cake two

So, this isn't actually a cake. I made this for the groom's cake at a wedding. The groom requested a brownie pyramid. This was my first time to make anything for a wedding. Thankfully, the bride and groom were very low key and made this a much lower stress event. Thankfully, I also had two helpers that worked with me on the day of the wedding to bake 6 dozen brownies from scratch. Thanks, Katie and Danna, I couldn't have done it without you (or your kitchen, Katie!). I also helped coordinate the wedding ceremony and reception, which made this day even busier. David was recruited to be the "tech" guy and started/stopped the music for me. I think we just started our new family business! ha!!

bakers

My mom made these matching aprons for Asher, Jonas and me. They have already loved wearing them. We each have a chef's hat on the front with our names' written on them. Now we just need to bake something.....

Baby boy shower

This weekend I made a cake for a baby boy shower that my sister-in-law was hosting. She gave me a napkin they were using that had a train and stripes on it. So, this was the design we decided on. This was my first time to do stripes on the sides of a cake and found them to be challenging to get completely straight. However, I enjoy new challenges with each cake that I try.

Mini Desserts

I have been plotting a new business idea. I am always trying to come up with something for myself to do other than hanging out with the boys. I love being a stay-at-home mom but sometimes I need another outlet. So, my newest idea is making mini desserts. I made some this past weekend for my friend, Rebecca. She was having a nice dinner for her entire family and asked me to make three kinds of mini desserts to serve. We decided on these three desserts: mini raspberry apple pies, mini vanilla cakes with Nutella frosting, and mini tiramisu eclairs
Now I just need to come up with a buisness name...Sweet Bite Delights, Mini Bite Delights, Little Bite Delights, Tiny Bite Delights...hmmm? Maybe someone has a great suggestion for me.

It's that time of year!

We have been busy, busy around our house and enjoying the holiday season. This past weekend we went with David's family to see the lights at the Opryland Hotel. The lights were beautiful but the hunting for a parking spot for 20 minutes was not the most fun we had....note to anyone wanting to go to Opryland--stay clear on the weekends! Here was our first attempt for a 2009 family Christmas card picture. Maybe next year we can get one with the kids looking in the right direction.

Asher has been enjoying rearranging the Nativity scene. Here he has decided to form a congo line.

While living with David's parents last year at Christmas time, Asher enjoyed making cookies with Nana. We were hoping to recreate the memory and start a tradition. Asher refused to roll any cookies and agreed to decorate about two cookies...can you consider it a tradition, if you force the kid to participate? ha! We didn't force but Pops was in the other room and he is much more fun to play chase with than ice cookies with your mom or nana.

I've been busy making cookies, exchanging cookies and finding who might want to recieve the cookies. Asher and I packed up a few cookies to give to our garbage men. Asher loves to watch for our garbage men every week and the men know that we are always at our back window watching for them so they wave and acknowlege us every week. So kind! Below are new cookies that I tried this year and have been well received. These Chocolate Decadence Cookies are from the December issue of Sunset magazine. What I love about them is it is one dough with four variations. Find the recipes here.

Hope you have been enjoying your Christmas preparations as much as we have!

Summer Recipes

Picture from Treat a Week Recipes blog.

We have been receiving a variety of fresh veggies and fruits from our CSA, including zucchini this week in both the typical green variety and the not so common yellow. On a side note, did you know that zucchini is actually a fruit? My favorite thing to use zucchini for is making zucchini bread, although fried zucchini is a close runner up. Below is a recipe for the version I use (courtesy of my friend, Carrie and found in the Climb Nashville Cookbook---for those of you who have one!):
Ingredients
3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 tsp ground cinnamon
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 1/4 cup sugar
3 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup grated zucchini
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions
Grease and flour 2 (8x4-inch) pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in bowl. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans. Sprinkle with a little bit of wheat germ. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool completely.

Another favorite recipe that I have used a couple of times this summer is Pesto Pasta Salad (also a recipe from the Climb Nashville Cookbook). Recipe below.
Ingredients
1 pkg. romaine lettuce
4 oz. chopped sun-dried tomatoes
10 oz. basil pesto
1/2 lb. bow time pasta
1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette dressing
Directions
Boil pasta as directed. Drain and rinse with cool water. In a large bowl, combine pasta, lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes and pesto. Add dressing and mix. Add more to taste, if desired. Serves 4.

Sorry for the long absence in blog posts....Jonas has been sick all week with a fever for over 8 days! Think we are on the upswing now though. :)

Pre-Christmas fun

Asher really enjoys food preparation. He always wants to see what is being cooked or baked in the kitchen and if he can help stir or pour, his day is complete. He was able to roll out, cut, and lift sugar cookies onto a cookie sheet with the help of Nana. He got to do this twice during the holiday season with both David's mom and my mom (both of which are his Nanas.)

I was given the job of icing and decorating the cookies. Can't wait for more oppurtunities to use my creativity in baking again. I hope to get back to decorating cakes again soon!