Woo-Hoo

I'm very excited to be a new member of the Daring Bakers !

Finally..... to belong to a group of people who understand the quirks of someone who spends too much time in the kitchen trying to figure out if this cocoa powder is Dutch-Process, Black Cocoa, Double Dutch or Bensdorp Dutch... and if it really matters??!!? ;-)

Name that Bakery !

In the future I dream of opening a bakery.... I'm trying to think of a good name for it...... so I'm calling out to my friends to send me their suggestions...

So far I have:

Sweet Cakes
Amy's Cakes
Take the Cake
Sweet Dreams
Piece of Cake
ButterCream

Pies & Pastries

Cake Runner

Fill More Cakes

Pie In The Sky

New Country Bakery
Sweets 'n Treats by Amy

Sweets 'n Treats Bakery
Sweet Delights
Goodies by Amy
Lil' Taste of Heaven Bakery
Amy's Cookies & More
Present & Pasts Bakery

Shake and Bake

Buns of Fun
Oven Fresh
Rollin' in the Dough

Rise Above The Rest

Let Them Eat Cake

Amy's Biscuits

Nice Biscuits

Lovely Buns

Luscious Buttercups

Yeast World

Sugar Buzz Bakery

What are your ideas for a bakery name that people would remember?? Let me know!

Cupcake Porn

Cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery, 401 Bleeker St at 11th St. New York

If there is a heaven I hope it smells like butter cream.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

In order to motivate my self to get out and enjoy this great spring weather.. I did the unthinkable....I signed up for the Dinsey Marathon 2008! After the Marine Corps... I swore off Marathons... but 2008 will be the 15th anniversary of the Disney race.. and they will be giving out a "top secret" medal.

If you know me.. you know I only race for the free stuff.. and the lure of a top secret medal that will be a one of a kind.. is too much for me to resist. !!! Oh Mickey!

EXCLUSIVE 15th ANNIVERSARY FINISHER MEDAL
The 15th Anniversary Marathon Finisher's Medal is so special that it will remain TOP SECRET until the end of the race. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to earn an exclusive medal that will never be produced again. All race finishers will receive a specially designed 15th Anniversary Medal at the Finish Line.

Pics from the Walk to Empower

Thank you to everyone that supported me in the Walk to Empower. I raised over $300.00! You all are amazing!

I walked with my friend Maria who fought breast cancer last year. We were joined by friends from her support group who also kicked cancer in the butt.

Pink Power!

Walk to Empower

This mothers day I'll be walking with some of my friends to raise money for the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. For more information about this event and the services provided by Y-Me to support people diagnosed with breast cancer, please check out my web site below.

http://main.y-me.org/goto/amanda.fillmore

Slowly I turned...

Ahhh.. Niagara Falls ...

Today I was able to take Matt to the exciting 'lumber capital of the world'. Well at least North Tonawanda, New York (city of my birth) ... WAS the lumber capital of the world rival to Chicago (city of Matt's birth).. for a short time in.. 1825.

Good stuff.

It was really nice to show Matt where my parents grew up.... and where I lived for a while.

We were also able to sample some Buffalo area culinary delights... fried bologna and Beef on Weck.

Made only in the Buffalo-Rochester area, the kummelweck—often alternatively spelled kimmelweck—is basically a Kaiser roll topped with lots of pretzel salt and caraway seeds. Kummelweck is simply shortened to “weck.” The sandwich is usually served with sinus-clearing horseradish (you can tell a native Buffalonian by the amount of horseradish he or she used), a couple of huge kosher dill pickle slices on the side, and extra beef juice served straight from the roast. Wash it all down with a cold, locally brewed ale.

Although the exact history of the sandwich can’t be documented, it is believed that William Wahr, a German baker, brought the kummelweck to Buffalo from the Black Forest. German immigrants had already made the city a center of brewing. [http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Sandwiches/BeefOnWeck.htm]

Our fried bologna....

Our beef on weck...

You can see.. we didn't like them at all....

Peep !

Saturday night.. went to Artomatic in Crystal City... saw some art.. saw some bands... saw some ants.. saw some PEEPS !!! Check it out.... at http://www.artomatic.org/

Peeps are cool !

Some of the peeps were peepin' ...

Some of the peeps were commutin'....

For the full peep story see the Washington Post Article about the peep dioramas

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/05/AR2007040501976.html

Butter

Last night I went to see the Queen of Southern cooking, Paula Deen. She is on tour promoting her new book... "It ain't all about the Cookin'".

Things I learned:

1. Her son Bobby is single.

2. You want a perfect pound cake - add butter.

3. Paula is your cook ... not your doctor.

4. The dog Gertie, on the show the first season... not hers... belonged to Gordon Elliot.

5. If you come to see Paula talk... and decide to stand up and protest about the poor working conditions at the Smithfield plant.. you will be tossed out.. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/17/AR2007041701877.html]

Come support polar bears on March 5 at a public hearing in DC!

The Fish and Wildlife Service is planning three public hearings on the proposal to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act, but only one hearing is scheduled outside of Alaska. Attending is a great way to show your support, and gives you the opportunity to make your voice heard publicly. Plus, you may spot a polar bear or two . . .

The hearing is from 6:00-9:00 PM (but please come early!), at:

Department of the Interior

Sidney Yates Auditorium

1849 C St. NW.Washington, DC

20240

We need a big crowd in support of protecting polar bears at risk from melting sea ice. Please bring photo ID and any prepared remarks if you would like to speak. Hope to see you there!

http://action.earthjustice.org/campaign/polar_bears_listing/explanation

Cake Love!

Last night was part two of a three part baking class I'm taking at the super cool Cake Love bakery. [http://www.cakelove.com/]

Last nights class was on Decorating; "This class will cover how to put a cake together, terminology, basic tools, and put your skills to the test." I was able to construct a chocolate cake with Italian Meringue Buttercream frosting and filled with raspberries. It was very tasty... my co-workers would attest to that.

We had a special surprise last night. Our class was taught by Cake Love's owner Warren Brown. You may have seen him hosting his show on the Food Network Sugar Rush. It was very nice to meet him and learn some of his tricks of the trade. Cake Love is opening a new store in Shirlington. I'm very excited about that. Its close enough to our house to walk there. I guess I should run there... to burn off those extra calories.!

Thanks Warren for a fun class!

Marine Corps Marathon 2006

I completed my third Marathon. (That's a sentence I never thought I'd be able to say!)

In honor of my Florida home.. I wore my Minnie Mouse ears for the race. Here I am smiling...(that's because the race hadn't started yet!)

The Marine Corps Marathon turned out to be a tough race. Because of that, it was a great feeling of accomplishment that went with me across the finish line.

My good friend and running partner was there for the second half of the race to keep me going all the way to the finish line! Thank you so much for being there.

Fannie Mae Walk For The Homeless

This year I was chosen to be part of the Martin family annual Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless team. It was a chilly morning, but it felt good to be out showing our support for a great program.

The 19th Annual Fannie Mae Walk for the Homeless is Saturday, November 18. This is a great opportunity for exercise and to raise funds and awareness for homelessness. It will take place on the National Mall, Washington, D.C., between 4th and 7th Streets, N.W.

Singer and songwriter Jewel will serve as the honorary chair of the 2006 Fannie Mae Foundation Help the Homeless Program and Walkathon. Jewel will bring a powerful and personal perspective when she speaks at the 2006 Help the Homeless Walkathon.

The Fannie Mae Foundation Help the Homeless Program raises awareness and funds for Washington metropolitan area organizations that are working to prevent and end homelessness, with an emphasis on programs that help homeless people return to independent living. The Help the Homeless Program also fosters volunteerism in service to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

http://www.helpthehomelessdc.org/

How I Learned to Cook

Three Chefs: Anthony Bourdain, Jose Andres and Michel Richard

Thanks to a tornado watch and heavy rain all day, I was able to go tonight to this lecture given by the Smithsonian Resident Associate Program. It was a sold out show but some people stayed inside because of the rain and I was able to get a ticket on stand by. I'm so glad I went.

All three chefs were very entertaining to listen to
Every chef has to learn how to cook, whether in grandma’s kitchen or at a professional culinary institute, or perhaps both. Three superstar chefs return to the Smithsonian to recount true tales of the early days in their culinary educations.

Sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching, but always entertaining, chefs Anthony Bourdain, Jose Andres, and Michel Richard recount their first experiences in the kitchen, the miraculous moments that made them want to cook forever, and the unexpected epiphanies that occured just when they thought they knew it all. If you love food and cooking, their stories are an irresistible treat.

Bourdain is executive chef at Brasserie Les Halles in New York, and the star of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on the Travel Channel.

Richard is owner and executive chef of Citronelle and author of Happy in the Kitchen.

Andres is executive chef at Jaleo, Cafe Atlantico, and Oyamel, and host of Vamos a cocinar on Television Espanola.

The book How I Learned to Cook: Culinary Educations from the World’s Greatest Chefs (Bloomsbury)—which features essays by more than 25 professional chefs, including this evening’s three guest chefs—is available for signing after the program.

Like OMG Becki !?!?

OK so we may have been older than most of the people in the room. So what.?!? We had a great time.

I went last night to DAR Constitution Hall in DC to see the top 10 competitors from the FOX show "So You Think You Can Dance."

It was a great time. The dancers were amazing. They performed some of the favorite dances from the show and a few new ones.

"Oh and and like OMG I like totally heart Travis."

We don't need no stinking badges!

All you need to keep people from stealing your tomatoes is a few no trespass signs and a lock on the gate.

Matt and I put up these extra security measures a few weeks ago. Since then we have had a lot of red tomatoes. YEA!

So never fear community gardener.. There's hope out there for all of us.

Thief in the Garden

Last night Matt and I went to the garden to water the plants and to check on the progress of the tomato plants. We had a bet going. Matt thought the fruit would be ripe, I thought no way. Well, we will never know who was right. Someone went in and stole my tomatoes right off the plants.

It makes me very sad. It's bad enough to have someone steal a material possession of yours. However, these things are often replaceable. My tomatoes were a product of my hard work.

I'm feeling in the dumps and not motivated to keep gardening in a community garden where your plants are unprotected from intruders.

I so envy people who have yards at their houses where they can spend time planting things.

Knowing occasionally that things will be eaten by critters is an expected event when you are a Gardner. While it's upsetting to have your fruits, veggies, and plants eaten by animals. You can almost feel OK about it, knowing that animals are part of nature. Gardner's always plant extra for the bugs and animals. But when a person goes into your garden and takes what isn't theirs. It's just shameful.

Next time you have to bring dessert...

I suggest you bring this.

Black-Bottom Peanut Butter Mousse Pie

Sunday evening we went to our friends house for a cook out and I brought this pie.




It was gone before I had time to make sure everyone had a piece.

Yum.

For a pretty presentation, drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

Nonstick vegetable oil spray
7 whole graham crackers, coarsely broken
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
4 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 1/3 cups bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips (about 8 ounces)
2/3 cup plus 1 3/4 cups chilled whipping cream, divided
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
6 ounces (1 cup) peanut butter chips
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter (do not use old-fashioned style or freshly ground)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish with nonstick spray. Blend graham crackers, melted butter, and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor until moist clumps form. Press crumb mixture over bottom and up sides of prepared pie dish. Bake crust until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, combine chocolate chips, 2/3 cup cream, corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on medium heat until chocolate softens, about 3 minutes. Whisk until melted and smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over bottom of crust. Freeze 10 minutes.

Microwave peanut butter chips and 3/4 cup cream in large microwave-safe bowl on medium heat at 15-second intervals just until chips soften, stirring often. Whisk in peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool to barely lukewarm. Beat remaining 1 cup cream and 2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl until very thick but not yet holding peaks; fold into peanut butter mixture in 3 additions. Spoon mousse over chocolate layer. Chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.

Makes 8 to 10 servings.
Bon Appétit August 2006
Epicurious.com

Meet the new member of our family

This is Allie.

We brought Allie home from the Animal Welfare League of Arlington on Sunday August 13, 2006. They had so many cute cats that are waiting for homes. They also have dogs, rabbits, hamsters, birds and few Guinea pigs too. If your looking for a new friend, they are a good place to start.
http://www.awla.org/index.shtml



So far she seems to be a pretty cool cat. She really likes her new pink mouse and sleeping in the dresser drawer with Matts basketball shorts. (there's really no accounting for taste)













She likes to attack her new toy.. Here's a picture
of her in full mouser mode.. Go Allie ! Go!

Tomato Watch

I'm having a little friendly competition with my dad. While I was in Florida for Memorial Day weekend I gave him some tomato seeds for his birthday. He thought it would be fun to see who had better 'luck' with the plants this year.

My babies were planted June 4. I went out to the garden two weeks ago to water and took a few pictures. They are looking great.

Now remember, these pictures are from July 22nd. This past Saturday July 29th I was out there again (without my camera) and a lot of the plants had tomatoes on them ! Pretty cool.

We planted Brandywine, they are heirloom seeds dating back to 1885. They are known for their great flavor and the fruits get up to 1 pound.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we get to eat some before the birds do.

I also planted a lot of basil.. so I'm looking forward to tomato, basil and mozzarella! Yum!!

More Advil.. For the love of Monkeys..More Advil !!!

Saturday morning my marathon training group decided to get an early start to avoid running in the hotter part of the day. So we met at 5 am ! Sounds like a good idea... until the alarm clock goes off at 4:15.

We started our run at Dangerfield Island. We went south towards Mt. Vernon to the 4 mile marker. Then we turn around and go back.

We ran a total of 16 miles.

Ouch... my legs still hurt.

Good news.. next Saturday .. we are only running 8 miles. ! woo hoo!

Keep the rain out of the beer !

It was a great game last night, even if it was raining when we got there. Eventually the rain let up, but D.C. United didn't scoring 4 goals against Celtic FC. Here is how the game was described on the D.C. United web page. "D.C. United welcomed another high-profile European club to the nation's capital on a wet, sultry night at RFK Stadium on Wednesday, but the Black-and-Red were hardly generous hosts as they dismantled a Celtic FC 4-0 in a comprehensive performance from start to finish. "

(I'll be selling my garbage bag inspired designs on line in the months to come. They are easy to wear and washable ! )

Can't get enough international soccer?

I'm really looking forward to the game tonight. It would be brilliant if DC could continue it's amazing streak of wins against a giant like Celtic !

Killer Rabbits in DC??? It's True!!

Matt and I went to see SPAMalot tonight. It was so great. Almost the same as the movie but with some new funny scenes... I recommend it to everyone .. if you have a chance to see it.. get tickets!

Panda-monium

I got to go to the zoo finally and see Tai Shan for myself... after watching him on the 'panda-cam' for months..


Here is Tian Tian the papa panda


















And Mei Xiang and Tai Shan DC's favorite panda!





















For more information about the pandas at the National Zoo visit :http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/