Red Velvet Cake

So I think I may actually try and do a recipe a day in this. Well within reason. I do imagine there will be some days I miss (The day Nate leaves, or when I have the baby) but I will put as many in as I can. I am not an accomplished cook by any means, but I think maybe if I make this challenge for myself I might get allot better! By having to find homemade things I am really gaining knowledge and some great recipes.


Well Elijah has been a crank, Nate was a crank at lunch and I have a BAD headache. So tonight is hamburger helper. Not much to talk about there, but last night I did make a red velvet cake. My favorite, trying to make myself feel better. So here is that recipe, I never did any tweaking to this one, so this is one straight from the Archive! Enjoy!

2-1/2 cups cake flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 tbsp. unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 oz. red food coloring
1-1/2 tsp. pure vanilla
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. cider or white vinegar
1 tsp. baking soda

Cooks Note: Use liquid red food coloring, such as McCormick or Durkee; if Wilton's is used, only 1/2 tsp. is needed.

Preheat oven to 350°F for 15 minutes before baking cake.

In a mixing bowl, sift together flour and salt. Set aside.

In a separate mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, on medium speed for three minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a small bowl, stir together cocoa powder, food coloring and vanilla extract. Beat this into the butter mixture.

Stir 1/3 of the flour mixture into the butter mixture, alternating with 1/2 of the buttermilk, another 1/3 of flour, the remaining buttermilk, and the remaining flour mixture; stir just until blended.

In a cup, combine vinegar and baking soda. Mixture will fizz. Stir this into the batter and combine well.

Divide batter evenly between two greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans.

Bake for about 22 to 28 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.

Allow cakes to cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Run a blunt knife along edges of pan to free cake; remove cake gently from pans and cool completely on wire rack.

Crock Pot Chicken

Today was a day to say the least. I left Elijah on his tummy mat for about 10 seconds to go to the bathroom and when I got back he had stripped himself of his diaper and was playing in his poo. He was covered, my carpets was also. So after giving him a bath, and shampooing my carpets I was over it, but seriously, nasty!

Made crock pot herb chicken today. It was so so.
Its obviously chicken breasts, with herbs and garlic. 2 tablespoons of basil, oregano, parsley, garlic, and tyme. I mixed 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 tablespoons lemon juice and added the chicken with 1/4 cup water and let it all simmer on low for 4 hours. It was okay. I don't really like chicken recently though, so that could have a bit to do with it.

Garlic Biscuts

Well today after Church we spoke to the Pastor and we are getting baptized on September 12th. Right after the 10:30 Service. There is a bake sale/pot luck after that also. So we will do that after probably. At least as long as Elijah lets us stay! Anyone who would like to come, it is at First Christian Church in Junction City. Service starts at 10:30am. I understand they do it right after the service. For directions you can visit www.fccjcks.com or just get ahold of me!

Tonight we had the leftover meatballs and spaghetti. I figured I would have some garlic bread, well we didn't have that, so I found a basic biscuit recipe and added to it. Wow yum. Anyone else seeing a pattern with me and posting recipes? Oh well I will continue to post as I continue to bake. Anyone reading this that likes me: For Christmas I would really like a stand mixer, rolling pin and some really nice pyrex mixing bowls. Just saying :)

2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
4 Tablespoons of butter
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup milk
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon of garlic
1 teaspoon of the following: Sage, Oregano, Basil, Parsley, Italian seasoning mix
1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese (Fine Grated)

Mix together the flour, salt, baking powder, spices, and Parmesan cheese. I use a whisk to combine them completely. Cut in the butter and olive oil, I cut the butter into 1 table spoon increments and then mix it in with my fingers one at a time. Dumping the Olive Oil mid way through. Once combined stir in the milk very slowly. Roll dough out onto a clean and floured counter top. I think the dough should be no more than 1/4 inch thick but I make mine thinner. I also don't own a biscuit cutter, but have found for bite size biscuits (Great for dipping in the past sauce) I use a baby food jar. I flip it upside down, using the mouth of the jar to cut through the dough. Bake on 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Really watch the time though, I make mine thinner so it was more like 10 minutes for me.

Spaghetti w/ meatballs evening

I find that cooking relaxes me when I am stressed. So not to shockingly after we went to the neighborhood pool we came home and enjoyed some Spaghetti and Meatballs. YUMMO! I will post the recipe below. On a side note however, At dinner Nate and I determined the Berry Syrup from breakfast would also be tasty on plain vanilla Ice cream. So there is another thought for that (See previous blog post for that recipe). I uploaded a few new pictures on Facebook. Oh and tonight we also gave Elijah some small Wheat Noodles (Plain of course) to enjoy. I was told by my Mom and I actually read about it too, that when Mom and Dad eat dinner you should have you child sit at the table with you in their chair. We normally feed him his jars of food before we eat. Then when we eat we sit him down with some Gerber puffs and a Biter biscuit and juice. He's been pretty good about it, and it's also supposed to help with manners and social skills. We will see, but since he doesn't like us out of his site anyhow its really been working out.

The meatballs are to be cooked in the sauce, You can use homemade if you prefer. I will admit though, I use a jar. I have gained the confidence in the kitchen to really start cooking sauces yet. Although I do my own additions to sauce so it becomes mine anyway! Also, I should say that yet again I changed up the meatball recipe to suit our tastes. It came out amazing, and Nate was thrilled to hear the words "Left overs".

Meatballs:
1 pound Hamburger (You could do Turkey or any ground meat you like, If you do turkey though I always add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil because Turkey seems to dry allot)
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 Egg
1 Teaspoon Oregano, Parsley, Italian blend, Garlic Salt, and sugar
1 Table spoon minced garlic
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

You combine everything in a bowl, and then form into balls. I put them in the microwave for 60 seconds to help them hold their shape in the sauce.

My additions to a Jar Sauce (For this you need 12oz at least, We thought it needed a little more, but we like alot of sauce):
1/2 Teaspoon of Pancake Syrup
1 Teaspoon Oregano, Parsley, Italian blend, Garlic Salt, and sugar
2 tablespoons of minced garlic


You add the Meatballs to the sauce, and allow to simmer for about 25-30 minutes. I actually went about 30 just to be sure the meat was cooked through.


ENJOY :)

Pancake Morning!

I woke up this morning and chose to make some pancakes. Of course I'm not Suzy homemaker so I went on a search for the box of mix. No luck, We didn't have any left. I went to the trusty google machine! I found a really yummy (And Easy) recipe for homemade from scratch pancakes and berry Syrup! Oh yummy!! I figured I would share, because they were good. I probably wont ever buy syrup or pancake mix again. The recipe I found sounded a little weird to me so I tweaked the recipe. Making my own! I wasn't totally sure Nate would love the berry syrup but shocking to me, he loved it. We paired with Turkey bacon this morning also. Made for an amazing breakfast this morning!

~Pancakes

Dry Mix:
1 1/4 cup flour
2 Tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powders
1 teaspoon salt

Wet Mix:
1 Beaten egg
1 cup of milk
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Teaspoon oil

Directions:
Combine dry ingredients in one bowl. In a separate bowl mix the wet. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet. Mix together until smooth.

Cook about 1/8 cup of batter per pancake (This is an estimate. I used a 1/4 cup measure and filled it about half way and dumped it in the pan) in a medium heated skillet. Flip when bubbles raise to the top of the pancake. This recipe made about 10 pancakes using the estimated 1/8 cup batter method.


Berry Syrup:
In a medium saucepan simmer the following until thick, and berries are cooked.
1 1/2 cup frozen berries (This morning I used blueberries)
4 Tablespoons of sugar (I imagine splenda could be used to cut calories/carbs)
Juice of half a lemon (Although I used the concentrate because I am out of lemons, so it was about 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice in a container)

Surgery is coming up

Well we saw the Urologist today, Surgery is scheduled for September 22nd. We have to be there at 06:30. They wont take him back until 07:30 . It pretty much worked out well since Nate will be home on leave anyway to move, so we will just have to take that day as a loss as far as working goes. It will be in Manhattan, rather than JC because the soonest they could get us in JC would be October 8th and they are talking about the guys leaving the first week of October. I asked them to please make it before October. So they said the 22nd would be the first available in Manhattan. We took it.

For anyone who isn't aware of why there is a surgery: When Elijah was born they were going to circumsize him before we left the hospital. Well he ended up being too small, since he was a tiny guy at birth. At his 2 week appointment they decided he was big enough finally. So we gave them the go ahead. Well they started the process, but came to find out that his urethra was on the side of his penis rather than the top. Dr. Meng stopped immediately and sent us straight to JC urology. We met with Dr. Hall who said we shouldn't try to finish the procedure. She said they would use the skin that they normally cut away to re-route his urethra. Unfortunately that was something done from 6-12 months. So we had to wait until today to see her again. She assured us this would all be routine. It apparently happens to baby boys more often than people think, it just isn't something that they talk about much. They will be putting him under, and giving him a children's version of an epidural.

Oh and funny note: Elijah's Dr is Jamaican, and we really love her. Today she asked us what had been happening since she saw us last (His last meeting with her was when he was 6 weeks old) and I said we were expecting. She said "Stand up and let me look at ya". So I did, and she touched my belly and said "It's a girl". We both kinda laughed and said "Really?" and she said "It's a Jamaican thing, not a medical thing". So silly.

Today was a semi productive day. Got my blood drawn to see if I am a carrier for some birth defects (I never did that with Elijah, they never offered me the chance). Then I went to ultrasound and scheduled that, although I wont be sharing the date :) I got my prescriptions filled and bought packing tape. I skipped the glucose test since it was an hour long test and I had Elijah with me. If nothing else I can do it when I go to ultrasound. Nate booked our uhaul for the move, so that is done! I also googled some stain removal ideas for the carpet (rust/wax). Think I might win this one, at least I hope.

Tomorrow I need to make sure I call the cable company about my cable and the move. I also need to call a new fence company. Finally, I need to start packing! I never did that today because some fool in the building chose to spray paint their house. The fumes came in here and made me feel instantly uncomfortable. Cannot wait until we move.

Well this was lame, not sure it even warranted a post! Oh well!

It's always the gloves

Today has been a long day. I woke up this morning feeling dizzy again. It's becoming a little discouraging because the Dr. thinks this is "normal" provided my Glucose and Iron come back normal after I can get to the lab. He put in the tests on Friday but by the time we left the OB clinic the Lab was closed so I have to go tomorrow. If it isn't either thing than its a hormone/pregnancy side effect. Probably one of my least desired one!

Nate told me that he was going to start packing for Iraq. Granted he wont have to leave until October, They need the bags/boxes loaded up for Tomorrow. They need enough time to send them over so they are there before the guys get there. My only side comment to this "It's always the gloves"...... somehow every time he gets a packing list there is some new set of gloves on it and we have to rush to Clothing and sales and get him a new/different pair. It has happened EVERY TIME. This time they were only $15, but normally they are anywhere from $5-$80.

Anyway, I hid in our bedroom and cried while he packed. It never ever bothers me to watch him pack and normally I sit and talk to him while he does. I'm not sure why I was so bothered today. I don't know if it was hormones, as this time around I am way more emotional than I was with Elijah. I guess it could be stress related, Seeing as we have a move and Elijah's surgery (And all the appointments both before and after) and my ultrasound to get in before he leaves. I'm feeling some pressure there. I am sure it was a mix of all those things as well as not feeling well. Either way I felt very ridiculous crying like that, and it isn't something I normally do, but I guess it comes with the territory.

Nate had a dentist appointment on Thursday and they told him they wanted him to have another mouth surgery. Fortunately this one is optional and he decided to wait until he got back from deployment. Apparently since he is a mouth breather the gums around his front teeth are deteriorating, and there was something they were able to do to help that since its also made his teeth sensitive. With the timing though, there isn't time to get it done and for him to heal well before a deployment (And who really wants to deploy being miserable).

We met a new family last night. Well I guess I did, Nate has a soldier named Toby (Streebe) and so I met him last night, and we both met his family. We went over for dinner and to get to know each other. I have several friends out here, but few of them are in PSD with Nate, and none of the ones I knew are deploying. They were a really nice family, and they have a 3yr old, 2yr old, and 1yr old. So that is kind of funny, seeing as I will have a 1yr old and a new born. So it will be nice to have another friend who is going through this with us.

I'm going to start packing tomorrow. Slowly, and steadily. I figure I can get the things out of the way that we wont miss for a month (Movies, Books, storage units, baby things Elijah has outgrown and such). Working closer to the actual move day. Plus I have a friend who runs an Operation Home-front chapter here in KS (A really neat charity that helps military families in need) and she said she could take any hand me down type things for her charity so anything that we don't want/need and that can be donated I will be giving to here. Paying forward our good luck we've had recently.

Well, I haven't updated a thing in a long time! We have been back to Kansas since August 12th. We had a great time home on leave, and it was sad to leave but once home I think we are all very excited to be here. Since coming home, Elijah has been sleeping through the night. Every now and again he wakes up but its about 2 minutes of talking to himself and he is back to sleep! August 7th he got his first tooth, and on the 12th he popped through his second one. He has been taking assisted steps for awhile, but yesterday he actually attempted to crawl. He made it about 3 crawls (I don't exactly know how to describe it, but like steps only crawling) and gave up. He refuses to do it again though. Not sure why, and I am not entirely convinced he actually WANTED to crawl but didn't do it out of desperation.

After getting home, The neighborhood office for McClellan (Were we live now) called and said they were getting near our name on the list and that before we could be offered a home we would need to do a walk through or as she called it a "Pre, Pre-Inspection". We had to pass 100% or pay damages before they would give us a move date/home. Needless to say I was worked up and a little nervous. I scrubbed like a mad women, then discovered they do a black light inspection of carpets! YIKES. Everything I had read on the internet said carpet cleaning solutions would not get the stains out. However I did find that vinegar does, so I used lots of that. We passed 100%, and as of now owe nothing. There is a chance that once all the furniture is out of here that we may owe. We shall see I guess. Fingers crossed!! So we now have a move date (Sept. 17th we sign for keys and Sept. 18th we will move). We have an address also, but I wont be posting that here. If you would like it, please let us know!

Other than this, We have allot of busy coming up before Nate deploys. Hardly much time to even breathe but hey, that is life. We have Dr. appointments, Elijah's surgery, the move and hopefully my ultrasound to cram into a few weeks time. Wish us luck! We will need it.

We saw my Dr. yesterday, and he said everything is looking good. Sent me for some routine blood work (Will have to go Monday) and put in a few prescriptions. I will also be schedualing the ultra sound but I don't think I will share the day of that, just tell people if we are able to find the gender. Last time everyone was so eager to know, and it was disappointing to have to call everyone and say "We don't know, Legs were crossed". So we more than likely will not share the date, but if we can find out we will call everyone the day of and say "It's A......". If Nate isn't home, I wont say a word until he knows anyway. It isn't fair for everyone to know before him. He will be the first to hear other than myself.

Nate's car is down, so we are back to only 1 car for a bit. We found someone who will fix it though, so I am not worried. Just waiting on payday to get the part. We have to get it fixed since it's sitting at Nate's work and we can't leave it there forever. Plus we will need to get it to our new home anyway.

I think that is about all as far as updates, Just waiting not so patiently on the move!