The Bakery is about to close...

My Christmas baking is finished except for some breads.  They are not a part of my presents, though, so the official Christmas baking can be declared done!  This year I made a bunch of new things for me.  Plenty of stand-by's and then some new standards!  So let's see, what did I make:

1. Double-chocolate-peppermint biscotti
2. Cocoa-coffee crinkles (two thumbs up!)
3. My Big Fat Greek Baklava Bars (two thumb up!)
4. Pistachio Cream Cheese Sugar cookies
5. Sugar cookies
6. Gingerbread
7. Molasses cookies
8. Liebesgrübchen
9. Pfeffernüsse
10. Swedish Heirloom cookies (Russian teacakes/Kourabiethes/Mexican wedding cakes)
11. Cream cheese spritz 
12. Almond-bark covered pretzels
13. Meringues with lemon pie filling (for my gluten free friends!)

Let's see...I think that's it!  And today I have some poteca (walnut filled bread) and cinnamon bread in the works as well as a really hearty loaf to go with soups!  Laundry beckons so, please, as you prepare for the holidays, ENJOY!!  Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!

wOOhOO!

I got my holiday baking started!  First off, a thank you to my new store for their incredibly warm welcome in the form of cinnamon rolls.  I also made cocoa-coffee crinkles.  My are they coffee-y!!  LOVE it!  I also made cheddar broccoli soup for dinner and we had ham and potatoes with a salad for lunch.  I also wrote my German holiday letter and finished sealing all of my envelopes for the addresses I have available right now.  I'm missing 3, maybe 4 addresses!  Tomorrow I need to do some sewing and get to the post office.  I will probably pick up my exam at school, too.  I hope to be able to meet up with a friend, too!  I love having time!

I am in love...

This is ALL I want for Christmas!!  Forget my two-front teeth!!!
http://www.scion.com/#/iQ-images-videos/colors/black-currant
I'm sorry I can't post a picture straight here, you'll have to follow the link!

Happy Shopping Honey!! ☺  I am SOO test-driving one of these babies!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! I have so much to be thankful for ... family, friends, food, freedom. We had quite the feast today with Gordon, Ivona, Emily and Jonathan. I'm grateful to have a sister to call my own! :)

Eggnog Loaf Cake

Of course, I shouldn't probably follow my last post with this post, but...!!! ☺ To be honest, I haven't even tried the cake itself yet because it just started to bake, but I did like the beater!!

Eggnog Loaf Cake

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon rum flavored extract
• 3/4 cup milk (I used eggnog!)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x4 inch loaf pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and ginger; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together sugar, butter, and shortening until light and fluffy. Blend in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the rum extract. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Because I need to read this often and make it my own

Long after I sell my psych book, I want to be able to read this.  Stephen Ilardi and colleagues used these steps toward a therapeutic life-style change for people with depression and 77% of the 74 people who completed the program (12 weeks) experienced relief from their symptoms.  So this is for me.
Aerobic exercise: 30 minutes a day, at least three times weekly (increases fitness and vitality, stimulates endorphins)
Adequate sleep: with a goal of 7-8 hours a night (increases energy and alertness, boosts immunity and memory)
Light exposure: at least 30 minutes each morning with a light box (amplifies arousal, influences hormones)
Anti-rumination: by identifying and redirecting negative thoughts (enhances positive thinking)
Nutritional supplements: including a daily fish oil supplement with omega-3 fatty acids (aids in healthy brain functioning)(520)

Imagine the possibilities!  And doing this continually can only prevent future recurrences of what ails us!
(Myers, David G. Exploring Psychology Eighth Edition. New York. Worth Publishers. Print. 2011.)

More Yumminess!!!

We started the day with these Buttermilk Pumpkin Pancakes.  They were some of the best pumpkin pancakes ever and a great way to use up the rest of the can from a cake I made earlier in the week.  For dinner I tried this new recipe!  WOW!!!
Coffee-Crusted Pork Loin
2 Tbs. freshly ground fine-grind coffee or instant espresso powder
2 Tbs. packed light brown sugar
3 tsp. kosher salt, divided
2 tsp. coarse ground pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 boneless pork loin roast (3-3½ lb.)
8 large carrots, cut into 3" pieces
6 large garlic cloves, peeled
1 large red onion, cut into 8 wedges
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbs. adobo sauce (from can of chipotle chiles)
Heat oven to 425º.  In small bowl, mix coffee brown sugar, 2 tsp. of the salt, the pepper and garlic powder.  Rub coffee mixture on all sides of pork, coating completely.  Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; let stand at least 10 minutes or refrigerate up to 2 hours to absorb the flavors.
Spray shallow roasting pan or broiler pan with cooking spray.  Place pork, fat side up, in pan.  In medium bowl, toss carrots, garlic and onion with oil.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 tsp. salt.  Arrange vegetables around pork in pan.
Roast 40-50 minutes (OR MORE!!) or until meat thermometer inserted into center of pork reads 145º.  Place pork on serving platter.  Cover with foil and let stand 5 minutes before slicing.  Stir adobo sauce into pan drippings, tossing with roasted vegetables.  Spoon vegetables and sauce onto platter around pork.

I did not use the adobo sauce and it was still sooo good!!  I added brussel sprouts to the mix for my dad!  Definitely pull the pork at 145º and let it sit for 5 minutes!  It will otherwise be a bit dry.