Sunday Morning Baking

One of the things that I love to do other than knitting and crocheting is baking. I'm not super great at it, but I love to try different recipes. I wish I could make things pretty and become a pastry chef, but I'm not that talented.

Anyways, one of the things I got from Andy's mom is the Donut Bite - Mini doughnut maker.

I really didn't want it when she first offered it to us, but Andy did, so we took it. I didn't know what we'd do with it, and I really didn't have a recipe of any sort.

I decided to look a recipe one day online and try out the machine. The recipe I found sucked. It made the donuts too salty and extremely dry, even powder sugar couldn't cover up the saltiness. Halfway through the process, I decided to add some more stuff and made it much better. After a few attempts, I came up with the perfect recipe.

Mini Chocolate Chip Mini-Doughnuts
2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 cup mini morsel chocolate chips

1. Mix all the dry ingredients together except the chocolate chips
2. Add wet ingredients to the dry mixture
3. Stir in the chocolate chips
4. Lightly oil the doughnut device
5. Scoop mixture into the device and close lid
6. Doughnuts will be done after 2 minutes

It's now a Sunday tradition for me to make donuts. It starts off with the recipe at top, plus my wonderful mixer:

Some time for the gadget to work:

Some time for the doughnut to cool:

The doughnuts usually disappear before the next Sunday arrives because of my little tester. It definitely makes me extremely happy seeing how much my hubby enjoys them.

Tucson Tamale Company

I had been craving tamales lately. I think it stems from the tamales I got last year from this guy dragging around a cooler. He was selling tamales his wife had made for very cheap. He only had two kinds, red or green. We got both, but I loved the green. We've been back to the shopping center where we saw this guy, however, we've haven't seen this guy again.

The Tucson Weekly just came out with the Best of 2009 list and they had one for Tamales. The winner was Tucson Tamale Company. We decided to try this out today, especially with my tamale craving. Between Andy and I, we were able to have 4 different Tamales - Jojo, Arizona, The Tucson Tamale, and Green Corn Tamale. We both got the tamale plate which came with a side and salsa. We both chose the green salsa made from tomatillo, cilantro, garlic and cumin. Food came out hot and very quickly. It was all very delicious and unique. Before leaving, we bought cold tamales for home. I hope that my microwave and or oven will produce as yummy ones as the ones we had today. I hope to try out the Thanksgiving one that I've been hearing so much about. :)

I think the only thing I have to complain about the Tucson Tamale Company is the hours. Most of the week they close at 7, and weekends at 5. With how long Andy and I work, I don't think we would ever be able to go there during the week. I think we will definitely visit this place again, if not for the hot plates, definitely for the cold tamales to go.

Jo Ann Coupon Commotion

This week is Jo Ann's coupon commotion week and it made me think about my life. It's amazing how cheap I still am even though I make more money now than I did in college.
I really discovered how much I enjoy crafting in college, but I was always too cheap to buy the nice yarn or tools to craft. A lot of the tools and supplies I used came from the thrift store. I would go to Michael's and Jo Anns once in a while but usually to look unless I had a coupon.
Now that I work full time, I am still the same. I refuse to buy full price and am always disappointed if I find the items cheaper somewhere else. I guess that's just the way I'll always be. I definitely can say that it's not a bad thing, but it's just funny thinking about it.

6 Months and Going Strong

Just wanted to take a little time out of my day today to say Happy Anniversary to my husband. Today is our 6 month anniversary. :)



I love you Andy!

Destash Swap

My partner recently received her package. I was really happy with the way it turned out especially since all the yarn was from my stash. I couldn't buy anything for the swap because it was a way to use up some of the craft stash that most craftsters have stored up.


I like knitting up shawls/scarves. Although it takes the longest, it's usually quickest because the pattern can be easily memorized. I really liked how this turned out. It's a lot softer than the crocheted scarf I made for another swap a while back. It's too bad it's hot here in Tucson, I would love to use scarves and wraps.

Crafty Friday For Myself

It was very nice that I didn't have to work today. I was able to go get my car in for a service. I got to see the updated Toyota place I go to. I do have to say that it was very nice. It was all shiny and clean and bright. My '99 Camry is still in good shape. I love my car, even if it's a bit damaged (hole in the side mirror).

Nothing else too exciting happened today. Andy and I mostly stayed at home to enjoy the day watching TV and playing some games. I spent a little bit today making a small craft for myself. I've been wanting to make my own headbands, but fancier, like the ones in Gossip Girl.

I got a boring headband (from a pack of 5 that cost about 5 bucks) and some shiny ribbon (came in a bag of a various ribbons that cost 77 cents).

This is the after, a shiny ribbon with a flower.


I loved making it. I think I will be making more with different colors and other decorations beside the flower. :)

Motivation Anyone?

Where do most people find the motivation to complete things in life? Lately, I've felt that I've lost my motivation at work. It's more of "Go to work, stay there for an amount of time doing brainless stuff, leave" and repeat the next day.

I get more out of doing crafts and getting things done. I've never felt let down by my crafts and yet I didn't go to school for 4.5 years to do crafts the rest of my life. I wish I could though because honestly, crafting can get very expensive, especially with the Jo Ann's coupons that come in my mail every month. What a dilema!

Back to work..... Yay?

Which Office Character Are You?
	You are Ryan. You are extremely smart and perceptive, and it irritates you to no end when inferior people try to tell you what to do. Sometimes, though, your critical eye makes you come off as aloof and bitter to others, and it may take awhile for people to get to know you.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

New Grill

For a long time, my mom has been bugging me about getting a BBQ grill. I've been putting it off for a long time because I didn't want to deal with buying one and assembling it. Andy and I finally took the leap and got one.

The one we got is from Weber. It is a medium sized one.

We got a cart that the grill sits on which is pretty nice. It has sturdy side tables.

Our first meal on it was steak and corn. It smelled soo good as we were cooking it. It was done really quickly too. It took less than an hour for everything. I think I may have found my new best friend. :)



Here's Andy cooking our first meal with the grill. I think he really likes this purchase we made. :) Isn't the background beautiful??