Eau du Cake Batter

Now, I've asked this question many times, and have gotten different answers. To me it seems like a genuine question that should be answered if for nothing else but for posterity's sake. I mean, is it a crime to want to know true intentions, for crying out loud... oh, wait you don't know what I'm talking about? What's the question?

? Is it sexy for a woman to constantly smell like cake?

I'm just sayin'...

Would Paula Deen Adopt Me?

As I write this I'm trying to keep my eyes open as hibernation is trying to win over. I feel like I should put on the furriest thing I have and curl up in a ball.

Anyway, so to pass the time I made chocolate chip heath bar cookies last night and a pot roast in the slow cooker (magnificent!); today I've made hot cocoa for the kids that shoveled my walk, 2 cakes and made Never Fail Rolls (added cheese YUMMY!)...nothing better than hot bread slathered with butter (shout out to Paula!).

Honestly, I love butter - and if I died and got to come back I'd want to be either Italian or Paula Deen...or an Italian Paula Deen... Paolaina Deen... or Paula Dino...

**Yawn...stretch...** Ciao Ya'll!


P.S. Never Fail Rolls (and if they do, well...maybe this isn't your forte)

• 2 pckgs dry yeast
• 4 cups flour
• 1/3 c cooking oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 c very warm water
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1 egg

Directions: Dissolve yeast in warm water; add 2 cups of flour and all other ingredients _ with electric mixer, blend at low speed then beat for 2 min. Beat in the other 2 cups of flour by hand; cover and let stand until doubled in bulk (30-40 min). Stir batter down to deflate, place in greased muffin tins, and let rise again. Bake at 425* about 10min.

The Great Snow of 2010 = Baking

[Pen in hand writing a list]

Emergency Items to Buy Before Snow Storm

• mini cupcake papers
• confectioners sugar
• heavy whipping cream

Hmmm.... (tapping pen against cheek)

• butter (oh yes! must have - what was I thinking?)
• chocolates...
• beer (for bread recipe)

Time to make some hot cocoa (way mom used to make it) and pull out the recipes. It's gonna be a fun weekend. I'll let everyone know when the samples are ready, you can sled over to the house.

Now...did I forget something?

P.S. Hot Cocoa a la Barb

• warm milk in saucepan over medium heat (careful not to scald milk)
• in a mixing cup, add 2-3 Tbsp of cocoa powder (or more depending on how chocolatey you want it), equal amounts of sugar (to taste)
• Add a few tsps of water at a time until it makes a syrup
• once milk is very warm, stir in chocolate syrup mixture
• stir until completely dissolved and totally warmed
• ladel into mugs, add marshmellows, cinnamon, whipped cream, etc...
• Enjoy!

Do you smell that?

Hmm...do you? Well, I do. That is the scent of icing and cake as well as my dreams starting to bake and take shape (corny right?).

Well, welcome to my blog where I will delight you with my baking wit and charm. I'm so excited, and hopefully you will take this journey with me. I promise, there will be wonderful treats along the way - I always pack a snack, and it's always something sweet.

Oh yeah, and that's the title of my baking blitz, Simply Sweet by Ann. I bake the old fashioned stuff: things I remember from my Grandma's kitchen, as well as a few other treats!

Check out some of my photos of my delectables!

Mmmmpf...these cake truffles are DE-LISH (brushing crumbs from the keyboard).


Ann