HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Ok, so I still need to work on the procrastination thing! Obviously! I meant to get this out before the beginning of the new year........ but I didn't! C'mon....... you should know me by now!! New Year, New attitude and I'm going to try really hard and work on that ... um...... what was it again? ....... oh, yeah, PROCRASTINATION! So, here's what should have gone out a few days ago......OK! about a week ago!. I'm saying it now......... I'm going to put out at least 1 blog a month (if not more)! No resolutions..... they don't work for me.... Does this count as my first blog???

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So there are just a few short days before the end of the year and I couldn't possibly tell you all that I have learned about myself & about baking, since starting my blog in January. But you know I'm going to try!

The first and biggest thing I've learned is how much I enjoy writing! Whether anyone reads it or not, I enjoy putting my (sometimes, nutty) thoughts down in words. I have enjoyed the many comments and posts to bexbayx, Facebook, texts & personally. Thank you so very much for your support and genuine interest in what I have to say & bake! You have touched my Heart and boosted my spirits, just by your kind words and I will always remember them when I need them again and again.

I have to tell you ........ my whole point of starting this was to find my Passion for Baking once again! Have I? You Betcha!! ... and then some. I've not only found what makes me happy when my hands are elbows deep in flour & sugar, but I've also discovered that others cannot control how I feel & what is inside of Me! I Love creating sweets, whether I eat them, make them for others, give them away or throw them away ..... I do it for ME!! I will admit that I have played it safe in creating things that I know I do well. I've stuck to what I know, even though I want to branch out and try somethings I've never tried before. Will I? Of course, I will! A new year is blossoming and I still have to try out my newfound INSPIRATION on  the unknown! Yes! Did you forget about the Best Book In the World?? It continues to INSPIRE me and, believe me, you will hear more about it and others in the new year to come.

This year has been stop and go in the baking department.... and even though there were a few months where I wrote nothing, that does not mean I wasn't baking. Unfortunately, a lot of things got left out. Good ones, too! So, if you were the STAR of those blogs... I'm sorry! I will feature you next year..... I Promise!! I'm posting pics with short recaps of what should have been blogs.

Thank you, ALL, once again for your kind words, encouragement and support in my journey to finding....... umm.... what did I find ........ oh, yeah! I found my LOVE FOR BAKING once again and in a whole new light. Not to mention all that I learned about myself along the way. It's been very enlightening and Super Fun! Looking forward to more changes in the future!

I want to wish you all a HAPPY NEW YEAR and please, follow your dreams... even if you never find them..... we all need something to look forward to and the journey brings so many wonderful surprises along the way!



My niece, Crystal, tackles her first BIG cake!

Isn't it Fantastic?? I was so Proud of her! ... I helped just a
little with the doggie on top.

Was this just this year?? My how time flies!
Jayden introduced his little brudder, Silas, to everyone!

I thought these two faces looked just like Jayden & Silas!
......... they still do!!

I'm so Jealous!! Crystal has a better hand than I do!
Of course, I'm kidding...... She does Amazing work!

Crystal was so proud of her cake and I was/am proud of her.

This is my nephew Robert's Luau cake. Wait....... I don't think
that was this year! How did that get in there? oh, well, next to
is Gina's Lemon cake & Dom's Triple Chocolate Mocha cake.
That was a BIG party!

The Best little INSPIRATION book!
Love, Love, Love this book!

Even the front page is ADORABLE!! And the scalloped edges??
OMGOSH!! So Cute!! My fingers have papercuts from
running them along the scallops........

In case you were wondering what my kitchen looks like........
aw, just teasin' ya! ....... don't I wish! How could you not be
Happy all the time with a kitchen like this??? It's the back cover
of the Best INSPIRATION book in the world.

.......and I thought I was being clever by using a meat cleaver
to pound peanut butter cookies! Just goes to show..............
Great minds think alike!

My Great nephew, Silas's, 1st birthday! Look at his little hands,
all balled up and ready to squeeze that cupcake!

Please don't tell my niece, Kylee, that I put this in here! But,
it's not often that I can get her in the kitchen..... 18 year olds
are so finicky! and just look at how dirty Sweetie is..........
How embarassing!

Silas bit a perfect little bite out of that mini mini. So cute!
Then he stuffed the whole thing in his mouth! Don't you just
want to kiss him all up?? smooches!

I am so ashamed of this picture! It's the lowest i've ever had my jars!
.......and you know it killed me!
These hold about 6 lbs each and there's not even 1 lb in them!

Do you remember my story about recipes written on
papers all over the place? See the wrinkles, and the
oil spots and the scribbly writing?
Yep, this one is always at the ready.... mix it all
by hand........gently.

I don't know why I put this in here.... except that I Love
Meringue cookies!

I didn't bake very much for Christmas this year! Ha Ha..... you
think I'm kidding, don't you?! I always get carried away and i
only baked 9 types of cookies this year........... can you imagine??

Have you ever heard of Ben 10? Me neither. Basically he's
made of Methane..... I imagine he smells like a big fart!
Not the CAKE! The CHARACTER!! .... what's wrong
with you??

For the last time in 2011.......................

 Happy Baking & .................. don't forget your Apron!! ; )

Fall or Autumn??

Aaahhhh, Fall!! When a young girl's fancy turns to Love! ... No, wait! ... that's a young man's fancy at Spring, isn't it? What's the saying for Fall?? Aww... forget it! The point is ... It's Fall ... and I can feel the change in the air! Is it Love? Is it just a Fancy?? LoL! Nah, it's LOVE! I LOVE the Fall! I can't describe it with justice, but I'll try! 

There's nothing like the changing of
the leaves. Even in Sunny California.

When I think of Fall, I think of a new beginning. Most think of New Year's Day as a new beginning. Nope. Ever since I was a kid, perhaps it started in Kindergarten, I have loved the feeling of the changing weather, the leaves gently falling from the trees from our Oak Tree lined streets. The way the leaves crunched and stuck under my black & white saddle shoes (still talking about Kindergarten here.)  as I walked home from school, dancing and skipping while I told my big brother about my day on our walk home. We'd make a game of stepping on the most sticky leaves to pile up on my soles and when  we reached home, he'd lift me up under my arms and I'd stick my feet straight out while his friends removed my shoes and handed them to me. I'd run in the house holding my shoes like a prize to show whomever was there to gush over my trophy. LoL! The things you remember!  Every year since then I couldn't (and still) can't wait for the new fall clothes and shoes to come out. A new chance to reinvent myself, my look. I still get excited at the sight of school supplies lined up in bulk boxes in stores... a new box of crayons, bright colored markers, colorful pencils and OMGOSH! don't get me started on all the different types of papers ... I'm talking loose leaf AND binder variety, here! All of these images floating around in my head are tied up in a pretty little package called..... Fall! And even though those beautiful, changing trees are few and far between in crowded suburban California, those shoes are no longer in my size and my brother definitely cannot lift me up under my arms..... the feelings are buried deep within my Heart, still.

I fell in LOVE with this pic!
It so reminded me of the old
days! Wanna jump in?
Thanks, Jeanine!

What does this have to do with baking? Hmmm.... you seem to ask that alot. My Dad was a big fan of having breakfast for dinner, tomato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, bean & cheese burritos, biscuits and gravy, meat & gravy over mashed potatoes & bread (which, in the Navy, he called sh** on a shingle) lol... I had no idea why he laughed every time I asked him If we were having that for dinner? Who knew I had such a Sailor's Mouth at such a young age! LoL! The point is .... I grew up with Comfort Food. Although, I still get excited when I see the school supplies at the beginning of Fall ... I also get as equally excited at seeing the baking displays when I walk into a grocery store! The flours, sugars, canned milks, nuts, vanilla & all the little bits & pieces that you can throw in to create so many different combinations ... just from a few common ingredients! The feelings overwhelm me and as the goosebumps & warm fuzzies spread through me, I'm transported back to that little girl that had such a Lucky & Happy childhood!

Comfort food is one thing. Comfort desserts are another. Comfort Desserts have the ability to, (**sorry Robert, I HAVE to quote you to get my point across) as my nephew would say, ".... roll around on your tongue and make love to your taste buds." He has quite the way with words, he does. LoL! Comfort desserts make you close your eyes and savor every flavor you are experiencing. There is total silence at first as you feel the texture, the essences that float through your olfactories to gently kiss your brain. Before you know what's happening, a low, rumbling 'mmmmm' escapes you and your eyes slowly open .... a little embarrassed and flushed faced .... as a satisfied smile spreads across your face. Shyly, you push that small crumb back onto your tongue, not wanting to waste it on your napkin. You sighhhh, and go back in for more.

A bit much, maybe, but you have all had that experience at one time or another. If you haven't.... I'm sorry! Maybe you haven't had the right dessert! Cheesecake has this effect on me EVERY time. but ONLY homemade Cheesecake. It's so versatile .... you can mix in any flavors, textures, cover it with any sauce, sprinkle it with nuts, glop on whipped cream, dip it in chocolate, or just eat it plain. After that, You'll never look at Cheesecake the same way again! .... and if you don't, then I've done my Job! ha!

In a Peanut Butter & Banana mood ..... that is the theme of my cheesecake! Oh, Come On!! Dont tell me you've never had a Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich?? ..... Good Grief! .... What kind of an ELVIS fan are you???  Well, then, you can be a little more sophisticated by having the flavors in a Cheesecake. I'll figure out how to get you to try it in a sandwich another time........

BexPeanutButterBananaCheesecake

Baking with a waterbath helps the cake stay
nice & flat. Be careful and don't bump it!
It just might fall!

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup white sugar

1/2 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup chopped Pecans

3/ 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese, softened

1 cup Peanut butter

1 1/4 cups white sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

5 eggs

Ok! I got carried away with the decorating!
It's CHEESECAKE, for Gosh Sakes!

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

2 bananas, mashed

Candied Pecans or regular Pecans

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly coat the bottom of a 10 inch cake pan with spray and cut out a parchment the size of the circle. Place parchment on oil spray.  Water bath: Fill a pan with water 1/2 way and put in the bottom of the oven. It will keep moisture in the cheesecake. To make the crust: Combine 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/2 cup butter or margarine. Mix with fork until crumbly. Sprinkle on bottom of pan. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, Peanut Butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar. Cream on med. low. Add 3 tablespoons flour. Mix. One at a time, beat in 5 eggs and mix thoroughly. Add cream and mix only enough to blend. Gently stir in mashed bananas and Pecans. Pour filling over crust and bake for 10 minutes at 475 degrees F. Reduce temperature to 300 degrees F  and continue to bake for one hour. Turn oven off, but leave cake in for another hour. Don't worry if it looks a little jiggly in the center. Chill overnight. This is imperative! If desired, top with your favorite fruit or serve plain. Remember, the longer a cheesecake sits.... the better it tastes. enjoy.