Sunday, September 18, 2011

A beautiful Sunday...

‎"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first." -Mark Twain




I love this quote, and I wish people would think more along these terms rather than abandoning the idea of working hard. We don't have a right to anything in this world. We are very small compared to the universe, and people forget that. I forget it sometimes. 




On a different note, Nick and I had a beautiful picnic in the park today. It was the perfect temperature, so I packed us a lunch, and we headed downtown to Forsyth park for a few hours. That was such a nice break from the reality of the to-do lists and oodles of homework we always have. We both relaxed and enjoyed each others company. 


I had a cucumber, tomato, provolone and spinach sandwich with cream cheese on those yummy thin rolls from peppridge farms. Nick had the same thing but with turkey. With some honeydew green tea, pistachio pudding and some rice snacks from Brighter Day, we were happy campers. 


Now back to the real world after a delicious dinner and a few episodes of Mad Men (our latest obsession).

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Fresh Cobbler

One of the best parts of summer are fresh peaches. Usually I end up eating at least two a day, just by themselves - no sugar needed at all. Nick's favorite desert of all time is Peach Cobbler, and I found a delicious, super easy recipe in one of Mrs. Wilkes cookbooks. 

(On a side-note, Mrs. Wilkes was an amazing cook who opened an amazing restaurant downtown years and years ago called The Wilkes House.The Wilkes House is a family-style restaurant in downtown Savannah with all the good homestyle Southern cooking. Fried chicken, squash casserole, collard greens, mashed potatoes, or anything else that the brilliant cooks decide to make that day.)

Here's the recipe. I used fresh peaches, but you can use canned too. I also added fresh blueberries- delicious.

1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional- This wasn't in the original recipe, but I thought it needed it)
1/2 stick butter
2 cups sweetened fruit

Melt butter in an 8 x 8 baking dish in a 350 degree oven. 

Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder well in a medium bowl. Add milk and vanilla extract (if desired), mix well- batter will be thin. 

Pour batter over melted butter in baking dish, add sweetened fruit in an even layer over the batter. 

Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until light brown. The batter will rise. 

Enjoy =). I like to eat cobbler with vanilla ice cream or slightly sweetened whipped cream. 




Thursday, August 25, 2011

This is a Rant

A rant that needs to be take into consideration by my fellow students at Armstrong.

At most colleges and universities, there are libraries. Students go to libraries to concentrate on school work, or whatever work they are there to do. A library is not a place to go and chat with friends, nor is it a place to blast loud music on your headphones.

Could have fooled me.

I am in a class that requires me to post blogs throughout the semester based on news stories. In order to write this blog, I have to read articles. I like to go to the library and concentrate on reading these articles in peace and quiet.

Well that's fine and dandy, as long as I don't have a group of people hanging out behind me in the library just catching up on life and laughing at ridiculous volumes.

Unlike the students talking at unreasonable volumes in a quiet place, I have things to do.

To those students: Unlike you, I would like to maintain a good GPA. Please do your socializing elsewhere.

Thank you.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

I'm really going to try to start writing in this thing. Possibly this weekend after I make Brunswick Stew? Nick has been in a Brunswick Stew kind of phase lately, so we will see how it turns out!

Thursday, January 27, 2011

New year, new opportunities!

Happy 2011!

I know I'm 27 days late, but better late than never, right?!

2011 has started out strong for me with a new job, a new hair style, and a new(used) car. It feels so nice to have a fresh start on things with a optimistic outlook. I hope to go along with with all of these new things and start cooking and creating new dishes.

Soon, I'll try a new recipe from Pampered Chef, and I'll be sure to post it here when I'm through.

I hope everyone has had a wonderful 2011 so far!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Mini Chocolate Tiramisu Cupcakes

Merry Sunday!

I hope this weekend has been wonderful for everyone.

For me, this weekend has been devoted to preparing for a cooking show I will be conducting this coming Saturday.

Before I go on, I should probably explain.I am a Pampered Chef consultant, and as a consultant, I prepare delicious, low cost meals to demonstrate product sold by The Pampered Chef. This is one of my side jobs that I can schedule around my classes at Armstrong Atlantic State University and my normal daily job. This is probably one of my favorite things to do because it involves cooking and eating which are some of my favorite things to do in life.

In preparation for my upcoming cooking show, I went about preparing a batch of delicious, moist, fragrant tiramisu cupcakes so that on Saturday I will be used to preparing the recipe. It is super easy to prepare, and it only takes about 30 minutes total, including time in the oven.

Here's the recipe (As per The Pampered Chef):

Mini Chocolate Tiramisu Cupcakes: (Makes 24 adorable mini cupcakes)

Cakes:
1 small pkg (9 oz) devil's food cake mix
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
1 tbsp water
1/3 cup coffee liqueur

Filling &Topping:
1 1/2 cups thawed frozen whipped topping (or homemade)
8 oz mascarpone or cream cheese at room temperature (I prefer cream cheese, more cost friendly)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
Unsweetened cocoa powder

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray mini muffin pan cups with nonstick cooking spray. For cakes, combine cake mix, sour cream, egg, coffee granules, and water in medium bowl; mix well. Divide batter evenly among cups of pan. Bale 8 to 10 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean.

2. Meanwhile, place whipped topping into large resealable plastic bag; secure and set aside. For filling, combine cheese, sugar, and vanilla in clean small bowl; mix until smooth. Place filling into an additional resealable plastic bag; secure and set aside.

3. Remove pan from oven to a cooling rack. Press tops of cakes down lightly to make slight indentations; cool 2 minutes. Remove cakes from pan to cooling rack. Brush tops with coffee liqueur using a silicone basting brush; cool completely.

4. Trim corners of both bags. Pipe filling over cakes. Pipe whipped topping over filling. Sprinkle with cocoa powder if desired. (**I use a tea steeper to dust the tops of my cupcakes, that way you can evenly dust the tops without getting cocoa powder everywhere.)


This recipe makes for the perfect bite size treat, and even children can enjoy them (Just leave out the coffee Liqueur). My sweet tooth always strikes at the weirdest times, and if you have a few of these waiting in the fridge, they're very yummy cold. At 120 calories each, I think it's better to eat a homemade treat rather than a store bought candy bar to satisfy that sweet tooth. 
Here is how mine turned out, pretty cute if I do say so myself!


I think the next recipe I'll try is a hometown Savannah favorite, Pecan Pie.
Thanks for stopping by!
What is your favorite hometown treat?