improvising...

Tried to make some Whoopie Pies yesterday...

Used my favorite Cookbook (thanks to Pammy of Scottie's Place), A SLOB IN THE KITCHEN.

I so love Karen Duffy and her humor she uses with the cookbook.  Anyway here is part of the recipe.
Simple enough, right?  Nooooooooooooooooooo.
I don't know. I can blame it on my oven... it's the second worst oven I have ever had and it really needs to be replaced. Nothing cooks even or correct...

Maybe it was the cake mix I used.. Duncan Hines has always been kind to me in the past...
Anyway... Mine doesn't look as tasty...

They turned out so flat. Not fluffy or rounded. I still made a couple but Hubby started snacking on the flat cakes without the filling.

I decided to try a cake with the filling as a topping.

The filling was REALLY STICKY. Marshmallow creme, butter, powder sugar & vanilla doesn't really like merging...

So I used some of this for strength to get me through the task...

It always helps when I get frustrated. I read too many blogs & watch too many Food Network programs with GOOD CHEFS. Grrr! They make it look so easy!

My end results were not pretty, but I will admit they were tasty!

Do You Cook, Janis?

Today a group of co-workers and myself, walked to Champps for lunch. On the way, we were discussing menu items. One of them asked me, "Do You cook, Janis?".

I found that interesting.

Was it an option?

Most of these women are ten to twenty years younger than I. Maybe they live in a different world than I.

I answered, "Well, of course! I mean, I don't often cook big meals like I use to. With Emily away in Muncie, and Annie always gone. Cooking is often Hamburger Helper or like tonight, Polska Kabaska. But, yeah, I have been the cook in our family for the past 24 years."

Few of these women cook. I am hearing that men cook. Sergio can, when he has too. He cooks a mean steak, chicken or anything on the grill. He also cooks breakfast for the girls sometimes as they all like potatoes and stuff. But, if I don't cook supper, he will eat a turkey sandwich, cookies, snacks and starve.

My girls can cook. Especially Emily. She loves cookbooks and dreams of a stove that works (her apartment has a sad excuse for one that basically is a stove top, the oven is less then desirable).

Speaking of desirable, I think the better the kitchen, the better the cook. Our last house had a friendly kitchen, this home is not gourmet friendly. The next house must have a kitchen calling my name!

When my girls were young, I resembled Cher's character in "Mermaids". I often used cookie cutters for cutting sandwiches, made fun snackie foods, jigglers (I also make great jello shots~ but that is another story!), and deserts. Annie is stepping into my "desert and hors d'oeuvres queen" shoes!

I like cooking. Especially in a well stocked, friendly, happy kitchen. Toss in some loved ones, a glass of wine, and I AM THERE!

SURPRISE FOR ME!

I forgot to get the mail yesterday and ran out at 11:00pm to get it. Surprise for Me! A package! And from one of my favorite Blog Buddy Pam! (ScottysPlace).

She sent me "A Slob in the Kitchen", by Karen Duffy!

I thought she was just kidding when she offered a give-away on her blog. Lucky me! She wasn't. (:

Ironically, I was just thinking of how much I needed a good inspiration to start cooking. Yesterday, I decided to bake cookies. I thought I had all I needed, but ended up improvising. I made Oatmeal raisin cookies. How hard can that be? well, trust me, harder than I thought.
First, I used Almond Extract instead of Vanilla. My Vanilla looked icky. Smelled weird too. So I am thinking, Almond may be tasty. Gave it a good little taste. The problem I ran into though, was when I discovered I was out of baking soda. I tried to remember what baking soda actually did. What was it my Home Economic teacher said? hmmm.. oh well, it only asked for a tiny amount so maybe it will be fine.
whoops. The baking soda is necessary.

I am thinking that is what keeps them from becoming ROCK HARD after they cool. They were tasty out of the oven, however the longer they sat the worst they became. (We ate them anyway, even Riley the dog had trouble with this rock hard cookie!)
This book A Slob in the Kitchen looks like the perfect cookbook for me. It has cool little monkey guides letting me know how had the recipe is. Also, I love the way Ms Duffy writes, she speaks my language: I like to laugh while cooking and not because I am messing up, but because something funny is said.

I can not wait to start this! There is this wonderful section in the back to get me ready. Everything from what staples I need to have in my pantry, glossary, equivalents, and produce notes.

Thank you Pam! I am sooooo excited. Maybe I can find something to send you. hmmmm. Let me think.

Yikes!!! Who Turned off the Oven?

With a later dinner, I am not on my regular Big Family Dinner schedule. I found a favorite recipe for Sweet Potato Casserole and excitedly made this dish. Then tossed my turkey in the oven. Same temperature, so I just reset my timer.

Around 90 minutes later, I noticed that I could not smell the turkey cooking. I checked on it and, SURPRISE!

Cold turkey, oven is off.

Dang it! Now we are an hour and half behind and the tummies are growling.