Cheesy Potatoes

Cheesy Potatoes

Serves about 20-24.

Ahh yes, Cheesy Potato Season has pretty much arrived. You know... backyard barbeques, family cookouts, potlucks with friends. Cheesy Potatoes often make an appearance, they're always devoured, and guests never tire of seeing them on the spread.

I have failed you by not offering a photo of the wondrous, cheesy middle... I apologize for that.

Source: My mom

2 lbs. frozen hash browns, thawed

1 pt. sour cream

1 small onion, chopped (about 1/2 c.)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese (8 oz. package)

1 t. salt

3/4 c. melted butter (1-1/2 sticks)

2 c. Corn Flakes, slightly crushed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients together besides butter and Corn Flakes; combine well. Transfer potato mixture to a 13x9 baking dish. Top with Corn Flakes and melted butter. Bake for 1 hour.

Happy Ever After

Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

We finally arrive at book 4 in the Bridal Quartet by Nora Roberts. The first three, in case you're interested, are Vision in White, Bed of Roses, and Savor the Moment. This final book focuses on Mac, the organized wedding planner of the girls. Her focus on progress and accomplishments has driven her away from commitments in the past, but she keeps getting drawn back to one guy in particular. Of the four books, this was probably my least favorite -- a little too predictable and cheesy (although they all have the cheese-factor to a certain extent!), but how could I not complete the series?? If you're an avid reader and planning a wedding, aim to read the whole quartet -- you will enjoy the content, you won't be burdened by the length or difficulty, and, who knows? You may even pick up some new ideas!

Booklist review from Amazon.com:

As wedding planner for Vows, Parker Brown manages to make every wedding the perfect day for her clients. From demanding brides to feuding guests to last-minute menu changes, Parker can handle anything and anyone with aplomb. Nothing and no one rattles her, until Malcomb Kavanaugh unexpectedly kisses her one day after helping her fix a flat tire. At first, Parker dismisses the kiss as just another twist to Malcomb’s always flirtatious nature, but as it turns out, the sexy auto mechanic really is interested in starting something with Parker. Somehow, though, the whole idea of a serious romantic relationship with Malcomb is enough to rattle her. Roberts, the reigning Queen of Romance, brings her Bride Quartet series to a splendidly satisfying conclusion with another deliciously sexy and delightfully humorous contemporary romance that perfectly celebrates the importance of love, friendship, and family in any woman’s life. --John Charles

Peanut Butter Chewies

Peanut Butter Chewies

Makes about 4 dozen.

Appropriately named, these cookies are chewier than your typical peanut butter cookie. Personally, I like the addition of the chocolate chips, but do whichever you prefer!

Source: Best-Loved Cookies cookbook

1 Butter Flavor Crisco stick or 1 Butter Flavor Crisco all-vegetable shortening

1-1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

1-1/2 c. firmly packed light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 can (14-oz.) sweetened condensed milk

2 t. vanilla

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1 t. salt

1-1/2 c. pecans OR chocolate chips, optional

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine 1 cup shortening, peanut butter, and sugar in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed of electric mixer until well blended. Beat in eggs, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix into shortening mixture at low speed until just blended. Stir in pecans or chocolate chips, if using.

Drop rounded tablespoonfuls of dough 2" apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake one cookie sheet at a time for 12-13 minutes or until lightly browned on bottom. Do not overbake. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheets. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

Grill season!

Grill season!

One of my favorite things about spring is firing the grill back up and eating dinner on the patio. Grill meals usually require little preparation, yet are almost always hugely satisfying. Maybe it's because we don't have the opportunity to grill year-round. Well, we do, but WE, personally, choose not too. For me, it's the experience of grilling I love. Sitting outside and sipping a cold drink while the food cooks. Eating outside afterward. Ahh... I love it all.

Here are some personal GRILL FAVORITES:

- pictured above: Grilled brats with a fresh side salad

- Teriyaki Chicken

- Honey Cumin Glazed Pork Tenderloin

- Skeen Burgers

- Flank Steak Teriyaki

- All-In-One Bacon Cheeseburgers

- Tiger Shrimp

- Whiskey Hamburgers

- Smoky Barbequed Pork Tenderloin with Molasses Mop

- Pesto Turkey Burgers

Happy grilling!

Housekeeping

Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson

The main character, Ruthie, experiences a few different caretakers after her mother's mysteriously death. Both she and her sister struggle to figure out themselves, their situation, and their lives. This isn't a light, happy book. But it's real and it's written very well. Although not set in the same time period, it has a Laura-Ingalls-Wilder-feel to it. Something about the quest for survival in a rural area.

Publisher's Weekly review from Amazon.com:

Their lives spun off the tilting world like thread off a spindle," says Ruthie, the novel's narrator. The same may be said of Becket Royce's subtle, low-keyed reading. The interwoven themes of loss and love, longing and loneliness—"the wanting never subsided"—require a cool, almost impersonal touch. Royce narrates natural and manmade catastrophe and ruin as the author offers them: with a sort of watery vagueness engulfing extraordinary events. Occasionally this leads Royce to sound sleepy or to glide over humor. But she expresses Ruthie's story without any irksome effort to sound childlike, and she avoids the pitfall of dramatizing other characters, such as the awkward sheriff, the whispery insubstantiality of Aunt Sylvie or the ladies bearing casseroles to lure Ruthie away from Aunt Sylvie and into their concept of normality. Originally published in 1980 and filmed in 1987, Housekeeping is finally on audio because of Robinson's new Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gilead. The novel holds up remarkably and painfully well, and the language remains searching and sonorous. Anatole Broyard wrote back then: "Here is a first novel that sounds as if the author has been treasuring it up all her life...." And because the author's rhythms, images and diction are so original and dense, this audio is a treasure for listeners who have or haven't read the book.

Beef Enchiladas II

Beef Enchiladas II

Serves 6.

Basic, basic. Easy, peasy. But perfect for families with kids... and families that rely on make-ahead meals... and families like us -- two adult "kids!"

But you've been warned, enchiladas are hard to photograph! I've gotten an "F" every time I've tried!

Slightly adapted from: AllRecipes.com

8 flour tortillas

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 can enchilada sauce

2 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

(This photo shows 4 enchiladas in an 8x8 baking pan.

You can bake half and freeze half for another meal.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is evenly browned and the onion is tender. Remove from heat and stir in 1 to 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese.

Pour 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. On each tortilla, place an equal amount of the beef mixture. Roll up and place, seam side down, in the baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Top with enchilada sauce and shredded cheese.

Bake for 20 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly and cheese is completely melted.

A Note From The Little Lady: If making ahead of time and refrigerating, increase cooking time to 40-50 minutes. If making ahead of time and freezing, thaw overnight in refrigerator and increase cooking time to 60 minutes.

Fruity Pebbles Treats

Fruity Pebbles Treats

Makes about 24.

Rice Krispies Treats... with a twist! These are fun, colorful, and super sweet! A great thing to make with kids, because it's so easy. I like to increase the amount of butter and marshmallows to achieve an extra gooey treat.

Slightly adapted from: Fruity Pebbles box

6 c. Fruity Pebbles cereal

1 stick butter

1 (10-oz.) mini marshmallows (about 4 cups)

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

Stir in cereal and mix until evenly coated. Press mixture into a greased 13x9 pan. Cut into squares when cool.

Such a Pretty Face

Such a Pretty Face by Cathy Lamb

This one's a little longer than most, but it's a great read! I never found myself bored and wishing the book would move faster. The jumps back and forth between past and present help keep you attention as you follow the life of Stevie Barrett as she comes to terms with her experiences, her body, and herself.

Booklist review from Amazon.com:

In Such A Pretty Face, author Lamb does not skirt around her heroine’s many problems. The book opens with a tragic memory from Stevie Barrett’s childhood that would go on to define her life, and she eventually finds herself entirely alone and dangerously overweight. Her life is a restricted one in which she contantly feels secluded and lonely. After she undergoes weight-loss surgery and loses so much weight that she is literally half the woman she once was, Stevie slowly begins her own healing process. However, her path to healing is not a smooth one, and she soon finds herself facing many troubles: she runs into difficulties at the law office where she works, suffers from a crippling shyness around the opposite sex despite her new slim figure, realizes that her best friend is unsupportive, and must deal with a strained relationship with the aunt and uncle who took her in so many years ago and whose anniversary party she now must plan. Lamb writes Stevie’s story with humor and brutal honesty, and the result is an affecting portrait of one woman’s heroic journey from tragedy to her own version of happiness. --Claire Orphan

Rosemary Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Rosemary Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Makes 5 sandwiches.

Super tasty and easier on the waistline than traditional mayo-laden chicken salad. You won't miss it!

Source: Cooking Light magazine

3 c. chopped roasted skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs. uncooked)

1/3 c. chopped green onions

1/4 c. chopped smoked almonds, optional

1/4 c. plain fat-free yogurt

1/4 c. light mayonnaise

1 t. chopped fresh rosemary

1 t. Dijon mustard

1/8 t. salt

1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper

5 sandwich buns

Combine first 9 ingredients, stirring well. Spread 2/3 cup of chicken mixture over each bun and serve.

Laughing Cow Alfredo Sauce

Laughing Cow Alfredo Sauce

Serves 2

I love this sauce! It's rich and creamy but not all that bad for you. Serve over penne, add chicken and some garlic bread and you've got yourself a very tasty meal!

I can't remember where I originally got this recipe, but here's one source: SparkPeople

3 wedges Laughing Cow Light Creamy Swiss cheese

1 T. parmesan cheese

1/2 T. margarine

1/2 c. skim milk (or fat-free half-and-half)

1/2 t. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally until cheese is completely melted and mixture is smooth. This will take 15-20 minutes.

Serve over cooked penne pasta with grilled chicken strips, if desired.

Easy Labor

Easy Labor by William Camann, M.D. and Kathryn Alexander, M.A.

I'm expecting a wee baby girl on July 14 and The Mister and I could not be more thrilled. In an attempt to educate myself on the different options out there, I decided to read this book, among others. Out of all the books I read, I thought this one did the best job of offering the most trustworthy information without trying to sway you one direction or the other. A great read for first-time moms wanting to know more about the labor and birth process, and the different options available to you. It also stresses the importance of speaking up for yourself and being knowledgeable as a patient, and when to question doctors orders/suggestions.

Reviews from Amazon.com:

A superb book that gives anyone who is pregnant a great understanding of the choices and rationale for those options that make birth easier.
~Dr Michael Roizen, MD, co-author of New York Times #1 bestseller, YOU: The Owner’s Manual

Gives pregnant women a comprehensive overview of all their options for making labor more comfortable.
~ Newsweek

"Down-to-earth prose provides compelling descriptions of labor from moms, doctors, and midwives. A “Great Read”."
–FitPregnancy Magazine

"Provides a road map through the thorny thicket of labor — no matter what path you choose."
–ePregnancy Magazine editor’s book pick

“Best Bet” for labor literature!"
–Pregnancy Magazine

"A thoughtful and thorough look at epidurals, narcotics, hypnosis, acupuncture, and other traditional and nontraditional methods of pain relief, so your choices can be well informed. The authors believe that knowledge is power — in this case, the power to choose pain-relief methods that reflect one’s own values, priorities, and preferences. They deliver the facts and options in a meaningful and easy-to-understand way, while acknowledging feelings and providing reassurance."
–National Parenting Publications Gold Medal Award

“A common sense, down-to-earth approach to discussing pain-relief options during childbirth . . . a must for women wanting the straight scoop on what to expect during delivery!”
–Joy Hawkins, M.D., director of Obstetric Anesthesia and professor of anesthesiology, at the University of Colorado

“Reassuring and informative . . . a detailed and readable presentation of maternal stress, fear, and pain during childbirth.”
–Penny Simkin, co-founder of Doulas of North America International, and author of The Birth Partner

General Tso's Chicken

General Tso's Chicken

Serves 2 (take-out-sized servings)

General Tso's is one of The Mister's favorite things to get at Chinese restaurants. Actually, it's the only thing he gets. But we all know that the fried chicken, among other things, in General Tso's is not exactly a picture of health. My revisions make it a little bit better for you and, while I'm not expecting my version to completely replace the need for take-out, I will say that this got rave reviews! It still relies on some modern conveniences, so it's not that hard either.

1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast, chopped into 1" cubes/pieces
3 c. mixed chopped veggies of your choice (I used onion, broccoli, red pepper, green pepper, and carrots)
Olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan
General Tso's sauce (find it near the soy sauce)
Asian or fried rice, prepared to package directions

Add olive oil to a large skillet -- enough to just cover the bottom of the pan -- and heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to the skillet and, when it's just about cooked through, add chopped veggies to the skillet. Continue cooking until veggies are crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add General Tso's sauce (about 3/4 cup?), and toss to coat. Let flavors fully blend by allowing to cook a few minutes longer.

Serve chicken mixture over prepared rice.

Chewy Brownies

Chewy Brownies

Makes about 24.

April Fools! These "brownies" are actually made with a cake mix!

Okay, that was kind of a stretch...

Either way, these are tasty. They are much more cakey than traditional brownies, though, so don't expect the dense, fudgey brownies that you may or may not prefer.

Source: 101 Things to do With a Cake Mix cookbook

1 chocolate cake mix

1/2 c. margarine, softened

3 eggs

3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1 can chocolate frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together cake mix, margarine, and eggs until the cake mix is completely absorbed. Stir in chocolate chips. Press the stiff dough evenly into a greased 13x9" pan.

Bake 25-28 minutes. When cooled, frost and cut into squares.

Savor the Moment

Savor the Moment by Nora Roberts

This is the third book in The Bridal Quartet by Nora Roberts. I've read books one, Vision in White, and two, Bed of Roses, and like them all because they are quick, easy reads about love and weddings. Mac and Emma found love in books #1 and #2, and now it's Laurel's turn...

Product description from Amazon.com:

New Love takes the cake in the third novel in Nora Roberts's new Bride Quartet-in a stunning French flap edition

Wedding baker Laurel McBane is surrounded by romance working at Vows wedding planning company with her best friends Parker, Emma, and Mac. But she's too low-key to appreciate all the luxuries that their clients seem to long for. What she does appreciate is a strong, intelligent man, a man just like Parker's older brother Delaney, on whom she's had a mega-crush since childhood.

But some infatuations last longer than others, and Laurel is convinced that the Ivy League lawyer is still out of her reach. Plus, Del is too protective of Laurel to ever cross the line with her-or so she thinks. When Laurel's quicksilver moods get the better of her-leading to an angry, hot, all-together mind-blowing kiss with Del-she'll have to quiet the doubts in her mind to turn a moment of passion into forever...

Country Brunch

Country Brunch

Serves 6-8

Double this easily to serve a larger crowd.

Source: Ohio P.E.O. Cooks II cookbook

8 slices firm (or wheat) bread

1-1/4 c. cooked and crumbled bacon (about 1/2 lb.)

8 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded

8 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded

3 eggs

1-1/2 c. whole milk

1/4 t. dry mustard

1/8 t. onion powder

Trim crusts from bread; cut slices in halves. Grease a 8x8" baking pan and layer as follows: Cover bottom of pan with one-half of bread, one-half of bacon, and one-half of each of the cheeses. Repeat a second layer. Combine eggs, milk, and seasonings. Pour over layers; refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into squares.

Buttermilk Scrambled Eggs

Buttermilk Scrambled Eggs

Serves 2.

Sometimes it's nice to switch things up a bit. The buttermilk in these eggs simply replaces the milk that is typically added.

6 eggs

1/6 c. buttermilk

Salt and pepper, to taste

Heat a skillet over medium heat and coat with non-stick spray or a bit of melted butter.

Whisk together eggs and buttermilk. Add salt and pepper. Pour eggs into prepared pan and scramble by flipping and tossing eggs with a spatula. Serve with bacon, sausage, or toast... or all three!

The Higher Power of Lucky

The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron

Every once in a while I enjoy reading young adult lit. Something about the simplicity of the writing, the ability to get through it fast, and the "younger" approach to adult topics is just a breath of fresh air. This wasn't one of the best I've read, but it did win a Newberry award, so it could be just what your grade-schooler is looking for!

School Library Journal review from Amazon.com:

Grade 4-6–Ten-year-old Lucky is sure that if she finds her Higher Power she will gain special insight into her life, just like the people she eavesdrops on at the Anonymous meetings. Lucky knows about the uncertainty of life because she lost her mother in a sudden accident two years ago and her guardian, Brigitte, is homesick for France. Hard Pan, California, population 43, is a unique and sometimes harsh place, but Lucky loves life at the edge of the desert with people that she knows and loves. The youngster wants to be a scientist and has so many questions in the crevices of her brain. Her motto is to stay alert and to carry a survival kit at all times because things happen when you least expect them. When she thinks that Brigitte plans to leave, Lucky knows she has hit rock bottom and must run away, although things don't turn out the way she plans. Narrator Cassandra Campbell brings Susan Patron's Newbery Award-winning novel (Atheneum, 2006) to life, giving each character a slightly different, expressive voice. Brigitte's soft French accent and Lucky's earnest longing and unique view of life are especially captivating. The novel addresses difficult topics such as death, absent parents, and addiction with realism, humor, and wonder, making the overall message one of hope and love.–Teresa Wittmann, Westgate Elementary School, Edmonds, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Italian Chicken Sub Sandwiches

Italian Chicken Sub Sandwiches

Makes 2 sandwiches.

A hit with the mister!

2 hoagie rolls

Olive oil

1 chicken breast

1/4 c. Italian dressing

4 slices provolone cheese

4 slices Genoa salami

Creamy Italian dressing

Marinate chicken breast in Italian dressing for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Split open hoagie rolls and brush insides with olive oil. Set aside.

Cook chicken breast in a skillet over medium heat until cooked through, flipping halfway through. Thinly slice chicken breast and separate into two portions.

Assemble each sandwich by layering two slices of salami, chicken, Italian dressing, and topped with provolone cheese. Top with other side of bun and wrap sandwich in foil.

Bake for 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and sandwich is warmed through.

Bacon Crescent Appetizers

Bacon Crescent Appetizers

These must've been a hit, because they went fast!

Source: Kraft Food and Family magazine

Makes about 64 bite-size appetizers.

2 cans (8-oz. each) refrigerated crescent rolls

1 (8-oz.) block cream cheese

8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 c. finely chopped onions

2 T. chopped fresh parsley

1 T. milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix all ingredients except crescent roll dough.

Separate each can of dough into 4 rectangles. Cut each rectangle into 8 triangles (you will have 64 triangles between the two cans of crescent roll dough). Spread each triangle with a small scoop of the cream cheese filling; fold over, as shown in picture.

Place on baking sheet and bake 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Serve warm.

The Other Woman

The Other Woman edited by Victoria Zackheim

An interesting read... a combination of viewpoints from women involved in situations with "the other woman." Some are written by the cheaters, some are written by the cheated-on. An interesting highlight is an entry by Mary Jo Eustace, the woman left behind when she was replaced by Tori Spelling with husband Dean.

Publishers Weekly review from Amazon.com:

The Other Woman may be a topic of eternally prurient interest, but the main attraction of this strong collection of 21 personal essays is the top-drawer writers such as Diana Abu-Jaber, Laurie Stone and Susan Cheever. Narrated from the point of view of the marriage wrecker or that of the wife who suffers the anguish of triangulation in a trusting relationship, these tales drip with the bitterness of experience. In "Palm Springs," Mary Jo Eustace records the shattering moment when she was stranded on vacation with her small children, and her husband revealed he had fallen in love with his movie co-star. Jane Smiley's terrifically funny "Iowa Was Never Like This" describes the incorrigible but enchanting litany of love's fickle nature. Dani Shapiro's "The Mistress" recreates her several years' affair with the much older stepfather of her college friend—and the lies she finally uncovered by hiring a detective. And in her plainspoken "The Uterine Blues," Connie May Fowler wonders when women are going to smarten up and stop sabotaging one another by sleeping with each other's husbands. The anthology features tales from women of all ages, lesbians and women who have been abused physically: it is a candid and truly fascinating look at how men and women love and hurt.(June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Original Chex Party Mix

Original Chex Party Mix

Makes 12 cups, about 24 servings.

A long-time party favorite. The bagged stuff is addicting, but THIS is even better.

Source: Chex.com

3 c. Rice Chex

3 c. Corn Chex

3 c. Wheat Chex

1 c. mini pretzels

1 c. peanuts or mixed nuts

1 c. bagel chips, broken in 1" pieces

6 T. butter (I round up to 8 and just use a whole stick)

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

1-1/2 t. seasoned salt

3/4 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. onion powder

Oven directions:

Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

Microwave directions:

In a large microwaveable bowl, combine cereals, pretzels, nuts, and bagel chips; set aside.

In another microwaveable bowl, microwave butter on high for 40 seconds, or until melted. Add Worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.

Microwave, uncovered, on high for 5-6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, or use my lazy-man's technique -- leave in the bowl and stir every 30 minutes or so until cool. Store in an airtight container.

New York-Style Crumb Cake

New York-Style Crumb Cake

Makes one 13"x9" cake.

Serves 24+, depending on how you cut it.

It's my birthday today and I'm celebrating the big 2-7. Besides some traditional (and necessary) birthday cake, this coffee cake is a wonderful way to start my day.

Source: Martha Stewart Living magazine

For the crumb topping:

3-1/2 c. cake flour (not self-rising)

2/3 c. granulated sugar

2/3 c. packed dark-brown sugar

1-1/2 t. ground cinnamon

Coarse salt

2-1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

For the cake:

1-1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan

2-1/2 c. cake flour

1/2 t. baking soda

Coarse salt

1 c. granulated sugar

2 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks

1 t. pure vanilla extract

2/3 c. low-fat buttermilk

Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Make the crumb topping: Mix together flour, sugars, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Pour warm melted butter over mixture, and mix using your hands until medium to large clumps form.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Make the cake: Butter a 13"x9" baking pan. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.

Beat butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs and yolks, 1 at a time, then vanilla. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Continue to beat until well combined.

Spoon batter into pan, and spread evenly using an offset spatula. Sprinkle crumb-topping mixture evenly over batter.

Bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45-50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cake cool slightly, about 15 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Makes 3 dozen.

Happy birthday to my wonderful husband! These cookies are one of his favorites!

Source: back of the can of The Farmer's Market Raisins

1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened

1/2 c. shortening

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

1 t. vanilla extract

1-1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon

3 c. oats, uncooked

1 c. raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, beat the butter, shortening, and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well. Add the flour combination to the batter and mix well. Add the oats and raisins; mix well.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake 10 minutes or until light golden brown in color. Cool one minute on cookie sheets, then place on wire cooling racks. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

Water For Elephants

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen

This is a fantastic book, and here's more reason to read it: the movie for it will be in theaters this April. We all know most books are better than their movies, so quick! Read the book first, be amazed, and then go see the movie, and hopefully be equally impressed.

Amazon.com review:

Jacob Jankowski says: "I am ninety. Or ninety-three. One or the other." At the beginning of Water for Elephants, he is living out his days in a nursing home, hating every second of it. His life wasn't always like this, however, because Jacob ran away and joined the circus when he was twenty-one. It wasn't a romantic, carefree decision, to be sure. His parents were killed in an auto accident one week before he was to sit for his veterinary medicine exams at Cornell. He buried his parents, learned that they left him nothing because they had mortgaged everything to pay his tuition, returned to school, went to the exams, and didn't write a single word. He walked out without completing the test and wound up on a circus train. The circus he joins, in Depression-era America, is second-rate at best. With Ringling Brothers as the standard, Benzini Brothers is far down the scale and pale by comparison.

Water for Elephants is the story of Jacob's life with this circus. Sara Gruen spares no detail in chronicling the squalid, filthy, brutish circumstances in which he finds himself. The animals are mangy, underfed or fed rotten food, and abused. Jacob, once it becomes known that he has veterinary skills, is put in charge of the "menagerie" and all its ills. Uncle Al, the circus impresario, is a self-serving, venal creep who slaps people around because he can. August, the animal trainer, is a certified paranoid schizophrenic whose occasional flights into madness and brutality often have Jacob as their object. Jacob is the only person in the book who has a handle on a moral compass and as his reward he spends most of the novel beaten, broken, concussed, bleeding, swollen and hungover. He is the self-appointed Protector of the Downtrodden, and... he falls in love with Marlena, crazy August's wife. Not his best idea.

The most interesting aspect of the book is all the circus lore that Gruen has so carefully researched. She has all the right vocabulary: grifters, roustabouts, workers, cooch tent, rubes, First of May, what the band plays when there's trouble, Jamaican ginger paralysis, life on a circus train, set-up and take-down, being run out of town by the "revenooers" or the cops, and losing all your hooch. There is one glorious passage about Marlena and Rosie, the bull elephant, that truly evokes the magic a circus can create. It is easy to see Marlena's and Rosie's pink sequins under the Big Top and to imagine their perfect choreography as they perform unbelievable stunts. The crowd loves it--and so will the reader. The ending is absolutely ludicrous and really quite lovely. --Valerie Ryan

Unbearable Lightness

Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi

Wow. What a read. This memoir is commendably honest, almost painfully so. Portia really bares her soul and past as she talks about her battle with anorexia, self-image, and being gay in a straight world. I had trouble putting this book down because I just wanted to keep reading more! You'll cringe, you might cry, and you'll be fascinated by the extremes Portia goes to.

Publishers Weekly review from Amazon.com:

The author, an actor in movies and TV, (including Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, and Better Off Ted), model, and gay rights advocate, writes that "playing the role of heterosexual while fantasizing about being a homosexual had been my reality since I was a child." It's one she played into her 20s, when she was for three years married to a man. Now, she is married to Ellen DeGeneres, whom she met in 2001 after recovering from anorexia and bulimia. De Rossi nicely chronicles the years in between, during which she starved herself to 80 pounds. She artfully draws the reader into the tension of a life lived in secrecy: did anybody notice she lunges rather than walks, the better to burn calories? will anyone guess she is gay? when she nearly fainted, was anyone around? While some details could be viewed as anorexia how-tos, they make it possible to comprehend the twisted logic of de Rossi's frantic daily pursuits, and grasp the enormity of her achievement in overcoming her problems. The path de Rossi took to her happy ending is well worth reading about: her story is a cautionary tale, an inspiration, and a triumph. (Nov.)
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