I did a lot of baking this weekend - I made cinnamon-carrot quinoa flake bars for The Baby (and they were quite good and covered in a thick caramel icing. But I just invented them and I didn't write down the recipe, sadly.), I made a baked tangerine pudding cake (again, my own recipe! and I even wrote this one down!), and vanilla cinnamon buns and OH MY GOSH they were good. So good that I spent all of yesterday eating them and I completely fell off my virtuous diet. Whoops. I need a new hobby that doesn't make me fat.
I LOVE baking, though - there's nothing more serene and centering than cheerfully creaming butter and sugar, the mindless contented handwork of kneading breaddough. And then there's the triumphant feeling of making something good for The Baby out of the unpromising gluten-free ingredients. Autumn is past its pretty stage here and now it's cold and bare and there's something lovely about coming into the house a bit shivery and frosty and the kitchen is warm and there's cinnamon and chocolate in the air, something that says home.
I won't be baking for a FEW days, though. I ate FIVE cinnamon buns yesterday and I am feeling rather sick.
In between stuffing our faces this weekend, we ran errands. The menfolk had their hair cut at their traditional barber shop - my husband had his hair cut there as a child, as did his father and his grandfather used to go in there for his pragmatic working-man's shearing. The barber is RATHER old - maybe 120 - and his hand isn't as steady as it used to be, but what is a symmetrical haircut compared to sitting in the same barber chair as your long gone great-grandfather? It's always so strange seeing The Boy after his haircut - he always looks so new and different and yet has such a family face, my handsome, soft-hearted child suddenly looking like this unknown man that he will someday be.
I walked the kids to school today and we were SLIGHTLY late - we got there as the bell was ringing, so I escorted The Boy into the school, planning on walking him down the long, busy hallway to his classroom. He would have none of it though, and politely told me that I didn't have to, that he could go by himself. I stopped and watched him walking away, this boy out in the world, this straight-backed boy who will someday be a man to be very proud of, my son.
It was rainy and cold on the evening that we ate this pudding, which my handsome young son declared "tasted just like Christmas":
Tangerine Pudding
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 tbsp potato flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp grated Tangerine Rind
1/4 cup Tangerine Juice (about one tangerine)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
Combine sugar, potato flour and salt. Stir in tangerine rind, tangerine juice and vegetable oil. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolk and add milk. Add to tangerine mixture and mix well.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into the tangerine mixture. Pour into 1 quart baking dish.
Place baking dish in a larger pan containing 1 inch hot water.
Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until cake is tender. Two layers will form - cake and pudding. Serve warm or cooled.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Thank you. We are once again drooling. Well, okay, the goat was already drooling...
Posted by: bren j. | October 16, 2007 at 08:46 PM
Oh, how I aspire to bake right now!!! I want to bake and sneak jessica-seinfeld veggie purees inside! I want to give th emonkey healthy cookies to munch on, etc., etc.! If only I had the time!!!
Posted by: haley-o | October 16, 2007 at 01:23 PM
Oh, how I aspire to bake right now!!! I want to bake and sneak jessica-seinfeld veggie purees inside! I want to give th emonkey healthy cookies to munch on, etc., etc.! If only I had the time!!!
Posted by: haley-o | October 16, 2007 at 01:23 PM
I am in awe of anyone who can "invent" a recipe. And it looks like I may have to scour your archives for some other recipes...
Posted by: theflyingmum | October 16, 2007 at 10:59 AM
My progeny and I are cinnamon bun freaks. Could you post the recipe?
I need to do more in the kitchen. Besides renovate.
Posted by: karen | October 16, 2007 at 10:49 AM
You ate five cinnamon buns and didn't save even one for me???? I am jealous over all the great baking that you had this weekend, even though I know I would probably overdose on it. I enjoyed your post, while drooling!!!
Posted by: Marta | October 16, 2007 at 10:36 AM
i would do anything to stick my face in that pudding/cake right now.
and if it makes you feel better i was SO off my diet this weekend, too.
Posted by: christine | October 16, 2007 at 09:52 AM
I just my late a lunch (its 4 pm in singapore), but just by reading all these makes me salivate...
it seems as if I can smell them. YUMMY!
http://allaboutyourchild.blogspot.com
Posted by: Angeline Foong Wai Leng | October 16, 2007 at 04:05 AM
Yummy...it all sounds so good! I know what you mean about the comfort of baking. I just love it. But I, also, would eat at LEAST 5 buns (not to mention all the licks of batter, dough, icing, etc. from the bowl)!
Posted by: Kath | October 16, 2007 at 01:22 AM
Muwahaha You inspired me so this weekend I bought a hnad blender!!!! It is magical, so now I mUST have a food processor .... it is on my list for the future!
Posted by: chelle | October 15, 2007 at 11:50 PM
I wish I knew how to just make up recipes like that! You're so creative :) the most baking Kayla and I did today was blueberry muffins out of a box mix - for shame! LOL
Posted by: Michelle | October 15, 2007 at 11:14 PM
I feel exactly the same way after my son gets a haircut. He looks so grown up and different and for some reason it makes me sad.
I don't at all like to bake but I could certainly eat 5 of those buns!
Posted by: Jen | October 15, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Beck, you make me love Mondays - when I can stop by here and read about your baking and eating adventures and your precious family. Thanks for sharing it all with us.
Posted by: Pastormac's Ann | October 15, 2007 at 07:45 PM
My kids don't eat puddings. Freaks.
Posted by: AlphaDogMa | October 15, 2007 at 07:08 PM
Okay, you have got to become my neighbor. I will cheerfully double our dinners and you can double your baking and we will trade, 'k?
Posted by: Susanne | October 15, 2007 at 03:49 PM
The tangerine pudding sounds great!
Posted by: Heidi | October 15, 2007 at 02:55 PM
I love to bake too. And sadly I suffer from the same malady as you seem to be inflicted with.
Oh, I never did tell you that the shepherd's pie with sweet potatoes was a big hit with my hungry menfolk.
The oldest son said it was a 'fullness of good'. I asked him what he meant and he could not explain. Upon further discussion we settled contentedly on 'comfort food'.
Good enough!
Posted by: Becky | October 15, 2007 at 02:49 PM
That sounds great!
I'm going to make those butter tarts this weekend, for my sister-in-law's birthday - 'cause she's a Canadian!
Posted by: maggie | October 15, 2007 at 02:19 PM
Ah Beck, you have such a great hobby. I wish you could share your spoils with us. Especially cool gluten-free creations! I'm with you. Any time I make something yummy, it's suddenly gone by my own hand and I feel rather sick afterward as well. Why can't we be satisfied with one bite intead of 100? If you remember that cinnamon carrot quinoa flake bar recipe, don't forget to jot it down. Sounds yummy!
Posted by: RachtheBach | October 15, 2007 at 02:16 PM
My solution to the not feeling fat while still keeping my baking hobby--put fresh baked goods immediately in old tins and pack them in the car to take to other people who don't get to eat fresh baked goodies--my kids LOVE to give them out to the ladies at the library and the different ladies who work full time at the stores we frequent--we have met a lot of people that way--of course I tend to choose to shop at small family owned businesses so that helps a lot.
I have got to find a good sweet roll recipe that is sans cinnamon, chocolate,citrus, or apple--my oldest can't eat them and since apples, chocolate, and cinnamon are favorites around here and she doesn't like vanilla we are kind of stuck. Sigh. It is very frustrating. :)
Posted by: Heather | October 15, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Vanilla cinnamon buns? Mmmmm. Mondays make me jones for some homemade baked goods. I need a wife. LOL.
Posted by: Kyla | October 15, 2007 at 12:46 PM
Mmmm. Sounds good.
I love baking too. I spend several hours every weekend baking, sometimes with the kids "helping", sometimes with them playing in and around the kitchen. I too find it so relaxing and satisfying.
Posted by: LoriD | October 15, 2007 at 12:46 PM
oh God, that sounds good.
I baked this week too, which explains the gain in weight at my WW meeting this morning. Only a sixth of a pound but I know it was that damn apple cake!
Posted by: Marmite Breath | October 15, 2007 at 12:39 PM
That tangerine pudding sounds incredible--I must make it straight away!
I'm feeling fat, too. Did you see the finger cookies I made this weekend?
Posted by: Aliki | October 15, 2007 at 12:38 PM
The tangerine pudding sounds wonderful. My husband is a huge fan of that type of dessert. My kids will likely eschew it due to lack of chocolate.
I made blueberry coffee cake for dessert last night, with a buttery-cinnamon-brown sugar topping made even more delish with a poured vanilla glaze. The adults devoured every morsel while they kids mostly ate the scoop of ice cream.
Posted by: Janet | October 15, 2007 at 12:36 PM
That sounds wonderful. We made dairy-free, gluten-free! chocolate cupcakes (from a Namaste mix) with homemade peanut butter icing this weekend. They are sooo good.
Posted by: Sarah | October 15, 2007 at 12:18 PM
I bought a delicious carrot cake this weekend! Does that count as baking?? I'm so lazy. But, it was so good! I love creamed-cheese icing.
I would try out the vanilla cinnamon buns if you post the recipe..
Posted by: nomotherearth | October 15, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Bub. It's Monday here too. And I am fat too. And the diet I have attempted to start EVERY FREAKIN DAY for the last 3 months was thwarted once again. Stress did it to me this weekend. But your splurges sound much more worth it than I. I just stood in the middle of my kitchen shoving G@lden Gr@hams in my face while my children screamed around me.
"tasted just like Christmas". Delightful.
Posted by: Joy of course | October 15, 2007 at 12:11 PM
I needed to be at your house last night - I was fiercly craving baked goods around 10 pm and had none and since I do not believe in boxed starters, it was far too late to justify whipping up the brownies I was craving. Instead I ate dried mangos and ginger snaps. good but not what I was craving.
Posted by: Soul Fusion | October 15, 2007 at 12:08 PM
I've said it before, but can I come live with you? Please?
Posted by: slouching mom | October 15, 2007 at 11:24 AM
I too over ate in the dessert department this weekend. But then since we normally only have a small square of dark chocolate (Lindt 85% is best!) than eating ANY dessert is too much! Sad but true. We were bad this weekend and ate apple pie at 3 meals - twice with ice cream and once with a very nice old aged cheddar. Yum! The many things you baked do sound good. For me though I'm afraid that 1/2 a cinnamon bun would be enough for me to overdose on sugar!
Posted by: Lori | October 15, 2007 at 11:22 AM
mmm - have to try that - my favourite pudding is the "lemon" version of this - and I have also done an apricot version, with apricot nectar instead of milk.... You are such a great house mummy! My best recent achievement has been pumpkin/ fresh cranberry;almond muffins with a few mini dark chocolate chips thrown in, just because you should throw in a few chocolate chips when you can!
Posted by: anne | October 15, 2007 at 11:17 AM