Night One: White Cake

So last night I began my work on the baby shower cakes. I made the white cake. I used a 6" pan and was able to make 3 layers out of one mix. Yes, yes, I am still using box mixes for my cakes, but I'm working on getting out of that mold. Now with the cake I'm making tonight I'm using a recipe from "The Cake Mix Doctor" so I use a cake mix, plus add in other ingredients to make it less "box-like."

Here's the batter in the bowl, something I'm just sure you've never seen before:


Layer Number One (The Kitchen was already starting to smell so good...)


Layer Number Two-- Just out of the Oven


Yum! I went to bed wanting cake because the smell had wafted into our bedroom. Although my stomach didn't want any... I had eaten a bit too much of the extra batter in the bowl **blush**

And one more for the road, I was happy with how my tiramisu turned out over the weekend. It tasted wonderful, looked even better (I sifted the cocoa powder on top), and I found the perfect sized dish to put it in! Bon Appetit!

Baby Shower Cake

This week I'm going to try something a little different. My cake project of the week is for a girl baby shower on Friday. My evenings are usually pretty busy and this Thursday is Metochai, so I'll be exceptionally so. I've read in many cake books and in various blogs that freezing cakes is an ok option. I have never tried it before because I always like my cakes to be as fresh as possible. But knowing what I'm up against on Thursday night, I've decided to spread the project out over the week. I will update you on what I worked on each night and see how the finished project turns out.

What I'm making: 3- 6", 2 layer cakes; one white, one chocolate, and one a mixture
I'm pretty excited because I've never made a 6" cake before, it's such a cute little pan that I just recently bought for this project. So I'm looking foward to seeing how it turns out.

My plan: Monday night-- White Cake; Tuesday night-- Chocolate Cake; Wednesday night--Buttercream Icing; Thursday Night-- Chocolate Cream Cheese Icing, Assembly, and Decorating!

Come back tomorrow to see how things started off...

It's Friday!

Well I promised to update more often, so here I am. First things first: Hubby is a working man again!



We are so thankful he was able to find a job. And I started reading Dave Ramsey's book "The Total Money Makeover" last week and was excited and had set up some goals for this year when... what do you know? The fuel pump went out on our dear, poor, little car...



BUT it's getting fixed today and we are going to just roll with the punches. We still have a plan, it's just modified!

And I was realizing today that I really haven't made many posts about food/baking/sweets & treats, so I apologize for not doing well in that aspect. I really haven't had much going on in that category recently. But coming up soon is a baby shower cake and some cake pops. And this weekend I'm making tiramisu again! So I will try to do a few more posts about such things since my header is "Shortcake's Sweet Tooth". Or if you have any requests of something you'd like me to make or a recipe to share, just let me know and I'd be happy to oblige. Have a great weekend! I don't know about you... but it's supposed to be 71 and sunny here today! In January! And a bit of ridiculousness for all of you up north-- they had the air on here yesterday. WHAT?!? Are you kidding me?!? Yeah it was crazy, and cold, and I had to put on a jacket inside--RIDICULOUS!

FINE

"How are you today?" "Fine." The reply given by many. But you know what they say that means on the Italian Job right? F-Freaked Out, I-Insecure, N-Neurotic, and E-Emotional. That's me today. If you asked me how I was today, I'd say fine and mean the above. I'm a worrier and I worry about being a worrier because I know I'm not supposed to worry-- "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." Matthew 6:34; "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21:11-- and some days hit me harder than others. Hubby doesn't have a job and I struggle with believing that things are going to turn out ok for us. I question everything-- have I not done enough? Do I need to get another job to help out? Have I not been wise enough with our money? What can we cut out now? How are we going to make this work? What do I do know? So today I've been spinning like this and you know what I decided?? God is the source of my comfort and is our provider, so what better way to find confidence and comfort then turn to Scripture? I have a little notecard sized book that I brought again to my office today and it's full of great verses that I read through this morning and felt renewed, refreshed, resolved, and reassured. I'm going to share some of these with you now...

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light." Micah 7:7-8

"All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time." Proverbs 12:11

"Worry weighs a person down; en encouraging word cheers a person up." Proverbs 12:25

"Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically. Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and always be prayerful. When God's children are in need, be the one to help them out. And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or, if they need lodging, for the night." Romans 12:11-13

"They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will never be forgotten. They will have influence and honor." Psalm 112:7-9

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Exodus 14:14

I will say it over and over until my heart believes nothing else-- Jehovah Jireh! The Lord provides.

Happy New Year!

So I couldn't put it on here earlier, but I got to surprise my sister for her wedding reception on New Year's Eve in Kansas City. It was so awesome! And she was truly surprised. If only I could have taken a picture of her when she saw me--priceless! Nonetheless, I do have other wonderful pictures from my time spent there. I arrived in KC on the 31st around 11 am and mom picked me up from the airport. We got to hang out with my sister and her family, opening more Christmas gifts, and then getting ready for the reception. It was a blast! Here are some pictures of the reception:

The Delicious Cheese Platter















The Happy Couple




















Some of the guests





Chatting with more guests
















Then later we brought in the New Year playing Rock Band and Redneck Life--it was awesome!

My Redneck name: Fanny Louise, married to Corndog Bob.


The next morning we had breakfast at Bob Evans before some of the family headed home.

The Happy, Well-Fed, Group


Later in the day I got to visit my college roommates. It was so great to see them again! We ate at 54th Street and spent lots of time chatting and catching up on the last 1 1/2 years.
I miss these girls!



Indeed, it was a wonderful New Year's! I got home on Saturday night and hubby greeted me with flowers--how sweet! I guess he's trying to win me over to never leave again... right?!? And now it's back to the grindstone, but not without setting some New Year's Goals. I have mine printed and hanging on my bedroom wall along with practical steps for following them. How about you?

Christmas Time was Here

We had a great Christmas break visiting family. We went out to Colorado between December 16-21. We spent some time with my dad and our family in Colorado Springs, then we went on up to spend a few days in Loveland with Hubby's Mom, brother, and grandparents. We had a lot of fun and got so many nice things! We are so thankful to have such a generous family. We came back on the 21st and I worked a couple of days, then we had four days off to celebrate Christmas here in Fort Worth. I was a little disappointed because I've always been with my family over Christmas, but it turned out to be so great! We had a lot of fun just sleeping in, watching movies, carrying--what felt like--a 50 lb. bag of wood from Kroger to our apartment in the snow, opening gifts, making Christmas dinner, making a gingerbread house, going to our Christmas Eve service (showing up too early and waiting for it to start), making-- and EATING-- tiramisu (it turned out awesome!), and just good quality time together. Here's a few moments we captured on our new camera... hope you enjoy!

Dora "helping" me with the ribbon for the gifts



Putting on the roof of our gingerbread house!



The finished work of art!



We got SNOW on Christmas Eve!! This is what was left by Christmas afternoon.


My first Christmas dinner!! We had turkey, corn casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, and sparkling grape juice! To note: will always use a turkey bag!! I used one this year and even though I've never tried it without, I don't think I will. It was wonderful!



The beautiful, delicious, scrumpdiddilyumpscious tiramisu! A new recipe I tried from my Nestle Tollhouse cookbook. I will be happy to bring this to any event in the future!


Merry Christmas 2009!

Christmas Time is Here

Well folks, hubby and I are about to head to lovely Colorado early, I'm talking E-A-R-L-Y tomorrow morning! But we are both super-excited! I'm personally hoping to see some serious snow while we're out there! But most of all I'm really excited to see our families. That's really the best part about Christmas for me... it gives us a reason to travel and see the people we grew up with and love. It's hard to live so far away, but it makes our time together pretty special then too. Maybe I'll have a few pictures to post on here once we get back. I'll try to blog at least once more before Christmas! Have a happy Tuesday :-)