Someone has been leaving me lovely gifts in the Chapter Room this week!

Can't wait to find out who my Fall '11 Rose Sister is!

All I Ever Wanted - The Airborne Toxic Event

Where there is tea, there is hope

I have a fabulous mother who always remembers the finer things in life. On my first day home she had a tea party in my honor, at which 20 people were in attendance.

I also have a wonderful God-mother who always remembers my favorite things. This tea is literally heaven in a cup. It makes everything better. I highly suggest buying some!

P&P

Nutella Meringues

Nutella Meringues
Yields 15 to 20 meringues (depends on how big you make them)

3 large egg whites, at room temperature
a pinch of cream of tartar
a pinch of salt
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon, granulated sugar
1/4 cup Nutella

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Make sure you have one oven rack in the bottom third of your oven and one in the upper third of your oven.

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Set up a double boiler (a pot with another pot on top or a heat-proof bowl on top) and put the Nutella in the top of the double boiler. Warm the Nutella through and then set aside while you make the meringue. (You could warm the Nutella in a microwave but I don’t own one so you’re on your own if you do use one.) Let the Nutella cool as you make the meringue.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment, place the egg whites. Beat on medium-high speed until they are completely foamy.

Add the cream of tartar and the salt and continue whipping at medium-high speed until when you lift the whisk attachment, soft peaks form. This should take a few minutes.

Once you have reached the soft peak stage, increase the speed to high and begin adding the sugar a few spoonfuls at a time (this should take a few minutes).

Once all the sugar is in, the meringue should be very thick (almost stiff) and when you left the whisk firm peaks should remain.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and drop in all the Nutella. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the Nutella into the meringue three or four times. You’re aiming for a swirled effect so don’t overmix. This will also help avoid deflating the meringue.

Using two spoons, drop the meringue onto the parchment-lined baking sheets in large dollops.

Place in the oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, immediately lower the heat to 200 degrees F. and rotate the trays. Bake for an hour.

After an hour, check the meringues. If they are completely dried out then turn the oven off and leave the meringues in the oven for a few hours to cool with the oven. If the meringues still look a bit “wet”, then continue baking for another 20 minutes or so. Either way, once fully baked, turn off the oven and leave the meringues in there for a few hours.

When you remove the meringues from the oven they should be completely dry and cool and will sound hollow when you tap the bottoms.

The meringues will keep in an airtight container for a week.

Enjoy!

Piano Midterm = annihilated

My sticky note to remind me about the test tomorrow keeps falling off the wall.

No matter how many times I put it back up there.

Proof that I shouldn't take that class?

Yes.

I attended my first 'Stitch n Bitch' last night, and I loved it! A few AGDs were there, as well as our advisor, Madeline. Lots of laughing, as well as extremely therapeutic. Something about the rhythm of knitting is quite calming...

Anyways, this is the project I'm currently working on. I've decided to use a burnt red yarn, so it's perfect for fall. Not much free time to work on it this week, but at least I have a crafty project!

Allow me to introduce...

PEYTON!!!

This is the newest roomdog, and she's just as cute as can be!

It was a last minute swap that put her as Mallory's roommate, but boy am I glad this came about!

She loves to get ice cream with me, and devoutly listens to my radio show. She also has a fabulous laugh!

Family!

Welcome Fall 2011!

I'm so excited to welcome our new AGD babies! My child's name is Ellen (in front of me) and she is just as cute as can be. We have a big party for all the new girls on Bid Night where we sing to them, dress them up and invite lots of boys to come meet them. It's such a fun night, and this is us right before hand.

Snatched up two of these last weekend from Bath & BodyWorks in Columbia. Gave one to my AGD kid, Ellen, and put one in our dorm room!