Showing posts with label Baking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Baking. Show all posts

Sunday, March 13, 2011

A Dance (Post) of Craziness

Dance, when you're broken open.
Dance, if you've torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you're perfectly free.

Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmi

Last night i had another one of those sucky Saturdays where my friends forget about me and I'm all alone at home.
i (luckily) had one of my creative "sparks" so to speak...
here's what happened.
I saw a picture of something cool. I decided to copy it.
A+ for creativity, am i right?

k but really...

decided to put some of my old Teen Vogues to use (basically i wanted to trash the bitchez)...
I mean,  TeenVogue kinda sucks.
I'm pretty sure the Editors were like:
Editor #1: Hey, do you wanna make a magazine that'll make young girls feel terrible about themsevles?!
Editor #2: Yeah, that sounds like a great idea! Oh, i know, we'll make them feel bad not only about the fact that they're not anorexic like all of our models, but lets make them feel bad about how they can't afford any of the clothes in our Magazine, too!
Editor #1: Great idea! Now...do you have any thoughts on teenage drinking? I think that'd be an original first article...

You get my point, right?
Yeah so i decided to massacre those babies and heres what resulted


Pretty sweet right?
It's from this poem by Swami Kripalu:
My beloved child, break your heart no longer.
Each time you judge yourself, you break your own heart.
You stop feeding on the love, which is the wellspring of your vitality.
The time has come. Your time. To live. To celebrate,
and to see the goodness that you are…
Do not fight the dark. Just turn on the light.
Let go, and breathe into the goodness that you are.

I know, I know, i'm just all full of the good quotations and funny lines today. ;)

Then, today, still on a "creative" roll, (ha!), i decided to bake cinnamon buns. 
OMG.

Honestly though... WTF was I thinking?! They're pretty freaking labor-intensive for a lazy girl like me! But, um, it's pretty cool how something as lame as that big ol' hunk o' dough up there can turn into these...


and then these


You know when bloggers are all like "AND THEN I ATE SIX OF THEM"    even though you know they're really lying and just trying to make you feel good about yourself in comparison to their non-existent piggishness?
Well, um, and then I ate three of them and that ain't no hyperbole ladies and gents. 
None at all.
I now know the definition of a sugar coma. Or maybe its just the reason why this post is so damn odd.
All i can say is, who cares? There are cinnamon buns in my kitchen and pretty words on my wall!
sweet!
Peace out
xo
Rose

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Cloud Cookies and Lingering Reminders

Before you read this post, if you haven't already entered my amazing giveaway by donating to, tweeting, facebooking or emailing Sofia's fundraiser, go to my last post : Safe Sofia, Save Ourselves and do so immediately! 
phew. ok, now that that's out of the way...
wanna see some pictures?!
yesterday, I met my beautiful friend Kitty for brunch at Le Pain Quotidein.
Neither of us had ever gotten their semi-famous "bread basket" before, so we decided to take the big leap and go for it. 
it was frickin huge!
this picture (obviously) doesn't do it justice so you'll just have to trust me on this one.
there were multiple pieces of delicous bread that were about 2X the size of my face

as requested, it came with lots of awesome spreads. they were all delicious!

kitty developed a quick addiction to this here decadent breakfast condiment.
i don't blame the girl.

and my personal fave...
guess its fitting, since i'm a brunette.
unsurprisingly, after we acquired quite large food babies, we were happy campers.

kitty may very well murder me for putting this on the world wide web,
but i think it's adorable. she's my favorite "blondie" ;)
my last (on the fly)comment about "food babies" reminds me of what else i wanted to talk about in this post: lingering reminders of my eating disorder. 
As many of you may know, my official diagnosis was bulimia, which was fitting for the most part. In that vein, i was stick-thin or emaciated, despite my rather drastic weight fluctuations, i always looked pretty normal (aside from the huge bags under my eyes, the chipmunk cheeks and my lovely smelling breath, ya know, i was normal.) 
{intermission}

yo, check it, MORE BLONDIES!!!

i went to the birthday party of a very special six-year-old yesterday.
that's her adorable little bro next to her.  my niece and nephew are just too cute. 


happy sixth birthday, sophie! i love you!
{end intermission}
people couldn't tell just by looking at me that I had an eating disorder. 
This used to make me super angry, but now I really don't care at all, in fact, i'm happy to be normal! 

how pretty is this kale? I made my parents kale last night, it was delish!
Nowadays, even if people followed me around with a camera for 24 hours, they would have no idea that i used to have an eating disorder. Mostly everything I do is totally normal. mostly =) . 
Today, i wanted to talk about the lingering reminders, the things that still are on my mind and that bother me in terms of the Ed.
(in no particular order):
1.) Food Babies
I mentioned this above. I hate being super super full. Back in my ED days, I got to the point where if i my stomach was ever less than growling-crazy- starving- empty, i would run right to the bathroom. Now, of course, things are different, and i really appreciate the satisfaction of a good meal. But food babies and being super full? Not so much. I know most (normal) people don't enjoy being overly full, but the difference is that for a lot of people with eds its more of an emotional issue than a physical one. It's the thoughts and feelings that are triggered by feeling a heaviness in my stomach that bother me, not the heaviness itself.
this chocolate has truffles in it. O.M.G.
2.)Fat Talk
I hate fat talk. a lot a lot a lot. Conversations like this totally set me off. I think my aversion to fat talk runs a little deeper than just plain old anger, to be perfectly honest. I think my problem with it is not only that its just rude, mean, unhelpful, not constructive and none-of-your-ffing-business why that kid is pudgy, or why that popular girl ate some extra cookies over christmas break, its more about my perception of myself. I think my hatred of fat talk stems from a deep-seated fear/belief that i have that when people are talking about that chubby kid on the street, they might as well be talking about me because, hey, i'm fat too.
I know this is wrong. I know i'm not overweight. That's not the point here. The point is that, emotionally, i feel as if people are (or might as well be) talking about me, because in my mind, no matter what, i feel fat. This certainly still bothers me.

                                          **************************************
strawberries
plus...
=
best. snack. ever. 
*******************************************
3.)"unhealthy" foods
whether or not my sometimes avoidance of "unhealthy" foods is eating disordered is debatable in this day and age (especially near this corner of the blogosphere) . i know that for me, however, my drive to eat "healthy" "pure" "unprocessed" foods is semi-dangerous and that I can't take it too far. I need to know that if i want a freaking milk chocolate bar rather than a vegan 99.999% block of fucking cocoa, then that's okay. I need to keep a handle on myself and know it's okay to bake with All-Purpose Flour, that it's not the devil and it won't rot my brain. I don't always have to drink Kombucha or eat perfectly fresh fruit, and hey, if i want a bowl of Lucky Charms for breakfast (not that i really do...) is that really so bad?

perhaps i'll continue this and make it into a series of sorts if any more lingering reminders pop into my head, but for now that's all I wanted to say about that. 
Now for the real reason your reading this post: 
 Cloud Cookies.
remember back when I got this book?


well, i finally put it into good use.
um, guys, i have to tell you, these are the best things i have ever baked.
no joke.

since i didn't have sliced almonds, i heated these up and chopped them by hand.
totally fine, except that i nearly chopped off my thumb. 
oh, the things a girl will do for a cookie.

why, yes, dear reader, that is an 8 dollar hunk of Valrhona chocolate! 
fucking scrumptious.

they're light, slightly crunchy, have a delicious nutty/praline-y taste.
check out those cracks!
those air holes? totally amazing. (totally supposed to be there!)
ahhhh.

Cloud Cookies
(adapted from Sarabeth's Bakery cookbook)
Makes about 3 dozen cookies
Ingredients:
11/3 cup granulated sugar
11/3 cup light brown sugar
16 tbsp (2sticks) butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs (room temp)
2 cups all purpose flour (!!!)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cups (8 ounces) toasted sliced(or chopped) almonds (i used less than this, about 7 ounces)
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (or chunks)

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line three cookie sheets with parchment paper. combine sugars in medium bowl. set aside. Beat butter until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually add sugar mixture, then the vanilla.
Beat, occasionally scarping the bottom and sides of the bowl, until the mixture is pale yellow and light-textured, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in eggs.
Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together. With mixer speed on low, add the dry ingredients in three additions, mixing just until each is incorporated. Add almonds and chocolate chips and mix until combined.
Using a 2-inch diamater spoon/ice cream scoop (i used a tablespooon), portion out batter onto the prepared pans. Using the heel of your palm, slightly flatten each ball of dough. Bake about 10-14 minutes (for a slightly crunchier, crisper cookie, bake for up to 18 minutes). During the last 3 minutes, rap each pan on the rack. the cookies will deflate and their signature cracks will appear. Cool on pans and store in airtight container for up to 5 days.

xo, rose.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

scones and snow

yesterday, i had to go out in this weather

and take a walking tour of manhattan.
oh the things that i have to do for my school.
naturally, though, i did what any secretly resentful dumb teenager would do:
I wore sneakers with no socks. Just to....ya know....prove a point?
maybe?
i dont know.
it was dumb.
i thought i was going to get hypothermia.
luckily, (very luckily), i didn't.
when i got home i made scones.
Joy the Baker's Orange&Dark Chocolate Buttermilk Scones
(i made mine whole wheat). yum.
i'd like to call them WWBOZCC scones. go figure.
 zesting was hard. i think i hurt my finger.
is zesting a word?
no. i don't think so.
 of course i'd love baking.
it allows me to make a mess in the kitchen and my mom can't say a thing about it. 
 for at least an hour, anyway.
 aren't these just sick?
I mean, c'mon guys, they have zest.
 yeah they were really good.
especially straight out of the oven.
Can i make a confession?

i made them 24 hours ago and they're already all gone. except for one.
My parents have barely touched them.
 And Willy hasn't gotten to them either.
Yeah. 
I ate them all. (Well, almost.)
yummmmmmmmmmm.
 I wanted to show you something.
I think it'll make you laugh.
Did you laugh?
Yeah, probably not. But you at least smiled, right?
Or cringed?
Either way, i hope you enjoyed my 90's Gap Hat modeling and my raving about orange zest buttermilk whole wheat blahblahblah scones. ;)
here's the recipe.
basically filched straight from joy's site.
i have no mercy.
xo

Whole Wheat Buttermilk Orange zest Chocolate Chip Scones.
or just WWBOZCC Scones. oh yeah.

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
1 large egg yolk
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold buttermilk (i made my own!)
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
Place rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, orange zest, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.  I use my fingers to rub the butter and dry ingredients together.    In another bowl, combine egg yolk and buttermilk and beat lightly with a fork.  Add to flour mixture all at once, stirring enough to make a soft dough.  Fold in the chocolate chips.Turn out onto a floured board and knead about 15 times.  Roll or pat out into a 1-inch thickness.  Cut into 4 large or 6 small  squares.     Place on prepared baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.  These are best when serve immediately with butter and jam. (or clotted cream! ahhhhh)

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

*


things i love. (in no particular order.)



french fries. 
i mean, who doesn't love the feel of a spicy, crispy, fried stick o' salted potato on their tongue? 
i especially love that i can eat a few with friends, and now can be spared the fear of instantly gaining ten pounds and don't have to order a bucket- load of guilt and self-loathing on the side. 

love, mom.
i loved chuckling at this note my mom left me yesterday, because she got so crazed and stressed before she had to run off to dinner that she felt the need to remind me six times to please walk the dog (i received an email and a few text messages too, mind you.)


eating pb& j (well actually almond butter and jam, but who's asking?) for dinner. well, with a side of chocolate, duh.


 clothing that pretends it belongs it the army. 


S'mores!!!
(recipe at bottom)
i decided to write a post about some things that i love. i've said this before, but i love a lot of things.
my inspiration for this post was more so that i've been having a kind of hard week, getting back into school and all, and i wanted to remind myself of all the things that are still great in my life. 
I've been having a lot of anxiety lately, and today my therapist asked me what things do i do (healthy things, of course) that can help me relieve my anxiety. The main thing i  thought of was blogging.
i freaking love blogging. I loved doing my last post (written mainly by Amanda, of course) on friendship and eating disorders, and i loved hearing all the feedback on it. I so enjoy getting into conversations with people about topics that we have in common like this, and where else would i be able to hear strangers' stories, or take their words of advice?




and, i've said this before i think, but i want to help people. i love getting questions from readers or people who stumbled on my blog about recovery and the likes. it makes me so thrilled when people reach out, as if they are taking a step towards recovery, and i love being a part of that.

Now, call me nosy, but i adore reading other blogs. I mean how much fun is it to live, eat OIAJgo to foodbuzz, run a marathon or practice yoga and a million other things (vicariously* ;) ) all in one day?!
it's pretty amazing, i'd say.
All of this, and feeling supported and like there are other people who i genuinely like, or who i "get" who "get" me out in the world, is the thing that keeps me the most sane, even on my crazy days.
and i'm so grateful for that.
hope you all are having a good week!

Not your Papas' Campfire S'mores 
(recipe adapted from Sprinkles of Parsley)
you will need:
15 (about 8oz?)graham crackers
11/3 Cup butter 
chocolate chips(i used plain-old semi-sweet Nestle, but any kind would be fine)
mini-marshmallows!
recipe:
preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
put all the graham crackers in a plastic bag (or two). mash them up using the bottom side of a measuring cup (or something else, idk) until all that's left are crumbs
add butter and mix until it's evenly distributed
spread in 8X8 baking pan, sprayed with non-stick spray. (line the pan with a sheet or two of tin foil that is also sprayed on the top, so you can transfer the s'mores and then get them off the foil w/o trouble!)
dump on the choc chips and then marshmallows! stick in the oven for 20 minutes. 
voila! instant campfire. now anyone know any good folk songs we can sing? :)

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

oatmeal kiss pancakes & being lazy

winter break is the bomb-diggity.
my activities as of the past few days have been as follows:
-hibernate (sleep/nap/act dead in bed)
-bake
-eat
-watch Dexter
repeat.

self-explanatory deliciousness, no?
it's been wonderful & lazy, to say the least. 

This morning i got dressed before 12pm (who am i?), so i decided to make pancakes.

Oatmeal Kiss Pancakes, to be exact. 
heck yes.

 they're healthy and delicious.


and they have hershey kisses in them.
so what more could you want, really?

ingredients (makes about 7-10 mini-pancakes):

  • 1/3 cup rolled oats
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour (whole wheat would be good too!)
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk 
  • 2-3 tbsp greek yogurt
  • 1 egg 
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2-3 packets truvia
  • hershey kisses (about 5, cut into smaller pieces)




sift flour + salt into mixing bowl w/ oats. 
whisk in buttermilk, egg + vanilla. add greek yogurt as needed to reach desired consistency. 
add truvia (or sugar, of course) and chopped up kisses.
spray pan w/ no-stick vegetable spray. place in spoonfuls on griddle on low-medium heat. flip when bubbles appear. add desired condiments ( i used almond butter+maple syrup)
enjoy!


How are you all spending your time this week? Does the snow make anyone else feel lazy? Any other tv addicts? Favorite shows to be addicted to?

I have a few more insightful (read: non-baking) post waiting for ya'll. For now, i just wanted my blog to affect the ways i've been spending my days- that is, lazily. :)

Saturday, December 25, 2010

a merry LITTLE christmas

dressed warmly (in my fathers cashmere...) to face the cold


 i LOVE everything about the city in the winter/holidays



might have picked up a few christmas presents for myself (with my momma) at C&B yesterday
most shall be appearing soon on the blog

baking the magic bars...

mmm. mushrooms




it has truffle oil in it. and mushrooms. and three types of cheese. shoot me now. i'll die happy.



merry christmas!