Hey Amy!

I received an amazing tip today that I simply had to share.

My home is slightly warm even though we have the air conditioning blasting these last few days.  The air is simply heavy everywhere, even inside with cooling factors.  That poses a problem in the mornings when it is shower time because even the mildest of water temperature for your shower will cause your bathroom mirrors to fog.  I find myself, like most of you, taking the most convienent cloth item and wiping the mirror so I can see myself.  Which brings me to my tip:  next time you clean your mirror, do so by rubbing shaving cream over the surface and wipe off with a soft cloth.  This will help defog the mirror after future showers!  Wonderful right?

xo–me

It’s getting ‘Africa Hot’ in NYC and as I view the nightly news, it has been that warm across the nation for many days.  Many will read that last sentence and giggle at my use of the word “warm” as most of you would say “It’s hot!”.  Well, in the 12th grade in my AP English class, Mrs. Bucy taught us that dogs get mad, people get angry and warm is the temperature but hot is when one is sexually excited.  Imagine a room of 17 yr. olds blushing a ‘warm’ pink by her lesson!?!

Ahh, once again I digress …

So it is very warm just about everywhere today on the east coast and it got me thinking about perspiration and personal hygiene.  A few weeks ago my friend Ali and I were speaking about manners and we were thinking of all the ways one can showcase one’s manners.  The list included having fresh breath, not shaking hands when one has a cold, and my favorite–trying to remain fresh scented on warm, sweaty days.

Those days are tough when one is riding the train or bus.  One finds themselves in close proximity to many body parts.  Last night I had one such experience.  I boarded the train and found a corner where I was less impacted by those around me although the train was wall-to-wall humans.  At the next stop more persons pushed in and I found myself squarely planted under a very ripe armpit with no place to go.  The owner of said armpit was taller than I (doesn’t take much) and holding on the rail.  I was just tall enough to have my nose in the not so perfect position.  I tried to move my face to another direction but what was emitting from him was so strong those around me were covering their faces in disgust.

Now I recognize that he could have just completed a workout or he had to run to catch the train.  I do.  Truly.  But there are alternatives to being so ripe in a very tight public arena.  Towel off or shower after the workout.  If you are working out outside, try to cool off before you get into a tight place with others.  If you naturally tend to perspire and become fragrant, carry deodorant in your bag.  Baby wipes are your friend.  If your situation does not allow for these things, find a place on the train where you can hold on without lifting the offending area to air out for the entire car.

I hope you have gained some self awareness here today or many of the other days I write about manners and etiquette.  I think being aware of yourself is the first step to being aware of those around you and showing respect.  Respect for one’s self should parlez into respect for others.  Be good to one another.

xo–me

I finally got to bake this weekend.  It’s been a crazy four weeks in my life and unfortunately, something had to give.   I almost forgot what the kitchen looked like (insert pout here)!

With many recipes on deck to try, I decided to go for a lemon drizzle bar with a small change–insert orange in place of lemon.  The results are terrific!  Try grapefruit, lime or your favorite citrus.

Ingredients:

2 eggs
generous 3/4 c. baker’s sugar
2/3 c. butter
finely grated rind of 1 medium orange
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 c. milk
1 1/4 c. 10x sugar, plus additional for dusting
1/4 c. fresh orange juice

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a 7-inch square cake pan and dust with flour.

Put eggs, sugar and butter in a bowl and beat until smooth and fluffy.  Stir in the rind, then fold in the flour lightly and evenly.  Stir in the milk, mixing evenly, then spoon into the prepared cake pan.

Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.  Remove and stand the pan on a cooling rack.

While cooling, make the syrup by heating gently together the 10x sugar and orange juice.  Stirring gently until sugar dissolves.  Do not boil.

Prick the warm cake all over with a fork and spook the hot syrup evenly over the top, letting it be absorbed.  Take your time with this step.  Cool completely in the pan, then turn out the cake, cutting into pieces.  Dust with 10x sugar before serving.

The orange used for the rind made exactly 1/4 c. orange juice.  Let me know what fruit you use.  Enjoy!

xo–me

Happy Father’s Day to dads everywhere.  I hope the day finds you surrounded by those you love and spoiled rotten.

As I have in years past, I am putting the spotlight on a man who I believe is a magnificent father–my brother.  I have written about him many times here so many may be familiar.  For those who do not know, my brother and I were born on the same day, four years apart.  We were siblings growing up but became friends when we became adults.  Last year when he was diagnosed with brain cancer, our relationship moved to an entirely different level.

Garnet is father to young William or as I like to refer to him as–the Holy Terror.  He is three and discovering everything.  Nothing is off base for his very intelligent and inquisitive mind.  He is loving, articulate and frightfully sharp.  I believe he is this dynamic little man because of the hard work of my brother (and his wife, who I consider my sister).

Almost every week, I get to have Will TV time and read to my nephew.  Garnet makes sure we have some giggles,  Will tells me some stories and Will remains engaged for at least 5 minutes.  A lifetime for 3-year-old.  It’s a gift I cherish more and more with each passing week.

Garnet is patient and kind.  He uses every ‘situation’ as a teachable moment for William.  He can play and clown but is a very serious disciplinarian.  All the ingredients of a compassionate and perfect father.

Happy Father’s Day Garnet.  I can’t wait to see what each passing year brings for you and William.

xo–me

It has been a long while since I was able to recruit one of you to be my Friday Friend.  Friday’s Friends is my nod to my talented online friends.  I turn the space over to you, my Friday Friend, to share a family recipe, a special tip or party plan.  There are no boundaries and it allows me to brag about those I know & love.  Do I have any takers for the upcoming Fridays?  Email me if you are interested.

In the meantime, here is my tip for a Friday.  I mean, I can be my own friend, right?

Freeze-dried berries are the perfect ingredient for fillings or frostings.  They add a punch of flavor without the extra liquid.

Enjoy the weekend!

xo–me

This past weekend I wanted to bake.  I usually reach for the chocolate recipes but this time I wanted a rich, moist vanilla cupcake with buttercream frosting.  Three hours later I had these to feast upon.

I love this recipe for it’s simplicity and rich flavor.  It’s a good basic starter for anyone new to the kitchen.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. unsalted butter (I always use unsalted, you do what you prefer), softened
generous 1/2 c. baker’s sugar
2 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 c. flour
1 Tbsp. milk

Preheat oven to 350.  Line cupcake pan with paper liners.

Put butter and sugar in a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy.  Gradually beat in the eggs.  Sift in the flour and fold in gently.  Fold in the milk.

Spoon batter into cupcake liners filling slightly more than 3/4 full.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown and firm to the touch.  Transfer to cooking rack to allow to cool.

I fill the liners more than 3/4 full so I have large full cupcake tops.  It’s makes frosting them much more fun and I can do all sorts of things with them.  And it took me three hours to make them because I allowed them to completely cool before I dreamed of frosting (and I made these as well).  Enjoy!

xo–me

My brother shared a wonderful story with me last week and at his recommendation “Does this fit Hey Amy!?”, I am sharing it today.

A guy walks into Frank’s Pizza (sounds like the set-up to a bad joke) and asks the guy behind the counter, “Were you working here last night?  Do you recognize me?”  Tricia (his wife) and I are waiting for the inevitable negative conclusion to this exchange, but we were pleasantly surprised to hear “I think you didn’t charge me enough.”

Apparently he ordered a large pie and got charged for a medium.  The worker naturally brushed it off as a case of “our mistake”, but the customer insisted.  After he paid the difference, he left without ordering anything.  So this guy made a special trip into Frank’s to settle up from the night before.

Now many of you will write to me and say things like “that would only happen in a small community” or “his wife made him do it” or “he had a guilty conscience about something else and was working on his karma”.  I do not believe any of these statements.  I believe that there are many good people out there walking this earth.  They love one another, have a good soul, are honest and yearn to do the right thing.  Next time someone does not charge you correctly (in your favor), speak up.  In this case, the register keeper was not faulted for the error but in many businesses, they are required to make up the difference.  And in this economy, no one needs that burden.

Be good to one another.

xo–me

P.S.  If you want the best pizza in the world, go to Waynesboro, PA and have Frank’s.