Dreaming of doughnuts

I bought this yesterday:

Wilton Doughnut Pan

Because I love those gourmet cake doughnuts that don't require a fryer, all you need is special pan and some creativity. Why did I wait so long to buy said pan? Well, first it would require shopping and that is one of my least favorite activities. Next, they were generally $10-12 a pop and that's too much money for me. And then I saw this:

SALE PRICE

Apparently, I could suddenly get two for less than the price of one. And I was sold. And then I went on a mad Pinterest spree and found these incredible recipes:

• Pina Colada Baked Doughnuts
• Confetti Cake Baked Doughnuts
• Mojito Doughnuts
• Fall Classics: Apple Crisp, Pumpkin Spice & Gingerbread from single core recipe
• Carrot Cake Doughnuts with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting

When I finally try them out, I'll let you know how it goes. Plus, I plan on figuring out my favorite O Doodle Doos doughnut: Maple Blueberry Pancakes with Bacon Doughnuts. That's right. BACON.

On the move

So all summer I've sort of felt like a bump on a log. Strike that. I've been feeling rather unhealthy since the week right after my wedding, when I realized I didn't have to worry about fitting into the wedding dress I bought 10 months before my wedding. I know. Some said it wasn't smart and I must admit I got worried a few times. And though I never actually dieted, I did say no to a few of my crazier stress cravings that I indulged in right after the wedding. Like eating a whole box of Uh-Oh Oreos in two sittings. Or eating Wendy's for lunch and dinner everyday for a week. Ugh.

In case you're wondering, my dress fit perfectly. Observe:

But I know I couldn't fit into right now. And once summer began I started feeling really gross and tired, which is usually the opposite of how I feel in the summers. Usually I get a lot of energy and I get pretty active. Not so much this summer. And as the days got hotter it got worse. So I've decided, now that it's not so hot during the day, to get back into moving more and sitting around less. This post was really supposed to be my back-to-running post (since the kids in my area are all going back to school), but since I woke up feeling sick, it's not meant to be. So instead I'll share the first step of my return to running.

Step one: Buy running shoes. I've tried to run a few times and the Reebok Classics I have right now (which I've had ever since high school!) make most of my body hurt. So I've been doing research. And I've figured out that my feet have normal arches (thanks to the get-my-feet-wet-and-stand-on-some-cardboard test) and I have mild overpronation (which means I walk on the inside of my feet). It' a good thing I looked it up because I would have said I have flat feet and walk on the outside of my feet. Which would have led me to get running shoes that would have caused me to hurt my knees and ankles while running and likely would have caused me to give up.

Anyway, next I checked out reviews. And I kept coming across this brand name for beginning runners:

And then I did a bit more research into the shoes they offer for my type of feet/gait, and I found these:

Saucony Women's Grid Cohesion 4

Yes. They are black and pink. But those were the only one's available at the store where I found them, and they were on sale at said store. And I'm hoping they will soon be covered in dust from me running so much.

And before you say anything, yes, I know you aren't supposed to buy running shoes on sale so that you buy high-quality shoes that don't hurt you. But these really are the shoes I needed and most reviews said they were great for beginning runners. Plus, they were cheap enough that if I stay serious about running, I can afford even better ones when I'm ready for them.

And Miyagi loves them:

At least I think so, since he immediately shoved his nose inside my shoes and wouldn't stop huffing the new-shoe scent.

And yes, I think whether he likes my shoes is important, since he'll eventually be my running partner. Well, once I am actually able to keep up with him, anyway.

Healthy dessert: Chocolate zucchini cake

OK, it may not actually be healthy, but chocolate zucchini cake is a great way to not only use up the tons of zucchini I've been getting from my CSA but also to sneak some veggies into an otherwise totally unhealthy cake. And did I mention it's delicious? Plus it was an excellent opportunity to break out my racy red Kitchen Aid:

Isn't she the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?

First up, I should mention that this cake is closer to a brownie in texture than a cake. It's quite dense, and so moist that it never really made it to the light crumbly texture most cakes have. And that's alright with me, and all of my taste-testers (these certified testers include my husband and coworkers). The taste-testers, by the way, ate up all my cake before I could get a picture of just a slice by itself. It looked fairly close to this image, from Chocolate & Zucchini blog, which is where I got my recipe from:

Chocolate Zucchini Cake, Photo by Clotilde Dusoulier of Chocolate & Zucchini blog

I frosted mine with a thin layer of whipped cream cheese frosting, mostly because I was out of powdered sugar. Here's the star of this post, the recipe:

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1 cup loose dark brown sugar (as opposed to packed)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons strong cooled coffee
• 3 large eggs
• 2 cups unpeeled grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped chocolate (I used milk chocolate, but I would recommend getting a semisweet bar instead, since the milk chocolate chunks lost almost all flavor in the cooking)
• Confectioner's sugar or frosting (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 10-inch round springform pan or 8 1/2-inch square pan.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In the bowl of a mixer (or by hand in a large mixing bowl), beat the sugar and butter until fluffy. Add the vanilla, coffee, and eggs, mixing well between each addition.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the zucchini, chocolate chips, and about a third of the flour mixture, making sure the zucchini strands are well coated and not clumping too much.
4. Add the rest of the flour mixture into the egg batter, half a cup at a time. Mix until just combined; the batter will be thick.
5. Fold the zucchini mixture into the batter, and blend with a spatula without overmixing. Pour (or scoop, mine was super thick) into the prepared cake pan, and level the surface.
6. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Transfer onto a rack to cool for 10 minutes, run a knife around the pan to loosen, and unclasp the sides of the pan. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, frosting or a chocolate glaze, if desired.

Being a new recipe, I have several things I would do differently. I would likely add about 1 tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg and a 1/2 teaspoon cloves, just to spice things up a bit. I was even thinking some ginger, cayenne pepper or cardamom would all be good ways to kick this recipe up a notch. Finally, I think I'd want to either leave it unfrosted or go with the powdered sugar, maybe even the coconut pecan frosting that normally goes on German chocolate cake. Now for the photos:

That's my cup of coffee. And yes, there's caffeine in this cake, but not very much. And you can't really taste it. It merely adds depth to the chocolate.

This recipe utilizes the classic cake-making steps: Mix dry ingredients in one bowl...

Cream butter and sugar in another bowl...

Add the rest of the wet ingredients to the creamed mixture. Traditionally the flour is added to the creamed mixture in a few parts and then you're done.

But I was adding chocolate chunks (hand-chopped from a Symphony chocolate bar) and zucchini.

So this means that I had to worry the additions would clump together and not distribute properly.

But that's not really a worry if you remember a simple step: Mix your additions with a third of the flour mixture. The floury coating will help the additions evenly distribute in the batter. I'm not an expert on the science, but I know it works.

My Kitchen Aid came with an attachment that helps me funnel the dry ingredients into the bowl without flour going everywhere, which is a big problem with stand mixers. I essentially added the flour in 1/2 cup increments until it was all incorporated.

The recipe calls for a springform pan, but you don't need to use it. I did because I got a set of three for the wedding that I still hadn't used. They are also much deeper than any of my round cake pans, which meant that my batter would definitely not overflow.

The walls of the springform pan are separated from the base. The black clip essentially tightens the ring around the base, creating a seal that keeps batters from leaking out.

When the batter is cooked, you release the clip and lift of the ring and...

Viola! You have lovely cake with perfect sides that didn't require a lot of effort and finger-crossing to remove from the pan.

Battle of the tomato plants

A while back I purchased a Topsy Turvy after everyone I know said it was amazing. Alright, I only had my mom's testimony. But, when it comes to tomatoes, that tends to be good enough for me. The things are $10, but unbeknowest to me, don't come with tomatoes! Crazy, right? So I trekked to Anderson's to look over their extensive tomato collection (including some amazing - and amazingly expensive - heirloom varieties). I settled on a more affordable "Early girl" varietal that came in a four pack. Then I realized the topsy turvy only held up to two plants. So I pulled out the old pot that Bob the tomato plant (read about his short journey here, here, here and a little bit here) lived in and died in. While that's a little bit morbid, it's also a chance to have a battle of the tomato plants.

In this corner we have the old-timer, Green Death Pot:

And in this corner, young upstart Topsy Turvy aims to steal his thunder.

If the read those sentences in a crazy 90's wrestling announcer's voice, it's twice as amusing.

Both plants have a healthy array of blooms and both already have a single tomato about the size of a marble. Let the battle begin! 

Friday Finds: Geek to the core

Last week's discovery of the R2D2 mug got me thinking about how best to incorporate my love of all things Geek into my decor. A quick Etsy search turned up plenty of choices.

I don't have kids, but if I did, you can be sure this would be in their room:

The ABCs of geek pop culture, SuburbanYeti 

This would be fitting addition to any (wo)man cave:

 Bold Bluff, RyanJonesArt

I love the graphic nature of this one. It's pretty much on my must-have list now:

 Retro Scandinavian style Star Wars print, handz

There's something gorgeously geeky about these simple blueprints for the Millennium Falcon. Want!

Framed plans to Millennium Falcon, trasureiland

And because I love typography and The Lord of the Rings, I can't help but think this is pretty awesome:

"Not all who wonder are lost" in Elvish calligraphy, tiedyejedi

And finally, I love the moody quality and the reference that only fans would get:

Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross Station, kylespears

Friday Finds: Fun mugs

This week I hope to offer some options for getting your caffeine fix - or decaf, if that's your style.

Love mug; Chocolate Creative

Bicycle mug, LennyMud

 Dandelion travel mug, Pretty My Drink

 Harry Potter, Daily Grinder 

 Keep Calm and Drink Coffee, Daily Grinder

 Star Wars R2D2 mug, Daily Grinder

Jane Austen quote, Brookish

One day I hope to enjoy some delicious french press in my own reading nook, where I will use this photo to decorate:

Morning Coffee - Seattle's Pike Place Market, Big Bean Photos

And this:

Shhh, Thebigharumph

Friday Finds: Upcycled is fun

Sometimes you just have to respect people who are creative and skillful enough to make some of the amazing things that you can find on Etsy. Granted, there's some real crap on that site. But for every piece of crap, there always seems to be several pieces of joy just ready to be taken home - by me, if I had the money.
This week I sort of went on an Etsy craze and just browsed randomly through stores that popped up by searching "upcycled." That's what will be featured this week.

Amusing finds

Who doesn't need something to advertise their obsessive addiction to coffee? I know I do.

"Death Before Decaf" coffee/espresso spoon by Sycamore Hill

This next shop was full of these reclaimed, old-lady tea cups with random things like "slut" or "whore house" written on them. I literally laughed out loud when I saw them. They also made me think of a certain tea drinker I know. I think she might get a kick out of this:

"Trollop altered vintage teacup" by Trixiedelicious 

Simply gorgeous

I want this, so bad. I know I really don't have a need to display cupcakes or dessert, but it is so pretty that I might just buy it and use it for something else. A place to throw keys in the entryway, perhaps?

 "Green Shabby Heirloom Scalloped dessert stand" by Burlap and Blue

And this lamp is so beautiful. I wish I had a place for this. Sadly, renters really can't go around updating lighting and what not. This is the essence of "upcycled."

 "Bombay Sapphire Gin upcycled pendant" by Bottlehood

I could see getting like 4 of this next piece and hanging them on the wall as art. The shop is full of really pretty designs.

"Red hand-painted vinyl record bowl" by Reclaimed Wreckage

Cottage Chic

I think this slightly worn look of this next piece is beautiful. I really love the graphic nature of bikes and I think they make great silhouettes - obviously, since I just spent money on a print of a tandem bicycle.

 Bicycle key rack by prettylovelypainting

There was something about this vase that drew me in. It's not my style, but it's still pretty.

 Upcycled galvanized bucket by Alexis BrookeLane

I think my mom would love these. She once did this to a spice rack, though her's was mostly blue. I would put little bunches of wildflowers in these.

Shabby wall sconces with mirrors in vintage white and blue by ShabbyNChic

Industrial but pretty

Someday I will have floor-to-ceiling bookcases that hold mostly books, instead of DVDs. When that day comes, I hope to need bookends. These instantly took me back to the time when I worked at the college library. I love that that were painted a bright color, though.

 Industrial style green bookends by Orangedoorcottage

When I was in high school, I got the chance to go to Hawaii. This lamp, made out of photo slides, features scenes from Hawaii. It's a little ungainly, but I still love it.

Kodachrome slides of Hawaii lamp by cameratakesphotos  

Brightly colored treasures

Here's the thing: I hate shopping. Maybe it's the crowds or the fact that I am spending money, but I rarely shop. In fact, I've only been shopping twice in the last couple of months, and both times included my mother. See, when she comes into town, I am suddenly willing to shop. And our favorite places are the outlets in Williamsburg, mostly because they tend to be on the cheaper side.

This go around I found many things I absolutely loved but couldn't afford and a few things I liked the price and look enough to purchase. Since everything I was drawn to during the trip featured bright colors, I'd say I'm definitely looking forward to the arrival of spring.

Here's a rundown of why I bought what I bought and what I would have purchased if I had more disposable income than I could ever need.

Because I need more than one

I currently have one belt and I love it. It's a white Star Wars belt with black graphics depicting the Battle of Endor.

But the bright colors and comfortable, flexible knit on this one from Eddie Bauer was just too much to say no to, plus the price was affordable.

Because of the irony

When I got my first checking account, I bought a wallet from Walmart specifically to hold my checkbook. 10 years later I'm still using the same wallet, but it's stuffed to the brim with junk I've been collecting since high school. Yet, I haven't purchased a new one because I couldn't take the hit a brand new wallet might have on my... well, you get the idea.

But a recent trip through the Fossil outlet revealed a sale on the wallets I've been drooling over since I found them there several years ago.

What I can't afford and really don't need

And here's a look at my favorite things that I couldn't bring myself to buy, all of which were found at the Le Creuset outlet. Despite the outlet discounts, everything there is still sadly overpriced. I've wanted a tagine since my trip to Morocco. Unfortunately the quality examples are ridiculously expensive. Like this gorgeous kiwi green one, priced at $120:

And while this piece wasn't really expensive, it is a waste of money considering I don't really need a honeypot. But I still love it:

And here are a few more items that I didn't take pictures of because the salesladies were giving me weird looks. Plus, I've never really taken pictures in a store, so I'm not used to the guilty feelings I was having, as if I was breaking some sort of law.The Zen style is so me, but since I get so much use out of my electric kettle, this might be more of a decoration than anything. I definitely couldn't spend money on something I would likely never use.
As for these pepper and salt mills, I know I could snag similar ones for at least half the price of Le Creuset. But they really are gorgeous. Sigh. My aversion to spending money on a whim sure gets to me some times.

By the way, being Le Creuset items, everything in my didn't-buy category comes in pretty much any of their colors, except that sweet honeypot (forgive the pun). That only comes in the gorgeous sunny yellow that such an item should be. Pooh, at least, would be proud.