I Heart Camping

Camping is such fun.  It is a lot of work (preparing, packing, setting up, lots of cooking, breaking down, cleaning up, laundry for days) but totally worth it.  This is our second year going to Las Canadas and we love it.  I guess some would say, it's not really camping since there is running water, showers and electricity.  I say if  you are sleeping in a tent, that qualifies.  There is so much to do at Las Canadas: zip-lining, hiking, fishing, horse back riding, paddle boating, concerts, pools, etc. 

One of our favorite things to do is cooking.  This year, Mr. Casillas took his smoker and we smoked a pork shoulder and ribs..hmmm mmmm mmm.  If you are going camping and need some menu ideas, here is our menu:

Thursday
Lunch: tuna salad tostadas
Dinner: sea bass foil packs, avocado salad and rice
Friday
Breakfast: eggs and pancakes
Lunch: pressed sandwiches
Dinner: pulled pork sandwiches
Dessert: chocolate fondue with fruit, marshmallows, and pretzel sticks

Saturday
Breakfast: potatoes, chorizo and chilaquiles
Lunch: burgers and hot dogs
Dinner: bbq ribs, mashed potatoes, and baked beans
Dessert: homemade donuts and hot chocolate

Yeah, after camping I should go on a fast!  Can't wait to do it again.

Face Lift in the Kitchen

Have you ever seen someone that you see often but suddenly there is something different about them and you can't figure out what it is?  They look a little more youthful, bright-eyed, groomed?  Ah, the wonders of Botox, fillers or lasers, maybe even a new shampoo, or a new vitamin regimen.  Whatever it is, it worked.

Such is the story of my kitchen.  I suspect that most of my friends and family will walk in and wonder, "There is something different about this kitchen, but I can't put my finger on it.  What is it?"  Well, wonder no more.  It's a newly tiled backsplash!!  Finally!

When we built our kitchen we were so indecisive about the backsplash that we decided to do it later when we made up our minds about what we wanted.  There are so many beautiful options that we were paralyzed with the possibilities.  Then, as with most home improvement projects, put on the back burner, the flame just disappears and eventually, your backsplash-lessness doesn't bother you any more and even seems natural.  Except for, there is always a little voice in the back of your mind telling you that you should really buckle down and finish the project.  That poor little voice of mine, so persistent. I'm so glad she never gave up on me because five years later, I listened.

And, this may be a disappointment or a relief, but with the whole world of tile possibilities at our disposal, we opted for the simple and classic elegance of.....WHITE SUBWAY TILE.  Yup, that's right, five years, and many magazine clippings and invested hours pouring over Houzz images, we went with good ole subway tile.  I wanted something subtle that I would not get bored of in a few years, but that, nonetheless, would be an improvement.  The obvious answer for me was subway tile.

Maybe the change is not as subtle as I've described.  What do you think?

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

After

 

Thanks to my brother, Armando, who did a beautiful job on the installation.  So happy!

Thank You Cookies

Do you have someone to thank?  Do it with cookies!

I made these cookies for our administrative assistants on my team:

The system we are implementing at work is a cloud system.  Meaning our data will be delivered to us via the internet, so that's what the little clouds represent.

For variation, you can say thank you in different languages.

I also made some cookies for our former Boy Scout Committee Chair.  She is getting the Heart of Gold one because she truly has a heart of gold.  She remained as the Chair long after her son became and Eagle Scout and aged out.  She handled most of the business by herself and we don't know how she did it!  We miss her dearly.

 

These were so fun to make.  Of course, I say that about all of the cookies I make!

Below is the technique I use to flood cookies with scalloped or intricate edges.

I fill two piping bags with the same color but with different tip sizes.  I use a #2 to outline the cookie and then a number #3 to flood it.

 With the smaller tip, I pipe the edges and then fill in the pattern.

Then with the bigger tip, I fill in the cookie.  This is called flooding.  The reason I use two bags is that you have to pipe the edges and immediately flood the cookie if you want it to be seamless.  Otherwise, you will have a visible mark between the edge and the rest of the cookie.  So I don't recommend piping the edges on all of the cookies first and then going back and flooding them.

Have a great Sunday!

XOX

Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins

I love fresh blueberry muffins.  This recipe is my own spin on the traditional recipe.  My surprise ingredients, sour cream and buttermilk make these muffins so moist, they practically melt in your mouth.  I like that they are also not very sweet.  Here is the recipe.

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/4 cup cooking oil
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
1 cup fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line muffin pan with muffin or cupcake cups.

In a bowl combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Make a well in the center.

In a separate bowl combine the other ingredients: egg, buttermilk, sour cream, and oil.  Add to flour mixture and stir.  Slowly add just enough milk until you get a thick, lumpy batter consistency.  Not too runny.  Stir in the blueberries and spoon in to lined muffin pan.  Fill cups about 2/3 of the way.  Sprinkle the tops with granulated sugar.  Bake about 20 minutes.  If you are making large muffins like I did, baking time will be about 10 minutes longer but begin to watch them at 20 minutes.  They will be done when tops are golden and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Enjoy!