And this right here is one of the numerous reasons I will not give up, give in, or give out to a lousy attitude, empty wallet, or pure D. exhaustion. This is my almost 9  month old grandaughter, Bells. Short for Isabella Jordan.

I am determined to pick up the pace this next week. I have been falling behind in posts and articles and my house looks like  a tornado hit it AFTER a tsumnami and a hurricane blew through. Seriously.

So where are you and how are you in your Christmas preparations? Whatever point you are at you need to stop, take a deep breath and remember what Christmas really is all about.

Ready for some blogsurfing?

1. Crank it up with Bon Appetit blog and their Baking Play List. Need some tunes to stir by? Here they are.
2. Lori’s Red Velvet Shortbread Cookies
3. Judy’s Pecan Lace Sandwich Cookies with Orange Buttercream
4. Smores Cheesecake Bars
5. What Does Eating Local Really Mean?
6. YeastSpotting: Holiday Edition
7. Chocolate Caramel Bars
8. Candy Cane Macarons
9. Awesome gift idea, The Blogger Aid Cookbook
10. Make your own Marzipan

thats it for this week! I am in just under the wire. It is still Saturday in Texas, folks.

image: Erin Audet Myers, collection of Marye Audet

Post from: Baking Delights

We like to think that our lives are unchanging; that things will go on as they have, but every day we grow older, we change, our circumstances change.  Sometimes they change violently and without warning.  Sometimes it doesn’t seem fair. But if we can grab every ounce of faith we have and hang on to our ethics, beliefs, and the good in our lives we come through stronger, happier, and better people. The deepest people I have ever met are those that have lived through much pain.

Sorry, I always wanted to preach…. ok..so on with Blogsurfing Saturday!

All though I usually talk about Muddy Dog Coffee on Kettle and Cup this week it is to announce that they are roasting something besides coffee. They have come out with roasted grits and cornmeal. They will be sending me some in the  next week or two for review but in the meantime check out the eggplant Napoleon that they made.

It’s Daring Baker’s week and the challenge was Cannoli. You need to search these out because everyone’s looked great. I loved this cherry brandy version that Courtney did.

Chris at Mele Cotte has a fantastic post and recipe about Pork Roast with Balsamic Thyme Fig Sauce. I heart balsamic and fig flavor and the thyme must make this amazing.

Barbara at Wino’s and Foodies has posted a White Chocolate Cake with Mango and Pomegranate Syrup that looks luscious.

Joelen has an amazing Wild Rice and Portabella Salad that seems to me to be a perfect lunch to have in front of a fire with a hearty red wine, a crunchy baguette, and a baked apple for the finish.

Go ahead and try to resist these Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes from Salt and Chocolate.

Balance has a Honey Chipotle Lime Glazed Chicken that truly makes my mouth water.

If you have a chilly day at hand, maybe a little snow falling, and a chilly house check out this Beer and Vegetable Cheese Soup with Bacon at Adventures of Kitchen Girl.

Greedy Pudding Pear Cake at Tinned Tomatoes has me feeling a bit greedy myself. I think I could eat the entire thing.

I just love Becke of Columbus Foodie and this smaller Thanksgiving meal looks perfect. I think it would be a great dinner any time you wanted something a little festive but not too huge.

Don’t forget to check out the amazing images at Baking Delights Flickr group.  Food Po#n at it’s best! Need an example? Check these Peanut Butter Crisp Squares from Brown Eyed Baker!

image: marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

Rather than subjecting anyone else to this tag torture you can just do it if you want and leave a comment and a link so I can go read it..’k?

1. Where is your cell phone? Store
2. Your hair? Gorgeous
3. Your mother? Dead
4. Your father? Ditto
5. Your favorite food? Chocolate
6. Your dream last night? Leather
7. Your favorite drink? Coffee

8. Your dream/goal? Christ-likeness
9. What room are you in? Bedroom

10. Your hobby? Myriad
11. Your fear? Abandonment
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Unsure
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something you aren’t? Liar
15. Muffins? Blueberry

16. Wish list item? Passion
17. Where did you grow up? Everywhere
18. Last thing you did? Cooked
19. What are you wearing? Jeans
20. Your TV? Off
21. Your pets? Many
22. Friends? Love
23. Your life? Purposed
24. Your mood? Nevermind

25. Missing someone? Yes
26. Vehicle? Ram
27. Something you’re not wearing? Rings
28. Your favorite store? Antiques

29.Your favorite color? Burnt-orange
30. When was the last time you laughed? Today
31. Last time you cried? Today
32. Your best friend? Jesus
33. One place you go to over and over again? Grocers
34. One person who e-mails you regularly? Karen
35. Favorite place to eat? Home

image: marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

Thanksgiving is usually a no brainer around here. I made a menu over ten years ago and we pretty much go by it completely, adding a new dish or two every year to try. It is just that everyone has things they just “have to have” and adding something new is impossible without taking away something old, comfortable, and traditional so…we don’t.

What I have found is that it is great to make Thanksgiving foods other times during the month. It allows us to try new things without sacrificing the almighty menu. Everyone is happy.

Today’s blogsurfing is  is made up of the cool dishes I have found that you might like to try. Not all of these are from blogs, but they are all things that just looked really good to me. I am woefully behind on the posts that I promised last week, not just because I am behind on posting but because I am behind on cooking! I need life to slow down just a tiny but. Heading in to Christmas? Not likely to slow down, is it?

1. Green Beans with Ginger and Cashews
2. Green Beans with Caramelized Shallots
3. Bacon Ranch Potatoes
4. Scalloped Potatoes with Caramelized Onions
5. Soy Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Sesame Seeds
6. Cider Glazed Butternut Squash
7. Turkey Cranberry Strudel
8. Glazed Baby Carrots and Brussels Sprouts
9. Whipped Carrots and Parsnips
10. Warm Pumpkin Salad with Polenta and Candied Pumpkin Seeds
11. Roasted Onions with Gruyere Croutons
12. Creamy Broccoli with Cashews

In a couple of days I will do a roundup of the past Baking Delights Thanksgiving recipes. Enjoy your weeked!

image: marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

Well, as cold as it was in October, so far November has decided to bring back nice days and warm temperatures. It has been a little odd but right now I am appreciating not having to turn on the heat. Not having a thyroid is difficult in the cold weather. I wish they would get my medications adjusted properly.

My granddaughter, Bella, and I at our Un-Halloween Party

I know that many of you have been wondering why I have been on such an emotional roller coaster lately. This is very difficult but I count my readers among my friends so I am going to take a deep breath and …here goes…

Marc has moved out and has asked me for a divorce. It was one of those things I never thought would happen to me… 30 years of marriage and really, rather happy years at that. I am not, however, the easiest person to live with and we have been through a lot in the past few years. Marc’s illness, his medications, my suddenly having a career after 28 years as a SAHM..midlife..finances…..it all adds up to serious stresses that apparently neither of us handled very well.

Marc is an incredible man and he will always be the love of my life. That has not changed since I feel in love with him in 1979.  I do not want this divorce and I am praying that he changes his mind.  We have a lot to work through if he does..and I have a lot to work through if he doesn’t. The next few months are going to be difficult any way you look at it. Your prayers are always appreciated and your support, even though you didn’t know what was going on, has been incredible. I thank you for that.

O.k…let’s dry our eyes and get on with….

• Curried Butternut Squash Soup
• Caramel Apple Bars
• Orange ,Rum, and Clove Glazed Pears
• Salted Caramel Pots de Creme
• Pumpkin Donuts

Please Please Please…got to the BonAppetit blog and vote for my pumpkin, maple, bourbon tiramisu! You have to register if you haven’t…but it is free…and the tiramisu is with the custards category…but if I win I get a weekend in New York…and I could use a vacay!

image: marye audet (taken by Erin Audet Myers)

Post from: Baking Delights

Space, cold, light, frightened, curious…wanting to be held…craving sustenance and affirmation and encouragement that this big, new world will be o.k.

I feel odd facing these challenges at this age, going into the Holidays, and at the time in my life when I should be the happiest, most secure, and most content. I know that my faith/trust/hope  in God will see me through and the outpouring of love and prayers and well wishes from my fans, readers, friends, family, and followers has been, in a word, staggering.  Thank you.

I have many challenges ahead, many difficult choices, and painful journeys through my thoughts, memories, and the dark recesses of my mind where I haven’t peeked in years. But hey, on the bright side, there will be awesome food, right?

So, I am ready for some surfing. You?

• Chai Coffee Cake from Tartelette looks like a great way to get a chilly day on track.
• Snickers Surprise Cookies from Jenny Bakes…wow..no surprise that they look great.
• Homemade Candy Corn from Dessert First..I love candy corn..really really love it.
• Stuffed Breakfast Poblano Peppers from Mele Cotte …Oh my these look good!
• Gingerbread Biscotti from She Runs She Eats..I love gingerbread in any form.
• Roasted Tomato Soup from Cafe Fernando …send a care package here please!
• Orange Slice Bread from CD Kitchens…Lets all pretend that it really IS a bread and not a cake, ‘K?
• Chicken Pumpkin Stew from Yumsugar
• Roasted Acorn Squash with Green Tomato and Jalapeno Jam….This is amazing.
• Jalapeno Cheese Burger Bun from Homesick Texan ….Brilliant.

Have a great weekend.

Images: Marye Audet

Post from: Baking Delights

You have to love the flavors of autumn though; pumpkin, spice, butternut squash, spice, apples, spice….

Today’s blog surfing has some amazing recipes to spice up your autumn. Are you ready?

Bourbon Glazed Chicken (and I think I have some bourbon left!)

Whole Foods Pumpkin Cream Cheese truffles….yum

Apple Cinnamon Bagels mmm..with spicy pumpkin butter or cream cheese, and cider? Maybe a slice of ham?

Candy Sushi ….I LOVE this!

This is not a recipe but…I love it. I just found this Seasonal Produce site that helps you find what is available fresh right now. Excellent!

If you didn’t get enough pumpkin recipes this past week here on Baking Delights check out Pinch My Salt’s  pumpkin recipe roundup.

Gingerbread Scones from the Noshery…these sound amazing..bet they hit our table soon…

Evil Shenanigans obviously had a Vulcan Mind Meld with me this week as she made Butterscotch Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce to  my Pumpkin Pecan Caramel Bread Pudding with Bourbon.

O.k..and I am going to do some shameless promotion of my book, here…O.k.? The book went out to several bloggers a few weeks ago and the reviews have started to come in. Eventually I will have a page with links to all the reviews (even the bad ones) but for now you can get an idea of how you might like the book as well as some recipes people have tried:

Rhonda at Shellbelle’s Tiki Hut – did a review and recipe for the Nilla Wafers from the book AND banana pudding she made. YUMMY!!.

Ruth reviewed the book on her Cookbooks 4Every Kitchen and made two of the brownie recipes.

Judy tried out the Pecan Pie Bars and lets you know what she thinks on No Fear Entertaining.

All right. I am out of here. Before I go…The only recipe I didn’t get to this week was the Pumpkin Pie and I am doing an all Thanksgiving Pie week so I am going to do it then..I think it fits better. Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for Sneak Previews!

image:marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

It is chillier and chillier in the mornings. The leaves are turning color and the days are shorter. It is an awesome time of year -  probably my favorite time for food. The flavors of autumn are spicy and robust, warm and comforting. It is a great time to try new combinations and new spices and ingredients. Try switching Chinese Five Spice powder for the cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, or apple pie spice in your favorite recipe. The addition of star anise to the rest of the “normal” autumn ingredients can push it over the top. Brown the butter rather than just melting it, use bourbon or brandy instead of water or milk in cake…there are a lot of ways to taste Fall!

I just want to take a minute and talk about things that look real but aren’t. The image above is a bowl I found at a local thrift shop. I was pretty excited because I love Depression glass and I want more pink than I have now. I use it for a number of things; decor, table setting, and photography props for my blogs.

Anyway I brought it home and when I compared it to my vintage Depression glass it was not the same. It lacks color, luster, and weight. The differences aren’t obvious until you get it next to the real thing. This was a knock-off, made in the past 10 years from an old mold. It looks the same but it isn’t.

There are a lot of things in life that are like that. Ethics, beliefs, people; we think we are getting the real thing and end up with a pale imitation. We need to be careful in our own lives to always be real.

But we do the same with food. Artificial flavors, artificial colors, skimmed milk….It isn’t until we taste the real food that we realize that we have been duped into eating a poor imitation for years and years. Next week on Baking Delights it is going to be pumpkin week. I will be previewing some of the posts tomorrow, but I want to say that this year, in this season of bounty begin to try the real. Instead of buying canned beets buy fresh and roast them rather than boiling. Buy a pie pumpkin and make your own puree (and I am going to show you how to do that),  spend some time at the Farmer’s Market or other source and buy local, buy fresh, and buy real. The flavor is intense and you will discover a whole new level of taste-bud nirvana.

Ready for a little surfin’? Here’s some recipes to get you in the mood for Pumpkin Week!

• Pumpkin Spiced Cream Cheese Breakfast Rolls from Picky Palate
• Pumpkin Hazelnut Donuts from Canelle et Vanille
• Roasted Butternut Squash, Sweet Potato and Maple Soup from Evil Shenanigans
• Brown butter is the new black, or at least the new vanilla. Check out this list of brown butter links from CakeSpy.
• Impossible Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes from Baking Bites
• Neopolitan Pound Cake from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody (totally not pumpkin, spice, or autumn, but amazing none the less!)
• Sweet Potato, Corn, and Jalapeno Bisque from Everybody Likes Sandwiches
• Maple Pecan Ice Cream from Closet Cooking
• Pumpkin Butter from Fun Foods on a Budget
• Sugar Pumpkin, Feta, and Cilantro Quesadillas from Epicurious

Just a reminder to check out Baking Delights Flickr group. There is some amazing imagery there ….add yours to it so it will be MORE amazing!

image:marye audet

surfing image: Cori who is an amazingly talented blogger and photographer!

Post from: Baking Delights

Nah…it’s just Texas weather.

So I spent the week shopping with my girls. I need to still get the boys outfitted for winter but that is usually a little easier. Both girls are hard to fit. Shiloh is nearly 14, tall and long legged so it would be hard enough without the hooker-wear all the stores seem to be carrying. Trying to find a simple dress for church that is not so low cut that it shows a mile an a half of nubile 14 year old cleavage is almost impossible. While we were shopping I remembered WHY I let Shiloh wear jeans and sweaters to church.

Yes…that IS a pink BB gun….

Nothing redneck about our family…nope.

Anyway, so now my checking account need a mainline fix from Fort Knox.  Two more reasons I need to dust off the sewing machine and add sewing back to my to do list.

With all the fall weather I am feeling like autumn desserts. The house always smells so good when you are baking with the spices and pumpkin and apple flavors of fall. And what better time to eat desserts than when you are going to be wearing so many layers that you look huge anyway, right?

Speaking of layers…

Kyrie is unusual, y’all know that. Well today it was cold and dark and drizzly for Texas. She was wearing 5 shirts (yep I swear) and her new winter coat…and panties. That’s it. I said, “So, K-bug, don’t you think you should put some pants on? ” She looked serious for a minute and then said, “Nope. I have on 5 shirts so it balances out.”

I am guessing that 53F legs and 150F torso averages about 100F all over? Not sure…..

Ready to do some Autumn surfing? Here are some of the coolest desserts ever -

• Black Bottomed Mini Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites from Picky Palate
• Chocolate and Strawberry Mascarpone Cake from Passionate About Baking
• This Weeks YeastSpotting from Wild Yeast..head over there and drool..I ‘ll wait.
• Sour Cream Pumpkin Coffee Cake from Megan’s Cookin’
• Raised Waffles with Sauteed Chai- Spiced  Apples from Cookie Pie
• Pumpkin Shortbread Cookies from Adventures in Shaw
• Date Spice Loaf from Smitten Kitchen
• Congrats to Lori of RecipeGirl for TWO prizewinning pies!
• Toffee Apple Upside Down Cake from Inn Cuisine
• White Chocolate Bread Pudding from Baking Bites

image:marye audet

image: Cori from Brambleberry Cottage

Post from: Baking Delights

As we move into October it is time to start thinking about cookies and other Holiday baking. 50 Best Cookies and 50 Best Cookies Scene 2 are both good places to start. Remember that you can easily freeze cookie dough OR baked cookes and they will be fine for the holidays. Start picking up extra baking supplies so you will have them on hand when you want them.

• Chocolate Espresso Sandwich Cookies
• Boston Cream Pie Cake
• Salsa Chicken Enchiladas
• Chicken Apple Sausage
• Black Bottom Mini Caramel Cupcake Bites
• Orange Creamsicle Cupcakes
• Triple Threat Brownies
• Mushroom Ricotta Ravioli
• Fruit Pizza
• White Chocolate Ice Cream

Post from: Baking Delights