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July 2010

July 31, 2010

A snuggle of kittens

snuggle kittens

I know a few people who have been having a tough week. These kittens, even if they were people, would not be among them.Since it is sort of tough to give my log-distance friends a hug over the Internet, I'm going for the next best thing: desktop pictures that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy!

Right-click and save the 1440x900 desktop image ,

July 22, 2010

There is a reason I quit coding...

...and by reason, I mean a thousand - or 1024 - of them.

Reason #27: Because stupid little things like that huge date up there can take an hour to hunt down and even when you have changed every reference to the stupid style sheet it still doesn't work. The truly frustrating part is that I was nowhere near those bits, though maybe the kitten that was on my lap was. You think this innocent baby would do that?

This, of course, on the day I moved around A Year in Bread's DNS and confused the heck out of the sidebars (What do you mean there are images that no longer exist? I thought the Internet was forever!)

This is my kick in the butt to wrap up the redesign. Just as soon as I get this other thing finishes. This thing that is supposed to be real next Monday.

Curious about the other thing? Click on over to twitter and follow @notLikeNormal, which is short for Not Like Normal People, a line that was dropped on someoneElse and me by an oh-so precocious (and precious) nine year-old. Wise beyond her years, that one.

July 20, 2010

Tuesday Tease: Old-fashioned Doughnuts

old-fashioned doughnuts

Lara Ferroni shoots beautiful photographs. The picture above is not one of hers, it's mine taken on the counter with horrible lighting and (apparently) a shaky hand. Oh well.

The doughnuts, however, are Lara's recipe...and my third attempt to make old-fashioned doughnuts that were at all photogenic. (Note to doughnut photographers: recipes with lots of cinnamon taste wonderful but the photos are awful!)

After a twitter discussion left me in search of the secret to old-fashioned doughnuts, Lara was kind enough to give me a preview of the old-fashioned recipe from her upcoming cookbook Doughnuts: Simple and Delicious Recipes to Make at Home. My conclusion: they are dangerously tasty.

The balance of dough stiffness and oil temperature needed to produce those cracks and crags was a bit tricky to figure out -- and the doughnuts that stayed smooth tasted wonderful so wasn't a loss -- but I got it! They say the third time's the charm, right? (Am I the only person who wishes "they," whoever they are, would say something new?)

I am also pleased to announce I have conquered my fear of frying. 

Have you ever made doughnuts? Does the thought of deep-frying have you cowering in a corner? What should I fry next?

July 14, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: New Furlings

Hissy Face

We call this one Hissy-face because he does this totally adorable fierce hiss-in-your-face. We are only glad he does not know we are mocking him when we say he's terribly fewocious! There will be better photos as soon as they emerge from the roasting pan. Seriously, a roasting pan; Like they don't now we have to fatten them up first.

July 07, 2010

Technique: No-cook Ice Cream Base (yes, with eggs)

Nutella Swirl Ice Cream

A few years ago, I happened upon a sale and bought a really good ice cream maker, which has led to more than a bit of creamy, frozen goodness around my place. It really doesn't take much effort to whip up a batch of ice cream base and with my machine, which doesn't require pre-freezing a bowl, I can have ice cream almost on a whim.

Amazon was smart enough to put a number of their ice cream machines on sale, just in time for the heat wave! That's marketing for you. So if you don't have a contraption of creamy goodness, head over to the 25% (or more) off ice cream machines sale .

There is a downside to making ice cream, however: making the custard base. Merely the thought of standing over a hot stove attentively stirring a pot of cream and eggs lest it scorch is enough to make me melt on a day when the mercury hits 90, as it's predicted to. (Yes, here in my ten feet of rain a year fog valley.) This means the odds of my making ice cream the traditional way rapidly decreases as my desire for ice cream increases. Something is seriously wrong with this picture.

At least it was...

Continue reading "Technique: No-cook Ice Cream Base (yes, with eggs)" »

July 02, 2010

Hand-painted Independence Day Marshmallow

First Amendment FlagMallow

Homemade Berry Marshmallows. Liquid food coloring applied with a toothpick.

Happy Independence Day!

Do something revolutionary this weekend.

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