Saturday Afternoon QUICKIE - Summer Steak Marinade

Weekly Reminder: What is a "QUICKIE" anyway?...hmmmmm, found this online: "Very little foreplay, quick finish. Usually 5 minutes, start to finish.." Perfect! Since I've demonstrated how blog challenged I am this year, a speedy, once a week drop-in is JUST what the doctor ordered (wink!).
So clear your calendar, I'm all yours for 5 minutes every Saturday afternoon...rawr

Let's make some marinade - SIZZLE!...


**Look at my handsome boy helping peel the garlic...**

Summer Steak Marinade for 3-5 lbs. of meat
1/4 cup E.V.O.O - extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tsp. Grey Poupon Deli Mustard w/ horseradish
3 tsp. garlic gloves, finely minced
2 tsp. brown sugar
Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Add all ingredients to a medium bowl, whisk to combine...



Now, I usually marinade my boneless Top Sirloin steaks for, um, about 4 hours. This is where you have to play with what works for you - I prefer a "stronger" hint of the balsamic...
I have marinaded meat as little as 2 hours, and though it was good...I think the longer the better!

Thanks for the QUICKIE (wink!), I'll see ya next week!

Saturday Afternoon QUICKIE - Marmorkuchen

I missed last week...got some drama going on...you know how that goes, right? (wink!)

Weekly Reminder: What is a "QUICKIE" anyway?...hmmmmm, found this online: "Very little foreplay, quick finish. Usually 5 minutes, start to finish.." Perfect! Since I've demonstrated how blog challenged I am this year, a speedy, once a week drop-in is JUST what the doctor ordered (wink!).
So clear your calendar, I'm all yours for 5 minutes every Saturday afternoon...rawr

Let's make a Marble Cake - YUM!...



Orangen-Marmorkuchen (German Marble Cake) serves 10-12
2 sticks + 2 TBL. salted butter (yes, salted, relax!)
1 3/4 cups of white sugar
4 eggs, separate
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups of flour, sifted
2 tsp. baking powder (add 1/4 tsp. if you are at a "Sea Level" elevation)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup water

Cocoa Marble:
3 TBL. cocoa powder
3 TBL. rum (in the pic, I used the standard Bacardi...Try Bacardi Select for a deeper flavor!)
1/4 milk (has to have SOME fat - 2%, whole, etc..)
1/2 tsp. pure orange extract oil



Sift together the flour and baking powder, set aside.
Using your KitchenAid mixer (or large bowl), cream the butter, egg YOLKS and 1 cup of sugar.
In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, whip egg WHITES and remaining 3/4 cup of sugar until soft peaks are formed.
Fold the egg whites mixture into the butter yolk mixture, combining well.
Now, add vanilla extract, milk, water and the sifted flour mixture. Combine well, but don't over beat.

Now for the marble -
In a separate smaller bowl, remove 1/3 - 1/2 of the batter. Whisk in cocoa powder, rum, milk, and orange extract until perfectly combined..make SURE there are no lumps!
Spray your Gugelhopf mold (in other words, a bundt cake pan) with Pam for Baking.

Now let's layer...
Pour 1/2 of the vanilla batter into the mold. Next, pour all of the chocolate rum batter. Finish off by pouring the remaining vanilla batter on top.
Run a fork or butter knife from the bottom, up toward the top of the batter, with a delicate dragging motion - this is creating your marble.

Finally, using a spatula, gently smooth over the top of the batter to create an even surface.
Bake at 350° degrees for about 45-55 mins. This is the tricky part..I live at a higher elevation (4,367 feet approx.) so stuff takes longer to bake. For all of you, "at Sea Level," peeps..start running a cake tester through your creation starting as early 35-40 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar on top..and get yourself a fantastic cup of coffee (Brazilian Santos Grade A is stellar!)!

Just a quick note: this kuchen is sweet, but NOT super sweet. If you NEED more sugar..feel free to bump up the sugar 1/4 of a cup...

Thanks for the QUICKIE (wink!), I'll see ya next week (hopefully)!

Saturday Afternoon QUICKIE - Custom Lip Balm

Sorry I missed last week...got some drama going on...you know how that goes, right? (wink!)

Weekly Reminder: What is a "QUICKIE" anyway?...hmmmmm, found this online: "Very little foreplay, quick finish. Usually 5 minutes, start to finish.." Perfect! Since I've demonstrated how blog challenged I am this year, a speedy, once a week drop-in is JUST what the doctor ordered (wink!).
So clear your calendar, I'm all yours for 5 minutes every Saturday afternoon...rawr

Let's make some Lip Balm - YESSS!...



Here's a basic guide for creating your own lip balm recipes ~ 20 grams makes approx. 4 tubes
20% Beeswax
25% solid at room temperature oil (Coconut Oil, Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Lanolin, etc.)
15% brittle at room temperature oil (Regular Cocoa Butter, Palm Kernel Oil, etc.)
40% liquid oil at room temperature (Sweet Almond Oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Apricot Kernel, etc.)
6-12 drops of edible essential oil
4 lip balm tubes (.15 oz) and caps.
rubberband


Heat everything up EXCEPT the E.O's (essential oils) in a Pyrex 1 cup measure, within a double boiler. Just as soon as the last of the wax melts, move the pot off of the direct flame.


Take a rubberband and bind together the tubes...trust me, this method eliminates spills and frustration.
NOW add your E.O.'s or flavor oils....
Using a popsicle stick, mix the melted oils, waxes and E.O's together.
Using a clean pipette, draw up the mixture, then fill the tubes. If you don't have pipettes...pour very carefully!
Let sit for an hour or more...cap...enjoy!

Yes, indeed there are some "finishing" instructions related to filling these tubes, but unless you're giving them as gifts, don't sweat it.
Remember, you can customize your creations by adding different flavorings and essential oils to get the desired effect you are after. AND if you don't have "tubes", shoot..use whatever clean container you have!
Now, I can't give away my special "combo" of the above percentages (I did bold a few ingredients, however :))....as I still sell products from time to time, however, this guide is pretty much a "no-brainer"..you can't fail using it.
This balm offers a soft, moisturized, "pin-cushion" kissable effect on your lips..not a high gloss.
If MAJOR SHINE is what you're looking for, then throw in some castor oil by all means (whoops! there goes a secret!).
I can develop some serious chapped lips in the summer, and my formulation can banish nasty lips within 2-3 days. A little tweaking and you will easily find your perfect "combo" as well!

PLEASE READ: DO NOT LEAVE THIS BALM IN A HOT CAR!! Your creation is a fine natural product...so that means the oils can go rancid and it will melt!! Just sayin'

Thanks for the QUICKIE (wink!), I'll see ya next week!