Funnel Cake

I used to love going to the fair as a kid.  Riding on the rides, spinning and spinning until I felt like I was going to puke.  Good times.  Nowadays I can't handle the rides.  Seriously I get sick just looking at them which is weird because I totally love roller coasters.  But at least I can still enjoy the funnel cakes. Speaking of which, I haven't had the opportunity to eat funnel cake in awhile.

No problem, let's make us some funnel cake.  You in?  Sweet.  Found a recipe on Pinterest and have a back up batter mix I got from Butterfly for a school fundraiser.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 Egg
• 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar for making the batter and more for dusting 
• 4 cups of vegetable oil
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
• Food thermometer
• Funnel

Mix together the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Then beat the milk and eggs together in another bowl.

Now is a good time to get the oil going.  I used my wok but you can use a pot or fry daddy to heat up the oil.  It's also a good idea to have a metal spatula with slits to pull the funnel cake out after it is cooked.  Trust me when I say you don't want to be hunting around for it while your funnel cake is burning to a crisp in the pan.

Next up pour the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients or vice versa and mix into a smooth batter.

Here comes the hard part.  Pouring the batter into the oil so that it forms that nice funnel cake shape you are used to getting from the fair.  After several attempts we finally figured out how to do it, well kinda.  Our first attempt we poured the batter from a liquid measuring cup.  This turned out be too thick of a stream and we also poured too fast which caused the batter to form a big central lump with scattered droplets.

The second attempt was a little bit better in that I poured slower resulting in a more cohesive unit, but the strands were once again too thick.

The final attempt was our best try.  The trick is to pour the batter in a slow steady rate with a funnel that will create a smaller stream.  You also need to pour in a spiral from the outside to the middle.  This seemed to keep it in a single unit with thin strips.

Then of course you dump a boatload of powdered sugar over the top and eat up.  Yum Yum!  Very good stuff, but now I'm really stuffed because of course we had to sample all of our attempts.  Luckily my mom was along to help me out or I just might have exploded.  We will definitely have to try again soon with the batter I bought from Butterfly.  Hopefully I will get even better at the pouring.  Wish me luck.

Quest for the Best Banana Bread Ever

I love banana bread, I can't say it enough.  I mean I really, really love banana bread.  The wonderful aroma that hits your nose when you cut a slice off the loaf, the gooey moistness of the bread mixed with the sweet banana flavor as it hits your tongue.  I'm in heaven now just thinking about it until my bubble bursts when I drop back into reality and realize that I won't be able to have some because I can't make a good loaf of banana bread.  I've tried.  Many times, it just never comes out well.  It's either too dry or more likely has absolutely no flavor to it.

Then I decided.  I must search out the best recipe ever and take the time to perfect the execution of said recipe just like I did for my great grandma's chocolate chip cookies.  And that my friends took years of late nights when I was a teenager with insomnia.  Thank you dad for those late night trips to the store for supplies.

My quest has begun.  First step is to find the treasure map, AKA the best banana bread recipe known to man.  Enter my favorite site, Pinterest.  And voila, instantaneously I have a million recipes at my fingertips.  Say hello to my little friend:  Julia's Banana Bread.  Touted as the banana bread that people with drive 20 miles on a one-way road for, replete with dream-induced hallucinations.  Yeah no brainer this was the first recipe I decided to try.

Ingredients

Nonstick vegetable oil spray 
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt 
3 large eggs 
1 1/2 cups sugar 
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large) 
3/4 cup vegetable oil

I had some overripe bananas left over from making a banana cream pie for my sister so I mashed those up in a bowl and mixed them with the eggs, sugar, and vegetable oil. 

Then in a separate bowl I mixed together the dry ingredients and added it to the mix.  After mixing out all the lumps I poured the mixture into a muffin tin (couldn't find my loaf tins).  The recipe said to cook for 60-70 minutes, but I only cooked mine for about 30 minutes because they were muffins instead of a big loaf.  

Piping hot right out of the oven, the smell was amazing and of course I couldn't help but shove some in my mouth right away.  Yeah don't recommend it, I burnt my tongue.  That myth about sugar taking away the burnt tongue doesn't really work, or rather not very well.  Once they cooled down I tried them again.  Definitely more flavor than my other attempts, but it's still missing something and they weren't quite as moist as I would have liked.  If you have any ideas as to how I can improve the recipe or execution of the recipe please let me know.

Update:  Okay so after making the bread I put it into a Ziploc baggie to keep it fresh.  Turns out this was all it needed.  I woke up the next morning and had a loaf and it was magically super moist with lots more flavor.  I still think it needs more banana flavor and a little something else though.  I let you know next time I try to make it.

Ah the wonderful smell of banana bread.  My house will never be the same again.

Next step try to find my loaf tin so that it will be more moist or cook for less time.  Also compare recipes to figure out what is missing.  Maybe I will compare it to Betty Crocker's recipe or that Martha Stewart one.  I'll let you know what I deduce in later attempts with an update.  Wish me luck.

Banana Cream Pie

I'm all about the pies, no cakes.  I'm all about the pies, no cakes.  Thanksgiving is a time for pies, or so I hear so that's what I'm making.  Of course nothing will do but that I make a banana cream pie for my sister.  And if my dad was here I'd be making a lemon pie.  My mom isn't picky she loves pies, but I would probably need to make her a pumpkin pie.

As pies go Banana Cream Pie is easy to make, yeah!  Once again thank you Betty Crocker for your wonderful recipes.

Ingredients: (I used an 8-inch pie shell recipe for a 9-inch pie because I don't like it to overflow)

1/2 C Sugar
3 tbsp Corn starch
1/4 tsp salt
2 C milk
3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1tbsp butter, softened
1 tbsp vanilla
9 or 8 inch graham cracker crust

First you mix the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a sauce pan.  Then slowly stir in the milk.  Next you cook it over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.

Or rather I tried to stir constantly as I gathered the ingredients for the next step which requires you to have the eggs yolks prepared, oops.  Anyway boil it for one minute then stir in half of the hot mixture gradually into the egg yolks (yeah didn't realize it was supposed to be just the yolks until I went to write this which might explain why it didn't come out as smooth as usual) then blend into mixture still left in the pan.  Boil for one minute.  Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla then cover with a piece of saran wrap and let cool to room temperature.

While you let the mixture cool, slice up two ripe bananas and line pie crust with the banana slices.  Once mixture is cool, pour evenly into crust and refrigerate until needed.

Even though I forgot and used the whole egg it still came out tasting like a banana cream pie, but just in case I will have to make another one for my sister if she doesn't like this one.  Note to self:  don't try to cook multiple things at the same time.  Wish me luck.

Cherry Pie Sugar Cookies

Trolling Pinterest the other day I came across a recipe for mini cherry pies with a sugar cookie crust AKA cherry pie cookie cups.  Now I'm not much for pies myself, but my father-in-law loves cherry pie so I thought this would be a good idea to make for Thanksgiving this year.  I always worry though.  It just seems anytime I try to cook for anyone else it always turns out bad.  It's kind of my curse.  I should probably just stick to a regular old cherry pie, but what would be the fun in that, right?

Here goes nothing.

So I start by making a basic sugar cookie dough, thank you Betty Crocker.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 C Powdered Sugar
1 C Butter, softened
1 Egg
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/2 C all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar

I start by mixing together the flour, baking soda, and nonexistent cream of tartar (didn't have any so I just left it out??) in a small bowl and set it aside.  Next up I mixed the powdered sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, and almond extract (this stuff smells awesome, really, really awesome) by hand.  Yup you heard me, by hand.  Turns out I had forgotten my mixer at my sister's house the other day when we whipped up some shortbread for a christmas party.  Seams kinda weird having a christmas party before Thanksgiving, but her school is weird in general so I guess it works out.  Cue curse of the can't cook for others variety.

So back to mixing the ingredients by hand.  Just mix it by hand my sister says, no problem.  That's what great grandma always did.  Well she must have had arms of steal.  I mean it was hard.  My arms were killing me.  I called mercy and left the batter a little chunky.  Then I started adding the dry ingredients I previously set aside a little bit at a time and mixed it thoroughly.  After that the dough was divided into two lumps, put into a Ziploc and set in the fridge to firm up for a couple of hours whilst the oven preheated to 350 degrees.  Meantime back at the ranch I whipped up a batch of Banana Cream Pie for my lovely sister, you can find the link for that here.

Two hours later I pulled out the sugar cookie dough, rolled it into two logs and sliced'em up into ten to twelve sections.  Then I rolled the sections into little balls.

 I placed some leftover cupcake liners into a muffin tin and placed a dough ball into each liner. 

 Next up you put the pan into the oven and let it cook for 15 minutes.  Here's the scary part.  After the timer goes off you pull them out and use a spoon to squash the center of each cookie down to make room for the cherry filling.  Fill each cookie with about a tbsp of cherry filling and cook for another 3-5 minutes (it took another 6 minutes for me to make sure the dough was cooked all the way through in the center).

While it finishes cooking, heat up a tbsp of butter and mix it with 1 C of powdered sugar and 1-2 tbsps milk.  You will use this to top your cherry pies when they come out of the oven.  Remove from muffin tin and allow to cool.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Well folks, for better or worse they are done.  I hope they turn out okay.  Of course I tried one to see, but I honestly hate pie, it's too sweet.  These definitely tasted like cherry pie though so I think I'm good to go.  Wish me luck.

Choose Your Own Adventure: A Scarf Tutorial

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...a partridge in a pear tree, but what I really wished he'd given me was a scarf.  These Nebraska winters are COLD!!

Being from sunny California originally I've never had need of a scarf until I came face to face with my first Nebraska winter.  Talk about cold.  I never realized how cold my nose and ears could get.  Regrettably I was forced to purchase my first scarf and I find I actually quite like to wear them now.  I have several sarapis, or old lady wraps as my hubby calls them, in all different colors.  I don't care if I look like an old lady, they keep me warm.

With winter now in full swing I thought I would learn to make my own scarves and make one each for my nieces.

To learn how to make an infinity scarf proceed to Infinity Scarf.  To learn how to make a regular old scarf proceed to DIY Garden Variety Scarf.

Infinity Scarf

Dead End. :(  Unfortunately for me, but good news for you all the tutorials I could find were for making an infinity scarf.  However, I just wanted to make a regular old scarf.   Click here for one such tutorial.

DIY Garden Variety Scarf 

Step 1:  Choose a fabric, something with good pliability.  Unfortunately for monkey girl I picked a nice crisp cotton fabric for her scarf because I knew she would love the plaid pattern, but as it turns out it is not very pliable.  I'm hoping it will get softer with washing. 

Step 2:  Cut said fabric to the desired length and width, making sure to add seam allowance around the edges.  To save yourself time go to substep A.

• A:  Cut your fabric on the fold to save yourself the time of doing two side seams.

Step 3:  With right sides together sew the side seam or seams together.  

To create a fringe look at the ends of the scarf go to step A.  To make a tapered or squared off look to the ends go to step B.

• A:  Turn the tube of fabric right side out.  Iron the fabric and seams flat then sew each end closed three to four inches from the edge.  Then cut vertical slits in the end pieces up to your stitch line for fringe.
  
• B:  Sew one end closed and the other 2/3rds closed.  Turn right side out and either ladder stitch the opening closed or top stitch both sides to hide the closure.

This brings us to the end of our adventure.  Hopefully your scarf turned out as nicely as both of mine.  I hope the girls like them.  Wish me luck.

DIY Dream Catcher

A scream catches in my throat and I sit up in bed, heart racing, eyes wide open.  Beads of sweat drip down my forehead as I look back and forth trying to reconcile the images from my dream...no, nightmare... with the reality of my bedroom. 

If you are anything like me this was a common occurrence for you.  I would have given anything to be rid of those horrible dreams that seem so real while you are asleep.  Once I found out my beautiful nieces sometimes have  nightmares too I thought I would make them one of these, a dream catcher. 

According to Native American culture, dream catchers sort of filter your dreams letting the good ones slip through and catching the bad ones in the web which perish with the first rays of a new day. 

 DIY Dream Catcher

 

 

There are quite a few tutorials out there and not a few pins on this subject as well, but none of the ones I saw really spelled it out the way this you tube video did.  So for a really great video to follow click here.

Step 1:  You will need a metal or other type of hoop, some string or twine for the outside and also some yarn or thread for the inner design.  Optionally you will also need beads or tokens and some feathers.

This is a small metal bangle I bought at the dollar store.  I also found some larger ones at the craft store for really cheap.
 

 

Start off by tying your twine, thread, or in my case some ribbon I had lying about, to your hoop with a standard knot.  You should even double knot it to be sure it doesn't come undone.

 

Step 2:  Start winding your ribbon around and around the hoop, covering all the space with your ribbon.  Note:  it really helps to have your ribbon in a little ball like this so you can easily throw it through the hoop as you go.  As you can see I balled up the ribbon and held it with a hair tie.

 

Here I am half way through.  It took a long time with ribbon and even longer when I did the second one with embroidery floss.  Don't give up, the end result is totally worth it.

 

 

Step 3:  You should now have the hoop completely covered all around.  Once back to the beginning, you will tie both ends together with a knot and you can even create a loop for hanging as I did by tying a knot at the top of the ribbon as well. 

 

Now to start on the inner web design you will need to take your thread or yarn and tie a knot at the top part of the hoop.  This will be the light purple (looks pink) floss in the picture below.

Step 4:  Placing a finger width (or however much you want the space to be for the webbing) between the floss, wrap the floss over the hoop like so.

Bring the floss over and under the hoop and back up through your web.

Pull it tight and you should have a pseudo knot and the beginnings of your web like so.

Repeat, repeat, repeat all the way around back up to the top where you started.  If you can't quite grasp what I mean by my picture then please refer to the video above.  It really does have wonderful instructions.  This is what it should look like up to this point.

Step 5:  You will now repeat the process, but instead of going over and under the hoop you will be going over and under the threading for the outer ring of your web.  Note:  for added flare you can slip some beads or buttons, etc. on the thread as you go.  As a beginner I just wanted to see if I could do it before getting all fancy.

 

Hope that was clear.  This is what the second ring looks like.  The tighter you pull your thread the better.
 

Now keep repeating the process around and around creating ever more rings of webbing until you can't do anymore.  Then simply tie off the last bit with a knot in the center of your work.  Here is what it looks like.
 

 

Now that the basic dream catcher is made, it's time to attach some dangling feathers.  Simply use the thread to tie a knot around the top of the feather and then attach it with a knot to the dream catcher.  I hung two at different lengths.
 

Here is what the finished product looked like. 

Turned out pretty nice.  I hope it works.  Wish me luck.