RASPBERRY AND WHITE ZINFANDEL CUPCAKES

Baking is what I do as a stress release. I enjoy experimenting with flavors so I concocted these grown up little cakes. I used raspberry puree and Beringer's white Zinfandel in the batter as well as a secret ingredent. The frosting is also Raspberry flavored and they are topped with wedges of Ghiradelli Raspberry dark chocolate.

Spent a great day with my Mom. We went to Froberg Farms and bought this great bunch of vegetables. Its Fall Ya"ll......
I already made up a batch of Caldo de Rez and a batch of Exotic Chinese Cucumber Soup and some baba ghanoush. I will be making a Dijon Tuna Nicoise, Stewed okra and tomatoes over rice,and much more wonderful healthy foods from this bounty.

Apple-Raisin Spice Cake

Apple-Raisin Spice Cake

Recipe from Stephan Pyles, Routh Street Cafe, Dallas
1 cup cake flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon each nutmeg and cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon each ground cloves, mace, and ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups butter, at room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs3

1/2 cups chopped Granny Smith apples, unpeeled

3/4 cup chopped roasted pecans

1 cup raisins, plumped in bourbon
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together flours, baking soda, spices, and salt. Beat butter and sugar with electric mixer on medium until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Beat well. Fold dry ingredients into butter mixture; combine thoroughly. Add apples, pecans, and raisings. Blend well. Pour batter into buttered, floured 10-inch springform pan. Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until an inserted knife comes out dry. Serve warm.
Serves 12

FOREVER 21----SWEET MEMORIES OF 1980'S

I happened to be shopping when I came across the Grand Opening of a huge 2 story Forever 21. I went in because of its uniqueness. The items are for young girls/guys but I relished just looking at all the retro items. It reminded me of my High School Years in the 1980's. Outfits and items That Madonna and Cyndi Lauper made famous. The cute little clerks male and female dressed in these fab little outfits. It made me miss my Adam Ant outfits and magenta flats.

LINDT & SPUNGLI BLACK CURRANT DARK CHOCOLATE

The other night I was out shopping and I came across this Black Currant Dark Chocolate Bar. I thought it was unique so I bought it. It is absolute heaven and now my new favorite pleasure.

It comes wrapped in a thin veil silver foil and encased in a stiff paper sleeve. Its like opening a present.

FALL 2010-HAPPY FALL YA'LL

I have been feeling Falls slow arrival. Its still warm here and the leaves haven't started changing colors yet, but my body clock is welcoming it. I had the urge to buy a fuzzy sweater and a pair of jeans as well as a pair of Ugg boots, the same Ugg boots I said I'd never be caught dead in. Its rained here for a week with more rain to come from the array of last minute tropical storms. Somehow I just feel like Fall is going to blur into a very cold winter this year. At the first sign of cold, I start baking wonderful pumpkin breads, cookies, muffins and comfort foods. I love the hearty winter stews and casseroles. I love lighting woodsy scented candles and cuddling under blankets with my puppies and my cat.

As well as catching up on reading all my new magazines and lusting over new recipes.

HAPPY FALL YA'LL 2010

BLOGGING BEAUJO

MY BABY LETTING ME KNOW I HAVE SPENT ENOUGH TIME EXPLORING BLOGS AND UPDATING MY OWN FOR ONE DAY.

MY DOG IS THE BOSS OF ME.

SHARK FIN SOUP

I had Shark Fin Soup for lunch.

Not the usual Sunday fare that's for certain.

MYSTERIES OF A WOMAN'S PURSE

I came across a blog post by a guy talking about how men always wonder what is in a woman's purse. He had found a post by a French Female Blogger showing the contents of her bag. As we all know the French are into simplicity so you know her bag contained very Tres Chic little.

In the movie version "Nikita" the woman in charge of training Nikita in feminine wiles instructs her what and what not a purse should contain. Once again it was a minimalist approach. Cab fare, a tube of lipstick, keys, possibly an ID and a cellphone.

I know my purse although not overly large is quite heavy. I wondered how my purse contents would measure up.

the contents of my purse:

a linen handkerchief

my coin purse (Cash,ID,Credit Cards & Fishing License..lol)

Car Keys on a glitzy key ring

Zebra notebook

Business Cards and Case

Mints

Demi notepad and pen

Sunglasses and case

a dozen packets of Crystal Lite peach tea

Cosmetic case (almond oil, powder compact,lip liner,lip color,lip gloss,

Crabtree and Evelyn hand lotion, head on headache gel and Tylenol)

Well I'd say What the contents of my bags says about me is

"Efficiency and Sinus Headaches"

DUCK GUMBO RECIPE

Duck Gumbo Ingredients
10 Ducks breasts

3 tsp crab boil

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup sliced celery

6 minced garlic cloves

1 cup chopped green bell pepper

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 small bunch chopped parsley

1/2 pound bacon(reserve bacon grease to saute veggies)

1 pound smoked sausage cut into 1/2 inch slices

15 ounce can stewed tomatoes

10 ounce can diced tomatoes with chilis (Rotel)

3 Beers

5 cups duck/chicken broth

2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons seasoned salt

2 bay leaves

2 teaspoons thyme

2 cups cut okra

2 cups kernel corn
Duck Gumbo Cooking Instructions
Boil ducks in a 10 quart pot with crab boil 1 hour.
Remove the ducks and allow to cool but save the water.
Saute the onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic, and parsley with the olive oil over medium heat until the onions are tender and set aside.

Add the sauted vegetables and the sausage and saute 3 more minutes. Transfer the vegetables and sausage to the 10 quart pot and add the stewed tomatoes, tomatoes and chilies, beer, 5 cups of duck broth, worcestershire sauce, black pepper, salt, bay leaves, and thyme and cook 30 minutes. Separate the duck meat from the bones, and add the meat and the okra to the gumbo and cook 1 hour. If the gumbo loses too much moisture, add more beer. Serve over white rice.

DUCK HUNTING

GREG AND JOHN

GREG & JERRY

MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIENDS WENT DUCK HUNTING. THEY HAD A PRODUCTIVE DAY. I LOVE SEEING MY HUSBAND HAPPY AND ENJOYING TIME WITH THE GUYS. THE TEAL WERE BEAUTIFUL. MY HUSBAND GOT THEM ALL CLEANED . I HAVE THE BREASTS SOAKING IN SESAME VINAIGRETTE AND MILK TO TAKE OUT THE GAME TASTE. TOMORROW WE WILL RINSE THEM AND HE WILL MAKE DUCK GUMBO. I BAKED SWEET CORNBREAD CUPS TO GO WITH IT. SO IT SHOULD BE A GOOD SUNDAY DINNER.

HOMEMADE BLUEBERRY SHORTCAKES

I BOUGHT THESE GREAT SHORTCAKE PANS WHILE MY HUSBAND AND I WERE ON VACATION. I WAS INSPIRED TO MAKE THE SHORTCAKES WTH BLUEBERRIES BAKED IN THEM. THEY CAME OUT GREAT.

FOR THE SHORTCAKE:

I BOUGHT THE DELUXE DUNCAN HINES BLUEBERRY MUFFIN MIX ( THE ONE THAT USES CANNED BLUEBERRIES)

BAKED AS DIRECTED.

THE FRUIT:

I USED QUARTERED STRAWBERRIES, WHOLE RASPBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES

1/4 C. SUGAR

1/4 C. PEACH SCHNAPPS

**LET STEEP OVERNIGHT IN FRDGE

WHIPPED CREAM

SATTLER TEXAS- THE HORSESHOE

MY HUSBAND AND I TUBING THE HORSESHOE AT SATTLER TEXAS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL RELAXING WEEKEND

WILL ROGERS CHILI RECIPE

Will Rogers’ Chili

Recipe From Miriam “Ma” Ferguson
1 tablespoon olive oil

2 medium onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 pounds ground beef

2 teaspoons cumin seed

2 tablespoons chili powder

1 tablespoon tabasco

2 cans diced tomato, do not drain

2 cups hot water

salt to taste
Heat olive oil in large saucepan and sauté onions and garlic over medium heat until tender, about 8 minutes. Do not brown. Add meat and sauté until lightly colored. Drain off excess fat before adding cumin, chili powder, and tobasco. Add tomatoes with their juices and hot water. Bring to a boil, lower heat, and simmer about one hour. Salt to taste. Serves 6 to 8.