BECKY'S OUTRAGEOUS 5 STAR CARROT CAKE!

Summer's officially over. Well, for me anyways, because Little Miss Things's gone and left the nest, flying away on her little fairy princess wings, once again. You'd think we'd be used to it--she IS a junior in college, after all, but for some reason Big Daddy and I get more and more weepy as the years go by! Oh sure, Abbie's happy as a clam--has her first cute little apartment, mere blocks from campus, and has a great part-time job lined up. No boyfriend this semester (yet, anyways), but she has 4 super cute and fun roomies to hang out with, and she's very excited about her classes this year. Oh well, at least we have "Facetime", the greatest invention known to man, on our I-phones! In fact, I just hung up with her, after she gave me a virtual tour of her apartment decorating efforts thus far...thank goodness for modern technology!

Before Abbie left, she requested, for her "last supper", her favorite fish tacos (I'll share the recipe in my next post) and our friend Becky Wendler's super awesome 5 Star Carrot Cake. Becky is a member of the club my husband manages--you might remember her name from my number one viewed post of all time, Becky's Enchiladas Suizas. Becky is an amazing mom and an amazing cook....I look forward to more recipes from her in the near future!

So of course for Carrot Cake you need to grate some carrots.....you'd think I'd use my grating attachment on my food processor for this task, but I wasn't into washing the whole contraption afterwards, so I just used my old fashioned grater.....gotta watch those knuckles!............

Spray and flour the bottom and sides of THREE cake pans (Becky uses parchment, but I was out, and the flour technique worked just fine). Sift together baking soda, salt and cinnamon into a medium bowl.............

In your mixer, beat eggs and sugar at medium speed for 3 minutes, or until thickened and light in color. Check out these action shots!.................

Beat in oil at low speed. Stir in flour/cinnamon mixture until blended............

Stir in carrots, pineapple, coconut and 1 cup walnuts until blended.....

Divide batter evenly among 3 pans and bake for 25 minutes...turn pans in oven and bake additional 10 minutes. Cool in pan on rack for 15 minutes--invert and let cool completely on racks............

For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter in mixing bowl on medium speed for 3 minutes....beat in vanilla......

Add powdered sugar; beat at low speed for 1 minute or until smooth. Frost in between layers (about 1 cup in between each)..............

Spread top and sides with a thin layer of frosting. Coat again with a smooth layer. Press chopped pecans onto sides of cake (I got a little funky and put mine on top this time)..............

This makes a HUGE HUGE cake, enough for a large crowd. You won't believe how moist this cake is, either--must be the pineapple in the recipe. In the end, we each ate a slice, and then I sent the rest over to my neighbor's house, because they always have a buncha teenagers around who will eat anything..............

So absolutely moist and delicious....definetely worth the work! Enjoy!.....

Here's the recipe.....

BECKY'S OUTRAGEOUS 5 STAR CARROT CAKE

3 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tblsp. plus 1 tsp. cinnamon
6 eggs
2 and 1 / 2 cup sugar
1 and 1 / 2 cup canola oil
2 and 1 / 2 cup finely grated carrots (about 6)
2 8oz. cans crushed pineapple in juice, well drained
1 cp shredded coconut
1 cup finely chopped walnuts

Frosting:
12 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
1 and 1 / 2 cup finely chopped walnuts.

Evenly space racks in oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Spray bottom and sides of 3 baking pans and line bottom with parchment paper; spray parchment. Sift flour, soda, salt and cinnamon into medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat eggs and sugar at medium speed for 3 minutes, or until thickened and light in color. Beat in oil at low speed. Stir in flour mixture until blended. Stir in carrots, pineapple, coconut and 1 cup walnuts until blended. Divide batter evenly among 3 pans and bake for 25 minutes. Turn pans and bake an additional 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, and cake starts to pull away from the sides of the pan. Cool in pan on rack for 15 minutes; invert and remove parchment and cool completely. For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter in a large bowl on medium speed for 3 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add powdered sugar; beat at low speed for 1 minute or until smooth. Place 1 layer on serving plate; spread 1 cup frosting. Repeat. Top with remaining layer. Spread top and sides with a thin layer of frosting. Press chopped walnuts onto sides of cake. Make cake up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate, or up to 3 weeks ahead of time and freeze.

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.....

**Safe airplane travel

**My in-laws, Al and Marilyn, who do so much for our daughter, including lining up a new mattress, new bookshelf and table, AND for the shopping spree at Target! We couldn't do this cross-country college thing without you two!

**Cream cheese frosting. It makes my whirled go round!!!

CAROL'S SALMON CAKES AND SOME RANDOM THOUGHTS ON SUCCESS.......

 How do you define the word "success"? I've been giving this word a lot of thought lately, and have been driving my family craaaazzzzyyy, asking them their beliefs on the subject. I guess this all came to be when I heard somebody say recently that this person they know is "just beautiful, and VERY successful". I mean really, I want to know, what does that even MEAN?? In our society, success can be defined in a variety of ways, such as.....

***Money. He who has more in the bank is thought of as being very successful, financially anyways.

***Stuff. Expensive cars, houses, second homes, boats, country club memberships--these are all things that people acquire to tell the world (and themselves!) how very successful they are.

***Education. The pricier (and to be fair, the more rigorous - to - get - into - schools) the education, the more respect we give someone who graduates from such an institution who charges the steep tuitions. And the more we expect someone who graduates from such an institution to BECOME "successful", in the long run.

When I think about my one and only life, I have to wonder, have I been successful? I am  a 48 year old housewife who lives in a small town right smack in the middle of "nowhere". I do have a 4 year degree in business, and I have run small to mid-sized businesses "successfully" in my life, but this was many, many lifetimes ago. I am in a stable and healthy 24 year old marriage (Happy Anniversary, Big Daddy!). I am the devoted wife to a happy man who has risen to the top of his chosen career path and the mother of a daughter who excels in everything she puts her mind to. I have raised a happy, healthy and well adjusted child who is smart, loving, funny and kind. I am a good daughter to my parents and a good sister to my brother and sister--well, as good as I can be, living all the way across country from most of them (thank goodness for phones and computers and Facebook!). I am a great friend--I truly value my friendships, and have maintained a precious few for over 25 years. I take good care of 4 small and furry creatures who dwell in our home, and dote on my little cottage garden which, thankfully, has thrived this year. Do those efforts make me a successful woman?

 By our society's standards, prolly not. I have never earned more than $18,000 a year in my life. I drive a used station wagon with 125,000 miles on it. My clothing of choice these days is yoga pants, flip flops and oversized t-shirts. Sometimes (SHHHH!) I even shop at Wal Mart!

Here's what this all boils down to.....Leslie Elaine Nelson Willard's definition of success. I believe that to be a true success, one has to have some inner peace. Without it, we are all just big, hot miserable excuses for human beings. I think that if we've helped even one little soul's life to be just the teensiest bit better, we've been successful. If we've made this world even the teensiest  bit more beautiful, we've been successful. If we leave this world a better place, in any way, then we've been successful. Some of the most miserable people I've ever met have been the wealthiest (and I've known a lot of "rich" people), and some of the happiest have been the poorest. Go figger! I believe that smart, successful people have learned to not care what other people think about them. And last, I believe that smart and successful people NEVER judge others--that is just not our job to perform, and we will all be judged by our maker (or whichever "maker" you might believe in), in the end.

So anyways, I'm gonna stop being so hard on my perfectionist little self and get my SUCCESSFUL butt into the kitchen, pronto.........

              *******************

One person who I think of as successful is my very own muddah - like - no - uddah, Carol, because she's such a great cook, and raised ME! Hah. But seriously, she just has a "knack" for food, and most of my favorite recipes have come from her kitchen. When I need to prepare something quick AND delicious for dinner, I like to make her Salmon Patty recipe...my family loves them, and you can use canned salmon, which is available almost anywhere. You can also substitute canned tuna or crab in this recipe--all options are just fabulous! And seriously, when I printed this recipe in my newspaper column it was THE most requested recipe, ever!

To begin, drain and flake the salmon and place in a medium size bowl with dry bread crumbs (I use Panko, but any kind will do), chopped onion, beaten eggs, light mayonnaise, lemon juice, parsley, garlic powder and salt and pepper.............

Refrigerate mixture for an hour. At this point, I like to form 4 to 5 round patties and dredge in more Panko breadcrumbs, for extra crispiness, but my mom's recipe doesn't call for this step, so you don't have to. Add oil (I use peanut) to a medium sized non-stick skillet and heat. Cook patties over medium heat until well browned on both sides.............

We like our salmon patties with a little horseradish sauce on top--super easy to prepare by mixing together about a cup of sour cream and a tablespoon or two of jarred horseradish--just keep adding until it has the spiciness you desire.........

Top your gorgeous salmon cakes with the horseradish sauce and enjoy a quick, easy and delicious supper!..................

Here's the recipe......

CAROL'S SALMON CAKES

Serves 3-4

1 14.75 oz. can pink or red salmon

3 / 4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs

1 / 2 cup finely chopped onions (or 2 tablespoons dried onion flakes)

2 eggs, beaten

3 tblsp. light mayonnaise

2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 tblsp. freshly chopped parsley or 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes

1 / 2 tsp. garlic powder

1 /2 tsp. salt and freshly ground pepper.

Drain and flake salmon, leaving in bits of skin and bone in with flakes. Place into medium size bowl and add all ingredients. Mix well--mixture will be very moist. Refrigerate mixture for at least 1 hour. Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to medium size skillet. Form salmon into 4 or 5 round patties. Cook over medium heat until well browned on both sides and heated through.

Carol's notes: These can be turned into salmon burgers by placing on toasted hamburger buns and adding mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. If served as an entree, top with light sour cream mixed with horseradish, to taste.

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.....

**The summer we've enjoyed with our daughter, who leaves for school the day after tomorrow. Lots of memories made of  sleepy coffee filled morning chats and walks in the sunshine together.

**The wonderful response I continue to receive about this blog--you all make me so grateful, every single day!

**Sleeping in this morning, then being the first one out of bed to enjoy my coffee while taking in my latest moronic television addiction, "Celebrity Ghost Stories".  I KNOW, stupid, right? But at least it's better than my old addiction, the Housewives of New Jersey!

NORMA'S POTATO CHIP COOKIES AND THE BIRTHDAY THAT JUST GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND..................

Before I share my friend Norma's recipe for  cookies made from the ingredients pictured above (the closest thing to crack cocaine I'll ever know...seriously!), I just want to express my absolute love and gratitude and appreciation for birthdays that continue on for weeks, not just days. Why, just the other day I went to my little post office box in town (we don't get mail delivery here in the sticks), and lo and behold......a surprise gift for me, from my dearest friend Lisa in California AND her mama, Sandy! This is what they made, just for me, all by hand....the prettiest table topper, EVER, in all of my favorite colors: mustard yellow, burgundy and sage green.....how did they even know that I've been looking for just the right thing for my little nightstand table for soooo long? Eerie, really. Here's a peek at their handywork.....

I think these two women need to go into BIDNESS, lickity split, don't you? They'll surely make a mint!

Right before my birthday last week, I told Big Daddy that I would really really like some new eyeglass frames for myself.....I seem to get new ones every single year, as I am easily bored. He said sure, so off I went to my favorite eyewear store....doncha know that I wasn't in that store but two minutes when it dawned on me that what I really wanted for my birthday this year were some new everyday dishes and maybe a new rug for our living room?  Heck, isn't it a woman's perogative to change her mind, and often? Big Daddy is pretty used to my fickleness by now....if I'm happy, he's happy! So here's what I came home with........this new handmade braided rug.............

And these awesome new garden-ey dishes from Macy's..............

I know what you're thinking.....GREEN dishes????  But green truly is my very favorite color , and I think food just pops against these. Sooooo very happy! Hey, what is it about getting something new for my home that makes me want to freshen up every other thing around me? I've had these Williams Sonoma French country placemats for ions, and they've been stashed in a closet until I brought home these new dishes..... now I'm just loving them! Sisters, you know me and my roosters..............

I think the mustard yellow looks terrific against the deep green of the dishes. And while we're on the subject of decorating, check out this new burlap pillow I just finished, with a little french country pig stenciled on it....we're boning up on our french around here in anticipation of our spring 2012 trip to Gay Pareeeeeeeeeeee...........

That's right..."cochon" means pig in French! Not sure if it's Le Cochon or La Cochon, however......

Now onto my friend Norma's Crack on a Plate....ahem, I mean Potato Chip Cookies! Norma was one of my beloved Omaha neighbors (oh, how I wish I could take you on a tour of her lovelier than lovely old home, before she moved!), and that woman knew her way around a kitchen. Here's what I love love love about these cookies.....they've got that darned SWEET and SALTY thing going on. And they're really buttery. And, every single time I've made them and given them away (and I ALWAYS give them away....you absolutely do not want these babies just sitting around your kitchen unless you need to put on a few pounds, and fast!) I received nothing but glowing comments. And recipe requests--they're that good. To start with, cream brown sugar, white sugar and butter together...........

Beat into mixture eggs and vanilla, then stir together (in a separate bowl) flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, and DO NOT do what I did because I was lazy and short on time and didn't put my flour guard onto my stand mixer bowl, thus spreading flour ALL over my kitchen counters, dishwasher and floors, necessitating some cleanup time that I didn't have time for in the first place!.................

Seriously, it was much, much worse than it looks.......

Eat some chips to steady your nerves, then roll the rest in a ziploc baggie until they are coarsely smashed............

Fold the smashed chips, butterscotch chips and chopped pecans into cookie dough.......check out this bowl full o' fun!................

Drop cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets by the tablespoonful................

Bake for 12 minutes, remove from pan immediately and place on cooling rack. Place on a pretty little dish, pour yourself a glass of milk, and ENJOY!!! You deserve it.

Here's the recipe............

NORMA'S POTATO CHIP COOKIES

(Makes 5-6 dozen)

Cream together:

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

Beat into mixture:

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Stir together before adding to creamed mixture:

2 1 / 3 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

Fold into mixture:

6 oz. pkg. butterscotch chips

1 cup chopped pecans

2 cups coarsely rolled potato chips (Lays Classic are the best--don't use ripple of any kind)

Drop onto ungreased cookie sheets by small tablespoonfuls. Bake in 375 degree oven for 12 minutes. Remove from pan immediately and place on cooling rack.

TODAY I'M SO THANKFUL FOR.....

**Butter, sugar and vanilla!

**Black Eyed Susans--their sunny yellow color is just so cheerful!

**All of the positive, sunny people in my life.

INA'S TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS AND A FABULOUS BIRTHDAY!

So, yesterday was my 48th birthday. Fortyyyyyyyy EIGHT.....golly, doesn't that just sound old? And what is it they say about forty being the new thirty? Well, in my case, forty feels like the new 80! Sigh. Anyways, despite my aches and pains and kavetching, I had a very nice birthday......the day started off  by spending some quality time with my twins.....

Seriously, these adorable speckled fawns live in our yard, and have become so tame that no zoom shots are necessary. I call them the Bookends--see why?......

It is illegal to feed the deer around here, so I don't, but I suspect that people DO, and that's why the deer are so tame. Which sounds wonderful, but is actually quite harmful to these babies, as the food given by humans is not their natural diet (seriously, I saw a tourist feeding a doe WHITE BREAD the other day!), and being fed in town leads to nothing but doom. Like, these beauties getting hit by cars. Very tragic, and dangerous for humans! Anyways, I enjoyed a few more close-ups before their mama came by and shoo'd them away.....

As the day of my birth progressed, gifts starting mysteriously appearing on my doorstep......like this gorgeous flower arrangement (with my favorite flower--Sunflowers!) from BFF's Jimmy Ortiz's shop, called Feathers and Boughs, located right here in Thendara, New York. (His phone number is (315)369-2323, in case you'd like an equally gorgeous arrangement)..............

Another fab gift? These candlesticks from our friend Doug Collum's new shop, Stick Candles, located in Old Forge................

These candles are what Doug specializes in....you can check out his website, HERE. The pair he gave me were actually brown, like real sticks, and I cannot wait to use them in my fall centerpiece decorations! Thank you, Doug!

But my favorite gift of all? Spending a wonderful evening with these two at dinner out (favorite restaurant in town, Billy's) and a funny movie (Crazy Stupid Love)---with, that's right, Little Miss Thing and my beloved Frenchie!.............

All in all, a glorious day!

**********

I just love watching the Food Network; don't you? I think I've prepared recipes from just about every chef on the network, but my alltime favorite has to be The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten. I love the way she cooks--nothing too complicated, with a bit of a European flair. Like Paula Deen, Ina tends to use a little bit too much butter for my tastes, but overall I love her recipes and cookbooks. Especially Back To Basics--you just can't go wrong with that book! I've been making these darling little Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts of hers for a few years now, and we always love them. What a great way to use up the gorgeous heirloom tomatoes, sweet Vidalia onions and goat cheese from our local Farmer's Market.

To start the tarts, thaw out two sheets of puff pastry dough (located in the freezer section of most grocery stores) and unfold on a lightly floured cutting board. Roll out slightly, then cut 2 circles from each sheet. I use a cereal bowl to get a nice, round shape.....

Place the circles on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper or silicone liners, then using a sharp knife, score a 1 / 4 inch border around the edge of each circle. Prick pastry inside the border with a fork, then refrigerate until ready to use......

Preheat your oven, then heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add sliced onions and garlic and saute for 15 to 20 minutes (you will be caramelizing the onions). Add some salt and pepper, thyme and white wine, and continue cooking until the onions are golden brown.....

This is how you want them to look.......

Remove pastry circles from the refrigerator, and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border. You will also be shaving some of the Parmesan (a vegetable peeler works wonders) for later use.....

Place 1 / 4 of the onion mixture on each circle, staying within the border....

Crumble goat cheese on top of the onions.....

Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart, brush with olive oil and then sprinkle with julienned basil, salt and pepper......

Finally, scatter 4 or 5 shards of Parmesan on each tart.....

Bake until pastry is golden brown. Drool a little bit when you pull these out of the oven. We love ours served at room temperature with a nice crisp salad.......enjoy!........

You can find the recipe, HERE

TODAY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR.......

*My wonderful family, who I love more than anything in the world!

*My wonderful friends--life would be so, well, NOT FUN without you all!

*My sweet pets, who bring me such joy!