How Does Your Garden Grow? Weekly Update 2/24/11

Last week this time I updated you on the progress of my little late bloomer Ildi. Just a reminder. This is what she looked like last Thursday.

 

And this is what she looks like now!

 

Amazing :)

And what's more...

 

Ildi has a sister now, who is bigger than she was last week. I call her Ildina. I am happy for Ildi and Ildina. Sisters are great. At least mine are :)

Then there are the eggplants.

 

They're a steady bunch.

... and the herbs.

I love the herbs. They make me smile :)

 

Sage has real live bumps on it's leaves, just like regular sage does. Thank you sage :)

Oregano is looking spry.

 

Lavender seems to be doing pretty well despite the fact that I spelled her name wrong on her label stick, and in some ironic twist all three of the pictures I took of her were focused on said label stick instead of her. Hmmmm...go figure. Her progress makes me extremely happy. I have read that Lavender doesn't grow well in the south, but I am hoping to overcome this. Please survive lavender. I want to create a fancy dessert with you and spread your smell through out my house. I believe in you. You can do this :)

 

That's right. Stand up tall and proud Parsley. Believe in  yourself. I don't care what they say. You are far more than just a garnish. Clearly they just haven't realized your full potential.

 Thyme developed this lovely purple color on the underside of her leaves this week. Very pretty thyme. Thanks for that :)

 

Very sweet, Sweet Marjoram.

Last but most definitely not least, my personal favorite, Cilantro. I can not describe the love I feel for Cilantro. I can't believe I am growing my own. I can't wait to make salsa with you, and put you in my tacos and Asian food. Cilantro I love you. I really do, but I have a question. Why are you so lazy? Why won't you stand up. Have I hurt your feelings or something. You look green and happy, but you are on a constant siesta (oxymoron alert) lately. You only get one life Cilantro, and you really should stand up tall and enjoy yours, because I can promise you it won't be long (evil, salsa making cackle :)

And finally...

 

The Tomato Plants. They always stand tall.

 

We've had some challenges this week, the Tomato plants and I. They have been loosing leaves. My gardening mentor and friend told me to try raising the lights a little more and that seems to  have helped. They are growing so fast now, and requiring a lot more water and attention. I can't wait to put them in the earth. I think they will be happier there. Just a few more weeks. Mississippi Rob has been trying to get me to do it early, but I am sticking with my gardening mentor's advice. She has been right about everything so far.

Aren't they just so lovely and green? I wish that you could smell them. Their scent is intoxicating. So clean and fresh and tomato-ee. If I was an elf I would totally crawl up beneath their leaves and take a nap in the diffused green light of their foliage. Maybe when they get bigger I can fit :)

This week a lady friend at work, after looking at my blog told me "No one grows plants from seeds anymore. You are just an old fashioned girl." I hope so. I don't want to forget the things, that I was too snotty and preoccupied to learn from my parents and grandparents in my youth. I have a lot to catch up on, but I am up to it. Little does my work friend know, but I plan to try my hand at canning this year too, and I am in the market for a porch swing as well. I always said that I was gonna grow old gracefully. I didn't want to make a fool of myself. Now I don't care about any of that. I just want to enjoy every minute, whether I make a fool of myself or not. Bring on the road trips and being the only "old lady" out on the dance floor. Bring on the old, the new, the stupid, the weird and the embarrassing. Bring on being laughed at, and laughed with. BRING ON LIFE!!!

I am ready :)

The Gaudier The Better

I have a confession to make. I am obsessed with vintage floral prints and 60's/70's era patterns. I don't know why. I have been this way for years. I painted the ceiling with a giant flower pattern in my former home. My current bathroom is bright orange to match the wild flower pattern of my shower curtain. I think Heather Bailey is a genius.

http://www.heatherbaileystore.com/

I can't explain it. I just like them. They make me happy. Maybe it is nostalgia for the flower print dresses my grandmother used to make me as a child in the 70's or maybe it is just the graphic use of pattern and the bright unconcerned colors, that seem to say "this is what we do. Take us or leave us." Maybe it is a little of both. Of course, it could also be this...

You are looking at the tray my mother served me chicken noodle soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on every time I was sick through out my entire childhood. It was always chicken noodle, and PB&J. I still crave these when I feel bad till this day, and I will not even look at chicken noodle soup if PB&J are not nearby. I hear some people had tomato soup when they were sick, but that's just weird :) When I grew up I asked my mother for this tray, thinking that I would use it with my own kids at some point. It just felt like it was something I wanted to hold on to. Perhaps because of the memory and feeling of comfort that it held for me as a child. I mean seriously. Can you imagine the feeling of importance I must have gained from being served on this pattern when ill, as a child? It is an absolute wonder that I didn't grow up thinking I was royalty :)

Isn't she a BEAUT !!! Even sick, I remember feeling special to be having lunch served to me in bed propped up on pillows like a princess. I suppose that this tray may very well be the reason why I am so drawn to vintage floral prints today. Perhaps they offer an unspoken comfort and a reminder of a time in my life when things were more simple and all my needs were easily met. Thanks Mom for keeping me well. I know it was a lot of work sometimes.

I can't say for certain why I love these patterns. All I know for sure is, I want them around me. Which is probably why I had such a blast this past Saturday when I went thrift shopping for plates to use on the blog. I already had some,  but I got quite a few new ones. I told myself I should wait, and let you see them all one by one, but I have never been good at waiting, soooo....

 

Once it occurred to me that I could line them all up in rows like this and photograph them, it was over. I seriously need a hobby. Wait a second, I think I just got one...or four. Ummm...blogging...plate shopping and collecting...developing my underdeveloped green thumb...spreading icing on cakes. I'm covered. Carry on :)

So here are some close ups of some of my favorite plates in the recently declared "collection" previously known as just a stack of plates.

 

I actually have a whole tea set of this pattern. I began begging my parents to give me this set when I was 12. My dad got them overseas when he was very young and in the military. My mom always thought they were awful, but I have always LOVED them. I used to climb up on a chair to get on the counter and look at them, when as a child they were hidden in the cabinet above the refrigerator. If you hold the tea cups up to the light you can see a geisha in the bottom of the cup. I found this fascinating as a child.

Finally I grew up and settled down enough that the folks passed the set to me. Can you say prized possession?

 

These two I got at a flea market. I love the patterns. They are awesome.

This one I got at Goodwill. It is yellow with dots, and that is enough for me :)

 This one, Mississippi Rob's Grandmother made. Ceramics was one of her many creative pass times. When she passed away, no one else seemed to care for these because they are...how should I say...kinda dated and funky. Which,  of course, was right up my ally, so I said "Can I have them?" We have several pieces of her ceramics. They don't go together, and they don't go with any thing else we have, but I like having them around. They are part of MRob's history. We are big on history in this house. We're smarties :) I didn't know his grandmother for very long. She passed away not long after MRob and I were married, but she was very kind to me during the short time that I did know her. She was a super talented lady, and it's nice to have a reminder of her.

Just thought I would give you a little introduction to some of the members of my growing plate collection. I have never officially collected anything before I don't think. Now is probably as good a time as any to start. Do not be surprised if you see me propped up on feather pillows eating off them in the future. I've been doing a little "re-princessing" lately :) Try to bare with me.

P.S. I almost forgot. I also found this wonderfulness while thrift shopping Saturday.

 

They are a lot brighter green than they look in this picture. They sing to me. I haven't found a home for them with in my home yet, but I know they belong with me. MRob's eye roll when I squealed at sighting them across the thrift store, told me he feels the same way. Well, he'll get used to them anyway :)

Let the Angels Eat Cake

I have been planning to make this cake for a while now. It was originally planned to be a Valentines blog for people (like me) who didn't want to blow their own and everyone else's New Years resolution, by giving out chocolates and candy hearts. Unfortunately, the Valentines blog never happened, as I spent Valentine's Day enrolled in the school of "learn your dang poison plants before you go ploughing through your yard like a Batmobile tractor out of hell". Actually a lot of things didn't happen on Valentine's. I believe Mississippi Rob's official statement on the situation was "I love you Leper. Don't touch me." It was a very romantic day for me and one I will never forget :) So anyhoo, originally I planned to make a strawberry angel food cake for Valentines. I mention this because I still believe this idea has tremendous yummy potential as well, but my honey, MRob voted for this pineapple version, so I went with it instead. Here's how you make Pineapple Angel Food Cake.

First preheat your oven to 350° F.   Next you are gonna need some of these.

Have you seen these? Freeze dried fruit chips. No sugar added. Just fruit. Very low calorie and yummy. They are very light so they won't weigh the angel food batter down, but they regain the texture of real pineapple (because they are real pineapple) when baked in the cake.

Next you will need to get together the rest of your ingredients. Here's the whole gang.

You will need to sift together 3 times- 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 cup of cake flour (have to use cake flour here. Do not substitute), and 1/2 tsp salt. The reason for all the excessive sifting is you are not only making sure there are no large pieces or foreign objects in your mixture, but you are also thoroughly mixing your ingredients.

Next you need to add to the bowl of your mixer 1 and 1/2 cups cold egg whites, 1 tbsp water, 1 tsp cream of tartar, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1/4 tsp almond extract. Beat this on low speed for about 1 minute. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the mixture increases in volume about 4 and 1/2 to 5 times. This can take up to 3 minutes. I always set my timer for 2 minutes and check my progress when the timer goes off. If it needs more time I give it the other minute. The consistency will be soft and foamy, and will hold a very soft shape when the beater is lifted.

Use the time while your whites are beating to quickly remove your freeze dried pineapple from it's package and coarsely chop it into smaller chunks like so...

 

With the mixer still at medium speed very gradually add 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tbsp at a time over several minutes. Do not go too fast on this step as you are building the cakes structure. Continue beating the mixture until it holds soft, glossy peaks like this...

and this...

Note the shine on the meringue. I always begin checking the peak when I see this shine. If your meringue looses this shine then you have gone too far. 

Next you will need to very gradually fold your flour/sugar/salt mixture into the whites. Begin by sifting about 1/8 of the flour over the top surface of the whites. Gently fold the flour into the whites, working from top to bottom. Be careful not to over mix. It is important not to break down the structure you built when whipping air into the whites.

Repeat this step 7 more times, sifting a little flour over the surface and gently folding from top to bottom with each addition. 

Add the pineapple chunks to the last addition of flour.

Pour batter into ungreased 9 or 10 inch angel food cake pan, and smooth with spatula to level.

 

Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, or when it looks like this...

Turn cake, in pan, upside down over 4 glasses like so...

and allow to cool like this for at least 1 1/2 hours.

When cake has cooled, slide thin bladed knife around the edge of cake and also around center tube, pressing against pan, so as not to damage cake. Place cake board upside down on center top of cake pan, and hold together with cake pan while flipping over so that cake is now on cake board. You may have to use your knife to separate the cake from the bottom of the pan as well if you are using a pan with a removable bottom.

Drum roll please... and VOILA!!!

Introducing...

Pineapple Angel Food Cake!!! Isn't she lovely?

and wait, there is more. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also talented. This cake is very low calorie for a dessert (see diagram above), and virtually fat free. This pineapple angel food cake is well worth the effort in my book. Angel food is super fun to make, once you get the hang of it, and it is a lot of flavor bang for your calorie counting buck.

P.S.  I am not a dietitian. I count calories using a free online calorie counter. I just like to try to be creative with my calories and thought it would be nice to share some of the things I like to eat. Hope you enjoy :)

P.S.S.  I took this cake to work this morning. I sat it on the counter in the break room at 8:00 a.m. It was gone by 11:00 a.m. I think that may mean they liked it :)

Ingredients List

1 cup cake flour

1 1/2 cups sugar divided into two 3/4 cups

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups cold egg whites (about 12 large egg whites)

1tbsp water

1tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 tsp almond extract

1-1/2 cup package of Crisps Real Pineapple Chunks

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Have ready a clean, ungreased 9 or 10 inch angel food pan.

2. Sift cake flour, 3/4 cup of sugar and salt together 3 times.

3. Add egg whites, water, cream of tartar, vanilla, and almond extract to a large bowl and beat on low speed for 1 minute. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until mixture increases in volume 4 1/2 to 5 times and is a soft foam that holds a very soft shape when the beaters are lifted. This can take up to 3 minutes, but may take less depending on your mixer, so test it.

4. While whites are mixing, coarsely chop dried pineapple pieces into smaller chunks.

5. Still at medium speed, beat in 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tbsp at a time. Take your time (2 to 3 minutes). You are building the cakes structure.

6. Continue to beat the mixture until soft, white, moist and shiny peaks are formed when the beater is lifted. Look for the shine on your meringue and check to see if they have soft peaks. Do not beat until stiff.

7. Sift a thin layer of the sifted flour/sugar/salt mixture over the surface of the egg white mixture (about 1/8 of total flour mixture). Gently fold, working from top to bottom of mixture. Be careful not to over mix, but just incorporate. Repeat this step 7 more times, adding the chopped pineapple pieces on the last addition.

8. Transfer mixture into prepared ungreased pan and bake at 350° for about 35 to 40 minutes. Cake is done when toothpick in center comes out clean.

9. Turn cake, in pan, upside down over 4 glasses, to cool for at least 1 1/2 hours.

10. Slice as desired and enjoy.

Happy BIrthday Chase

Today is my little nephew...excuse me...big boy nephew Chase's Birthday. It is really hard to believe that he is turning eight. Time is going by so fast these days I am becoming afraid to blink. Chase used to look like this...

 

 and this...

and this...

 

and this. Chase is the smaller one on top :) 

 

Now he looks like this. 

UNBELIEVABLE!!! I warn you do not look directly into his eyes. That's how he gets you. Those eyes are irresistible :) What else can I say...my nephew Chase...he's smart, he's creative, he's extremely handsome, and now (against my advice) he is EIGHT!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHASE!!!! Hope you have the best birthday ever in the history of birthdays :) Oh, and you are bringing a big enough suitcase to sneak Aunt Steph in for Universal Studios this weekend, right??? Have fun baby boy. You deserve it :)

Love ya lots,
Aunt Steph

How Time Flies

It seems like just yesterday, that I was a know it all teenager rolling my eyes at my mother for saying that it seemed like just yesterday. Still it is true. Everything goes by so quickly. The things that seem so very important to us at one moment, we find later down the line, may hold very little relevance at all. That is what life is about. It is what we are about. We live. We learn. We make choices. We move forward and back and forward again. We change. We adapt. We influence. We are influenced. We rebel. We see reason. We stand firm. We tremble. We sit with each other. We stand alone. We hold hands. We love. We move on. This is what we do and more. We are altogether simple and complex and there is nothing in the world like the growth of a child to put into perspective how quickly time is passing. A little more than a year ago I was surrounded by pregnant women. Two at work, a backpacker friend, and then my little sister. I think that last bit probably says it all. In all fairness and truth, I wasn't actually surrounded, but for me, I might as well have been. It was not long before this time that I was diagnosed with Policystic Ovarian Syndrome. Which basically meant it would be difficult for me to get pregnant. I was 37 years old and I had never been pregnant. Which never really bothered me. I never really thought about it that much to be honest. I truly just felt like it was always on the horizon. I believed that it would happen in God's time. I was always perfectly fine with that, until...I realized that it might not be on the horizon. I kid you not, I had never felt an inkling of urgency about this subject, but when I realized the possibility was growing that I might not have a child of my own, I kind of went...let's say...a  little crazy. I am not really even sure why now. I think in part I just couldn't stand the finality of it. Then there was the part about my husband. My husband, Mississippi Rob, whom I love dearly, confessed to me one night that he really did not want to have more children at our age. He said that he felt that he would have been fine with it, had it happened 5 years earlier, but now he was over 40 and he just couldn't fathom it. At first I thought I could sway him on this. I thought he would warm to it. I thought if it happened he would feel differently, but then one day in a heated argument he told me just how strongly he felt that he COULDN'T take that step. While the details of his feelings I will leave between us, let me just say that I realized for the first time, that he really could not bring himself to do this thing, not even for me. Now, I know my husband. I think I probably know him better than anyone. I know the reasons why this is an issue for him, but still what about me? That is what I kept saying to myself, and other people were saying it to me as well, of course. Other well meaning souls (and they really do mean well a lot of times) always have plenty to say, but in the end you have to make your decisions for yourself, because you are the absolute only one who has to live with them. All I could think was how insanely selfish this husband of mine was to withhold this from me. How could he do this??? Then there was the way I felt about myself. I felt as though I was some how less of a woman because I couldn't and wouldn't  procreate, and this was unintentionally re-iterated to me by other "well meaning souls" again, who it seemed constantly were reminding me that it was "the most amazing experience I was ever going to have", and that "everything that seemed so important to me before I had a child, would some how cease to be important". Even my own mother had been telling me since I was born, that the day of my birth was " the most special day of her entire life". Well, I thought, that pretty much leaves me out of having my "most special day of my entire life". I hated my husband, which a lot of people seemed OK with :) and I hated the "mommy club" that I would never be a part of, and I hated myself for hating them both, because I knew it was crazy and beneath me. I thought and talked about leaving my husband. I picked fights with him, and threatened him, and tried to manipulate him. I said things to him that I wish I hadn't, and I wondered if I was young enough still to start over. But when I would think of going forward without him, all I could think about was all the things we have done together, and all the things I might have never done with out him. He pushes me. That has always been a very annoying plus to our relationship. Still I couldn't stand him, and he made me sick (not really :), but then one day I was reading a blog. I don't even know whose, but it was a woman and she was talking about the very subject I was dealing with (husbands who don't want kids), and she posed the simple question "Did you marry your husband because you loved him or because you wanted to have kids with him?" I knew in that moment that I would stay with my husband, and I would be strong and move on from this, because I had married my husband because I loved him, and I still do. Sometimes you reach a point in your life where you realize that things aren't going to be the way you pictured them, and you can kick and scream about it all you want, but you are only postponing the joy that awaits you when you just get over yourself and get on with it.

A year ago yesterday this vision of preciousness was born to my work friend and her husband. Her name is Jacy Mae and she had a polka dot cupcake birthday party this past weekend. Jacy Mae's very talented mother honored me by asking me to make the cake for this celebration. Although I still have poison ivy (which is the reason for the late post) Jacy's Mom said she still wanted me to make the cake. So of course, I bought some elbow high blue rubber gloves and I rolled down my sleeves and got to work. I couldn't let Jacy down on her 1st Birthday could I?

 

I mixed and I baked.

I made marshmallow fondant (yum!)

I decorated...

 

 

and I grabbed hold of my happy and healed a little bit more.

I tried to make Jacy's first birthday cake as lovely and perfect as her. She seems to have enjoy it

well enough :)

 While I was working on Jacy's cake, I was also making a small impromptu dinosaur cake for my  beloved nephew Chase. Chase will be turning 8 on the 18th of this month and in celebration he and his family are making a trip to Universal Studios (totally jealous). Anyhoo, my mom came up with the idea, at the last minute, to have a small birthday party for him with just us and a few of his little cousins. Chase is really into dinosaurs right now, so I hurried up and made him a dinosaur cake. He totally loved it, which is what matters most to me. Here are some pics of Chase and his dinosaur cake. 

 

 

 

I love him :)

Finally, I just wanted to say how happy I was to make these cakes. I truly love baking and making cakes and it was really special for me to get to make Jacy Mae's 1st Birthday cake, and my nephew Chase's Dinosaur cake. I am so happy to have reached the point where I realize that my party is not over. All of these little one's are such a blessing and I want to make them cake. That is what I do, and it is good enough for me. I make cake :)