holiday cookie bars

my roommates hate me right now because these are so addicting.

unfortunately, i don't have pictures of the process (and the one picture i have is from my phone so is a bit grainy), but it is easy enough. i made these because i had some leftover cookies that were becoming a bit stale.

crumble up leftover cookies into fine crumbs. this can be done by using a food processor, a knife, or even your hands.

take 4 cups crushed crumbs, and mix with 1 1/2 sticks butter, melted. add milk teaspoons at a time to make moist enough.
pat this mixture into a cookie sheet pan, one that is long but has four walls. put this in the freezer while you are making the ganache.

make ganache:
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 pint heavy cream
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

put chocolate in a bowl
heat butter and milk in sauce pan until just boiling.
add milk mixture to chocolate, stirring until smooth.

spread ganache over semi-frozen cookies. leave plain or add sprinkles, m&ms, whatever you want!
put the cookie sheet back into the freezer and wait until the ganache has hardened.

enjoy!



washed out- feel it all around *i love the beats here, especially mixed with his mellow voice and synthesizers
bombay bicycle club- autumn *although subtle and mellow, i really like the drums on this track and the beats towards the middle.
volcano choir- still *an awesome, experimental take on justin vernon's original version of "woods." i love the pitch shifting.
bonnie 'prince' billy- the seedling *older, but i have been listening to this track lately. although will oldham is usually a little more folkish, this track is a little more harsh with clearer drums and bass
los campesinos!- the sea is a good place to think about the future *indie band from wales, i like these lyrics.
the sound of animals fighting- the heretic (evol intent mix) *just because i really can't ever listen to this song enough. experimental and beautiful voices, even better when backed by evol intent's beats.
animal collective- what would i want sky (bbc sessions) *just. so. good. that's all.
crystal castles- vanished *experimental/electronic. older, but, still great.
grizzly bear- cheerleader (neon indian studio 6669 remix) *experimental, synthesizers... feel good track.

mind over time

in interpol's japanese bonus track, "mind over time," (off of the album "our love to admire") there is a really great voice clip towards the middle of the song. it's supposed to be a message on an answering machine, but is it real, or was it just added in the studio? i'd really like to know, and if it is real, know who it is from. if anyone knows more, fill me in!

interpol-mind over time

pumpkin pie

well, we were having a halloween night... so obviously we needed pumpkin pie to accompany it as well. definitely an autumn staple.

1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin pure
1 can (12 fl. oz) evaporated milk
1 frozen 9-inch pie shell

preheat oven to 350 degrees

in small bowl, mix brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, and salt



in another bowl, mix together almond extract, pumpkin puree, and evaporated milk



mix the sugar with the pumpkin mixture. add this to the frozen pie shell



bake for a bout an hour, until the pie cracks a little on the surface or a toothpick comes out clean



top with whipped cream or any topping you desire! enjoy!

mogwai-close encounters
battles-leyendecker
califone-sunday noises
broken social scene-cocaine skin
coco rosie- haitian love songs
interpol-mind over time
band of horses- no one's gonna love you

pumpkin cake balls

it's october, yay! i love being in holiday spirits, especially halloween and christmas. so, i decided to make some special halloween treats!

everyone usually enjoys the cake balls i make, so i decided to make those with a twist. pumpkin cake balls! i made mine with regular chocolate (because i prefer it over white), but it would be REALLY cute to get some orange baking candies or white chocolate and dye it orange to make an actual orange pumpkin! but, for my recipe, here's what you need:

1 white cake mix
3 eggs,
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cup water
1 tub cream cheese frosting
red food coloring
yellow food coloring
24 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
green baking decors
orange frosting (not the gel type)

prepare the cake mix as directed, but then add in 50 drops of yellow food coloring, and 8 of red, to make an "orange sunset" color. bake the cake as directed.
meanwhile, put the frosting into a bowl which you will later add the cake to. when the cake is still hot from out of the oven, put it in the bowl, and mix it together with the cream cheese.

let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for a bit. after it is cooled, roll the mixture into balls. put these back in the refrigerator for a few more minutes to harden. i took this time to separate my green decors from the other colors, because my store didn't carry only green ones.

also while waiting, melt the chocolate in a double-broiler.

after it is melted, take out the cake balls. dip them in chocolate, covering all sides, and set each one on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper.

after they are covered, while the chocolate is still soft, stick a green decor at the top of each ball (like the pumpkin stem!).

put these in the freezer to harden. once the chocolate is fully hardened, take them out. my store didn't have small tubed frosting, so i had to make a makeshift frosting bag with a smaller hole to be able to draw faces.


draw whatever types of faces you'd like on your cake balls, and you've got yourself a tasty halloween pumpkin!


röyksopp- what else is there *karin (fever ray/the knife) sings the vocals on this one. really great and such cool lyrics
steve aoki- when did your heart go missing *a really awesome remix of rooney's song. steve aoki does great remixes all around.
burial- archangel *super trippy, like the usual burial stuff, but i really like the pitch shifting on this, especially with the r&b type vocals
honey is cool- under water *more rock (but soft). good lyrics, and obviously good vocals because it is karin's older band.
peter bjorn & john- lay it down (golden filter remix) *love this remix of lay it down, especially with female vocals. i think it's more fitting for the lyrics.
cut copy- saturdays *love this music. elctro-pop/punk. great band.
the faint- posed to death (calculators remix) *this is one of the best remixes i have ever heard, ever. takes a lot of the beats to make a really awesome song. posed to death in its original version is a great song, but this remix is amazing. the album that it is off of, "danse macabre remixes," is such an amazing album full of great remixes of faint songs.
single frame- i'll lose your balance *rock, plus a little bit electronic. good range of beats and guitar riffs.

jazz age lawn party

now i totally understand why the sartorialist frequents the jazz age lawn party every year. this was my first time. it is held on governor's island, a swimming distance away from the tip of the financial district. everyone dresses up in 1920s attire, and there is a live jazz band and a dance floor, and everyone is picnic-ing and just seems so happy! so, i really don't have much more to say, i just wanted to share some photos i took! BECAUSE everyone was so happy and unique, it was an awesome place to get some great candids. some of the later pictures of art were taken either around the corner from the lawn where the party was being held, or on the ferry going back to the city.

why different taste?

i came across a video on youtube which briefly documents senior citizens' reactions after, for the first time, hearing songs from music duo the knife. to give a quick impression, these are some quotes that imply their main thoughts on the music:

"i really think it was awful."
"mixed up, thats really what it was... color, voices, noise, all together."
"its a good thing that you shut it off a little early."

i've thought about this before, but this video made me think even more on the subject. electronic music (or even music with a faster pace, more bass, beats, etc.) has risen in popularity with our generation in the past few years, at least in my experience. i know there are many people who don't necessarily like it, who think that those artists, such as the knife, are strange or annoying. but let's look at the whole picture: our generation definitely listens to rap, some electronic and house music, and bands like 3OH!3 which incorporate electronic sounds into other genres. why is it that we love this music so much, but older generations hate it? they appreciate the smooth voices and harmless lyrics of their younger days. what is it about the beats and darker lyrics that strike a chord in us? because, after all, the music that people choose to listen to usually has a deeper personal meaning to them.

perhaps it is because we live such a fast paced life (physically and mentally) compared to our predecessors, and this music is fitting to our world. we are always so isolated from each other: even when socializing, there are so many distractions (read martin buber's "i and thou"- we're selfish people, even in a one-on-one conversation that we think we are fully devoted to) and these isolations probably make us more prone to empathizing with the darker lyrics of our time.

but even so, i find it odd that music has evolved to be so image based. regardless of the music we are listening to, we also judge the image that comes along with the voice/sounds. when music first started gaining mass popularity, it was broadcasted on the radio, no images attached- only the music itself. it has gradually turned into a commodity, and the popularity of that commodity is based upon either the image of the artist, or the image that we want to exude by listening to that artist (this is the more superficial aspect of music, which, frankly, annoys me). but on the other hand, no matter why we choose to listen to music, it is a less superficial commodity than most, due to how personal it is to every individual. a person REALLY has to enjoy listening to something in their personal time. no one would put on a song in solitude because it was "cool" to listen to.

basically, this post is just a ramble, but i do think about this often. i wonder why and how the music trends change. why did we go from rock and roll, to r&b, to boy band, to rap, to electronica? what do these genres say about the times and generations during which they were/are so popular?

also, i find it interesting that we have created this concept of "fame." automatically, people who are aiming to have popular music which reaches a wide audience, are aiming to attain fame. but, there are some people who still believe in pure music. karin and olof from the knife (i keep using them as an example, but there are many groups like this- another example is the sound of animals fighting) wear masks and use voice synthesizers and pitch shifting to anonymize their true identities. this is in an attempt to bring the music back to its true form, yet still reach a wide audience. they feel it shouldn't matter who the person is that is creating the music- all that matters is the music itself. personally, i agree, but today it is SO hard to extricate ANYTHING from an associated image. images create our world, all we are is eyes. we see, and those visions dictate our thoughts and actions.

anyways, these are just random thoughts. does anyone have any thoughts about this or ever think about it? i definitely think these are interesting ideas to think about in order to reveal more about our generation as a whole...

some changes/fever ray

i have realized that i have a dilemma: i miss blogging, but i have no money to buy ingredients to bake. so. i must change up the theme of my blog a little. well, not change it, but just tip the scales. my blog will now be much more focused on the listening aspect: music. when i do get some money to bake, you can be sure that i will! but, for now i will post on music, and maybe some fashion, because those are my favorite things!

tonight, i went to the fever ray concert. fever ray is the pseudonym that karin dreijer andersson goes by on her debut solo project. i honestly feel soo lucky to have gone, she most likely won't play live again after this tour. AND who knows if the knife (duo comprised of her and her brother, olof) will ever play live again, being as elusive as they are.

karin was AMAZING. i am impressed by how the pitch shifter is used even on stage, and how the effect still comes across the same. also, the stage set up was other-wordly, so eclectic: lamps you would find in your grandmother's house, amazing lasers set to the beat of the music. her band members (if you can call them that?) were dressed in costumes and masks and face paint. karin, as well, first came out in a huge coat, resembling some sort of indian/tribal type clothing. having only seen probably a total of 3 pictures of her in the media, it was really awesome to see her in person, unmasked (she later took off the huge, disguising coat). i love how dark the music is (most of it). her video directors, as well as the stage manager (andreas nilsson, who has also directed some of her videos) have done a great job translating that darkness into physical reality.

she did a cover of nick cave and the bad seeds' "stranger than kindness" and it blew me away! it was great, definitely better than the original. every song was amazing, but i am surprised to say how much i enjoyed "coconut." i figured that live it wouldn't be one of my favorites, seeing as it is just a long instrumental until the end. but the beats and bass were SO loud that it kind of got inside of you. the lasers were moving to the beats, and changing colors, and the lamps were going on and off. great closer to the set.

i only took some pictures with my cell phone, so they aren't great quality, but i'll give you what i've got:

the lamps on the stage


during "triangle walks"


during "seven"


during "coconut," which closed the set


at the end of "coconut," karin holding up the triangle


i would post my favorites, but every fever ray song is great and unique. listen.

if i had a heart
when i grow up
dry and dusty
seven
triangle walks
concrete walls
now's the only time i know
i'm not done
keep the streets empty for me
coconut

fudge crinkles

i have been moving into my new apt, so i haven't had time to post for awhile! now that i am back on my own in the city, trying to save money and what not, i figured i would feature a cheap (and easy) recipe! but no matter how easy these truly are, people will still devour them!

1 box devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla soy milk
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
powdered sugar (to coat the dough)

preheat oven to 375 degrees. line a cookie sheet with either a silpat or, for those of you without that in your possession, parchment paper.

stir together the cake mix, vegetable oil, and eggs together. add soy milk. stir in chocolate chips.

roll into 1 inch-round balls, and roll those balls in powdered sugar, so that the ball is completely coated.

place on cookie sheet, 2 inches apart, and bake for 8-10 minutes.

enjoy!




tiësto ft. christian burns- in the dark *could possibly be my favorite song ever. i love the beat and christian burns' vocals are really great. i know, i know. he's from BBMak... DONT JUDGE. tiësto owns.
röyksopp- only this moment *first off, i really like the lyrics to this song. also, i'm really into electronic music that is chill enough that you don't need to be in a club in order to listen to it.
florence and the machine- my boy builds coffins *as opposed to the other beats, this song is more rock, but i love the female voice, its so strong yet smooth.
armin van buuren & dj shah ft. chris jones- going wrong *this beat is amazing. it goes from kind of ominous, but then the chorus comes and it's super upbeat and it just keeps going back and forth. bomb.
crystal castles- lovers who uncover *the kind of song you can work out to, sit and nod your head to, or whatever. still has an electronic beat, yet not too off the hook- a little more mellow.
empire of the sun- walking on a dream *mix between pop, indie, and dance. good lyrics, and good beat. also good to sing along to. i almost feel like a hippie listening to this song, but i don't know why.
calvin harris- i'm not alone (deadmau5 remix) *i know i already posted this original song, but deadmau5, genius that he is, did the most amazing remix, and i am just so in love with it that i have to post it again. it's almost like a different song, so LOVE IT!

zucchini bread!

mmm mmm mmmmmm... who knew zucchini could be so tasty? i like it as a vegetable, but was very surprised with how much i enjoyed it in a quick bread the first time i ever tried it. a family friend gave me a HUGE zucchini from her garden, so i figured that it was the perfect chance to create my own recipe! i wanted my bread to be super moist and have the perfect amount of sweetness. mission accomplished!
look at the size of this zucchini!


3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup sour cream
¼ cup greek yogurt
2 ¼ cups white sugar
½ teaspoons almond extract
2 cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts

grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. preheat oven to 325 degrees.

sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.

grate the zucchini.


beat eggs, oil, sour cream, yogurt, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well.


stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. pour batter into prepared pans.
bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes.


remove bread from pan, and completely cool.


j dilla- won't do *at first i felt like this song got kind of repetitive, but it sort of puts me in a focus/trance mode, which i dig sometimes. plus i really like his voice.
peter bjorn & john- nothing to worry about *to me, this is a feel good song. i can't have enough of those. plus, the music video is priceless with the asian greasers and all.
darcy clay- jesus i was evil *so, i heard this song, somehow, indirectly, on jenna sauers' blog, and i kind of looked up the background and apparently this guy made this song by himself doing all the instruments and vocals and everything, and it got kind of popular, and then he committed suicide. sad. but sort of punk and super catchy.
norwegian recycling- timb raider *i really like the song (the way you are- timbaland/keri hilson) but i love this mellow, adventurous spin on it.
the meligrove band- everyone's a winner *alternative, sort of indie/punk, but i love the lead singer's voice, and it's upbeat.

yellow cake with cocoa buttercream frosting

this is absolutely the best yellow cake you will ever taste. of course, you can modify the frosting that you use, but, like i said, i love any form of chocolate, so i went with a cocoa buttercream frosting.

this recipe is actually not my own, it is from the wonderful blog "bakerella" (bakerella.blogspot.com). i have just changed a few things.

1 cup butter (room temperature)
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
3 cups self-rising flour
1 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. grease 3 8-inch cake pans.

cream butter and sugar for 7 minutes.

add eggs one at a time, beating well after each egg is added.


add flour and milk (alternating to creamed mixture), beginning and ending with flour.


add vanilla.


divide batter equally into three cake pans. hold each pan about 3 inches above the counter and carefully drop it, several times, to eliminate any air bubbles.

bake for 25-30 minutes.



let the cake layers cool. during this process, make your frosting.

1 cup butter (room temperature)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 lb. powdered sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1-3 teaspoons milk

mix butter and vanilla until smooth. sift powdered sugar and cocoa over this mixture and blend until smooth. add milk to get the consistency you desire for your own frosting.

a good trick that the "bakerella" blog suggests is to spray the cake layers with sugar water (2 cups water, 1 cup sugar) from a spray bottle to keep them moist before assembling.

frost the first layer, stack the second, frost it as well, and keep frosting until all layers are stacked and frosted!



pinback- boo *mellow rock. i love to fall asleep to this song. sort of depressing, but i like those ones. the band is from san diego, so obviously they're great :)
kleerup ft. lykke li- until we bleed *i love this remix of lykke li's song, and her voice sounds so good with the house/electro beats. also a tad depressing, but in a good way.
ratatat- swisha *a slower, more soothing side of ratatat. love it.
the bravery- the ocean slower alternative. love how it is sort of an incalzando (when compared to the rest of the song's beat) at the end
kate walsh- june bug *slow, sad. SUCH a beautiful voice, and she plays the guitar. great lyrics as well.