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| Very few can make messy look this cute! |
Friday, February 8, 2013
Monday, February 4, 2013
Unbelievable Chocolate Cake
I made this cake twice recently... once for practice and the second time for a birthday party. It was a success! It definitely came out better the second time when I let it bake thoroughly. In my opinion, it has more of a dark chocolate taste. But I still like it quite well and so did most everyone who tried it. The first time I made this frosting (I have tried it twice and have not been successful yet :( ). The second time I made a cream cheese frosting and I think it was a better combination. Hope you like it too!
The Best Chocolate Cake
INGREDIENTS:
INGREDIENTS:
1 ¼ cups unsweetened cocoa powder
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 ½ cups sugar
2 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1 ¼ cups warm water
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 ½ cups sugar
2 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
2 large eggs plus 1 large egg yolk
1 ¼ cups warm water
1 ¼ cups buttermilk
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, making sure the baking rack is in the middle of the oven. Prepare your cake pans by cutting out a piece of parchment or wax paper to line the bottom of the pan. Grease the pans, place the parchment or wax paper in the bottom of the pan and lightly grease again. Dust the pans with flour (or cocoa powder if you don’t want the white dusting on the finished cakes). Set the pans aside.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, making sure the baking rack is in the middle of the oven. Prepare your cake pans by cutting out a piece of parchment or wax paper to line the bottom of the pan. Grease the pans, place the parchment or wax paper in the bottom of the pan and lightly grease again. Dust the pans with flour (or cocoa powder if you don’t want the white dusting on the finished cakes). Set the pans aside.
Using a fine mesh strainer, sift together the cocoa, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add the eggs, yolk, warm water, buttermilk, oil and vanilla. Mix on low speed (with a handheld mixer or in the bowl of an electric stand mixer) until smooth, about 3 minutes.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake the cakes for about 32-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean or with moist crumbs. Do not overbake! Remove the pans from the oven and set the pans on a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Gently run a thin knife around the edges of the pans and unmold the cakes, removing the parchment paper liners from the bottom of the cakes. Let them cool completely, top sides ups, on a wire rack.
Trim the tops of the cake layers with a long serrated knife to make them level. Frost as desired. **From Mel's Kitchen Cafe.
To life... full of birthday cake!
Friday, February 1, 2013
Side Dish: Kidney Beans
I'm not sure how many ingredients you need to combine to consider something a "recipe." Just two or more? Because I felt this was so easy, I have debated about even posting it, but maybe if you're like me, it will be something worth trying.
I like to try to use all my food; I feel wasteful having an overflowing refrigerator and pantry. Yes, there are times when you need to stock up and it can even be wise to do so if you are using coupons, saving money, have a big family, etc. But sometimes, it seems as Americans, our eyes are OFTEN bigger than our stomachs and we buy more than we need and accumulate way more than we need. So here's something I threw together *quite skeptically!* one night when I was attempting to be creative and use what was on hand. I never really considered beans as good on their own... in my mind, they belong in soups and maybe occasional other recipes. But I decided to throw together some tacos and these were a nice accompaniment as both a side and to add on to the taco.
Taco Tomato Beans
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 oz. taco seasoning
Combine all ingredients in a skillet or small saucepan and heat thoroughly, mixing often. Serve with tacos or other Mexican food.
I had diced, cooked, and frozen some tomatoes back in September, so I threw those in to cook with the beans, but I'm sure a can of diced tomatoes would also be good. This is extremely simple I know, but I thought I'd share anyway in case it inspires you to give something a try that you might normally hesitate to make.
To life... full of making your own recipes!
I like to try to use all my food; I feel wasteful having an overflowing refrigerator and pantry. Yes, there are times when you need to stock up and it can even be wise to do so if you are using coupons, saving money, have a big family, etc. But sometimes, it seems as Americans, our eyes are OFTEN bigger than our stomachs and we buy more than we need and accumulate way more than we need. So here's something I threw together *quite skeptically!* one night when I was attempting to be creative and use what was on hand. I never really considered beans as good on their own... in my mind, they belong in soups and maybe occasional other recipes. But I decided to throw together some tacos and these were a nice accompaniment as both a side and to add on to the taco.
Taco Tomato Beans
1 can dark red kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
1 oz. taco seasoning
Combine all ingredients in a skillet or small saucepan and heat thoroughly, mixing often. Serve with tacos or other Mexican food.
I had diced, cooked, and frozen some tomatoes back in September, so I threw those in to cook with the beans, but I'm sure a can of diced tomatoes would also be good. This is extremely simple I know, but I thought I'd share anyway in case it inspires you to give something a try that you might normally hesitate to make.
To life... full of making your own recipes!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Happy 1st Birthday, Ezekiel!
A year ago today, at 4:39 am, I woke up, went to the bathroom, and began to wonder if I was having contractions. I got out the timer Jeremiah had downloaded and began to keep track of the "pains" I was experiencing. About 40 minutes later, when they continued to occur, I woke up Jeremiah and told him what was going on. They continued to become more consistent and I think around 6:00 or 6:30 am I decided to get up and take a shower to prepare to go to the hospital. Dutifully, I sent Jeremiah off to walk the dog we were still walking at the time. He did not want to leave me, but I asked him to go anyway because I knew we'd be missing the next few days! He left and I decided to call the nurse to see what she recommended. She called me back, explained that my doctor was sick (boo!) and that I should go ahead and head to the hospital -- agh! I was getting pretty nervous, but so far the pain wasn't bad at all. I was afraid I'd get to the hospital and they'd send me back home.
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| Getting ready to check in at the hospital! |
We checked in around 8 am and once we got signed in, and they finally found our paperwork, and we got set up, the nurse told me I was a "keeper"... we were going to meet our baby boy soon!
A mere 4 hours and 22 minutes later we met this precious face! And our lives have been forever changed!
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| 6 lbs. 11 oz. of squeezable fun! |
This past year has been such a life-changing, humbling, gratifying, and wonderful year! I never knew your heart could nearly ache with love until I met and held Ezekiel for the first time. I consider myself so blessed to have experienced the miracle that is growing, carrying, delivering, and raising a child.
"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like sharp arrows in a warrior's hands. How happy is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates." Psalm 127: 3-5
The first month, it passed in a blur of crying - both baby and mom;
Changing diapers, snuggle time, and wondering what was wrong.
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| February 27, 2012 |
Month two blew in and we took you on your first trip to the zoo.
The weather was nice, we went for walks, and dressed you up in blue.
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| March 27 |
In month three we celebrated Daddy's birthday and your first Easter.
You watched me run a race and got dedicated at church, by the preacher.
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| April 27 |
In your fourth month, you traveled to Kansas and New York by plane.
You went to two weddings, took your first swim, and some weight you did gain.
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| May 27 |
You started eating solid foods *bananas!* in month number five.
We went to the zoo and a baseball game, things were starting to jive!
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| June 27 |
Month six came along, you ate more food, and saw your first fireworks show.
You started playing in your jumperoo and it filled you with such joy!
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| July 27 |
In August, month seven, we moved to a brand new state.
It was a long trip, two days of driving, but you did so great!
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| August 27 |
The eighth month was exciting because you learned to sit all on your own.
You started saying "da da" and playing the piano.
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| September 27 |
You learned to use a fork and army crawl in month nine.
We carved Halloween pumpkins and you swung for the first time.
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| October 27 |
You signed "more" for the first time in month number ten.
You had your first Thanksgiving and ate a green onion.
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| November 27 |
Eleven came with Christmas celebrations and your first snow.
You pulled yourself up, said "ma ma", and your curly hair did grow.
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| December 27 |
Month twelve: you are crawling fast and playing with your toys.
I can't believe that you are one. I love my little boy!
To life... full of birthday preparations and celebrations!
Friday, January 18, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
A Little Update
Hey Folks! Thanks for continuing to check out my blog for updates. I'm sorry I haven't taken much time to update recently. I've been doing research (including baking **and eating!!** two chocolate cakes) for a birthday cake I'm making for someone's surprise party. I've never made a 3 tier cake before so I'm looking up how to stack it so it will be sturdy and not collapse, plus I'm looking up good decorating ideas.
Also, I've been planning my baby's FIRST birthday party! Sending out invitations, looking up fun ideas for food, buying supplies, getting a decorating concept in mind; all fun things, but time-consuming as well. Especially since I've also started working part-time. I started just last week so am adjusting to the time away from home and being out of the house for a significant amount of time that I haven't been used to for the past year.
Finally I'm starting to train for a half marathon in April and trying to figure out when those runs will happen. So I apologize in advance if I don't post as often as usual. I still intend to make fairly regular updates, but I need to learn how to juggle these other things with the addition of chasing after my active crawler!
No complaints here! Just letting you know what we've been up to the past couple of weeks!
To life... full of fun, new experiences!
**Update! Also remembered, YESTERDAY Jeremiah and I decided to take the leap and become Scentsy consultants. We really like the product and thought it'd be a fun way to make a little extra money selling something we really enjoy. If you're interested or know a friend who might need a Scentsy bar, check out our website: https://tjdavis.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home
Last, but not least, I'm also working on a new, surprise, sewing project. Don't ask me any questions *wink, wink* please! But it will hopefully debut sometime this summer when it is complete. If I can keep making progress.
After writing all of this, I wonder if maybe I bit off more than I can chew... hmm... well the first two will be finished by then end of this month; my part-time job will be done for the summer; and, obviously, the half marathon is in April, so... I think I can. I think I can. I know I can. And it will be fun!
Also, I've been planning my baby's FIRST birthday party! Sending out invitations, looking up fun ideas for food, buying supplies, getting a decorating concept in mind; all fun things, but time-consuming as well. Especially since I've also started working part-time. I started just last week so am adjusting to the time away from home and being out of the house for a significant amount of time that I haven't been used to for the past year.
Finally I'm starting to train for a half marathon in April and trying to figure out when those runs will happen. So I apologize in advance if I don't post as often as usual. I still intend to make fairly regular updates, but I need to learn how to juggle these other things with the addition of chasing after my active crawler!
No complaints here! Just letting you know what we've been up to the past couple of weeks!
To life... full of fun, new experiences!
**Update! Also remembered, YESTERDAY Jeremiah and I decided to take the leap and become Scentsy consultants. We really like the product and thought it'd be a fun way to make a little extra money selling something we really enjoy. If you're interested or know a friend who might need a Scentsy bar, check out our website: https://tjdavis.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Home
Last, but not least, I'm also working on a new, surprise, sewing project. Don't ask me any questions *wink, wink* please! But it will hopefully debut sometime this summer when it is complete. If I can keep making progress.
After writing all of this, I wonder if maybe I bit off more than I can chew... hmm... well the first two will be finished by then end of this month; my part-time job will be done for the summer; and, obviously, the half marathon is in April, so... I think I can. I think I can. I know I can. And it will be fun!
Friday, January 11, 2013
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