BWD #2 Bill's Big Carrot Cake, Part 1

So...the saying "Failure to plan is planning to fail" comes to mind when thinking about this week's BWD.  I decided to try a different variation---rather than make the lemon cream cheese frosting that uses an entire pound of confectioner's sugar, I'm making my very first batch of homemade lemon curd, which will include an addition of whipped cream.  The lemon curd is currently sitting on the counter, cooling to room temperature before it can be refrigerated.  Strike 1!

This is, by no means, a baking catastrophe, and I'm quite excited to see how it turns out.  That being said, I'll post the deconstructed photos of BWD this week, with a promise of the completed, assembled product tomorrow.

In honor of our first wedding anniversary...this cake shall henceforth be known as William's Anniversary Cake. :)  Sorry, Dorie---the top layer of our amazing Dairy Queen Blizzard Cake is safely stored in my parents' freezer up in WA.

I have about three cups of leftover shredded carrots, so I'll be perusing the book to see how I may use them!  Shout out to my hubby for letting me test recipes out on him...and to our 366th day of wedded bliss.  Love you, Mr. Behr!

BWD#2 Bill's Big Carrot Cake, a variation

Bill's Big Carrot Cake---deconstructed---and smelling AMAZING!

Homemade Lemon Curd

The beginnings of homemade lemon curd+muscles (not shown)

BWD....Catching Up

So...I know it's not a requirement, but 1. I love baking, and 2. I have the cookbook...plus, 3. I want to feel like I'm REALLLLLY part of this project.  With that being said, I'm going to try to play catch up with the rest of the club and bake (in no particular order) the recipes that they've already prepared in the past year!

And...Husband's been working out of the house quite often these days and this makes me feel like I'm contributing in a home-maker-ish way. :)

No staging, as I prepped and baked this off pretty quickly...

Coffee Break Muffins---super easy, Dump and Go Method and an excellent way to use that last cup of cold coffee!

BWD #1 Brrr-ownies

Note to self---don't substitute York Pieces for anything.  Ever.

This was my first BWD experience---I've made a version of these brownies before, but in larger portion and slightly different ingredients.  I'm going to have to say, I prefer the version I've used in the past---Dorie's version seems to be a little fudgier---I prefer brownies that are more cake-like.  Also...ended up using the York Peppermint Pieces that William picked up from the store.  Unfortunately, they have a candy coating (blue and white) which isn't visually appealing, and doesn't stand up to oven temperatures!  Live and learn!  Conveniently packaged for large handfuls of minty goodness, though!

Maybe these deserve a second chance---with patties. :)

Baking with Dorie Group!

So, one of the items on my bucket list this year is to join a book group...but with the amount of reading I'm required to do in school paired with schedules and other commitments, I've found the perfect alternative---an online club! 

I'm very excited to start the Baking with Dorie Group---baking our way through Dorie Greenspan's "Baking:  From My Home to Yours."  The link to the book is here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_44?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dorie+greenspan+baking+from+my+home+to+yours&x=0&y=0&sprefix=dorie+greenspan+baking+from+my+home+to+yours

I did a little more investigating, and there are TONS of groups like this out there!  This will help me expand my culinary experiments, love of photography, and meeting other foodies!  Can't wait for the first challenge this coming Monday...it's a recipe that's very familiar to me---Brrrownies (they're very similar to the York Peppermint Brownies I bake every holiday season).  Look for pictures to follow this weekend!

The Year of Yes

After re-writing my list of things I'd like to do this year, I realized that this adventure is quickly becoming like Jim Carrey's character in "The Yes Man."  And for the first time in my life...I can honestly say that I'm REALLY enjoying trying new things and getting out of my comfort zone!

To date...

• I've tried new foods---chayote, squid (no batter...just rice!), baby bok choy, leeks, AND more to come!
• Made the baby quilts---Jennifer and Courtney, with more babies on the way---which means more projects!
• Went to Build a Bear and created Herbie, the Love Bug
• Started volunteering---first event at Bee Cave, Dr. Seuss Party next weekend, volunteer orientation for reading at storytime with the Austin Public Library, and teaming up with a friend for Bake-A-Wish
• Made sushi at home---we think we have the whole zushi (sushi rice) figured out...and YES, it's crucial to the success or failure of the adventure!
• Climbed Enchanted Rock (kind of a big deal, as I'm scared of heights!)
• Took a women/handguns safety course!
• Took a Pilates Reformer class.
• Went to JuicyTart Yogurt, a DIY yogurt shop (this is big, because I've NEVER gotten to do this DURING contest prep!)

A few of the things on my list depend upon the season---kayaking, stand up paddleboard, sporting events---while others are projects that will take some time---training for a triathlon and marathon, reading and watching the entire Harry Potter series, container gardening, creating an Etsy store to sell crafts.

What's so exciting for me about this experience is sharing it with other people.  William has been working on his Ducati, and one of the items on my list is going for a motorcycle ride---I'm scared of motorcycles.  Others will involve projects and cooking experiments with friends or family. 

My dad and I spoke early on when I was thinking about doing this, and he reminded me not to get caught up in the number, and it's safe to say that I'm having so much fun branching out that I don't think I want this to have a hard stop at January 2012. 

As they say in Shawshank Redemption---"Get busy living, or get busy dying."  We all have choices, and I'm choosing to get everything I can out of life these days!

Over-achiever...let's go for 52!

At the suggestion of a friend, I have decided to expand my list of 30 and have decided to increase the number to 52.  I'm not a mathematician, but yes...this means one a week for the entire year.  Am I an over-achiever?  Most certainly.  Will I do more than one thing a week sometimes?  Um, duh.  Of course I will.

The terms and conditions of my endeavors...

1.  I can't cross two things off the list at the same time.
     example:  Eating trailer food/Trying a new ethnic food

2.  Activities should not be illegal or life-threatening.

3.  I'm not trying to break the bank, so activities should also not be super-expensive.
     example:  Backpacking through Europe/Courtside seats at an NBA game

4.  The goal of the experience is FOR the experience, and not to focus on the number.

5.  Some of the activities may be things I have done in the past, but am re-visiting in order to participate with a more mature mind-set.
     example:  Reading three books from my Advanced Placement classes in high school/Reading    the         entire collection of Jane Austen

6.  Become a better version of the person I am today.

An idea of a few of the things I have on the list:

• Go to an NBA game
• Volunteer
• Eat at a food trailer
• Try a new ethnic food
• Re-read three books from AP English in high school
• Make homemade doughnuts
• Learn how to jar preserves
• Go to a reading at Book People
• Take a road-trip to Louisiana
• Learn how to crochet
• Teach myself how to put a zipper into an article of clothing
• Learn how to stand-up paddleboard

I'll be documenting this journey with photos...well, most of them, anyway. :)  Feel free to send suggestions my way, as the list isn't set in stone and will continue to evolve throughout 2011!

30 for 30

So...I've decided for my 30th year, I need to try 30 new things.  Bring on the suggestions...