I have my consult with the general surgeon on Wednesday, July 15. Not sure where we are headed after that but you know you will be the first to know…o..k…so maybe second to know. I am hoping to get a contest post up later today, so please check back before bedtime.

I can’t believe it is the middle of July, can you? I am looking at the unruly pile of firewood that needs to be split before cold weather gets here and wondering when Matt will have to to do it. We seem to have so much going all the time that it is tempting to give up, sell out, and buy a McMansion on a Zero Lot.  I keep reminding myself how miserable I would be and how miserable the kids would be although a couple of them keep pushing for that lifestyle.

17 years  ago today my third child was born. He was my first to be born at home. So much has changed in our lives since then; we have lost people we love and gained people we love. We have moved several  times. Our finances have changed. More than once! And for some reason, we have been increasingly busier.

I wonder where the simple life went? Where did we lose the ability to sit and drink sweet tea on the porch on a hot afternoon? And more importantly, how do we get that quality of life back?

Today’s blogsurfing Saturday is a little different. Instead of highlighting other blogs I am going to be linking to some very cool posts on Baking Delights that you may have forgotten or not known about. I realized last night that I have so many posts (well over 900) that some of the first ones have become invisible!

• Tie Dyed Tortilla Chips – I love these. I came up with this idea for a groovy retro party. The kids had a great time painting the tortillas and there is just not anything better than homemade chips.
• Blueberry-White Chocolate Muffins – I think the original for this came from Nestle? I have been making them for several years (5 or 6!) and they are ALWAYS a hit. Just in time for National Blueberry Muffin Day today!
• Cookie Dough Brownies – amazingly yummy for all you raw cookie dough fans. This one is in my upcoming book.
• Plum and White Tea Scones -  Oh I need to make this again ….SOON.
• Orzo Salad with Asian Ginger Dressing – there just isn’t much more to say about thing. Yum.
• Summer Squash Pudding - this is addictive. Even your dyed in the wool squash haters will love it.
• Coconut Praline Pie – my very first post at Baking Delights. Lousy picture. GREAT recipe.
• Lemon Brussels Sprouts with Pistachios - I love these. Absolutely could eat them 24/7
• Banana Maple Bundt Cake with Walnut Praline Swirl – if you have some really ripe, gooey bananas this is what you need to do with them!
• 50 Best Cookie Recipes on the Internet - this post still gets MOST of my traffic every month. It has been copied, stolen, complained about, made fun of, and worshiped. Still a great list. Think it may be time for a part II.

There ya have it. Ten recipes, dusted off and ready for you to take a look at. Have a great day and don’t forget to check in later about the giveaway!

images:marye audet

Post from: Baking Delights

Preserving family recipes is an important part of preserving history.  When the recipes are passed down so are family stories and memories.

It is important to give your kids continuity between the generations.  Foods have always been one way to do that.  Family traditions are passed down at holidays and special occasions and generally there is alot of memory sharing around the holiday table.  Kids listen and learn about thier family history and I think it gives them a sense of security and  solidity, and helps them to know who they are and where they are going.  I know that when I make gramma’s catsup or fruitcake, scrawled recipes in a faded and spidery handwriting, I feel connected with her even though I did not know her at all.

As I was going through the files here at Baking Delights  I found the recipe for my grandmother’s catsup.

Grandma Vincent’s Catsup Recipe

Do you have any recipes that your family has handed down?

Oh..and that is not my family…I borrowed it.

Image:Morguefile

Post from: Baking Delights

Can you believe it? The days are getting shorter and even here in Texas we are having cool mornings.  I love autumn…

Here is the Baking Delights Buzz for the last month….

My favorite image for August was Kyrie’s escargot…LOL!

My favorite recipe was Walnut Genoise

My Favorite comment was from Katherine on How to Make Your own Wedding Cake.  She said, “I just wanted to say thank you for all the helpful wedding cake information you have on this blog. For my mom and dad’s 25th wedding anniversary, I decided to bake a mini wedding-type cake. I had no idea where to begin, and I stumbled across this blog. It was so VERY helpful–I used your golden cake and icing recipe–it turned out wonderfully! Thank you for sharing with us…you were an answer to prayer.”

Sigh..I just love happy endings…and that is really why I blog, right there.  It makes up for all of the criticism about the poor images quality and recipes that people can’t make work.  Sometimes it is my fault,sometime  theirs.

The winner of the mixer poll was of course, Kitchen Aid..that is a no brainer.  I have decided to do something outrageous and treat myself to both a KA AND a Bosch.  I will have the money when I get my first check for the book and, as an added bonus it will come off the taxes..so it is win win.  That way I will have the power for bread as well as the desserts..  Yay me.

The new poll is going to be up today.. and the question is “How are you dealing with rising food costs”

The top ten articles for August, from most popular to least popular, were:

1. The 50 Best Cookies on the Internet -this is a no brainer…after several days on the first page of Digg and links all over the internet this has been the top post since I posted it last August.  DO ya think I will every have another that is this wildly popular?
2. How to Make Your Own Wedding Cake Part 1
3. Foil Wrapped Beef Brisket
4. Classic Pineapple Upside Down Cake- who knew that people would be looking for an upside down cake recipe?
5. How to Make Wedding Cakes 6, Tops and Tricks
6. Molasses Crinkles- this is the best recipe ever. Good molasses cookies are hard to find and these are crispy and chewy.
7. Double Chocolate Toffee Cookies, this is easy to figure out!
8. The 40 Best Cookies for Shipping.  I compiled this list when Chris was in Irag the first time.
9. Wedding Cakes, Shapes.
10. Homemade HotDog and Hamburger Buns. If you have been looking for homemade hamburger buns that are soft like storbought these will make you very happy!

Now…Some of my favorite posts  from last August:

1. Cinnamon Rolls…Big and fluffy.
2. Veggie Wraps with Olive Tapenade
3. Praline Shortbread Bars
4. Blueberry Bran Muffins
5. Chocolate Sheet Cake.  Lousy image, great cake.

Now, coming up in September? I am working on a new give away…and some other cool things…I should have the cookbook out of the way soon so things can get back to (ab)normal.

Have a great Labor Day, and enjoy the unofficial last day of summer!
Images:Marye Audet

Post from: Baking Delights

Talk about your dog days….wow. It is hot and muggy. Even at night it is in the 90’s. Everything is sticky and soggy and I am ready for cooler weather. I know that when it is freezing in here I will complain about that.

Please promise to love me anyway.

August is here. Last month I pointed out the top posts for July and it was fun to look back at the month. So, I will copycat myself and do it again.

From the MOST popular on down….

1. 50 Best Cookie Recipes -I don’t think I will EVER top this one
2. Pineapple Upside Down Cake-This one always surprises me.
3. Make Your Own Wedding Cake Part One- This didn’t surprise me. There are lots of talented baker-istras out there.
4. Homemade Pizza-This was not much of a surprise either. Surely we can’t be the only ones that can’t afford pizza unless it is homemade?
5. Brisket Done in Foil- When you don’t have a smoker this is awesome.
6. Homemade Hamburger/Hot Dog Bun- You can’t miss with these, quick, easy, and delicious.
7. Double Chocolate Toffee Cookies- Who can resist THAT combo? Not me.
8. How to Make a Wedding Cake #6-Tips and helps so that you don;t have to make the same mistakes…uh…others of us have made.
9. Wedding Cakes #3, Shapes- This was a surprise to me as well. Who knew?
10. Wedding Cakes; Stands, Stacks, or Tiers- This is probably the most stressful part of doing a cake!

So, there it is. The most popular posts for July. Now, I dont; always think the most popular posts are necessarily the best posts. My favorite recipes for July were:

1. Orzo Salad with Ginger Dressing
   
2. Plum and White Tea Scones
3. Butterfinger Cake
4. Rosemary Cracked Pepper Bread
5. Coconut Ice Cream

In the Battle of Kitchen Aid or Bosch on the poll, Kitchen Aid won 5/1. Not surprising. I think I am going to get one of each when I get paid for the cookbook because I don’t like how kitchaide does on bread.

So…are you ready for a new month? A new Daring Bakers Challenge, and yes I will probably wait until the last minute even though I say I won’t. I new poll later today…and who knows what else to expect? I mean, ask Marc…even after 28 years every day is an adventure.

Image:Marye Audet 

Post from: Baking Delights

Today on b5 Lifestyles we are exploring Lifestyles in bloom. This is the time of year of lush growth and beautiful flowers. Gardens are at their best!

I considered so many things for Baking Delights and then just decided on a list of 50 recipes that utilize flowers or flower essences as an ingredient or a decor. Some are not baked, but all look fantastic! Ready?

1. Rose & Cinnamon Scented Scones. My own recipe over on Kettle and Cup.
2. Victorian Rose Pound Cake. Another one of mine. Delicate, light, and a beautiful texture. Perfect for tea.
3. Lavender Tea Cake with Vanilla Icing. A great combination of citrus and sweet.
4. Herbal Gardens Lemon Verbena Cake. This sounds amazing, but please substitute real butter for the nasty crisco!
5. A Chart of Edible Flowers and how they can be used. Very good tips.
6. From the Victory Garden:Pacific Rockfish with Edible Flowers.
7. Food Network’s Stuffed Zucchini Flowers
8. Violet Ice Cream from LoveToKnow
9. Violet Flower Jelly
10. Violet Truffles
11. Candied Flowers from Jennifer at Tree Hugging Family
12. Raspberry and Violet Tartlets from Chocolae and Zucchini
13. Violet Syrup from one of my favorite blogs..The Feast Within.
14. Pound Cake with Blueberries and Lavender Syrup. Enough said.
15. Baking Obsession Lemon Lavender Scones.
16. Apple Lavender Muffins
17. Lavender Pork Steaks
18. A Tase of Home Lavender Lemon Bars
    
19. Fresh Figs with Lavender and Goat Cheese
20. Seared tuna with Lavender and Pepper Crust
21. Lavender and Lemon Tea Cake
22. Lavender Souffle
23. Lavender Blueberry Sorbet
24. Rosemary and Lavender Shortbreads from Undercover Cook.
25. LemonPi’s Coconut and Lavender Macaroons
26. Remember the Daring Baker’s Opera Cake this month? Well the Baker and the Curry Maker made a lavender and white chocolate opera cake!
27. Lavender Tiramisu..Yummy!
28. Lemon Lavender Irish Soda Bread
29. Pear Tarts with Lavender Creme Anglaise not my best pictures but the flavor was incredible.
30. Chicken Artichoke Pie
31. Vanilla Rose Ice Cream
32. Rose Crackle Cookies
33. Strawberry Rose Jam
34. Key Lime and Rose Muffins
35. Rose Scented Donuts
36. Lavender Sugar at Gracious Hospitality
37. Lavender Fudge
38. Rose Petal Jelly
39. Almond Baklava with Rose Water
40. Lavender Langues du Chat from Vanielje Kitchen
41. Inge had a roundup for apple and lavender recipes last October. Check them ALL out.
42. Vallis Black and White Chocolate Fondue infused with Lavender has always intrigued me.
43. Spice Cookies with Rosewater, Cardamom and Ginger
44. Rose Petal Flan
45. Apricot, Poppy, Phyllo Purses with Rosewater Glaze
46. Flower Petal and Pistachio Sponge Cake
47. Lemon Pansy Pie
48. Lemon Jelly Roll with Pansies
49. Rosemary Orange Rum Cake
50. Lavender Rose Petal Cheesecake. Yep. Cheesecake.
51. And, lastly, something everyone needs in their pantry…Herbes de Provence

5 tablespoons dried thyme
3 tablespoons dried savory
1 tablespoon dried oregeno
5 tablespoons dried rosemary
2 tablespoons dried lavender flowers

and it is not traditional but I add a few minced rose petals.

Images:Marye Audet

Post from: Baking Delights

So, how has your week been?  Summer in Texas seems to have remembered what summer is supposed to be and the cool weather we had been having has morphed into a taste of hell.  Hot, humid and blah.  It is hard on us because we do not use air conditioning.

That is not as bad as you may think, at least not most of the time. Our house is old, with the 11 foot ceilings and tall windows cross ventilated. We have ceiling fans and we notice that our bodies do adjust.  Eventually. But when the weather switches from chilly to tropic then it takes the old bod a few days to catch up.

There are lots of Memorial Day foods happening right now, and some other cool stuff. Check out some of these…but don’t go too far..I am posting a blog award later…..

Bonbini is a blog I have never visited before.  You have to go there and see the Thai Tea Mousse.  If the recipe was not amazing enough, the presentation is incredible. Not really Memorial Day fare, but hey, we all need inspiration now and then.  Scrolling thorugh the other images is…just…breathtaking.

If you want a chance to win Dorie Greenspan’s From My Home to Yours cookbook head over to CakeSpy and take their poll.

Concotions by Peaboody..always an amazing read and incredible images.  Check out her entry for sugar high fridays,  Coconut Lemon Lime Tassies.

Julia at Dozen Flours makes some incredible looking Chocolate Swoon Bars. Take THOSE to your Memorial Day picnic.

Whoopie Pies with Peanut Butter filling? Oh My!  Rosie Bakes a Piece of Cake has blogged these beauties…YUM!

Green Boot Camp has some great ideas for making your memorial day more earth-friendly by shopping for local foods..you know that I am all about that!

Serious Eats is really serious about chicken…If you don;t often have beer in your house (we don’t either) then check out this recipe for cola can chicken!

Yumsugar posts chipotle deviled eggs..you guys knew I wouldn’t miss that one, didn’t you?

Linette, over on Robust Cooking posts an incredible looking fruit and cream mold

And..if I may…

I make the best sweet tea in the universe. I promise.  It is really simple..Want the recipe? Check out Kettle and Cup. Recipe for sweet tea

If you need a pictorial on how to make the perfect pie crust..I have it for you here .Anyone can do it with this easy recipe.

If you have the basic pastry down try making a fruit pie with a twisted lattice crust.

And..if you want to take an easy dessert but you want it to be different from what everyoen else is bringing to the picnic..try these easy cookie dough brownies. OH YEAH.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day. Enjoy your family. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the sales (if you must) but most of all remember the meaning of the day… Memorial Day in an Old House 

Image:Public Domain, used with permission Vintage Holiday Crafts 

Post from: Baking Delights

On May 16 it was one year since I started writing here at Baking Delights. I was co- blogging at the time and my pictures were AWFUL.

I spent this afternoon going back through all of the posts over the past year I have learned alot about images, about blogging, and about food. Mostly I have made a lot of friends. Come remember with me!

The first post that I ever posted here was Coconut Praline Pie and while the pie is amazing..that picture was disgusting.

In June my computer went down and I blogged from the library. Most of my recipes went without images at all and I was driving to the library every day trying to keep up. I posted this recipe for Green Chili enchiladas, a family favorite.

In July I won the coveted Foodie Joust with Batter Fried Chicken with Peach Honey Glaze.

In August my readership skyrocketed when I posted The 50 Best Cookie Recipes on the Internet which made the front page of Digg in something like 12 hours. It is still the most popular page on Baking Delights.

In September I did my first Daring Bakers Challenge. Cinnamon Rolls. Yum.

In October I had a retro apron contest which was so much fun! I also searched out the most awesome wedding cakes on the internet.

My favorite post for November was the one about a full size car made from CAKE

December brought a lot of Christmas treats. One of my favorite was this Finnish Coffee Bread.

January was here before I knew it! Table of Condiments that Periodically Go Bad was a fun post but I posted my to-die-for praline cheesecake recipe.

February I did the Victorian Rose Pound Cake. What a great recipe for a tea or light dessert. Now that strawberries are at their best try it out as a base for shortcake.

In March I made Kalamata Olive Bread and it was awesome!

April made me think of weddings and I did a series on making your own wedding cake. But I also came up with this Berger Cookies recipe that I am very pleased with.

Anyway..thanks for spending this past year with me. I appreciate each of you so much! Your comments and creativity, your talent with the camera and with foods have all challenged, taught and inspired me every day!

Images:MaryeAudet

Post from: Baking Delights

If you see dusty fingerprints on this post it is because I have been strolling through the vault looking at some of the old posts. If you are looking for some quick and easy casseroles for this weekend look no further!

Green Chili Enchiladas are a favorite around here. You can use them for OAMC (Once a month cooking) by making ahead and freezing. It is a versatile casserole, you can make it with beef, chicken or turkey..or make it vegetarian with tofu if you are so inclined.

These Oriental Pork Loin Chops can be put in a ziploc with the marinade and tossed in the freezer. Just thaw them and grill when you are ready to eat them.

MMM…more Mexican food. Vegetarian enchiladas stuffed with veggies! They do not freeze well but you can make them up to a day ahead and bake when you are ready.

This Chicken, Onion, and Potato Gratin is one of my favorite comfort foods. Don’t freeze it.

Diner food at it’s best..the hot open faced Turkey Sandwich!

Chicken and Mushroom Fiori Alfredo is incredible, I think. Use any pasta you have if you can’t find fiori.

And finally…everyone needs a great recipe for Tuna Tetrazzini and I think this is it!

Don’t forget, most casseroles can be assembled up to a day ahead and baked when needed even if they can’t be frozen.

Image: (c) Marye Audet Apron Strings and Simmering Things

Content (c) Marye Audet Baking Delights

Post from: Baking Delights

I know that I don’t often look at the side bar of a blog to see what fascinating bits of information might, MIGHT, be found there. I am much more prone to delve into the blog post and read.

I don’t ask for directions when I am lost either.

Be that as it may, I would like to direct your attention to the side bar because in the past week I have added several permanent pages.

I just thought if you needed how-to information it would be easier to check the sidebar than sift through the entire blog. I figured it would save you time, and frustration. I figured you would then nominate me for every blog award out there have more time to devote to cooking and baking.

I am so thoughtful that way.

SO…here is a list of the newest pages and a little about each.

• Cooking With Kids FAQs: Age Appropriate Activities
  this pretty much says it all. What activities you can do with your kids at different ages, and ideas for getting them used to helping in the kitchen and developing a love of cooking.
• Food Glossary: Dairy Definitions Every wonder what buttermilk really was made from or what the difference between cream cheese and cottage cheese was? Wonder no more.
• Fat Content of Milk and Cream If you need to substitute in recipes it is good to know just how much fat, or lack of it, is in the various types of milk.
• Food Safety FAQs If you don’t want to keep telling your kids to wash their hands before they make cookies then print this out.
• Step By Step, Pictorial Guide To Roasting A TurkeyI wanted to make it easy to find for next year…

Post from: Baking Delights

Image: (c) Marye Audet 2007

I thought it would be fun to go through the stats and see what the best recipes for 2007 were, by month.

January : Christmas Biscotti

February: Roasted Salmon on Cherry Tomatoes

March: Whole Wheat French Bread

April: Lemon Poppyseed cake

May: I came on at the end of May and I was very nervous! I had only been blogging a short time. Thank you so much for reading here, visiting me and participating! The top recipe for May was one of mine: Homemade Pizza

June: The pizza post still topped the list followed in second place by Tropical Carrot Cake

July: My computer went down and Marc got sick in July so it was a weird month. The recipe you all liked best was Caramel Crunch Fudge Cake

August: Hands down best post of the month, the post that has been number one EVERY month since it was posted was 50 Best Cookies Recipes on the Internet

The top actual recipe for August was Molasses Crinkles

September: Orange Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

October: Whoopie Pies

November: The 40 Best Cookies For Shipping

The top actual recipe was the homemade pizza again!

December: Chocolate Toffee Cookies

The Top FIVE posts for the entire year were: (can you guess?)

1. 50 Best Cookie Recipes on the Internet

2. Homemade Pizza

3. Old Fashioned Molasses Crinkles

4. Orange Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

5. Double Chocolate Toffee Cookies

Obviously we have our food priorities in order here!

Post from: Baking Delights