Blessed

We all have our own recipes for daily joy. For some it is a heartfelt prayer others a good long jog to put things in perspective. I personally don't believe that any one recipe for joy ever fits every need, person or situation. My personal recipe may not work for you. Heck, you may hate being in the kitchen, and just having a moment to sit puts you on the positive side of the balance sheet.
This may be a time of year that is incredibly busy, to the point of such distraction that the point of getting together to enjoy one another is totally lost. Please take this moment and realize that in the long run the people you love will only remember you came and spent some time with them. They will not remember if you brought fresh rolls or store bought.
We all understand that life sometimes trumps even the best intentions. Just be there. Laugh until it hurts, cry until you smile, listen when it counts, and work until its fun. That is life, not existing, not going through the motions, but actually working with the Lord to know what motion will actually make a difference.
I am going to make an effort to thank those this year who have taken the time to teach me what life is about. Those who have helped me learn for myself who I am, why we are here, and that the Lord isn't playing some kind of joke on us. Even the craziest of times make sense when looking back as to why it simply had to be that way and not the way I would have chosen at the moment.
To all you who fall in those categories-- Thank you -- from the bottom of my heart.
So in honor of a sweet woman in my church growing up at a pioneer activity, woman who's face or name I might never recall, here is a recipe for something she called "Pioneer Candy". I used to come home from school and make a small cup of this even in 1st grade. It is nothing incredibly special but she took the time to teach a group of kids and teach us about people who craved just a bit of sweetness from life. So, take this indulgent moment of sweetness from me.
Live in the Moment,
Bask in its joy.
Reach for your dreams,
All doubt destroy.
Trust in yourself,
Head high, heart full.
Know you are treasured,
beyond any other wealth.

Pioneer Candy
1 part peanut butter
1 part dry milk
a little touch of honey to smooth and sweeten.
Mix and enjoy.
Crazy combination but will give you plenty of energy to discover all the magic around your own house.
Gratefully yours;
Mrs. Brownie

The Puffs went Poof

Life is interesting. I tell myself those words so often it is amazing. The times I try and be true to a recipe letter and measurement, it falls flat. The best part is with cream puffs or pate choux when it goes south there is no resurrecting the offending product.
It all started with an innocent plea to catch up on a cooking lesson that had been canceled weeks back. Being confident that it was still possible to pull together a lesson in 50 minutes while preparing dinner at my own home was just a lapse in judgment. Despite my best efforts I am not an aspiring witch at Hogwarts who can turn back time and be in two places at once--I did apply to the school though and received a delightful rejection letter in return as I have no magical powers beyond that of the typical womanly wiles. In the end my girls and I whisked, stirred, piped and processed the dough to the exact specifications of the recipe to very meager results. they were the right color taste and shape but seriously lacking and height and airiness. Nonetheless, being a lesson we determined as a group what we had learned, and filled the flattened faux pas for our tasting delight.
So instead of setting forth the failed recipe I am giving you one that is tried and true. Hope you enjoy. Remember when cooking with kids it really is about he journey not the end product. We had a fabulous time making a tidy mess. Cheers to you my favorite girls. Thank you to my sweet angels for bringing my inflated ego back to earth.
In honor of the kids here is my favorite salt dough recipe. I recently used it to create the bases for flower arrangements at our last church party. Simple form the shape you want and stick the fake flower stems in an aesthetically pleasing fashion. The stems hold their shape beautifully for the evening,and the guests have something to play with while they are waiting to be called up to fill their plates. Who knew play dough was the answer to a center piece dilemma?
Salt Dough
2 cups flour
1 c salt- regular table salt
2 cup cold water mixed with food color of choice
1t cream of tartar
1 T vegetable oil.
Mix in sauce pan over medium heat until it leaves the sides of the pan. Remove from pan place on parchment or wax paper. Let cool until you are able to handle it, then knead it for 4 min. Store in air tight container or bag.
PS Don't eat this one.

YUCK

I have never liked sugar cookies. But the love of my husband has driven me to more insane pursuits than finding the perfect sugar cookie. He is a total Loft House cookie man, but me being me and hating to buy anything in the bakery section that I can make at home have finally found and developed the perfect sugar cookie according to Brian. Pay attention cause I even like this one after having sworn off my least favorite bakery good due to the plethora of poppycock on the market. SO without further adieu here you are. Bake this one 6 min. turn the sheet and then another 2 min for tablespoon size cookies. 8 min with 2 min after the turn for golf ball size cookies and make sure to push them down if you don't roll them out or they won't flatten out. Have Fun!
Reformed Sugar Cookies
• 1 cup margarine
• 1 cups white sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon orange or almond extract banana extract makes them taste like loft house
• Orange or lemon peel fresh or dried
• 3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Cream the margarine and add the sugar gradually. Beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each addition.
2. Stir in the vanilla. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt gradually to the creamed mixture, stirring in by hand. Cover and chill dough overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Roll dough out on a floured surface to 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick and cut into your favorite shapes. Place cookies onto the prepared baking sheets.Or just cookie scoop them and press them down with your fingers a potato masher or a flat clean surface.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F for 6 to 8 minutes or until cookie has a golden appearance.
Smile and Savour

The evolution of a Recipe

Potato Soup- Valerie Brown’s recipe done Rachel’s way
Once again I typically don’t take the time to chop, peel and boil fresh tomatoes, but they are good in this. I have used left over baked potatoes too, however, to make this soup on the fly I can Southern style hash browns in the freezer they are ready to go pre-chopped, and I just make sure to add a little extra chicken stock to allow them time to cook through. I also use the bacon pieces found in the salad area of Costco or Sam’s club because I hate frying bacon and it makes this soup tasty with minimal effort. Once again you can opt to cook and break up your own bacon if you prefer that. Soup at my house is meant to be filling and good with not too much effort so I take shortcuts. I will put down the original recipe-honestly the best scratch potato soup you could hope for. Then I will put my recipe.
Valerie’s impeccable version
8 slices bacon diced and fried crisp- set aside
4 c diced potatoes barely covered with water and cooked over medium heat until just tender
In a separate pan melt ¾ c butter then add ¾ c flour and stir for 30 seconds on the heat. Add 1 qt Half and half and cook until smooth add potatoes with liquid and bacon and heat until desired consistency.
This is a from scratch smile and savour- but also completely satisfied that you didn’t need to open a can for dinner.
My quick version for the cold toes and hungry tummy after a long day.
1 lb frozen southern hash. This is typically ½ the bag. Break up the potatoes, cut open the top and place in microwave for 4 min on defrost- they should not be burning hot, thoroughly warmed.
In sauce pan place ¾ c butter and 1 tsp granulated garlic melt it over medium heat. Then add ¾ c flour and stir with spatula or whisk for 1 min. Add 4 cups milk 2 cups chicken base reconstituted( or homemade stock), and stir like mad. Add potatoes and the salad style REAL bacon shreds to the pot and heat through adding stock or milk to get the consistency that your family likes. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
I serve this with grated cheddar cheese, more bacon, sour cream, and chives for the ultimate “baked” potato soup.
Put your feet up this takes maybe 15-20 min to get into bowls. Put your feet up, and smile while you savour a bowl of fabulous soup that didn’t cost you 4 dollars at the deli.
PS. The leftovers are fantastic!

Using all those Cans

In our home we practice storing and rotating cans, boxes, and pails of pantry staples. Doing this has been a blessing in our lives for when the weather is bad or the grocery money gets low. I have made a practice of budgeting a small portion of our income each month to buying things that go on sale that are staples in our home. These boxes of cake mix, cans of tomatoes, and barrels of flour are used in turn and restocked as needed to save for a rainy day. In attempt to use these stores up and keep the products fresh I have great go to recipes for home or company that are filling, tasty, and economical. There are no closed off recipes in my home where extras like a bag of frozen corn, or fresh veggies can't be added to. Thus, they are basic and open to interpretation. Your family will eat differently than the way we eat so as always adjust. And maybe next time you are in the store you might consider buying 3 or 4 extra cans of the week's special buy to hold onto for your own rainy day. So here goes.
Enchilada Soup provided by your pantry
4 cups chicken broth or stock
1 can pinto or kidney beans drained and rinse
1 or 2 12.5 oz cans of chunked chicken in water- can use leftover chicken or cooke chicken for it but the pantry stuff works great.
½ pkg taco seasoning
1 tsp cumin
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes – or if your family doesn’t like the texture same amount of crushed tomatoes
1 small can diced green chilies
1 clove minced garlic- or 1 tsp dried
½ minced onion or 3 T dried chopped onions
1 carrot halved and cut in ¼ in pieces
Combine all above ingredients in large soup pan or slow cooker depending on your time limits. Bring to a full boil then reduce to a simmer for at least 20 min. If using a slow cooker I recommend 6 hours low or 3 on high setting adding the cheese and rice in for last 30 min.
4 oz processed cheese- cut into large cubes
¼ c rice (optional)- if using add the rice 15 min before serving from a pan to ensure thorough cooking.
Add cheese right before serving and stir in completely.
Top with sour cream, grated cheese or any other favorite taco topping.

Trust me on the processed cheese, I too thought "really", but yes really. This ingredient gives the soup that restaurant like flavor and texture.
and as always
Smile and Savour-- your Brownie

Just Right

Sometimes there is no need for stories, build ups, or suspense. Try the recipe. Its great- I like to frost them with a light butter vanilla glaze but I know many prefer cream cheese frosting. Go with your gut cook what you love. This is a slightly wet dough in the stand mixer but the smell of yeast will be strong when the kneading is done.
Live with passion, cook with love, everything tastes better.

Cinnamon Rolls- Mine
Combine: ½ c orange juice, 1/2 c very warm water then add 1 T yeast set aside until foamy
Combine ½ c milk with ¼ c butter and gently melt in microwave stir to help cool.
Add 2 egg yolks plus 1 egg beaten with ½ c sugar to yeast mixture add 1 t salt
Put in stand mixer add 2 cup flour and turn on mixer then add in milk mixture. Then continue adding flour until dough just barely pulls form sides initial 2 cups plus up to 1 cup more.
Allow machine to run for 5-10 min.
Set aside in greased bowl to proof until double or tripled. Roll out in two portions. Spread with melted butter then sprinkle with 1 packed cup brown sugar mixed with 1T cinnamon. Pinch of salt.
Allow to rest for 30 min to 1 hour.
Bake in 350 oven for 21-23 min until golden. Glaze with remaining melted butter mixed with powdered sugar and vanilla.


Smile and Savour

The Upper Crust

I make no pretenses about ever being one to shop at Saks (on Fifth Avenue or otherwise)or dine on caviar (too salty and weird); however, I had an epiphany this week. Have you ever thought if it was possible to make a macaroon upside down cake? I must say the result was just too fun not to share. This is a fabulous way to use that little bit of packaged cookie dough that is still hanging out in the freezer form the last fundraiser from the cute neighbor kid. In the end you get a great cake with a decadent top cookie crust that is beautiful to eat and look at. I must say I love when the birthday girl gives me some flavors to work with and free rein. Have fun with this one add what you most like to the sugar cookie dough or use another flavor and improvise with a complimenting cake. I found using a spring-form pan lined with parchment and greased worked very well to enable an easy flip-a-roo.
Macaroon Cake
Heat Oven to 350 degrees and prepare 9-10 in spring-form pan with parchment or wax paper across the bottom then spray the pan. This allows you to wash the pan at once instead of storing the cake on the bottom portion and having a cupboard filled with disassembled spring-forms. No they do not require input for you 80's movies junkies
Take left over cookie dough about 1.5 cups and mix in 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut and combine the two together. Press into the bottom of the spring-form pushing it up the sides just slightly to ensure a seal. Place in oven for 5 min while prepping the cake.
Chocolate cake- quite frankly put whatever cake you want to complement the sweet coconut. This recipe is from the Cook's Illustrated baking book. If you like to know why recipes are put together the way they are from a chemical standpoint you will love this series of cook books.
1 1/4 c all purpose flour
12 T soft unsalted butter
1 1/4 c sugar
3 eggs room temp
1/2 t baking soda
1/ t salt
1/4 c Hershey cocoa
1/3 cup boiling water
1/3 c buttermilk- or sour milk
2 t vanilla

Combine boiling water and coco mix into paste and let cool then add buttermilk and vanilla- if you add vanilla while it is still too hot the complex flavor of the undertones won't come through cause they will burn off and you might as well have used the imitation stuff.
Cream butter and sugar 3- 5 min add eggs one at a time beating until fully incorporated in between. In Separate bowl combine dry ingredients and whisk to combine. Add flour mixture to the bowl alternating with cocoa mixture to the creamed mixture in three additions each, beating in between. scrape sides and then make sure all is well. Pour over warm crust and place in 350 oven for 30 min. Check with toothpick for done-ness. remove from oven. cool ten min. Remove sides and flip cake over onto serving plate removing parchment and admire your work. This cake is great warm or cold, and saves you standing over the stove when you want the coconut combo of a German chocolate cake.
Smile and Savour- you earned this one.
Mrs. Brownie