Sunny Day Hike turned...Storm!

We had planned an impromptu day hike paying no mind,
of course, 

to a little thing like...

The weather!

  

At some point up the mountain I leaned over to Samuel and gently suggested we turn back.  However my husband was of the mindset that the weather could only be better the higher up we went.

Does that make sense to anyone?

  

But look at this face.

Who could deny her a potentially mud-soaked adventure?

  

We adored the scenery...

  

  

Looking good Elmer!

 

When we felt the raindrops we knew it was time to turn back.

Some resisted...

But there was no denying it...rain!

So beautiful!

 

Is that really my daughter? 
It can't be!
She's almost as tall as me!

  

With some coaxing (i.e. threatening), Ava made her way back...

  

As luck would have it, there was a small break in the rain and a perfect trail that begged to be explored...

  

Well, that's easy for the rest of us to say.  

Samuel 4-wheeled the boys up!

  

Heaven!

  

Alright, enough's enough.

  

Time to head for drier places...

Lemon Drop Cupcakes

While I love to bake from scratch,

I'm also a huge fan of prepared mixes. 

Sometimes the price is right and time is short,

making for the perfect opportunity to

get creative with something in a box!

Lemon Drop Cupcakes

Serves 24

Ingredients

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1 tsp. lemon zest

1tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Simple Lemon Syrup*

Whipped Lemon Frosting*

*Recipe follows...

Directions

Prepare cake mix as directed, adding the zest and lemon juice to the batter.  

Bake as desired, making a layered cake, a 9x13 sheet pan cake, or cupcakes.

Cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack if making layers or cupcakes.  If making a sheet cake, cool within the pan.

Using a spoon, spread the simple syrup over the top of the cakes, letting it soak in.

After 5 minutes, top with the prepared whipped frosting and serve immediately.

Refrigerate leftovers, to prevent the whipped frosting from wilting.

Simple Lemon Syrup

Ingredients

1/2 c. water

1 c. sugar

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

Directions

Pour the water and sugar into a saucepan over medium-high heat until it comes to a boil.  Do not stir.

Add the zest and juice, stirring to combine, and lower heat to low-medium allowing for the syrup to simmer and reduce.

After 5 minutes or so, the syrup should be reduced to the point where it is thicker in consistency (will coat a spoon).  Remove from heat and use as directed.

Whipped Lemon Frosting

Ingredients

1 oz. tub of light cool whip

3 prepared vanilla pudding snack cups or 

1 instant vanilla pudding mix prepared as directed for a pudding pie, reserving 1/2 for another use.

1 tsp. lemon zest

1 tsp. cooled lemon simple syrup

Directions

Combine all of the ingredients and refrigerate until ready to frost!

Top with powdered sugar and...enjoy!

Chocolate Ganache

Who doesn't love chocolate?  

This fabulous-and super easy!-recipe adapted from Alton Brown makes for an elegant presentation when paired with cupcakes and cakes.

Chocolate Ganache

Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes


Ingredients
3 tablespoons corn syrup
6 ounces heavy cream
12 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate, chopped into small pieces
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

In a small saucepan combine the corn syrup and heavy cream. 


Bring to a simmer and add the chocolate. 


Stir until smooth. 


Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract.


Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet.


If coating a cake, place cake on the rack and gently pour the ganache over the cake.  Use a spatula to spread as needed.  Allow 1 hour to set.


If preparing cupcakes, dip the tops of each cake into the ganache and set on the rack to set.

Greek Pita Bread

I can't describe how delicious these are! 

Aside from cutting them in triangles and serving them alongside traditional Greek fare,

my favorite way to use them is as a basis for mini-pizzas. 

400 degrees for 4-6 minutes and...

perfection!

Greek Pita Bread 

Serves 6 
Adapted from Food.com

Ingredients 

1 envelope of dry yeast
2 teaspoons of salt
1 tablespoon sugar

4 cups white all-purpose white flour

1 1/2 cups water

 1/2 tablespoon olive oil

Directions 

Combine the yeast and sugar in a small bowl, add 1/2 cup of the warm water and let it stand for 10 minutes to proof and ferment it.

Dissolve the salt in the remaining warm water.

Put the flour in a large mixing bowl, making a well in the middle and put the dissolved yeast and salt water into it.

With your hands, blend it into a dough.

You may need a bit more or less water depending on your flour.

Knead the dough in the bowl with your fists for 10-15 minutes or until it is smooth.

Pour the oil over the dough and knead it again until the oil is absorbed.

Cover the dough in the bowl with a towel and set it in a draft free area to rise to double it's bulk (1-2 hours), then punch it down and knead it again for a few minutes.

[Note:  If you're short on time, set dough-as prepared above-in a 200 degree oven with the door propped open for 15-20 minutes.  The dough should rise quickly, allowing you to proceed with the recipe.]

Preheat your oven to 350°F.

Cut pieces of dough, egg size or larger, depending on the size of the pita desired, shape them into balls with your hands and roll them out over a lightly floured board or pastry cloth to 1/4 inch thickness.  Try not to overwork the dough.

Set 2 or 3 pitas on a lightly oiled cookie sheet and bake on the lower rack for 2 to 3 minutes each side. 

Pitas should be white and soft with several toasted spots.

Wrap the baked pitas in a clean towel until they are cool, then store them in plastic bags to prevent them from drying out.  

When you are ready to use them, re-heat for 30-seconds in the microwave.  For crispy pitas, spray PAM into a shallow skillet and toast for a minute or so on each side, until golden brown.

Serve immediately to prevent them from drying out.

Nutrition Facts (1 pita): 

334 calories; 3.1 fat grams  

 

 

Super-Special-Totally-Impromptu Sleepover

We love new babies, and because Samuel has five brothers and sisters, all grown, it seems like someone is always expecting.  

A fun tradition we began years ago with his brother Joe and his family is to take each others kids when labor sets in.  

It's a blessing to have someone there for you when you need it most, and the kids so look forward to that super-special-totally-impromptu sleepover that could happen at any moment!

As much as I love the tradition, 

this momma is perfectly content with her brood of five, 

and won't need to make anymore last-minute drop-offs on our way to the hospital...

at least I hope!

The kids feel jipped for sure, but they can rest easy!

  

With the birth of Noah Edwin Elmer, their newest cousin, 

Jacob and Luke made it over later in the week for a sleepover with lot's of scrabbling around 

while their mom and dad settled in with their new baby.

  

A favorite destination:

The Park!

  

Luke couldn't keep his eyes off the playground!

  

Dad holding on to Gabriel, who soon will be running around with the rest of the bunch!

  

Is there really only two adults for all these kids?!?

My favorite part of the day was seeing Gabriel react to the swings. 

He loves it when Samuel tosses him into the air, so I thought for sure he'd get a great kick out of the swings.

  

Not so!  

He made a crazy nervous gurgling sound the whole time and was so relieved when I ended the ride!

  

For the rest, the swings were a breeze!
And so was our time with Jacob and Luke.
They are so much fun to have around, and Samuel, Owen, and Gabriel
thoroughly enjoyed having two more boys in the house
to shift the balance of power to 5-4.

Now that they're gone, things are back to normal, 

and the girls and I are once again enjoying the majority!

 

Where There Are Scotchmallows...There Is Love!

Love is in the air!

There are...

  

...valentines to be made...

  

 ...and decadent cookies to bake!

  

 There are faces to smear with pink nail polish...wait...

What?!?

  

 There are pounds and pounds of candy being consumed...

perhaps none more delicious than fifteen-yes, count them, 

fifteen beautiful, beautiful Scotchmallows!

  

I just may cry! 

 Yes, you know you hit a home run...

  

 We dined casually at Plutos and all I have to say is, 

"Where have you been all my life?"

This salad was HUGE and every bite was scrumptious!

Heart garlands are hung, courtesy of...Samuel!

  

The table is set... 

  

...and there are smiles... 

  

...all...

  

...around!

  

 Three-cheese pizzas are baked...

in the shape of-what else?

Hearts!

  And yet, sadly...

  

All good things must come to an end!

Boo!
 

Nine Years And Counting...

Happy Anniversary!

On February 9th, 2010 Samuel and I will celebrate nine years of marriage.  Like all couples we have experienced ups and, yes, even downs, but we are stronger for it and I am just as in love now as I was all those years ago!

If you know us well, 

you will not be surprised that our mini-getaway to the wine country, 

the Napa Valley,

centered around-what else?

Food! 

  

Our first stop was the Oxbow Public Market, the "go-to" spot to pick up fantastic gourmet items like these beauties from Kara's Cupcakes.  

  

 We opted for Organic Three Twins Ice Cream, because if it's organic it's fat-free, right?  Well, several extra fat grams is still cheaper than their $3,333.33 sundae, which is totally worth it if you call ahead for the cellist to perform!  Ha!

  

After some sightseeing and shopping we hit our new favorite restaurant, Neela's!  It's Indian cuisine, which is completely new to me, and I absolutely fell in love with it!

  

 The next day we headed north to St. Helena, California to visit the Culinary Institute of America (C.I.A.), where we had reservations for a cooking demo.

  

 I was in hog heaven and loved every minute of this experience!

  

 We learned how to make Italian Spinach & Ricotta Tortellini Soup with Meatballs.

  The highlight was seeing fresh pasta being made and seeing it stretch from a tiny ball of dough to strands and strands of long, thin, beautiful pasta.

  

You'll have to take my word for it, this soup was delish!  

I'll be sure and post the recipe on my food blog soon!

 

The views from the C.I.A. are stunning, or maybe I'm just biased because of the lovely "scenery"!

  

A moment I'm not proud of:

Plucking a "souvenir", a gorgeous lemon from the garden!

  

At the Greystone Restaurant we sat at the bar and watched the countless dishes being prepared at lightening speed by the talented chefs!

  

We had the good fortune of arriving as they debuted a stunning dessert sampler complete with a Lemon Curd Tart, Vanilla Panna Cotta, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream in an Almond Lace Cone, a Dried Fruit Tart, and...

...a decadent Chocolate Mousse covered in Dark Chocolate Ganache with an edible gold leaf!

  

 As you can imagine...

  

...we loved every bite!

  

 To round out the afternoon we stopped at the Castello de Amarosa, a stunning 13th century castle boasting, of all things, a torture chamber!

Be forewarned, the tours are pricey! 

 We opted to tour the open area on the first level instead.

  

Before heading home, we stopped at one final destination: 

V. Sattui Winery.

They have the most amazing deli and fine foods shop.  After sampling freshly made dark chocolate, artichoke & lemon cream cheese, and honey-dijon dip, we opted for the fresh tomato, basil, and mozzarella pannini, gnocchi in a velvety tomato sauce, and an assortment of olives, fresh mozzarella, and sun-dried tomatoes.

It was heaven on a plate, and the company was 4-star as well.  

I love my sweetheart, and it wasn't quite nine years ago that we picniced at this same winery.  We were newlyweds then, and I was 7 months pregnant with Isabella.  So much has changed, and yet so much has stayed the same.

I love you sweetheart!