Hazel Ceej

Check out the spoon: beside the color which is my fave, it's obviously disposable. But this is something sweet with a double meaning. Latdawan, a Management major gave this little treat to me. When I smiled at her, "what's this for?" she shrugged, "nothing" then browsed her book. I'm a bit chary about accepting gifts from students; don't want to be compromised come evaluation time. Fortunately, I didn't have to with Latdawan. She's one brainy student.
When it comes to cakes, I always love it moist. Here's a recipe from Linda Larsen that you may want to try.
Ingredients:1 (18- oz) package chocolate cake mix                        1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract                            1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar                                                               1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling
6 tablespoons butter                                                     1/3 cup whole milk
1 (12-ounce) pa…

A meal that involves something deep fried and a salad is usually an automatic win for me. This was one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions to explore the menu of a restaurant that does not require a reservation. I then naturally chose my favorite combination of tastes in these fried scallops with mango strips in sweet and sour sauce.

I fancy those fresh sea scallops that are 'seared in thyme-infused butter and drenched in white wine.' But while the link for that fancy is broken, here's an alternative recipe from Southern Food, which I think is just as yummy. 

Ingredients:
1 cup flour                                                                         1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon paprika                                                             2 eggs
2 tablespoons water                                                           fine dry bread crumbs
2 cups scallops, cut to about 3/4-inch cubes if large

Preparation:
If scallops are large, cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Dry complete…

When I ordered ice cream at a big lunch I hosted in 2004 for (m/l) 300 family and friends at my father's funeral reception, I also wondered how it was made. I like to have an idea of how something I'm eating came to be. The recipe I'm sharing comes from Rita on Food: Home of the Home Cook.

She says her son likes chocolate mint ice cream and she made this for his birthday. In the meantime I can only buy scoops for my son and for a slightly different reason - to bribe him to eat veggies. The plan though is to try this recipe myself when things at work calm down.

Ingredients:
2 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder, approximately 1/2 cup
3 cups half-and-half
1 cup heavy cream
8 large egg yolks
9 ounces sugar
2 teaspoons pure mint extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Place the cocoa powder along with 1 cup of the half-and-half into a medium saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine.

Add the remaining half-and-half and the heavy cream. Bring the mixture just to a simmer, stirri…