December | Presents

I was going to write a post about my thoughts on this Christmas,

but I can't find the words. 

This year's Christmas was different somehow,

but I can't figure out how to explain it.

Maybe I'll do a post on it later.

This year our presents weren't all that big,

since we mostly wished for money so we could buy new furniture

for our livingroom. 

I searched high and low for pictures of how our livingroom looked before,

but I couldn't find any.

I know I have some somewhere, 

but they're hiding from me somewhere clever.

Of course we were too eager to take a 'before' picture

when putting up the new furniture, 

so now you have to settle for the 'after' pictures.

We love how our livingroom looks now.

Normally our table isn't that fancy, 

but I had my brother, parents, in-laws, uncle+wife, and grandparents

over for coffee yesterday, since it's my birthday tomorrow.

I made lots of little cakes, and they turned out great,

although I was really worried about my gingerbread house.

It was a bit too soft, so it was slowly caving in when we put it together,

but it held!

Today is all about cleaning up and taking down the Christmas decorations,
and getting ready to celebrate New Year's Eve with good friends.

/Lea Binta

Christmas | Baking so far..

Time for a Christmas-y post after yesterday's depressing rainbow-bruise post.

Although, I do want to give you an update on the rainbow-bruise. 

It's now not nearly as rainbow-y, just very black and blue.

And it's spread,

which sort of creeps me out.

The thought of the blood continuing to seep through my arm's tissue.

Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and my entire arm has gone black,

and then it might just suddenly give up and fall off.

Scary thought.

I'll let you know if it happens.

Now,

lovely, cheery pictures of cake! 

Yay, cake.

Maple syrup cookies:

Chocolate cupcakes with lemon frosting:

I haven't baked nearly as much as I'd like yet, 

but this week has just been crazy and it's not letting up.

Hopefully next week will have more opportunities for making Christmas goodies.

- Lea Binta

Breakfast | Properly

Breakfast is actually my favorite meal of the day.

If it's done properly. 

So I decided to do it properly today.

Have a lovely tuesday!

/Lea Binta

Baking | S'mores - without the mess

Okay, so obviously the weather is horrible.

Rainy.

Windy.

Cold.

Not summer-y at all.

But forget about the weather for a moment.

If I say summer. Bonfire. Late nights.

What comes to mind?

S'mores!

I love s'mores, but I always end up with marshmallow in my hair.

Not so yummy. 

I found this idea on Pinterest to make s'mores without the mess,

and it was soooo good. 

And incredibly easy.

Place marshmallows and a few chocolate chips on separate crackers.

Put them in the oven for a few minutes, until the marshmallows puff up, 

and turn light brown. 

Or dark brown, if you prefer.

WATCH THEM! It only takes a few minutes,

and when they start to get brown they really get brown FAST!

Place crackers together and gently squeeze. 

Place them in the freezer for about 5 minutes.

While they're in the freezer melt some chocolate for coating them.

Coat your crackers halfway. I had some extra chocolate and some leftover

cherries - extra snack.

Enjoy!

/Lea Binta

Saturday | Baking in this small world

Today was going to be a day of catching up on things,

and since I have a birthday party to go to tonight 

I headed downtown to get a gift for the sweet hostess.

On my way, walking through the park by my apartment,

I see someone I think I used to know.

As in, someone I used to know 7 years ago when I was living in Nigeria.

I assume it's just my mind playing tricks on me and keep walking.

But it's like I just know it's him.

I panick. Why? Not sure. 

Maybe it's because it's been 7 freaking years!?

Anyway, I keep walking, while secretly (okay, it was rather obvious) 

looking back over my shoulder to see if it's really him.

I walk. Walk, walk, walk.

Enter the store. Buy the gift.

All the while staring out the window to see if he passes by.

Exit the store. 

Look around for him.

Don't see him.

I start walking back.

There he is.

Okay, I can't just ignore him and walk past him (again).

Especially since I was staring at him before.

And before I get a chance to think or say anything 

he's standing before me, saying, "Aren't you...?"

Holy freaking crap!

What are the chances of running into someone after 7 seven years?

Especially since it's someone you know from a whole different continent!?

Totally random. Totally surreal. 

Totally AWESOME.

This world is ridiculously small. 

ANYWAY,

I wanted to share a recipe with you.

I found it on Pinterest the other day, and wanted to try it out this weekend.

And I did. (Didn't see that one coming, huh?)

And honestly, it takes a lot for cake to really impress me.

And this one did.

So go bake it.

Like, right now.

Chewy Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Brownies

1/3 cup margarine, softened

2/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup peanut butter (I used crunchy pb)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbsp water

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 C).

Mix margarine and sugars.

Add egg one at a time.

Beat until light and fluffy. (2-3 minutes)

Stir in peanut butter, water, and vanilla extract.

Mix flours, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl.

Stir into peanut butter mix and blend well.

Spread into greased 9x9 inch pan,

and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Let it cool, then cut into squares.

Now, EAT!

I am telling you now - 

you will not regret it!

/Lea Binta

Baking | Soccer Cupcakes

I am so proud of the way my Denmark vs Holland cupcakes turned out,

that I decided they deserved a post of their own!

Obviously, no baking happens without my favorite

(and well, only) apron.

A couple of days ago I bought this tip in order to make grass with my icing.

And it worked like a charm! 

At least for the first cupcake.

Then, after the first cupcake, things starting going badly. 

The tip I'd bought didn't fit my piping bag, and I thought I could fix it,

but it was really complicated.

It ended up requiring tools from hubby's toolbox and several hours

of hard work.

But in the end, we managed to make it cooperate,

and this is the result:

I made the flags from fondant yesterday, and let them dry overnight.

I cheated a bit and bought the soccer balls.

I think they turned out pretty neat, and it was such a great night.

And oh, Denmark won (YAY!) in case you didn't know.. 

Who are you rooting for in this year's Euro Cup?

/Lea Binta

Baking | Money saver

So, being unemployed and having two people and a dog live off of one income can be tricky. Nowhere near impossible, but it does require some thought, when you're used to having two incomes. 

One way to save a lot of money is to bake your own bread. Bake your own cake. Generally cooking yourself instead of buying processed food. On average I probably bake bread once a week, and really, who doesn't love homemade bread? And the best thing? You are in complete control, and can make it however you want.

There are so many great recipes, and easy recipes as well, so honestly, there's no excuse - get that oven started and bake that bread!

/Lea Binta

Baking | Chocolate cupcakes

The other night I was craving chocolate, but we didn't have any. Instead, I baked the easiest and tastiest cupcakes. 

Recipe:

100 g flour

25 g cocoa powder

150 g sugar

1½ tsp baking powder

50 g soft salted butter

125 ml milk

1 egg

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the butter and stir it until it looks like grated cheese. Add half the milk and mix until smooth. Whisk together the rest of the milk with the egg and add to the batter. Mix well. 

Bake at 175 C for 20-25 minutes. 

Icing:
250 g icing sugar
25 g cocoa powder
75 g butter
2 Tsp milk

Enjoy!

/Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Baking | Doughnuts

Now, I realize there have been a lot of posts about cake recently, but let me just clarify this: cake is very important part of my life. I love cake. I would eat cake all day, every day, if I could. But I wont, since I can't afford to buy new and bigger clothes all the time. Still, I eat cake regularly. Like, several times a week. And no, I wont stop. 

My brother celebrated his birthday saturday, and since he's a huge Simpsons fan we attempted to make some doughnuts. Ovenbaked. I think that was a mistake.

Some of them were quite pathetic. Another mistake.

Didn't have a cutter in the right size, so used my dad's glass - a pint is about the right size.

At this point I'm very excited and has no idea what is lying ahead of me.

Action-packed picture!

So, after decorating them they looked quite nice, but they didn't really rise in the oven at all, which is quite essential.

So yeah, nice looking, but tasted like biscuits. Next time there'll definately be some hot oil involved.

Have you made doughnuts before? And how did they turn out?

/Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Friends | Chocolate scones

Some friendships are based on memories, some on seeing each other regularly. But then there are friendships that, no matter how often you see each other, or don't see each other, are just there. Those are my most cherished friendships.

I was with such a friend today. Even though it's been more than 6 months since the last time we hung out, it felt like it was just last week. 

And a little baking never hurt anyone. 

Which friendships do you cherish the most?

/Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone