Wednesday Ramblings

Christmas is less than four full days away.  This means that I have lists to check off.  I’m quite a list person, I really love making lists; they keep me sane and on task.  I make lists of things to buy, lists of things to do, lists of things to bake and cook.  While lists are mostly helpful, they can cloud the reason we are doing all of those things in the first place, particularly for me, during this time of year.

Side note: I just realized that “list” is one of those words that, when you say or look at over and over again, it becomes a totally different word.  Anyway…

All morning I have been thinking about which stores I need to visit and things that I need to accomplish on each day leading up to Sunday.  Stopping for just a moment to browse Pinterest, (terrible, I know!) I found this:

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Gingerbread Donuts

You might remember that I recently purchased my first doughnut pan.  I asked all of you whether it was doughnut or donut and most people said donut, so that’s what I’m sticking with.  Much easier for my fingers to type out!

I.can’t.stop.baking. doughnuts.  Someone come and take this pan away from me!  They are so good and much healthier than their fried counterparts.  They are soft and fluffy and just sweet enough.  And ’tis the season of gingerbread and I thought that classic holiday flavors would make a great donut.

Sure enough, the ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg shine and the added crunch of the turbinado sugar sprinkled on top is perfect.  These will be a big hit on Christmas morning…especially since they are so quick to mix up and you can throw them in the oven while gifts are being torn into!

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Simple Fudge

This time of year is a foodie’s dream.  My “food to create” pinboard on Pinterest is ever growing and every day I come across more and more recipes that I want to try.  This one, though, was one that I needed to make immediately!  I  remember fudge always being one of the treats that we would make around the holidays to share with friends, neighbors and family (along with this snack, and these cookies) but I don’t remember the exact method that we used.  I do remember needing it to be timed just right and reach an exact temperature so that it would set.  And let’s just say that I have been known to be a bit unsuccessful in the kitchen with a candy thermometer.

No candy thermometer is needed here.  I never dreamed that there was such a great fudge recipe out there.  This recipe is so incredibly simple (hence, the name) and it. is. delicious.  I am already coming up with ways to add other flavors.  It’s so creamy but not too sweet.  See, I’m not a huge chocolate lover…I would much rather have some Skittles, sugar cookies or a scone.  I do, though, love dark chocolate.  The consistency of this fudge is to-die-for and the flakes of sea salt on top round out the flavors perfectly!

Do you have a favorite flavor of fudge?

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Wednesday Ramblings

All you have to do is taste it to understand.  Do you know what I’m talking about?  This deadly amazing cookie butter from Trader Joe’s.  Why did I not stick to my list and put it back on the shelf?  Well, I have no good reason. At all, really.  I’m such a sucker for raw cookie dough.  Who am I kidding, I love cookies in any form so why would I not love them in butter form?  Come to find out I do love them in butter form.  This stuff is de-lic-ious.  Which is actually an understatement.  I actually spread it on some of these cookies that I had left over.  Amazing, I’m tellin’ ya.

Speaking of these cookies, did you see that they were featured on Tasty Kitchen yesterday?  This might seem small to you but it’s a victory for me.  That was the first time and it totally made my day.  Each small milestone that I reach reaffirms the effort and work that goes into this blog.  I love everything about this tiny space of the web and I’m so blessed that I get to share my life with you and others!

I can’t put this thing down.  I love it more than I ever imagined that I would.  I am learning so much about photography and I’ve already found out that I’m more artistic that I ever thought that I was.  What a great tool it has already become!   Anyone else with me?

One last thought today:

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Keep dreaming {and working toward your dreams}, friends!

XOXO

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