is a lemon loaf cake I made on Wednesday.  I made 2: one for us and one for spouse's potluck office party.

What's NOT in it?  High fructose corn syrup, artificial anything, preservatives, additives.  You can pronounce all the ingredients and I made this cake for about $1.  BOO YAH!

What's in it?

2 cups all purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 stick butter (melted)
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon lemon extract

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. dump all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
   
3. spray a 9 x 5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray; pour batter into pan.
   
4. bake for 55-60 minutes until a tester comes out clean. your oven, YMMV.

********************

while the cake is baking, mix 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/3 cup sugar together. heat on stove 10 minutes, stirring constantly.

as soon as the cake is removed from the oven, pour this hot liquid on top. hear the cake sizzle!  watch it soak up the sticky liquid!

keep cake in pan for 10 minutes, then remove from pan to cool completely on rack.

A little something I am creating for next year's blogger-rama-lama-ding-dong.  I bought the yarn in Boston back in 2011 when I went to visit my boyfriend Dave and his husband Mark.

This is Dave; ain't he just the cutest thing?!?  :)

6/21 marked the 24th year since my cancer surgery.  Blobby and I are lucky to have survived; Bob's sister and Sean's mom are still fighting.  Send them both good karma/vibrations, please; cancer sucks major ass. :(

JayInVA mentioned raisin bread in the comments of my last post, so yesterday I made malted raisin bread.  Here it is, hot outta da breadmaker:

What's in it?  Water, dry milk powder, salt, molasses, olive oil, bread flour, malted milk powder, yeast, raisins.

What's NOT in it?  Butter, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, artificial anything, preservatives, additives.  You can pronounce all the ingredients and I made this bread for about $2.  BOO YAH!

This is the wood (heh heh heh, I said "wood") bread slicer I mentioned last time.  Put the bread in there and run the electric knife thru the slots.  You get a slice like this:

A light schmear of butter on hot bread - damn that's good!  Next up: potato cheese bread.

Where do I get some of my bread ideas?  Right here!

Brain Puke XVI

Lots o shit swirling around in the toilet bowl that is my brain. Let's capture some of it here.

So Retired In Delaware thinks he can steal my phraseology, does he?  ;-)

This is a slice of home made white poppy seed bread I made last weekend in my breadmaker for the spouse.

What's NOT in it?  Butter, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, artificial anything, preservatives, additives.  You can pronounce all the ingredients and I made this bread for about $1.  BOO YAH!

What's in it?  Yeast, bread flour, salt, honey, dry milk powder, olive oil, water, poppy seeds.  Throw all that in the breadmaker pot and poof! four hours later I have bread!

**********

I had a vanilla milkshake for dinner from Sonic friday night...BECAUSE I CAN!

Since several of my boyfriends like my garden pix...

Don't know what this cute purple stuff is, but the honeybees seem to like it.

My red hot pokers (heh heh heh) in bloom this week; they are about 3 weeks late.  Kelly's are most likely dead by now.

I pass this sign every day on the way home from work; Spo and Someone might like it.

Looks like we are going to have a sunny and cool weekend; just right for sleeping with open windows!

Saturday was spent going to the gym, doing grocery shopping, and having a lunch out (spouse's choice) for Father's Day.  I raised 2 (that's right, 2!) cosmos to my boyfriends everywhere.  And they were damn delicious; not as good as Sassybear's but not shitty either.

.

This is a commuter train on its way into center city Philadelphia.  They pass by my office every half hour in each direction.  These train cars were built by Hyundai and SEPTA; the cars were shipped to Philly from South Korea partially assembled, then finished here.  OMB, what a pleasure it is to ride in one of these 21st century beauties!

Heeeee'sssss baaaaack!  Go give Sean R some love; tell him the Phillybabe sent ya!

Speaking of Phillybabes, I picked up a new follower this week: Mistress Borghese.  Go give her some love too; she knows Mark also!

Sweet mother of pearl, my baseball team is gonna wind up in the cellar this year.  Methinks our glory days are long past.  I know Shawn can identify.  :(

And does anyone think I give 2 shits about the kash kow/yeezus bastard?

I'll just leave this here.  (walks away whistling)

The Rose and Cake

No, the blog title has nothing to do with a new pub opening around here.

Since several of my boyfriends like my garden pix, here is a new one for you.

My rose bush (heh heh heh, I said bush) just flowered in all the heat we had this past week.  No red hot pokers (heh heh heh) yet; they are running late.  Kelly's are probably dead by now.

I am waiting for my pincushion plant to bloom later this summer.

Now for the cake part.

Home made (no box mixes in this house!  and no wire hangers either!) chocolate cake hot outta da oven.  What's NOT in it?  Milk, butter, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, artificial anything, preservatives, additives.  You can pronounce all the ingredients and I made this cake for about $1.  BOO YAH!  Totally vegan!  This cake does not last very long around here!

What's in it?

1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (e.g., hershey’s)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
1 tablespoon white (or apple cider) vinegar
1/3 cup light olive oil (or canola, sunflower, etc.)
1 cup cold water

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   
2. spray an 8 x 8 x 2 square pan with non-stick cooking spray.
   
3. dump all ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
   
4. pour batter into pan.
   
5. bake 55 minutes until a tester comes out clean. your oven, YMMV.

Key Lime Pie (for Bob)

Since Bob said he loves key lime pie (see my last post), I thought I would put the recipe here so that he can make it for himself (and Carlos) by himself!

ingredients:

1 - 9 inch graham cracker pie shell (I cheat here and buy this premade at the grocery store)

1 - 14 ounce can SWEETENED condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

3 - egg yolks (yolks only, no whites)

1/2 cup - key lime juice (found in the baking needs aisle) key lime juice linky luv

assembly:

blend milk, egg yolks, key lime juice until smooth

pour into graham cracker crust

bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F

garnish with whipped creme (optional)

Who Wants Hot Muffins?

I just made a batch of lemon almond muffins; you should smell my kitchen! and fuck me but these are fantastic!

muffin mania (basic recipe)
2 cups flour
2 eggs
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup oil (canola, olive, safflower, etc.)
1 oz extract (use the whole bottle) - see below
optional mix-ins - see ** below

1. preheat oven to 400 degrees.
   
   
2. dump all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well.
   
   
3. spray a muffin pan with non-stick cooking spray or use paper cup liners; pour batter into pan/liners.
   
   
4. bake for 18 minutes until a tester comes out clean. your oven, YMMV.
   
   
5. let cool on rack.
   

try extracts like anise, rum, peppermint, maple, orange, banana, strawberry, vanilla, lemon.

** add nuts or poppy seeds or raisins or chocolate chips or coconut. add fruit. add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg or ginger. GO CRAZY!

Beer Bread

(why did I just type the title as "beer bears", then "beer beard"?  I must have my boyfriends on my mind!)

this is for all my boyfriends who like to cook!  try this bread toasted for breakfast!

3 cups all-purpose flour

4 ½ teaspoons baking powder

1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ cup sugar

12 oz. room temperature (warm) beer; beer MUST be warm or the recipe will not work!

¼ cup cold milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray a 9 x 5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Measure the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar into a mixing bowl.

Add the beer and milk to the dry ingredients and mix very well (batter will be thick).

Transfer the batter from the mixing bowl to the loaf pan.

Bake for 45-60 minutes (depending on your oven) until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.

Turn out bread from loaf pan onto a wire rack.

Let bread cool on wire rack for several hours before slicing.

REAL Pound Cake

I made this for sean and jeffrey 3 weeks ago; youse guys may like it also!

1 stick real butter
1 cup real sugar
3 real eggs
1 tablespoon real vanilla extract
1.5 cups all purpose flour
4 oz. milk

Soften butter in the microwave (about 30 seconds).

Dump all the ingredients into a bowl and mix well (with a mixer or by hand).

Grease a 9 x 5 loaf pan; pour cake batter into pan.

Place pan into COLD oven; oven MUST be cold or the cake WILL FAIL!

Set oven temperature to 325 degrees and bake cake for 1 hour, or until cake tester comes out clean (your oven, your mileage may vary).

Remove cake from pan whilst still warm.

PIG OUT!

(PS - you CAN use imitation ingredients, but WHY on earth would you?  Keepin' it REAL here, yo!)