Amethyst Velvet Cake

In honor of my mom's birthday I made a Red Velvet (birthday) Cake. Let's rename it an Amethyst Velvet Cake though, this is a color I would associate with my mom more than I would ever associate red!

Recipe by Erica Courtney from the American Fashion Cookbook (given to me by Karleya Sommer).

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons cocoa powder
• 2 ounces red food coloring (I used two tubes of neon gel food coloring, one pink & one purple)
• 2 1/2 cups cake flour, sifted
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2 ounces water
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare two 9-inch or there 8-inch cake pans by greasing and lightly flouring. Using a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, mix the shortening and sugar until light and creamy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing until fully incorporated before adding the next egg. In a medium bowl, combine the cocoa and red food coloring, making a paste, then add it to shortening, butter and egg mixture. Beat until all ingredients are well combined. 

Slowly add 1/3 of the buttermilk, beat well, then add 1/2 of the flour and beat well, repeat this until all of the buttermilk and flour are mixed in. Add the water to the mixture, beat well. Add vanilla, beat well. Set mixer on the slowest setting. Add baking soda, salt and vinegar. Pour into prepared pans and bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, or until the toothpick comes out clean.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick of unsalted butter, softened
• 1 box powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Using a standing mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the sugar gradually until smooth. Add the vanilla and beat until delicious. Frost your Drop Dead Gorgeous cake. 

Happy Birthday to my Mommy Dearest

Earlier this week my mom celebrated another birthday. She had quite a few birthdays before I ever came along, and everyone of those years she was slowly becoming the person she is today. Since I've been around to celebrate her birthday she has imparted her wisdom to me day after day, year after year. It's easy to take those around us for granted so I just wanted to take a minute and reflect on all of the wonderful things my mother has taught me. She ages so gracefully and I can only hope to age as well as her and to be as good of a mother to my future children. Here's everything I can think of, in no particular order:

• She's kept a record of all of my childhood moments and shared them with me. Memories are to be cherished. 
• She's read all the classic children's books to me and shared her passion for reading. I still remember all of the summer reading clubs I took part in. I loved to devour books and still do. Reading can be to learn or just for fun. Read what you love, not what society says you should read.
• Compassion for co-workers. 
• How to be polite and have manners in every situation. 
• How to be conscientious and considerate.
• How to write a gracious thank you note, and how to write a letter. 
• How to be a good hostess and plan a party. How to set a table properly.
• How to plant flowers and care for a garden. How to cut flowers and use them for arrangements.
• How to be calm and collected. 
• How to clean a house. 
• How to do laundry and use an iron. How to use a sewing machine and sew a button. 
• How to be prepared for anything. 
• How to drive. 
• How to do my hair, put on make-up and paint my nails.
• How to play the piano and read music. 
• How to use the stove and cook dinner. More importantly how to bake!
• How to swim (funny story...)
• She's been a great example about how you meet friends in all stages of your life, and how it's worth hanging on to them. 
• How to be a good daughter, granddaughter and even daughter-in-law.
• How to love animals.
• She's taught me all I know about farm animals and crops. 
• How it's okay to cry when you're watching a movie. 
• How to laugh so hard you cry, or cry so hard you laugh. 
• How to paint a room and hang a picture.
• How to be crafty. 
• How to shop. 
• How to decorate a Christmas tree and wrap a present.
• How to share the Christmas spirit even with the mail man and the trash pick-up people. 
• How to participate in Sunday school and be involved at Church.  
• How to be supportive and patient. 
• How to be independent.
• How to be a good wife. 

I'm sure my list only scratches the surface, and many of these things my dad had a hand in as well, but I am truly thankful for everything my mother has taught me, whether it was through instruction or just as an example to me. Happy birthday to my loving Mother who has helped me become (I like to think!) a well-rounded person. 

The Janesz Clan visits the Thoroughbred City

As soon as we moved to Lexington there was a lot of talk about family and friends coming to visit. Sometimes schedules don't allow us to keep all the promises we make and do all of the things we would love to do. With that being said, Alex and I have been lucky to have many family members and friends to visit, but there's still a few we would love to see in the Thoroughbred City!

My parents are in Cincinnati which is only about 1.5 hours NW of Lexington so they have had the opportunity to visit a few times. Alex's family is mostly located in Cleveland which is more like 5-6 hours NE! Quite a drive, and a little further than makes sense for a normal weekend trip. We made plans for Alex's family to come visit in late July since Summer is a little bit easier than the school year. Luckily, everything went smooth and they were able to make it down for a long weekend. Alex's dad, Ed, mom, Linda and brother, Ethan, made the drive down from Cleveland on a Thursday evening. The next day, Alex's brother, Adam, was also able to join us, but he came from Michigan.

Other members of Alex's extended family were making a trip to Norris Lake and where able to stop by our house for brunch on Friday. It was surreal to have so many members of the Janesz Clan in Lexington at once! It was wonderful to be able to show them around our new home. One of my favorite things about having a house is being able to be a proper hostess!

The remainder of the weekend was spent golfing, eating, drinking, shopping, strolling around the farmer's market, talking, playing games, watching a movie, sightseeing, visiting Woodford Reserve, mass at CTK, and more eating and talking! It was a relaxing weekend that allowed us all to catch up. Alex and I truly appreciated everyone's efforts to make the drive down. We know first hand what a long trip it can be!

Weekends like that really make you realize that it doesn't matter what you do when you're with your family, it's just about being together and enjoying one anothers' company. We really look forward to having everyone back in the fall!

"Ya'll come back real soon now, ya hear!"

Dinner @ the Janeszes

Alex and I have gotten into the habit of menu planning for the week prior to hitting the grocery store. It sounds a little bit nerdy (which let's face it, Alex and I both have our moments) but it has had a very positive impact in a few different ways.

1. It adds variety to what we eat on a weekly basis
2. We're more likely to try new foods
3. It allows us to plan our grocery list so we're less likely to waste food and we save money!
4. We're less likely to eat junk or order in because we always know in advance what we're eating
5. We're more likely to eat healthier, more well-balanced meals
6. We end up sitting down for dinner (we really always did this before, but it helps us keep this habit!)

Alex jokes that if he had to give one piece of advice to a newly married couple it would be to menu plan (that's probably not true haha). We decided we were going to make some eggplant parmesan this week (I know I said healthy on the list before, but you have to allow yourself some comfort meals too!). It turned out to be a really great add to the menu and despite it being a daunting recipe it was actually very easy! 

I found a recipe off of the Food Network's website by Bobby Flay. Here's my "even easier" amended version:

Eggplant Parmesan

Ingredients:

• 5 cups  breadcrumbs 
• Butter, for greasing the dish
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 to 3 medium eggplants (about 2 1/4-pounds), cut into 1/2-inch-thick round slices (need about 18 slices)
• All-purpose flour, for dredging
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Sauce (or whatever tomato sauce you have in a can!)
• 12 ounces grated mozzarella (not fresh), plus1/2 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced
• 12 ounces grated fontina
• 3/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
• Fresh basil leaves, torn

Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly butter the bottom and sides of a 15 by 10 by 2-inch baking dish and set aside.

Place the bread crumbs into a large shallow bowl. Add the herbs, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. In another medium shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and 2 tablespoons of water together.

Season each eggplant slice on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each eggplant slice in the flour, tapping off excess, then dip it in the egg, and finally dredge it in the bread crumb mixture. Shake off any excess breading and transfer the egg plant to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.

Heat 1/2-inch of oil in 2 large straight-sided saute pans over medium heat until the oil reaches a temperature of 385 degrees F. Working in small batches, fry a few of the eggplant slices, turning once, until golden brown, about 3 minutes per batch. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining eggplant.

Cover the bottom of the prepared baking dish with some of the tomato sauce and arrange 1/2 of the eggplant over the sauce. Cover the eggplant with some of the sauce, grated mozzarella, fontina, Romano cheese and some of the basil. Repeat to make 3 layers ending with the sauce. Top with the fresh mozzarella and remaining Romano and bake until hot and just beginning to brown, about 30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Wall of Warmth

After finally deciding on the arrangement of the furniture in our living room Alex and I realized that we had prime real estate for a picture collage.

My parents' house has a picture wall and Alex's parent's house holds many picture memories as well. Being so far away from all our family and friends we wanted to have a reminder of them.

After deciding that we'd like to dedicate a wall to a picture collage we found some inspiration and set out to buy some frames (thanks Home Goods for the one-stop shopping). We also decided on a few pictures that we would like to have printed.

After making these initial strides the project was on hiatus due to too many weekend trips and visitors. Yesterday Alex and I finally decided on the remaining pictures and we had them printed at Walgreens while waiting on an estimate for Alex's car (that's another story).

We used paper and painters tape to guide us in making all of the necessary nail holes. After some great team work the collage was finally complete.

The overall feeling in the room shifted from minimalist to more warm and inviting. Those pictures will be an everyday reminder to us of all of the loved ones in our lives. The wall also conjures up so many fun memories in our lives.

Alex and I have made so much progress on our house. As we have rooted ourselves here we are now at a place to bring family and friends into the mix, figuratively through the photos and literally as well.

Home is wherever Alex and I are together, but now our space reflects that as well. I'm very much looking forward to have friends over and to have them ask about the people and moments that the photographs capture.





- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone