Your Easy Button Has Arrived!

I may or may not have been carrying on in an escalating voice about why nothing can ever get done around here the easy way when Hot Dog Dude chimed in, "I'm going to get you an Easy Button." I've been sitting around here twiddling my thumbs but it still hasn't shown up, so I decided I better take matters into my own hands.

Once I made this easy button, it changed my life.  One push of the button and the sink was cleared of dirty dishes.  Another push and Hot Dog Dudes' dirty socks magically disappeared off of the floor.  Holy crap what else can this thing do I thought to myself.

Maybe it could cure The Queen of her horrid habit of letting naughty words slip from her lips?  One push of this button and it's all cake.

Let's just say your young child comes home with a note from the teacher informing you that your child taught the whole class a new four letter word.  Just send said child to school the next day with this button and a note informing the teacher, "There is no way they learned it at home, because we use this button at home."

Perhaps you are in a heated argument with your significant other and they think they just got the last word in.  First of all, well just don't let that happen.  Secondly, push this button and hello argument over.

I created this button for emergency situations only!  It comes complete with a warning label that reads:  If you make me push this button, I'd suggest you run and duck for cover.

I had to deploy this button when I realized I didn't make a 20 pounds gone button! FUDGE, FUDGE, FUDGE, I kept repeating to myself.

When Hot Dog Dude came home from work complaining about his crappy day, guess what I told him he is the proud new owner of?  I sent him to work the next day with some Easy Button cookies and I'm sure he will have no more problems.

Thanks guys for your sweet comments about my blue mood last week.  I threw on my red raincoat, put my smile back on and went for a drive to clear my head and go check on something I've been eagerly anticipating - the opening of Cherry season.

They aren't quite ready yet, but I will keep you posted.

I felt so much better after my little road trip, all the great advice you guys gave me about needing to get back in the kitchen was right.  Thank you everyone.

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

Gina

Joanie and Chachi met Fonzie (PG Version)

My sweet friend Nancy has two minions who go by the names Joanie and Chachi.  Every time I see a photo of them I giggle to myself.  Growing up I'm pretty sure I saw all of the Happy Days reruns. I couldn't help but think to myself there was a character missing in Nancy's little menagerie. I mean come on what would the show have been if it wasn't for the one and only Fonzie.

I grabbed a pencil and notepad and went about writing a little story that would do Nancy's feathered friends justice.

Don't judge the scribbles and poor handwriting (it's a gift), my daughter told me she could draw a better version and drew this picture.  (Yes, she was right).

I like to start with a drawing or picture not for the details but for the overall shape.  I then cut out the drawing and trace it onto a thin piece of cardboard to produce a template.  I flipped the template over to produce a mirror image.

Place the template onto rolled sugar cookie dough and cut out with a paring knife.  

I get asked this question often, "When do you insert the sticks when making cookie pops?"  Insert them into the raw dough when it's on the baking sheet, and then bake them.  Don't worry the sticks won't burn.  Once cooled all you have to do is frost them with royal icing.  I used a candy chip for the eye and a food marker for the cheek.  Then you can let your imagination take over at this point.

Nancy came home to find Joanie and Chachi sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!  Nancy thought the two lovebirds needed a little cooling off period and decided to call over Chachis' cousin Fonzie to have a little chat with the two youngsters.

Joanie and Chachi were so happy to see Fonzie.  Joanie was smiling on the outside, but on the inside she was thinking to herself I'm strangely attracted to Fonzie. 

Chachi on the other hand wasn't impressed by The Fonz in his leather jacket and pompadour; he leaned in a little closer for a better view.  Chachi thought to himself, this guy looks freakishly like a penguin but my keen bird senses tells me he is a chicken.  Fonzie started to break out in a mild sweat as he noticed Chachi giving him the - you look tasty glare.  Hey Chachi I don't know what Nancy told you about me, but I'm just here to offer some of my rocking wisdom. 

The Fonz had good reason to fret because Joanie and Chachi were harboring a deep dark secret.  This reason would soon become quite apparent to Fonzie.  Joanie and Chachi were cannibals (gasp)!

Hey Joanie, "Doesn't Fonzie taste like chicken?"  Actually Chachi I was kind of thinking he tasted like cake!  

Sorry kids I had to rate this one PG; I was shocked by those adorable Hannibal Lecters too.

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter.

Gina

Valentine's Chocolate Bark & Baking Party

I hope you all had a relaxing and fun Super Bowl weekend?  I know I did, I was lucky enough to spend part of it with fellow Bay Area food bloggers baking Valentine's Sugar Cookies and Valentine's Chocolate Bark over at Patty's house.

The last couple of weeks have been rather stressful, we put our house for sale and it's been non-stop showings and trying to keep the place spotless.  Well this baking party must have been just what I needed, because when I returned home I had two offers on the house, one of which we accepted. This is welcome news because it frees me up for the important stuff I've been neglecting, like baking.

The weather in the Bay Area was gorgeous this weekend and the amazing Patty graciously welcomed us into her kitchen. We were joined by Lisa - The Authentic Suburban Gourmet, BonniBella, Baking Barrister, and my daughter joined us too.

We had some amazing appetizers to nibble on.  I brought Blood Orange Jam and Meyer Lemon Bread, Patty made us a delectable Point Reyes Original Blue Cheese Apple Quiche, Lisa delighted us with her Stilton and Walnut Palmiers, Stephanie surprised us with Leek Confit, Goat Cheese and Crostini, Bonni shared Thai Shrimp with us, yum.  Everything was so good; I should have stuffed some in my purse for later.

Looks amazing, huh?  Well then you should have been there partaking in the merriment with us, shouldn't you have.  We didn't just gather there to eat though; we were on a baking mission.  

Patty & Lisa fooling around mixing icing.  

Bonni -Chocolate Pop maker extraodinaire.

Valentine's Chocolate Bark

1 pound dark chocolate - Trader Joe's or whatever good quality chocolate you can find

1 pound milk chocolate - Trader Joe's or whatever good quality chocolate you can find

Assorted sprinkles (the big hearts are chewy red hots)

Melt one pound of chocolate at a time in a heat proof bowl over a pot of barely simmering water.

Let the chocolate cool for a couple of minutes.

Spray a half-sheet baking pan with no-stick spray and pour one kind of the chocolate in the pan drizzling it around.

Melt the second kind of chocolate and pour it in the empty spaces on the pan.  Tap the pan on the counter to fill in the gaps.  

Cover with sprinkles.  Place in the fridge till hard.  Turn the bark out onto a piece of parchment and slam it down to break up.

We divided up the loot and placed it in "Bark Bags", I repeat "Bark Bags", not "Barf Bags" (sorry inside joke).  Again, you should have been there.

Lisa and Bonni helped style the plates for us.  I must say they are both so good at it, I picked up a couple of new tricks myself.  I wanted to pluck a piece of chocolate right off that napkin, but I resisted the temptation. After we finished the bark, we moved on to sugar cookies.  We put on our inner diva decorator hats and created some super cute cookies to take home to our loved ones.  Patty is going to post the cookie recipe for you shortly.

B.B. and her wicked sense of humor, love it!

My Love and her Cookie Love.  Wonder where she gets those mad decorating skills from?

What do you mean you didn't get your invite to this par-tay?  No worries, there will be another one of these baking parties coming up soon.  To get on the super exclusive invite list, you will have to pass a gang group initiation.  You will need to bring an appetizer for the group to analyze, critique and then eat more of, just to be sure our initial impressions were correct.  If you pass that portion of the initiation; we will stick you in a room with no windows, 16 colors of royal icing, 19 kinds of sprinkles and a piece of cardboard and you will have 6 minutes to come up with a masterpiece to present before the group.  Did you think we would start you off with cookies?  You only get those if you make it to part three.

Enjoy,

Gina