awesomeness

As I was doing some lazy Tuesday morning blog surfing, I came across a very sweet video made by Jeana Sohn. I love the music and...well, pretty much everything about it. Take a look and see for yourself. http://www.vimeo.com/12660781

Mm Mm! Corn Chowder

We tried a new recipe the other night...Corn Chowder. It was SO delicious! I had the kids help with making the whole thing. My niece is visiting for one month, and I got her involved as well.

We used all fresh ingredients, except for the chopped tomatoes which came from a can. If it was tomato season right now, I would have used fresh!! I don't always take the time to get the kids involved in making dinner, but when I do, I realize how much they really need this. It's great for them to know that real food comes from REAL food. No, it does not come from a box, or a drive thru window. It comes from the earth. One of many things I want to teach my children..how to cook, and how to cook well.


Healthy food is life. Fake food is...well, let's not get all depressing, you know where this is going.

Here's the recipe.
Please give it a try!
You will not regret it!
It tastes so fresh,
and completely summery!

Recipe from: Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook

I know! It's JUST a spoon!

Can I just say how much I love this bamboo spoon I purchased at Starbucks.
It was on clearance for $3.00.
I just had to get it!

I keep it right on top of my coffee maker.



I don't ever have to wash it since it only ever touches coffee grounds.




It's plenty long enough to reach way down inside the bag of coffee.




and it's just feels good in my hand.


I have this thing for wooden spoons!

I love the craftsmanship.

Or...
maybe it's because I have fond memories
of my Mom spanking me with one as a kid.
(ha ha, just kidding!)
Well, actually that did happen once...
just once people...
but that was old school discipline!

Anyhow...
I am glad I bought it!
It has worked out really great.

And.....
here come the chickens!
Miss Nebby Nose
and
Miss Busy Body

They show up for EVERY photo shoot!
If I am outside...
they are right there!!
They only like me cause I bring them food!

Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Peanut Cake

I realize I just did a post about about making a friend a birthday cake, but...this cake cannot be ignored! It is a peanut butter cup, chocolate peanut butter cake! I thought I was proud of my red velvet cake, but jeez...this thing is gorgeous! (Especially to a chocolate/peanut butter lover like myself) I won't take up a lot of time with words, as this cake needs no words to describe! Just look at it and drool!...and plan to make it very, very soon! I will tell you that the cake itself is chocolate, and the frosting is made of peanut butter, powdered sugar, heavy cream and vanilla. It is positively to die for!! I'll cut to the chase and show you these luscious photos! The recipe and link will follow.









I found this recipe on a wonderful food blog called Annie's Eats. Here is the link for the recipe. annies-eats.com

Red Velvet Cake From Scratch

A few months ago, I decided that I would be the "birthday cake baker" for everyone at work. Here's how I came to that decision.

Our boss T. has always bought us cakes for our birthdays. He is a VERY thoughtful person, and we have all appreciated him doing this. Everyone has always been delighted and so appreciative of their birthday cake. All of us have gobbled up these sweet treats with no problem!

Well, the very last cake that showed up in the break room got me thinking! Looking at the cake, I thought...oh boy, there is nothing to this thing, it's decorated with bright orange and royal blue roses, it measures about 8x8 square and stands about 1 to 2 inches tall. Last but not least, I know this cake probably cost about $10 bucks. The amount of ACTUAL CAKE in this cake, was not even a whole "box of cake mix" worth...which by the way costs anywhere between 88 cents to $1.20.

OK, so enough is enough! I LOVE to bake, I LIVE to bake, I am a GOOD baker...why am I not baking my friends a birthday cake? And, why should the responsibility of providing a cake for fellow employees rest solely on one man's shoulders? That was it! From then on, I vowed to make each and every person/friend/co-worker and or boss, at my work place, a homemade cake for their birthday. First of all, I would be honored to do it, and second of all, everyone deserves a homemade birthday cake...at the very least! Wow, maybe that should be my mission in life....making every man, woman and child a homemade cake for their birthday! OK...getting a little carried away here!!! but I would do it if I could!

So far, I have had the opportunity to bake three different birthday cakes for friends at work. Today, I baked the fourth, and I think, maybe the most beautiful of all! I made a three-layer, red velvet cake, from scratch...and the butter cream frosting...from scratch too! I am very proud of this cake and I hope it is well received at work. I got to taste a bit of the cake that stuck to the bottom of the pans and it was DELICIOUS!! I could taste a hint of the cocoa powder that gives this cake it's unique flavor. Oh my gosh, I can't wait to actually get a WHOLE piece of this thing!

As I mentioned, I have made 3 other cakes before this one. I made a brownie cake for my Boss, T., a white cake with pink, strawberry frosting for my friend S., and a butter pecan cake with butter cream frosting for my friend G.


This red velvet cake is for my boss A. If she really likes it...maybe...just maybe, I'll get to be employee of the month! HA! HA! Just a little joke there!!!

Oh ya, one more thing, I need to make another birthday cake for Friday for my friend S. Oh...what to make???? I will look around some of my favorite baking blogs to find just the right cake for S. It may seem like there are a lot of birthday cakes coming and going from that break room, but it just so happens these last 2 birthdays were close to one another. That happened with the first 3 cakes too, but it's been about a month since I've made a cake for anyone. I think everyone is ready for something yummy!

P.S. Here is the recipe for the red velvet cake. I got it from the blog The Cook Book Chronicles. Here is the link. thecookbookchronicles Check it out! Oh ya, I forgot to mention that I decided to use a basic buttercream frosting on this cake instead of the cream cheese frosting that was in the recipe. I REALLY, REALLY wanted to make the cream cheese frosting for this cake! I know it would have been fantabulous to say the least! However, we have the world's smallest fridge in our breakroom...so whatever I make, it has to be something I can leave out on the counter.

Basic Buttercream Recipe: 1/2 C plus 3 Tbsp. softened butter, 1/2 cup shortening, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, 2 Tbsp. milk, 4 cups powdered sugar. Mix well, add additional 1 tsp. of milk at a time if frosting is too thick.