It seems that shit can’t just hit the fan once, it must come in multiples. Yay.
After losing my job, my partner’s long-term sub job was cut short and then we received a notice from the bank on our front door saying that we’ve defaulted on our mortgage. Of course, this doesn’t take into account the modification(s) we’ve been doing, so at first it seems like another case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing, but at the same time it’s still a serious matter. As much as I’d hate to lose the house and everything we’ve put into it, which yes, includes the chickens, the reality is we may not have any choice but to move.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Orange Cardamom Cake
Thanks to the enthusiasm on Facebook over my post about possibly blogging the recipe to the Orange Cardamom Cake I made for my stepdad’s wedding, I’m going to. But don’t think I always will give in to peer pressure, because I was planning on posting it anyway.
So here’s the deal, I like to experiment on recipes and have no problem doing so when it comes to someone’s wedding cake. I know this makes me a bad person in some eyes, but alas, I don’t care. I’ve never come up with an abhorrent flavor combination that caused anyone to become physically ill and start convulsing, so I’m pretty confident in my ability to go with my gut and trust my own judgment. Yeah, I’m pretty snazzy like that.
However, when experimenting on other people’s cake, I don’t usually like to start with a scratch recipe. Let me explain. Baking is pretty scientific, which really means that there are ratios involved which shouldn’t be adjusted too much otherwise the whole thing could be a disaster. I’ve found that by using a white cake mix with pudding that I can experiment to my heart’s delight and not have to worry so much if my liquid ratios are off by a little. Of course, years in the kitchen doing these experiments will eventually yield the expertise required to know when one of your creations will be a success or a dud. With that in mind, here is the recipe.
Orange Cardamom Cake
1 box white cake mix with pudding
4 eggs
¾ cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon cinnamon
zest and juice of 2 oranges
water (I’ll tell you how much)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Zest oranges using a microplane or a small grater, or simply use a paring knife to peel just the orange zest and not the bitter pith and finely mince. Juice the oranges into a fine mesh sieve set over a 2 cup or larger glass measuring cup and add enough water to equal one cup, or if you happen to have orange juice, use that. In the bowl of an electric mixer on low speed, combine cake mix, cardamom and cinnamon until well blended. Add eggs, oil, vanilla, orange zest and juice and mix on low until combined, about 1 minute. Divide between two 8 or 9 inch pans or a 9x13 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before turning out to cool completely on a wire rack. Or make cupcakes and bake for 17 minutes. Frost with your favorite buttercream frosting. Of course, this would make a great Bundt cake too and just drizzle a simple glaze or dust with powdered sugar.
So here’s the deal, I like to experiment on recipes and have no problem doing so when it comes to someone’s wedding cake. I know this makes me a bad person in some eyes, but alas, I don’t care. I’ve never come up with an abhorrent flavor combination that caused anyone to become physically ill and start convulsing, so I’m pretty confident in my ability to go with my gut and trust my own judgment. Yeah, I’m pretty snazzy like that.
However, when experimenting on other people’s cake, I don’t usually like to start with a scratch recipe. Let me explain. Baking is pretty scientific, which really means that there are ratios involved which shouldn’t be adjusted too much otherwise the whole thing could be a disaster. I’ve found that by using a white cake mix with pudding that I can experiment to my heart’s delight and not have to worry so much if my liquid ratios are off by a little. Of course, years in the kitchen doing these experiments will eventually yield the expertise required to know when one of your creations will be a success or a dud. With that in mind, here is the recipe.
Orange Cardamom Cake
1 box white cake mix with pudding
4 eggs
¾ cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ teaspoon ground cardamom
½ teaspoon cinnamon
zest and juice of 2 oranges
water (I’ll tell you how much)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Zest oranges using a microplane or a small grater, or simply use a paring knife to peel just the orange zest and not the bitter pith and finely mince. Juice the oranges into a fine mesh sieve set over a 2 cup or larger glass measuring cup and add enough water to equal one cup, or if you happen to have orange juice, use that. In the bowl of an electric mixer on low speed, combine cake mix, cardamom and cinnamon until well blended. Add eggs, oil, vanilla, orange zest and juice and mix on low until combined, about 1 minute. Divide between two 8 or 9 inch pans or a 9x13 pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before turning out to cool completely on a wire rack. Or make cupcakes and bake for 17 minutes. Frost with your favorite buttercream frosting. Of course, this would make a great Bundt cake too and just drizzle a simple glaze or dust with powdered sugar.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Winter Wedding
Last night’s wedding went off without a hitch. And the orange cardamom cake was absolutely delicious.
Upon arriving at our destination, we noticed that there were quite a few people, many more than I had originally planned and made cake for. However, within a half-an-hour it became quite obvious that one party was just ending and what we found ourselves in the midst of was the combination of a very large reception and a very small wedding. I didn’t know this at first, and did a little freaking out about not having enough cake when out pops a Costco cake dressed in the same colors I did the wedding cake in. The homeowner and I reorganized the table to make a pleasing arrangement with their two Old English Sheep Dogs weaving around us.
With everything set, I walked away to mingle. A few minutes later, I noticed the people in the house halved as I went to check on the cakes to make sure none of the random children in the house had decided to sample them. Fortunately they didn’t, and now were absent from the picture, but now we had way too much cake. Oh well. It happens.
The wedding was beautiful and my stepdad’s vows actually made me cry, and I don’t cry at weddings. Even the homeowner was amazed at how quickly her and her husband’s living room was transformed into a wedding chapel, complete with an unobstructed view of the Columbia River behind the wall of nearly floor to ceiling windows. I now see why the bride wanted to have the wedding here, and honestly I think a winter wedding was a wise choice. Mostly because it allowed me to pipe snowflakes all over and use Christmas picks and rainbow LEDs on the cake.
And the orange cardamom cake? Divine. I’m still debating over whether to share the recipe, but I’m sure I’ll reveal it in tomorrow’s post. After all, it was far too delicious to simply keep to myself, and far too easy to hide it away. Unlike my chocolate chip cookie recipe which requires three days to make, and nobody will ever have it. I’m taking that one to the grave.
Upon arriving at our destination, we noticed that there were quite a few people, many more than I had originally planned and made cake for. However, within a half-an-hour it became quite obvious that one party was just ending and what we found ourselves in the midst of was the combination of a very large reception and a very small wedding. I didn’t know this at first, and did a little freaking out about not having enough cake when out pops a Costco cake dressed in the same colors I did the wedding cake in. The homeowner and I reorganized the table to make a pleasing arrangement with their two Old English Sheep Dogs weaving around us.
With everything set, I walked away to mingle. A few minutes later, I noticed the people in the house halved as I went to check on the cakes to make sure none of the random children in the house had decided to sample them. Fortunately they didn’t, and now were absent from the picture, but now we had way too much cake. Oh well. It happens.
The wedding was beautiful and my stepdad’s vows actually made me cry, and I don’t cry at weddings. Even the homeowner was amazed at how quickly her and her husband’s living room was transformed into a wedding chapel, complete with an unobstructed view of the Columbia River behind the wall of nearly floor to ceiling windows. I now see why the bride wanted to have the wedding here, and honestly I think a winter wedding was a wise choice. Mostly because it allowed me to pipe snowflakes all over and use Christmas picks and rainbow LEDs on the cake.
And the orange cardamom cake? Divine. I’m still debating over whether to share the recipe, but I’m sure I’ll reveal it in tomorrow’s post. After all, it was far too delicious to simply keep to myself, and far too easy to hide it away. Unlike my chocolate chip cookie recipe which requires three days to make, and nobody will ever have it. I’m taking that one to the grave.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Cartoon Rewind
Okay, so I’ll admit it, I watched She-Ra: Princess of Power as a kid. Now we’re making the kiddos we’re sitting watch it too.
Saturday morning cartoons seem to be a thing of the past, with the exception of a few programs on OPB, our local Public Broadcasting Station, which are both educational and entertaining. Last night after the kids went to bed, my partner went onto Netflix’s stream menu using our Wii and saw that She-Ra was on it, immediately started the first episode, and now we are at least watching the “movie” or however many episodes it takes for Princess Adora to become She-Ra, Princess of Power, the twin sister of Prince Adam, who’s secret identity is He-Man. They seem to be hooked.
All this got me wondering why our generation had so many cartoon offerings as kids that this generation seems to be lacking, and the only thing I can come up with is that with cable TV offerings geared directly towards kids the networks just can’t compete. And besides that, there are so few cartoons currently on cable worth watching. But since we don’t have cable just rabbit ears for over-the-air broadcasting, I’m glad Netflix has a plethora of cartoons from our youth to show the next generation… and that She-Ra is among them.
All this got me wondering why our generation had so many cartoon offerings as kids that this generation seems to be lacking, and the only thing I can come up with is that with cable TV offerings geared directly towards kids the networks just can’t compete. And besides that, there are so few cartoons currently on cable worth watching. But since we don’t have cable just rabbit ears for over-the-air broadcasting, I’m glad Netflix has a plethora of cartoons from our youth to show the next generation… and that She-Ra is among them.
Friday, December 3, 2010
Surprise Wedding
You know when you are planning on attending a wedding next summer and then, SURPRISE! it’s been changed to Saturday? Maybe that only happens in my family.
Well my stepdad is remarrying his third wife this Saturday. The first time the marriage was annulled within six months, but the two have remained close since. I’m pretty sure that the main reason it didn’t work the first time was because of the kids, but now that each of their kids are grown I think they’ll fare a better chance. We’ll see. After all, they are both feisty, passionate and stubborn, which is too much alike. But then again, that combination seems to attract like-minded mates.
Anyway, so instead of planning a wedding cake for next summer, I’m having to come up with a design today. This wouldn’t be so difficult except that we offered to watch our friends’s nephews overnight, have our nephew’s birthday party to go to, and, oh yeah, I still have to make the cake! Fun day ahead, along with going to WorkSource for a couple job leads I want to apply for, the Health Department to renew my food handler card, and possibly the craft store for a cake topper. Good thing I got fired Wednesday otherwise I wouldn’t have so much time to get all this done!
So while I am happy for my stepdad, who seems to be really happy about all of this, I’m a bit saddened for the rest of the family, but only a bit. You see, they already had a big wedding the first time around and everyone was there for it, so thirteen years later when they are doing it again, I don’t really see a need for a repeat performance. My hope is that they make it work this time because they both deserve to be happy, and if that means finding each other again, then I wish them all the best. In the mean time, I’ve got a cake to make.
Well my stepdad is remarrying his third wife this Saturday. The first time the marriage was annulled within six months, but the two have remained close since. I’m pretty sure that the main reason it didn’t work the first time was because of the kids, but now that each of their kids are grown I think they’ll fare a better chance. We’ll see. After all, they are both feisty, passionate and stubborn, which is too much alike. But then again, that combination seems to attract like-minded mates.
Anyway, so instead of planning a wedding cake for next summer, I’m having to come up with a design today. This wouldn’t be so difficult except that we offered to watch our friends’s nephews overnight, have our nephew’s birthday party to go to, and, oh yeah, I still have to make the cake! Fun day ahead, along with going to WorkSource for a couple job leads I want to apply for, the Health Department to renew my food handler card, and possibly the craft store for a cake topper. Good thing I got fired Wednesday otherwise I wouldn’t have so much time to get all this done!
So while I am happy for my stepdad, who seems to be really happy about all of this, I’m a bit saddened for the rest of the family, but only a bit. You see, they already had a big wedding the first time around and everyone was there for it, so thirteen years later when they are doing it again, I don’t really see a need for a repeat performance. My hope is that they make it work this time because they both deserve to be happy, and if that means finding each other again, then I wish them all the best. In the mean time, I’ve got a cake to make.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Not Telemarketing Material
While I know this job wasn’t a dream by anybody’s standards, it was a paying job nonetheless. Apparently I’m just not cut out to be a telemarketer.
So after having, arguably, the best day at work where I was setting appointments easily and getting people interested in what the company could offer, I get called into the office five minutes before the day is over. With the personnel manager on one side and the manager on the other, they inform me that I’m just not a good fit for the company. After asking why, specifically, I wasn’t a good fit, they told me that this job isn’t for everyone. Dodging the question during an exit interview seems cowardly and unlike either of them, which tells me that someone else who wasn’t in the room made the decision.
I’m not sure why I cared so much, but I was quite visibly distraught, crying, and could not for the life of me stop shaking. Why would I feel so shaken up over a job I didn’t even like? Then the realization that it was the first job offer I had gotten since becoming unemployed set in, and instead of making a calculated, educated decision on the matter, simply said yes right away. Beggars can’t be choosers, after all, and this job market is far too competitive to let any chance of work go, especially a full time job with great hours, even if the pay is shitty and the benefits practically nonexistent.
And so now I go back onto the job hunt, hopefully with more knowledge than I had last time I was let go, and hopefully with a better chance at finding a job that does fit me. While I am still slightly pessimistic at the chance I’ll be happy with the next job I find, I know one thing… it won’t be in a call center as a telemarketer.
So after having, arguably, the best day at work where I was setting appointments easily and getting people interested in what the company could offer, I get called into the office five minutes before the day is over. With the personnel manager on one side and the manager on the other, they inform me that I’m just not a good fit for the company. After asking why, specifically, I wasn’t a good fit, they told me that this job isn’t for everyone. Dodging the question during an exit interview seems cowardly and unlike either of them, which tells me that someone else who wasn’t in the room made the decision.
I’m not sure why I cared so much, but I was quite visibly distraught, crying, and could not for the life of me stop shaking. Why would I feel so shaken up over a job I didn’t even like? Then the realization that it was the first job offer I had gotten since becoming unemployed set in, and instead of making a calculated, educated decision on the matter, simply said yes right away. Beggars can’t be choosers, after all, and this job market is far too competitive to let any chance of work go, especially a full time job with great hours, even if the pay is shitty and the benefits practically nonexistent.
And so now I go back onto the job hunt, hopefully with more knowledge than I had last time I was let go, and hopefully with a better chance at finding a job that does fit me. While I am still slightly pessimistic at the chance I’ll be happy with the next job I find, I know one thing… it won’t be in a call center as a telemarketer.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Morning Sickness
Okay, so I realize today’s topic is a little, uh, gross, but hear me out. I’ve had morning sickness since I was a kid.
The thing about this particular sickness is the inability to eat breakfast, which, for the most part is fine if you have time a little later in the day to eat something. However, the constant churning, growling and burping caused by this can be quite annoying in an office environment. Whether it is caused by acid reflux, stress, anxiety or a bacteria, the symptoms all seem to be the same. On some occasions it’s so bad it leads to vomiting up bile, which, is quite disgusting and usually leads to more vomit.
So, after a particularly embarrassing day at work yesterday where I threw up during the morning meeting, I decided to do a little research to find out what exactly causes this and how to get rid of it. On the one hand there are quite a few people who have all the same symptoms I do every morning, but on the other hand there is no clear answer for how to solve the problem. Balls. Short of seeing a doctor, I’m going to try a few suggestions that seem to have worked for others, like drinking more water throughout the day (which with my Irish bladder will be fun), and eat a banana first thing in the morning. I ate the banana before my stomach started getting too angry and drank a ton of water yesterday, so we’ll see if this helps. If after twenty years of dealing with this is all it’d take to keep it under control, I’m going to laugh.
The thing about this particular sickness is the inability to eat breakfast, which, for the most part is fine if you have time a little later in the day to eat something. However, the constant churning, growling and burping caused by this can be quite annoying in an office environment. Whether it is caused by acid reflux, stress, anxiety or a bacteria, the symptoms all seem to be the same. On some occasions it’s so bad it leads to vomiting up bile, which, is quite disgusting and usually leads to more vomit.
So, after a particularly embarrassing day at work yesterday where I threw up during the morning meeting, I decided to do a little research to find out what exactly causes this and how to get rid of it. On the one hand there are quite a few people who have all the same symptoms I do every morning, but on the other hand there is no clear answer for how to solve the problem. Balls. Short of seeing a doctor, I’m going to try a few suggestions that seem to have worked for others, like drinking more water throughout the day (which with my Irish bladder will be fun), and eat a banana first thing in the morning. I ate the banana before my stomach started getting too angry and drank a ton of water yesterday, so we’ll see if this helps. If after twenty years of dealing with this is all it’d take to keep it under control, I’m going to laugh.
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