Contradiction is my middle name!

Alright. My second New Year's resolution? To start at the beginning and bake my way through another Christmas gift: All Cakes Considered, by Melissa Gray of NPR.


So far, this is one of the best cookbooks I've ever read. Melissa Gray is a milder, more feminine version of Dave Barry (who I love). The first cake in the book is called "Man Catcher Pound Cake." I'll be making that January 1 for a gathering with Mr. Z's family.

So, yep. Let's recap. First resolution: lose weight. Second? Bake cakes. Great! Let's see how this all shakes out, shall we?

2010 Resolution: Lose Weight

I know, I know. This is SO cliche. Can you even stand it? Well, I guess I have to. Because I need to get healthy! I've been slowly and steadily gaining weight for a couple of years and even though I'm not huge, my body feels it. I feel slow and sluggish and things hurt.

For Christmas, I asked for (and received) this:


I hear she's a doozy (both the dvd and the trainer). But I'm going to do my darndest to stay on task for 30 days. And hopefully this blog will help me do so.

And on New Year's Eve, this will be delivered to my home:

Wow! I'm very excited. We had an elliptical before our basement flooded two summers ago and we've finally gotten around to replacing it (ALERT! if you are a homeowner, make sure your home has "sewage backup" insurance, it sure did come in handy for us). It will nice to have a source of cardiovascular exercise in the house again. Pair this with the 30 day shred and I should be set, right?

And let's not forget yoga. Another resolution or goal is to make it to yoga class once a week in January.

So while I take the next three days to sit on my tail, be lazy and eat the leftover Christmas goodies, I'll be mentally preparing myself for January 1. I know that's not how you're supposed to do it. I know your supposed to say to yourself, "I need to get healthy and I'm going to start today!" But this whole "New Year's Resolution/beginning of a whole new DECADE" thing makes it much easier to wait three days.

And so I will. Happy New Year!

Betty

I love my KitchenAid mixer.


She's pink.


And her name is Betty.


And she's helped me make some of the tastiest treats ever!


Tonight we made a Mexican hot chocolate cake with cinnamon white chocolate buttercream filling and dark chocolate ganache frosting.


I can't wait to try it tomorrow! Merry Christmas!

Dessert for Breakfast?

Kind of!

This morning I prepared two waffles (frozen) with almond butter, cut up apples zapped in the microwave with some cinnamon, vanilla yogurt (looks like ice cream!) and a touch of maple syrup. It kind of did taste like dessert. Yum!

Christmas Bird Nests

Mr. Z and I headed east (only about 90 miles or so) for a family Christmas celebration today. I brought a sampling of yesterday's cookies, and these puppies were the clear winners.


These cookies are a happy accident, since Red grabbed peanut butter chips instead of butterscotch chips at the store. Although I'm sure any kind of chips would make these treats a success. The nice thing about these guys is that there is no oven involved.

Heat. Mix. Drop. Cool. Eat.

Here is the recipe:
1 bag peanut butter chips
1 bag white chocolate chips
1 bag milk chocolate chips
1 bag chowmein noodles
Mini marshmallows
Peanut M&Ms

Melt all of the chips over low heat. Add chowmein noodles and marshmallows, stir until everything is coated. Drop on wax paper and top immediately with M&Ms. I drizzled white chocolate, but you could add Christmas sprinkles or chopped up heath bar... really, at this time of year, anything goes (you could also add nuts to the chocolate mixture withe the noodles and marshmallows)! Let cool and enjoy!

Hmmmm....chocolate...sugar....what could this mean?


Why, Christmas cookies, of course!


By buddy Red came over this morning to bake cookies. We made a good team and some of the cookies were much easier with two people (chocolate crinkles).


We made peanut butter delights, chocolate bird nest thingys, chocolate crinkles and mini pecan pies.






Note: my pink outfit with pink apron and Red's, well, redness.


And they are tasty too!

Under the Mistletoe