Friday, June 22, 2012

Better Standing Up

Helllllo!  I've been missing you guys.  Hope all has been well.

We have been busy here in the pond, still running here, there and everywhere. According to the doctors I should be tired all the time and sleeping a lot. Well, for some reason that doesn't seem to work too well for me. After spending the winter holed up in bed, unable to move much, I want to enjoy every minute I can, y'know?

Also what keeps me moving is the pain.  Sitting or laying down is so painful that the only relief I get is standing up. [Nice side effect, eh?]  Since I have to be very careful taking any kind of pain killer I try to limit what they give me, taking less than prescribed. Standing on my feet seems to relieve the pressure so I tend to be upright a lot.  But? It gets really boring just standing around. heehee  Since I can only clean so much I am, instead, attempting to FATTEN UP THE WORLD!  [In reality my family, our neighbors and Pooldad's workmates.] 

To start off - my very first [successful] pie crust. I have always sucked at making these and had just about given up hope until I decided I would take the basic idea of a pie crust [flour, salt, fat and water] and make up my own recipe.
TA-DA!  This one became a pumpkin pie.  We ate it before I could get a pic'.
Next up - New York Style Cheese Cake with Cherry topping.  I don't even like cheesecake, but I had never made one before and thought "What the heck".  I hear it is delicious. :)
MY favorites!  Those are the Kinklings you see in the background.  The are a southern type of doughnut that can be eaten plain or shaken in powdered sugar.  They bring back so many fond memories of my Grandma because she always made them just for me.  Yummy!

Another thing I had never been able to make is Cinnamon Rolls. I did the same thing I did with the pie crusts. I took the basic premise for the rolls and made them my way.  These are insanely tasty.  I am very, very popular at Pooldad's work these days. heehee
 Vanity shot:
And finally what started it all.  Basic White Bread.  I was appalled at how expensive store bought bread was becoming and knew I could make it myself.  Besides being much cheaper it is healthier and I can tweak it with different flours and herbs to make my own signature breads.  This is the most "dangerous" thing I make tho', because I love, love, love bread. And rolls. :)  [And I didn't even have to use my bread machine.]
I also made cornbread for dinner one night and used the leftovers for cornbread stuffing the next evening. For Father's Day I made a chocolate snack cake with pecan chocolate icing that we are still trying to finish and tonight I am making pita bread and an apple pie.  Yep.  If nothing else we are eating well.

Our little garden is going gangbusters and we had fresh tomatoes on our sandwiches last night. The difference is amazing. Like eating candy.  Soon we will have a bunch of yellow squash and green peppers to pick.  I hope we can have squash and eggs for Sunday brunch on fresh baguettes. Family favorite :)

I will tip my ice tea to y'all and wish you a day filled with smiles and a nice relaxing weekend doing whatever it is you love best.  We'll see you on the flipside.

[PS - if you happen to be in northern VA please stop by and help us eat some of this stuff. :D I'll put the coffee on.] Take care.

24 comments:

Jeannie said...

You have been busy! I have never had much luck baking bread - that was Gary's department although I can make cinnamon rolls. Don't ask me what the difference is.

For pie crust I follow the no-fail Crisco recipe that uses an egg and vinegar - it's very tender and tasty even when I over mix it and it ends up mealy rather than flaky.

I am trying to work up the energy to make banana muffins.

I'm sorry you have so much pain - you are certainly handling it in a productive way. That says so much about your character. (And mine in the opposite direction)

Tony Van Helsing said...

It must be terrible to be in pain this way, you are remarkable to be so upbeat about it. As for baking, I've got the hang of making pastry now but am hopeless at bread. It is always too dense and heavy, am I not kneading it for long enough? I usually knead for 5 minutes but get bored.

Unknown said...

Oh how I wish I were close to your place, would've stopped by for sure. those looks absolutely gorgeous and I bet they taste as they look.

I'm sorry to hear you're in such pain. Sending big hugs to you my friend. Have a lovely Day!

Celia said...

I'm glad you have more energy. I wish I were partaking in the rewards.

colenic said...

I am sorry that you are in pain..but I LOVE the pictures and the fact that you are baking so much....I have a completely decadent chocolate recipe that includes cookie dough, oreos and brownie mix if you want it :)
Hugs to you sweetie...and the family!

Rudee said...

Hmmm....don't take this the wrong way, but Skippy, I think I love your buns.

Southhamsdarling said...

Hi dear SkippyMom! How lovely to see you today. My goodness, those photos are amazing my friend. Have you always been a brilliant cook?? Any of that could be served up in a restaurant and not look out of place. Those doughnuts sure look yummy as well! I;m with Rudee - I love your buns as well. Hee Hee!! You're so right about the tomatoes. You can just pick them and eat them on their own, and they are just SO tasty. We have lots coming along in our new greenhouse now. (Because we don't get the hot sunny weather like you do!). Hugs from across the pond x

1st Man said...

I'm new to your blog, and enjoying catching up. That food looks amAzing if I do say so myself, ha. Keep up the good work, just think of all the great things still to bake. You are doing a great job at just figuring it out as you go along. Sometimes that the best way to come up with new recipes.

OK, back to your blog to read some more!

Redhead said...

All of your baking looks so yummy, I am inspired to dig out my bread recipes and make some. Daughter brought home two loaves of bread from the farmer's market and they were HORRIBLE. I'd be embarrassed to make such, never mind actually selling it!

Glad to hear you are coping so well, good thoughts to you. Redhead

Kathy's Klothesline said...

You are making good use of your standing position! I have not cooked since the kids left Tuesday. We have been eating leftovers. I did enjoy having them at my table! I made a cheesecake, too. Chad proclaimed it to be amazing. It was his request. I made two pundcakes for Adrienne, one to eat and one to take. Gavin's cake fell. I was interrupted too many times and am sure I must have omitted something, just don't know what!

Sally said...

All of your baking sounds and looks absolutely delicious! I am planning to try homemade cinnamon rolls this summer, too. I just hate heating up the kitchen with the oven :( Pie crust is also on my list for the summer.

I thought of you the other day when I was out looking over my garden. I could see that I already have a couple tomatoes, peppers and some other things growing and I wondered how your garden was coming along. Glad you are enjoying your harvest.

Juli said...

So glad you're feeling better.

I can't help you with those goodies, but if you were to say, make a key lime pie with a GF graham cracker crust, I'd consider making the trip...

Brenda said...

Your cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls look divine! Can you share the recipe? My dinner rolls are never light and fluffy enough.

life in the mom lane said...

Skippy you are a cruel woman!!! Those pics of all that delicious food- you taunt this dieter so!! ;)

I am so happy to see you- I am sorry you are having pain and a tough time of it Duke Dog Mom #2 but I am happy that you are still upbeat and smiling!

Check my blog tomorrow- we have to roast or toast another blogger... You might want to take a look! ;)

Teresa said...

wonderful! i love bread, too. i used to make bread, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, bagels, etc. but i found that i ate too much of it and it is so hard on my system. i miss all that good stuff. you have me thinking though... wonder if i could tweak recipes and use sugar substitute. hmmm... will definitely have to think this over. {drooling just thinking about it. lol}

glad to see you "up" and i'm sure everyone is loving the extra treats you're making. you're making very good use of your "up" position. take care.

Juli said...

DC is one of our favorite places... don't tempt me. :) And yes, the corn cooks all the way through while it's in the microwave. A regular size ear takes 4 minutes. Mine were smaller so I actually over cooked then at 4 minutes... should have done 3...

But it was still good!

ellen abbott said...

wow, I'm impressed!

Lyndylou said...

That food looks absolutely yummy!

I wish I lived just around the corner from you. I could do with some home cooking and a cup of tea :)

I am glad you have found a way to relieve the pain if only for short bouts. Think of you often. (((hugs)))

Knitty said...

For a slender woman you have large buns. And they look like they might be sticky, too. ;-)

I hate to be cruel when you are in pain, but I just have to ask...How on earth can you not like cheesecake?

Thoughts and prayers for you and yours, today and always. Tomorrow I am suggesting hubby buy stock in gyms in the VA/DC area. Pooldad's co-workers are going to need them soon!

Joe Sixtop said...

Wow! looks awesome, even tho' I think Diet Cola is better with sugary desserts than coffee. It looks like "interleague play" (I hate it!) will end with the Nats in first place. I told ya they'd be good this year! Please enjoy their success in good health to you and yours. Cheers, _____-Joe

Yum Yucky said...

You cannot do this. You cannot do this to me. You just baked up pretty much ALL of my favorite desserts. I have hinted you to adopting me in previous comments, but I have still received no approval verification of the adoptive transaction. You mentioned whoopie pie delivery, but perhaps I should come to you?? (not joking).
Ps. I love you much. xo

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

So good to stop by to visit you again. We've been away, (when we were driving through VA, I thought of you) and I just jumped back into the blogosphere this past Wednesday. I decided to look you up. You've sure been busy. For a first attempt at lemon meringue pie, yours looks fantastic. My first one was awful. (But in my defense, I was only eight.) Take care. Glad to see you're still smiling.

country life said...

Looks delish! Sorry to hear you dont feel good.
Kim

Knitty said...

Stopping by again to say Hi to my favorite firecracker!