On Tuesday afternoon, I walked to the mailbox to find an unexpected package. I opened it and was presented with these beauties:
Along with a note from Janetha, who mentioned that she had spied a comment I left one day months ago about wanting to try these extracts, so she bought me some. No warning, no hints and no mention of ‘hey, watch for a package!’ In fact, I couldn’t even figure out how she got my address, but then later remembered I had previously won a giveaway from her blog months ago.
Janetha is on vacation so she hasn’t even received my proper thanks yet, but I can’t even tell you how much this made my day. I don’t think I have ever received something so unexpected, so surprising, and so sweet. Not even my engagement ring, which I had to practically beg Mr. How Sweet not to return since the night he proposed I was acting like I starred in The Exorcist.
I was (and still am) so touched!
But now the real question is… what should I make?
I’m Jessica and this is where I share my stuff. You will find a balance of healthy recipes, comfort food and indulgent desserts.
Not sure, but how sweet! :)
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Ooo Ooo how about lemon poppy seed bread with a sweet buttery glaze?
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Oooooo those look so good! How sweet of her!
Don’t even ask me to tell my engagement story. I was being such a brat about 2 seconds before he dropped down to one knee.
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Jessica — February 3rd, 2011 @ 2:03 am
Sounds like we need to compare notes!
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How nice is that?! I love it. Have fun with those two. :-)
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So sweet!
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How sweet and what a fun surprise! :)
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How sweet..Giving is so much more fun then receiving!
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Awww that’s so sweet!
I wasn’t surprised by my proposal – I’d put him on a timeline and we had engagement pictures scheduled for the next weekend. :) …and that makes me sound horrible, but I really promise I’m not that bad! And I WAS surprised by the ring – just not that it was coming!
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I second Evan’s vote for lemon poppyseed bread! mmm.
and the only thing I’ve ever made using almond extract are these cookies… http://bakedwithloveandbutter.blogspot.com/2010/11/dried-cherry-and-almond-cookies.html
but they are pretty darn good!
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OMG I laughed out loud when I read that you could have starred in The Exorcism the night you got engaged! I was whining about being hungry while my now hubby was trying to get me to go watch the sunset so he could propose! will never live it down.
Have you tried Elephant Ear Cheesecake? Such a naughty but delicious way to put your almond extract to great use!
http://ashleyscookingadventures.blogspot.com/2010/09/elephant-ear-cheesecake.html
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Janetha is so sweet! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
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Almond cheesecake brownies, apricot almond bars….
I want to hear about your engagement to Mr. How sweet – I was a pill on my engagement day too!!
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Hmm..I’m liking the lemon poppyseed idea. I’m thinking anything baked goods. But I’m sure you already had that in mind. ;-)
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What is it with us girls? The same thing happened to me the night I got engaged. My husband ended up proposing to me right next to the trash can in the kitchen…I totally missed out on something romantic! :)
Can’t wait to see what you make with those!
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Aww, that is so sweet! :) Sometimes the smallest surprises are the best surprises!
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That’s really nice! I’m sure you’ll come up with something in no time. Enjoy!
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Aawww, how fun!! Bake something!!!!
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I think these belong in buttercream frosting. Or in sugar cookie dough. Or both, combined.
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Or in cookie dough dip. Right…
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Ricotta cookies! http://iwasborntocook.blogspot.com/2010/12/waste-not-want-not.html
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Pound cake! A lemon and and an almond one. I know that’s two things, but how could I choose?
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We need to hear the engagement story!
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I love your blog. It’s creative and entertaining.
My husband enjoyed hearing about Mr. How Sweet. The two of them are similar:)
We make lots of buffalo chicken.
I’m trying to start my own food blog. I love love love food!
I think you should bake a almond pound cake in a bunt pan. Maybe with a lemon glaze on top or the lemon poppyseed bread sounds delightful too.
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How nice! As for what to make, I suggest something with poppyseed for the lemon and something with sour cherries for the almond.
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What a wonderful community this is. She gives. Then you give…..recipes. :) Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
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Awww, that’s so nice! Enjoy them! :-)
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That is so sweet! The first “what should you make with them” thought that came to mind was lemon cake! Or perhaps lemon and almond biscotti? Whatever you make will be amazing! :-)
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That is so sweet. Janetha is a gem.
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such a nice surprise! and so funny becasue i literally just posted a recipe yesterday and i used fiori di sicilia (citrus infused vanilla!). i am a sucker for great extracts ;)
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Maybe you could make these luscious lemon pudding cake cups!
http://thescenefromme.com/2011/02/02/luscious-lemon-pudding-cake-cups/
And just yesterday I made cherry almond (hint hint) angel cupcakes. But those are saved for a Valentine’s post coming up!
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Lemon monkey bread….I saw that somewhere and it had an amazing glaze on it. It looked delicious!
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How nice! Those are the best presents when you least expect them.
If I were you I’d make some Italian sprinkle cookies! They use lemon and almond extracts.
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aww that was so so so sweet of her! i think you should make some sort of lemon/almond butter cookie….
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How sweet! :) Those sound wonderful… I bet you can dream up all sorts of delicious things.
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lemon iced pound cake like the one starbucks sells, yummy almond cookies, or macarons, but i’m not sure if you can do that with almond extract instead of real blanched almonds…?
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How sweet!!! Can’t wait to see what you do with them :-)
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I am a member of a glass bead making forum that has a special section called Random acts of glass kindness, or RAOGK……..we put a little list together of things we might like, then add our mailing address. People will then click on the list and it will randomly pick a person from the list to send a gift to. It is so cool to get a gift in the mail related to our hobbies. You can just do it whenever you want. Instead of sending a gift back to the person who sent you one, you go to RAOGK and let it pick somebody for you…….allowing you to pay it forward. I have gotten things from people a couple times, it is usually when I am feeling down or gloomy. It is a real pick me up to give back to like minded people. THis was such a nice thing for her to do for you!!!
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i am sneaky :) love you lots!
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