Do you have a type of music, or perhaps a band, that immediately lifts your mood? It’s Bob Marley for me. I just can’t seem to frown when I’ve got Bob on the iPod. I daydream of being on the beach in the Caribbean, with the waves crashing nearby and the drinks arriving with little fruity umbrellas.
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I had such a nice weekend! While I didn’t get to those croissants, I did manage to spend time with friends, and bake — two of my favorite weekend activities.
Ms. Jenny celebrated a birthday a couple weeks ago. We swooped on the opportunity to celebrate when she was home this weekend. Min suggested margaritas and the rest is history.
I made the dessert — chocolate cake topped with Cool Whip, by request.
Baby Gray inhaled with approval. Look at those cheeks!
My camera battery was slowly dying during dinner. I must admit, however, this is the way the world looks after a pitcher of Macayo’s fabuloso sangria margaritas.
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In more sobering domestic news, I tried out the Martha Stewart Living Cookie of the Month recipe for May: Orange Cardamom Madelines. It took a bit of driving and patience to find the appropriate baking pan, but thanks to Bed Bath and Beyond, it was acquired. Also, I don’t own cardamom, so I substituted a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg. These have been a big hit. I love how they are soft and cakey, but the orange glaze balances the sweetness with a touch of bitter zing. Yum!
My only suggestions when baking these are to use as little batter as possible in each pan. They are easy to overfill and the results are uneven. I would suggest even using a measured tablespoon per madeline mold. Also, watch these carefully when they are baking. They do not cook evenly and I had one batch burned on the bottoms and raw on the top.
If you are ever looking for a Martha recipe or article, check out the MarthaDex. It is an impressive tribute to domesticity.
Got to run. Bob’s calling. Something about shooting a sheriff?
~K