Sue Spitulnik

Author

Sue Spitulnik

I am a retired grandmother that grew up in western New York State, left for 25 years, and am now back in the area. I happily live with my husband and two cats. I am pro-military, writing, food, family, and quilting. I am con-exercise, insulting commercials, and lack of common sense. I have met some great friends through this website.

Pastry; Which is Your Favorite?

There are many different types of pastry, most of which would fall into one of the following categories:

Shortcrust pastry – simplest and most common.
Sweetcrust pastry – similar to the shortcrust but sweeter.
Flaky pastry – simple pastry that expands when cooked.
Puff pastry – has many layers that cause it to puff when baked.
Choux pastry – very light pastry that is often filled with cream or other fillings.
Phyllo pastry – paper-thin pastry dough that is used in many layers.

I didn’t know there were so many types of pastry so I included the above from the National Day of Calendar.

I think we all know the first two types of pastry are your typical pie shell pastries. When making a pie, once you put the crust in the pan, trim the edges even. Those trimmings can be rolled flat, slathered with room temperature butter, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon and baked all by themselves. A nice treat when you have to wait for the pie until after dinner.

Flaky pastry would be a biscuit or croissant. You can actually peel away layers. While the biscuit is still warm, carefully separate the layers, butter and consume with a satisfied sigh. Yum.

Puff pastry is used to make turnovers, among other things. You can actually see the layers of dough when you cut into it. Cherry turnovers are my favorite.

Choux pastry is used when making an éclair, or cream puff. Don’t forget the chocolate frosting. My mouth is now watering…..

Phyllo pastry is used when making Baklava or appetizers such as fresh creamed mushrooms. Years ago I had an older lady friend that taught me how to make Baklava. The secret to working with the Phyllo and not having it tear, is to thaw it slowly. I miss my friend Leta, and being able to eat Baklava without worrying about calories.

If you aren’t the baking type I’m sure you have a favorite place to go to get your pastry fix. Remember, the fresher it is, the better it will be!

12/09/2016 6

Brownies To Go

Brownies were created when there was a request for a desert for a group of ladies that would be attending a fair in the late 1800s. They wanted a small cake-like dessert that could be eaten from a boxed lunch. A Chicago chef, working at the Palmer House Hotel, created the first brownie for the ladies, which featured an apricot glaze and walnuts. The Palmer House Hotel still serves their original recipe for brownies on their menu.

Which are your favorite brownies: blondies, with no chocolate or the normal chocolate? When I was a kid, my older sister started making congo squares. They were blond brownies with both chocolate and butterscotch chips in them, plus walnuts. A pan of these could disappear in a couple of days when all four of us girls were still home. They were best when still warm and the chips gooey.

Brownies are one desert I buy a package mix for. Betty Crocker makes them just as good as any recipe I have ever tried and with no mess. Currently, they are one of the go-to gluten-free deserts that taste so close to regular you can’t tell the difference.

I think brownies became really popular among college students in the ’60’s when they were laced with a certain weed. I can honestly say I have never had one of those kind. I don’t think I missed anything. I’ve also heard of adding ex-lax to them when angry at a particular person. Thankfully I’ve never had the honor of eating any of them either. I guess I’ve been lucky.

In the baking aisle of any complete grocery store you can get a good brownie mix and multiple flavors of chips. If you add chocolate mint chips they would fit right in with the rest of your holiday treats.

12/08/2016 1

Pearl Harbor Day

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed across the nation this day in honor of all those who lost their lives serving this nation at Pearl Harbor. There were more than 3,500 Americans who lost their lives or were wounded on that solemn day.

Think about that number for a minute. 3,500 Americans. That’s a lot of people! Each one of those people had families, neighbors, school friends, and home-town acquaintances that were emotionally stunned by the loss. The fact the attack happened on our own soil also had a profound effect. No wonder most able-bodied young men, and women, signed up to fight for our country. The American populace understood why we needed to get involved.

I have the privilege of spending one morning a month with a WWII veteran in a writing group I belong to. He tells how a military member at that time had to earn points in order to be discharged from service, and he was one of the Americans that helped regain control of Rome for the allies. His history lessons are fascinating. He still wonders, 70 years later, why he was lucky enough to come home.

If you have young people in your life that think WWII happened on another planet, in another time, because it was soooo long ago, please take a minute today and share some of your, or your parents, memories of what happened after the Pearl Harbor attack. It was a time when national pride was fierce and respect for our nation and it’s government was a given. Maybe even add a bit about that’s why we stand and place our hand over our heart when the National Anthem is played. It’s a sign of respect, unification and loyalty.

Thank you to our veterans that keep us free.

12/07/2016 0

Enjoy the Suds

Funny how a title of one of these National Days evokes different thoughts. When I saw the title Bathtub Party Day I wondered just what the picture would be. Somehow, one baby in a tub doesn’t equal a party to me. I immediately thought of my two children playing in a tub of bubbles when they were both under the age of five. I also remembered how a special friend would stay overnight when we were kids and fist we would make “secret” mud-holes in the garden, then take a bath together to clean up.

But: my mind also went to college, when a bathtub would be filled with ice and all sorts of alcoholic beverages in cans or bottles. Now that was a party. I have also heard of pouring all the bottles and cans contents into a tub and using it like a huge punch bowl. Sorry, that scene turns my stomach. Then I imagined a fancy hotel room with a heart shaped tub with a couple on their honey-moon or a weekend get-away. I would enjoy that one! I hope someone thought to bring a candle and a bottle of wine.

So what was the first scene your mind conjured when you read Bathtub Party Day? Maybe you can help me learn some new options.

12/05/2016 0

An Apple A Day

I just spent a whole lot of time with my sister and her husband helping out after she had a knee replacement. It was a pleasure to be able to do it. During one breakfast we talked about our Christmas Stockings when we were kids. The toe usually held an orange or an apple. We looked forward to that piece of fruit almost more than the other small gifts from Santa.

When I was in grade school, I got a box of apples in the mail at Christmas time. They were from the man who was the postmaster in our little one block town. They were each nestled in fake straw in a cardboard thing that looked like a huge egg carton. My sisters and parents shared the apples and the shiny red ones were always eaten first.

Currently, I make a salad each morning for my husband’s lunch. When we can get fresh Empire apples he gets one of those for his afternoon snack. There’s nothing else like the first bite into a juicy red apple.

Back to my sister; her doctor’s name is David Grimm. My friend, Mary, always makes about ten different types of cookies at Christmas time and she passes out tins of them as gifts. When she delivers to Dr. Grimm’s office, because he did her knee too, she includes an apple for Dr. Grimm because he prefers it. Me, I’ll take the cookies.

Today is also National Pie Day. I recommend Apple, that way, no matter what, you can eat an apple today. Enjoy!

12/01/2016 0

Lighting the Tree

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony has become a national tradition hearkening back to the days of the Great Depression. On Christmas Eve of 1931, a group of construction workers erected a small, Spruce Christmas tree on the site of what would become Rockefeller Center. In Rockefeller Center’s inaugural year, 1933, the first official Tree Lighting took place.

The tree must be at least 65 feet tall and can be as much as 100 feet tall. In the construction world, 10 feet is the average of one floor in a building. Translate that to the selected tree and it means it is at least 6 stories tall or taller. The one time I had the privilege of seeing the tree in person, I was amazed at its size. It was difficult to take a picture of the whole thing.

I’m sure you’ve seen movies that had skaters enjoying the outdoor rink at Rockefeller Center during the holidays. Next time you see that scene, notice the walls around the rink. When you are standing on the sidewalk around Rockefeller Center the rink is actually below you. I’m short and couldn’t see over the people to see down onto the rink. I could see the skaters on the far side of the ice. It took some of the magic away because I couldn’t see all of it. The music from the live orchestra that was playing from below was wonderful to listen to as the sound carried up to us.

The stories of the Macy’s Christmas window displays are also true. Much better to see in person than on TV. The decorations in the store blew me away. Almost more decorations to look at than merchandise. Maybe it was because that is what I wanted to see. The hustle and bustle of crowds was another great experience. My visit there will never be forgotten.

If you get the chance, seeing the tree lit in Rockefeller Center and experiencing the Christmas holiday decorations in New York City is a visual treat. One of those things when you see it in person, you turn circles slowly and say Wow as if it is a two or three syllable word. Mind you the hotels rooms are triple the price they are in January, but in my opinion it’s a once in your life-time experience, so worth it.

11/30/2016 0