Gooey Butter Cookies

Gooey Butter Cake is a St. Louis tradition. The story behind this cake is that a baker was trying to make a cake and mixed up the proportions of sugar and flour. The resulting mistake was so good that people asked for it. Recently Paula Deen has published a recipe causing people not from St. Louis to give her credit for the cake. Now I love Paula Deen, both of her boys and everything she deep fries or butters, BUT she did not invent Gooey Butter Cake.

St. Louis bakers are not content with just making the cake and now make Gooey Butter Cookies. I love these cookies and try hard not to buy them because I will eat them until they are gone. Please understand how honored you all should be are for me to attempt making what, if it is successful, a borderline addictive substance

All of the recipes that I found online started with a cake mix. Seriously that is really cheating. So I found a recipe that claims to be the original St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake recipe and I will attempt to make cookies out of it. (Also I hope to make the cookies Gluten Free, Dairy and Egg Free --- wish me luck!)

This is the recipe I started with....

St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake

1 c all-purpose flour

3 tbs sugar

1/3 c butter or margarine

1 1/4 c sugar

3/4 c butter or margarine

1/4 c light corn syrup

1 egg1 c all-purpose flour

2/3 c evaporated milk

powdered sugar; optional

This is the recipe I used (invented/ made up)

Allergen - Free Gooey Butter Cookies

that are just plain delicious

1 1/3 cup rice flour + up to 1/4 cup more

2/3 cup corn starch

1 1/4 cup + 3 T sugar (I was going from the recipe above so it was a weird amount)

1 t. Baking Powder

1 t. salt

1 T. Egg Replacer (I use EnerG brand)

Combine all dry ingredients. (I put mine in a bag so I could make the cookies more quickly later that day.)

In a stand up mixer.

1 cup Dairy Free Margarine

Cream until soft then add

1/4 cup white Corn syrup

Sift in dry ingredients. (I like to sift any flour but I find rice flour has a much better texture when sifted.)

Add 1/4 cup Coconut milk (I used the top part of the can which is mostly cream.)

I tested a couple cookies at 350 for 8-10 minutes. They spread out just a bit too much so I added the 1/4 cup of rice flour and I chilled the batter in the fridge in between batches.

Results:
Was the recipe easy to follow?

It was as easy as any cookie recipe. Making the dry ingredients ahead of time made the mixing quicker.

Did the dish taste good?

It was so VERY VERY good. Oh my!

Would you make it again?
Definitely we will make this again. I think next time I might try a bit less sugar and then roll the cookies in powdered sugar.

Guess what else the Middle Geek did on summer vacation?

Whip it Up 2009 - Chocolate Pudding

What do you do when you are hungry for chocolate pudding and there are no mixes in the house? You turn to Google of course! We scanned through a few recipes and found this one .

It was a recipe for a crowd though and although the Geek household feels more crowded with everyone home on summer vacation, I did not think we needed that much. I cut the recipe down by a third and only tweaked it a little.

Chocolate Pudding for a Geek

1/4 c. cocoa powder

1/2 c. sugar

pinch salt (at least 1/4 teaspoon)

1/6 c. cornstarch (we used the 1/3 cup, guesstimated about half full and then threw in a pinch more.)

2 c. rice milk (we used Trader Joe's brand)

1 tsp vanilla extract (I never measure this I just throw it in.)

a small chunk of Giardhellis unsweetened chocolate (maybe 1/4 ounce)

Combine all ingredients except vanilla in a large pot, until blended thoroughly. Heat over medium-high heat until it comes to the boil. Reduce heat to low and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate chunk and vanilla. Pour into serving bowls and refrigerate. Makes six small servings.

Results:

Was the recipe easy to follow?

Very easy, the Middle Geek measured most of it.

Did the dish taste good?

Thumbs up for a creamy rich pudding.

Would you make it again?

We may never go back to box mixes again!!

Whip it Up 2009 - Holiday Favorite

This summer I am shopping in a new and different way. I am supporting local harvest by purchasing a share of a farmer's crop.

I have also discovered Angel Food Ministries . This is an awesome way to make your food budget go further. I love their Allergen Free Box. For the first time in a long time, I can go to my freezer for an easy meal of Chicken Nuggets for the little geeks. They are very happy too.

They have several choices of food to purchase and the last few months I have bought the "Latin Flavors" produce. It contains a little different variety each month and has key limes, jalapenos, pineapples, mangos and lots of other stuff.

This month it contained Yucca Root. I have seen these in the grocery store but I had no clue how are what you could use it. So I went (of course) to google.

I found a great possibility at this blog

Cassava Heavy Cake

First I peeled the Yucca root (also know as Cassava and Manioc and probably other names). I was afraid that was going to be difficult but I used a vegetable peeler and it was easy.

Unfortunately the second root was rotten on the inside, so I had to adjust ingredients on the fly (and cross my fingers).

I used my food processor to shred the yucca root. I looks like it made about 1 cup shredded.

1 can coconut milk

1 Tablespoon Vanilla (I LIKE vanilla)

1 Dash cinnamon (I like cinnamon only a little)

1/2 teaspoon salt

Mix two heaping Tablespoons of Cornstarch with just enough cool water to make a mixture and add to above.

Melt 3 Tablespoons of Margarine (to stay dairy free) in the pan -using the microwave.

Pour batter into the melted margarine.

Bake at 350 for 1 and 1/2 hours.

The result

This cake/ pie was delicious. It has a texture like Pecan Pie or Chess Pie, very smooth and slightly gooey. Fabulous!!

This is also my first entry for Whip It Up 2009

Happy Father's Day to Mr. Geek!

We started off celebrating Father's Day the way we always do in the Geek House --- Mr. Geek raced in a Triathlon. The Geeks all waited in the park to cheer him on during the run.

Later, we move on to more traditional cards and presents.

For one present, I compiled pictures of all of Mr. Geeks adventures, so far in 2009.

Happy Father's Day!!!!

How is Middle Geek spending Summer Vacation?

How is College Geek spending his summer vacation?

He will be a camp counselor . What a perfect job for the College Geek! He can combine computer games, computer programming with "Dress like a Pirate Wednesday".!

AbFab and Mr. Geek's Honeymoon

I have promised the story of AbFab and Mr. Geek's honeymoon since our 25th Anniversary party. This story is so HUGE that I will tell it in two parts.

Part one-- the pictures.

Mr. Geek took me away for a romantic week to a fine romantic resort.

The beaches could be described by the locals as fabulous.

The on-site chef prepared all meals to order.

The choice of several dining rooms was available.

Guests were encouraged to explore new interests.

Fresh Seafood was available daily.

Sexy young men were available to serve your every need.

More on this tomorrow!!

Medika Mamba in Haiti

I HATE cliches, I really hate them. But... well my time in Haiti really did change me. I haven't really posted on much of that because I am not sure how to write about it yet - without using lots of cliches which I just told you I hate.

I have kept up with the blogs I visited before my trip. Remember way back then, when even the thought of going to Haiti seemed so out there. I was searching for blogs that would tell me how dangerous the "man on the street" felt about Haiti and was looking for suggestions as to what to bring.

Well in a coincidence that should not surprise me, one of the blogs I follow is now connecting with the plant where I worked when I visited Cap Haitian. Tara and Troy Livesay live in Port au Prince with their family. I love to read of the Livesay family as they live their "ordinary" lives and interact with that which is so uniquely Haiti. Tara and Troy are expanding the number of children in the Medika Mamba program. To fund this project, Tara is running a marathon. (She is actually training in Haiti.) She has several supporters that have offered to match any funds that she can raise here.

Go visit Renald. I was going say and try to understand, but there is no understanding within me that can justify the pain in these children and their mother's lives.

I leave you with this thought for the day.

May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for injustice, freedom and peace. -Franciscan Benediction

The last ten books I have read

Kaylynne completed a MEME on books that she has read. The questions are very hard for this engineer's brain and my ONE literature class I had in college. That one English course included Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, that is all I remember about it.


But I went ahead and tried to answer the questions and I am giving you the list of books I have read since the end of the Spring semester. Because I know you are all dying to know, what does a geek read?

1. What author do you own the most books by? Trevor Kletz- He is the father of Learning from Industrial accidents.

2. What book do you own the most copies of?The Bible. My favorite revisions are the Good News and The Living Word. I hope to buy The Message soon and on the Colbert Report, I just saw a new edition printed like a glossy magazine. I will be looking for that. (For those purist, I do own an NIV and I think even a King James Version somewhere.)


3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? They did?

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with?Roarke, from the JD Robb Eve Dallas Series.

5. What book have you read the most times in your life?North to Freedom and Watership Down

6. Favorite book as a ten year old? When I was ten, I was wild about this series of biography books. I don't know if they still exist, but they were short and fat and contained lots of details about the character's childhood. My favorite one I remember was about Luther Burbank.

I also began consuming all of the Little House books. I was the only person that did not enjoy the TV show because the characters did not fill my expectations.

7. What is the worst book you’ve read in the past year? How about worst book ever? It would have to be Silence of the Lambs followed Kiss the Girls. No more horror books for this girl ever again.

8. What is the best book you’ve read in the past year? Tough one, I think I will skip this question.

9. If you could force everyone you know to read one book, what would it be?Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone

10. What book would you most like to see made into a movie? The only movies I have liked after reading the book was the Harry Potter books so I will not jinx any of my favorite books.

11. What is the most difficult book you’ve ever read? There are so many I remember from high school, let's see- The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Walden Pond, and anything by Hemingway.

12. What is your favorite book? North to Freedom, Watership Down, Gone With the Wind

13. Play?Macbeth

14. Poem?The Jabberwocky and anything by Ogden Nash

15. Essay? Seriously, I am an engineer, I don't ask you want your favorite technical paper was, do I?

16. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Okay, he is not alive and I should probably not admit it, but I have HATED everything I have ever read by Hemingway. (I am sure I am going to literary hell for saying that.)

17. What is your desert island book? Little House on the Prairie - A great book with some survival advice.

18. And . . . what are you reading right now? (Since the end of the spring semester)

No Opportunity Wasted by Phil Keoghan

Strength and Compassion by Eric Greiten

Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell
Sex God
Jesus wants to save Christians : a manifesto for the church in exile

When I find a book that I like, sometimes I go to the library and request every book by that author. I loved the book Velvet Elvis, it is a book about personal growth and faith. The other two books are okay, I liked most of them but I would have to say they were a bit light on content. I think they could have been condensed to one really good essay (which then could have been my favorite.)

How People Grow: What the Bible Reveals About Personal Growth by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

I loved the first two thirds of this book. I am still considering the last parts.

Do-it-Yourself Shiatsu - I am into acupressure and trying to learn about eastern medicine.

Promises in death - by J.D. Robb - no redeeming features here, just pure escapism.

Cover of night by Linda Howard - More good summer trash

Testing Limits

I have been very distracted by summer, but I want to return to creating a Life List.

Next category is: Test Your Limits

Can I level with you? I am not so much into physical endurance tests. When Mr. Geek gets up at 5:00 am to go swim laps or signs up for another triathlon, I am not filled with envy. Not even a twinge.

I have run one 5K and I did enjoy that. Seriously I did, well mostly. I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the women I trained with and the end of the race when we all hung out and ate fruit and bagels. I think I might want to run another 5K, but only with a group of friends. So are you out there? Do you want to train for a 5K with me? There will be food!!

Getting Lost (The Plan)

I have paused in my review of No Opportunity Wasted to expand on an idea that I formulated in the last post.

Go on a Quest

Not only is the book North to Freedom by Anne Holm, one of my favorites, but I was reading the book to College Geek when he was in grade school. We were reading in when the Littlest Geek joined our family, if you want read about that story go here .



Because of the book and its impact on me and the College Geek, we agreed to give the Littlest Geek the middle name of David. David is the central character in the book. The book is both an incredible adventure book as David escapes a forced work camp and travels through Italy north to Denmark. It is also a journey of self discovery and awakening of a mind and soul that has never been free.



Call out to the producers of No Opportunity Wasted - the television show .

HEY READ THIS!

The Littlest Geek, named for the main character is now the age of David in the book (or will be next summer, hint hint). How awesome would it be to travel David's route and see it through the eyes of a young boy.


Here's the itinerary.


David escaped from a camp north of Solonika (Greece). He mostly walked this route and snuck aboard a truck for some of the traveling. This would put him in an interment camp either in Bulgaria or Romania. Parts of some of these camps are still around and can be visited. Perhaps Lovech Bulgaria where we could take some hikes in the mountains and come to understand David's journey.


David walked to to the shipyards of Solonika where he stowed away on an Italian Cargo ship. He was discovered in the hold, but the man finding him did not have the heart to turn him in. He gave David a makeshift floatation devise and let him jump off the ship shortly be for the ship entered the port of Salerno, Italy.



I am still searching for a boat that would take us to Salerno. I think we probably shouldn't stow-away, even in the interest of accuracy.


In Salerno, David first saw a world that was not grey. He saw a beautiful world full of light and color and the pictures of Salerno are very beautiful. David began to appreciate how precious his freedom was. He began to explore the village during the daylight and tentatively talking to the people there. The Littlest Geek and I should spend some time meeting the local people and eating the local food.

From there David walked and hitched rides through Italy stopping in Naples, Perugia, Florence,
Bologna, Milan, and Como before crossing into Switzerland.

View Larger Map

After traveling through Switzerland and Germany, David finally enters Denmark. He travels to Strandvejen 758 Copenhagen. This is an actually address.


View Larger Map

We can visit Bellevue Theatre. Bellevue Theater is a theater on Strandvejen in Klampenborg north of Copenhagen, who visited annually by more than 100,000 visitors. Building are among the architect Arne Jacobsen's absolute masterpieces. In addition to the theater is the theater hosting and co-producer of a summer ballet, which annually ballet company created by Copenhagen International Ballet, headed by Alexander Kølpin.

Weekend Movie Review

The Middle Geek and I spent the weekend home by ourselves. We decided to kick back and watch some PG-13 movies. I mean now that the Middle Geek is a teenager, he has been excited to see some of those (trashy) movies that all his friends are talking about. So we cooked up some chicken wings, got some popcorn and watched the best that RedBox had to offer.



I will let him review them.




Meet the Spartans was so awesome. But if you are a little kid you shouldn't see this because it says really really really bad words. If you are someone who likes comedy definitely watch this.

The best part is when "Britney Spears" was by the pit of death shaving her head saying, "Why do y'all think I'm so crazy?" Then she got kicked into the pit of death.

Next the American Idol judges come in to judge the kick and the main guy says, "Ryan Seacrest?" and Randy says, "I just didn't feel that kick dog." Paula goes, "You move me." and then collapses. Simon says, "I didn't really think that was your best kick. I thought a donkey could do better than that." The main guy says, go **** yourself!!!!!!!


and this movie never watch it, It is a horrible movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strength and Compassion

From the Dust Jacket: "Strength and Compassion brings together the best of Eric Greitens’ award-winning international humanitarian photography work with a striking series of essays."

Mr. Geek and I went to the book signing for this book. Yes, a real book signing, we felt so grown up. The author Eric Greitens read from some of the essays in the book and add some personal stories. After my trip to Haiti I have been drawn to those who work is developing* nations.

*"developing" is too clean of a word to describe the impoverished conditions, but I have not been able to think of an appropriate replacement word.

When Eric traveled to Bosnia and saw first hand the devastation and misery he was moved like most people would be. What is interesting about his story is that he moved beyond the surface of the surroundings and looked deeper into the people's lives. Within the walls of the refugee camp he found people who still had hope and strength. Intrigued by these people he was moved to learn how they were coping. What he discovered was the reason is that some had found a way to serve within the community. Some women started a knitting circle to knit clothing for those in the camp that had even less. Some of the older boys had organized soccer teams among the younger boys. And he discovered in serving, people find their strength

The most impressive thing about Eric is his history of service. He decided that if he was to speak out and encourage people to be possibly put in harms way, then he should be willing to do the same. In order to do this he joined the Navy and became a Navy Seal.

More and more veterans are returning home with life changing injuries. Eric visited these war veterans and asked them, "What is it you would like to do?" After it became apparent that they could not return to their unit, the second choice was almost always some sort of service. Eric then founded The Mission Continues . This is an organization that pays for fellowships for wounded veterans to explore and serve within the community. I urge you to investigate the website. It is inspiring.

Happy Mother's Day!!

I have lots of posts in the queue but I interrupt them for this important Mother's Day Essay.

I LOVE my Mom Because:

Well there's so many reasons that I can't name them all, but I will try to say as much as I can.

Mom I love you because you are nice to me, you love me. You help me with my troubles and you are nice to my friends. When a bully is hurting my feelings you say like "back off." You mean bully stop hurting my child's feelings or I'll call your parents and then the bully will be like "Oh no, please don't call my Daddy He will put me in the corner." There are 5,879 more reasons to go.....just joking! Well it is time to end this essay...Oh, and one last thing I love you Mom!

Love from,
The Littlest Geek