Remember this?

Remember when all I wanted was to make this Lemon Meringue Cake for my birthday? Last year just NEVER worked out. I had an accounting final, on my birthday, and it was all I could do to get through that final. I didn't get my birthday cake.

Well. Not this year. NOT this year.

I am making this cake. I've got big ol' plans for Aaron's birthday. This is all I want for my birthday.

So it's happening. Count on it, if you care.

Chocolate Raspberry Recap

Sorry, no picture.

I forgot.

But ....

I did make it. It was okay, but the berries were a smidge too tart and so it wasn't super tasty. And not enough chocolate-y goodness. And I didn't like the texture. I think what I want is a raspberry brownie. So begins the quest.

But Friday is Nutella day. Celebrate by baking! I have to ask my Italian teacher if I can bring in some Nutella brownies.

Chocolate and Raspberries

Jennie's thought process:

• Saw a recipe for Raspberry Buckle on Martha Stewart.
• Remembered I had a recipe from epicurious.com for Chocolate Raspberry Clafoutis.
• Now I want to combine them so I have a Chocolate Raspberry Buckle.

And I have a Sunday afternoon to do it in! Hooray!

Stay tuned. I WILL take pictures and post a recipe if it is successful.

Buongiorno!

I am LUVING Italian. So much so, that I want to pack up the whole family and move to Italy.

Since we're homeschoolers now, I figure I'll be teaching the kids what I'm learning. Who knows, I might retain more that way.

As for this blog, it's not that interesting. It needs some spice. I have projects. But I realized that the projects I do have are gifts and I can't post them before because then the people they are for might see them. And I forget to post them after. I will try to remember. Because this year is the year of the homemade Christmas! I have to get started now because it's going to take me all year!

On the baking front, I'm planning on celebrating World Nutella Day next Friday, the 5th of February. Join in. Go to this site and find recipes and funny things about those of us who are obsessed with Nutella.

My New BFF

Aaron read somewhere that a husband should never, ever, ever give kitchen appliances as gifts. Well, that person doesn't have me for a wife. And I *heart* kitchen appliances. Here's my latest - so very excited for this one:



Isn't she pretty? Now my slow cooker (we dubbed her "Big Sister" in honor of my Gran's nursemaid when she was little) has a little sister. What's not to love about a gorgeous little stainless steel fondue pot? Dipping things into cheese (or oil or broth or chocolate or caramel!) is right up my alley. I think my kids will like it too. I've officially dubbed Saturdays as fondue night. We're going to try this baby out.

More to post later on the goings on of Christmas. Working on a quilt top right now. Should be done by the end of the week.

Busy Girl!

Here's my to-do-before-Christmas list:

• Sew dolls and doll clothes - for Laurel and for the little girl at church who's card we drew
• Sew coloring wallets for kids, and one for little girl
• Make doll blanket for little girl
• Finish Laurel's doll sleeping bag
• Bake - cookies and a coconut cake to enter in a holiday recipe contest
• Study French - I always say this, then I always find something else to do
• Wrap presents
• Finish some aprons (can be finished after Christmas too)
• Start my new quilt tops (can be finished after Christmas too)

How's that? I have a craft day on Saturday at the community center - just for moms, no kids! 4 hours of getting things done - hooray! I'm getting things cut out and ready to sew so that's all I have to do while I'm down there. I'll post pictures on Sunday of the finished products.

Oh, and one more thing. Take an adorable picture of my kids in their Von Trapp Family outfits. Super matchy matchy Christmas outfits. If I wear my new red coat, I match as well. And Aaron has a dark suit with a red tie that matches too. We might have to be in the picture as well.

What I Think About . . .

I've stopped wondering what might fill my mind if things like lemon macarons with lemon curd didn't pop in there all the time. I've gotten the macaron bug (and yes, it is spelled macaron, I promise). I'm planning on making some for Christmas as goodies for friends. Chocolate ones.

But I thought, hey, wouldn't Lemon ones be tasty. Or vanilla with lemon curd.

See, all that brain power could be going to something else, but instead, I think about pastries.

Sigh.

Could be worse. The world might be a better place if people just thought about cookies. And ate them. With big tall glasses of milk.