Grocery Shopping

I cannot remember the last time I did serious grocery shopping. I think it was definitely still summer time. We tend to just do bits and pieces here and there, but with Thanksgiving coming up, I needed to do a more serious shop. Except, I don't know, but I feel that grocery stores have become more confusing lately. Or maybe I am just going crazy in my old age. There are certain things I am never able to find at Shaw's, like pignoli nuts and mace (the spice, not the stuff to fend off bad guys). I felt better when I saw a man asking an employee where some things were; at least it is not just me. It took me months to find cake flour.

I think the biggest problem is that I get impatient with all of the people in the store. When I walked in, some lady had parked her cart RIGHT IN THE DOOR so everyone else had to squeeze by on the side. I saw her again a little later, and this time she had blocked one of the aisles with her cart. She had a child with her, or else I would have said something. It's instances like that were I get all flustered and then don't feel like looking for the things I need. I have to go back again tomorrow to get the remaining items on my list.

I had planned to do some more baking tonight, but I have a throbbing headache. I hope am not getting sick. It is probably due to the weather changes and the fact that I got stuck in horrible traffic on the way home from work. One snowflake falls and people start driving like assholes. It's crazy.

Eventually I want to make chocolate mousse and chocolate espresso pots de creme but no one I know really likes chocolate, so perhaps it will be a just-for-Alice-thing. I have a serious thing for chocolate. My friend Diana and I went to the Chocolate Barat Cafe Fleuri at the Langham Hotel a few years back and it was simply awesome. Perhaps I'll have her go with me again. I could seriously go for some chocolate indulgence again soon.

Dietary Restrictions

I had only 1 egg and less than a stick of butter, but I really wanted to bake something and had no desire to venture out in to the cold (to go all of 1 block to the store. I really am that lazy). The only thing I could make was a vegan chocolate cake, so I set about to do just that. It actually came out really, really well. I have never made anything vegan, and my cakes have been pretty horrendous lately (like the time I put wayyy too much batter in the pan and it spilled over the top) so I did not have high hopes for this. But it tasted yummy! And looked a-ok! I put some powdered sugar on top and ate a piece while it was still warm (I know, I know, not supposed to cut before it cools, but who cares).

I had wanted to type so much more, but I am just too tired right now.

Can we agree on one thing?

If there is one thing that I can agree with people on, it's that nuts in brownies = WORST IDEA EVER. I like nuts. I like brownies. Sometimes I feel like a nut. But NEVER, EVER should nuts go in brownies (unless you like it that way, in which case, knock yourself out).

My bread came out rather flat (probably since the pan I used is not really meant for bread) but it tastes soooo yummy. I am quite happy with it. I broke a cardinal rule and sliced some while it was still hot, but I regret nothing, since warm bread is quite possibly one of the best things ever.

Also, for your enjoyment: http://freerice.com/index.php

Take 1

The last time I had a blog, it was a Livejournal account and I think it was 2003. I remember it taking forever for actually set it up....so many different steps to go through. Setting this blog up was about 3 steps and took less than 2 minutes. Ah how times and technology have changed.

I am in the process of baking my second ever loaf of bread. The first time it came out rather dense, but tasted good when heated up. I got some good advice from a friend to do it by hand the first few times instead of using the mixer, so as to get a better feel for how it will look (and feel). I took that advice, so we'll see how this loaf turns out. Should be done in about 10 minutes.

I also baked some peanut butter cookies, as they are a favorite of my husband, and I had lots of peanut butter in the cabinet. It finally dawned on me that cooking keeps the kitchen warm - only took what, 26 years to figure that out? Since there is no heat in the kitchen, I guess I'll be baking a lot this winter to keep in warm back there.

I hope someone gets the reference to my blog name.