Monday, November 11, 2024

HOLIDAY BREAKFAST BREAD!

 



My children are grown and I am retired. Therefore, 

gourmet cooking is my new passion. I am a foodie

who tries to cook some of the Mexican, Italian, and 

Oriental dishes I see online. I like to try the dishes

that are trending on social media too. These

dishes are not too complicated and require

ingredients available in your local grocery

store.


I also experiment with making unusual

muffins and breads which I eat during the week.

I got bored with baking  plain banana and blueberry

muffins.  I have experimented with peach, apple,

pumpkin, lemon, orange and zucchini muffins and

 breads. I wanted to think of a new breakfast bread

 to serve my family during the holidays this year. 

I surveyed my pantry.   There were too many boxes 

of chocolate cake mixes stored on the shelf. I had

 a large banana left in my fruit bowl. Plenty of 

pecans and walnuts were in mason jars in my

 fridge. This chocolate lover was going to bake

 a bread that was good for a Holiday Breakfast,

Brunch, or Luncheon menu!


I may try a peach blueberry or a chocolate cranberry

bread in the future.


HOLIDAY CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD


1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix

2 Eggs 

1 large ripe Banana 

1/2 Cup Sour Cream 

1/2 Cup fine chopped Walnuts 

1/4 Cup Sweetened Shredded Coconut 

1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon 

1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract 

1/2 Cup or to taste, Dark Chocolate Chips, for Topping 


DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray loaf pan with cooking spray.

In large bowl mash the banana. Add sour cream, eggs,

cinnamon, vanilla, coconut, and nuts. Mix well with 

a Mixing Fork. Batter will be thick. DON'T OVER MIX.


Pour batter into loaf pan and spread evenly. Cover

top of batter with chocolate chips. Bake 45 minutes

or until toothpick comes out clean.


TIPS:

** 1/3 cup oil can be added. I forgot to

add it. The bread was still moist and

tasty.

** I always add coconut to my breads.

It enhances the flavor profile of the bread.

** Sour Cream adds moisture and keeps

bread from being too sweet.

** Semi-sweet chocolate chips can be substituted.

**  Pecans can be substituted.



















Monday, October 28, 2024

EASY KITCHEN HOLIDAY GIFTS!





I love to watch cooking videos to get new
 meal ideas. One of the cooks was using 
 silicone holders/covers on the handle of 
her pots.  I thought these were neat gadgets.
 I have been burned too many times
because I used  thin pot holders.
 I looked up this item on the computer. 
These pot handle holders/covers were
 a little pricey. 

I wondered if these holder/covers were 
available in cloth fabric. Some cloth 
pot handle holders/covers were for 
sale online.   They looked like they 
 would make a great DIY project. 
I did find some DIY videos with 
crafters using cloth pot holders
for holder/covers. All of the 
videos I found required using a
 sewing machine. This was a
 problem since I don't own a
sewing machine.

I searched for needles that I could use 
to hand sew the pot handle holders. 
There were packets of special needles
hanging on a retail store End Cap display. 








These looked like they would be perfect

for hand sewing pot holders. The packet

noted that the needles were for glove

and car seat repair. I bought one 

packet of the needles to experiment

with.   I  discovered that I could hand

 sew the ends of the pot holder together

if I used a taunt whip stitch. I had a 

friend who taught me the sewing

 machine stitch and the whip stitch. 

She used these stitches when  hand

 sewing her doll clothes. There are

detailed examples of how to make

 these stitches online.


DIY POT HANDLE HOLDER/COVER

ITEMS NEEDED:

Pot holder (7 inch) , straight pins

Home repair or embroidery needle

Scissors, matching thread











Directions:

Fold pot holder in half and keep the

loop exposed. Secure ends with straight

 pins. Leave a 3 inch opening on the side 

with the loop. This will be the area where 

pot handle goes in. Make sure edges and 

sides of pot holder meet. 








Guide thread through  the needle and form double thread 12-14 inches long. Make a knot at the end of

 the threads.  Whip stitch the side and bottom

 edge  on left side of the pot holder using taunt

 close stitches. This will ensure the pot handle holder/cover stays together when pot handle

 is inserted.  The finished stitches will resemble

embroidery stitches seen on some linens

 and tea towels.



TIPS:

** Sewing machine can be used to make the

holder/ cover.

** Using holiday themed pot holders for the

 pot handle holder/cover make great gifts.


** The pot handle holder/cover should

fit the handles on most pots & pans.


** Tab loop can be used to hang up 

pot holder/cover. 
















































Friday, October 11, 2024

SENIOR LADY: MAKES BREAKFAST BREADS!








Slice of Carrot Bread
.



I try to save the classic breakfast meal that includes eggs,
 bacon, or sausage for the weekend. I'm not a fan of
cold cereal or oatmeal either.  

My solution to a meatless breakfast was homemade
muffins and breads.  Making yeast breads require
a lot of work and skill. I've discovered that I can
enjoy muffins and breads just as much as yeast
 rolls and breads.

Banana and zucchini breads taste great. However,
I like to experiment with unique fruit flavors in
my muffins and breads.



CARROT BREAKFAST BREAD:

15 oz White Cake Mix 
1/3 cup Canola Oil
2 Eggs
4 oz sour cream
1 tsp Vanilla
1/cup finely chopped carrots, packed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg 








SPICE OPTIONS:






Pumpkin pie spice, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Mace






DIRECTIONS: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

Add listed ingredients in large bowl. Blend well with mixing fork
or hand mixer. Pour batter in loaf pan. Bake 45 minutes or until
toothpick comes out clean.

Fruit Options:

Finely chopped 1 cup strawberries, peaches, apples
Mashed 1 cup bananas, pumpkin 

Vegetable Options:

Finely peeled, chopped zucchini (drain liquid)
Mashed/pureed 1 cup sweet potatoes

Tasty additions:

1/2 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut

Note:

**   Adjust spices to your taste.
**.  Use muffin tin if muffins preferred.
**.   Add extra egg if preferred.







Monday, September 16, 2024

SENIOR LADY: TRY OUT TEA CONCENTRATE!











MY PINEAPPLE SAGE BUSH




Although, I love coffee, I do drink black tea in the summer.

Hot coffee was not an option in the afternoons. I could not sit 

on my porch drinking a hot beverage when the weather was

 over 90 degrees!


I had a friend who loved tea. I asked her advice on which

 tea was good for a beginner.  She took me to the mall 

to visit her favorite tea shop. I was impressed because

there was several types of loose tea in decanters. 

Black tea was my favorite after drinking samples of teas.

I bought a cute tea pot that had angels on it. A cute baggie 

of black tea was also purchased.

I still had a dilemma. I didn't want to ride to the mall for tea

 every day. That tea was too expensive for me too buy often.

I settled for organic black tea from a nearby market. Making 

several glasses of tea from single serving tea bags was tedious.

I didn't like tea in gallon jugs from the grocery store. The market

 near my house only had family size tea bags.  


I got the idea to make tea concentrate in a mason jar. I only like

unsweetened tea. A gallon jug took up too much space in my fridge.

I decided to brew 4 family size bags of black tea. I let the tea steep 

and come room temperature. I filled up a 24 ounce recycled pickle

 jar and placed it in the fridge. 





The next time I made concentrate, I recycled one of my Mom's

 empty instant tea jars.




The black tea concentrate usually last a couple weeks in my fridge. 

I add mint or pineapple sage leaves from my garden to the tea

concentrate occasionally. 


TIPS :


*   Other types of tea may work as a concentrate ( Green tea, Chai, Flavored teas)

*   Orange & Lemon peels & Cinnamon Stick can be added to taste

*   One serving: 12 oz glass:

1/4 c brewed tea, 8 oz purified water, ice cubes 












































 

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

SENIOR LADY: MAKING ICED CAFE' AU LAIT!

 





I used to shake my head at young people buying

expensive espresso and caramel latte drinks.

I couldn't understand why they waited in 

a long line at coffee shops and bistros.


This summer as been one of the hottest on record

in the city where I live.  I was ordering fast food.

when the take-out food cashier asked me to try 

one of their ice coffee drinks. I asked if they had

 mocha flavor. It was 98 degrees outside, so 

I agreed to try an expensive large mocha ice coffee.

It was delicious and refreshing.  No way,

could I afford to get iced coffee every day.


I noticed that the restaurants or coffee shops

started with brewed unflavored coffee. They

added flavorings like caramel, chocolate,

mocha, and other seasonal flavors per

customer requests.


I went home and experimented with making

 my own flavored iced coffee drinks. They may

not have whipped cream on top, but they tasted

good! 


I noticed that the restaurants or coffee shops

started with brewed unflavored coffee. They

added flavorings like caramel, chocolate,

mint, mocha, and other seasonal flavors per

customer requests.



I love gourmet coffee and have a bin containing 

several flavors. They include Hawaiian Hazelnut, 

Mocha, Georgia Pecan, Caramel Macchiato, 

Snickers, and Jamaica Me Crazy. I also collect  

flavored extracts like rum, brandy, mint, butter, 

and maple. I started out with strong  brewed

 flavored gourmet coffee.  I let the coffee cool before

 adding it to my glass or mug. Ice cubes were added 

and  the coffee was stirred until it was chilled and

 very cold. 


SENIOR LADY ICED COFFEE DRINKS:

Caramel Chocolata

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1 Tablespoon Caramel Ice Cream Topping

I Tablespoon Chocolate Flavored Syrup

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream 

 

Add all ingredients to 16 oz size mug/glass.

Stir until well mixed  and add ice cubes.


Cool & Minty 

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1/8 Teaspoon Pure Mint Extract

2 Packets Raw Sugar

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream


 Add all ingredients to 16 oz size mug/glass.

Stir until well mixed  and add ice cubes.


Tropical Buttered Rum

 

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1/8 Teaspoon Rum extract

1/8 Teaspoon Butter extract

2 Packets  Raw Sugar

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream


Lava Chocolate Sipper

12 oz Brewed Arabica Coffee ( Room Temp)

1 Teaspoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

2 Packets Raw Sugar

1 Tablespoon Half & Half Cream



TIPS:

* Adjust recipes to fit your own taste

*Substitute Columbian, Instant Expresso, 

and French Roast Coffees

*Substitute white sugar, brown sugar, artificial sweeteners

* Substitute pieces of chocolate mint flavored candy 4 mint

Substitute pieces of dark or milk chocolate candy 4 

Caramel Chocolate & Lava Chocolate

*Substitute coffee creamer for cream

*Use Vanilla extract if desire  French Vanilla


I visited a new Garden Center last year.

I requested hot coffee to drink while 

I shopped. The clerk said they only carried 

locally sourced organic cold brew coffee

This stuff was fantastic but strong. I had

a mild case of "coffee jitters." This was 

probably because I drink light to

medium roasted coffee often.


It's relaxing to sit on my porch on a hot

day drinking my own "DIY" ( Do It Yourself)

cold brewed coffee. I hope this blog inspires

others to try to make their own cold brew

or iced coffee.


Wednesday, August 7, 2024

SENIOR LADY: GROW CELERY ALL YEAR!

 


 














I love watching videos about gardening. Five years ago,
 lots of videos were about, regrowing grocery store 
vegetables. I was intrigued and tried to regrow a
few of them.  Most of the veggies had to have roots
on the bottom.  Beets and carrots on grew bunches 
leaves.  There were no new carrots or beets to harvest.
The only veggies I could regrow successfully were 
yellow onions, green onions, leeks, and celery.

I usually buy new celery stalks when I want to 
replace damaged celery stalks in my tote.
My celery stalks can be harvested all year
long. My five-gallon blue tote stay full of
 celery because I add new celery roots when
grocery store has it on sale. The celery in
the blue tote shown below just had the
"big chop"

Here is how I regrow celery:

I remove celery stalks from the
plastic bag. I cut the bottom
half of the celery off the
stalks. 







I remove the first layer of cut stalks
from the bottom.  This is necessary
so the celery will fit into my cup.





 

I place the celery in the cup and add enough 
water to cover the bottom of the celery.
I set the cup of celery on the counter near
my sunny kitchen window. Amazingly, leaves
 will began to appear after two days. However,
white roots will sprout from the bottom in
about two weeks.  I have more success with
regrowth if I have a few white roots on the 
bottom of the celery.  









My tote is filled with potting soil, garden soil,
 shredded junk mail, used coffee grounds,
 and crushed eggshells. A hole was dug in the
 soil, then I add the rooted celery, covered it 
with soil and watered it once a week.  Celery 
prefers cold weather, so I cover the tote with 
heavy duty shade cloth during the summer 
months.  I shield the celery from hard frost
in the winter with white frost blanket covers.
Both of these steps are necessary, if I want 
to harvest celery all year long.







I usually harvest celery weekly
by cutting a few stalks and leaves
to use in potato salad, beef stew,
and vegetable soup. I have this 
 crop of celery for about three
years. I cut the celery stems and
 leaves very short when I harvest 
them. This method promotes healthy
 regrowth of new leaves and stalks,

I feel good when I grow my own celery. 
The cost of a bag of celery stalks has
increased very much. There are also 
recalls on celery sometimes. I only 
fertilized my celery with "Miracle
Grow" or day old brewed coffee.


Wednesday, July 3, 2024

HOLIDAY BREAKFAST BREAD!

  My children are grown and I am retired. Therefore,  gourmet cooking is my new passion. I am a foodie who tries to cook some of the Mexican...