Eat some CAKE

Here are some cakes I have made over the past year.  Some are better than others .. =)  I have just finished a Wilton Cake Decorating class and it was a lot of fun and I learned a lot.  I am going to take a fondant and gum paste class in October to continue adding to my skills.

Easter Bunny Cake

Master's cake I make for Drew every year

4 Layer rainbow cake made for my good friend Laura

Birthday Cake made for my Grandparents

Hamburger Cake made for my dad on Father's Day

4th of July Cake

I'm B-A-C-K!

I'm not sure if I even know how to do a blog post anymore!

Updates:

- I finished my first year of teaching and I think it was very successful and I grew a lot!

- Our house is on the market. If you want to see it..

- This summer I will be working on a website that will encompass advertising my freelance design work, (which includes decorating, space planning, and organization) as well as invitation design and my cake decorating ability! (I will be taking a cake decorating class the month of June to refine my skills)  I am very excited about adding those things to my list of things I can do.  So get ready!

- I'll leave you with a before and after shot.  These are prints my mother-in-law purchased at an antique store and decided she didn't have a place for them.  So I used them!

Before:

After:

Stylish Blogger Award

Thanks to one of my BFF's Laura for nominating me for this very prestigious award.  She has a fabulous blog and it is hilarious.  So check it out!


So I have to tell you all 5 things about myself and then nominate another blog for the award.  So check ME out.

1.  I believe I have a small case of OCD.  Most of my friends and my hub can vouch for that.  Everything must be clean, straight, and I sanitize my hands quite frequently.

2.  I love MEXICAN FOOD.  Anytime we go out to eat we usually hit up a Mexican Restaurant.  Here are some of our favorites: Sol Y Luna, Superior Grill, Cocina Superior, Chuy's, and El Poblano.

3.  I totally wish I had my own show on The Food Network.  I watch it all the time.  Giada at Home, Cooking with Paula Dean, At home with the Neeley's, and Barefoot Contessa are a few of my favs.   Sometimes I also wish I starred in "The Real Housewives of Alabama."

4.  I am obsessed with Dance/Electronic music.  Now that I am driving the vehicle that has siruis radio, you can always find my radio tuned to BPM!

5.  A part of me would love to move to a HUGE city for a year or two in my young adult years (before children) like NYC or Chicago.  A part of me would also love to live on a lot of land like on a farm or something.  Just to experience it!

Ok so now that you know a few, very RANDOM things about me.  I would like to nominate my friend Josie for this award, check out her blog.  She has great ideas and wonderful recipes!

Recipe Friday: Salmon and Veggie Packets

Tried this last night and it was DELISH.  It's easy, but takes a little time.  It is from one of my Weight Watchers cookbooks.

Salmon and Vegetable Packets

4 Carrots, cut into matchstick strips
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into very thin strips
1 leek (white and green parts only) cleaned and thinly sliced
2 (5 oz.) Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and cut into match stick strips
4 (1/4 lb) skinless salmon fillets
1/2 Cup reduced-sodium vegetable broth, heated
4 Tablespoons dry white wine
4 teasponns olive oil
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 lemon slices

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
2.  Combine the carrots, bell pepper, leek, and potatoes in a streamer basket, place in a saucepan filled with 1 inch of boiling water.  Cover tightly and steam until the vegetables are crisp and tender, about 2 minutes.  Remove the steamer basket from the saucepan.
3.  Tear off 4 (16 inch) squares of foil.  Place 1/8th of vegetable mixture in the center of each foil square. Top each mound of vegetables with a salmon fillet, then cover with the remaining vegetable mixture.  Spoon 2 Tablespoons of the hot broth over each portion; drizzle with 1 Tablespoon of the wine and 1 teaspoon of the oil.  Sprinkle each with the basil, ginger, salt, and pepper; top with a lemon slice.
4.  To close the packets, bring the 2 opposite long sides of the foil up to meet in the center; fold the edges over twice to make a tight seal.  Double fold the open sides to seal the packets.  Place the packets on a baking sheet and bake just until the salmon is opaque in the center.  About 15 minutes.  To serve, carefully open the packets, avoiding the steam that is released; slide the fish and vegetables onto plates.  Serve drizzled with any juices.

I did not use leeks and I don't have a steamer basket.  I just steamed the veggies in a sauce pan with an inch of water, covered.  Helpful hint: I lay out everything, ready, so that it makes it a lot easier and faster to put together.

Everyone have a GREAT weekend!

Before:

After:

Before & After : Bench and Train

Before, Master Bedroom Bench hardware:

(I drilled too many holes, messed up, tried to glue, it was a disaster.)

After:

(So 1 year later I decided to fix it.  I scraped, sanded, and repainted before putting the new hardware on)

At Home: $8

Before:

(I found this train at a garage sale and thought it was SO cute.)

After:

(I thought it would be cute and more personalized to paint it for our nephew's birthday, which isn't until November... Hey, I am on top of things)

Before and After: Landing.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

BEFORE:

AFTER:

New Lamp from Pier One = $50

Zebra Fabric = $40

Not the best re-upholstering job = $50

All in 24 hours time!

Recipe Friday, snacks.

I know it has been forever.  I haven't really had anything to post about and no exciting ideas!  But I would like to share 2 really easy, completely opposite, yummy snack recipes.

#1 Fresh Salsa compliments of Ms. Paula Dean (She calls it Salsa on the fly!)

3 Large ripe tomatoes diced

1 small onion, chopped (yellow or white, I use yellow)

1 small green bell pepper (seeds and veins removed) minced

1/2 Cup chopped green chilies, with juice (4 oz. can)

1 clove garlic, minced

2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 Tablespoon olive oil

salt

And when I saw her make this on TV she added 1 avocado, diced

It is delish.  I serve it with tortilla chips or on top of some tacos.  You have to know it is good since I recommend it because I am a salsa, pico de gallo connoisseur.

#2 Sweet Grapes

1 bag of green grapes

Wash in bowl , drain the grapes but make sure they are still wet, do not dry them off.

Pour 1 packet of Sugar-Free Fat-Free strawberry jello powder over the grapes and toss.

They look like they have red powder on them.  They are so good and a really healthy, sweet, easy snack.  It would be perfect for a Halloween Party too because they kind of look like eye balls! HA 

Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. Stay cool!