Giveaway Winner

I had Chick-fil-A for the first time ever last night.  A chicken sandwich, a few nuggets and some waffle fries.  I inhaled it all so fast I had trouble breathing for hours after.  Sexy.  Moving on...  

The winner of my Milk Bar Compost Cookie Giveaway is... Gretchen!  

Mom, before you go jumping up and down, you're not the Gretchen I'm referring to, I'm referring to the Gretchen who left the following comment...

"you can pick your friends and you can pick your noise but you can't pick your friend's noise"

Wise words, Not Mom Gretchen (please email me to collect your winnings).  But do you mean nose or noise, I wonder?  

Thank you to everyone who entered, there will be more!!  Have happy weekends : )

Snack.

Here's a snack I'm eating right now.

(Isn't this the most exciting post ever??)

I wanted to eat this, but I didn't have the energy to turn on my oven, so I took a few rosemary crackers, spread some avocado on them, topped them with a bit of provolone cheese and zapped them in the microwave for 15 seconds.  

Also, I just joined Pinterest.  No seriously, don't all go running there at once, so far I've pinned one image.  

Give me some time, I'll get there.  

Momofuku Milk Bar Compost Cookie PLUS Giveaway!

Sometimes I get comments from readers saying, "I love your blog - you make me WANT to cook, but I don't."  It always makes me smile, to think that my little old blog might almost, sort of, just about inspire people to do something they're not used to doing.  Even if they're just thoughts for now.  So, in honor of those people, I decided to make a cookie from a box.  

AND, AND, AND, I'm going to give one of YOU that same boxed cookie mix!  

Have you ever heard of the Momofuku Milk Bar in New York?  I have never been, but I've heard from many people how amazing everything is there, especially their Compost Cookie.  So when I saw that it came in box form at Williams-Sonoma, I quickly bought it.  And quickly made it.  And even quicker devoured the sweet and salty treat.  

If you don't cook, or bake, you can handle making this cookie, my friends!  All you have to do is comment below to win your own box : )     

Giveaway Rules:

1. You must be an official follower of this blog to win.

2. Follow me on Twitter for an extra entry (comment below twice if you do).

3. Only open to residents of U.S. and Canada.

4. Winner will be chosen at random on Friday, March 30th, at 8am PST.

graham cracker crumbs and butter...

mama's helper...

butter, egg and sugar mix...

pounding chips...

dough...

massive balls of dough...

mmm...

By the way, if you DO bake regularly and want to try out the recipe from scratch, go to here.  

Yikes that's a lot of ingredients.  Tell me all about it please.  

Rich Chicken Stew

I know this sounds like a winter meal, but it was surprisingly light and refreshing.  Most likely because I found it on EatingWell.com - those bastards know how far just 1/4 cup of cream will go in a pot of stew.  Not sure why I called them bastards.  Anyway, here's the recipe.  I used boneless skinless chicken breast instead of thighs, and I opted for the quicker dutch oven stewing method over the crock pot.

*Come back tomorrow (if I get my act together) for a GIVEAWAY.  YAY.  

Guest Post on Happenstance

I wrote a springtime guest post over at one of my favorite blogs, Happenstance! 

Please go check it out here, and while you're there, stay awhile!  You won't be sorry.    

p.s. She's in Paris sans kids for a week, I'm not jealous, nope I'm not.  

Transformer Party

The 10-day celebration that was my son's 3rd birthday is finally over.  On Saturday, we hosted what was probably our first real birthday party, catered mostly to kids unlike his 1st and 2nd birthdays.  But who am I kidding, there was plenty of adult food, adult beverages and I even accidentally put a song on his playlist that featured the F bomb more than once.  Mom of the Year.  

  

We chose Transformer related colors of red, blue, yellow and black, and I tried to keep that consistent with the flowers, balloons, sweets and details - many of which were purchased at Etsy.  Here are some photos and links, if you care to see and you better...  

I found the banner at this lovely shop.  She will also customize it to include a name.  I bought plain goodie bags at Party City and stuck these decals on each to make them festive.  Yes, we had a fire, because the high was still only 60 degrees and yes, I know you live in the Midwest and it was warmer there.    

Straws for the bar in my Redneck Wine Glasses.  

A candy station, because what's a child's party without the mothers hating you for sending their kids home all jacked up on sugar?  Swedish Fish and Red Vines, Lemon Jelly Beans, Black Rock Candy and Blue M&M's, customized with Jack's face on them.  The goodie bags came from this darling shop, which I kept ordering more from as the guest list grew.    

A sweets table.  Because candy is not enough.  

I used a Martha recipe for the Whoopie Pies.  They were tasty, but did not come out looking like all the pictures of Whoopie Pies I see on the Internet.  WTF?  Why can't I be perfect like all of you??      

I used this recipe for the frosting, because I can't say no to marshmallow fluff.

Regular old blue jello served in shot glasses.  It never occurred to me to put vodka in half of them, but a few guests took it upon themselves to get creative with that.  

After making a Transformer Cake for his actual birthday, I was spent.  I can't do it all, people, I can't!  But Sweet Lady Jane can... 

Seven layers of yellow butter cake with French chocolate buttercream, I die.  I also still have a massive brick of leftovers in my kitchen if anyone wants to come over...

As I mentioned earlier, there was adult food.  A LOT, OF, ADULT, FOOD.  

No seriously, a lot.  If you're from the LA area, than you know how amazing Roscoe's, Bay Cities and Lemonade are.  So we decided on a spread of fried chicken with smothered potatoes and greens, a variety of Italian party subs with a make-your-own meatball sub station, and assorted fresh, seasonal salads.  The kids ate mac & cheese, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, pigs in a blanket and fruit.  I swear they ate fruit.   

By the by, have you ever seen a vat so big of mac & cheese?  5 boxes of the good old Kraft kind.  

And finally, a little favor dropped in each goodie bag - with the wrong date because we postponed the party - purchased here.  Check out the shop for all sorts of chocolate lollipops.  

Success!  Jack is already planning his 4th, p.s.  He has no idea what "a year away" means yet. 

Garlic, Oregano and Orange Vinaigrette

I almost always try out a recipe from Bon Appetit the day it arrives in the mail.  Everything sounds so original and exciting, which effectively breaks up the mundaneness that can become dinner.  Last night I tried out this recipe but made it my own by substituting orange for lemon and anchovy paste for anchovies (1/2 tsp).  It was awesome.  Aggressive and bright.  Did you just hear me?  Aggressive and bright, I said, about food.  I'm going to apply for one of those food writing jobs.  The ones that pay.    

Instead of just spooning it on regular old lettuce, I decided to toss it with some carrots and then roast them.  

I saved a little of the dressing to spoon over some sliced avocado.  

Served the warm carrots on top, another spoonful of the dressing and some flaked sea salt.  

SO GOOD.

Redneck Wine Glasses

I've checked out this week.  I'm sorry.  Mother in town, mother-in-law in town, postponed birthday party madness, life, life, life.  I'm sorry again.  I promise, GOOD THINGS come to those who wait.  Like, super good things that will make you want to nibble on your computer screen.  But for now I leave you with these Redneck Wine Glasses my mom bought us from a Palm Desert art show.  Aren't they awesome?  Great for wine or beer or a cocktail or to hold flowers or these.  Love that they have a lid.  Redneck roadie?  Find them on etsy here. 

Spring!

Happy Springtime!  

Let's enjoy some springy vegetables, in between cake and mini whoopie pies (coming soon).  

Leeks Vinaigrette

Stuffed Artichokes with a Dijon Dip

Spring Vegetable Salad

Orecchiette with Pea Pesto

Transformer Red Velvet Cake

If you've been following my blog from the very beginning, then you know that every year on my son's birthday I obsess over his birthday cake.  It all began with a Rainbow which was followed by Brobee and, even though it wasn't my son's birthday, let's not forget Wubbzy.  It brings me joy and pride and usually a meltdown or two.  Not a toddler meltdown, a mommy meltdown, but would a cake even taste good if it wasn't baked with sweat and tears??  Probably.  Probably better.  

Age 3 is all about Transformers for Jack.  And rather than stress myself beyond belief trying to turn a cake into a robot, I thought I'd keep it simple this year.  Simple recipe and simple design...        

Red velvet cake and blue frosting to replicate the colors of OPTIMUS PRIME.  Felt like shouting there.

I made my own edible cake topper, similar to ones seen here and here.  Very simple to do, as long as you're okay with TMJ-inducing "I'm-concentrating-too-hard" panic attacks.  I like to use candy melts because they come in so many colors, but you could also melt white chocolate and dye it yourself.  I always prefer the double broiler melting method (place a heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water, making sure liquid is not touching bottom of bowl, and stir constantly)...  

I found a Transformer logo online and printed it out, then placed clear parchment paper on top and taped both pieces to my cutting board.  I placed my melted candy in a plastic bag and cut just a TINY piece of the end off. The smaller the better!  Start by outlining your image and then use the back of a spoon to help you to smooth out the middle.  

I melted some white chocolate to fill in the spots that needed it, and so that it could be peeled off as one, cohesive piece once it hardened.  

Make sure you let it harden completely, and then place atop your cake!  Oops, mine was a little big.  Oops, it didn't matter.  I thought the mini M&M's were a nice touch for a child's cake, until Jack kept going over when no one was looking and eating them.  

Oh well, it was his birthday after all.  And I kept eating them too.

Have a happy weekend getting drunk on dyed beer!!  

Individual Birthday Cake

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY LITTLE MAN!!

Thank you for allowing me to shout because Jackson James turns 3 today!  Last night we kicked off the celebration with my mom and sister (Gigi and Auntie Hannah) at this wonderful restaurant and came home to share this wonderfully tiny cake!  You bake it in an empty can!  Exclamation!!

When I came across the idea/recipe on this superb blog, I couldn't wait to make it.  And that's the genius in it... you don't have to wait.  It takes 5 minutes to prep, less than 30 to bake, you're certain to have all the ingredients in your pantry and can you say, PERFECT little portion??  I'm telling you, this will change my life.  Any occasion will become a Mini Cake Night occasion.

For reals people, go to The Baker Chick for this idea and countless others.  New obsession.   

tiny...

I cut into 3 layers...

...eating the domed top.  I may have moaned a little...

This candle is bigger than the cake...

*If you care to read, here's a little update of Jack on my mommy blog.