Awesomest Pens Ever

I've been obsessed with these Hi-Tec C pens from Japan ever since our 2007 Asian Vacation. They write really smoothly and they never skip so they're super reliable and they come of all these wonderful colors that make work a little more fun or at least more colorful. plasticmom was kind enough to buy me a full set this winter when she was in Tokyo so I have a cup of these pens on my desk at work that I count sometimes to make sure none have slipped away. You can get them here statewide at jetpens.com where they have an amazing selection in a number of pen nib sizes. Check it out!

Great Minds Think Alike...Jelly Doughnut Bread Pudding

Frugality is in! This place in NYC makes Jelly Doughnut Bread Pudding with their Jelly Doughnut leftovers. Sounds even more delicious than waffle bread pudding, but I don't usually have a bunch of old Jelly Doughnuts hanging out in my kitchen. MGDub, I have an assignment for you...

Waffle Pudding

We splurged and bought ourselves a new Belgian Waffle Maker with a cool flipping feature a few weeks ago. Since then, we've made waffles three times and it's become our recent Saturday morning routine. Yesterday, we enjoyed our waffles with fruit for breakfast, but because there's only two of us, we always have leftover waffles so I repurposed this weekend's extra waffles to make a chocolate banana bread pudding. The results were delicious and I was expecially proud of myself for creating a decadent new dessert using leftovers. I added the banana on a whim and it made the pudding extra moist.

Chocolate Banana Waffle Pudding

4-5 Belgian Waffles or 8 slices of bread, etc. torn up into inch sized pieces
2 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 mashed banana
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon butter
3 oz chocolate chips + a handful extra for the pudding
Dash of cinnamon (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350
2. Put waffles in a 9 inch square pan or a deep pie dish, scatter a handful of chocolate chips for extra chocolatey goodness
3. Gently heat milk, butter and 3 oz chocolate in a small pan over medium heat. Stir together until mixture is melted and incorporated. Approx 5 minutes
4. Whisk eggs, sugar, vanilla and baking soda together in a bowl
5. Mix heated milk mixture into egg mixture and whisk until smooth. Mix in mashed banana
6. Pour liquid over waffles
7. Place pan in a larger rimmed sheet pan/cookie sheet
8. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until pudding is puffed and firm
9. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes
10. Dish up warm and enjoy

Check out my new poll...look to your right...VOTE!

I found out about this free polling tool from Vizu today so I decided to check it out. It's free and you put a poll on your page or blog, etc. It's super easy and took me just a few minutes to create an account, create a poll and post it on my blog. Once you vote, you can see the results in real time. Right now, I have three votes from Boston and Oatmeal Cookies are winning out 2 to 1. I voted, I asked my coworker to vote and then there's the mystery third vote which I'm guessing may be Adam.

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's 2009, but another year has come and gone. Adam and I have been enjoying hanging around at home over the holidays. My in-laws were in town for Christmas which was very nice since they're some of our most low maintenance houseguests. plasticmom is very low maintenance so it's a draw with the parentals. Adam and I ran out and got a tree from down the street the night before the big snow storm. We got a 3 footer Charlie Brown style tree and it was very cute and festive once we decorated it. Adam got a bunch of clothes from me and I recieved many wonderful gifts like a necklace, but mostly I made out like a bandit with a bonanza of home goods/cake related products:

Cupcake Courier
Mini-Cupcake Stand
Giant Cupcake Pan
Cake Stands
Cookbook
Tin of TastyKakes
Domino Book for Decorating