What I'm into...

I ADORE fancy cakes! Anything with chocolate mousse filling, or bavarian creme filling, smooth creamy icing, beautiful icing roses... yumm!!!! I ADORE wedding cakes, and colorful cakes with creative decorations. (I think after my wedding cake dissappointment, I'm scarred for life! I had a picture of a cake similar to this that I wanted for my wedding, and the baker flat out said No. Just that... NO! She said since my wedding was very formal- black and silver, this type of cake wouldn't work. Well, I wasn't the one paying for it, and she was a friend of my in-laws, so I felt like I couldn't be all bridezilla about it. Oh well, my cake was ok, too. But since then I am obsessed with cakes!

I read the Cakewrecks blog every single day! I watch my favorite Charm city bakers on tv almost every night on Ace of Cakes. I just love it! However, I do wonder if they pipe nitrous oxide through their air vents, everyone is so unbelievable mellow and sedate. I guess they must pour all their personality into their amazing cakes. It is strange, though. Here's a little video about it: http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/vivid-visionary/18408.html

I saw a show on another channel the other night, and talk about night and day difference from Ace of Cakes. Cake Boss has so much drama and emotion- it gives me a headache just to watch! I ask you, where would you rather work? Or maybe you like drama.



Now I want to go make a fancy cake! I think Heaven will definitely have cake, don't you?

15 minutes of fame....well, my apron, anyway!

My friend was on KUTV 2 news today with another old friend of mine from USU doing a cooking segment, and guess what she wore?

A Saucy Frock apron!!!!!!!!

My apron is famous!!!!!

http://connect2utah.com/content/recipes/story/?cid=72591

Goin to Disneyland!

Yep. That's right. My son is almost 9 and has never been to the Magical Kingdom before! (ask me how much guilt I feel about this! Oh, don't, never mind!) I remember going as a kid so many times- I still get shivers and warm fuzzies when I remember all my happy memories wearing my Minnie ears, riding the Pirate ride, feeling all...magical! But my son's life is about to change forever- we are actually going! It is going to be great, we're going with my whole family, and I am so excited!

But the best part of it is that we are going to be participating in their "Give a day of service, get a Disney day" program. This is where you do a service project through one of their approved affiliations, and you get a free day in the park!!! Since we're only going to be at Disneyland for one day, this is perfect! (Yes, I know... how can we only spend one day in the park? Well, we're going to Knotts Berry Farms the next day, and the beach the day after that, so there's no time! :( )

My son is sooo excited about doing the service project, though. In fact, I think he may be more excited about that than going to Disneyland. It warms my heart!

So, I'm off to buy fleece and quilting material to make blankets and quilts for our big "Day of Service Extravaganza" where we're all getting together to tie blankets and a quilt. The kids are going to color quilt squares and tie fleece blankets while the moms tie the big quilt. I think the kids are going to love doing this, and it will really get them in a "service" frame of mind. AND... they'll appreciate their day at Disney more because they worked hard to earn it!!!!

Yay Disney!!! Yay Service!!!!!!! Yay child labor!!!!!!

Imaginary friends, sleepless night, and solid foods

This post is random. Despite its randomness, though, there is a bit of calming normality to it- knowing that all you moms out there experience the same strangeness in your daily lives helps me to feel more normal.

Imaginary Friends: My son has several imaginary friends. He started out with one named Ethan ("because I don't want him to have the same name as me, but I want it to sound almost the same.") who is quite a dare-devil and who's mom lets him do whatever he wants, no matter how dangerous. I actually like Ethan- my son can live out his dreams through Ethan without landing in the hospital himself. Of course, Ethan never gets hurt.

Since Ethan there have been more and more added. I think there are about 20 or so right now, I've lost count. But apparently some do not get along with others, and they have wars. (Have I ever mentioned my son is obsessed with war? Kind of freaky, but he is convinced he is going to have to fight in a war someday. Ever since he found out his name means "protector", he is determined to protect others. Sweet, but scary, too.)

My son yelled to me from the bathroom the other day (which is where he spends much of his time, and where he holds most of his conversations with his mom, much to my frustration!) that his imaginary friends are starting Season 2 (you know, like television shows do?) and that he is going to let them have time off of fighting with their enemies until the end of the summer! Isn't that generous? He thought so!

Sleepless Night: I think my body got used to all those drugs that made me drowsy after my W.T. surgery because now that I am off them, I can't sleep! I couldn't get to sleep until 12:30 last night, and woke up at 4AM bright and wide awake. So much for getting sleep! I got up and made bran muffins, and now I am totally dragging! When my hubby asked me if I could do some things for him today, one look at me and he said "Woa! You're like the walking dead!" Ya... probably not something you should say to your wife when she's had so little sleep. I can't be held responsible for my actions!

Solid foods: Well, last night I made schnitzel and rottkohl (pork cutlets, pounded and lightly covered in bread crumbs, and browned in oil- with red cabbage in a sweet and tangy sauce. German and delicious!) The cabbage was soft, so no problem, but the schnitzel was harder to eat. Nevertheless, it tasted soooooo good to have solid food again, and my teeth were FINALLY not screaming out in pain with each bite, that I snarfed it down like I hadn't seen food in days! It was sooo delicious! I almost cried to know that I am on the mend and will NEVER have to have those nasty horrible wisdom teeth out ever again!!!!!

Well, that's all the randomness I have in me today. I'm going back to bed!

What? Another blog???

Yes. I have so much time I need to make another blog. Actually, I have so many people ask for my recipes that I finally decided to put them onto a blog. I still contribute (albeit sporadically) to my friend's recipe blog, but these will be mostly my own creations and things people ask for all the time.

So, here it is: Saucy Food for Saucy Cooks
there is only one recipe on there, but it's delicious!

Taking the initiative...

My son is learning how to take the initiative- getting ready for school on time, getting ready for bed at the right time, doing homework, etc. He is doing very well, overall.

The other morning I heard him wake up, get out of bed, get dressed, get himself breakfast- all before my husband's alarm went off! (I'm still in a drugged stupor due to my huge swollen cheeks and painful jaw, but I was aware of him doing all of this.)

I guess there are times when your kids just amaze you with what they are capable of doing. He's been coming home every day and making sure I have everything I need. He takes such good care of his "sick" mommy, and I just adore him! He even offered to stay home to take care of me! (Ok, this may have been more fueled by the fact he'd rather stay home with his sick mom than have to go to school.)

He's the best kid!

*Wisdom tooth recovery update: so far, no dry sockets, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Still huge cheeks, though- and very black and blue. Pain is slowly getting better too. I still can't eat anything I have to chew, and I can't open my mouth very wide. I made yummy homemade mac and cheese in the crock pot yesterday so my poor hubby wouldn't have to pick up dinner again, but I almost cried when I found I couldn't eat it. :( I ended up eating leftover refried beans (about a 1/4 cup's worth) for dinner. All my yogurt is gone and I ate the last of my pudding for breakfast (about 5 spoonfulls)but I'm too depressed about it all to find anything else soft enough to eat, and I don't trust myself to drive to the store as I'm still on pain meds and dizzy. Oh, and last night I got the sore throat that's been going around, so didn't get much sleep, either. Ya- sounds pretty pathetic, huh? Well, I AM getting better, just not as quickly as I'd like!

All I can say is Ow!!!!

Well, the wisdom teeth extraction went well, although the bottom ones were pretty tough to get out. My hubby said he could hear lots of drilling. My face is HUGE, although I've had ice on it nonstop since the surgery. The Dr. said my pain and swelling would be pretty bad because of all the work they had to do. Great!

I slept a few hours last night- sitting up, of course. Pretty entertaining, the dazed thoughts one can have when on Lortab and staring into the darkness of a quiet bedroom.

I thought I'd take this chance between pain meds to update you on my situation. But my Lortab is stardking to kickk in so I'llllllll go lay down nosw.

Who invented stupid snow globes anyway?

Who thought it was a good idea to put water in a glass globe and said- Hey! Let's sell these to people regardless of their clumsiness quotient for decorations in their home?

And why did someone who shall not be named purchase one of these said globes, knowing full well their clumsiness quotient far exceeds the national average?

And why did this person ignore that little thought in the back of her mind every year at Christmas time when she would get out said snow globe- (did I mention it is a very large snow globe?) that told her "someday you are going to drop this and regret it"?

And why did this person have to finally prove that little thought right today, shattering glass all over the table, dripping glittery water all over the floor, getting tiny bits of glass in her hands?

What? You think it was me? Why would you think that??? (ouch! This glass in my hands really hurts when I type!)

I'm in French Heaven- without the cigarettes and annoying french people, that is.

I did it! I was brave and tackled my first ever recipe from "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" by Julia Child! No, I am not going to start a blog about it and make something new every day- sheesh! Especially considering the meal last night took me over 3 hours to make! Ya...not gonna happen very often, that's for sure!

However, I surprised myself with my nervousness about the whole thing. I am not a nervous cook. I am actually quite brave in the kitchen, but for some reason, cooking something I had no idea how it was supposed to taste or look or smell...well, it kind of freaked me out!

I made Ratatouille and a delicious pork tenderloin in a garlic butter and vermouth sauce. (My son was home sick yesterday watching Ratatouille, so that gave me the idea.)

Holy million steps, Batman! Slice the eggplant, slice the zucchini, slice the green peppers, slice the onions, (yes, I said onions. I was brave there, too!), slice the tomatoes and skin them AND de-pulp them. Simmer for EVER- cook on the stove, then layer in a pan and cook again. Take out and baste in it's juices and cook again! Ok, I don't mean to turn you off to french cooking, but I wanted you to get the full idea of how involved this recipe was, and how daunting.

End result: Oh My Goodness!!!! I have never tasted anything so rich and flavorful and delicious as that Ratatouille! And it was healthy, too! The pork tenderloin was so tender and garlicky and delicious, too! (this one was not so healthy.) We were in French heaven last night! I will definitely cook that dish again and again!

Tonight I am going to attempt "Floating Island"- french onion soup with a large baked "crouton" smothered in melted and baked Gruyere cheese. Yummmmm.....

I love my new cook books!!!!

Goals... I may get around to making some...eventually.

Goals, goals, goals...

I'm not ready to tackle that yet.

In my defense, our family made 5 goals last year and accomplished 4 2/3, so that's pretty good, right? (the 2/3 being "make and follow a job chart". I made the job chart, and everyone pitched in more doing chores on the whole, but we never actually did put up the job chart and follow it.)

However, I am just not big on "big picture" goals. I like to take life one day at a time. If I look too far ahead in the future I get overwhelmed and despair. So, it's best that I not get too lofty in my goal-making.

But, I am not going to make goals today. I am going to focus on things I already do well(due to goals I made in the past and actually accomplished...eventually!). It might make me feel more encouraged to set some goals, who knows?!

Wisdom Teeth Extraction.... Anyone?

Yes. What better way is there to begin the new year than with a nice wisdom teeth extraction? I can't think of one, can you?

My attempt at getting them out for free failed miserably. Something about me having taken cold medicine before the blood test and them not liking that I had a cold in the first place. I tried not taking it the night before, but I couldn't breathe! Anyway, they are forbidden to re-do the blood test, so I'm on my own! Grrrrrr....

Anyone know a good oral surgeon? By good, I mean- someone who sneaks into your room in the middle of the night and does the entire surgery when you have no idea it's being done... oh, and leaves you money under your pillow after.

I'm open to referrals! PLEASE!!!! I'm just certain if I choose one myself he will have one eye, terrible breath, and enjoy inflicting pain. "Sedative? Nah! You won't need it!!! Mmmmwwwwaaaaaahaaaaahaaaaa"

Can you see I'm a little distressed? HELP!!!!!