Easter

Sea World

Gettin' Ready

Just booked our hotel room for another California family vacation. Last year in March we went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This year, we're heading south to San Diego to visit Shamu and his friends. I hope Shamu doesn't eat anyone this time.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Hhhmmm...Let's See...

This video was taken November 23, 2009. Right before Madi's 2nd birthday.

Dessert of the Week: Rose Lemon Meringue Pie

Madison enjoying freshly made meringue!

Recipe Coming Soon!

Pie Crust

Here's a great tutorial from Food Network about pie crusts!

How to Make Pie Crust

Discomfort sets in...

Here I am only 6 weeks and a few days pregnant, and discomfort has set in. It's tough to be pregnant, while a 2 year old runs my life. My uterus is uncomfortable, and I look like I'm 4 months pregnant. I have some crazy bloating!

Another reason for all the discomfort is that I'm applying for civil services jobs, because for the first time in 2 years, there are openings! Unbelievable. What timing! I'm waiting to hear from the City of Torrance, and I'll be applying for the City of Lawndale this week. It all leaves me stratching my head and wondering what kind of plan does God have for me. For us.

On top of all this, "my" car had an electrical system failure on Saturday, and so we're down one car. Sheesh. What else is going to go wrong??

Dessert of the Week: Rose Apple Pie

Ingredients for Crust:

2 2/3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup pure vegetable oil
5 Tblspn cold water

Ingredients for Filling:

1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
6 large apples
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
dash of salt
2 Tblspn butter/margarine

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425.

Combine flour and salt with a fork. Mix in oil using the fork. Mix until dry ingredients are combined and make small balls. Add the water one tablespoon at a time, and continue mixing with fork. The water will help the dough to unstick from the sides and make a ball. Divide dough into 2 even sized balls. Place one dough ball between 2 sheets of wax paper dusted with flour. Roll into large round circle. Place into round glass pie dish. Roll second dough ball out.

Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a bowl. Peel apples and slice into thin slices (1/8ths). Coat apples with dry mixture. Place apples in the pie crust. Cut your butter and place on apple mixture. Cover the apples with second rolled dough. To seal the dough, put water between the layers and pinch them together. Poke holes in crust, or cut slits to allow air to escape. Cover with tin foil with hole cut in middle, so that crust does not burn.

Bake at 425 for 40 minutes. Remove tin and bake an additional 10 minutes for crust to brown. Enjoy with the scoop of vanilla ice cream with your loved ones.

Buzz Lightyear

Picture Time!

I'm biased, she's my daughter, but she is the most gorgeous kid!!

You Complete Me!

Gluten-Free Popular Brands

Chex
Hormel

Gluten-Free Bread

I borrowed from work a brand new Zojirushi® Breadmaker this weekend. It can be purchased at Crate & Barrel. I made gluten-free bread with it, and according to my Celiac brother-in-law and nephew it is the best gluten-free bread they've had.

Ingredients (per Home Bakery Mini recipes):

3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
1 Tbsp Honey
1 2/3 cups Brown Rice Flour
1/4 cup Corn Starch
2 Tbsp Potato Starch
1/2 tsp Salt
1 1/2 tsp Xanthan Gum
1 tsp Active Dry Yeast

Directions (for Zojirushi® Breadmaker):

Add the ingredients into the Baking Pan in the order listed. Then select the "Basic Bread Regular" course by using the Mode Select key. Make sure the yeast does not touch any liquid and to sprinkle it on the center of the flour.

Dessert of the Week: Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

8 ounces unsalted butter
11 ounces brown rice flour, approximately 2 cups
1 1/4 ounces cornstarch, approximately 1/4 cup
1/2-ounce tapioca flour, approximately 2 tablespoons
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 ounces sugar, approximately 1/4 cup
10 ounces light brown sugar, approximately 1 1/4 cups
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Once melted, pour into the bowl of a stand mixer.

In a medium bowl, sift together the rice flour, cornstarch, tapioca flour, xantham gum, salt and baking soda. Set aside.

Add both of the sugars to the bowl with the butter and using the paddle attachment, cream together on medium speed for 1 minute. Add the whole egg, egg yolk, milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Add the chocolate chips and stir to combine.

Chill the dough in the refrigerator until firm, approximately 1 hour. Shape the dough into 2-ounce balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes, rotating the pans after 7 minutes for even baking. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies on the pans for 2 minutes. Move the cookies to a wire rack and cool completely. Store cooked cookies in an airtight container.

I found all the "unusual" ingredients at Whole Foods.

All for one....

After the rain...

Dessert of the Week: Banana Papaya Muffins

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (4 ounces) butter
2 large eggs
1/2 cup mashed banana
1/2 cup mashed papaya
1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cream the sugar with the butter until it is a light yellow color. Add the eggs and beat until fluffy. Add the banana, papaya, macadamia nuts and raisins, and mix. Sift the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and ginger. Add to the banana papaya mixture. Fill lined muffin pans 3/4 full and bake for 25 minutes.

Dessert of the Week: Creamy Cheesecake

Ingredients

Crust:
1 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cupsugar
2 tablespoons butter, room temperature

Cheesecake:
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
3 eggs
1 cups sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup sour cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 275 degrees F.

Make the Crust: Stir all ingredients with fork and press into 8-inch springform pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Make the filling: Allow the cream cheese and eggs to sit out for about 1 hour before mixing. Mix the cream cheese and sugar in a mixer on low speed. Add the eggs 1 at a time; then add the vanilla and sour cream.

Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake at 275 degrees F for 90 minutes. Turn the oven off but do not open the oven door for 3 hours. Refrigerate for 8 hours before removing from the pan.

Dessert of the Week: Toasted Sesame Seed Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 cup Sesame Seed, Toasted (about 1 cup), divided
2 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate, melted

Directions

1. Mix flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside. Beat butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add sugar; beat until well blended, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually beat in flour mixture and 1/4 cup of the toasted sesame seed on low speed until well mixed.

2. Refrigerate dough 2 hours or until firm.

3. Preheat oven to 400°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in remaining 3/4 cup toasted sesame seed. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

4. Bake 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Drizzle cookies with melted chocolate. Let stand until chocolate is set.