Baked Alaska Cupcakes

Cooking

I have a bucket list of items I want to try and make in the kitchen. Baked Alaska was on that list. It was one of the intimidating, challenging items on my list. How can ice cream be baked? Will I end up with ice cream soup? How will we eat the whole thing before it melts?

The answer was simple. Start small. I found that Baked Alaska can be made in cupcake form. Brilliant! The recipe I was looking at called for a box mix cake. I do not do box mix cakes. The family does not prefer them, and to be quite honest, I do not see the point in buying a mix if I have all the ingredients to make a cake from scratch. It is not any harder to make and it tastes better. Also, we did not need 24 cupcakes, only 3. So, I decided to make three Baked Alaska cupcakes.

First I made the cupcake batter and filled the cupcake papers in a muffin tin. I let these cool on a wire rack. Next, I placed them into a freezer safe container and then scooped ice cream on top. Into the freezer they went for a couple of hours.

I preheated my oven to 450 degrees F while making the meringue. Then I took the cupcakes out of the freezer and popped them back into the muffin tin and spread the meringue over the top.

I popped them in the oven for 2 minutes, until the meringue browned.

Then the Baked Alaska cupcakes were plated, brought to the table, and devoured.

The results were good. The family liked these tasty treats. My husband wished that I had made more. So the next time I made a bigger batch. Another successful attempt in the test kitchen. Happy baking!

To make the Baked Alaska Cupcakes:

  • Make cupcakes using paper cupcake liners (any flavor/any recipe – I used chocolate)
  • Ice Cream (any flavor – Again I used chocolate)
  • Meringue – to cover 6-12 cupcakes: 2 egg whites/ 1/4 tsp cream of tartar/ 3/4 tsp vanilla/ 1/3 cup sugar

Make cupcakes and let cool on wire rack. When cool scoop ice cream on top leaving a little border around the edge and place in freezer safe container. Freeze for at least two hours. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Beat egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Slowly add in the sugar until stiff peaks form. Take cupcakes out of freezer and place back into the muffin tin. With a knife, spread the meringue gently around the ice cream being sure to seal around the top of cupcake. Pop in the oven for 2-3 minutes. The tops should be light brown in color and firm. DO NOT over bake as the ice cream will melt. Remove from oven and plate and serve promptly. Enjoy!

I Hate to Burst Your Bubble but…

life

Ok, so we have all enjoyed chewing a stick of gum at some point in our lives. Personally, the only time I chew gum these days is when I am flying on a plane. The gum chewing process helps relieve the pressure in my ears. But with chewing gum comes responsibility.

I have cleaned chewing gum off of more shoes than I care to remember. Not only mine, but my children’s shoes as well. I try to look where I am walking, however, a piece will sneak up on me from time to time. It happened to me just last week. What I do not understand is….WHO is going around spitting gum all over the place to begin with! This is why gum comes with a wrapper. One is supposed to put the wrapper in their pocket to save for when the are done with the stale gum. One then takes the wrapper out of their pocket and wraps the gum up and disposes of it in a trash can. What could be easier?

Cleaning gum off of shoes is GROSS! Who knows what kind of germs are now on my shoe! Some people say to put the shoe in a baggie and put it in the freezer. The gum is then supposed to be easy to remove. Sorry, baggie or no baggie, I do not want a dirty old shoe in my freezer! My method for cleaning gum from shoes is to go out to the yard and find a stick. I then use the stick to dig into the crevices of the shoe tread, getting out as much of the gum as possible. The stick is then thrown out with the yard waste. Next, I put on the disposable gloves and get the rubbing alcohol and a toothbrush and start scrubbing. While doing this I am “praying” for the person who spit their gum into my path by humming to a little tune. Let me give you the lyrics…

Pray For You Lyrics – Jaron

I haven’t been to church since I don’t remember when
Things were going great til they fell apart again
So I listened to the preacher as he told me what to do
He said you can’t go hatin’ others who have done wrong to you
Sometimes we get angry but we must not condemn
Let the good Lord do his job, you just pray for them

I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill
I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill
And knocks you in the head like I’d like to
I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls
I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls
I pray all your dreams never come true
Just know wherever you are, honey, I pray for you

I’m really glad I found my way to church
Cause I’m already feelin’ better and I thank God for the words
Yeah, I’m gonna take the high road and do what the preacher told me to do
You keep messin’ up, and I’ll keep prayin’ for you

I pray your tire goes out at 110
I pray you pass out drunk with your best friend
And wake up with his and her tattoos

I pray your brakes go out runnin’ down a hill
I pray a flower pot falls from a window sill
And knocks you in the head like I’d like to
I pray your birthday comes and nobody calls
I pray you’re flyin’ high when your engine stalls
I pray all your dreams never come true
Just know wherever you are, near or far
In your house or in your car
Wherever you are, honey, I pray for you
I pray for you  

But seriously, what I really pray for is that people will pick up after themselves and not use the world as their garbage can. Do you have any great ways to get gum off of shoes?

Adding a Pop of Color to the Front Door for Curbside Appeal

Projects

While watching those fixer-upper home shows on television, I get inspired to do a little extra something around my own house. The most recent thing on my Honey Do List was to give a pop of color to our house. That meant changing the door color from a brown stain to a bright purple. Did I say purple? Yes, Purple!

Go bold or go home as they say. We’ll there was no where else to go. We were already home. But go bold we did. Regrets? No way! I LOVE it!

I chose purple because I love purple. It also goes with the flowers when they are in bloom in the yard. I chose a color of purple that complemented the house color as well. As there are so many shades of one color it is important to be sure that all colors work with each other. I got samples from the hardware store and looked at them with the house color. I also took a photo of the house and printed it on the copier. Then I cut out the door on my paper house and placed the color samples in the cut out door. This gave me any ‘idea’ of how the house might look with the color I chose.

I had always leaned on the “safe” side as far as colors go. Paint colors are so hard to choose. They never look exactly like the little paint sample. However, this time I decided to listen to those curb appeal shows and add a pop of color. I must say, I am very happy I did. A house needs a focal point and what better place to start than the front door. The point of entry and welcome.

That pop of color has made all the difference in the feel of our home. It has now a richness that it was missing before. It does not blend into the background anymore. It says, “I have personality, I am unique”. Amazing how much one tiny change can make such a difference.

Of course, if the purple had been horrible, the worst thing would have been another trip to the hardware store for a different color. One never knows until they try it. My husband did get a small sample of the paint and tried it on the door before investing money in the whole gallon. This is probably advisable as I said before, paint samples are never what they seem. Also, I might note that the color chosen should be a little brighter than desired as it will seem darker from the street view than it will up close.

Thanks again Honey for another job well done!

My Take on The Addams Family Movie 2019

life

The Addams Family is back on the big screen and the catchy lyrics will have you snapping your fingers all the way home. “They’re creepy and they’re kooky, Mysterious and spooky, They’re all together ooky, The Addams Family. Their house is a museum Where people come to see ’em They really are a scream The Addams Family. (Neat) (Sweet) (Petite) So get a witches shawl on A broomstick you can crawl on We’re gonna pay a call on The Addams Family.”

What’s not to love about the Addams Family movie! The characters are as great as ever and I loved how the movie started at the beginning of Gomez and Morticia’s marriage and showed how they acquired Lurch, their butler, and their wonderfully creepy house and fast forwarded to life with their children, Wednesday and Pugsley. My favorite character in the movie was their teenage daughter, Wednesday. She was the perfect dark, moody teen. She played with electric chairs and guillotines, buried her brother alive, and threw knives at her uncle Fester. Of course, this is all perfectly normal for the Addams Family. They, after all, delight in the morbid, grim, and ghastly.

Wednesday Addams

As is typical with the Addams Family, they are unaware why people are put off by them and frightened by them and the way they live. After all, they are perfectly normal. When a new town is being formed below their house on the hill and they do not fit in with the cookie cutter way of life, plots start to turn against the Addams family.

The movie does have a good message, which is that it is ok to be different and we should appreciate people for who they are. It is boring for everyone to be the same. This of course applies to the Addams Family, who could not be more different than most typical families.

The Addams Family movie took the good parts of the past black and white era and blended it with the modern age. It worked. It was entertaining and the characters were as charmingly interesting as always. I would recommend the Addams Family movie. It is a good way to spend an afternoon with the family. Thanks Honey for taking us!

Celebrating My 100th Post on Another Day With Julie!

Cooking, life

Today is my 100th post on Another Day With Julie! My children did not think I would keep it up. I think my daughter was amazed I got any followers at all. However, it has been about five months and I am still posting. I have tried to keep my blog a positive one and hopefully a helpful one as well. I would like to thank all my amazing followers! I am going to celebrate this milestone by making a cake. Care to join me? The recipe follows…

Buttermilk-Chocolate Cake

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large egg whites
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • cooking spray
  • Chocolate Glaze
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Beat sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add egg whites and egg, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Combine buttermilk, water, and baking soda. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Pour into a 9″ round cake pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Spread glaze over cake. Yield: 9 servings.

Chocolate Glaze:

  • 1 cup sifted powdered sugar
  • 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 Tbsp 1% low-fat milk
  • 1/2 tsp butter or margarine, melted
  • 1/2 tsp light-colored corn syrup
  1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk. Yield: 3/4 cup.

Calories 295 (21% from fat); Fat 7g (sat 1.8g, mono 2.6g, poly 1.8g); Protein 5.1g; Carb 53.6g; Fiber 0g; Chol 25mg; Iron 2.4mg; Sodium 274mg; Calc 82mg

(This was a reader recipe by Carol Hook from Cooking Light Magazine.)

The only changes I made to the recipe were…

  1. I do not usually have cake flour on hand so I made my own cake flour substitute. To do this I took 3 Tbsp of flour out of the recipe and in it’s place added 3 Tbsp of corn starch. I then put the flour/cornstarch mixture through a sifter and voila!
  2. I do not usually have buttermilk on hand either. So to the milk I added a 1/4 tsp of lemon juice.
  3. In order to have cakes come perfectly out of pans without sticking I do not choose to use cooking spray. Instead, I cut a circle of wax paper to fit the bottom of the pan. In this case a nice 9″ circle. Then I spread shortening around the side of the pan and with a spoon put a good spoonful of flour in the pan. I then shake the flour around the side of the pan to cover the shortening. Next I place the wax paper circle in the bottom of the pan. The cake batter is then poured directly on top of the wax paper. When the cake has cooled, it will easily come out of the pan and the wax paper can be peeled off and thrown away.
  4. I decided to add chopped macadamia nuts around the side of the cake to be fancy and add a little texture.
My cake
A slice

My family liked this cake. I loved the fact that it looked nice but was super simple to make. The chocolate glaze was the perfect amount for the cake and was the EASIEST frosting I have ever made. It whisked together beautifully with a hand whisk. No mixer required. It was also very easy to spread. Being a single layer cake, it was not too heavy yet satisfied my sweet tooth.

Again, THANKS for following and as always, Happy Baking!

Spotlight on Recipes

Cooking, Projects

As I have grown older, I have found reading my recipes a bit more challenging. No, I do not need a new pair of eye glasses. My glasses are fine. That is not the problem at all. The problem is poor kitchen lighting.

The overhead lighting is not sufficient for reading recipes. Think of it like an office. One uses a desk lamp along with the overhead lighting. Hence, under cabinet lighting is the kitchen’s desk lamp.

With a simple request to my hubby, he was off to the hardware store. He came back with three under cabinet lights that plug in. I thought that would take up a lot of my outlets. Where would I plug in the mixer? He quickly educated me on electrical terms. Ever hear of the daisy chain? Me neither! According to Wikipedia, “In electrical and electronic engineering a daisy chain is a wiring scheme in which multiple devices are wired together in sequence or in a ring.” Brilliant! So the three lights are all hooked together and only one plug is inserted into the outlet. My husband even got an adapter with a switch that allows me to turn them all on together at the outlet. I also have the option to turn off the ones I do not want on. So I could use the lights individually if desired.

My husband had the lights up and working in no time at all. Now I can read the recipes without having to bend down and squint into the cookbook. Wow what a difference! Thanks honey!!!

Looking up from under cabinet – Lights are not visible straight on
Outlet Switch

Saving Stores One Purchase at a Time

life

I have always enjoyed shopping. Ever since I was a kid, I loved to go to the mall. It was not always about the purchase, it was also about the activity and the social aspect as well. Going to the mall with my mom and now my children is a good way to interact, converse, and enjoy the day.

I must admit I am getting concerned about the number of stores closing and the number that are predicted to file bankruptcy soon. It is hard for stores to stay in business today. Internet shopping (Amazon) is hurting the mom and pop stores as well as the department stores we love. I for one do not find it possible to buy my clothes (especially pants) on-line. I want to try them on and see how they fit. I do not want to settle for something that is not what I wanted because of return shipping costs. I want to feel the fabric and know exactly what I am getting and not be surprised that the color is off or the fabric is cheap. Not only this, I want to go shopping! I want to chat and browse and have a good time.

I have decided that I will not make any on-line purchases this holiday season for anybody on my gift list unless it is from a particular store I want to support (sorry Amazon). I want to support my local stores and the places I like to shop. I want to do my part to keep them in business. Will it help? Who knows. But it will make me feel better knowing I tried to do what I felt was right.

Alan Jackson’s song “Little Man” is a good reference…

I remember walk’in round the court square sidewalk
Lookin’ in windows at things I couldn’t want
There’s Johnson’s Hardware and Morgans Jewelry
And the ol’ Lee King’s Apothecary
They ware the little man
The little man

I go back now and the stores are empty
Except for an old coke sign dated 1950
Boarded up like they never existed
Or renovated and called historic districts
There goes the little man
There goes the little man

Now the court square’s just a set of streets
That the people go round but they seldom think
Bout the little man that built this town
Before the big money shut em down
And killed the little man
Oh the little man
He pumped your gas and he cleaned your glass
And one cold rainy night he fixed your flat
The new stores came where you do it yourself
You buy a lotto ticket and food off the shelf
Forget the little man
Forget about that little man

He hung on there for a few more years
But he couldn’t sell slurpees
And he wouldn’t sell beer
Now the bank rents the station
To a man down the road
And they sell velvet Elvis and
Second-hand clothes
There goes little man
There goes another little man

Now the court square’s just a set of streets
That the people go round but they seldom think
Bout the little man that built this town
Before the big money shut em down
And killed the little man
Oh the little man

Now the stores are lined up in a concrete strip
You can buy the whole world in just one trip
And save a penny cause it’s jumbo size
They don’t even realize
They’er killin’ the little man
Oh the little man

Now the court square’s just a set of streets
That the people go round but they seldom think
Bout the little man that built this town
Before the big money shut em down
And killed the little man
Oh the little man

It wasn’t long ago when I was a child
An old black man came with his mule and his plow
He broke the ground where we grew our garden
Back before we’d all forgotten
about the little man
The little man
Long live the little man
God bless the little man

My Take on This ‘N That by Bette Davis

Book Reviews

This ‘N That, a book written by Bette Davis on her life and especially that around the time of her mastectomy and stroke in 1983 is a must for Davis fans. It shows us what a strong woman she was on and off the set. The reader is brought into the life of Davis through her own words and it is captivating.

We are introduced to Kathryn, her assistant who is by her side throughout. There is even a chapter in the book written by Kathryn as how she saw Bette Davis. She had great respect and fondness for Ms. Davis from the very start. A quote from her diary states as much. “She is divine. Last night she cooked me a marvelous dinner of Cornish hen, squash with green peas. She is delightful and charming and has a heart. A good person, I can tell…Her home is beautiful, filled with warmth and loving pieces from parts of her life…”

Bette Davis lived for acting, she loved it. After her operation and stroke she did not know if she would work again, but work she did. She was a woman with drive and determination and obvious talent.

Of course there was heartache along the way. Four failed marriages did not prove easy for Bette Davis. Davis wanted to do the best at all she did and these failures were always a disappointment for her. There is also her daughter’s book, My Mother’s Keeper, that did not speak too highly of her, that was a surprise and shock to her.

In This ‘N That, Davis speaks of her ‘feud’ with Joan Crawford. She is open and honest in telling her feelings about other actors (the good and the bad). She admitted to being nervous when working with other actors who impressed her. She gives credit to others where it was due.

The accomplishment Bette Davis was most proud of was The Hollywood Canteen. The Hollywood Canteen was a place for servicemen to meet Hollywood stars. There was entertainment by Hollywood stars, dancing, and a snack bar. For her work with The Hollywood Canteen in World War II, she was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the Defense Department’s highest civilian award. I found this chapter very interesting as I did not know of The Hollywood Canteen.

Bette Davis was a talented actress and one of my favorites. I found the book interesting and from it I learned a lot about Bette Davis the woman as well as Bette Davis the actress. Before reading this book I would suggest watching a few of her movies, if not familiar with Bette Davis the actress. This is because she does refer to some of her movies and other actors in the movies and it would help to form a better picture.

This ‘N That has got me excited to see some more of Bette Davis. I would also like to re-watch a few of her movies now and see them again for a comment or two about them peaked my interest. Makeup, scenes, etc… I would like to see again from a new perspective. So I will be popping some corn and having some movie nights soon. Happy Reading!

My Take on The Lonely Life by Bette Davis

Book Reviews

I became a fan of Bette Davis a few years back. My daughter and I were visiting my parents and the movie Whatever Happened to Baby Jane came on. We were about to leave and then got captivated in the film. My daughter, who usually isn’t captured by movies so easily, also did not want to leave. We were glued to the television mesmerized by Bette Davis. What an actress!

Bette Davis could go from a normal, lovely character and change into a deranged lunatic in the blink of an eye. Such control! We had to have more! We rented many more of her movies including Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte which was another of our favorites. Her characters were more demented in her later works.

Bette Davis – Whatever Happened to Baby Jane
Bette Davis – Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte

So, needless to say, it was inevitable that I would eventually want to read Bette Davis’ autobiography. I can honestly say that I didn’t want to put it down. She led a fascinating life. There was so much I didn’t know about her. The Lonely Life, her first autobiography, starts from the beginning of her life in Lowell, Massachusetts where she was born Ruth Elizabeth Davis in 1908 to around the time of the death of her mother who was so important in her life. It leads us through her start in theatre and then the move to California and motion pictures. We get to see what she thought of other actors, the work she did, her contributions to society, her personal life, family, marriages, and the struggles she faced rising to the top all from her point of view. We get to see what Hollywood was like back in the day when silent pictures were transitioning to talkies. Most of all we get to picture the woman behind the actress.

This is a highly recommended read from me. The Lonely Life by Bette Davis was well written, interesting, and entertaining. In answer to that famous question: “If you could have dinner with any three people (dead or alive) who would they be?”… One of mine would definitely be Bette Davis. Happy Reading!

Leftover Banana Treat Obsession

Cooking

In a previous post, I shared how I make frozen chocolate covered bananas. These soon became a hit with my children. I have become obsessed with them! But there is always room for improvement.

I have changed how I make the chocolate covered bananas slightly. Now, I make them without the stick. I found I really did not need this and I make the bananas without sticks and just pick them up and eat them with my fingers. Messy? Oh yes! It is messy, but honestly, it seems easier than eating them off the stick.

I also do not try to make them in the peel any more. I can get more chocolate on them this way. I peel them, throw the peel away and spread the melted chocolate over the banana, even on the ends. Messy? Again…yes! But it is worth it!!!!

My favorite version of the chocolate covered frozen banana treat is covered in coconut flakes. I lay out some wax paper and sprinkle it with coconut flakes. Then I spread the melted chocolate on half the banana, lay it down on the coconut and then continue to spread chocolate on the other half and sprinkle coconut on top and then freeze.

I have also changed the quantity I make of the banana treats. I stock-up and freeze a few halves at a time so I can go get one without having to make one every day. I still only make them in halves. Even if I use a whole banana I will cut it in half and make two treats out of one banana. (See my original post – Leftover Banana Treat – for a more detailed description.) Happy Snacking!