Baking Up a Storm

After my mini meltdown a few days ago, I decided to kick myself in the butt and dive back into life.

Here are a few of my baking projects:




Totally yummy chocolate chip cookies. These babies are HUGE!!








I had to try out a recipe for chocolate whipped cream frosting. It is an awesome topper for rich chocolate cupcakes!










If you watch any of the numerous cupcake themed shows on television, I'm sure you've noticed the key lime coconut cupcake trend. I scoured the internet looking for the perfect recipe, and ended up combining three.







And finally...






My FIRST official birthday cake order for Seriously Sweet! I am stoked!!


Have a happy weekend!


Jessie

More Posts to Come...I Promise.

Here is a sneak peek of what I have been up to this past week.








I am busy making sample goodies for my new business venture, so I can take photos for my menu flyer.

The only problem is that I have to eat what I've made. I can feel my jeans getting tighter already;)

Jessie

A Little Bit of Magic...(A Lot of Spray Paint and Some New Knobs)

Remember Me?





This ugly, yet sturdy and functional, table was going to be put in the dumpster. Well we couldn't have that now, could we?


Ta da!



A few cans of Valspar Pistachio spray paint (which I ought to warn you looks nothing like the light and pretty spring green on the cap),



and some Pottery Barn knobs...




And this little girl LOVES her new bedside table!


Here's the cost rundown:

Table FREE!!!
Spray Paint $7.96
Knobs $15.90 (w/ free shipping...oh yeah!)
Labor FREE (because I made my husband do it)

Total $23.86


Have a great weekend!

Jessie

New Year's Resolutions 2011

This year I have decided to make a list of things I would like to accomplish in 2011. They aren't really resolutions, but goals (probably the same, but resoutions and I never stick together for long). By blogging about these "goals", I will be held accountable (or at least that's the plan).

Here goes....



1. Start my own baking business, taking advantage of Michigan's new Cottage Food Law.





These are a few of my latest creations. They turned out pretty well.



2. Become a homeowner. We are desperately looking for our first house. Then I can blog about all of our home improvements;)



3. Take vitamins and supplements. I have NEVER taken vitamins! Can you believe it? A paranoid hypochondriac like me, not taking advantage of this easy way to stay healthy. I am going to follow Dr. Oz's suggestions for the 4 vitamins and supplements every woman needs. (When I actaully get to the store and buy them.)



4. Become a better listener. This is hugely important to me.



5. Pray every day. I sometimes get so caught up in my own life, that I forget to thank the Lord for everything I have.


6. Turn the television off for at least an hour in the evenings and read. I love to read, and I want to make sure that my children learn the value of a good book.




That's only a fraction of the things I have written down over the past few weeks. But I don't want to bore you with all of them;)


What are some of your resoutions or goals for 2011?


Jessie

Christmas Craziness

These are a few of the pictures I took on Christmas. As you can tell I definitely need help in the photography department. Maybe someday I will read my camera manual;)


As I have ZERO attention span today, I am not including any photo narration, or a long dialogue (phew!).












>

















I hope everyone had a truly blessed Christmas.


Jessie

Pizza and a Future Project

Last night we had pizza for dinner. I thought I would try and be all Pioneer Womanesque and give you a little tutorial. BTW, my hubby and kiddos would so rather eat homemade pizza than delivery:)







First, I mix up the sauce (yes, I even make my own sauce).

- 1 6oz can of tomato paste
- 6oz lukewarm water (or 1 6oz tomato paste can filled with lukewarm water)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder

These measurements are just an approximation, as I am one of those annoying people who just dump things in until they look/taste right.

Once you have everything in a bowl, whisk it up and let it set out for about an hour, or until the flavors have time to mesh.



Now the fun (not so fun) part! The crust.

I use Jay's Signature Pizza Crust recipe from allrecipes.com (I tried to post the link, but was unable due to a SLOW computer).





First I proof (let the yeast set in very warm water for 10 minutes with a little sugar) the yeast in the bowl of my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. It will look bubbly, which means that the yeast is active.





Next, I add the flour. I like to add 3 cups, then attach the dough hook to my mixer and start er up.





After about a minute it will mix up into a sticky mess. I slowly add more flour at this point.






Add flour until the dough pulls away from the side of the bowl, and is not sticking any longer. Like in the above picture.

At this point I continue to let the mixer knead the dough for about 3 or 4 more minutes, adding a tiny bit more flour if the dough still wants to stick.


The next step is to grease a medium size bowl with olive oil. I like to use A LOT, or else the dough sticks the bowl. Transfer the dough from the mixer bowl to the greased bowl, and flip it over a few times to make sure the whole ball of dough is covered in oil. Cover the bowl with a clean towel or a loose piece of plastc wrap, and set it in a warm place to rise. (I turn my oven on and set it on top of the stove.)








After about an hour, the dough will be doubled in size.







Punch it down and form it into a tight ball.

Now, grease your pizza pan (I use a sheet cake pan) with olive oil.








Place dough on the pan.








Spread the dough evenly over the entire surface. This part really stinks, because the dough is elastic and sticky, and wants to pull away from the edge, so be patient.

This will result in a thick, soft crust!

I return the pan to the top of the stove and let it set for another twenty minutes(uncovered).


At this point you may want to crank the oven up to 425 degrees, which is what it will need to bake at.






Meanwhile, I chop my veggies and fry up my sausage.






After the dough has risen a tad more on the pan, spread the sauce onto the crust, top with a pound of mozzarella, and add whatever toppings you desire.

Pop that yummy sucker into the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until nice and golden and bubbly.


Viola!!!







Delicious homemade pizza! Free of preservatives (if you use organic pepperoni and sausage), lower in saturated fats and much tastier than delivery.




Now...A sneek peek at an upcoming project.



My husband scored this bedside table from a customer who wanted it thrown away. Can you believe it?!!! It is made of SOLID wood (at least the back and sides of the drawers) and is very sturdy. I think a certain little girl will love it in her bedroom. But first it needs a little TLC (perhaps a new coat of paint...spring green, or maybe lavender?). You'll have to wait and see.


Jessie

Meatloaf

Yesterday afternoon my son got off the bus and came running through the door, stripping off his coat and snowpants, dropping his backpack right smack in the middle of the mudroom floor (to be tripped over by the next sorry soul to come through the door), wanting to know "What's for dinner?"

I answered, "Meatloaf."

The look of horror on that child's face was priceless. "Meatloaf is bisgusting," he whined. (and no that is not a typo, he said "bisgusting")

I replied, "Oh well. That's what I'm making, so that's what you're eating."

But, after the words left my mouth, I remembered something. I remembered being nine, and thinking meatloaf was indeed "bisgusting". I also remembered thinking that when I grew up and had my own kids, I would never make them eat meatloaf. What is it about meatloaf anyway? Kids hate it! You even say the word "meatloaf" around a kid between the ages of 2 and 20, and it elicits dirty looks and gagging noises.

So, as I continued making dinner, which consisted of another chilhood fave, the dreaded PEAS, I started thinking about everything I used to say I would and would not do when I grew up.

Like, I used to say that I was going to leave the "awful" town I am from, and move to California, Malibu, to be precise, and write soap operas. Don't ask me why I thought soap opera writers lived in Malibu.

I was also going to marry a doctor, not a carpenter like my dad (whom I love dearly and provided well for us while we were growing up).

I was never going to be a stay at home mom! I hated to cook or bake, or anything domestic.

And finally I was never going to dress my kids in clothes from Kmart!!

Well guess what...

I live the next town over from my hometown. My husband is a carpenter. For three years I stayed home with my son, before going back to work VERY part-time (at my dad's construction company, where my handsome hubby works). I LOVE to bake and cook, and prefer it to almost anything. And my kids have clothes from, shhhh....Kmart.

And I wouldn't trade any of it for a life in Malibu with a doctor husband.

I got all of that from a meatloaf.




Jessie