i don't have a stinkin title

Today little man is 13  months old! Since I didn't post about his awesome cake on his bday I'll tell you all about it now! But first the recipe. Blueberry Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature 1¾ cup granulated sugar 4 large eggs, room temperature 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup buttermilk ½ teaspoon salt 1½ pints blueberries Blue Food Coloring 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature 1 8oz package cream cheese, room temperature 3 cups confectioner's sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 9" cake pans with butter or cooking spray.  In a bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. In another bowl beat the butter until light and creamy. Slowly add the sugar and cream until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporate each egg before adding the next. Ad...

ever since i was a kid christmas has been all about the food. and the cookies. i remember around third or fourth grade being home cuz it was christmas break and my mom made butter cookies. my brother and i got to "help" by putting the sprinkles on the cookies. (i remember distinctly breakin 2: electric boogaloo was on my mom would make an array of cookies for christmas..butter cookies, pizzelles , almond balls, cherry almond balls, rum balls, and fruit cake. once i was old enough i really did help my mom bake the cookies, and roll all those damn balls! then i became the designated butter cookie maker, which was fine by me bc i got to use the cookie gun! once i moved to la, i made the cookies for myself bc really its all i have left of how christmas used to be. (going to rob's brother's for christmas is good cuz they have 2 boys that are still all about santa, but really its not the same as being with my LOUD italian family, not to mention completely different food.....

so i've been on a mission to find recipes other than hummus for the chickpea, aka the garbanzo bean. i've also been trying to find pantry recipes, aka recipes for shit you usually have in the house i got lucky and found on that is both and actually healthy too!! this was originally from cooking light, but i swear you would never know it!! Ingredients * 2 teaspoons olive oil * 2 cups chopped tomato * 2 garlic cloves, minced * 3 cups hot cooked angel hair (about 6 ounces uncooked pasta) * 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/4 teaspoon black pepper * 1 (15 1/2-ounce) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained * 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Asiago cheese * 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar * Basil sprigs (optional) Preparation Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add tomato and garlic, and sauté 2 minutes. Add pasta, basil, salt, pepper, and chickpeas; cook 2 minutes. Place mixture in a bowl...

so it got cold yesterday here in sunny southern california. cold of course being relative as compared to the east coast.. when i got home from work all the windows were open bc up until yesterday it had been perfect! so i closed all the windows and curled up on the couch under a blanket. after laying there in a semi-comatose state (as an opening shift after 3 days off can mess you up) i realized it was only 6pm and if i fell asleep then i definitely would not sleep thought the nite. i didn't really want to leave the comfy warmness of the blanket, but i had to. so i decided i had to bake something so i could turn the oven on and warm up the house! when i had been home for baba's funeral i asked if i could have her recipes and cook books. my goal was to find her banana bread recipe. sadly i found 2 banana cakes but no banana bread...i did, however, find baba's jewish apple cake. my mom was sooo excited for this one. the two main differences between what my mom had been doing ...

to me banana bread is a comfort food like macaroni and cheese. summer thunder storms always make me think of mac and cheese (we had a horrible thunderstorm that knocked down our next door neighbor's tree into our yard on a night that my dad made mac and cheese. they next time he made mac and cheese i asked him if it was going to rain, thus a food memory was born) banana bread always makes me think of my baba. growing up we'd spend our summer days at baba and dedo's. there was always banana bread. baba would make it in this large 8x13 pan. it was the best. try as i might i just can not replicate baba's banana bread. i don't know if it was the pan or some magic that only grandmothers seem to possess. i am always looking for new banana bread recipes to see if i can find that little difference. right now i have a banana bread in the oven. i know its not the same as baba's but its a good one. there is something comforting about the smell of banana bread baking ...

so i've decided to start a blog. my intention is to post about stuff i like. so what do i like... i enjoy baking and cooking, and have become quite domestic in my old age...i'm gonna post recipes i like houses and am OBSESSED with house hunters (currently i am a house hunter). once i get the house i'm sure i'll be all about decorating. I enjoy 60's and 70's kitchy stuff. my goal it to have an avocado green kitchen! i watch lots of crappy reality tv! so expect me to share a thought or 2... i thought this would be easier..ah well..i guess i can add another post when i get inspired, right?