Procastination meets Neglect

by Mondo on January 31, 2012

Post image for Procastination meets Neglect

Can’t believe it’s been a full year since I’ve updated my blog; and I’m gonna be honest with ya, I haven’t got one good reason why.

Was it laziness? Most certainly.

I’ll-get-to-it-next-week-ness? Absolutely!

Power-viewing Seasons 2 and 3 of Damages? You better believe it!

In lieu of an apology, I give you these No Fail Corn Muffins.

Corn bread, or any version thereof, is easily one of my Top 10 Favorite Foods. Every year come Christmastime,  I break out my favorite cast iron skillet and make cornbread for the fam. This year it went amazingly well with my my mom’s slap-you-in-the-face-it’s-so-good ribs.

On most other occasions I make just enough for me and my bestie, which calls for my favorite product from Calphalon-the Texas Muffin Pan!

I would be lost without it. Among many other things it makes 6 perfect jumbo-sized corn muffins. I like mine with butter or a smear of raspberry preserves.

How about you?

No Fail Corn Muffins

adapted from food.com

  • 1 cup cornmeal
  • 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 1/4 cups flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 cup canola oil

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400*F.
  2. Oil and flour muffin pan.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the buttermilk and cornmeal; set aside.
  4. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar.
  5. In another bowl, whisk together the egg and oil; add the cornmeal mixture and mix well.
  6. Add to the flour mixture just until combined; do not overmix.
  7. Divide batter evenly into muffin pan; bake 20 minutes.
  8. Serve warm.

 

 

{ 1 comment }

11 things I don’t need in 2011

by Mondo on January 19, 2011

stupid pile of useless paper

while perusing one of my favorite blogs late last year, I found a great post by Yvonne over at Cream Puffs in Venice; and I agree with her. There are way too many things in my life that I just don’t need.  unfortunately, this list only calls for 11.  I’m sure I could think of more, but this is a great place to start.

11. jeans my go-to daily wear.  I love them, but I need to branch out.  although, lately…I’ve been wearing sweats like they are going outta style.  um, I think I’ve digressed.  help!

10. paper it seems to be the one thing I collect obsessively: magazines, grocery store circulars, movie tickets.  sometimes it is really hard for me to throw things away.  damn my sentimental nature!

9. t-shirts usually, I reach for Old Navy when I need a top.  sad, but true.  I think I make dressing like a grownup harder than it actually is.

8. tv my favorite enabler.  hours go by unnoticed.  I’m not sure what happened to me; I used to be an avid reader.  this one hurts more than most.

7. piles I stock things on tables, desks, counters, you name it.  I see a flat surface, I put something on it.  It’s a really bad habit that needs to be broken, but I’m not sure how.

6. store bought vanilla extract it’s ridiculously expensive at the store and ridiculously easy to make, as well.  vanilla beans + vodka + 2months = enough extract for one year. why haven’t I done this before?

5. white socks my brother and I always receive socks for Christmas.  it’s tradition and I’ve always loved that about our family. as a result I have a gazillion pairs of white athletic socks. I’m not complaining, mind you, I just need a little variety.  therefor, this year I intend to fill my drawers with crazy pairs of multi-colored tubes.  join me!

4. procrastination I’m failing already(look at the lateness of this post!)

3. excuses I can come up with a million reasons why something won’t work or why I shouldn’t do it.  usually,  I call them reasons, but 9 times out of 10 they are simply excuses.  enough!

2. waste I buy food then go out to eat.  buy more food then I don’t feel like cooking.  you get the picture.  it needs to stop.

1. bosses I know I have the skill and talent to run my business successfully, but hesitate to make that final leap.  I need to push fear aside and believe in myself.  thank you and good night.

{ 5 comments }

The Pumpkin Butter Situation

by Mondo on October 22, 2010

Three Little Pumpkins

Pumpkin butter is tricky.

It’s like a newborn…don’t take your eye off it or the results could be perilous.

Trust.

I’ve learned the hard way, my friends.

[click to continue…]

{ 0 comments }

Congratulations on not Dying this Year!

by Mondo on October 10, 2010

Post image for Congratulations on not Dying this Year!

The D-man wrote that to me in a birthday card long ago.

It made me laugh and I thought it fitting to return the gesture.

In addition to my happy wishes, I baked him a classic yellow cake.

It’s the the first birthday cake I’ve baked from scratch; and I’m quite proud.  I got to use my cute-as-a-button 6 inch cake pans too…hooray!

Of course, I made him take a bunch of photos before I let him eat it.

Hey…don’t question my priorities.  I know what’s important!

All in all it was worth it, ’cause I got to see this happy face.

Happy Birthday, buddy!  Even on the fly, you  still take great pictures. :D

{ 1 comment }

For My Vegan Friends

by Mondo on July 27, 2010

Meet my neighbor, Emily.

She loves animals.

She’s a vegetarian, but loves vegan foods, as well.

She’s crazy, but in a fun, full-of-life and laughter kinda way.

You know me.

I bake cookies…

…and I love butter.

Butter is the foundation of almost everything I create. If someone told me I couldn’t eat it anymore? Well, let’s just say the words ‘death and destruction’ come to mind, but that’s just me. Obviously, not everyone feels this way.

[click to continue…]

{ 4 comments }

I’m not crying, ok?

by Mondo on April 20, 2010

Wanna hear the truth?

I’m a sensitive person.  Please, no negative comments about my singing, baking or weight.  Outside of that, I’m pretty easy-going.  Or, at least I think so…in my head.

Recently, I’ve been working on some new cookies.  The first one came out really well.  It’s called the Hawaiian.  It’s an amazing combination of pineapple, coconut, macadamia nuts and white chocolate.  I love it!  Everyone who has tasted it, loves it.  Proud, that’s what I am…proud to have created it.

The second one didn’t fare so well; I won’t bother with its name.  All of the people who tried it, including myself, had mediocre reactions, at best.  I knew it wasn’t finished, yet I sent it to a friend anyway.  Why did I do that?  Am I some sort of masochist or something?  But that’s not what’s truly bothering me.

[click to continue…]

{ 5 comments }

Camera Shy?

by Mondo on April 8, 2010

Shy isn’t a word anyone has ever used to describe me.  Loud, emotional, funny, gregarious…those are the adjectives that usually come to mind; but when I’m about to have my picture taken?

Camera-shy.

That’s crazy-talk when your best friend is a photographer, but there it is.  Every time the shutter clicks I cringe and pray it turns out remotely appealing.  Inevitably, it looks like a big smile surrounded by darkness.  I know you don’t believe me, but it’s totally true.

“I thought Mondo was in this picture.”

“She is.  That’s no  shadow…that’s her face.”

Ugh. [click to continue…]

{ 4 comments }

cookies and yarn

by Mondo on March 2, 2010

Bare with me folks.  I need to get  something off my chest.  Are you sitting down? Ok, here goes….I’m a knitter.  There…I wrote it.  The world knows my shame. Wait, wait, wait!  I’m still cool, though.  I just like to sit quietly, tea by my side, needles in hand and make frilly scarves.  What?

Alright, all kidding aside…my girl Patty had a knitting party last weekend and it was a blast!  Six ladies gathered,  some underneath blankets they made, drank tea from real china, gnoshed sweet treats and discussed lady-things.  You know what I’m talking about. [click to continue…]

{ 2 comments }

It’s a Sad, Sad Day

by Mondo on December 30, 2009

It’s a sad, sad day, folks.  Wait…where is that box of tissues?  Found it…now, I’m ready.

Last night I realized one of my cookies isn’t stellar.  I didn’t think it was possible, but I was so wrong.

The invitation read: Party!  Fun, Food and Drink!  Well, there’s just one thing missing from that scenario-Mondo’s Morsels!  I started cracking eggs.  When I was finished I’d baked 7 different types of cookies, including the Coffee Toffee.  It’s an unpopular cookie, but I thought it was due to the fact that not that many people had tried it.  Wrong again.

I got to the party and like that-the cookies started disappearing!  I expected nothing less.  Like I said before, “It’s what I do.”

Um…but here’s the disturbing twist.  At the end of the night, there was a bunch of them still on the dessert table.  What?  You’ve got to be kidding me?  Nope, there was nothing left, except for the Coffee Toffee and my tears.

Farewell, old friend.  Apparently, you won’t be missed.

{ 0 comments }

Here We Go Again

by Mondo on November 18, 2009

Bridal Business Card

Last weekend I found myself surrounded by pinks, purples and sparkly tissue paper.  No, I don’t have a daughter obsessed with the latest Disney movie, but I do have a friend who’s the Maid of Honor.

Yep, that’s right folks, here we go again with the Super Cute debacle.  Except this time it’s not a baby shower, it’s a bridal shower.   Lord, give me strength.

[click to continue…]

{ 1 comment }