Nick (9) enjoying the fountains. It was 102F at 6 p.m.

Yes, that is my SON. He likes his hair long and I see no reason to change that. Unfortunately he takes a lot of flack for it..but then, so did Matt until he got old enough to stick up for himself. I sure don’t understand people.

I had my followup with oncology on Wednesday. No cancer cells were found in the tumors, however they did find follicular cells which are an indicator. So I had three options:

1. Have biopsies every 3-6 months to monitor changes
2. Have the problem half of the thyroid removed and have biopsies yearly to monitor changes
3. Have the whole thing taken out and go on medication to replace the thyroid hormone

I chose #3 because I need thyroid hormone anyway. I have most of the indicators of hypothyroidism, including (blah) weight gain. Hopefully they will be able to get it adjusted to where I can actually eat. I don’t mind not having an appetite/not eating but I hate that despite the low calorie intake I am gaining weight… and I am exhausted much of the time.

Anyway..that should be going down in the next two weeks sometime. I will not miss a whole lot..because it should only be about two days in the hospital and then home. I will let you know for sure when I know.

Here are my picks for some of the coolest recipes of summer…

• Deeba at Passionate About Baking has an amazing chicken and cheese lasagne with homemade ricotta. Her images are always beautiful.
• Kevin at Closet Cooking created a Roasted Strawberry Saganaki Salad which sounds unusual and delicious..and looks fantastic.
• Valli created a delicious looking and sounding Mediterranean  Pasta Salad with her usual magic abilities in the kitchen. So much More Than Burnt Toast on her blog!
• Dharms Stuffed Peppers. ‘Nough said. Dad~Baker & Chef is one of my favorites, even if Dharm does have a slight persona confusion with Agent 007.
• Caitlin at Engineer Baker always has yummy stuff when I stop by…Sour Cherry Pie certainly qualifies!
• Did you see Kelly’s (Evil Shenanigans)  Spicy Red Bean Soup?  It goes on the favorites list.
• Diana from Cookerati has a great post about Farmer’s Markets. I want to go to mine, I should, and I will..if only Marc didn’t work on Saturdays, I didn’t hate driving downtown, and other excuses.
• Lemon Pi, Green Tea Macarons
• If you ever wanted to know how to do Marshmallow Fondant then head over to I Heart Cuppycakes
• Susan at Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy posted a great recipe for Creme Fraiche Ice Cream

I know it’s short and sweet today but I have a little girl with an upset tummy who needs mommy time.

image: (c) marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

I just wanted to let you know that while I will still be here at Baking Delights (as IF I would ever leave!) I am also going to be writing a food column for the Dallas Examiner.  It will have more of a local flavor (get it, local flavor) with local ingredients in season, spotlights on Dallas area specialties, etc.

But hey, don’t let distance stop you.  Please stop by, comment, and help me look good for my editors o.k.?  I am not the only one, either, our very own favorite foodista from the frozen north, Courtney ( Coco Cooks) also has a column with the Chicago Examiner.

image:(c) 2009 marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

I have missed blogsurfing but life has been so extremely hectic that I haven’t been able to get there!

On a happy note, the VA called to confirm our number of dependents yesterdaya nd said that they had made a decision and we would be getting the letter with their decision in the next 10 days.  You gotta wonder why they just wouldn’t say, “Hey! Good news, as long as we have ya on the phone…this is what we decided…”

Anyway…here’s what I found this week…

Bunny made some awesome looking Apple Cinnamon Rolls 

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Squares from Bake or Break  look fantastic.  My kids have been trying to get me to make a recipe similar to this for a couple of weeks…perhaps I am inspired now…LOL!

The Blushing Hostess has a Harvest Bread with Cream Cheese Cinnamon Icing. MMM.

Homesick Texan has a recipe for Wacky Cake...I had not thought about it in YEARS.  Now I have to make one.

Daisy Lane Cakes is giving away a copy of the Sweet Melissa Baking Book..hurry!Have you noticed how many more cooking blogs there are getting to be? Wow!  It is hard to keep up with even your old favorites, let alone new interesting ones!

One of my favorite OLD friends is Courtney at Coco Cooks.  If you haven’t seen the baby shower cake she did please head over there and oooh and ahhh appreciatively. It is a brilliant piece of work.

Kevin always makes the best stuff…and has the best images…check out this pastitsio with greens.…a great vegetarian meal.

Individual pot pies always say autumn to me…Check out the ones that Megan did on Megan’s Cookin’

Valli has changed the picture at the top of her blog..it is worth heading over there to see what beautiful scenery is up there now…but also for the pumpkin creme brulee that she has posted.

Don’t forget to vote in the Boobie Bake-off …there are a few more days.

Have a great weekend!

image:marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

With Marc not driving anymore I have acquired a new hat.  Yep.  Chauffeur.  Which is o.k..I told him I am buying a way hot chauffeur outfit I saw in a lingerie shop.

It is, after all, all about looking good.

But…right now I am wearing my blogger hat…and in a time crunch….as usual…Check out (in my opinion) the coolest stuff I saw today in my travels around the internet….

Chocolate and Chipotle Lemon and Basil Cupcakes

Daisy Lane Cakes Pink Grapefruit Sandwich Cookies

Engineer Baker Sourdough Croissants

Valli, of More than Burnt Toast,  and Ivy, of Kopiaste, are co-hosting a world food event.  Check it out..it is too cool, from a couple of my favorite bloggers.

Tanna’s Southwestern Brioche…be still my heart.

Image:Morguefile

Post from: Baking Delights

I am pushed for time this morning…so I am going to speed link without much chatter.   Thanks to everyone who sent me links!

Ezra Poundcake-Almost Fudge Gateau 

Tartelette-Chocolate and Caramel 

Culinary in the Country-Banana Whoopie Pies 

My Kitchen Snippets- Churros 

I Shot the Chef-Chocolate Semifroddo 

Fotocuisine-New Mexico Chile Three Mac and Cheese 

More Than Burnt Toast-Portuguese Custard Tarts

The Kitchen Sink-Chocolate Espresso Cake with Bailey’s Buttercream

Baking And Books-Coffee Glazed Chocolate Chip Scones 

Thyme for Food- Vanilla Cognac  Bread 

Have a great weekend, y’all!

Image:MaryeAudet 

Post from: Baking Delights

I have had an amazingly busy week. Hopefully soon I will be able to share a couple of bits of fantastic news…(no I am NOT pregnant)..Until then check out what I have found today! The image is the caramelized onion and eggplant pizza I made for dinner last night..recipe coming soon….

You know that with me it is all about the desserts. Check out this Black Forest Tiramisu by Alexandra at Addicted Sweet Tooth…

This next post got me on two counts…I spent summers in Michigan as a kid, and the state just oozes fruit and vegetables in the summer..I miss that! Also, being in the south, who can resist fried pies? These Sour Cherry Pocket Pies at Dog Hill Kitchen are baked not fried, but you could easily deep fry them…Yum!

Peabody has a rockin’ recipe for brown sugar pound cake, but what I found more interesting this morning is the beginning of that post where she talks about being rejected on Tastespotting…Peabody? Rejected?Geez.

I have been rejected, but I expected that because I don’t see myself as one of the cool kids with the super imaging powers. I likeTastespotting for several reasons, one it helps me to find out what I want to feature on Saturdays, although that isn’t the only place I go.

But then I started thinking. Are we, food bloggers all, becoming a caste system rather than a bawdy band of foodies? Are there certain people who, when you see their names in your comment section, make you feel like you have hit a pinnacle? Do you find yourself lusting after the kudos and accolades? Sometimes I do! O.k.back to your regularly scheduled Saturday…I just felt philosophical this morning.

If you haven’t heard, Courtney is going through a rough patch, so if you pray I am sure she would appreciate them, and if you don’t good vibes sent her way would be helpful.

It is summer and what is summer without blackberries? You have to check out these amazing sounding Blackberry Almond Bars from Jacque at Daisy Lane Cakes…Yummy!

I was browsing Epicurious and found this Frozen Mango Meringue cake. I am thinking of doing it this week since i have the egg whites from Eggology left…It just sounds so ..wow!

If you like that salty/sweet combo in chocolate covered pretzels, and chips head over to How to Eat a Cupcake and check out these Salted Caramel Cupcakes.

I don’t think Em is a Repressed Pastry Chef any more..check out the Double Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Jennie, at My Cake Wardrobe has a pink post. I love the images on this Strawberry Panna Cotta.

O.k…that;s it for today…I have women’s ministry lunch to attend. I am taking the penne salad but this time I made it with broccoli and wild rice…eh..I liked it better with the penne, the rice soaked up too much of the dressing and it seems bland to me. Sigh. Shooulda stuck with the penne.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Image: Marye Audet 

Post from: Baking Delights

How fast do the weeks go by at your house? They have flown by this summer. In fact I realized that I needed to start thinking about what I am doing for Christmas this year, LOL!

Chris left last Wednesday on schedule. Sad, but it was such a nice visit. I miss him but I am so proud of the man he has turned into. I was worried there for a few years.

It is almost the 4th of July. Picnics, parties, fireworks…you have to love it!What plans do you have?

I saw these cupcake pops at Carly’s Kitchen and I thought that they would be awesome decorated for 4th of July. What a great, non-melty centerpiece!

Mmm…it is cherry season and is there anything better than Cherry Clafoutis? Maybe, but I don’t knwo what it is…Check this especially nice one out from Mandy at Fresh From the Oven.

Tanna, at My Kitchen in Half Cups is a fellow Dallas area resident. One of the absolutely wonderful things about summer in Dallas is that bread dough rises in about 2 minutes. Check out the soft garlic knots. These would be perfect in a basket on a 4th of July picnic table surrounded by steaks, grilled shrimp or brisket.

If you are tired of deviled eggs as a picnic staple, consider tea eggs from Barbara at Winos and Foodies. Just different enough to get you some well deserved attention.

Remember, at least if you are my age, the themed parties in the 60’s? One of the big summer themes was a Hawaiian Lu…Lo… ..oh heck..I can’t spell this morning..a Hawaiian BBQ. Check out this Hawaiian braised pork from Persnickety Palate.

On the same not…mmmmm…Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Sandwiches. Drool.Pish Posh Cooking is a new blog to me. I will be back. ..Sound like Arnold don’t I?

I have been unable to participate in the Royal Foodie Joust for several months now. Sigh…blogging and life is hard for me to keep up with. But I love seeing what everyone else is doing.. Valli at More than Burnt Toast has some Apricot Ginger Scones with Apricot Honey Butter. This is her entry into the joust and it looks amazing. Good Luck Valli!

James Tay…I mean Dharm has entered the Joust with an equally scrumptious looking Poulet d’Abricot

Maybe it will be a tie. Good luck Dharm!

Dana always is doing something cool at Dana McCauley’s Food Blog. She posted about cupcakes in a jar…what a great idea! That would be awesome for sending for lunch, you know? Or little 4th of July table decorations…or…. make a label on a tooth pick with guests names on them and stick the sign in the cupcake as place-cards? Yeah..I love things that inspire my own creativity.

Speaking of Cupcakes, the Cupcake Hero Deadline is Monday June 30. The theme seems to be Melons. YUMMY ! I can’t wait to see what they come up with. Get baking this weekend and send your entries to April at Abby Sweets.

Tomorrow is the Daring Bakers Reveal. Now, I don;t get online on Sundays but I have my post set to publish and I CAN tell you this was an amazing item. Be sure to check out all of the….well you will find out tomorrow…that all of the Brilliant Daring Bakers Baked.

Have a great weekend!

Post from: Baking Delights

My son got home yesterday afternoon. It is the first time he has been home since December of ‘06 and we are beside ourselves with excitement. The shadow is, of course, that he will be leaving at the end of the month for 3 years overseas. It is kind of cool right now, here at the house. We have ALL of our kids, our son-in-law, and our grandkids under the same roof for the first time. This is the first time all of our kids have been together since Erin got married 7 years ago…so it is unique. I feel like I am cooking for an entire platoon, which I almost am. 13 people per meal x 3 meals a day…

Anyway..so it is Saturday and that means checking out what everyone has been doing this week.

As you know, it was the Daring Bakers Challenge reveal and that was an incredible challenge! There are so many really fabulous renditions of the opera cake that I almost just wanted to leave it off the blogsurfing. I can’t do that without directing you to Helene’s blog, Tartelette, in case you haven’t seen the absolutely spectacular job she did.

Amazingly, even though that was going on everyone had time to post other things!

Check out the luscious looking Plum Tart on Michelle’s blog, When Baker Barks. The images are really excellent and you can almost smell the freshness of the plums.

So how do you think Tiramisu Macarons would taste right now? Yeah, me too. Check out Weevalicious Recipes.

If you have never had pulled pork before you are in for a treat. It is easy to make int he crockpot and it is SO good with some cole slaw on a homemade whole wheat bun! Check out The Way the Cookie Crumbles for the recipe. I just realized I have never posted my recipe for homemade hot dog and hamburger buns..sigh! I will get that posted soon.

Check out Recipe Girl for some adorable baseball cookies! You could use the idea for soccer or anything…great for a boys’ birthday.

The Passionate Cook has some Mojito Cheesecakes that look great. I have been thinking about Marc’s birthday cake the last few days and thought that I would try a mojito buttercream..NOW I almost HAVE to!

Nothing is as summery to me as Greek food, and one of the best sources for Greek recipes is Valli at More than Burnt Toast. She has a fantastic recipe for Grilled Spatchcock Chicken with Saltsa Yiaourtiou. Garlic, olive oil, fresh herbs…what’s not to love??

For the past few months Jenn, the Leftover Queen, has been posting her top picks on Fridays.

We have strawberries a few more weeks yet, not many. Marie at A Year From Oak Cottage has this awesome Triple Strawberry Pie that I want to try before they are gone!

Hannah’s Country Kitchen has some Welsh Rarebit Crumpets that not only sound amazing they LOOK it. What a great idea for a brunch or light lunch!

Don’t forget about the coffee giveaway on Kettle and Cup. I am changing the rules a bit to day to make them easier. If you have all ready done it by the old rules you will be entered in the drawing three times!

Cathy at Noble Pig has some beautiful mixed berry and cherry clafoutis. Perfect summer dessert with some creme fraiche..yummy.

Hey, have a great weekend everyone

Image:Marye Audet

Content:Marye Audet for Baking Delights.

Post from: Baking Delights

Bad. I know. Gosh. That is almost as bad, or maybe it is worse than the pun I used on Kettle and Cup. Sorry. Well…ahem…

O.k..that picture is more of my Anchor Hocking Moonstone collection, circa 1941-1946.  Just wanted to share. Like it?

First, we are about to head into a new month and so there are a ton of round-ups and challenges. I want to list them first off, and maybe I can remember to get involved more regularly!

The delightful Pixie of You Say Tomato I say Tomato is hosting a Putting Up blogging event, due May 21. She and Rosie of Rosie Bakes a Cake, her co-host in this, are asking you to ” share your Jams and Conserves, Jellies, Marmalade, Curds and Butters, Chutneys, Pickles, Relishes and Preserves.”

The Greedy Gourmet encourages all of us to make muffins for Snack Shots, due May 6.

This Monthly Mingle of Meeta’s in May (I love alliteration, don’t you?) is all about Indian Cooking. Mmmm! Due May 5. Check out the details at What’s for Lunch Honey?

Mele Cotte is hosting a Cinco de Mango event with, you guessed it, mangoes. Hurry, entries are due May 4.

Just a few more days for this one, but you can do it! Ben and Courtney are hosting the Tamale Open. have all ready seen some of these tamales on blogs and they are mouthwatering! Got to love them. Anyway..April 30th is the date that your tamales are due.

Do you suffer from spice envy? Well check yourself against everyone else with Show Us Your… this month it is spice collections due May 7. I need to put mine all in one spot!

Ruth’s Kitchen Experiments is beginning a new weekly round up, Bookmarked Recipes. Just choose a recipe you have been meaning to make for awhile and make Mondays your day! Sounds like tons of fun!

Coffee & Vanilla has a monthly event called Wholesome Lunchbox…It is due the 15th of every month.

Cook Think does the Rootsource Challenge every week…and you can win a cookbook! Coolness. ” The Root Source Challenge is our weekly recipe contest. To participate, readers submit their best recipe(s) using an ingredient that’s the subject of an upcoming Root Source. We’ll pick our favorite of the submitted recipes, feature it on the Root Source and publish it at cookthink.com. We’ll also send the person who submitted it a cookbook.”

Grow Your Own is simply a roundup where you make a dish that uses at least one item from your very own garden or farm and post about it. You can use something that was gifted to you, but the giver must have personally grown or raised the item. It is due ont he 28th of each month and it is one of my favorites even though I don;t get to participate as much as I would like. Why is it a favorite? Because it encourages us to think in terms of local foods, and that is a good thing!

In Apples & Thyme we are encouraged to blog about a special person who inspired our cooking. It is due on the 20th of each month.

The Royal Foodie Joust is the brain child of the Jenn, the Leftover Queen. I won it once and it is not only challenging but fun! Submissions are due on the first of every month.

Whew…..Now.

O.k..on to the blog surfing…I told you that you were going to be whisked away…

My roses were in bud when we had a weird late season freeze so when they bloomed the edges were brown..but aren’t they pretty?

Courtney created an incredible golden beet and chicken lasagne.

On A Year in the Kitchen Ashlee made this amazing Asian Inspired Appetizer dinner.

Baking Soda at Bake My Day made these Thai spiced meatballs. I am so hungry forThai food…did you ever notice that it seems like everyone gets the memo to make the same type of thing one week? The week that I seem to be craving Asian foods..everyone seems to be taunting me!

Bakergirl Creations…Yam fries and Chipotle Mayo...You guys knew I couldn’t scroll past that, right? Incredible job, Shannon, well done.

Becke, the sender of really cool packages, the cause of my recent penzey spice addiction, none other than the Columbus Foodie, has a fantastic looking noodle kugel happening on her blog.

Get your fat pants out, Cathy warns, and she is serious too. I read Cathy’s blog, Noble Pig regularly, and she is kind enough to comment on Kettle and Cup…but the fat pants thing? Seriously. Imagine this: Caramelized Chocolate, Banana and Marshmallow Sandwiches. O.k..stop imagining and go look at them on her blog.  Does it get any better than that? For serious artery clogging nirvana I suggested dipping them in batter and deep frying a la Monte Cristo..but I think her sandwiches look perfect as it is.

I am seriously exhausted by all this whisking. I hope you have had a great time on our whirlwind tour. Have a great weekend!

Post from: Baking Delights

Image:Marye Audet, Berger Cookies:My Version
Apron Strings and Simmering Things 

Wow..really late getting at this! We have had one of those days where I had to hit the floor running and it just did not stop! We had a 7 a.m. appointment for Marc at the VA for an MRI, then out to coffee with a friend. We pray over things that are going on in our families and with our friends, at our Saturday coffee. Got back, made lunch before Marc had to go to work..homemade egg fettucine with a simple marinara, and a ceasar salad…Once he left I cleaned the kitchen and worked on dinner, Greek Roast Chicken, multicolored new potatoes, brussels sprouts, honey rolls, and a triple layer buttermilk cake with orange curd which I will be featuring here on monday…So…as I wait for him to come home for dinner (he only works about two miles away so he comes home for his dinner break when he works more than 4 hours or so) I am going to try to relax with my ice water and do some serious blog surfing! I think I deserve it, don’t you? I had to laugh..my granddaughter came in and asked what I was planning on for breakfast in the morning. I swear..all these people think about is food.

O.k..so I am starting out with April at Abby Sweets, and she has posted the soup of my dreams. What is it you ask? Dark Chocolate soup with toasted poundcake croutons.

Over on Ambrosia and Nectar, Anne Marie creates a rhubard ice cream…YUM! can you imagine a scoop of that melting over a strawberry pie?

Carla at Chocolate Moosey is hosting a cookbook challenge. You pick a recipe from a vintage cookbook, make it, photo and blog it...April 26 is the deadline. This is a great reason for me to drag out some of my OLD cookbooks, and I mean old. Pre- 1930 some of them! I will have to see what my schedule looks like.

If you are really in the mood for warm weather, blooming flowers, and spring breezes…. Joy the Baker has an awesome recipe for Lemon Whoopie Pies! Do those sound like spring or what???

Vintage cookbooks! Kate at Our Red House shows off her cookbook collection and she has one that I also have! How cool is that?

Marie has a warm apple cake with brandy butterscotch sauce on A Year at Oak Cottage.  As always it looks warm, cozy, and wonderful.

This week’s TWD gang made lemon cream tarts, and although there were many many beautiful ones I really liked the image on Lisa’s blog.  Check out Bumblebutton to see what I am talking about.

Coco Cooks…and cooks really well… Check out these Banana Chipotle Pineapple Tamales

Hey guys, I usually try to do ten but it has taken me several hours to get these eight in and I have kids to put to bed…So I am gonna call it a day….

I want to ask you a favor…If blog a recipe that you are especially proud of let me know!! There are so many foodie bloggers that post sporadically, or no longer post, and it is time consuming to sift through everyone’s blogs, much as I would like to … so, I would be glad to consider any post for blogsurfing saturdays here at Baking Delights, just let me know..and I will try to get it blogged…

I also want to direct your attention to the Wedding Cakes Page that I finished last week. If you have a wedding coming up, or know someone who does, and are considering making a homemade wedding cake check it out. I think you will find it helpful!

Have a great weekend!

Post from: Baking Delights