Archive for November, 2008

Friday, November 21st, 2008

I just got done ordering a new laptop for my coworker.  Her old faithful lappie died on her this last night when she brought it home to get some work done.  Once she got it started, the laptop konked out in a blink of an eye.  She came in today, IT folks tried to save it, but it was fruitless.  Me being the admin for the department has to order her a new lappie since her lappie was already 5 years old.   The IT folks said it is easier to get a new laptop rather than adding new laptop memory.  This is because her laptop is already old per se, IT folks rather have employees get a new one if their department has the budget for it.  Sigh, wish I can have a laptop myself, then I can work from home some day.

Friday, November 21st, 2008

On my way home, I heard on the news that President Bush extended unemployment for another 7 weeks.  When I got home, DB asked me did I hear about the extension on unemployment the Prez extended.  I said yes for 7 weeks.  He said it is for 13 weeks.  I looked up this piece of new on the internet and can’t find any.  Oh well, whatever the extension is it will be a big help for us right now.  If not DB will have to look for jobs just like a coworker of mine out east looking for jobs in Manhattan.

The burnt Amish Friendship Bread

Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

I got this recipe from SD.  It is very easy and sure is interesting.  She gave me the starter on Nov 9th and after 10 days of “brewing” the “starter”, I baked it today.  Below is a picture of the 3 separate starters from the starter  SD gave me, of course, after adding more flour, sugar and milk (see below recipe).  It does smells “heaven” when you open the bag up on day 2 to stir it and as the days are up to stir and add more flour, milk and sugar, the entire starter sure smells like beer!
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The final product, burnt.  I’m disappointed.  DB and I blamed the oven.  The stupid oven made me so mad.  Actually, the entire evening making this bread was a disaster.

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First, I took the starter packet out coz today is Day 10, all ready to get it into the oven, and it was about to explode.  Seriously, if I didn’t open up the  Ziploc bag it will bust the bag, probably.  All the brewing of the sugar, flour and milk concoction turned into some science experiment, I thought!

Anyways, I added what the recipe asked for Day 10.  I separated the 3 cups and put a cup each into three separate bags.   Took the milk out and it was expired.  I went to the gas station to get a jug of milk.  Came home, all happy and started adding the milk in, took a look at the recipe, darn it, no eggs!!!!  Yeah we do, but just two eggs in the tray.  DB said he will go to the gas station but before he left, we look at the recipe again.  It calls for a box of 5.1 oz box of instant vanilla pudding.  He went and I continued to get ready the rest of what the recipe calls for.   Everything is done and waiting for the eggs.  I waited for DB and waited.  It sure seems like 30 minutes before he got home.  When he got home, I went to greet him and i saw him holding a jug of milk and a bag from Cubs.  He went to Cub Foods to get the instant vanilla pudding coz the gas station does not have the vanilla pudding crap.  But then, I want eggs, not another jug of milk!!!!  So he went out again to get eggs and I finally got my eggs when he got home and mixed every thing up, put them in the oven and after an hour , the two loaves of Amish Friendship bread were burnt.

It taste good.  I cut down a bit of the sugar and it’s still good.  The next one I’m going to try is the one with bananas.   If you are interested, try it.  It’s good even though it’s burnt.

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Amish Friendship Bread

The Original Recipe

Important Note: Don’t use metal spoons or equipment. Do not refrigerate. Use only glazed ceramic or plastic bowls or containers.

Required Main Ingredient

day 1:

Do nothing with the starter.

days 2-5:

Stir with a wooden spoon, or squeeze bag several times.

day 6:

Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar, and 1 cup milk. Stir with a wooden spoon, or squeeze bag several times to mix well.

days 7-9:

Stir with a wooden spoon, or squeeze bag several times.

Day 10:

Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup sugar and 1 cup milk. Stir. Take out 3 cups and place 1 cup each into three separate plastic containers. Give one cup and a copy of this recipe to three friends. To the balance (a little over one cup) of the batter, add the following ingredients and mix well.

1 cup oil
1/2 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

In a separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients and mix well:

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 – (5.1 oz) box instant vanilla pudding
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup nuts

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix and pour into two well greased and sugared bread pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Cherii Martin’s Banana Amish Friendship Bread

Omit cinnamon and vanilla pudding in the basic recipe and add two bananas (mashed)

Cherii Martin’s Chocolate Amish Friendship Bread

Omit cinnamon and vanilla pudding from the basic recipe and add 1 – (5.1 oz) box of instant chocolate pudding, 3 tsp. cocoa and 3/4 cup chocolate chips. Bake for 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 hours.

Cherii Martin’s Apple Cinnamon Friendship Bread

add one cup of raisins and one small diced apple.

http://www.armchair.com/recipe/bake002.html

A free gift? Really??

Monday, November 17th, 2008

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Received this in the Saturday mail.  Free gift but is it for real?  It says no strings attached and it is worth $25 retail value.  Probably will have to pay the sales tax.  Well, I might have to go check it out the following week (burning some vacation hours).  If I don’t like it, it can always go to the care package. :D

Sunday, November 16th, 2008

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Sure looks like tomatoes, aren’t they?  :) Nope, they are sweet old persimmons.  They are so sweet and not too soft.  Just right.

I had Leong get me a case of persimmons from the Asian store or warehouse, I’m not sure where he bought it.  But he got me this case yesterday and it only cost $12.99 which he only charged me $12.  It sure beats the price of paying per fruit at Cub Foods.  At Cub, if I remember, it is 68 or 88 cents each.  It could be more.  I should have him get some of my Asian groceries soon.  He do get some really good prices when it comes to Asian groceries, well, from the warehouse, it’s definitely cheaper.

He even asked me if I want him to get some durians, if in season and durians from Thailand.  Hahaha, I don’t know about that.  DBs will go berserk if I bring that stinky king of the fruit home.  I said I might have to eat it at their house.