New York Street Chic -

Love those mustard yellow socks!

Courtesy of The Sartorialist

http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/

Goopy

The only thing I've been cultivating is a round stomach. The only vision I have is of the tip of my red toenails peeking out from said stomach. But he still loves me. Still gropes me in public and private. Still looks at me all goopy and tells me how happy he is that I am in his life and how he wishes that we would have met 20 years ago. I tell him that I wish we would have met at the age of 4. I would of happily ridden off in the sunset on the back of his tricycle.

Today's recipe - Carrot Cake With Maple Cream Cheese Icing courtesy of Bon Appetit with a few changes from moi.

Cake

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups canola oil

4 large eggs

3 cups grated peeled carrots

1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

2 tablespoons minced peeled ginger

Icing

10 ounces cream cheese (such as Philadelphia), room temperature

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

12 walnut halves (for garnish)


For cake:


Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with waxed paper. Butter and flour paper; tap out excess flour. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar and oil in large bowl until well blended. Whisk in eggs 1 at a time. Add flour mixture and stir until blended. Stir in carrots, walnuts and ginger. Divide batter between prepared pans.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 15 minutes. Turn out onto racks. Peel off waxed paper; cool cakes completely.

For icing:

Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add powdered sugar and beat at low speed until well blended. Beat in maple syrup. Chill until just firm enough to spread, 30 minutes.
Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 3/4 cup icing. Top with second layer. Spread remaining icing over entire cake. Arrange walnut halves around top edge. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; chill. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.)

I added 4 teaspoon's of cinnamon
omitted the fresh ginger and added 1 tsp of ground ginger as well as
1tsp nutmeg
1tsp ground cloves

I used pecans instead of walnuts however I'm sure that walnuts would have been a delicious addition.

Split the cake mixture between 3 - 8inch round tins to make a triple layer cake and doubled the icing recipe. (There will be a lot left over but more is better than less when it comes to homemade frosting.)

Warmth

How does fresh baked apple bread lightly toasted and topped with thin sliced sharp cheddar cheese sound? Yummy, right?!

I've been baking bread a lot lately mostly because it makes the house smell homey. I've also been searching for and contacting old friends, people that were around me during happier times in my life but we just somehow lost touch. I seem to need a lot of comfort right now. A soft blanket woven with baked goods and dear people. Bliss.

Little Kids Are Cool

The Tiger and I were talking about making a funny family video and posting it on Youtube so that we could become famous (her idea). I asked her if she wanted to be famous when she grew up to which she answered yes. When I asked her why she replied because I want people to know that I exist.

8 years old, folks.

Know what, Tiger, I totally respect that... I want people to know that I exist, too. You sure are a cool little kid!

*Insert beaming smile-here-*

The Babies Are Money

I felt as though this was the appropriate song to hum along to as I introduce my latest thrift store find: * drum roll, please*

TA~DA!!!

I drove and drove and drove... and drove around in F$#!ing circles looking for a certain Goodwill in a well to do neighborhood. The little voice (one of many) in my head told me not to give up. Finally, after what seemed like several sunrises and sunsets (about an hour) I found the store. Definitely quality over quantity. I spotted these babies as soon as I walked through the door. Chance? I don't think so... This was fate. They cost me right under $24.00, a bit more than I am usually willing to pay for thrifting finds but well worth it. Leather, made in Italy, perfect fit, mint condition and to add to the description -mine-.

Sing it, Astrud!