Dorie Greenspan's Swedish Visiting Cake

You do not need a mixer for this recipe, but just a good sturdy wooden spoon and a strong arm for stirring. Many commented in the office that this tasted like a cake brownie. To me it looked like a blondie cake brownie. I added several extra tablespoons of orange zest to the lemon zest in the batter. As a result it had a wonderful "tutty-frutty" flavor. The slivered almonds on top with a dash of sugar made for a sweet taste too.

Rather than baking it in an 8" round cake pan as suggested by the book, I chose to bake it in indvidual 2" square cakes (12 per pan.) I bought the pan at Target. It was an interesting and clever way to serve this item to my co-workers without having to cut into the cake. You're suppose to be able to mix this cake and have it ready for serving before your visitors get from the road to the front door. It has to be a bit of longer walk in this case than slowly strolling along my short front sidewalk.

Quick Turkey Bean Soup

If you are a fan of beans this is the soup for you to eat. The recipe was easy to prepare and requires some chopping. It appears healthy and with the turkey meat, it has less fat per serving. I found it to have a unique flavor and be very colorful.

It took 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to heat up before serving. I left out one of the cans of kidney beans because it seemed like allot of beans and added an extra two tablespoons of tomato paste for a thicker soup content and more red color. Also, next time I would cut back a tiny bit on the cayenne pepper to keep down the "heat" of the sauce.

For the recipe click here

Builidng a Pot Fountain

Nothing is more relaxing than the sound of moving water in the garden. Here's how to build a one-of-a-kind water feature.

This water feature consists of an underground, waterproof basin; sturdy grating; and a pot of your choice. Most of the supplies you will need can be found at a plumbing supply or hardware store or a nursery that carries water garden supplies.

Step 1: Plumb the pot
For this step, you'll need your decorative pot, a 1 3/4" by 1" barb fitting, a 1 3/4" PVC female adapter, plumbers epoxy, and a drill with a half-inch masonry bit. First, using a masonry bit, create a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. If yours already has a hole, it'll probably need to be widened by slowly rotating the masonry bit around the sides of the hole. Then put the barb fitting into the hole so the threaded end goes inside the pot. Next, thread the PVC female adapter onto the end of the barb inside of the pot. Finally, put plumber's epoxy around the base of the fitting to seal it in place and make the container watertight.

Step 2: Install the reservoir
For this step, you'll need a waterproof catch basin, a few cinder blocks, some sand, a heavy duty plastic grate, four feet of flexible tubing, a submersible pump, two hose clamps, flexible screen/mesh, and a reciprocating saw. TIP: A pot 30 inches tall or less will need a pump rated at 950 gallons per hour (gph) or less. A taller pot requires 950 gallons or more. Dig a hole deep enough to allow your catch basin to sit slightly above ground level. Shovel in a 1" layer of sand. This allows you to easily level the reservoir by shifting the sand. Place two or three cinder blocks in the center of the basin to give additional support to the pot. Cut a trap door in the corner of the plastic grate that is large enough for the pump to easily pass through. This gives you easy access to the pump for maintenance without having to disassemble the entire fountain. Cut a small hole in the center of the grate for the flexible tubing. Attach the one end of the tubing to the pump, clamp it in place, and poke the other end out the hole in the center of the grate. Place the screening over the grate and cut a corresponding hole for the flexible tubing.

Step 3: Place the fountain
For this step, you will a length of 3/4" PVC pipe, black spray paint, and some decorative stones. Cut a piece of 3/4" PVC pipe so that it is the same height as the pot and spray the top 6" with black paint. Then, place the PVC pipe (black side up) into the PVC female adaptor in the bottom of the pot. Bring the pot over to reservoir. Twist the flexible tubing onto the barb sticking out of the bottom of the pot and clamp in place. Slowly lift the pot into a standing position. If you have a large pot, you may need a friend to help you with this step. Place decorative stones on top of the screening to disguise the reservoir. Then, fill the reservoir with water, turn on the pump.

Miss Siagon Cinnamon Almond Coffee Cake

I enjoyed the almond flavor of this cake. The recipe includes adding slivered almonds to the struesel. It was definetly "almondy."

I finished the cake with an almond flavored glaze, even though the original recipe called for no additional topping other than the struesel. In my opinion the cake just needed more texture, flavor and color. It was an excellent cake for a "coffe cake."

Italian Vegetable Soup

This recipe was easy to prepare with the pasta boiling while slicing and dicing the other ingredients. I enjoyed the pasta mixed with the savory tomato flavor and the fresh cut and frozen vegetables. It has a strong spicy flavor to it.

I used bow tie pasta rathter than the shells recommended in the recipe. It was the pasta I happen to have in storage and on the shelf at the time. I'm sure any type of pasta will do.

For the recipe click here

Argroves Manor Coffee Cake

This cake "takes the cake" in my opinion. It includes a mix of blue berries and diced apples creating its own sauce that thickens as the cake bakes. The streusel with pecans makes this a great coffee cake option. Included in the recipe is vanilla yogurt, which compliments well the overall flavor.

I got favorable responses from many in the office for this one and had a few newcomers that ventured down the hallway to take a slice back with them for tasting. It is recommended that one serves it in thick slices and warm and it's as the book says, "insanely delicious."

Cream of Cauliflower Soup

I really enjoyed this cream and meatlesss style soup, however, made a few changes to the recipe. I prepared the soup with more cauliflower, up to 16 ounces instead of 10 ounces. Before serving I added 2Tbsp. of bacon bits and 2 Tbsp. of spicy Dijon mustard. These last two ingredients gave it the quality of taste that is of more interest to me - "the man around the house." I wanted extra cheese flavor and included an additional 1/2 cup of cheese and top dressed it with even more cheese for a "great looking soup."

For the recipe click here

5 Minute Artisan Bread (Multigrain Peasant Bread)

I went to my first bread making class demonstration by Lori Bennett (her notes are listed below.) I've always felt intimidated by the word "yeast." With this recipe of hers I got past my fears. It only takes 5 minutes to mix up and the dough stores in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. So far I've no one who didn't like the bread and thank Lori!

Ingredients: (4-1 pound loaves)
3 c lukewarm water
1 1/2 T yeast (I use 2 T!)
1 1/2 T kosher salt
1/2 c rye flour
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c multi grain mix
5 c unbleached flour
Cornmeal for pizza peel
Follow master directions for dough

NOTE: I also add the following extra to the dry ingredients for texture and flavor of the bread. It has improved the quality for me.

1/4 c flax
1 T Dough Enhancer (available at grocery store)
1 T Vital Wheat Gluten
1 T Lecithin

Master Directions:
1. Warm the water slightly, about 100 degrees. Warm water will rise the dough to the right point for storage in about 2 hours. You can use cold water and get the same results, but your first rising will take 3-4 hours.

2. Add yeast to the water in a 5-qt bowl or preferably, in a resealable, lid (not airtight) plastic food container or food-grade bucket. Don't worry about getting it all to dissolve. Let stand until turns foamy.

3. Mix in flour and salt - KNEADING IS NOT NECESSARY! Add all the flour at once, measuring with a scoop and sweep method. Mix with a wooden spoon, a high capacity food processor fitted with a dough attachment, or a heavy duty mixer. If you are hand mixing and the flour becomes to difficult to incorporate use very wet hands and press the mixture together but DO NOT KNEAD. You're finished when everything is uniformly moist, without dry patches. This step is done in a matter of minutes, the dough will be wet and loose.

4. Allow to rise. Cover with a lid (not airtight) that fits well to the container. Allow the dough to rise at room temp until it begins to collapse (or at least flattens on the top), about 2 hours, depending on the room temp and water temp. Longer rising times, up to about 5 hours, will not harm the results. You can now use the dough at any time after this period. Fully refrigerated wet dough is less sticky and is easier to work with than dough at room temp. So, the first time you try it's best to refrigerate the dough overnight or at least 3 hours before shaping a loaf. Dough will keep up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

5. On baking day the gluten cloak, don't knead, just 'cloak' and shape a loaf in 30¬60 seconds. First prepare a pizza peel by sprinkling liberally with cornmeal to prevent your loaf from sticking when you slide it into the oven. Sprinkle the surface of the dough with flour. Pull up and cut off a 1 pound piece of dough (about the size of a grapefruit) using a serrated knife or a pizza cutter. Hold the dough in your hands and add more flour as needed so the dough doesn't stick. Gently stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides until smooth. The correctly shaped final product will be smooth and cohesive.

6. Rest the loaf and let it rise on a pizza peel. Place the shaped loaf on the corn meal covered peel. Allow the loaf to rest on the peel for about 40 minutes, uncovered. Depending on the age of the dough you may not see much rise, but more rising will occur during baking.

7. 20 minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 450. Place a baking stone in the middle rack. Place an empty broiler tray for holding water on any other shelf.

8. Dust and slash your Artisan Bread. Dust the top liberally with flour, this allows the knife to pass through without sticking. Slash a 1/4” tic-tac-toe or other marking into the top, using a serrated knife.

9. You are ready to bake. With a quick forward jerking motion, slide the loaf off the pizza peel and into the preheated stone. Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into broiler pan. Bake for about 25-30 minutes.

10. Store the remaining dough in the refrigerator and use over the next 14 days. You will find that even 1 day's storage will improve the flavor and texture of your bread. The dough can also be frozen in 1 pound portions in an airtight container and defrosted overnight in the refrigerator prior to baking day.

Vanilla Dessert Sandwiches

This came from the Better Homes and Gardens, Feb. 2010 Issue and are available on the webpage. I found the dough to be dry and added 2 more tbsp. of milk to the ingredients.

In addition, I rolled the dough to 1/8" thick between two sheets of wax paper and chilled in the refrigerator before trying to cut the cookies with a shaped cutter. The "ball" rolling concept did not work from the recipe instructions. These seemed crunchy (as the recipe said it would) after coming out of the oven. And these softened (as the recipe said it would) after the cream cheese is placed between the cookies and it has a chance to set for several hours. The cookie was like a shortbread cookie, wonderful in taste and worth making again.

Choosing a Garden Style

Formal gardens are symmetrical plantings, sheared hedges, rows of flowering plants, and straight lines (Predictable/Visually Shortens)

Informal gardens are asymmetrical or rambling plantings, and gentle curve lines or resemble organic forms (Unpredictable/Visually Lengthens)

The Barefoot Contessa's Sour Cream Coffee Cake

This had a nice and subtle taste to it, just like coffee cake should have on a plate. It really was less sweet than a regular dessert cake. I mixed the streusel with my fingers rather than a wooden spoon, just to get my "fingers in the cooking." I liked the streusel layer in the middle of the batter layers, along with the streusel topping. It made the cake interesting to see and eat. I spread the streusel with a spatula evenly across the cake. Not a good idea. I would suggest just dropping it in crumbs and leave be on the cake.

The maple flavor glaze was my favorite part of the whole presentation. I put the glaze in a zip-lock sandwich bag and tipped off the corner of the bag to drizzle easily. I went from center to back and back to center again until I had covered the top of the cake in a circular pattern. The cake looked like it was ready "to be on parade."

Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This soup was as good as any I've had in restaurants or cafes. I really enjoyed the broth, tomato sauce and tomato mixture with the other spicy ingredients. There was not enough meat and "kick" to the recipe so I tripled the white chicken chunks and doubled the chopped green chilies. Oh, and I added a couple more teaspoons of lime juice to the final product and before serving topped it with a few fresh cut cherry tomatoes.

The soup was so easy to make and really does come together in just 10 minutes. And yes, it does boil faster if you stand by and watch, but don't blink, it will be ready before you know it. It tastes even better with a little Spanish music playing in the background. "A mi me gusto mucho!"

Ingredients (Original recipe):
1 lg.onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
5 cups chicken broth
1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes w/ garlic and onion, undrained
3 cans (5 ounces each) white chicken, drained
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
2 tsp. lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Crushed tortilla chips
Shredded Monterrey Jack or Cheddar Cheese

In a large saucepan, saute onion in oil; add the chilies, garlic, jalapeno and cumin. Stir in the broth, tomato sauce and tomatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; stir in chicken. Simmer, uncovered for 10 minutes.

Add the cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper. Top with crushed tortilla chips and cheese. Yield; 7 servings.

The Man Cave Decor'

How to create a macho retreat that men will love.

It's the hottest thing on the home front since man discovered fire: the man cave - a refuge where men can be men and rules can be ditched. It can be in a garage, basement, guesthouse or spare room. Each cave is different, depending on what its dweller likes. Trophies, tools, moose heads or motor mags. Nothing's set in stone. But here are a few (manly) tips to get started.

Pick a favorite object (poker table, guitar collection, pinball machine) and make it the focal point of your man cave.

Studies show that men tend to prefer earthy tones: blues, greens and neutrals. Color schemes like purple, pink or anything with the word “glitter,” not so much.

Typical toys for a man cave might include a flat-screen TV (the bigger, the better), comfy chair or recliner, stereo/DVD player, computer, bar and mini-fridge. Furniture should be sturdy, man-sized and super-comfy.

Spills happen, so consider furniture fabrics that can be spot-cleaned or washed. Leather and vinyl are smart choices. You might want to skip carpeting altogether and go for washable rugs instead.

For decorating ideas go to http://www.pier1.com/the-man-cave.shtml

Procrastinatin' Drunken Monkey Banana Bread

This recipe turned out to be an adventure for me. It requires dark rum and flaming the alcohol out of the rum. I went to the local grocery store to buy dark rum and learned that it is only available up the street at the state liquor store. Then burning the alcohol from the rum, which is added to the dried cherries, let me know what those little blue flames look like in real life and how long these last before disappearing. The recipe was correct timewise in its projections. However, it did not warn me that the smoke detector would be going off in my place as part of the burning process. That was ALARMING!

I had to bake the bread an extra 30 minutes at the mountain elevation of 6980 feet above sea level. The bread was moist and the dried cherries give it lots of positive "curb appeal" as we use the term in landscape design. Many who tried a piece of the bread were taken back by the dark cherries, but warmed up to the idea of liking the recipe once they got a taste of the incredible flavor. I'll keep this drunken "monkey on my back" any time.

Pasta Meatball Soup

I have always been a connoisseur of a bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. This recipe would be put at the top of my list for tomato flavor. Thank goodness for ready-to-bake Italian meatballs from Costco which is a main ingredient. It was easy to pull all the meat, diced carrots, frozen peas and pasta together, prepare quickly and serve hot. With a garlic/butter seasoned slice of baguette bread aside my bowl of soup, it was like taking a quick trip to Italy and back again. Ciao!

For the recipe click here

Landscape Color is the Key

Pastel colors set a mood of tranquility, best viewed close up, look washed out in harsh mid-day sun.

Bright colors invigorate and energize a garden, hold up well in sunshine, and attract the eye even from a distance.

Complementary colors, colors opposite on the color wheel, are high in contrast and add creative energy.

Harmonious colors, colors next to each on the color wheel, unifies a garden without being monotonous.

Monochromatic colors, a single color, wherein interest is created by using plants with different sizes and shapes of flowers and varying textures.

Key Lime Cake

I couldn't wait to make this one since I love Key Lime anything! I felt fortunate that there were actual key limes available this weekend in the store. I made the decision to double the recipe and go for the 10" round version. As the recipe indicated the baking may take twice as long. It was right. However, in my efforts to add foil to the baking pan to keep the top of the cake from browning I closed the oven door too quickly and the cake fell. Ouch! I was determined to rise above this moment of defeat. So, I got ambitious and over indulgent and made a second mix of batter and cooked up two 8" square pans of cakes. I really wanted to know if it baked any differently from the round pan. So, I ended up with lots of cake to say the least. The glaze was too liquidity in my opinion. So I kept adding more and more powdered sugar until it appeared thicker like on the Food Channel. Just a visual thing for me.

Before serving I top dressed the cake glaze with powdered sugar. It gives the crystallized glaze a little softer appearance. I kept some of the glaze in a small plastic container and drizzled it over the cake before serving. I was going for all the key lime tart flavor I could get in one bite. I served the square cakes to the office staff and shared the round cake to all my neighbors. A "win win" situation for everyone. Look at all the people I made happy on this one! Key lime pie has found its competition!

Chicken Noodle Soup

I'm sad to admit that this was my first attempt at chicken noodle soup. The recipe suggested using Debone chicken, that was not my "cup of tea." So, I boiled several chicken breasts with the quarts of water, later cubed these, and it worked out great. I was taken away with the flavor of this soup and it tasted "healthy" too. I shared it with several friends and they had the same positive reaction, Hmmmmm, so goooooooood! This soup couldn't be better if may say so myself.

For the recipe click here

An Unexpected Show in the Garden

Listed below are some key factors which invite butterflies to your garden with nectar-rich perennial flowers, shrubs and trees. Once established, these bold bloomers will attract a wide variety of these colorful insects, as one romances the butterfly!

- Locate the butterfly garden in a sunny location. Butterflies are cold-blooded insects that are more active in the sunshine.
- If possible, plant your butterfly garden in a spot that is protected from high winds. Gardens near a fence, wall, or hedge will provide a safe haven for your butterfly neighbors.
- Include food plants for the butterfly larvae. Dill, fennel, parsley, carrot, and milkweed are all good choices.
- Never use herbicides or pesticides in your butterfly gardens.
- Butterflies like moisture, too. Fill a shallow dish or saucer with wet sand and sink it into your garden soil. On hot days, butterflies will enjoy the moisture provided by the wet sand.
- Plant a mixture of spring-summer, and fall-blooming perennials as well as annual flowers to provide a complete butterfly menu.

You can get started by letting a corner of your backyard go wild. Many butterfly species lay their eggs on “weed” plants such as clover, nettle, violet, and milkweed. Be sure to plant butterfly-attracting flowers in drifts or clumps. Plants lined up single file like toy soldiers aren’t as pleasing to the eye as those planted in large, more natural-looking groupings.

Missy G's Sweet Potato Pound Cake

This cake was a complete success and a favorite so far. I first bought red sweet potato's in the store and then before leaving traded these in for yams because the clerk told me that the cake would be sweeter in taste with the later. I'm glad I did and she was right. I doubled the amount of Granny Smith apples because I wanted more of a tart flavor to the cake. I'm pleased I did and it worked. I had lots of mashed yams and diced apples left over so I kept them aside. Later, I added some brown sugar and butter to these two items and ate them as a side dish to an entree I had prepared for dinner. Nothing was wasted. So, if you do not want left overs from the recipe, go light on the yams and apples prepared.

Everyone raved about the moist texture in this cake and I liked the overall amber color. This is a plus in my opinion for this recipe. The crumble brown sugar and pecan topping was so delicious, but made the cake difficult to cut into pieces with nuts being in the way of perfect slicing. However, this little drawback would not keep me from making this cake time and time again. Thanks "Missy G," whoever you are!

Taco Soup

I was in the mood for something on the spicy or as the spanish say, the "picante" side of things. This soup appeared to satisfy my interest for the day. It also looks great in a bowl with all the trimmings. I added a dash of chili pepper to spice it up a notch and it hit the spot! Placing several white corn chips around the inside of the bowl was a perfect touch and made the soup great for dipping a few bites too!

For the recipe click here

TSGD - An Easy Approach to Landscape Design

In my experience as a professional, I have found that many home owners get frustrated with a personal landscape design because they just don't quite know where to get started. Through many hours of consulting, an approach called the "TSGD" has been conceptualized. One could say this stands for "Take Some Good aDvice," however; the letters "TSGD" actually stands for a few simple steps to completing a unified landscape plan. These steps are "T" - Theme, "S" - Scheme, "G" - Green, and "D" - Dream. First select a design theme, formal or informal, that suits your lifestyle. Second, create a spatial scheme that meets your needs and uses. Third, select plants that reinforce the schematic opportunities and constraints. And fourth, fulfill your dream by over time implementing the ideas generated from your concept and final plan.

Following is some additional advice and information taken from other sources that will guarantee visual success to a landscape design. Choosing colors is one of the real pleasures of gardening. And now that breeders have expanded the color range of so many plants the possibilities seem endless. Although your gardening goal may be simply to surround yourself with colorful flowers and foliage, you should be aware that color can play special roles. Your design will take shape more smoothly if you decide on a color scheme from the start. Before making a firm decision on a set of colors, remember to consider garden paving, the facade of your house, and any other conspicuous features.

Brown Sugar Pound Cake

I completed the first cake from the book and served to fellow employees today. It was entitled "Brown Sugar Pound Cake." I enjoyed cooking this one in my mother's 10" angel food cake pan that dates back to her early baking days. She would celebrate being 89 years old this month if she were still alive. This one was as sweet as was my dear mother. I drizzled caramel topping on the plate before serving the cake. An artist's touch!

Many persons commented positively on the dense texture and the moist content.

Curried Chicken Rice Soup

I adore any type of recipe that includes curry powder. This comination of carrots, celery, onion, cubed chicken and rice sounded delicious to me. I was disappointed in the thickness of the soup and would have preferred it to be a bit more "soupy." I kept adding more and more chicken broth to make it more to my liking and expectation. Perhaps using 2% milk in the recipe, rather than evaporated milk, would do the trick next time.

For the recipe click here!