Were You There?
Part of the invite
I don’t want to over-hype my coolness, but the place to be a couple of weeks ago was Dixie’s shower! I can do no bragging, because everyone was super helpful. Even though this was, by far, the biggest shower I’ve ever thrown, it was also the easiest.
Dixie and her Mom (I mader her wear the boa and crown!)
The nicest thing about the guest of honor being the Relief Society President is that everybody wants to help. The nice thing about all the craziness that’s happened to us this year is that I now have no problem accepting help! I think I’ve done away with the notion of having to do everything myself. For example, the invitations came from a wonderful little Etsy shop Lil’ Sprout Greetings. This girl did a great job, very reasonably priced, and super quick service. She also came up with the design. I just gave her the basic concept and she ran with it.
Guests
more guests
My other big revelation was to use the neighborhood clubhouse instead of my house. My usual big stress is cleaning the house, but using the clubhouse was wonderful. A big empty space with a lot of parking and lots of chairs and tables. I also didn’t have to worry about my kids running around or cooling off my living room for 30 people in the one hundred degree heat.
Diane and Anna hanging the lanterns and flower balls
So, what do you do for a woman who is about to have her fourth boy? I went back and forth between many ideas, but the winner actually came from Dixie’s mother. Queen Dixie seemed like a very appropriate theme!
My Co-host Anna
We also went very simple on the food: cookies, cupcakes, fruit trays and veggie trays. This is another place where we had a lot of help. Anna and I worked on the sweets, and then took other people up on their offers of help for the other things. I ran out of time to organize the game, but I don’t really think anyone noticed that.
Cupcakes
Baby lemon pound cakes
Crown and onesie cookies
A couple of weeks before the shower I was reading a BHG article that featured a company called Bake it Pretty, and they were the source for the super cute cupcake liners and cookie cutters, edible glitter and candy buttons. This is a wonderful source and they are very reasonable.
Bake it Pretty's pretty packaging!
I was also very proud of the party favors: little packages of blue gummy bears. You can buy bulk gummy bears from many places, but the best place I found after much searching was Amazon. There price for 10 lbs. of blue bummy bears was half as much as anywhere else, and the shipping was only 99 cents for two day. A deal at twice the price!Dixie and her family have been calling the baby a gummy bear since the very beginning, so even if no one else got the joke, I know that appreciated it!
Sewing on paper was another time saver!
I don’t know if there’s really any more to report about this shower. I think it was a great time, and hopefully Dixie does too! The moral of this story it; don’t make things more difficult than they need to be!
The gift table
Just that kind of day
Last week it was in the 90’s here. In fact, I’m still suffering the effects of my first sunburn since since high school!Today, however is a different story. It’s about fifty degrees and rainy. I love this kind of weather, and because it’s rare to have this kind of day where we live, I’m trying my best to live it up. So, I thought I’d share a couple of things that this kind of weather puts me in the mood for:
1. Hot Chocolate
Best invention ever!!
I know what you’re thinking, that is the most ridiculous thing ever. Who in their right mind would pay good money for something that you can get by just boiling water in the microwave? Trust me, I know where you’re coming from. I thought the same thing the first time I saw this in the Bed Bath and Beyond circular, but then we tried it out at Doug’s sister’s house. So, before you get all judgemental, hear me out. The Cocoa Latte works not only with water, but also with milk. This makes a much better hot chocolate, in my opinion. Also, there’s no pesky stirring involved. You put in the milk and cocoa and you turn it on. That’s it. The thing starts spinning and heating. It turns off when it gets to the rght temperature, and if it starts to get too cool, it turns right back on. There’s also a froth feature so you can feel like you paid $3.00 for that cocoa at Starbucks!
Many people mocked my attachment to the Cocoa Latte, but a lot of those same people went on to purchase their own after sampling the joy at our house!
#2. The Homemade Marshmallow:
Nothing beats homemade!
The hot shocolate is just fine on its own, but if you’re looking for a little something extra, go ahead and try making your own marshmallows. It’s not difficult, and the results are very rewarding. I usually just google for a recipe, but I really like this site. Feel free to embellish your marshmallows with different colors and different flavors. You may not want to make them every time, but if you’re looking for something special, I’d give it a try.
* In the interest of full disclosure, we took these pictures a couple of months ago. This is what I’m in the mood for today, but I didn’t actually get around to it today!
Grape Truffles
They are almost healthy!
Another week-end, another cooking class. This time it was just me and Andrea, because apparently the idea of a class devoted completely to lobster was repulsive to Dixie! Oh well, her loss. The lobster was great, but I think the best part of this class was the grape truffles. They are very easy and very tasty.
Grape Truffles:
Red Grapes (don’t use green because the color shows through)
Melted chocolate (buy something nice, it will make a difference)
Cocoa powder (again, try something nice)
Directions:
- wash and thouroughly dry the grapes, and place them in the freezer for 30 minutes.
- melt the chocolate and let it cool slightly.
- pour the chocolate over the grapes and mix by hand
- place the chocolate covered grapes on a cookie sheet and cover in cocoa. Shake the cookie sheet around so that the grapes are completely covered. Place in the fridge until ready to serve. They should last in the fridge for about five days.
- These need to be served chilled because that’s what keeps the chocolate hard.
Enjoy!
Brownie Points
Notice the festive table runner!
When I was attending BYU, I took a class called marriage prep (mock all you want, it worked for me!!). In this class, I learned that cinnamon is an aphrodisiac. Dr. Barlow told us the surest way to a person’s heart was with some tasty cinnamon rolls. Well, not to disagree with Dr. Barlow, but the winning recipe during my courtship with Doug was brownies.
This is my mother’s recipe, and it has always been a winner at my house. It’s what I’ll make if we’re taking dinner to someone, and I’ll make it if I’m in the mood for some chocolate. I know very few people who would refuse a brownie (well, someone did refuse one of these, should I be insulted DJo?!). If you want to put a smile on someone’s face, bake them some brownies. You can even dress these up by serving them warm with fudge sauce and ice cream. Overkill, you say. Bite your tongue!
So, there you have it. Your home will be a happier place this evening if you make these, unless of course you don’t like chocolate, but if you don’t like chocolate,then we’re probably not friends, and you’re probably not reading this blog!
The recipe
3/4 c. butter
1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. cocoa
3/4 c. flour
1 c. chocolate chips
Directions:
1. Melt butter
2. Mix butter, sugar & vanilla
3. Add eggs
4. Mix in cocoa
5. Combine baking powder and flour and add to wet mixture
6. Add chocolate chips
7. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes
In order for these to turn out all dense and chewy, it is very important that you use a wooden spoon. If you use an electric mixer they will end up being a more cake-like brownie.
A Lesson in Humility
The Aftermath
For the most part I think I’m a pretty good cook. We try and eat at home at least six night a week (lately it’s been 7 because we’re saving for a new toy), and I think dinner usually goes well. I don’t now what’s happened, but my dinner mojo seems to be failing me!
Last night I was making the very delicious Cindy’s Tasty Wings.I don’t know who Cindy is, but I love her wings! We make these at least twice a month, and I’ve never had a problem. It’s basic and delicious. Then last night, disaster struck. The problem occurred when we used fresh instead of frozen wings. It threw me off. If you’re going to make this recipe ( and I highly recommend that you do), make sure to go and buy the frozen party wings from Costco. Anyway, back to last night, the wings didn’t get thouroughly cooked. It was disgusting. Doug tried to salvage the evening by cooking everything on the stove, but by then I’d lost my appetite!
Oddly enough, one of my other major cooking disasters also involved chicken wings. When we were first married, I made my mother’s chicken wing recipe, but I misread the cooking time (darn that flourescent pink pen!), and I had them in the oven at 500 degrees for four hours! Whatever, I overcame.
Then came today’s fiasco. I spent all day yesterday making red beans and rice for dinner tonight. I made it yesterday because Doug prefers the meal after it has had time to properly thicken up, and apparently that only comes on the second day. It was all good. I was being very prepared. This way I was going to have dinner tonight with no fuss, and my kitchen would stay clean.
Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning, the pot of bean was still on the stove … mocking me … delighting in my fatigue from the night before! In all my preparations, I forgot to put the pot in the fridge! I stayed up until 11:00 so that everything would be fully cooked. Then I took turned the stove off, and thought it should cool for ten minutes before it went in the fridge.Then I sat down and played a game of Tetris, then I went to sleep.
I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought was, “Crap!” And that was it. A quick call to Doug, “Oh yeah, I wondered why you had left the pot out all night.” At first, he just said that if I let it boil for a while it should be okay, but then further research was done and the whole pot was disposed of. Kind of a depressing start to the day, but now it’s time to regroup and focus. The hunt is on for something quick and easy for dinner that will not require a trip to the store. I’m considering using this recipe from Liz. I actually have all the ingredients on hand. Hopefully I won’t mess it up.
Making Whoopie (of the Banana Cookie Variety)
These are actually the very cookies I made!
So, today I have been in the mood to use the kitchen. I prepare myself for potential power outages by making sure that we have more than enough sweets on hand. First I made some spaghetti sauce because Samuel has been asking for it, “all year long” (he gets his tendency to exaggerate from his father!). After the spaghetti, I though we could use some bread. I made this rosemary loaf, which hasn’t failed me yet. Very yummy, and the girl is a Bosch lover, which just made me that much happier.
After dinner was done, I decided to get all crazy and make Martha’s cookie of the month. Oddly enough I didn’t even think that the cookies sounded that good, but I was in a mood. Well, I’m not too proud to admit when I’m wrong. These cookies are fantastic! Benjamin and I are sitting here eating them as I write.
They were not difficult and they required no crazy ingredients. I would even go so far as to say that they might be a litle bit healthy because they contain an actual banana. So, here’s the recipe, with my notes following:
Banana Whoopie Pies ( Martha Stewart Living Sept. 2008)
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup mashed banana,from 1 large ripe banana
½ cup sour cream
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened (1 stick)
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed light-brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, divided
16 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup confectioners’ sugar plus more for dusting
Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. Combine banana and sour cream in another bowl. Beat butter and granulated and brown sugars with a mixer on medium-high speed, until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and ½ teaspoon vanilla, beating until incorporated. Add banana mixture in two additions, alternating with flour mixture. Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a ¼-inch plain tip. Pipe batter in 1¼-inch rounds on baking sheets, spacing rounds 1½ inches apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 12 minutes. Slide parchment, with cookies, onto wire racks. Let cool. Unfilled cookies can be stored up to 1 day. Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pipe or spoon 1 tablespoon cream mixture onto the flat sides of half of the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies. Dust with confectioners’ sugar, and serve immediately.
Now, I wouldn’t bother piping the batter. If you have a small ice cream scoop it works really well and all of the cookies are uniform.
I also don’t know that I would make the cream cheese frosting again. I think a plain white, or a milk chocolate would be very nice.
The parchment paper is an excellent idea though. These are pretty much tiny little cakes and it would be a lot of aggravation to be pulling them up.
I don’t know who did the yield for this, but it in no way makes 36 sandwiches, of course that could be because I ate most of them before I made the icing!!
Alrighty, go forth and make some Whoopie!!
I love food!
I’m not sure if I qulify as an emotional eater, but good food definitely makes me happy! Do you ever just sit down to a meal and smile when you take the first bite? This has happened to me at the following places:
- Chocolate Mousse at the Phoenix Ritz
- Wild Mushroom Tart at the The Metropolitan
- Duck at the, now closed, Dijonin SLC
- Mushroom and Chicken Ravioli, in Halifax, at Il Mercato
- Poutine, which is normally only available in Canada, but which I found last year at the Utah State Fair. Heavenly!
- Fish and Chips at the Tavern in Dartmouth.
Alright, now I’m craving some food. I need to find so go-to restaurants for San Antonio!
I’ve been trying some new recipes lately and I found a couple that were quite successful at my house. It takes something special to get Doug to compliment food, but he loved this Plum Tarte Tatin that I found in Bon Appetit Magazine.
This recipe was so easy. It takes a bit of time for cooling, so if you want to have it for dinner dessert you need to make it early. Very yummy.
I also got a good recipe for whole wheat bread from Taylor. I made it, and it turned out. I used whole grain flour instead of whole wheat, so it was a little heavier, but my kids asked for extra bread instead of extra flan cake the other night!
2 packages dry yeast
2 cups warm whole milk
!/4 cup honey
2 eggs
6 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp. salt
6 tbsp. soft butter
dissolve the yeast in a bowl for about 5 minutes
whisk in the honey and eggs, then add the other stuff and stir it together or use the dough hook on a mixer.
Mix until it all comes together, then knead for 5-7 minutes.
Form into a ball and put it into an oiled bowl–cover with plastic and let rise until it doubles (1.5–2 hours)
Punch it down, divide it two balls and form loaves by pressing them flat and rolling them up. Place the loaves, seam-side down into prepared pans and press them down slightly.
Cover with a towel and let them rise until they double (45-60 minutes)
Dust the tops with a little more flour and place them on the middle rack of a preheated (375) oven and bake ’til they sound hollow when tapped (about 35-40 minutes)
That’s another winner for Taylor!
