My new blog

Let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I'm a retired public school teacher, married to a retired cop.  We live in a neighborhood that was carved out of an orange grove in Southern California, hence the name Girl With Oranges.  We have one daughter who is married to a wonderful guy.  We're all happy.  We have a good life.

My hubby, Mr. Oranges, likes to cook.  Aren't I lucky?  Wait, it gets better, much better.  He does all the grocery shopping, too.  I know! Don't hate me.

One thing Mr. Oranges does not do is bake or make sweet things.  So if that is going to happen in our house, I must be the one to do it.  So today I did!

First I loaded some Christmas movies into the DVD player and watched my favorite one first.

 Can you guess the title?  Yep!  Holiday Inn.  I. Love. That. Movie.

Next I set up my mis en place...I love using French phrases...

Today I am baking Madeline cookies, cinnamon rolls, and two cakes.

 An important ingredient in my kitchen is the phone...so when Mr. Oranges goes to the grocery store he can call me to verify that yes I want heavy whipping cream, not just whipping cream.  And no, I do not want that stuff in the spray can or worse that stuff in the plastic tub.

 With all that mess going on in the kitchen I didn't even bother to change out of my workout gear.

 I mean, why bother looking like June Cleaver if the place is going to look like this within a matter of minutes? 

 When that mess overwhelms me I can look at my nice tidy baking cupboard. 
Sigh...Tupperware, I love you!

 You know what I need more than double ovens?  Double mixing bowls.  Make that triple. 

 While the cinnamon rolls were rising I had to mix my cake by hand (while holding the camera with my left hand to get this shot!).

 Several hours later I had 24 Madelines, over two dozen cinnamon rolls, one pumpkin dump cake, and one chocolate cake.

This is my plan for the cake.  Wish me luck.

Stay tuned for chocolate vodka.  Say what?