How to make Pasta and Peas, my father-in-law's recipe

Race Car Cake in the making.....

I'm working on the race car cake.  this one is giving me a run for my money.  I need to sculpt
it and it's not very easy.  My problem is that I want it to look very realistic.  Not sure if that's possible.  I will continue to work on it.  I was going to do all the accessories before hand, but I now know that some of these have to be done as you are decorating the cake.
Will be doing a video on it (of course!!)

Disco Ball Cake

Disco Ball Cake

Pictures of the Disco Ball Cake. It was a big hit and Jennifer loved it.

Baby shower cake

Here is the cake I was working on. I wasn't feeling well yesterday, so I had to finish it this morning. Once I got the fondant on the bottom tier, it was just a matter of decorating it. All the pieces were done, so I just had to decide where to put them. I hope you like it.

Cakes, cakes and more cakes....

I finished the disco ball for the top of the cake this morning.  I think it came out pretty good.  I love using the airbrush system.  As soon as I get a minute, I'm going to put a picture on here.  The shower cake has the two top tiers complete.  I'll do the bottom tier tomorrow morning.  Then the fun begins, putting all the decorations on it.  Everything, except the ribbon, will be homemade.  I hope to make a nice presentation.  Right now I have a pumpkin cake in the oven.  I cooked one of the sugar pumpkins and got 2lbs of pumpkin.  I put 2cups in the cake and hope to make a pumpkin pie.  Will get back to this later.

Day off and eating fish tacos....

We went to a Mexican restaurant for lunch.  Good food.  I had fish tacos.  Not as good as the ones I had at the Summer Shack at Mohegan Sun casino, but pretty good just the same.  I think that's my favorite kind of taco.  Anyway, there was a very small farm stand at the end of the parking lot.  We bought 7 "sugar pumpkins".  You can make pies with this kind.  I make very good pumpkin pies.  My granddaughter said, "I want a chocolate and pumpkin pie birthday cake".  If I have the time, I'm going to make one for her.  Anyway, it was good to have the day off.  I will keep everyone posted on the cakes.  Oh yea, it feels like fall here.  Looking forward to the upcoming holidays and this beautiful time of the year.

Sugar veil icing, one more technique to make cakes look fabulous!

I just found this technique while I was looking at my videos on You Tube.  This looks like a great product and you should see what they do with this dispenser.  I know this is for the serious cake decorator, but I might have to invest in it. 

Air brush kit

This a picture of my airbrush kit I just bought from Amazon. I'm very eager to use it. And I will post a picture of the results. I have a Sweet Sixteen Masquerade Cake in October. I think I will use it then.

pictures of fondant booties, teddy bears and daisies for baby shower cake

These are pictures of the fondant and gumpaste teddy bears, daisies and baby booties for a baby shower cake. The first pair of booties I made, I let them dry before putting the ribbon laces in. Well, when I tried to put them in and the booties were hard, they broke. I was able to put them back together and learned a lesson. The second two pairs, the ribbon went in when I was assembling the parts. Much better. I think the bears came out very cute. I found a video on You Tube that gave good step by step instructions. However, mine do not look anything like hers. At least I was able to get the technique down. I will post the cake when it's finished. I will also be doing a step by step video.

baby booties

These are the booties that I made for a shower cake. This is the first time I've made them. I will keep you posted on this cake project.

Disco Ball Birthday Cake request...

My granddaughter requested a Disco Ball Cake for her birthday. Here is the beginning of the project. I used two pound cake mixes, (yes, I used a mix for this part of the final presentation, I needed a firm cake and I like the pound cake mixes for this). As you can see, I put too much batter in the pans. I'll trim the tops when they cool, and put them in the freezer. I'll make a homemade 10 or 12 inch layer cake for the base. Follow me on this project. I'll put it on YouTube. Oh, I didn't use all the batter, it would have been way too much.

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Stuffed zucchini and a nice Jersey tomato salad...

Stuffed zucchini












Tomato salad, delish...

food network link...

this

Here is an easy link to the food network. Try it for great recipes, or follow the shows as they are televised.

Just click on "this"

food nextwork this morning....

I'm watching Aarti Party on the food network.  I'm telling you, she has some great recipes.  She is engaging and has a great personality.  Today she is making some very good food, chicken, salad, bread pudding, (who thought it was an Indian food). She does say there are not a lot of salads in India, instead they make yogurt with vegetables in it.  They do use many exotic spices and she has a container with smaller containers of a variety of spices.  Terrific.  It stays on the counter and the spices are constantly dipped into.  She talks plenty about Cardamon, I will be getting some on my next marketing trip.  I really like her style and her ease in the kitchen.  Congratulations Aarti on your success on a craft you obviously love.  I am going to print the recipes you are making today.

A nice gift....

This might be something that might come in handy for the student.

And the next food network star is...

Isn't it wonderful how people who love to cook can now get their own shows on TV.  I think the winner of the Next Food Network Star is really interesting and a great cook.  I'm looking forward to her use of the wonderful Indian spices.  I  use cumin and turmeric in a few special recipes and I would like to experiment with more creative uses of these and others.  (see my sweet potato fries video)
I was curious about her and found it exciting that she started as a blogger.  In my day, the only food shows were on WGBH.  And of course, Julia was the forerunner of this huge business that we are all exposed to everyday. And to think, something so basic to human life generates such an interest to so many.  Before all the cooking shows, I used to read my cook books all the time.  I found it very relaxing. Now I watch TV.  I belonged to a cook book club and got some good books from it.  I never pass up a cook book at a yard sale.  If it's a good one, I treasure it.  I have a small home economics text book from the early 1900's that was used in the Boston public schools.  I love it.  And the recipes are not that different from what we use today.  I find the cost of the meals especially fascinating.  Pennies.  (Yes it gives the cost, how to budget, how to take care of the home, etc)
Anyway, I will continue to watch the Food Network, look up the recipes that I want to try, learn new techniques in food preparation and prepare and enjoy good food.

Could it be that it's time for school already?  I didn't realize it was so quickly upon us until I was driving to work today and saw all the telltale signs.  The CVS flashing sign stated in big bright red letters, "Welcome Back Stonehill".  This is the local college and CVS is welcoming them back with open arms.  It's walking distance to the college.  Plenty of money to be made from the new and returning students.  As I continued my drive (it's only about 13 minutes), I passed the Ninety Nine restaurant.  I looked to see if they had joined CVS with a "welcome back" invitation.  No, just the banner across the front of the restaurant stating, "Red Sox win, Kids eat free".   Pretty good deal, although I haven't taken advantage of it.  But a good deal all the same.  Let's face it, you might as well throw your money in the street for as much as kids eat at this kind of restaurant.  Anyway, as I continued my ride, I came up to a set of lights at the entrance to the college.  Sure enough, the cars, many with out of state plates, were lined up at the light.  As I watched the cars enter the campus, I noticed two tired co-eds sitting on a stone wall with signs resting on their laps.  I could not see everything written on them, but I did see "Welcome" and "2014".  I guess they were the welcoming committee.  They looked tired and were resting after a busy day.

How wonderful for these young kids to experience college life.  Some will thrive, some will just make.  I'm sure that at a college like Stonehill, a private Catholic school, most will thrive. My own experience in Catholic schools was high expectations and no fooling around.  Although we all fooled around, when the nuns weren't looking.

Two cakes down and many more to go...

I made two cakes for the car cake. They are the bottom layers.  Oh, you would not believe how much research I will be doing to make this a spectacular cake.  I hope to make a video of the execution of the final product. 

The quintessential white layer cake...

My quest to find the quintessential white cake recipe continues.  Each time I find a new recipe, with a bit of a twist, I think, "is this the one?"
My best white/yellow cakes are my chiffon.  Aside from the chocolate, carrot, banana, pumpkin cakes that are delicious, I have yet to find a really good white cake.  And I know that I'm not the only one out there seeking the recipe.  Anyone out there up to the challenge of a perfect white cake recipe? 
I am getting ready to design a car cake for a 7 year old boy's birthday.  I will keep you apprised of my progress.  It will be a chocolate and white cake.  I've done some research and feel confident that I will succeed with a nice show piece.

I am busy designing a Sweet 16 masquerade three tiered cake.  It's for October, but I want to be sure I have everything in place well before the date.  I am going to invest in this airbrush system.  I already bought 5lbs of fondant.  I will need to buy purple fondant also.  Satin Ice makes this.  It will be purple, silver and some black ribbon.  I will definitely keep you posted on this endeavor.

Interesting story about the author.  He died before his books were published.  The lead female has also been chosen.  This book is one that I think I will read.  I want to see what all the excitement is about.

Recipe for oil and vinegar salad dressing...

Here is a very good recipe for dressing for the wonderful fresh greens and tomatoes that we are enjoying at this time of the year.
Get the Good Seasons carafe
put your favorite vinegar up to the v line
add one teaspoon each of salt (I use salt sense, not kosher, just plain salt) and garlic powder
Add water to the water line Shake
Add canola oil (don't use Olive oil, it will congeal) to the oil line.
This is a very good dressing without the sugar, chemicals or other ingredients that you find in dressings you buy.
Refrigerate and you will always have a good topping for your salads.

Facebook...

I've resumed my relationship with Facebook.  I'm still not sure if I like it.  There seems to be an awful lot of info there.  I mean, you can look at anybody's pictures even though you're not friends with them.  I was looking at my friends' friends and was able to click onto their info. Maybe I have to read these books!  I've put a link to my blog, maybe I will get more to read it.  I hope so.  I also hope you are visiting my You Tube videos.  Having alot of fun making them. 

Back to work...

While I was ironing my uniforms for work, I was thinking of the movies I love and have seen many times.  I was also making a plan to go through one storage bin a day.  I want to see what's in all those plastic holders.  Things I'm sure I've forgotten about.  The movies that came to mind immediately are, Hannah and her sisters, Radio Days, Jurassic Park, The Women, 1930's one, Four Seasons, I think that's the name of it with Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Halloween, Psycho, I did love the Ring, even though it was extremely scary.  Jaws, Dog Day afternoon.  There are some great lines in that one.  Of course the Godfather movies are always a good watch.
Anyway, I'm off to the market. Did you know I'm one of the original coupon queens?  I have a couple of good ones that I need to use before the expiration dates run out.
I put my blog on Facebook.  I hope it encourages others to come here.  I think there is some decent reading.  I would love to start a discussion on films that others love. 
Oh yea, my vacation is over and I go back to work today.  That's ok, you have to work to play.  Have a good day and I might stop back later.