Sunday, August 31, 2008

{Sunday morning...}

can be the best time of the week. You can relax, enjoy some brunch (maybe a little champagne), and, if you choose, get a lot of things you've been wanting to do done.

This morning my mom, dad, and I had Eggs Benedict (Mom makes the best hollandaise, seriously), and finished up a Waldorf cake we had baked last night while watching football games.

The finished result.

Waldorf Cake
1/2 cup of Crisco (mind you, this is an old recipe)
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs

Cream together in large bowl.

1 bottle red food coloring (individually sold size)
2 T. cocoa powder
1 cup buttermilk
1 t. salt
2 cups flour (all-purpose) minus 1 t.

Make paste of red food coloring and 1 bottle of water + cocoa. Add buttermilk and salt.

Add flour and buttermilk (red) mixture alternately to creamed sugar. (3 turns each) Add 1 t. of vanilla.

In a separate bowl, blend together 1 t. soda and 1 t. vinegar. Stir into cake batter by hand only until blended. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean!


For the frosting...

Cook until thick over low heat stirring constantly:
1 cup milk (I used whole milk)
4 T. flour

Cream until fluffy:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter (room temperature)
1/2 cup Crisco

Add 1 t. vanilla and cooled milk/flour mixture and beat on medium speed until smooth.



Saturday, August 30, 2008

{Rainbow cakes!}


I made cupcakes today. They are vanilla, but I layered various colors of batter and think they came out quite cute. The are fluffy and light as air, as well. Even my pa liked them.

White, blue, and green on top. (Some have purple, too) My mom thinks they look like little Earths. Eco-cakes!

{Local Farmer's Markets}


are probably my favorite part of summer. I've really felt that I've missed out on them this year because of the rigors of Clinique (aka, no weekends off). Anyways, I'm with my family for the weekend, and whenever we're together, the best treats abound. So far today -

- my mom and dad's newest breakfast of champions. Plain yogurt, fresh peaches and blueberries. The granola is homemade from a woman named Kathy (at the farmer's market)that sells awesome granolas, muffins, and these really great granola bars that are peanut-buttery goodness. Anyways, possibly my new favorite breakfast treat. It was like dessert, my friends.

Since the first USC game of the year begins today, we're enjoying BLTs made with fresh tomatoes, lettuce, organic sprouts, and my dad's homemade bread and mayonnaise.

Summer tomatoes and thick-cut bacon. Mmaa, pig. Mmm.

The finished result with some SUPER hot radishes. De-lish!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

{Crayons and Frosting Shots}


to brighten anyone's day are always welcome, no? Well, I recently discovered that it is Crayola Crayon's 50th Birthday this year, yay! To celebrate, they have this great quiz posted on their birthday site that lets you guess the correct names of their current selection in the classic 64-box.

I did pretty well on naming the 'old-school' crayons. Some of the new ones are tricky. Absolutely fun though, brings back those memories of the first day of school and the smell and feeling of a new, fresh, untouched box of crayons. Sigh. Here- check out your crayon savy-ness: Crayola 64 Box 50th Birthday

Another silly thing I stumbled upon in my never ending hunt for new cupcake ideas...

Yes, those are frosting shots. And people pay money for them at bakeries. I supposed if you are one that ditches the cake and goes straight for the sugary stuff, then this is for you. If you're also willing to give in to a life of diabetes, well, go for it. Kinda outrageous, huh?

People never fail to amaze me.

Friday, August 22, 2008

{Halloween...}


is my favorite holiday - always has been. Jessica (my brother's fiance, whom I've mentioned before) and I were talking the other night about how fun it'd be to have a small dinner party that night rather than try to brave the bar scene. Well, I love parties, as we all know (or maybe we didn't prior to this blog, but now realize...). Throw in my favorite holiday and, well, hold on to your pants, my friends.

Anyways, I remembered an article in Hy-Vee's Seasons magazine (a local grocery store's recipe and health glossy - of all places!) that had the greatest Halloween party pics...

We even talked about having a theme - like a murder party. That way, everyone would have their assigned role - I'm pretty sure an Elizabethan murder would be easy to find, right?

Maybe my dad could be the creepy butler guy? Ha!

Stay tuned - I'm sure I'll have a LOT more ideas to come!!

Sunday, August 17, 2008

{Love em' or hate 'em...}

I kinda love the idea (of course, it is fur after all!), but these remind me too much of floaties kids wear at the pool.

Ugh, I am not feeling well today. I have to go make cupcakes now. Today is a new 'pudding mix in the batter' recipe day. Wish me luck. Look, it's me mixing cuppies with my boots!

Love him.