Lemon Yogurt Cake

There's something so fun about getting ready to attend a dinner party at a friend's house. I love searching through cookbooks and websites to find just the right side dish, salad, pasta... or in this case, a dessert.

I've made this cake twice in two weeks for two separate events. Both times the cake came out moist and flavorful. I strayed from the recipe choosing to dollop fresh made whipped cream and sliced strawberries on top rather than going with the suggested lemon glaze.

Yet again, Ina Garten did not disappoint. This recipe comes from Barefoot Contessa at Home. Please find the recipe {here}.



Sewing

This tickles me so much -- that tongue! It means she's concentrating. 

The girls have been enrolled in an after school sewing class and next week will be the last class of the session. Alex wants to continue but Sammy has had enough.

I really would like Sammy to continue but she says she'll get to have more play dates if she weren't sewing.

So far Sammy has made a hat and a snake for her sister, and she's currently working on a purse for her American Girl Doll. Alex is still working on her first project -- a sleeping bag for her baby dolls. I'm hoping that they'll learn how to hem pants.

Oven-Puffed Pancakes with Berries

This morning I awoke with Oven-Puffed Pancakes with Berries on my mind. I whipped up a batch speedy quick and then I was out the door for a little Sunday morning yoga.  

This morning yoga was hard. The entire class appeared exhausted only after the first 20 minutes, and this was a 90 minute class. The instructor challenged us to push ourselves and to repeat the same sequence over and over again for like a zillion times. The sweat poured off my brow, my nose and my chin. My arms quaked under my own weight, and to add insult to injury, I think balance all but abandoned me. I wobbled in Revolve Crescent and barely held on to Half Moon Pose. Many of these poses I've done with ease many a times, but not this morning. No way. That first 20 minutes had wiped me out. 

I took solace in knowing that once the 90 minutes was up, I would return home to a plate of puffy pancakes. Plus, today Jon and I celebrated our 11-year wedding anniversary. Can you believe it? 11-years.

And even though I came home looking haggard as hells, the beautiful Daffodils that Jon presented me with this morning put a smile on my face. I think I blushed a little -- or maybe that was just the sweat burning my cheeks. I'm not sure -- at this point it was all a blur.

I finally showered, dressed and dabbed a bit of make-up on my face and sat down to a sliver of puffed pancake. The little bit that I got was delicious.  

89th Birthday

 

 

On Sunday we celebrated my grandmother's 89th birthday. You should have seen her. She was all dressed up and appeared ready to spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Beside her sat my 95 year old grandfather. I'm grateful that my children have an opportunity to spend time with their great-grandparents.

Visits are generally short, as are conversations. I'm learning that small gestures such as a hand on one's shoulder, or an unexpected smile shot in the right direction can sometimes say more than words. I think my grandparents said a lot that day.   

A Beautiful Afternoon

 

 

 

 

Yesterday it felt like spring. The rascals played outside soaking in the warm sun and feeling the damp grass between their toes. I finally had to tell Alex to put boots on because in some areas it was still muddy. Alex managed to pluck a few dandelions to make a bouquet, while Sammy spent most of her time in a tree.

It's late afternoons like these that make me long for a steady stream of spring. I'm a big fan of watching the seasons change, but I'll be the first to admit that I don't appreciate being teased... Spring, I'm ready for you so quit lollygagging and get here already. Pretty please.

Moments From My Windows Phone

1. It's been raining non stop. Sammy needed a good raincoat. Jon found this one at The Gap. When he bought it, The Gap was having an extra 30% off sale. I'm not sure if that sale is still going on, but you might want to check to see. By the way, the liner on this coast is gorgeous.

2. The Hunger Games has been on my mind. I loved the book and can't wait for the movie. Alex's hair is long enough to do the Katniss side braid. I loved this look on her, but Alex didn't. She'll come around soon enough.

3. Sammy's last basketball game is this Friday. She loves basketball and we'll now have to find another way to get in some basketball time during the spring/summer.

4. Alex started T-ball. Goodness she looked cute out there, but man alive -- it was cold!

5. After basketball and T-ball it was time for a hearty meal. Chili Dogs seemed to hit the spot.

Princess For A Day

Alex has been sick with a cold -- she's been miserable with cough, runny nose, and slight fever. Yesterday she perked up which meant it was time to change out of her pajamas and brush her hair. At first she was reluctant. She wanted to stay in her pajamas and messy hair for the rest of the day. I think I've told you before that Alex can be a stubborn rascal. After a short while, Alex acquiesced and said, "Okay. I'll change out of my pajamas, but only if I can wear a princess dress with my hair in a bun." I didn't hesitate. I rushed to get a hair brush, and immediately set off to find a gown fit for a princess. Within a half an hour, my little rascal emerged a princess.





After playing dress-up, we ran a few errands stopping briefly at Safeway to pickup some things for dinner. Alex and Sammy did not want to go in the store so we sat in the car while Jon did the shopping. Princesses, as well as non-princesses, can be rowdy as ever.

All in all, yesterday was a good day.



Cookie Trouble

Yesterday was not a good day for baking. Normally my chocolate chip cookies come out of the oven, round and fluffy, and with just the right amount of texture. Yesterday my cookies puddled into these flat pools of chewy, buttery, crunchy pancakes. They taste fine -- sorta like a butter cookie with chocolate chips in them. I'm pretty sure this happened because when I put the butter in the microwave to soften it, I over nuked them and the butter melted. I thought if I put the dough in the refrigerator for a bit it would solve the problem, but it didn't. And even though they look silly, they're still edible and satisfying... I'm not too disappointed.