About Me

My photo
I am a retired English teacher and department head, the mother of three grand mother of four, and have been married to the same man for 52 years. I subscribe to Dr. PM Forni's concept of Civility. I was born in South Philadelphia and grew up in the 'burbs. I love soft pretzels and cheesesteaks, the Phillies, the Eagles, and San Diego. I love being Mom, Aunt Kathy, Nona Kathy, and Teacher. I spend a lot of time in my gardens in the spring and summer, and in the winter I plan what I'm going to plant. I also am an avid reader and photographer.

Translator!

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Christmas Eve Eve

Feeling a little glum today and not quite sure why. This is unusual for me and I'm trying just to work through or around my 'glumness'. I went to the gym this morning -- really didn't feel like it. All the way over I kept saying to myself, "If there are no parking spaces, I'm turning around and coming right home!" Wouldn't you know I got a space right in front. Figures. So I completed my workout and returned home. It was destiny.

I made a chocolate cake our youngest will take to her in-laws tomorrow. It's filled with cream cheese, chocolate bits, and coconut. (And comes with a side of insulin.) The batter is made with cocoa and a cup of espresso. I thought the glaze would be easy, but it turned into a real pain in the ass, and I'm actually sitting here wearing some of it. What a mess! I melted semisweet chocolate and poured it over -- this wasn't a problem. The white chocolate seized, so I threw that out and started all over again. I think I used the wrong kind of white chocolate as the second attempt didn't cool correctly. It doesn't look real pretty but hopefully the cake will be tasty, dense, and moist.

I also made a batch of pizzelles. (This is the second batch. When I went into the tin to grab some to wrap up, there were three left!) I like them with a lot of anise seeds and extract. I used to make these with my Mom Mom when I was a little girl. She used a REAL pizzelle iron (see photo below) over the gas flame of our range, no electric pizzelle iron for her! Well, actually, they didn't make them, yet. I miss her -- all 4' 10" of her. She lived to 93; used to walk about five miles a day until she reached about 87. She was a dynamo in the kitchen. My pizzelles are good, but hers were great.


Here is the cake with the infamous "glaze" -- see the white chocolate pooled at the bottom?


The second batch of pizzelles.


This is Mom Mom's pizzelle iron. It hangs in my kitchen.

Post Script: I'm feeling better. After dinner I went downstairs and did a half hour on the treadmill. An endorphin rush is good for the soul.

9 comments:

Jay said...

I don't know what pizzelles are but they look kind of yummy. And that cake looks fabulous!

Lena said...

I have my grandmother's electric pizzelle machine. I never saw a real pizzelle iron! I am bringing a bunch for Christmas Eve. I have one aunt who will be so thrilled to have them, so I will give her some of her own.

Hope you feel in a better mood soon.

KathyA said...

Thanks, I'm much better. Got on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
The old iron is HEAVY, but my grandmother could work that thing! I'm sure your aunt will love the pizzelles.

Gin said...

Your cake and cookies look wonderful!

I wish I had felt like exercising today. I was going to go swim but it snowed most of the morning and the roads sucked! I didn't even get on my treadmill because my knee is aching...I think the weather is effecting it.

Bad me.

Gin said...

Just stopped back to wish you a very Merry Christmas, Kathy!

I hope you feel better!

Neponset River Bridge Dig said...

That cake sure DO look good. Kathy. And I love Pizzelle's.

Cheers!!

Anonymous said...

I never heard of pizzelles before, they look good though. Your Mom Mom sounds like one tough lady.

I'm glad you are feeling better. I'm still grumbling about our never-ending snow, but at least it will be a White Christmas!

cri said...

Merry Christmas Kathy!!!!!!!!

TAG said...

Merry Christmas. Add my name to the list of those who never heard of a pizzelle. They do look tasty though.

TAG