Daily Goulash

Triple Threat Cookie Dough

2008-12-18T16:46:00.000-08:00

Yes that's right, triple threat!

This is the second year that I have made one simple dough and ended up with three amazingly rich and yummy cookies. It is and easy and quick, simple (but rich) sugar cookie recipe that I have jazzed for the holidays - and now I am sharing it with you.

Ingredients
6 c. flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 T. evaporated milk
1 T. vanilla

Extras
3/4 C. pistachio meats
1/2 c. dried and diced cherries
1 c. white chocolate chips

1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1 c. dark chocolate chips
Cream sugar and butter on low speed until smooth. Add milk and vanilla and eggs and continue to mix on low speed. Sift flour, salt, and baking soda. Slowly add mixture to wet ingredients until incorporated and a stiff dough forms.

Divide the dough into thirds. In one third, mix pistachios, cherries and white chocolate chips into the dough by hand. Roll the dough into a tube shape, wrap in plastic or wax paper and refrigerate until dough is very firm, 1-2 hours. Once firm, preheat oven to 400 degrees, slice the dough into 1/4 inch slices and cook on a greased cookie sheet for approx. 7 minutes or until dough begins to lightly brown and is set.

Repeat the above directions for a second third of the dough.

The final third of the dough can be chilled and sliced for plain cookies, or you can get creative with it and add your own mix ins. Enjoy!

Amazing Gingerbread Cookies!

2008-12-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

This weekend was spent in the kitchen with my beautiful daughters. We had our annual gingerbread cookie baking day. Each year the recipe seems to change. For some reason, I can't hold onto the recipe from year to year. But, this year the recipe I modified from a basic recipe is going into my recipe box and up here on my blog.

Amazing Gingerbread Cookies
1/2 c. Butter
1/2 c. sugar
1t ginger
1/2 t cloves
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t cardamom
1t bkg. powder
1/2 t bkg soda
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 C. robust molasses
1 egg
1T vinegar

Beat butter and sugar till combined. Add baking powder, baking soda and all spices. Beat until combined. Add molasses, egg and vinegar and beat until combined. Slowly add flour to mixture and blend until it is all incorporated. Dough will be thick.

Split dough and form two balls. Refrigerate until stiff. Roll to 1/8 -1/4 inch thickness and bake at 350 degrees for 7-10 minutes until dough golden brown and set. Yields 3-4 dozen cookies depending on size of cutters. Enjoy!

Betty Crocker....Move Over!

2008-12-12T17:43:00.000-08:00

So this is my big baking weekend for the Holidays.

On the very sugary, sticky sweet culinary line-up for this Christmas season:

Gingerbread cookies
Gingerbread house
Cream Cheese Cookies
Pizzelles
Marshmallows (the marshmallows recipe is in a post from earlier in December).

Now I may be overly zealous, but for some reason, I bake my buns off - hot crossed of course - every Christmas. We are in cookies, candies and confections from mid December through April. I have even found an occasional baked good, usually a pie around the 4th of July.

Baking, for me is an important part of the holidays. It's a time that I get to spend doing something family oriented with my kids. We make memories while we are making cookies. We create homemade gifts that are always a hit with the receiver.

So this weekend, I will be wiping off the counters, tying on the apron, eating lots of cookies, lacing up the sneakers and running my buns off.....hot crossed of course!

Inexpensive gift Idea! Stamped T-shirts For About $10

2008-12-06T19:11:00.000-08:00

I had to repeat this gift idea in a written post.

With money being tight for almost everyone right now, what better way to save money than to give a great homemade gift?

The T-shirt you see in the picture attached to this post (also the one I am wearing in the sidebar pic) cost only $10 to make. It is a shirt that can be worn all winter long. But the technique can be used on other clothing items as well and can be used to create gifts for other seasons as well.

The items you need for this project are:
T-shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve)
acrylic craft paint
fabric medium (found near the craft paint in stores)
Large stamps
paint-brush
gem-glue (optional)
crystals (optional)

Mix 2 parts paint to 1 part fabric medium. Paint the stamps evenly with the paint brushes. Stamp the fabric where desired, repainting stamp after each use. Let dry. Affix crystals with gem glue. The T-shirt can be laundered, however, wash in cold water with garment turned inside out. Lie flat or hang to dry.

For a demonstration, check out the Crafty-Cam video tutorial.

Fluffy Little Pillows of Joy......

2008-12-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

That's how I would describe these marshmallows that I made from a recipe by The Homesteading Housewife

I took a plate of them to work and within minutes, they were gone. I had co-workers asking me for the recipe and telling me that they were the most amazing marshmallows they had ever had.

The recipe was very simple. It takes a few steps and a little patience, but was very easy to follow and had great results.

So, here is the recipe if you want to give it a shot!

Dana's Homemade Marshmallows

Ingredients
4 envelops unflavored gelatin
3 c. granulated sugar
1 1/4 c. light corn syrup
2 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. powdered sugar
1 1/2 c. water

In a sauce pan, cook granulated sugar, corn syrup, salt and 3/4 c. water over high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Once sugar is dissolved, bring to a rolling boil and let cook (not stirring) for 1 full minute or until mixture reaches 238 degrees on a candy thermometer.

Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over remaining 3/4 c. water in the bowl of an electric mixer and let stand to soften (approx 5 min).

Slowly pour hot mixture into gelatin and mix on low speed. Gradually raise the mixer speed to high and beat for approximately 5 minutes. Slowly add vanilla and continue to beat for 5-6 more minutes or until very stiff peaks form.

Pour mixture into a greased 9x19 pan and let set uncovered for about 3 hours until set. (Mine set overnight).

Once set, prepare a work surface with powdered sugar, turn marshmallow out onto it, and cut into squares using a sharp wet knife. (hint: use a sharp blade knife and cut straight through. Do not "saw" at the marshmallow, it will stick to the knife.) Roll each in powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container for up to a week.

I will definitely make this recipe again to give for holiday gifts. I'll try some add-inns to the marshmallows - my daughter suggested "rocky road". Check out The Homesteading Housewife
blog on how to add all the extras.

I plan on making homemade hot chocolate mixes and pairing it with the marshmallows- an easy and inexpensive gift, given from the heart!

The Black Friday Weekend

2008-12-01T06:00:00.001-08:00

Did you survive it?

We did. In fact, we had a very productive weekend. We were able to get a huge jump on the Holiday season and had a lot of fun doing it.

We posed for our Christmas card photo - amazing what a digital camera, a tripod, and hubby who knows a bit about them both can do. The five of us took a bit of time after Thanksgiving dinner and took goofy, silly, and serious pictures. We had a blast, laughing and acting up as we spent the time together.

Friday morning, hubby braved the crowds as the 5am sales, and mercifully let me sleep in. He made his way to the sporting goods store and then to Target to get the "only" gift that our youngest daughter wanted. There he spent quality time with 300 other shoppers waiting to get in the doors. I almost didn't have the heart to tell him that when I returned to Target at 3pm to go shopping with my other daughter, the shelves were full of the item. I did tell him - it was kind of funny.

We spent Saturday putting up decorations. We joined the hundreds of other houses in our neighborhood to make our yard look like a "Winter Wonderland" here in the desert southwest. (Really, no matter how many lights you put up, you're not fooling anyone - for goodness sakes, we live in the DESERT!)

Sunday, we headed up north the the high country and cut down a Christmas tree. At 6 am we loaded into the car for the 2 hour drive. When we arrived, we found an amazing little diner and had a huge breakfast, and then made our way to the tree farm. After searching for a while, we came upon the perfect tree and cut it down. We anchored it to the roof of the car, headed back home and got the tree up.

All in all a pretty productive weekend.

How was yours?

I Am Thankful For....

2008-11-25T04:41:00.000-08:00

There are simply too many things that I am thankful for to list them all. Anyone reading this would be reading until next November. So, to save you time, I will only list a few....

I am thankful for my heath. So many that are close to me are struggling with health challenges. Every single one of them is an inspiration to me. When I start to gripe about things, I simple remember the battle that many of them are facing so bravely, and I realize that what I'm complaining about isn't that big of a deal.

I am thankful that I have a roof over my head. In today's world, for what ever reason...people are wondering if they will have a home to live in. Some of them don't. I have been blessed in that my home is not in any danger. And even if it was, I have been even more blessed to have a family that would provide us a roof in a heartbeat!

I am thankful for my family. I have been blessed with three beautiful daughters that are all amazing people. They have tender but brave hearts, and are always willing to serve others. I am so proud of all three of them. I have an awesome husband who loves me - sometimes thats not always easy!

There are so many more things, but today I'll reflect on theses three.

As your Thanksgiving week progresses, I challenge you to think of three things each day that you are thankful for. Take a moment to share them with someone, e-mail, send a note, or leave a comment.

Happy Thanksgiving!
AZ Mom of Many Hats

Easy Unstuffed Cornbread Stuffing

2008-11-21T17:20:00.000-08:00

When I was first married, I wanted to impress my husband with my talent in the kitchen. On our first Thanksgiving as a married couple, I decided to go all out with the Turkey, sweet potatoes, vegetable casserole - the works!

There was only one problem. I was a not a "stuffing" fan. But I knew that stuffing was one of my husband's favorite parts of the meal. I needed to come up with something easy that the both of us could enjoy not only with our Thanksgiving meal, but also with the requisite Thanksgiving left overs. It need to look good, taste good and fit well with our meal.

Then inspiration hit...and Easy Unstuffed Cornbread Stuffing was born.

The combination of ingredients was a little different than my husband was used to. But, being the good husband that he is, he tried it. He liked it! It has been a staple at our Thanksgiving dinners ever since.

You can make Easy Unstuffed Cornbread Stuffing to by using the ingredients and directions below. Enjoy!

Easy Unstuffed Cornbread Stuffing
Ingredients:
1 12 oz. box or bag of stuffing croutons
1 box store-bought cornbread mix prepared according to directions
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup chopped celery
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup white zinfindel or white wine
2 cups chicken stock (fresh or from the can)
1/2 cup melted butter
salt and pepper to taste
Serves 12-14

Directions:

The night before the dish is to be served, prepare the cornbread according to the directions on the box. Leave the prepared recipe on the counter uncovered until you are ready to use it the next day.

The day the dish is to be served, crumble the cornbread mix into a large bowl. Add the stuffing croutons to the crumbled cornbread and set aside. Melt 1/2 cup of butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Once melted, add the onions, garlic and celery to the pan and cook while stirring until the onions are translucent. Remove the mixture from the heat and allow it to cool slightly. Once the mixture has cooled some (not too hot to handle), pour it over the cornbread and croutons. Mix the ingredients until well combined. Pour the 2 cups of chicken stock and the 1/2 white zinfindel/wine over the mixture and stir until evenly moist. Add salt and pepper to your preferred taste.

Pour the entire contents into a large aluminum or glass baking dish and cover the top. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the cover and continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the top of the stuffing is toasty. Serve directly from the baking dish or transfer to a serving dish, garnishing the finished recipe with parsley.

This is an easy Thanksgiving recipe to make. As you get more comfortable making it, you can add variations, such as cranberries or sausage to the recipe. Enjoy!

Paper, Paper, and More Paper.

2008-11-21T14:57:00.000-08:00

It seems like I have an unending supply of Holiday gift wrapping.

Each year I pick up a few more rolls at the after Christmas 90% off sales. They seem to multiply in my closets. The red wrap that you see in this picture.......circa 2002.

But, that's OK.

It is that time of year that I pull out all of the "gifty" things I also purchased at the last year's 90% off sales - that have also been sitting in my closets and multiplying - and begin wrapping.

I get an early start because I tend to wrap everything. Although there is a gift bag in this picture, I use very few of those. I like to wrap each gift because I love the element of surprise in unwrapping a gift. Seeing the anticipation on the receiver's face is in itself, a gift to me.

So, I may drive myself crazy with all of the holiday paper, but I know that my payoff will be in the joy I get from giving.

'Tis the Season.....

2008-11-19T15:21:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season, and I'm not feeling all that jolly yet.

The gift requests are starting to roll in at faster pace each week as the kids peruse the weekend paper ads. Retailers are pulling every trick in the book to get me into their stores to spend my money. Strip malls have had their "Holiday" decor up since November 1st. My local radio station has been playing Christmas music 24/7 for two weeks already.

It's all coming too soon this year. It's not even Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday stress has already begun.

What happened to the days of anticipation of the day after Turkey Day? I used to wait for that day each year, looking forward to the opening of the Season. It was so much simpler, so much less stressful, so much more relaxed.

So today, in the 87 degree heat of the desert southwest, I say. Bah-humbug!

But, give me a week or two and I'll be declaring that it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Fashionable Stamped T-shirt Comments

2008-11-16T14:00:00.001-08:00

I hope you enjoyed this Crafty-Cam. Please leave my any comments you have about this project ideas.

Don't forget to check Crafty-Cam often for new project ideas!

Yummy Yummy Pumpkin Pie...

2008-11-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

Have you ever made a pumpkin pie out of fresh pumpkin?

The first year that my husband and I were married, I decided to try and use my Halloween pumpkins for pumpkin pie. We were on a very tight budget and I though that by using the pumpkins I had already purchased, we could save a few dollars. So my experimentation with fresh pumpkin pie began.

Getting the pies just right was a process. After several years of trying, I finally succeeded at making a decent pumpkin pie from fresh pumpkin.

I learned that the main secret to a successful fresh pumpkin pie was the actual pumpkin. The large "carving" pumpkins that my kids loved to buy didn't make the best pies. The flesh in the inside was very fibrous and didn't breakdown smoothly when it was cooked. So I moved on to different varieties.

Over the years, I have found that the best pumpkins to use are the smaller "sugar" pumpkins and pie pumpkins that are sold in the produce section. They are great because they can still be carved if you so choose, or they can just sit whole as a fall decoration until you are ready to cook them.

The best way to cook them that I have found has been to simply cut them in half and scoop out the "guts" and seeds. Roast or bake them in the oven at 350 degrees until they are fully soft -generally about 2 hours for a small 3 lb. pumpkin. Once they are cooked, simply scoop the pumpkin meat out of the shell, and your fresh pumpkin is ready to be put in a pie! A pumpkin that size yields approximately 3 c. of pumpkin. If you have more, don't worry, pumpkin freezes very well and can be used later for another pie.

Below is my recipe for my fresh pumpkin pie. I admit...the pie crust is store bought, but hey, I have my limitations. I know my limitation is that I fail miserably at making a good pie crust. I leave that up to the professionals. But, if you use this recipe, you can brag to all of your friends and relatives that you made your pumpkin pie from "real' pumpkins.

Enjoy!

Fresh Pumpkin Pie

3 c. fresh pumpkin
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 c. evaporated milk
3 eggs
1/2 dark brown sugar
2 T. pumpkin pie spice
1/8 t. salt
2 9inch frozen pie shells (you can make the crust if you feel ambitious)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
Combine the pumpkin, condensed milk and evaporated milk in a bow. Mix on medium speed until it is well incorporated. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing after each until well blended. Add the dark brown sugar, the pumpkin pie spice and salt. Mix again until the filling is creamy.

Pour the filling into two 9 inch pie crusts to 1/8 of an inch of the top. Bake for 1 hour or until the filling is firm when the pie is moved.

Let cool, and serve with whipped cream. Yummy!!!

Pre-mature Decoration

2008-11-10T19:13:00.002-08:00

I admit it....I caved under the pressure. I could hold out no longer. So...with great sorrow, I confess that I did the unthinkable.

But, it my own defense, it wasn't my fault. The influence was too strong and I could not resist. The constant barrage of the music....the endless visual cues.....the sheer madness of frenzied consumers....

I crumbled. I stumbled. I fell under the spell of it's pressuring call. I am the latest victim of pre-mature decoration.

Tastey Turkey Cookies Comments

2008-11-09T15:13:00.001-08:00

Let me know what you think about the Tasty Turkey Cookies featured on Crafty-Cam!

Cooler Weather Crafting...

2008-11-09T08:18:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning and the weather was downright chilly for us Southwesterners. The thermometer in my car said it was 50 degrees. I know that for some that is toasty, but when you have been acclimated to 110 degrees for the last 5 months, 50 degrees is cold!

Anyhow, this cooler weather has put me in the mood to really start my holiday crafting. I've been thinking about my past projects and how I can incorporate those into "homemade" gifts this year. I have already shared a couple with you on Crafty Cam. But I am full of ideas.

With the economy as it is, we will all be looking to save a buck this season. Be looking for simple and inexpensive crafting ideas on Crafty-Cam!

-Coming up on Crafty Cam is "Tasty Turkey Cookies"

Autumn is Upon Us!

2008-11-05T05:59:00.000-08:00

It's here! It's finally here!

Our desert southwest weather has finally cooled down to a bearable 74 degrees during the day and in the 50's at night. I love it!

To celebrate, I'm pulling out my holiday decorations...not the tree yet, but some of the pretty holiday foliage that will take me from now through the winter holidays. I am incorporating my left-over autumn array of squash - especially the green and white ones and creating a festive, but not necessarily Christmas feel in my home.

I am pulling out the scented candles in the various spice "flavors". Lighting them creates not only a beautiful glow but an beautiful aroma in the house. It really gets me into the holiday spirit!

Crafty Cam Fall Gourds!

2008-11-04T15:15:00.001-08:00

Crafty Cam Comments

2008-11-02T18:39:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone...please leave a comment and let me know how you like the new Crafty Cam features and the video tutorial on the Faux Quilted Pumpkin and the Fall Gourds. Thanks!!!!

Sugar Crash!

2008-11-02T18:32:00.000-08:00

Why, oh why do I do it! I know I'll feel terrible the next morning - regret, guilt, churning stomach churning.....

In general, I am a very healthy eater. I stay away from the fast food, the fried food, the junk food and the soda. I eat lots of fruit, vegis, lean meats, whole grains - all the stuff that is good for you.

But, the one time of year that I chow down on the candy is Halloween. Something about that bowl of candy that the kids have brought home calls me, taunts me, seduces me to partake of it's sweet sugary goodness.

I really overdid it this year....How about you? Are you suffering from a sugar crash?

The Morning After

2008-11-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

With Halloween falling on a Friday night, our neighborhood seemed to be rich with block parties. Lots of food, lots of candy, and late night fun left us all a little tired and cranky. Add the candy that the kiddos brought home from trick-or-treating, the requisite 10% candy "tax" owed to the King and Queen of the house, and of course the "candy check" - Snickers always seem a little suspicious - and we all felt a little rotten.

Maybe we didn't look exactly like this when we got up this morning; I think we were a little greener. Maybe cutting the candy "tax" next year will help. Well, only if the kiddos are in the right tax bracket - Note to self......GET SMALLER CANDY SACKS!

EEEEK! Pumpkin Carnage!

2008-10-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

What did these poor pumpkins ever do to us?

One day they are sitting in their patch with all their pumpkin friends. They are basking in the warm summer sun, growing fat and happy from the warmth of the season and the water their farmer has so lovingly(so they think) given them.

Then one day, out of the blue, Whack! They are cut off, severed from the vine, all ties to what they had known sheared away.

They are hauled away, first in farm trucks, then in semi trucks, and then in SUV's only to end up on the kitchen tables of people intent on making lanterns of them.

Men, women and children, carving tools in hand descend upon the poor orange squash. Helplessly it sits there as it's stem is cut off and it's insides are scooped out with spoons, spatulas and dirty hands.

The carnage continues as the poor pumpkin is carved and cut, minced and mutilated - until at last it is over. The pumpkin that once sat so proud, orange, happy and warm in his patch is reduced to nothing but a shell -- with a silly face.

Just when it seemed that the poor pumpkin has suffered enough, it is hammered with another blow. The same men, women and children that had so brutally gouged a face into it's side, smile with joy as photos of the battered pumpkin are taken to place in scrapbooks as memories of this day of pumpkin carnage.

Once nightfall comes, poor pumpkin is put out in the cold, all alone, while his humiliation is illuminated for all in the night to see by the small candle that has been placed inside him.

I'm sure glad I'm not a pumpkin!

Rant Revisited.....

2008-10-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

Well, my rant from the other day has come to a happy resolution.

Before I go any further....I must clarify. I did not intend to paint my amazing, handsome, incredible, smart, dashing, sophisticated, loving, caring, considerate, awesome, dapper.....(KISS!KISS!) husband in a poor light. He truly is amazing and went the extra mile to help our daughter recover her losses. After the emotional dust of me going into fighting mode for my daughter, we calmly discussed many options about how to proceed. We came up with a compromise that satisfied both of our positions, and all was well.

On to the happy resolution. Luckily, we didn't have to implement our compromise. Because my hubby had purchased it online for her, our credit card insurance covered the replacement cost of the item. She is able to replace it. But, I'm sure her lesson learned is to consider the risk in taking high value items with you to public places. She will not make the same mistake twice!

Not Such a Rave Review....

2008-10-29T14:59:00.001-07:00

I must admit that my post yesterday did not necessarily paint my corner of the desert southwest in a very good light.

Even though I am not a "desert girl" at heart, I do have to admit that sometimes it can be very beautiful.

I am lucky enough to work at a botanical gardens. The following are a few pictures of desert plants that are showcased there.

This photo is of an agave. As you can see, at this time of year it really is a lovely plant to look at. It stays green all year and provides an amazing amount of character to the desert landscape. Beyond that, there are many different types of agave, some huge, some small, some with variegated coloring and a variety of leaf shapes.

This amazing cactus is called a saguaro. They are native to the Sonoran Desert and can live to be 200 years old. They are not only beautiful and majestic, but also are home to various birds that nest in them.

This tree is a Palo Verde tree. It has green bark and sparse leaves. In the spring and usually after rains and warming spells, it blooms with amazing yellow blossoms that fill the tree - tough on my allergies, but easy on my eyes.

The top three photos are of plant life that can be found where I live. The next photos are of gorgeous wild flowers that can be found the "high-country."

So, I might not always rave about how much I enjoy the desert, but, just as in the rest of life, there is some beauty in everything.

Happy Autumn!

2008-10-28T14:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Autumn!

Yes I know that the fall is almost half over, but here in my part of the desert southwest, we don't have much of an autumn.

We don't have any trees that change from green to beautiful reds and burnt oranges. We don't have the piles of fall leaves on the ground.

What we do have are cactus that shrivel, ocotillo that lose their leaves, and ragweed pollen that would choke a giraffe - does that make sense?

Anyway, as October is drawing to a close, our days are VERY SLOWLY getting cooler. Today's daytime temperature was only 94 degrees. Our evening temperatures are falling into the low 60's. It is almost time to put away our tank tops and shorts and take out our t-shirts and capri pants and enjoy very comfortable weather.

With turkey day just around the corner, we can finally get into the spirit of Autumn.

A Rant Already?

2008-10-27T16:07:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it....

Only my second post and I already have a rant!

Today at school, my daughter had her i-pod stolen out of her zipped backpack.

Now I know many of you will say "Why did she have an i-pod at school?"

The school (a high school) allows students to carry electronics between classes and some teachers even allow use in class during quite work or free time. She she also rides the bus home and listens to it then. She was not doing anything against the rules and she was not negligent as it was put away in her backpack. It was taken during the one time in one class that she was separated from her backpack for doing required lab work. The school does not provide lockers, so the kids keep their stuff with them all day.

I am just floored that someone would have the guts to go into her pack and take it. I am even more upset because of how hard she worked to purchase it. Yes.....I said purchase it. We did not buy it for her or give it to her as a gift. She worked diligently for two years to save the money to purchase it. We have always believed in teaching our kids the value of money - and she truly stepped up to the plate by saving money, looking at her purchase options, and then finding the best price......all to have some one steal it from her.

She is completely crushed. Not because of losing the i-pod, but because all of the hard work she put into getting it is wiped away.

I think hubby and I should help her replace it to show her we value the hard work she put into saving for it. My hubby thinks it should just be a tough life lesson. What do you think?

OK...Since Goulash is a Food...Let's Start There

2008-10-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my first official post on Daily Goulash...

This is a place for me to rant, rave, post, complain - what ever I feel like doing. It's sort of undefined, kind of like goulash. I mean, who really knows what goulash is? I know it's a mixture of something, but I'm sure if you asked different people, you'd get different answers about what it is. (If you know what goulash really is, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will gladly clarify.)

Since goulash is made in the kitchen, I thought I'd start with a post about something made from in the kitchen -cake! I love to make cakes! I love to be able to express myself with how I decorate them. It is very therapeutic, and a way for me to feel a sense of accomplishment when I see my completed piece of art.

Here are some pictures of some of my favorite culinary attempts at cake greatness.

My nephew loved this one for his 9th birthday. It really impressed his friends.
I used regular icing techniques as well as colorflow.

Another birthday cake using butter cream icing.

My first attempt at using rolled fondant. This cake was for my daughter's 14th birthday. She loved it!

Another attempt at rolled fondant for my mother-in-law's and daughter's joint birthday celebration. I wised up this time and used a pasta roller to roll out the fondant.

So this is just a little bit about me in a nut shell....or should I say cake pan.

Daily Goulash

2008-10-26T13:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my blog, Daily Goulash.

You will get an insight into me, my life, my opinions and my world through daily rants, stories and miscellaneous postings. Thanks for stopping by!