Back in the Saddle

So, it’s too bad no one is here to smell the most amazing cookies I think I’ve ever baked. I have always been a fresh strawberry kind of girl, but if these taste half as amazing as they smell baking, I think I am a convert.

I bought some strawberries last week at Kroger whilst on sale - $1.66 and they actually smelled like strawberries, so how could I resist. And of course they went into the fridge and sat til last night, when I hulled them and sliced them up. I was going to make a Sparkling Grapefruit Pie, but the grapefruit went off, so I punted.

I made serious changes to the recipe, which was obviously written as a “light” dessert (gag). Diet margarine? Can you say fake fat?

Cream Cheese Strawberry Bars
CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com

Category: Fruit Bars and Squares
Serves/Makes: 10 | Difficulty Level: 3 | Ready In: 30-60 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup flour
1 1/3 cup sifted flour
3 ounces quick oats
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed firmly
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon - I used a Baking Spice blend from Penzy’s
1/2 cup reduced calorie tub margarine, well chilled
1 stick margarine
8 ounces reduced calorie cream cheese (which, ironically, was all I had)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 cup egg substitute or egg whites
2 whole eggs
2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Powdered candied ginger, optional
1 1/2 cup fresh strawberries, diced

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 11×7 inch baking pan with nonstick spray. In medium bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon. With pastry blender or two knives cut in margarine and 2 tablespoons water until mixture forms a crumbly dough.

I cut the stick of margarine into small squares, then smashed it into the flour/oat mixture with a fork till it looked like it had been incorporated.

Press dough into bottom of prepared pan; bake 10 to 15 minutes until golden.

In small bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, lemon peel and vanilla; beat until smooth. Pour cream cheese mixture over crust.

I took about some of the ginger I had candied, put it in my spice grinder and pulverized the bejeezus out of it. I had about 3 tablespoons of it. Sprinkle powdered candied ginger over the cream cheese stuff, then top evenly with fruit. Bake 25 to 30 minutes until set. I bake it for 15 minutes, rotate the pan, then bake until lightly brown.

Truly, they smell amazing. I am an extravagant baker: I knew that I wanted coconut in the cream cheese, partially for texture - to match the oatmeal in the crust. I like the combo, then I added the ginger because ginger and coconut are natural partners. The strawberries got juicy and wow. It’s like heaven in my kitchen.

Recipe Location: http://www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/325/Cream_Cheese_Strawberry_Bars45098.shtml
Recipe ID: 9271

Addendum: They were bland. Huh. Believe it or not, there’s not enough sugar. So I mixed together:

1/2 cup sifted powdered sugar
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon water

Drizzle on top. It adds sweetness and a brightness. Now they are yummy!

Pictures to follow.

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Well, the Won Ton of Deliciousness tanked bigtime. My first mistake was - according to Shannon - buying won ton skin from Kroger, and in retrospect - DUH. Mr. Gillian and I are headed to the Farmer’s Market in Dekalb tomorrow, and maybe I can sneak in a quick trip to Buford Highway and some pho or amazing tofu.

Speaking of Shannon, a side note: Shannon has basically saved my sanity since I found out that my father had passed away. She fed me tofu that day, listens to my weeping, hung out with me on Buford Highway, took me to a shi-shi Asian Bakery, and you kids owe her your thanks. I would have gotten through it, true, but she made it so much bearable.

I need to shake down, er, ask nicely for some recipes from Aunt Dolly. Kristina - George’s wife - has told me Dolly cooks! And Uncle George referred to himself as a Hobo Cook which still makes me giggle. He sounds so much like Daddy when he says that.

I have the ingredients for key lime pie. That was Daddy’s favorite. And I think I will tackle chicken adobo this weekend. My cooking has taken a real dive - I have had more misses than hits. It’s frustrating, albeit understandable.

That said, I need a win, Coach. I am off today through next Tuesday. I have a new camera. I think I can get this back in gear.

And lastly, I’d like to thank Steven, my boss and Mary, both of whom have been great. I am so grateful that I work where I do. They’ve been funny and understanding and compassionate. How often do you get that from your co-workers? Speaking as someone who temped forEVER?

Rarely. I am one lucky girl.

Semper Fi, Daddy

Daddy died on Valentine’s Day. Considering how much he loved my mom, that’s a bittersweet thought.

Sadly, for the past decade or so, and especially after the stroke in 2000, my parents and I have been mildly estranged, but I understand my mom’s been under a lot of stress. She managed to reconcile with sisters and brother Lonnie this last Christmas, according to Aunt Patty the Catwoman.

Mama lost Aunt Margaret sometime the first week of February. Margaret had been waiting for a lung transplant. She’s survived by John, her second husband, her daughter Kelly, Kelly’s twins and her son Glen. That’s all I know about that.

Daddy is survived by Mama, myself, you kids, Elisabeth and her two children, Isabelle and James, Valerie, her son Daniel, and Sarah. He is also survived by his sister Mary Darlene and his youngest brother Anthony George.

But they are both so much more than those plain dry facts. Daddy was a bad ass marine. Margaret ran away from Missouri and became a successful commercial real estate broker in Dallas.

I am so grateful my father is no longer stuck in a wheelchair. I’m so glad Margaret gets to leave her oxygen tank behind. I am relieved that my mom can finally go home.

And I miss them all.