Baking 101, Or Maybe Not

Yesterday was supposed to be an art class day but as I wrote a couple of days ago it instead became a work day.  I had so much mail to open and piles of just crap I needed to go through after being absent for 3 days.  I knew it was going to be a long day with a break in the middle to attend a luncheon with some of those art buddies.  Finally leaving the office I had to go to the bank, the post office and finally the grocery store.  Snicklefritz was going to spend the night so I needed to get food and stuff to bake.  My plan was and is for her and I to bake today, mainly cookies and my famous fruitcake.  Back and forth through the store I loaded up on flour, sugar, butter, and pecans, you know the usual baking stuff.  BUT, when it came time to find the candied red cherries and candied pineapple I was up and down the aisles so many times I was getting angry trying to find said products.  Finally I found someone to help me and she directed me to an end cap at the back of the store, at the top, a tiny little boxed area where there about 10 containers of citron (YUCK)  and green cherries, obviously a hold over from what didn't sell last year.  WHAT THE *****!!!!  I was not happy and I told anyone who would listen to me.  Totally messed up my plans to bake fruitcake with Snicklefritz.  I DO NOT have time to go traipsing around town to different grocery stores looking for candied cherries and pineapple.  Really REALLY made me mad.  Then this morning I was awake at 4 AM...yes 4 AM!  I thought I would look on Amazon, and guess what, Friday my candied cherries and pineapple will be delivered in time for her and I to make fruitcake as she is spending the night again!  I am STOKED!  

The downside this morning of me being awake at 4 am is that Snicklefritz is up at 5:37!  

😞😞😞😞😞😞😞

Fa-La-La-La-La-La-La-La-La

Yesterday I was on a mission.  I got a lot accomplished but let me back up a touch...

Friday, I picked up Snicklefritz from her Momma at the place where B's Alliday Show was about to begin.  It was about 10:30 and B was going to be interviewed by a noon news channel and Snicklefritz was going to be a problem.  So off I went to gather her up and to lunch at our favorite Friday lunch haunt, Bangkok Thai Buffet.  She loves to eat there too and cleaned her plate of pad Thai, rice, broccoli, and green beans.  That kiddo is a champion eater!  Run a couple errands and then we were home for the weekend.  Actually, she was only there for overnight.  

Back home I was faced with a dining room that was full of pantry stuff that HAD to be put back.  I was planning on cleaning out the pantry in January, but with the possibility of cutting a hole or RIPPING out my pantry from the hot water leak, that time table was pushed.  Cleaning out the thing though I saw I had enough to make my famous White Fruitcake so that was on the agenda too.  So, first up was fruitcake, with Snicklefritz as sous chef.  It was so cute to see her expression when we began to beat egg whites to stiff peaks.  She was amazed to see the transformation.

I got 10 small loaves out of the batter mixture and we put them in the oven and let magic happen.  Mind you this recipe takes 90 minutes and when the smell began wafting through the air she kept asking if we could take the cake out.  Finally, when out she wanted to eat immediately, but again, her patience was tried as we waited for some to cool.

Then....... 

She really did love it and crammed that last piece in her mouth.  We had a great time but I still had LOTS to do.  The first batch was Friday night and Saturday after she went home I HAD to finish the pantry thing.  

Threw tons out, revamped, moved foil, wax paper, ziplock bags to a drawer that I cleaned out and more space!  It took me all afternoon to finish and then I made yet another batch of fruitcake, 20 loaves in all.  We've already eaten two and given away one to Snicklefritz to take home.  My feet and knee were killing me by the time I finally got in the hot tub and then in the shower.  I still have a few things to do but it is done basically.  Now I have to wrap packages for Christmas.  I also have to go BACK to the post office Monday or Tuesday morning as I shipped A's Christmas leaving one out of the big box by mistake.  RATS.

'TIS THE SEASON

Clean Closets and Fruitcake

Yesterday was such a wonderful day at home.  I didn't have to budge out of the house until about 4:30 to pick up my art from the show.  So I spent the morning cleaning my kitchen, cleaning out the bird cages, and getting stuff ready for fruitcake makings.  After awhile I decided that it was then time to clean out my closet, yet again.  That is a project that will be ongoing.  I tend to wash my dirty laundry and then keep it in a basket.  I'm bad I tell ya, bad.  I also have a corner box or basket that I keep in the closet just for get rid of clothes."  I purge all the time when I feel that I have not worn something in a year or it is stained or just plain OUT OF STYLE!  Now I have another pile to take to Goodwill this week.  My closet looks better but I still need to purge more.  

The Hubby came home from the office (yes work is 7 days a week sometimes) and I told him I was going to take a quick nap.  Well, that didn't last too long but it was a nice nap.  I showered and then we headed to The Garden Trug to get my stuff.  Unfortunately I didn't sell a thing but it was great fun and so many people came to see my stuff.  That is a great way to get my name out there.  

Dinner, and then I was on to make Momma's White Fruitcake.  I know it is not the season but I have accomplished so much stuff on my to do list lately and this was one that still had not been checked off.  It's easy to make but bakes for 90 minutes so you have to be willing to wait for the process.  The process I have written before here.  So yummy and the minute I took it out of the oven I had a piece!  Well worth it for sure.  One of the ingredients in it is spiced pickled peach juice.  Let me tell you that is sometimes a very hard ingredient to find.  Yesterday I had neither spiced pickled peach juice or canned peaches so I opted for spiced rum.  There is only 3 tablespoons in it and you know what I think I could even use water with the same effect.  Worked great.