THE Princess Cake and her Attendants (round 3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11!)

But wait!  Where's Round 2, you ask!  You don't really care are wondering how I could skip from Round 1 to 3 and beyond! 

Round 2 will be presented in it's entirety at a later date.  don't really care  I wouldn't think of having you miss it!   really don't care

And finally, the moment you've all been wating for, ever since I teased you with this

THE Princess Cake!

The entire thing is edible except the actual doll.  Even the crown is edible!

and her attendants!

I made the final version of the princess cake for the princess party for my DGD and 8 small princesses for the 8 little friends at the party. 

The cupcakes were for eating at the party and the little princesses were take home party favors for the girls

The birthday girl gets to blow out candles AGAIN!  It's the birthday that never ends!

This wasn't as much work as I anticipated.  The princesses went together quickly.  The hard part was coloring and flavoring the fondant.   My hands were sore from kneading the flavor and color into the fondant!  That stuff is stiff!

I was a little frustrated with the hair on the little dolls.  They all had terrible bed-head!

The cake part was made from a King Aurthur Flour recipe on the back of the King Aurthur cake flour box.  It's another good one:

Moist White Cake

2 3/4 cups King Aurthur Unbleached Cake Flour Blend

1 2/3 cups sugar; superfine is best

1 tbls baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened

4 large egg whites plus 1 whole large egg

1 cut full-fat vanilla yogurt or 1 cup whole milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

Mix all of the dry ingredients for 2 minutes on slow speed, to blend and aerate.  Add the soft butter and mix into a paste.  Add the egg whites, then the whole egg, beating after each addition to begin building the structure of the cake.  Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl periodically.  In a small bowl, whisk the yogurt (or milk) with the vanilla and almond extracts.  Add that mixture, 1/3 at a time, to the egg mixture.  Beat 1 to 2 minutes after each addition, until fluffy, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl.  Pour the batter into greased and floured or parchment-lined pans(two 8" or 9" rounds, one 9x13, or 20 to 24 cupcakes)

Bake the cake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes(for 8" or 9" rounds) 23 to 26 minutes(for 9x13 pan) or 20 minutes(for cupcakes).  Remove from oven, cool, and frost.

Yield: two 8" or 9" cakes, one 9x13 cake, or 20 to 24 cupcakes

Buttercream frosting is applied over the cake before the fondant.  I made a simple buttercream frosting.

Buttercream Frosting

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

1/2 cup shortening

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla paste(or extract)

2 tbl milk(or more if needed)

Cream butter and shortening together, slowly add sugar and mix till combined, add vanilla and milk.  Add more milk if needed to get a nice spreadable consistancy.

Wilton makes a kit for the large princess.  There is a pan with 4 molds for the small princesses.  They are available at bake shops.  I have also seen them at JoAnn Fabrics, Michaels and Walmart.

The white cake was moist, indeed.  Very good.  It had a pleasant vanilla flavor and a tight crumb.  And who doesn't like buttercream?

Fondant is edible.  It is sugar and flour.  Not much flavor.  I added some almond extract to it when I added the pink color.

I had fun watching the faces of the girls when they realized that they would get a princess to take home.  And I cracked up when one little girl was curious about her princess and pulled the doll off the cake and was surprised to see that there were no legs!  Just a body with a stick!  She just had to share it with the other girls!

It's spring break around here next week.  DS will be home.   I'm taking the week of from blogging.  (please try to keep it down!)  I'm gonna absorb some vitamin D, I'm gonna read a book-not a cookbook (shocking, I know!)  Hopefully we will have  good weather so we can play outside a bunch!  I will be lurking!  really don't care

See you on the flip side!

Thursday Box of Chocolates-3/11/10

Like momma used to say;

"Thursdays are like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get!"


Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

Donate it, throw it away, recycle it.

Another round with Baking Gals

First, a big thank you to everyone who left such thoughtful and helpful comments yesterday.  I appreciate all of them!  There were some good tips there!  Thank you!



Another baking round for Baking Gals has just been completed.  I shipped a box full of goodies last week.

Baking Gals is an online baking group that sends goodies to our troops stationed in a war area.

This is from the website:
"Baking GALS (GALS stands for Give A Little Support) is a group of volunteer bakers from around the country who bake and ship homemade goodies to our heroic military men and women who are currently deployed in a war zone. Our goal is to show our support and send a little bit of home to remind them that we appreciate all that they do for our freedom."

It is my privilege to do this small service for these courageous men and women.  I encourage you to check out this group. 

Click here to read more about Baking Gals.

This round I sent 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies, 3 dozen sugar cookies and 4 dozen peanut butter cookies, a bag of candy and some gum.

I remembered to include a postcard from where I live with a note!

I made some extra peanut butter cookies for the fam-damily this time.

so there wouldn't be any crying complaining nagging begging sad faces

This is just your standard peanut butter cookie recipe:

I used the recipe in Better Homes and Garden's New Cookbook (@1981 it's not that new!)

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla

heat oven to 375 degrees

Stir together flour, soda and salt.  In a mixer bowl beat butter for 30 seconds.  Add peanut butter and sugars; beat till fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla; beat well.  Add dry ingredients to beaten mixture; beat till well combined.  Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll in granulated sugar, if desired.  Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet; crisscross with the tines of a fork.  Bake in a 375 degree oven about 10 minutes.  Cool about 1 minute before removing to a wire rack. 

Makes 48

If you use vanilla paste in place of regular vanilla, you will get those little vanilla bean specks throughout the cookies. 

My baking assistant and chief taste tester was most pleased with the peanut butter cookies. 

I hope our soldier likes them as well!

Another week, another little loss

Another week, another loss, down .6.  Small loss but that's how I roll.  Total loss since rejoining the Dub Club is 2.2 pounds.  Very small.  Especially since It's been 2 months.  When I lost the initial 70 pounds 3 years ago the losses were small too.  I only weighed once a month and the losses averaged 3 to 4 pounds.  The first month saw an 8 pound loss and I thought things would continue that way.  Somehow, I am not the person who loses big numbers every week or month.  Sometimes frustrating but I realize how quickly I can gain a pound or ten or twenty and don't want to repeat that anymore.

So it is what it is and I keep on keeping on.

Food last week was on plan almost everyday.  There is also the continuing weighing and measuring battle.  I need to get better with that one.  There is the sneak attack of the hungry monster.  He likes to come around about 3 in the afternoon.  I start wanting to eat everything in sight.  It's the grab something quick kind of hungries.  I've been planning a snack for that time and planning something to do to divert my attention.  I have also added a cup of milk to my lunch to try to keep me full longer and get all my dairy requirements in for each day.

Exercise had been getting back on track.  Big thanks to whoever returned my mojo!  Also, the new shoes I ordered arrived!  There's just something about running in new kicks!  I was able to enjoy outside run/walking 4 times last week! 

This morning, I had an enjoyable run.  Enjoyable as in I actually enjoyed it as I did it.  As opposed as enjoyed it after I finished, or enjoyed it as I planned for the next one.  That's the thing with running and me, I usually like it when I'm not actually doing it! 

This morning I was out later than usual, about 7.  The sun was rising and there was a little fog.  By the time I finished it was daylight and there was just a nice mist above the ground.  Very pretty.  Maybe that had something to do with the enjoyment of the run.  That and the nice temperature.

It was a lucky week last week.  I entered to win a workout DVD, my choice out of 3, and I won!  I chose a Jillian Michael's yoga DVD.  It's called Yoga Meltdown.  There has been much chatter in blogland about her Shred DVD.  I don't think I'm quite there.  This yoga DVD might help.  As long as she uses her "inside voice".

I have never tried yoga but have heard all about the benefits.  Core strength, balance and stretching are important to me, especially as I get a bit older.  The DVD features Ms. M and 2 assistants, 1 demonstrating advanced yoga and the other demonstrating beginner yoga.  There are also 2 levels to choose from and I of course, chose level 1.  My plan was to follow the beginner.  I figured I could hang with her.

Wrong-O!

There needs to be someone demonstrating "yoga for idiots".  I might possibly be able to follow that.

Of course, the biggest problem seems to be that I do not have a TV installed in my floor so I am able to watch and participate.  I spent a good bit of time sitting upright watching what the hell heck they were doing.  Then a good bit of time looking at the carpet as I attempted to do the moves. 

There is also the fact that there is a whole different language being spoken.  Well, it is English, it's just that the definitions of the words that are used to describe the different "poses" are not what I am familiar with.  Up dog?  Down dog?  Bad dog?

I should also add, I am not as flexible as I used to be nor as strong as before.

There was a little soreness that developed later in the day, after the first attempt at the "Meltdown".  It was better this morning but still noticable.  Not bad at all.  Just a little reminder that yes, there are muscles there that have not been used lately!

But there will me more "Meltdown" around here.  I need to work on those things.  Who knows, I might just make it to level 2 in about 5 years or so!

Do you yoga?

Chocolate Cake (birthday cakes, round 1)

February is full of birthdays in my family.  The most important one is of course my DGD's.  She turned 4 in February.  She gets to celebrate her birthday with the family on the actual day and with her friends later in the month.  I'm on deck for the cakes.  The first cake was a simple sheet cake made in her favorite flavor.

The recipe for the cake is from King Aurthur flour and is printed on the back of the cake flour box.

Moist Chocolate Cake-
2 cups King Aurthur Unbleached Cake Flour Blend
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk
1/2 cup brewed, cooled coffee or water
4 large eggs

Place a strainer over a large mixing bowl.  Measure in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa, and sugar.  Sift/shake the dry ingredients through the strainer into a mixing bowl, to eliminate any lumps.

Add the butter and mix at low speed for 1 minute.  With the mixer running, add the oil and continue mixing until the mixture looks like sand.

Combine the vanilla with the milk and coffee or water, and add all at once.  Mix for 1 minute at low speed, stop and scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then mix for 30 seconds.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well at medium-high speed between additions.  The batter will be thin.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan of your choice-(one 9x13 pan, two 9" round or three 8" round pans).  Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 34 minutes for 9x13; 28-30 minutes for 9" layers; or 24-26 minutes for 8" layers.  The cake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and cool on a rack before frosting.

Yields three 8" rounds. two 9" rounds or a 9x13 sheet

(I also have made cupcakes with this recipe-cook time is 20 minutes and yield is 24 cupcakes.)

Super good chocolate cake!  Really the best I have had!

I tweeted King Aurthur for help finding a chocolate buttercream that was as good as the cake but got "twubbed".  lol!  In other words, I got nuttin back.  Where's the twitter love King A!  So I did a little research and made my own version.

Chocolate Buttercream the Diva Weigh

1/4 cup dutch process cocoa powder
3/4 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter(room temperature)
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla paste.
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Sift the powdered sugar and cocoa powders through a mesh strainer into a bowl and combine.
Cream the butter and shortening. 
Add the cocoa/sugar and mix slowly.
While the mixer is running, pour in the milk and vanilla.
Mix till combined.

Lemme tell you, this frosting was good!  I may or may not have licked the beater on this one!

I think the birthday girl was happy!

This is a really good, rich cake.  Rich, chocolatey flavor.  If served straight from the frig, it has the consistency of a brownie.  If it is served at room temperature, it has a moist springy texture. 

Either way, it's dang good!

And the frosting,  the frosting was.....yummmm!......the frosting was almost too good for words.  Fudgy, creamy, smooth.  Chocolate buttercream?!!  Really, really good.  What's not to like?

Stay tuned, for round 2!

Another Sunday Celebration, sorta

I just realized the Academy Awards are on this Sunday night!

Not that I've seen any of the movies that are nominated!  But I did see Julie & Julia.  Then there was Up that I saw with DGD.  And I know who Sandra Bullock is.  And there was a movie with blue people or something. 

The part of the Academy Awards that I enjoy the most is the food red carpet.  Don't you just love to see what "the stars" are wearing?

There will be many social events surrounding the watching of the Hollywood types.

Kinda like Super Bowl parties.  We will be gathering together to eat watch people who make boat loads of money compete against each other to win a disco ball,glass football golden statue.

Only this one has no halftime.

And it lasts a long, long (yawn) time.

But one things for certain-there will be food.

Weight Watchers website posted their list of Academy Award show fare:

Up: Tropical Rainbow Punch


A Serious Man: Potato Pancakes 


The Hurt Locker: Middle Eastern Bean Dip


The Blind Side: Pepperoni Pizza Potato Skins


Up in the Air: Italian Wedding Soup


An Education: Fish and Chips


District 9: Shrimp with Two Dipping Sauces


Precious: Oven Fried Chicken  


Avatar: Blueberry Squares


Inglourious Basterds: Apple Strudel


As good as these all sound, they left off one very integral nominee and dish-

(in my best Julia Child voice)
I would like to nominate-
Julie & Julia: Boeuf Bourguignon
(isn't Meryl Streep just amazing?)

The Jan/Feb issue of WW magazine has this famous recipe from Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a lower fat version.

I wanted to compare the WW recipe to the original but since I do not have my own copy of the cookbook, I sought the help of my local library.

Can you believe they do not have a single copy of this cookbook?  none! nada! not one! nothing! 

Shocking, I know.

So I will consult the all knowing internet for the recipe.

I will, of course, be combining and making modifications like a crazy person, mad scientist to the 2 recipes to suit my taste and waistline.

That's what's gonna be at my Academy Awards feast! (mine would be better if I had a pearl necklace!)

Are you going to an Academy Awards Celebration?  Or having one of your own?  What's on the menu!

Bon Appetit!

Thursday Box Of Chocolates-3/4/10

Like momma used to say;

"Thursdays are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get!"

Every journey has a beginning and an end. 

don't be in such a hurry to get to the end
don't be afraid to begin