We Made a Wedding Cake!!

We had a "little" job this weekend. It shouldn't have taken too long, but since we're not too experienced with cakes just yet, we really took our time. But it turned out just lovely & we got a taste for so many other things we want to try! Of course we make everything from scratch & always the best ingredients. This buttercream is to die for -so luxurious & not as intimidating as I had thought. All said, it was a great experience --even if we're new at something, we really take our time at it till we get it right. Can't wait to get more orders & chances to perfect this sweet artform :)

Dinner Party

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                             We had a lovely little dinner party last night for some friends that just had their one year anniversary.  Three good friends & I have a business doing dessert catering (it's still in it's infancy), so we love any excuse to play & work in the kitchen & try new things.   All the food was wonderful ...I have been craving salmon mousse forever & was waiting for an excuse to try making it. This recipe was so easy & super tasty! Serve it with dill & capers & it's amazing.                Awesome mojitos my brother made- with fresh mint & sugar on the rim -yum!      These goat cheese, tomato & basil tarts on parmesan crust (once again from this yummy blog) were to die for!       Julie made tasty summer squash soup with lemon creme fraiche & garden chives...                            & Sara made this heavenly chocolate cake with caramel & rich chocolate ganache. She had to put it together in a hurry & in a hot kitchen, but did a great job. We decorated it with fresh flowers.    The cookies are my mom's secret recipe "Lottie's"' named after her grandma. They are the most addictive little almond cookies you will ever have. I get requests from my hubby & the rest of the family for these all the time!   ...Very nice evening with some family & friends  :)  

Holy Bundt Cake, Batman!

I'm in heaven at the moment...my own personal heaven; I'm pretty simple in my qualifications: 1. Kids are in bed. 2. Chocolaty Nutty Swirly SourCream Bundt Cake.

I'm on my second piece & it's 11:30 p.m... I've been thinking about it ever since I discovered her blog, but been too busy & didn't have a real reason to make a cake. But tonight I decided it was time & I didn't need a reason. And I do not regret my decision. Except that I'm a little sugar nauseous right now. But that will not stop me from getting a third piece.    

hello!

In case anyone's noticed, my last couple posts have not been so wordy... Baby Son thought our laptop was a George Foreman grill because after he pounded on the keys, he proceeded to smash his chicken into it & shut the top, for me to open & find later. He really did a number on it because the keyboard does not work at all -we can only use the mouse (I'm gettin real creative with copy & paste!) I'm using my brother's laptop right now & hopefully we'll have ours fixed soon...but in the meantime atleast I can still post pictures. ....Here's the prettiest thing I've made for dinner in a long while: Zucchini Gratin from this lovely yummy foodie blog my friend found. I've been so out of cooking mode for so long but there's a few more recipes on here I can't wait to try, so maybe it'll help pull me out of my slump...         

   ...made with zucchini, yellow squash, fennel & thyme from the garden :)

garden harvest

  such yummy things i picked from the garden this morning! so for lunch, i just sauteed it all up with some sausage, garlic & olive oil, (lots of basil!) served over penne & added kalamata olives & feta ...oh yummy!! garrett husband said it was the perfect dish :) & the kids ate it up pretty good too.           

garden shananagins & a sad cheesecake

i left the hose on to soak some plants, ran in the house to check on the laundry & look what i came back to...  

   who needs a swimming pool?                       ....other garden news (doesn't take much to get me excited): i was beginning to wonder if my little eggplant would ever amount to anything as its been under constant insect attack & it's been budding but then the flowers usually fall off. well look what a surprise i got today ...

        it's called 'fairy tale' eggplant- how sweet is that?             .....& yet still on another note: learned this morning my cousins from wyoming are visiting & we all decided to have dessert at my house this evening. i've been wanting to try making this ricotta cheesecake that sounded divine. i went thru the pain of whipping & folding eggwhites (enough said) & was told to bake for an hour till set & golden brown. two minutes before my timer goes off, with kids screaming in the tub, i casually check to see if my cake is starting to gently brown, thinking i'd be early & this is what i see ...                               so sad. i hope i can salvage it.....