Bummer times, man

This week, my work issued layoff notices to 14 people. I still have a job but I feel so bad for those who were affected that I don't really feel relieved.

I really hope the CA big wigs get their acts together soon so the cities don't become worse off. A $42 billion shortfall is beyond ridiculous, CA!!And by the way, I can't wait to get my IOU for my state tax refund. I bet if I owed CA a few hundred bucks, I would get into deep doodoo for sending Arnold an IOU. He'd probably terminate my a$$ or something.

Ugh. I'm cranky.

Still here!

I haven't forgotten you all. No excuses, just no time. I will be back by the end of this week with some twd catch ups and some updates.

Happy humpday!
-Rachel

Shaky

I think I just felt my first earthquake!

UPDATE: Yep! It was a 5.0 near San Bernardino. I hope no one was hurt but I am glad I finally felt one.

TWD: French Pear Tart - AKA the day my taste buds danced

I hope you are wearing your Tuesday best, dear reader. We have company today. ::whispering:: You know, the fancy kind. ::clearing throat:: Now, go wash your face and put on a skirt. Dorie's in town!

Yes, Ms. Bakey McBakerson herself chose this week's recipe and leave it her to pick a gosh darn winner and one that is perfect to serve to company. You can find the full recipe on her site or in her amazing book, Baking From My Home to Yours.

This week, TWD celebrates one year of baked fresh weekly goodies. I joined on Feb 19 and have been getting my bake on ever since!

::TWD high five, ya'll::

This week's recipe, French Pear Tart, seemed pretty overwhelming at first glance: a crumby crust filled with fresh almond cream topped with poached fruit and baked until golden bubbly?! Whoa.

Then I remembered that I've made the crust before as well as the cream. The only new thing was poaching the pears which if I totally bombed, I could pretend I never tried and go with canned instead. Well, no fake-outs needed here. I poached those babies and they were delicious!

Poaching pears

The recipe did take a bit of time but hey, what are holiday weekends for? Between the tarts and the amazing tacos I made, I think I spent about 8 hours in the kitchen on Sunday. Well, it was all totally worth it!

I didn't have the right size tart pan so I used mini tart pans instead. I made four and had a bit of dough left over. I should have had some cream left over but I spooned it all in and the pans overflowed onto the baking sheet a bit. Oh well! I suppose that's why Dorie suggested using it. She is such a smartie.

After I made the crusts and cream and poached the pears, I was ready to assemble. I couldn't decide what design to make with my pears so I varied it on all four tarts. Like I mentioned above, the pans bubbled over but that part just came right off and no one was the wiser.

The final result was that the tarts all looked cute and the one I ate was really tasty - not too sweet, just a bit nutty, perfectly poached (if I do say so myself) and delicious!

I will most definitely make this one again. Now, head over to the TWD site, click the links and show my fellow bakers some appreciation. (They could use a foot rub, too!)

This week's song is T A R T (L-O-V-E) by Nat King Cole

T is for the way you taste to me

A is for the almond cream I need

R is really, really extraordinary

T is totally more than any tart that you've adored

treats are all that I can give to you

tarts are more than just dessert for two

tart in tummies (yum!) can make it

burn my tart and I'll hog the blankets!

tarts were made for me and you

Ok I changed my mind

I decided I am making a new years resolution. I am going to unsubscribe to all the random email lists I have gotten myself on over the years. Once a week, I sort my inbox by sender and delete a frillion emails from bluefly, American airlines, old navy, the tyra banks show (never even seen it!!), bankrate, and about two dozen more senders that I never even open!

No more! I resolve to take a moment to unsubscribe and rid my self of junk email, once and for all!

Whew. That felt good. Now if only I could stop signing up for online contests...
-Rachel

Happy New Year!

Howdy and Happy 2009!

Whew. The last few weeks have been busy, very busy. I've started about 10 updates but haven't finished them. Ugh. So much for starting a new year with a clean slate (though I am starting with a 'do!). Oh well, I'll get to the updates when I can. In the mean time, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years.