vegan friendly cake; for Jonas

A few weeks ago we were staying at our parents, to do laudry, and because there was shindig there.

My parents were in California, so Marianne and I had the delicious assignment of procuring a dessert.

With our nephews tender tummy in we set out to make the best chocolate cake we could for him.

oven: 375 degrees

pans: two 8-9 inch pans

Original Mandy's Chocolate Cake recipe found here

ingredients:

{cake}

3 cups flour

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar

1 cup oil

4 teaspoons vanilla

4 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

{icing}

2 ounces of semisweet chocolate

1/2 cup vegan butter/margarine/whatever you use

3 cups powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons soy milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

{Ganache}

5 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped; roughly

1 Tablespoon golden syrup, brown-rice syrup, or I used maple syrup

1/3 cup soy milk

{I also added about 2 cups of sugar, because I wanted my ganache to be sweet, not semisweet}

To make

{Cake}

Sift together your dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and sugar.

In a separate bowl mix your wets: oil and vanilla

Add your two mixtures together, and whisk your little heart away, or until they are well incorporated, which ever comes first.

Add vinegar and stir quickly. The vinegar may or may not form pale swirls in the mixture. Refer back to your 3rd grade science fair to see why this happens.

hint: vinegar + baking soda = volcanic eruptions

Tip:

there isn't egg to keep this thing from crumbling out of the cake pan, pans, or cup cake tins.

i would recommend greasing, flouring, and parchmenting every inch of your pan.

{Icing}

Melt chocolate and let cool

tip:

Melting chocolate can be trickier than one may initially think.

In order to not burn it, heat the chocolate until a few pieces start to melt.

One this happen, immediately remove from heat source, and stir until all chocolate pieces are melted.

mix room temperature chocolate with margarine, until fluffy.

in a sparate bowl: add sugar, soy milk, and vanilla; beating until silky smooth.

add the two together.

{Ganche}
Chop chocolate in a food processor.
Heat syrup and milk together, and bring to a boil.
Hint:
If you dip your measuring spoon in boiling water, before you put the syrup in it, the syrup will just slide right out of the spoon. Eliminate mess and headache.
Drizzle syrup mixture into the running-chopping food processor, until smooth.
let cool.

The grand assembly

Frosting is to be sandwiched between your two cakes, and your ganache can be slathered about the top and sides of said cake.

SEW What?

Yay for me, I did a bunch of sewing last night! Not only that but I took pictures, which turned out to be a big deal. I had not batteries for my camera, so I went around my house pulling the batteries out of my remote controls, then it still didn't work because my camera program isn't on my new computer and I can't find the program CD and all I managed to do was kill all the batteries in my house and I just ended up having to go get some at the store in the end. BLAH. Anyhooodle, to the point Batman!

It was an all night sewing fest and here is a list of things needed.

1-Sewing room or sewing space. This is mine and she looks nice and clean because I cleaned it before taking pics so you wouldn't know how big of a slob I really am!

2- Sewing supplies. This is a skirt I hemmed last night and some of the fabric I was working with. As well as my measuring tape and marking pencil, both very important.

3- Batman socks, they help me get my game face on, which looks like this

4- Game Face=Ready to Rock the Sewing!!!

5- Here I am working on a dress. I am making the pattern myself. Which it means I am essentially adding many unnecessary hours to my project. I will end up measuring and remeasuring a million times. As well as sewing and re sewing. BLAH. But hopefully in the end it will look something like this

6- Actual progress was made. This is just about what it will look like when finished. It is mostly held together here by pins and such but it will be really nice and less like a nightgown, when finished.

Closer look at bodice

Booyah!

I also added some black to the hem of this skirt last night

I know this picture makes little sense. That is because I am wearing it today so those yellow things at the top are actually my knees. I am sitting and this is my lap from the top. But you can see the the black I added all the same!

xoxo Liz

cut the bonds with the moon

Spring break; updated.

{Surprise flowers from Marianne}

1) repaint our kitchen, bathroom, and door frames.

no door frames. eventually though.

2) stencil bathroom walls {paperless wall paper}

took almost all of saturday, but we did it!

3) clean behind our fridge, and inside.

we couldnt move our fridge, but eventually yes, this will happen.

we just need to ask some muscles.

4) do some printing by hand.

will happen, we are printing our new shower curtain.

5) perhaps some sewing.

we have plenty of time for this.

6) watch lots of movies, and TV series.

done, this would have happened even if it hadnt make the list.

7) sneak into the Grand America, and go hot tubing.

i think we totally forgot about this.

oh well, we will wait and do it with people who appreciate such exiciting adventures.

8) have friends over.

did!

mostly family, though.

that still counts, i'm sure of it.

9) go to a movie night at friends.

went to Home Depot instead.

10) hang out with Liz

this happened multiple times, because we are good like that.

11) hang out with Mom and Dad.

we slumbied at their home monday and tuesday nights.

12) pizza party

not really in the way we expected, but we did have one, well actually a few.

13) spend some time with Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens.

the smallest amount of time, but time none the less.

14) knit.

even smaller amount of time.

15) Bake the cherry pie that has been calling our name since Valentines.

Done,

and very tasty.

16) Walk up to Einstein’s for breakfast one morning.

We did yesterday morning, and it was killer!

17) still have time to be lazy.

We are SO good at this one!

I am feeling very lazy, speaking of, so I am thinking I may post painting pics next week.

Do an apartment special all week.

Mmmm, a delicious apartment special!

aint this just like the present

{spring hail}

I just had to snap a quick picture, even though its ugo.

When I was walking into work, it was sunny.

Ten minutes later, it was hailing!

I love that about Utah, the capriciousness.

I love change, and what is better than experiencing all four seasons in an hour time period?

Nothing!

Our painting is coming along nicely, and we are logging it, so expect that next week.

Today Marianne had a dental appointment by my work, so I met her before. We did a little thrift shopping and struck gold.

We got a ton of stuff to print on, which means we have even more projects lurking in our near future.

Also I went a little crazy with the vases; Marianne had to rein me in.

I would have probably purchased all of the vases, all of the shell plates and bowls, and the punch bowl set if she hadn’t been there.

What would I do with out here?

Spring Break!

That's right, its spring break for us University of Utah'ers!

We kind of got off to a rocky start, what with sleeping in today and all, but that doesn't rain on our parade.

We will hopefully accomplish all that's on our list:

1) repaint our kitchen, bathroom, and door frames.

2) stencil bathroom walls {paperless wall paper}

3) clean behind our fridge, and inside.

4) do some printing by hand.

5) perhaps some sewing.

6) watch lots of movies, and TV series.

7) sneak into the Grand America, and go hot tubing.

8) have friends over.

9) go to a movie night at friends.

10) hang out with Liz

11) hang out with Mom and Dad.

12) pizza party

13) spend some time with Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens.

14) knit.

15) Bake the cherry pie that has been calling our name since Valentines.

16) Walk up to Einstein’s for breakfast one morning.

17) still have time to be lazy.

all of this, of course, will be scheduled around our work schedules. We still have to work.

I work 7 hours a day, Marianne works 6.

Ps.

This is my view at work today; I'm loved.

Birthday paper

I got a printing by hand book from the library a few weeks ago.

It has changed my life in the best possible ways.

 

I decided to make a simple potato stamp, and make some wrapping paper for a gift for one of my friends.

I used my handy dandy new lino cutter, which we picked up from Roberts.

There was the tiniest section of speedball gear by the paints, and the information girl knew nothing about it.

While she was ringing us up I was telling her all about speedball, and the good things you can do with their equipment.

She didn't seem pleased.

After all they make their own stamps and screen printing, on a much larger scale.

Boring!

Here is the paper all printed and drying.

Apparantly, me holding a potato stamp is to Keith Richards' coconut hunting.

A disaster.

I dropped that stamp like four times.

Here are the wrapped shoes.

I will put on some fitting tie, and possibly a flower, because I am girly like that.

 Considering it was my first attempting into the stamping world, I am pretty pleased.

Volume two

I have been feeling every emotion possible about the blogosphere lately.

I don’t know if anybody has an original idea out there.

Hello, ingenuity; are you there? It’s me, Lucy.

If I am being honest with myself, it’s probably just a personal quandary I am blaming on others.

{Apparently, everybody loves stripes, peonies, Justin Vernon, and beards and it off the shelf with you missy.}

Anyway, for now, I am back.

I just need to get over myself, cause I miss being able to talk about things I love.

{image}

Speaking of things I love...

Volume 2 from She and Him releases on the 23rd of this month.

You can preview the album in full on NPR.

I love them, and I sincerely hope they are part of the Twilight Concert Series this year.

Since M. Ward graced us last year, I wonder if they will, I don’t know there policy on return guests.

If they don’t have one may I say, bring back Bon Iver!

And possibly send him over to my apartment, its not that far, to serenade me whilst I lay comfortably on my bed, in the quiet.

Perhaps we will crack a window, so the air might circle young Justin's edges as he sits at the foot of my bed strumming and humming.

Curry in a Hurry

Lucy is way better about taking actual pictures of her food conquests. I however am not. 

Even so, I do still feel like you might benefit from this little Curry recipe, if you ever feel like making curry in a hurry.

(Image and Recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 teaspoons curry powder* I also add 2 teaspoons red curry paste, because I like my curry spicy
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 rotisserie chicken* I feel like adding veggies. It is the only thing this is missing.

 Cooking Directions

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes. Sprinkle with the curry powder and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add the yogurt and cream and simmer gently for 3 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper. Remove from heat.
• Slice or shred the chicken, discarding the skin and bones. Divide the rice (if using) and chicken among individual bowls, spoon the sauce over the top. 

xoxo - Liz

a morning

{baby pink flowers we picked up last night}

7:30 : Ripped out of my sweet dream. A love triangle between me and two beautiful brothers. One was named Jack; he always got everything.

7:45 : Curled my hair, day dreaming of my dream.

8:15 : Running late because of my day dreaming. Threw on some flats, because I didn’t realize the snow was so... snowy. Its March.

8:45 : Arrive to my Supplemental Instruction session late. Slipped roughly 8 times on my way. Stupid choice in shoes.

9:45 : Nailed math quizy.

10:00 Drifted in and out of Math lecture. Mostly focused on the guy and girl next to me. Guy loves bimbo behind me, who is grossed out by sneezing. Girl next to him is one smart cookie, too smart for him. Why do some guys prefer dumb girls?

10:44 : Adjusting to Agony and Irony. Sounds a little to "finished" for an Alkaline Trio album, but they should be growing like that.

10:45 : Turning onto Mario Cappecchi, all of the snow on top on my car falls foreword onto my windshield. Too wet and heavy to wipe of my windshield. Shriek, a girly screech. Quickly unroll my window, stick my head out, and maneuver my way to the side of the road. Remove ALL snow off of Elly, my Element.

10:50 : Back in the saddle again. Turn on Carissa’s Wierd to calm my nerves from my near death experience.

11:05 : Almost to work. Get out breakfast and gobble it up.

{2 hostess cupcakes and diet coke.}

I got stripes

{At Folsom Prison DVD)}

Last night I did my math homework and watched the Folsom prison DVD I got from the library Monday night!

I also had some delicious Thai left overs, from book club Saturday night.

This month’s book is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Just in case you want to read it.

{found here}

Well, they look beautiful!

Last night I had the worst headache I have had in ages.

I tucked myself into bed at 8:30 and woke up this morning at 8:15.

{anthro}

Then Marianne and I played hooky from school {don’t worry I aced my math quiz last week, and am just as confident for this week's} to have some quality breakfast time.

WhenI got to work I was looking at Oxfords on J. Crew, Urban, and Anthro. I have been jonesing for a pair of oxfords for quite some time now, so you can guess my sheer pleasure when these puppies were half off their already not too over priced price!

I bought them because I have been very good at saving my money lately, and I needed a little pick me up from last nights sick stint.

Library stop

I had some great things patiently waiting for me on hold at the library, so I picked them up yesterday!

I got some amazing music!

{Johnny Cash: At Folsom Prison, Alkaline Trio: Agony & Irony,  Beirut: Lon Gisland, Great Lake Swimmers: Lost Channels}

I had a whole slew of Martha Stewart books waiting for me.

After the second one, the girl who was checking me out was so sweet and said, "You know, I like her."

Which got me started on how much I love her, and how I am proud of her for going to jail, because she DID know better, cause she worked on Wall Street.

and the girl was all, "Yeah, she did the crime, and paid the time!"

By the time I was out of there the girl next to us was excited about Martha too!

I quickly perused them in bed last nigh and I was a goner.

I already want to buy them all.

{here}

This one has a smorgasbord of things you should know, maybe do, but probably don't.

{here}

This would be such a great gift for the young or novice bakestress.

{here}

Martha gives a little intro into everything from marbling to silk screening to making boxes!

{and here}

This really needs no explanation; right?

{all images from

amazon.com}

Colanders and a weekend.

Remember this?

Well here it finally is.

The sad thing is, the cord I use to deliver images onto my computer from the camera, is lost-ish. So that’s why I have not been blogging very much lately.

You deserve more than the grainy-ness of a camera phone picture.

Anyway, here is our colander wall; it looks better in person.

Our weekend was very productive...

Saturday I actually did yard work!

We live in a house that is divided into four apartments. We live in one of the main level apartments, which means we have both a front and a back door!

I totally revamped our back door entry: removed loads of dead leaves, removed weird random trash like a bag of cement and a barbeque grate, and discovered a nice strip of top soil for us to plant some beautiful things.

Also just outside our kitchen window is a tiny roof that collects leaves and random garbage that the people in the clown house next to us just toss up there. So I swept it off, bagged all the junk up and tossed it.

I also started spring cleaning our kitchen!

It feels good to get things organized, thrown away, and deep cleaned.

We have some good ideas for possibly stenciling our kitchen walls {not like grapes as a border, like paperless wall paper} so stay tuned for that!

Lastly, let me just say that the whole out door cleaning session was accompanied by Marianne hanging some flowers that we have been creating from plastic bottles. They are turning out simply fantastic, and we will absolutely feature them here sometime soon.