Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Domesticated

So somehow I've gotten in the habit of making treats for people when in a theatre production. It first really started when I was involved with directing some shows around Christmas and a friend of mine had a cookie exchange. I found so many recipes of interest that although I only made one kind for the cookie exchange (Cinnamon, Spice and Everything Nice Cookies - they don't look pretty but they taste good!) I decided to use the others to share with my cast and find out if they tasted as good as they sounded. They did!

Two recipes that disappeared the quickest Spicy Pumpkin Cookies - Sans Raisins
and a variation of this Cake Mix Cookie recipe - I used Chocolate Cake Mix! :) They tasted like brownie bites.

Then when my directing duties started to taper off I began working backstage for a month as a dresser for the traveling production of "The Lion King". Every Sunday we'd have a potluck since we didn't have a lot of time in between shows. Once again, it was a chance to try something new!

Smoky Corn Muffins (didn't use liquid smoke)

This time around my baking flurry was influenced by the fact that my character (Essie) in "You Can't Take It With You" makes candy, but still - I'm finding that as long as the recipe is fairly simple - I enjoy baking...as long as I can share it with a group. That's the key...not all that enthused about making something that will go to waste cause I only eat a piece of it...I had that happen to a picante peach cobbler. I ate 2 pieces and the rest went in the trash - sadness.

Rarely do I make a dish twice as I am always curious about new ones - so I'm constantly in finger cross mode and hope, hope, hope that whoever is eating it - likes it.

Needless to say here is a list of some of the recipes (the links are all from allrecipes.com) that I tried and those that ate it seemed to like it! (No deaths or stomach trauma were reported either! ;))

Chocolate Cherry Cupcakes

Cherry Mash Candy

Pistachio Fruit Salad (Some of the cast was diabetic, so this worked well for the potluck!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Hot Jezebel - Took this to the cast party and previously to a Bridal Shower, knew it was good when a former co-worker brought it to work several times and it always disappeared quickly!

I also discovered a Truffle recipe in a cookbook that used the same instructions as an easy fudge recipe I found online. Go figure. I went the truffle route though, using chocolate sprinkles on some and cocoa on others. One of my co-stars thought they were donut holes though and had a bit of surprise when he bit in.

And when not in the baking mood, thanks to my mom (who's a rep), I've discovered Watkins has great dip mixes. So good and so easy to make! I highly recommend ordering some to try! ;)

So now it is your turn - share your fav recipes or maybe this will give you inspiration to try baking if you haven't already! ;) Good Luck!