Monday, September 24, 2007


-AUTUMN SPICE CAKE-

1/2 cup butter (1 stick) softened

1 cup shortening

1 cup dark brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/4 cups buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon Dutch-processed cocoa

2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves




Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line two 9-inch cake pans with

parchment paper and lightly butter. Beat butter, shortening

and sugars together until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a

time until smooth and light. Stir the buttermilk and vanilla

together. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda,

and spices together in a large bowl. Alternately stir the flour

mixture and buttermilk, in thirds, into the beaten butter.

Blend well with each addition. Pour batter into the pans and

bake until center tests clean-about 35 minutes. Cool cakes

in the pans on a rack for 20 minutes, unmold, and cool com

pletely before frosting.


And for a super yummy frosting, check out this link.




Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Stuff that is just too good to keep to myself

A dear friend was asking me the other day about where find my fabrics? Aside from the local JoAnn Fabrics, I love to shop online. And I aways, always look for good deals on my favorite fabrics from Ebay. Listed below are some of my favorite online sources for fabric:

(Eye-Candy Galore)

(especially love the polka dots )


( A favorite )

(baby and children)

(baby)


Tuesday, September 04, 2007

a little bit of this, a little bit of that..

Sometimes we go through peaks and valleys, times where we love to cook, and then we are really into scrapbooking, and then we take a break to sew or knit or photography, or insert your hobby of choice here, and then we take a break and get the house mega-organized. Peaks and valleys in different interests.

Apparantly after all creativity being dormant for 9 months the Lord has awoken my creative juices for all things. Now if only I had all day to create and create some more.. Some of you ladies after putting kids back in school this week, may have more time.

Let me show you some things that have inspired me...

ON THE CALENDAR:



I checked it out from the library, super cute! Love there BBQ ideas, and especially there shower ideas, and the milestone birthday party...

Fun little simple things to make some great parties.

Currently I am planning a "don't dessert us" party for some dear friends, all desserts with red and white, chinese lanterns big orange wrapped lollipops in red buckets for the dessert buffet centerpieces, and tons of sweets..... will probably be adding a splash a yellow to the party too... just a casual come and go for all the dear friends to wish them well.

and the next ones on my wish list..



















IN THE KITCHEN:
I have been more inspired by ingredients than by recipes lately, I love anything with roma tomatoes, olive oil, feta, spinach, orzo, sun dried tomatoes, so I have been creating some great bruschetta's, pasta's, and all sorts of yummy dishes. This is the first time in my life I have ditched the cookbook and been doing my own thing. Also discovered a fantastic line of marinades World Harbor.. there lemon garlic is yummy and sweet to boot. Another favorite ingredient currently is a MUST try, the lemon pepperdale pasta from Trader Joe's. Try that with some shrimp marinated in that lemon garlic... yummy! Its trully yummy.

Despite the inspirations with recipes, this book did do the trick as well, another great find.
















this book is next on my list for sewing projects, for sure!




















and some visual stimulation to make some great layouts..

I have been working on my baby girls album its been so fun and am loving using girly stuff!
This book is packed full of great ideas..
Hope some of the books that have been getting my creative juices going help get yours too.. so take advantage of those interlibrary loans ladies and give these a peak!