How to Make a Half Birthday Cake

This was going to be a post about "Traditions".  Instead, it is going to be a "how-to" of "How to make a half birthday cake for your child."  (A cake for their Half Birthday.  Indeed it is half of a cake)

1)  When attempting to make a half birthday cake, don't leave the cake home alone with Grandma.

2)  If you do leave the cake in Grandma's presence, remind her that you are going to decorate the cake when you return home.

3)  Even if Grandma thinks she is being helpful, sometimes things are just better left alone.  Call and remind her of this.

4) If Grandma still attempts to decorate the cake while you are gone, you may be left with this:

Thanks anyway Grandma.   In the words of the Half Birthday Boy, "It wasn't much of a celebration".  Better luck on your real birthday B.  I will be sure to keep Grandma away from the kitchen.

Problem Solver

In years past I have had a garden in the backyard.  I have always have grand plans for this garden, dreaming it would be full of lush, colorful vegetables that I would pick and use in my delicious dinners every night.  There would be cool, wrought iron trellises with vines growing up them.  The rows would be straight with no weeds and my kids would be out there with me, happily planting, picking, and weeding.

Like I said, a dream.

This year, I didn’t even kid myself.  I became a little leery of the dirt last year when my next door neighbor was trimming his bushes and a snake came slithering out.  A gardener snake, but a snake nonetheless.  Then, late last summer I encountered this little darling in my yard, as you may remember here.  So the garden thing wasn’t looking so good.  Most of my neighbors have gardens and are usually begging us to take copious amounts of tomatoes, lettuce, and beans off their hands, but I still wanted my herbs.  I found the solution:

The Aerogarden

They had me at fool-proof.  But seriously, I totally love this thing!  I received it for mother’s day after a few subtle  hints.  There is no dirt, no mess.  Plus they use a growing bulb, so can you say BASIL ALL YEAR 'ROUND!  Even in the dead of winter.  There are little pods that drop right into the base, and you just keep filling it up with water and these little nutrient packets, and waa-laa!

Mine started out like this:

I have been picking basil like crazy, and I passed on tons of dill to a friend for some pickles.  My thyme didn't work out so well, I think that I didn't use it enough.  I am going to to try 2 new herbs, but check out the basil now:

Love it!!

You can order all different kinds of herbs, and some vegetables, as well as flowers.  Mine has 3 spots for  herbs, but there is also one with 7 spots.  I received that one first, but the whole contraption was way too big for my counter, so I returned it for this beauty.  It is a perfect, snake-free way to garden.  Problem Solved.

Sloooowwww Learner

Okay, so I am a slow learner.  Well, not really I guess, I am just slow to change my habits.  Perhaps it is my aversion to change.  Not knowing what to expect when things are different than what I am used to. If I find a shirt that I like, I buy in it every color.  When we go out to dinner, I have that certain entree that I order at every restaurant. Is that why I am still using the same perfume and blush that I used when I was in college?  What's so funny is that whenever I do try something different, I usually find myself thinking, "Why didn't I do this sooner?"  Okay, so maybe I am a slow learner.

Last week I was attempting to call my friend on my cell phone, yes, it has texting, but I was driving and we all no that is a no-no.  (I have a son getting ready to take his permit test so I need to be sure to set a good example).  When I looked down at my phone (at the stoplight of course) I noticed the numbers looked goofy---they were in mirror image!  The call still went through, but suddenly my phone went black.  So needless to say, I couldn't text, I couldn't see who was calling me, and I couldn't see who I was calling unless I knew their number by heart, and who knows anyone's phone number anymore?

So on Monday, I went to the Sprint store and came home with this:

The HTC EVO 4G.

OMG!  Welcome to 2011.  This thing is so amazing!  I have my kids showing me all the things it can do.  TV?  On a phone?  And the apps, holy cow.  It is like the iPhone, only for Sprint.  The first app that B (my meteorologist in training) had me download was The Weather Channel, of course.  And then there is the Runkeeper App that will track how far, how fast, etc. you are running.  B also has me in serious training for Angry Birds.  Fun at your fingertips.  I know that most people have experienced this before, but like I said, slow learner.  Does this mean that I have to get rid of my Boombox?

I'm Leavin' on a jet plane....

I don't know when I'll be back again....

Actually it will only be a few days.

I will give you one guess who is going to San Diego to attend the BlogHer 2011 conference?


Besides the other 3,000 people --- ME!

Remember the recipe for the Risotto Cakes? Well, it was part of a contest sponsored by the Knorr company. They asked 200 bloggers to submit recipes using their new Concentrated Chicken Stock. The top 8 finalists were chosen to go to San Diego for a cook off and I was chosen! Woo-hoo!

Only too bad for me that it is not in January, since it is 150 degrees in Minnesota right now. But I will take San Diego anytime. Not sure what all the details are yet, but I am looking forward to it. I have 2 weeks to perfect my culinary skills, so any tips would be appreciated.

San Diego here I come!

Basil & Sun Dried Tomato Risotto Cakes

This is a new twist on a favorite recipe of mine.  You have heard of crab cakes, of course, well these are similar but instead of crab, they are made with risotto.  There is a new product coming out on the market that I had the privlege of testing this week.  It is made by Knorr and it is a concentrated version of homestyle chicken stock.  It comes in this cute little container, (similar to the dressing cups you get at fast food restaurants), and it makes 3 1/2 cups of stock!  You can use a multitude of things to dilute it (think water, fruit juice, cider, etc.)  So this is what I used in my recipe.  I think you are really going to like it!!

Basil & Sun Dried Tomato Risotto Cakes with Mozzarella
Serving Size:  6 cakes
Total Cook Time:  40 minutes plus 3 hours cooling time

Ingredients:
1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic
1 cup arborio rice
1 tub Knorr concentrated chicken stock
1 1/2 cups water
1 cup white wine (optional-or just use 2 1/2 cups water)
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups finely chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup julienned sun dried tomatoes
2 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese (in 2" pieces)
Salt and Pepper to taste

1.  Heat 1 tablespoon  olive oil in pan with tight fitting lid. Add onions and garlic and cook until tender.  Stir in rice - cook 1 minute.

2.  Add Knorr concentrated chicken stock, 1 cup white wine, and 1 cup water.  The concentrated stock just melts like butter...amazing and delicious.  Bring to a boil while stirring constantly.  Reduce heat to low, cover and cook until rice is tender but firm, approximately 15 minutes.

3.  Remove lid and turn off heat.  Add remaining water, parmesan, basil, sun dried tomatoes, salt and pepper.  Stir to combine with rice.  Allow risotto to cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate covered until risotto is completely chilled (about 3 hours).

4.  When risotto is cold, form into patties.  Insert piece of fresh mozzarella into center, making sure it is completely covered.  I like to make a thin patty...just like making hamburgers, then add the mozzarella, and top it with another thin patty.  Squeeze the edges together, and waa-laa!

5.  Over medium heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a 10" skillet.  Add cakes, making sure they are not touching.  Cook until brown, about 5-8 minutes each side.  Serve immediately.

Yummy goodness. 

Enjoy!!