Tag: baking

Pineapple Upside Down Cake, or The Way to a(n Old Fashioned) Man’s Heart

Pineapple Upside Down Cake, or The Way to a(n Old Fashioned) Man’s Heart

There are some weeks when I go shopping and all I throw in my cart is junk.  I grab lots of cheeses (soft, creamy brie is a favorite) and crackers (wheat crackers are good for me!), ice cream (It's for The Boy! Riiight.), some Fritos (Scoops are nice, and so salty that your lips hurt after you eat them), Nathan's hot dogs and a tube of Crescent Rolls (who doesn't like impromptu pigs in a blanket?). There are other weeks when I spend more time in the produce section than in the rest of the store.  Those are the weeks...Read More
Pizza Night at the Farm

Pizza Night at the Farm

Sunday is often "Pizza Night" at our house, usually because we are out and about doing chores and such and the last thing I want to think about after a busy week with 2 farmers markets in a row (Friday in Goshen, Saturday in Ringwood) is planning a big meal. So, I don't. This Sunday, however, we did not get take-out from our favorite place (Village Pizza, Goshen.... Sal is the sweetest man and loves our swiss chard!).  Fletch and I delivered some produce to Adams Fairacre Farms in Newburgh and we kinda shopped around.  I saw some pizza dough...Read More
Send a Friend (or two) a Box o’ Cookies!

Send a Friend (or two) a Box o’ Cookies!

I want to take this opportunity to send huge thanks to all of my friends for sharing my FarmGirl Facebook page and recommending my recipes and site to your friends and family.  As a promotion, I recently offered a dozen cookies to "Like" number 250 and the person who referred her. It didn't take long before those Facebook numbers climbed (YAY!) and two dozen Salted Cashew-Toffee-Chocolate Chip cookies were shipped yesterday.  They stack like a dream in a wide-mouth canning jar, which can then be boxed, safely cradled in packing material.  Have you tried packing in popped popcorn?  It works...Read More
Soda Bread Knows No Season or Nationality

Soda Bread Knows No Season or Nationality

"I don't know why they only sell it in March. Irish soda bread tastes good at ANY time of year." While walking through Shop Rite a few weeks back, I saw the buttermilk display in the milk case and thought, 'OOOH! It's that time of year - I need to make soda bread!' Apparently, I said this aloud and not in my head. "I don't know why they only sell it in March. Irish soda bread tastes good at ANY time of year." It wasn't an all-out request for homemade Irish soda bread, but it was implied, and knowing Fletch...Read More
Pulling Pigtails, plus Gluten-Free Lemon Cornmeal Cookies

Pulling Pigtails, plus Gluten-Free Lemon Cornmeal Cookies

Last week I had to take my baby boy to the optometrist.  His pediatrician told me several months back that his vision screening was 'borderline'. Now I've got a Madonna earworm. And my kid has glasses. I kinda figured as much, considering I've worn glasses since first grade.  They were pink and little and oh, so cute.  His are fancy Adidas frames and he looks adorable.  Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks so, either. He got off the bus in a sour mood the other day.  Sometimes I take my time and treat him gently to coax it...Read More
Hello, Sweetheart

Hello, Sweetheart

The Boy was up before me this morning.  As I staggered out into the living room clutching my head ('tis migraine season at the farm), he asked, "are we up late today?" I chuckled (as best I could, considering), "nope, why do you ask?  The sun is different today, right?" "Yeah!  That's it!" Yes, my dear boy, spring is on its merry way, and not a moment too soon.  It hasn't been much of a winter in terms of bad weather, really, but it's been ANNOYING!  I don't think there's any other way to put it...  And like most everyone...Read More
Jumping on the Bandwagon

Jumping on the Bandwagon

I don't care about the Super Bowl. I don't know which teams are playing. In fact, I will not even watch it until the last quarter, and that is only if my kid turns it on. But I concede.  The Super Bowl is as good a reason as any to have a bunch of friends over for food and fun.  However (and I will forever hear Marissa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny,  "howev-uh, in 19-sixty-faw the correct ignition timing would be faw degrees be-faw top dead cent-uh."),  Super Bowl snacks should not be limited to wings, sliders and nachos.  Don't...Read More
Bake a Batch with the Kids: Molasses-Spice Cookies

Bake a Batch with the Kids: Molasses-Spice Cookies

This is the time of year for cookie swapping parties and food bloggers are getting into the act thanks to the efforts of Lindsey (LoveandOliveOil.com) and Julie (TheLittleKitchen.net).  These lovely ladies organized the cyber-swap (the second annual), matching each of us with three other bloggers.  I sent a dozen Molasses-Spice cookies to each of the bloggers on my list and I received three dozen delicious cookies in return from three other Secret Santas. Thankfully, there was no pressure to fill yet another holiday season time slot with activity.  We didn't have to be on our best behavior or wear  nice...Read More
My November… plus Cookies, Revisited

My November… plus Cookies, Revisited

"Mom, did we have power on  Halloween?" "No." "Did we have power the day before Halloween?" "No." "When did the power go out?" "October 29th." "And what's today?" "November 5th" "Well that's just ridiculous..." **Note: Power went out 10/29 when 2 trees came down and took out a ton of lines.  Thanks to Frankie for spearheading the tree removal process!  Power was finally restored on 11/6. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Up here in Orange County, we've pretty much recovered and Hurricane...Read More
If the baking bug bites you, scratch that itch!

If the baking bug bites you, scratch that itch!

[caption id="attachment_3327" align="aligncenter" width="612"] Thomas loves car racing so his dad took him to a Ferrari race in CT and he got to meet this driver. Look familiar? He's on ABC's Shark Tank![/caption] I'm helping a customer at the Ringwood Farmers Market one Saturday when I politely hold up a finger and excuse myself for just a second. "Thomas, can you go in my cooler bag and get my drink?  The pink one, please." I return my attention to the customer at my scale.   "Lately I've noticed that people, adults and children alike, don't use please and thank you...Read More