Tinker's Piggies

Tackle Clutter Tuesday #2

2012-01-24T14:21:00.000-08:00

So here is week 2's installment of Tack the Clutter Tuesday.

The front closet.

Again one of those hot spots that seems to end up a dumping ground.

Here is the before...

Yup, everything all shoved any which way.

Once again the key to making things better seems to be to purge ~ which I did

A while back in a magazine, probably in Martha, they used a hanging sweater thingies to help organize all the little things that end up in closets. Usually these things are stored in baskets up high or on the floor. The great thing about using these is that it keeps stuff at eye level (both mine and the kids) which makes putting stuff back easier and I'm all about the easy. Now when I open the closet doors I don't feel like I'm at risk of being buried alive.

It's nice when baby steps make a big difference.

Ice, Ice Baby

2012-01-19T13:00:00.000-08:00

Snowmeggadon is quickly becoming Icepocalypse.

The snow has gone from fluffy white snow to frozen sleet incasing everything in ice.

It has warmed up a bit and with that means slush will turn to black ice once the temps dips tonight.

The ice is so much more dangerous than the snow.
At least with snow you have a chance.

So now we wait.

Will there be school tomorrow?

I'm suposed to sub tomorrow.

I think I'm hoping for a snow day more than the kids.

:0)

Snowmeggadon 2012

2012-01-18T16:45:00.000-08:00

We all know the story of the little boy who cried wolf. In the Pacific Northwest our version is called "The News Said It Was Going to Snow" Ever year at the sight of the first snowflake we are told to brace ourselves for ARCTIC BLAST (insert year here). More times than not, no snow. Maybe a light dusting if you live up north. My friends Sandy and John could give any local reporter a run for their money with their coverage of Snowmeggadon 2012 in Browns Point. (I wish I was kidding)

Now since these ARCTIC BLAST don't usual show up when they do it puts all of Western Washington into a complete tail spin. No one can drive in the snow so no one goes anywhere. This half of the state literally shuts down. Tacoma Schools closed schools for Wednesday before a flake was even seen.

Well this year they were right on (who would have thunk it). I must say it took a little longer to arrive than expected but it came in spades and we woke up to 7 inches of wonderful snow.

Rumor has it more is on the way.

Since we had been hunkered down for the past couple of days already I was feeling a little cabin fevery. My mom and dad just live a few blocks away so I drug Ben with me and we went for a walk in the snow. It felt great to tromp through the snow and breathe in the fresh cold air.

In an attempt to document our adventure I brought along the camera. When I told Ben to say "cheese" he replied, "what's the point?" Snow and a 13 year old boy, ya gotta love 'em.

Hope you are all nice and toasty wherever you are.

Tackle Clutter Tuesday #1

2012-01-17T12:00:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping these Tackle Clutter Tuesdays will help me keep on track and accountable, so here goes...

I decided to tackle one of the "hot spots" in my kitchen.

While I do love my little kitchen, the cabinet selection was clearly built by a someone who was more worried about the bottom line than efficiency. Case in point ~ blind cabinets. Seriously who thinks these are a good idea?

Anyhoo, this cabinet is such a catch all and gets messy quickly. With the help of my trusty assistant (because I'm seriously too old to be crawling into a cabinet) we cleared it all out.

The tupper situation has always been a thorn, so we played the "you need a lid to stay" game and went from this to this.

After a little purging and rearranging, I was able to fit everything back.

What a difference and truth be told it took 15 minutes. Next up the coat closet...

:0)

Little Things, Big Difference

2012-01-16T20:20:00.000-08:00

I just love the feeling of getting stuff done. Kind of makes me feel like this

My friend once told me that the last 20% of a project takes 80% of the time. I completely agree and so would the numerous 80% completed projects that inhabit most of my closet space. So in the spirit of a new year and fresh starts and all that gobbledygook I decided to tackle something that has been bugging me. So at 10 o'clock on Friday I tackled my dining room chairs.

I scored these babies at a garage sale. They are SUPER sturdy and just what I was looking for. However, the red, orange and yellow fabric I was not loving. The clear plastic on top of that was also a nice and very practical touch, but I just got the point and I was over it. I knew I wanted to recover them so when I spied some nice chenille on clearance at JoAnn's I snagged it up.

It was 4 bucks a yard. Recovering a chair cushion could not be easier: unscrew seat, lay on top of new fabric, staple fabric, rescrew seat. That is is exactly what I did. I'm thinking it took probably 2 hours for the whole project, but I get sidetracked easily.

The new fabric is so subtle and much "quieter" than the old fabric.

As for the final results ~ I LOVE it.

Blogging

2012-01-05T20:43:00.000-08:00

So with the start of the new year I told myself I would blog more. However, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to say. I spent some time reading old posts and it was interesting to see what kind of things I blogged about. It was mostly about family, a little cooking and trying conquer the clutter.

So I'm giving myself the weekend to collect my thoughts and map some sort of plan. In reading the old posts I realized how much fun it was to put my little life out there. I've "met" some really neat folks through blogging and I hope the connections will continue throughout 2012.

Stay tuned...

:0) Laurie

Hungarian Kifilies

2011-12-07T08:16:00.001-08:00

The is a recipe for a Hungarian Kifiles (KEE-flees). We have them every year and only at Christmas. My grandma used to them very tiny, but my mom and I haven't been able to master that so ours tend to be more of a "two biter". They are light, flaky and not overly sweet. We make them with both prune or apricot lukvar, but I like the prune the best. These are the kind of cookies that will cause folks to hover in the kitchen and risk a burned mouth to eat them hot out of the oven. Consider yourself warned :0)

Hungarian Kifiles
2 C Butter
4 C Flour
4 Egg Yokes
1 C Sour Cream
Prune or Apricot Lukvar (located in the store with pie fillings)
Combine ingredients, divide into 5 balls of dough and chill overnight. (If you are not going to make the cookies up the next day, put the dough in the fridge as it will turn gray if left in the fridge too long)

Roll the dough out thinly and then cut into squares (the more even the squares, the easier to roll them)

Put a small dollop of filling and roll up like a crescent roll.
Brush with egg white and bake 20 minutes at 350.
As soon as they come out of the oven dust with powdered sugar and let cool. Once cooled, sprinkle again.

I'm linking up to Life in Grace

Bacon on a Date

2011-12-05T10:32:00.001-08:00

I'm linking up to the Favorite Appetizer Linky Party at Life in Grace.
Saturday night we hosted our annual Holiday Bash and these little babies are a MUST have.
So simple, but they are like super yummy.
Folks raise an eyebrow at first, but once they taste them they're hooked.
Enjoy

Bacon on a Date
1 lb bacon (slice each stip into thirds)
1/2 lb smoked almonds
2 lb of Sun Dates (one tub at costco)
Pit the dates and insert 2 almonds
Wrap with bacon (you may need to secure with toothpick)
Bake at 375 for 20 minutes ~ serve immediately or at room temp

Apple Cup '11

2011-11-26T16:05:00.001-08:00

I love college football and the best game of the year is between the Washington State Cougars and the University of Washington Huskies.

As in any bitter rivaly the stakes are always high. The Huskies think they are "all that" and the poor Cougs get no respect.

Both teams are a little beaten up this year so bragging rights are really on the line. I wish I was at the game, but I will have to settle for watching at home (which is considerably warmer than the stadium so not a totally bad thing)

I'm just hoping the Cougs fair a little better than the Buckeyes and Beavers.

Go COUGS!!!!

T-day countdown

2011-11-21T13:44:00.001-08:00

So Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Even though we will have all ten of the usual suspects for dinner, I'm not feeling too stressed

(at least right now)

Last night we bought our turkey, all 26 pounds and now I'm waiting for it to thaw.

Now turkey is pretty simple to prepare, but I truly believe brining make all the difference.

Such a simple step, but if you are looking for a really juicy bird it is an absolute must.

Basic Turkey Brine

3 gallons cold water
1 1/2 cup salt

Soak for 24 hours

This one also looks pretty good. I may just have to try it. You gotta love Alton Brown.

For the brine:

1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 gallon heavily iced water

My only additional advice for turkey brining is be careful where you leave your turkey. A couple years ago my turkey wouldn't fit in the fridge so I left the bucket containing the turkey on the back steps. I thought I had secured the lid, but apparently that was not the case. When I went out to get the turkey at O' dark hundred I noticed some critters had started their Thanksgiving early. Yeah, not good. Lesson learned, the garage is a much safer place.

:0)

Check this out

2011-11-17T16:34:00.001-08:00

It seems like I'm always making cupcakes for some reason or another.

While blog hopping I came across this video (Cue the Angles singing)

I absolutely HATE cleaning my pastry bags. It isn't difficult, but it is a major pain.

Well no more. You can skip to the 1:20 mark.

If you are a frequent froster you will thank me.

:0)

Watch

Just Around the Corner...

2011-11-13T19:40:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or has November been on hyperdrive. Where has the month gone? Crazy!!
I just realized that Thanksgiving is a week from Thursday. Yikes, I have to get on it. Thankfully we keep things simple but it is a reminder that the holidays will be in full swing very, very soon.
Are YOU ready??
:0)

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T19:32:00.001-07:00

This is the first year I can remember when Trick or Treating did not involve serious rain gear. In fact, it is the perfect night for such festivities. The moon is out and it is actually a tad balmy. (Yes, balmy) Not too shabby for the end of Ocotober.

Ben will be on Trick or Treat duty with Sam this year. He and his buddies, who also have younger sibs, volunteered for the job. Too bad Ben is 6 feet tall so I doubt he will get much candy unless our friends take pity on him.

As for the Trick or Treating front on our end it has been pretty dead (pun intended) We don't get a lot of trick or treaters. So far I've answered the door 5 times. My friend Candy lives in a development up the road and that is THE place to go. The development gets really into Halloween and it is the only place that is flat around here to that makes it a win win for most folks. Last year Candy said she ran out of candy. Who knew 50 pounds would not be enough. Needless to say that is where Ben and Sam are headed.

I hope you all have a wonderful Halloween with lots more treets than tricks.

:0)

She's Ready for Her Closeup

2011-10-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

Halloween is seeming to last forever this year.
Friday night we had Street of Screams.
Saturday Girl Scout Halloween Party.
Tonight is Trunk or Treat.
Tomorrow, actual tick or treating.

While we enjoy Halloween, the costumes always seem to fall on me. Sam told me she wanted to be "Goth" for Halloween. When I asked her if she even knew what that meant she said it was someone who wears black. Okay...

So in a panic I headed to the local thrift shop on a search for a "goth" costume. Little did Sam know I planned on returning with Witch fixings and she would just have to go with that. However since it was the Friday before Halloween, pickings were slim. I ended up with a black cocktail dress and I pitched the idea of a glam girl as an alternative. Since wearing lipstick was her major criteria she agreed. For something that was thrown together last minute and only cost us 6 bucks for the dress, I'm thinking she looks pretty good.

Chicken and Dumplings

2011-10-27T19:33:00.000-07:00

Today was a GORGEOUS Autumn day here in the Pacific Northwest. It was also the perfect day for a little comfort food.
I made Chicken and Dumplings.
This was something that we never ate growing up, but when I saw Rachel Ray whip it on 30 meals I thought "how hard can it be?" Super easy is the answer and now it makes it way into the rotation every now and then.
If you watch Rachel Ray you know most of her start off with onion, celery and carrots. This is no exception.

Chop and drop your veggies in a little EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)and saute' until soft. Add a little salt, pepper and maybe some poultry seasoning if you have it on hand.

Deglaze the pot with some chicken stock (I used a box and half which I think is about a quart) and add chicken breasts. Simmer for about 20 minutes, shred meat and return to pot.

In another small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt and milk. When I have it, I chop up parsley and throw that in too. It adds a nice flavor and some much needed color. Once it is all mixed, dip your spoon in the broth before scooping the batter. This will help it slide right off. When all the batter is in the broth close the lid, set the timer for 10 and don't peek. I mean it, DO NOT peek!! You need the steam to cook the dumplings. If I can resist the urge to peek so can you.

After the timer goes off, remove lid and admire fluffy goodness. Scoop into your favorite bow and voila dinner is served.
Enjoy
:0)

Chicken and Dumplings
2T EVOO
2 Carrots, 2 ribs celery, 1 med onion all diced
Season to taste ~ salt, pepper, poultry seasoning, whatever you like
1 Qt or so of Chicken Stock
2-4 Chicken breasts depending on how big they are or how much you like chicken
Dumplings
1 C four
1 1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1/2 milk
small handful of parsley fresh or dried

The Clutter Question

2011-10-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last night Ben was looking for a pencil sharpener. I told him there was one in the junk drawer.

He said there wasn't. We went back and forth before he gave up and searched elsewhere. This morning I opened the junk drawer to prove I was right. Yup, I couldn't find it either.
I started thinking about clutter and holy grail of "clutter free". I've read about it. I've seen pictures of it, but my question is how is it actually achieved?? More specifically, do clutter free folks just throw all the little randomness away??
All the rubberbands, pens, plastic forks...all the "overflow" that starts to take over.
So for those of you who read this little blog, PLEASE answer this question...
Are you a clutter tosser?
I need to know.
Okay, I'm off to deal with the junk drawer
Happy Sunday
:0)

Hearding Cats

2011-09-27T22:19:00.000-07:00

I am spending this week subbing in my friend's Kindergarten class.

I can not think of a more perfect phrase to sum up the experience of working with Kindergarteners in September.
It can be a whole lot of crazy, but it sure is a lot of fun.
:0)

Happy Happy Joy Joy

2011-09-22T18:52:00.000-07:00

This is a pictue of me and my fellow Browns Point parents.
After 8 days of striking teachers the kids are going back to school tomorrow.
:0)

Strike

2011-09-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

We are in day three of a teacher strike here in Tacoma.
In '94 when I was teaching my district went on strike.
Strikes are not fun and teachers would rather be in their classroom with kids than walking a picket line.
Talks between the district and teachers resumes today.
I hope they can find a solution.

Look who finally showed up...

2011-09-03T12:02:00.000-07:00

Well, not so much a who more like a what.
Tomatoes!!!!
We have had the worst summer but now that the kids are back in school summer has shown up and the tomatoes are happy.
While I wish the overall look of the garden was a little more lush, there is fruit on the vine, so I guess that what is important.
My sunflowers and zucchini never came up (I must be the only person on the planet who can not grow these) so one bed looks a little empty. I find it funny the only thing that really took off was the marigolds. I'm not a huge fan of these oh so beautiful orange and yellow flowers, but all good gardeners plant them to help keep the bugs at bay. I guess the yellow ones aren't too bad.
So far I've harvested two handfuls of Juliets and about 6 cucs. It is supposed to be gorgeous this week so I'm hoping the extra sun will kick the tomatoes into overdrive. I like to get a batch or two of sauce made and it is always so much fun when the 'maters come from my own little garden.
Happy Gardening
:0)

Heat Wave

2011-08-21T20:15:00.000-07:00

Well, it took until the third week of August, but the summer has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest. Ahhhh, just in time for school to start next Thursday. While I have been doing my best to deal with the extreme heat the past couple of days (the above photo was taken on my dad's deck today) I do find myself longing for the cooler days of fall. We have had the GRAYEST summer EVER around here and so I am really hoping for a beautiful Indian summer.

Fall is my favorite season and usually the prettiest around here. Even though we are the "Evergreen State" we have our fair share of foliage that turns all those great reds and yellows. Between the leaves changing, Mt. Rainier and the Olympics against the crisp blue skies I don't think there is a prettier place. While I wish my tan was a little darker and vacation a little longer I'm ready for fall.
:0)

Girls Weekend

2011-07-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend I headed to the hills with my favorite girl and her Girl Scout troop. The girls decided that with the proceeds from their cookie sales they wanted to go camping. Now I'm all for camping, but I also enjoy toilets that flush, so I offered up our cabin. Nine girls and 5 moms headed up to Index, Washington. We have about an acre on the Skykomish River and it is the perfect place for "glamping". The girls did great. They pitched tents, cooked over the fire, built a "box oven" to cook a birthday cake for one of the girls, went on a killer 5 mile hike to Wallace Falls and of course made up skits celebrating being a scout.

Good Times

Happy Fourth of July

2011-07-04T10:57:00.000-07:00

Today there is this big yellow thing in the sky. Rumor has it is called the sun.

A sunny 4th is RARE around here but none the less, I'm stoked.

We are heading up to our friends' annual bash and they could not have asked for a better day.

I made about 100 of these little guys as my contribution to the potluck. When I saw them on baking bites, I knew I had to make them.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July!!

:0)

The Best Chocolate Buttercream

2011-06-30T22:52:00.000-07:00

I know this is a repost, but I wanted to share this recipe again.

I've made chocolate buttercreams before, but this one is a KEEPER. It whips up nice and light and it makes and makes enough to frost a 2 layer 9" cake as well as 2 dozen cupcakes.
Enjoy

Rich Chocolate Buttercream
2 oz baking chocolate

2 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1 C butter

4 C powdered sugar

2 t vanilla

1/4 C coco

1/4 C milk

Melt chocolates and set aside.

Cream butter, coco, half of the sugar

Add melted chocolate, vanilla, milk, remaining sugar

mix until fluffy

Makes 3 3/4 cups of frosting

I'm linking this up to Yummy Fridays over at Yummy Mummy

Lack of sun = time spent baking

2011-06-24T16:58:00.000-07:00

Surprise, surprise, surprise
(that was meant to be read with your best Gomer Pyle voice)
A week in and still the sun is for the most part MIA and I have to say I'm going a little stir crazy. Now I guess I should be channelling the pent up energy in a super productive way like cleaning out the garage, but nope, I've been baking.
At least I gave most of them away.

Hope the sun is out wherever you are (and if it is, please send some my way)

It was nice while it lasted

2011-06-22T11:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was the first day (and hopefully not the only day) of summer.
The sun was out and it reached 77 degree which is big time warm here in the Pacific Northwest. We went to the pool and soaked up the sun. Today I woke up to clouds that don't look like they are burning off anytime soon. Oh well, I need to go run errands and without that pesky sun calling my name, I might actually get things done.
Below is one of my favorite pics of me and my bff Jenny P. back in the day working at the pool.
I love that place.

The Bluest Skies I've Ever Seen Are in Seattle...

2011-06-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

NOT!!
Tomorrow is the first day of summer and I really hope the sun shows up soon. This is what has been outside my window for as long as I can remember.

Oh sure the sun has shown up for a tease here and there, but not enough for my liking. We got a glimpse of the sun today around 5:30 so hopefully it will make another appearance tomorrow. We are hitting the pool and I would really like to leave the umbrella at home.
:0)

Summer Vacation: Day 1

2011-06-16T17:15:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of summer vacation and I couldn't be happier. I love summer. The best part NO schedules.

The sun actually showed up today so the kids and I took full advantage and worked in the yard. Now I'm sure the kids would agree that the day would have been much more fun poolside, but the pool we belong to won't be on regular schedule until next week, so yard work it was.

I was surprised how long they lasted. Apparently the trick to keeping a 12 year old enthusiastic about gardening is to him a saw and tell him we are taking out a third of a very overgrown lilac. The 8 year old was a little easier, watering can.

The pic to the left are my Sweet Peas. I was cleaning out the junk drawer and had a packet of seeds. I planted them fully expecting them not to come up, so I was very excited when they actually started to grow. I love cut Sweet Peas, hopefully I will have blooms soon.While we worked in both the backyard and the veggie garden I'll show you the veggie garden. It is still in its "before" stage, but hopefully things will start to chug along now that the sun should be around a little more often (in theory at least) The beds are on the south side of the house.

The first bed has Yellow Pear tomato, Sunflowers, Lemon Boy tomato, Juliet tomato, Zucchini, Garlic chives

The second bed has Early Girl tomato, Sugar Peas, Patio tomato, Sweet 100 tomato, Shallots, English cucumber, Jalapeno peppers

Tomorrow the forcast calls for rain, shocking I know, but hopefully I will be able to get a little more puttering in before it starts.

Feel Good Summer Reading

2011-06-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

This is what I will be reading this summer. I picked them up at our school's book swap and I got lots of "Oh, you will LOVE this book". My mom has read The Help and I've seen Cutting for Stone mentioned on other blogs, it sounded interesting.

Last year when I was subbing for my mom I ran into a PTA mom who was in the middle of their school's annual book swap/sale. Basically the kids bring in books from home, for every two books they bring in they can select one new book and the leftover books are then sold for a quarter a piece at the end of the year ice cream social. What a great idea. I brought the idea back to my school and we decided to give it a try.

While I liked the idea of the "swap" the headache of a "sale" was more than I wanted to take on. I decided that the leftover books would instead be donated to local reading programs. Last year we brought in just over 1200 books, not too shabby for something thrown together the last few weeks of school. This year we brought in just over 1500 books.

Yesterday we dropped off over 700 books to a local outreach program. This is such an easy was for kids to give back and make a difference. If this sounds like a project you want to try, feel free to email me and I can give you give some "tricks of the trade".

T minus 2 1/2 days...

2011-06-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

School is out in two and a half days.
I can't wait.

Summers USED to mean lounging poolside soaking up rays, smelling like Hawaiian Tropic or Coppertone, putting a little lemon juice in you hair to help along those summer highlights. So far this summer I've spent more time in jeans and sweaters than I have in shorts.

We have had a few hours of sun this month and today I was able to take advantage and get my herb garden planted. I was trolling the gardening archives over at An Accomplished Woman and it inspired me to go out stimulate the economy. I picked up parsley, basil, oregano, cilantro and shallots. I'm especially excited about the shallots. I thought I had missed my window (google said they had to be planted in the fall) but apparently not. I like shallots but they are so spendy. Hopefully the starts will work out.
Despite the lack of sun, there are promises of things to come...

I LOVE peonies and these babies are about to burst. Please forgive the darkness of the photo, it was RAINING!!

While I was away...

2011-06-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

My little brother Tommy got married.

Sam was a flower girl and Ben was a groomsman (I think this is the only picture he smiled for)

We are so happy for them

PB&J Cupcakes

2011-04-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

It has been cupcake central around here lately. I've gotten a few more "gigs" which is kind of exciting. My friend asked me to make 300 minis (devils food w/ chocolate butter cream) for a benefit she is doing. I will definitely have to recruit Akiko for a little extra help. Last night Joj asked me if I could make a PB&J cupcake. I tried to "bake in" the jelly. This did not work. It just sank. I guess the next time I will just have to "inject" the jelly. Oh well, lesson learned.

It is a beautiful day here in the PNW. The sun is shining and we will be spending it rooting on Ben and the Tigers.

Happy Saturday Everyone!!

:0)

Instant Gratification

2011-04-21T17:12:00.001-07:00

I'm not one to tackle projects that require any length of time. I seem to have adult onset ADD. If something is actually going to get done, the window is about 30 minutes. Well, today I actually got one done.

I've had this yellow bucket for years. I found it at the goodwill and usually use it as a drink bucket. Somehow it was left outside and it took a pretty good beating. The bottom is pretty rusty so I'm thinking its water proof days are over. Now I needed to find a new use. I had an idea. I have this little corner by the front door that just needed something. So out came the black spray paint.

For less than $5 worth of spray paint, my little tub when from blah to bodacious. When I went to Freddie's to get some flowers I found this hanging basket marked down 50% so I splurged (so worth not having to wait for little starts to grow ~ its the ADD kicking in again) A little chalk and I was good to go. I love it!!

I'm linking up to Show and Tell Fridays at My Romantic Home

Carrot Cake

2011-04-14T21:31:00.000-07:00

My friend Candy's little boy's bday is tomorrow and she hired me to bake some cupcakes for the class. She was up to her elbows baking for the weekend's numerous festivities so I was happy to take this off her plate. (Check out her blog if you want to be inspired to rethink the way you eat) Anyway, her son Cam decided carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese frosting was what he wanted, so carrot cake it was.

Since I'm still new at the baking from scratch, I called my go to girl, Akiko (aka my sister-in-law) to help me find the right recipe. We settled on Ina Garten's Carrot and Pineapple Cake, although we did tweak it a bit. Overall, I think it turned out well. Since it was for kids I didn't put the coconut, walnuts or raisins in it, but the taste was good and they were nice and moist. So far, this one is a keeper.

Carrot Pineapple Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

(based on Ina Garten's recipe)

2 C sugar

1 1/3 veggie oil

3 eggs room temp

1 t vanilla

2 1/2 C flour

1/2 t baking powder

2 t baking soda

1 1/2 t cinnamon

1 1/2 t salt

1/2 C crushed pineapple

1 pound of grated carrots

Mix sugar, oil and eggs until fluffy, add vanilla

Sift dry ingreds and add to wet

Fold in carrots and pineapple

Fill cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake 350 for 30-35 minutes

Basic Cream Cheese Frosting

12 oz cream cheese at room temp

8 oz butter at room temp

1 t vanilla

1 lb powder sugar

Combine and mix until light and fluffy. Place in the fridge to firm up if you are piping the frosting.

Enjoy

:0)

Today in the test kitchen

2011-04-12T17:36:00.001-07:00

I've been toying with the idea of starting a "cupcake for hire" kind of thing. Folks seem to love my baked goods and if they are actually willing to pay for them, even better. Of course, that also means that my "goods" have to be well... good. Today Akiko came and we tried some recipes out. We attempted mini red velvet cupcakes, classic white cake and devils food cake.

~Results~

Mini Red Velvet Minis

My friend asked me yesterday if I might be interested in making mini red velvet cupcakes for a possible pairing for a wine tasting she is doing. When asked how many she would need, the friend said 250-300. Alrighty then. I'm not sure if this will happen but I figured I better see how many minis my recipe would make. Turns out it makes 48. The tricky part was the baking time. We kind of lost track with all the "one more minutes", but overall, I think the minis are a keeper.

Classic White Cake

I came across this recipe when I googled "moist and fluffy white cake". While the texture of the cake (or "crumb") is exactly what I was looking for, the flavor was average. Even though you only use the egg whites, it still had a very "eggy" taste to me. Even with a mountain of frosting, I could still taste the egg. It was good, but not great. I'm going to keep looking.

Devil's Food Cake

(aka Ina Garten's Beatty's Chocolate Cake)

OMG.

All I can say is OMG. This cake was AMAZING!! Super moist, kind of spongy (but in a good way) I topped these bad boys off with peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Holy Yummy, Batman. Yes, these were THAT good. Not only were they delicious, they were super easy to make. If you are craving some chocolate cake, try these. You will not be disappointed.

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese

1/3 C peanut butter

6 T butter

1 1/4 C powder sugar

1/2 t vanilla

Cream everything together until light and fluffy

Enjoy

:0)

Shower Recap

2011-04-10T19:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the shower for Maria.

Despite the insane 24 hours prior (including a field trip, PTA meeting, baseball game, birthday party and a 1 am trip to the grocery store) everything came together.

We kept things simple.

~Menu~

Cobb Salad

Quiche'

Garlic Bread

Fruit Platter

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Pink Lemonade w/ Preseco

I was extremely happy with how the cupcakes turned out. So moist and fluffy, my best batch to date. It was also a really good batch of cream cheese frosting. I used real lemon juice (since I had one on hand that I had used for the salad dressing) and it was a super juicy lemon. Since there was so much juice I left the milk out of the recipe all together. I think I might just skip the milk from now on.

Overall, I would say the shower was a success.

Super Simple, Super Yummy Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 C butter

8 oz room temp cream cheese

2-3 T lemon juice (fresh or bottle)

1 lb powder sugar

Combine the all ingreds and then mix on med for 5-7 minutes

Enjoy

If at first you don't succeed...

2011-04-07T19:09:00.000-07:00

My mom and I are throwing a shower for my little brother's fiance' on Saturday and I'm in charge of the dessert. The original plan was to make some red velvet cupcakes, but then I saw this and it was L.O.VE. at first sight.

Cupcakes, schmupcakes. This is what I wanted to make for the shower, but knowing me I needed to do a trial run. Thankfully, I did.

Now I'm decent with a pastry bag, but for some reason it just didn't turn out. I followed the directions... well most of them. When it came to filling in "the gaps", they were just too big to "swoop" some frosting. I thought "small roses" would look nice ~ wrong. Oh well, I did learn a few things from this experience. When I make this cake again (I've bumped the cupcakes back to plan A for Saturday) I will start in the middle and work my way out, as opposed to starting on the sides like the tutorial suggests. I would also make smaller "roses". The big "roses" make for bigger "gaps" so I think the smaller ones would be easier to smoosh together. Either way, I think this cake has potential.

:0)

Thirteen years and counting

2011-04-03T10:27:00.000-07:00

Today's is our 13th anniversary.

This picuture was taking the day before we graduated from high school back in '87.

Good thing one of us has matured since then.

:0)

From the way back file...

2011-04-01T14:34:00.000-07:00

I was looking through old posts the other day and I came across one that made me laugh and in the spirit of the day I thought I would share it again.

To truly appreciate this you need to have a little back story. The preschool that I was involved in had recently acquired a historic building to call home. We had also spent almost every penny that we had been scrimping and saving for the last 20 years to rehab the building. The most recent project was to drop 150K to replace the 500 window panes in building.

As we all know, when money is tight folks tend to get a little cranky. As the president at the time, I was the one who got to hear how cranky everyone was. So when we discovered our beloved building had begun to settle I just couldn't resist and I sent out the following letter. Needless to say, not everyone saw the humor and it was "suggested" I make more appropriate choices when using my email.

Good Morning Everyone,

I just got a call from our insurance company and it seems the the settling has caused great amounts of structural damage. In fact the amount of work it would take to repair the damage is far greater than the insurance company is willing to pay. In fact, for safety reasons, the recommendation is for the school to be demolished. I know, I know, after all our hard work it has come down to this. Also unfortunate is the fact that NE Tacoma has no available spaces for our program to move. The churches in our area already have programs of their own. So it is with a heavy heart to let you all know that after almost 50 years this will most likely be the final year for the Northpoint Co-op. This is such a difficult email for me to write. Just take comfort in the fact it is the first of April and I will see you all after spring break, refreshed and ready to enjoy spring at the co-op.

Happy April Fool's Day :0)

Spring Break

2011-03-30T21:53:00.001-07:00

Well, it's Spring Break here in the Pacific Northwest and that can only mean one thing

~ RAIN, RAIN AND MORE RAIN ~

Trying to focus on the positive this means:

green lush grass

happy flowers

soft dirt for easy weeding (if it ever stops raining so I can actually go work in the yard)

As a Washingtonian, I also know that sunny skies are just around the corner. As soon as break is over, that is the sun's cue to come out and play. I can't wait :0)

Previously on Hoarders...

2011-03-27T22:37:00.000-07:00

So while I waited for the phone guy, I watched Hoarders. Is it scary I can relate to the hoarders? Kinda. I completely understand not wanting to throw something out that is still useful to someone. (Quick disclaimer... The folks who pick up a book that has been used as a racoon's bathroom and think it is still okay, they are coocoo) But there comes a time when the stuff is taking over and action must be taken.

I have a pretty big master closet. Which is good and bad. It's nice to have room for stuff, but on the other hand we have lots of room for "stuff".

Here is the before shot. Not the best pic, but you get the idea, junk galore. After a few hours and 12 bags later it looked like this (try as I might to get a good "after" shot, Sam felt the shot needed something ~ her)

The front half of the closet is mine, the back half Joj's. I purged a lot of clothes. It felt good, but now my limited wardrobe is even more limited, but that's okay.

I had Joj put in these shelves about a year ago and I love it. There had been long hanging, but I really don't have that much to hang so shelves made more sense. I also love the fact that there is room for 3 baskets so I can presort the laundry. I sort by "heavy" (sweats, towels, jeans, etc), "lights" (polos, shirts, socks, etc) and "whites". I also keep a bin on the shelf to put my "delicates". When a basket is full, I wash.

As for the back half (Joj's area) he still has some stuff to go through.

We originally put a desk in here thinking it could double as an office, but that didn't really work. It became more of a place to pile stuff and that's not good. I think eventually we will loose the desk and install more shelves. As for the Marshall amp, we are undecided. It is one of the only surviving item from Joj's bachelor days. We refer to it as "the wall of sound". With all the other stuff we got rid of, there is plenty of room, so the "wall of sound" can stay for now. (yes, those are Sam's feet~she's "helping")

I love the feeling of a freshly cleaned room. I have to say the tackling of the closet has inspired me to clean out other rooms. I did the kids' bathrooms today. They went quick, gotta love that. Ben has been wanting to clean out his room so maybe we will do that tomorrow. Ugh, that will be a big job, but I'm trying to focus on how good it will feel to have all that clutter gone. :0)

Waiting

2011-03-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Our land line is having some issues. When I called the phone company for a service check I was told a technician would have the job completed by 8pm. Usually you get the "between 10 and 2" or at least some kind of time frame, but nope not this time. So I'm stuck at home indefinitely until someone shows up. Great. So making lemonade out of lemons, I've decided to start my spring cleaning.

If you watch "The Middle" (and if you don't you should, it's really funny) you can relate to the fact "we've been robbed". The past week has just been super busy and the house has bared the brunt of it. So since I'm stuck her all day, I may as well make the most of it. It isn't even 8am and I'm 2/3's done with the laundry. The kitchen is next including a good purge of the fridge and just because Debra inspired me, I'm going to continue to purge in our master closet (I can see the floor now, so I'm encouraged)
White House Black Shutters is doing a 40 bags in 40 days challenge so I thought I would play along. We'll see how it goes.

Happy Friday

:0)

Welcome to the Show

2011-03-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Ben's first game in "the Majors". This is the level that sends teams to the Little League World Series so the kids can really play. I think Ben was a little awestruck, but held his own his own on the field. The Tigers played well, but came up just a little short. Oh well, I was just glad it didn't rain. Our next game is Wednesday and it is the one day on the 5 day forecast that doesn't show downpours. Oh the joys of baseball in W. Washington.

:0)

Tidying Up

2011-03-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

So I did a little house cleaning on the blog and I have to say I'm pretty happy with the new layout. It feels less cluttered and is easier to read. If only decluttering the house was this easy.
Happy Sunday
(hopefully your March Madness brackets are doing better than mine)
:0)

Happy St. Patty's Day

2011-03-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone.

I wanted to make something a little festive, so I decided to make some Thin Mint Cupcakes. Now Thin Mints aren't my favorite Girl Scout cookie (I much prefer the Tresfoil and Tagalongs) but Sam loves them so I figured, what the the heck. All I did was crush up (not too small) a package of Thin Mints and add them to a devils food box mix. Can I just say these are super yummy. I'm not really a mint girl at all, but the cookies add just enough to give the cake a good and interesting flavor. I topped them off with plain butter cream. (If I would of had some Bailey's in the house I would have put a splash or two in there) I'm just bummed I thought of these after the cookies sales. I would have stocked up. Oh well, there is always next year.

:0)

A Jerry McGuire Moment

2011-03-16T13:55:00.000-07:00

There is a scene in Jerry McGuire where Tom Cruise stays up all night writing his "mission statement" on how he wants to revamp player management. He then stands in middle of his crowded office and shouts "I'm leaving, who's coming with me?" Well, today I had my own Jerry McGwire moment.

I've been involved in my kid's PTA for the past 6 years. I've chaired various committees and even served on the executive board. In all that time, I've never felt that much as changed. Sure little things here and there, but there is still so much more I want to see happen for the kids. After about my 100th "what if" conversation with one of my friends we decided the time is now.

It seems the stars are aligning and a group of pretty action minded moms are ready to create the empowering and inspiring environment our kids deserve. So today, I sent out my own "mission statement" and asked "who's coming with me?"

The best part of running...

2011-03-12T12:58:00.000-08:00

is stopping :0)

Well, I survived my 5K.

It dumped. We froze.

While my first mile was great, the rest, not so much.

Oh well, it was fun anyway.

:0)

Tick tock...

2011-03-11T20:09:00.000-08:00

In less than 13 hours I will run a 5K. I had hoped to have trained a little more, but April showers showed up early and I'm not that die hard to run in a monsoon. I did get a few runs in though so I'm not going in totally unprepared. The forecast for tomorrow is for "showers". That means we are getting wet, just how wet remains to be seen. I'm guess it will sprinkle lightly until 9am when the race starts and then the heaven will open and we will have to run dodging various animal pairs making there way to the ark that I'm sure will be parked at the dock.

The last time we ran this course, back in December the sun came out during the race despite the early morning showers. Blue skies, snow covered mountains, running along the waterfront, you couldn't have asked for a more beautiful morning. As for tomorrow, I'm not holding my breath. Although, freezing rain may be just the motivation I need to get my tail in gear and run fast if for no other reason than to get out of the cold.

:0)

Now we're cookin'

2011-03-10T07:47:00.001-08:00

So I've gotten my second order for cupcakes. Okay, it's from the same friend, but still, I'm very excited. When I told her I was thinking about putting a business card in with the auction cupcakes, she was very supportive and said, "if you want to do this, I will get your name out there". I thought this was so nice and she is the kind of woman who is connected and could "really get my name out there". Still scary, but now the scales are starting to tip towards more exciting.
Yesterday while I was bopping around the Internet, I decided to do a little more research on cupcakes and cupcake shops. I always like to see the what kind of flavors and flavor combinations are out there. While doing so I also clicked on the price list. Talk about sticker shock. Holy you gotta be kidding me, Batman. The prices where crazy, like $28 to $34 a dozen crazy. Do people REALLY spend that??? I guess so. c.r.a.z.y.
So now I'm thinking that my cupcakes might be a very doable option for those folks who drive all the way downtown to buy fancy cupcakes (and there are a lot of folks around here who do). Now I just need to find some signature "tried and trues" as well as some "fancy" cupcakes. With St. Patty's day around the corner I'm thinking I will try a chocolate cupcake with crushed thin mints and a little Bailey's butter cream might be a fun start.
:0)

Going Pro

2011-03-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

I like to bake and I bake a lot. I don't make anything fancy, but it is always well received. Last week one of my friends asked me to bake cupcakes for her daughter's birthday. I thought "why not". When she asked how much would I charge I wasn't sure what to say. I know people can pay a lot for cupcakes (I took Sam to Hello Cupcake and spent 3 bucks on one of the worst cupcakes I've ever had) but I'm no "hello cupcake" so I said ten bucks for 2 dozen Red Velvet cupcakes. When she picked them up, she paid me more than double and that got me thinking... The same friend holds a auction benefit every spring and for the past two years I've donated pecan pies. It still shocks me how crazy people go for home baked goods, but apparently they are popular and I always get "you should open a bakery". I just smile and think, "bless your heart, what number cocktail is this?"

This year instead of pies, I'm donating cupcakes. A cupcake sampler including, Red Velvet w/ Cream Cheese, Devils Food with PB Butter cream and Chocolate Butter cream, Lemon Meringue and probably tried and true Vanilla w/ Vanilla Butter cream. What I'm toying with is putting in a little business card: Cupcakes for Hire.
Around here grocery store cupcakes go for about 8 bucks a dozen, much more if you go "gourmet". So I'm thinking folks might be interested in cupcakes somewhere in the middle, $25 for 2 dozen. Kinda scary to put myself out there like that, but the thought of picking up a little cash now and then, is kinda tempting.

Boys of Summer

2011-02-26T20:16:00.000-08:00

Springtime means baseball.

Unfortunately the Soundview Little League doesn't have facilities down in AZ.

Oh no, we have NE Tacoma Elementary and snow that didn't get the memo that March is just a few days away.

While I love the snow, I don't think Ben shares my enthusiasm.

Poor Benji, such a trooper.

You will hear "yummy" sounds

2011-02-25T16:19:00.000-08:00

Today I thought I would share with you my "go to" coffee cake.

It is so simple it is kinda embarrassing, but folks seem to love it regardless.

I made it for the book fair breakfast this morning and as I was leaving with the two little pieces left over, someone stopped me and snagged one of them.

I will be the first to admit this has Sandra Lee written all over it, but it never fails to please and that is really what it's all about.

Enjoy :0)

Super Easy Coffee Cake

for the cake ~

1 box yellow cake mix (I prefer to use Pillsbury ~ super moist and super cheap)

1 C water

1/2 C oil

3 eggs

mix according to directions and pour into a greases 9x13

for the crumb topping ~

1 stick butter softened (I nuc mine for 20 seconds)

1 C brown sugar

1 C oats

1/2 C flour

1 t cinnamon & 1/4 nutmeg (feel free to bump these up according to your preferred taste)

mix until combined and crumbly

Pour the crumb mixture over the cake batter and swirl with a knife.

Bake 34 minutes

The cake will puff up around the crumb topping as it melts into the cake. After it cools you can top it with a basic powder sugar, milk, vanilla glaze.

So simple, but so yummy

Snow Envy

2011-02-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

It seems like everyone in the country is digging themselves out of tons of snow. Well today we finally got a little of the white stuff of our own. Now in the Seattle area, we really aren't "snow people". Before the first flake ever falls, the local news start with coverage of "Artic Blast '11" or "Snowmagedon" and usually all that ever shows up is a trace, maybe a few inches unless of course you are in the higher elevations, which we aren't.
So when it started snowing last night I was thrilled. I love the snow. I love how pretty everything looks when it snows. I love how the kids get to stay home. I love the fact that I don't really have places to go so I don't have to drive in it because one thing W.Wa's cannot do is drive in snow. To be fair, we don't get a lot of practice. I think this sums it up pretty well.

Listen to this :0)

Nothing says "Tex-Mex" like the Hamptons

2011-02-22T19:26:00.001-08:00

Tonight I made Ina Garten's Tex-Mex Chili.

I was unsure of my expectations. I'm not necessarily a chili girl, but I'm always on the lookout for a good DND recipe, so I thought I would try it.

Now Ina doesn't really scream "tex mex" and neither did her friend to whom the receipe belonged. In fact the friend even said, "what do two Jewish girls from New York know about tex-mex chili". Apparently she knows something because the chili was "award winning" so I decided to give it a try.
The first time I make a receipe I follow the directions. (nothing makes me crazy like when I research a recipe and the reviewers give it 5 stars but then go on to tell how they completely changed the receipe) I had my mom and dad come over to help taste test it and while it was good, we felt it could be better. Below is the recipe as written with my two cents thrown in.

Enjoy

Devon's Award Winning Chili

5lb brisket cut into 1" pieces

1/4 C Evoo

2 C yellow onion chopped

6 large cloves minced (could hardly taste the garlic, add more if you like garlic)

1 T red pepper flakes (might cut this down to 1 t)

2 T chili powder

1 T Cayenne

2 T ground cumin (bump this up to 3 T)

2 green peppers cut up

1 bay leaf

salt and pepper to taste

6 C chopped tomatoes w/liquid (or two large cans)

1/2 C strong coffee (we found this made the chili a little bitter, beer would be better)

2 (150z) cans kidney beans (if you aren't a fan of beans, you might try a refied beans instead)

2 T chopped basil

In a heavy bottom pot, heat oil and brown meat and set aside

Add onions and garlic to oil and saute' 8-10 min

Add spices, stir one minute

Add tomatoes with juice, peppers, bay leaf, salt and pepper, reserved meat.

Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 1/2 hours.

Add coffee, simmer 30 minutes

Add beans and basil simmer 30 minutes more

Serve with sour cream, cheddar cheese, diced tomato, corn chips

18 days

2011-02-21T20:04:00.000-08:00

In 18 days and a handful of hours I will be running another 5K.

I can't decide if I'm excited or not.

I haven't run since my last 5K in December.

Well, I did today and my body is a little less than happy.

I've been pretty good with my working out, but elliptical work is sadly much different than road work.

My goal is to run 8 more times before the race.

Ambitious? yes. Doable? totally

:0)

Red velvet worthy of blue box, white ribbon

2011-02-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

Red Velvet Cupcakes

With Valentines Day just around the corner, it seems Red Velvet cakes are all the rage. I remember Martha making one on her show and I just couldn't get over putting an ENTIRE bottle of red food coloring into the batter, just not appealing. I've only had a few Red Velvet experiences and they were dry and flavorless. That being the case, I never had the desire to try and make them myself, until now.

There is a small diner by my house. I love the fact that when I walk in, the waitress is already pouring my diet coke and looking for lemons. I love that when I order a side of BBQ, the cook knows to serve it in a small bowl, yes it is THAT good. I love that when it is slow we can BS with the staff and they BS back. It's everything a neighborhood diner should be. So to show them a little love I will bake for them. I've brought in pies, cookies and other sweet treats. The last time we went for lunch I was in the middle of making some cupcakes and the staff was bummed I hadn't brought them any (I would have had they been done) So I decided the next time we went I wouldn't show up empty handed.

I was thrilled when I saw a recipe for Red Velvet cupcakes on the Brown Eyed Baker's blog. (Quick side note, her blog is awesome ~ amazingly yummy eye candy AND she shares her recipes ~ how cool is that) I had done some research trying to find "the best Red Velvet ever" and I kept coming back to hers. It had all the "must haves" and it only made 12 cupcakes which meant not too many extra cupcakes at the house screaming "eat me" Long story short, they were easy to make, tasted moist and chocolaty and I can't wait for the folks at the diner to try them.

The eyes are the first to go...

2011-02-09T16:25:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like despite my best efforts/denial I'm getting glasses. I finally had to cave when driving at night became a little more scary than it should be. I guess I have an astigmatism, which means I see halos around things, especial lights. Those blue headlights are the worst and LED signs are practically unreadable. I got to the point where it was so bad, I was okay with getting glasses. However, when he told me I might need bifocals, I started to freak out.

Seriously, I'm too young for bifocals, right?? After putting up my best pout, the dr. gave me a stay of execution, but said "next year won't be the case". Bummer. I guess it isn't so much the actual glasses as it is the potential of dependency on them. I just keep seeing Velma loosing her glasses and being blind a bat. When I asked if there was anything I could do help strengthen my eyes the dr. said "nope" and that was the end of it.

So now I'm just waiting for my new "eyes" to come in. I got the okay to just wear them at night when I drive, but he said, "you never know, you might actually enjoy being able to see".
I guess we will just have to wait and see about that.
:0)

Boys Night Out

2011-01-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

One of my unofficial New Year's resolutions was to get out more. I'm kind of a homebody and it's nice to go out every now and then. I've been to a few concerts recently and it just makes me want to see more. With ticket prices and Ticketmaster (aka Ticketmonster)taking the fun out of big name shows we have been exploring smaller shows.
We are lucky to live about 25 miles south of Seattle so there are lots of small clubs to explore. Last night, Joj and I plus two of his buddies, hit the Showbox at the Market and heard a Led Zeppelin tribute band, Led Zepagain. They were great.
Besides seeing a good show it was fun to hang "with the boys". Joj has known Erik and Jim since he was a kid and so there lots of stories from back in the day. Between all the laughing and great music I would say it was a very successful boys (plus me) night out and I'm looking forward to the next one.
:0)

Fondue, who knew?

2011-01-26T21:29:00.000-08:00

Every year after our Christmas party, my sister-in-law sit down and do a "what worked, what didn't" list. I have them for almost all the parties we have done and it is so helpful when planning for the following year. One of the items that we go back and forth on is the cheese plate. Part of us feels we should have it, part of us feel it is a time consuming item that no one really eats. I have to admit I like a little cheese when I'm at a party, so on the fence I sit.

As we discussed the cheese yet again, we had a stroke of genius. Fondue. Who does not love a good gooey fondue and since we have already eliminated the baked brie that congeals 5 minutes after you put it on the table we felt this was a winning option.

The next hurdle was 'what do we put it in'? Hmmm, due to the furniture in my dining room the table has to stay in the middle of the room. In years past we had pushed it up against the wall so that made items requiring plugs (like crock pots) a piece of cake. Table in the middle of the room and long cords (especially when folks have been getting their festive on) is just tragedy waiting to happen. The solution, an old fashion Sterno fondue pot. I had been looking on line and decided I wanted to get the Wilton fondue set. It seemed to be just the right size and as a bonus it was tea light powered, so no Sterno. I would have purchased it but it was $20 buck shipping and frankly I'm just too cheap. I'm glad I resisted because the other day while at Goodwill, I found the exact same set unopened for $5. Score!! So tonight we decided to test it out.

I used a the fondue recipe below and learned a few things:

Don't use preshredded cheese. They treat is with some kind of coating to keep it from sticking and it totally throws off the "meltiness" of the cheese

Use a beer you would actually drink. Joj brought home some Redhook, yuck, and since the flavor intensifies when it cooks it make the fondue really "beery". For us, a nice blonde beer would probably be a better choice.

3 cloves of garlic is a lot.

Also, as far as the items to dip, you don't need a lot. I cut up a large apple, 4 thick slices of crusty bread, 1 small head of broccoli, 2 chicken tenders, and a few slices if summer sausage for the 4 of us. Half way through we were stuffed. It didn't seem like that much food, but apparently if you eat slowly enough you fill up on a lot less. Now I know the whole cheese and beer thing was isn't exactly "diet friendly" but we really didn't make much of a dent in the cheese either. So what is the point??? Fondue can be a relatively light meal. Who knew?

Cheesy Beer Fondue

2 cups beer (I used a pale ale Henry's)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ground dry mustard
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed (3 cloves was pretty garlicly)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 cups shredded Sharp Cheddar cheese
Combine first 4 ingreds and half of the flour
Toss rest of the flour with the cheese
Once beer mixture is boiling, add cheese and melt (add a couple of drops of lemon juice if cheese is too clumpy)
Then dip all kinds of yummy stuff like bread, apples, veggies, etc.
Enjoy

One of those people...

2011-01-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

I have become one of those people.
The kind I have always found annoying.
The kind who get up at ungodly hours to work out.

Not only do I get up at 5:15 to go workout, I have realized that this my ideal workout time.
If I don't go at 5:30, chances are it won't get done.
I guess that early in the morning my brain isn't fully awake and the auto pilot is full swing.
So even though I feel like this

It will all be worth it to look more like this

Goodies to Go

2011-01-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

Once a week, Joj has to make the long trek up to Everett for work. It is a long drive for everyone so to make it a little less awful I try and send along a little something. The group seems to be fond of coffee cakes which could not be easier to make. This week I'm sending up a sweet cream cheese coffee cake. I'm going a little Sandra Lee and basically doctoring up a box mix, but the filling is pretty tasty. I'm just waiting for it to cool and then I'm going to glaze it. The real recipe is here.

The best part about whipping up this little gem is that it is leaving the house and all that will come back will be an empty plate. I love to bake, but unfortunately it results in baked goods. I've joined D'lyn's 25 in 21. A little accountability group to loose those extra pounds before schools out. It fits with the decluttering of the body resolution so I figured what the hey.

Action not words

2011-01-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

On Friday, I had been asked to give a plug for the PTA's Golden Acorn Award. The assembly was celebrating Dr King, so talking about service and giving back it was a no brainer. When I agreed to do the schpeal, I thought the assembly was also a "Student of the Month" recognition which mean there would be a ton of parents there. When I found out it wasn't I was bummed, but it did explain why there were so few parents there. Nevertheless, I gave my speech. It went really well, even if it didn't reach as many parents as I had hoped. Oh well.
When I went to check the mail today I found a little envelope with my name on it. There is just something about receiving something in the mail that isn't a bill, or an ad or some other randomly created, impersonal piece of mail. That little thrill is like a present unto itself. The note was from a friend of mine who had been at the assembly. She said how much she enjoyed my "pitch" and how she had found it inspiring. Wow. This was coming from a woman who constantly amazes me with her commitment to caring and compassion. She is a real go getter in all the right things. While the note was kind, the fact that she made the effort to actually write it and then drive to my house to put it in the mailbox was really touching.
We all think "Oh I should..." "Maybe I will..." and most times those are just words we say. It is when action is taken that makes all the difference.

I hear you knocking...

2011-01-10T20:56:00.001-08:00

This weekend I went down to San Fransisco for my cousin's wedding. The wedding was sweet and it was nice to see a side of the family I haven't seen very often.

While we were there my mom really wanted to drive by her grandmothers house. My mom has always talked about this house, so I was curious to see it as well. When we found the house my mom knocked on the door and asked if she could take a picture of the house. She told the owner how this had been her Nana's house and she had so many fond memories of it. Not only did the current owner, Mary, let my mom take a picture she invited her (and us) to come in and look around. While this was super nice and completely unexpected, I kept thinking, if someone knocked on my door would I let them in??

If you are familiar with FlyLady she is all about living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) and I have to say that is me. Our house's main living spaces are pretty open and the lower level is especially "lived in". As I type I'm surrounded by piles of laundry waiting to be put away and other random clutter that seems to multiply at a frighten rate. I try to keep up, but I am only one and my crusade to recruit help is slow going. Battling the clutter is one of my goals this year and I feel good about some of the gains I have made in the other parts of the house. I tell myself one room at time, one room at at time. Slow and steady wins the race, right??

Aquagirl

2011-01-05T18:46:00.000-08:00

I LOVE the water.
I truly believe this is the real me.

However, if I want to look like this

I need to do more of this

I taught swimming for 10 years. I swam competitively for 7, but I HATE swimming laps. So boring. I guess if I'm going to make swimming part of my regime, I should look into one of these.

Today Holly and I met at the pool at 5:30 am only to find the pool opened at 5:45. It took everything we had to stay awake. When we finally got in the pool we discovered they keep it at 86 degrees so swimming laps felt like we were swimming in this.

:0)

Make it Work

2011-01-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

I mentioned before that one of my goals was to rid my life of clutter. The place I'd most like to see this happen is my body. Ugh. Always a battle. A while back, I posted that my friend Holly inspired me to sign up for my first 5K. I did it and survived. We then signed up for a triathlon. I survived that too. However, this year I've decided I want to do more than just survive.

For the past year and half I've been dragging myself out of bed at the ungodly hour of 5:30 a few times a week to "workout". That has looked very different at times, but usually it meant a 3 mile walk with some friends. Our neighborhood is hilly so we would huff and puff, but mostly get caught up on all the latest goings ons ~ quality girlfriend time. While it fed the soul, the body needed more.

I decided that if I'm going to go through the effort of getting up that early, I needed to see some results, real results. That meant putting the "work" in working out. Go figure??
One of my favorite Seinfeld quotes is from his dad talking about his heath regime ~ "I eat a plum everyday, that is my regime". Unfortunately, it takes more than that. So I've come up with a regime that will hopefully keep me from getting bored and help strengthen my body.

Sunday~ Step class
Monday ~ rest
Tuesday ~ elliptical/treadmill
Wednesday ~ swim
Thursday ~ elliptical/treadmill
Friday ~ rest
Saturday ~ run

Of course, I couldn't do it without my girlfriends. A support system is crucial to keep you honest and hold you to task when you would rather veg on the couch. I know moving more is on every one's mind this time of year, but if I can do it, ANYONE can do it. The first time I ran I made it two blocks and thought I was going to die. Now I can run three miles and no medics need to be called. That feels pretty good.

Finding the Balance...

2011-01-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog I had the tagline "Finding the balance while fitting the clutter".
As I think about my New Year's resolutions I'm finding "clutter" seems to be a constant theme.
So for 2011 I've decided to declutter the following:
my mind, my body and of course my home
I've spent the past two days starting to clean out the closest that are used to "hide" stuff when we "clean". I'm so over the stuff. I've already got bags for Goodwill and even my Christmas stuff is going to be pared down as I pack it away. If I don't love it, its gone.

As for the old body, well, that is as always a work in progress. The plan is to step up the workouts. I'm doing another Tri this summer and my goal is to finish in enough time to do the kid tri with Sammie (she doesn't know this yet) I'm also going to be more mindful of what we eat ~ that means more veggies (Ben and Sam are thrilled with this one).

Last up, the mind. Basically, I'm going to try and be more "half full" and not awfullize.

I know those seem kind of vague, but that is my starting point. I have more specific ways I want to achieve these and I will share those in later posts. Hopefully, as I work on these aspects the balance I seek will come.

Wishing you all the best for 2011

:0)

We had ourselves a merry little Christmas

2010-12-28T16:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2010 has come and gone.

We everyone came to our house for dinner and presents

Now I'm looking forward to the new year and the frest start that comes with it.

I hope that you all have been enjoying a relaxing holiday with family and friends :0)

Kickin' Off the Holidays

2010-12-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

Saturday night we hosted our annual Christmas Bash. This is our 7th year and I think it was the best yet. We had 50 folks show up to kick off the holidays and it was such a blast. Akiko and I had been planning the menu for months and I had spent the week leading up shopping, prepping and cooking. When all was said and done our spread looked pretty good. We got a lot of compliments on it and the courses of yummy sounds throughout the night was music to our ears.

Just because we worked so hard and it turned out so well, I wanted to share a picture of it. It was tons of work, but soooo worth it.

Menu

Sushi (made by Akiko and Joji's mom)

Beef Satay

Luau Chicken

Tequila Shrimp

Deviled Eggs

Baked Artichoke Dip

Spinach Dip

Smoked Salmon (smoked by my dad)

Goat Cheese on Spiced Mango

Stuffed Jalapenos

Veggies and Dip

Cheese and Fruit Platter

Humus

Sausage Balls

Turkey Cranberry Sandwiches

Caprese on a Stick

Melon Wrapped Prosciutto

Chocolate Fountain with Poundcake, Fruit, Marshmallows, Pretzels & Rice Crispy Treats

It's about time...

2010-11-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

Way back I mentioned I wanted to paint my cabinets white.

I had icky orangey oak cabinets and I was not a fan.

I painted one to see if I would like it and I did.

Now with the Christmas Party looming, I had to get it done.

Very exciting... more pics soon.

:0)

Thank a Vet

2010-11-11T13:57:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of my two favorite Vets. My dad and his best friend Ken. It was taking at Fort Lewis, WA when I was about a year old (that's me in the pink coat)

My dad was supposed to go to Viet Nam, but he didn't. I'm glad because so many never came back. Shrapnel in the Heart is a collection of letters and essays left at the Viet Nam War Memorial. You will definitely need a box of Kleenex or two, but it is an amazing, heartbreaking reminder of the true cost of war and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Home of the free because of the brave

Soup's On

2010-11-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the DND boys over (well, at least two of them) and I decided to try Italian Stracciatella with Mini Meatballs, Tortellini and Baby Spinach. I've recently discovered the Bitchen Kitchen and this was from Nadia's last episode. I wish I would of had the time to make the stock myself, but I used the "fancy boxed stuff" from costco and it seemed to work just fine (although I think the homemade stuff would have a deeper flavor, but that is just me) I would also bump up the amount of stock to 8 cups (with only 6 C, the "stuff" to liquid ratio was a bit off)

Anyhoo, this soup could not be any more simple and with a little prep (make the meatballs ahead of time and throw them in the freezer) could totally become a "go to" from the pantry meal. With the fall weather now upon us (in W. WA that mean, rain, rain and more rain) a nice bowl of soup can really hit the spot. I served it up with some good old roasted garlic bread for costco (aka crack) and it made a nice filling but not to heavy meal.

Enjoy

You had me at cream cheese frosting

2010-10-05T21:25:00.000-07:00

So it is already October.
Geesh, where has the time gone?
Both kids are back into the swing of school. Me not so much. I did a lot of testing last month which was nice in the fact that it got me up and out, but there are just some days I feel like hunkering down and staying at home. Today was a GORGEOUS day in the PNW. We are in the midst of a fabulous Indian Summer and it just felt like a baking kind of day. I decided to try the pumpkin cupcakes I saw at Cozy.Cottage.Cute. Pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I'm not a big pumpkin lover, but I am a sucker for cream cheese frosting. I whipped up a batch and they were given the thumbs up from my official tasting crew.
Since the kitchenaid was already out and I had left over frosting and brown bananas I decided to make some banana cupcakes as well. I searched the web and found this recipe at Vintage Victuals. I followed the recipe exactly, but when I tasted the batter it seemed to be missing something. I decided to make half that batch as is and the other half adding a t of vanilla. The cupcakes with the vanilla won our taste test, but the "unvanilla" ones had more of a banana flavor. I guess it just depends on what you are looking for.
Happy Baking
:0)

Move over Zucchini Bread...

2010-09-04T17:58:00.000-07:00

Every year my parents grow zucchini. They always have and probably always will. One summer when I was little they made ratatouille EVERY night for dinner. Needless to say, I'm not a big zucchini fan. I make tons of zucchini bread during the summer in my attempt to help my folks use up their harvest of mutant zucchinis. Ben loves it and I don't mind a slice or two (especially when it is slathered with butter)

Anyway, last night the DND guys were over and one of them brought a mutant zucchini from his brother's garden. He had given my dad some IT advice (shocking, right?) and so to thank him I told him I would turn that 5 lb zucchini into many loaves of bread. When he showed up he handed me a recipe his mom had given him. She said it was really good and that he should try it. Zucchini Cobbler.

Yeah, it sounded AWFUL. I tried to polite and not gag at the thought of a savory cobbler, but he told me to try it and I did. By the time it was done, it was past my bedtime, so I set it to cool and went to bed. This morning there was some left and Joj told me to try some. Yeah, no thanks. He said it tasted just like apples. Taking a small bit that was mostly crumb topping I tried it. He was right. It was actually good. You would NEVER know it wasn't apples.

The recipe originally came from Taste of Home.

Zucchini Cobbler

This is my Surprise Dessert! No one ever guesses that the "secret ingredient" is zucchini. Everyone says it tastes like apples. This cobbler is a great dessert to make for a potluck supper or to serve a crowd. It's been requested time and again in my house, and I'm always happy to make it. -Joanne Fazio, Carbondale, Pennsylvania.

16 - 20 Servings Prep: 35 min. Bake: 35
Ingredients
8 cups chopped seeded peeled zucchini (about 3 pounds)
2/3 cup lemon juice
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Crust
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 cups cold butter, cubed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions
In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, cook and stir zucchini and lemon juice for 15-20 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Add the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg; simmer 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat; set aside.
For crust, combine the flour and sugar in a bowl; cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumb. Stir 1.2 cup into zucchini mixture. Press half of remaining crust mixture into a greased 15-in. x 10 in. baking pan. Spread zucchini over top; crumble remaining crust mixture over zucchini. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Yield: 16-20 servings.

Welcome Back

2010-09-02T20:03:00.000-07:00

So today was the first day of school. Ben was off to 6th grade at Meeker MS and Sam was back at Browns Pt. for second grade. I wish our summer had been longer. The two weeks of sunshine just didn't hack it for a "summer" this year. Oh well.

We had our annual "BooHoo ~ WooHoo Breakfast" today. I really enjoy this tradition. We had a few teary moms and dads and I was so glad they had a place to go for some comfort and support. Only one kiddo had to be pried out of mama's arms. It was plain to see it was just as stressful for the mom as the little girl. However, I popped into the classroom not but 5 minutes later and the little girl was happy as a clam. When I told the mom her little girl was doing great, you could just see the tension leave her body. Her little one was going to be okay and so was she.

I'm a big believer in the "village" approach to raising kids. As moms we have all been in a place where all you need is someone to say, "it's okay, you are going to be fine" and the great thing is that they are right.

Happy first day of school to all the moms out there!!

:0)

How I spent the last day of Summer Vacation

2010-09-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

So today is the last day of "summer" here the PNW. It is raining and about 50. That pretty much sums up this summer or really the lack of it this year.

So school starts tomorrow and I am in charge of a little thing called the BooHoo ~ WooHoo Breakfast. It is basically coffee and baked goods set out for the Kindergarten parents so they have a place to go once their kids are officially delivered to the classrooms. I wish I had something like this when I was teaching. A sobbing mom in the hall makes it a bit tough to teach.

Anyway, I will be spending the majority of the day baking. On the menu:

Paula Dean's Poundcake

Pecan Coffeecake

white chocolate macadamia nut cookies

ginersnaps

snickerdoodles

fruit platter

My friend is making a ton of quick breads to round out the spread.

I may make more. It is tough to tell until it is all made. I just want to make sure there is more than enough. Last year, in addition to the breakfast I was also in charge of (meaning I was a committee of one) the teachers luncheon that day. Yikes.

So I'm off to the store and then an afternoon spent in an apron up to my elbow in flour.

Fun, fun, fun,

:0)

I've got the blues

2010-08-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

So on my quest for that perfect blue I came across this photo.

It is from Cynthia's Cottage Design and I just LOVE it. (Speaking of love, her blog makes me wish I could just crawl through my computer and live in her house, especially her kitchen) She has so much talent for pulling the cutest stuff together and I like that she is also a fan of the color blue. Anyway, I zipped her an email asking her what color she used on the island and she wrote me back saying it was Yarmouth Blue. I'm hitting the Home Depot tomorrow to pick up a little test pot and I can't wait to see how it looks. Isn't blogland great? So many talented women who are willing to help a girl out.
Thanks Cyndie!!
:0)

Stumped

2010-08-28T16:45:00.000-07:00

So I have started painting my kitchen cabinets. Well, I have painted one. I wanted to start small so I wouldn't get overwhelmed. It was pretty painless and I think the other cabinets will go just as smoothly. However, the thought of painting my lower cabinets white is making me nervous. I've been looking at pics of kitchens where the lower cabinets are painted a darker. I think I'm liking this look. I would love to find a nice chambray blue color, but I'm undecided. do I really want a red, white and blue kitchen??? If anyone out there has a good light blue PLEASE share.

Hope everyone is enjoying these last few days of summer. School starts Thursday and I swear this has been the fastest summer ever!! I think the lack of sunshine in the good Pacific Northwest didn't help. Oh well :0)

The Seven Year Itch

2010-07-18T07:27:00.000-07:00

This week marks the 7th anniversary of being in our house (wow, time flies) and with that I'm getting the itch to make some changes. When we bought the house there was no color on the walls. It didn't even look like paint really more like primer. Anyway, we painted most of the rooms within the first few months and I was really happy with how everything looked. Now...

The kitchen is the place I seem to spend most of my time. I like my little kitchen a lot. When we moved in I wanted a yellow kitchen, but after 3 different shades of yellow, I gave up and went with red. Bold? Yes. A huge pain to paint? Yes, but I loved it. Loved...

After looking at my red kitchen for the past 6 years, I've decided that the major problem is my funky orange colored oak cabinets. I have NEVER been a fan of oak and these are just plain ugly. So now, I think I've about had it and I'm ready to FINALLY try and paint them. We are planning a kitchen redo down the road so I figure if they are truly horrible, I won't be stuck with them forever. Now the only question is "which white is right?" Hmmm...

I zipped an email to Melanie over at My Sweet Savanah because she has amazing taste and seems to know how to pull off the whole white thing. She recommended Roadster White by RL and I'm going to give it a try. She said it is more of a cream, which I think would work better for me than a true white. I'm hoping it will be a little forgiving in the cleaning department. The last thing I need is for every fingerprint and splatter to show. So anyway, the plan is to hit the Home Depot today and pick up a qt. and see how it looks. I have a couple of things I can paint to see how it looks against the red before I totally commit. Kind of scary, but kind of exciting as well.

:0)

Banana Cream Tart

2010-06-21T19:01:00.001-07:00

Well, it is official. It is summer and we had better weather in January. So that means not a lot of outside time and that means more baking.
My friend Jim (aka Big Daddy) had a birthday on Saturday and I whipped up this tart for him. I have made him a couple of pies, but the last one didn't set up so I was a little nervous. After doing a little digging I found a new recipe on Martha's site and decided to give it a try. I tweaked it a little bit and it turned out great.
Instead of using a graham cracker or regular pie crust I had some left over dough from a tart I made a couple of weeks ago. Being lazy I used that and was pleasantly surprised how nicely it baked up and tasted. Overall a pretty easy dish to whip up.
Enjoy :0)

Banana Cream Tart
For the crust ~ this makes enough for two 10" tarts

1/4 C heavy cream
1 large egg, plus one yolk
1/2 vanilla
2 1/3 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1/2 t baking powder
3/4 C butter chilled and cut up

Mix the cream, eggs and vanilla. set aside
In a food processor pulse flour, sugar, b. powder and butter until it looks coarse meal
Slowly add the cream mixture until the dough comes together
Divide dough into 2 disks and chill (or freeze up to 3 months)
Using one of the disks, press into a 10" tart pan and bake for 10-15 min. at 400 degrees
Cool completely before filling

For the filling ~ you will have about a C left over, no worries, it makes a nice snack

5 large yolks
1/2 C sugar
3 T cornstarch
1/4 t salt
2 1/2 C whole milk
2 t banana extract
1/2 t vanilla
4 T butter cut up
3 ripe bananas
1/2 C lemon line type soda (use to keep the bananas from browning)

Whisk together yolks, sugar, salt and cornstarch. set aside

Bring milt to milk to just boiling. Temper eggs and add to milk

Mix over medium heat until thickened.

Remove from heat and add butter one T at a time and vanilla and banana extracts.

Slice bananas and line tart crust. Pour filling over bananas and chill for at least 2 hours.

Garnish with whipped cream and banana slices

Liquid Sunshine

2010-06-02T14:23:00.001-07:00

The Pacific Northwest has been especially rainy the past few days. As usual, our holiday weekend was spent hunkered down inside. Wouldn't have been so bad except we were 9 in a cabin built for 4. Good times.

I don't know if this spring has been any wetter than other springs, but with summer just around the corner, these week long rain storms just seem kind of cruel. I finally got my garden going, but it has been dumping buckets, so I haven't been able to work out there. I guess the good news is that I don't have to worry about watering.

If you have any spare sunshine in your neck of the woods, please feel free to send some our way.

:0)

Apple Pie 2.0

2010-05-22T09:08:00.000-07:00

I make a lot of pies. However, fruit pies intimidate me. I hate a runny pie and that seems to be challenge with fruit pies.
The other day Rue posted a recipe for "the best apple pie ever". I figured I would give it a try and I have to say it is pretty good.
My first attempt at this pie proved to be a bit challenging. My crust wasn't co-operating and I forgot a couple of ingreds in the filling, but at that point I put it in the oven anyway. Despite the forgotten ingreds it was pretty good. I decided to try again and this time I made sure I followed the recipe exactly.
I sent with Joj to DND and the boys devoured it. You know they liked it when I woke up to an email from one of the wives asking for the recipe because her husband "won't shut up about it".
So if you too are on the lookout for a home run of an apple pie, look no further.
Enjoy
:0)

Best Ever Apple Pie (from Country Living w/ a couple of tweaks by me)
1 recipe for a double crust pie
6-8 granny smith apples peeled and sliced
3/4 C sugar
1/4 C dk brown sugar
2 T flour
1/4 t salt
1/2 t nutmeg
1 t cinnamon
2 T butter cubed
1/4 C whipping cream
1 T raw sugar

combine the apples, sugars, flour, salt and spices

pour into the crust, dot with butter and pour whipping cream over the top

top with second crust, brush with egg wash and sprinkle with raw sugar

cut vents and bake at 375 for about an hour

Best Chocolate Buttercream

2010-05-18T20:40:00.000-07:00

Tonight I made chocolate cake. I found a recipe I wanted to try, but then went a little Sandra Lee and used a box mix. I did however make the chocolate buttercream frosting that was listed with the cake recipe.

Oh my. It was delish.

I've made chocolate buttercreams before, but this one is a KEEPER. It whips up nice and light and it makes a ton. I frosted a Devils Food cake with it and it was definitely "got milk". So if you need a good chocolate buttercream, I highly recommend giving this a try.

Enjoy

Rich Chocolate Buttercream

2 oz baking chocolate

2 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

1 C butter

4 C powdered sugar

2 t vanilla

1/4 C coco

1/4 C milk

Melt chocolates and set aside.

Cream butter, coco, half of the sugar

Add melted chocolate, vanilla, milk, remaining sugar

mix until fluffy

makes 3 3/4 cups of frosting

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

2010-04-30T11:54:00.000-07:00

As chair of the PTA Hospitality Committee, it is my job to put together food for the different events. Today our school had an author visit and they needed a light lunch for 8. No biggie, whipped together a Chicken Caesar Salad and some costco roasted garlic bread (aka crack ~ I was very proud of the fact that I was able not bust into that bread and sample, for quality assurance, of course) Anyway, I needed a dessert and I wanted something light and I decided to go with Lemon Meringue Cupcakes.

These little gems could not be easier and you probably have everything on hand. Besides tasting good they have that great "wow" factor. Everyone ooohed and aahhhed when I brought them in.

So if you are looking for a light lemony treat, I highly recommend them.

Enjoy

:0)

Lemon Meringue Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:

Any white cake mix will do, just follow the instructions, but add the zest of a large lemon. After they have cooled, cut a small well in the top.

For the filling:

3/4 C sugar

3 T Cornstarch

1 C water

1/6 C lemon juice (I just filled my 1/3 C measuring cup half way full)

2 yolks

1 t lemon extract

1 t vinegar

1 T butter

Mix together sugar and cornstarch, add water and mix well.

Mix yolks and lemon juice, add to sugar mixture

Cook over low heat until thick and no longer "milky" looking

Remove from heat, add lemon extract, vinegar and butter, mix thoroughly

Scoop by the T onto cupcakes

For the meringue:

3 egg whites

6 T sugar

1 t vanilla

Whisk whites until foamy.

Add sugar and whisk until soft peaks.

Add vanilla and continue to whisk until stiff peaks, but not dry

Pipe onto filled cupcakes and brown under broiler (keep an eye on them, they brown quickly)

Winner, winner ~ Chicken Dinner

2010-04-25T19:10:00.000-07:00

I like to cook.
I also believe that there are some things you should know how to make. One of those things is fried chicken. Its seems like this is just one of those "basics" that no one makes any more.
I'm always a little intimidated by fried foods. I'm not a fan of the huge mess it makes and let's face it, there are healthier methods of cooking. However, I like to cook homey food and this seems to fit the bill. My dad and I did a google search for those "11 herbs and spices" and while we found them, I was out of a few of them. Oh well. I'm super happy with how it turned out. I just need to get a good thermometer to keep an eye on my oil temp, but I'm looking forward to trying this again.
:0)

Interior Windows

2010-03-29T19:07:00.001-07:00

When we bought our house, one of the things we loved was how the previous owners "bumped out" the back of our house. In doing so, the master bedroom doubled in size. However, instead of making it one large room, it is two small rooms with a doorway where the window was.

Anyway, the "bumped out" part of the room faces east and gets the best light. Unfortunately, the original bedroom space is now windowless and stays pretty dark.

Last June I was at a Funky Junk Sisters' show and found a pair of salvaged windows. I know immediately where I wanted to put them.

With the promise of some baked goods, Joj and Jim installed the windows on each side of the opening. I LOVE them. They let in light and really connect the two spaces.

:0)

I'm linking up to A Soft Place to Land's DYI Day

Sweet Sammie

2010-03-10T12:41:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Sammie's 7th birthday. Hard to believe. She is growing up so fast. Last night after all the presents were opened my brother made the comment on how "grown up" her presents were. No stuffed animals this year. Instead she got a CD player, a new sleeping bag, a bikini, lip gloss and a little cash. She was thrilled and capped off the night with tons of butter cream frosting.

Pantry Chalkboard

2010-03-04T07:12:00.000-08:00

A while back I painted my pantry doors with chalkboard paint and I LOVE them!! Seriously, this was a pretty quick and easy project and we use it ALL the time. It usually has that running list of things we need to get and from time to time a little artwork courtesy of the the kiddos.

I'm linking this to the Nester. So bop on over and check out some other great ideas.
Thanks for stopping by
:0)

I have a little pro-yect

2010-02-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is this weekend. Have I done a bunch of decorating for it? Not really. However, I was bopping around blogland and I found an old post and it kind of got my creative juices flowing. Kim over at the Daisy Cottage asked her readers to send her a heart to put in a big bowl she had. At first I thought it was kind of odd, but she showed some of the hearts she made and it got me thinking. First, how cute are these little hearts and second, how easy would this project be?
I have horrible crafting ADD. I can probably count on one hand the number of projects I have actually completed. The upside, however, is a stash of fabric and supplies on hand and ready to go when some hair brain idea hits. It was after midnight when I pulled out my sewing machine and some of my favorite fabric. I didn't have any "stuffing" so I wadded up paper napkins (no one will know right?) The project just took a few minutes and while it wasn't perfect ~ I liked it.
Inspired, I went to Joann's the next day to pick up some more fabric (I didn't have any good reds in my stash) and while I was there I stumbled across the burlap isle. Chris over at Just a Girl is a big fan of burlap. She uses it all over her house. I'll admit I was skeptical, but when I saw a bolt and picked it up, inspiration struck. It was soft and just had that nice neutral quality. Finally I "got it". So I picked some up along with a couple of other fun fabrics. I have the house to myself tonight and I plan on doing a little Valentine sewing. Nothing fancy, but it will be fun.

Can't sleep, organize a closet

2010-02-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

The house I grew up in had your standard under the stairs closet. It was your basic catch all mess. It was nicknamed "the tomb" because my dad said he felt like Howard Carter digging through Tut's tomb whenever he had to go in there. We also have a tomb. When we moved in I figured it was the perfect place to house all my extra dishes. The problem was that it was also the access to under the house so whenever we needed to get under the house I had to completely empty the closet. Kind of a pain. Recently Joj and I were talking about having new insulation put in under the house, so that meant I would be needing to empty the closet. Joy.So the other night I couldn't sleep and I figured now is just a good as any to empty my closet. Here is what it looked like when I started.

What you don't see are the dishes I used at Christmas which are still in the dining room. Part of the storage challenge is that everything fits if you stack it just right. While Jenga is a fun game, playing it with my dishes, not so much.

When we redid my pantry, I kept the white shelves. They had been hanging out in the garage slowly collecting items on their unused shelves. Not wanting to play Jenga with my Thanksgiving dishes I just put them out in the garage on one of the shelves. That is when I got and idea. Since the pates fit so nicely, why not re-use them in the tomb. So that is what I did. They are shallow enough to clear the trap door, but the numerous shelves make it so that everything has a home. I've always wanted a butler's pantry and now I have one :0)

National Pie Day

2010-01-23T10:46:00.000-08:00

Today is National Pie Day, so bust out those aprons and rolling pins.

Ben has requested Pumpkin Pie to celebrate. (This is a pick of some Black Bottom Pecan Pie I made a while ago)

It is another gray wet day in Browns Pt. so it is the perfect day to bake.

Happy Baking Everyone!!

:0)

Will Work for Food

2010-01-21T18:00:00.001-08:00

I am very blessed to be surrounded by talented boys who like to work for food. Most "honeydo" lists are written for the hubbies. Not mine. Anyone willing to toil on my random projects will be paid in spades with any kind of baked good their little hearts desire. So far this system has worked out very well.

I recently had a friend help Joj hang my new headboard and install some old windows (pics coming as soon as I finish painting them) and as a thank you I whipped up some banana bread. I have paid him in the past with Banana Cream Pie, but I didn't have everything on hand, so he got banana bread instead. Now I am NOT a fan of banana bread. I will politely eat a piece if offered, but it is not my fave, so finding a good recipe relies on the feedback of others. I recently found a recipe at http://www.allrecipes.com/ and tweaked it a bit and I think I have come up with a winner. The folks who have tasted it, give it very high marks and I must say the batter is pretty tasty. I have made 3 loaves in the past 2 days. It bakes up nice and fluffy and I hear it goes great with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream.

So the next time you need to bake up a thank you, consider a loaf of this super easy and very yummy banana bread.

:0)

Big Daddy's Banana Bread

1/2 C soften butter

1 C sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3 med or 2 large bananas mashed (I like my bananas not completely brown)

1 tsp baking soda

2 C flour

Cream the butter and sugar

Add eggs and vanilla

Add mashed bananas and mix until well combined

Add flour and soda and mix until just combined

Pour into a greased loaf pan (I use the wrapper from the butter ~ it works great)

Bake for 50-60 min at 350. I usually check at 50 with the toothpick test

Let cool for 10 mins, remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Enjoy!!

Peanut Butter Thumbprints

2010-01-19T17:51:00.000-08:00

I bake a lot of cookies. I like cookies because they are easy. They offer up a lot of "wow" for very little work. I have to admit, that I feel very "June Cleaver" when I whip up a batch of cookies. I especially like when I have everything I need in the pantry.
Today I made Peanut Butter Thumbprints (They are also sometimes called Peanut Butter Blossoms) Sooo easy. Sooo yummy. The best part is it only has 4 ingredients and these are about as "beginner" as they come, perfect for cooking with the kiddos.

Peanut Butter Thumbprints
1 14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 C Bisquick
3/4 C Peanut Butter (I've used both chunky and smooth)
36 chocolate "melties"

Mix the first 3 ingredients until well blended.
Use a T scoop and roll ball in white sugar (this is optional)
Place on a cookie sheet and bake 10 min @ 350 degrees.
As soon as you have taken them out of the oven, press the meltie into the cookie. It will flatten the cookie, it is supposed to do that.
Let them cool and enjoy them with a nice glass of cold milk.

If you don't have chocolate melties, you can use Hershey kisses or even melted chocolate chips (just use the back of a spoon to flatten the cookie) Enjoy!!

MLK

2010-01-18T09:13:00.000-08:00

When I was teaching, one of my favorite units to teach was on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Even though most of it went over the heads of my Kinders (the thought of kids going to different schools based on what color there skin was simply didn't compute to them ~ a testiment to the work he did) it never failed to amaze me at how much he changed our country. There was a poll a few years ago about who the greatest American was. Dr. Marthin Luther King Jr. would have gotten my vote. In a time of termoil and conflict, we could all use a little refresher course in his teachings. As most of us enjoy the day off, take a little time to reflect on the great man being honored today.

Mrs. Wishy Washy

2010-01-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

I have been without a washer for the past two weeks. It has been awful, although it could have been worse (at least it broke AFTER I had done my washing for the week) Thankfully my mom lives around the corner so I could take loads over there to do, but still it was a kind of a drag. However, now all is right with the world and my washer is up and running. As I type I am listening to the sweet sound of wishy, washy, wishy washy. Joj has taken the kids to his mom's for dinner and now I'm left to catch up on all the laundry, but I have to say I'm kind of looking forward to the house smelling like Downy again.
Happy Humpday
:0)

Entre Nous

2010-01-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

Have you stopped by the Nester today? She is having a giveaway, that is very fun. She is partnering with Danielson Design for a custom designed sign. There are a ton of different styles to choose from and the best part you get to design it yourself. Here is the one I would get if I win.

When we were in HS, Joj wrote me a "love letter". He basically printed (on his dot matrix printer) the lyrics to the Rush tune Entre Nous. Oh, so very Joj.
So bop on over to the Nesting Place and have fun creating your own sign.
:0)

J'dore My Door

2010-01-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm back. I enjoyed my time of lameness, but now I'm hoping to get back on track with this blogging thing. We'll see how it goes :0)

For the longest time I have wanted a new headboard. The one we had didn't fit the bed frame so it was just kind of leaned up against the wall and even the slightest movement would result in a loud bang (not very restful) So I began my search for a new headboard. I wasn't sure if I wanted a wooden one, or a metal one, a fancy on or a plain one. I did know that I wanted a cheap one.

I finally realized that what I really wanted was a headboard made out of an old door. You see them everywhere and I love how simple they are. I made my way up to the Re-Store in Ballard and found EXACTLY what I was looking for. Seriously, how often does that happen? I wanted a five panel door that wasn't too wide. Boom, there it was (if I didn't know better I would have sworn it was back lit and I could hear angels singing) Best part, 20 bucks and she was mine.

Here is what she looked like in her "before" stage. I probably could have done more to her, but I'm lazy. I just hit it with a palm sander and slapped a couple coats of paint.

Once she was all painted Joj and Jim attached a french cleat to the back (I am now an official fan of french cleats, those babies are great) and hung it on my wall.
I LOVE it.

It has that clean line cottage feel to it and it is very "me"
It was definitely 20 bucks well spent.
I'm linking this up to A Soft Place to Land's DIY Day

:0)

Theme Tree

2009-12-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

I was reading The Nester yesterday during my "research" and she feels every tree needs a theme. Not sure how I feel about that. Years ago, after a busted water pipe wiped out most of our families ornaments (that was a sad day) my mom decided she was going to do a theme tree: pine cones. We started buying all the pine cone ornaments we could find. It was pretty, but is was still missing something, so we added snowflakes. Still missing something, so we added red balls. The always looked nice, but for me, it always looked there was something missing. I guess it was all the old ornaments I looked forward to hanging up every year.

On my tree, we started out with a little bit of everything (the "no theme" theme if you will) I tried collecting cow ornaments. I have a few, but finding ones that aren't totally tack is difficult. Then I tried "green santas" (this was my protest against red santas when I found out that the red and white suit was a marketing tool for Coca Cola), but those are even more scarce than non tacky santa cows. It wasn't until I was at JoAnns one day and saw some photo frame ornaments marked down to next to nothing. I bought all they had. I was teaching at the time and figured they would make good thank you gifts for my parent volunteers. The left over frames sat in my Christmas box for a long time until we had Ben . We brought Ben home on Christmas Eve and so when I found this little frame, I thought it was perfect.

From then on, every year we add new photo ornaments to the tree. Each kid has a school picture ornament and I have one of the both of them in front of the tree. It is amazing how much the kids have grown and changed. As Sam was helping me trim the tree last night, she commented on each of her pictures. "I sure was cute back then. Huh, mom" and then practiced her potential poses for this years picture. In addition to the photo ornaments, Santa brings the kids an ornament every year reflecting their current interests so hanging out between the photos, we have Elmo, the Hulk, Dora and Hello Kitty, to name a few. Of course, no tree is complete with out painted macaroni and we have a couple of those too.

So I guess if I had to pick a "theme" I would go with "our family". Sweet and simple, just like us.

December is here: ready or not

2009-12-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Today is December 1st.

It struck me this morning that I have a lot to get done these next few weeks.

I know I should be chipping away at my to do list, but here I sit blog hopping. I'm calling it "research" to make myself feel better.

We have our annual Christmas party this Saturday. I can't do a lot of decorating until the carpets get cleaned tomorrow, but once that is done, I'm all over it. The real reason we have the party so early is so that we aren't putting up the tree on Christmas eve. I think this year will be fun because the kids are at an age we they are really into it and are actually helpful. Ben has inherited my "it must be symmetrical" gene so his help will actually be helpful when doing the tree. Sam is still in training :0)

What I'm looking forward to this year is that fact that we are keeping things really simple. Our "buy a gift" list is pared down and I'm excited to do a bunch of baking for friends. We don't' have a lot going on in December so I'm hoping things will just be mellow and enjoyable. Isn't that the point? To take time and reflect on family and friends and spread some joy as opposed to pulling your hair out? Well, that is what I'm going to try and do. I'll let you know how it goes... :0)

Thanksgiving Recap

2009-11-28T08:43:00.001-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend.
I spent mine:
Baking with the kiddos.

Turkey Trotting with the girls.

Eating lots of yummy turkey with the family.

Puttering around the house.

It was great.

Tinker's Piggies

Tackle Clutter Tuesday #2

Ice, Ice Baby

Snowmeggadon 2012

Tackle Clutter Tuesday #1

Little Things, Big Difference

Blogging

Hungarian Kifilies

Bacon on a Date

Apple Cup '11

T-day countdown

For the brine:

Check this out

Just Around the Corner...

Happy Halloween

She's Ready for Her Closeup

Chicken and Dumplings

The Clutter Question

Hearding Cats

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Strike

Look who finally showed up...

Heat Wave

Girls Weekend

Happy Fourth of July

The Best Chocolate Buttercream

Lack of sun = time spent baking

It was nice while it lasted

The Bluest Skies I've Ever Seen Are in Seattle...

Summer Vacation: Day 1

Feel Good Summer Reading

T minus 2 1/2 days...

TOC

While I was away...

PB&J Cupcakes

Instant Gratification

Carrot Cake

Today in the test kitchen

Shower Recap

If at first you don't succeed...

Thirteen years and counting

From the way back file...

Spring Break

Previously on Hoarders...

Waiting

Welcome to the Show

Tidying Up

Happy St. Patty's Day

A Jerry McGuire Moment

The best part of running...

Tick tock...

Now we're cookin'

Going Pro

Boys of Summer

You will hear "yummy" sounds

Snow Envy

Nothing says "Tex-Mex" like the Hamptons

18 days

Red velvet worthy of blue box, white ribbon

The eyes are the first to go...

Boys Night Out

Fondue, who knew?

One of those people...

Goodies to Go

Action not words

I hear you knocking...

Aquagirl

Make it Work

Finding the Balance...

We had ourselves a merry little Christmas

Kickin' Off the Holidays

It's about time...

Thank a Vet

Soup's On

You had me at cream cheese frosting

Move over Zucchini Bread...

Welcome Back

How I spent the last day of Summer Vacation

I've got the blues

Stumped