here is my new thread. I'm sorry I've been gone so long! My thread locked while I was out of town and then I just felt like I needed to take a break from posting on my own thread for some reason. Thank you for demanding I start a new thread!
Happy Easter to everyone. To celebrate, I made some easter bunny pastries. So simple and delicious!!
In CASE you're interested in the recipe...
Hopping Bunnies Recipe -- Happy Easter!
Ingredients: 1 pkg yeast 1/4 cup water, warm 1 cup milk, scalded 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup orange juice 5-5-1/2 cups flour 2 beaten eggs 1 Tablespoon orange zest
for glaze: 1 cup confectioner's sugar 1-2 tablespoons orange juice zest of 1 orange
Directions:
soften yeast in warm water combine scalded milk, sugar, butter -- cool to lukewarm stir in 2 cups flour to milk concoction beat well add eggs, mix well stir in softened yeast add orange juice, zest, and more flour to make a soft dough
knead until smooth, 5 to 10 minutes place dough in a greased bowl and let rise covered for two hours. Punch down, cover, let rest 10 minues
cut (or roll) into 14" strips that are 1/2 inch thick and 1/2 wide.
shape into bunnies, twist to form the ears and pinch together the other half for the body, let rise for 45 to 60 minutes
Bake 12-15 minutes at 375 degrees
For orange zest glaze: 1 cup confectioner's sugar, 1-2 Tablespoons of orange juice and zest of half an orange -- start with 1 tablespoon of juice and add to get the consistency of a drippy glaze. Brush on warm or cool bunnies.
I know you asked for more muffin recipes, here is one of my new favorites!! This one is delicious! Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Pineapple Coconut Muffins with crystallized ginger
nonstick spray 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon powdered ginger 1 1/2 cups shredded sweetened coconut 1/4 cup finely minced crystallized ginger 2/3 cup coconut milk (regular or lowfat) 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons canned crushed pineapple packed in juice, undrained 1 large egg 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray 10 standard (2 1/2 inch diameter) muffin cups with nonstick spray.
2. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, powdered sugar, and coconut in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Add the minced crystallized ginger and stir it around until coated.
4. Measure the 2/3 cup coconut milk into a 4-cup liquid measure, tehn add the pineapple with its juice and the egg and vanilla. Beat gently with a fork or a small whisk until smooth.
5. Slowly pour this mixture, along with the butter, into the dry ingredients. Using a spoon or a rubber spatula, stir from the bottom of the bowl until the dry ingredients are all moistened. Don't overmix; a few lumps are okay.
6. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. For smaller muffins, fill the cups about four-fifths full. For larger muffins, fill them up to the top. If you have extra batter, spray one or two additional muffin cups with non-stick spray and fill with the remaining batter.
7. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven, then remove the muffins from the pan and place them on a rack to cool. Wait at least 30 minutes before serving.
1 cup finely chopped ripe pear (fresh or canned, peeled if fresh)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cups unbleached flour
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1/3 to ½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/3 cup very finely minced crystallized ginger
1 cup buttermilk
1 large egg
1 to 3 teaspoons fresh ginger
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Lightly spray 8 standard muffin cups with nonstick spray.
Place the chopped pear in a shallow dish, drizzle with lemon juice, and set aside.
Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, sugar, and lemon zest in a medium sized bowl. Stir in the minced crystallized ginger, Ideally, each bit of ginger should end up about the size of a rolled oat flake.
Measure the 1 cup buttermilk into a 2-cup liquid measure. Add the egg, fresh ginger, and vanilla, and beat gently with a fork or a small whisk until smooth.
Slowly pour this mixture, along with the melted butter, into the dry ingredients. Add the pear as well. Using a spoon or rubber spatula, stir from the bottom of the bowl until the dry ingredients are all moistened. Don't overmix; a few lumps are okay.
Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake in the middle of the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove the pan from the oven, then remove the muffins from the pan and place them on a rack to cool. Wait at least 30 minutes before serving.
So it's been almost three weeks since my last post. Nothing has changed in my situation, just a lot of reflection and some new insights...
I went to San Francisco for spring break and got to hang out with three of my best girl friends.
FRIEND #1 ... was the one who I had tried to reconcile with b/c we had become estranged since she stopped being supportive about me working towards reconciliation. We had some good hang outs and some ackward hangouts and didn't talk about my R or about our friendship, which left me a little disappointed. But I thought I would use my DB'ing skills and play it cool and not push to talk about it. The last night we hung out we went to this big dance party where there were some performers doing erotic fire dancing. Afterwards we talked about it and she told me watching the firedancing made her question whether or not she was with the right man. I told her watching the firedancing made me feel lonely, forlorn, and heartbroken. I was reflecting on this moment and realized it may have been a bigger deal than I thought at the time... we were both sharing and accepting our feelings, something that my counselor has suggested I work on. It was nice.
FRIEND #2 Has been extremely supportive from the beginning. She suggested early on in the crisis that it is highly possible that my B suffers from depression. I have been thinking about this more lately and I think she is right. Especially around the time of the bomb, there was a lot of changes in eating habits, over-focus on being intimate/not allowing us to be intimate, crying, seeing the worst in the R, etc. Looking back, I think my B may have been suffering from depression his whole life. It is almost like a mysterious, impenetrable membrane. But anyway, friend #2 and I talked about my plan to reach out with thoughtful gifts of real giving. She really encouraged this plan and we talked about how depressed people do not like to be invaded... the good thing about sending a very small card or present is that they can deal with it on their own terms. she compared it to "tapping on their door."
FRIEND #3's husband is a sexual violence prevention counselor and I had a really good discussion with him & friend #3 about my situation. He had some interesting insights... he said it sounded like my B does not have good boundaries, and was taking that out on me, because I have healthy boundaries; also, that fundamentalist cultures frequently have issues with problems of consent because all authority is located outside of the self (B was raised in a very conservative religious family). It was interesting to get new insight even 5-6 months after the bomb.
All of this made me realize that what happened was not totally me. I have been really focused on improving and changing myself. But I really, really, really hope that B is getting help for himself and these issues, not even just for a possible new R together, just so he can be a happy and healthy person.
I've started praying for new things... for B to have a healthy living situation, prosperous financial situation, simpler logistical situation, supportive religious community, really good friends he can spend time with in person, getting help to deal with his own stuff, etc.
Other than that, I have been sick for the past 2 weeks, and basically stayed home and gorged myself on Lost season 3 on DVD. I am so tired of getting sick, I just didn't want to go back to school until I felt totally better... but now two weeks have gone by and I feel kind of 80%, but like I just can't miss any more. I think I am feeling a little burnt out on school... and have engaged in a ridiculous frenzy of cooking the past couple days, concocting:
-protein bannana bread -aformentioned bunny pastries -pizza margerita... from scratch -brazilian black bean soup -sweet potato soup -roasted red pepper tortilla soup
Thanks for the recipes- I love the sound of the muffins and the pastries- I'll definitely give them a go when I'm recovered from my lurgi. (Speaking of which, I totally agree and empathise with the feelings about being fed up of being ill).
So first things first, were the erotic fire dancers in corsets?!!
I really like the gifts of real giving idea and reaching out to your B. It does sound like he may have been going through depression and sending a small gift sounds like a great way of tapping on the door without invading his privacy in any way. It's so good to see you write that what happened is partly down to him. I've been worried about you taking too much of the responsibility here, and while it's great that you're taking stock and improving yourself (I think you're the queen of that!) your B needs to be working on some stuff himself. I also really hope he has been.
So great to see you back T- I'll keep you posted with how the muffins go,
L.xx
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart. And you'll never walk alone.
I think all the baking is you trying to take care of yourself a little, its comforting, and maybe there isnt anyone else taking care of you right now. So dont be concerned, but dont overdo it either!? I've only baked a few times in my life and each time, the thing didnt rise, or collapsed in the middle, or tasted of flour. I need a lesson in pastry making!
Abuot the reaching out with gifts/cards...sorry to be a thorn in the side, but I'm not sure I agree. Not as an opening gambit anwyay. I've been reading a book on Depression and it says often, presents are ill received as it only serves to remind them how bad they feel inside and cant think of others and they can return them unopened, or offer to give you the money (my BF did this at christmas). Receiving presents involves being grateful and thankful, and depressed people have a problem with this (book explains it better than me!).
Rememeber I said your BF went through his Saturn Return? Well this can cause (or exacerbate) depression - depends on your own nature and birth chart. Someone who has a tendency to get depressed or be melancholy, if they have an afflicted Saturn in their own chart, or the area ruled by Saturn, once the Saturn Return hits, this is more likely to tip them into depression proper. It happened with my BF - on his SR when he was 29/30 and then again last year, he had Saturn conjunct his Sun (similiar in fact, worse transit) and sure enough..he got depression.
Saturn transits do often break up Rs or certainly test them to the limits. Thats why there are alot of people on these boards who have been M for 7 years (Saturn moves in 7 year cycles). Its never a good time to try and put an R back together during a Saturn transit, better to wait till it passes and then see how you feel.
I think, seeing as you havent had any contact with him at all, since 2 weeks after the bomb..not a letter or email, you dont know where he's living, how he is, whether or not he is seeing someone else now (he could be ?), then I dont think sending him a gift "cold" like that is a good idea.
I still think you should just email him, or send him a letter.
If he responds and wants to meet up (or has a birthday) then, maybe a small gift could be given then?
Just my two penneth! Glad you braved another sitch! We missed you...
Ali x ____________ Me: 37 H: 34 T: 9 years IDLYA: 2 Nov 07 Own flat: 26 Jan 08 will he reconnect?
Me:40! H:37 Together: 12yrs IDLY & left 11/07 ADs 03/08 OW 8/08 Reconciled 05/09 now married! my thread
Welcome back to the threads!!! Just a quick post to tell you that I'd missed your postings (although I have noticed you posted on my thread and a few of our other friend's threads) but it's not the same as hearing about you!
Love the sound of these muffins.. Maybe I'll finally bite the bullet and try one of your recipes! I don't want to put it out there that I'll definitely do it.. but I am thinking about it!
Regardless of how you choose to reach out to your B... I think it's a great idea to put yourself out there.. this little risk just may bring about great reward!
