I came across this book in the cookbook section of "Book People" downtown. I was confused because there was an Oxford Classic smashed between Betty Crocker and Rachel Ray. The title intrigued me, so I picked it up and turned to the first page. It starts by quoting a few verses from Proverbs 31. There is no better way to begin a book about household management, and this convinced me that the book would be something wonderful. The author goes on to write in a manner similar to Aristotle, beginning with a topic, expanding on it, and then moving on to another. Her topics include everything from the proper way for a wife to converse with others to the fact that early-risers have well-kept homes. I couldn't bring myself to buy it because it was full price at the store, but I'm definitely going to search for a cheaper used version.
In defense of the Book People's organizational system, the majority of the book is recipes, which I'm also excited to explore.
When I told Rachel about it, she shared Living a Beautiful Life with me, which I'm going to start reading. I'll let you know how it compares!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Holidays, fondant, and relatives.
Mom brought it to my attention that I failed to say anything about my fabulous Valentine's date at West of Paris. Well, in short, it was AMAZING! They serve the best "all around" meal I've had anywhere, from appetizer to desert. And to start the evening off, my hubbie brought me a beautiful bouquet of roses :) It was a lovely day.
I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but I baked a cake last week that I had intended to have ready for sometime around Valentine's. Well, Valentine's came and went, and I never found the time to finish it. I wanted to make a heart, and then use pink fondant icing to decorate it. I made the cake, froze it, and then made the fondant and kept it frozen until finally I got up the guts to have a go at it today. I made my own butter cream icing (which reminded me of the cakes mom made for our birthdays when we were little - it tasted the same, and made me miss her!) to coat the cake with, and made my own fondant out of mini marshmallows. The fondant wasn't turning out how I wanted it to, and while I was working with it today I figured out that it was too dry. So I added water and "viola!" it worked.
Here are some photos I took while I was "building" it:
With butter cream, waiting for fondant.
With fondant: There are quite a few bumps and tears,
which should be easier to avoid next time.
With some decorations. I'm not sure why I didn't hide the tear in
the corner with a heart, but oh well. I like how it turned out, though!
So I'm not ready for Ace of Cakes, but I'm pretty sure my
housemates will be pleased with tonight's desert!
I can't remember if I mentioned it or not, but I baked a cake last week that I had intended to have ready for sometime around Valentine's. Well, Valentine's came and went, and I never found the time to finish it. I wanted to make a heart, and then use pink fondant icing to decorate it. I made the cake, froze it, and then made the fondant and kept it frozen until finally I got up the guts to have a go at it today. I made my own butter cream icing (which reminded me of the cakes mom made for our birthdays when we were little - it tasted the same, and made me miss her!) to coat the cake with, and made my own fondant out of mini marshmallows. The fondant wasn't turning out how I wanted it to, and while I was working with it today I figured out that it was too dry. So I added water and "viola!" it worked.
Here are some photos I took while I was "building" it:
I used a 10" square pan and a 9" round one. I trimmed the 10" too much,
so I just added where it needed extra.
so I just added where it needed extra.
The butter cream turned out really yummy.
With butter cream, waiting for fondant.
With fondant: There are quite a few bumps and tears,
which should be easier to avoid next time.
With some decorations. I'm not sure why I didn't hide the tear in
the corner with a heart, but oh well. I like how it turned out, though!
So I'm not ready for Ace of Cakes, but I'm pretty sure my
housemates will be pleased with tonight's desert!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
My hands smell like meatloaf...
It is 7:15pm on Sunday. Dinner is in the oven (meatloaf and baked potatoes), I'm showered and rested (I took a 2 hour nap this afternoon), the house is quiet aside from the British accent of the man-on-tape reading C.S. Lewis' Perelandra to Tyler. My heart-shaped cake is in pieces in the freezer, awaiting icing and fondant. The laundry is done, the main floor of the house is clean (upstairs is tomorrow's project), and the majority of this month's issue of Credenda/Agenda has been read. It was a great weekend.
The other day while Jen and I were on our way to get coffee, she looked at me and said "Can you believe we're in Idaho?" I can't. I can't believe I'm in Idaho, after 2 years of hating Idaho for taking my man away from me. I can't believe I've been married for more than 8 months after waiting for him for 5 years. And yet, here I am - Happily married, living in Idaho.
So the big news of the week is that Bran and I have decided to go on the Atkins Diet! We've both gained weight since we got married, and as a result we're worn out most of the time and just lack energy. We're starting tomorrow, and are going to set our first goal for Randy's Wedding in June. Bran really wants to start lifting weights again, and I've been dying to get back into pilates, so we're going to just do it. I'm excited :)
The other day while Jen and I were on our way to get coffee, she looked at me and said "Can you believe we're in Idaho?" I can't. I can't believe I'm in Idaho, after 2 years of hating Idaho for taking my man away from me. I can't believe I've been married for more than 8 months after waiting for him for 5 years. And yet, here I am - Happily married, living in Idaho.
So the big news of the week is that Bran and I have decided to go on the Atkins Diet! We've both gained weight since we got married, and as a result we're worn out most of the time and just lack energy. We're starting tomorrow, and are going to set our first goal for Randy's Wedding in June. Bran really wants to start lifting weights again, and I've been dying to get back into pilates, so we're going to just do it. I'm excited :)
Saturday, February 14, 2009
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