Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

Monday, February 13, 2012

Culinary Capers Ingredient of the Week: Cherries


{ Technically, Robin and I made this last week. 
But I'm blogging about it this week. }

Cherry-Vanilla Layer Cake

I've been wanting to bake a cake with my buddy Robin. When I ran across this little beauty on Pinterest, I thought it would be perfect for us. I liked the bold colors, and I knew that Robin liked to "pipe". 

The cake recipe called for 2 seven-inch baking pans. Which apparently don't exist. I suggested that we use 1 eight-inch pan and 1 six-inch pan as an alternative. (Seemed mathematically feasible...) We kept a close eye on our layers as they baked, and were successful in not under-cooking or burning either. 

 The icing recipe called for 1 pound of butter, which grossed us out. But we made it anyway. And it still grossed us out. We both agreed that the cake would be better with a more moderate icing. Robin thinks cream cheese, I think basic butter-cream with less butter.   

The "from scratch" cherry cake batter was over-the-top flavorful. It called for a whole jar of maraschino cherries (finely chopped) and 1/2 cup of maraschino cherry juice. It also called for 2 teaspoons of almond extract (yum). We liked it!


{ lessons learned }

1. Sometimes imitation vanilla is better.
2. The little layer is not supposed to be taller than the big layer.
3. Friends like Robin are awesome! (Actually I didn't learn that one, 'cause I already knew it.)

{ quote of the day }

Robin: Wow. That was involved.


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

NYE 2012

No sparkly New Year's Eve outfit this year. I ended up wearing basically the same thing I wore to the winter solstice party, but with my beloved cropped denim jacket, and boots instead of ballet flats. Josh and I drove to a neighboring town for Blake & Salina's 2nd annual New Year's Eve party! It was so fun. They are amazing people. Here are some pics I stole from Blake's FB album.


Me with the lovely hostess.


Josh having a good chuckle. 


Hanging out in the kitchen.


Love me some Andrea.


The elusive boots of my dreams are making a cameo appearance in this photo.

My New Year's resolution is to eat more Tex-Mex. Just kidding, I don't really have any. My only intention is to "go where the spirit takes me", as my good ol' father-in-law would say. Happy 2012!!! :)