A post in which I am struck by inspiration

In the shower, as usual. I get some of my best ideas in the shower. Miss Kat and I had talked Saturday night about subbing out the tropical fruit trifle I planned to make with an extra Kahlua chocolate flourless cake, since the one I made last time went in seconds. Since we had decided this Saturday night while we were tore down, I had been kind of trying to remember that decision all day Sunday.

So these thoughts are kind of randomly turning over in my head (along with visions of sugarplums, of course) in the shower, and my mind kind of jumped from Miss Kat to dana's birthday party, and the food I made for that. It's a shame I can't use up those black cherries I have left over from that party, I thought. And I still have some of that kirsch-cherry whip I made for the middle of that cake too. That would be really good whipped into some refrigerator pies...

About that time, I realized that I could totally do those pies. The menu is set by me - hello. And pies would be a lot less trouble than those flourless chocolate cakes, which are a pain in the ass to make. I already have one elaborate dessert planned, and I could really use the extra time on that anyway. So I called Miss Kat on the phone with her, floated the idea, and changed the menu.

This of course meant another trip to the grocery store. But I needed to go anyway. I made an extensive list, and thought that I now, finally, had everything I need. But I was wrong, of course. I also went to Target and spent $28 on Mother's Day cards! I send them out to a bunch of moms, aunts, etc every year. It's kind of a tradition. I sent seven this year, plus picked up a thank you card for Chris and Pam, and a late birthday card for Eve. Hers was Saturday, and I just wasn't around. But I saw them Friday night.

When I got home, I put together the theme dessert, a sticky chewy butter/cream cheese cake. For the luau theme I added crushed pineapple and coconut before baking. I saved the pineapple juice to be made into a glaze later. That went together surprisingly easily.

When I started laying out the stuff for my pies, I realized that my sweetened condensed milk in the cabinet was out of date. Since it's canned, I wouldn't worry about it for me, but I won't take a chance with the LOCK desserts. They're just too important. So I ran to the store and got the milk, plus an extra 9x13 pan.

Then I started working on the black forest pies. I threw the cherry whip into a bowl with the Cool Whip and cream cheese and beat that all together. I added only one of the cans of milk (you usually use one per pie) because I had so much stuff to go in. Next I whipped in the black cherry juice. Then I took it off the mixer and put in the black cherries. I started to add crushed Oreos, and realized I was running out of bowl space. Strange, I thought, I remember two pies fitting in this bowl. I got a bigger bowl, and added the rest of the Oreos and the mini chocolate chips. The filling just kept growing and growing. My big bowl was full. I filled my two chocolate pie crusts without making much of a dent in it. I then filled an "emergency" crust I had in the cabinet (it needed to be used anyway). I still had enough left over to do at least one more pie - generously. I just put the rest of the filling back in the freezer. At least it's made into something now. All I have to do is thaw it out and use it.

As I was cleaning up the kitchen, I found yet another can of black cherries still in the cabinet. Oh well. I guess I'll figure out a use for them someday.

After all that I was WHOOPED, and my back was killing me. I went on to bed.

A post in which I get a bit done*

Well I thought I had a good start to the day, but then I slowed back down. I have just been SO sleepy this weekend.

I was up early and saw Terry off to work. Then I went online to get my messages, and got sucked back into the Manhunt vortex. I ended up visiting a new guy that I had high hopes for, but not so much now. He's nice, and cute, but I suspect he may have a drinking problem. I don't know yet, but I'm leery. I'll probably see him again to make sure because he is such a nice guy.

By the time I left his house I had worked up an appetite. I came home and had a huge breakfast, and then had to have a nap. I got up and made a pot of spaghetti sauce. I put together a pan of stuffed shells to eat on this week because I am not going to have time to worry about dinners with all the cooking I have to get done.

Then I made a pound cake. I decided to make two today, and take one to Kimberly and Danny for their help during Poppy's funeral and freeze one for the camp out. I feel kind of betwixt and between about the camp out desserts. On the one hand I could get started, but on the other hand I want them to be as fresh as possible. Always the dilemma. It turned out not to be an issue. By the time I baked the two pound cakes, the stuffed shells, and made a serious run to the grocery store it was getting late for getting over to Kim and Danny's tonight.

I put almond flavoring in the pound cakes today. I haven't done that before, so when I got to Kim's I asked her to please cut the cake so I could taste it. It was pretty damn good, I have to say. I used Dannette's mother's recipe today for both. That is one fantastic pound cake recipe.

There is a reason for the change in flavoring. As many of you already know, "plain" pound cake has lemon flavoring in it. That's just the way it's made. When I'm doing what I consider a "classic" dessert, I don't mess with it. People expect it to taste a certain way, and many times they're disappointed if it doesn't - whether they realize what has been changed or not.

At the last camp out I did desserts for, however, I made the mistake of mentioning that the new recipe called for more lemon than my old one. You would have thought I had suggested substituting rabbit turds for raisins. The scrunched up faces, and the insistence that whoever it was only liked "plain" pound cake were legion. Of course, I had comments after that that the pound cake would have been "perfect, except for that lemon flavoring". Sigh. Sometimes living in the South makes me nuts.

When I got to Russ and Billy's last week, Russ made a big production out of having eaten "the BEST pound cake of his life" and how he would have to get me this wonderful recipe from the cake he ate that had almond flavoring in place of the lemon. No points for guessing Russ was one of the commenters that the lemon in my pound cake was too strong. Russ smokes over a pack of menthols a day. I doubt he could discern a lemon TREE, let alone a bit too much lemon flavoring, but I digress. For a minute or two he really had me going. The gauntlet had been flung. I worked hard to develop my pound cake technique, and I'm proud of it. Also, Dannette's family recipe is the best one I have ever tried or eaten. Then I realized what he was doing. But it is about pleasing the people and not myself. So I let Russ "trick" me into using almond flavoring in place of the lemon. And I have to say, it made a kick-ass pound cake. If I did bake it.

I had a nice visit with Kim and Danny, and Danny was tickled to death with the cake. I told him if he did yard work for cake, it could be the beginning of a great partnership.

A Saturday in which I am not very productive*

I fully intended to get up first thing, get thank you notes to send out, mail them, put together a grocery list, and bake a pound cake today. Maybe two. But I was bone idle instead.

I got up and went to the flea market for produce. I checked the gourmet food lady to see if there were any dainties on hand to enhance my planned desserts. Nada. I also did the stroll, but there was no glass today. I was dying for salad with ranchamole on it. They have it at El Matador and I got the taste for it last night. I picked up a couple of avocados for an experiment to see if I could make it myself, but my initial experiment wasn't very successful. Still, I ate a huge salad, after which I decided I needed a nap.

Then I logged on for a bit, ostensibly to look up recipes. I also logged into Manhunt to check my messages. And that was the end of that. I ended up chatting for way too long, among other things. I did talk to a really nice guy I talked to before in Charlotte. I should have gone up with Russ apparently. He's really cute, and he emailed me first, which surprised me. We've talked before on Bear411, but I never made it up there to see him - he bartends at the Eagle. I should have. He's smart and funny. Not to mention way hot. Which kind of makes me wonder what he sees in me. I know he has guys climbing all over him at the bar. We always start off talking well, and then he suddenly has to go. Makes me feel a bit more insecure about it.

Anyway, I ended up having a visitor. While I was waiting, I chatted. I also straightened up the house, since Terry was coming to stay tonight. After my buddy left I got out all my recipes, looked up the ones I didn't have, and got a grocery list together. By that time it was about 6, and I wanted to go see Miss Kat and dana tonight. dana had called earlier in the day to invite me.

I ran to the store and just picked up only what I could remember as I passed by it, and what I needed to make a pound cake tomorrow. I'm not getting off cheap this time; buying four and a half pounds of chocolate is just not cheap, even when it's on sale. Then I went on over to Miss Kat and dana's. We had a good visit. Terry got to the house while I was gone. I called to make sure he found everything he needed and woke him up. He must have been really bushed; poor guy.

I came in as quietly as I could, but not to worry. He was sawing little branches. I crept on quietly to bed.

A post in which I have dinner with Dick and Eve*

My boss took the day off today, which is always kind of like a day off for us too. Not that I could really goof off. I had that huge extra report to do. But I'm caught up on calls and all the new accounts are processed, which is always a good feeling.

I woke up today thinking about desserts. The camp out is next weekend, and it's time for me to decide what I'm going to do. I already knew most of what I am making, of course, but couldn't decide on the last one. I consulted Anna to render a final opinion. We decided that a tropical fruit trifle would be the best 5th dessert, over a cookie bar plate. The theme this year is "Hawaiian Luau". I had planned on doing the shopping tonight, and the pound cake tomorrow, but fate intervened. I hadn't had time to look up the recipes and do a shopping list at work today anyway.

Dad called. He bought the house he though I might want. After work I met them to look at it. It could be a nice place, but it needs a lot of love. The yard is a mess, and the inside is dark and dreary. It has a tiny kitchen, and small rooms overall. It is in a much nicer neighborhood than I live in now, but the tiny kitchen really killed the deal for me. It needs so much work and money to make it nice. If I want to spend that kind of money, I can fix up my house now to be really nice - without having to move - and keeping my big custom kitchen. That's kind of a no-brainer for me. Honestly, I just don't feel like taking a huge project like that on right now. Even for an all-brick exterior, new heat pump, and nice duct work.

After we looked at the house we went over to El Matador for dinner. All I could think about was their food today, so when Eve asked me where I wanted to go I already knew. We had a great meal, and I went over to their house afterwards to visit for a while. I caught him up on all the family stuff and we had a pretty good visit.

I got home after midnight tired and completely ready for bed, but signed on to Manhunt for a mo to get my messages and that good intention just vanished. Most websites around here, the guys just want to look at your picture or email you while they beat off, but on Manhunt for some reason they mean business. It was fun though.

A post in which I get back into the swing of things

Today wasn't as bad. I'm seeing my desk again.

We had free lunch yesterday, and Anna made a salad that was so delicious it's all I've been able to think about eating. I went to the store after work to get salad since I was craving it so badly.

One of my ballerinas next door came over to see me tonight. Fortunately I saw her headed up the walk and had time to pull a pair of pants on. It was the new girl, the roommate, Josha. She wanted to find out who mowed their grass, and make sure I wasn't upset with them. She was afraid I might have mowed it out of exasperation (it was pretty bad). I told her about Danny's visit. She was tickled. I also told her they could borrow my lawn mower. Apparently Frankie is having car problems, and they don't have the cash to plunk down for even a used mower. Starving artists and all you know. They're sweet girls though.

After that I ate a HUGE Caesar salad and went to bed.

A post in which I get back to the office

Although I wished I hadn't when I got in. My desk was a nightmare. I had the calls to catch up on, 11 new clients to process in, and the weekly report to do. I also had a talk with my boss about problems I'm seeing with another department. To reward my vision, I was saddled with a huge report to prove my assertions. Sigh. It was a long, bad day. By the end of it I had a terrible headache.

After work, I went to the Chinese buffet and stuffed myself. Exactly what the magazines say you should NOT do. Then I went to Whole Foods and bought $40 worth of designer groceries I can't afford. Of course it doesn't take long to spend $40 there. They have a fantastic cheese section, and when they get to the end of a block of cheese they wrap the small bits left and sell them for a dollar or two - brilliant. You can try a new one for only a dollar or two, instead of buying a big piece of an expensive cheese you might not like.

I returned triumphantly home and read until bedtime.

A post in which I stay home

Although I guess I shouldn't have. I got up this morning with every intention of going to work. But just. Couldn't. I was just too damn depressed.

I was lying on the sofa, kind of half watching a movie, when I heard a mower in the yard. I looked out the window and it was Danny, my friend Kim's husband, mowing the grass. He had just pulled up, unloaded the mower, and got to work. That was one of the things that I was going to have to do today. He just told me he figured that I wasn't going to feel like fooling with it, and he was already out mowing grass today. For good measure, he mowed the next-door neighbor's yard too - said it looked bad. Frankie is still living there with a roommate, and they still don't have a lawnmower, so they hadn't mowed their grass at all this year. Frankly, it did look bad. They are sweet girls though. Danny is such a sweetheart. When he got done, I poured him some tea and we sat on the front porch to drink it. He told me about his father dying recently. He and Kim are good people. I should see more of them.

I didn't really do much the rest of the day.