2. Make homemade bread

Now this may be cheating since I used self rising flour instead of yeast, but this bread was super easy and VERY delicious.




I've had this recipe saved for a month or so from Crystal's cooking blog and it was delicious. It is 'Brewery Bread' and has only 4 ingredients...can't beat that.

I didn't have any good beer in the house, so rest assured that it's even great with Bud Light! I can't wait to make this again this fall when Shipyard's Pumpkinhead comes out. I have a feeling that will give this bread a great flavor!

Just looking at this picture now is making me crave it again. This might be on the agenda for tonight!

Cake balls for sale

I hesitate so much to even price these because I feel so uncomfortable selling them, but I know a few people are interested. I don't know why this bugs me...some mental hang-up I have.

So here's what I'm offering for cake flavors (what I find makes a good flavor combination):

Chocolate cake w/ chocolate frosting

Vanilla cake w/ vanilla frosting

Spice cake w/ cream cheese frosting

Red Velvet cake w/ cream cheese frosting

Strawberry cake w/ strawberry or cream cheese frosting

I will also take any special requests. I will sell in quantities of 6 and in any quantity above 6 you can mix and match your flavors (all in quantities of 6).

I have a pricing set in my head, but I don't want to post it. If you are interested in ordering some custom made cake balls, please email me at underwood92708@gmail.com. I will be creating these this weekend and shipping on Monday (February 8th) to ensure arrival for Valentine's day. I am open to all suggestions on decorating in addition to my standard ways.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

It's been a year!

A year ago today we put in the offer on our house. It was accepted two days later (the 27th) and we closed a month after that (February 27th). I can't believe it's been a whole year already, it feels like yesterday! I remember how long it took until the house actually felt like ours. I think that had to do with the fact we didn't change anything (paint, flooring etc). It was perfect and still us. Every week for this entire year we have commented on how much we love our house!

This weekend we really blew some of the money I've been saving grocery shopping. Saturday we bought blinds for the study and one bedroom upstairs (although we found them at Big Lots and they were more than 50% cheaper than Lowes). We also bought a table for the laundry room and a dvd tower. But we did have a 20% off coupon for everything!!

Sunday we went to brunch with Pat's parents at this wonderful breakfast buffet at The Red Fox and it was wonderful! Then we went shopping at the outlets in North Conway because we were both in need of some new clothes. We both hate clothes shopping so much, but sometimes it's necessary.

There is ONE thing I didn't mind shopping for though. A new purse! Coach opened an outlet this summer there and we hadn't been in. Probably a good thing since I found this beauty I needed!

It had been years since I had a new purse and it was high time. I love it.

Customized Chocolates

Although I'm excited about the prospect of making chocolates for people, there is something holding me back. I think mostly I'm scared that just because I think they're great, nobody else will. I'm afraid of the failure, or the less than stellar reviews.

I still haven't thought of a catchy, fun, cute name for the business. I know that seems minor, but I feel hung up on it. I want a cute name and a cute logo. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Here are a few pictures of the cake balls for reminders. I started out making them like the little cupcakes below (which are super cute), but lately I've just been dipping them and drizzling on them, which I think looks great. I don't have any pictures uploaded of the newer ones (these were from last summer).

I think I need a jump start. I need a name and I need to set pricing. I intend to sell customized cake balls, chocolate covered oreos and possibly homemade mini peanut butter cups. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them!

New Endeavor

For quite some time now I've been kicking around the idea of selling the chocolates that I love to make so much. After some pushing encouragement from my coworkers, family and friends I've decided to give it a try.

Starting for Valentine's Day I will be willing to ship my homemade customized cake balls, chocolate covered oreos and peanut butter cups. That's provided that I get any orders, of course.

Over the next week I am going to work on getting pricing put together and thinking of a cute name (any suggestions?) as well as packaging and shipping methods.

While I am starting for Valentine's Day, I intend to have my chocolates available year round. I will be testing the proper shipping methods out in the warmer months where melting chocolate could be problematic.

If anyone is interested in learning more about them now, please feel free to leave a comment here and I'll be sure to get back to you.

Preview

This is a fantabulous homemade carrot cake that I'm overly proud of. Recipe to come!

More cake balls

My cake balls that I made for our family party on Sunday. My mother took this picture before they were devoured! They were a huge hit and I will definitely be making more of them for family gatherings! I figured that one cake made about 55 of them or so.

Cake Balls!

Bakerella has inspired me in so many ways! Pat was off working a 24 hour shift this weekend so I needed to entertain myself. What to do? Bake!

Her website can explain far better how to make them, so I won't attempt it. Her photography is also much better than mine, but here are my pictures of my creations.

I seriously think they're so cute I can hardly stand it. I've got another batch at home ready for dipping tonight and I can't wait. I'll probably even bake another cake for dipping on Tuesday. I think they came out pretty well for my first time!

I'm obsessed!!

My working space (I love our kitchen):

What do you think? Any suggestions?

Father's Day

This blog is WAY overdue, but here it is anyway, they're too cute not to share!

Like a lot of people (I hope!), I know my Dad is the best one out there. However, he is impossible to buy presents for. When I saw a post on http://www.bakerella.com/ before Father's Day I knew what I would be making.

Burgers and fries!

Stryker helped too!

These pictures don't do them justice at all, they were so cute and a huge hit! Bakerella has easy instructions in her blog and even templates for the tray and fry holder!

Even though Dad doesn't eat sweets I know he appreciated the thought and time that went into these. He even took them to work to show off!

Cowboy Cookies

Last Sunday it was freezing so Pat and I didn't want to get out of the house. I realized I truly am becoming my mother (not a bad thing!) because I decided to bake. When I was little we baked all the time. Mom loves to tell the story of how I made my first banana bread all by myself at age 3 for my Grammy Poland. What a sweet kid I was.

Anyway, since we hadn't been to the grocery store in a week, supplies were low. Then I remembered my Aunt Sue had given me one of those jars full of dry ingredients to make cookies for Christmas. Since all the dry ingredients were prepared for me, I don't really know what's in them (other than flour, brown sugar, chocolate chips, oatmeal and some kind of nuts...walnuts, I think). They were delicious though and certainly didn't last long! I have a feeling Pat will be requesting these again.

Mmmm....I wish I had one right now!