delicious banana bread!

this is a classic recipe for banana bread, and also the best i have ever tasted! the trick is to use very ripe bananas - the browner, the better. this recipe is great with or without nuts. try candied walnuts for a sweet yummy crunch - or chocolate chips if you want!

2 large (or 3small) very ripe bananas
1 c. sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (optional)

preheat oven to 325 degrees. mash bananas with a fork until soft and mushy. beat in sugar, baking soda, and salt. add the egg. slowly incorporate melted butter - you don't want to scramble the egg! mix in flour and then add nuts if you so choose. pour into regular sized loaf pan - greased. i use a silicon loaf pan and it is fantastic. bake for 1 hour or until center looks done.

if you are anything like me (or paula deen for that matter) you will enjoy your banana bread slice with butter slathered on top! (country crock is my fave!) -- you know what they say... "never trust a skinny chef!" (good excuse, huh?) : ]

cake quote of the day!

Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.
- Jim Davis

buttercream fondant

we halved this recipe since we only needed it for cut-outs. it still made quite a bit!

1 c. light corn syrup
1 c. shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract (use clear for a bright white color)
2 pounds confectioners' sugar (1 regular sized bag)

• combine all ingredients using the dough hook on your mixer. you may need to finish up the mixing by hand.


• to make colors, seperate out however much you want and knead in food coloring paste (available at craft stores + wal-mart)


• roll out with powdered sugar sprinkled on your surface and on the rolling pin - this keeps it from sticking!

play.ball!

Happy Birthday Ben! Fun-filled day of birthday cake making (our first attempt at fondant, not so scary!) and a big game of kickball.


Julie + Kendall. Fondant extraordinaires!

"Behind every great woman... is an iPhone"

Hand models!





Go Ferrets!

nike+ : amazing creation

my boys!

Scooter - representing the BEST school! go pokes!

scooter wearing "doggles"



simon in his classy tee

peanut butter & chocolate chip cookies

1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter - room temp.
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 large egg
1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 c. all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

bake @ 400 degrees for 6-7 minutes. pull out of oven BEFORE they look done. let them cool and they will firm up.

Kendall's Pirate Cake

arrrrggghhh.





so proud of kendall. i contributed very little! yay for OTHER people loving cakes! also yay for pirates.

happy birthday blake!

buttercream frosting!

my tried and true FAVORITE recipe:

1 c. crisco shortening
1 c. unsalted butter (room temp)
1 bag powdered sugar
2-4 tb. milk
1 & 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract (use clear for a bright white frosting)
1/2 tsp. pure almond extract

• this recipe makes a large batch of frosting - big enough for an 8 inch double stacked cake. i usually cut it in half for cookies or cupcakes. :)
• use food coloring paste to make your favorite colors - this won't water down your frosting!

Going away party for Carol Hopper. We miss her! she was a genius in the kitchen.



my first [okay, second, but i'm too embarrassed of the first to ever show a picture. i don't even think i TOOK a picture of it] two-tier cake.

barbie back!

my newest love: bakerella's cupcake pops. http://www.bakerella.com/. she is a true genius!

cubs cake for miss amber brock!

[halloween]

Dale Thurman: a true rock star.
I heart Barbie cakes!

Kendall & I on her birthday!

mmmm.... donuts......

A painter's cake for Beth. The Bears cake that Robyn consumed whole after the Colts dominated. Kara's 'special' cake.

Mother's day cakes, Sperm cake [i can explain - toni dewitt's birthday. that's really all] & congratulations Robyn [dolphin lover] for OSU Homecoming Exec 2004.

Some basketweave creations.