Am…musings

I’m enjoying a relaxing stay at a B&B in New Hope, Pa. My aunt’s sister owns the quaint B&B and the fam is here to celebrate Christmas. This morning we ate the yummiest breakfast, which she typically serves to guests on the weekends. I’ve had a similar French toast casserole, but the challah and cream cheese make this one even more delicious. It would be perfect for a brunch or special breakfast.

FRENCH TOAST SOUFFLÉ

2 10-ounce loaves challah bread
16 eggs
6 cups milk
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tub spreadable cream cheese

Topping:
4 Tablespoons butter, cubed
6 Tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Cut bread length wise two times. Spread with cream cheese. Cube bread. Place bread cubes in two greased 11X9 baking dishes.

Beat eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla, pour over bread.

Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for eight hours or overnight.

Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

Dot with butter.

Combine sugar and cinnamon, sprinkle over top.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

Let stand for five minutes. Serve with maple syrup.

I am a firm believer in the following quote: “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Here is an amazing (and tear-inducing) story of “as he could be” treatment. I hope it inspires you.

Something wasn’t right when I woke up this morning. My programmable thermostat is set to drop overnight, but warm up by the time the alarm beeps. It took a few minutes for my sleep-addled brain to figure out that it was still very chilly at 6:30 a.m. With a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach I peeked at the thermostat. Actual temp: 56. Set at: 68.

After I had called my dad for a recommendation and left a message for the heating/cooling company my mom called to check on something else. She was amazed I was in a relatively good mood, joking about my ttteeth chchchattering and being bundled up in my pajamas, my long robe AND my long winter coat and gloves.

I’ll admit having my furnace go out two days before Christmas is inconvenient, but I always try to keep things in perspective. First of all, getting upset isn’t going to change anything or fix it … period. Second, it could have been ON Christmas. Third, (knock on wood) this is my first major house issue in the five years I’ve lived here. Finally, when it was so bitterly cold Sunday evening (single digits; negative wind chill), all I could think about were people without a place to live. At the time, I’d been running from Target to my car and knew I had absolutely no business complaining about being cold for a few seconds while they were likely fighting to stay warm for the night. I feel much the same way now … at least I have a home and loving friends and family who would be there to lend a hand (in fact, several have already offered in the short amount of time this morning).

That’s definitely more than enough to be grateful for and in a good mood about.

Somehow Miss Tiger Lily, the Stray Rescue foster kitty, has gotten herself in a bit of a predicament. One minute she was fine. The next minute a quarter of her body was covered with a huge shipping/price tag sticker – I assume from the bottom of my new living room furniture (the digital camera is dead so this is the best pic I can get with the iPhone … but at least you can sort of see my fantastic new furniture too!).

The enormous sticky thing on her side has her a little freaked so I’m having trouble getting close enough to try to help. It’s only worked once and it’s so stuck to her I pulled out quite a bit of fur on one little corner. I feel awful because it reminded me of the waxing strips when I have my brows done, and I know that hurts.

If she were a dog, I’d just grab her, but cats are squirmier and stealthier. Plus, she has her claws and I’m afraid of puncture wounds given the pain I imagine I’ll be inflicting. I guess I’ll let her calm down a bit and try again. Although, Chewy’s been trying to help by licking and pulling at it and she’s letting him. I’m hoping it works … regardless, it’s the cutest, sweetest thing to watch.

At 10:15 a.m. this morning I opened the front door (the storm door isn’t a great barrier for the cold, but it lets light in, which I find worth the splurge on my heating bill). I had just rolled out of bed because I didn’t get to sleep until 2 a.m. I was still in my PJs, my hair was a bird’s nest of tangled curls. Behind me, the dining room table was strewn with a few half-empty glasses of wine and beer bottles … evidence of last night’s Christmas Cocktails party.

There was a car sort of in the middle of the street so I stood in the doorway a little longer than necessary. And here comes a woman. She was handing out Christmas cards … for the local Baptist Church.

It made me giggle. They probably don’t want me (or I figured I made her day … if she saves someone like me, her Saturday morning would be worth it).

By the way, despite the glasses and bottles, the party wasn’t too crazy (a lot of fun with some of the wonderful people in my life, but not too crazy). Although, I just had to post this picture of a drinking game that included … my mom!

Those of you looking for a tipsy tale will have to wait for some other time. This is another Christmas cookie update. I added a totally addictive recipe with a great name into the mix, courtesy of my cousin in Dallas.

White Trash
8 cups Rice Chex
8 cups Cheerios (regular or Honey Nut)
8 cups Honeycomb
8 cups small pretzel twists
2 cups walnuts or pecans (optional)
Three 20 oz. packages white almond bark

Combine dry ingredients in a LARGE bowl or two.
Melt almond bark (in double boiler, microwave or combo of both if you don’t have a large enough container).
Pour melted bark over dry ingredients and stir until well coated.
Poor coated ingredients onto wax paper.
Let harden and then break into large chunks.

This is also the last installment of the 2008 Busy Girl’s Christmas Baking Guide. I did wimp out and made the last two batches normally instead of in bars. I figured I’d pushed my luck enough with the successful sugar cookie experiment. Last night was the debut of the “cookie shots” … crumbled sugar cookie scraps, Bailey’s, homemade whipped cream. The verdict: plain Bailey’s may have been better, but much less fun and festive … and isn’t that what the season is all about!

So far, the Great Cookie Experiment is a rousing success. I made the sugars yesterday … rolled out three large slabs on waxed paper, transferred it to the cookie sheet and baked each one for about a minute or two more than normal. I let it cool a minute or so and then cut them on the cookie sheet. They turned out great and I saved a TON of time.

I still think the “cookie shot” idea mentioned in the Experiment post would be fun and I have all the scraps left. Now, I just need to find Jell-o shot cups or something similar. I’m planning to top half with white glaze and half with chocolate.

Two batches to go … Russian teacakes that I don’t think will work other than in the normal way. They are my mom’s favorites so I’m happy to invest the time. I’m still undecided about the peanut butter blossoms. I’m doubtful the bar pan will work, but I may try it just for fun and go the peanut-butter “cookie shot” route if it’s a disaster. I was actually wondering if pouring a little Bailey’s on the sugars pre-shot might be good … maybe a chocolate liquor on the peanut butters. What else might be good?

It’s nearly the one year anniversary of my first Stray Rescue fosters. The number one question I hear is whether it’s hard to let them go. I’ve always been able to say “yes, but really no” before. Yes, because they become a part of your life and it’s always a little sad. No, because before Tiger Lilly, I’ve always fostered puppies and they are A LOT of work and hassle … crying at night at first, making messes in the house (when they are super young they are so silly and excited that they often step in it requiring baths), digging in the mud (also requiring baths), needing to go out rather frequently.

Not so with the kitty. She’s quiet unless her food bowl is empty or she wants a little attention. She uses a litter box so no messes in the house, mud or running home to let her out. And she’s as sweet as can be. I forgot how cool purring is … it makes me smile. Of course, a dog is always happy to have attention, but with a kitty, it seems like you earn their appreciation and are rewarded with the sound of a running motor.

Yeah, I’m thinking it might be harder to give this one up.

As I’m prone to do, I’ve been reflecting on my online dating experiences, which I used to refer to as Match-capades, but now that I’ve added a Myspace guy in there, that kinda ruins that. Anyway … I’ve decided it’s much like junior high dating …

I lament over a note, taking hours to figure out the best wording to communicate what I’m thinking or feeling without scaring him away (back then, I thought boys would grown up someday, but honestly, I think the majority are still at the junior-high level when it comes to dealing with feelings). Then I pass the note to my friend … the Internet … and say will you please deliver this to him? And after he reads it and writes back, would you mind to bring his response to me?

Taking a step closer to the past, Match.com fits junior-high matchmaker to a “T” with their new Daily 5 feature. Here’s how it works: his friend … Match.com/the Internet … brings me a message. “My friend might like you,” the message says. “Are you interested? Check yes, no or maybe,” and I’ll let my friend know what you have to say.

Seriously, I feel like I’m in 7th grade all over again. The only thing missing is the crazy folding of the note … the more intricately you could fold a note in junior high, the cooler you were. I actually just found the “Amber” note fold on this site … and way back when it really was one of my favs!

In an effort to save time, I’m experimenting with my Christmas cookies. Bar cookies are my time-saving solution … mix them, press them in the pan, bake for 30ish minutes, cut and eat. No dropping by rounded spoonfuls and baking countless trays at 8-minute intervals.

Bar oatmeal and chocolate chip aren’t out of the ordinary. Although I drizzle the oatmeals with white icing. And I found a crazy Pampered Chef recipe with chopped candy bars on top of the chocolate chip cookies that I just made and they look yummy.

Where I’m getting a little crazy … I’m rolling out the sugar cookies and baking them in one big piece. Then, I’m cutting them with cookie cutters in the pan after they’re baked and still piping hot. I’m not sure this will work, but my inspiration is the ornament-shaped sugar cookies I usually make in the normal way, but then I make a hole in each one with a drinking straw after they are baked and that works great … almost better than regular cutting because they have a nice, crisp edge.

I’m also trying peanut butter blossoms (the peanut butter cookie with the Kiss on top) in the bar pan. I’m really worried about this one working, but figure what the heck.

My plan if they don’t work? Cookie shots … the sugars with drizzled icing and the peanut butters with the Kisses. All the hip restaurants are serving desserts in shot glasses so I’ll play it off as creative and trendy.