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Sunday, June 24, 2012

We Made A Cake

We got invited to a dinner group thing and we made a yummy cake to go along with it! So we made
 a white almond cake with lemon custard filling and candied lemons on top.

Andrew made his custard-

6 egg yolks
  • 2 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons butter

  • In a large saucepan or double boiler combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Mix well. Beat the egg yolks and water together, then whisk into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and butter. Cover with plastic wrap until completely cooled
  • I made the cake using 2 box cakes *it's just easier* and let them cool in the freezer for a few hours/overnight. 
    Then I candied some lemons- using 3/4 cup water and 3/4 cup of sugar. I boiled the sugar water first and added 2 thinly sliced lemons and boiled those until they were translucent about 7 mins or so. I let them cool on this rack for a few hours. They tasted exactly like really lemony gummy bears. There was also a little left over syrup infused with lemon so we saved it in a little jar for some other use. 
    I made butter cream almond frosting using our bodacious kitchen-aid (of course we brought it!) using 2 cups of sweet cream unsalted butter 1 tsp or so of almond extract and 3 cups of powdered sugar and a pinch of salt, then proceeded to whip it to death. 
    After layering the cakes with the custard in the middle and frosting the whole thing, decorating the cake was anything but utterly pleasant! The lemons on the cake add a lovely appeal and challenge to those willing to try and eat the sour sweets. 






Friday, June 15, 2012

Cinnamon Vanilla Pancakes From Scratch



Learning to properly feed husbands who go out all day doing what AJ does can be challenging. Especially when wives are trying to cut back on carbs and sugar because of various widening of certain posterior areas. But if you're in the mood for some good comfort food this is it! 

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten lightly
1 ½ cups milk
2 tbsp butter, melted

2 tbsp cinnamon
1/8 cup vanilla 


Mix dry then wet ingredients and pour onto hot pan.....The batter is thick and fluffy, and quite tasty! 


The Vanilla-


I strongly suggest making you're own, it's a bit pricier but totally worth it and it lasts a long time. For AJ's birthday last year I got fresh vanilla beans (36) for around 20 bucks on Ebay. They were gooey and not dried out and gross like the store bought ones, plus you get them for way cheaper. Then I got a big bottle of rum with a Kraken on it and we put about 15 beans in it way back in October, it's seriously the best vanilla we own.  We even carted a mason jar of it here to TN!

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Singapore Noodles













3/4lb fresh Singapore noodles or in my case rice noodles.
 2oz Laksa paste or other Thai curry paste 
1 large can coconut cream 2 cups 
mixed chopped vegetables- I used a cup of stir fry mix and chopped bok choy and green onions 
handful fresh basil leaves 
Start cooking noodles *these took at least 15 mins to cook*
Meanwhile heat 2 tablespoons of peanut or other vegetable oil in a large saucepan over high heat. Add curry paste and stir fry for 30 seconds. Quickly add coconut cream and 2 cups boiling water. Bring to the boil and add vegetables. Simmer for 2 minutes or until vegetables are cooked to your liking. To serve, divide noodles between 3 bowls. Pour over soup and vegetables and top with basil leaves.


It was a bit spicy but really good! 

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Buttermilk German Pancakes




Since Andrew has been working I have been doing all the cooking which I prefer because I use less butter and sugar, as well as make more healthy nutrition savvy choices. Although Andrew's food is downright delicious and my favorite, I seriously cannot afford to pack away anymore post marriage pounds.

But I can still eat a little goodness now and then!

I try and get up before AJ goes to work so he can have a good amount of energy to start the day.

German pancakes

Easy peasy!

I halved the recipe since it's just the two of us.

4 Tbs. Butter
1 Cups Flour
1 Cup Butter Milk
1/2 tsp. Salt
6 Eggs

Vanilla-Lots. 


Melt butter first in 9X13 pan glass is preferable but you can make anything work


Mix up batter by whipping eggs until thin then adding the rest of the ingredients. 


Pour batter in pan after the butter is all melty-keep a keen eye on that butter, the minute you get distracted it'll burn....trust me. 


bake for about 15-20 mins in 425 oven until peaked and brown. 


We used some apple butter made by some local Amish, SO GOOOOD.