Thursday Favorites: Answered Prayers

A month ago (almost to the exact date), I wrote a post about becoming a chef. I came to this fork in the road and I pretty much camped out there for the summer, not knowing what to do. Pacing back and forth, I couldn't choose between following a new dream or keep trying at an old one. Being the emotional eater that I am, I used that fork and ate my sorrows away, never wanting to really tackle the pickle at hand.
I hate pickles.

After much and much and much and much thought, I made a decision.

"I'm sorry Le Cordon Bleu, you are CHOPPED. Please pack up your utensils and go home."

You don't know how hard it was to make that decision. My heart (and my tummy, and my hubby's tummy) was saying, "Cook your heart out, Sunshine!" but My brain was saying different. I wanted to follow my dreams (SO BAD) but it's not in the cards right now... the debit cards more specifically.

So, I chose my first love, Teaching. It truly is my first passion and truth be told, I lost some of that last year. 

But this is a new year, and I want to reignite my passion again. I'm going to set this place on FI-YA! (not literally... I would never do that) I want to be a revolutionary... a force to be reckoned with....in the classroom and in the kitchen! WATCH OUT NOW!

I met my principal today and I could NOT have asked for a more supportive guy. Through and Through. And he gave me an iPad to boot! (It's for a reading program)

To make this situation that much better, he told me that if an opportunity arises where I can move back to Elementary mid-year, he would give me his blessing. My heart was about to jump out of my chest and hug him. I think if I cried like I wanted to, he would've thought I was a weirdo. I went home from our meeting feeling like I made the right decision.

I am now a Middle School English Language Development Teacher (Math, Study Skills, and Reading)

Now I can take out my teacher tools and magic dust....and clean out our guest room.

Cooking School will always be there for me.... I will put my Chef dream aside (not away).

Until then...when I'm not in my classroom, you can find me here....

Happy. Cooking in my Kitchen.

**Thank you to all my family and  friends (blog ones included) for all of your support through it all. Listening to me bitch and moan? Why are you still loving me?

 And to my patient and supportive Husband, where ever this road will take me... I want nothing more than you by my side...oh and can you drive? I hate driving. ***

How to Make a Hello Kitty Cake

I make cakes sometimes. Remember.

Every now and then, family and friends will ask me to make them a cake. I gladly say yes, because I really enjoy making them something that will make them smile. Buuut, then I start panicking a little bit...ok ok... A LOT a bit! I want it to be great so I start to plan, prep, and freak the heck out! Anxiety starts to creep onto my back and rides me like a sorority girl on a mechanical bull. It'll whisper all kinds of things that make me worry.

Your cake will stick to the pan. Nobody is going to eat it. Someone will find Sonic's hair in the fondant. You'll run out of time and everyone will throw tomatoes in your face. You're weird.

When I actually get to making the cake... I commit full force and ignore everything in life including hunger pangs and bladder alarms. I'm  in the ZONE and I LOVE IT!

This week's challenge was to make a Hello Kitty Cake for my friend Linette's graduation party. My creative juices activated! (That sounds gross, Joanna)

Marshmallow Fondant

Ingredients:
16 oz. bag of mini marshmallows (get the good stuff!)
2 lbs bag of powdered sugar

1 cup crisco

3 Tbs of water
extra powdered sugar for dusting
extra crisco for hands

If you have a mixer with a dough hook, it is best to use it. Not only is it easier, it is less messy. If you do not have a dough hook, use your hands and mix the ingredients in a bowl. Just be warned... this will be MESSY!

Also, it's best to dust powdered sugar on your countertop before you put the mixture on it. This will prevent sticking.

When everything looks combined, pour onto the counter. Be sure to scrape EVERYTHING from the bowl til the very last crisco shmear. 

It's best to make this the night before. Leaving it on the counter is fine, but if you will be making this days ahead, put it in the fridge. Just be sure to plastic wrap it tight!



The Cake

Linette requested Marble, so I made a box of cake. Thanks Duncan Hines. I put it in the fridge to cool completely and harden just a bit. This will help you carve it easier. I printed Hello Kitty's picture straight off the internets and used it as a template.

YAY for cake scraps! They went straight into this belly ::points to muffin top belly::

I also cut out a piece of cardboard to fit the cake exactly (you shouldn't really see it) so that I can move the cake around.



Then, I topped it with a simple Chocolate Cream Cheese filling and stacked level 2 right on top!

   

I stuck it back in the fridge for about an hour and applied a regular buttercream frosting as a crumb coat. A crumb coat will help the fondant stick to the cake.

Microwave your fondant for about 20 seconds. Make sure it isn't melty, but it is firm enough to hold together, yet soft enough to roll out. It should be pliable. Roll out to about 1/8 of an inch or so.

I bought some rings that go around my roller to help get the perfect thickness. I highly recommend them. Roll it out enough to cover the cake...and then some. It should be overlapping quite a bit. Pat down and mold fondant to the cake with your hand. Cut the excess with a pizza cutter and pat the edges clean.



Now, I must apologize because I was so much in my cake zone that I stopped taking pictures. But, in a nutshell... I colored some fondant and rolled the nose and bow. I used black icing to pipe the eyes and whiskers.

Hubby asked why she doesn't have a mouth...It's because she speaks... from her heart. ::tear:: gag!

Then, I got crazy and made another box of cake, rolled out more fondant, and attempted a body. This is what I came up with... graduation Lei and all.

This cake-gift took me 10 hours to make. I had fun and wish that I could've kept it for myself. 

My anxiety subsided when I presented the cake at the party. It was a hit. Everyone thought it was amazing ::blush:: and some even said it tasted yummy. I'd like to think I did pretty darn well.

This always hurts a bit...

My birthday is coming up and I hope someone will make me a cake. I don't care if it looks nice, I just want to feel like someone took the time to make me something sweet and special. I like chocolate or Funfetti...in case you were wondering.

• If you could have your next birthday cake made...what design would it be?
• Favorite cake flavor?

Thursday Favorites: NOT Being on Time

 I was picked to be in a jury once and Mr. Growly Bear Judge made this very clear on the first day:
If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late, and if you're late, don't bother coming.

You would think after he barked these orders no one would be late, but leave it to Ms. Ditzy Mcditzyface to come in late the next morning with a full Starbucks Frap in her hand. Ummm... "Earth to STUPID FACE! You're STUPID!"

  

Although I keep to his advice in my professional life, in my personal life, its a whole different story. I'm late 80% of the time. It's ALWAYS one of those things where I have MORE than enough time to get ready, yet dilly dallying gets the best of me and somehow, someway, the stars align to make me LATE. I smudge my eyeliner, Sonic throws up on the carpet, I hit every red light, it's Old People Day and everyone is driving slow.... see... the stars make me late.



...via...

So, why is this my favorite then? I'm not talking about this kind of late...
I'm talking about PRESENTS! Stay with me now...It'll all make sense in a minute...or not.

Don't you just LOVE getting presents early or late? I guess I could've just opened this post with that.
WHOMP WHOMP...

Hubby's birthday was in February, but he got this birthday present from his amazing wife.... last week.

I don't know about you, but he doesn't look sad to me. I think the point of this story is... it's not always bad to be late. Right? It's like an extended birthday. He got the HP Touchpad which is like the Ipad but BETTER! Did I say that right, Hubby?

My birthday is on July 18th (YEAH!) at 4:23am (I'm just kidding, I have no idea what time I was born) but I got my present from my amazing husband....last week.

I. am. happy. It's never too early for birthday presents!!!

Now I understand many avid readers, btw I'm not an avid reader, HATE Kindles

**Ahem** Christine**Ahem** but I found it was appropriate for me. I don't tend to hold on to my paperback books very long, and if I do they collect dust under my bed. Sure, I'll still buy and keep pretty hardcovers of classic novels, but things like "How to Stop Being a Lazy Bunghole" isn't something I want chillin' on my shelves for my guests to see.

Now let's ::swoon:: together over cute Kindle covers!

Via Kate Spade



Via Kate Spade

Ashley...do you love yours?

Via ElizabethDavidDesigns on Etsy

  

Via momandmia on Etsy

 

Via SimbiosisbyJulia on Etsy

Did I mention my birthday is coming up?

• Are you more of an early bird or late bird?
• Kindle fan?
• Which one is your fav. case?

Red, White, and Blue in the Face

This weekend (and every other weekend) I do this thing where I let everything about myself go on rest mode. I sleep in, I don't do any hardcore cleaning, and I pretend that calories are some made-up lie that the devil created to make us unhappy. I eat to my little tummy's content...well... I eat until my little tummy is about to throw up my insides. ::le sigh::

I love food. I hate food. I love food. I hate food.

This weekend I over did it. I didn't think you could feel DRUNK off of food, but leave it to me to get NOM NOM WASTED! I saw, I ate, I conquered and now I feel like that little hussy doing the walk of shame home at 8 in the morning, hair a-frazzled, feeling regret, guilt, and like a food whore.

Here's what I remember before I blacked out from my self-induced food binge.

I am ashamed. (I didn't eat this all in one sitting, btw)

But the good thing about this thing we call life, is that we have more days that the Lord has blessed us with, to recoup and repent.

Here is what I do to make up for a food filled weekend:

1. Forgive myself and move on. Can't feel sorry for myself for too long or I will eat myself into a depression. No lie. I'm an emotional eater.

2. Plan for the days ahead. I sit down with my planner and stuff each day silly with fruits and vegetables and things that will make my body happy and healthy. I plan each meal to the very last morsel so I will be less likely to stray.

3. Workout. UGH! Boy do I hate working out when I feel guilty. I cried this morning when Jillian on the DVD yelled at me. I must work off the bad food vibes that I put in my body!

4. Load up on Green Monsters. Spinach is a super food that can help your body recover!

5. No punishment. I don't believe in self-abuse. I'm not going to deprive myself of anything. Eat in moderation. We all know exactly what we need to do to make our bodies strong and healthy. Do your best.

Let's hope for a healthy week. I hope I don't have a hangover.

• Tell me one thing you do to recover from eating WAY too much.
• Tell me one of your yummy guilty pleasures.

Thursday Favs: #Winning

~ I went shopping today for summer clothes (2 shorts, 2 tanks, 1 dress, and a partridge in a pear tree)  #winning

...Via Moo.com..

~ Had a yummy croissant club in beautiful Downtown Riverside with my favorite blogger friend. #winning


..Via..

 ~WON my first blog giveaway from Delighted Momma. Do you follow her blog? You really should, she has AWESOME stuff! Thanks Lindsay, can't wait to get my necklace!

Pair this with a plain Jane tank... #Winning... seriously...#Winning!

• What's one thing you loved about today?
• Anything that was #Winning?

Quick Fix Dinner: Lasagna Roll-Ups

Happy Wednesday! I hope your week is going well and if it's not...you're half way done! WHOO HOO!

I hate to make people jealous, but I'm on break and loving every minute of it! I know, you want to shoot all the teachers out there right now, but walk a mile in our uncomfortable high heel shoes and you'll be begging for a summer vacation, too! Am I right Fellow Teachers?

I've been getting a lot done in the house:
-laundry up the wahzoo...done.
-organize closet monster...killed it
-read to my hearts content...Bang-a-rang Peter!
-train for my next race... Hellz to the Yeeah
-sleep up a storm... get that umbrella ella ella A
Ahhhh! Feels nice.
**To all my friends close by, I do house calls for dinner. Hard day at work? Request a meal and I'll bring it to ya! :) Serious!**

Turns out that when you're on break, your lazy bone starts to grow a little bit. Instead of making complicated meals, I find myself making the easier kind...but still just as equally delicious. I have a month of break left so I still have time for some challenges.

Until then, I give you a dinner so easy and fun to make, that even a teacher who is on break and whose lazy bone prevents her from showering sometimes, can make, half awake from a 7 hour nap.

Project Wifey Wife Week #18-
Spinach Ricotta Roll Ups

Ingredients:
-pack of frozen spinach, thawed
-16 oz tub of part skim Ricotta Cheese
-1/2 Tbs of garlic salt
-pepper to taste
-your favorite pasta sauce
-10-12 lasagna noodles, cooked
-2-3 cups of Swiss cheese; shredded
-1 cup of breadcrumbs
-drizzle of olive oil

I used my FAVORITE German Bolognese mix that my Auntie Irene brought from Germany. Even though I was born in Germany and lived there most of my childhood, I do not speak a lick of it.

Thank God for pictures!

Moving right along.....

So organized and beautiful, no?

 Now I got-stah get my butt up and make dinner! Do you think I need to take a shower before Hubby gets home from work? I mean we're married now so he can't really leave me. Ok, I'll shower.

• What's the easiest dinner you can make? Link it to me!
• If you were on break, how would you spend your lazy days?