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Hope to see you there!!

♥ Kate

Angel Food Cake

I know it's been a while since I last blogged. After TJ and I got back home from my sister's house the last time I just wanted to play some video games. So other than practicing harp and things around the house, it's what I've been primarily up to. I hadn't been in World of Warcraft recently, and well... I missed all of my online friends and just needed to veg/be a nerd! It felt pretty good. :)

Let's see, what all has happened since my last blog post? Oh! Easter of course, and I went down to San Diego with TJ because he was taking the test for the San Diego PD, then he had his 25th birthday, and my brother-in-law graduated with his Master's degree from USD!

Since I didn't put up a blog for Easter, I'm going to share some of our pics from it here. Enjoy! 

My super cute nephews! They looked so dashing, and are so ready to be models! :P 

Me, daddy, and my sister Carrie.

Myself and Carrie.

TJ and I. It might not look like we completely matched, but the turquoise bows I had in my hair totally went with his turquoise shirt!

Me giving my best America's Next Top Model look (I'm smizing!) while sporting the latest Easter fashion. In case you haven't heard what that is, it's wearing the ham netting on your head! What can I say, I'm a ham. XD

We also made sure we visited momma. Her Easter bouquet was gorgeous. I miss you momma. <3

Our Easter dinner was so yummy! Carrie hosted it at her house this year. Momma usually had it, but well... yeah... But Carrie did a fabulous job. We had a great ham, scalloped potatoes, and a bunch of other yummy things that I can't remember right now because it's been a month since Easter lol We needed dessert though, so I made two Angel Food Cakes. I'll get to posting how I did them in a little bit. I want to get caught up to today, so bear with me! But please enjoy these pictures of my family enjoying my cakes! :D

Even though I'm not a huge fan of cool whip or strawberries on my Angel Food Cake, my family loves it! So of course we had to have fresh cut strawberries and cool whip. Yum yum!

My brother-in-law Jeff, his mom, my sister Carrie, and my nephew Jackson enjoying cake!

My brother Chris and his fiance Shelley. Chris really only likes chocolate cake... and people say I'm picky! LOL That's okay though, Shelley got to enjoy his share hehe

Poppa definitely enjoyed the cake. He even got to enjoy a slice at home. He's lucky he even got one though because Angel Food is my absolute favorite! Mom would always make 2 for my birthday. One for me, and one for everyone else :P

Last weekend, Jeff graduated from USD with his masters degree. So for his party we all got to a cooking class that was hosted by M4U (please check them out here because they are awesome!!). Chef Marty really did a fabulous job and I learned so much. We got to watch him make 4 different entrees, and eat them! And let me tell you, they were all just fabulous. My absolute favorite was the Shrimp Capri over Fresh Angel Hair. It was seriously to die for. I scribbled all over the recipe page (we each got a packet of the recipes he made that evening) for the meal so I know have a recipe for homemade pasta! I just need a pasta machine... I definitely need to check out Ebay for that lol So hopefully sometime soon you'll be seeing me attempt that recipe!

Carrie and Jeff at his graduation. Congrats on your Masters!! I am so proud of you!!

So, that's pretty much everything that's happened since my last post. Which brings me to today. Today was kinda sucky to be honest. I know sucky isn't a word, but it expresses how I felt today. TJ and I went to see Thor in 3D which was really fun. I really liked it, and let me tell you, even if you're not into the whole comic-book thing, the guy who played Thor totally makes the movie worth it. He is so hot. I'm just saying. After that though is when the day got sucky. We had gotten a free small popcorn which was nice, but unfortunately it leaked butter all over the crotch of my pants. And I had no idea. At all. I didn't even notice until I was in the bathroom. I just about died because it looked like I had an accident. Talk about embarrassing!

When we got home I ended up having the starts of a migraine, which has decided it still wants to hang around, and I really wish that it wouldn't. If anyone is interested in a migraine, just let me know. I'll send it your way in no time flat! I don't mind sharing, promise! TJ put my jeans in the wash to try to get the butter stain out, and I changed into some pj shorts, only to find out I even got butter on the top of my brand new white shirt. It's not huge, just 3 small drops. But still, how did I manage that? *sigh* Oh, and I forgot to mention that I'm a little stressed about summer school. I can sign up for classes starting June 9th @ 6pm, but I'm worried that everything I want will be filled by then... like the baking class I want to take! It only has 7 spots left, and it's only May 27th! Needless to day, I decided I needed something sweet, and something I loved that I could eat and eat and eat and be very happy. So what did I make? Yup, you guessed it. Angel Food Cake. So now it's time for pictures!!

I will admit it, I used cake mixes. But they are so easy and quick, and taste great! I remember my mom and gram telling me how scratch Angel Food Cakes weren't worth it for them because they almost always collapsed. I haven't personally tried making one yet, but it is on my to-do list! But for quick and yummy cake, this box mix tastes just fine.

I know the box tells you what to do, but I personally like seeing pictures so I know I'm doing it right. First step, add the mix to your bowl.

Second step, add the water to the mix.

Third step, beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then on medium speed for 1 minute. Done.

Pour into ungreased Angel Food Cake pans and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Be sure that you take out the extra rack from your oven and that the remaining rack is in the lowest position.

When the cake is done, immediately turn upside down onto a glass bottle of some kind and cool completely.

 

Don't they look great? And they were so easy!

After they're doing cooling take a knife to all the edges to loosen the cake from the pan. When I say all edges, I do mean all! Don't forget about the middle like I did :P I was wondering why the cake wasn't coming out of the pan until my dad asked me if I had cut around the center... yeah. I seriously /facepalmed right there.

They look kind of naked don't they? That's why we're going to make some frosting for them! Unfortunately for me I forgot to ask mom how she made her frosting before she passed away. I was really heartbroken when I realized that I never asked. I mean, for me, Angel Food Cake isn't Angel Food Cake without frosting! The frosting is what makes it so delicious! But thankfully my grandma in Nebraska (my dad's mom) still makes frosting for Angel Food Cake, so I used her recipe. I think it came pretty close to what I remember.

Here's everything you need for the frosting. Powdered Sugar, butter, salt, vanilla, milk, and crumbs leftover in the pans from the cakes. The food coloring is optional. Mom never used  it for my birthday cakes, but I thought it'd make the cakes look really pretty for Easter.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of the process because I was short on time, but it's really easy. The only difficulty I had with it is that my grandma doesn't use set measurements. It's a little of this, a little of that type of stuff. So you'll just have to play with it.

You start off with shaking roughly 1/2 a box of powdered sugar into your mixing bowl, add a pinch of salt, then add anywhere from 1/4 cup to a 1/3 of a cup of softened butter to the sugar and combine it. Next you add 1 tsp of vanilla and combine. Then start adding your milk. I started off with about 1/4 cup of milk, but as I said, you'll just have to play with it a little. You don't want it to be too thick, but you don't want it to be too runny. Basically, you're looking for something like a glaze. You want it runny enough to easily cover the cake when you ice it though. So if it looks like it's getting to thick, add some more milk. If it looks too runny, add some more powdered sugar. Once it's at the correct consistency, add in your cake crumbs and then ice the cake!

Here's how they turned out. Just like I remember, but... more colorful!

Don't forget to serve with fresh cut strawberries and cool whip.

I can't wait to enjoy my Angel Food cake. It's sitting downstairs on my Worchestire sauce bottle cooling. I'll make the frosting for it tomorrow after my raid in World of Warcraft tomorrow morning. I know I can't wait to eat it!

<3 Kate

Angel Food Cake Frosting                     [click to print]

Frosts 1 Cake

Ingredients

powdered sugar

1/4 cup - 1/3 cup butter, softened

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla

milk

cake crumbs from cake pan

Method

Add about 1 cup of powdered sugar to your mixer bowl, then add your pinch of salt, and softened butter. Combine. Add the vanilla and combine again. Then add milk until you gain the desired consistency. If the frosting becomes too runny, add more powdered sugar. If it becomes too thick, add more milk. You want the frosting to be runny enough so that it's easy to frost with and will sort of run down the sides of the cake when frosting.

Once the frosting reaches the desired consistency, stir in the cake crumbs and frost your cake. Enjoy!

Workout Day

I am almost all caught up! Yay for me!

Monday was a busy morning! Erin had to get Bridget up and ready for kindergarten, get Logan and Maeve up and ready to take Bridget to kindergarten, get herself ready to take them all out, feed everyone breakfast, and get going so Bridget wasn't late. I wasn't awake during all of this because waking up at 6am is definitely still a challenge that I have not mastered yet, but I did wake up to hear Erin yelling at Bella (her white fluffy puppy) to get back in the house.

Bella is used to being locked in her kennel whenever Erin goes somewhere because she can't be trusted to not potty in the house, but because TJ and I were home she left Bella out. Erin only usually does this when Bella gets to go bye-bye with them, so of course the second Erin opened the door to the garage, Bella went sprinting out there and right into the van. I had to go grab her so Erin could get out the door. Silly Bella!

While Erin was out dropping Bridget off, TJ and I got ready because we were going to the gym with Erin when she got back. So after she got back she loaded Logan and Maeve into the jogging stroller and off we went to the gym.

She dropped off the 2 kiddos at the children's area so we could workout without having to worry about them. The workout was really nice, but hard. You see, I haven't really done anything even remotely similar to working out since I was in high school, and I graduated in 2007. It was good for me though because I definitely need to get back into shape! I've been eating way too many yummy things lately :P

After the workout we picked the kids up and took them over to the park so they could run around and get some fresh air before we walked back home.

Maeve made a bee-line for the stairs on the jungle-gym and of course didn't want help to get up them! But she did allow TJ to take her down the slide. 

Then miss Maeve wanted to ride on the dino rocker with Logan.

She then wanted to ride on her own on the elephant.

Then Logan and Maeve both wanted to go down the slide so Erin and TJ went with them!

After we left the park we hung out at home until it was time to pick up Bridget, and then we all went out to Wal*Mart. Woo... super fun outing! Yeah, not really... but TJ and I did get some stuff for working out. I got some awesome 3lb weights (because I'm Super Weakling!), and TJ found a set of 40lb weights. TJ has until the 26th to get ready for his test for the Tucson PD, so since he has to majorly get working out, I might as well too :P

After we got back from home, the kids wanted to go play outside, so I got dinner rolling. I made Sirloin Tips and Mushrooms. This is another recipe that I found at All Recipes, and the edits I made to it are from one of the comments. The steak in this is so yummy and tender, and sauce is great!

Here is everything you'll need for the recipe, minus the bay leaves. You will need: 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, 1-1/2 lb beef top sirloin steak, 1 (8 oz) pkg of fresh mushrooms, 1/4 cup water, 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce, 1 beef bouillon cube, 3/4 cup cooking sherry, 2 tbsp brown sugar, dash of dried thyme, bay leaves, and 2 tbsp butter.

Mince your garlic, slice your mushrooms, and cut up your beef.

Add your oil to the skillet and heat it up.

Then add your beef and garlic.

When your beef is browned, add your mushrooms and water...

...tomato sauce...

...cooking sherry, bouillon cube, brown sugar, and thyme...

...and combine it.

Cover your skillet and reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 40 minutes.

While your sirloin tips and mushrooms cook, get your potatoes ready! For these mashed potatoes you're going to need milk, butter, and about 1 red potato per person.

Cut up your potatoes and place them in a large sauce pot (or stock pot if you are making more potatoes), and cover with water.

Cover the sauce pot and bring the water to a boil.

Bridget got blue chalk all over her face because she and Logan were outside drawing on the concrete in chalk. It was very cute :P

Once it is at a rolling boil, remove the lid and turn the heat down a little bit so it doesn't boil over, and cook the potatoes for 20 minutes, or until fork-tender.

Mmmmm look at that! Super super yummy!

I absolutely love these green beans. Last Christmas I was in charge of dinner because momma was really sick and couldn't do it, so I googled a green beans recipe and found this one. They are really yummy!

For the green beans all you need are fresh green beans, some olive oil, and salt and pepper.

Trim your green beans and rinse them.

Add them to a bowl  and drizzle them with the olive oil. Then season them with salt and pepper and toss to coat.

Put them out on a stoneware baking sheet, or a parchment lined metal baking sheet, and cook in the oven at 425 degrees F for 12-15 minutes. Be sure to stir them 1/2 way through cooking time.

Carmelized, crisp, and tender! Yum!

Stir in the 2tbsp of butter once it's done cooking.

Add your butter and warm milk and mash up the potatoes. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve the sirloin tips and mushrooms or the mashed potatoes, add the green beans, and enjoy!

Family picture! Too bad TJ didn't look forward in time!! lol

There we go, much better! :)

Logan rolling around on the floor of he and Bridget's bedroom before bedtime.

Me reading Bridget and Logan bedtime stories.

TJ tucking Logan into bed while Erin was putting Maeve down for bed.

Bridget is ready for bed!

Amos decided to "help" me work on my blog that night. He's a very "helpful" kitty!

Then Bella decided to "help". Why are animals so helpful?! LOL

Amos then decided to "help" TJ read his book. By the way, we're pretty sure Amos is part possum because his snout is unusually long for a kitty! Okay, we know he's full kitty... but where else would he have gotten a snout like that?! Although it is kind of difficult to tell from this picture I guess, but trust me, his snout is very long and looks very odd on him!

Maria and Bella love to play together, so we got to enjoy their "playtime"! Lucky us!

<3 Kate

Sirloin Tips and Mushrooms                                                                      [click to print]

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 tbsp olive oil

3 garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 lb beef top sirloin steak

1 (8 oz) pkg of fresh mushrooms

1/4 cup water

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 beef bouillon cube

3/4 cup cooking sherry

2 tbsp brown sugar

dash of dried thyme

bay leaves

2 tbsp butter

Method

Thinly slice the mushrooms, mince the garlic, and cut the beef into cubes.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the olive oil, then add the beef cubes and garlic. Once the meat is browned, add mushrooms, water, tomato sauce, cooking sherry, brown sugar, the beef bouillon cube, thyme, and bay leaves. Turn heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook for 40 minutes.

After removing from heat stir in the butter. Serve over mashed potatoes or pasta.

Oven Roasted Green Beans    [click to print]

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 1/2 lbs green beans

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

 

Method

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Trim the ends of the green beans and add to a large bowl. Toss with the extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread out evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Roast, stirring once halfway through, until lightly caramelized and crisp tender, 12-15 minutes.