Ghosts in my house?

"I know I just put those keys there!"

We as parents have all said that about keys or any kind of object many times. I know I have!

The other day I was preparing breakfast. I left my spoon on the table to get the milk from the fridge. I come back into the dining area, and the spoon was gone. I know I have momnesia, but it's not that bad I hoped. And then I suspected, erm, trickster ghosts for a moment and then I just called myself crazy and went to get another spoon. A week later I find a lake of spoons under the couch. Who did this?

Late at night, I hear people walking around my house. Me being the fraidy cat I am sit in the bed and say a silent prayer to myself hoping that I am actually crazy and hearing things. What was it?

You know who it was! The children. They're sneaky little cuties. My eldest is not so covert, my daughter usually hides in another room to eat cookies or play with something she isn't supposed. My youngest, who is 1, is the sneakiest. We call him Ninja Baby. His swiftness is down right frightening. I can be looking at him, playing Patty Cake with him, but somehow he successfully steals something from right under my nose. It is quite impressive and I hope to somehow teach him to use his powers for good in the future!

And at least I'm not going crazy.............yet

Tasty Thursdays continued..the Martha Stewart edition

Publish Post

Ice cream is the staple summer dessert.

Funnily enough I'd rather make this cold treat on the ugliest cold day of the season.

Today the sun is playing peek-a-boo, so it goes from sunny to cold, not your typical June weather, but hey, I live in Germany. Vaterland of unpredictable weather!

I was supposed to make this yesterday, but I had plans later that evening and got way too distracted. So today seemed the best day as I have no plans, and my eldest son is with Oma (German for grandmother).

My family LOVES this recipe and my son specifically asked for this. From Martha Stewart's Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook!

Makes 1 1/2 quarts

1 vanilla beans, split lengthwise and scraped
1 1/2 cups skim milk, chilled
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon table salt
6 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons corn syrup

Directions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the vanilla bean and scrapings with the milk and heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil. Remove from heat, and let steep, covered, 30 minutes.

Prepare an ice bath; set aside. Whisk egg yolks and sugar on medium-high speed until thick and pale.

Place milk mixture over medium-high heat; bring just to a simmer. Slowly pour about 1/4 cup hot-milk mixture into egg-yolk mixture, beating on low speed until blended. Continue adding milk, about 1/2 cup at a time, beating until incorporated after each addition.
Return mixture to saucepan; stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until mixture is thick enough to coat back of spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Custard should retain a line drawn across the back of the spoon with your fingertip.

Remove pan from heat; pour custard through a fine sieve into a medium bowl set in ice bath; add corn syrup. Let stand, stirring occasionally, until chilled. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Deep Dish Brownies with an Orange Twist

Pudgy meets Fudgy, originally uploaded by YummySommer.

These brownies are most certainly a family treat! They disappear even faster than it takes to prep. And as you can see, it's quite difficult to take a photo of without little chubby baby hands in the way!

This is the go to dish on a lazy baking day! Easy doubled, tripled. or even quadrupled- if you roll like that :)


Prep Time:10 minutes

Cook Time: 40-45 minutes


Original Recipe Yield 12 bars
Inspired from Food Network's How to Boil Water

Ingredients

4oz unsweetened chocolate
1/2 cup of unsalted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoons of table salt
2 large cold eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
a dash of orange extract (optional)
1 cup all purpose flour
Directions

Preheat your oven to 325 F. Place oven rack on lowest shelf. Place aluminum foil in an 8 inch square pan. Butter foil.
Melt butter and chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes in a microwavable safe bowl. Stir, then continue to microwave or an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Careful not to overcook chocolate or else it will become grainy. You could also melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan with a inch of simmering water. Stir occasionally until chocolate is melted.
Now, stir brown sugar, 1/4 cup of white sugar, and salt into chocolate mixture until well incorporated. Next, stir in eggs one at a time. Stir each egg well before adding the next. Stir in vanilla extract and a dash of orange extract.
Now carefully stir in flour and remaining 1/4 cup of white sugar. Be sure not to overmix or else brownies will become hard and not super ooey gooey moist.
Bake 40 to 45 minutes. Brownies are ready when toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the brownies.
Allow to cool on wire rack.
Enjoy the taste and smell!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Run, Amara, run!, originally uploaded by YummySommer.

Run, baby, run!