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You are here: Home / 2008 / Archives for December 2008

Archives for December 2008

December 31, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

Fiona & Cinnamon Rolls

kitaidenameweb

The burning smell and puffs of gray smoke coming from my hand mixer over the last month clued me in to the fact that it would soon be trash.  My last batch of buttercream icing whipped that beater.

Because over the last several years I’ve spent a sizable amount of dough on my mixers, I decided that this time I’d wait until after Christmas and purchase a hand mixer with some fight.  I borrowed my neighbor’s Kitchen Aide to make FringeKid’s birthday cake and I felt like women must have when they first used a washing machine.

I searched high and low for a durable hand mixer.  By durable I mean that I’d like it to mix a triple batch of cookie dough, knead a loaf of bread, and whip six sticks of butter with four pounds of sugar.   Is that too much to ask of a hand mixer?

Apparently the sale’s woman in the fourth store I visited thought my expectations were a little high…even for a Kitchen Aide or Cuisinart hand mixer.  I was torn.  Do I spend lots of money on a hand mixer I’m sure will die by the year’s end?

speedskitaidewebIt’s not as if I’m using my mixer to stir concrete or anything!   I did ask FringeMan if there were any way I could attach a whisk to his hand drill.  I figured I’d finally found a motor that could handle my cakes.

It was after the saleswoman had already finished my purchase that an idea struck her.  Very excitedly she hurried around the counter telling me that she had the perfect item for me at a reasonable price.  Filled with doubt, I watched as she scurried through the store and came back lugging a giant box.

“It’s our last one and it hasn’t even been put out yet.”  She told us as she plopped the box down with a giant thud.

The box looked as if it could have housed a baby elephant.  I figured it was just what I needed.  The long nose could stir while the feet stomped and mashed.  Problem solved!  Won’t FringeBoy be excited to pooper-scoop for another animal.

The saleswoman waved aside my elephant guess and told me it was a Kitchen Aide whose color was discontinued.  Because they soon wouldn’t be allowed to sell it, they marked it down $150 off the original price.  Wow!  She told me the price would be roughly double the hand mixer I’d just purchased.  A little investment, but one well worth it since I was already anticipating needing a new hand-held mixer by June.

All the way home, I doubted the size of this mixer.  I’d just never EVER seen one so cheap.

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I consider this a direct gift from God.  I’ve dreamed of a red (this exact color) Kitchen Aide mixer for a very long time.  Some girls desire diamonds, some houses, and others gold, but for me it was a mixer minus puffs of black smoke and screams of pain.

All night long I thought of things to make in this lovely new mixer.  I decided to make cinnamon rolls. Mmmmm…it was well worth the extra inch on each of my thighs.  FringeKid and I named this powerful red beauty Fiona.

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Cinnamon Roll Recipe

I will now share Fiona’s cinnamon roll recipe.  It came straight out of the Kitchen Aide direction booklet.

Dough:  3/4 c. low-fat milk, 1/2 c. sugar, 1 1/4 tsp salt, 1/2 c. butter, 2 packs active dry yeast, 1/3 c. warm water, 5 1/2 – 6 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, 3 eggs

Heat milk, sugar, salt & butter in small pan until butter and sugar are melted.  Cool to lukewarm.  Dissolve yeast in warm water in warmed bowl.  Add milk mixture, eggs, & 5 c. flour.  Mix, mix, mix…

Add remaining flour slowly until dough clings to hook and cleans the side of the bowl.   I only used 5 1/2 c. flour for this to happen.  Knead by hand or in mixer.  Place dough in greased bowl and let rise for an hour.  Punch down and roll into a giant rectangle.

Cinnamon mixture:  1 c. brown sugar, 1 c. sugar, 1/2 c. butter, 1/4 c. all-purpose flour, 1 1/2 tbls cinnamon (chopped walnuts or pecans optional)

Beat all ingredients together till well mixed.  Spread over dough and roll tightly.  Cut into 24 one inch rounds and place in two buttered 9×13 pans.  Let rise for 45 min. – 1 hour.  Bake in a preheated, 350 degree oven.

Cinnamon Roll Recipe

Pre-cooked rolls

Enjoy!  They’d be great with a little icing on top too.  You may as well!

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I almost feel bad having such a beautiful machine.  It’s so much more than I ever expected.  Fiona and I will work well together.  She will knead; I will feed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!

December 30, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

A Gift Of Heart & Hand

This Christmas FringeMan labored in love to give me the sweetest, most fabulous gift possible.  About two weeks ago, he made the mistake of asking me what I wanted for Christmas.  Some say ignorance is bliss.  Unfortunately for FringeMan, he could no longer claim ignorance. 

In a pre-Christmas post, I posed the question, “Why ask for a new toothbrush when you can just ask for new teeth?”

In keeping with that mantra, I asked for a whopping big country type of “hutch”.  I don’t know if hutch is the appropriate word, but I wanted a cabinet without doors and a wooden slat back that could house my milk glass collection.

Because I’m a hands on sorta gal and much to FringeMan’s chagrin, I like to be involved in the actually assembly of such a piece.  My husband developed a twitch in his right eye and I actually think one of his brows turned white with fright when I asked him how big he was planning on making this hutch.  The finished product is double the size of his original estimation and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!

Since my words cannot do this hutch justice, see for yourself.

cabinetewb

All my milk glass is tucked neatly inside.  I even have room for my crate on the bottom shelf.

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I do believe this fine piece could be featured in Country Living Magazine.  FringeMan has many talents.  I love everything about this gift, but I mostly love all the time and effort that went into pleasing me.  FringeMan outdid himself!

What would you call this piece?

Thank you FringeMan!

P.S.  This is my 96th post.  I have a special give-away for 100.  You won’t want to miss it!

December 29, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

Fanciful Parties

FringeKid, my youngest, turned 7 Sunday and we had a Fancy Nancy party.  If you haven’t been introduced to Fancy Nancy books, click HERE. 

Fancy Nancy dresses in feathers and frills, uses language that includes words such as stupendous, and decorates with a flair (the kind that gets shot in the air to signal distress).

Fancy Nancy Glasses

Fancy Nancy Glasses

On Long Island parents don’t have “house” parties.  All birthday parties are catered and hosted at elaborate kiddie gyms, activity centers, and let’s not forget my favorite, “The Young Chef’s Academy.”  Now that was a party!  I’m single-handedly bringing back the house party and all games that include rolled-up socks and clothes-pins.  My parties are actually a novelty and EVERYBODY loves my dollar store decorations.

Our Fancy Table
Our Fancy Table

 I’ve discovered the secret to making time stand still.  Listen up!  It may also be the key to weight loss and the cure for insomnia.  INVITE 10 CHILDREN OVER.  They managed to make 2 hours feel like 8 hours of hard labor.

presenting princess Annaliese

My daughter invented a fanciful game called decorate the birthday girl. 

A word of caution:  NEVER give 10 children handfulls of tinsel, pink or otherwise.  I have tinsel strewn from the toilet to the table and everywhere in-between.

in all her Regalia

in all her Regalia

One gift took center stage.   Oohs and ahhhs coursed through the crowd as the first layers of wrapping were pealed back.  The giver beamed with pride.  This gift will leave me forever wondering who left the puddle on my floor.
the gift from TV

the gift from TV

It’s a dog that pees!  Apparently children everywhere have been coveting this lifelike plastic dog.  I couldn’t be happier.  Another pup to piddle on my floor.  A shame they don’t piddle wax and buff with their hineys

crowned queen for a day

crowned queen for a day

“Did you survive?”  A skeptical mother questioned upon pick-up glancing curiously through the house.

Wiping perspiration from my brow (yes, I used deodorant today) and straightening my shirt, I put on my best mommy smile and gloated over a fantastically stupendous fancy party.

Happy 7th Birthday Annaliese!

December 28, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

Revival Squirrel

Ever since I first heard this song, I’ve been hoping and wishing and praying somebody would bring a squirrel to church. 

Watch this video…it’s not too long, I promise!  Be sure to listen to the words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgFjLB4VYSU

Have a happy Sunday,

December 24, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

Holiday Cooking-Lazy Style

Didn’t I just spent two solid days in the kitchen cooking for Thanksgiving?  The dreaded day after required me to be up to my elbows in dish soap.   I don’t even want to remember the kitchen clean-up. 

 Then came Christmas parties…potlucks…oh, my aching head.

I read all your baking recipes.  I drooled and possibly gained two pounds from excessive cookie looking, but I just couldn’t muster the ambition to bake AGAIN.  Perhaps it’s fear of not creating a culinary masterpiece or it could be that I’m just too overwhelmed with holiday shopping, entertaining, and celebrations…not a chance.   The real reason for my kitchen slump is laziness.

I just don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen sifting flour, melting butter, and making gravy…oh wait, I almost forgot I don’t sift.  Still!  This holiday is supposed to be all about the presents, not the food. 

We’re sending our domestic goddesses to an early grave by allowing our appetites to dictate our Christmas cuisine.  We should be ashamed of ourselves.

I will now share Holiday recipes – lazy style.

FYI:  I AM cooking a small ham.

Boston Market is nice enough to precook delicious sweet potato casseroles and baked apples.  They ship them to BJ’s and lazy people like me buy them, throw them in a dish, heat, and serve.  If you are into self-preserving your image as a domestic goddess, stick these in a fancy dish and discard any and ALL evidence of the wrappings.

sidesweb

Boston market also has mashed potatoes, but FringeMan would have convulsions if I served him “pretend” mashed potatoes.  I don’t worry about him having too much plaque in his arteries, but rather too many mashed potatoes.

pumpkinpie

Of course we need sweets, so here’s a lovely pumpkin pie.  It will taste wonderful to me since I didn’t need to mash the pumpkins, fight with the crust, and forget to add the sugar.  I will whip my own cream.

eclairs

I couldn’t resist the eclairs!  Apparently three other munchkins couldn’t resist either.  Don’t kid yourselves, these are never going to make it until Christmas day.

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Ribbon candy is one of my personal favorites.  You might even say a tradition.

Since my hand mixer broke the other day, looks like Santa is getting an eclair.  Oh, no!  I just realized I have no mixer to make whipped cream…looks like that’s going to come out of a can too.  On the bright side, maybe Santa will bring me a Kitchen Aide…please Santa.  I think I have as much chance of getting a Kitchen Aide this year as I did with the Corvette.

A domestic goddess I’m not, but hats off to the rest of you!

From my FringeFamily to yours, Merry Christmas!   It is my prayer that each of you enjoy a happy and safe holiday filled with love, cheer, and lots of presents.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

December 23, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

Holiday Excitement

reddoor

My daughter’s battery is on overdrive.  She’s acting bizarre, the way a wind-up toy functions after being overwound and released.  She’s used so many words that reality has been exhausted and exchanged for make-believe. 

Tonight on the way to BJ’s, she recounted an elaborate scene in which she went swimming in a hot tub in school Friday.  My husband, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, looked at me like “What in tarnation is going on in the classroom!  AND, Were you there?” 

FringeMan doesn’t understand that our daughter still enjoys short ventures to neverland.  Her imagination may be her greatest asset, but it also may cause her father a mild case of angina.  Next time she goes swimming in a hot tub during school, I definitely want to be around.  Maybe we can pretend I’m a swimsuit model too.

Christmas better hurry up and come because the anticipation is making everyone a bit kooky.  Even the dog is excited.  She ate silly putty today.  Now we can press her into the Daily News and read her like a comic.

My children want to celebrate Hanukkah.  FringeBoy has a dreidl and spins it endlessly.  FringeKid (that’s Annaliese) is convinced she’s Jewish.  I tried to explain to them that we can take part in our Jewish friend’s celebrations and enjoy their holiday with them, but that we aren’t really Jewish.  It’s just not our culture.  I shut my mouth tightly when FringeBoy said, “But didn’t Jesus celebrate Hanukkah?  We should too.”

Next year I will buy a Menorah.

Happy Hanukkah my friends!

December 22, 2008 by: The Domestic Fringe

The Magic That Is NYC

Although I haven’t been to many of the great cities of this world, I believe New York City is one like no other.  During the holidays, retail decorators go to great lengths to transform the city into a magical otherworld. 

Although I’m not a photographer and you’ll see flash reflections, I want to show you at least a snapshot of the magic.  Hope you enjoy a walk through the city.

angelback

These angels keep watch over Rockefeller Center.  Their lacy wings fill the night with a certain calm in the midst of chaos.

whitewindowcropped

A window in white.  My favorite. 

silvermagic

Each glance is an assault on your senses.

nutcracker

These nutcrackers lined nearly an entire block.

nypinwoman

New York City does demand an intense reaction.  You either love it or hate it.

redballwoman

This is a woman who likes her bling.

twinballgirls

Sisters perhaps?

radiocitymusichall3

This is where I’d be dancing if I “got skinny”.  So says my daughter.

flagsblurry

It’s easy to feel like one of these flags in the city – whipped back and forth from one window to the next, enticed by one vendor to another, bumped by one person and then a hundred.

treelights

And as night falls, the real magic begins.

candles

The memories of those who’ve gone before fill hearts and minds at Christmas and always.

If you’ve not visited New York City, you SHOULD!  No better time to come than Christmas…summer is a bit hot and smelly.

Hope you are all enjoy the magic of the season.

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