Mid-Century Modern Baking

Call me crazy (and most people do) but I love making cupcakes. I don't know what has happened to me since I became a stay-at-home mom, but I'm channeling Martha Stewart. Which is better than channeling the devil right? (Reference for all you NY Housewives fans) Except maybe it really is the devil, because making cupcakes means eating cupcakes, which is doing nothing for that extra 20 I have been carrying around with me. But I digress.

The thing is, I have an awesome chocolate cake recipe. I just can't seem to find a good white cake recipe. And I just can't bring myself to buy boxed cake mix with all of it's partially hydrogenated bits. So I decided to break open the american family staple – the Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. This book seemed to be in every home of everyone I knew growing up, including my own. We just happen to have my husband's great grandmother's cookbook, published in 1949. I figured if anyone knows what they were doing, it's those fabulous mid-century modern housewives with their fancy new modern appliances and sexy-hot aprons.

I thumbed through the tabs to find the "Cakes, Cookies, Frostings and Fillings" section. When I flipped the pages open to the section, I couldn't help but think this had to be it. Since I wanted a white cake recipe to make red, white and blue cupcakes for our 4th of July soiree, this page had "this is it" pictured all over it. With cake titles like "Martha Washington", "Lincoln Logs", "George Washington" and "Dolly Madison", how could I go wrong? This seemed perfect for my patriotic pastries! 

I chose a recipe from the "Quick-Mix Cakes". I have to tell you I was intrigued by the description which touted these recipes as the new cake making method.  Awesome. I'm in.

The recipe:

Silver Layer Cake (quick mix)
2 1/4 cup sifted cake flour
4 1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt 1
11/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening ( I substituted butter) - at room temp
1 cup skim milk - at room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 egg whites (1/2 cup) - at room temp

Sift dry ingredients together into mixing bowl. Add shortening and 2/3 of the milk and vanilla.  Beat vigorously for 2 minutes. Add remaining 1/3 cup milk and unbeaten egg whites. Beat 2 minutes. Pour into 2 round waxed-paper-lined 8-inch layer cake pans. Bake in moderate oven (350) for 30 -35 minutes.

Well, the 1949 new cake making method needs some work. Or maybe Martha had failed me this day. All in all the cupcakes turned out okay. They were just a bit denser than I had expected. More like pound cake. Maybe since I didn't actually follow the instructions to the letter. I totally skipped over that whole part about the butter and eggs and milk needing to be a room temperature. That totally explains the lumpy batter! Here is the final outcome.

Since my tour of mid-century modern baking didn't really pan out to produce the amazing cake batter that I wanted in order to make my red, white and blue cupcakes, I'm going to try it again and add in a bit more milk and make sure everything is at room temp. Still looking for that perfect white cake recipe. If you have one, do share.

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Mom Style Circa 1964 - I want it.

I was looking through some of my husbands old photo albums this past weekend. You know, the ones with the nudie bathroom scenes and the "on the potty" pictures? No, not the college years - when he was about the same age as the little man. 2 years or so. And you know what stood out to me? His mother's incredible sense of style!

You didn't see her hanging around in a tattered old sweat shirt or baggy yoga pants. She wasn't sloshing around in Ugg boots, sweats and 3-day-old unwashed hair. No, this woman had style. Mom style.

This left me with the question: How was it that my husband's mom, the fashionable 1960's mom, had such great style while the 2010 mom seems to find herself in a daily uniform of yoga pants and stained sweat shirts? 

Is it possible to have great "mom" style?  

And I know what some of you are probably thinking. Who has the time or energy to think about style when most days, just managing to pull a comb through your hair and slap on some lip gloss is an amazing feat on its own? Some days trying to squeeze in something as trivial as a shower becomes an act of incredible time-management skills. And yeah, now that I am a stay-at-home mom,  I do find it somewhat harder to get all dolled up just to run to the grocery store. It seems like a lot of energy wasted on the bag boy. 

But that's just my point, my husband's mom did get all dolled up. To go the grocery store, to sit in the driveway and watch the kiddos play, even to unpack a moving van. Could so much have changed from 1964 to today? Our kiddos still do the same things they did in the 60's. They still spit up, poop, spill enormous amounts of whatever it is they are eating all over themselves and still require our undivided attention.

I think that moms today are convinced that they no longer have time to be stylish. That their clothes need to be comfortable, washable and wearable and being fashionable or stylish doesn't fit within those criteria.  

But I know that I always feel so much better about myself when I take that extra 5 minutes to pull myself together. Regardless if I'm heading out the door or not. The later I stay sitting around in my sweat pants and bed head, the lousier  and more unmotivated I feel.  And when I do manage to pull myself together, just putting on the wedge sandals verses the flip flops makes such a difference in the way my day goes. Even if it's just a trip to Target. 

And come on, if the 1960's mom did it with the bouffant and lack of modern conveniences (Yo Gabba Gabba), so can I. (Look at that fantastic handbag!)

So, this week, I’m "getting dressed". Every day. Because once you’re dressed, there's more motivation to get out and go somewhere and some days going anywhere — even to the grocery store — is a welcome change from sitting around home.

Next week. I'm going to work on my "Mom Style". 

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I was finally going to be saved from the dust bunnies...

So, after today I am convinced the economy just has to be picking up. Either that or my cleaning lady has so many wealthy clients that my measly once a month account was just latte money to her. I'm thinking this is the case because today, she pretty much told me to "suck it".

Yeah. She did.

I was so excited this morning. I was finally going to be saved from the infiltration of dust bunnies that had overrun my house along with the sticky goo and the "Wait, what is that smell?".  Since I am no longer employed, having the cleaning service come in once every 4 to 6 weeks is like a special treat I look forward to as if it were a spa day.

I did the typical, 'cleaning for the cleaning lady' dance last night in preparation for her arrival. I don't know why I have to do this, she knows the house is a mess.  Every dish was washed and put away. Every toy was picked up and stashed. And the little man and I anxiously waited her arrival as I ran around behind him picking up every toy and ball in his wake over and over again.

But, the scheduled time of her arrival came and went. Now she was an hour late. I called. No answer. I left a message. She returned it 20 minutes later. She told me that she was very, very sick and that she was calling another couple of girls to come in for her. She told me that they would be there any time now but that she couldn't tell me when.

Okay, if I had all the time in the world to sit around and wait for someone to show up to clean my house, I would totally accept this, but I don't. I have a boss who demands that lunch be at a certain time and that his nap is not interrupted by the loud drone of a vacuum cleaner or the opening and shutting of doors and drawers. So, no. This was unacceptable.

I proceeded to tell my cleaning lady that I was sorry that she was sick, but that I had a schedule I needed to keep and that when they are late or don't show up (she is always at least 30 to 45 minutes late and NEVER calls), it makes it hard for me to keep using her. She then told me that there was nothing she could do about it and that if I had a regular cleaning schedule with her that this would not happen.

Wait? What? So, I'm being punished for not using her more than once a month? She was scheduled a week in advance to be here today at 8:30AM. I didn't call her this morning and say: "Hey, come on over whenever you can make it".  Which by the way, is not even the point, she's ALWAYS late.

She then proceeds to say to me: "There is nothing I can do about it. Do you want us to come or not?" Um....no. I told her I could no longer use her.  I just couldn't stomach the fact that I would have to hand over $160 bucks to this woman who pretty much told me to "suck it".

She hung up on me.

And this is where I start to become convinced that the economy must be booming because this woman walked away from 2 jobs today without a care in the world. After she was done with our house, she was scheduled to clean my husband's parents house. We thought it would be a great surprise for them to come home from a month-long cruise to clean sheets and a dust free home. Well, sorry. It was the thought that counts right?

Seriously, I know I must sound like a whiny OC housewife, pissed off because I had to clean my own house today. But that's not the case. I'm just floored that someone you hire to do a job for you, would talk to you in such an unprofessional manner and not care one way or the other if you remained a client. Instead of apologizing for being late and not calling, she just told me it was too bad. I know if I showed up late to my job everyday, I wouldn't have that job for long. And I would never dream of talking to a client with such disinterest in their needs.

So, on the upside, with this new booming economy, maybe I'll finally find that dream marketing job I have been looking for.

Oh...and does anyone know of a good cleaning service in the OC? I'm hiring.




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Dude, where's my Mojo?

So, its been about 10 days since I have posted something. And really it's not for the lack of trying. There are about 4 different posts sitting unfinished and in various stages of disaray in the drafts section.  It just really has been the perfect storm for bloggy abandonment. I just haven't been able to muster up the desire to write. I mean, I have tons to say. I just can't seem to get the words out of my head and onto the computer screen. I've lost my mojo.

And to compliment my lack of creative writing skills, the little man has been expecting my undivided attention and refuses to let me have even 10 minutes in front of the Mac. Which doesn't really boost the ability to complete a thought process, much less an entire sentence.

Seriously, in the course of writing this measly 250 word "sorry for being such a blah blogger" post, I have set up a wooden train track, twice. Have been escorted to numerous spots in the house to retrieve "things". Have played a round of basket ball. Baseball. And now I'm sitting in the middle of a huge train track on the floor. So make that, built a train track 3 times.

I'm hoping to get my mojo back this week. I'm looking everywhere for it. I really do miss it. So far it's not under the couch, in the dishwasher or in the laundry. Maybe it's in the closet. I'll go check there next.

Thanks for hanging in there with me!


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It wasn't my dream job, so why am I so disappointed?

So, you know that job interview I was all nervous about? Well, I didn't get the job. And you know what? I'm more disappointed about it than I thought I would be. It wasn't my dream job. Not even close. But for some reason I'm really bummed.

What I can't seem to figure out is why.  Is it because I am now left with the question swirling in my head “Why didn't they like me?" or because I really wanted to dip my toes back into the professional waters? It's almost going to be a year since I reluctantly left my position as a marketing professional and I cannot even believe how fast time flies. Its scary.

As I was going through the process I kept thinking to myself, am I ready for this? Could I really stomach putting the little man back into daycare again just like that? How would he handle it? How would I handle it? Maybe I'm not ready yet. Maybe we aren't ready yet.

But not getting the job has made me realize that I am ready. Because even though it was just a contract, I really think I was excited to start another chapter in my life. One that came with a paycheck for all my hard work and creativity and not just pizza.

And I think the little man is ready as well. I feel so guilty and sad for him having to hang out with just me all day. I really want to get him into a school or program where he can play and socialize with other kids. He is almost 2 and he is at an age where he is just so into what other kids are doing. And its really hard when only one of my girlfriends is a stay at home mom, so there really isn't much in the way of playdates that come our way.

So, I'm trying to use this as a learning experience. To tell myself that if I didn't get the job, it just wasn’t meant to be – at least not this time. To tell myself that there will be other opportunities that will come my way and become even more determined to get that next one.




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Wordless Wednesday - Trying to Blow Bubbles

Be sure to check out  “Angry Julie Monday’s Wordless Wednesday Linky” to post a picture(s) that you took in the past week.

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It's all a little hazy, but I made it through the interview and the surgery!

I made it through the interview and the surgery. Don't know how well the interview went. Hard to tell when you are walking around in a fog of pain killers. At least I didn't start drooling on any one's desk or pass out in the lobby while awaiting my professional inquisition. I think I would have heard about it by now. So, I'll just sit and cross my finger on that one.

I had high hopes for the surgery though. I though I would get pictures with the doctors, have a narrative play-by-play going on twitter, maybe a before and after shot. Yeah, these ridiculous "only a blogger would think of" hopes were all dashed 30 minutes into the sedative they gave me before the surgery. It was supposed  to "calm my nerves", but I couldn't even remember how to walk, much less tweet. When someone asked me a question, I felt like I was the featured character in Alice in Wonderland while being very, very small.

I don't remember much of the beginning or the end of the surgery other than a lot of equipment all around me while sitting in a big leather chair al a "Aliens" with mechanical arms and tubes hanging down. I do remember being escorted to the bathroom immediately afterwards while two ladies stood next to me making sure I didn't fall in. Usually this would be cause for a complete and utter pee freeze up, but didn't seem to bother me in my state of anesthesia after glow.

The wheel chair ride to cafeteria to get a Coke was fun. Although the nurse was a little irritated that I didn't follow directions and bring one with me (something about elevating blood sugar after fasting all day) and had NO idea whether I had a dollar in my handbag, much less if I even had a handbag. The staff was so very accommodating from begging to end. I think If I ever have to be sedated again for a minor surgery this is where I would want to go!

Today, things are a little blurry and its still hard to walk or even stand up for long periods of time.  My arms and legs are not yet sinked up with what my brain is telling them to do. And speaking of brain, I keep forgetting things . The hubs thinks its funny that I keep asking him the same things over and over.

I'm so happy the pain that I have endured over the past 5 days has now subsided and I don't have to keep looking at the clock hoping enough time has passed to take the next jaw throbbing, pain numbing little pill.

And ss long as the worst thing that happens today is that I put the milk in the cupboard and the olive oil in the refridgerator, then I think we can call it a win.

Good thing the hubs is here to remind me to feed the baby.  :)

Turns out "retreat" doesn't mean "spa" in the world of dentistry

Procrastination. Yeah, I think you can say I am pretty familiar with the definition of this word. Especially when it comes to dentistry. Having my mouth wedged open while someone pokes around in there with a drill bit has never been high on my list of things that I run right out and have done immediately. No, I tend to put those appointments off as long as I can.  I seriously think I would rather have a mammogram than a dentist appointment. At least that's what I think today. I'll let you know in a few weeks if that still holds true, since I'm 40 now and that breast smashing highlight of every woman's life is next on the list of things to do. But now, I'm rambling.

And it could be the vicodin. So see, its not my fault.

I'm having oral surgery tomorrow. And it just happens to be on the same day as my first job interview in 5 years. And why is this happening?

Procrastination.

Back in February I was told by my dentist that I needed to have a retreat on my root canal. But see, all I heard was retreat. And I thought he meant like a "spa". But no such luck. He meant re-treat, as in have another root canal. That didn't seem as fun as the first retreat sounded. Needless to say, I put it off. Its now 4 months later. Turns out there is a huge infection that has been festering for the last few months under my gums and I have to go in for "emergency" oral surgery. The pain is so severe, my entire left side of my jaw is tender to the touch. I have been "medicated" 24 hours a day since Friday.

Oh wait, and then there is that interview I mentioned earlier. No I couldn't have scheduled this on a day where I would be completely relaxed and the only thing on my mind would be the marketing stylings of the latest product promotion. No. Not me. That's not how I roll. Where's the challenge in that? I had to schedule this for a day where I was hopped up on pain killers and have my head filled with thoughts of drill bits and dental dams. Yeah, so this ought to be interesting. Hopefully someone there will let me know if I start drooling or pass out in the hall way.

I know what you are probably thinking. Why don't I just reschedule the interview? Well, I can't. It's already been rescheduled twice. So, needless to say, I'm a little nervous.

Wish me luck!


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Mommy, Mommy, Mommy

I think this next collection of letters and sloppy bits of punctuation can be filed under "Be careful what you wish for". And I know it's going to sound like I am complaining. But seriously, I'm not.

If you had read my previous post on where I stood on the popularity ladder with my son, you would know that I was insanely jealous of the hubs when it came to the fact that once daddy walked through the door I ceased to even exist. And for the longest time the little man would only say daddy. He would make up songs and walk around the house chanting "Da dee, Da dee". When I asked him "Can you say mommy?", he would just look at me with a blank stare. But, I knew he could say mommy, if he wanted to, because he would mimic other kiddos when we visited for play dates.

The hubs was sympathetic to my plight, and would try to get the little man to say mommy. Sitting around the table during dinner he would say to the little guy "Who am I?' while pointing to himself. " Da Dee" the little man would chirp.

"Who is that?" the hubs would say, pointing to me, "Da Dee!" the little man would say once again. This time with the biggest toothy smile as if he just knew he was messing with my emotions.

But then one day it happened. Standing up in his bed in the morning the little man shouted "Ma Mee!". I was so excited, I didn't even mind that it was 5AM. I jumped right out of bed and ran into his room to scoop him up. The usual ritual, only before it started with "Da Dee".

I'm sure you can see where this story is headed right? Flash forward 6 weeks later.  Everything starts with "Ma Mee!".

Ma Mee!, uh o.

Ma Mee!, ball.

Ma Mee!, hi!

Ma Mee!, some unintelligible banter.

I know, right? I just couldn't wait for him to call me mommy. And now "Ma Mee" is the opening act for almost every performance of the toddler babblethon.  It's my alarm  clock every morning and my daily alert to the end of every nap.

It's especially fun when we wait on line in the store and he proceeds to chant "Ma Mee!, "Ma Mee!" with each "Ma Mee!" getting louder. Yeah. That's my boy.

Be careful what you wish for right?

But I secretly love it!

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Cool Popsicle Molds for My little popsicle addict

The little man discovered popsicles a few months ago and has now become an addict. When he was sick it was the only way I could get any type of nutrient into his little body and now that the weather is heating up a bit, I know I'll be going into popsicle overdrive. 

I like to make my own so I know what goes into them, as well as the fact that I love to hide little things like veggies in places he would never think to look for them. Yeah, that's right, I'm super sneaky like that. 

Here is my recipe for yogurty, fruit smoothie pops. I never really measure anything out so this is my best guess: 

• 1 container Stonyfield YoBaby Yogurt 3-in-1 meals (these are awesome. I use the pear and green bean flavor - yeah, green beans!) 
• 3 - 4 large strawberries (or any kind of fruit your little one likes)
• 1/4 cup of blueberries (or any kind of fruit your little one likes)
• 1/2 cup of apple juice (you can substitute any type of juice) 

Blend all ingredients and pop into popsicle molds. Freeze. Watch your little one eat green beans while you sit back and say "Ha Ha!" (in an evil scientist kinda way).  I also sometimes use Naked Juice's Berry Veggie Machine for half of the apple juice.

I found these pretty cool and inexpensive popsicle makers at IKEA. The round handles make it easier for his tiny hands to hold onto. Which means less popsicle for the dogs and less mess for me to clean up.

Then I got looking around online and found some other really cool molds. This one is one of my favorites for the little girls! 

 

How cute are these!?! The Land of Nod carries these fabulous "Ring Around the Frozen Pops". I love them.

• Price: $9.95
• Includes six different gem shapes
• Insulated plastic ring keeps pop colder longer
• Base keeps pop molds secure from tips or spills in the freezer

Also available at The Land of Nod are these super cool rocket ship popsicles. Handles are designed to catch messy drips. And the plastic sleeves are insulated.

• Price: $10.95
• Set of 6
• Insulated plastic keeps pop colder longer
• Base keeps pop molds secure from tips or spills in the freezer

And then how fun are these? You can find these awesome Tovolo Ice Cream Pop Molds at Amazon.com

• Price: $9.99
• Fill with your favorite yogurt, pop or other beverage and freeze to make custom popsicles
• Insulated plastic sleeve keep your pops colder for longer, when in action outside the freezer.
• Cone handle design catches sticky spills
• Dishwasher safe

Need a little inspiration to fill all these great molds? There are 130 pages of yumtastic ideas in Pops!: Icy Treats for Everyone available from Amazon.com. You can even download it to your Kindle! Enjoy!

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So this is 40?

So, I turned 40 today. It's a little surreal. I'm not sure I thought this day would ever really come. And you know what? Now that it's here, I don't think it makes much difference. I've been waiting all day for something to snap, pop or to somehow feel different. But nothing really does. Today felt pretty much like any other day.

I'm still the same girl who's idea of ’sensible shoes’ are 4 inch wedge sandals. I still don't balance my check book (or even have one for that matter) and I still love a good reality TV show.

My circle of friends has become smaller, but tighter. I still love a great bottle of bubbly. And I'm still not 100% comfortable in my own skin.

Supposedly, life really begins at 40, so this ought to be interesting. I keep hearing the fantastic stories about 40 being liberating, rejuvenating and exhilarating. I hope my body is up for it.

Except for that mammogram in my very near future, I'm pretty excited for what lies ahead of me. I might even party like a rock star this weekend (you know - stay up until 10) - Whoo hoo!!


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