Sometimes It's Want, Sometimes It's Need,

Sometimes you get what you want.
Sometimes you get what you need.
Sometimes you get both.


I really wanted the weighted gloves so I wouldn't have to pick up weights during my workouts - being bored has made me a very chubby monkey. I don't like it at all. I had been working out with little boys NB sneakers just to cut cost and make sure that I stuck to working out - and I have been since March - so I asked for the all terrain waterproof Nike Alvord sneaker and they got it for me - I love these jokers they have really good grip even on rocky spots and watery spots - and they are one of the lightest workout shoes I've ever had.

Thanks Guys...



And if your brother can't figure out what to get you - he gets the propane torch you've been saying that you want and a few extra fatboy cans of propane...and a pair of maglite flashlights coz everyone needs a good flashlight...and an extra little card to home depot...


You know your Mother in Law knows you and loves you when she gets you a Hello Kitty Leopard Clutch...and her gifts always arrive right on time...unlike ours that get in late coz right as I"m driving to the post office I get a text from the husband that says , "Hey don't send that package yet I wanna put something in there too..."


Of course the husband wanted to get me something I wanted but the something I wanted is a bit hard to find and it will have to wait until we go to a trade show for it - but in the meanwhile this machete is perfect - because I've always wanted one around the house coz it's much easier to use than a hoe and a saw and a branch trimmer. Maybe I'm just Filipino but I think the machete is the weapon of choice. He purchased this one at the Cabela's down the street - and let me tell you - I've always been around machete's my whole life and out of the package this was the dullest knife I've ever seen. I sharpen my own steel...I have both a stone and a steel. I must warn anyone who wants to purchase a store machete bear in mind that you will put in a considerable amount of time to sharpen it to your liking. It took me about 2 hours of steady work to get it to where I like it - I just took pauses to sharpen the rest of my knives. My standard for my knives is that I have the contrasting knife edge and that it cuts through paper easily.

Which brings us to the next gift which is the Messermeister Knife Roll Bag. Excellent bag and it's in the camo print that I still like. This one holds 6 knives and also has extra little pockets for recipes small tools and such. I really like it's well sewn edges and the thick heavy duty velcro to close the handles - shoulder strap optional. I really wanted a knife roll because when I cook at other people's houses I find that if they do have knives it's normally the weird ones that just come in the block or they are just shoddily made and that is dangerous - using a dull knife is often why people cut their hands/fingers in the kitchen.
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We had a very small Christmas Dinner. Just the 5 of us.


We usually get a little bonkers like Thanksgiving but this year we didn't. We had a spiral ham with honey glaze, herb an pepper encrusted cross rib roast, sweet corn with bellpeppers, ranch beans, spanish rice and glazed carrots and City Momma's famous 7-up cake. I tell you what this cake has usurped any previous requests for various desserts. The challenge for me this year was making the goody bags for Manila WHILE cooking all the regular food as well. My godbrother, sister, brother and his best friend are all leaving for Manila so since so many pieces of luggage are going I can afford the luxury of sending goodies. But it all works out and now the work is done - boxes are packed, everyone has eaten and eaten a second time as well...and it will be calm until Easter - or my birthday at least in March.

Ironically as simple as the choices this year were - it seemed to taste a lot better.




We don't really do a lot of hoopla around the house during Christmas since none of us here in AZ have children - our sister who does is all the way in Seattle. It would be great if she was here - and I really haven't put up a tree probably since 2001...and I've never really liked having a tree in the house (don't even get me started on that bowing to the tree business) - but things are increasingly tough and I'm just grateful to be thankful in the simplicity we've achieved.

It is amazing how your frame of mind can change the perceived notions of want and need and thanks. In these times of over consumption and over inflation and pay cuts I have clarity on what are wants and what are needs. It is something everyone should think about - not just at Christmas time.

Don't drink the water...in the US...tsk tsk

Ain't this about a BITCH...

http://static.ewg.org/reports/2010/chrome6/html/home.html

Seriously...hella sick.

Pump Pump Pump Pumpkin Up...

lol I couldn't help it. I had to use pumpkin in a funny way. ahhahahaha.

Some people go shopping when they are bored...or watch tv, or eat ....or whatever - I bake. Last week I had told Mr. Man that I wanted to send a packet of Halloween goodies to his job...

It would consist of a couple cookies, a slice of chocolate decadence (see Brownie with less flour), a seasonal cupcake and various treats for his team. He told me there were only 9 of them in the office so it was no big deal. I wanted to jump back into studying and working out tomorrow so I baked it all off today...

After I ran to the store and got a few things...




Truth be told I don't mind using generic basics, but I will not use generic chocolate and I must use real butter - I can't really get down with margarine or Crisco.



I started with the chocolate decadence first...since it's a one bowl mix and then you bake it off - it's pretty straightforward and then it's finished with a dusting of powdered sugar...



I really prefer the decadence coz it's closer to tart texture than a cakey brownie



While the decadence baked off I started the cookies - just plain old chocolate chip.



Buttery goodness floated up into the air while the logitech boombox pumped Tupac 'Classics'



done and done...now for the cupcakes




Here is the recipe:

Pumpkin Cupcakes

yield: 24 large cupcakes, 36 small cupcakes, 2 loaf pans
preheat oven to 350 degrees, sift together dry ingredients - set aside, stir pumpkin stuff and cream - set aside.
grease and flour pans of choice


2 3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup butter
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1 tsp vanilla
6 eggs
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1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 c cake flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
---
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
1 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 c cream
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Cream butter and sugar, add vanilla, add eggs 1 at a time scraping and incorporating thoroughly between eggs. Alternately add dry and pumpkin mix making sure that it is thoroughly mixed. spoon into pans (Large cupcakes - 3 tbsp / Small cupcakes - 2 tbsp / Loaf pans - divide batch in half)

Cupcakes - 30 minutes
Loaves - 60 minutes

Remove from oven and cool for 10 minutes

Cool 45 mins or in fridge.

Use a simple glaze mixed with 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree, once that is stiff also drizzle plain icing

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Those are a long bake in my opinion...so I assembled the bags...candy first with a cookie base



then the baked goods baggie - cookie base then decadence then cupcake on top



Then put it all in a foil thing and it's set to send off...lucky suckas. hahaha.



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I have to say that I really like the taste of this cake it has a strong pumpkin flavor without that earthy weird flavor and it's very tender with a crisp outer crust. This is the first time I baked off a pumpkin cupcake from scratch - what I did was take a hard look at a pound cake recipe that I liked but found a bit dry - then adjusted the measurements to add the pumpkin puree and cream - fortunately it came out great the first time. Truth be told the icing isn't even necessary for flavor it's just an aesthetic.

I am also currently working on a low carb bran muffin - the first batch came out "ok" but I found it too dry and untextured so the next batch I'm going to add yogurt, apples and craisins. We will see.

...

With all these recent changes in my life I find that I have to create my own challenges in my days and see that all of this free time (well until March) is a blessing that I should use to my advantage. And...I like to bake out balls out just to see if I've still got it.

I do.

Stuff I wanna Do...

Stuff I Wanna Do aka 'stuff that lingers in my head'

1) Have a small wedding and a big marriage
2) Have twin sons
3) Hit Europe again
4) See Africa, Australia, China, Korea, Chile
5) Finish at the top of my RN class (I scored 95.65% on the entrance exam yay)
6) Do 10 huge paintings
7) Do a DVD cookbook for my cousins (and a DVD bakebook for my goddaughter Ally)
8) Workout to where I can do 25 push ups & jump rope for 4 minute segments
9) Pay cash for a house
10) Take our Moms on a surprise vacation
11) Open a pastry shop here and overseas & I'll have a foreign flick night
12) Vacation 1 month a year for the rest of my life
13) Have a dope fish tank
14) Get scuba certified
15) Smoke a blunt in Jamaica
16) Get Lasik
17) Keep doin' shit my way
18) Learn to forgive (a little)
19) Work on that cookbook i have handwritten for reals now
20) Did I say have them twin sons?

Don't Waste It...

"Don't waste it." is a phrase my Mom used to say. My grandmother, my aunts, my play aunts and other women in my life always said this as they were preparing something in the kitchen or even when they were doing things like washing dishes or cleaning, or stocking shelves or cupboards. It was a phrase that always existed to make sure we acknowledged the luck and blessing in our lives. Although we had never known poverty we always knew about the existence of it and respected the possibility of it. So in my life even though I have never had to suffer I also knew not to squander things away. Ironically, these lessons serve me now when the economy is all tilted and I'm going back to school again and desirable jobs are far from grasp.

Which led me to make...

Cinnamon Apple Cupcakes - hahaha.

Basically I had purchased too many pink lady apples and they were approaching the overripe stage and I hated to see them go to waste so I made these cupcakes from a recipe I changed up a bit...I ended up making far too many as you can see but since I had the eggs and flour and butter and the rest of the bits I just sent them to the husbands office...



I made those a few weeks ago and then made them again this last weekend to send with my Momma in Law to her sisters house. A few days after that we had everyone over for Sunday dinner (where I got lessons in Southern Fried Chicken and 7 up cake making) and I think the best compliment I got was from an Uncle in Law about these cupcakes...Uncle Larry said,"I couldn't eat those cupcakes quick enough, they are fantastic and reminded me of a cake my oldest auntie used to make and eating them just took me BACK."

Now THAT is a compliment...when you can get down to the likes of a Big Momma's recipe - you have earned your right to be in the kitchen...

Here is the recipe for the apple cinammon cupcakes

preheat oven to 340

"filling"

2 pink lady apples cored peeled and chopped
2 green apples cored peeled and chopped
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 stick butter
2 tsp cinnamon (or add more to your liking)

cook about halfway and set aside...

cake

1 1/2 c butter
1 1/2 c sugar
6 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla
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sift together dry ingredients, or i just toss them with a fork
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3 c all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie mix

2 Tbsp milk or half and half
4 -6 tbsp of apple filling (depending on what you like)
1 cup chopped pecans (optional or you can use loose chop almonds/walnuts)

Icing

2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup water
1 tbsp lemon or lime juice

You just make the cake as usual...cream butter and sugar until pale gradually adding eggs and vanilla until incorporated - mix in 1/3 of dry mix at a time...then fold in the apple filling and the milk...to make a regular size cupcake is 2 heaping tablespoons dropped on the cupcake pan. Bake for about 20-25 minutes...

Cool on a baking rack - once cool spoon icing over the top. Once stiff add 1 teaspoon of the filling. The other option is to top with the filling and then drizzle the icing in the style of a danish.

It ain't low carb but it tastes very good. Enjoy.

All This Scratchin' is Makin Me Itch...

I still like makin' things from scratch...

Here's the last 2 things I learned to make this week.

Beignets - 1 with sugar and the other with a chocolate peanutbutter ganache and pecans.
It's really not too much of a hassle except waiting for the dough to rise and putting in the club soda at the right time. I think the funnest part is frying them up and then dipping them and everyone scrambles to eat them even if they are hot.

I must say it's just a glorified donut but it's GEWD!







The other thing I learned to make this week is red velvet cupcakes - now people ooh and ahh over this cake - and it's 'ok' to me but not as good as lets say amaretto sourcream poundcake but it's 'ok' Definitely not my first choice - but everyone oohs and aahs about it so much I decided to make it. It's a pain in the ass - and no peekaboo baking or the centers will drop.


But everyone is happy with them.


After all that work I just made a loose floral piping for the cream cheese frosting.


Seriously - what a mess, and truth be told the most expensive ingredient in this cake is the food colouring. RIDICULOUS. The food colouring doesn't even make a difference in the flavor (unless you have sharp taste buds and detect it as a mint aftertaste because it's synthetic), but it is a signature colour so if you do it do it as it should be done.


I put a sugar glaze on the top of the cupcakes while hot to seal in the moisture and give it a soft break bite before i put on the icing.



This cupcake is even cute naked. LOL and it doesn't taste bad. I think they would taste better with bits of fresh strawberry baked in - but I'm sending these off to Mr. Man's office so when sending treats it's best to send the recognizable at first.


Here's the recipe.


2 sticks butter
2 cups sugar

3 lrg eggs

3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 small bottes red food colouring
2 Tbsp vanilla

3.5 cups cake flour (sifted)

1.5 tsp salt
1.5c buttermilk

1.5 tsp vinegar
1.5 tsp baking soda


Heat oven to 350.

Mix butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs into fluff 1 at a time fully incorporating between eggs. In a separate bowl whisk cocoa powder, food colouring and vanilla. Add to batter. Blend thoroughly. Alternately add flour and milk (with salt stirred in) 1/3 at a time blending thoroughly and scraping sides. Add vinegar and baking soda. mix thoroughly - pour into greased cupcake pans. WILL MAKE 18 if you do it right.

Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean - remove from heat and cool completely

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You will have to google some icing recipes coz my booty is tired. LOL

'Birthin' my Disgust...

The Arizona Birther Bill.

I quote from Motherjones.com "the state GOP pushed through a radical bill that would require police to interrogate anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant, the Arizona House embraced the "birther" conspiracy about President Barack Obama. On Monday, the state's House voted for a provision that would require Obama to show his birth certificate to order to be included on the state's ballot in the presidential election."

Are you kidding me? Really?

I am thoroughly disgusted by this blatant rape of basic civil rights that stretches probable cause to include skin color. Dumb Ass Jan Brewer (whom i did not vote for) stated on the news the other day "what does an immigrant look like because I don't have a preconception of what one looks like" Bullshit Bitch. Everyone knows they are not going to ask my Filipino ass for a birth certificate nor will they ask my black boyfriend, my chinese friends, my white friends nor will they ask my Mexican friends who are engineers and such and drive Beemers. I doubt they will pull over a couple illegal Italians and British that I know who are hangin out in AZ either. The cops will also not pull over the PLETHORA of illegal Canadians who I know lurk in Scottsdale. They will question folks who appear to come from the Southern Border - such as Mexican people.

Really? Really.

I've been pulled over in Oakland before when my hair was twisted up and I had some Dr. Dre on Vibrate in my Jeep. The cop thought I was black and when he figured out I was Filipino he let me go. I remember he told me that he thought my Jeep engine was TOO LOUD and it was bordering 'noise pollution.' I can genuinely say I know what it's like to be profiled since he followed me for 3 miles, called in my plates then pulled me over with his hand resting near his gun with the buckle unstrapped. That shit is not cool - and though it always aggravated me I got over it because things slowly improved.

Now this...

Most shocking of all are the Ethnic Minority Republicans who are trying to stand up and defend the Birther Bill. First of all you ain't even in the right tax bracket to be a republican, Second of all they don't even give a shit on the global and cultural scale to preserve any kind of cultural ideology or identity you have and finally - have you lost yo' damn mind?

My boyfriend finds the whole thing hilarious because I know he has intentions of becoming an ex-pat. But I am baffled and disgusted - that they are using this platform of hysterical ignorance to fuel a police state, override basic rights and shit on the constitution. In the short time I've lived here I will tell you this - there is never a shortage of any cops in any city around here - but the they will quickly dismiss 25-40% of their teachers and cut school budgets. The children here have a mediocre education at best and their manners might as well be in the shitter - my sisters dogs have better manners.

I believe the immigration issue needs to be addressed but not by creating a police state. I mean seriously - you are gonna give these high school level gun toting robots the ability to make the independent, spontaneous and random decision about WHOM to pull over because they appear to be "immigrant" They need to think about that shit. My grandparents did everything by the book when they came over here of course it was a bit more lax due to the Philippines helping in the War versus the Japanese but still - they were required to take the tests, fill out the paperwork, establish residency and all that.

It's funny to me that White America is quick to want to do this Immigrant Cleansing. Are they completely oblivious to the fact that albeit there is illegal immigration - Immigrants fuel our economy. Immigrants due very difficult and dangerous jobs such a butchery, meat plants, agriculture, nurseries...and of course restaurants and other service oriented jobs. There are also jobs that they go out and solicit that are skilled but they charge less, such as masonry, construction and gardening. - Most of these jobs pay very little and on the scale of things the pay is NEVER tantamount to the work. If we empty these jobs suddenly it will create a long dip in our economy - coz I just don't see any square ass nose in the air republicans rushing to get some dirt under their nails.

Even the district attorney has voiced that he disagrees with this bill but as a servant of the state has no choice but to defend it. He also foresees a lot of lawsuits - yeah no shit sherlock - I didn't need law school for that foolio. Jan Brewer can play as dumb as she wants coz she's as dumb as it gets. She can also kiss my ENTIRE brown ass.