How a Month Goes By!

Yesterday I realized that a month had gone by since my last post! I realized a few other things as well....1) Winter Sucks! - I have been sick may more than I prefer to be and I am actually getting sick of snow days..I know - everyone is- Let's just be glad that spring is coming soon! Keep wearing your bright colors folks! Here is an update on what's been going on over hear in the last month!

I was sick...on a weekend...useless! 

THEN...we celebrated my nephews christening! This is baby number 4- Jacob Allen...you should all know some things about Jacob Allen (aka Jake the Snake):

                           1. He is as cuddly as a teddy bear

                           2. He so sweet that he just smiles and laughs at you when you talk to him it's SO cute

                           3. He's huge! 

So my assignment for the christening was to make a fruit tree...not really my forte but I was in for the challenge...my naturally inquisitive and daring boyfriend wanted to do one too...his was made of meat, cheese, and whisky....he called it a "man tree"....I don't know 

After the christening I figured out how to make these guys.....

These are Cherry Walnut Muffins that my mom used to make for Christmas. After 3 failed tries I made a gluten-free version and was totally stoked! They were gone quickly!

NEXT!

I had the awesome opportunity to make a birthday cake for my sister's friend who has a little boy allergic to soy...I used beet powder for the first time to dye the Power Ranger red! 

THEN
My good friends Chrissy and Geoff celebrated their first wedding anniversary! Chrissy's mom asked me to bring over to treats for them to celebrate with. She also asked me to bring them some gluten/dairy free chicken pot pies- they JUST had a baby at Christmas time...Cadence is a peanut...the exact opposite of Jacob. She looks just like her dad and is sweet as pie!

Congratulations Chrissy and Geoff!!!

Since Chrissy and Geoff both are gluten and dairy free everything I sent to them was too...

 Chocolate Cupcakes with Fluffy White Frosting

Gluten/Dairy Free Chicken Pot Pies...I've been making these in mass quantities lately for my niece and mom who both have allergies.

Phil thought it would be hilarious if we made the crust on one of them look like Yoda...

 We ate this little peanut one for dinner...

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts....these things are actually gram's recipe. She made them and gave some to Phil.. They smelled so good that I just needed some for myself so I tweaked it and made a batch of gluten/dairy free ones...they were a hit! Even Gram liked them!!

And Finally...

Valentine's Day is and has always been one of my favorite days. Honestly, what could be bad about a day dedicated to eating chocolate, making paper hearts, and telling people how much they rock! This day has extra special meaning for my now because it is the day Phil and I had our first date. We didn't mean to plan it for Valentine's Day...we actually had planned on the 7th but when he showed up I got a phone call and had to leave! haha...I stood him up! Anyways, we rescheduled for the 14th. I brought him Hershey's Hugs because it was Valentine's Day- but I ate them before he had the chance...classy right? 

He's been talking a lot about cookie cakes lately so I took the hint and made him one...

The pink frosting is dyed with beet powder...that was only a little too! It looks incredible with a lot in it!

Whew! That was a long one! More to come in the next few days! Happy Winter! 

Congratulations Laura and John!!

I grew up in a very small town called Belchertown. A great name for a relatively inconspicuous little place, Belchertown was named for a political family in Massachusetts. It was originally called "Cold Spring." In addition  to its unusual name, Belchertown is pretty neat. When I was growing up we graduated high school with the same kids we went to preschool with. We all knew probably more about each other than we wanted to and we bounced around who we were friends with by the year. It was in this sleepy little town in the Pioneer Valley that I made some very close friends. Yesterday, one of my closest friends became the first of us to have a little munchkin! This post and baking is for Laura, John, and their new little girl Amelia Noel...Congratulations!!

Dear new little girly,

I am so happy to hear that you have finally arrived! Since we heard about you we have been talking about what  kind of fruit you resemble- I am so glad that you now resemble a little bitty person instead. You should know that your parents are amazing people. I have known your mommy for a very long time and have always been impressed with how incredibly caring and able she is. If you ever need anything- even a way to get to the moon- I am sure that she will find a way to get you there. I can't wait to meet you in person! Even more, I can't wait to see what you are like when you are an old lady like your mom. You should know a few things about this woman you have been spending so much time with for the last 9 months...For instance, she once saran wrapped someone's car in the middle of the night. She is not afraid to be seen in public wearing a chicken hat. She also is not afraid to be seen (or not seen) helping anyone who needs it and she doesn't shy away from a challenge (that means she's ready for whatever you have to offer). And, if she is anything like she was in college, she doesn't need to sleep a lot so don't worry about keeping her up- she's ready for it! Welcome to the world!!

                                           Love, Sarah

         

           

Amelia Noel's pink cherry walnut muffins...

 

Happy Birthday Mike!!!

Mike's Red Velvet Birthday Cake 

(scroll to bottom for recipe and substitutions)

Happy Birthday to my first big brother! Mike has been around since I was...12?? He could probably tell a lot of embarrassing stories about me from those fabulous awkward years (which I now get to witness in my students daily and I finally understand how weird I truly was in school).

Mike and I share a few interests:

1) The Harry Potter book and movie series- I distinctly remember him waiting for hours in line before the first movie came out and watching him knock over children and old women alike to get the best seats- for me of course because it was my 14th birthday.

2) History- We are both history teachers and I've called and pestered him for his sage advice a number of times. I also use many of his materials in my classroom- he'll always be at least 5 years more knowledgeable than I will be.

3) Life. Mike is an old man at heart and is already at the stage of development where he likes to give advice to younger generations. I've secretly always liked this. It's nice to hear from someone who was adopted (and when I say adopted I mean that figuratively, my sister did NOT marry our adoptive brother) into our family from the outside but has been around long enough to really see how things work.

4) Cake...Mike likes cake. Mike specifically likes this red velvet cake- at least I think he does. He always says he does. Mike if you've been lying to me for years, I'm sorry!!!

Here is Mike's red velvet birthday cake with cream cheese frosting....it also happens to be 100% gluten and dairy free (except for the cream cheese frosting). SURPRISE to all of the people who just unknowingly ate it!!

Happy 32nd Birthday!!!

Blood Red- nothing like 2 bottles of food coloring to make you hungry!!

Frosting. Pre-decorations

I would like to point out that there are no in-between shots of the plain baked cake. That is because my wonderful boyfriend thought it would be a great idea to take a bite right out of the side of the cake.....I was too mad at him to document...Sorry Mike!!

This looks like cat food BUT it's not! This is the tiny cake that I made for my niece who cannot have the cream cheese frosting.

 

This isn't a great picture, but I really love it. 

Happy Birthday to the big brother I never even asked for!

To Make This Cake:

Paula Deen's Red Velvet Cake Recipe- HERE

Substitutions:
- Cake flour with Cup4Cup all purpose flour from William Sonoma.
- Butter with Margarine...my favorite are Vegan Sticks Buttery Spread
- Butter Milk with soy milk that has a couple drops of lemon juice in it. I put about 1/2 tsp for 1 cup...the lemon causes the milk to curdle- even soy milk! It's actually kind of neat!