Birthday Cake

While I was in Dallas working my mom had a birthday. To celebrate I asked one of my coworkers to have her daughter make a cake. She has a cake company and she is oober talented. In fact, she made this cake with less than three days notice!

Here are some other Anna originals...







If you're in the Dallas area and need to order a cake for any reason please contact Anna at A&D Cakery

Grandma's Egg Salad

Growing up whenever we'd visit my Grandma she always had egg salad as a lunch option. I always took this option because her egg salad is the best! I recently called her to get the recipe so I could make it myself. Well, here's her recipe.

hard boiled eggs (however many you want)
salt (to taste)
pepper (to taste)
real mayo (a small amount)

Mix them together.

We both had a nice laugh over her super secret recipe. I have to say, I made it and it tasted good. But nothing is as delicious as Grandma's version - on white bread - with her at the table too!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

This bread is so delicious!!! I really enjoyed the wheat flour in the recipe...it gives a much richer flavor to the bread itself.



1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips (if desired)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees;. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips and pour into prepared pan. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.

Recipe Source: CuisineNie

Whole Wheat Zucchini Muffins

I was in a baking mood a few weeks ago so I made lots of yummy things. Here is one of them.



1 large zucchini
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cupcake liners in a 12 muffin pan and set aside. Grate zucchini on the large holes of a box grater (to yield 1 3/4 cups); set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together sugars, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Into a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and stir to combine well. Stir in grated zucchini. Pour batter equally into muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, starting with 25 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes; then invert onto cooling rack. Cool completely before eating...unless you're a rebel like me and eat one warm...sooo good!

Recipe Source: CuisineNie

Got My New Shoes On...

Nate ordered some interesting Vibram walking shoes from REI. He's worn them quite a bit and seems to enjoy the "barefoot-walking" feel that they give.





I think I'll stick to my tevas...

I. Can't. Wait.

In less than 12 hours I get to eat brunch with this lovely lady...



And I FINALLY get to meet this little sweetie...



She's definitely going to rock this pose once this paparazzi arrives!



See you soon Miss Selah...................

Since May we've...

+visited Family for Memorial Day.
+celebrated our very first anniversary.
+saw wicked...amazing.
+finished the school year.
+packed up and moved my entire classroom to our spare bedroom.
+signed my contract for next year. same school. same grade.
+said goodbye to our fantastic asst. principal.
+met my parents new dog, molly. she and sampson are buddies for life.
+flew to Dallas to work with my mom.
+visited with an old high school friend and fellow blogging-slacker.
+we drove with my parents to Wisconsin for the 4th (30 hours in the car...ugh).
+finally met the newest member of our family...the lil' slugger, henry.
+saw my sister-in-law and cousin preggo. no baby-envy for me...yet.
+abstained from consuming meat products despite many cookouts and travels.
+watched a gorgeous display of fireworks accompanied by my first ever choco-taco with commentary from one of the world's cutest darn kiddos "do you think they're having a snack?"
(when the fireworks paused for too long) .
+rode over the mackinaw bridge without throwing up.
+bought a new car. we think we'll call her page. or maybe piper. hmm.
+basically logged more hours in the car than i care to for a loooooong time.
+created a "bucket list" for charlotte and places we want to travel
+found some great inspiration for cooking that i hope to share.
+made a list of books to enjoy reading as well.

And now on to the reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeal posts...

Can't Wait...

Bethenney's getting married tonight on Bravo and I can't wait. I haven't seen much of the season since I've been traveling a bit but you better believe I'll be tuning in tonight to see her officially become Mrs. Hoppy. Eeek!