Sunday, November 3, 2013

Daylight Savings Time, New York City, and October Baking Recap!

Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins
Hi there friends. Happy "Daylight Savings Time" here in the northeast! I woke up early to deliver muffins and scones to my favorite hotel, after arriving home late last night from a bus trip to New York City with my friend Catherine Golden and her Skidmore College Honors Forum group. We had a GREAT day in the city, arriving just before noon near the New York Public Library and Bryant Park. The city was very busy yesterday, with so many people there for the New York City Marathon today. Sidewalks were crowded and the city seemed to be buzzing with energy. It was a perfect day for walking around New York, temps in the mid 60s, and I was prepared with a light-weight jacket and my most comfortable shoes (lesson learned from previous trips!).

From the library, we walked to Madison Avenue to the Pierpont Morgan Museum where we took in the Edgar Allen Poe exhibition, which was incredible. From there, we walked to the Bernard Jacobs Theater on Broadway and saw the Irish musical "Once." I loved it. Now I plan to see the movie but I can't imagine loving it more than the Broadway production. To think of the energy that these actors/performers put into this show over and over again - it's so impressive. No wonder "Once" has been the recipient of eight Tony awards! Amazing. Of course, the "Irish" of it all wasn't lost on me!

We left the theater and walked one block to John's Pizzeria (est. 1929!) where almost 20 of us sat down  to share pizzas and salads in a large but cozy dining room with great architectural detail and low lights. The pizzeria handled our group beautifully and soon it was time to walk back to Bryant Park to wait for our bus. We left the city just after 7 pm and had a quiet ride home, pulling in to the Skidmore campus shortly after 11 pm. When I got home, I struggled with the decision to either go to bed and get up early to bake, or bake then and sleep a little later in the morning. I decided to go ahead and bake last night because I knew I had that extra precious hour to sleep this morning. Blueberry coffee cake muffins and strawberry jam-filled scones were out of my oven in about an hour, and I went to bed with the sound of the dishwasher humming in the background.

I don't have a recipe for you today. But, I do have a photo recap of recent baking that happened in my kitchen.

And before I go...

Happy November, everyone, and especially to my brother Michael O'Farrell whose birthday is TODAY! Love you, Michael, and can't wait to celebrate your birthday at our family dinner (with the siblings) very soon! xox

Enjoy this photo journal of my October baking (with a little Henry and Peter thrown in!)...

Pumpkin  Muffins
with Sunflower Seed Topping


1st Anniversary Cake for Tricia and Jeff
Pumpkin & Chocolate Layers with Cinnamon Buttercream


Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream 


Pete's Birthday Cake - "James"
Petey is 3!


My super  Super Heroes!
Pete is Batman, Henry is the Power Ranger!


For my boys' Halloween Party!
A 3-tiered spider cake (xoxox!)

Finally, THE COMMENT CONTEST IS BACK! Leave a comment on any post and you'll be in the running for some seriously great holiday prizes (edible, of course!).  Once my facebook page reaches 700 "likes" the first drawing will happen.  Here's the link - please LIKE!!!  (and share!)


Good luck!

23 comments:

  1. So glad you had mild weather and a wonderful day in NYC yesterday! Where you find the energy to bake at midnight is beyond me! Love the spider cake! Happy holiday season! Hope to see you before the new year! Lynn E.

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    1. Hi Lynn! I do my best baking late at night! And I'll be sure to see you over the next two months! We just need to make a date (or three!).

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  2. Thank you for joining me on the trip! I love our outings to the City and Boston.

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  3. Welcome back! I've been missing the blog!
    I'm dying for the recipe for the pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon buttercream!

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    1. Thanks Teresa! I've been SO busy at my real job (very busy with events this fall) and I had to force myself to sit down and give some time to the blog! :)

      I will post the recipe for the cupcakes next! Thanks so much for your comment and suggestion!

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  4. How ironic! I saw your Apple Cider Doughnut Cake and decided to make it for Christmas gifts to send to my brother and his family. It would be wonderful to taste this on Thanksgiving as a preview!

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    1. Thanks for your comment, Cindy! Now you're in the running and just might win your own Apple Cider Doughnut Cake for Thanksgiving! :)

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  5. Isn't John's Pizzeria a fun place? Unfortunately when I go there now I can only have a salad but I still enjoy visiting.

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    1. I loved it! One in our party had GF pasta and it looked delicious!

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    2. They didn't have GF pasta last time I was there. Good to know!

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  6. Made this .........yours was better than mine Jeanne. Not sure what I did but it was a little dry,not moist like yours CKJ

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  7. Might be time in the oven, CKJ. Every oven is different. I bake until it just bounces back when pressed with a finger in the middle, no longer.

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  8. Everything you bake looks yummy!!!

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  9. Cider donut cake?! I'm in! Lovely post, as always, Jeannie.

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  10. Sounds good and looks even better. Would love to win, but not sure if it would hold up in transit to Florida!

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  11. I am so glad you had a great time in New York City with me. All your baking is just the best!

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  12. The story of my life...trying to get in under the gun! I feel that today is a perfect day to comment, however, with it being your Mother's Birthday, as I can only imagine the cake she is enjoying On High, thanks to her special daughter's inspiration! I can imagine how much she'd love your Apple Cider Doughnut Cake, and can hear her proudly boasting to the other Angels that her daughter had made it! And can I assume that you were named after her sister Jeanne? Having just learned that new tidbit of info, I will pretend that you & Ginny & Virginia & Jeanne were on the train together for a fabulous, jam packed day of fun just like the one I just read about! Since I'm 18 minutes past your already extended deadline, I shall close with a Happy Birthday, Virginia! & YES...I do believe!

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  14. Dear Lord Jeannie...at 1st it wouldn't post as new cell was acting funny with robot verification, and now I see it posted twice, and I can't delete the 2nd one! Sorry!

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  15. Wow...but now it is magically gone...lol...quite the adventure!

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  16. Love the look of the mac and cheese w/ butternut squash! Your Thanksgiving celebration pics were lovely. So glad you all had a great dinner! Now on to your cookies for Christmas! Lynnie

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  17. FYI, to put in your baking notebook - I will need the cookie tray for Christmas Eve day in the afternoon for a family gathering. We can set up a time on the 23rd if that is ok with you. Thanks so much again. Lynn E.

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