Live and Learn

Our trip to the zoo during Spring Break

I love self-help books. I read somewhere that these type of books can be just as life-changing as psychotherapy for some people. We all need a little therapy from time to time (at least I do). Books tend to be a much more affordable option. Some of my favorites include What Happy People Know, by Dan Baker Ph.d, and A Joyful Mother of Children, by Linda J. Eyre. My latest favorite is Sheri Dew's new book called If Life were Easy, it wouldn't be Hard. It follows the example of our greatest "self-help" book, The Book of Mormon, with its wisdom wrapped up in a nice little package of inspiration and encouragement. Even if we aren't faced with major trials in our lives, this book can help deal with the daily frustrations of life. She reminds me that I need to pray to have charity for everyone, including my children.

Why, do you ask, do I need to have charity for my children? Well let's just say that I have had the opportunity to spend a lot of quality time with them over the last few weeks. I wish that I would have documented a few of our latest mishaps. It's amazing what an entire bottle of pink nail polish can do to a 2-foot square section of carpet and no, hiding the chocolate cake on the highest shelf of the pantry did not keep Tess from dumping it upside down on the tile floor. It is in these moments that C.S. Lewis writes that we show our true character, "surely what a man does when he is taken off guard is the best evidence for what sort of man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth. . ."

I cannot say that I reacted perfectly. Next time I plan on pulling out the camera to document the moment before reading up on the internet about techniques to remove nail polish using trusty old hair spray (it worked beautifully). Live and learn, that's what I say (even if it is a bit cliched)!

Spring Break 2008

At this very moment we are smack dab in the middle of Spring Break 2008. I guess we have had too much fun because the kids are engrossed in my least favorite show "Sponge Bob Squarepants". You know I am at my wits end when I let that happen.

We were hoping for lots of sunshine this week so we could play outside and work in the yard. Monday was great, we met some friends at the park for a picnic but Tuesday brought snow. It dropped from 80 degrees to 40. (Did I mention that the rest of Reggie's family is in Hawaii). I think that tomorrow I will take the kiddies ice-skating.

Here is a yummy variation of Strawberry Shortcake. It is a recipe I found in "Essential Mormon Celebrations" byJulie Badger Jensen.

Luscious Lemon Bundt Cake

1 yellow cake mix

1 small (3-ounce)package vanilla instant pudding

4 eggs

1 cup sour cream

2 teaspoons vanilla

3/4 cup vegetable oil

Fresh strawberries, sliced

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well. Pour into a greased Bundt pan. Bake at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes. Serve topped with berries with Lemon Sour Cream Sauce drizzled over top. (10 servings)

Lemon Sour Cream Sauce

1 cup sour cream

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 cup powdered sugar

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Dollop on individual pieces of Luscious Lemon Bundt Cake.

I made this cake according to the recipe and it was delish but next time I plan on changing a few things. I am going to use a lemon pudding mix and add 1 teaspoon of lemon peel to the cake mix. Then instead of the sour cream sauce I am going to whip a pint of whipping cream with 1/4 cup sugar and then fold in 1 container of Yoplait lemon yogurt. I'll let you know the results. I am hoping the cake tastes similar to the Lemon Bundt cake that Cosco sells that we all love. Unfortunately, they don't sell it in our neck of the woods.

Conference Weekend Cupcakes

Another amazing General Conference has come and gone. I feel uplifted as well as motivated to follow the example of President Monson. Wasn't his closing remarks hilarious? My favorite session was Saturday morning's Solemn Assembly. I tried to explain to the kids how special that meeting was. I was impressed at how they listened intently almost the entire time. Rylee asked me everytime a new speaker got up to the pulpit, "is that our new prophet?" I look forward to teaching my children about him and his example of service.

I also loved Elder Bednar's remarks about missionary work. He said that instead of praying for the missionaries to find people who would be receptive to the message that we should pray for opportunities to find people that the missionaries can teach. He promised us that if we pray for those opportunities that they will come. (paraphrased of course)

Elder Ballard also gave a beautiful talk directed to the women of the Church. He reminded me that the magical moments of motherhood come interspersed with the monotonous moments. I need to learn to appreciate both.

The cupcakes got started as a PTA project. I am in charge of "Teacher Appreciation Week" at the elementary school in two weeks and I have to fix a Mexican dinner for 85 people. I wanted to serve a Tres Leche (al a Cafe Rio) for dessert. This was a very labor intensive recipe. It took 2 days to come together. It calls for a Dulce de Leche Buttercream but Reggie and I found it far too rich and sweet. So, when I make these for the teachers I will substitute whipped cream for the icing and top them with sliced strawberries. If you like "three milk cake" it is definately worth the effort!

Tres Leches Coconut Cupcakes with Dulce de Leche Buttercream

1/4 cup shortening

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

3 eggs, separated

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup coconut milk
1 cup lightly toasted flaked coconut (Mounds or Angel Flake brand)

Dulce de Leche Buttercream:

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle brand)

2 egg yolks

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

14 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature

1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the shortening, butter, and sugar until light and fluffy on medium speed; add egg yolks 1 at a time, beating until all the yellow disappears. Add the vanilla.

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt. Add alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed mixture beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small bowl, beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold into cake batter.

Fill standard paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to wire rack that has been placed over a baking sheet to cool.

While cupcakes are still warm, stir together the evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and the coconut milk. Using a meat injector needle, inject each cupcake in several different spots with about 1/2 to 3/4-ounce of the mixture. Or, poke several holes in the top of each of the cupcakes with a 1/4-inch wooden skewer. Pour the milk mixture over each cupcake while they are still warm, filling each hole. Refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight before icing.

For the Buttercream:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. To make the dulce de leche, pour the sweetened condensed milk into a glass pie plate and cover with foil. Place in a larger roasting pan where pie plate can sit flat. Pour hot water into the roasting pan to a depth of about halfway up the pie plate.

Place in oven and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Stir until smooth. Place egg yolks in a medium mixing bowl. Stir the sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a small, heavy saucepan. Whisk in the water first, then the dulce de leche and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat. Gradually whisk the dulce de leche mixture into the 2 egg yolks. Stir in the vanilla. Strain through a wire mesh strainer into a small bowl and set aside to cool completely.

Beat the butter on high speed in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the cooled dulce de leche mixture. Beat in the 1 cup powdered sugar until smooth and spreadable.

Frost each cupcake with a generous amount of dulce de leche buttercream. Refrigerate any remaining buttercream for another use. Sprinkle each cupcake with toasted coconut.

An Homage to Grandma Velma

8 years and 6 piano teachers later and I can barely play "Choose the Right" in the Hymn book. And yet, I have deep regret that I didn't stick to my musical training. It was a little difficult finding time to practise since I lived with a father that didn't allow piano music while he was in the house. He had grown up with a mother that taught lessons and had to endure constant plunking from morning until night. The sound had become like nails on a blackboard to him.

Unfortunately, I lacked the focus to squeeze my practising in between school time and play time. I seem to remember recommitting about 6 times (with every new teacher.) I remained hopeless, even though I always admired my mother's ability to play any number of songs from her extensive collection of showtunes and gospel music. I even remember my fascination with the organ that sat in Grandma's front room (the big one next to the smaller organ and the grand piano).

Grandma Norton had high hopes for me to learn to play the organ. Hopefully, my renewed desire to learn the piano will satisfy her in heaven. I have been practising daily and am amazed at my retention of what I had learned in my childhool. I think I may even purchase some Grade 3 music books!!! Now it is time to live vicariously through my children. Maybe Mitchell, Rylee, or Tess will inherit their Grandma Norton's love of music and her natural musical abilities. We will find out sooner than later since the older kids will be starting piano lessons some time next month.

Now we will just have to see if their father adopts the "not while I am home" rule for practising!