Black Eyed Susan's Kitchen

GROWING UP...BAKERY STYLE...A POST ABOUT COOKIES

              When I was a kid, cookies meant....______ insert your feelings about cookies here.  Most adults will be brought back to moments of sheer bliss when they remember the kitchen cookie jar. Maybe it was filled with Mom's special recipe or store bought Oreo's, but any way you slice it, those cookie memories are special comfort moments that we as adults want to transfer to our own children and grand children. 

              
My siblings and I spent many of our formative years behind the counter of a bakery. We are going back to the bakeries of the 50's, 60's and 70's. It was in those days that a bakery was a full service store that provided you with bread, rolls, pastries and all other baked goods including the special and important occasion,wedding and birthday cakes.  My Dad's bakery also sold an amazing amount of cookies. Do you remember going into the bakeries back in the day...when the person helping you from behind the counter would hand you a cookie while you waited?
Cookie counters filled with chocolate chips, linzer tarts and black and whites as big as your head. There were also trays and trays filled with butter cookies.
The endless varieties of crumbly goodness filled with raspberry or apricot jelly, dipped in chocolate. I grew up with these cookies and honestly did not really care for them. When you see something every day it definitely loses its appeal.

            When I was in college, it was my job at the bakery to stack the cookies. Tuesday mornings before class I would carefully stack the endless trays of fresh cookies pyramid style. That of course meant that I was sitting through Philosophy and English Lit digging chocolate out from under my nails. Yes, the cookies were not my favorite thing in the world.
Then I grew up, married and had a family...and I realized that not only didn't I know how to bake, but I would be keeping my children from what others considered a pleasure in life. So with babies sitting in little seats on the counter in my kitchen I learned how to bake cookies. 
Starting with the basic chocolate chip variety and moving on to sugar and butter cookies. I invested in a rolling pin and cookie cutters and every December I baked. The investment paid off...all of my kids love to bake and cookies are daughter in the middle's specialty.  She loves to bake and in between studying for college exams she finds baking to be somewhat of a comfort zone. She baked the cookies in the photo mosaic above.

            My memories of the bakery have definitely dimmed over the years, and may have become a little romanticized at times. My brothers, sisters and I spent a great deal of our youth in the back of that store and when we were tall enough to see over the counter, we worked the front of the store. I remember the bakers and the cake decorators, all men making a living to support families. I also remember the layout and tactile feeling of the back of the bakery. The cool smooth marble counters where the pastry was made and the cakes were iced. It was very old, honed smooth by work marble...there were no sharp edges. I remember the long wooden work tables where the bread dough was cut into exact pieces for rolls, and I remember the unearthly heat coming from the huge oven. One other thing that I remember is that nothing in that store came from a mix...there were sacks of flour and sugar, and an industrial refrigerator filled with cream, milk, yeast, and butter. I remember gagging on the powdered sugar in the air when the whipped cream was being  whipped in the huge mixer too.

           All told, these are good memories, and maybe a little different than each of my siblings might have. I have learned over the years that we may have been in the same place at the same time but a ten year old will remember something differently from a nine year old or a seven year old.

         Coming back from my walk down memory lane, since baking cookies over the years I have come up with one signature cookie recipe that I will share with you today... If you like coconut or oatmeal raisin, than you will really like this cookie.

                          Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 cup butter                                       

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups of oats (not the instant oatmeal but the kind that takes 5 minutes)

3/4 cup raisins

1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut

Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl with electric mixer until creamy. Add the eggs and vanilla and continue to beat till incorporated. Mix the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add to wet mixture and mix slowly. Add oats mixing in well and last add the raisins and coconut. 

Drop by teaspoonfuls on a parchment lined baking sheet leaving space between each one (they will spread). Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from sheet and cool. 

This recipe makes about 4 dozen cookies and will stay nice and moist in a sealed container.

Happy Baking and best wishes for a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to all of my readers. 

This post is being linked to Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday and How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

♥, Susan 

 

SOMETHING DIFFERENT

            When you live in a foodie family there is always something new or different to taste. On Christmas day, we were blessed with the company of our adult daughter who during the afternoon realized that she needed to go home and feed her cats. Our other two kids went with her and when they realized that the Asian market was open, they just had to do a little shopping.

 

              They brought home assorted teas and other interesting items including this Dragon Fruit. The Pitaya or Dragon Fruit was new to me and I thought might be something exotic for you as well. Coming from South America as well as many Asian countries it is actually the flower of a cactus. Surprisingly, we were all game to taste it, but first had to marvel at how unexpected the insides looked.

 The snow white flesh is full of tiny black seeds that are just barely crunchy. To me, it tasted like kiwi crossed with a not too sweet strawberry. I think that I was more impressed with how pretty I thought this fruit was. The black and white surrounded by the bright pink with green tips...what a great combination to decorate a room with!! You just never know where inspiration might come from. So thank you to Karissa for introducing us to something different...and now we all know what a Pitaya looks like.

♥, Susan 

KIT-KAT HOLIDAYS

            Is there anything better than a good surprise? I mean that kind of surprise that whimsically delights and leaves you with a big grin on your face? 

            My in-laws gave me a fantastic holiday gift this year...one that came not only from their hearts but from their collective artistic skills as well. I have always liked putting a little holiday decor in our living or dining rooms...what ever the holiday. My in-laws gifted me this Christmas cat many years ago.
As time went by, they gave me a Halloween cat, 

and then a Thanksgiving cat, 

I have enjoyed these whimsies so much that I thought I would ask for a Hanukkah cat this year...and then it occurred to me...could I also ask for a Valentines day cat and a Saint Patricks day cat too? Well, when writing a Christmas wish list, usually the sky is the limit, so why not ask. 

        This year for Christmas I did not get three new cats...nope...I only got one, but boy oh boy was I thrilled to see this new addition to the holiday collection. 
When I pulled him out of the box I found a brand new Chanukat...The cat was holding a dreidel...I was so happy, but there was one more box that said open last. After opening the box I was stunned to find that my Chanukat was so much more! 

My new cat has interchangeable holiday tokens...a heart for Valentines day and a shamrock for Saint Patricks day! Wooohooo! I got exactly what I asked for, just not what I expected...but something so much better. I feel blessed to have such a talented, caring and fun loving mother and father in law!! Don't you just love it when people "get" you... I am smitten with my new cat addition...now maybe we need to talk about Easter and Independence days? 

   This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

♥, Susan
 

PARTY TIME

            There are so many things to enjoy in December and I think the one that makes me most happy is seeing friends, family and coworkers who I haven't seen in a while. Look at the candle...just one more week till Christmas!  This year our annual neighborhood party will be at a neighbors house...so all I had to do was bring a dessert.
I made an angel food cake and decorated it with royal icing that I colored with green and red food coloring. One candy cane crushed to smithereens was added to the top. Simple and fun, and a nice change from my usual repertoire.
This year I found lolly pops in swirls of red and green that were just perfect to decorate a tree. I hope they last another week...so far, no one has realized that they are edible.
Everything is ready to go...decorations are all up and even the characters usually relegated to the back of my closet have been pulled out for the festivities...now we are just waiting for daughter in the middle to come home from college on Wednesday! How are your holiday preparations coming along?

         This post is being linked to Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

♥, Susan

   

♪...FEELING GROOVY...♪♪

                    While Christmas songs are coming at us from every shop we walk into, my mind was playing this song by Simon and Garfunkel...Slow down you move to fast ♪....you gotta make the morning last...♪♪.  As we were walking into our local garden nursery and provisions store my eye caught these little elvin creatures basking in the afternoon sun. 

It wasn't just that this little garden scene was so adorable and spoke to my sense of whimsy and imagination...it was the details. The sleeping elf with his candy cane tucked by his side. So just when you think that these guys should be wrapping and packing Santa's bags for his up-coming ride, you see that they are having a rest in the middle of the day...Maybe Santa's elves have Sundays off!?

 

Back at home, all of the little bits and bobs are appearing, some are finding new homes and some things that I put out every year are taking this holiday season off. The trees are up, this one being the natural recently cut down and smelling so fresh and piney one. It is filled with  ornaments, some from stores that haven't existed for years and some were gifted to us. Do you remember buying ornaments at Woolworths? As I was removing each one from the container I would think to myself...this little airplane came from The Sandbox, a much loved little store in town and gone now for many years. The character ornaments were always favorites not only of mine but of course our kids...   We have a set of Sesame St. Muppets, The Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland....and then there are the fairies...vintage fairies and newer fairies...fairies that were gifts and fairies that were found at half price after Christmas sales. There have been years when I decorated entire trees with just fairies...this year they are being mingled with other ornaments. Last, there is a newer themed tree that tickles my funny bone...  it is a gumdrop tree laden with ornaments that are reminiscent of an old-time candy store. Seeming perhaps a little other worldly here by the photo of it captured in the mirror.

I hope that you are taking time to slow down and catch glimpses of all the enchanting and  delightful decorations, because everywhere you look there are lights a-twinkling!

This post is being linked to Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

♥, Susan  

  

 

  

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

              The ubiquitous movie that we love to watch every year has a line in it, coming from the angel Clarence Oddbody, he asks Nick the bartender at Martini's to make him "Mulled wine, heavy on the cinnamon and light on the cloves". Clearly heated winter time drinks are an old fashioned notion. It is a rare cocktail party where you can even find a big bowl of punch these days. A little research has taught me that most cultures have their own favorite holiday drink.

                 Antiques Malls near and far are well stocked with vintage Tom And Jerry sets. Mine is a milk glass version with snappy red graphics. Tom and Jerry is actually a version of eggnog with brandy added. Created by Pierce Egan in the 1820's the brandy and rum  made this a more appealing party quaff for the non-teetotalers.  Here is a recipe from Esquire magazine:

Ingredients

• 12 egg(s)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 bottle brandy
• Pinch of ground allspice
• Pinch of ground cinnamon
• Pinch of ground cloves
• 1 bottle dark rum
• milk
• nutmeg

 

Glass Type: mug

Instructions

 

Separate the eggs. Beat the whites until they form a stiff froth, and the yolks -- to which you have added the sugar -- "until they are as thin as water," as the professor advises, gradually adding 4 ounces brandy (spiceaholics will also add a pinch each of ground allspice, cinnamon, and cloves). Fold the whites into the yolks. When ready to serve, give it another stir and then put 1 tablespoon of this batter in a small mug or tumbler. Now add 1 ounce brandy (although some die-hard Dixiecrats prefer bourbon) and 1 ounce Jamaican rum, stirring constantly to avoid curdling. Fill to the top with hot milk and stir until you get foam. Sprinkle a little grated nutmeg on top. This one may require practice and a certain amount of fiddling, but it's well worth the effort. Note: Some people find the milk too rich and filling, so they use half hot milk, half boiling water.

Read more: http://www.esquire.com/drinks/tom-and-jerry-drink-recipe#ixzz1fyNjZITy

            Marrying into a Scandinavian heritage, the holiday warm up drink is Glogg, very similar to Clarence's mulled wine which like he requested includes cloves and cinnamon...a recipe here:

Glögg is hot, spiced wine, perfect for cold winter evenings. Just follow this easy Glogg recipe to make your own great-tasting spiced wine. Variations are optional and add great personalized taste to your own "Glögg"!

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 bottle of red wine
• 0.5 Liter inexpensive brandy or vodka
• 10 cardamom pods
• 1 cinnamon stick (broken down)
• 1/2 orange peel (dried or fresh)
• 1/2 lbs sugar (regular or lumps)
• Optional additions: 5 cloves, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup almonds, 5 dried figs

Preparation:

Heat the wine and brandy spices, fruit, and nuts in a pot (and any optional additions you might like.)

Be careful not to boil the mixture; just let it simmer for about 45 minutes.

Then, strain through a cloth to remove all additions.

Serve your Glogg hot over lumped sugar (or with regular granulated sugar).

Optional: You can also serve the Glogg with raisins or almonds. If you'd like the drink to be stronger, use more brandy.

This Glogg recipe makes approx 1.5 Liter (close to 1/2 gallon).

The candle is counting down and telling me that there are 17 days left till Christmas and although some may have their homes decorated, trees up, and gifts bought, I am finding that I am not one of them. I did find the little Gnome ornaments today though...love those little guys.  For me, the decorating is all about the artwork of my inlaws this adorable little Belsnickle included. This post is being linked to Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday, How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday and Julia's  Hooked on Houses annual Hooked on the Holidays party.

♥, Susan

 

    

DECKING THE HALLS...AND THE TABLES...

               Where do you keep your decorations...attic, basement, closet? We keep them on shelves, in containers, in the basement and I honestly forget what we have down there until I start opening the boxes. Like little gifts tucked away for the year, I am often tickled to find what could almost be called an old friend.  The green bowls on this table setting are one of those items. They are a really saturated shade of green and I forgot all about them. As soon as I took them out of the box I remembered finding them at a yard sale...complete set of eight...marked France on the bottom.  The vintage green glass salad plates were also found at a yard sale and the red flash dishes that are being used as under plates came from a thrift shop. They are all sitting on quilted place mats from Williams Sonoma. The holly is from our backyard and the enamelware pitchers being used as vases, well I have had them for a very long time. The new item on the table are these teeny tiny tagines that I found at Home Goods last week. I was so enchanted by just the concept of them and thought they would make great individual butter dishes or salt dishes. Is it wrong to be smitten by miniature dishware?  Although I didn't plan to take out all of the Christmas dishes this year, once I began...well you know how it is. The hutch in the dining room was cleared of the vintage hammered aluminum collection and the Christmas tree dishes were set in place.  Left in place on the hutch were two vintage Arthur Armour hammered aluminum trays, one with Poinsettia's on it and one with Snowflakes... I thought they went nicely with the dishes and added a little glimmer of bling to the cream colored dishes. Yes, it's beginning to look a little more like Christmas around here.  Cheers to everyone and thank you for stopping by!

This post is being linked to the Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday and Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

♥, Susan

  

MAGIC IS HAPPENING RIGHT IN FRONT OF US!

            Little by little, changes are occurring...holiday happiness is showing up everywhere!
  The brightness of the moon lit up the night time sky for the tree lighting in Rumson, NJ on Sunday night. This is the first year that I can remember not being all bundled up against the cold and the wind. Rumson did have hot cocoa and candy canes put out for everyone, and Tim McLoone and the Shirleys rocked us through the festivities. There was even a conga line with Rudolph, the Snowman, two adorable elves and Santa...still smiling about seeing Santa conga!! Little by little I am seeing our neighbors houses dripping in diamond like splendor with twinkling white and very colorful light scapes.   
 Our house is also starting to show signs of the season with Norfolk pines in the window and bits of red popping up everywhere, and in my wanderings I came across yet another fabulous gingerbread house  full of adorable details like the little welcome mat and Santa's peeking out the windows. One local store that stopped my momentum was Bike Haven. We have relied on this shop for years now for bicycle accessories and tune ups. My husband told me that my blog posts are full of interesting observations...well, when I observed this bike, my knees went a little weak. How amazingly cool is this?? The bumpers are wooden (are they called bumpers, fenders, guards?) This bike would be so much fun to ride around town. I love it when I see something a little different, edgy, and beautifully designed. Someone around these parts must have been very good this year because Santa will be leaving them this bit of green fabulousness! 

This post is being linked to A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday.

♥, Susan  
 

  

 

FIVE AND A HALF YEARS...500 POSTS!

            Someone asked me the other day about what I do...for a living?...for entertainment?....for kicks and giggles?...I told her that I write a blog. The fact of the matter is that I have been writing this blog since July of 2007. By blogging standards, that is a very long time ago. Funny enough, when my friend Suzy told me that I had to start blogging, I didn't even know what she was talking about. It took about a minute for me to figure out that this would be a fantastic way to keep in touch with former customers as well as the artists who helped to supply my store, Suzy included. So, without much fanfare...here is blog post number 500...champagne and black tie reception will follow (kidding!).

 

             Holidays in small towns are steeped in tradition ... In our tiny one mile square borough we have the tree lighting on the first Saturday of December...always! The Band of Two Rivers play us into the festivities, the girl or boy scouts line the street with paper bags filled with sand and candles, the streets are kept safe by the fire and police departments, Santa will show up for the little ones and there is always hot cocoa. Except not this year...no hot cocoa. Bummer!! The store on the corner won't let them use the side walk in front to set up a hot cocoa station any more...they think we should go in and buy a cup...booo...hisss. After more than 20 years, a tradition is broken. We went home and had cocoa there. 

              Breaking with tradition a little bit more, I have decided not to bring out all of the glitz and glam of holiday decorating. Some, but not all. 

I am trying for something a little more understated this year. I moved the jade plant from the window in the living room and filled the window with norfolk pines. By next weekend we will have the tree up. 

In the meantime, we finished the upstairs bathroom. If you go back to this post, you can see where we began...a year ago. After making a million decisions ( am I prone to exaggerate?) and moving the doorway, ta-da...said in a very sing-song voice...it is finished. Things I learned this year...my style is definitely cottage modern, I am not as willing to compromise as I thought, and I love the color blue.   The little mosaic tiles on the floor are my favorite part...and the wainscoting on the walls...and that little strip of decorative glass tiles at the top of the shower. The guys did a rockin' job and I couldn't be more pleased. Next, we finish the bedroom... where we have a wall full of closet space that needs to be refigured  into several doors because I bought these   doors from a house that is being redone and there are five sets of them. Just enough to go from one side of the room to the other. I could sure use a local magician carpenter to come in and surprise us with the finished product! I am going by the old adage, Good things come to those who wait...patiently. 

This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, and Smiling Sally for Blue Monday.

♥, Susan