A smile to cheer up your day.
Monday, February 22, 2010
February 17, 2010
Ryan's Birthday Cake. Traditional Southern Red Velvet Cake-with beet powder, the way they made it before red food coloring was invented.
Recipe:
Ingredients: 6 eggs, separated 1 cup granulated sugar, divided in half 1 tsp vanilla 1/3 cup buttermilk 1 tsp cream of tartar 3/4 cup cake flour 1/3 cup beet powder 1 Tbsp cocoa powder Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a metal bowl placed atop a pot of simmering water, whisk together egg yolks, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, vanilla and buttermilk for 3-5 minutes until pale yellow. Remove from heat and continue whisking for an additional 5 minutes until thick and foamy, nearly tripling in size. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together egg whites until foamy. Add in cream of tartar. Continue whisking until soft peaks begin to form, then gradually add remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until peaks are stiff and glossy. In a third bowl, sift together cocoa powder, cake flour and beet powder. Gently sift dry ingredients into egg yolk and egg white mixtures, folding all three components together until combined. Divide cake batter into two 9" round cake pans, lined on the bottom with parchment paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and invert pans over baking rake while cake cools. Gently cut cake away from edges and remove from pan. Frost and layer as desired. Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients: 8 oz (two sticks) butter, room temperature (I use Earth Balance) 8 oz cream cheese (I use tofutti) 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup powdered sugar Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar, beating until well combined. Allow cake to completely cool before frosting. Makes enough to frost a two layered cake.
Recipe:
Ingredients: 6 eggs, separated 1 cup granulated sugar, divided in half 1 tsp vanilla 1/3 cup buttermilk 1 tsp cream of tartar 3/4 cup cake flour 1/3 cup beet powder 1 Tbsp cocoa powder Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a metal bowl placed atop a pot of simmering water, whisk together egg yolks, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, vanilla and buttermilk for 3-5 minutes until pale yellow. Remove from heat and continue whisking for an additional 5 minutes until thick and foamy, nearly tripling in size. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, whisk together egg whites until foamy. Add in cream of tartar. Continue whisking until soft peaks begin to form, then gradually add remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until peaks are stiff and glossy. In a third bowl, sift together cocoa powder, cake flour and beet powder. Gently sift dry ingredients into egg yolk and egg white mixtures, folding all three components together until combined. Divide cake batter into two 9" round cake pans, lined on the bottom with parchment paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove from heat and invert pans over baking rake while cake cools. Gently cut cake away from edges and remove from pan. Frost and layer as desired. Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients: 8 oz (two sticks) butter, room temperature (I use Earth Balance) 8 oz cream cheese (I use tofutti) 1 tsp vanilla 1 cup powdered sugar Cream together butter and cream cheese. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar, beating until well combined. Allow cake to completely cool before frosting. Makes enough to frost a two layered cake.
Monday, February 15, 2010
What's going on
Winter continues here in Berrien Springs where it is currently snowing and about 26 degrees. But there are some benefits to having cold weather. Last night, Ryan and I went out to dinner for Valentine's Day, and also got to enjoy the beautiful ice sculptures in St. Joseph. Because it doesn't get above freezing, they leave dozens of these works of art all over the downtown area--carved at the recent fire and ice festival (they sculpt with blow torches aparently!).
Liam continues to grow, as you have all seen in his photos. He is now 31.5 inches tall, and 22.5 lbs. His pediatrician says he's very healthy. This week he will be transitioning to his toddler carseat--which faces forward. I think he'll like it better because he will be able to see more. He's also eating more table food now, and no longer eats purees except for fruit and oatmeal in the morning and before bed.
We had a birthday party for Liam, Ryan and me on Saturday afternoon. It was mostly for Liam, but we all enjoyed cake. :) It was fun to be with new friends, but we certainly missed our families and older friends. The party was at Judy and Bruce's house. It's so nice to have them here; even though they are shirt-tail relatives, they treat us like family.
Ryan's enjoying school, studying hard and watching Liam while I work. Seems like we've settled into our new lifestyle here, and found a good rythum. We officially joined the Niles Westside church last week, and we are enjoying getting to know people and getting involved. Liam really likes his Sabbath School class and is making friends.
That's about it! Thanks for all the birthday cards and gifts, it means so much when we are far away from you all.
Liam continues to grow, as you have all seen in his photos. He is now 31.5 inches tall, and 22.5 lbs. His pediatrician says he's very healthy. This week he will be transitioning to his toddler carseat--which faces forward. I think he'll like it better because he will be able to see more. He's also eating more table food now, and no longer eats purees except for fruit and oatmeal in the morning and before bed.
We had a birthday party for Liam, Ryan and me on Saturday afternoon. It was mostly for Liam, but we all enjoyed cake. :) It was fun to be with new friends, but we certainly missed our families and older friends. The party was at Judy and Bruce's house. It's so nice to have them here; even though they are shirt-tail relatives, they treat us like family.
Ryan's enjoying school, studying hard and watching Liam while I work. Seems like we've settled into our new lifestyle here, and found a good rythum. We officially joined the Niles Westside church last week, and we are enjoying getting to know people and getting involved. Liam really likes his Sabbath School class and is making friends.
That's about it! Thanks for all the birthday cards and gifts, it means so much when we are far away from you all.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Notre Dame
VERY cold day, but we had cabin fever, so we ventured out for a walk at Notre Dame's Campus.
February 8, 2010
Here's Liam sitting in his new chair from Grandma Shelley. We're saving the rest of his gifts for his birthday party on Saturday afternoon.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
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