Water for Elephants: Read with Scrambled Eggs for Breakfast

I purchased this book on my Kindle

I read the book Water for Elephants, by Sarah Gruen and it was a very entertaining book! I read it on my flight to Denver and back on my kindle.  The book is set in the 1920's during prohibition, and the narrator tells the story of his journey in the traveling circus of the Benzini Brothers.  It's also educational as well, as I was able to understand more about the traveling circus of the early 1900s....quite different from the Circus which comes to the arenas today.  I recommend for anyone looking for an entertaining book!  You can find more about Water for Elephants at http://www.amazon.com/WATER-ELEPHANTS-Sara-Gruen/dp/B004CTHVU2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1303078324&sr=8-2.

One thing about the circus workers back in the day, was that they worked for minimal wages, a place to sleep (rail car) and 3 big meals a day, which were fairly extravagant for the setting.


There is a lot of information about the Circus in America, which travevled by rail, at the following website: http://www.circusinamerica.org/public/timelines?date1=1906&date2=1940. There is also good information about the food for the traveling circus workers http://www.jsonline.com/features/food/49451792.html.

Big breakfasts were a staple of the circus worker's diet back then.  In the book, they reference this:

"And how are you this fine day?" says August.  He digs into a pile of scrambled eggs.

So, I decided to make the "Perfect Scrambled Eggs" by Tyler Florence: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/soft-scrambled-eggs-with-avocado-recipe/index.html 

Tyler Florence's recipe for Perfect Scrambled Eggs takes about 10 minutes to cook over very low heat, but the end result are the best scrambled eggs you've ever eaten!  You basically whisk the eggs with a small amount of cream or half & half and then cook with a little butter over the low heat.  Tyler's recipe calls for sliced Avocados on the side, although I'm sure the circus performers ate them plain :). I garnished the eggs with chives, and since I had quite a lot of leftover chives, I whipped them with some cream cheese and put on a toasted english muffin.

Enjoy!

It's your lucky day! "Hidden Thin Mint" Cookies for St. Patty's Day!

I made these cookies on St. Patty's day and I forgot to post them. By popular request, here there are!

Ingredients:
1 box of yellow extra moist cake mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 stick of butter, melted
1 cup of chocolate chips (or more if you want!)
1/4 cup brown sugar
Green food coloring
Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies

Instructions:
1) Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
2) Mix together the cake mix, eggs, brown sugar, melted butter and vanilla. Stir by hand until the dough forms.
3) Add lots of green food coloring until the dough is the color green you want
4) Stir in the chocolate chips
5) Refrigerate the dough for an hour or so until it is firm and easier to handle
6) Take a small spoonful of dough (maybe about a Tbsp) and roll into a ball and then flatten so you have a disc.  Place a Thin Mint cookie on top (it should be about the same size as the flattened dough ball so just a little dough shows.  Take the same size amount of dough and repeat and place on top of the Thin Mint cookie.
7) Use your hands to seal the edges of the cookie so the Thin Mint is hidden
8) Bake about 9-10 minutes (they should look a little raw) and take out of the oven
9) Let cookies sit on the baking sheet for 2 minutes
10) Remove the cookies and let cool.

YUM!  I brought these cookies to work and everyone loved them!

2011 - Read The Power with these Shot Glass Desserts

Dessert Shot Glasses for New Year's Eve 2011




The Power - by Rhonda Byrne

 Cheers to 2011!  I'm a little behind in my postings in 2011, but I wanted to get in a post while it is still the month of January! I'm not sure where the month of January went, but it is almost February, which is a fun month of birthdays for my friends and family!

For 2011, I decided my New Year Resolution would be to see the positive in things more often. I randomly saw the book, The Power, by Rhonda Byrne while wandering Costco (when bored, I go there way too often).  It's the same author who wrote The Secret, another popular book in the self help category. I've never read The Secret, but I figured I'd jump right into the sequel.  Overall, the book is about how to see life through a different angle, through feelings, and positive energy.  While at times, a little "new wave," it is definitely a worthwhile read.  The premise is that if you give off positive energy, it will be returned through "the universe" back to you as all energy is related and intertwined. Each chapter of the book has a summary of the high points and has several quotes throughout the book from famous leaders and thinkers.

One of my favorite quotes in the book:

"I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances."

Martha Washington (1732-1802)
First Lady, Wife of George Washington
First President of the United States

You can learn more about the book at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+power

On New Year's Eve, I brought different dessert shot glasses (inspired by the Seasons 52
 Mini Indulgences dessert shot glasses)

The Mini Indulgences at Seasons 52 Restaurant in Atlanta

I made three kinds:
1) Key Lime Pie with Graham Cracker Crust
2) Red Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
3) S'more Inspired Layers

Where to find the shot glasses: I purchased small plastic shot glasses at the "dollar store" and it was about $1 for 20 glasses - I bought three packs. You can also use glass shot glasses, or they make special dessert shot glasses if you are making a smaller quantity. These were 1.25 oz glasses, but I think it would work even better if you can find 1.5-2 oz glasses.

Key Lime Pie:

1. I purchased a pre-made key lime pie from the bakery section at Publix and used that as the pie filling.  I layered in graham cracker crumbs (you can buy a box of graham cracker crumbs in the grocery store where they sell the pre-made pie crusts). 
2. I scooped out all the key lime pie filling and put into a zip lock bag, and cut a small tip off
3. I then put in a spoon of graham cracker crumbs into the shot glass, and then piped in the filling, and repeated until the glass was filled.
4. I garnished before serving with cool whip and a lime wedge

* Note:  Next time, I would mix melted butter into the crumbs and then press into the glasses instead of just putting the cookie crumbs in dry.

Red Velvet Cake:

1. I purchased a pre-made red velvet cake from the bakery section at Publix and used that as the cake filling.  I layered in a homemade cream cheese frosting in between the cake.
2. To make the frosting, you basically use a mixer to mix a softened block of cream cheese with 3/4 a stick of softened butter, a box of confectioner's sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla. I put the icing in a zip lock bag and cut a small tip off to pipe in.
3. I took a small spoonful of the cake and put into the glass and then pressed it down (you kind of have to pack it in) and then alternated between cake and icing until full.  I garnished with more icing on the top and red velvet crumbs.

S'more

1. I layered graham cracker crumbs, then marshmallow fluff (piped in using zip lock technique), then jarred chocolate fudge sauce, then repeat.
2. The marshmallow fluff is sticky, so you may want to mix the fluff with something like cool whip to loosen it up (next time I will do this).
3. Garnish with cool whip and marshmallows/chocolate chips - whatever you want.

* Note: I would also add melted butter to the graham cracker crumbs and pack them into the glass vs. putting the crumbs in dry next time.

More Pictures: