Friday, December 11, 2009

Did you notice that the movie “Julie and Julia” is available On Demand? $4.99 and you can spend a lovely evening with Julia Child and French cooking! What a bargain! It is a delightful movie and one that makes you want to cook. Go back to my Thursday, August 13th blog for my story about the movie. Then, if you haven’t seen it yet, please think about renting it. You will be glad you did…..but have groceries on hand, because you are going to be hungry!
I am anxious to check out “Nine” a new musical that will be released to the theatres on Christmas Day. Mind you, I am not a big musical fan. “Moulin Rouge” was such a disappointment for me….much to dark and disturbing to be a musical! I want a musical to have me smiling and humming a song on my way out of the theatre. Is that too much to ask?

So, back to cooking…..yesterday I made a batch of Amaretto Fudge….wow, pretty good!
Tastes just like Christmas is suppose to! It is fun to have flavors and aromas “take you back” to special times. That is what the aroma of Bourbon does for me….holiday time and Bourbon Balls! My Dad was a huge fan of those little spheres of Christmas Joy! You don’t see them very much anymore, but when I say “Bourbon Balls”, everyone over the age of 45 or 50, particularly men, smile wistfully, remembering when…..

Do you suppose A Kansan in the Kitchen can bring them back? Let’s give it a try!

This unbelievably easy recipe is a Southern favorite, made with bourbon, vanilla wafer crumbs, and cocoa, along with pecans and confectioners' sugar.
Ingredients:
BOURBON BALLS
5 c. crushed vanilla wafers
2 c. confectioners sugar
1/4 c. cocoa
2 c. chopped nuts
6 tbsp. light corn syrup (Karo)
1/2 c. bourbon, or you may substitute rum or brandy
Mix together and roll into balls and then in sifted powdered sugar.
Makes about 100.

After a holiday of Amaretto Fudge and Bourbon Balls, I might need a trip to the Betty Ford Clinic!

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy
oil painting by Kay Tucker

Somerset Autumn on Wea Creek

Somerset Autumn on Wea Creek
Oil Painting by Kay Tucker, Private Collection

Floral

Floral
oil painting by Kay Tucker

Kansas Storm

Kansas Storm
oil painting by Kay Tucker, Private Collection

Watercolor Collage

Watercolor Collage

Tempo al Tempo....All in Good Time

Tempo al Tempo....All in Good Time
48"x36" sculptural painting by Kay Tucker