Sunday, February 07, 2010

# 9 - Bake a Cake from Scratch

Ken thinks I have a "thing" for the Pioneer Woman. It might be the excessive amounts of butter, obsene amounts of whipping cream, and an abundance of tongue-in-cheek witticisms, but I think Ken might be onto something. :)

I received PW's new cookbook for Christmas and have been following her blog since I lived in Japan. I've done quite a few of her recipes already and over the weekend, decided to tackle her famous Chocolate Sheet Cake. I've never made a cake without a mix and although I had to make this recipe into cupcakes (owing to a lack of a sheet cake pan -- next Christmas!), it turned out great! Chocolately goodness. It made a ton more frosting than I needed and I think that if I spread it out into a large pan, the ratio of frosting and cake would be out of this world!


I could use this as one of my new recipes, but I'm just going to let it bask in the glory of being my first cake. Also, I made banana bread (using up extra yogurt) and PW's artichoke dip yesterday. My apron is getting a workout!

Monday, February 01, 2010

Welcome to The Nunnery

Welcome to The Nunnery

Work is incredibly stressful right now as I prepare to take 240 students to Sydney in the next two weeks (and somehow get myself packed up and ready to go). In response to the nightmares that keep waking me up out of deep slumber and the cold sweats as I sit and stare at my growing "To Do" list, I decided to tack on two extra days in Melbourne for some R&R.

My colleague mentioned staying at The Nunnery and I think it looks like a totally unique and restful weekend for me! A little shopping at the farmer's market, a leisurely coffee or two, perhaps a winery tour or a drive along the Great Ocean Road. I can't wait to be back in Melbs!