CEiMB: Updates, a catch up, but no Carrot Cake

Although I am a big fan of carrot cake I passed on this week's recipe selected by Leanna at Enjoying My Favorite Things. I feel very sloth-like, since she battled tornadoes and power outages to get hers done. I just battled a little bit of busy-ness at work, and lost. Ugh!

I am happy to report I remembered to photograph my second serving of last week's pick, the Cobb Salad. I've enjoyed the dressing all week. It is pretty tasty just mixed with tomatoes and avocados.

Speaking of tomatoes and avocados, I took advantage of left overs and made a BAT - Bacon, Avocado and Tomato sandwich. It was seriously yummy. I pondered tossing a little blue cheese in there just to give it some zip, but decided against it. It was tasty, but I'm thinking I should make it again for the experiment -- yeah..... I need to sacrifice and make another sandwich for the sake of science to see if the blue cheese is as good as it sounds.

Also, on a coolish day, I made Ellie's Granola (previously made by the CEiMB group before I joined). I must say it was/is very tasty. I followed the recipe exactly (except for that handful of sweetened coconut I added) and LOVE it. I've had it as a cereal, I've added it to yogurt, I've eaten it solo as a snack. I just can't eat enough of this stuff. It is a great way to use up the left over bits of nuts (or coconut!) from other baking/TWD projects. Healthy - tasty - easy. Can't beat it. If you've joined CEiMB after that was made, you'll definitely want to give it a try.

I'll be back with the regularly scheduled CEiMB recipe next week. Hope you all have a great weekend!

TWD: Sadly -- not this week

This cake looks delicious, and I really wanted to give it a try. I was enthusiastic despite my shaky relationship with butter cream. I've yet to master it and the thought of trying again gives me nightmares (I'll temper eggs any day rather than try butter cream frosting).

This week the spirit was willing but the schedule was not. I'll eventually get to it, but this week it just isn't in the cards. I look forward to seeing what everyone else does (I'll probably need to wear a bib while visiting y'alls blogs so I don't drool on myself).

My apologies to Carol at mix mix....stir, stir for not baking along this week. She had quite an adventure with her cake and the results look yummy. I look forward to having my own adventure with this cake soon.

CEiMB: Nope, not this week...

With most sincere apologies to Anonymous New York I did not make the Jambalaya this week. I intended to, really I did. I also intended to be recovered from the big party by now. Everything up to Saturday I estimated spot on. I just didn't even think about the "aftermath."

I'd post pictures from the party, either the 100 people having a great time or the great food I made with lots of help that was delish. Sadly, I took no pictures, so I have none to share. I'll try to solve that problem in the near future with another post. But for today, I'm still getting my life, and my kitchen, back to normal.

I'll be back with you all soon -- promise!

TWD: I was ready......

I was excited about this pick, and even went to my favorite cooking store on Sunday to pick up two mini tart pans so I could try both the original version of Chocolate Cream Tart and the Coconut version (love the coconut and have some left over from the Coconut Butter Thins). Unfortunately a few hours later I learned that a relative had passed away. It was one of those situations where you're grateful for the person to not be suffering any more, but saddened for the loss of those left behind. This part of the family has been through a lot in recent years, so my heart goes out to them.

Needless to say, my plans for the week have changed. Tomorrow I will be taking a short roadtrip up the state for the funeral. As a result I will miss work at our absolute busiest time. Being the good worker bee that I am I stayed late to be sure all was covered in my absense. My hopes of squeezing in a baking project tonight didn't make it past my return home at 9pm.

I'm hoping to make this later in the week, as the reports are that it is quite good, and I have my mini tart pans and all. And frankly this is what life is all about. After any loss you simply must pick yourself up and keep on moving, enjoying the good stuff while you can. Horribly cliche, I know, but go on you must, so you might as well do it with some yummy desserts as comfort along the way.

My apologies to Kim over at Scrumptious Photography for not being able to bake along in a timely fashion. Her pictures are amazing, and further inspiration for trying this dessert. I will catch up with everyone as the week progresses. In the meantime -- bake on!

TWD: No posting (again!)

This will be quick, as I'm getting ready for a short road trip. Alas, no contribution from me this week. This is the first time since I've joined that I've missed two in a row, and I feel really bad. On the up side, I have just a smidge more room in my pants I've noticed.

Anywho........I've looked over the next recipe carefully, have plotted out time, and have access to all the ingredients, so I'm good to go. I will bake enthusiastically upon my return. And will post any cool pictures if I come back with them (a wee little trip to Hollywood -- will post interesting food and star sightings if I have any. I'm not so good with the star sightings, but who knows!).

See you all soon!

TWD: No Banana Cream Pie for me

With apologies to Amy at Sing for Your Supper (who has a cute dog in between the pictures of yummy looking food!) I am sitting out this week. Partly because I have no pie making equipment. I can make cakes in 3 different sizes, but no pie. Partly because it looks a little messy to lug to work. And mostly because I ate waaaaaay too many Coconut Butter Thins last week. They were just too good.

While my waistline takes a break, I'll leave you with some pictures of spring from just outside my tiny house. My landlords love to garden, so I get the benefit of that. I came home last weekend with the sun shining and the birds singing (more on that in a second) and the flowers blooming and I opened the gate and said "PRETTY!" out loud (my neighbors must think I'm a little nutty). For those of you who are curious, the dang bird is still singing his nighttime song. Apparently he is looking for a friend. As a result, I've learned the benefits of running a fan at night.

I look forward to seeing what the rest of you did this week. Amy's pie looks yummy -- anyone want to send me a slice??

Our color theme this season - Orange

This is my favorite picture and it uses the macro setting on my camera. The purple flower is the size of the tip of my little finger. The orange flower the size of a quarter.

The orange flower in a group (note that I use the specific Latin term for each plant). The flowers are from a type of ice plant.

This one I know! California poppies (our state flower).

TWD: Chocolate Armagnac Cake - The Cake That Got Me Fired

Greetings all! I'm sitting this cake out this week. No offense to Lyb over at And then I do the dishes. I think this pick is a bold choice and I'll probably make it some point. But right now, as many people are, I'm trying to be miserly with my resources, and this recipe calls for ingredients I don't have on hand. Okay -- if I were really being honest, it would be that....AND the fact that I'm just a little "sweet-ed" out. I never dreamed I could reach a limit on sweets, especially chocolate. But, sadly, I have. I mentioned being tired of chopping chocolate in a previous post, and that feeling just hasn't left me yet. Happily I have Lemon Cup Custard to look forward to next week. It will force me to buy the ramekins I've been eyeing for awhile.

On a different note -- I'll be doing several posts around a theme this month. I'm pretty excited about what I've accomplished so far, so please check back for that! In the meantime I look forward to checking out what you all did this week!

TWD: Passing on this week

You will see me sitting out this week's pick. My apologies to my fellow TWDers and to Shari at Whisk: a food blog who is responsible for picking Floating Islands. Since I have no "built in" group to try and, more importantly, eat my creations, portability is a must! Whether that's over the back fence to the landlords, or to my eager and greedy co-workers (who recently have become a little pushy and demanding regarding baked goods. Sheesh - feed a co-worker a cookie, and they just want MORE!) whatever I make has to travel. The Floating Islands just didn't look like something that was going to be easily brought to work and divided among 20 people. What I've seen and read on the TWD blogs is very positive and has inspired me to try them the next time I have company.

I am very excited about the "cover cake" pick for next week. I may buck my own tradition and make that before Tuesday night!

TWD: Move along.....nothing to see here today.......

I'm sitting out this week's recipe. For one thing, I'm not sure I'm a big butterscotch pudding fan. However, I've been surprised by how much I've liked a recipe before, so that's not the real reason for the "bye."

This may come as a surprise to some of you, but Christmas is just two days away! I know -- how did that happen?!? Since I work in a business that is busy this time of year I've spent a lot more time at work than home lately. Plus I'm not 100% done with my Christmas shopping, so tonight I'll be fighting my way into a few places to finish that up. I'm really looking forward to a few days off post-holiday. I mean REALLY!

After Dec. 25th I'll post about my contribution to the family's holiday dinner, along with my new favorite dish to make. And I'm excited about next week's TWD recipe -- I've never made a cheesecake before, so this should be a true adventure.

Here's wishing you all the very best this holiday season, whichever holiday you may celebrate!!

PS -- is it just me, or am I the only one who has eaten waaaaay too many sugary sweets this week or two? I've been semi-joking at work that if I keep at the rate I'm going, they will have to remove one of the plate glass windows to hoist me out of the building by year's end. I'm a little worried.......seriously!