Our Winter Visitor (Random Thought)

Today is the day our new winter visitor makes her appearance. 

So...my darling friend Evil Tara  is going to Europe for three weeks (Christmas in Paris!!) and guess who gets to come and stay with us? Yup...Chicklet the wonder-dog. 

If she survives:

•  my boys snuggling her endlessly
• the gleeful chasing of  quail in our backyard (they have serious attitude)
•  the onslaught of doggie treats (yes...we may have purchased a few pounds)
• the annual New Year's Eve Party cheese tray (be afraid)
• my singing (Okay, I sing like a Diva...I don't know if that is good or not.)
• our goldfish Nancy's singing (She also drinks like a fish)
• Ace's snoring...(even I can't take much of that sound.)

She may never want to leave. 

That being said, thank you Evil Tara for making my boy's dreams come true. They really wanted a dog for Christmas and well...I can say that so far, they haven't stopped talking about how cool she is. 

Who's coming to visit you for the Holidays???

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

Hamsters...Random Thought.

From the back seat of the car, " Hey mom, did you know that cigarettes and hamsters are both really bad for your health?!" 


I respond," What are you talking about!!?" Secretly thinking my kids are just as insane as their mother.


Back seat,"If you put either one in your mouth and light them on fire, they're going to cause a lot of damage."


{Note to self. We're never getting a hamster. Ever.}


Always a little concerned,
Chef Tess.

San Francisco Rocks!

San Francisco was perhaps the fastest, most amazing, eye opening trip I've had in a while. It was the first time I've been there since high school...a few years ago.  Um...close to twenty years. Eeeek. However, I can say that it was still as beautiful and full of magical sights, sounds and flavors as I remember. 


I was visiting for the Fancy Food Show along with 17,000 plus folks attending to see over 80K products. That's a lot of foodie stuff in one spot. Unfortunately...camera's were not allowed in the show. So...this is what you get to see...

I don't think words can do the show justice. Row after row of divine food, crazy food, beautiful artistic food, flavor after flavor that completely blew my mind.  I definitely came away with a renewed sense that what I have to  offer is unique and that there are going to be a lot of lives to bless and things to do! Yes folks. It was a perfect trip to remind me that God has great things in store and that this magnificent journey is full of new wonders to embrace and new challenges to face. 


There it is. Whatever you're doing in life, face it with wonder. Even if it's just wondering how the heck-fire you could possibly put more love in your heart than you have now. It seems that every time I ask that...God shows me the way. 


Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

Rollin' out to San Francisco!

Today I'm getting on an airplane and going to San Francisco for a trade show. I'm actually freaking out. In a good way.  It's been ages since I last visited San Francisco...and though I'm only staying a little less than 24 hours, they will be epic hours.  Don't worry. I promise to post the recipe for these divine Key Lime-coconut Peach and Cream Rolls...when I get back. The dough is  the 11 grain sandwich bread dough and with these ingredients, it tastes like a very soft, sweet graham cracker. Emphasis on the soft though. Did I mention I'm excited?!! Sooo excited! There. Now I better get moving!  Xoxo! Thanks for all the love my friends!


Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess

Banana Cakes and Needed Breaks

I've been going banana cakes. Literally. I've been creating all kinds of freakishly divine banana cakes and breads...among other culinary classics. Having a test kitchen at home is literally like never leaving the office. There's good and bad to that. Good that I can work in my jammies. Bad that I can work in my jammies. It's not pretty when I work this hard because I get wound up and don't allow myself to stop until I just fall down in a heap of pure banana pudding mush on my kitchen floor.  Tonight my darling Evil-genius friend Tara had the mental non-banana-cakes insight enough to call me out of my frenzy and take me to girl's night. Dinner and ... to the grocery store. Now, I don't know where this lovely obsessive thing with grocery stores started, but it seems hardly a night like this passes without us wandering up and down some store aisle looking for random yet cool grocery type-things. I found some good stinky cheese from France, admired funky pastries and stacks of gourmet tortillas. Hello. Then I fell in obsessive love like.  Yes. This place happened to have aprons...in the grocery store. Oh!! You have no idea how that did my heart good! Why? What is it about aprons?!  Is there a 12 step program for apron-a-holics? I'm ready to admit I have a problem. I'm not, however, willing to admit how many aprons  I actually own. Let's not get carried away with this confessing-we-have-a-problem crap stuff.

At the end of a crazy week it was just what I needed.  It was a reminder from a darling friend...that I don't need to go non-stop-Banana-cakes. I can just sit for a while...and breath...and be me. Thanks Tara. At the end of the night, I was back to my non-stressed self...ready to take the weekend off and remember the important stuff. Because really, when it's all said and done, banana bread can wait until Monday.  Bananas will be perfect by then anyway. Oh and Aprons...well...aprons will get old and wrinkle and fade away. Friends like Tara who remind you that you are human and that it's okay.  Those are things that should stay, well... forever. Xoxo! Next time, maybe I'll run into you at the grocery store over a wedge of stinky-divine-Frenchie- cheese and we can talk aprons. Until then...Thank you for being my friends.

There it is.
Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess 

I6 Years! Wow...just wow.

On this day, sixteen years ago, I married my best friend and cutest boyfriend ever. Yeah, check out the engagement picture. I probably could be wearing bobby socks. I was just over 21 when we tied the knot.
Well. We've laughed, we've cried. We've been through a lot. But, I'm happy to say that it's been a remarkable journey. I'm thankful today for sticking with it and blessed that I have such a sweet husband to share life's journey with right now.


  Victor Hugo said, "The supreme happiness of life is in the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, in spite of ourselves."


Thank you Ace for loving me in spite of my rather annoying habits that only you know of and put up with! Xoxo!

Always My Very Best,
 Chef Tess.

Random Thoughts...Little Reminders

I woke up feeling a lot like this:

So I was ever so excited to visit a boutique today and find the quote put into words. 

I also found this one:

Do you ever just have those days were it seems like the Lord is reminding you how blessed you are?  Maybe I've just been extra alert to it today.

Random Thoughts...Ace Day

Today is Ace's Birthday. So, I made pumpkin caramel sticky buns with toasted pumpkin seed that are the size of a full size dinner plate for him....

 True confession...I think he likes getting old.

I made a point to let the boys pick out some snazzy gifts. Knowing how sentimental and funny dad is, they asked to go to an antique store to find his "birthday treasures". Face found a "Fall Guy" metal lunchbox from the 70's...original. It was complete with battle damage from some little kid. When Ace opened it...he hugged it and almost cried. It's now in a place of glory displayed in our bedroom.  Little Man settled on a not-so-antique gift the next day. Yes, we found the first season of "Starsky &Hutch" on DVD...what can I say. It seems that my husband likes old car shows. Who knew that the driving Ace would like car shows?! Yikes.  

However, the biggest, coolest gift came after the actual gifts.  Little Man and Face made birthday cards.  To me, these were a priceless.  Why? Because at the store, my son Face turned to me and said, "It doesn't matter what we buy dad...he'll just want snuggles for his birthday. We might as well go home and only give him snuggles. He'd be happy." Anyone who know my husband will 100% understand that comment. The man absolutely adores his kids. 

So...Happy Birthday Ace.

That's all I have to say about that.

Random Thoughts...Twinkie hot dogs and Seafood dogs...

A while ago I wrote on one of my pages that I would be happy to review products. Imagine my joy at receiving this email! (Yes, it's a joke from a very cool friend and his wife!)

"Dear Bakeresse ,

While perusing your informative and entertaining blog this evening, I noticed a request for submission of "products to review".  Based on the given subject matter, I presume you prefer culinary products, as opposed to the "products of a slightly disturbed mind".  Regardless, I've enclosed photos of two of my latest entrees, and am interested in your feedback.  As you may appreciate, the initial reviews at home were somewhat mixed.  In synthesizing the data, it appears that the demographic including children ages 11 and younger are very much in favor, while those who are a bit less adventurous were unappeased by the complexity of the ingredients.

Looking forward to your expert opinion,

John Miles

Here are the photos he sent of the seafood hot dogs: 

While coming in a close second...Twinkie Hot dogs. Ya know...a Twinkie  used as a hot dog bun.

Thank you John! This made my day! 


Your Friend, 
Chef Tess

My Vintage Modern Kitchen Photo Collection

I have to share some pictures I found to frame in funky 50's frames and put in my kitchen...but in a wild new way.  I think they're classic for what I want to do. Check them out. Seriously. Adorable. 

 Hello Lime Fizz! Does this go in the kitchen or an entire bathroom with a Lime Fizz theme? How many freakin' cool things could we do with limes?! Woah...I hurt my head thinking of it all...but now I'm excited to start in!

 Now if I have twin girls we already have the names picked out...(or maybe twin rat terrier puppies).

 Okay wait...doesn't this lady look like me?

 If I could just slip into my alter-ego 1950's cartoon version of myself...I think this would just about nail me...except more ruffles on the apron.

 Oh this makes me want a little girl! Look at those bangs she cut all by herself under the kitchen table when her mom was on the phone.

 Cut several beans at one time. Okay. Nice haircut on the little boy. Note to self, talk to boys about not using kitchen grease in hair.  So...where do I get hot pads like that?Man-oh-man...Those are cool.

Once I wore earrings that made my sister say, "those earrings  make your whole face *sparkle*!" So...you know this picture made my whole face giggle.

I need this chart so my kids can know what a can opener looks like...and when mom will be opening up a can. (Grin.)

Yeah. Saucy.

You know this will be on the cookie jar right?! 

 Oh. My. Heck. Doesn't this just have to go by the flour mill and where I make the bread?!

This is going on the counter by the blender...

Now I just have to get them all girlie cute and show you the final projects...but I think it will be one of my best projects yet!
Your Friend,
Chef Tess

You Don't Know Anasazi Beans?

Hello. Random Thought. It's been a while since I had a random thought and actually posted it here, but here it is. I took this picture of Anasazi beans and then I said (true confession here) out loud, "I think Anasazi beans are super-bad-bumb". I should not be using such language...but there it is. They look like they got a tat'...and they make me want to get on a rumbling smokin' hot Harley and ride through the desert without a helmet. I might even wear my hot pads...just for kicks. Throw caution to the wind...make some wind...have the beans. Oh mercy. Did I just type, "make some wind"? Okay. This post is now ending. I cannot be held responsible  for my posts while high on beans.   Except for one thing...if you really don't know Anasazi beans...you should read Troy's post here. It's chuck full of good info on them...and I'm not just blowing wind either. Yikes. I'm outta here!

Oh The Family Resemblance Is Insane!

Random thought. Have you ever noticed how much my son Face looks like my dad the Pansy Man? You don't see it?
How about now?

Chick Flicks...(Random Thoughts)

I have this collection of girl movies that I have labeled really nice so my husband doesn't mess with them. Ace calls them the "cancer-death-love-feelie-touchie-emotional-wreck-movies"

Just to be sure we're all on the same page. These would be the movies that some one doesn't die in a fireball car crash or end it all during a Zombie Apocalypse....and look what he did to my Girl-movie case when I wasn't looking...
That's all I have to say about that.

Sugar and Snow...Random Thoughts

Ace announced this morning that there was snow just 60 miles north of Phoenix...and we should really take the kids to see it. Ironically, that same snow storm had just prevented my old friend Andrea from driving to the valley to visit the gals for our scheduled "girl's luncheon"...so I was free. We crammed the car full of blankets, and kiddos...who had no idea what snow really looked like in person. How is it that they could be this age and never know what snow was like? I guess since I grew up in the snow...I never really connected that my kids had missed this vital part of their childhood. An hour and a half later...I was excited to see this...

Oh yeah! That's it!

I of course, being a bit more "girlie"than I ever remember being about the cold...enjoyed this special view from here...

Ace, who never wears his hat, wore it long enough to walk up the hill and back.

A vital stop for sandwiches to warm our innards.

Then...back to the snow...for about twelve minutes before my kids decided that snow was too cold for any human to really spend time in it.

Oh the twelve minutes of glory though...

I think it was this scene that brought it to an end...(no pun intended)...

What Petersen adventure wouldn't be complete without a small bag of these?! I'm horribly addicted to the little red fish. To my credit, it's been about six months since I had one (or twelve..).

Unfortunately, Face had a few of these and ended up bouncing off the walls of the car. You have to see this... Face on sugar, Little Man trying to raise normal parents...and Ace remembering why he never liked New Kids on The Block...(in that order).

Hopefully we remember this the next time Face asks for sugar, but if not...we'll get it on video.

Is it Just Me?

I got so giddy seeing this label today on a new product. Y'all know I'm totally all about all natural stuff.


But...this is saaaaweeeeet!

It ranks right up there with this one...

Is it just me?