In the Kitchen

I did a little baking this past week. The weekend was great. . . it was so awesome to see Ryan's family and spend some time with them. I can't believe how easily it flies by.
We did pretty much as I predicted. Us girls went to the spa on Saturday morning while the guys watched baseball at the hotel. Mrs. Patman and I got facials while Jenny got the massage. wow. I know I was smitten with facials when I first got one a while ago. I keep asking myself why I don't get them more often. . . especially when I had a gift card for them. Anyhow, I treated the girls since I had the gift card, and they both loved it. Then we went down to campus to sight-see and show them the lab, sno-cones were next (they agreed that Sno-Beach was the best they ever had - I'm tellin' ya, it's good!!), they ALL held Ryan's snakes. Even Tom, his dad. I was shocked. Now, he was a little tense and looked like he would be ready to break Apollo's neck if he even thought about making a wrong move, but he did hold him around his shoulders. I was impressed. Then, off to Rudy's for lunch and games at my apartment until late that night. They all loved Ramses, especially Ryan's little brother, Michael who got to come down.
Well, back to the topic. I baked a cherry clafouti for our game-time. I saw Alicia's over at Posie Gets Cozy and it just looked delish and wanted to try it. When cherries went down to $2.77/lb versus the normal Texas $6+/lb I knew I had to try it. It was pretty good! The cherries were yummy. It wasn't as creamy as I was expecting, more stiff like a bread pudding so maybe I have to practice more. Reviews from my testers:

Ryan - "it's good."
Me - "So if I made it again, you would eat it?"
Ryan - "eh."
Me - "oh, so you don't like it then."
Ryan - "well I like it. It's tastes good, especially the cherries. It's just the texture."
Me - "hmmmm, ok I guess that helps."


Jenny - "I like it!!!"

Michael - "I'd have more."
Me - "yay!"
Michael - "but it would be even better if it could be sweeter."

His parents didn't have any since they were still full from lunch.

My clafouti pre-bake
(no, I didn't get an after picture since I made this at like 1am the night before, and we were in the middle of playing games when I took it out to eat.)

So, there you have it. I served it with creme fraiche, and forgot to dust with powdered sugar. doh!! I am not sure how I forgot that. So, it was a little on the sour side, - if sour is the right way to describe it. The recipe does call for some sugar, and there is a hint of lemon from lemon zest...But it IS a custard and they still liked it overall. Since then, I have had it with the sugar and the taste is right on. Just need to work on the texture.

I also made the chocolate chip banana bread. I LOVE the banana chocolate chip coffee cake from Starbuck's that they usually sell in the summers. I don't know if it's gone on sale this summer, I don't go all that often. But when I saw Coco's recipe for coconut banana bread over at Roost, I thought I would try it but switch it up a bit. I used her recipe but added 2c. chocolate chips instead of coconut. yummers!

monster naner bread

It's a monster loaf because it got broken up when I tried to take it out of the pan. I thought I greased it well enough. Maybe too much? Or it was still too warm? No matter, it's sooo good. Since I only had wheat AP flour, it's all wheaty and thick. kinda like a bran muffin. It's making a great afternoon snack this week, and I'd like to think with all that fiber that its much healthier than the Starbucks version.

In the jar is Missy Piggy. She is three days old today! She's my sourdough starter that I look forward to making many loaves of bread, english muffins and other goodies with!!

Oh, so we are into 53 days of over 100 degree heat this summer. Though today and Sunday we managed to get thunderstorms in the evening and a (little) bit of rain. Here is the result of Sunday's storm...

What's that? A RAMSES cat under the couch and Tesia NOT HIDING? What the....
This is so backwards since she is my 'fraidy cat. The thunder was really loud. I mean, REALLY loud. It sounded like the whole sky is ripping open, like the monstrous cables holding it up are snapping and it's going to come crashing down on top of you. This sent him running for cover for a good hour, even after the storm ended. She and I tried coaxing him out, and I got him far enough to take this picture before he hid for a little longer.

aaahhhhh....

This weekend Ryan's parents and baby sister are coming down to visit him. His youngest brother, Michael, might be able to make it too if he can finish his moving-away-to-college-packing in time. I made appointments for us girls at the spa. I still have some of that gift card from Ryan (not that I haven't been using it, but they changed their card reading system so my old card was then "void". When they asked me how much it had been for I told them the "queen for a day" package, and they pretty much gave me a whole brand new card for that amount. SWEET!) So, I got two appointments for a facial, and one 0.5hr massage. Ryan suggested us girls do something like that together, since his mom and sister don't get to do stuff like that often. Plus we can have some girl bonding time. I'll let them choose which treatment they want and I'll take what's left. I know both are amazing!

so relaxing...

It's the first time his parents have come down, and I am excited to see them. I haven't seen them since I first met them over 2 years ago! I am sure we will just hang out (it's still pretty warm), have a game night, go see a movie at the Alamo and enjoy each other's company. Ryan's set on showing them his snakes and making his dad hold one. We'll see how that works out!

Since they leave on Sunday morning, I'll have time for other things I want to do like:

• Get a sourdough starter started. I have a name already: Miss Piggy.
• Bake some chocolate chip naner(banana) bread. mmmm, bread.
  
• Finish up the Webber's baby gift. Little Nolan is 3 days overdue now! I'll post once I get 'er done
• Thorough house cleaning and purge. I'd like to make my crafting/sewing space more organized
  
• Maybe a trip to Joann's and Hobby Lobby for some more fabric. I can't wait to start another sewing project! It's a bit much for right now, and I really need to start Alyssa's gift, but I would really really love to make myself a quilt a la Alicia Paulson's Ollalieberry Ice Cream Quilt. I keep finding myself going over to her blog and looking at the pictures., so I got the pattern yesterday. I am absolutely in love with this quilt...it's so warm, inviting and homey. Maybe I could do a pink one someday if I ever have a little girl, but I think it would be wise for me to do a different color scheme for my (later our) bed if I want it get much use. I'm thinking a cool blue, white and grey.
  
• Go for a run
  
• Let's throw at least one Bliss Blanket square on this list too
  

Ok, that's a lot. I'll see what I can do. What are your plans for the weekend? Happy Friday everyone!!!