Happy Birthday RobRoy!

Published on September 21, 2009 in birthdays, family, food and recipes. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

Happy Birthday!

(photo taken by Michelle Taylor)

It’s been a while, but we finally got around to celebrating Rob’s birthday.  I missed his 39th, I was in NYC for work.  I missed his 40th (YES  I KNOW…I AM TERRIBLE!!)  I had just moved to Seattle a few days before.  I returned from China the morning of his 41st (and he worked that night anyway…)  But with our BFFs and family in town, we decided to do it right.

So, well, you know me, I searched and searched for a cake recipe.  Now, if you have been to The Old Creamery Grocery in Cummington, MA, then you are familiar with Perry’s AMAZING CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES.  Sheesh, I sure do miss them.  This recipe comes close, but not quite the same.  It will do, now that I’m over 3000 miles away.

Chocolate Cake Recipe

(from Epicurious.com)

  • Shortening, as needed
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the pans
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup (6 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

2. Lightly grease the bottom of each cake pan, then line it with waxed paper or parchment paper and grease and lightly flour the bottom and sides. If you are making cupcakes, line the cups with paper liners.  (I highly recommend lining the pans with parchment paper.  I was amazed how easily the cakes came out of the pan).

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the 2 cups flour, the cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

4. Using an electric mixer on medium to high speed, beat the butter in a large bowl for 30 seconds. With the mixer on medium speed, gradually add the sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating each addition 3 to 4 minutes or until well combined. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the sides of the bowl; continue beating on medium speed for 2 minutes more, until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Add the eggs 1 at a time, beating for 30 seconds after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.

5. With the mixer on low speed and beating until just combined after each addition, beat the flour mixture into the butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of the milk. With the mixer on medium to high speed, beat the batter for 20 seconds more.

6. Using a rubber spatula, spread the batter in the prepared pans. Unless your project directions indicate otherwise, fill round, square, rectangular, or shaped pans two-thirds full; fill cupcake cups two-thirds full. Bake the cake(s), 350 for 25 -35 minutes; each cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

7. Transfer the cake in the pan to a wire rack. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto the rack, lift off the pan, and peel off the waxed paper. Let the cake cool completely on the rack. Remove cupcakes from the pans after cooling for 15 minutes.

Vanilla Cream Cheese Icing

(from Epicurious.com)

  • 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Using electric mixer, beat 12 ounces cream cheese, 1/2 cup butter and vanilla extract in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, beating until smooth after each addition.

Happy Birthday!

(photo taken by Michelle Taylor)

Gazpacho Makes My Summer

Published on August 3, 2009 in food and recipes. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

(I promise to post photos later!)

I really can’t remember the first time I ate gazpacho.  But I feel like I’ve loved it for a long time, and when I see lovely ripe tomatoes at the Farmer’s Market and it’s so stinkin’ hot, I have to make gazpacho.

I love it for a bunch of reasons.  I love being able to taste every single vegetable in each bite.  I love how it chills me right to the core.  And I love when it’s so spicy my eyes water.

After looking through a bunch of recipes, I made my own.  Mind you, this is not traditional, so you won’t find bread in this soup, but you will find seasonal ripe veggies.  If they aren’t ripe or local, they just aren’t worth eating.

Enjoy!

  • 4-6 large tomato chopped  – 1 cup put aside
  • 1 large cucumber – peeled and chopped – 1 cup put aside
  • 1 large red onion – chopped
  • 3 large stalks of celery – chopped – 1 cup put aside
  • 1 yellow pepper – chopped – 1 cup put aside
  • Cilantro (amount to your liking) – chopped
  • 1/4 cup Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 cup Lemon Jiuce
  • 4 cups Tomato Juice (I use V-8, seems to have the most real food ingredients)
  • Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper
  • Hot Sauce

    • Makes about 8 servings.

Put chopped veggies and cilantro in a blender or food processor and pulse to desired consistency.  I do it just a wee bit of processing, I like to chew this soup and taste each vegetable in each bite.

Pour into a non-reactive bowl, add the Red Wine Vinegar, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Tomato Juice, salt and pepper / hot sauce to taste and mix together.  My blender and food processor aren’t big enough to hold it all, but if they are, you can put it all in and blend away.

I’m thinking about other gazpachos.  I’ve had a beet gazpacho that was so amazing I just can’t forget about, and it might be my next gazpacho….

There is LOVE in Pavlova…

Published on August 1, 2009 in Uncategorized, food and recipes. 0 Comments

Berry Pavlova

I first saw this in the fabulous food site – PlatetoPlate.com.  Then I saw a version in The Kitchn and thought, this must be a SIGN!  And I had to make it!

Berry Pavlova

This whipped up nicely.  The blackberries were picked on the way to school yesterday, surprisingly they made it another day, and I thought this would be the perfect ending.

Berry Pavlova

It was much lighter than I thought it would be, and the hard crust was nice and chewy.  And the whipped cream and berries, my, oh, my.  We all loved it.

Berry Pavlova

I was so excited to try this.  I was completely inspired by Plate to Plate’s version, but didn’t have enough ingredients on hand, so The Kitchn version worked nicely. I am looking for an excuse to make this again, I think it’s the perfect dessert.

Here’s how I made it: (from The Kitchn)

  • 4 egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • big bowl of the freshest (and most local) berries or fruit you can find

Preheat your oven to 275F.  Line a cookie sheet with a sheet of parchment or one of those fancy silicone cooking sheets.

With a hand mixer, beat the egg whites, when the egg whites get a little bubbly, mix in the cream of tartar.  When the egg whites firm up a bit more to soft peaks, add the sugar in slowly.  When you’ve got firm peaks, you are done.

Pour the meringue onto the parchment.  You can do one big one, or a bunch of little ones.  I made just one and it was about 3-4 inches high and just shy of the width of my sheet.

Bake for 45 minutes.  Turn your oven off and let the meringue sit in the oven until it is completely cool.

Right before serving, whip up your heavy cream.  Spread onto the cool meringue, cover, with berries.

My notes:

  • We ate this the same day I made the meringue, while it is hand downs one of  the most delicious things I’ve made, I think another day hardening up would have been better.
  • I’m glad I didn’t add any sugar to the whipping cream, the meringue is pretty sweet.
  • For just the 3 of us, this was too much, so the next time I make it, I’ll make 2  or more, so I can store what we won’t eat in one sitting in an airtight container.
  • I think next time I’ll try 1/2 granulated sugar and 1/2 confectioners sugar.  Just wondering how it would be different.
  • I love it with the berries, and I’m trying to think of ways to make it every season.  I love Plate to Plates toppings that include hazelnuts, berries, caramel and mint.  YUM!
  • This also totally reminded me of Angel Food Cake, glad I can make something like it without the pan.

YAWP…

Published on July 12, 2009 in Cool Mom Doing Cool Things, Creating, cool ideas and creative spaces. 0 Comments Tags: .

I know of this fabulous little school doing amazing things with their kids.  (I am so lucky.)

Last week for class, they went into the woods.  The kids stood on a tree stump and yelled out their poetry.

When was the last time you did that?

Read more about it here.

I’m Still Here, I’ve Just Been Traveling…

Published on July 12, 2009 in China and travel. 3 Comments Tags: , .

I know.  I know.  I totally know.

I don’t know if I told you, but I’ve got this really wonderful job, and I get to travel.   I’ve been to China 3 times in the last 3 months.  I absolutely love it.  There’s certainly the adjustment.  Spending this much time away from my family is hard, and it’s hard to be able to talk to each other every day, sometimes there is no internet connection (even when they claim there is!)

30,000 Miles Away

I love this picture.  I keep it on my work computer when I’m traveling so I can stare at them.

On my most recent trip, I flew into Beijing.  Those little rectangles down there are green houses.  They are ramps made of dirt, with a wooden frame, then covered in plastic.  I’d see these everywhere in the country when driving around, and I could not figure out what these mounds were?

Flying Over Beijing

When I visit the country side, food is grown everywhere.  There are no yards with grass, there are yards with vegetables.  The banks of the rivers are covered with mustard greens.  Tea bushes are everywhere.  Everything is symmetrical and planned.  You can eat everything.  It’s breathtaking.

I also spend quite a bit of time in airports.  Here’s the Beijing Airport, on my most recent trip, it took me 30 hours to get home.  I had to change my flight, then the lovely airlines canceled my ticket for one leg, and voila!  30 hours of travel time.  I must have walked miles in this airport, I don’t know what the shop ladies where saying, but there sure was a lot of giggling and waving.

Beijing Airport

I am totally amazed by the driving and commuting in China.  There is a lot of bike riding and scooter riding.  Lots of trucks and motorized cart buggy thingys, with people hanging on, sitting on top of piles, and barely any helmets.  I’m not sure if there are driving regulations, I think the lines on the roads are suggestions, you are supposed to line the center of the car up with the white dotted line.  I can’t tell you how many times I covered my face with my hands, I just couldn’t look!  But I’m still alive!

Zibo City, China

Lots of school kids, here, in their uniforms coming back from lunch.  The little little kids are usually brought to school by their moms on their scooters or bikes.

School Kids in Zibo City, China

Ahhh, the grocery store.  Wow.  My palette is so limited.  I’m ok with that!  I’ll try some new things.  I did eat pigeon soup.  Well, I sipped the broth.  The leg sticking out of the soup at me was enough to make me pass out.  Plus, being a NYC girl, those things are rats with wings (sorry Bert on Sesame Street, but seriously), I just couldn’t take a bite of that pigeon leg.  Call me crazy…

But the grocery store is an incredible place.  I saw this and naively asked if this was the pet section.  I got a big laugh, no this is for dinner.  What I love about the food in China, is that everything is prepared fresh.  All animals and fish are kept alive until it is time to eat them.  The fruit and veggies are all local, so they come right from the farm.  There are some processed foods, but hardly any.  I have totally enjoyed eating in China.  There are definitely some things I won’t eat, but I’ve been brave and tried things I normally wouldn’t and liked it!

Taixing City, Grocery Store

I meet a lot of really wonderful people on my trips.

Taixing City Ice Cream Break

Here I’m with my lovely hosts for the week.  We accomplished tons, ate good food, went to the disco (oh, that’s a WHOLE nother post…), and I taught them some English while they taught me some Chinese.

Anyway, I’m still here.  I’m still cooking, and have a sewing project cut out on the table.  What have you been up to?

Tomato Fennel Soup

Published on March 15, 2009 in food and recipes. 4 Comments Tags: , .

Tomato Fennel Soup

I don’t know about you, but whenever we have friends over for a meal, I experiment.  I have big ideas about food, and I see these special visits as the perfect opportunity to try something new.

I love tomato soup.  I love tomatoes.  I love fennel.  When I found this recipe, it was just perfect.  I made a big batch in the slow cooker.

Now, I did use store-bought canned tomatoes.  I know.  But the “fresh” tomatoes in the store have not been kissed by the sun.  But this had Rob and I both talking, we figured if we canned enough tomatoes this summer for the year, that would be a good thing.  Since we use tomatoes and tomato sauce in almost EVERYTHING, we figure 100 servings would get us through the year.  Ok Mom, how many tomatoes is that?

I started the day before, and roasted the fennel, then poured the fennel into the slow cooker with the tomatoes, broth and lemon juice, cooked is slowly for 4 hours, then let it sit over night.  When I tasted it this morning, I was so disappointed.  I tasted canned tomatoes.  OF COURSE!!!  ugh. I didn’t taste the roasted fennel that smelled so good the night before! I pureed the soup, added white beans and salt and pepper.  Still tasted like canned tomatoes.

Then, I made the Gremolata.  HOLY MOLY!  Such a bite!  Amazing.  This would surely save my soup.  And it did.  So delish.  I served the soup hot, but it could certainly be served chilled.  A total keeper, and it will be incredible at the height of tomato season.

Enjoy.  From Epicurious.com

I added white beans.  Served it with an asparagus and roasted garlic quiche and a lovely salad.  Brownies with salted caramel ice cream for desert.  YUM!

Soup

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups finely chopped fennel bulb
  • 1 28-ounce can Italian-style tomatoes, drained, juices reserved
  • 2 2/3 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Gremolata

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fennel fronds
  • 4 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

For soup:
Heat oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add chopped fennel bulb; sauté until tender but not brown, about 6 minutes. Add drained tomatoes; sauté 5 minutes. Add reserved tomato juices, stock and lemon juice. Cover; simmer 15 minutes. Puree soup in blender in batches until smooth. Return to pan. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

For Gremolata:
Mix all ingredients in small bowl.

Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls. Stir spoonful of gremolata into each bowl and serve.

A New Princess Dress

Published on March 4, 2009 in Iz, design, sewing and sewing for Iz. 6 Comments Tags: , , .

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

Iz doesn’t sit still.  At all.  When she took her first steps (at 18 mos mind you), she didn’t walk, she RAN.  I’d like to say that we take leisurely strolls side-by-side, but no, I walk quickly to keep after her.  And as she gets older, I try hard to let her walk on her own, but still, my heart beats a bit faster, knowing that she’s fine, but I’m not right next to her.  She’s still movin’ with a purpose, and couldn’t stop for a second to get a good photo.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

She’s been very interested in princesses.  Of course, who can resist all that’s supposed to mean?  Think of the clothes, the bling, the clothes, the shoes, the nail polish, the clothes.  We are not fans of the typical Disney Princesses.  I’m sure they are all wonderful girls, but they are always in distress.  I mean, WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? **There are princess movies that do not involve being rescued: Nausicaa.  Kiki’s Delivery Service. and so many more.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

We want Iz to know that she is a princess.  One who can make her own decisions,  one who is strong enough to take care of herself and not have to be rescued.  I don’t think there is anything glamorous in being a damsel in distress. So, dear sweet Princess Iz, here’s your fabulous Royal Dress, and you can rule the world in it.  And wear your fabulous shoes and great rainbow tights.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

I bought the pattern from the lovely SugarCityJournal.  Amazing clothes they are making.

It’s a great pattern, easy to understand and very quick.  I made the dress 2 sizes too big!  Crazy, but I love it so much, I want her to have it for years.  I think the styling details are to-die-for.  I love the bias tape finish on the neck and sleeves.  I really, really , really like the gathered yoke and bell sleeves.  (trick – use dental floss to make your gathers)

We’ll be making a few more of these, and work our way through the stash.

Iz and the Red Hippo Dress

“ta-da”

Making Dresses

Published on March 4, 2009 in sewing, sewing for Iz and sewing with kids. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

Making Dresses

My sewing machine is finally out of it’s box, and in it’s “permanent’ corner.  While Iz is excited about it, I think I’m even a bit more excited.  I bought a lovely pattern months ago, and my stash is piling up, so we’re making a dress.  Iz is helping.  She cut the pattern pieces, helped fold the farbric, smooth it out, and pin the pattern to the fabric.  She dusted off my machine (she loves to clean, must be related to grammie), made sure the presser foot was in the right spot, and tested the tension for me.  Seriously.  She’s a pro, and she’s barely 4!

I can’t wait to see what she’ll be sewing in the next few months.  I need to have my other machine serviced, then we’ll sew side by side.  I’m not sure what she’ll want to do first.  I’m pretty sure it might involve a bit of free form sewing.

She helped to make the bias tape for her little dress.  Ok, I did all the ironing, and it was too hot to handle, so she handed me the pins, so we could keep it folded while they cooled down a bit.

Bias Tape Love

It’s an adorable little dress.  I’m hoping to find the perfect buttons this week.  I’ll post pictures once the buttons are on and Iz is busy twirling in it…

New Do

Published on March 3, 2009 in about me. 3 Comments

New Do

Our Garden is Growing!!

Published on March 2, 2009 in garden. 3 Comments Tags: .

Since I last mentioned our garden, we’ve been looking EVERYDAY.  A few times a day to see what might be popping up!  On Wednesday, the Micro Greens appeared.

Micro-Greens

On Thursday the flowers appeared. I can’t tell you the squeals of delight. Iz immediately grabbed her watering can and gently watered the flowers.

Kitty in the Garden

On Friday, the cherry tomatoes popped up!  More squeals (from me too!).  Then Saturday the Basil appeared!  HELLOOOO Pesto!

Basil

and Sunday morning the heritage tomatoes, swiss chard and peas all appeared.

We are pretty excited, and thinking about the next step, wondering if we need  a grow light to make sure our little garden is able to thrive and feed us a bit this year.  Any thoughts?  Anybody use grow lights?