Memorial Day Weekend Baking

"We are all a little weird, and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love." - Dr. Seuss

This being a holiday weekend in the States, my dear brother came home and specifically requested that I make Red Lobster Biscuits for him to take back home at the end of the weekend.

They are ridiculously easy to make, and taste wonderful. Even my brother could make them, if he had the time (which is why I ended up making them).


The other item I made this weekend was Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats. Yes, you read that right - a childhood treat, but updated for adults. I was recently at a bridal shower where these were served, and have been waiting to try them out. If and when I have my own kids, I don't think I'll bother making the regular kind of R-K-T - what kid wouldn't love these?


This is how many were left by the time my brother went home:

Have a great day!

Orange Julius Angel Food Cake Dessert

"The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly." - G.K.Chesterton

I got the inspiration for this dessert after one of the ladies at my bible study made and brought something very close to this. I made a couple of tweaks to her original recipe.

You will need:

• 1 white angel food cake (either buy one pre-made, or bake one beforehand)
• 1 3 oz. package Orange Jell-O
• about 1/2 cup orange juice (fresh-squeezed is best)
• 1 8-oz. container Cool Whip
• 1 15-oz. can mandarin orange segments, drained

Cut the angel food cake into slices and line a baking dish with them. Make the Jell-O according to the directions on the package, then pour it over the cake in the pan, making sure the pieces are completely drenched. Allow to cool in the fridge for about 1/2 hour.

For the topping, mix the container of Cool Whip with the orange juice thoroughly ( use enough juice to thin the consistency of the Cool Whip, but not make it too soupy). Drain the can of mandarin oranges and lay the pieces evenly on top of the cake. Spread the cream topping evenly over everything, and leave it in the fridge for at least one and a half hours.

As far as desserts go, this one is on the light side and delightfully refreshing - perfect for summer.

Enjoy!

My Frivolous Socks

"Thus so wretched is man that he would weary even without any cause for weariness...and so frivolous is he that, though full of a thousand reasons for weariness, the least thing...is sufficient enough to amuse him." - Blaise Pascal

The Frivolous Socks are done. This has to be the most girly, amusing (yes - frivolous) knitting project I have yet embarked on.

I love these socks, and will wear them often around the house (although I am tempted to wear them in public while wearing a placard reading "ask me about my life-enhancing girly socks")

Have a blessed day.

Birthday and Mother's Day Macarons

"Though...not what I ought to be, not what I might be, not what I wish or hope to be, and not what I once was, I think I can truly say with the apostle 'by the grace of God, I am what I am.'" - John Newton

"A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." - Tenneva Jordan


This is a busy weekend for my family - a birthday on Friday, another birthday Saturday and Mother's day Sunday. Because we like to bundle things together, I guess.

So for this momentous weekend, I made two different types of macarons...

Lime-flavored shells with Lemon Curd filling...

...and Chocolate shells with Chicken Mole filling.

While the shells may not be the prettiest result, none of the macarons combinations I've made before have tasted this good.

Chocolate Shells

The chocolate shells were a bit different - the method for baking them was different from the regular type.

Lime Shells

The Lime shells have lime oil and green coloring - even a couple of days after baking, they're still fragrant.

Lemon Curd

Lemon curd is very simple to make, and should be kept in the fridge. The cool temperature enhances the taste.

Chicken Mole

Chicken Mole is a Mexican combination of chicken, chocolate, hot peppers, spices and honey. When make this filling, run the mixture through a blender until smooth before using with macarons. Store in the fridge, but allow to come to room temperature when putting the macarons together.

Happy Mother's Day! (and Happy Birthday to anyone else who has a birthday this weekend!)