making | rosemary olive oil cake

This has been a whirlwind week for me, but when one of the organizers for the company Christmas party emailed to remind me of the dessert contest with gluten free category.  I couldn't resist.  I was half-cringing when I replied that I'd love to bring something and to save me a spot.

I figured that I'd run to the grocery at dark o'clock in the am and whip up the cake before heading to work and then finish it off over lunch.  Tight, but doable.  Everything worked out in case you're wondering.

Brooke suggested that I make this cake again, I'd first made it this summer for a party that I catering sweets for.  The hostess picked out the recipe and I wasn't too sure, until it was in the oven, then I immediately made a second cake because I needed to taste it!  The next morning I was looking forward to having a slice with my coffee, when I discovered that Calvin got to it before me and the only thing left was a crumb, too small for a mouse.

Anyway, its delicious.  Light, lemon-y, and the rosemary adds a surprising herbal flavor.  The glaze keeps everything moist and if you throw a few sprigs of rosemary on top, it'll look extra-fancy.  I lost the grand prize to somebody's almond cake, but rumor has it this was the runner up.

Recipe here:  Rosemary Olive Oil Cake

The only modifications I made were using Cup4Cup in place of the flour, 2% instead of skim (eeew!) and baking it a bit longer because I was using a deep rosette cake pan.

Bon appétit!

making | foldover clutch

Sometimes I get the urge to make something.  For example, when I'm out shopping in an upscale village I fall in love with a gorgeous Clare Vivier clutch that is approximately $200 and then realize that it's basically two pieces of fabric and a zipper...  And I'm thinking "I got this, how hard can it be?"

Famous last words.

Anyway, I googled a tutorial (this one), locked myself into the sewing room the other night(s) and emerged victorious.  Nevermind the fact that I had to sew, re-sew, seam rip, sew, re-sew, do and redo a zipper, and get a headache during the whole process.  

It's been a long time since I've sewed something and I'd almost forgotten how good it feels to have a project turn out exactly how you imagined it in your head.  Combined with the fact that I absolutely LOVE fabrics and color and crazy combinations (sewing allows me to put anything I want together!), I need to do this more often!  

(understated on the outside, wild & crazy on the inside!)

Just a warning, the next thing on my list is a tulle skirt.  I just know that I'll end up with tulle up to my pearls and wonder why I didn't order one online.  But what's the fun in that?!?

making | national doughnut day

Last Friday was National Doughnut Day, proving that nothing in this world is too humble to have an entire day devoted to it.  I was going to take the kiddos out for little doughnut run, and then quickly came to my senses realizing that Mom & Dad had just left for the night and I was going to have to watch said "kiddos" for the next six hours.  And I'm thinking, there has got to be a lower sugar option than frosting & sprinkle covered Dunkin.  Good news folks, there is!  Not by much...  But at least it's homemade!

I'd remembered seeing the Barefoot Contessa's recipe for Cinnamon Baked Doughnuts in her Foolproof cookbook.  The pictures looked fabulous enough, how bad could they be.  Right?  And besides, sugar & cinnamon AND butter!

They were delicious.  I used Cup4Cup flour to keep it gluten free with no further recipe changes.  Apparently with the nine billion different styles of cake pans that we own, the "donut" variety is not one that is in our arsenal.  So I used tiny bunt cake pans (Oh, the variety! I'm telling you.) and a mini muffin pan for the holes.  The kiddo's totally loved the idea of "making our own doughnuts", Cal & Gracie even greased the pans for me.  We ate them with tea and watched "State Fair", at least until the doughnuts were gone...

 Here's to celebrating obscure holidays!