Rice Cookies

Rice cookies. Betcha thought I was talking about cookies made out of rice. Gross. My dog's name is Rice, and I LOVE to bake but don't need all the extra calories and fun things like that. My dear sister Elaine bought me this lovely cookie cutter at Michael's yesterday and told me to bake some dog treats. So I did.

First you mix 1 c. milk with 1 c. PButter. Throw in 2 c. flour and 1 T. baking powder. Knead it like a dough and roll it about 1/4 in. flat. (You can see how I was baking for my doggie, but yet still getting the satisfying feeling I get when I roll out normal sugar cookie dough.)

Punch a million (or so it seemed, but it was actually 33) cookies out and stick them on a greased baking sheet. I recommend AirBake. Why? Because if you're a Meadows, and I was one for 23 years, you burn cookies. AirBake won't let you. Unless you leave them in there for 3 days or so.

Bake em at 375 for 20 minutes. They come out looking yummy, but smelling doggish/PBish...not goodish at all. Now I know you're wondering if I ate one (I didn't), but if someone does, please tell me. I'm super curious.

I gave Rice one while it was still warm (because humans like cookies right out of the oven, right?) and this was what she did:

I decided to share the wealth with my dear friend Lily and her dog, Amos. Or keep them all for your dog. I won't judge you.

In parting, I think Borat says it best, GREAT SUCCESS!!!!

Sun Tea

Because of the large amount of clouds and rain today I've decided to post how to make sun tea. It all started that one Wednesday a couple of weeks ago. Ya know, the one where an egg would have fried on my black car? Or the one on which I layed outside for 15 minutes per side and thought I was going to have a heat stroke? Or the one where my car temperature read 107?

When we were little we used to go out to our farmhouse in Stonewall, OK with our Aunt Leslie and cousins, Kate, Kellee, and Michael. We intelligently and appropriately named it, "THE FARM", which is also where my grandmother, Jo, grew up. Aunt Leslie used to set out a big glass jar on the crusty old sidewalk and call it 'sun tea'. What's the big deal? I don't know. It's very clear and it tastes...sunny? When I was little I thought it was some type of magical tea, but now I just know it's the sun that heats the water that steeps the tea. Duh. But I had a big imagination, so what?

Start by making this magical tea with a magical glass jar and two Lipton tea bags. I hate Cain's. That's why I recommend LIPTON! Actually just get a big glass thing. A vase. A fishbowl. Whatever, just make sure #1 it's clean, and #2 you took the fish out before you stick the bowl outside.

Stick it on your porch . Let it steep.

Viola! After two hours my tea was as black as my skin that same day I layed out. I wish.

Sorry for the fuzzy pics. Sometimes my camera gets lazy.

If you like lemons in your tea, cut one. But be warned...

Knives are sharp.

Okay, Okay, I milked it so I could take a dramatic pic. Whatver, don't judge me.

What better to drink on a hot day? ICED SUN TEA.

Thanks Aunt Leslie.

Festive Cake

For the 4th I wanted to make something other than the normal flag cake with strawberry stripes and blueberry stars, so I decided to think about what would get eaten. Chocolate cake instantly popped in my head since this thing was going to have to feed a lot, and appeal to a lot of people. I still wanted the festive r/w/b theme so I busted out the old cake decorating skills. Okay it wasn't that long ago. April...2009...anyway, here's what ya need! Basically enough stuff to make two chocolate cakes (remember the trick about taking half the oil out and 2 T. of water!!!) (per cake of course)

Don't forget to level those cakes!

Slap some of that chocolate fudge frosting in between the layers then always start icing the top of the cake first. That way you can slop it down the sides and smooth them later! That, and b/c my cake lady said to. And I was paying her for the classes. So I listened.

Viola! Amazing. Use one of these spatulas and your icing will be super smooth. No knives. That's cheap. Okay...that was the boring part.

Now for the decorating!! I took a star tip (21, if you buy Wilton tips) to make the shell border first.

I took some good ol' Wilton gel food coloring, dyed a tub of white icing R W and B, and plopped it into three different bags with a thin round tip. I squiggled each color on the top border one at a time. I also added R W and B dots to the shell border.

For the star centerpiece I cut six strawberries in half and used five of the halves for the star points. I filled the center with blueberries and called it a day!

Bruschetta

Today I've decided to make an Italian appetizer: bruschetta. The word comes from the verb from the Roman language: 'bruscare' which is to roast over coals. My good friend Lily and I atteneded Lavender Fest a month ago and she brought me my prize mule: a basil plant. I love her for that. This little basil plant has grown to heigths unimaginabale and is now creeping up into my window curtain. Buying your own herbs/veggies is very earth friendly as well as much more convenient. For other ways to go green, check out Lily's blog at:

www.thegreenlimb.com.

To make the bruschetta topping I picked all the mature leaves and bought a baguette. You'll need EVOO, basil, baguette, s and p, a clove of garlic, and tomatoes. Chop the tomatoes, garlic, and basil and season with s and p.

Now you want to slice your baguette in about 1/4 in. slices. Rub with EVOO and place on a baking sheet. Top with the tomato/basil concoction. Sprinkle with parm cheese (please do not use that fake stuff that's in the green cylinder...also do not use your leftover Mazzio's packets. SAME THING.) Go buy a nice slice of parm cheese from the grocery store and grate it when you need it. It tastes so much better. It's about $4.99/slice, but it lasts me a while! Broil on top rack for a couple of minutes or until the cheese melts.

Sit back, sip some Pinot Grigio, and pretend like you're in Tuscany. Until it's time to feed the dog. Or work out. Or wash the dishes you just dirtied up. Then remember, even though you're still in Oklahoma, you can make dishes from around the world. The possibilities are endless, people...