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Monday, December 28, 2009

New Stuff

I finally posted some new stuff on my craft blog. Cruise on over and check it out. Or not...either way.

Bubbaroo

My Newest Project



I found this book at Goodwill and thought that it looked interesting. Why not learn all the secrets and be one of those happy people? Not that I'm not happy, but maybe there are things I could be doing to be even more happy. So I read through it. I read it really fast actually. It was easy to read and had a lot of good information. It got me to thinking... some of these things I do already, but how can I work on these other things?

So I came up with this plan. Make it my project or experiment, if you will, to go through each of these "simple secrets" and focus on them one at a time. And so I thought, how am I going to do that? This is my solution.

There are 52 weeks in the year and so if I focused on 2 secrets every week I would be a happier person before next Christmas. So starting next week I am going to post what the next 2 secrets are and go into a little depth to explain them. And then that week really try and do what they say.

I recommend getting this book. You can get it on Amazon for a couple bucks, unless you're lucky like me to find it for a couple cents at Goodwill. Then if you want to join me in this experiment you can read all of what I don't post about.

Wish me luck and think happy thoughts.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Merry Christmas to All...



I just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I am so grateful for all of my family and friends. I hope that you are all well and that this next year brings with it wonderful things. I am also grateful for a tiny baby born in a stable, who grew up into a man that was willing to sacrifice his life that I might return to my Heavenly Father again. What a wonderful reason to celebrate.

Thanks for being a part of my life.


Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Pumpkin Cake Roll

I took pictures while I was making the Pumpkin Cake Roll for Thanksgiving so I'm going to do a tutorial of sorts starting off with the ingredient list and then explain the rest of the recipe with pictures. Here goes:

3 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar, divided
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt

Filling:
1 pkg (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp butter, softened
1 cup confectioner's sugar
3/4 tsp vanilla extract

Line a 15x10x1 in. baking pan with waxed paper, grease the paper and set aside. ( I tried it with the wax paper and then tried it just greasing the pan itself and the latter worked better for me. But if you want to use wax paper, that is up to you.)


In a large mixing bowl, beat egg yolks on high speed until thick and lemon-colored. (Of course you have to separate the eggs first.)


And this is what it means by "lemon-colored".


Gradually add 1/2 cup sugar and pumpkin, beating on high until sugar is almost dissolved.


In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.


Here is an example of "soft peaks".


Gradually add remaining sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.


Voila! Stiff peaks.


Fold into egg yolk mixture.




Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.


Gently fold into pumpkin mixture.



Spread into prepared pan.



Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool for 5 minutes.

Turn cake onto a kitchen towel dusted with confectioner's sugar. If you used wax paper you peel it off now.



Roll up cake in the towel jelly-roll style, starting with a short side. Cool completely on wire rack. (I usually put mine in the fridge to speed things up a bit.)


In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, confectioner's sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth.



Unroll cake; spread filling evenly to within 1/2 inch of edges.


Roll up again. Cover and freeze until firm.



May be frozen for up to 3 months. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before cutting. Dust with confectioner's sugar if desired.


Hope you enjoy making it. I love this recipe. I've found that if I get the big can of pumpkin I can make 3 of these and one pumpkin swirl cheesecake, which will be my next tutorial. I've also heard that you can use the same amount of banana instead of pumpkin and make it the same way for something different. I'll have to try that.

Let me know what you think!