Sunday, April 25, 2010

I love cake!

This weekend I felt like doing something crazy...I wanted to make a cake with fondant icing. I have always wanted to do this, ALWAYS. I have watched Duff and crew on Ace of Cakes long enough that I kinda get the process, but executing is always tough. I decided to make a 2-tier cake (go big or go home, right?) using a WASC(White Almond Sour Cream) cake, buttercream filling, and marshmallow fondant top. These are the recipes I used:

http://cakecentral.com/recipes/7445/the-original-wasc-cake-recipe

http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Buttercream-Icing

http://www.wilton.com/recipe/Rolled-Marshmallow-Fondant

So, I had to make the fondant (thanks to my mom for getting me that Kitchen Aid mixer years ago...this stuff is so sticky, I can't imagine kneading it by hand) and let it cool.

Photobucket

Then I made the cakes and they also had to cool. I did all of that on Saturday.

Photobucket

Saturday night I also had to make a run to Michaels because I needed to get some cake decorating gear. This cake was expensive, but now I can make one for a lot less money because I have the right tools/gadgets.

Photobucket

Sunday, around 5am and full of excitement, I woke up and decided to get to work. I made a batch of buttercream and leveled my cakes (each tier has 2 layers). I rolled out the fondant and luckily for me it went on smooth.

This is the first tier...Poor Kevin was forced to get out of bed at 6am to come check this out.

Photobucket

Tier 2 went on like a charm, I was so stoked!

Photobucket

I had to make another batch of fondant so that I could make different colors. I decided to do dots and a flower on top. This is the finished product...

Photobucket

Photobucket

This was so much fun! I will definitely do this again (hopefully next time for an occasion so I am not stuck with a huge cake). For the most part, I think Martha would be proud. ha! One thing she would not be proud about is the mess I made...check out the disaster!

Photobucket

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Garden Decor

Today at work I stopped by a co-worker's office (shout-out to Terrie) to talk about work stuff and I was admiring all of the neatest creations in her office made by her husband. He has major talent in metal crafting and she has the cutest plant stand and wall hangings in her office. I was going nuts over all of it and she gave me a super-cute butterfly! I thought it would be perfect in my garden. Isn't that so sweet of her?!? It made my day! Check it out...

Photobucket

Ok, so now I need a garden gnome...

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Two special garden visitors....

Tonight my friend Cheryl and I went to dinner (ok, we also stopped by Brewster's for a waffle cone), but first she took a tour of the garden! Saying "tour" is kind of silly...it's not like I have some huge farm!

Photobucket

In case you're wondering, Cheryl is not trying to steal a watermelon under her shirt...that is Mona Catherine (her baby girl due in 3 months). So glad that they both got to come check it out...they shared a strawberry.

Monday, April 19, 2010

So far, so good!

My seeds are coming up really nice, I could sit in my backyard for hours and just look at everything. So far my routine is to water every other day (unless we are blessed with rain) and use my organic plant food once a week during a watering session. My tomatoes are doing great and I can definitely see growth since I transplanted. Pretty much everything is coming up except my melons and carrots. I am going to let these seedlings get a little higher and I will thin them out. One of my favorite seedlings are my pole beans...precious!

Photobucket

Check out my corn rows! haha! :)

Photobucket

This bed is a total hodge podge of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, peppers, etc. so it is exciting because of the variety!

Photobucket

Another fun gardening milestone happened this weekend, I ate my first fruit/veggie from my garden...a STRAWBERRY! I was so giddy and proud! On Sunday, I gave one to Kevin. I have a feeling that those strawberries will never make it indoors...I think they will be my gardening snack. Big grin!

Photobucket

I kept Melina's son Andrew this weekend so that she could finish up her garden (and so I could spend time with him of course!), and when I took him back to her I was able to check out her garden. She will sure be opening a fruit stand soon...this sister went crazy and has about 10 topsy turvys! haha!

Photobucket

I can't wait to show everyone more progress. It's pretty neat to think this started as a crazy idea in January and that it may actually work. I can also vouch for the stress relief that gardening brings...I hope this is a hobby I continue to enjoy.

Oh, one other thing...Saturday morning I went to the Madison City Farmer's Market. It was small, but nice and I got a jar of homemade salsa and some home baked honey wheat bread. There wasn't much of a vegetable selection since it is early in the growing season, but I definitely plan to go back.

Is it bad that I am ready for next weekend already? Happy Monday to everyone!

Monday, April 12, 2010

Here we grow!

This weekend I planted my whole garden. I made a few revisions to the garden plan, but for the most part I was able to stick to my original idea. I wish I had some neat pictures to share, but all of my seeds are under the dirt, so there isn't much to see. I can't wait until my plants start to sprout so I can take pictures to post.

I found some organic plant food so I am going to use that once a week. It is a liquid concentrate that I can mix in my watering can and feed my plants. I need all the help I can get!

That is all I have for now, just wanted to make sure I documented my plant date of April 11th.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Happy Easter!

John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I spent the entire day outside. Not a traditional Easter holiday, but I enjoyed myself and got a lot accomplished. The weather has been beautiful and I just can't get enough of it! All of my hosta plants are coming out (I love hosta...give it some shade and it is impossible to kill).

Photobucket

My blueberry bush has cute little buds...

Photobucket

My plum tree also has little leaves and flowers...

Photobucket

I pushed mowed the backyard...that was a workout. Our starter is out in our riding lawnmower so while that is under repair we got a basic push mower...plus, I think we needed it in our backyard because it is much easier to maneuver around my raised garden beds. Who needs a gym membership when you have one of these bad boys? Oh, and this sucker is NOT self-propelled...it is truly a PUSH mower.

Photobucket

Today I planted my tomato, strawberries, and banana peppers in my Topsy Turvys. I tried to hang the plants on the shepherd's hooks but they were too heavy, so I had to go on Home Depot trip #2 to get brackets to hang on our fence posts. It turned out better actually because this will free up some room in my raised beds (ignore my freaky shadow).

Photobucket

I didn't want to waste the shepherd's hooks so I hung my basil, sweet basil, and lemon basil from them in the corner of the yard...Kevin will plant the rosemary nearby tomorrow. I guess this will be my herb corner.

Photobucket

Photobucket

My composting is going well too. I enjoy composting much more than I thought. We even started recycling (aren't we green?). It looks gross, but when I start planting it will be Heaven sent!

Photobucket

I planted a couple of tomato plants in the ground (yes I know...it's probably too early). If we get a frost, I will cover them with plastic and pray. I also put out my onion sets (red, yellow, and shallot).

Photobucket

Also, I went ahead and put up my bean trellis. I'll plant the beans in a couple of weeks.

Photobucket

Tonight for dinner we grilled kabobs and corn on the grill. I also roasted some veggies in the oven (eggplant, squash, and cauliflower) and made a lemon cake.

Photobucket

Photobucket

This is my sweaty, sexy hubby. He's been working hard today too!

Photobucket

Tomorrow I will finish up my information systems class with a presentation. I guess I better go get all of the dirt out from under my nails so I can look somewhat professional. By the looks of it, you'd never know I had a manicure yesterday.

Goodnight!

Accepting my weaknesses.

Gardening lesson learned #1 - Indoor seed germination is no talent of mine. Call me a gardening cheater, but my tomatoes, strawberries, and peppers will be purchased in plant form and transplanted in my garden. I'll still plant my seeds for everything else directly in the ground, but peat pots and seed starter will no longer be a spring purchase for our house. My friend Melina has had a lot of luck with her indoor seeds (she also purchased a grow lamp and that may be helping). Check out her plants...

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Now check out my plants...epic fail (insert Debbie Downer sound effect).

Photobucket

Photobucket

I knew going into this gardening experiment that I would have several defeats, but I am still excited about moving forward. Don't cry for me, I'll be ok. ha!