Darcie B

There will be a slight delay in the bakeapalooza - we "inherited" another cat yesterday, after the boxer that the former owners had in addition to the cat attacked it. We took it to the vet this morning because it was limping a bit, and it turns out that it wasn't an injury from the boxer attack yesterday, it is either an old untreated injury or bone cancer! We are having a biopsy next week. If it isn't cancer, eventually the leg has to come off because the knee joint is a wreck. So please forgive me if I don't post until later this evening. I am going out to get ingredients now, though, so I will still be making cakes, albeit a bit behind schedule.

Quick note: for the #3 cake, Orange Chocolate Crown, I will be making the variation that is topped with chocolate curls and orange zest instead of the daisy ladyfinger top, so it won't look exactly like the book.

Dinner this evening was quick and simple. Seared pork chops finished in the oven, vinegar peppers, and buttered noodles. Pan sauce w/chicken stock, white wine, thyme and butter. While I was studying recipes and making up my mind about the Birthday Baking Extravaganza, I had some tea. (Husband had the Kusmi tea, I had the Stash Earl Grey) And now drum roll please...... The Birthday Baking Extravaganza will include: 1. The White Chocolate Mousse Cake from Epicurious. However, I will assemble it differently and, based on the reviews, will use a different genoise (perhaps almond as someone suggested). 2. The Peninsula Grill Coconut Layer Cake. I may make a smaller version since it is HUGE. I may also play around with the cake or filling a little as Ling has done. 3. Orange Chocolate Crown from The Cake Bible, using blood oranges. It is pictured on page 20 of the book in case anyone has it. It is an orange bavarian cream topped with a whipped chocolate ganache and covered in ladyfingers. While the Black Forest Cake received many votes, I do not think I can find good canned cherries and I don't know if I can afford to buy the kirsch. While I am shopping tomorrow I will look for these things and if they are affordable and available I may still make this, as I would like to do something dark to offset the lightness of all the other cakes. (I will list this as an alternate in case any of the other cakes can't perform ) Boy, I better get to bed so I can get my rest. Next challenge: baking 5 dozen cookies for a meeting at work on Monday. I need suggestions! I want to make at least 3 different cookies.

Please do come and visit. Parkersburg is a quaint town, and is the home of Holl's Chocolates (mentioned above). There is also a good Italian place there as well as a decent deli (OK, good by WV standards but probably not by NYC standards). The eastern mountains are gorgeous, and you could drive down the PA Turnpike and hook up with Route 50 if you aren't in a hurry, and wind your way across WV to get to Parkersburg. That would be quite a scenic route.

The other half of the pepper bacon/egg bagel was colby cheese. The other bagel had honey-walnut cream cheese.

ummm,yeah....it's all pale, overcooked and underspiced. When I was growing up, the most exotic thing I ate was La Choy chicken chow mein. When my husband and I were home for Christmas, my mom made a small turkey breast. She wanted to cook it for 3 hours at 350 degrees, "so it would be tender." Bless her heart...

Now I must briefly rant. My boss, while in general being a nice guy, has his moments where I want to get behind him. On the edge of a cliff. Anyway, this morning he brought me a nice bottle of wine as a belated birthday present: Now, before all of you go wishing you had a boss like him, let me explain what I discovered shortly thereafter. I went into the kitchen to have a snack, and noticed that there were still some Oreos. I remember my boss saying peanut butter on Oreos was really good and hey, I'll try anything once, so I opened *my* jar of peanut butter only to find that my boss dragged his Oreos through the peanut butter. Couldn't he use a spoon that was lying only inches away? And if he was going to soil the peanut butter with his crumbs (and probably germs; he's a double dipper), why didn't he use *his* peanut butter? Yeah, I know it's not the end of the world, but it's the little things... Also, yesterday he got mad and chewed out my co-workers for throwing the little birthday celebration with cake and ice cream - he doesn't like it when I am away from my desk (I was gone for maybe 15 minutes). Maybe the wine was an apology. There, glad to get that off my chest. Like I said, generally he's pretty good...

And now for Charleston's take on "gourmet." This little place is called Bistro Gourmet, and is a sister operation to the restaurant Bridge Road Bistro, which I hear is good but overpriced. Beer and other chilled beverages: Wine: Chocolates: Cheese: Beer, wine, chocolate, cheese: what else do you need? They also have a deli (mostly Boar's Head products), and they make fresh sandwiches, salads and such. They have coffee and tea products too. I ended up getting a mixed 4 pack of beer (some Belgian Ale to make carbonnade and a couple of dark German biers) and a Scharffen Berger Nibby Bar. For some more authentic local culture, we have the Valley Bell Dairy. This place has been kicking for over 50 years. In fact, I got into a discussion with a woman in line who remembered her grandmother taking her there when she was little, about 45 years ago. They are known for their hand-dipped milkshakes. The lunch counter is a little building attached to a large dairy (as in the trucks come in and dump the milk, not as in there are cows outside). The inlay on the terrazzo: Inside: My lunch: Now, I can't mention this place without also mentioning Chris' Hot Dogs, another venerable institution, and the Blossom Deli, which while now operating as a lunch and dinner place, has kept all the 1950s decor complete with milkshake machines. I'll see if I can get photos of those later. Edit to add: This note highlights one of the reasons I like living here. The Valley Bell logo in the terrazzo floor was covered by shadows from the door. I asked two women if they would help me with a strange request. I asked them to hold the door open for me so I could take a picture of the floor. Despite thinking I must be a lunatic, they agreed, and after I took the photo we had a great discussion about architectural details in older buildings. Most people here are genuinely pleasant and helpful. Edited again because I can't write.

About 1 tablespoon of soda was added to the water. You are going to love your bagels.

Doing this foodblog has made me want to be a better writer. I look back over my posts and wish they had the wit and eloquence of bloggers that preceded me. It's hard for me to express the wonder, delight, and joy I find in eating and creating delicious food. *sigh* As promised, today I am taking you to some of the local markets. The first stop is the largest farmer's market, Capitol Market. The Capitol Market resides in a former commercial train depot. The move to its current location, which has both indoor and outdoor spaces, sparked controversy. It was formerly located underneath an elevated interstate highway, had only outdoor locations, and was quite crowded. However, the rent was minimal and the move to the new location ousted some of the most longstanding vendors. The controversy has now faded and the market is thriving. Here is the outdoor portion. Of course, since it is January, it is empty. It fills to capacity beginning in early March. Inside, the first vendor is The Purple Onion. They have produce, lots of fresh dried beans, and many dried fruits and other sundry goods. They even have BACON dressing! There is a little shop that has all West Virginia-made products. Some of you were asking about regional specialties. One of the most unique, in my opinion, is chow chow. It's a pickled mix of summer vegetables, mostly corn, onions and peppers. Further along the way is a very small seafood market (I couldn't get a good picture because there were too many folks getting lunch). I don't think it is that great (picture scallops sitting in a milky liquid . There are two decent seafood places and of course Kroger. I just don't trust fresh seafood places that are days away from the ocean. Of course they say they get deliveries every day by plane, but my neighbor works at the airport and she says they are lying. Across from the seafood place is my favorite place: Holl's Chocolates. I have had some mighty fine chocolates, including Scharffen Berger, Michel Cluizel, Norman Love, and I say these guys rank right up there. They are based in Vienna (WV), and the founder is a Swiss immigrant. Delightful! There is a coffee place that roasts its own beans, then Johnnie's Meat Market. Probably some of the best meat in town, but still, they don't have beef short ribs. What's a girl gotta do to get those things? (Actually, I think I can get them at Kroger but I believe it's by special order ) Near the end is the Wine Shop, run by some friend's of my bosses, and staffed with mostly pleasant folks interspersed with snobs. After three requests I finally got on their email list so I could learn about new releases and wine tastings, but it is quite obvious that the regulars are not interested in having someone from the "working class" rubbing elbows with them. It is their loss, because when my vehicle was paid off I had $350/month that I WAS going to spend on wine to build a cellar. (Good thing I'm not bitter... ) Instead I am using the money to help my husband start a business. They actually have a pretty good cheese selection: Finally, at the end is Soho's Restaurant. Now I am sure some New York folks might want to chime in about the name, but it is actually named for the owner, Bill Sohovich. It's decent Italian food (check out the dinner menu). Edited to fix photo.

You have TWO ovens in your break room? Where do you work and are they hiring? We have a microwave. We aren't even allowed to have CANDLES in our building. One of my coworkers snuck in a hot plate but it's so low powered it's essentially worthless.

For breakfast we had (surprise!) bagels... The bacon I used is from Aldi. For those who are not familiar with Aldi, they are a low-cost chain that does very little advertising and sells only their name-branded items (with a very few exceptions). While I won't buy much meat there, they have good deals on some items like masa harina, ziploc-type baggies, and peppered bacon: 1.5 pounds for $4. Later today, I will take you to a couple of markets in the area.

Last night my husband, a dear friend, and I went out to the newest Mexican restaurant to celebrate my birthday. Have to start off a celebration right: (I don't like salt on my margaritas - I know, I'm a blasphemer). The menu was pretty typical of what you see in Mexican restaurants around here. You are not going to see tripe, lingua or such in this area. However, they did have carnitas, which are my DH's favorite, so he ordered those. They were downright tasty. My DH loves me so much he let me have all the really crispy bits! I ordered the Tacquitos Mexicanos. The steak tacquitos were great - the chicken tacquitos were merely good. All in all, the food was much better than average, while not as good as, say, Frontera Grill. But the food was a durn sight cheaper than Frontera - a pitcher of margaritas and three meals were only $40 (not including tip). (I spent nearly $200 for my meal at Frontera in Chicago as part of a group - there were some issues with refilling half empty margaritas and charging full price - I was none too pleased to realize this when I sobered up.) The restaurant is located in an old Shoney's location. Those from the upper South may know about Shoney's, which started right here in Charleston WV. Sadly, the quality of Shoney's restaurants, while never great, has declined precipitously in recent years. (Edit to add interior shot)

Wow - I have never inspired a dish at a restaurant before - this will make me all big-headed like Giada! The bacon ganache sounds great. I'm actually with you on the cookies. While I thought they were good, I didn't like them as much as my friends and coworkers, who nearly inhaled them. I must try bacon toffee...and I'm jealous that you get to eat fois gras on Monday. That's an indulgence I have only had once. Hope you enjoy the rest of the blog.

I tried the King Arthur Flour bagel recipe that came on the bag of Sir Lancelot, and they were pretty good. Then I got the Bread Baker's Apprentice based on favorable reviews of friends, tried this recipe, and haven't looked back. I see no need to try another recipe! I agree that the float test is not an essential step. While I have noticed a *very* subtle difference when the bagels "passed" the test, it doesn't make that much difference. Just proof them for about half an hour, more if it's really cold, then pop them in the fridge for the overnight retarding. Sorry to hear about your cat. We still miss our old boy.

fou de Bassan, P.S. Where in N.D. were you born? Did you grow up there? I was born and raised in Wishek. Read all about it. Edit because I haven't had enough coffee yet.

Wow! It's a small world after all! Happy Birthday right back at ya! I can't believe there is someone who shares my exact birthday, AND was born in N.D., AND is an eG member...that is just freaky. Blood oranges will definitely make an appearance, but might not be as part of a cake. The creaky, cobwebbed cogs in my brain are still turning on the final decision, but I am leaning toward a three-part birthday baking extravaganza (more later).

That's probably why she became a biter... I loved your bagel pictures, but they made me so jealous! Would you ever suggest making the dough by hand, or is a mixer absolutely necessary. I don't have a stand mixer, and am not likely to get one while living in Japan, but I want a decent bagel!!! ← While this dough will give you a workout, it is quite doable by hand. In fact, the recipe gives instructions for both hand and machine mixing. You just have to knead the dough longer (about 10 minutes vs. 6). The dough is just so stiff that I wouldn't use a wimpy mixer with it because you could damage the mixer. I have some pretty bad carpal tunnel issues so hand kneading is just right out for me. You can really develop a better feel for the dough when you hand knead, so I say go for it! When I get home tonight I will post the recipe along with my shorthand for the instructions, which should avoid any copyright issues.

Callie is a reformed biter. She was on her way to the vet to be put down when my DH intercepted her (it was his friend's mom's cat). It has taken three years of work, but now she allows us to pick her up and pet her. She actually purrs sometimes. The former owners had her declawed front and rear, so no danger there. She does pick on the oldest cat a lot, though.

The bagels were pretty crowded, but I was too lazy to do three batches instead of two. It would have been better had I done so, but they still turned out okay. Cappucino punch: 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup instant coffee granules (or 3 tbsp. instant espresso) 1 cup boiling water 2 quarts milk 1 carton vanilla ice cream 1 carton chocolate ice cream Mix the first three ingredients together. Cover and refrigerate until chilled. Just before serving, pour coffee mixture into punch bowl along with milk. Scoop out ice cream on top and stir until melted. It was actually pretty tasty, and the consensus was it would be really good with some Kahlua and vodka added! (I'm doing this recipe from memory - I left it at work where my coworker gave it to me...if it's wrong I'll edit it tomorrow a.m.) Edited because I was wrong about the recipe. So much for trusting my memory

I usually take them to work or give them to friends. I am always taking stuff in to work, and my co-workers often take me out to lunch in return. I used a bay leaf, some dried oregano, a pinch of basil, plus salt and pepper. The Italian sausage adds a lot of the flavor. I haven't made a decision yet. I will probably make two cakes on Saturday, and will make my final decision tomorrow. There are so many good choices! I am going to post a photo of a fondant-covered wedding cake I made at Thanksgiving as soon as I can find it. It didn't turn out as well as my first one, which I will post a photo of tomorrow (it's at work). OK, here is the wedding cake I did for a friend's sister. It was almost a disaster as the buttercream under the fondant slumped. If you got close you could see the lumps (I dubbed it Frankencake). Oh, and thanks for the comment on the hands :blushing:. It's weird to see them on the monitor, and the flash made my fingers look really red. I'm just glad that my fingernails were relatively clean. Edit to add photo.

Surprise! My coworkers surprised me with a birthday celebration. One brave soul even baked a cake for me (Texas sheet cake, from scratch, with real butter!). Most people are afraid to cook for me so I am thankful. It was really quite good. We had cappucino punch, Texas sheet cake, French vanilla ice cream, and fruit salad. My friend took me to lunch at a nearby Mexican place. It is just your standard, dumbed-down Mexican joint but I like it. I forgot to take a photo, sorry! Also, she brought me Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast. What a friend!

I can notice a little difference in the density (is that the right word?) of the bagels when they float than when they don't. They seem more dense and chewy (in a good way!) when they float, but they are still pretty darn good when they don't. I certainly won't throw them out because they didn't float. This is the only time they haven't floated within at least an hour. I think two factors came into play: our kitchen is very cold right now, and the dough was a little wetter than it should have been. One probably shouldn't go to the neighbors and drink vodka while the sponge is rising... The coldness of the kitchen was probably the biggest factor. It was probably only about 60 degrees in there last night.

To me they are a lot less fussy than, say, ciabatta, which I can't seem to get right. There really isn't a lot of hands-on time with bagels, they go overnight in the fridge and bake up pretty quick the next morning (you can actually keep them for up to 2 days in the fridge.) If you have a good mixer, they are pretty easy!

Yay! I was waiting for someone to ask... Our pslightly psycho calico, Callie (hey, we didn't name her, the former owners did) Our old gal and scaredy cat, Lucas (her eyes look funny 'cuz I tried to fix them in Photoshop) Our newest addition, Bubby aka CJ (Cinnamon Jaguar) And finally, the one who is the most like a foodie, Kleine Scheisse. She begs for chicken, turkey, bacon and ham. She looks truly injured if you don't give her a bite. She is so round she looks like a soccerball with legs. We just lost our old man, Cleo, who was 20 3/4 years old, last month. He was a true gourmand. He only ate certain types of cat food, and certain flavors of even the finest. I don't care what they say about dogs, he was really man's best friend.