Strawberry Scented

This is what I did yesterday, multiplied by 750. Yes, that's right... 750 bite-sized strawberry shortcakes along with 1,500 other mini desserts for a promotion. I have to admit this was a collaborative effort by three of us in the bakery over the last 2 days. And yes, my hands do still smell of strawberries... better than onions, I say.

For the mini strawberry shortcakes:

Our standard pound cake was baked in sheet pans and cut out with a 1-inch fluted cutter. Cake bites were brushed with a strong mixture of simple syrup and rum, then piped with restaurant-style whipped topping (which is basically the equivalent of Redi-whip) hence, the need for the rum. Strawberries were cut in halves or quarters then carefully sliced 1/8-inch from the base of the strawberry to the tip to create the fan effect then brushed with apricot glaze. Apricot glaze acts as a preservative for the strawberries as well as making the strawberries very glimmery. However, when kept refrigerated for more than a couple of days even glazed strawberries will begin to shrivel and look unappealing.

If you wished to make these at home, any dense yellow or pound (or even chocolate, for that matter) cake will work for this. Just bake in a jellyroll or half-sheet pan. Real whipped cream would, of course, be better than fake whipped topping.
For Apricot glaze: You may have to adjust the amount of water based on the consistency of the jam. Heat it until it is liquid enough to apply it with a pastry brush.

1/4 cup apricot jam
1 tablespoon water

Mix the apricot jam with the water in a small microwaveable bowl and heat on high power or in a non-reactive 1-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat until liquid. Brush it on with a pastry brush. The glaze can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

If I were to make these with chocolate cake, rather than fan and glaze the strawberries, I might try to find very small strawberries to dip in dark chocolate, then drizzle with white chocolate before placing them on the whipped cream. Actually, chocolate-dipped marachino cherries with stems would make a very nice presentation as well... simply replace the rum with kirsch.

In my best Julia Child, "Class dismissed."

Virgin Prepares to Take the Plunge

I've been reading a lot of other food blogs that participate in cooking events. I think it sounds pretty cool! Here's what happens... by one method or another, they pick a topic, an ingredient (or in some cases, several ingredients), and a date by which you need to submit your prepared food item. One that looks like it's been going on a while started at Is My Blog Burning [IMBB]. It looks as though the IMBB event has begun taking up a lot of the site originator's time so he has asked other sites to host the event. There is one event per month and whomever is honored with hosting the event gets to choose the food item or topic for the month. Typically, bloggers participating in the event will take pictures of their creation and list ingredients used and cooking methods and sometimes a little story to go along with the entry. Then they email the host and let them know they are participating.

This is a pretty crazy month for me: a visit from my mother for a week and then we're off to a family reunion and week-long visit to Wisconsin. So I was thinking, "Why not add my first attempt at IMBB to the mix?" LOL

This month's topic: Eggs Hosted by Seattle Bon Vivant

I will be making my recipe next week while Mom is here and since the entry deadline is between Friday, June 24th and Sunday, June 26... the time when we'll be flying to Wisconsin and having the reunion, I'll have to blog from my auntie's house. Nothing like adding a little more stress to my travel plans... hehehe

Got Ebay?

Is there some big Toast Art collectible craze I don't know about? I found these for sale in the next 2 days on Ebay.

I guess you can get any toasty image you want if you keep looking. I found something for everyone just with a little searching.
Politics

George Bush --------------- Deep Throat -------- Saddam in Undies

Religion

The Pope ---------------------- Jesus

Current Events/Stars

Pregnant Brittney Spears ---- Brittney's Ultrasound ---- Elvis

Michael Jackson and the verdicts of his molestation trial


John Lenon [this one looks more like Planet of the Apes to me]

Movies

Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas

Lots of Yoda fans, apparently.

Lotto


Sports


TV

Extreme Makeover ---------------- ebay ------------- Got Milk?



I'm sure there were many many more available for auction over the next week but I got tired of all the clicking and copying.

This one sums up what I think of all those sucked into bidding actual money for these:

My Bad

A few folks showed up and said they were here for an intervention.


They felt I was ruining my life with a terrible drug. One that seemed innocent enough (even given to children on occasion) but was highly addictive for me. They informed me that my bank account was in serious danger, my family relationships were beginning to suffer and my job may be next if I didn't quit immediately.


I know better! I'm just fine. I can stop any time I want. My family is NOT suffering... look at them. Standing there with spoons as if I owed it to them! Who do they think they're kidding?? They just got this bunch of bullies together to harrass me so they can take away my stash. Well they can forget it!

I don't see this as a problem... what do YOU think?

Ready For Vacation

A friend emailed *waves to BadSam* and wrote about a camping trip he took over the weekend. I'm not a big camper myself, in fact, I haven't been camping nor had any desire to camp for years. That said, I suddenly have a desire to go river rafting (even better if it included rock climbing). I have never been river rafting OR rock climbing and am not in physical shape to do either. My excuse for not being in shape is that I have a herniated disc in my neck which left me nearly incapacitated last winter. I'm feeling a lot better now thanks to my chiropractor, who I'm sure would advise me NOT to go rock climbing, much less bouncing around river rapids for a week.


I still want to.

I'm no longer restricted against exercise. I'm also not restricted against the ice cream in my freezer. Most days the ice cream wins the battle for my affection. If I had a goal... a reason to exercise (other than feeling and looking better, which we all know is no incentive to begin an exercise program) maybe it would be easier to get out of bed an hour early.

Since MrG is not a camper and I suspect would not enjoy a trip through Grand Canyon rapids, maybe my adventurous in-laws would go with me. Rick? Robin? Hmm? This isn't the type of trip I'd want to take alone; and CheesePuff, though a wild thing, isn't old enough for something like this and by the time she would be, I'd probably be too old.

It's settled then. I'm going to get in shape and attempt to drag my in-laws on a trip with me that in reality, I probably don't want to take! LOL


Here's another place I'd love to visit:

Mesa Verde in Colorado. I'm completely fascinated by these cliff dwellings and the people who seem to have left them so abruptly. But this may be a blog for another day.

Wild One At It Again

I had a little chat with CheesePuff's teacher recently and it went something like this...

T: She has been awfully naughty.
me: Oh? (bracing myself for the impact)
T: She told me she had a headache and asked if she could see the school nurse.
me: ...
T: When I told her she could, she jumped out of her seat, yelled, "YEAH!" and danced out of the room.
me: *snirt* ahem. I'll talk to her about that 'truth' thing.



School is almost out. I'll give a little "yeah" myself. I have been warned all year that my dear Sweetums acts quite immature and to expect that she won't be passing the First grade. I found it quite difficult to expect her to do homework some nights when we had other appointments and things when I knew it mostly didn't matter. I know that's a terrible example to set for my child so I made her muddle through all the homework anyway. It wouldn't be so awful to make HER muddle through the homework, except that I have to muddle through it also. I'm pretty sure I went through all this once a long time ago... why do I have to learn this all AGAIN?!? Oops... that's right I'm teaching my child to be a better student than I was, right.

The school sent home a book to help her get ready for Grade 2. The school sent home a flyer about the library's summer reading program. It's summer. She's supposed to run and play OUTSIDE. Aren't schools getting the message that kids are too fat today from not getting enough exercise? Now they're supposed to spend beautiful summer days reading?
What? Rain days? Oh. Nevermind.

Ebay Jackpot

Mystery sheet auction for my husbands money
He slept with my sister now im giving his 15k away


Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.



Whoa Nelly! Just to clear up any confusion... NO this is not me selling MY husband's stuff. MrG and I are just fine, thankyouverymuch!