Monday, February 13, 2012
Moving day!
Today is the long awaited day, I finally have my website ready to go! All blog posts will be there from now on! Please check it out at acupoflove
Friday, January 27, 2012
Home made lip gloss and vegan pot roast
The boys and I undertook a new project today; home made vegan lipgloss. Through a variety of online sources I decided to go with a coconut oil base, and candy flavourings among other ingredients. They didn't turn out super awesome but they each made their own flavour and got 3-4 little tubs to use for themselves. Steven made creamsicle, Noah made root beer float, I made grape and then I also made Butterscotch for the bf. I won't share the recipe as it needs a little tweaking still :) but have a peek at our results
For dinner I made vegan "pot roast" which is really really simple. (Serves 2)
What you need:
1 package Gardein homestyle beef less tips
2 potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
2 carrots peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
chopped onion & garlic if you want (I use lots of garlic)
spices: I use seasoning salt, pepper and a little regular salt
1c prepared vegan "beef" stock (I use Nutrimax Soup Mix "Beef" Flavor-which is vegan; it's powdered and you add boiling water)
What you do:
Pour stock into the bottom of a glass or metal baking dish. Dump in all other ingredients, mix up well, cover with lid or foil and bake approx 35-45minutes or until the vegetables and done. I use a little more of the vegan beef stock to make a quick gravy to pour over top.
TADA!
For dinner I made vegan "pot roast" which is really really simple. (Serves 2)
What you need:
1 package Gardein homestyle beef less tips
2 potatoes peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
2 carrots peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
chopped onion & garlic if you want (I use lots of garlic)
spices: I use seasoning salt, pepper and a little regular salt
1c prepared vegan "beef" stock (I use Nutrimax Soup Mix "Beef" Flavor-which is vegan; it's powdered and you add boiling water)
What you do:
Pour stock into the bottom of a glass or metal baking dish. Dump in all other ingredients, mix up well, cover with lid or foil and bake approx 35-45minutes or until the vegetables and done. I use a little more of the vegan beef stock to make a quick gravy to pour over top.
TADA!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
French Toast....Muffins?
Yes you read that correctly; French Toast MUFFINS! SO yummy! These muffins are sweet and cinnamon-y without being too "eggy"
What you need:
1 1/2c all purpose flour
1/2c white sugar
1 1/2tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3c margarine or butter, melted (I use Earth Balance buttery flavour shortening sticks)
2 eggs
1/2 c rice milk (could use cows milk, soy milk, any milk really)
What you do:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. In a small bowl heat margarine in the microwave or in a small pot until melted. Add eggs and milk and whisk until combined. Gently add the wet mix to the dry mix and stir gently just until combined, don't over mix! Lightly oil your muffin tin (I use a 24 ct mini muffin tin but the larger size works too). Bake 15-25 minutes depending on muffin size.
Topping:
2 T melted margarine or butter
1/4c white sugar
1T cinnamon
In one bowl, melt margarine. In second bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon well. When muffins are removed from oven, before they cool too much, dip the top of each one gently into the margarine, and then the cinnamon and sugar mix.
Caution: Do not try to eat just one. Plan to eat at least 3. Seriously. Try them and see!
What you need:
1 1/2c all purpose flour
1/2c white sugar
1 1/2tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/3c margarine or butter, melted (I use Earth Balance buttery flavour shortening sticks)
2 eggs
1/2 c rice milk (could use cows milk, soy milk, any milk really)
What you do:
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees. Combine all dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl. In a small bowl heat margarine in the microwave or in a small pot until melted. Add eggs and milk and whisk until combined. Gently add the wet mix to the dry mix and stir gently just until combined, don't over mix! Lightly oil your muffin tin (I use a 24 ct mini muffin tin but the larger size works too). Bake 15-25 minutes depending on muffin size.
Topping:
2 T melted margarine or butter
1/4c white sugar
1T cinnamon
In one bowl, melt margarine. In second bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon well. When muffins are removed from oven, before they cool too much, dip the top of each one gently into the margarine, and then the cinnamon and sugar mix.
Caution: Do not try to eat just one. Plan to eat at least 3. Seriously. Try them and see!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Vegan chocolate chip cookie dough ice "cream"
This is a long awaited post by some....
Coconut milk ice cream (serves 4, easy to halve)
2 cans lite coconut milk
1/2c sugar
2tsp vanilla
(Next time I would use less or no sugar in the ice cream itself as I found it a bit too sweet with the cookie dough added. Everyone else loved it the way it was.)
Mix all ingredients in bowl, set up your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions. Mine says to add mixed ingredients through the trough at the top while the machine is on. My machine takes about 25 minutes to make soft serve. I added about half of the cookie dough squares to the ice cream, mixed and served in 4 bowls with a couple extra cookie pieces on top. Warning! I could not stop eating this dough...just the way it is! Sooooo yummy. It's easy to turn into a dip for cookies, just add some water or rice milk to thin it to a dipping consistency !
It was really good!!
YES IT'S VEGAN!
You do need an ice cream maker for this; I bought one for around $25 at Walmart or some such place. Alternatively you could probably buy vegan ice cream such as coconut milk ice cream and just add the dough....
So to start, I made the cookie "dough"
Chocolate chip cookie dough
1/2c softened Earth Balance buttery sticks
3/4c brown sugar (could use agave but add more flour)
1c all purpose flour
dash salt
1 Tbsp vanilla (yes thats a tablespoon)
1c vegan chocolate chips (I use Good Life brand which is free of most allergens)
Cream margarine, salt and sugar. Add vanilla, stir to mix. Add flour and chocolate chips and mix until it forms a fairly dry ball - you do want it a bit drier than regular cookie dough. I lined a small baking pan with parchment paper, pressed the dough into the pan, scored it into small pieces and then stuck it in the freezer for about an hour.
Coconut milk ice cream (serves 4, easy to halve)
2 cans lite coconut milk
1/2c sugar
2tsp vanilla
(Next time I would use less or no sugar in the ice cream itself as I found it a bit too sweet with the cookie dough added. Everyone else loved it the way it was.)
Mix all ingredients in bowl, set up your ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions. Mine says to add mixed ingredients through the trough at the top while the machine is on. My machine takes about 25 minutes to make soft serve. I added about half of the cookie dough squares to the ice cream, mixed and served in 4 bowls with a couple extra cookie pieces on top. Warning! I could not stop eating this dough...just the way it is! Sooooo yummy. It's easy to turn into a dip for cookies, just add some water or rice milk to thin it to a dipping consistency !
It was really good!!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Craft storage! (More organization!)
I've always had all my crafty stuff shoved in various boxes, once even all in the same closet. When we moved into this house (Boyfriends grandparents) there was an existing "wrapping station" in the basement which was a small dresser filled with ribbon and bows and tissue paper and an empty table beside it. Always I've wished for organization, and a way to get to DO crafty stuff when the mood strikes without having to sift through 20 boxes of stuff to see what I even have. I decided to re-purpose our home office closet into a craft/gift wrapping centre.
Before:
As you can see, it was half filled with empty computer boxes, random assorted leftover electronics and boxes of paperwork. So i hefted them all down to the basement, repurposed a plastic see through drawer system from the office (Switched it out with that small dresser that had the wrapping stuff in it!). Added a small table, a second shelf, some string to hold up the wrapping paper rolls and some hooks for scissors. All I need to do now is find the rest of my craft supplies, and make labels for everything. Check out the new look:
Top shelf left to right: Baskets/fake flowers, new in package christmas ornaments, basket of glue/tape/string/thumbtacks, assorted bits of ribbon, gift bags/boxes, and the 2 bins on the end one is fall craft sets and the other is filled with clear plastic christmas ornaments of various sizes.
Before:
As you can see, it was half filled with empty computer boxes, random assorted leftover electronics and boxes of paperwork. So i hefted them all down to the basement, repurposed a plastic see through drawer system from the office (Switched it out with that small dresser that had the wrapping stuff in it!). Added a small table, a second shelf, some string to hold up the wrapping paper rolls and some hooks for scissors. All I need to do now is find the rest of my craft supplies, and make labels for everything. Check out the new look:
Top shelf left to right: Baskets/fake flowers, new in package christmas ornaments, basket of glue/tape/string/thumbtacks, assorted bits of ribbon, gift bags/boxes, and the 2 bins on the end one is fall craft sets and the other is filled with clear plastic christmas ornaments of various sizes.
On the closet rod: Ribbon sort of sorted.
Second shelf: New Christmas lights, chinese take out boxes, extra paper ribbon, jars with various things such as paintbrushes, buttons, clothespins, sea shells etc. Wooden frames, magnetic sheets (into the next picture below this one) one basket of gift tags, one of gift cards, plain white gift boxes in various sizes.
Under the counter storage for the paper cutter, paint (all I could find at the moment) gift wrap along the wall. In the plastic drawers there is flat wrap, tissue paper, bows and ribbon.
And of course the various scissors along the wall.
My boyfriend came home from work and said "Do you know what a day off is!?" and I said "YES! A day to do projects like this that take all day!" He just shook his head (But he likes it!)
Under the counter storage for the paper cutter, paint (all I could find at the moment) gift wrap along the wall. In the plastic drawers there is flat wrap, tissue paper, bows and ribbon.
And of course the various scissors along the wall.
My boyfriend came home from work and said "Do you know what a day off is!?" and I said "YES! A day to do projects like this that take all day!" He just shook his head (But he likes it!)
So what do you think?
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Organization....
I say it every year...this year I'll get more organized! I'll clean up the boxes of photos (and 1000's of digital not-yet-printed ones!). I'll have organized closets and have everything I need at my fingertips! I'll have cute little craft boxes all labelled with what's inside! I'll stack my fabric according to colour; or who it's for; or the pattern! I'll have a central system for meals, for work and play schedules, for LIFE! Really though I'm just not that energetic...So my only goal this year is to organize ONE thing a month, and keep it for the whole month before I can start the next one. With that in mind was the first project of the year!
Old system: (which was fine really albeit a bit messy and required me to change it daily!)
Progress of new system:
After some paint:
The finished product:
The frames are bare wood, I just grabbed them from the dollar store and painted them fun bright colors. Printed off the days of the week on matching colored paper and inserted them into the frames. We just use dry erase markers to write on the glass! We write each days details down one week at a time on Saturday afternoon/evening for the following week. I work shift work so we write my schedule, who's picking the kids from school, countdown to family events or vacations, play dates, homework due dates etc. Everyone knows to check this before they leave the house for the day. Such a life saver!
Idea from HERE
Old system: (which was fine really albeit a bit messy and required me to change it daily!)
Progress of new system:
After some paint:
The finished product:
The frames are bare wood, I just grabbed them from the dollar store and painted them fun bright colors. Printed off the days of the week on matching colored paper and inserted them into the frames. We just use dry erase markers to write on the glass! We write each days details down one week at a time on Saturday afternoon/evening for the following week. I work shift work so we write my schedule, who's picking the kids from school, countdown to family events or vacations, play dates, homework due dates etc. Everyone knows to check this before they leave the house for the day. Such a life saver!
Idea from HERE
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Vegan Alfredo Sauce
This is soooooo sooooo good!! To be honest I haven't had "non vegan" alfredo sauce in so long I might be biased in thinking this is just as good!
Vegan Alfredo Sauce
1/2c Earth Balance Margarine (I always use the "butter flavoured" one)
1/2c all purpose flour
1c soy milk
1c rice milk
6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press
1tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1/2tsp salt
1tsp parsley
1/2tsp garlic power (not garlic salt!)
In a medium saucepan heat margarine until bubbly. Add parsley, garlic powder, salt, pepper and garlic, cook on medium until the garlic is cooked and the spices are blended. Add flour all at once and stir to combine completely. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add rice and soy milks and whisk briskly to combine. Return to heat and cook until thick. We eat this with mushrooms and chicken (or Gardein chick'n cutlets) and pasta. Of course you could make this non-vegan by using cows milk. This version is much better for you :)
Vegan Alfredo Sauce
1/2c Earth Balance Margarine (I always use the "butter flavoured" one)
1/2c all purpose flour
1c soy milk
1c rice milk
6 cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press
1tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1/2tsp salt
1tsp parsley
1/2tsp garlic power (not garlic salt!)
In a medium saucepan heat margarine until bubbly. Add parsley, garlic powder, salt, pepper and garlic, cook on medium until the garlic is cooked and the spices are blended. Add flour all at once and stir to combine completely. Cook for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add rice and soy milks and whisk briskly to combine. Return to heat and cook until thick. We eat this with mushrooms and chicken (or Gardein chick'n cutlets) and pasta. Of course you could make this non-vegan by using cows milk. This version is much better for you :)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
New Year's Eve 2011
Noah is really twisty!
Happy New year to all! This year I'm going to try super hard to take more photos, cook more amazing food, be more organized, and blog more often to document that list. Last night we went to a friend's for New Years Eve and a great sober time was had. Before we headed out Noah and I made crepes for dinner.
German Crepes:
1 1/2c all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
2c 2%, rice OR soy milk ( I use a mix of rice and soy milks)
Add flour and salt to bowl, make a well in the centre and add the unbeaten eggs and 1 cup of the milk. Mix well until no lumps remain. Add remaining 1 cup milk and stir to make a smooth thin batter. Preheat 2 or 3 no stick frying pans on medium heat. Lightly oil with pastry brush. To make crepes, hold pan and spoon about 1/4c batter onto hot pan, swirling quickly to coat bottom of pan. They cook quite fast so by the time you pour the second or third one the first will need to be flipped. Flip just to cook the opposite side. Slide onto plate (I keep one warm in the oven till they are all done) and repeat until batter is gone. I usually have to make a double batch so we can have leftovers. Single batch makes about 30 crepes. We serve ours with jam, or cinnamon and sugar, or whipped cream and fruit.
Happy New year to all! This year I'm going to try super hard to take more photos, cook more amazing food, be more organized, and blog more often to document that list. Last night we went to a friend's for New Years Eve and a great sober time was had. Before we headed out Noah and I made crepes for dinner.
German Crepes:
1 1/2c all purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
3 large eggs
2c 2%, rice OR soy milk ( I use a mix of rice and soy milks)
Add flour and salt to bowl, make a well in the centre and add the unbeaten eggs and 1 cup of the milk. Mix well until no lumps remain. Add remaining 1 cup milk and stir to make a smooth thin batter. Preheat 2 or 3 no stick frying pans on medium heat. Lightly oil with pastry brush. To make crepes, hold pan and spoon about 1/4c batter onto hot pan, swirling quickly to coat bottom of pan. They cook quite fast so by the time you pour the second or third one the first will need to be flipped. Flip just to cook the opposite side. Slide onto plate (I keep one warm in the oven till they are all done) and repeat until batter is gone. I usually have to make a double batch so we can have leftovers. Single batch makes about 30 crepes. We serve ours with jam, or cinnamon and sugar, or whipped cream and fruit.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
I Heart Faces
Ok I've been a bad blogger. I promise I'll try harder this coming year! Now that I have a good camera I'm hoping to get more inspired to blog! I recently discovered I Heart Faces and am learning a lot. One day I might be brave enough to enter one of their photo contests! For today though I'm just entering a couple of photos as a green green newbie in the "Holiday Bokeh" un-contest. Don't know what that is? Check out these examples
Here are my submissions
And for the life of me I cannot remember how to link the photo to the page so I hope this is acceptable
This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com
Here are my submissions
And for the life of me I cannot remember how to link the photo to the page so I hope this is acceptable
This photo was entered into the I Heart Faces photo challenge – www.iheartfaces.com
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Bloggity
I say bloggity in real life...like some people say "shucks" is that weird? Been a bad blogger this week; BF came down with a wicked bad flu and has been home on the couch or in bed for 3 days now. Kids are out of school. Days off; what's that? We did spend a little time down at Riverside Park for Canada Day in the afternoon but it was quite cloudy and chilly so we didn't stay long. We bundled up at home and watched the fireworks from the deck-and were so glad we didn't have to drive 5km/h to get home an hour after the fireworks!
I've been cooking up some good stuff lately; I often don't think to take a photo till we've eaten half though so I need to remember to be more attentive. We've been loving this vegan creation rice a roni that I swear I got from a particular vegan blog and cannot find now...grrr...I do have the recipe written down so I'll post it here but if you are the creator of this recipe I am happy to link to you!
Vegan/Vegetarian Rice-a-Roni
1/2c orzo
1/2c white rice
2c prepared vegetable or vegan chicken stock
3 green onions, diced
2 cloves garlic, pressed or chopped small (I use more)
2T soy sauce
1T olive or vegetable oil
In a saucepan heat oil and add orzo, tossing to coat. Heat until orzo begins to brown on all sides, add remaining ingredients, stir and cook covered on medium heat for 25-30 minutes, until all the water is absorbed and the rice and orzo are cooked. You can substitute an equal amount of broken vermicelli for the orzo as well, following the same directions as above.
The only pic I have is it just about done cooking - but it looks amazing!
And tonight we had BBQ garlic, mushrooms and asparagus with olive oil, sea salt and lemon, mmm sooo good!!
I've been cooking up some good stuff lately; I often don't think to take a photo till we've eaten half though so I need to remember to be more attentive. We've been loving this vegan creation rice a roni that I swear I got from a particular vegan blog and cannot find now...grrr...I do have the recipe written down so I'll post it here but if you are the creator of this recipe I am happy to link to you!
Vegan/Vegetarian Rice-a-Roni
1/2c orzo
1/2c white rice
2c prepared vegetable or vegan chicken stock
3 green onions, diced
2 cloves garlic, pressed or chopped small (I use more)
2T soy sauce
1T olive or vegetable oil
In a saucepan heat oil and add orzo, tossing to coat. Heat until orzo begins to brown on all sides, add remaining ingredients, stir and cook covered on medium heat for 25-30 minutes, until all the water is absorbed and the rice and orzo are cooked. You can substitute an equal amount of broken vermicelli for the orzo as well, following the same directions as above.
The only pic I have is it just about done cooking - but it looks amazing!
And tonight we had BBQ garlic, mushrooms and asparagus with olive oil, sea salt and lemon, mmm sooo good!!
Monday, June 27, 2011
P90X Yoga is the bomb
Ok so my bf is doing the P90X program He's on day 43 and doing AMAZING! Part of the program is an almost 2 hr yoga X (X for extreme of course) dvd. On his yoga days I usually join in and the kids often do too. This program KICKS my ASS every time! It's SO good for you!! So right now I'm doing that 1-2 times a week as well as the hot yoga 5-7 times a week, and home yoga for an hour or so about twice a week. I can feel shape taking place under my skin. I feel myself walking taller, feeling more at home in my body even though its changing daily. I feel definition at every curve. When I flex my arms at work, people don't believe that all I do is yoga....and they think I'm crazy to do so much yoga-I work the best shifts next week (11-3) so I can drop my bf at work, go to the 9am 90 minute hot yoga class, shower, work, then go to the 60 minute hot yoga class at 3:30, and be done by the time he's finished work at 5. (His studio is above the hot yoga studio). What do you consider "too much" yoga? Is there such a thing? Now...how do I get rid of this last stubborn 20ish pounds??
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Kids Grounded Yoga
My 8yr old son is enrolled in a kids yoga program called Go Grounded and in the fall I am going to Vancouver for the teacher trainer to be able to run the program. I am friends with his current teacher and with her inspiration and guidance am excited to move into a teacher position. You can visit her website here: Marcia Wilson Yoga This morning I was her assistant and really loved the way the kids respond to yoga! Go Grounded is such a great program, I highly recommend it to all kids and teens! It reinforced to me that this is what I want to do, I want to lead others to be their best yogi! Noah has his red bandana and is working on his orange, and 3 students tested for their red today and all three passed! Over the summer they will work on developing a flow from their pose chart and be able to teach it to their fellow students. So exciting!
Todays lunch was a vegan pizza panini and a wasabi arugula salad with a raspberry vinaigrette; check it out!
So delish!
Todays lunch was a vegan pizza panini and a wasabi arugula salad with a raspberry vinaigrette; check it out!
So delish!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Back to blogging....
It's been a while since I bloggered. Blogged? Either way, it's been a long time. I wont bore you with the details of why, but lets start with where I am right now. I'm 31. Live with my boyfriend of 2 years and my boys (15 and 8). Getting divorced if I can ever track down my ex husband. We have a cat. We often work crazy hours and sometimes only see each other for 5 minutes at a time. I currently work in a Supermarket and have for 5 years and hate it so much right now. I think of us often as a typical suburban family. We work, play, transport kids here and there, wish we had more time to take vacations, and can't stand to be apart. I never knew true love until I met my wonderful man. I'm so grateful to have him in mine and my children's lives!
Right now; I'm currently into a fairly intense weight loss challenge for myself; ultimately I'd love to lose another 20 pounds to be 100% at my "correct" weight for my height, but I'm at the point right now where that's all hard hard work and I have to struggle for each and every pound but thats ok and I'm up for it! But it takes time. I have a regular yoga practice for close to a year now, and regularly attend hot yoga classes. In October I am going for the Go Grounded kids yoga teacher training. I am hoping to carry on and train to teach all age groups and eventually open my own yoga studio. My 8 yr old loves yoga and takes regular classes as well, and my boyfriend and oldest son also do yoga. We truly believe it is the fountain of youth. I also go through spurts of running a lot, and then not at all.
We are eating mostly vegetarian these days, and from time to time I may share photos and or recipes of what we're eating. Some of my inlaw-family is vegan/allergy issues so we do often cook and bake that way as well. We work around all of our allergies and try not to run into bad allergic reactions! So I welcome you all on this journey back to blogging as a "new" person :)
Right now; I'm currently into a fairly intense weight loss challenge for myself; ultimately I'd love to lose another 20 pounds to be 100% at my "correct" weight for my height, but I'm at the point right now where that's all hard hard work and I have to struggle for each and every pound but thats ok and I'm up for it! But it takes time. I have a regular yoga practice for close to a year now, and regularly attend hot yoga classes. In October I am going for the Go Grounded kids yoga teacher training. I am hoping to carry on and train to teach all age groups and eventually open my own yoga studio. My 8 yr old loves yoga and takes regular classes as well, and my boyfriend and oldest son also do yoga. We truly believe it is the fountain of youth. I also go through spurts of running a lot, and then not at all.
We are eating mostly vegetarian these days, and from time to time I may share photos and or recipes of what we're eating. Some of my inlaw-family is vegan/allergy issues so we do often cook and bake that way as well. We work around all of our allergies and try not to run into bad allergic reactions! So I welcome you all on this journey back to blogging as a "new" person :)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Cake-mania!! Princess Castle cake
It's a known fact that I procrastinate. Alot. I work better under pressure as a result (or because of) that fact. So when I knew I had a major cake coming up, I prepared in advance. Purchased all supplies at least a week before the cake was due. It was due today, Saturday, so I baked and wrapped the cakes Thursday morning.
Friday, well, I didn't want to be done "too" early...so I wasted alot of time, even went to wash my car (and sat in line for 25 minutes before we could even get INTO the carwash!)
Thursday evening I torted and filled the cakes
Yikes that top torted layer is crooked!
Slapped on a quick crumb coat
I needed to make more icing, but ended up babysitting for a couple hours Friday night...no biggie, I can do it Saturday morning right?
First thing Saturday morning I mixed another batch of icing, and got a good coat on, let it crust and then ran a roller sponge over it to smooth. I also cut the notches for the turrets at this point.
Did some shell borders
Added vines, door and windows
Flowers
Added turrets and painted door & window frames. Also added flowers to window boxes. Turret tops are covered in fondant and painted with vodka to add sheen, then sprinkled with colored sugar.
Thursday evening I torted and filled the cakes
Yikes that top torted layer is crooked!
Slapped on a quick crumb coat
First thing Saturday morning I mixed another batch of icing, and got a good coat on, let it crust and then ran a roller sponge over it to smooth. I also cut the notches for the turrets at this point.
Did some shell borders
Added vines, door and windows
Flowers
Added turrets and painted door & window frames. Also added flowers to window boxes. Turret tops are covered in fondant and painted with vodka to add sheen, then sprinkled with colored sugar.
Side view
I wasn't worried so much about "making" the cake, I knew it would work out..what I was most worried about was transporting it across town in my car. In the end, I placed a large scrap of fabric inside a milk crate, slipped the cake on top of that, and then wrapped another fabric scrap around the bottom of the base of the cake to prevent it from moving around. Thankfully I got it there all in one piece, with nothing breaking off! I did have an emergency cake repair kit in my bag though! The party started at 1pm...and was 15 minutes across the city....I finished this cake at 12:45 and made it just in time!
The party was in a local McDonalds, and even as I crossed the parking lot with the cake, I was getting compliments. As soon as I walked in (McDonalds on a Saturday afternoon, sooooooo busy!!) I was practically mobbed by people wanting to see! Everyone wanted to know who made it, etc. Of course, I was in such a rush, I forgot my business cards (for my other business) at home! I did get a name & number for one woman who wants a castle cake at the end of the month! In the end, the cake was awesome, everyone loved it, and the Birthday Girl couldn't have been happier!!
The End.
The party was in a local McDonalds, and even as I crossed the parking lot with the cake, I was getting compliments. As soon as I walked in (McDonalds on a Saturday afternoon, sooooooo busy!!) I was practically mobbed by people wanting to see! Everyone wanted to know who made it, etc. Of course, I was in such a rush, I forgot my business cards (for my other business) at home! I did get a name & number for one woman who wants a castle cake at the end of the month! In the end, the cake was awesome, everyone loved it, and the Birthday Girl couldn't have been happier!!
The End.
Friday, February 13, 2009
More food.....
I made some last minute cupcakes today .....I was at a loss for what to do, but this is what I came up with:
They are Devil's chocolate with cherry red buttercream frosting, topped with hand cut chocolate heart toppers.
And for dinner, I tried something I saw over on Mennonite girls can cook (my grandparents were mennonite and I can make pretty much anything they blog over there from scratch & memory and I do love seeing how others make it!) Check out what we had for dinner; Cinnamon raisin french toast waffles!
And for dinner, I tried something I saw over on Mennonite girls can cook (my grandparents were mennonite and I can make pretty much anything they blog over there from scratch & memory and I do love seeing how others make it!) Check out what we had for dinner; Cinnamon raisin french toast waffles!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Valentine's cookies!
While I've done quite a few cakes in the past couple of years, I suddenly decided to try cookies as well. More specifically, cookies on a stick. So I went to Cake Central and did some research, was overwhelmed by the beautiful work (I've been reading there for a while, since I started cakes)
In the end, this is what I ended up with: 25 heart shaped cookies on a stick, with Royal Icing, each the the name of a student in Noah's kindergarden class, plus his 2 teachers & principal. I'll be dropping it off tomorrow after they go skating, so hopefully it goes over well!
In the end, this is what I ended up with: 25 heart shaped cookies on a stick, with Royal Icing, each the the name of a student in Noah's kindergarden class, plus his 2 teachers & principal. I'll be dropping it off tomorrow after they go skating, so hopefully it goes over well!
Monday, February 9, 2009
"The talk"
It started innocently enough. Steven walked by just out of the shower tonight smacking gum. I made him spit it out, scolded him for chewing gum in the shower, and asked him to bring me his gum. He reached into the pocket of the jeans he was carrying and produced a nearly full pack of gum that just yesterday I told him he didn't need to buy.....when I asked him where he got it, he told me he "stopped at the store after school".....um WHAT? He takes the city bus home from school and is to come straight home always unless prior arrangements have been made!
So I asked him why the felt the need to stop there (especially since it's the store I work at and someone would have told me they saw him!) to buy a pack of gum I had previously told him he couldn't have. He confessed that he stopped in to buy a teddy bear for "Jessica". Apparently she told him she will be away the rest of the week and wanted her Valentines day present tomorrow....
Just to clarify: this girl is NOT his girlfriend. In fact, earlier this year she turned him down when he asked her out, stating he was "too short" This girl is so spoiled...her parents hired a limo for her and 15 friends for her birthday for a 2 hr drive, then a movie for everyone, then another hour drive around in the limo...for her THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY!!??
I've explained to him that any girl that won't date him but demands gifts is a user and will continue to use him as long as he lets her. About how next time he should just laugh at her and tell her to get him something first. How bad he would feel if she took it tomorrow and laughed at him. This led to an hour long talk between him and I about how to tell who your true friends are. As in, if Jessica was going to jump off a bridge, and you wanted to too, think first: Would Jessica jump because you were? If not, she's not your friend! He of course think's we're full of S$*T like all teenage boys think of their parents, but I was sure I got through to him about it....and when he came to give me a hug before he went to bed he said "So....should I still give it to her?" Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg!!!!!!!!
Parents, what do YOU do in a situation like this?
So I asked him why the felt the need to stop there (especially since it's the store I work at and someone would have told me they saw him!) to buy a pack of gum I had previously told him he couldn't have. He confessed that he stopped in to buy a teddy bear for "Jessica". Apparently she told him she will be away the rest of the week and wanted her Valentines day present tomorrow....
Just to clarify: this girl is NOT his girlfriend. In fact, earlier this year she turned him down when he asked her out, stating he was "too short" This girl is so spoiled...her parents hired a limo for her and 15 friends for her birthday for a 2 hr drive, then a movie for everyone, then another hour drive around in the limo...for her THIRTEENTH BIRTHDAY!!??
I've explained to him that any girl that won't date him but demands gifts is a user and will continue to use him as long as he lets her. About how next time he should just laugh at her and tell her to get him something first. How bad he would feel if she took it tomorrow and laughed at him. This led to an hour long talk between him and I about how to tell who your true friends are. As in, if Jessica was going to jump off a bridge, and you wanted to too, think first: Would Jessica jump because you were? If not, she's not your friend! He of course think's we're full of S$*T like all teenage boys think of their parents, but I was sure I got through to him about it....and when he came to give me a hug before he went to bed he said "So....should I still give it to her?" Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg!!!!!!!!
Parents, what do YOU do in a situation like this?
Let them eat cake!
As promised, some pictures of cakes I have made in the last couple of years :) Feel free to comment with your thoughts!
For Noah's 4th birthday (my first real attempt at a cake):
Halloween cake '08
Friends baby shower:
My nephew's first birthday:
For my step-dad's surprise 60th birthday:
For Noah's 5th birthday:
For Noah's 4th birthday (my first real attempt at a cake):
Halloween cake '08
Friends baby shower:
My nephew's first birthday:
For my step-dad's surprise 60th birthday:
For Noah's 5th birthday:
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