My daily routine hasn't been very routine in the past week and I barely have time to read and/or comment on many blogs, let alone trying to write a post myself, so I apologize for lack of appearances.
Back in November, I won a calendar in a 'name that cheese' contest from Nicky and friends at We Work For Cheese. The calendar contains recipes for cheese dishes, one for each month of the year, and I promised Nicky that I would try each and every recipe. January called for cheese rolls. Great. My bread making skills are severely lacking, particularly in the moist and rising departments (not a euphemism). I followed the recipe to the letter but the rolls didn't come out as cheesy as I was expecting although that could have been my fault in determining if it was supposed to be a 1/4 cup of cheese, grated or a 1/4 cup of grated cheese: in baking, this apparently makes a difference. Also, bread does not like me - if I merely pick up a glazing brush, my bread falls even before I get near it with the egg wash. The rolls were good, bigger than they should have been, but they dried out after a couple of days. I blame it on the climate and our sea level or, maybe, I just suck at it. No worries, I'm looking forward to this month's recipe: Chocolate Cappuccino Cheesecake!
In other news, I recently won an award for a caption contest hosted by vicki (aka vickilikesfrogs), a very funny and snarkastic blogger, at Glitter Frog. Her contest is presently on sabbatical but will return soon. Check her out when you can.
Thank-you vicki!!
We are experiencing a mini heatwave right now - I am sooo not looking forward to summer - but I feel sorry for all of you who are stuck in the cold weather, particularly those in the northeast, for having to endure all of that snow. So, in the hope of bringing a bit of levity to your situation, my cousin (who is a 'custodian' himself) sent me this link: Janitor's Revenge. I hope it makes you smile.
Now, I have to get back to chores.
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Oh! I'm sorry the rolls didn't turn out so well for you. I promise the cheesecake is nearly impossible to mess up and is so good it can even cure a lack of moist and rising skills :-)
ReplyDeleteNicky: I don't really think it was the recipe - although my mom says we need more yeast to bake bread down here - I just suck at the bread factor.
ReplyDeleteI've done very simple cheesecakes so I'm not worried about screwing up this month's recipe. Even if it cracks or whatever, it will still be edible! Oh! And if you are really into cheesecakes (and other cheese related desserts), you'll have to check out Carole's Cheesecake Company the next time you are in *spitz* Toronto. Their cakes are to die for!
;-)
I don't know what to tell you about your lack of "moist and rising" problem. But I'm really sorry to hear it.
ReplyDeleteMy best trick for keeping stuff moist is to cut an apple and put it in a ziplock bag with my bread. I try not to let them touch, It's something about osmosis and moisture going from highest concentration to lowest concentration.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a bread maker either, my new oven has a proofing setting so maybe I might be more successful in the future, but I haven't tried it yet.
Double O- I got one of those great calendars too. I don't bake but I love reading the recipes. I cook, yes.! I love the calendar! Very stylish and great photos. Plus they come from Nicky so that makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteI hate snow and ice. That video was hysterical! I love nice weather, but hate hot weather. Make a cheesecake and eat it. It will make it seem cooler I'm sure.
What's this heatwave you talk of? I don't understand. I loved that video, though! I could almost consider becoming a janitor just to be able to do that. Come to think of it, I don't really need to be a janitor to do that, all I need is a shovel. And I have a shovel!
ReplyDeletedufus: As am I.
ReplyDelete;-)
Madge: The apple trick works well with potatoes, too, in the event you do not have a cold celler (as we used to call it), but it also works well in fridges.
ReplyDeleteBread is - for me - tricky. With your proofing oven, I hope you have batter luck than I.
;-)
Linda: Try the cheesecake - really! You don't have to use a springform pan - at least two pre-fab Oreo crusts will do! And chocolate, as you should know, never disappoints.
ReplyDelete;-)
Yes, it's a great calendar - I love the quotes from Nicky and crew! (We're thinking of naming the male potcake "jepeto"" - heh, heh, heh.)
Snow can be a lot of fun! It's supposed to cool down next week (just a little), but at least this year isn't as cold as last year. I call this "perfect Bahamian weather".
Ziva: Heh, heh. To be honest, I thought that this would be something you would do to stave off the boredom of winter. Go for it! Drive your neighbours crazy! (Get pictures.)
ReplyDelete;-)
P.S. We've decided to name the female 'poopette', "Ziva"! She's diabolical and devil-like: "zee eveel penguin", just smilin' and wavin'!
Listen. I am so disappointed that a smart pussy like you would not know that if you take a 1/4 cup of cheese then grate it, you get more than a 1/4 cup of grated cheese!
ReplyDeleteBut what would I know??? I have never won a calendar for anything!!!
BTW, whatever possessed you to get into my archives? Are you a masochist or something! (smile of adoration).
Oh my god, what a great name for the lady poopette!! I sure hope she'll live up to her name and become to most diabolical doggy ever. Muahahaha! (That was meant to be an evil laugh, in case it wasn't very clear.)
ReplyDeleteStafford: The directions weren't very clear and, yes, you are right - you do get more and I thought I was overdoing it. My problem is I read things too literally sometimes (mondo blondo moments). Once I've improved my bread making skills, I will try this recipe again, though.
ReplyDeleteYour archives?? I think I'm missing something here - you got some 'splainin to do.
;-)
Ziva: It's a great name, for sure! She already 'hunts' her much bigger brother and literally dives on top of him when he's not looking. It's rather hilarious and evil!
ReplyDelete;-)
Oh! Congrats on your award. That's lovely. I also really hate the snow and ice - but I might hate being too hot even more!
ReplyDeleteAnd sorry the rolls didn't come out so well for you. Better luck with the cheesecake!
meleah: Thanks. I don't really mind the cold since it is easier to get warm that cooler, especially if you don't have a/c (which we don't).
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can screw up the cheesecake - I've made a few before. Yum!
Great video, Double O! Almost makes me feel like shoveling! But I'd rather stay inside and eat cheesecake!
ReplyDeleteBoom Boom: Ha! I'd rather eat cheesecake while watching those people manoever aimlessly around! (My cousin thanks you.) Really, doesn't anybody look where they are going anymore?
ReplyDeleteStill laughing over winning a 'name that cheese' contest! What a fun post!
ReplyDeleteJenny: Luckily the internet doesn't have 'scratch-n-sniff' - yet (although it might have made it easier to "name that cheese").
ReplyDelete;-)
Thanks!
lol......firstly the Poopettes are ADORABLE!
ReplyDeleteThe CCC recipe sounds fabulous - and I'll never look at cheese in the same light again!
That labyrinthian janitor had me in stitches - in fact, I went through the whole lot of clips. Thanks for the laugh!
Lena: We've had the puppies for two weeks now and they are almost crawling out of their pen, but they are still cute!
ReplyDeleteIf my cheesecake comes out o.k., I'll be posting a picture with the recipe.
Yeah, that clip was funny. I can't believe some people don't really look where they are going.
;-)
Hey 00 have a doggy question for you... What would you put on an infected claw/toe?
ReplyDeleteMadge: It depends on the cause of the infection, but you should keep it clean as best you can. Try soaking the paw in warm salted water for about 10-15 minutes and/or hydrogen peroxide (never alcohol), dry and apply an antibiotic ointment (poly- or neo- sporin). A salve of honey keeps bacteria out, but is likely to be licked away. Repeat cleaning at least two to three times a day. If it's that bad, you may have to go to the vet and likely get your pet oral antibiotics and the "cone of shame".
ReplyDeleteHope it helps!
;-)
Those poopettes are adorable.
ReplyDeleteBread making is genetic. Everyone in my family can do it. It's one of the few good genes in the pool. :P
Cheryl: Thanks!
ReplyDeleteBread making is genetic?? That might explain it - I've never known a direct relative to bake bread and I am obviously not related. I wish that was also true for making cabbage rolls. Gah! (Yeah, I suck at that too).
;-)
I'm glad I didn't win that calendar. I knew the recipes would suck. And, no, I'm not jealous.
ReplyDeleteBonyMike: Au contraire, monsieur. This month's recipe is a decadent chocolate cheesecake which I will be endeavouring to make sometime today, poopettes permitting.
ReplyDeleteThe other recipes are mostly very simple and I don't think you're jealous either, I think you just can't cook.
;-)