At target I found these stunning swirly black stickers that I knew my sister had to have in some way or another. Which was the springboard for the rest of the card. Here is my birthday creation!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Perhaps my new calling
Due to my incredible lack of money (yay for life after college and an apartment that is ridiculously expensive) I decided to make my sister a handmade birthday card to show that despite my lack of monetary resources to buy her a gift, I still do love her very much! What seemed like a simple idea spanned two days and some blistered fingers, but it was well worth the work, and I can't wait to make my next birthday card for my dad's birthday this upcoming week!
At target I found these stunning swirly black stickers that I knew my sister had to have in some way or another. Which was the springboard for the rest of the card. Here is my birthday creation!
At target I found these stunning swirly black stickers that I knew my sister had to have in some way or another. Which was the springboard for the rest of the card. Here is my birthday creation!
Slacking on the Postings: Culinary Delight Update
So I have really been slacking on posting. I can't seem to find the cable for my camera so I have to elaborately connect my camera to my printer and it ends up being this whole ordeal! So I'll do a series of posts to paraphrase some going-ons. I'll start with my culinary adventures!
Tonight: Chicken Yummyness (some recipe off of Allrecipes.com that Alex's aunt made for us when we went over one night, but we substituted chicken for pork) and it was amazing! Simple recipe: 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 soy sauce, 1 bunch green onions and some minced garlic, serve with rice and viola!
For the last presidential debate: I know you have all been holding your breath about what I dreamed up to serve at the last presidential debate. I had run out of patriotic/themed ideas so the closest I got was... New York Cheesecake (for the location) and on top........the Obama logo in a sour cream frosting. Here is the results of my labor:
And a few weeks ago: I made one of my dad's specialties (however not his recipe) Swiss Steak. It was pretty decent, for not being my dad's. I could have definitely used some more seasoning in addition to what Better Homes and Gardens listed.
And a disappointment: Or rather a big pile of icky icky ikcyness. The quick meal version of beef stroganoff from better homes and gardens. This was by far my biggest culinary disaster so far. Alex's quote was "Notice how I ate it so fast" ( aka...I didn't want to taste anything) it was so bad I had to refrain from throwing it up! Anyways due to its incredible grossness, there will be no photo.
Tonight: Chicken Yummyness (some recipe off of Allrecipes.com that Alex's aunt made for us when we went over one night, but we substituted chicken for pork) and it was amazing! Simple recipe: 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 soy sauce, 1 bunch green onions and some minced garlic, serve with rice and viola!
For the last presidential debate: I know you have all been holding your breath about what I dreamed up to serve at the last presidential debate. I had run out of patriotic/themed ideas so the closest I got was... New York Cheesecake (for the location) and on top........the Obama logo in a sour cream frosting. Here is the results of my labor:
And a few weeks ago: I made one of my dad's specialties (however not his recipe) Swiss Steak. It was pretty decent, for not being my dad's. I could have definitely used some more seasoning in addition to what Better Homes and Gardens listed.
And a disappointment: Or rather a big pile of icky icky ikcyness. The quick meal version of beef stroganoff from better homes and gardens. This was by far my biggest culinary disaster so far. Alex's quote was "Notice how I ate it so fast" ( aka...I didn't want to taste anything) it was so bad I had to refrain from throwing it up! Anyways due to its incredible grossness, there will be no photo.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Stars and Stripes
For the debate on Tuesday I whipped up a long time family favorite tradition that my sister, Nicole, started way back when. I am not really sure where she found this gem of an idea, but I love it, and while it is traditionally made on the 4th of July, I figured its patrotic nature to be perfect for watching the debates. It is a really easy recipe if you need a quick dessert for an occasion, I am sure you could switch up the fruit on top to make it less patrotic.
Here was my finished product
You will need:
1 large loaf of pound cake- Frozen Sara Lee is my cake of choice sliced into 1/2 inch slices
Strawberries and Blueberries
Whipped cream, Kool-whip works as well
make a layer of pound cake in your dish. Cover with whipped cream, and then in a layer of thinly sliced strawberries. Then place another layer of pound cake on top, and cover with whipped cream and then....make your flag with sliced straberries and blueberries
Here was my finished product
You will need:
1 large loaf of pound cake- Frozen Sara Lee is my cake of choice sliced into 1/2 inch slices
Strawberries and Blueberries
Whipped cream, Kool-whip works as well
make a layer of pound cake in your dish. Cover with whipped cream, and then in a layer of thinly sliced strawberries. Then place another layer of pound cake on top, and cover with whipped cream and then....make your flag with sliced straberries and blueberries
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
D.C. United Game
This past weekend Alex took me to a D.C. United game. It was through his work, so we got to sit with the NDI group, which was neat to see who he works with. The stadium is older, having been the playing grounds for the Redskins and the Nationals in prior years. Food options are limited and not nearly as good as going to a Nationals game. And don't expect there to be any ketchup. We did a marathon walk looking for ketchup for our chicken fingers and were left to use mustard or being condiment-less.
The game was really fun though. It felt very European, with the crazy section of devoted fans waving giant flags, throwing around rolls of crate paper, banging on huge drums and generally just going wild. The game was relatively short for a sporting event but was very interesting. United didn't score which was sad, but I will still impressed with the level of skill.
Half time ended up being very entertaining as there was a giant yellow chicken with an odd tail, wearing a sombrero dancing, or rather bopping around on the field while little kids teams faced off against each other.
This was the chicken
The game was really fun though. It felt very European, with the crazy section of devoted fans waving giant flags, throwing around rolls of crate paper, banging on huge drums and generally just going wild. The game was relatively short for a sporting event but was very interesting. United didn't score which was sad, but I will still impressed with the level of skill.
Half time ended up being very entertaining as there was a giant yellow chicken with an odd tail, wearing a sombrero dancing, or rather bopping around on the field while little kids teams faced off against each other.
This was the chicken
Friday, October 3, 2008
Baked Alaska...Just for you Sarah Palin
To continue my themed desserts that I am taking to our friend's apartment where we watch the debates since we are sans tv, I made baked alaska (Alex's idea) in honor of the VP debate. I give myself 4 stars for this recipe attempt.
First the making of the sponge cake:
Butter Sponge:
1 C. Sifted cake flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 C. Milk
1/4 C. Butter or Margerine
6 Egg yolks
1 C. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Sift together the flour and baking powder. Beat egg yolks till think and then add the sugar slowly. Add vanilla. Add to the flour mixture and mix until just barely mixed together. Heat milk and butter together (I did this in the microwave) make sure it is really hot. Pour into mixture and stir. Bake in a greased pan (9x9) at 350 for 30- 35 minutes. Don't invert and leave in pan, you will construct the rest of the dessert in this pan.
Here is what my sponge looked like:
Once the sponge is done baking, let it sit until cool and then place in the freezer. Meanwhile find a bowl that is smaller in diameter than your sponge and line with plastic wrap. Press your choice of ice cream into the bowl (about 1.5 quart) and place in freezer. Now you need to make your meringue.
Use your left over egg whites from earlier...only you only need about half of the 6. And then you need about 1/4 cup sugar for every egg white. Place your eggs in a ceramic bowl (NOT PLASTIC) and use a wisk to beat. If you have a hand mixer opt for that, but I was on my own. Beat until soft peaks form. Slowly add sugar beating until dissolved. Add a little (1/4c. to 1/2 c.) powdered sugar and a dash of vanilla, keep whipping until strong peaks. Set aside.
Take sponge and ice cream out. Place ice cream in center of sponge. Cover in meringue. SEAL THE EDGES!! Baked on 500 degrees until meringue is golden brown...serve right away.
And here is my baked alaska
First the making of the sponge cake:
Butter Sponge:
1 C. Sifted cake flour
1 tsp. Baking powder
1/2 C. Milk
1/4 C. Butter or Margerine
6 Egg yolks
1 C. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
Sift together the flour and baking powder. Beat egg yolks till think and then add the sugar slowly. Add vanilla. Add to the flour mixture and mix until just barely mixed together. Heat milk and butter together (I did this in the microwave) make sure it is really hot. Pour into mixture and stir. Bake in a greased pan (9x9) at 350 for 30- 35 minutes. Don't invert and leave in pan, you will construct the rest of the dessert in this pan.
Here is what my sponge looked like:
Once the sponge is done baking, let it sit until cool and then place in the freezer. Meanwhile find a bowl that is smaller in diameter than your sponge and line with plastic wrap. Press your choice of ice cream into the bowl (about 1.5 quart) and place in freezer. Now you need to make your meringue.
Use your left over egg whites from earlier...only you only need about half of the 6. And then you need about 1/4 cup sugar for every egg white. Place your eggs in a ceramic bowl (NOT PLASTIC) and use a wisk to beat. If you have a hand mixer opt for that, but I was on my own. Beat until soft peaks form. Slowly add sugar beating until dissolved. Add a little (1/4c. to 1/2 c.) powdered sugar and a dash of vanilla, keep whipping until strong peaks. Set aside.
Take sponge and ice cream out. Place ice cream in center of sponge. Cover in meringue. SEAL THE EDGES!! Baked on 500 degrees until meringue is golden brown...serve right away.
And here is my baked alaska
