CSA Week 4

Thankfully we are done moving. Sadly, not all the boxes are unpacked. Our precious Purrcy hasn't been taking it too well. Despite Maggie's anxiety (and a temporary higher dose of medicine per the vet's orders), she is handling it quite well-- as long as we are all together with her stuff, she knows everything will eventually go back to normal. And she sleeps like a baby...

Purrcy on the other hand doesn't know what to make of the new place. He seems to like it just as much as Maggie but is still slightly unnerved-- to the point of an upset tummy. We've got some sort of cat antacid (sadly this is not our first experience with such medications because of Maggie's anxiety) that will soothe his belly. I just wish I could clearly communicate to him that everything will be exactly as it was before, just with new surroundings. For now, I will just keep looking at cute snap shots of him enjoying the windows, cuddling with Maggie, and taking more pictures of Purrcy when he does things like this...

Enough about the kitties (but if you ever need advice about cats with anxiety, let me know since we've tried just about everything-- did you know they make aromatherapy for cats?). This is supposed to be a post about food. What can I say? I love my feline children.

Week 4's CSA box was very green.

We received collards, some sort of lettuce, a red lettuce mix, broccoli, green onions, garlic scapes, and a few cucumbers. If I ever get my dream garden, it will have garlic-- so many parts of the plant can be used during the growing process!

These boxes are sort of like a choose your own adventure book except it's food. I chose to start my adventure with the garlic scapes. I found several recipes to try, but I settled on a garlic scape carbonara first. I was cooking for myself since Jeff was at work so it seemed the most appropriate. Plus, the last time I tried using the grill things did not go so well. Pasta on the stove top it was! I did hate that I had to cut the scapes up though. 

Their natural curves show off nature's beauty... I almost went digging for my good camera, but alas, I was hungry. The original recipe called for bacon, but I didn't have it on hand since we lean towards a plant based diet. To amp up the scapes, I seasoned them with a bit of poultry seasoning as they cooked in the pan. I also added some of the red Siberian kale we had left from last week's box. Overall, I enjoyed the dish. Jeff is more of a kale eater than I am so if I make this again, I hope to add spinach instead. I also think some fakin' bacon would be a nice addition too.

Over the weekend we had plenty of unpacking left to do which meant serious desires to eat out. However, we love going to the Farmer's Market (minus its early start time), especially now that we live closer. We bought yellow potatoes, zucchini, blueberries, and a few more strawberries before they go out of season here.

We ended up making a compromise, or rather, my cravings and wallet made one. We ate an early dinner at a favorite Mexican joint of mine and had a small salad for a late dinner/snack.

We have oodles of lettuce, but it's not all that appealing on its own, at least to me. So I thought we could grill the garlic scapes and zucchini for a bit more flavor. I was a bit leery about the scapes. I knew the zucchini would be great as we'd done it before following a Pioneer Woman recipe. However, the idea of eating something straight from a garlic plant seems a bit absurd-- I love the flavor of garlic, but make a funny face if I accidentally bite into a bit of a cooked clove hiding in my pasta. But the Internet raves about garlic scapes, claiming they taste almost like a green bean with a bit of extra flavor. In this instance, I bow to the Internet. The grilled scapes actually tasted as described. If you manage to find scapes, I highly recommend grilling some up! The recipe we used (from With Food and Love) paired nicely with the zucchini, and the left over oil and lemon zest we had was a nice way to dress the rest of the salad. 

On Sunday we initially planned to make collard greens and a potato parsnip mash, but I had a hankering for my Grandma's Au Gratin potatoes. Purrcy appeared to agree with me, putting his paw on the recipe in our family cookbook. We stuck with the collards and paired them with the potatoes.

I was worried about the collards, but they were actually delicious! I have to thank my brother for pointing me in the right direction. He couldn't remember the exact recipe, but he knew it involved apple cider vinegar and maple syrup. After a quick Google search I found what looked like it could be a solid recipe from Heather Crosby. Because there's only two of us, and we only had 15 leaves, we needed to adjust the recipe. We also wanted to give it a little something extra since it was being paired with meat or a protein heavy main dish. Fake bacon to the rescue! We also threw in some green garlic and green onion from the week's previous CSA box.

Our adaptions worked out well, especially since it was just the two of us, and this turned out to be one of my favorite CSA experiments. If you need left overs, I'd consider doubling the recipe.

Ingredients:

1. 15 large collard leaves
2. 3 to 4 slices of fake bacon (or real bacon if not following a vegetarian diet)
3. 1 stalk of green garlic
4. 1 green onion
5. 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
6. 1/4 cup maple syrup (preferably Grade B)
7. 1/8 cup water
8. Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Wash and rough chop the collards. Removing the stems is optional.
2. Cook the green garlic and green onion in a small pan until tender.
3. Put the collards in a large pot, and stir in all ingredients except the bacon.
4. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium to high heat.
5. Cook bacon following directions on the package, and once cooked, chop it up, and toss it into the collard mixture.
6. Reduce heat, letting it simmer until the liquid reduces completely. 
7. Eat! 

We still have items left in the box, most notably the romaine lettuce. Our plan is to grill it, and use it in place of taco shells. Other than that, we'll have a few more salads, and keep using the green garlic, the scapes, and green onion.

I wonder what we'll get in the next box!

Consolidation

Since 2011 I've been running two separate blogs-- one contains random musings about cats and politics and trips while the other contains recipes for sweet treats. I've decided to consolidate them because, well, it's easier. I think it will help keep me on a more strict blogging regimen too (I've been doing a terrible job!). So what's the plan?

1. I'm moving everything to this blog. Past posts will still remain at the other blog-- An Itty Bitty Baking Girl-- because people, including myself, have "pinned" certain posts. But in one giant move (I hope), everything from "Itty Bitty", or at least part of it, will be here.

2. To help keep things organized, I will label things accordingly. My musings will simply be labeled "Musings." I'm still thinking of a clever baking or cooking label (I may just go with "Darling Gems" since that's the name of my pipe-dream bakery), but regardless of what it becomes, it will always be tagged/labeled with the same name.

3. I will post about baking and cooking on Sundays (or Mondays if I'm running behind). My "musings" will be posted on Wednesdays or Fridays depending upon the week, but I promise to try and maintain some level of consistency.

So here's to the future of my blog! And below you will find some of my favorite posts/recipes from An Itty Bitty Baking Girl.

Chocolate Angel Food Cake... a Twist on Grandma Darling's Legendary Cake

I recently lost my Grandma. She was an amazing woman... I know everyone probably says that about their grandmothers. But Grandma Darling or Midge or Mildred or Millie or whatever else you knew her as really was an extraordinary woman-- she volunteered at church and the hospital until she was physically incapable; she judged no one; she loved deeply and gave the best hugs; and she baked one heck of an Angel Food Cake. She cooked and baked all the time--she lived on a farm after all. Ask my Aunts and Uncle, even my older cousins. They'll tell you about the chickens without heads and buckets of lard. Grandma may have left the farm after Grandpa died, but she took her Angel Food Cake with her, and it was and will always be legendary. 

Losing her has been one of the most difficult experiences of my life. But one must move on, especially when your grandma was Grandma Darling. The toughest loses didn't stop her. So I'm pretty sure she'd want me and the rest of my family to keep on trucking. So what did my mom and I do? We baked and Angel Food Cake.

My mom and I are a bit adventurous, and we love chocolate. We've both made Grandma's legend, not as well of course (I'm not sure anyone has), but we did what Grandma Darling would have done, what she did do for more than twenty-five years after losing the love of her life, Grandpa Darling, we baked, and we baked well. More importantly, we baked with love.

Now Grandma never made this version... I think she was stubborn. But I know she was proud... after all it still requires the ever tedious sifting of flour and sugar! So, I urge you, try this cake. Go forth, be bold, and enjoy the chocolatey goodness of the Chocolate Angel Food Cake... and remember, when life gets tough, do as my Grandma would do, bake!

Chocolate Angel Food Cake with Frosting

Cake:

1 1/2 Cups Confectioners' Sugar

1 Cup Cake Flour (Swan's Down is the best.)

1/4 Cup Baking Cocoa

1 1/2 Cups Egg Whites (about 10 eggs)

1 1/2 Teaspoons Cream of Tartar

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Cup Sugar

Frosting:

1 1/2 Cups whipping cream

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup baking cocoa

1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1/2 Vanilla Extract

Cake:

1. Sift together confectioners' sugar, flour and cocoa three times. Set aside.

2. Beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt until soft peaks form.

3. Gradually add sugar until stiff peaks form. 

4. Gradually fold in cocoa mixture.

5. Spoon into an ungreased Angel Food Cake pan... preferably one with legs. Trust me! Life will be much easier!

6. Run a knife through the batter to remove air pockets.

7. Bake on lowest oven rake (if you have a gas oven) at 375 for 35 to 40 minutes until the top springs and has dry cracks. Make necessary adjustments for electric ovens and altitude differences etc.

8. Cool completely, with the pan upside down (cake pan legs should come in handy!).

9. Run a knife around the edges and the center to loosen, and remove cake.

Frosting:

1. Combine ingredients in a mixing bowl.

2. Cover, and chill for one hour.

3. Beat until stiff peaks form.

4. Spread over the top and sides of cake.

Enjoy!

There's Nothing Wrong with Plain Jane Cookies

I've been doing quite a bit of baking lately. Unfortunately I haven't blogged about any of it. What can I say? It's that time of year-- I may not be the student anymore, but I still feel overwhelmed at the end of the semester. There's so much grading and reading and listening to speeches and grading and listening to excuses (that I've heard at least twice before) and some more grading.

So dear readers, I do apologize (all five of you... or maybe ten?) for not blogging about my favorite meal of the day. If it's any consolation, I ate very little of my creations... until now. I'm on my fourth cookie. Everyone else liked the brownies with a bajillion ingredients and the chocolate covered cake bites, but it was all too much for me. I like the simple things which is why I'm obsessed with my organic take on this blogger's brown sugar cookies. 

I only have one picture... I went jogging. Yes, I went jogging and then measured out oodles of sugar. Needless to say I wasn't exactly focused on taking pictures of my soon-to-be-dessert. I just wanted to reward myself with these wonderful cookies!

Please enjoy...

Ingredients*:

1. 1 cup organic, unsalted butter, room temperature

2. 1 and 1/4 cups organic brown sugar

3. 1 organic, cage-free egg

4. 1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract (Personally, I'm obsessed with Singing Dog Vanilla Extract.)

5. 2 cups all purpose, organic, unbleached flour (I wonder if using gluten-free all purpose flour would work?)

6. 1/2 teaspoon sea or kosher salt

7. 1/4 teaspoon organic baking soda

Directions:

1. Using your beautiful KitchenAid Mixer mixture, blend butter and sugar.

2. Add the egg and vanilla.

3. Gradually add the flour, salt, and baking soda.

4. Mix until blended.

5. Refrigerate dough for two hours.**

6. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and bake cookies for about 12 minutes.

7. Enjoy! Oh, you should probably let the cookies cool first. Now enjoy!

* As always, I use organic ingredients when possible. It's just a personal preference, not a requirement.

** I have no idea why the recipe said to do this. My guess? The dough was really sticky before it chilled. So I would be patient if possible.

Be Nice to Your Producer... Because He Might Give You a Cookie!

I've been in a bit of a baking frenzy. Thankfully I have somewhere to send my treats too, or else I'd be in trouble (Thanks Jeff's co-workers! Be nice to him tomorrow because he's bringing you cookies!)! Maggie usually tries to con me out of some, but not this weekend...

Although after her nap Jeff did spoil her with a few nibbles of his turkey burger. Ah, the life of a cat. But I digress. So what did today's agenda entail? Baking of course!

I may have also jumped on the Instagram bandwagon. What can I say? I like the clean and neat borders. I also did a bit of grocery shopping, and I happened to snag this...

I know. It's pretty awesome. Now for the fun part. Cookies! Last week I tried making cake batter cookies. Everyone loved them, but I thought they could be better. I found the recipe from the blog, Lovin' From The Oven, but I didn't have the exact cake mix it called for. I figured what the heck. Well, the cookies tasted great, but they were really, really, really thin. I thought it was my use of organic ingredients, or maybe my oven just sucked (because it really does).

Being the perfectionist that I am, I had to try again with the "correct" cake mix. It must be Funfetti magic, because this batch turned out wonderful, organic ingredients and all (Minus the Funfetti of course!). They aren't puffy, but they aren't too thin. They have a bit of crunch, but the center is a bit soft. Perfect! At least in my book.

I highly recommend these cookies. They are super tasty, and the batch size is perfect for keeping them at home and not fretting about munching on too many sweets--about twenty or twenty-five cookies. So here's my adaptation...

Ingredients:

1. 3/4 cup organic, softened butter

2. 1/2 cup organic cane juice/sugar

3. 1/2 cup organic brown sugar

4. 1 organic, cage-free, and preferably local egg

5. 1 egg yolk... that's cage-free, organic, and local!

6. 2 teaspoons organic vanilla

7. 3/4 cup organic all-purpose flour

8. 1 and 1/4 cups Funfetti cake mix

9. 1/4 teaspoon organic baking soda (I used a touch more because my first batch scared me into it.)

Directions:

1. Mix together, or as my mom would say, cream together the butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla

2. Mix in the flour, the cake mix, and the baking soda (I prefer to mix them together first)

3. Refrigerate the dough for at least thirty minutes

4. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

5. Grease a cookie sheet or two

6. Spoon the dough on the sheets, and bake for about 8 minutes

7. Let the cookies sit for a few, and then move 'em to a cooling rack

8. Enjoy!

My Tattoos

I've always been considered pretty "normal" other than a few minor quirks. And if you saw me walking down the street, you wouldn't even notice my oddities.

See? I seem pretty mundane, other than that goofy smile. But what you can't tell from this picture, because I cleverly cropped it out (and you usually wouldn't see it anyway because I wear long pants most days), is I have a small-ish tattoo on my left leg. I don't really consider it or the other three oddities, but some people do, which is fine. However, what I don't like is judgement.

I know I shouldn't take what people say on Facebook seriously, but until yesterday, I'd never felt judged for something as silly as the way I look or dress (minus the skinny thing). I know people have probably silently wondered why I don't wear a lot of make-up or why I wear so many cardigans, and I know men have judged me and objectified me, but I guess I chalk that up to the way life is right now. But seeing a person update Facebook with remarks about women with tattoos being trashy and tacky? It cut me to the core. Feeling that judgement for the first time hurt like hell, especially since my tattoos are far from "tacky." I'm certainly not a trashy person either. I'm an educator with typically well-hidden, meaningful tattoos. Heck, I even have a master's degree. I certainly don't fit the tattoo stereotype.

I only recently delved into the tattoo world, and so far I've learned a lot. Lesson number one (which I already knew, but you might not know), that dude covered in tattoos that you're silently or maybe vocally but very rudely judging, might be intelligent. In fact, he probably has a college degree!

Lesson number two... tattoos are art-- they take skill to create, and just like any other form of art, they are a window into a person's soul. In fact, tattoos are unique in that they give you insight into two people, the person getting the tattoo and the tattoo artist. I have two on my upper to middle back, and this is my vision created by another person. That's pretty deep.

The first is my Grandma's signature. As literally as it can get for a tattoo. Losing my Grandma Darling was one of the most difficult times in my life. All my life, I've taken pride in being a "Darling." We are a strong people. We've overcome a lot in life; we never give up; and we are stubbornly independent. So after losing the person who, to me, epitomized that so well... it's hard to put into words... So at 26, after months of mulling over getting a tattoo, what to get, where to get it, I walked into a highly recommended tattoo parlor with the last birthday card my Grandma sent me. And now I'm forever a Darling. She will always have my back.

Losing my Grandma was tough. It's been two years (I think... I try not to count), and still struggle to write about it. I'm rolling my eyes at myself right now because my brain has gone to mush! Anywho. I felt like I needed another, something that honored my other Grandma. This one piece of artwork on my back encompasses so much meaning. It's about my Grandma Martin, my Grandma Darling, remaining calm even when times are tough. So the lesson is, to you it may look like a stupid fucking piece of lavender drawn on my back, but to me it's a reminder of important people, important memories and ideals. And I know I shouldn't need anything to hold on to any of that. But to me, it's like hanging on to someone's ashes or whatever makes losing a person easier for you.

Of course not all my tattoos are or will be about honoring those I've lost. But they will always be unique and incredibly special. My last tattoo honors a very special lady in my life, Maggie. She's "just" a cat, but she's really more than that, at least to me. It's surprising how much a cat can change your life. Maggie was the "person" I came home to while I attended graduate school six hours away from my husband. And I swear if it weren't for her (and video chatting with Jeff every single night), I would not have survived school. If you've never tried grad school, that may not make sense, but if you have... you know how important companionship and support can be, even if it's from a cat.
 

So the next time you think about judging someone with a tattoo, pause for a moment before you say anything. Maybe that time I didn't cover my tattoos while wearing a dress didn't make me look tacky or trashy. My tattoos don't define me, but they are a part of me. They even represent my thought process because I thought and thought and maybe over-thought about the size, the location, the meaning, more meaning, the color. Hell, recently I conducted a vast Internet search that took days just so I could figure out the name of a flower I like and if its name and meaning related to the meaning I want a future tattoo to convey. I even went breed specific! It turns out to be more than perfect.

So if you still think I look trashy... well, you're just a mean person. I don't expect people to like my tattoos. But trashy? Really? I wish you'd have met my Grandma...

At least I know my tattoos are mom approved (which, if you know my mom, is a big deal), and I know Grandma Darling is with me. She might be thinking, "I don't know why you need those tattoos or why you need to wear my necklace almost everyday, but if it makes you feel better that's all that matters." 

End of the Year

I fell off the grid again. I seem to be doing it a lot lately. What can I say? Life doesn't always make blogging easy... well, really the tough part is actually sitting down to write.

Regardless, I'm here now, offering a bit of an end of the year wrap up... let's face it, it's the holiday season, and that means my resurfacing will likely occur after the new year.

So what have I been up to? Do you care what I've been up to? Honestly, I wonder how many people actually mentally answer that question, let alone read my blog (Hi, Rachel!). But I digress.

1.

Why, yes. I got a tattoo. For those of you who cannot decipher the above script, it reads: Darling. It's nothing bold or showy or even visible to the public on an everyday basis. But it's mine-- it's a reminder of who I am, who my Grandma was, and who I should continue to be.

I always wanted a tattoo, but I never had a reason to get one... the permanence scared me. I never thought I'd have a reason to get one, but then life happens. I didn't realize how much my Grandma meant to me until it was too late. I loved her... I thought she was a bad ass. I just never grasped the extent of her bad ass-edness (God, I wish I had come up with a better word) until she was no longer my Grandma--she was a lifeless vessel in a hospital bed. I suppose I should take comfort in the fact that I was able to recognize how amazing she was, even if it was too late.

Now here I sit, tattooed with my Grandma's signature. It's as if she marked me... a Darling-- forever an independent, strong, and hardworking soul. Some people say you regret tattoos after you age, wrinkles everywhere. Maybe... but not this tattoo. How can you regret being a Darling? You can't. How can you regret something so cathartic? You can't. How can you regret a daily reminder of your strength? You can't.

So here's to you Grandma Darling!

2. I have actually baked in the last month or so. I never blogged about it. I meant to... I even took pictures!

Jeff actually helped too! Sifting is time consuming. So if there's a free set of hands, you grab them. Someone pours while someone sifts. And speaking of time consuming...

Thank God for my KitchenAid Mixer. Beating egg whites for twenty minutes with a hand mixer... BLAH! Honestly, making an Angel Food cake (that's what I made... I think I forgot to mention that earlier) from scratch should require a KitchenAid Mixer. Grandma used to make hers with a handmixer, but then she got one of these for her birthday... converted! Speaking of her birthday, this is actually documentation of me making a birthday cake for her. Weird? Maybe. Do I care? No.

Especially because I got to eat Angel Food cake and ice cream. Honoring your totally awesome Grandma, honing your baking skills, and eating a tasty dessert is quite amazing. P.S. If you want the recipe, let me know. Sometime I'll get it posted to my other blog.

3. Jeff and I put out Christmas decorations.

This is not everything we have... there are red and green glittery tea lights, a Christmas village, a make shift tree of Christmas cards, and a bunch of other stuff. Seriously, it looks like Christmas threw up in our living room. It's kind of weird too-- I'm a "Happy Holidays" kind of girl, but you'd never guess from the looks of this place! And yes, Maggie gets her own stocking!

We also have a tree. It's fake, but it's still exciting to have a "real" fully grown Christmas tree!

4. Grading papers and napping... speaking of napping...

Just Keep Going

Grandma Darling died. Like anyone I felt lost. But I didn't just lose a Grandma-- I lost a woman whose strength and courage I admired; I lost a woman who, to me at least, embodied feminism; I lost a woman who made one hell of an Angel Food cake. I didn't realize how much she meant to me until it was too late. But one must not dwell-- after all I'm only twenty-five, and I'm just beginning to understand and appreciate life in some sort of adult way.

Despite not dwelling, or at least attempting not to, I found myself in a hole so deep almost nothing seemed to matter. Everything I loved fell to the wayside, except my family. I didn't cook. I didn't write. I didn't bake. If I wasn't working, I was merely taking up space or talking to Maggie (my cat for those of you who are new). I don't even remember much about work. I know I lectured, but I don't know how well or how much. But I am a Darling, so even if for a brief moment each day, I grasped and I dug, and I'm finally near the top of this hole.

I don't know if I will ever be out of this metaphorical hole, but I know I'm doing what Grandma Darling would want-- I'm living again. The hole may shrink with time. It may even grow if only for a day, but I cannot let it stop me from living. I will not let it stop it me. If I learned anything from Grandma, I learned that.  It might as well be the Darling motto-- never give up... never stop living... just keep going.

So, I shall keep going. I suppose I never stopped going... I just slowed down. I don't think Grandma let me stop. When my memories of her weren't enough, she gave me a push, or so I think. I remember driving home, iPod on shuffle. A sad song, a song that reminded me of her came on. I skipped it, and suddenly Kelly Clarkson was singing, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger..." I know Kelly wasn't singing about my kind of loss, but it's still about strength and moving on. I'd like to think Grandma tinkered with my iPod just ever so briefly. She always was a little nosy!

So I may be sad, but I'm ready for life again. I hope it's ready for me.

Grieving and a Girl who Loves Mr. Pibb

Grieving is a funny thing. That might sound ridiculous, but it's true.

My grandma has been in and out of the hospital for several weeks, maybe longer. Right now, she's not my grandma. She's just a vessel for sickness who only looks like my grandma. Somewhere inside is the Grandma Darling I know-- the one who held me as a baby, ate cabbage with my mom and Aunts while I dipped slices of hot dog into mashed potatoes, the one who makes the world's best Angel Food Cake, the one and only Bingo master, and the one filled with wisdom and a capacity to deliver a hug like no one else.

So why is grieving so funny? After all, that last paragraph is rather heart-wrenching.

Well, upon hearing about the latest turn of events with my Grandma, I pulled into a drive-thru at a nearby Fazolis-- they have the best Mr. Pibb in town. I really needed one... I think I might be addicted, literally. Elizabeth (Yes, that's how often I go there--I know their names, and they know me.) opened the window, and sweetly said, "I was told to give you this for free." I thanked her, drove off... and I lost it. A free Mr. Pibb sent me over the edge. Mind you, I was on the verge before the free Mr. Pibb, but the smallest gesture turned me into a ball of tears and snot. I'm sure it all would have eventually came out, but like I said grieving is a funny thing. The smallest thing can trigger a breakdown, even a free Mr. Pibb in a yellow Styrofoam cup.

The best part about all of this? If Grandma Darling could hear (or comprehend-- they say morphine is good stuff) this story, she would smile, laugh, and, as always, say something wise.