Stirring Memories

12th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap

2025-12-22T08:58:00.003-06:00

Thanks to all who braved the cold to participate in the 12th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap! Each participant was able to leave with 11 different varieties of cookies. Such a great way to simplify your holiday baking and meet new neighbors!

12th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap

This year, I tried a new recipe: Brown Butter Marshmallow Crispy Cookies. I love a basic Rice Krispie treat, and if it married a brown butter sugar cookie, this would be their child. I'll definitely be making it again!

Brown Butter Marshmallow Crispy Cookies

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order) with links to each recipe, if available.

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Butterball Cookies

Iced Oatmeal Cookies

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas Delight Cookies

Salted Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies

Gluten-free Peanut Butter Blossoms

Chocolate Chip Sprinkle Cookies

Pecan Zappers

Have a merry and sweet Christmas!

Pear Jam

2025-09-03T15:40:00.001-05:00

When a friend gives you two bushels of pears (thanks Earl and Aurora!), you make jam. That kept me and Dad busy this Labor Day weekend. The recipe was modified from one by Pioneer Woman, and I wanted to capture all of the changes here because it's a winner. We will definitely be making this again!

Pear Jam

Ingredients:

6 cups peeled, cored, diced, firm pears
1 cup water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 packet Low Sugar Sure-Jell
3-1/2 cups white sugar, divided
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp ground allspice
2 tsp ground nutmeg

Note: For Cinnamon Pear Jam, we also added 3 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

Peel, core, and dice firm pears. (Tip: Set out a large bowl of water with juice from a lemon. Place peeled pears in lemon water to prevent browning as you continue to peel the remaining pears.)

Fill large pot with 1 cup water and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Add 6 cups of diced pears. In a separate bowl, mix 1 packet Low Sugar Sure-Jell, 1/2 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and spices. Add mixture to the pears. Mix well and cook until pears are soft and mixture reaches a full rolling boil (approximately 20 minutes). Add remaining 3 cups white sugar. As mixture thickens, stir frequently to prevent sticking. Cook for another 1 minute after it reaches a full rolling boil. Remove from heat.

Makes approximately 3 pints.

Canning Process:

Some people can by using a water bath method, which is supposed to be safer by killing any bacteria that's supposed to be killed, but I don't. Here's what I do:

Heat clean jars on a cookie sheet in a 275 degree oven while you are making the jam. At the same time, boil the jar lids and rings.(Always use new jar lids, but the rings and jars are reusable.)

Use a liquid measuring cup to pour the hot jam into the jars. It's a little messy. That's why I like to have the jars on a cookie sheet to catch the inevitable overflow. Fill hot jars with jam, leaving about 1/4 inch head space. Now don't forget to take a damp paper towel or cloth and wipe around the top of each jar. This is going to remove any stray jam that would prevent the jars from sealing at the top. Using tongs, remove a lid from the boiling water. Blot the lid on a towel and place on top of a jar, pressing down gently. Screw on the band snugly. Repeat for all jars.

The filled jars are going to be hot, so pick them up with a towel or pot holder and transfer them to a towel lined counter to cool. Once cooled, make sure that each lid is sealed. (Listen for the pop!) If the lid pops back when you press it, then the jar is not properly sealed. This should be rare. If this happens, simply refrigerate the jar and begin using it.

11th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap

2024-12-15T20:09:00.001-06:00

The Eleventh Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap took place on Sunday, December 15, 2024. Although it was the smallest one to date, each participant was able to leave with 7 different varieties of cookies. It's the perfect way to simplify your holiday baking!

This year, I made the same orange coconut snowballs that I brought two years ago. I had two reasons: (1) I'm loving UT athletics this year! We won the World Series in baseball; we are currently ranked #1 in men's basketball; and we made the first college football playoffs. Needless to say, I had to choose some kind of recipe with orange. (2) The second reason I chose this recipe is because it was easy for my granddaughter Cameron to help me. Priceless! This was her first cookie swap, and I was thrilled that she participated in not only the preparation, but the swapping.

Cameron and MeMe Making Orange Coconut Snowballs

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order) with links to each recipe, if available:

Jack's Shortbread

Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies

Holiday Wreaths

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thanks to everyone who participated! And have the sweetest Christmas ever!

11th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap

10th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap

2024-01-02T15:42:00.000-06:00

The Tenth Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap took place on Sunday, December 17, 2023. With each participant bringing 6 dozen cookies of one kind to share, we had fifteen varieties of cookies to exchange. It continues to be a great way to build community. I know I certainly enjoyed meeting new neighbors who participated for the first time. Also, it remains the perfect way to simplify my holiday baking.

Tenth Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap - 2023

Normally, I share a "tried and true" recipe, but not this year. My dear friend Missy unexpectedly gifted me with a Ted Lasso kitchen towel because she knows how much I love that series, and she also knows how many tea towels I use in my cinnamon roll business. When I saw the recipe for "Biscuits with the Boss," I immediately knew that would be my selection for this year's swap. Well, not immediately. To be honest, I first read the recipe and didn't see any buttermilk which is a must ingredient for any good 'ole Southern biscuit. It was only then that I remembered that the British use the term "biscuit" in place of "cookie." (The Great British Bake Off is another favorite series!)

Ted Lasso's Biscuits with the Boss

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order) with links to each recipe, if available:

Frosted Ginger Cookies

White Chocolate & Peanut Butter Delights

Brown Butter Brown Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookie Sparkles

Pfeffernusse

White Chocolate Cranberry Macadamia Nut Cookies

Decorated Christmas Cookies

Thanks to all who participated in this fun event! And for those of you who are concerned about over-indulging during the holidays, I learned from a neighbor:

"It's December! Those are Jesus calories!"

And now who is going to argue with that?

My Favorite Things Party - 2023

2023-12-13T22:06:00.006-06:00

This is the 10th year I've been documenting what is exchanged at the My Favorite Things parties I attend each Christmas season. It never gets old! (You can search this blog for previous seasons.) I've attended two of these parties so far this year.

If you're not familiar with this party theme, check out the details here. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

2014: Flylady's rubba scrubba
2015: A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
2016: A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka
2017: A Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops)
2018: A collection of several items: stainless steel condiment cups, baking cups, and homemade cinnamon rolls
2019: Stainless steel spoon straws
2020: Hint flavored water and Tea Forte's herbal retreat presentation box
2021: Pantry labels; homemade hot tamales and ingredients to make my favorite chili recipe; Evan Williams spiked eggnog and Pepperidge Farms Chessman Christmas cookies to make Paula Deen's Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding recipe; marble coaster from the David Arms art studio.
2022: Frasier Fir wool dryer balls gift set; Christmas candle from White's Mercantile; a repeat of Evan Williams spiked eggnog and Pepperidge Farms Chessman Christmas cookies to make Paula Deen's Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding recipe.

For one of my parties this year, I brought these amazing kitchen scissors that I use almost daily. I got them at the Le Creuset outlet at the beach this summer, and they were half the price that I'm seeing now. For my second party, I talked about how espresso martinis are currently one of my most favorite things. . . specifically the one served at Stable Reserve, a new bar in downtown Franklin. Since I couldn't wrap a martini, I gave $15 gift cards to Stable Reserve.

Although I'm certain I may have overlooked some items, here are some of the other favorite things shared from both parties (in no particular order):

Capri Blue scented candle
Karen Scott black turtleneck sweater from Macys
Travel cosmetic bag
Olive oil skin moisturizer
Duo soap dispenser from TJ Maxx
Set of 3 cocktail mixers from TJ Maxx
Olivia olive oil, wooden board, and nutcracker spatula
Harney & Sons tea
Stonewall Kitchen sea salt espresso martini mixer
D110 mini label maker
Planter/plant
Nightlight wallplate
Frozen crushed ginger cubes from Trader Joe's
Journal with pen and Burt's Bees lip balm
Danish Kringle from Trader Joe's
OPI nail polish in Malaga Wine
Food truck Christmas ornament that lights up
Sugar Bob's smoked maple syrup
E-cloth glass cleaner kit
Doubgood bracelets
Laneige lip balm
Simple Truth facial wipes
Handmade felt ornament
Cell phone cleaner tool
Eye glasses cleaner tool
Glass vase
Blondie bar baking mix from Trader Joe's
Turkish beach towel
Expandable car cup holder
Christmas Lights charging cable for iPhone
Magnetic measuring spoons set
Half Baked Harvest Every Day cookbook

May your shopping days for stocking stuffers now be merry and bright!

9th Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap

2022-12-15T15:54:00.007-06:00

Although the crowd was smaller than usual, 9 of us enjoyed exchanging cookies at the Ninth Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap this past Sunday. We each brought 6 dozen cookies of one kind to share. Even with a small group, each of us ended up with a wonderful variety! During the pandemic, each participant individually wrapped each cookie for a responsible and safe event. We continued that process change given its popularity. Such a great way to build community and simplify my holiday baking!

9 Different Varieties!

Ninth Annual Westhaven Cookie Swap (2022)

I made something new this year. Years ago, I had saved a recipe for Orange Coconut Snowballs. Since "my blood runneth orange," I made these in honor of UT's great football season this year. They're super easy to make, and there is no baking involved. I loved them!

Orange Coconut Snowballs

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order):

Small Batch Almond Joy Cookies
(Leave out the almonds for a delicious Mounds cookie!)

Italian Lemon Ricotta Christmas Cookie

Unfussy Sugar Cookies

Raspberry Chocolate Meringues

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookie

Iced Butter Cookies

Triple Chocolate Cookie

Lemon White Chocolate Cake Mix Cookie

Have the sweetest Christmas ever!

My Favorite Things Party - 2022

2022-12-11T18:49:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite things this time of year is a My Favorite Things party. I've already attended several this season! If you're not familiar with this party theme, check out the details here. This year, the limit for each gift was typically $10-15. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

2014: Flylady's rubba scrubba
2015: A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
2016: A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka
2017: A Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops)
2018: A collection of several items: stainless steel condiment cups, baking cups, and homemade cinnamon rolls
2019: Stainless steel spoon straws
2020: Hint flavored water and Tea Forte's herbal retreat presentation box
2021: Pantry labels; homemade hot tamales and ingredients to make my favorite chili recipe; Evan Williams spiked eggnog and Pepperidge Farms Chessman Christmas cookies to make Paula Deen's Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding recipe; marble coaster from the David Arms art studio.

This year, I brought:

Frasier Fir wool dryer balls gift set. I've started using wool dryer balls now instead of dryer sheets this year. And, the Frasier Fir scent is one of my favorites this time of year.
Christmas candle from White's Mercantile. (I don't think you can ever have too many candles. I love this scent, and White's Mercantile is one of my favorite gift shops.)
For my book club, I chose a repeat of Evan Williams spiked eggnog and Pepperidge Farms Chessman Christmas cookies to make Paula Deen's Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding recipe.

Christmas Tree Book Case

Although I'm certain I may have overlooked some items, here are some of the other favorite things shared from all three parties (in no particular order):

Body balm, shave gel, body wash, body lotion, and lip balm from Thistle Farms
Zum hand and body lotion
Zum mist
Big apple red OPI fingernail polish
Miniature nativity scene
Overgrip for tennis racquet
Vaseline lip therapy
Amika dry shampoo
Barefoot Dreams fingerless gloves
Volcano wool dryer balls and laundry fragrance oil
Everyone nourishing lotion
Merry Christmas napkins
Lavender candle
"He gets us" tea towel
Barefoot Dreams footies
Monaco moscow mule in a can
Bombas socks
Double Good Little Kettle That Could popcorn
Sheila G's brownie brittle
Nemat amber fragrance oil
Homemade tomato basil soup
Fireside Outdoor bluetooth speaker tumbler
Jim's spaghetti sauce
Scarf from Valentine's House
Fly fan for outdoor table
Six recipe cocktail shaker
Wooden salad tongs
Hayward Gourmet white chocolate caramel cappuccino bomb
Peggy's caramels
Pearl bracelet
Touch-up paint pen by SlobProof
Bag opener and sealer
Bracelet helper tool
Lifesavers book of candy
Back of earlobe stabilizer for earrings by 3M
Mary Kay peach gardenia hand cream
Covergirl eyebrow pencil
Christmas pajama bottoms
Buff City Soap body oil
Meyer's hand soap
Maracuja lip gloss
Leafless hanging neck fan
Tyler candle
Arectech rechargeable candle lighter
Christmas tree platter
Kiehl's creme de corps body moisturizer
Athleta coffee run wallet
Starbucks gift card
Dry rub seasonings
Loads of favorites from Trader Joe's:

TJ stroopwafel cookies
TJ lavender shower fizzle
TJ bordeaux wine
TJ hair serum
TJ lemongrass coconut body oil
TJ dark chocolate peanut butter cups
TJ cedar balsam scented candle
TJ caramels
TJ wooden spatula
TJ waxed amaryllis
TJ dark chocolate covered peppermint Joe Joe's
TJ crunchy chili onion
TJ rosemary marcona almonds

Hopefully this will help give you ideas for last minute stocking stuffers!

My Favorite Things Party 2021

2021-12-19T13:35:00.001-06:00

A My Favorite Things party is starting to catch on with so many of my friend groups, and I love it! I just finished attending my 4th party of this kind for this Christmas season, and it never gets old. In fact, after last night's party, one newbie exclaimed, "Let's do this again next week!" Haha

If you're not familiar with this party theme, check out the details here. Like last year, the limit for each gift was $15-20. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

2014: Flylady's rubba scrubba
2015: A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
2016: A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka
2017: A Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops)
2018: A collection of several items: stainless steel condiment cups, baking cups, and homemade cinnamon rolls
2019: Stainless steel spoon straws
2020: Hint flavored water and Tea Forte's herbal retreat presentation box

The gifts that I brought to the various parties this year include:

Pantry labels I especially love these designs and have them not only throughout my pantry, but also my refrigerator. For my closest friends, I know this is a shocker.
Homemade hot tamales and ingredients to make my favorite chili recipe
Two of my favorite holiday treats: Evan Williams spiked eggnog and Pepperidge Farms Chessman Christmas cookies. These cookies are great to eat by themselves, but they're also great to use for Paula Deen's Not Yo Mama's Banana Pudding recipe. The holiday edition of these cookies makes it especially festive for your Christmas table!
One of my favorite places is the David Arms art studio in Leiper's Fork. It's one of the first places I take new out-of-town guests. His marble coaster makes for a sweet piece of art when placed on a small plate stand.

Although I'm certain I may have overlooked some items, here are some of the other favorite things shared from all four parties (in no particular order):

Capri Blue volcano-scented dry shampoo
Pearly wipes for especially those who love red wine
Lucky Brand super soft boot sock from Costco
Ghirardelli peppermint bark squares
Thistle Farms Lavender Nourishing Body Butter
Silpat baking mat
Dove exfoliating body polish and Hemp seed oil plush socks
Trader Joe's butter waffle cookies and cookie butter
Paper Mate mechanical pencils
Camo organizer pouch by My Mermaid Girls
Mzoo sleep mask
Naughty Christmas tea towels
Kilwin's caramel apples
The Copper Can moscow mule
Lamarca prosecco, St. Germain, and lemon to make a hummingbird drink
Gold Bond ultimate healing aloe
Tula sunscreen
Rosemary tree plant
Santa platter from Mud Pie
Tyler Diva room spray and sachet and car air freshener
Turbie Twist hair towel
Skrewball peanut butter whiskey
Map of Franklin
Trader Joe's truffle marcona almonds and Santa Maria Valley pinot noir
Personalized note cards
Crumbl cookies
Evereve bracelets
Baby Foot exfoliation foot peel
Enewton Hope bracelet
Emogene & Co all-purpose balm and lip conditioner
Clary bath and body oil
Bev Gris pinot grigio
Frasier Fir all-purpose cleaner
Fighting Words Devotional by Ellie Holcomb
Wool dryer balls by Buff City Soap
Hair ties
ChapStick
Trader Joe's Nourish cleansing oil, microdermabrasion scrub, and hydrating hyaluronic body gel cream
Cala foot masks
Nine West wristlet
Thai Esane gift card
Moroccan Magic lip balm
White Barn candle
Soul Sticks smudge guide and smudge sticks
For Women By Women Daybrightener and Yankee Candle wax melt single
Totally Awesome all-purpose cleaner and Scrub Buddies scrub sponges and heavy duty scouring pads
Dryer balls
Cosmetic organizer
Miami carry on travel packing cubes
NARS blush and prosecco
Cosrx Advanced Snail 92 all in one cream
Pyrex snapware
OXO Good Grips POP container
Buff City soap
Dash mini waffle maker
Cinnamon Beignet candle
World's Softest weekend collection socks

I know Christmas is right around the corner, but hopefully this will help give you ideas for last minute stocking stuffers!

Cowboy Candy

2021-08-13T14:58:00.000-05:00

I found a hidden gem in the Leiper's Fork community over the weekend: Red Thread Farm. The guy's mission is to essentially have an online farmer's market. Such a great concept! My conversation to the owner went something like:

"I need to buy a bunch of jalapeños because I'm going to teach a group of ladies how to make Cowboy Candy."

"I've never heard of that."

"They're pickled peppers, but in a sweeter sauce."

"Oh, I've made those before."

"Well, what do you call them?"

"Sweet pickled peppers."

"My name's better."

"I agree! LOL"

Cowboy Candy

My brother Scott and Tina were the ones to first share their recipe with me several years ago. I think it's the perfect condiment if you're looking for something both sweet and spicy. My favorite way to use them is to top deviled eggs; however, they're also great on hamburgers, crackers with hummus or pimento cheese, pizzas, nachos, etc.

The only drawback to this recipe is the wait. Once canned, you are supposed to wait a month before eating so that the flavors can mellow. It's a real test of one's patience, which is normally not my best virtue. But you know the old adage: some things really are worth the wait.

Cowboy Candy

Ingredients:

2 lbs sliced fresh jalapeños (10 cups of sliced)
2 cups cider vinegar
3 cups sugar
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp celery seed
3 tsp minced garlic in a jar
2 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

Directions:

Place clean canning jars on a cookie sheet in the oven at 250 degrees. (The recipe will fill six 1/2 pint jars.) Bring canning lids and rims to a boil. (Always use new jar lids, but the rings and jars are reusable.)

Slice the peppers into uniform 1/4 inch rounds. Set aside.

In a large pot, bring all ingredients except peppers to a rolling boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pepper slices and simmer for another 5 minutes.

Fill one jar at a time. (Leave the rest in the oven.) Use a slotted spoon to transfer the peppers into a clean, sterile, hot canning jar, leaving about 1/4 inch head space. Use a ladle to pour the boiling syrup into the jar over the jalapeño slices. Insert a case knife to the bottom of the jar to release any trapped pockets of air. Wipe the rim of the jar with a clean, damp towel and place on the two-piece lid and rim to fingertip tightness. Repeat for all jars.

Once cooled, you should hear the jars seal with a popping sound. If the lid pops back when you press it, then the jar is not properly sealed. This should be rare. If this happens, simply refrigerate the jar. Allow to mellow for 1 month before eating.

If you have leftover syrup, don't throw it out! It is delicious as a marinade on chicken or pork.

In the beginning . . .

. . . the middle . . .

The end! Such a wonderful afternoon with a few of my neighbors!

Seventh Annual Westhaven Cookie Exchange

2020-12-15T14:55:00.006-06:00

Even the pandemic couldn't stop the enthusiasm and participation in the Seventh Annual Westhaven Cookie Exchange this past Sunday! We just needed to make a few modifications to ensure a responsible and safe event: we limited the number of sign-ups, masks were required, each cookie was individually wrapped, and social distancing between participants was practiced. It remains one of my favorite events to build community and simplify my holiday baking.

18 Different Varieties!

Seventh Annual Westhaven Cookie Exchange - 2020

This year, we had 17 participants who each brought at least 6 dozen cookies of one kind. It still baffles me how duplicates are rare. As always, each variety is delicious and comes with a sweet story. For example, Beth Ann Stromatt reminisced how her grandmother would time her cookie baking so that they would be fresh from the oven as she came home from school. What a sweet legacy!

I made something new this year. I wanted to make a gluten-free variety so that Max, my new son-in-law, could enjoy them. Keely suggested hot chocolate lace cookies from halfbakedharvest.com. So good! I'll be making these again. They reminded me of a milono cookie, except these have a soft, chewy texture.

Hot Chocolate Lace Cookies - KK Moore

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order):

Iced Sugar Cookies - Andrea Davis

Swedish Ginger Cookies - Michele Stephens

Russian Tea Cakes - Kandy King

Buckeyes - Kandy King

Slice and Bake Sugar Cookie Bites - Linda Carullo

Grinch Cookies - Lara Travis

Peanut Butter Chocolate No Bake Cookies - Tamela Swanson

Iced Thumbprint Cookies - Kathy Shelling

Triple Layer Ooey Gooeys - Cindy Barker

Swedish Spritz Cookies - Barbara Wetzell

Spicy Oatmeal Cookies - Beth Ann Stromatt

Chocolate Chip Cookies - Barbara Forbes

Coconut-Cranberry Chews - Lois Henderson

Classic Peanut Butter Cookies - Lisa Huff

Cream Cheese Butter Cake Cookies - Shari Lacy

Roasty Toasty Pecan Caramel Shortbread Cookies - Brandy Wall

Snowball Cookies - Cindy Poe

No doubt family members will be delighted with the variety of baked goods now available to enjoy. Cindy Barker's son said, "This is the best Westhaven mom event you've ever been a part of!" (I'm thinking her smart college guy knew he was going to be on the receiving end of some of these goodies.) Regardless of the reason, I couldn't agree more! :)

My Favorite Things Party 2020

2020-12-11T00:01:00.006-06:00

Are you ready for some stocking stuffer ideas? My favorite way to get them is at a My Favorite Things party. I've been going to this type of party for the last six years. Due to the pandemic, it was on a smaller scale this year. I hosted this seasonal celebration for both my tennis team as well as my book club. It has become one of my most favorite Christmas traditions!

If you're not familiar with this party theme, check out the details here. Like last year, the limit for each gift was $15. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

2014: Flylady's rubba scrubba
2015: A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
2016: A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka
2017: A Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops)
2018: A collection of several items: stainless steel condiment cups, baking cups, and homemade cinnamon rolls
2019: Stainless steel spoon straws

My friend Missy introduced me to the flavored water Hint this past fall. I love it! I've kept my fridge stocked with it ever since. I love that it is not a sparkling water, and as the name suggests, it is infused with just a hint of flavor. It was an easy decision for this to be my favorite thing to bring to my tennis team party.

Two of my favorite things for 2020.

Another one of my favorite things is Tea Forte teas. And frankly, I'm not even a hot tea person. But this stuff is so good! I first experienced it at The Cape, when Keely and I vacationed in Cabo for my birthday several years ago. It was served at the spa. I always have it on hand at my beverage station along with my coffee and homemade hot chocolate mix. For the party, I brought their herbal retreat presentation box since it is caffeine-free - perfect for night time drinking during the upcoming cold months. (And as a bonus, the shape of each tea bag is a stinking cute Christmas tree.)

Although I wasn't able to capture everything, here are some of the other favorite things shared from both parties (in no particular order):

Tennis gloves by Head (from Costco)
Thymes Frasier Fir all-purpose cleaner
OPI Nail Envy nail strengthener
Glass nail file
Palmer's lotion
Mini poinsettia
Mask
White porcelain dish with gold pearl rim
BuDhaGirl all weather bangles (knock-off)
Starbucks coffee mug with peppermint mocha latte mix
Harney & Sons hot cinnamon sunset black tea
Kind frozen dark chocolate almond sea salt bars
Dot's southwest seasoned pretzels
Slow roasted pecans with sea salt
"Love Y'all" tennis hat
Gold huggies earrings
Zelos long sleeve workout top
Artisan soap (Three Wise Men) and sponge from Wild Elm Soap Co
Small circle earrings
Homemade salted caramel cake with carrier
True South jigsaw puzzle
Gift card to Kilwins
Mascara from Thrive Causemetics
Candle from Anthropologie
Deep Eddy lemon flavored vodka
Toblerone chocolate bar
Williams Sonoma winter forest scented candle
Gold leopard Tyler candle
Mississippi Cheese Straw Factory peppermint cookie straws

Kristin Kash (the other KK) said it best:

"Without question. Without hesitation. These women are simply a few of my favorite things."

2020 Sugahs NALTA tennis team

December 2020 Book Club Meeting/Party - Brrrrrrrr

My Favorite Things Party 2019

2019-12-07T12:47:00.001-06:00

This is my 6th year attending Margaret Ann and Nancy's My Favorite Things party. It never gets old!

If you're not familiar with this party theme, check out the details here. This year, the limit for each gift was raised to $15. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

2014: Flylady's rubba scrubba
2015: A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
2016: A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka
2017: A Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops)
2018: A collection of several items: stainless steel condiment cups, baking cups, and homemade cinnamon rolls

This year, I brought stainless steel spoon straws. I first bought mine over 20 years ago at Restoration Hardware and have been using them pretty much daily since then. And then I could never find them again . . . until now. Thank you, Crate and Barrel! They're perfect for milk shakes, smoothies, etc. I mostly use them now as extra long teaspoons as I prepare my coffee in tall mugs. I also included one of my favorite frozen drink recipes: Orange Julius.

Keely brought Supergoop! combination sunscreen and lip balm. She keeps hers in her tennis bag at all times. It will also come in handy on an upcoming ski trip for her and Max. I'll now be keeping mine in my tennis bag, too. Hmmmm. Perhaps it was a coincidence that I drew her gift? :D

Although I wasn't able to capture everything, here are some of the other favorite things shared from Thursday night (in no particular order):

Pouch from Ellen's collection at Walmart
Homemade salad dressing
Eddie Bauer outdoor blanket
What's Gaby Cooking mini rub
Champagne glasses
Fashion tape
Jeni's goat cheese with cherries ice cream
Cynthia Rowley and Martha Stewart wrapping paper from TJ Maxx
Patagonia ultralight black hole hip pack
Anthropologie volcano candle
Dunkin Donuts coffee
Werther's originals candy
The Seaweed Bath Co. detox cream
Mario Badescu mint lip balm
Justin's peanut butter cups
Madewell leopard luggage tag
Nest candle
Redkin Guts 10 volume spray foam
Hello Weekend tote bag
Wool dryer balls
Grandma's secret spot remover
Pond's cold cream
Beauty care micro needle face roller
York peppermint patty
Brach's Christmas peppermint nougats

Hopefully, this will give you plenty of new ideas for stocking stuffers!

Nancy and Margaret Ann

Fresh Strawberry Cake

2019-07-04T08:16:00.000-05:00

While strawberries are in season, it's a great time to make a fresh strawberry cake! Have you ever had the seasonal favorite at Nothing Bundt Cakes? This is a great copycat recipe. I had never made one before until Keely requested it for her birthday this year. She thoughtfully asked that I make a gluten-free version so that Max could enjoy it, too. One would never know. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

Fresh Strawberry Cake

Ingredients:

12 ounces fresh strawberries, diced
2 1/2 cups regular flour, divided (Substitute Cup4Cup if gluten-free.)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Zest of 1 lemon
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
8 ounces plain Greek yogurt
1 cup powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan (I use Bakers Joy).
Gently toss the diced strawberries with 1/4 cup of flour. Set aside.
In a large bowl, sift together the remaining 2 1/4 cups of flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the lemon zest. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, use a mixer to cream together the butter and sugar for approximately 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Alternate beating in the flour mixture and the yogurt, mixing just until incorporated.
Gently mix the strawberries into the batter.
Pour the batter into the Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 60 minutes.
Allow to cool at least 20 minutes in the pan, then remove from pan and cool completely.
Prepare the icing by combining the remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and the powdered sugar. Drizzle over the top of the cooled cake. (Note: Next time, I'll be adding a cream cheese icing. Then it will really be a Nothing Bundt Cake copycat!)

Recipe adapted from A Spicy Perspective.

The Birthday Girl

Birthdays aren't just for one day around here. We celebrate at least a birthweek. Then on big birthdays (like the Big 3-0), it's worth celebrating all month long! And that's exactly what I did. All month long, I got to reminisce about what I love most about one of my greatest blessings.

KK and Keely at 30A - June 2019

#30to30 Day 1. I remember so vividly the day you were born. You were seriously the best baby ever! You even slept through the night the very first week. You have always made my job so easy! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 2. The hair! “Look Mom! That baby’s got a Mohawk!” . It’s still stunning. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 3. “My not cute. My ‘dorable.” So very true. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 4. “H I KK LMNOP” Is it crazy that I still love to hear you say my name?

#30to30 Day 5. You sacrifice so much for our family and it does not go unnoticed. It’s like Steve passed the torch to you for being the glue that holds our family together. Always wise beyond years. Thank you. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 6. “My not swim like a fish. My swim like mermaid.” I really do think you were a mermaid in your past life. You could stay in the pool all. day. long. I still love hanging out at the pool with you!

#30to30 Day 7. You’re the most nonjudgmental person I know. It’s such an admirable, rare quality. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 8. I have always loved your sense of fashion. We both know you did not get that from me! In fact, you should be commended for surviving the high waisted Talbots khacki middle school days.🤷‍♀️ (But I do remember that you loved me wearing my “heel highs”!) Thank you for helping me! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 9. “I like your face.” Now that’s an understatement! I think you are so so beautiful. But as striking as you are on the outside, you are even more beautiful on the inside. “For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. . . “ This is you. And that’s what makes me so very proud. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 10. I love your sense of adventure! It takes a lot of courage to venture out into this crazy world, and I love that you do just that. I mean, who else can say they went swimming with a shark ... on purpose! Haha I’m so grateful that I get to be your travel companion occasionally because you’re the absolute best! “Jobs fill your pocket. Adventures fill your soul.” You help remind me of this. Thank you! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 11. I love how you take pride in everything you do. I hope you will always know how so very proud I am of you. I can’t wait to see what other goals you accomplish! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 12. No one knows me better than you. Not even myself. You seem to know exactly what to say and when to say it that brings me comfort. I’m also grateful for the times when the best thing you can say is nothing at all. Not too many people take the time to enjoy silence. I’m glad that you can recognize and appreciate those moments. “The cure for anything is salt water. Sweat, tears, or the sea.” I’m so glad we are here. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 13. I believe independence is such an admirable trait. I can’t think of any other person who could live (responsibly) by themselves during their last few weeks of high school! You have never allowed others to define who you are or what you should be doing. Followers don’t stand out. You sure do! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 14. You are so generous. Not just with money, but with your smiles, laughter, thoughts, and time. I love that. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 15. You really know how to love. Not only do you love others with all that you are, but you also open yourself up to be loved. I really admire that and want to be more like that. One thing I know for sure, though, is I love you infinity. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 16. You have always made me so proud whenever I heard how you stood up to bullies. It takes such inner strength to protect those who have been bullied. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 17. You have amazing writing skills! I can’t tell you how many times I have re-read your blog posts from college. You simply have a special way with words. . . just ask anyone who has ever received one of your thank you notes. I know I cherish everything you have written for me. I still think there is a book brewing inside of you even it is a collection of short stories of all the outrageous things that have happened to you. Haha Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 18. I just loved the day you noticed your hands look like mine. You take such delight in little things. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 19. I think one of the reasons you consistently succeed is you’re an “I can” person, not an “I can’t” person. Who else would secretly run through security at an airport on 9/11 to make sure you don’t miss an interview? (Knucklehead. 🤦‍♀️) Your ability to overcome obstacles is pretty unmatched. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 20. I have really enjoyed watching you grow to be an amazing cook. I also love that you share your skill by spoiling those you love. Thank you! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 21. I love your planning and research skills! I’ll never forget our amazing trip to London, Paris, and Rome. I’m so grateful for all the time you spent in planning it as well as other fun events. You’re so good at it! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 22. I love that your blood runneth orange! I’ll never forget helping you decorate your graduation cap: “Wild as a mink, but sweet as soda pop.”
So perfect. So you! And I can’t quit smiling whenever I see you in your checkerboard overalls. Your spirit is so genuine and contagious! #vfl 🧡

#30to30 Day 23. Your critical thinking skills are amazing. After watching a movie, we would have such deep discussions. Well, you and Steve would have the deep discussions, and I cherish those memories. I listened well though! Haha. I’m so grateful you got that from him. It’s a rare, special skill. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 24. When it comes to having fun, you’re not the one to sit on the sidelines. I love watching you kick butt in corn hole, ping pong, basketball, etc. (I will always be your best cheerleader! ) I also love our own games: spades, poker, Sorry!, and most recently dominoes. Watching you enjoy life makes me so happy! “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” -George Bernard Shaw.

#30to30 Day 25. I love how much you love music. I wonder who you got that from? The excitement you have when Taylor Swift launches a new song is especially fun to watch. Your dressing the part or in theme cracks me up. I also love when I get to go to concerts with you like Eric Church, James Taylor, George Strait, etc. I can’t imagine anyone else I would rather go with because you have the most fun! I’m still amazed that you seem to know the lyrics to every single song of all artists. Every. Single. Song.

#30to30 Day 26. You bring calm to stressful situations. You simply don’t panic. So, if there is ever an emergency, I would choose you to be by my side. That’s another thing you got from Steve, and I’m so grateful. You live by the Serenity Prayer more than anyone I know! “Accept the things I cannot change, change the things I can, and have the wisdom to know the difference.” Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 27. You are smart for knowing a well-lived life requires rest, pampering, and time alone to recharge. I hope you always make time for naps, pedicures, and a good soak in the bath tub, especially on a cold rainy night. You deserve such luxury! Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 28. On this 4th of July weekend, I’m reminded of how patriotic you are and I love that. You would celebrate Steve on Veteran’s Day each year as if it was another birthday. Being at Pearl Harbor on his last Veteran’s Day will always be a favorite memory of mine. Always cheering on the USA in any major sporting event such as the Olympics, Wimbledon, etc, is another special memory. I’m so glad that you have such pride for being born in this amazing country. “God bless the USA”! Xxxooo 🇺🇸️️️

#30to30 Day 29. It’s your birthday eve, and I still have too many things I want to say such as: You really listen when others talk. Really listen. It’s so respectful. Your wisdom/advice is highly sought after and for good reason. You have always been wise beyond your years. You are the most thoughtful gift giver. . . because you’re such an excellent listener. You truly know how to love and show it. You have a beautiful three- point shot! Years later, it’s still fun to watch (and beat naysayers). Haha. You never stop learning. “Life is always under construction.” You are genuinely empathetic to others. You are kind to everyone, all the time. You are so tolerant of others who live or believe differently from you. You’re the best roommate. Even when it’s complicated, you value family. You have a heart of gratitude. You stay active and healthy. Your smile lights up a room. You bring joy to so many lives, especially mine! As I read over this list, gosh I realize I could also be describing your dad. You are his living, breathing legacy. No wonder you’re my very best friend. Xxxooo

#30to30 Day 30. Oh how I’m glad that you were born! On this day 30 years ago, I became a mom. It remains to be one of the happiest days of my life. I loved you before you were born, on the day we first met, and even more since then if that’s even possible. What a pleasure it’s been to watch you grow into the most amazing woman that you are. I can’t wait to see what your next thirty years look like. I love you with all my heart, Keely. Happiest birthday to you! Xxxooo

Chicken Parmesan

2019-05-10T10:57:00.000-05:00

I must admit, Keely has become quite the cook, and she is fearless about trying new recipes. I love that! She spoils Max with Chicken Parmesan, his favorite, and often serves it to her guests. I'm grateful that she agreed to make it for me and my cousin Fred who was visiting from Texas last week. Not surprisingly, it lived up to its reputation. I honestly haven't had any better. It's sooooo good.

Keely's Chicken Parmesan

To begin, prepare your chicken by pounding it with a meat mallet. Don't have one? No worries. I didn't either. Instead, we used a large rubber mallet covered with plastic wrap. Problem solvers. That's us. :) Next, season both sides with Paula Deen's seasoning and then sprinkle with flour.

Preparing the Chicken

Now dip the prepared chicken into beaten eggs, followed by a bread crumb/Parmesan cheese mixture.

A side benefit: this recipe calls for an air fryer, so it's lower in calories than other versions. If you don't have one, this recipe alone is worth getting one! In fact, Keely has said more than once that it's her favorite kitchen appliance. Period. "Fry" both sides for approximately 2-3 minutes each.

Keely's favorite kitchen appliance is the air fryer!

Although the chicken is "fried," the last step calls for baking it in the oven. First, though, top it with marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, a little more shredded Parmesan cheese, and lastly a slice of Provolone cheese.

Once baked, serve it on top of spaghetti covered with additional marinara sauce. Enjoy!

(Note that this recipe can easily be made gluten-free, which is how Keely makes it. Simply replace the flour, bread crumbs, and spaghetti noodles with gluten-free alternatives.)

Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:

3 chicken breasts
Paula Deen's seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic powder) to taste
Approximately 6 tablespoons of regular flour (Use Cup4Cup if gluten-free.)
2 eggs
1 heaping cup Panko bread crumbs (Or use gluten-free Panko.)
1/2 heaping cup shredded Parmesan cheese, plus a little more for topping
1 to 1.5 jars of marinara sauce (Keely prefers Rao's.)
Italian seasoning to taste
3 slices Provolone cheese
Spaghetti noodles (Use Barilla if gluten-free.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet to the thickness of approximately 1/3 inch and then season both sides with Paula Deen's seasoning.
Sprinkle/dust flour on both sides of the chicken breasts (approximately 1 tablespoon for each side) and lightly pat down to make sure it's a light, even coating.
Beat eggs in a shallow bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese.
Dip flour coated chicken breasts into beaten eggs. Transfer breasts to bread crumb mixture, pressing the crumbs into both sides. Repeat for all breasts.
Put air fryer on highest setting (mine is 390 degrees). Spray Pam on air fryer basket to avoid sticking. Cook breast for 2-3 minutes, flip and then repeat.
Place cooked chicken in a baking dish that has been lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with Pam. Top each breast with about 1/3 cup of marinara sauce. Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top of the sauce and breast. Lightly top with shredded Parmesan cheese. Top with a slice of Provolone cheese.
Bake at 450 degrees approximately 15-20 minutes until cheese is browned and bubbly and the chicken breasts are no longer pink inside. (165 using a meat thermometer)
Serve over spaghetti noodles (cooked according to directions) and topped with additional heated marinara sauce.

My Favorite Things 2018

2018-12-09T14:05:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite parties of the year continues to be Margaret Ann and Nancy's My Favorite Things. If you're not familiar with this party theme, check out the details here. While some items shared throughout the party might be your typical "tried and true," most are new to me, and I love to get new ideas!

This year, I brought a collection of several items: stainless steel condiment cups that I use for so many things such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, pancake syrup, etc. I also brought my favorite baking cups that are about 4" in diameter. I first found these several years ago and have been using them to make individual cinnamon rolls. They're also great for making muffin tops . . . remember the Seinfeld episode? Lastly, I included four homemade cinnamon rolls to round out my gift. Mmmmm.

Keely's favorite thing for this year was a metal plaque that read: This is Our Happy Place. She found them when we went on our trip to Vancouver in the fall. It's such a cute addition to her front door!

Although I wasn't able to capture everything, here are some of the other favorite things shared from Thursday night (in no particular order):

Floating wine glass (Won "Best Overall" award)
Champagne and Anthropologie candle (Won "BS" award)
Collection of toiletries (Won "Best Value" award)
Holiday ornament glitter studs
Chick-fil-A gift card to buy chicken tortilla soup
Collapsible water bottle
Letters to my Mom paper time capsule
Water color Christmas gift tags from Red Bird Paper
"Fixin' To" notepad from Draper James
Salted caramel chocolates from Trader Joe's
Lip balm
Convertible gloves that you can wear as mittens from J Crew
Flannel blanket scarf from Old Navy
Recipe for grit souffle
Le Creuset mini round baking dish
Sugar cane cookie candle from Southern Firefly Candle Co.
Face mask from Beauty 360
1000 piece puzzle from White Mountain
Hot tamales candy
Candied jalapeños from the Pepper Palace (Tip: place on top of deviled eggs!)
Glamorous Wash from Tyler Candle
Dryer balls from Laura Ashley
Toboggan by Ann Taylor Loft
High Beam from Benefit
Buxom lip gloss and mascara
Sadie Robertson Scripture Shareables
Ice Cubes gum
Christmas cards from Sketch + Co
Vodka soda
Haven Honey
A New Day crew socks

This is still one of my favorite ways to get great ideas for stocking stuffers!

Come On Down!

2018-05-13T06:21:00.000-05:00

About eleven years ago, I was keeping Mom company one day while she was recovering from knee surgery. Everything came to a halt when The Price is Right came on TV. She is one of those over-the-top fans of the show. I never realized just how much until I asked, "Wouldn't you like to be there?" She quickly replied, "Oh, that's my dream." Seriously? It happened to be Bob Barker's last season. I knew I had to make this happen. I planned the whole trip, got tickets way in advance, etc. The two of us set out on this crazy adventure. Once there, I quickly learned that the so-called tickets were only tickets that allowed us to wait in line for the "real" tickets. Craziest thing ever. Even though we got to the show well over an hour in advance, that wasn't enough to get in. As you can imagine, Mom was so disappointed. What would it take to get in? Start standing in line the night before. That's right. That's what the others did. I was so shocked, especially given the targeted demographic. So, we joined the craziness and stood in line all. night. long. and were able to attend the next day's show. Dream fulfilled. Mission accomplished.

Last week, Mom turned 80. She really wanted to go back for this milestone birthday. Unfortunately, we couldn't make that happen this time. Keely had the perfect idea. Let's bring The Price is Right to her! I'm all about a good theme, and that's all it took to begin the planning process, starting with the invitation.

Since Mom's party happened to take place on Cinco de Mayo, we wanted to serve Mexican food. While Cinco de Mayo parties are fun, I didn't want it to take away from Mom's theme. How do you combine the two? Start thinking of food labels that used popular The Price is Right games with popular Mexican dishes. Admittedly, this step is my favorite in the planning process. I used similar food labels for Keely's UT graduation party, Hayley's POP! baby shower, Hannah's book-themed baby shower, Natalia's Georgia Southern graduation party, Olivia's Doc McStuffins birthday party, and Lindsey's Cinco de Mayo bridal shower.

We kept the menu pretty simple: tacos and petros . . . but The Price is Right style:

We also had a variety of dips for snacking:

Drinks included:

Cake, cupcakes, and Rice Krispie treats satisfied everyone's sweet tooth.

(Free printables from www.southernmadesimple.com)

Other fun touches included price tag name badges for all of the party-goers as well as a Showcase Showdown game. Congrats to Silas for the win!

Prices from 1938 can be found here.

Silas won $20 (80 quarters in Mom's honor) as well as a BRAND NEW CAR!!!!

The main decoration included a wall-size Mom version of Cliff Hangers. It showcased some of our favorite pics of her 80 years.

Needless to say, Mom was surprised and quite pleased with the party. She especially loved spending the whole day with family and friends. All of us brag about how she doesn't look 80. She's not over the hill---she's still climbing! And we're all very grateful for that. Happy birthday, Mom!

The Birthday Girl

Host and hostesses: Scott and Tina, Jackie, KK, and Vicke

Fourth Annual Westhaven Cookie Exchange

2017-12-22T09:42:00.002-06:00

On Sunday, I participated in our neighborhood's Fourth Annual Cookie Exchange. Although we had a smaller crowd this year, it was a wonderful opportunity to build community by visiting friends, old and new.

This year, we had 11 participants who each brought at least 6 dozen cookies of one kind. Some are ones that I secretly hope are repeats each year. Others are brand new varieties to the group, which make it fun to add to your own recipe collection. They're all delicious and come with sweet stories.

I made red velvet cookies - my "go-to" recipe for a cookie exchange. They're a tried and true favorite in my house.

Red Velvet Cookies - KK Moore

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order).

Heavenly Cranberry Bars (A Starbucks Copy Cat Recipe) - Jessica Schneller

Creme Brûlée Sugar Cookies - Suzy Mills

Amish Sugar Cookies - Ann Biron

Grinch Cookies - Lara Travis

Chocolate Chip Craisin Cookies - Sadira Ebert

Cut-Out Sugar Cookies - Karen Scott

Apricot Cream Cheese Thumbprints - Heather Brousseau

Peanut Butter Sensations - Shari Lacy

Almond Joy Cookies - Michelle Hanzely

Peppermint Oreo Truffles - Barbara Wetzell

Why do we keep going to a cookie swap each year? Jessica's reasons pretty much sum up what I believe most of us are thinking:

1. Cookies
2. I'm the only person in my house without a nut allergy, so I don't even have to share!
3. I love baking and especially baking for others.
4. I love hearing everyone's stories.
5. I love tradition and hosted a cookie exchange in our last city, so this helps build community in our new (though not so new anymore) home.
6. Because it can't be said enough: Cookies!

Continued thanks to Sadira Ebert for spearheading this event!

Hayden couldn't wait! LOL

My Favorite Things Party 2017

2017-12-08T11:49:00.000-06:00

I always look forward to Margaret Ann and Nancy's My Favorite Things party each year. If you're looking for a different party theme than the traditional "Secret Santa" or "White Elephant," check out last year's post to get more details on how this works.

I was especially glad that Keely joined me this year. Check out her beautiful and delicious Nutella braided wreath . . . only two ingredients! (Recipe adapted from Fit Mitten Kitchen.) I made traditional red velvet cookies to share.

Keely's Nutella braided wreath

Now, back to the party. The rule is that your favorite thing must not cost more than $11. Here is what I brought to past parties that still remain as some of my favorites:

Flylady's rubba scrubba
A collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin
A jar of pickled okra, Bloody Mary mix, and a small bottle of vodka

One of my favorite things in general is a simple tea towel. I started collecting them years ago as travel souvenirs. I'd much rather have something I can use instead of a dust-collecting trinket of some kind. It doesn't bother me a bit that my tea towels with Rome, London, Wimbledon, Eiffel Tower, etc. may have a stain or two on them. Each tea towel is well loved, and the memories each bring are well loved. So, my favorite thing that I brought to this year's party is a Christmas tea towel I bought at Sanctuary South (one of my favorite gift shops) at the end of last season for 50% off. Keely still teases me that I'm thinking about what to bring a year in advance. But hey, this time the planning paid off!

As in previous years, I'm not able to capture everything. But here are at least some of the other favorite things from last night (in no particular order):

Rapid egg cooker (won prize for "best overall")
Stainless steel drinking straws for a Yeti tumbler
Lancome mascara
Glitter clutch from Old Navy
Beauty Counter's Plumping + Jasmine facial oil
Earring posts from Madewell
Evian water facial spray
Tassel necklace from Nordstrom
SWiG wine tumbler (great for coffee, too)
Layered necklace
Genmine hair remover electric pen
Snowflake ornament
Chicken poop lip balm (yes, seriously that's the name)
Wine wipes
Emily McDowell greeting cards
Lavender spray
iPhone charging cable
Burt's Bees pomegranate lip balm
Drinking Buddies wine glass markers
Cookie butter from Trader Joe's with a honey crisp apple
Everything but the Bagel sesame seasoning blend from Trader Joe's
Smashing S'mores from Trader Joe's
Gift card to the Urban Juicer
Sanders dark chocolate mini bites
J Crew wool trouser socks
Blue Chair Bay coconut rum (or key lime pie rum) mixed with Bai coconut drink or Vitamin Water zero pineapple-coconut (Yes, Nancy loves coconut!)
Mud Pie inspirational card deck of quotes
Tervis tumbler
Ulta Beauty hair care sampler
Key chain
Nativity canvas art print from Kirklands
Bootie slippers by Xhilaration
Prosecco with homemade ginger cookies
Faux-fur pom-pom beanie from Old Navy
Mexican spiced chocolate

Hopefully, this list will give you lots of great ideas for stocking stuffers. Merry Christmas!

Nancy and Margaret Ann, our (ahem) VIPs for the night ;)

So much fun! I wish I had taken more pictures of the crowd!

Pizza Dough

2017-10-01T09:09:00.000-05:00

Keely sure does spoil me. For Mother's Day this year, she gave me a Big Green Egg! Ever since, I knew I wanted to learn how to make a great pizza on it. I began this journey by taking a "Bread, Butter, and Jam" cooking class in our community a few weeks ago, taught by my friend Sadira who is a wonderful cook. (Thanks, Sadira, for a wonderful lesson!) Most people who know me already know I make bread, but not this kind. This is artisan bread, which I thought would make a better pizza dough than my sourdough bread.

When Scott and Tina came down for a visit last weekend, I knew it would be the perfect time to experiment. Since I had never done this before, I didn't know how large each pizza would be. So just in case, I doubled the batch of dough. We ended up with a variety of six large pizzas for only three people. What the heck. We had a great time making them and an even better time sampling each one!

Prepare dough 1-5 days in advance.

Like my sourdough bread, it's best to know in advance and plan accordingly because the pizza dough is best when allowed to set for at least 1-5 days. I made my two batches of dough on a Tuesday given that we were going to make pizza on a Friday night. I placed each batch of dough in a gallon ziplock bag and then stored each in the refrigerator. By the fourth day, the dough had doubled in size.

Each batch of dough makes 3 large pizzas approximately 12-14" in diameter. Once the dough is divided, you basically just stretch and fold the dough 4 times, then allow the dough to rest for approximately 20 minutes. While resting, cover the dough with a thin wet dish towel to prevent the dough from drying out. Repeat the stretch-fold-rest cycle five times. For the last cycle though, let the dough rest for approximately an hour so that the dough will rise about 1.5 times in size.

"Stretch and Fold" 4 times for each loaf.

Rest for 20 minutes for each of the first four Stretch-Fold-Rest cycles.

Let dough rest about an hour for the final cycle so that it rises 1.5 times in size.

Now you're ready to make the crust. Place each round of dough onto a floured surface to remove some of the stickiness. Next, shape each round of dough into a thin pizza crust. I tried using a rolling pin, but letting it rotate in the air seemed to work better. (I'm definitely going to need more practice with this step. But seriously, who cares what the shape is?) Place on a pizza peel that has been generously coated with cornmeal so that it will easily slide off onto the Big Green Egg. Now for the fun part: choose your favorite toppings.

This isn't enough cornmeal. Use about twice this amount.

I'm working on the BBQ chicken pizza.

Tina and Scott are experimenting with their own toppings.

We went ahead and topped all of the pizzas. Next, slide one at a time onto the pizza peeler that has been generously coated with cornmeal. Bake each pizza for only 5 minutes in the Big Green Egg that has reached 500 degrees.

Scott's favorite: Olive oil, pesto, pizza blend cheese, sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh oregano

Another favorite: Pesto, mozzarella, Roma tomatoes, bacon, fresh basil

Tina's invention: Olive oil, pimento cheese, pizza sauce, chicken, bacon, spinach, avocado, tomatoes, jalapeño peppers. So good!

White BBQ sauce, mozzarella, pulled chicken, cilantro, Rudy's BBQ sauce. Meh. Won't do this one again.

Meat Lovers: Pizza sauce, pizza cheese blend, sausage, pepperoni, bacon, fresh oregano. Always a winner.

Another favorite: Olive oil, fig jam, mozzarella. Bake and top with prosciutto and arugula.

The last one was my favorite as well as Tina's. In fact, now I'm on a mission to make a batch of fig jam! Stay tuned . . .

Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon active dry yeast
2 cups water at room temperature
4-1/2 cups bread flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
Cornmeal

Directions:

Mix yeast and water. Set for 2 minutes. Add bread flour to yeast mixture. Place salt on top of bread flour. Mix together for approximately 2 minutes with either a stand mixer or by hand. The dough will be soft and sticky. Place in a gallon ziplock bag and refrigerate for 1-5 days so that the dough will double in size.
Preheat Big Green Egg (or oven) to 500 degrees.
Divide dough into 3 equal parts. Stretch and fold each round of dough 4 times, then allow the dough to rest for approximately 20 minutes. While resting, cover the dough with a thin wet dish towel to prevent the dough from drying out. Repeat the stretch-fold-rest cycle five times. For the last cycle though, let the dough rest for approximately an hour so that the dough will rise about 1.5 times in size.
Now you're ready to make the crust. Place each round of dough onto a floured surface to remove some of the stickiness. Next, shape each round of dough into a thin pizza crust. Place on a pizza peeler that has been generously coated with cornmeal so that it will easily slide off onto the Big Green Egg.
Top each crust with your favorite toppings.
Bake each pizza for only 5 minutes in the Big Green Egg that has reached 500 degrees.

Note: For artisan bread, only use 1.5 cups of water. Follow steps 1-3 above. Score the loaves and place on a floured cookie sheet. Lightly spray with water. Bake at 500 degrees for 5 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 450 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes or until done.

Recipe adapted from the class, "Bread, Butter, and Jam" taught by Sadira Ebert at Southern 71, a wonderful place to "gather, shop, and share" in our Westhaven community.

J Alexander's Copycat Carrot Cake

2017-03-25T21:23:00.002-05:00

One of Steve's favorite desserts is J Alexander's carrot cake. It's amazing. For years, I had been trying to get the recipe. No luck. . . that is, until we moved to Franklin. When we were having dinner one night several years ago at a local seafood restaurant, Steve and I shared a piece of its carrot cake. We were surprised and delighted that it tasted very much like J Alexander's. I was hoping to get the recipe. No harm in asking, right? Surprisingly, the chef came out to our table after I made my request. I was shocked! (At the time, I couldn't find a copycat recipe online. Today, you can find many variations.)

The chef said, "Are you ready?"
I quickly grabbed a random piece of paper in my handbag, and he started reciting the recipe from memory. The list of ingredients kept getting longer and longer.
"You're pulling my leg, aren't you? Surely you don't have this recipe memorized. Or, maybe it's sabotage!?! Seriously. I promise to buy your carrot cake every time we have dinner here."
"Trust me. I've been making this for years. Yes, I have it memorized."

I've only made it twice because it is so decadent. The first time was several years ago when I first got the recipe. I didn't realize it at the time that the chef was giving me the restaurant variation, so it made a huge batch. The second time I made it was last night. I thought it would be the perfect cake to make for Scott's birthday since I knew carrot cake was a favorite of his, too. I was right. And in Scott's case, he didn't even have to worry about the calories. :)

I love this sign we found at The Factory in Franklin.

J Alexander's Copycat Carrot Cake

Ingredients for Cake:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
2-1/2 cups grated carrots
1/2 cup coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Ingredients for Cake Syrup:

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1-1/2 teaspoon butter
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 sticks butter, room temperature
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
1 box powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together first five dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the next seven ingredients. Combine the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients, mixing well. Pour into a greased 9x13 cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

While cake is baking, begin making cake syrup. Combine ingredients in medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.

When cake is finished baking, poke holes all over hot cake with a fork. Pour the cake syrup over the top. Refrigerate until cool.

Make cream cheese frosting by combining ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth. Top completely cooled cake with cream cheese frosting. Garnish with chopped pecans (optional).

Third Annual Westhaven Cookie Exchange

2016-12-17T21:02:00.004-06:00

Today marked our neighborhood's Third Annual Cookie Exchange. The invite promised it would "build community, one cookie at a time." I couldn't agree more!

"I live on Jewel Street, too! We're neighbors!"
"My dad is also Swedish. Thank you for bringing a cookie that reminds me of my childhood!"
"These cookies taste like my favorite mint chocolate chip ice cream. I renamed them Grinch cookies."
"My parents' Amish neighbors made these."
"The instructions said to make sure we didn't bring burnt cookies to the exchange. To be safe, I made these no bake cookies."

This year, we had 19 participants who each brought at least 6 dozen cookies of one kind. As a result, we each left with around 4 cookies of the different varieties. It always amazes me that there are no duplicates.

I made red velvet cookies - my "go-to" recipe for a cookie exchange. My family thinks they're delicious. As the baker, I like the fact that they're easy, fast, and festive looking, too.

Red Velvet Cookies - KK Moore

Here are the other wonderful varieties (in no particular order).

Cinnamon Cookies - Sadira Ebert

Holiday Candy Fudge Bars - Terri Stilwell

Chocolate Peppermint Sandwiches - Mandy Genovese

Amish Sugar Cookies - Genie Thompson


Sand Tarts - Ann Biron

Texas Chocolate Chip - Danette Peltier

Pepparkako Swedish Ginger Cookies - Barbara Wetzell

Peanut Butter Pretzel Cookies - Mary Grindstaff

Congo Squares - Bonnie Cockrill

Coconut Chocolate Blossoms - Heather Brousseau

Peanut Butter Sensations - Shari Lacy

Toffee Bites - Andrea Joki

Grinch Cookies - Lara Travis

Double Chocolate Chip Peppermint - Holly Picciurro

Vanilla Nut Cookies - Leila Sanders

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chip - Jessica Schneller

Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies - Jennifer Scoggins

Cowboy Cookies - Cindy Poe

Thanks to Sadira Ebert for spearheading this event!

Bacon Crackers

2016-12-10T07:14:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite holiday events I look forward to now is Margaret Ann and Nancy's My Favorite Things party. My first invite was several years ago when we were new to the neighborhood. Until then, I was only used to "Secret Santa" and/or the traditional "White Elephant" exchange of presents. This is something quite different:

To begin, each person chooses one of her favorite things and brings 3 of them individually wrapped to the party. It may be a cosmetic, cleaning product, piece of clothing, food item, etc. Three years ago, the price limit was $8 or less that made it a little more challenging for some. Not me. It took no time at all for me to select Flylady's rubba scrubba. In fact, I love these so much that all of my extended family received one for Christmas previously. Last year, the limit was raised to $10. I was able to choose a collection of spices from The Savory Spice Shop, one of my favorite stores in downtown Franklin. This year, the limit was raised to $11. My gift this year was a jar of pickled okra that Keely and I made this summer that has become a new favorite side for us. It has replaced the typical pickle when I have a sandwich, and we also use them on a charcuterie tray. Since Keely enjoys them as a garnish in Bloody Marys, she also suggested I include a Bloody Mary mix (from my favorite Savory Spice Shop) and a small bottle of vodka.

As you enter the party, you are given a number. Mine last night happened to be #6. As a result, I placed a little sticker with #6 on it on top of each of the three presents I brought and placed them under the tree.

Next up: Enjoy conversations with friends, old and new, while enjoying a variety of appetizers and desserts. I was asked to bring an appetizer, which is typically quite challenging for me. Working out of town on business on the same day brought an additional challenge. I needed something good, but also something quick and easy. I made bacon crackers for the first time and oh, they were a hit! I will definitely be making them again. Steve loved them, too. Perfect for game day or poker night.

Now for the presents. Each party-goer heads to the tree to randomly choose 3 different presents for herself. Starting with the person who was given #1, ask for the three people who selected that gift. The person who brought that gift stands up and explains why it is one of her favorite things. I wasn't able to capture everything, but here are some of the favorite things from last night (in no particular order):

Bangle made from tusks from a trip to Kenya (won prize for "best overall")

GreatNeck gold 5-in-1 hammer and screwdriver set (won prize for "most functional")

Tennessee/heart ornament
Poncho
Adult coloring book/markers
Kiehl's Creme de Corps body moisturizer
Borsari seasoned salt - orange ginger blend
Lounge pants (from Costco)
Chips and salsa
Downy Unstopables and eye mask
Marble coasters (from TJMaxx)
Wireless shower speaker
O'Keeffe's Working Hands hand cream
Snyder's of Hanover Pretzel Dips
"Oops" bag filled with emergency items
Swiftwick Aspire Zero socks
Thumbprint cookies from Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop
Anthropologie candle
Kate Spade coffee mug
Fresh Gourmet Parmesan Cheese Crisps
Soberdough beer bread mix
Wine glass writer metallic pen
Poo-pourri
Pre de Provence bath soap
White Barn Mahogany Teakwood candle
Canning jar
Butter dish crock keeper
Popsocket iphone stand
Movie ticket and box of Junior Mints
1818 Farms Lavender Shea Crem

Such a great way to get ideas for stocking stuffers! And, I got to go home with three brand new favorite things. Score!

Bacon Crackers

Ingredients:

Townhouse butter crackers
1 (16 oz) package of bacon
brown sugar
cayenne pepper

Directions:
Place crackers on a wire rack set on a cookie sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil. Top with bacon. (I sliced each bacon strip into sixths. Next time, I'll probably cut them into fifths.) Sprinkle a generous amount of brown sugar on top of bacon. Lightly sprinkle with cayenne pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Recipe adapted from Debbie Doo's.

Aloha!

2016-11-15T23:09:00.001-06:00

It has been almost three years since we've been on a major vacation. Last time, I was the one who was especially spoiled as we celebrated my 50th birthday in Europe. This trip was going to be Steve's turn. As a young enlisted man in the early 70's, he was one of a very lucky group of three who were ordered to serve in Hawaii while the rest of his platoon was sent to Vietnam. With top secret clearance, Steve spent his days in a hidden bunker decoding secret messages between the States and Vietnam. You would typically find him on Waikiki Beach during off hours. I couldn't wait to see his old stomping grounds. In fact, it's been on my bucket list (#54) for decades.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Our flight left Nashville at 6:00 am. Although we landed in Honolulu at 2:00 pm, it was a long day of travel given a four hour time change. The Ritz Carlton, with its impeccable service, served as our home for the next five nights. What a treat! Keely had arranged for a patriotic welcome including a charcuterie tray and treats upon arrival. Her planning skills are such a blessing! We got settled in our room and then enjoyed a casual dinner by the infinity resort pool. As Waikiki Beach's highest pool, we had a magnificent view of the ocean as we relaxed in the adjacent hot tub afterwards.

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Our hotel was a very short walk to the beach. We spent all morning and most of the afternoon enjoying the perfect weather with no other definitive plans for the day. So relaxing!

For dinner, Keely had made us reservations to Sky Waikiki, a roof top restaurant and lounge offering amazing views of the city as well as live music. It was the perfect place to watch the sunset.

Friday, November 11, 2016 (Veterans Day)

Seeing Pearl Harbor on Veterans Day was at the top of our list for this trip. Such a moving experience. We first watched a documentary film on the history of Pearl Harbor, then boarded a shuttle boat to see the USS Arizona Memorial. I didn't realize it was built over the actual sunken battleship. Knowing that the remains of over 1000 crewmen were directly below us was very emotional. This was where World War II began for the US 75 years ago, and the country became very united for the cause. How I wish for a more united country these days.

Afterwards, we got tickets to watch Kansas play Indiana in the Armed Forces Classic at the University of Hawaii. That's right. We went to Hawaii to unexpectedly watch a basketball game. Steve was in heaven and actually there wasn't a better way we could have spoiled or honored him on this day.

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Keely and I began the day hiking to the top of Diamond Head. Such breathtaking views!

This was another perfect day of no plans other than the three of us enjoying the beach. While Keely and I enjoyed lounging by the pool afterwards, she learned about Orchids serving afternoon tea. This was one of our favorite experiences in London, so we capitalized on the opportunity. Ready and out the door in minutes, we treated ourselves to a variety of petite sandwiches, scones, and pastries. What a wonderful surprise!

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Our last day on the island. Make it count. What better way than to go zip lining where Jurassic Park was filmed! This was a first for all of us and definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

Afterwards, we enjoyed the "best brunch on the island" at Orchids, the same place we had afternoon tea the day before. Typically needing reservations months in advance, Keely took care of this detail, too. What a perfect meal.

Next up: continue the spoiling with a spa treatment. I sure could get used to this. Our last night was spent around the outdoor fire table watching the sunset with a casual meal poolside then topped off with a viewing of the closest and brightest supermoon in 68 years. Seriously? As if it was meant to be.

Monday, November 14, 2016
We prepared for a full day of travel as we left Honolulu at 8:00 am and landed in Nashville at 11:00 pm. Before we left on this trip, I said more than once it would likely be my one and only trip to Hawaii. After this experience, though, it will be hard to never return. Aloha!

Pickled Okra

2016-08-30T06:52:00.001-05:00

One of Keely's newfound foods is pickled okra. You'll often see it as a garnish for a Bloody Mary. You'll also find them on cheese and charcuterie boards in area Nashville restaurants. After talking about how she loves them, I mentioned, "You do know your grandma has been puttin' up pickled okra for years." Well, evidently she didn't. And just like that, we both added an item to our bucket list. And almost just as quickly, we checked it off.

To begin, I headed to the Franklin Farmer's Market one Saturday morning to buy fresh okra. Love that place! Be sure to choose the smaller stalks; that is, no more than about 4 inches long.

Next up: Savory Spice Shop in downtown Franklin. We have so many wonderful shops on Main Street. This one, by far, tops my list of favorites. I bought peppercorns, coriander seeds, dill seeds, cumin seeds as well as Kosher salt. I trusted store owner Hollie when she advised me to not make a substitute for this type of salt.

Next: Call Mom. That's when I learned that Mom doesn't include all of the seeds I mentioned above. She only uses a garlic clove, red chile pepper, dill seed, and okra in each of her jars. Admittedly, I left the garlic clove out since I didn't want to go back out and shop some more. Next time, I'll include it. Although I still wanted to use the variety of seeds, I did like Mom's 1:2 ratio of the vinegar to water. I found that most recipes used a 1:1 ratio. Keely agreed it didn't have as strong of a vinegar-y, pickled taste, which we both preferred. Also, Mom said she always uses the white distilled vinegar. (I noticed lots of variation in the type of vinegar used in the various recipes on the internet.) She insists the white distilled vinegar is what makes the okra so crunchy. Yes, crunchy. Okra has a bad rap. The misconception is that it is always slimey. Here, though, the texture is similar to a nice, crunchy dill pickle.

The recipe below makes 4 pints. Keely and I made two batches, and we were quite pleased with the way they turned out. The only thing we want to change is to make them a little hotter. So, next time, we'll be splitting the red chile peppers in half. They've already come in handy for making our own cheese and charcuterie boards at home. Last night, they came in handy for garnishing a tray of mini sandwiches for girls' night out. I'm betting they'll come in handy for last minute hostess gifts, too!

Cheese and charcuterie board makes for a perfect appetizer.

Use pickled okra to garnish sandwich trays.

Pickled Okra

Ingredients:

1-1/2 to 2 pounds young, small to medium okra pods
4 small red chile peppers (Note: Split in half if you want to increase the heat.)
1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon dill seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 sprigs fresh dill
4 cloves garlic, whole (Note: Next time, include. We left this out.)
2 cups white distilled vinegar
4 cups water
1/3 cup kosher salt

Directions:

1. Prepare 4 pint-sized canning jars. Some people can by using a water bath method, which is supposed to be safer by killing any bacteria that’s supposed to be killed, but I don’t. Here’s what I do: Heat clean mason jars on a cookie sheet in a 300 degree oven. At the same time, boil the jar lids and rings. (Always use new jar lids, but the rings and jars are reusable.)

2. Prepare okra. Wash and trim the stem to 1/2 inch. Set on towel to dry.

Wash okra and set on towel to dry.

3. Prepare liquid. Bring the vinegar, water, and salt to a boil.

4. Fill jar. Remove 1 sterilized jar from oven. Place 1 chile pepper, 1/4 teaspoon each of peppercorns, coriander seeds, dill seeds, cumin seeds and red pepper flakes, 2-3 sprigs of dill, and 1 clove of garlic in the bottom of the jar. Fill jar with okra, standing them up vertically, alternating stems up and down.

Fill jar with pepper, variety of seeds, and dill.

Keely adds okra, alternating stems up and down.

5. Add liquid. Pour the boiling liquid over the okra in the jar, leaving about 1/4 inch head space. Using tongs, remove a lid from the boiling water. Blot the lid on a towel and then place on top of the jar, pressing down gently. Screw on the band snugly. Repeat for all jars.

The filled jars are going to be hot, so pick them up with a towel or pot holder and transfer them to a towel lined counter to cool. Once cooled, make sure that each lid is sealed. If the lid pops back when you press it, then the jar is not properly sealed. This should be rare. If this happens, simply refrigerate the jar and begin using it. Set in a cool dry place for 2 weeks.

The hardest part is having to wait for 2 weeks!

Fifth Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE

2016-08-11T22:00:00.000-05:00

This week, I taught another class on experimental design concepts. Time for another cinnamon roll DOE! Each year, I have a different theme. Recall the themes from past experiments:

1st Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE: 2012 Red Velvet theme

2nd Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE: 2013 Orange theme

3rd Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE: 2014 Chocolate theme

4th Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE: 2015 Healthy theme

This year's theme was Maple Bacon! It seems bacon is especially popular right now for many foodies: bacon milkshakes, bacon pancakes, bacon you-name-it. One of our local bakeries sells maple bacon doughnuts that are extremely popular. That's what prompted this theme.

Here are the new questions I wanted this experiment to answer:

1. Does roll size matter? Usually I make rather large cinnamon rolls. What if I made them more like Burger King's cini-minis?

2. Does freezing the starter make a difference? My starter is 27 years old, which is quite unusual. Not surprisingly, I've always nurtured it. When my friend Nancy shared that she froze the starter I gave her because of her two-week trip to Australia, I seriously wanted to gasp. No way! I am so grateful she was so bold to do this because I certainly wouldn't have been so daring. Currently, I have to "feed" the starter every two weeks, so if freezing the starter didn't affect the rolls, that would be a huge find. I would be able to take a break from this type of baking for extended periods of time, if desired.

3. Does freezing the rolls make a difference? I tested freezing the rolls twice before: in the Second Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE as well as the Third Annual Cinnamon Roll DOE. In both of those experiments, I learned that freezing actually hurt. Darn. I still don't want to give up. In these previous experiments, I froze the cinnamon rolls after I baked them. What if instead, I froze the rolls before I baked them?

4. Is a maple icing better than the plain sugar glaze that I normally use?

5. Should I top the cinnamon rolls with bacon or not?

6. Do males have different cinnamon roll preferences than females?

As before, for those of you who just want to bypass the details and simply find the answers to these questions, simply scroll to the bottom of this post. For the rest of you . . .

Here is another way of listing the factors, or changes, that I wanted to try:

Factor: Current Condition: Change to Try:
A:Roll Size Large Small
B: Starter Refrigerated Frozen
C: Rolls Fresh Frozen
D: Icing Plain Maple
E: Topping No topping Bacon topping

F: Gender Female Male

I made 8 different batches of cinnamon rolls, each with differing combinations of above. (Nerd alert: I conducted a resolution III, 2^6-3 fractional factorial design with 10 replicates.)

The following four batches were made fresh this morning (not frozen first):

Recipe 1: Small cinnamon rolls made with dough from a refrigerated starter. Topped with maple icing and bacon. Taste tested by a male.

Recipe 2: Large cinnamon rolls made with dough from a refrigerated starter. Topped with plain icing. Taste tested by a male. (This was status quo condition, or the control group.)

Recipe 3: Small cinnamon rolls made with dough from a frozen starter. Topped with plain icing and bacon. Taste tested by a female.

Recipe 4: Large cinnamon rolls made with dough from a frozen starter. Topped with maple icing. Taste tested by a female.

The following four batches were made last week and frozen before baking:

Recipe 5: Small cinnamon rolls made with dough from a refrigerated starter. Topped with maple icing. Taste tested by a female.

Recipe 6: Large cinnamon rolls made with dough from a refrigerated starter. Topped with plain icing and bacon. Taste tested by a female.

Recipe 7: Small cinnamon rolls made with dough from a frozen starter. Topped with plain icing. Taste tested by a male.

Recipe 8: Large cinnamon rolls made with dough from a frozen starter. Topped with maple icing and bacon. Taste tested by a male.

As before, I asked each student/co-worker who wanted to participate in this experiment to taste a particular batch (or batches) of cinnamon rolls. (A big thanks to all who participated!) Then, each was asked to provide a "likeability" score (using a 1-5 scale) by completing the following survey:

My plan was to collect 10 surveys for each batch, for a total of 80 observations. However, one batch only yielded 7 surveys and another one only had 9. So, admittedly, there were a few missing observations. After analyzing the results, I learned that only the topping (Factor E) significantly affected the likeability score. This is depicted in the chart below by the very long bar.

Even though most of the responses were very favorable, I learned that the topping (Factor E) had the most significant negative effect on the likeability score. Adding the bacon on top actually hurt. What? This surprised me!

In fact, one of my buddies Brian said, "If you wrap bacon on a shoe sole, I'll eat it." I would have thought most people would have agreed! :) But this leads me to another significant find. Scores were all over the place when evaluating the bacon topping. However, answers were more in agreement without the bacon topping.

The remaining factors didn't significantly affect the likeability score. I've said more than once that some of the most significant findings in an experiment are those things that are actually insignificant. (Yes, it sounds like a Yogi Berra quote.)

Roll size doesn't matter. Make cinni-minis if you'd like!
Freezing the starter doesn't matter. Yeah! Nancy was right. If I want to take a sabbatical from baking, I'll be able to do it now.
Freezing the rolls before baking them doesn't matter. This will be so convenient! I'll be able to make many to freeze, then pull out only a few for baking at one time as opposed to baking a whole pan.
The type of icing in this case didn't help or hurt. The maple icing was more expensive to make, so now I know this additional investment isn't worth it.
Males didn't have significantly different preferences than females. This surprised me, too. I speculated that males would prefer bacon, but females would not. (Insert your best Tim the Toolman Taylor grunt here.) That just wasn't the case.

Once again, these results were more like the very first cinnamon roll DOE. It looks like I should simply "leave well enough alone." Until next year. . . .

Brian: "If you wrap bacon on a shoe sole, I'll eat it."