Peanut Butter Pie

I realize that we're one week into Lent, so many of you may find this particular post to be a little cruel.  I, in fact, am sort of torturing myself with the memory of this particular sweet treat, because I will not be eating the likes of it again until April 8th (-ish).

(For those still scratching their heads, that's Easter, and thus the end of Lent.)

But if you're brave enough to dare temptation, by all means, continue reading about my husband's favorite treat, peanut butter pie.

Clipix to Get Organized

If there's one thing i have always struggled with just a little bit, it's organization.  It's true for my desk at work, my pantry, my bedroom closet.... You get the idea.  Organization isn't necessarily my strong suit.  And it definitely applies to things online - ideas, recipes, or just cool things I find that I want to look more into later.

Well, with clipix I can organize my online searches just as easily as I strive to someday organize my pantry. And closet.  And desk.  How so?  

It's actually kind of neat.  You drag a "Clip" button to your bookmarks bar on your web browser, and on their site you create "clipboards" where you can organize links to articles you read, things you want to buy, or in my case, recipes that look interesting:

I've also got a clipboard for kitchen gadgets and cookware I would love to have, as well as one for books I'd like to read, gift ideas, vacation ideas, and general interest (like articles I might want to get back to reading at a later date).

And yes, I have a clipboard for shoes.

I have a little "shoe problem."  It's almost as strong as my "baking gear" problem.

But I digress.  This may not be the site for everyone when it comes to organization, but when you live as much of your life and search for as much information on the web as I do, it really does seem helpful.  And there are lots of other ways you can organize and use Clipix.  Going along with the recipes, you can plan meals for a week (which, by the way, is one of my New Year's resolutions that has gone a bit by the wayside the past month or so).  There is also a "syncboard" feature where family members and friends can share ideas.  Hey, I can even organize my recipes - desserts, side dishes, main courses, snacks, appetizers, the list goes on.

You don't have to be tied to your computer for it to work, either.  If you've got an iPhone, "there's an app for that."  You can even take pictures to add to your clipboards.  I don't have an iPhone, but I can certainly see how handy the Clipix app could be.

By the way.... It's free!  

I'm all about free.

It really only takes a few minutes to get started at Clipix.  In fact, you can even create your account with your Facebook or Twitter account info, which makes the whole process take about thirty seconds.

Free and thirty seconds to sign up?  Another second to add the "Clip" button to your browser?

The reason I've probably shied away from organizational strategies in the past is because of the time it takes.  But organization is important when you lead a busy life, and this site gives me no excuses.  Free, fast and easy.

At least when it comes to organizing recipes and wish lists.  So while it's not going to do a thing for the physical state of my pantry, it's a start.

Promoted Post

Mini Cheesecakes with Raspberry Hearts (Cupcake of the Month Series #2)

This weekend I attempted the mini cheesecakes with raspberry hearts from my Martha Stewart 2012 Cupcake Calendar.

It didn't quite work out the way I'd hoped.  The presentation was a bit of a "fail."

See?  They look nothing like the picture on the recipe card.

But they tasted great, so I'll give you the rundown of how I made them.

Julia Child's Coq au Vin

If you're looking for a relatively easy but impressive dish to serve, say, on Valentine's Day, and have about an hour free to prepare such a meal, the coq au vin recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking may be perfect.

I will admit I'm just a touch more in love with Julia's boeuf bourguignon.  But this coq au vin is so delicious.  I've made it twice, once for my family and once for some of my coworkers (I love having little dinner parties!) and both times it surprised everyone in an exceptional way.  When cooked, the chicken takes on a reddish-brown appearance, which makes everyone think it's beef until they cut into it.  It's like a happy surprise!

Still here, just covered in spackle and paint....

I realized yesterday that I haven't posted anything for almost three weeks.  I have good reasons for it.

First, the hubby went away on a business trip during the last week of January/first week of February.  So I didn't cook much of anything for myself that week.

Second, we're in the middle of our final indoor home improvement project.  It's been difficult to cook when every surface in the house is covered with spackle dust.  For the past week, we've basically been living on pizza, Chinese food, and my mother's willingness to provide a home-cooked meal.

And since we've had to sort of disassemble our desktop computer, where I store most of my pictures, it's been difficult to post anything.

Things are looking good, though, for my house to be put back into working order within a day or so.  I've got a great recipe to share for Valentine's Day, so I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to post it within the next day or so.