Homemade Lasagna

So it's been a pretty great week! I finished the cake for delivery and just got work from the guest that it was a big hit & tasty!

As some of you know this time two years ago one of the most amazing guys I know was taken from us. And I just wanted to take a little time to recognize him & remember how pure his heart was and how wonderful he was and still is in my heart.
Here's to you Zac Cook; 01.12.10

On Thursday Keith and I went to Shiner, Texas to tour the Shiner brewery! It was so much fun and the ironic thing is Shiner was Zac's favorite beer so I felt he was there and made sure I drank a few in his honor. And I got a new Shiner black lager brownie recipe, can't wait to make those tasty treats. All in all this week was great, I worked then relaxed and worked a little more. Sunday is laundry day since the Texans are playing and I'm a Cowboys fan I'll be doing something productive - Go Giants! Yes I'm pulling for a Giants win, glad to know the Saints are out & the Tebow outrage is over!

I know your probably ready for the recipe of this post and get ready for it - homemade lasagna!! It was so delicious an Keith really liked it, also made good leftovers and I don't like leftovers. It only took about 45 minutes to prep, cook and serve!

INGREDIENTS:
1 pound of ground beef
2 cups of water (can sub with beef stock)
2 cups of beef stock
7 dry lasagna noodles - break apart
1 can condensed tomato soup (10.75oz)
1 onion, chopped (I used half)
1-2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 TBSP Italian seasonings
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cornstarch
Salt to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Cook the ground beef till browner for about 10 minutes, in a large skillet on medium heat. Pour in the water & bee stock bring to boil. Mix in lasagna noodles, tomato soup, Italian seasonings, and black pepper. Reduce heat, cover and simmer on low until the lasagna noodles are tender, about 10 minutes.

If the sauce has not thickened take one cup of the liquid sauce out add the 1 tsp of cornstarch mix together then mix back into skillet. Simmer to thicken then your ready to serve.

I added cheese to mine and it made it extra delicious! It serves about 4 people unless your serving hungry boys then you may want to double it. Please let me know what you think and if you find any variations!

I've included both a picture of dinner and the finally put together cake. Please enjoy & leave me some comments.

love y'all! <3

Going great

Let me start by saying life is full of absolute surprises both good and bad. One day you could be living your life then BAM bad news. Then a week later you open your email to find your dreams coming true. I have a trial interview in New Jersey at The Pink Cake Box; the place I've dreamed about working for! Now I have to make $500 dollars so I can book my flight up there. Fingers crossed so far I've got $170, just a little more to go. And if I get the internship I'll be there for 9 weeks (unpaid) but it's a dream come true.

Now for the latest in More Than Words arts. I've been working on some pieces that will top a birthday cake. Bottle of Skyy Vodka, Sugarfree Redbull & some boxers. I know it sounds completely random but there is a great story behind it all. I think my second favorite things about my job is the story behind the cake whether it's a love story or humorous one its always great.

Each piece is made from gum paste because the pieces get harder than fondant. It's not difficult to work with and not too expensive. For 2 lbs I paid $20, as long as your selling for a good price and using it wisely you won't lose money.

To end today's message I'd like to recognize that this month is Cervical Health Awareness month. More than 4,000 women are diagnosed a year, make sure you find out & take the necessary actions.

Thanks all - Goodnight <3

Fire Engine Red

Yesterday I was given news about my life. The news is uncertain but it's life changing, the kind that makes you stop and all you can think about it that one word repeating over inside your head. I'm asking for your prayers and when I know more you will too.

This blog however is about happiness, yesterday I got to play with my brand new mixer!! Ohh it's so shiny, red & beautiful! (thank you to my Amazing Mammie!) Of course the first thing I make is going to be Chocolate Chip Cookies so below you'll find the recipe. As well as some delicious Buttermilk Biscuits that I'm enjoying right now outside (Texas your weather humors me - why can't you feel like this in the summer) Soxs is also outside with me snooping around the porch, hopefully she won't mistake the bird seed for a treat.
Now to get on with the recipes I'm sure your more interested in that. Remember to thank God for the day He has brought to us & live it as if there is no tomorrow.



Chocolate Chip Cookies;
3/4 cup Butter (or Crisco shortening)
1-1/4 cup Brown sugar
Cream these together with paddle attachment on medium for about 5 minutes or until smooth
1 Whole egg
Add until fully incorporated
1 TBSP Vanilla
Add; till everything is smooth
1-3/4 cup All-purpose flour
1 tsp Salt
3/4 tsp Baking soda
Turn mixer down then add the dry ingredients. Mix until it becomes a dough.
1 cup Chocolate chips (or nuts, candies whatever your fancy may be - I always add 1/2 cup)
Add the desired goodness and mix together, by hand or mixer.

Bake at 375*F for 8-12 minutes. Bake on the middle rack or one higher to ensure bottom don't burn.
Cool & enjoy!


Buttermilk Biscuits (half recipe)
This is actually done more by hand, so if you have never made dough hopefully I can explain it well enough or just ask.

12oz All-purpose flour
1oz Sugar
0.75oz Baking Powder
0.125oz Salt
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder & salt
4oz Butter, cold
Add the butter and rub together until the mixture has the appearance of a coarse meal
2oz Whole eggs
10.5 fl oz Buttermilk
Combine the eggs and buttermilk; add to flour mixture tossing to combine. (your hands will get doughy here) Cover with plastic wrap and rest in refrigerator for 45-60 minutes.
Roll out the dough onto a heavily floured surface to a 1 inch thickness. Then fold in half and roll it out again to the same thickness. Cut out the biscuits line them close together on your baking pan (this causes them to rise)

Bake at 425*F about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Be careful, the bottoms tend to cook faster than the tops. Brush with melted butter and enjoy with some jam (:


I don't have a quote to end on today other than the thoughts I've been thinking which are don't take pity upon yourself. You are beautiful and strong and it takes a strong heart the survive. Write a love letter to yourself.

<3

2012!

Well it's a New Year - things are going to change. I made one of my 2011 goals just so you know, I graduated with honors! A 3.7 GPA, National Technical Honor Society & an honorable mention for my Capstone. I know I have been pretty absent since July but that's all changing! I started last year in with the most pain-strucken heart, the loss of friends without the ability to change anything. I've taken all those once negatives and made them positive. I've cleaned up everything, my house, my facebook and most of all my life! I'm in control. Next step is to earn more money to help move, bake more & post some amazing recipes both simple & complex, and of course look for that 'Big Kid Job!' I've already applied at nearly 20 places - fingers crossed there is an offer more than an internship!

Below are the 'Cakes of 2011' since I was too busy to post them then & if you aren't on my FB here they are!

(1) Birthday Cake - Dec 2011

(2) Graduation Cake - Dec 2011

Discoveries; better tasting fondant. different cake coverings. & the art of the eye.

Enjoy readers - see you next time.

Ladies & Gents

I've got a new job! You're looking at the new Craft Designer and Guest Service Rep for Nothing Bundt Cakes! I'll be learning a lot about the business side or running an operation and I'll be able to build my resume and the income will help build my portfolio by making cakes outside of work. How funny, I'm basically my own competition now - haha.

School has been crazy, beautiful! <3 I'm doing well in my classes! Staying ahead and trying to make sure I understand everything I do and come by. Three cake orders have already showed up at my door! One this week, two deliveries back home next week! And a Thursday night with some very wonderful people! I can't wait to be back home only if it's for a couple hours its being around people you love/like that matters.

Speaking of, love life still stinks. Slowly moving past what once was, trying not to think too much on what could have been but rather on what still is to come! Other than that, school and a new job, not too much going on in my life. Our New Yorker has gone back to NY and it's sad, missing her very much but only a few months and we will be flying up there for New Years! It's going to be outstanding!!!

"i used to think the moon followed me around and that made me special...

'if your not special then why is the moon still following you?'"

School again.

So before we get into school again let's chat. July has already been full of some really awesome memories & events! The first weekend of July the Boston Red Soxs played the Astros and I made EVERY game! July 1st was also Canada Day! We went out to this awesome Canadian/Hockey bar, drank and had a good time. Almost rumbled with some guy that spilled my own beer on me because he grabbed it up trying to be funny. I ended up meeting the non-drunk him last week and he is really nice and bought me a replacement beer and of course apologized - haha. Saturday & Sunday were both great days & wonderful weather for baseball. I got to see the behind the scenes of the ballpark which was neat and I'm HOPEFULLY getting an autographed ball from Pedroia and Reddick, two of my favorite Red Soxs players. Monday was the 4th of July - Happy 4th (late) Everyone! I just relaxed over at my friends by the pool, ate SHARK for the first time - that was good! Tuesday was the Zoo, it was HOT but it was fun. Since then it's just been a relaxing week. Our New Yorker is about to leave us so we threw her a Going Away Party! And it was a pretty big hit! I also decided that in a year I may go to A&M and get my event planning degree instead of nutrition. It's something I love and it goes hand-in-hand with being a Specialty Cake Designer. Tomorrow we say Goodbye to our New Yorker, taking her to San Antonio then Austin for one less fun day as the three of us. Can't wait to HOPEFULLY go see her in December after we both graduate!

So that brings us to school, I'm starting my second to last quarter. Expected to graduate in Dec 2011 and I can't wait. I'm attempting to put together the resume so I can get a real bug kid job since well I am currently jobless. I left the spa I couldn't take it anymore! It's not profession and I don't have to be treated like that by people younger than me and less intelligent! So I left! And you know what - I'm poor & the HAPPIEST I've been in SUCH a long time! I know it's time I find a job because that always helps but at least I have found happiness again! This quarter I will have pictures and recipes for everyone to have! I'm in a European Cakes & Tortes class, it's my only lab though the rest are finance building classes and management classes. I do have a wine class though and hopefully I'll be in the Pastry Club - if all hours work out!!! Well I need to start getting my knife kit together for class Wednesday.

Speak again soon.

Meaning.

The meaning to life is what you make it. It is dependent upon the choices you make and that chances you take, whether they be mistakes or miracles. Every action we take is a step down the path we choose and has been chosen for us. And every step can be a new chapter when we take the most from it!

I'm starting to realize that the only way I will overcome the things that are holding me back is to stop and put my guard down a little and brush off the dirt I pick up when I hit the ground. I have plenty of people in my life who will stick out there hand to help me and help me brush off the dirt and clean any wounds. They are the biggest part of my book, my family & my friends. We can't erase the past or parts of it we don't like, as much as well all deep down wish we could. Just try thinking about how much of a stronger person it has made you.

Okay so that's my deep thought for the day. The real story behind has been the past few weekends with my friends! Last weekend we hung out at a house of one, had dinner with the family and laid by the pool. I once again got pushed in and I don't see it ever coming to an end. This weekend definitely topped it! Last night was My Friends 22nd birthday, we decorated my apartment for her, made a cake and bought some cute little things as a present but what she doesn't know is we are trying to surprise her with a really awesome trip to the Riverwalk for an awesome girls weekend! So anyways, we watched a little Rugrats while we waited for everyone to get here, man Rugrats are still awesome - don't hate! Then it was off to the baseball game and WE WON - it was a birthday miracle for sure! After that we drove to the bar street, changed in an alley way (haha) & headed to the bars! $5 parking, 80's music singing at one of the bars, then we run into the funnest group of people, they took us to a fun bar bought a few rounds then jumped on a party bus and headed to a shot bar! Taxied home & ready to have the same amount of fun the rest of the weekend!

I Love my girls & so fortunate to have them in my life! And I think we all showed up in each others lives at the exact right time!

"Love what you have & be thankful for what you had"

<3