December 2008 Martha | Chocolate Bundt Cake

There's just something wholesome about making a cake from scratch. Don't get me wrong... I love a good boxed cake with store bought icing, and usually prefer that sort to anything bought in a bakery; I've got a soft spot in my heart for Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, and the like. It's wonderful to be able to know that a boxed cake will more or less turn out perfect every time.

Committing to do something every month from Martha Stewart Living (thus justifying my subscription dues) has taught me, however, to not be afraid of making things from scratch. I've learned that it really isn't as hard or complicated as I had built it up to be. Personally, I think it feels invigorating when a homemade recipe turns out. Maybe I feel connected to pioneer women of the past. Maybe I feel liberated from a modern-day fear things homemade. Maybe it's my love language.

This month I made the Chocolate Bundt Cake. It turned out a tad dry, so maybe next time I'll lower the old oven temperature a bit. It was very simple but, with the chocolate sauce/glaze, was tasty. It was my very first time to use our Bundt pan (shame on me), and thankfully the cake slipped right out with no problem. You like?

Purse Party!

A few days ago, my sister and her beau came over for a little sewing party to whip up some Christmas gifts. All we needed was some fabric scraps and a zipper for each purse and away we went. We each made a little zipper pouch to hold whatever we deem in need of holding. I think I'll use mine for loose change so that it doesn't pile up in a mess in my purse as per usual. Chris is giving his to his sister-in-law, upon which receiving I'm sure she'll be thrilled! Hauna gave hers to her friend Alli.

Among other conversation, we relived memories from days of old in Home Ec class where we made pot-holders, boxers, and spandex shorts of all things. My two students were quick learners and very proud of their finished products. Congratulations to Chris for making his first sewn creation ever. Congratulations to Hauna for snatching up a real man who can also sew...bonus!

Almond Chex Mix

I love Chex Mix as much as the next girl, but don't you think it could use an occasional makeover? While you and I both can probably agree that we need to consume more holiday snacks like we need a hole in the head, here's a Chex recipe for your snacking pleasure. I received this treasure a couple of years ago from a Southern Belle with a recipe box that will blow your mind. It's easy to make and even easier to eat up! You really can't stop munching once you start, so consider yourself warned. I don't even like almonds that much, but it's almost too good to be true!

Almond Chex Mix

Ingredients:
1 box rice Chex
2 3/4 cups sliced almonds
1 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
3/4 cup butter (not margarine)
1 tsp almond extract

Directions:
1. Place cereal and almonds in a large bowl; set aside.
2. In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, corn syrup and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 250 degrees.
3. Remove from the heat; stir in extract. Pour over cereal mixture; mix well. Spread onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets; cool. Toss to break apart. Store in airtight container.

All I Want For Christmas

If there really is a Santa Claus, I'll have two of these babies delivered to my doorstep Christmas morn. We prefer them in the "palm" upholstery. I'll accept this couch too. Some new seating would really be a Christmas miracle for my humble abode. I'll leave out some milk and cookies.

Rosemary Roast

The smell of a decedent Christmas roast in the air is a thing to behold, wouldn't you agree? When a home fills up with luscious scents of herbs and meat, you know you're on your way to a heavenly meal...unless of course you're a vegetarian and don't care for beef. In any case, you can probably agree that rosemary wafting through the house is pure bliss.

I hate to seem like a one trick pony each Christmas, but this roast really can't be beat. I've been making it for a few years now on or around Christmas, and every year (so far) my family keeps coming back for more. If you have a Crock Pot and know how to flip the switch to low, this should be a breeze.

Now, here's a word of advice: Embrace your Crock Pot and cherish it for every magical thing it can do for you and your kitchen. Invest in two or three of them in different shapes and sizes if your pocket book allows, and I promise you won't regret the decision. You can almost use a Crock Pot for anything. Anything, I tell you! Below is the recipe.

Combine 3 cubes of beef bouillon (mashed), 1/2 tsp of garlic powder, a dash of seasoning salt, some ground pepper, and 1 TBSP chopped rosemary in a bowl and set aside. This will serve as the rub that you cover your roast with.

Unwrap your 3 1/2 pound roast and use a sharp knife to cut several deep holes in it horizontally, stuffing each whole with a rosemary sprig. While you're rubbing it lightly with olive oil, laugh at your roast for how silly it looks, but know that it will be delish once it's cooked.

Add 1 cup of water to the Crock Pot and transfer your roast/Christmas tree into the cooker. Rub bouillon and garlic powder mixture on top and sides of roast (as best as you can), not worrying about whatever crumbles into the water or doesn't look pretty. Cover with the lid, turn Crock Pot to the "Low" setting and start your timer. I usually cook mine for about 6 to 8 hours, but I don't think this long is necessary, you be the judge of your own meat.

Use drippings to make gravy once the roast is done cooking. While you're enjoying life in the lap of luxury, you'll be even happier if you've prepare a side dish of garlic-herb mashed potatoes, which pair with this roast in the most congenial of ways. I stick with these from Real Simple: click here. Now go, and cook up a feast of your own!

Playoffs...

While you may find this completely unbelievable (as do I) my Fantasy Football team, ¡ándale ándale!, has made it into the playoffs of our family league. Not only have I made it into the playoffs, but after an 8-game winning streak, I have managed to find myself in first place by the slightest of margins. (See image below.)


At this point, there are four teams left, so to be the champion, I'll need to win two more match-ups. I'm not counting on it, but I'll be very proud if I do win. While my attentiveness to my team throughout the season has aided in my success as a "manager" so far, the prowess of Drew Brees (QB), Thomas Jones (RB), and Indianapolis's defense have also been extremely helpful.

Don't let me down boys!

Don't Forget to Hang Up Your Sock

When I was a young lass, every Christmas like clockwork my stocking was filled with Crayola markers, tons of Wrigley gum 5-packs, Twizzlers, barrettes, candy canes, a small Lego set, Hershey Kisses, and an orange. My sister and I would always creep downstairs before anyone else in the house was awake, and we'd unload our younger brothers' stockings so that we'd be one up on them and already know what they'd gotten before they joined us. While the "real" Christmas presents were often bigger and better than the stocking contents, there was something special about what came in your stocking. Chewing Twizzlers and gum simultaneously while opening gifts and knowing every year I'd have some new markers to work with are traditions I'll always cherish.

Making a Christmas stocking has been on my sewing list for possibly 3 years, give or take. I never seemed to find fabric that I could fall in love with or a pattern that was just right. At last, this summer I found some decorator fabric that put me in mind of a classy Christmas of old. (I'm pretty temperamental when it comes to Christmas fabric in general.) There are various and sundry stocking patterns available for free online, so I combined what I liked from several and came up with an original.

I'm a fan. I'm hoping that they'll last for a while, but I'm sure I'll have to go in and reinforce the loop that they hang from...I went a little rogue on that part. Maybe Saint Nick will bring me some Twizzlers again this Christmas!

C is for Cookie

These two cookie recipes are my all time faves for the holidays, so I thought I'd share them with you. As far as cookies go, they are your standard fare, but in my humble opinion they are the best versions I've come across...especially when they are warm and gooey, fresh out of the oven. If you already have a recipe you prefer, stick to it. But, if not, feel free to claim and adopt these as your own.

Peanut Blossoms
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter, unsalted and softened
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 TBSP milk
1 tsp vanilla
Hershey's kisses
Directions:
1. Mix first three ingredients; cream butter and peanut butter, add sugar, egg, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla.
2. Blend in dry ingredients. You might think you have too much flour, but keep mixing and I promise it will all incorporate. Don't be tempted to add more wet ingredients.
3. Shape into balls (approx. 1" to 1.5") and roll in sugar.
4. Place on un-greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 8 minutes; remove and place a chocolate kiss in center; bake 2-5 minutes longer. Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
Ingredients:
2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 stick butter
1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy)
4 TBSP cocoa
3 cups quick oats
Directions:
1. Boil sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa for 1 1/2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat, add oats and peanut butter.
3. Stir until blended and spoon onto wax paper to cool (approx 2" round). Makes 2 dozen cookies.

Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl

I grew up watching a great many Christmas movies, but White Christmas was never one of them. I could probably recite line for line entire segments of It's a Wonderful Life, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Grinch,...even The Little Match Girl, starring Rudy Huxtable, is burned into my memory. The Ondrey's watch Christmas movies. It's what my people do.

In a gift exchange freshman year of college, I received a DVD of White Christmas after having a friend tell me I had been deprived of holiday cheer throughout my youth having never watched it. Little did she know that I had never even heard of it, let alone watched it. Well, fair readers, Christmas has never been the same since freshman year. If you don't already know, it's super cheesy, at times ridiculous, and a little far-fetched....but I was HOOKED instantly! Watching this film is sort of like when something is in your line of sight that you know you shouldn't look at or know is bad for you to look at, but you look anyway cause you just can't resist. Every year like clockwork it makes its way to my DVD player and I have to push play.

My appreciation for White Christmas grew to even larger proportions when TK's roommate, Josh, and I discovered our mutual love of the movie. We both had the day off on a day leading up to Christmas a few years ago, so we baked cookies, made hot chocolate, and sang along with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and that other chick. In the years since, we've convinced our significant others to join us in our annual foray into the musical wonders of "Snow, Snow, Snow," "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing," and much, much more.

If you're looking for some laughs or some good old-fashioned fun, get White Christmas this year. When the clerk asks why you'd want to watch an old classic, "just tell them you're doing it for an old pal in the Army." After you watch the movie, you'll know that's a good excuse for anything.

Stay Toasty

I don't know when the last time I owned an official pair of winter boots was. Somehow I've managed to go through the past few winters in clogs, heels, or other forms of equally unreasonable footwear. I just had never found a pair of boots that I liked, boots that really struck a chord with me. (The same goes for an actual winter coat, but that's another sad story for another day.)

I found these gems and thought I would start December out right and invest in staying warm and dry this season. They say "sturdy and rugged, but a little feminine" to me. Here's hoping to a toasty winter.