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We’re not cake people as a rule but I stumbled on something so ridiculous at the store the other day… it positively screamed to be baked.
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And in a high falsetto at that.
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Bite me Dolly.
The batter is the best part.
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And because I love me some nanners, I made a banana cream pie filling.
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Topped off with buttercream frosting?
It’s a cake to go ape for.
😉
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I love bread and have been known to devour my weight in it on more than one occasion, thankfully I never found Harrison Ford in the middle of a loaf.
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This begs the question why.
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As does this.
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A free vibration session in what looks like some very targeted areas. Hmm…
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This blew my mind. I know the Levi Strauss company has a denim museum with some very old pieces but these were bought by a private collector. Further research found they bore a label stating they were made with American labor, as opposed to the Chinese workers being used in the 1880’s. Either way, that’s a lot of cash for a pair of dirty jeans.
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Best. Recycled. Piano. Ever.
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As we headed out on the morning of our only full day in Vermont ( 3 days, 2 nights is simply too short a trip) we enjoyed the leaves and the scenery and headed for what I was told was the best bread in the state.
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The Red Hen.
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It’s a bakery and cafe.
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So we sidled up to place an order.
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And watched the pros at work.
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I grabbed two loaves of fresh bread to take home, (a crusty peasant white and an unbelievably tasty lemon rosemary) but had to try a mushroom toasty while we were there as well.
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The husband had some sort of homemade soup I didn’t get around to photographing because my sandwich was simply too divine to ignore. 3 types of sautéed mushrooms with spinach and melted cheese on whole grain bread. Sounds simple but there was an unidentified herb in the cheese and it had me smiling ear to ear.
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Clearly this long armed chicka by the door could have used one.
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Onward….
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I’m going to give away a secret here so listen up.
For years I couldn’t bake a decent cookie to save my life.. and believe me it wasn’t for lack of trying. No matter what recipe I tried, no matter what miracle pan I used they either came out of the oven a gooey sugar filled mess or something resembling a hockey puck.
And then…
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Then I found them. The absolutely easiest, most perfect, even River can’t screw them up cookies.
Four ingredients. Four minutes prep and viola!
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Sublime every time. Trust me, those are soft baked little circles of heaven right there. And because I live to spread joy…. I’ll share.
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So far I have made lemon, chocolate, strawberry, spice, orange and butter pecan. And they were all fabulous, no hockey stick required. I’ve even started branching out by adding flavor extracts to the plain yellow mix … last night, almond.
Take that Mrs. Fields!
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Ours trees are bursting with apples….
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So what better thing to do on a perfect fall day than bake?
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Deep dish apple pie for dessert. And while I was at it?
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Deep dish chicken pot pie for dinner.
You can’t go wrong with pie.
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Fall.
Autumn in New England.
Cooler temps, brightly colored leaves, pumpkins and yes…
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An abundance of apples from our trees which means….
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It’s time to bake.
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Apple fritter bread.
So damned good.
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I had to laugh at this advertisement the other day.
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Interesting? Yes.
More attractive? Probably not.
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But I can think of quite a few people who deserve this home baked treat.
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It’s a shame chokecherries are bitter and nearly impossible to eat…
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Because our tree is just loaded with them this year.
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But speaking of eating…. when your neighbors start dumping tons of veggies on your doorstep because no one ever grows a few zucchini? Try this:
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Slice, dip in beaten egg, then Italian breadcrumbs, lightly fry in olive oil and serve with lemon herb aioli. Fabulous!
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In other news, the turkeys are still here and my husband is still chasing them.
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I’m laughing because he was about to lose his pants running after them. (Don’t tell him I posted this, I’d never hear the end of it.) And while I normally think the daily chasing is ridiculous as well as fruitless…. you’re not going to out stubborn a wild turkey …. those little bastards have eaten every single one of our blueberries this year. On all 7 bushes! And that means no blueberry pie, no blueberry coffee cake, no pancakes or muffins. Damn their feathered souls!
😡
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I watched the White Sox beat the Yankees on the Field of Dreams the other night. (That’s Kevin Costner in the photo.) I’m an unapologetic sucker for that movie. Never been able to watch it without thinking of my father and crying like a baby.
If I’m ever in Iowa? I am damn sure going to Dyersville and walking through that corn.
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Can someone please explain what frog logs taste like…
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And why anyone would want to find out?
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This completely cracked me up, because it’s true. I’ve waged war with that cursed masher for years.
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Charming… or ridiculous?
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I’m going with the latter.
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The Sunday senior pool games are still going strong. And this little old man is so sweet I’ve started baking goodies.
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Because nothing says hard core pool tournament better than fresh banana bread.
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I found a product I might just have to buy.
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While I’m not a huge fan of pigs in a blanket, I can easily see pig shaped brownies and pig shaped cornbread.
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Pig shaped ice for my cocktails?
Yes please!
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Admit it…
You want one too.
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River's world..... 