Cake Balls!

(let's brag about it)

Every few years you see something pretty remarkable on the internet and you think, "You know, I bet I could do that." Today was one of those times.  I pulled the kids off the TV and showed them what Bakerella had dared to dream up and on total impulse I declared, "Kids, should we make some too?!"  Obviously, it was a bold and unanimous, "Yes!" The following is proof of just how successful we were.  It was a proud day--definitely worth a brag.. and a post. 

First Timers and Love Notes

Natalie gets her first modeling gig with Buffalo Lane--she's a natural!

My arm gets a shot, but doesn't make the cut.

Werk it, baby doll!

Big boy digs up Baba's nut roll recipe and does her proud!

First time this room sees a neutral color!

One of only two Valentine traditions.  Love my sweet tarts!

Green Smoothie 

my style

Here is how I make me green smoothie every morning.  Of course the ingredients vary, but the how-to is basically the same everyday.  I like mine less thick so toward the end I generally add a little more ice and water till it's "right."  If you start to experiment, you'll begin to figure out what you like and how you like it.  For example, I really thought I would be a fan of the vegetable based smoothies--tomatoes, carrots, jalapeno, cucumber, carrots etc but so far I haven't loved anything I've made.  Maybe if I thinned them out more with tomato juice, I'd be better off.  But so far the consistency kind of gags me with the vegetable flavors.  Here's what I made just now and so far it was my favorite:

2 very ripe peaches--skin on
1 cup of blueberries
2 1/2 frozen bananas
1/2-1 inch slice of lime--peel on
2 cups cold water


Blend this very well so lime skin is pulverized


This filled my vitamix nearly half full.  Then I added about 5-6 cups baby spinach.  After that was smooth I added enough water and ice to take the smoothie all the way to the top of the blender which makes about 64 ounces. It was a dark brownish color thanks to the blueberries--not pretty but very good!

I've found that adding a thick slice of lemon or lime and/or a huge handful of mint makes the drink so fresh tasting--I love it.  I always include lemon or lime now. Just use what you like fruit-wise.  I've tried almost everything so far and don't think you can really go wrong with anything--by always adding the frozen banana, it'll generally be sweet enough.  A tart honey crisp apple is also very flavorful.  Lately I've added half a cucumber (skin on) which gives it a different taste, but good.  One other add-in I just started is ground flax seeds or chia seeds--can't even taste them.  If you make something and it's too tart you can always squeeze in some honey--which usually fixes it.

My general rule is fill the vita-mix with about 1/3 fruit then the rest will be water, ice and greens.  Baby spinach and kale are really mild tasting but I think it's really important to add in other stuff.  I have used different chards, lettuces, beet tops etc.  but it will mostly come down to what you like.  Even if I don't love the flavor of chard, I don't really mind using it a few times a week since I believe in the health benefits.  One way to incorporate a variety of greens is to mix them up in the same smoothie--1/2 spinach 1/2 rainbow chard for example--this will help tone down the flavor of something you don't love.  Next thing I want to try is lime, coconut and banana as the fruit base.  We had a smoothie in St. John made with those fruits + soursop, whatever that is, and it was incredible.

Cheers!

Going Green

Say hello to breakfast!  I've been going strong for about three weeks toward my goal to drink a green smoothie every day for 30 days.  I'm making that sound more legit than it really is but that's about the gist of it.   And we're not talking just any green smoothie.. this is like jolly green giant to the 100th power, green glurp.  I've been reading websites for awhile now like Green Smoothie Girl and Blend it to Mend it about the awesome benefits of eating way more green and I'm definitely on the bandwagon.  But after I read Green for Life I decided to go for it.  According to all I've read, it seems like the dark greens are what's missing in most everyone's diet, and are the key element to healing what ails you.   I love the book and the philosophy behind it makes a lot of sense to me.  The author used her own experience as a raw foodist, and her research of the diet of chimpanzees, who's genes are 99.5 % the same as ours, to help draw conclusions about the power of green plants.

The first week we started the drink, Nick and I didn't notice too much except after four days we realized we were sleeping like 1,000 pound rocks.  We literally slept all night and could hardly move in the morning.  After a few more days, we still slept great but could get up easily.  I drink about a quart a day and he drinks around two cups.  The second week, I started coughing pretty bad and felt sort of like I was getting sick--achey and tired for a few days-- but it never developed into anything more.  I read that it's pretty common for your body to detox once you start introducing such a healthy change.  Anyway, by the third week, I saw the results I was hoping for.  My knee which is beginning to have early arthritis felt tons better when I exercised.  As a matter of fact I didn't have any pain most days.  I even realized today that going down the stairs hasn't hurt in about nine or ten days.  Today at yoga, it did hurt a little but nothing that persisted or felt too bad at all.  Another cool bonus is I haven't broken a nail since I started which is very uncommon for me.  My nails are generally strong but always, always breaking and making them totally uneven.  I went and got gels today because I've been so happy that they're all the same length.

I generally go to Whole Foods once or twice a week and buy organic fruit and greens which really doesn't cost much surprisingly.  I buy lemons, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, limes, kale, mint, chard, baby spinach and usually some new green to try.  Before I was making smoothies with milk or almond milk and adding peanut butter, yogurt and whatnot, but I always felt like maybe they were fattening. With these, I only use water and ice and love the way they taste (usually!) and how they make me feel.  Anyway, I'm loving the fact that I'm doing something so healthy and have a feeling it will become a lifelong habit.   I'm so glad I stumbled upon this book, it has taught me so much and has made a believer out of me in the power of green.  GO GREEN!

Baby Cake Boss Has a Sister!

Natalie, inspired by BCB, decided it was her turn to shine and shine she did! She made this cake for Naomi's second birthday and wowed the crowd with her design! Anyone who knows Aunt Jayne, knows you can't go wrong with turquoise, pink and roses.. so I think we created a winner! We may even have earned Naomi's approval since there were no "go away's" to be heard! Well done, little Natalie.. you take after your mother in all the best ways!

Baby Cake Boss Makes His Debut

(a guest post by BCB)

Spring Fever

After watching many episodes of "Cake Boss," I decided it was time to begin. A couple of months ago, I made two ugly chocolate cakes then ate them and they were good. Then I made one beautiful cake, it was pretty, but disgusting since the pound cake was buttery (it was like four sticks). Today, I made a beautiful cake but am not sure how it tastes... YET. For Christmas, me and Natalie got lots and lots of cake stuff. So while Natalie was at Aunt Natalie's house, Mom and I made a cake. She gave advice and helped, but it was my design and handiwork.

First, we used fondant to shape flowers and leaves.

I thought that the white flowers would look best. It was easier than we thought to dye the fondant--luckily.

We used a homemade sponge cake recipe

I started working on birds and leaf lines, while my Mom finished the flower centers.

I like the little bluebird the best. He was my second try.

Mom frosted it while I tinted the fondant yellow for the cake cover. Dad popped the cakes out of the pans, so Mom didn't have to throw a fit and cuss.

This sheet helps you know what size to make your circle once you measure the cake.

Camille helped me smooth it out.

We smoothed the yellow fondant and only ended up with a few wrinkles.

Easy part comes next.

I loved laying it out, it was pretty fun.

My mom takes the worst pictures.

Bon Appetite... YES.

Valentine's Dinner

Short on ideas?

Every Valentine's Day I try to create a beautiful dinner for my family.  We eat on pretty plates, buy flowers for the table, light the candles, you know the deal.  I have been stumped as to what to make this year, but after visiting Williamsburg earlier this week, I look no further.

I learned that a whole hog's head was a delicacy and was reserved for the Governor's finest guests.  As tradition might have it, the most important person at the table (in our case Camille probably) gets to cut in first and take the best part of the hog.  I believe that is either the tender part of the jaw (underneath the cheek fat) or the brains--depending upon your preference. Anyway, I think it will be both memorable and a nice change from chicken.  As a side note, I would suggest plucking away any unwanted hairs from the snout and face--they tend to burn and can smell very unromantic. 

These guys swear by it.  

Oh, and don't forget...you can always make a lovely head cheese with any leftovers! .  

Bon Appetit and Happy Valentine's Day!  

"We interrupt this card-stuffing

for a very important message"

The season is flying by and I'm not writing what I intended to....so here are a few midnight mentionables before I go back to the licking, I mean sponging (thank you kind readers). I think that Santa Calls has to be my very favorite Christmas book. Oddly, it doesn't seem like a natural fit for me--given the style of the illustrations and the adventuresome plot--(I usually prefer quaint, traditional illustrations and boring-ish, slow plots) BUT...that ending. I swear it gets me every last time. Every last time. I remember reading it to my parents one year, and midway-through I noticed their faces silently communicating "this is really your favorite?" and then....that ending. Ahh yes, unexpected tears. I don't mean to build it up too much but it's a fantastic read and if you have children who sometimes fail to get along, you will appreciate it all the more. Last night I read it to my boys and still, at the end, I was choking through the last page. Nicholas looks up and says,

"It's not sad, Mom." I tried to explain why it was ever so touching.

"Mom, don't you remember Where the Red Fern Grows? That was sad."

Poor kid. He's probably still disturbed from reading the last chapter of that torture with me. Snot dripping from here to my chin--gasping like a two-year old after a tantrum; it was ugly. But I digress. Get this book.

This is the ultimate Christmas CD to me. It by no means replaces Bing, Perry, Nat or the other must-haves but I cannot listen to this without being transported to another time and lifted up to where we belong, where eagles fly on a mountain high.....(slightly dramatic, but I love it!). If you don't know anything about John Rutter, I will tell you he is a master at music composition and lyrics and I think without a doubt his Christmas pieces are his very best work.

About three years ago Nick was driving a bus route for some reason. It was dark outside, blustery and freezing. I remember him calling me on his cell but the connection was horrible and all I could hear was wind and the rumble of the engine in the background. I managed to get something like, "Christmas. spirit. unbelievable. choked-up. song." DEAD. When he got home he told me he had just listened to the most beautiful Christmas song he'd ever heard. It completely put him in the Christmas mood and he immediately decided he had to find it. Eventually he did, and John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers is what he uncovered. The song was "Candlelight Carol." Ever since it has been our favorite song of the season. Nearly all of the songs have the most amazing lyrics and melodies, and in my opinion, are a wonderful compliment to (and change from) the more "traditional" holiday music.

Here are the lyrics to Candlelight Carol:

How do you capture
The wind on the water?
How do you count all the stars in the sky?
How can you measure
The love of a mother
Or how can you write down
A baby's first cry?

Candlelight, angel light
Firelight and star glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born

Shepherds and wise men
Will kneel and adore him
Seraphim round him their vigil will keep
Nations proclaim him
Their Lord and their Saviour
But Mary will hold him
And sing him to sleep

Candlelight, angel light
Firelight and star glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born

Find him at Bethlehem laid in a manger
Christ our Redeemer asleep in the hay
Godhead incarnate and hope of salvation
A child with his mother
That first Christmas Day

Candlelight, angel light
Firelight and star glow
Shine on his cradle till breaking of dawn
Gloria, Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born
Angels are singing
The Christ child is born

Rolo Turtles

Fastest Christmas treat this side of the......

seriously it is.

If you want to do something really meaningful with your three year old but only want to spend say.....six or seven minutes, make these. All you do is this:

Buy small pretzels, Rolos, and pecan halves. Unwrap candy and put one on top of each pretzel on a cookie sheet. Put in oven at 250 degrees for about 3 minutes. When they come out push a pecan half on top. Let them sit until they are solid again. They are super good and super quick. And ...you feel GREAT about time well-spent with the kid.

Seven days to go!

Cooking Group Love

Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons canola oil
8 corn tortillas, chopped
6 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
3 bay leaves
6 cups chicken stock
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 large cooked chicken breast halves, shredded

*I also like to add a can of black beans (for gas) and a bit of frozen corn (for color).

Garnish:

shredded monterey jack cheese
diced avocado

lime wedges
sour cream
2 corn tortillas, sliced and fried crisp (optional)

Directions:

1 In large pot, heat the oil over medium heat.
2 Add the tortillas, garlic, cilantro and onion, cooking for 2-3 minutes.
3 Add the tomatoes, bringing to a boil.
4 Add cumin, chili powder and bay leaves.
5 Add chicken stock and return to a boil.
6 Reduce heat.
7 Add salt and cayenne and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
8 Remove bay leaves and stir in shredded chicken.
9 Garnish with Monterrey Jack cheese and avocado, and sour cream and fried tortillas if desired.

This is hecka easy and supremely tasty!  All the fams in cooking group sent nice compliments my way saying they loved it.  Make it for a chilly winter night--very yummers.  

Obsession

Do you ever have one of those days where literally all you can think about are treats?

I'm having one. What else would possess me to google dessert images in the middle of the day?

I've always wanted to make these. I just looked them up and found out that there's nothing to it. Pour cake batter into a cone, stand them in a baking dish and bake. I always imagined the cones would burn, so I thought they were complicated. Nope.

I saw these on a friends blog and thought they were darling! Nilla wafers and grasshopper cookies, plus some bright frosting. How crazy would kids be over these?

Homemade strawberry shortcake. Does it get any better? I like to make mine using the recipe on Bisquick it's easy and quick. I haven't made it even once this season. Something extra yummy, is to buy lemon curd from Trader Joe's and mix it in with the whipped cream. The lemony topping is wonderfully good!

Chocolate Peppermint Ice Cream Cake. I've looked at this several times on Epicurious and have never made it though I want to eat it so bad. Actually, I never make desserts. My poor family; I'm really very lazy that way. I don't know why I am so unmotivated to make good stuff. Probably because I have such little willpower when it comes to eating them nonstop til they're gone.

Mixed berry pie. This makes my mouth water. Tart pie with ice cream is one of my all time favorite desserts. I could eat this combo for every meal, truly. So what is the point of posting all of this you ask? Well...I am giving myself a challenge to make all of the above before the end of August. Every summer I feel like I totally miss out on good food because I am simply too darn complacent in the kitchen. It'll take a miracle, but I'm gonna try. Next up, summer salads!

Are you motivated in the kitchen?

Do you make desserts?