Tired

I can’t seem to hold on to what I want anymore.  Everything just keeps slipping through the cracks, washing away just before it settles into my life.  I’ve changed my perceptions, altered my path, and still I watch as it fades into oblivion as it reaches my grasp.  What do I take from this?  How do I keep believing when nothing seems to ever be within my reach?  Is it a lesson, an experience needed to replace mistakes of the past?  I’m okay with it, if that’s what it is, but I need to know.  I need to redefine my expectations and let go of what I thought was possible to be okay with what actually is.  I need to find happiness in this life and I can’t do that if I don’t know the limitations of my capabilities.  I need clarity to move me into another state of consciousness, a center to rebuild from so that I may find peace within its core.  I can’t keep going at this the way that I have been.  I’m strong, but not that strong, and a lifetime of the constant battle just to stay above the waterline has me weaker than I ever thought I’d be.  I need time to regroup, time to rebuild, and time to breathe.  I don’t want to leave this life feeling as though I never really lived it, because up to this point it’s always been about survival and getting to the next day, it’s never been about joy or simply taking it all in.  I’m tired, and I know that just saying that is selfish, but for once I need it to be about me.  Just this once, that’s all that I’m asking…

Party Girl!

OK, so that particular phrase and all that you automatically imagine when you hear it does not exactly descibe me, but it does sort of fitn with what I've been oing for Raine's class this year. I volunteered at the beginning of the school year to put together several of their seasonal celebrations and thus far have done four. Here are a few pictures of each minus the valentines one (I forgot the camera that day)...

Halloween

Christmas

To Scotland as Promised...

Cowboy Cookies

Ingredients

Vegetable oil cooking spray

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 stick unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup vegetable shortening (i use organic)
3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup light-brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

3 ounces (3/4 cup) pecan halves

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

3/4 cup dried tart cherries




Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray, line with parchment, and spray parchment. Sift flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder into a medium bowl.

2. Beat butter and sugars with a mixer on medium-high until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes. Reduce speed to medium. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

3. Reduce speed to low, and slowly add flour mixture, beating until just incorporated. Beat in oats, chocolate, pecans, and coconut until combined. (Dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.) 4. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop or a small spoon, drop dough onto baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart.

5. Bake until edges of cookies begin to brown, 11 to 13 minutes. Transfer baking sheets to wire rack, and let cool for 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks. Let cool

A little bit of kitchen witchery to get you through the storm...

Worried about the upcoming frankenstorm and the power outages that may result from it?  Well here are a few kitchen tricks to keep your food from spoiling and your family well fed should that pesky electrical magick go out...

1. Frozen Assets!

While the power is still on, take a few empty 1-1.5 gallon water jugs (with secure tops), fill them up with water and freeze them before the storm!  These helpful little guys can then be distributed through your freezer and refrigerator when the time comes to buy you 1-2 extra days before your food goes bad.  Remember that your refrigerator and freezers are insulated much like a cooler and if you limit opening and closing them too often and add in these giant and free! Cooling sources they can buy you precious time and keep the temps from rising.  Make sure to keep those easy to spoil foods/beverages towards the back and near to the ice jugs for added safety.

2. Creative Kitchen Witchery even in the Dark!

We've still got the power today ladies and gentlemen, so I encourage you to use it!!  Get in your kitchens and fire up those ovens, stovetops, and rice cookers!!  Make the best of today by creating some easy throw together meals that are best served hot, cold, or even at room temp.  Remember that with a little forethought and creativity you won't have to survive on cereal and dry goods when the lights go out.  Plus a home cooked meal from mom's kitchen by candlelight can be a fun and memorable affair for the whole family and will give those little ones in the house that might be a bit afraid by all the wild wind and rain going on outside the perfect distraction of homey loving comfort.  Here are a few things that can be prepared to ahead of time to last the duration and use up some of those easy to spoil foods…

Rice-Cook up several cups of brown rice, put it into gallon size Ziploc baggies and throw it in the frig for later.  This is great at room temp and when paired with the roasted veggies and marinated chicken I’m about to suggest makes and filling yummy meal.

Roast those Veggies- Turn that oven up to 425 and pull out you cookie sheets!

 Carrots and Sweet Potatoes can be roughly chopped, tossed with olive oil, salt, pepper, brown sugar and cinnamon to make a mouth wateringly sweet and tummy warming (cinnamon) treat. 

Cauliflower just needs a bit of olive oil, salt, pepper, and your choice of spices to get you through those tough times!  A bit of curry powder added if it’s in your families taste is a great way to heat you up on a dark and cold night.

Brussel Sprouts or Cabbage tossed in oil, lightly salted and peppered, and maybe even paired with a bit of turkey bacon is a great bit to eat and can easily be added to the already steamed rice for a hearty meal.

Potatoes!  Need I say more, the possibilities are endless!

Eggs-Quiche anyone?  Use up those eggs by baking off a couple quiches and using up some of the extras from your frig.  They are wonderful at any temp and just get better in flavor as the days go on.

Chicken-Marinate several chicken breast and broil them off to use in sandwiches, rice dishes, or even use up the lettuce quick salads.  You can never go wrong or find a lack of creative dishes to accompany a simple tasty chicken breast.

Waffles and Pancake- Silly as it may sound these are easy to make ahead of time and when served cold with cut up fruit from the melting ice box can be just what the doctor ordered.

Granola, Pies, and Cookies- Don’t forget the sweets!  Who says you can’t have desert when the lights go out, in my opinion that is the very best time ;)!  Bake them off and stock that pantry, nothing is ever quiet so terrible when you add a little bit of sugar!

The list can go on forever, just remember to have a little fun with the kids and bring them into all the preparations.  It keeps the nerves down and gives everyone a sense of “being ready” and it sure does help not having to worry about what to do next…

I hope these little tidbits help and wish you all a safe and well fed journey through the storm!

Gifts from the kitchen...

Someone had a birthday this week and is a big lover of all things pie, especially the fruit filled kind.  I decided last minute to surprise her with a heart shaped lemon apple raspberry walnut struesel tart!  Whoo what a mouthful that is!  I popped out of bed at 4am and had it in the car and cooling by 7.  I wrapped it up as soon as I got to work and had it on her desk waiting by the time she got in!  She shared it with a few of her coworkers but made sure to keep the biggest piece for herself, as a baker this is absolutely the best kind of compliment!

Crossroads Gallery's Grand Reopening...

Fairy Tale Endings was hired to cater Crossroads Gallery's Grand Reopening a few weekends ago and with the celebration being held on the autumn eqinox, I couldn't help but go with a harvest theme.  So with visions of apples and pumpkins and warm cookies filling my head, I was off to the kitchen to create my mini bites fall heaven!  Here's what I came up with...

A sweetened pumpkin cream cheese fip with fresh lemon juice (no browning) covered apples straight from the orchard.

Mini Apple Struesel and Pumpkin Pie Bites, if you look closely you can see that the pumpkin ones are actually in the shape of pumpkins(there's always room for a little whimsy:)!

And last but certainly not least my famous cowboy cookies, jam packed with dried cherries, chocolate, coconut, pecans, oats, and more...Everything went well and all the goodies consumed with rave reviews, so chalk this one up as another Happily Ever After for Fairy Tale Endings...

From the Kitchen...

The grand opening of Trader Joes in our area was this past week(much longer now since I failed to publish this ;) and as a foodie I found myself inexplicitly drawn there within days of its' doors opening for business.  I have been wating years for one to open around here!  The customer service was supperb as to be expected and the selection as varried as I remember.  I found myself picking up a few delicasies and oldtime favorites but what really took my breath away was the unbelievable beautiful blueberries they had on hand!  The cost 6.99 for quarts and were some of the biggest blueberries that I have ever seen.  I only regret that I didn't buy out the lot to freeze for later!  I do so hope that they get these in often. After staring at them for a few days and arguing with myself on the best way to use them, I decided that half would be for fresh consumption and the other for some decident baked good that I'd come up with to honor them.  Above are the homemade tini lemon blueberry pie tartlets with a sweetened cream cheese topping.  They came out really good and absolutely paid homage to those gorgeous berries...

Late Summer Birthday

The Cake came out beautiful and was just what the birthday girl wanted...A rich raspberry cheesecake with a lemon icing!

The day was absolutely beautiful and food a definate crowd pleaser!  I thought for sure that I had made way too much and at the end of the evening there wasn't a bite in site!

Even the chickens were in a celebratory mood! LOL

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Amanda Soule

Lughnasadh Celebrations

And July becomes August. Summer slips away with the twilight on Lughnasadh, the eve of August and the Celtic autumn. Summer meets its moment of truth - seed becomes fruit - and fruit becomes the harvest of Lughnasadh. ~ C. Austin

August 1st marked the celtic/pagan sabbath of Lughnasadh or Lammas and with it the celebrations of this years first harvest.  Though I was a bit under the weather this year I took a few hours out of my crazy schedule to gather with friends, pausing from the breakneck pace of this life to give acknowledged yet again the turning of the wheel.  It is important not only that I remember to give thanks to mother earth as she cycles through the very seasons that bring us life, but also to make sure my daughter knows to recognize the changes of energy and bounty that each turn of the wheel brings.  It is so simple to light a candle and tell again the story of how each sabbath has been celebrated since, what seems to me, the dawn of time, to sing and sway to a rhythm that emits from the earth and centers in each soul that stops to truly listen.  I want to make sure that Raine "feels" the changes of each season throughout this life and is able to tie them to the changes of her body as she grows and moves through the seasons of her life, to know that we are all connected with everyone and everything around us, and to gather her strength from that knowledge and her connection to self and spirit. 

As part of this celebration it is custom for everyone to bring a dish created from spoils of the first harvest, corn, bread, squash, fresh fruit and herbs are just a few of the things that can be found in abundance this time of year.  It is a way to not only acknowledge what we have to be grateful for but to really experience and find joy in this time of year and all that the summer has to offer.  I chose to make two dishes, one savory and one sweet as I believe there should be balance in all things, life especially.  My first dish was as basic as you can get, a roasted corn bathed in a sauce of rosemary, orange and lime(zest & juice), butter, salt and pepper, which is bright and bold and while still keeping the base flavor of the corn, adds an entirely unexpected and delightful difference.

For my sweet addition I wanted a more decedent and complex dish, with a full and heavy flavor, that when served at the end of the evening could settle depply into the palate and drift it's partakers off into vivid dreams of places and times long past.  I chose a simple Scottish cheesecake, rich in cream and eggs, and cheese, full bodied on its' own but swoon worthy when stuffed and topped with fresh raspberries and a homemade raspberry sauce.  It was my first attempt at a cheesecake of any kind and I must say it was good!

The evening was filled with magick and a sense of remembrance and peace and I am lucky to have shared it with like minded friends and a lovely daughter that I shall most certainly keep :)

Fairy Tale Endings 1st Garden Party

July 29th was a huge milestone for Fairy Tale Endings as I was hired to fully cater a friends mother's 70th surprise birthday party.  The guest list included 20 or so friends and family members and was to take place at Lis's beautiful house.  I was able to come up with a menu that both incorporated the wide variety of palates and integrate into the dishes a very garden look and feel.  So without further ado, here's the food porn that I know you all are waiting for...

 English Cucumber Bites with a Herbed Cream Cheese

Edible Bouquet - Veggies

Fragrant Fruit Salad

 Edible Bouquets - Phyllo & Parmesan Wrapped Asparagus 

 Bits & Bites - Baby Onion & Asparagus Quiche

 Bits & Bites - Brie, Brown Sugar & Pecan Bites

 Entrees - Mini Roasted Turkey, Brie, Lettuce, Apple & Homemade Cranberry Mayo Croissant Sandwiches

Entrees - Mini Grilled Chicken, Fresh Mozzarella, Tomato, Spinach & Homemade Pesto Mayo Croissant Sandwiches

 Dessert - Stuffed Strawberries

Dessert - Four Layer Vanilla Cake with Lemon Strawberry Filling and Whipped Cream Frosting

And if that isn't enough for you ;) here are some of the full view shots...

Well that's all for now and I sincerely hope that it made you all hungry...:)

Duanesburg Elementary and Crowdtap's Madagascar Movie Night Extravaganza!!!

Well it's official!  I recently got the opportunity to host my first ever Crowdtap Party!  Thanks to the makers of the Awesome Madagascar movies, I was invited to throw a launch party for the newest edition

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Amanda Soule

What a beautiful day!

Silkie checking out the new flower & pumpkins bed.

Silkie and the girls enjoying the sun in the newly tall field grass! How many chickens can you spot?

Ever watchful of his ladies...

Believe it or not, this cat and these chickens go together like peas and carrots!  You will often find them all together on a sunny day, rolling in the dirt together, checking out the bushes, and having a grand old time!

Communal water dish, Tiger Lily and the girls will even drink at the same time.

Penelope very interested in what I'm doing!

Silkie making sure that I know he's watching me too!

 

We spent all day in the sun with our happy chickens and silly cats, the weather was warm and clear with a light breeze to cool us off when into the 80's.  It was the first full day off that I've had in weeks and so fully enjoyed!  Thanks mother earth, it was the perfect gift at just the right time...

Mother's Day Weekend in Pictures...

A new recipe tested and Rainebow approved.

My growing girl tried out her hand at a new thing or two... 

Flowers were in abundance and came from all over the land ...

As chickens where carried by my loving girls hand.

Sleep and relaxation was obtained for all those that were weary,

Just as sustenance was delivered to a mother's bedside by my funny breakfast faerie!