A Rose is a Rose is a …
November 9, 2025
The phrase “a rose is a rose is a rose” by Gertrude Stein means that things are what they are, emphasizing their essential nature and inherent identity.
I’ve been wanting to make these seemingly easy Apple Roses for months. I’ve seen a few different videos, but all are essentially the same. You cut an apple according to a fairly specific instruction, place the slices on a buttered sheet of puff pastry — also in a very specific manner. Then you sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, spread with a jam (I used Sally’s peach preserves), roll it up, butter and sugar again and bake.
Let’s just say the first time through is not as elegant and simple as the videos.
The apples, which have been cut, placed in water and lemon juice and warmed briefly in the microwave, then dried out on a towel.
Here’s the laying out process:
There’s a lot wrong with this picture.
But eventually, they get all rolled up and they look pretty decent:
I had an issue. Had I flipped over my recipe to side-B, I’d’ve seen that it called for two sheets of puff pastry. I had only one, so I was working with half the pastry needed. I made that adjustment after the first two roses, yielding two normal sized roses and eight shrimpy ones.
Here’s the outcome: my homely effort and a photo of what they were supposed to look like. As you can see, size wasn’t the only problem.
This side-by-side really makes me laugh. War of the Roses.
I re-watched the video and think I’ll try it again. With a fail under my belt, I think the next batch will end up better.
Pao de Queijo
November 8, 2025
This is at least my third attempt. So far, none has been as good at the ones in Brazil (2009!). So.. tried a new recipe.
Just 6 ingredients.. the key on is tapioca flour:
So easy.. put it all in a blender, then pour into an oiled mini muffin pan:
Threw the first batch out. The second came out okay-ish (under baked them). I might try them again. After all: cheese bread? It is a perfect food, deserving of perfection.
Uh… No
October 12, 2025
If one combines the above ingredients, a healthy version of a homemade Butterfingers candy bar is supposed to be the result.
That was not the result.
Continuing my bold tradition of trying new recipes on dinner guests yielded yet another fail. I was okay with that as we had two backup desserts (both of which we served). But sheeesh, these Facebook Reels cooking videos are killing me.
Oh, here’s what the Butterfingers looked like when done:
It’s in an 8″x8″ glass pan and will spend 4 hours in the icebox setting.
Here’s what I did: Heated peanut butter, maple syrup and molasses over a low flame until it boiled, added some vanilla and a sprinkle of salt. Added that to a bowl of cornflakes, mixed it well then pressed it into the pan. Melted chocolate with a bit of butter and spread that over the top.
As I said: uh… no.
The Holidays in a Few Pics
January 2, 2025
Well… as I begin blogging 2025, I have to fess up that I missed a LOT of 2024. It was my intention to backfill all of my missed blogs. I just hated that I missed so many days and fully intended to right that wrong. But as the year wore on and the missed days piled up, I realized backfilling was an increasingly daunting task and was probably never going to happen.
So, I am accepting that 2024 will remain an under-documented year and, in the interest of looking forward and not behind, I am NOT going to spend a single second stressing about that.
For the record, I do plan to do a Guatemala travel blog thing and an Italy-Dolomites-Germany travel blog thing, because I do want a record, and I especially want to enjoy those memories. I may also, from time to time, reach back into 2024 and write about some of the notable goings on, like some of the political stuff, and/or some family milestones…
With that in mind, how about a few photos from the holidays.. an easy place to start!
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On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, folks started to arrive in Davis.. Chris and Pam, Matt, Betsy (for just an overnight on her way to Karen’s), Peter and Maya (who will arrive later this night)…
A lot of catch-up conversation ensued…
On Wednesday, we celebrated Chris’s 65th birthday..
Pam made wonderful lasagna, and I made a spice cake that was amazing..
Thanksgiving day, Peter and Maya were assigned corn bread stuffing — Kamala Harris’s recipe (remember her?). It was beautifully made, but we all agreed we prefer traditional bread stuffing. (Other assignments: turkey and gravy: Jim; mashed potatoes: Matt; sweet potatoes: Pam; green beans, cranberry sauce, pecan pie, Harvard beets: Kari; other pies: Janet.)
Pam also took charge of appetizers again…
We played a bunch of poker while consuming those appetizers..
Here’re a couple of our TG day gang…
We managed some Zoom connections with family far away…one call with Jay and Saythong in Thailand, another call with Aunt Joy in Pleasanton and Heidi in the desert…
Day after hanging out…
Peter’s guitar playing has gotten really really good. Such a joy to hear him play and sing. Maya and Peter do a lot of singing & playing together.
Chris and Pam took off Saturday morning, and the rest of us headed first to Putah Creek Cafe in Winters for breakfast with the John Frames…
Then wended our way over the mountain to Napa/Sonoma for some wine tasting at BR Cohn, and dinner at Mustards Grill.
It was really pretty in Napa in the final days of fall…
And some holiday seasonal flora, Davis style (our front porch Japanese Maple and the colors at Putah Creek)
A couple shots around the house getting ready for Christmas…
A new thing I baked this year… a goat cheese/pesto/parmesan puff pastry Christmas tree, this was for a Christmas gathering with our hiking buds — Ricker, Susan, Heidi (Jimmy J got Covid)
Annual favorite holiday concert — Home for the Holidays…front row, always!
A fantastic holiday neighborhood open house at the Slabach’s. Holy cow they can entertain… this was one of numerous tables loaded with stuff Lisa had made. Ted made a fabulous eggnog martini.
Baking tasks… this year cheese crackers, butterballs and a new almond/walnut brittle with chocolate.. fantastic all.
Christmas Eve was so mellow.. the three of us and Janet for a cranberry pork tenderloin, roasted sweet potatoes and salad.. and plenty of tasty Christmas gifts for dessert.
Added some new ornaments to the tree this year.. photos on acrylic.. fun!
This was a Christmas day surprise… and this is us hearing the news.. that Chris and Pam got engaged!
And those were some of the highlights from Thanksgiving and Christmas in 2024.
Life of Wry 