Baby blogs

My niece Marissa suffers from an extremely rare disease called Infantlie Spasms. This disease causes her to have seizures several times a day, severe enough that her development is delayed. Her first seizure was when she was 2 months old...and developmentally this is where she is now.

Marissa's Bunny is a group of traveling stuffed bunnies, all named Fairfax, that travel the world and to spread awareness of this disease. Her parents blog about the bunnies, their journeys and Marissa at Marissasbunny.com.

They're currently on the list to be a top baby blog. The list counter resets every quarter and I'd like your help to make them number 1.

So let prove to the trolls that believe MarissaBunny does not belong on the list because she has special needs. I think it's great that they are in the top ten and she has special needs.

thanks,
eyeleen

chocolate curls

I had the urge to make chocolate curls today. So I made

milk chocolate cupcakes with chocolate curls

ozzie rolls

There's a group of restaurants in northern Virginia, that makes these wonderful Ozzie rolls. Fried balls of bread, kind of like a little doughnut, or a tiny beignet, served with whipped butter and poppy seeds. They're best served hot, and they're even better with a dab of sugar.

I've altered and combined a couple of recipes to come up with this:

almost Ozzie Rolls

In a bowl, add:

• 2 cups bread flour
• 2 tsp instant dry yeast

In a separate bowl combine the following in mixer using paddle attachment:

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 can evaporated milk

When mixed, slowly incorporate the flour/yeast mixture and beat until smooth, then add:

• 1/4 cup butter, unsalted, room temperature

On the mixer change to the hook attachment. While beating on medium speed, slowly add:

• 5 3/8 cup bread flour

add the last cup of flour 1-2 Tbsp at a time. The dough will be come smooth and elastic and will begin to knead itself on the sides of the bowl. Continue for approximately 5 minutes. Shape dough into a ball.

Spray another bowl with nonstick cooking spray or lightly coat with oil. Place dough in bowl and toss gently to coat dough ball with oil. Cover with wax paper, then a towel and place in warm dry place to rise for 2 hours.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out until 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares and fry in 350Degree oil to approximately 3 minutes, turning frequently.

Remove from oil and drain on rack or paper towels.

Serve hot, with whipped butter. They're also good with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. I like them with Nutella.

a southern breakfast

Creamy sausage gravy with petite butter biscuits.

Comfort food, yummy and fattening, just what I need. Well, not the fattening part anyway. Many years ago, my first attempt at a sausage gravy, ended in disaster. This one came out pretty good.

Recipes:

Sawmill Gravy from Alton Brown

My Changes

• Used butter to make the roux as the sausage did not yield enough fat

Biscuits from Paula Deen

My Changes

• Brushed butter on top of biscuits prior to baking.
• Baked in Cake pan, as I have no skillet.

No pictures as it was gone before I could find the camera, but I think I'll make it again.

a new post!

Many thing shave happened since the last post, and the time and energy I put in to crafting ang knitting went on hold as I tried to find my niche in a new job, to learn how to study again with a return to school and to deal with all the stresses that come with family.

It's been almost a year since I made that 911 call, because my Dad was having a heart attack. He's ok now, but anniversaries of big medical traumas freak me out. I don't know why, but they do. My niece Marissa is still having seizures, and her mom, who been on bedrest for most of her pregnancy,is expecting a new baby any day now.

Oh and then there is Mandy...

except for a little weight problem, she's just fine.