What a fantastic week for Cheesecake!
Today is my husband's 34th birthday (Happy Birthday, Love!) and we celebrated in many, super-great ways - including this lovely treat:
http://sugarcrafter.net/2010/09/14/pumpkin-cheesecake/#more-4898
My oldest, Lauryl, and I set about making the cake yesterday afternoon. I decided to half the recipe (like my sister - http://shortcakessweettooth.blogspot.com/2010/09/fourteen-for-fall-recipe-2.html) but cheesecake experience told me to keep the FULL recipe for the crust. Good thing too - it was just enough :) Lauryl began putting together the batter ingredients while I finished up the crust and put it in the freezer to cool. As I helped Lauryl finish making the batter, I found myself curious about the amount of pumpkin and spices. Instinctively, I kept the pumpkin at full recipe amount as well as the cinnamon. With every other ingredient, we stayed true to the halving.
Let me just say that this is a winning cheesecake! It was thoroughly enjoyed by ALL of us. During the dessert-tasting, Brendan asked his Dad if he would rate the cheesecake as insanely, wicked, or extremely good (with insane being the best). Following Paul's lead, we all settled for the insane side of good. (Hmmm, we could get philosophical with that now couldn't we?! - but that is for another post).
This is a keeper! Oh, and we loved the caramel on it - as a side note, caramel topping (like you would purchase for ice cream) is a quick and easy way to 'caramelize' your desserts ... just fyi :)
Next week's pick: Pumpkin Scones with a double frosting!
02 October 2010
28 September 2010
Recipe for Week 1
I forgot to include the recipe yesterday in my post!
Here it is; definitely give it go, everyone - it's super tasty and fun to make :)
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/easy-caramel-apple-cake/
Here it is; definitely give it go, everyone - it's super tasty and fun to make :)
http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/easy-caramel-apple-cake/
27 September 2010
Fourteen for Fall, Week 1!
The first recipe, Easy Caramel Apple Cake, is made and the first bites have been eaten. The taste-testers - my children and husband - have entered their verdicts!
Brendan declares it a -34 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the best. WOW! I guess that's a compliment, in some sort of mathematical sense :) Aubry agreed with Brendan, although it was "at least a zero" in her terms; slightly less mathematically significant but I'll take it. Hubby and Lauryl chose non-verbal feedback; a second slice was quickly chosen and consumed by Paul while Lauryl took her time, savoring each bite, a trait that is commonly chosen by her when she wants the experience to last as long as possible.
All in all, I'd say that's a resounding 'yes' to this cake! My thoughts? Super moist, easy to make (as the recipe not-so-subtly implies), and made even easier by using caramel sauce pre-made for ice cream! (Yep, this was a busy weekend for me.)
On to Week 2: Pumpkin Cheesecake for my husband's 34th birthday this coming Saturday!
To Fall and all it's beautiful blessings!
Brendan declares it a -34 on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being the best. WOW! I guess that's a compliment, in some sort of mathematical sense :) Aubry agreed with Brendan, although it was "at least a zero" in her terms; slightly less mathematically significant but I'll take it. Hubby and Lauryl chose non-verbal feedback; a second slice was quickly chosen and consumed by Paul while Lauryl took her time, savoring each bite, a trait that is commonly chosen by her when she wants the experience to last as long as possible.
All in all, I'd say that's a resounding 'yes' to this cake! My thoughts? Super moist, easy to make (as the recipe not-so-subtly implies), and made even easier by using caramel sauce pre-made for ice cream! (Yep, this was a busy weekend for me.)
On to Week 2: Pumpkin Cheesecake for my husband's 34th birthday this coming Saturday!
To Fall and all it's beautiful blessings!
20 September 2010
I'm taking up the sister's Fall challenge: Fourteen for Fall! We're going to making one new, yummy Fall recipe each week - starting the week. First up: Easy Caramel Apple Cake.
Small group, work friends, children, hubby - look out! I'm going to be baking up a storm ;) One of my favorite things to do is spend time in my kitchen. Our wedding gift from my Mom was a red Kitchen Aid Mixer - oh my goodness, I'm in heaven. (Just ask my husband how much I've been using it!) And now my sis challenges me to take up a 'season of baking'. I'm so there!
To Fall! Stay posted :)
Small group, work friends, children, hubby - look out! I'm going to be baking up a storm ;) One of my favorite things to do is spend time in my kitchen. Our wedding gift from my Mom was a red Kitchen Aid Mixer - oh my goodness, I'm in heaven. (Just ask my husband how much I've been using it!) And now my sis challenges me to take up a 'season of baking'. I'm so there!
To Fall! Stay posted :)
15 August 2010
Start Now
I want to make real, lasting, impactful change in other's lives. I want to be able to combine my gifts, talents, knowledge, and personality into artwork. I want to be able to live in my strengths in every aspect of life.
I don't want to lose that dream.
Preventative Step 1:
My husband and I were dreaming about my ideal job on the way home from a southerly county last night. With some prodding (he's gifted in conversing), I began to explain my ideal 'job' (which wouldn't really feel like a job anymore then would it?!) ...
A proactive, working-alongside-you consultant to stressed leaders of children. Teachers. I want to be able to walk into their classroom, ask questions, dig into our one-to-one relationship, find out what is working and what is not, explore their passions and struggles in their classroom, offer influence and resources in my own strengths and experience, build something new together for their teaching experience, teach alongside them, tweak and replace, and ultimately - have fun again!
As I was loquaciously spilling the proverbial beans, I felt the energy inside again. You know what I'm talking about don't you?! It's the very same energy I had when I was creating a K-12 gifted program from scratch as a first year teacher. The energy I feel when I sit with my small group leader friends and create change where there was deadness. The energy I sense when, after listening intently and asking key questions, I share the clear path I see towards success for my best friend both personally and professionally.
"So what's the next step?", I sincerely ask my wonderful husband, who's been listening as well as he converses.
"Start now," he says.
All I could see were green flags everywhere.
I don't want to lose that dream.
Preventative Step 1:
My husband and I were dreaming about my ideal job on the way home from a southerly county last night. With some prodding (he's gifted in conversing), I began to explain my ideal 'job' (which wouldn't really feel like a job anymore then would it?!) ...
A proactive, working-alongside-you consultant to stressed leaders of children. Teachers. I want to be able to walk into their classroom, ask questions, dig into our one-to-one relationship, find out what is working and what is not, explore their passions and struggles in their classroom, offer influence and resources in my own strengths and experience, build something new together for their teaching experience, teach alongside them, tweak and replace, and ultimately - have fun again!
As I was loquaciously spilling the proverbial beans, I felt the energy inside again. You know what I'm talking about don't you?! It's the very same energy I had when I was creating a K-12 gifted program from scratch as a first year teacher. The energy I feel when I sit with my small group leader friends and create change where there was deadness. The energy I sense when, after listening intently and asking key questions, I share the clear path I see towards success for my best friend both personally and professionally.
"So what's the next step?", I sincerely ask my wonderful husband, who's been listening as well as he converses.
"Start now," he says.
All I could see were green flags everywhere.
22 July 2010
200 Miles
Life is training. Training is life.
This is not a new moniker. But I have new perspective about it today.
I just finished an astonishing book called, "Ultra Marathon Man" by Dean Karnazes. To say that he fully tests human frailty and limits would be minimal. This is a man who has run over 200 miles in one setting. He has run a marathon in Antarctica, to the South Pole. (Think about that for a minute!) He has run from the lowest point in the U.S. (Death Valley) to the highest point (Mt. Whitney) as a 135-mile footrace - see http://www.badwater.com/ - in temps in excess of 130 degrees.
This is extreme. This is a fire burning so deeply inside, nothing can stifle it.
This story is his strongest life. And it is incredibly inspiring to me to know that others hunger for a passionate life like I do. That undeniable inner "push and prod" that I just can't deny - it's my personal fire. Do I have the desire to run 200 miles in one setting? Let's just say, my 200 miles will have a look of it's own. Maybe it's in running. Maybe it's not. This I know: my strongest life will be passionately and purposefully discovering just what my 200 miles is.
And then acting on it.
This is not a new moniker. But I have new perspective about it today.
I just finished an astonishing book called, "Ultra Marathon Man" by Dean Karnazes. To say that he fully tests human frailty and limits would be minimal. This is a man who has run over 200 miles in one setting. He has run a marathon in Antarctica, to the South Pole. (Think about that for a minute!) He has run from the lowest point in the U.S. (Death Valley) to the highest point (Mt. Whitney) as a 135-mile footrace - see http://www.badwater.com/ - in temps in excess of 130 degrees.
This is extreme. This is a fire burning so deeply inside, nothing can stifle it.
This story is his strongest life. And it is incredibly inspiring to me to know that others hunger for a passionate life like I do. That undeniable inner "push and prod" that I just can't deny - it's my personal fire. Do I have the desire to run 200 miles in one setting? Let's just say, my 200 miles will have a look of it's own. Maybe it's in running. Maybe it's not. This I know: my strongest life will be passionately and purposefully discovering just what my 200 miles is.
And then acting on it.
08 July 2010
10 days ...
I don't think I realized it would take 10 days to be fully here. We are moved and settled, finally. It was long and hard and good and fun, all at once. And now there is peace.
I am peaceful knowing we have space with which to serve others and build relationships. I am peaceful knowing our children have room to grow together and in solitude. I am peaceful knowing my husband and I have our first home together. It is not ideal. But it is ours. And we have dreams to fulfill that will begin in this space. That is hope.
Today I read in Hosea, Psalms, and the book of Hebrew. The theme I saw was "Solid Food to Move Forward". I believe that my discipline to pursue friendship with God is the solid food I need in order to realize the dreams He gives me. That very same solid food gave me strength to get through a tough 10 days of transition. And my strongest life? It would be nothing without clarity of mind, heart, and spirit.
To solid food!
I am peaceful knowing we have space with which to serve others and build relationships. I am peaceful knowing our children have room to grow together and in solitude. I am peaceful knowing my husband and I have our first home together. It is not ideal. But it is ours. And we have dreams to fulfill that will begin in this space. That is hope.
Today I read in Hosea, Psalms, and the book of Hebrew. The theme I saw was "Solid Food to Move Forward". I believe that my discipline to pursue friendship with God is the solid food I need in order to realize the dreams He gives me. That very same solid food gave me strength to get through a tough 10 days of transition. And my strongest life? It would be nothing without clarity of mind, heart, and spirit.
To solid food!
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