On Vacation!

Photo credit: http://www.stacksmag.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/vacation-pic.jpg

Dear ADK Baker Readers,

After one of the longest and coldest winters in my memory, I am shaking the snow off these boots and headed to Siesta Key, Florida, with my friend Catherine, her sister Pam and her mom, and friend Lolly, and will be back in about a week. In the meantime, please browse through the almost 5-years of posts and enjoy!  The comment contest continues, so I'd love to hear what posts you like best, going all the way back. Comment here with your favorites, or on the original post you like. Each comment is an entry! Winner announced April 1st, no foolin'!

The prize for this contest is….. ONE DOZEN OF MY LEMON FILLED BUTTERMILK SCONES, SO TENDER AND BUTTERY, AND FILLED WITH A SWIRL OF LEMON CURD!

"See" you soon, with lots of pictures and stories about the great food we'll have eaten!

Love,

Jeannie
aka, The Adirondack Baker

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!

A Prize Awarded...

The third of our monthly prizes was awarded yesterday to my sister-in-law Lynn Eddy.  She won for having her name chosen from all those who posted on the blog in the month of June.  Lynn had posted a number of times, thus increasing her chances and it paid off!  On July 1st, my daughter Katie (Lynn's neice!) drew the winner from a  Gladware container, and it was all legit.  When I told Lynn that she was the winner, she decided to wait until a special occasion to redeem her prize.  Well, that occasion is upon us, and this little 8" round cake traveled with Lynn and her husband Rod to Ohio where it was shared tonight in  honor of:  1) their first visit with their newest grandson Breccan (baby brother to Carraig), and 2) the wedding anniversary of their son Rod and his wife Emily, the proud parents of these two little boys.

The anniversary couple...

Baby Breccan

Here's a photo collage of Lynn's prize as it came together -- a chocolate on chocolate cake using the Hershey cocoa recipe on the back of the cocoa tin (my standard):

So, welcome little Breccan, and Happy Anniversary Rod and Em!  Safe travels home. Lynn and Rod!  Hope you have a wonderful time celebrating, and brush those crumbs off your face!