I may have mentioned, (perhaps on several occasions,) that everything in my kitchen is a counter-top. I have counter tops, and then I have temporary counter-tops. My kitchen steps (which I need because my cupboards reach the ceiling and my 6'4 and a bit tall husband is not always available) are used as a counter top. My storage boxes are used as counter-tops, and my floor is used as a counter-top! All available space is used! Of course, I do not just drop food on my floor and scrape it up on to the plates! I don't put utensils on the floor and then pick them up to stir a sauce. I sometimes place tins, or jars on the floor for quick access once removed from the cupboard. I am nearer to the floor than I am to the top of my cupboards!
It was a baking extravaganza! My neighbour was going to visit my old neighbour one day during the week. The text messages were amusing. "I am going to visit Callie. Would you like to drop a card for her into my mailbox?" I responded, "What day are you likely to go?" The answer was, "I will work around your baking!" It was funny to think that my neighbour knew exactly what I was thinking, but she was, in fact, right. I wanted to bake some seasonal treats so that she could take them to our old neighbour.
Mince pies are always a favourite, and of course, very un-American. Mincemeat is sold here, but I am sorry to say, it does not come up to par with Sainsbury's, Tesco's or Asda. (Three of Britains large supermarkets.) The supermarkets own makes are, in my opinion, pretty much on par with Robertsons or the likes, (a purveyor of preserves, such as jam/jelly,) and although not as posh as some of the finer food manufacturers, fill my needs! Thankfully, I had a couple of jars left from my trip last year, and they were very much still 'in date'. I don't care about the preservatives....this is Christmas!
I made my pastry, then let it rest. Frankly, after making pastry, I think I would be the one that would like to rest! However, the next thing needed to be made. I am having a 'cookie' run. I hate 'cookies'. The word 'hate' is used with almost every fibre of my being. I really do not like the soft, gooey, smooshy things that are not 'proper' biscuits. My 'cookies' are somewhat overcooked, but apparently, if you put them in the microwave for a few seconds, they degrade to what is known as a 'real' cookie! Dana and I have many a conversation on how things should be, 'cookies' being one of them. "They need to be soft", says he. I disagree. I like a 'toothbreaker' if possible. However, I digress! I made the dough, and separated it into five different bowls. I feel like apologising to Martha Stewart as I have taken her 'base' and added to it. Coffee and almond, mint chocolate chip, caramel, white chocolate chip, and a mixture of all the 'odd' chips I had in the cupboard and did not know what to do with them. I didn't use oats or granola, as it is Christmas!
My recipe card for the sainsbury's 'chocolate Christmas puddings'
came out once more. Mini 'fudgey' delights. I feel like apologising to Mr. Sainsbury (although I think it would have to be posthumously) as I have taken his 'base' and added to it. Instead of 'chocolate digestive biscuits' (sorry, I cannot even begin to translate for this side of the pond, but would say, they are really very good) I added some crushed ginger biscuits. It was an idea that came to me when I couldn't sleep one night. Perhaps that is why I have trouble sleeping! My grandson's get a 'sugar high' from doughnuts and sweets. I get it from thinking about new recipes!
It took quite a while to clean up the kitchen. Dana came in when I was mid-pastry rolling, and walked around to the other entrance of the kitchen to get to the fridge. He shut the fridge door without getting what he wanted, as he could not negotiate his way around the trays of raw 'cookies' that had taken up most of the space! "Is this how you always cook?" he asked, trying not to grin, knowing the answer. "Problem?" I asked, trying not to grin. "Do you want some advice?" he said, almost running away as he uttered the last word. "Do you want to eat here again?" I said in retort. Of course, it was all said in jest, and when he returned half an hour later, despite the kitchen fairy going 'awol', everything was clean, bright and sparkling!
I messaged Jenny to let her know I had baked and waited for her reply. Monday morning was quite cold, and the storm that had whipped up the previous afternoon had certainly taken its toll! The pool looked like it had a blanket of leaves covering it, and the water was almost not visible. Branches had fallen and the autumnal look that many experience in October, finally came to Austin. The trees had shed most of their foliage, and the view into adjacent neighbourhoods was no longer obscured. Of course, that does not mean that winter will stay. The forecast for the following weekend was once again balmy.
Tuesday morning saw the last of the baking for Callie. I was only going to make the meringues if I had time, and I did. The little green Christmas trees were not uniform, nor were they little. By the time they came out of the oven, they were not particularly green! I retrieved a small paintbrush and 'dotted' them with food colouring. I only hoped the 'e' numbers would not cause 'over activeness' in my 'old' neighbour! I received a text from Jenny to say she was going to visit on Wednesday and I boxed up a 'care package' which I took across the road and placed on the table next to the front door. This time I knew she was at home, so I left a message to say they had been deposited. Having a lot of cookies, mince pies, meringues and chocolate Christmas puddings, I gave a 'care package' to the courier!
I have never made 'Tres Leches'. Literally meaning 'three milks', (yes, I am sure you knew that,) I sampled the soggy cake a couple of weeks ago. I was not particularly impressed, but I know it is a favourite for many. Once again, the 'sugar high' in the middle of the night hit, and I started to think about 'alternatives'. I am not sure to whom I should apologise for taking the 'base' and adding, as there were so many recipes from which to choose. Martha provided a start, but then I found a couple of recipe books that contained a couple of different methods. I set about making the cake on Wednesday morning, once the stroganoff was in the crock pot! (Sorry, Mary Berry. I took your recipe and ......) I added some almond flour and slivered almonds to the cake. Mine was actually a 'quattro leches', and I warmed the milk to melt a good deal of coffee granules. Everything was fine until I called my mum, who said she was waiting for an ambulance to take her to hospital! It appeared her leg (the reason she was hospitalised last time) was not healing properly and they suggested an intravenous drip. I called my sister who said the doctor had called her and strongly suggested that this was the only course of action. To misquote the famous saying from 1962 (pertaining to the Cuban Missile Crisis) we 'held our breath'. After last time, we were very, very concerned. I could do nothing but wait and hear. I went for my walk, returned, and checked the cake, which should have soaked in the 'quattro leches' and coffee. (One of the chef's promised it would! I wont apologise to that one!) I got ready for work and in a black trousers suit, returned to the kitchen. The reason I mention the black trouser suit is significant. Richard called to find out what was going on with my mother. It was a facetime call. I answered, tried to stand my phone so that I could see him, managed to spill some of the 'leches' on to my trousers, said something unsavoury, and then spilled some more on my jacket. The black trousers suit had become speckled with beige highlights. As some will know, my co-ordination is not always the best. In trying to wipe my trousers, I failed to let go of the cake tin, and a lot of the 'leches' spilled on to the stove top, and then dripped down on to the other trouser leg. All in all, it was a terrible mess. It was all over the counter-top. All the aforementioned counter-tops!
I did get cleared up, and I did get to work. I did get my nails painted and I did get a call from my sister to say the ambulence had finally arrived, and was taking my mother to the casualty department. Around four fifteen, my time, she was in a bed and on a drip!
Dinner was delicious, so I am told. I rather liked it myself! The 'quattro leches' was tasted and sounds of 'mmm' were heard. That is good enough for me! Seconds were taken of the stroganoff, so thanks Mary!
My fridge and kitchen table were finally cleared of all cookies, pies and milky desserts. Anyone who expressed an interest was given a 'care package'.
I walked on Sunday morning, and chatted with a few neighbours. The sun was shining and the temperature mild. I had planned to make some gingerbread men, and perhaps sparkly meringues as I have found some coloured sugar. However, it was a lovely afternoon, and I thought it might be nice to sit by the water and read for half an hour. It was!
The conversations with my mum on Sunday were good. She was not happy about being in hospital, but we chatted about old times and she seemed to enjoy the discussion.
Next week sees the 'big' day. I am not sure what will be on the menu, or if there will be a menu! Perhaps I will let someone else do the cooking for the yuletide extravaganza. Once again, I wish everyone who celebrates a very Merry Christmas, and will check in before the new year with .......... another story!
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