Baking

So, I've decided I'm gonna focus this blog mostly on baking. Maybe tomorrow I'll even buy a wireless router and discover how to use it. (So I can post pics of my creations.) Oh, and find my camera. Living in a construction zone has made me more organized but I still can't find anything. It's probably in the basement- a sentence Amy and I say on a daily basis. So, last week, I made amazing cupcakes for a baby shower. Maybe 2 weeks ago. Maple with maple buttercream and candied walnuts. Carrot ginger with cream cheese frosting and marzipan carrots. Coconut chocolate chip with cream cheese frosting and coconut decorations. Pretty fancy shit. Delicious all around. Coconut chocolate chip were tasty but not impressive. And not worth the extra trouble. They were an epicurious recipe. The other two were Martha. Turned out just like the pictures and absolutely awesome. The baby shower was impressed. Yesterday, I made apple crumble. Low fat recipe. Tasted pretty delicious. Here's the link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/eating-well/old-fashioned-apple-nut-crisp-recipe/index.html
Totally easy, cheap, delicious. And not bad for you.
Tonight, I'm making pumpkin spice cupcakes for Halloween. I... changed the recipe. I know, I know, Alicia doesn't believe me. But I did it, I read the other reviews at epicurious. And I followed some of their directions, but not totally. I added more spice, less sugar! And I made my own pumpkin puree. Mostly, so Amy can eat the seeds.
Here's the original: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PUMPKIN-SPICE-BUNDT-CAKE-WITH-BUTTERMILK-ICING-233011
And I'm going to use a cream cheese icing instead of the buttermilk. Cuz ain't nobody wanna eat sugary buttermilk on their cupcake. Also, my obsession with marzipan continues. I will make marzipan pumpkins complete with little stems and leaves. That's how crazy I am.
And how much I don't want to think about going back to work on Friday.
So, a couple of weeks ago, I joined an informal group of friends doing pseudo Weight Watchers. So far, 7 lb weight loss. More about lifestyle change for me. Another reason to go to the gym, take the dog for a hike, etc. Eat better. Less sugar, less carbs, less fat. We'll see how it goes. So, now I'm on a mission to bake food that tastes as good, but is better for you. I don't like the idea of eating food made out of gross stuff that ends up not tasting good. Might as well have an apple. But, there is an art in low fat cheesecake that tastes good. Chocolate mousse made with tofu is delicous. Soy milk, sour cream, yogurt, applesauce. These are all good things. We'll see. The apple crisp is delicious. So is the fat free frozen yogurt that goes with it.

red bull doesn't taste good

just an fyi, full throttle tastes better than red bull. so, renovation/remodeling started monday. very loud. and exciting. the guys worked this week, before the rain set in on ripping apart the attic and putting down floor and studs for walls. the backyard is a pile of debris. chomondeley is not happy with these changes. but we do give him more leeway than normal. i think he'll settle down. he's not being bad, he just keeps following me around. katie and i took him out to sauvie island to run around at the beach. he loved it. made cookies- forgot to bring them to work. dammit. going to the gym- i'm gonna try for daily. if just for a little while with the bonus of the hot tub at the end, it might just work. started weight watchers too. not officially, just unofficially. those peeps don't need my money, but i'll take their principles. weekly weigh ins, couple of friends, just enough pressure. we'll see. work's very helpful with this- just getting lunch break now. so hungry i'm not hungry anymore. carrot sticks are yummy.