Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Re-visits and new discoveries










I don't know why---- but I love magazines, especially free magazines. I know that I can also browse some magazines online and fill my need but I rarely do that. If there are interesting magazines in the "free--take me" pile. I will gather them up and sometimes I even read them.

Awhile back--ok months ago I picked up a pile and in the pile was Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. Years ago I used to buy this, in fact I found a stash of them I still have. As I was perusing the magazine I thought gee maybe I'll go look for a new issue. I headed over to the website and what did I see?

http://www.maryengelbreit.com/2009/07/30/mary-engelbreits-home-companion-magazine/

As of the July 30, 2009 post it no longer is being published!

Sigh---------- my lack of buying or subscribing wasn't the issue. Mary says that a lack of advertising income did them in. She also named Cottage Living, Domino, O at Home, Home, and Country Home, etc. All of those I have browsed or purchased at some point. I actually snagged Domino, Country Home, Martha Stewart Living and Coastal living from the free pile. I have yet to look at them but it will come.


I love Mary's artwork. Whimsy but not over the top.


Anyway I did a search to see what else of interest has folded. According to Magazine Publishers of America http://www.magazine.org/ I've missed out on (that is something I've read or might have read) :

2000
Dell Pencil Puzzles and Word Games
Official Pencil Puzzles and Word Games
New Woman

2001
Family PC--I remember this when they first started in 1994
Mademoiselle-I used to read this and Glamour back in the day---way back
Mode-A high fashion mag for full figured women--I got rid of my issues when I decided I didn't want to be full figured (it didn't help)--LOL!

2002
Homestyle
Rosie--Oh yea this was the old McCall's. I snagged an April 1952 McCall's from a free pile
Yahoo! Internet Life

2003
Biography
Heart & Soul

2004
Consumer's Research
YM(Young Miss formally known as Calling all girls)---Wayyyy back in the day did I get this. Ok not so far back that it was still called Calling all girls

2005
Disney Magazine
Organic Style

2006
Budget Living
Shop Etc.---I've been getting rid of these and they haven't made the trash yet
Weekend---I think I still have a couple of issues of this too

2007
Blueprint
House & Garden (wow it started in 1885)
Life

2008
Cottage Living
Home
O at Home
PC Magazine (Moving to Web Only)
Quick & Simple
2009
Country Home
Domino
Hallmark
Southern Accents
Teen
Vibe

Just a few of the many no longer being published or have moved to online versions
Need a magazine fix? Peruse these sites.


Full view
Google Books
Archive.org
Zinio
H.E.A.R.T.H.

Covers
Nypl Digital Gallery
MagazineArt.org

There's bound to be more out there.









Thursday, September 10, 2009

More muffin mania

Yea I know--what's with the muffins. I like them! Today I made mini muffins. They were bite size and I thought I would eat less but I probably had more than if I had made 6 big ones. I got 21 minis out of the batch. Soooo does that mean that 3.5 are equal to 1 big one--LOL! I guess then I had the equivalent of 1 whole one and a half of one. Anyway they weren't too sweet and had a nice "peachy" taste even though it was artificially flavored. I added a bit of cinnamon to the mix and there you have geniune imitation peach cobbler.


This is what I made

Here's the link to the company Mayberrysfinest

They have other products besides muffins but here are the other muffins



Cinnamon toast



Chocolate chunk cookie dough


Banana chocolate chip


Lemon ice box

Blueberry



Thursday, September 3, 2009

Muffin mania

I love muffins .........why? Because I can enjoy a treat without overdoing it. They are small and sweet. Just enough to satisfy the need for "something". BUT! There's a problem. I see soooo many that I want to try and I need small batches so they don't go to waste. It's really easy to do a commercial mix, bake and eat. Ok, now I have the directions to freeze them.

According to the Quaker oats website most muffins freeze well.

Cool them.
Then wrap in foil, freezer wrap or freezer bags.
Label them with the name and date.
Store for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Thaw frozen muffins at room temperature or heat them in the microwave for about 30 seconds or the conventional oven for 10-15 minutes depending on the muffin size.

Ok gotta give it a try because I still have the cranberry orange left and I want another flavor--LOL!

I found packages of mix in the cabinet today. I think it was blueberry, triple berry, banana walnut and something else.

Cookbooks and recipe websites are great but my latest and greatest discovery (I'm late I know) are FOOD BLOGS!!!!

I'm so grateful to these wonderful food bloggers who have the patience and skill to bake these delicious treats from scratch and then share them with the world.



This recipe hit the blogs a couple of years ago and I think people are still discovering it (ok maybe just moi) .

For me this is a weekend project as opposed to spur of the moment workday UNLESS I have mixed the dry ingredients the night before and have everything ready to go the next morning.


Snickerdoodle muffins
http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2007/03/16/cookie-conversion/



Blueberry Sour Cream Corn Muffins Diabetic Recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup corn meal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
One egg, beaten
1 cup sour cream
1/3 cup thawed frozen unsweetened apple juice concentrate1
1/2 cups fresh or frozen (not thawed) blueberries
2/3 cup whipped cream cheese
2 tablespoons no-sugar-added blueberry fruit spread
Directions: Preheat oven to 400-degrees.
Grease 12 medium-sized muffin cups or line with paper liners; set aside.

Combine dry ingredients in medium bowl. Add combined egg, sour cream and apple juice concentrate; mix just until dry ingredients are moistened. Gently stir in blueberries.

Spoon batter into prepared cups, filling each cup 3/4 full. Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand in pan on wire rack five minutes. Remove from pan; cool slightly.

Combine cream cheese and fruit spread; serve with warm muffins.

Recipe makes one-dozen Blueberry Sour Cream Corn Muffins.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Breakfast is my fav!


This morning I opened a package of Martha White cranberry orange muffin mix and about 15 minutes later I had some very moist muffins. I'm working on making some from scratch but that might have to be relegated to a saturday morning or a sunday afternoon. Anyway this is what I had along with an omlete/omelette and cantaloupe.
I spotted a blueberry cornmeal recipe and I might have to experiment with it and might even try---gasp! Jiffy mix as the base.


It's September!

The year is quickly rolling by. It seems like New Year's day just passed. It is now 4:19 a.m. and I have been awake for over 30 minutes. I fell asleep before 10 and now i'm up---ughhhh. Watching without a trace and listening to my tummy rumble for food. Yesterday for lunch I had another Sam's choice chicken dish. This one was the Apple, Cranberry, Pecan Stuffed Chicken Breast. This had potential but alas it missed the mark. It is a frozen food nonethe less. This would be good made fresh. I have another one left and I'll eat it but fresh would definitely be delish!