A post in which I get my hair done, and get the low-down

It was pretty much a red letter day today.

I was up at 3:30, again, but I just went ahead and ate something so I could go back to sleep. It worked. I was bleary when I woke up, but at least the reports are pretty much over. By the time I got to the office I was OK though. I had a great day at work.

I was able to clear a bunch of odds and ends off my desk (despite my boss’s new bureaucratic roadblock announced today). I’m almost completely caught up, which almost never happens. I can take Monday off with a clear conscience now.

I had a fraud guy call this afternoon that I could play with. We’d already caught him, so we hadn’t shipped him any product, and I held all the cards. I am just sadistic enough to really enjoy playing with them like a cat with a mouse. Sadly, he realized all too soon that I had his number and he was making no headway, but he still tried to bluster his way through for a bit longer. Not as long as I would have liked, but it was still fun.

I had a big set of documents I have been dreading putting together, but they were in better order than I thought they would be. That task went much more easily than I thought it would.

After work, I went to get my hairs did. On the way there I talked to the new guy, Allen, and asked him out for Monday when I get back. It’s nice to have an actual dinner date to look forward to. That hasn’t happened in a while. Of course once I got to the shop, Russ knew who he was and gave me the skinny on him. I’m taking it with a grain of salt for now. I think I have the fortitude to make it through dinner in any case.

There was also another guy in the shop that Russ introduced me to. He was nice, and I think I may have detected a spark of interest. I hung out at the shop and talked to him while he had his hair cut. He’s a nice guy. He’s not my physical type, but I find that becomes less important the longer I’m single. Sure there needs to be some attraction there, but at this point I’m looking for a companion. I want sex too – I love sex – but that isn’t the definitive thing at this point. Either way, it made me feel good to have a coupla bees buzzin around my honey tree a bit.

After that I went by the post office and mailed my last Mother’s Day card, so that’s done. On my way back I passed a dirt lot where some boys were playing volleyball. There was a shirtless Hispanic guy out there who was so purty he made my teeth hurt. Of course he was in his 20’s, most likely straight, etc, but I didn’t mind looking.

I really needed to do my packing tonight when I got home, but I just felt like sleep was hanging all over me. I washed a load of clothes so my favorite shorts are clean, and put some clothes in a bag. I got some of my bedding stuff together. But I didn’t pre-load the car, as I really should have. I also didn’t toast my coconut tonight, which was my last dessert job. But I guess I can do that on Saturday when I come home to pick everything up. I was just too sleepy to keep going.

A post in which I maintain my sanity

And for today, that's saying a good bit. It has been an exceptionally tough month end.

Despite how tired I was I was up at quarter to 5 this morning. Worrying about desserts, plus looking forward to the camp out, has whipped up the insomnia. After trying for 45 minutes to go back to sleep, I just got up. I addressed the Mother's Day cards, except for one. I have to get a new address.

I actually got to work feeling pretty fat n sassy today. My desserts are going pretty well, my schedule for the week is laid out, and I got tons of work done yesterday. My official camp out song this year is Beyonce's Sugar Mama (I am, after all THE sugar mama for the camp out. I may not get to play with everyone there, but I can make sweet love to them all with my sugar bowl, baby!), and I grooved to it in the car all the way in. Sadly, my good mood didn't last for long.

I had intended to mail them from work today, but when I opened up my email, that Canadian bitch had taken a big dump in my inbox and I forgot all about the cards. I spent the morning doing her twit bidding, and arguing with IT about a report that is screwed up. About 2pm, I figured out the screwer-upper was in the credit department. My boss likes him. Good thing for him. I will reserve my opinion. For once. I was able to get it all straightened out and actually started digging myself out of the Hellacious Report Vortex this afternoon. I was really grateful for that.

I broke for lunch and talked to Anna a bit, which is always good for dramatic renewal of purpose. She's as interested in cooking as I am. She commiserated on the sponge cake story, and was encouraging about my chocolate fears.

On the way home from work, I figured out how to do things the easy way, and then relaxed. Tonight I'm making chocolate rice crispy treats with cocoa crispies and chocolate chips in them. That's for the chocolate people. I've learned not to try to be subtle or balance flavors for the chocolate people. All that really counts to them is how much chocolate you can possibly pile into a dessert. To that end, I wanted to dip the treats in melted chocolate when I got done and make those pretty "dip swirls" on them like the ones you see at the bakery. The problems were a) working with the double boiler with some expensive stuff that I really couldn't re-do if I screwed up; b) what the hell to put them in so they would stay fresh until Saturday night; and c) where to hide them to keep people out of them. I solved all three problems by just deciding to leave them in the pan and pour the chocolate over them. That eliminates the double boiler. I can melt the chocolate in the microwave just fine for that. If I leave them in the pan, they'll be easy to seal, store, and transport. Also, the chocolate will kind of help "seal" them to keep the cereal from getting stale. And if they aren't cut, that will keep little hedonist hands from getting in them before I'm ready to put them out. Most likely.

When I got home, I talked a bit to the new guy. He is nice. I hope we get to meet.

It rained cats and dogs at lunch, and again on the way home today. It has rained every day this week. I really hope things dry up in time for the weekend. Camping in the rain is yuckky. Any camping with the LOCK folks is good, but it's much better dry.

I ran by the post office on the way home and got all but one of the Mother's Day cards in the mail. That means I don't lose a day, since it would have taken them all day to get back to the main post office anyway.

Putting the treats together was really easy, but incredibly messy. I have never made them before. If you decide to try this, I highly advise buying stock in Pam. Spray your hands, your clothes, the counters, the mixing bowl, the utensils, and the pan. Spray everything you don't want rice crispy goo stuck to. Since I was making double batches, I had to get out the Big Bowl. It's a pain to wash, but when you need something washtub sized to mix in, it's pretty damn handy. I also had to go get more marshmallows. It takes a LOT of marshmallows. A pound for every six cups of cereal. A pound of marshmallows is a lot more than you would think. Almost two bags. Since I made two double batches, I used almost eight bags of marshmallows! They did turn out tasty, but really sweet. They won't last ten minutes once I put them out, but I called Billy and ran down what all I had made and he said we had plenty, which I'm sure we do. I just don't want anyone to be disappointed because they missed out.

I had a bite of supper, and then did the chocolate for the top. One pan is made with semi-sweet chips, and one with milk chocolate chips. They were then topped with semi-sweet and milk chocolate respectively. There ended up being almost two pounds of chocolate in each pan. That ought to hold my chocolate people :)

And HOORAY! I'm done!!

Hopefully I can sleep tonight. Of course I'll knock myself out Friday and Saturday, but it would be nice not to be a short-tempered zombie tomorrow at work. Tomorrow I get my hair did, and then toast coconut for the trifle and pack when I get home. One of the great things about doing the desserts is that since I get my work done the week before, I can pretty much relax and enjoy myself once I get there. And that's a good thing. Cause I need a whoopin'.

A post in which I'm on track

And that's a very good thing. I was up early, so was able to go by the post office on the way in to the office to get my thank you card and Eve's birthday card in the mail. I'm planning to do the Mother's Day cards tonight. Ever notice how everything seems to come up at once?

Work continues to be a bottomless vortex of report hell.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! And down with the French! LOL I love Mexican food, and usually use today as an excuse to get me a heapin plate o something - usually nachos, even though they aren't really Mexican. But there just wasn't time today. Fortunately, one of the vendors brought in a fiesta luncheon for us and Anna fixed me a plate full of black beans, rice, seasoned cabbage, nacho cheese, and sour cream. I threw hot sauce all over it and grabbed a coupla tortillas and chowed! It sure did hit the spot. It's too bad the Mexicans can't celebrate today because of the Swine Flu. God bless them.

When I got off work today it had rained, and of course the South Carolinians had all gone nuts on the highway, so I just went to the break room and read for a bit. I decided to get my receipts together for LOCK. It's been one freakin grocery store week. I've spent a little over $86 on desserts. But the run ticket was $65 anyway, and they comp me for food, so I'm not too far in the hole.

When I got home I relaxed for a bit. Tonight was my easy night. I talked to a nice guy I met on line for a bit. Almost too long, but I really enjoyed talking to him.

Tonight I made the sponge cake for the tropical fruit trifle. I'll put it together later, and it's actually better if the cake is a bit stale so that works out great. I usually cheat and use a fallen pound cake or just a mix cake, but I found a recipe for a real British hot milk sponge cake. I fooled around with the recipe though, and almost screwed it up. It did rise. Not much, but more than I deserved after what I did to the batter.

***warning - cook talk, anyone else will be bored shitless***

Apparently a traditional sponge cake gets the leavening from beaten egg whites, like for an angel food cake. But for a hot milk sponge there is some baking powder in the recipe. I got the recipe from www.recipezaar.com, my all time favorite recipe place online. One of the commenters said that she whipped the egg whites, as for a traditional sponge, before she put the batter together. I can only think she never actually made this recipe. I whipped my egg whites, which rose beautifully. Then I followed the instructions, which said to beat the eggs with the sugar. Four egg yolks just don't have enough moisture to dissolve two cups of sugar. I ended up with a mass of grainy yellow paste. No to be dissuaded, I mixed it with the egg whites, but the sugar wouldn't dissolve properly a) because I couldn't whip the egg whites too hard now, lest I lose all my lift; and b) because the sugar was coated with egg yolk. It incorporated, but looked kind of like ice cream with swirls in it. Next I added the dry ingredients, and then the hot milk and butter. It went together, but the batter was about the consistency of pancake batter - pretty thin. It baked up OK. It didn't rise much. But that doesn't matter for a trifle. The main difficulty is that it will be hard to split the layers to put the jam in. But I'll figure something out. If worse comes to worst, I'll just sprinkle some brandy over the cake and call it a day.

*** end of detailed cooking stuff***

Of course that is the beauty of doing cake for a trifle. It makes no difference what it looks like. It tastes great, so I'm good. The undissolved sugar kind of crystallized on the outside of the cake, which made it sticky, but gave it a really nice little crispy kind of shell on the outside. Of course that will be lost in the body of the trifle. I'll whip the filling and put it all together on Saturday. I'm not brandying the fruit or anything, so the work on that one is done.

When I finished that and cleaned up the enormous mess I made in the kitchen I got to work on my glaze for the pineapple coconut cake. It turned out delish. Pineapple, butter, powdered sugar and some praline liqueur. A great way to gussy up a deceptively plain looking sheet cake. And all because I didn't want to throw out the pineapple juice.

By the time I got the kitchen cleaned up it was about 10 and I was ready for bed. Tomorrow night is the night I'm worried about . Working with chocolate is just something I haven't done that much of. And I've spent big bucks on all this chocolate, so I really want things to go right.

I guess we'll see.

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.