"What a marshmallow!"- Jacob Black, New Moon
(Ha ha.)
The newest recipe that I have tried most recently involves brownie mix. It was based on taking cookie dough, putting it in muffin tins, and when it was pretty much baked, you put in a Hershey's Kiss, mini peanut butter cup, etc.-- thus creating a "cookie cup." So I wondered: can it be done with brownie mix?
It can. Sort of.
It depends on what you want to put in it. Peanut butter cups work beautifully. Marshmallows don't, so much. Those are the two variables I tried. Both items I put in before the brownies were baked. The marshmallows just seemed to float, melt, then simply toast on top. The peanut butter cups just remain in their chocolate beds, slightly melting. There's probably some good news for the marshmallow camp- the marshmallow develops an almost taffy-like consistency after it comes out of the oven.
[And now, an official disclaimer from Mom: she's making me say that I used one large marshmallow per tin. I should have just mixed up mini marshmallows in the batter.]
I'd like to try these in mini muffin tins. The brownies came out soft and fudgy; I tried not to overbake them.
Next up on my baking list and blog: the new bake-your-own "twinkies" that you may have seen in grocery stores.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Odds and Ends
Okay, I know I haven't written anything for a couple of weeks. I haven't made anything new. This will be a mash-up of different topics.
I appreciate the rain we've been getting. Keep it coming!
I roasted brussels sprouts for the first time last week. They turned out good- fresh ones cut in half, tossed in a little bit of oil, salt and pepper, and roasted in the oven until done. They get a little soft on the inside, crispy on the outside. Yum. You may not like brussels sprouts, but I do. :)
There's a really cute bagel place near me, called The Bagel Cafe, in Houston. Really good. Mom liked the bagel chips; their sandwiches are tasty.
Have you seen the new brown sugar/cinnamon Ritz crackers? I picked up a box. They aren't that sweet. Maybe a little on the bland side. They probably would be good for some no-bake pie crust.
San Diego has Comic Con right now (convention for comic books, action movies, fantasy movies, you get the idea). Yesterday was basically, albeit unofficially, Breaking Dawn day. The director and actors had a Q & A time, and showed two clips from the upcoming movie. One clip was of Jacob (Taylor Lautner) talking to two of the vampires, and then the pack of wolves. I'm not going to rehash the details; it's on YouTube and probably every other news and fan site. (I should mention that both clips were filmed "unofficially," and put on YouTube.)
Then we get to the other clip-- of Bella and Edward arriving at Isle Esme, where the honeymoon takes place. That's where we have the problem. Mom deduced that the "cameraman" (woman?) got cold feet at the last minute, and that was why we ONLY GOT AUDIO.
Really? Seriously? There's a million other frustrated fans asking the same question. I guess we have to wait for Summit to officially release it.
You have to turn up your speakers, but it's there. I have to say, I liked the music at the beginning.
I appreciate the rain we've been getting. Keep it coming!
I roasted brussels sprouts for the first time last week. They turned out good- fresh ones cut in half, tossed in a little bit of oil, salt and pepper, and roasted in the oven until done. They get a little soft on the inside, crispy on the outside. Yum. You may not like brussels sprouts, but I do. :)
There's a really cute bagel place near me, called The Bagel Cafe, in Houston. Really good. Mom liked the bagel chips; their sandwiches are tasty.
Have you seen the new brown sugar/cinnamon Ritz crackers? I picked up a box. They aren't that sweet. Maybe a little on the bland side. They probably would be good for some no-bake pie crust.
San Diego has Comic Con right now (convention for comic books, action movies, fantasy movies, you get the idea). Yesterday was basically, albeit unofficially, Breaking Dawn day. The director and actors had a Q & A time, and showed two clips from the upcoming movie. One clip was of Jacob (Taylor Lautner) talking to two of the vampires, and then the pack of wolves. I'm not going to rehash the details; it's on YouTube and probably every other news and fan site. (I should mention that both clips were filmed "unofficially," and put on YouTube.)
Then we get to the other clip-- of Bella and Edward arriving at Isle Esme, where the honeymoon takes place. That's where we have the problem. Mom deduced that the "cameraman" (woman?) got cold feet at the last minute, and that was why we ONLY GOT AUDIO.
Really? Seriously? There's a million other frustrated fans asking the same question. I guess we have to wait for Summit to officially release it.
You have to turn up your speakers, but it's there. I have to say, I liked the music at the beginning.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
The Alternate Universe
I knew it was coming. I had about a few weeks left. As much as I hated to do it, I needed to. Sooner than later, I needed to venture to one of the most hated places on the planet.
Here in Texas, it's called the Dept. of Public Safety- DPS. In California, it's called the DMV. You might as well call it purgatory. I had to get my state ID.
I got there at about 11:30 or so; Mom came with me. I came prepared- with the paperwork, as well as the books "Water for Elephants," and "Breaking Dawn." (The latter was for Mom. Alas, the book made her sleepy.) There seemed to be two groups-- one to get the number to be waited on, and another (larger) group where you actually got waited on.
The security guard really did his job. He routinely asked people questions, making sure they had all the documents to get that "Golden Ticket." I was number 448. The numbers were called by groups, rather than in order.
Then, once you get your number, you go to the much larger group to find a seat. Or not. And yes, we were by no means not the only ones there. Mom got a chair, and I either stood, or sat on the floor until there was a seat available. Around 2 1/2 hours in, I got a seat. We watch the screen for our number to be called like brokers watch the stock market. There are occasional cheers from various corners of the room when some numbers are called. After a little while, people emerge from the counters with grins on their faces, like they had won the lottery.
All in all, we were there about three and a-half hours.
Here in Texas, it's called the Dept. of Public Safety- DPS. In California, it's called the DMV. You might as well call it purgatory. I had to get my state ID.
I got there at about 11:30 or so; Mom came with me. I came prepared- with the paperwork, as well as the books "Water for Elephants," and "Breaking Dawn." (The latter was for Mom. Alas, the book made her sleepy.) There seemed to be two groups-- one to get the number to be waited on, and another (larger) group where you actually got waited on.
The security guard really did his job. He routinely asked people questions, making sure they had all the documents to get that "Golden Ticket." I was number 448. The numbers were called by groups, rather than in order.
Then, once you get your number, you go to the much larger group to find a seat. Or not. And yes, we were by no means not the only ones there. Mom got a chair, and I either stood, or sat on the floor until there was a seat available. Around 2 1/2 hours in, I got a seat. We watch the screen for our number to be called like brokers watch the stock market. There are occasional cheers from various corners of the room when some numbers are called. After a little while, people emerge from the counters with grins on their faces, like they had won the lottery.
All in all, we were there about three and a-half hours.
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