cake pops

I saw this on the Today Show this week and found the website: Cake Pops. I can't wait to have an excuse to buy some for somebody (or me!). They look fabulous and they also make some for weddings too, if you're planning on that any time soon! Anyone have any idea how to make these? I know you can get the lollipop sticks from the craft store, but the actual cake and then the icing is a mystery to me.

I've sworn off sugar right now... which is why I'm finding everything that's full of sugar!!! Sorry if I woke up your sweet tooth with this post!

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p.s. Mr. Eggplant is still with us (and makes Craig laugh every time he sees him!). I didn't have the right ingredients to make the Eggplant Parmesan last night, but I did have everything for homemade guacamole, so I made that to put over lettuce leaves (kind of like dressing, just laid a big spoonful in the center) and it was FABULOUS.

p.p.s. We saw Inception last night at the movies and it was incredible! It's been awhile since I saw a movie that made me think hard through the whole thing, had incredible special effects and was altogether worth the ticket price! When this (long) movie was over, the sold-out crowd just gasped and said "wow!"... this is definitely the summer blockbuster movie! (I also highly recommend Despicable Me if you want something that's just a fun movie!)

hello mr. eggplant

I went down to Central Market this morning to pick up some raw milk and organic meat, and I found some great vegetables too. This eggplant has a nose and could be a character out of Veggie Tales! I think I'll look up my Mom's Eggplant Parmesan recipe and make that for dinner tonight! I love cooking in the summertime because the food is fresh and the recipes are lighter. My no-fail fall back recipe books for summertime cooking are all by Sara Foster. I just noticed that she has how-to videos on her website now also (and recipes!).

It's another hot day here in Lancaster County... almost too hot to go outside! I got Ellie's walk in early this morning and Nathaniel is headed to the pool with a friend. I've decided that I couldn't live in Florida because I'd just melt. I think I'm allergic to heat!!

Stay cool!

NYC...

photo from Wicked

My summer travels are finally over, having spent a long weekend back in New York City! We took the kids to see Wicked on Broadway and I was very sad when it was over because I knew I'd probably never see it again. I love the story and the music... it makes you laugh, cry, and then feel good again. It's a story about friendship and love, and also superficiality and prejudice. I love it and highly recommend it if you get a chance to see it! It's now one of my favorite musicals.

We stayed in midtown Manhattan, which I don't recommend. I don't like the touristy parts of the city and definitely not in the summertime because NYC just smells bad! The kids and I did find Il Campanello which had some of the best handmade pasta I've ever had, so go there for that! Nathaniel described his filet mignon as "eating heaven". While Craig was in meetings for work, we hit the streets (and were pounded with a quick thunderstorm!) on our way up to the Toys R Us in Times Square. Then we headed over to Rockefeller Center to go to Nintendo World (can you tell this was all the kids' plan?). We peeked in at the Today Show studio and I told them "one of these days I'm getting there for a taping!", since I watch it frequently. We found a delicious little French Bistro for lunch- Pigalle, where I had a smoked salmon sandwich that was wonderful.

After lunch we headed to MOMA and saw lots of art. There was a show of Picasso's drawings and prints that were amazing and we had to look at all the design pieces on the Third Floor. The Matisse show was sold out and we were exhausted anyways so we decided to head back to the hotel to get ready to eat dinner at Balthazar! You might remember me going on and on about that in January. That was pretty much the highlights of our trip (minus a stop at Tokidoki in Soho and a couple other places). I decided not to bring around my big camera which I sort of regretted... but it was very hot and I didn't want to carry it.

We came home to 3 big cucumbers and some cherry tomatoes in our garden, so I'm going to make a cucumber-tomato salad with some chicken to put in a pita for dinner. Off to do my own chef thing at my home bistro!!

Here's one of my favorite songs from Wicked...

Martin Wilson

"New Life"

"Once Around the Sun: 24 Hours- Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter"

I just found a great photographer/artist Martin Wilson who uses contact sheets (remember those?) to create his artwork... no computer!!! He comes up with an idea and then takes his time setting up each shot so that the frames are in order and perfect when the contact sheet is processed. They are a lot of fun to look at and some give a nod to my youth culture... he must be around the same age. See more of these cool pieces here!

here comes the sun...

I was tired of sitting around for two days straight and got out the Wii Tennis. After bringing my score up (and getting a sore arm), I realized the sun had peeked out and the rain had stopped! Since you already know I'm bored today, I decided to post one more time with photos of actual SUN!! Our beautiful blue hydrangeas are wilted over but will probably bounce back up as soon as all the rain drips off. Hopefully tomorrow we'll be back at the pool and back on the tennis courts!

Right now I'm making twice-baked potatoes, hoisin roasteed green beans, and Craig has been smoking baby back ribs on the grill all day (IN THE RAIN!!). Nathaniel was supposed to have his soccer camp tonight but the fields are probably flooded at this point. Why is it always "all or nothing"? I don't know.

I promise not to post any more today!!! :)

dancing in the rain

Since I'm trapped inside on this very drippy wet day, and I've exhausted my list of to-do's... I actually picked up my sketchbook and doodled this out. I was just thinking this morning that I should do another "drawing every day" in the month of August. I've been truly burnt out on drawing or making any type of art since Hatch closed. I was mad at myself at first, but then I just accepted it and didn't even try to do anything. It must have been long enough because I finally am getting the urges to do pictures again. I was just talking to a local illustrator whom I just met and it made me think again about how much I would draw, all the time, before I went to college. This is terrible, but I lost my love of creating when I went to college... it just became "work" and tedious and never good enough. It stopped being something that made me happy. I don't know exactly how to regain that but I think the more I just do it and not demand anything from it, the more it might become enjoyable again. When I was little, every drawing would tell a story... which makes me think I totally missed my real passion which is illustration. So for now I'll just keep my sketchbook near and maybe August will be a month of new beginnings!

still raining...

Tuesday dinner

Sauteed Shrimp with Corn and Tomatoes

from Sara Foster's Fresh Every Day

Serves 4

3 Tablespoons olive oil

1 shallot minced

1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

1 heirloom tomato, cored and diced

Kernals from 2 ears fresh corn (Silver Queen preferred)

6 fresh basil leaves, cut into thin strips

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add half of the minced shallot and saute for about 1 minute, just to soften. Add half of the shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and saute for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side, until the shrimp turn pink. Remove the shrimp and shallots from the pan and cover loosely with foil to keep warm. Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil and repeat with the remaining shallot and shrimp.

2. Melt the butter over high heat in the skillet you cooked the shrimp in, being careful not the let the butter brown. Stir in the tomato and corn and saute until the corn is tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Return the shrimp to the pan, sprinkle with the basil, and stir just to coat the shrimp with the sauce and warm them slightly. Season with additional salt and pepper and serve warm.

I served this with some good french bread and it made a light supper. If you have heavy eaters, this may not be enough in itself for a full dinner for four, but it's very easy and very good! If you've been reading this blog for awhile, you know my love for Foster's Market in Durham, N.C. and I tend to cook a lot out of her cookbooks in the summertime. Her recipes always prove that fresh food is better!

growing up

At the Newport Aquarium in Kentucky

Sometimes I stop and just look at my kids and wonder how they got to be this big so quickly! And then I find some things they've written and their voices sound more like young adults than the little kids they used to be. I'm so proud of the people they are turning into and will be even prouder when I send them out into the world as adults. Recently Caroline started her own blog and hearing her voice through her words is just amazing as her Mom! They are at their grandparents' house this week with all their cousins, so the house is really quiet and I'm getting a taste of life as a parent of adult children. I'm not sure if I like that yet!!!