Book & Baking Blog Entry 38

So this is a blog about baking or about books.  Sometimes I digress such as my rant about publishers and costs, etc.  But really, who cares?!  Frankly, other than a few fabulous people that I know about  I'm not getting much traffic.  So I thought I might talk about baking again today.  Not just any baking but VIRTUAL baking.

Oh yes.  Not only do I bake IRL but I also bake virtually.  Facebook, that great time-sucker, has a game called Baking Life.  I was introduced to Baking Life just like I have been introduced to all my games: My friend Tracy. 

This is not a popular game.  I also joined because my sister, the pastry chef, was also on it.  Well, that was good enough for me.  Then Tracy's daughter.  Finally, my husband joined, just to send me gifts, although he seems to enjoy it quite a bit now.

Baking Life is lame.  It is still in Beta.  Or so they say.  They have some stupid rules, the game runs slow, and there are often glitches.  So, naturally I am devoted.  I check my bakery regularly.  My small child likes to change me and make me different colors and have me wear new outfits.  She also loves to change my hair.

So I bake.  She gets to play dress up and Brian and I send each other gifts.  Everyone is happy.
So, the fun part.  Brian and I were discussing our bakeries (oh yes we do!) and talking about what we bake and how we decide to bake: Our strategies as it were.  It kind of pays to bake all of the stuff available.  But, well...I don't like peach cobbler.  It's OK, but given a choice of the cobbler, scones, and creme brulee, I'll take either rather than the cobbler.  I actually won't bake anything that I don't want to eat.  Really.  I know it's a virtual bakery.  If I won't eat it IRL I won't sell it virtually. 

So, now I can be stupid IRL and in my virtual bakery..  Yep.  baking.  Yep.  I think I should read more....

Book & Baking Blog: Book & Baking Blog Entry 36

Book & Baking Blog: Book & Baking Blog Entry 36

Book & Baking Blog Entry 36

It's been way too long since I've blogged about baking or books. I don't know that I'm going to be doing so this time either.  I've been really busy (as are most people who have jobs and families and a domicile.)  I have actually blogged quite a bit since my last entry here. 

I did, this week, bake a delicious batch of pinwheel cookies.  I never got enough of these as a kid.  They're quite simple. You need a batch of regular sugar cookie dough and a batch of chocolate sugar cookie dough.  Instead of rolling and cutting, you simply break each batch into 4 parts.  1 part of chocolate gets rolled out.  1 part of vanilla gets rolled out.  Lay the vanilla over the chocolate and roll it.  Once it's rolled cut slices, place onto a cookie sheet and bake at 400⁰ for 6-10 minutes depending upon your oven....

Enough about that.  I have been rereading so many books.  I am not sure that I care to review any.  Nothing stands out.  I do have one new Sookie Stackhouse.  Well.  You can't argue with the name.  She's quite a character, and while I don't generally love the vampire genre, it is a bit of fun.  I'll probably let you know how the latest Sookie outing does later...

I guess my new exciting kitchen moment was the appearance of my new refrigerator.  Oh yeah.  MY new 'fridge.  It's HUGE.  And what's so great about a huge 'fridge?  Well, first, we found a bunch of food that was hidden.  We also found the food that was rotten and making the 'fridge smell like freshman gym class.  It's all out the door now. Although I saved us $50 that we were going to spend on a used deep freezer on Craig's list by suggesting that we keep the old 'fridge in the shed for the kegs.  Yep.  Always have a great idea....

Well, the beauty of the new appliance encompasses many things not the least of which is ice cream.  Not just any ice cream, but home made ice cream.  For Christmas, my husband, not only got me a great deal on a HUGE (word of the day) new kitchenaid mixer, but also a free ice cream maker attachment.  Cheap and free.  In general two words that women don't want to be associated with, however, I'll make an exception here.  So, this week I will endeavour to make my first vanilla ice cream.  Why vanilla?  Well, that's what the incredibly loud bruiser that I live with loves.  She is so not the delicate flower of the past.  Almost 4, we tremble in fear of her.  I think home made vanilla ice cream should calm the beast....stay tuned for how it turns out.

I realize that this blog has meandered.  But hey, bite me.  It's my blog.