The Tree

I almost drove right past it.  I was intent on getting to where I was going in a timely manner-- and I almost missed this shot.  This beautiful tree.  These beautiful mountains.  The depth of the clouds in the sky.  I would have just blown right past it.  But thanks to Mr. Ate, I stopped.  With much grumbling ("do we have to stop and take a picture of EVERY tree and mountain??" I pulled over-- in an area which did not leave any room  for a parked vehicle-- risked my life by getting out, walked along the edge of the road, jumped over a small bog-type ditch, and got this shot.  It's stunning, and magical.  The way it stands proud.  The only tree-- growing from a rock, no less-- for a few miles around.  This is the Scottish highlands.  This is The Tree.

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Oooooo....got this recipe from The Pioneer Woman-- Ree Drummond.  I used fresh strawberries, picked from a local patch right here in MN.  The cake just got better when I ate it the next day.  No kidding. It was light, sweet and fruity.  Loved it so much, I bought her book-- which I'll review at a later date :)

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Cake Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 3 T cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 9 T butter, softened unsalted
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 3 whole Large eggs
• 1/2 cups sour cream, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla

Icing Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 sticks butter, unsalted
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 pound strawberries

Sift together flour, salt, baking soda and corn starch.

In a separate bowl, cream 9 T butter with the sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well. Add sour cream and vanilla. Add sifted dry ingredients. Mix on low until just barely combined.

Pour into greased and floured 8-inch x 2-inch deep cake pan (must be 2-inches or more deep!). Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

Place on cooling rack as soon as it comes out of the oven.

Stem strawberries and slice.  Place into a bowl and sprinkle with 3 T of sugar.  Stir, then let sit 30 minutes.  Mash in two separate batches.  Then sprinkle each half with 1 T of sugar and allow to sit another 30 minutes.

Make icing: combine cream cheese, 2 sticks butter, sifted powdered sugar, vanilla and dash of salt in mixing bowl.  Mix until light and fluffy.

Slice cake in half when cooled.  Spread strawberries evenly over each half (cut side up), pouring all the juice.  Place cake halves into freezer for 5 minutes.

Remove from freezer, use a little less than 1/3 of the icing to spread over the top of the strawberries on bottom layer.  Place second layer on top.  Add half of the remaining icing to the top spreading evenly, then spread the remaining 1/3 cup around the sides. 

Garnish with strawberries on top.  Store in the fridge. 

Cookbook Review: Baker's Companion (KAF)

Well, since I have this obsession...

I figured I better share by knowledge..or at least my experience, with others. 

So I've decided to blog about  each of my cookbooks, tell you which recipes I've tried, which I would LIKE to try and the results of thus such "trying".  It ain't always pretty, so hang on to your hats.

First up:  The Baker's Companion by King Arthur's Flour.  Not really my cookbook.  I gave it to my husband, Mr. Ate, in 2008. 

Mr. Ate is the baker in the family, although I'm desperately trying to outdo the man.  This guy can make some caramel pecan rolls that are to die for!  (Sorry, can't divulge that recipe, or he'd have me hung!).  But alas, my baker husband has not had much time to use this book quite as much as me.  In fact, I don't think he's used it at all.  Except maybe once.  We had a "date night" of making apple pies.  We took 3 apple pie recipes, three different crusts and baked each so we could compare and come up with our favorite.  It was fun. And sort of romantic. Anyway... got off the subject there.

These are some of the recipes I've made:

Zephyr Pancakes (page 4):  Got 5 stars from me.  The best pancake recipe I've ever made. I think it's the buttermilk and cream that got me.

Walnut-Strawberry Quick Bread (page 86): I substituted pecans for the walnuts, and I made these in mini-loaf pans.  I made this when it was strawberry season.  The taste was out of this world!

All-Star Muffins (page 63): This was just so-so for me.  I like the fact that it stores well (up to one week in the refrigerator) and I can make a ton of variations of it.  I tried apricot & almond (delish), white chocolate macademia nut (didn't use enough white chocolate--but probably won't try this one again), Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (everyone's favorite variation).

Finally, Chocoate Mint Cake (page 345)- without the mint:  This was very chocolatey-- a bit too much for me.  But it was fun to make.  I omitted the mint part. Maybe that's why it was too chocolatey?

I learned how not to assemble a cake with this one.  I should have used a deeper round cake pan and cut it in half, OR cut the tops off of these more shallow ones, that way they'd fit together more snug. And maybe taken a little more time to frost.  I must have been in a hurry to eat it.

What I'd like to make soon:  Tender Focaccia (page 252), Blueberry Buckle (page 132) and most everything else (come on! this is a baking book! hello?? i want to make and eat everything in it!)

Boys in Motion 2

Homework.  Studying.   Reading.  These are all quiet activities.  Normally (but not in my world) these would be quiet activities. 

I love this picture.  If a picture is worth 1000 words, this one captures my little Number 5 to a "T".

As Number 3 works on his studies for school, Number 5 struggles-- wriggling, rocking, tapping, shifting, sitting up/down, daydreaming-- and probably thinking about his next meal. 

That's my Number 5.  When he's supposed to be focusing on his homework...he's a Boy In Motion!

Boys in Motion 1

Thought I'd try this "link up" thing and submit my photo to http://homewiththeboys.net/ for their Boys In Motion giveaway.  These, of course are only TWO of my boys in action.  The others must be running around unsupervised, rock climbing, swinging from trees and other heart-stopping activities in the state forest we visited this last October.  We had such a great time there.  Next year we'll buy a season pass so these kids can get all that Boy Energy out on a regular basis!

Well this really socks!

Yesterday my time was filled with various home-maker tasks.  Baking Snickerdoodles, vacuuming, washing dishes and the ever so dreadful SOCK MATCHING.  Yes, it's a chore I do so adore (sorry about the rhyme!) At one point I had over 40 socks that were missing their mate-for-life.  It's inevitable that one lonely stocking is left alone as the other is discarded for various reasons-- a hole in the heel or toe, wore out on the bottoms, held together by only a few threads (yes, my children keep on wearing them in this condition until I finally have to demand they put the sock to rest!).

But alas, I am stuck with only one sock of each type.  And of course I cannot throw out the one sock.  Maybe its mate is out there somewhere?  Hiding beneath a child's bed, discarded on the bathroom floor, or even worse-- FALLEN BEHIND THE CLOTHES WASHER!!! 
Is this a sickness I have? (Not being able to throw away single socks)  Do I need help?  Is there a 12-step program for people like me?  Is there any hope? Will the Packers win over the Steelers? (had to throw that in there).
Yes, I believe there is hope.  In the form of a craft.  Yes, I said a craft.  I ordered not one, but TWO books that address just such an issue. 

I can't wait to make these adorable little guys!  I have found my cure!

PS-- When you have one single sock laying in the middle of your living room floor, do you find everyone in your house ignores it and walks around it?  Just curious if my household is the only one with this issue.

Which Mother Are You?

I thought today would be just another day.

To my "surprise", I entered my children's room this morning to find they had not cleaned their room yesterday like I had asked.  Oh wait, I think it may have been their version of clean.  Which is clearly NOT my version of clean.  So as the little angels were rubbing their tired eyes and having their morning stretch, I took a gander underneath their beds. 

This is what I pulled out.

Wait...is that a box of Hamburger Helper, you say?  Yes.  Indeed it is.  I think there is some elbow macaroni in that bag as well.

I feel like I am playing some twisted Where's Waldo game.  Now see if you can find the granola bar wrappers?  How about the Mario Fruit Snack wrappers?  The Sponge Bob golf ball?  How about the pencil labeled with a name?

And so this leads to my opening question... Which Mother Are YOU?  The type of mother who gives a chuckle and thinks to herself I guess the joke was on me while dotingly cleaning up her sons' bedroom?  Or are you the one with the fire under you butt thinking I can't wait until they get home from school so I can watch them clean up this pig stye!  (And what exactly is a pig "stye"??)  Perhaps some other thoughts come to your mind?

I won't tell you which mother I am.  Those of you that know me, know exactly how I'll handle this one.

My Science Experiment

This is a "Cutie".  Umm, errr, or I should say this WAS a "Cutie".  A Cutie is a small orange type citrus fruit.  I bought a whole bag of them.  I put them on display in a beautiful white ceramic bowl in our dining room.  When my children wanted a snack I gladly recommended a Cutie to them, thinking I was being such a good mom by giving them a wholesome treat.  Within minutes I heard "Gross!"  And then "Mom, the orange is white... and green... it's green and white!"  No one would touch it.  Did I mention I have all boys?  Uh huh, such manly and brave young things.   Geesh, it's not going to bite!  Is it??