In Search Of The Hot Cross Bun

March 24, 2013 by mymateriallife

It’s amazing how much flavor, comfort, nostalgia, and tradition I find in these little buns.  They are one of my favorite foods; it’s probably a good thing they are only available for purchase during Lent or I would eat way too many of them.  I’m always excited when I realize that Lent has begun and hot cross bun season is underway.  This year that happy thought occurred on one of those first Saturday mornings in March when I went to […]

Categories: Easter, Sweets • Tags: easter recipes, evelyn birge vitz, food, good friday, hot cross buns

St. Patrick’s Day 2013

March 18, 2013 by mymateriallife

Clockwise from top left: Maybe this was overkill.  I thought I’d try a little food coloring in my recycled Irish bear snow globe. I am totally judging this book by its cover; isn’t it beautiful?!  I could not resist buying it when I found it at Recycle Bookstore in Campbell last week (though this one is new).  I just started it last night. A gift of Irish whiskey from our next-door neighbors. We enjoyed some in Irish coffee, but nice […]

Categories: Beverages, Celebrations, Miniatures, Other Holidays, Other Textiles, Reading Material, Sweets • Tags: green punch, lemon-lime kool-aid, st. patrick's day, whole wheat honey wafers

A Blanket for Birthday No. 9

February 27, 2013 by mymateriallife

Last week I made the decision to tackle all the uncompleted projects in my rather large knitting basket.  Luckily, I had a long car trip to look forward to (very useful for knitting as long as you’re not the one driving) and with Samantha’s birthday approaching, I decided to begin the task by finishing this blanket that I started for her at least five years ago.  It’s a project from the book, Greetings From Knit Cafe.  I really like the […]

Categories: Celebrations, Kid Stuff, Knitting, Sweets • Tags: greetings from knit cafe, home, key lime pie, knit blanket, knitting, yarn dogs, zucca trendsetter yarn

Bread, Butter, Sprinkles

February 6, 2013 by mymateriallife

Have you heard of fairy bread?  It’s something they serve children in Australia and New Zealand.  It’s basically buttered bread with sprinkles.  I read about it years ago in Saveur magazine; I thought it sounded enchanting.  It reminded me of the white buttered bread (not toasted) with cinnamon sugar my mom gave me when I was very young.  I loved that treat. I recently discovered the Dutch De Ruijter brand of chocolate sprinkles at Cost Plus World Market.  These are […]

Categories: Kid Stuff, Sweets • Tags: breakfast, breakfast in holland, chocolate sprinkles, cost plus world market, de ruijter, fairy bread, food, india tree, kid food

Adventures In Vegan Baking

January 26, 2013 by mymateriallife

Just because you’re not a vegan doesn’t mean you won’t want to bake like one now and again.  When I’m in a coffee shop or market that offers both traditional and vegan cookies, I find that I usually prefer the vegan versions, so there is that.  But you may also find yourself wanting to bake something for a vegan friend or loved one.  What resource can the novice turn to?  Well the other day I was in the library with […]

Categories: Sweets • Tags: doron petersan, food, sticky fingers' sweets, vegan baking, vegan cake, vegan recipes

Sparkling Gummi Bear Gelatin

January 1, 2013 by mymateriallife

This festive treat was inspired by the book, Hello, Jell-O!, a Christmas gift I received from Samantha.  I made the gelatin for the kids at last night’s gathering at the home of our friends Camille and Homero.  Needless to say, it was a hit. It’s based on the recipe for Sparkling Champagne and Strawberries in the book.  You’ll find the recipe here.  The two changes I made were to swap a Trader Joe’s sparkling white grape juice for the sparkling […]

Categories: Celebrations, Christmas, Sweets • Tags: haribo gummi bears, hello jell-o!, meringue, mexican wedding cookies, plastic champagne glasses, sparkling gelatin

Secret Toffee

November 24, 2012 by mymateriallife

Some day I’d like to get good at making old-timey candies like fudge, divinity, brittles and honeycomb or sea foam.  But I’m just not there yet.  I can either get the texture right and the taste wrong or the taste right and the texture wrong.  I can’t seem to get the two working together.  I thought I’d make penuche to bring to my sister’s for Thanksgiving because it was always a favorite of hers, but the practice batch I made […]

Categories: Sweets • Tags: easy candy making, food gifts, secret toffee

Giant Oven Pancake

October 19, 2012 by mymateriallife

Have you ever made one of these?  They also go by the name Dutch baby.  I was thinking of what to make for breakfast last Sunday when I remembered that this required only a few ingredients that I happened to have on hand.  It’s also very easy to make and spectacular to observe as it bakes.  You just have to remember to set your oven rack low in your oven because one of these pancakes can rise to incredible heights. […]

Categories: Savories, Sweets • Tags: giant oven pancake, sunset easy basics for good cooking

An Anniversary Dinnner At Home

October 12, 2012 by mymateriallife

I was trying to figure out what to make for our anniversary dinner when I ran across a copy of Elizabeth David’s An Omelette and a Glass of Wine essay in one of my recipe folders.  When I read the words, “Let’s just have an omelette and a glass of wine.’  Perhaps first a slice of home-made pâté and a few olives, afterwards a fresh salad and a piece of ripe creamy cheese or some fresh figs or strawberries …  I knew […]

Categories: Beverages, Savories, Sweets • Tags: an omelette and a glass of wine, champagne cocktail, elizabeth david, mustard vinaigrette, omelette, ranch house pâté