Steve and I are both early risers, so we were up and went for breakfast before Russ had peeped out of the covers yet. Delicious french toast done in the oven, and great coffee. Coffee and cigarettes on the porch are one of my favorite things anyway, but when done with friends on the balcony of the lodge overlooking the pond on a gorgeous morning.. well there are just few things better.
The weather is perfect. Sunlight is just smiling down through the trees. There is enough of a breeze to keep most of the mosquitoes at bay, and it's supposed to be about 75 today. I took a walk around the pond after getting acquainted with the Mallard couple that lives there. The Yellow (or "Tulip") Poplars have just bloomed, and there is a carpet of green and orange flowers on the ground that blew off in Thurday night's storm.
After breakfast, I went back to try to take a nap, since I got to bed late last night, and haven't slept well this week. No dice. Partly because Steve had the same idea, partly because everyone was coming and going, and partly just because there is so much energy flying around that I can't ever sleep during the day at the camp out.
Russ had to run by their house, so he told me he would take me by to get the desserts. When I took my flourless chocolate cake out of the fridge, the lovely fluffy buttercream I made yesterday morning was hard as a brick. I can only hope it will soften up as the cake sits out today. And of course I am already worried the cake is burned on the edges. I put my lemonade cake and marshmallow cream trifle together, but it looks like SO much marshmallow stuff now. I am afraid it's going to be too sweet. And this pound cake is not the prettiest I have ever made either. The eclair pie turned out well, but a lot of people don't eat custard. And yes, I always get like this before I serve the desserts.
But we got it all back here in one piece, so I can relax until dinner now.
We got back to the camp ground just in time for the only demo today, one on "MacGyver" style fetish play. It was pretty informative for me...
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Camp Out!!*
I slept like crap last night. I can never sleep before the camp out. I was up early though, and so it was no problem to make the icing for the flourless cake. I just may fall asleep at work....
***
After work tonight, I ran home and threw things in the car, took a shower, and ran my cheese ball together, and downed a "5-hour Energy". Then I headed for the camp ground.
It is a beautiful drive up. The road twists and curves around the contours of the mountains, through a dense canopy of trees and Mountain Laurel. As you enter the mountains, the city noises drop away, and the quiet is just lovely. Of course, I had to put in a little inspriational music to get ramped up for tonight.
I put out my cheese ball on the snack table and started looking for Russ and Billy. As usual, I ran around too much after work without eating, and my blood sugar was dropping (I have reactive hypoglycemia). I wanted to find out where I was staying though, and unpack the car so I could go park and get out of the way before I ate.
After all that, I went in to eat, and found Kay checking people in at a table, so I sat down with her, ate a bit, and got checked in. I just love her. Sadly, we are less at this camp out than usual. Carmina and adder didn't come, nor did Sir Michael and wilenda. But Joanne is here with Rob and mikah (her boy). He is absolutely adorable, but unfortunately for me, totally straight. But they are really nice, and staying in the cabin with Russ, Billy, me, and our friend (other) Steve. Steve is from the bear group, and this is his first camp out.
After the eating and greeting, the dungeon was open for biz. It was a great night tonight. Everyone was in a good mood, and ready to play! Friday nights can be strange. Sometimes it takes a bit for people to transition from the real world. But not tonight. There was a really good energy tonight, and everyone was having a good time.
Russ was doing some fireplay with Steve, and that was really neat to watch.
I was just kind of hanging out, talking, smoking, catching up with people. When I went inside to watch some stuff, Mz Kytten asked me to play. Mz Kytten is gorgeous. She's been on a diet, and lost a lot of weight. She's too thin to be rubenesque now, but still a gorgeously curvy confection of a woman, with cascades of curly tawny hair and almond shaped green eyes that crackle with mirth, power, and mischief. When she turns that laser gaze on me, I seem to lose the power of coherent speech and start nervously giggling like an idiot for no good reason.
I stepped up to the St. Andrew's Cross and got ready. She cuffed me up and put me through my paces too. She was really careful about warming me up, since sometimes I will pass out during a scene, and I have almost done that to her before. When she did get going though, she gave me pretty much what I could handle. She loves nipple torture, which I hate. I knew I was in for it there, and I was right. OUCH! She also likes fingernails though, which I love, and she raked my back up pretty good. Sometimes I just need a whoopin, and she obliged. I was feeling GREAT when I stepped down. Yay!
Steve and I were sharing a bed. I crawled in bed, still a bit tingly, and very happy to be there. I love the campout.
***
After work tonight, I ran home and threw things in the car, took a shower, and ran my cheese ball together, and downed a "5-hour Energy". Then I headed for the camp ground.
It is a beautiful drive up. The road twists and curves around the contours of the mountains, through a dense canopy of trees and Mountain Laurel. As you enter the mountains, the city noises drop away, and the quiet is just lovely. Of course, I had to put in a little inspriational music to get ramped up for tonight.
I put out my cheese ball on the snack table and started looking for Russ and Billy. As usual, I ran around too much after work without eating, and my blood sugar was dropping (I have reactive hypoglycemia). I wanted to find out where I was staying though, and unpack the car so I could go park and get out of the way before I ate.
After all that, I went in to eat, and found Kay checking people in at a table, so I sat down with her, ate a bit, and got checked in. I just love her. Sadly, we are less at this camp out than usual. Carmina and adder didn't come, nor did Sir Michael and wilenda. But Joanne is here with Rob and mikah (her boy). He is absolutely adorable, but unfortunately for me, totally straight. But they are really nice, and staying in the cabin with Russ, Billy, me, and our friend (other) Steve. Steve is from the bear group, and this is his first camp out.
After the eating and greeting, the dungeon was open for biz. It was a great night tonight. Everyone was in a good mood, and ready to play! Friday nights can be strange. Sometimes it takes a bit for people to transition from the real world. But not tonight. There was a really good energy tonight, and everyone was having a good time.
Russ was doing some fireplay with Steve, and that was really neat to watch.
I was just kind of hanging out, talking, smoking, catching up with people. When I went inside to watch some stuff, Mz Kytten asked me to play. Mz Kytten is gorgeous. She's been on a diet, and lost a lot of weight. She's too thin to be rubenesque now, but still a gorgeously curvy confection of a woman, with cascades of curly tawny hair and almond shaped green eyes that crackle with mirth, power, and mischief. When she turns that laser gaze on me, I seem to lose the power of coherent speech and start nervously giggling like an idiot for no good reason.
I stepped up to the St. Andrew's Cross and got ready. She cuffed me up and put me through my paces too. She was really careful about warming me up, since sometimes I will pass out during a scene, and I have almost done that to her before. When she did get going though, she gave me pretty much what I could handle. She loves nipple torture, which I hate. I knew I was in for it there, and I was right. OUCH! She also likes fingernails though, which I love, and she raked my back up pretty good. Sometimes I just need a whoopin, and she obliged. I was feeling GREAT when I stepped down. Yay!
Steve and I were sharing a bed. I crawled in bed, still a bit tingly, and very happy to be there. I love the campout.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Night #4 in the kitchen
Tonight it was flourless Kahlua chocolate cake with Kahlua chocolate icing, and the cheese ball for snack time tomorrow night.
The flourless chocolate cake went surprisingly well. I was a bit leery of this recipe because the last two times I made it, it failed to set up. It's basically a souffle` recipe, but this one is a bit odd, and you don't beat the egg whites separately. It does sink in some in the middle, but on the plus side, it has staying power a souffle` doesn't.
For the camp out, I have to have things that a) can be done all ahead of time; b) don't have to be served hot; and c) require no kitchen time for garnishing. Eric, who does the dinner, has to have the kitchen the whole day. It's a pretty tall order to do this and keep it creative. I don't want to fall back on doing the same things every time.
Anyway, so as relieved as I was that the cake set, I think I may have gotten it over-done now. I tasted a flake of it when I took the springform ring off, and it tasted a bit burnt. I hope it's OK. I don't have time for the cake to cool tonight, so I'll have to do the icing for it in the morning. Which means getting up early. Sigh. I already have a hard time sleeping before the camp out. And I never sleep well during. I'm going to be dead by the time this weekend is over. But it will be a lot of fun. It always is.
I started working on the cheese ball, but had to leave off because I ran out of shredded cheese to coat the outside with. I just put the filling to the side to "ball it up" later. When I got back from the store about 10:30, I was so tired, I forgot that you have to let the filling chill overnight before you roll and coat it. I turned out this mass of sticky cheese on the counter to roll it up, and my hands just sunk into it. I was wearing cheese gloves before I figured out what was wrong. I just stuck it all into a container shoved it in the fridge, and decided I could deal with it tomorrow.
The flourless chocolate cake went surprisingly well. I was a bit leery of this recipe because the last two times I made it, it failed to set up. It's basically a souffle` recipe, but this one is a bit odd, and you don't beat the egg whites separately. It does sink in some in the middle, but on the plus side, it has staying power a souffle` doesn't.
For the camp out, I have to have things that a) can be done all ahead of time; b) don't have to be served hot; and c) require no kitchen time for garnishing. Eric, who does the dinner, has to have the kitchen the whole day. It's a pretty tall order to do this and keep it creative. I don't want to fall back on doing the same things every time.
Anyway, so as relieved as I was that the cake set, I think I may have gotten it over-done now. I tasted a flake of it when I took the springform ring off, and it tasted a bit burnt. I hope it's OK. I don't have time for the cake to cool tonight, so I'll have to do the icing for it in the morning. Which means getting up early. Sigh. I already have a hard time sleeping before the camp out. And I never sleep well during. I'm going to be dead by the time this weekend is over. But it will be a lot of fun. It always is.
I started working on the cheese ball, but had to leave off because I ran out of shredded cheese to coat the outside with. I just put the filling to the side to "ball it up" later. When I got back from the store about 10:30, I was so tired, I forgot that you have to let the filling chill overnight before you roll and coat it. I turned out this mass of sticky cheese on the counter to roll it up, and my hands just sunk into it. I was wearing cheese gloves before I figured out what was wrong. I just stuck it all into a container shoved it in the fridge, and decided I could deal with it tomorrow.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Night #3 in the kitchen
The food day at work went well. As I suspected, the fact that my crust was broken on the cake I brought in didn't seem to be an issue. They brought me back my cleaned cake carrier at about 5pm today. Not a crumb left. And a good thing too. I need it to put my latest pound cake in for the camp out.
Kathy gave me the leftover baked ziti she makes, which is good. That takes care of lunch next week. I'll just sautee some veggies to throw in and it will be great. I love her baked ziti, I can't get mine to turn out like hers, and she doen't put meat in it - bonus!
After work, it was off to the store for yet more butter and eggs, and some sugar.
I have to say, when I headed to the kitchen tonight to bake pound cake #3, my first thought was "I am tired of baking pound cakes". That is not a good thing. Making a pound cake is kind of a zen thing, and if you're not in the zone, they generally don't turn out well. At least that's the way it is for me. But I soldiered on. I did use the new recipe, and I didn't scorch the bottom, but it stuck a bit, and had these weird crusty "overhangs" where the cake had risen above the pan, and then sunk back below the rim. When I first pulled it out of the oven, I was afraid it had fallen, but I don't think it did. Fallen cakes really do "collapse" when you take them out of the oven, and this one didn't. If I'm lucky, it just has a "sad streak" in it that isn't quite done, which personally I think makes them better. You can't really tell about a pound cake until you cut it. I used heavy cream in this one instead of plain whipping cream, as I did on Monday. I won't do that again. Unless the cake turns out really good. It isn't a pretty one, I can tell you that.
As I was trying to get the cake in the oven, the phone rang. It was Miss Kat. So after I got the cake in, I called her back and talked to her for a while. I really wish she and dana were coming this weekend. Of course, all I really had to talk about this week was baking, which is of limited interest to others, even if they cook.
After scarfing down a couple of pieces of pizza, it was back to the kitchen. I did the pastry cream while the pound cake finished baking. It turned out lovely, just as the last time I made it, despite me breaking half of the egg yolks while separating the eggs. That is a lovely recipe, and I am so glad I found it. It sets beautifully, without lumps, although I usually cook it a bit too long. I'll have to take it off the heat earlier next time, so that when I spread it it will go smooth. But it will taste fine. Then I made a double batch of mother's fudge butter cream icing to go over the top of the second layer of graham crackers, to complete the chocolate eclair pie. I made a huge mess. I was tired, and there were a lot of dry ingredients to fly everywhere. I used dark cocoa instead of regular, and my icing went totally black! I first thought I had read the recipe wrong, but I didn't. It's just that cocoa is really dark! I added a bit more milk to try to bring it up some, but it tastes fine.
By the time I cleaned up all the cocoa that flew everywhere and finished the dishes, it was 10:30. Whew!
Tomorrow I thought would be the easy night, but I had forgotten I have to bring a snack for the Friday night finger food as well. So while the flourless chocolate cake is in the oven, I'll be putting together a homemade cheese ball. Fortunately I have a great recipe for that that goes together very easily and tastes great. Cleanup is a bitch (I'll have to wash the food processor), but what are ya gonna do?
Kathy gave me the leftover baked ziti she makes, which is good. That takes care of lunch next week. I'll just sautee some veggies to throw in and it will be great. I love her baked ziti, I can't get mine to turn out like hers, and she doen't put meat in it - bonus!
After work, it was off to the store for yet more butter and eggs, and some sugar.
I have to say, when I headed to the kitchen tonight to bake pound cake #3, my first thought was "I am tired of baking pound cakes". That is not a good thing. Making a pound cake is kind of a zen thing, and if you're not in the zone, they generally don't turn out well. At least that's the way it is for me. But I soldiered on. I did use the new recipe, and I didn't scorch the bottom, but it stuck a bit, and had these weird crusty "overhangs" where the cake had risen above the pan, and then sunk back below the rim. When I first pulled it out of the oven, I was afraid it had fallen, but I don't think it did. Fallen cakes really do "collapse" when you take them out of the oven, and this one didn't. If I'm lucky, it just has a "sad streak" in it that isn't quite done, which personally I think makes them better. You can't really tell about a pound cake until you cut it. I used heavy cream in this one instead of plain whipping cream, as I did on Monday. I won't do that again. Unless the cake turns out really good. It isn't a pretty one, I can tell you that.
As I was trying to get the cake in the oven, the phone rang. It was Miss Kat. So after I got the cake in, I called her back and talked to her for a while. I really wish she and dana were coming this weekend. Of course, all I really had to talk about this week was baking, which is of limited interest to others, even if they cook.
After scarfing down a couple of pieces of pizza, it was back to the kitchen. I did the pastry cream while the pound cake finished baking. It turned out lovely, just as the last time I made it, despite me breaking half of the egg yolks while separating the eggs. That is a lovely recipe, and I am so glad I found it. It sets beautifully, without lumps, although I usually cook it a bit too long. I'll have to take it off the heat earlier next time, so that when I spread it it will go smooth. But it will taste fine. Then I made a double batch of mother's fudge butter cream icing to go over the top of the second layer of graham crackers, to complete the chocolate eclair pie. I made a huge mess. I was tired, and there were a lot of dry ingredients to fly everywhere. I used dark cocoa instead of regular, and my icing went totally black! I first thought I had read the recipe wrong, but I didn't. It's just that cocoa is really dark! I added a bit more milk to try to bring it up some, but it tastes fine.
By the time I cleaned up all the cocoa that flew everywhere and finished the dishes, it was 10:30. Whew!
Tomorrow I thought would be the easy night, but I had forgotten I have to bring a snack for the Friday night finger food as well. So while the flourless chocolate cake is in the oven, I'll be putting together a homemade cheese ball. Fortunately I have a great recipe for that that goes together very easily and tastes great. Cleanup is a bitch (I'll have to wash the food processor), but what are ya gonna do?
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Night #2 in the kitchen
Tonight I baked one of Aunt Ruby's pound cakes. That is the one I usually make, but I had been looking for a recipe that doesn't have shortening in it. Once I got the hang of this one, it is pretty reliable, and it is a delicious pound cake. I will commit family blasphemy though, and say that I think the recipe for the one I made Monday night makes a better cake overall. Aunt Ruby's is the one I have always taken to work though, and the girls just love it. Since many of them apparently don't cook, this is one of the few scratch cakes they get. Also, since I didn't make a cake the last food day we had (I just took doughnuts) there could well have been a riot if I hadn't brought a cake today. But it was yet another cake to add to the agenda this week. This food day couldn't really have been planned at a more inconvenient time. I just hate to disappoint though. When I pulled this one out of the oven, it was a bit fragile. I should have left it in longer. I broke the crust on it when I turned it out, which pissed me off. So it isn't as pretty as usual, but I'm sure it will taste fine. And since it usually lasts about 2 hours anyway, it doesn't really matter. I'll be baking pound cake number three tomorrow night. That will be the official one to take to the camp out, so that's the one I want to turn out the best. I'll be using the new recipe again, and altering the cooking time and temp, since everything else seemed fine.
I decided I couldn't use the scorched pound cake for the trifle. I always try to do my very best cooking for LOCK. So I baked the lemonade cake tonight for the trifle. It has been a while since I made that cake, and I kind of remembered I had a sticking problem with it, so I lined my pans with wax paper. I'm so glad I did!! Since it has more sugar in the batter from the lemonade, it is a really sticky cake. Even buttering the pans heavily didn't make it come out smoothly. But it's mostly OK, and since it's going in trifle anyway, it's not like it has to be a beautiful cake. I also made another batch of marshmallow cream topping for the trifle. I have one in the fridge, but didn't think one batch would be enough. This should turn out well. The cake is lemony and quite tart, and the topping is very sweet, so it should be a good balance. Also, I decided to do a layer of lemon curd within the cake, since I'm not putting any fruit in this. So it will just be trifle-esque. It also won't have any alchohol in it.
After all that, and cleaning up the kitchen, I was pretty whooped. But I finished up by about 9:30.
Tomorow night it's another pound cake, and the chocolate eclair pie. I decided I can't do Jell-O pudding, so I'll be making pastry cream and Mom's chocolate buttercream icing for that. I'm using packaged graham cracker crumbs though. I figured that would be OK.
So back to the store tomorrow. I'm going to end up using almost four pounds of butter this week, but 3/4 of a pound went into the scorched pound cake, so I guess that doesn't count.
I also couldn't find my #$^%#!! lemon flavoring that I know I bought. I'm out of my old flavoring, and know I bought another bottle, but can't find it. That is so aggravating! I even took all my spices out, cleaned my spice rack, and put them all back. No dice. Dammit.
I decided I couldn't use the scorched pound cake for the trifle. I always try to do my very best cooking for LOCK. So I baked the lemonade cake tonight for the trifle. It has been a while since I made that cake, and I kind of remembered I had a sticking problem with it, so I lined my pans with wax paper. I'm so glad I did!! Since it has more sugar in the batter from the lemonade, it is a really sticky cake. Even buttering the pans heavily didn't make it come out smoothly. But it's mostly OK, and since it's going in trifle anyway, it's not like it has to be a beautiful cake. I also made another batch of marshmallow cream topping for the trifle. I have one in the fridge, but didn't think one batch would be enough. This should turn out well. The cake is lemony and quite tart, and the topping is very sweet, so it should be a good balance. Also, I decided to do a layer of lemon curd within the cake, since I'm not putting any fruit in this. So it will just be trifle-esque. It also won't have any alchohol in it.
After all that, and cleaning up the kitchen, I was pretty whooped. But I finished up by about 9:30.
Tomorow night it's another pound cake, and the chocolate eclair pie. I decided I can't do Jell-O pudding, so I'll be making pastry cream and Mom's chocolate buttercream icing for that. I'm using packaged graham cracker crumbs though. I figured that would be OK.
So back to the store tomorrow. I'm going to end up using almost four pounds of butter this week, but 3/4 of a pound went into the scorched pound cake, so I guess that doesn't count.
I also couldn't find my #$^%#!! lemon flavoring that I know I bought. I'm out of my old flavoring, and know I bought another bottle, but can't find it. That is so aggravating! I even took all my spices out, cleaned my spice rack, and put them all back. No dice. Dammit.
Monday, May 12, 2008
A visit from Justin
Windsor "Diamond" pitcher in Pink, circa 1936-1946 
Windsor "Diamond" cream and sugar in pink 
Windsor "Diamond" butter dish in pink Well Justin decided to come tonight instead of Tuesday. It kind of threw my preliminary schedule for the week off, but unbeknownst to me, it was going to be blown all to hell anyway.
I had planned tomorrow night as my "easy" night (in which I was going to prepare only one dessert), but then realized I have a food day at work on Wednesday. Since I just brought doughnuts the last time we had one, if I don't bake a pound cake this time, there could well be a riot.
I baked the pound cake for the camp out tonight. I figured I could make that first, since it is no problem to freeze them (Mom even says she thinks they are better after they are frozen), but for some reason, I decided to vet a new recipe. Apparently I have lost my freakin mind or something. The cake turned out great, but the cook time was wrong for my oven, and I scorched the top, which is of course the best part. I can cut off the scorched part and use it for the trifle, but I really wanted to do a lemonade cake to use as the base for the trifle. Sigh. If I do the pound cake for work tomorrow, and then bake the lemonade cake, then do two desserts Wednesday night (an un-scorched pound cake and the eclair pie), then I can concentrate on the flourless chocolate cake Thursday night. That's going to be the most work, since I'm making ganache for it as well. That's a pretty ambitious schedule though, and I can't afford any more mistakes.
I had to make lunches for this week, so I made Succotash, which Justin seemed to find endlessly fascinating. Sadly, I was not up on the frequency with which it is served, or the amounts that are eaten yearly in the US. That turned out fine. I packed him up some to take home.
We did get some time to visit and talk, which was good. I also got to buy him dinner for his birthday, although since I was tied to the stove I ended up ordering pizza. But it was good to spend some time with him, and talk about what is going on with him. I miss that little shit now that I don't see as much of him.
We also opened the glass that Terry E sent. It was really NICE! He sent me a sugar bowl with cover, a creamer, a butter dish and cover, and TWO of the pitchers I wanted in pink Windsor. He also sent me two little pink footed Fostoria Americana bowls. I was really tickled, and of course having Justin there to open the stuff with me and exclaim over it just made it like Christmas. I already sent Terry a thank you email, but haven't had a response. I will have to find a better way of expressing my gratitude. He is such a sweet man.
I had planned tomorrow night as my "easy" night (in which I was going to prepare only one dessert), but then realized I have a food day at work on Wednesday. Since I just brought doughnuts the last time we had one, if I don't bake a pound cake this time, there could well be a riot.
I baked the pound cake for the camp out tonight. I figured I could make that first, since it is no problem to freeze them (Mom even says she thinks they are better after they are frozen), but for some reason, I decided to vet a new recipe. Apparently I have lost my freakin mind or something. The cake turned out great, but the cook time was wrong for my oven, and I scorched the top, which is of course the best part. I can cut off the scorched part and use it for the trifle, but I really wanted to do a lemonade cake to use as the base for the trifle. Sigh. If I do the pound cake for work tomorrow, and then bake the lemonade cake, then do two desserts Wednesday night (an un-scorched pound cake and the eclair pie), then I can concentrate on the flourless chocolate cake Thursday night. That's going to be the most work, since I'm making ganache for it as well. That's a pretty ambitious schedule though, and I can't afford any more mistakes.
I had to make lunches for this week, so I made Succotash, which Justin seemed to find endlessly fascinating. Sadly, I was not up on the frequency with which it is served, or the amounts that are eaten yearly in the US. That turned out fine. I packed him up some to take home.
We did get some time to visit and talk, which was good. I also got to buy him dinner for his birthday, although since I was tied to the stove I ended up ordering pizza. But it was good to spend some time with him, and talk about what is going on with him. I miss that little shit now that I don't see as much of him.
We also opened the glass that Terry E sent. It was really NICE! He sent me a sugar bowl with cover, a creamer, a butter dish and cover, and TWO of the pitchers I wanted in pink Windsor. He also sent me two little pink footed Fostoria Americana bowls. I was really tickled, and of course having Justin there to open the stuff with me and exclaim over it just made it like Christmas. I already sent Terry a thank you email, but haven't had a response. I will have to find a better way of expressing my gratitude. He is such a sweet man.
I am reproached
I want to set the record straight. Justin hasn't been ducking me about issues. He just didn't have time to go into something with me the other day.
Sorry Justin.
Sorry Justin.
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