Scarlett vs. The No Bake Cookies

I have a friend, RO, who has forever and ever won the "Favorite Guy" Award in my book--he's a great Christian man, a dedicated husband and friend and quite seriously the nicest man you'll ever meet . . .and he is a KettleBell FANATIC! Yesterday he was out in -28 below weather for some sort of Kettlebell-Maniac-Fest. It's mainly because of him that I've wanted to give Kettlebells a try. My brother is almost as much of a fanatic and brings his kettlebell with him everywhere so he can get in a workout no matter his location. And Bestie Mama M has also recently started so of course I needed to jump on the bandwagon.

So, when I decided to go and purchase my own Kettlebell yesterday I knew I'd need to be serious. And that the Kettlebell had the potential to change my life but may not be the nicest about it (I've heard of massive soreness after Kettlebell workouts). Given all that, I decided to NAME my new 7lb. Kettlebell "Scarlett"--after Scarlett O'Hara--she's tough and fiesty and you gotta love her even if you don't like her. Meet Scarlett:


Today I WILL have my first workout with Scarlett and tomorrow I'm going to begin in earnest work toward a number of health-related goals for 2010--including making a return visit to the Grandma's 5K (if you haven't read the story, click here for a really good laugh--some have been known to cry/pee pants with laughter). One of the things I'll be working on with a few good friends is a Weight Loss Bible Study--more on that in a future post.

BUT, being the procrastinator I am and loving a good excuse to make something delicious, when I read the Pioneer Woman's recipe for French Onion soup yesterday I knew I would make it today as a "final meal". In fact, the onions are browning in the oven as I type--smells DELICIOUS--and it's the maiden voyage of my new Paula Deen Casserole:



In addition, last night a friend and I were talking about how delicious No Bake Cookies are and I knew they had to accompany P-Dub's French Onion soup for my last meal. No Bake Cookies are a childhood favorite because I could make them myself . . .

And because I don't bake . . .

And because they are beyond delicious.

And besides, I haven't made them in YEARS and needed something to food-blog about.

And because I couldn't food blog about P-Dub's French Onion soup when she's already done that so beautifully.

And are those enough excuses so I can make them and not feel guilty?

Hmm . . but Scarlett is mocking me from her spot under the TV . . .mocking and calling. Okay, so I'll make the No Bake Cookies AND workout with Scarlett and they'll cancel each other out. Yeah, that's the ticket.
If you're looking to put off YOUR 2010 health goals today as well, make these--you likely have the ingredients in the house. C'mon you know you want to . . .
Yes, I'm terrible.
(Please don't stop reading my blog. )

Procrastination No Bake Cookies:

Ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
4 Tbsp Cocoa powder
1/2 cup Peanut Butter (I prefer smooth for this recipe)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3-4 cups Oatmeal

Melt Butter. btw, I ADORE how cute these little half sticks are:

Anyway, melt butter with sugar, milk, and cocoa powder on the stovetop and bring to boil for 90 seconds.

(But be careful when you're trying to scoop cocoa powder and take a photo at the same time. It may backfire) As the teenager would say: FAIL


Take off the heat and Add the peanut butter. btw, one of my favorite things is a fresh jar of PB--something about how smooth it looks:


Then stir in 3-4 cups Oatmeal:





Try to distract teenage son from devouring bowl before you can turn them into "cookies"





Plop spoonfuls on a cookie sheet to cool.



Enjoy! And now go workout! Or not. But if Scarlett is yelling at you, you may not have a choice (darn it)

My Two Sons

This post title reminds me of "My Two Dads"--do you remember that show?--which reminds me of Paul Reiser--which reminds me of "Mad About You" . . . loved that show. Anyway, nothing to do with this post--sorry 'bout my bunny-trail-mind!

I told you about my son, A:

(Here's A with a swimcap posing more like a dorky speed skater than a swimmer . . . Someday I'll do a post with the many crazy poses of A . . . )




But I forgot to tell you about my other "son"--Drake:

(He's got the cutest "mohawk" hair and a great smile for a dog if I do say so myself :)

Actually, I'm NOT one of those crazy "my dog is my baby" people (no offense) but Drake is definitely part of the family. We got Drake as a puppy almost 4 years ago and it was the best decision I could've made as a Mom--especially as a single Mom. Drake and A are like brothers--they keep each other company, Drake sleeps on A's bed, and they wrestle like brothers:




But right now Drakey is sick--he woke up the other day limping and lethargic and wouldn't eat. A trip to the Vet and a few blood tests later--Drake has Lyme's disease. The good news is we caught it early and with antibiotics, he should make a full recovery--hopefully without any long term damage. But until then I have a sad puppy . . . .

Get better soon Drakey! Yes we call him Drakey . . .and our favorite Drake inspired song? . . .

Drake, Drake, Drake . . . Drake, Drake, Drake . . .

Drake your Booty! . . . Drake your Booty! . . .

(If you didn't know it before, now you do . . .we're VERY dorky . . . and we love our Drakey)

Pajama Team Dance Party Cooking Show . . . Creme Brulee

On Christmas day I made the salad (future post) and my sister and I made the Creme Brulee. Actually, my niece (age 6), my sister and sister-in-law DID make a hilarious video--"the Pajama Team Dance Party Cooking Show" where we made the Creme Brulee with C&C Music Factory in the background. We were pretending we had our own cooking show . . .I want to say it was a fun way to hang out with my niece, but really my family is really this cheesy. My sister, T, and I especially. The video IS hilarious but doesn't actually show the food much :) We were using my new FLIP video cam--I just don' t have the editing part all figured out yet . . .

(Hey! I DID figure out how to take a snapshot from the FLIP footage! here you can see some of us in our cheesy-Dance Party glory rockin out to "Everybody Dance Now".)

Anyway, my Dad:




(Dad is on the left in his ever-present-winter Elmer Fudd hat . . . next to my GQ brother :)

recently had Creme Brulee at a restaurant and declared it his new favorite so we thought it'd be fun to make it for him. Creme Brulee, as it turns out is very simple yet very difficult because there are so many darned steps! I don't normally bake and this is dangerously close to baking . . .but despite none of us having ever made it before, ours did turn out great!

We looked at three different recipes and modified our own (which is usually how I roll). This receipe is for about 8 people. I should also point out that this recipe requires more tools and gadgets than I normally use--but we were in my Mom's kitchen--home of any and all kitchen gadgets!

Incredients:
5 cups Heavy Whipping Cream
12 Egg Yolks
8 Tbsp White Granulated Sugar

1 tsp Almond extract

1 tsp Vanilla extract

Brown Sugar for sprinkling

Berries for garnish





Tools/Equipment:

Mixer

Ramekins (we used various sizes for various ages of family members :)

2 baking dishes

Sifter (optional)

Torch or large lighter for carmelizing the sugar



Preheat oven to 300 degrees.



Heat 5 cups of Heavy Whipping Cream over a low heat until almost boiling (stir slowly to prevent scalding)--when it's almost boiling, take it off heat; Meanwhile, seperate 12 eggs. I find the easiest way to seperate eggs is to crack the egg into your hand and use your fingers as a natural sieve:

Be sure to refrigerate the egg whites for an omelette the next day! Okay, now beat 12 egg yolks, 8 Tablespoons of sugar, 1 tsp Almond extract and 1 tsp Vanilla extract for about 5 minutes (or until thick and frothy).



Then temper the egg mixture with the hot cream in a seperate bowl--add a cup of the egg mixture in a bowl and slowly add about a cup of the cream while whisking very fast. (no photo of this--sorry!). Then, turn the mixer back on very low (which egg mixture still in the bowl) and slowly add the tempered mixture. Then slowly add the cream a little at a time until it's all mixed together.



Be sure to crank up the tunes and have background dancers to spice up the boredom of having SO MANY STEPS! Here you'll see our background dancers doing the shopping cart . . .





Put about 4 cups of water in a large microwave safe container and heat up for about 1-2 minutes.



Using a ladle, pour the creme brulee mixture into the ramekins to 3/4 full. Place the ramekins in a baking dish (you'll need two baking dishes to make 8 ramekins). Then take the hot water from the microwave and pour it into the baking dish so it comes about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.



Set the timer for 25 minutes but but be prepared for it to be longer. Check at 3-5 minute intervals for the custards to be "set"--by "Set" I mean that you can jiggle the pan and they wiggle a bit but clearly are no longer liquid in the middle. Don't be alarmed if they brown on top--mine did but it was because my mixture was a bit too frothy and the "froth" browned, but underneath was creamy delicious custard.

When they're done, remove the ramekins from the water bath using large tongs or oven mitts and let them come to room temp before putting in the fridge.

I don't have photos of much of this because I hadn't planned on food blogging it and our Danceparty Cooking show lost its mojo after the 20th step (around the time we finally put the ramekins in the oven).

Once cooled (can be refrigerated for up to 1-2 days), they're ready to "brulee!" Place 1/3 cup Brown Sugar and 1/3 cup White Sugar in a sifter and sift the sugar over top the ramekin. Using a torch or large lighter, flame the sugar until carmelized but not burnt--you'll be able to tell when you burn it because it'll make a sizzle sound and turn black. My son found that you can make an even more candy-licious crust by repeating the sugar/flame process 2-3 times.

Top with a few berries and ENJOY! Then take a nap--you deserve it!

Creme Brulee isn't that hard--just time consuming--something I'm not usually down for. But, it was Christmas and my Daddy's favorite .. . and he said it was "WAY BETTER" than what he had at the restaurant. Plus we have a hilarious video to chronicle some classic sister time! Way worth the time spent :)



Love to you and yours and hope you made some great memories this Chrismas!

Update:
p.s. does anyone else cook with their family? tell me about it!

p.p.s. if anyone makes Creme Brulee, please take a pic and show me the final product! (since I obviously didn't bother to do so myself!!)

The Unkept Cook