Red Velvet love

While I have been on my diet Jon has been left to fend for himself. I haven't completely neglected him I do buy him food at the store, I am just not preparing dinner for the both of right now. Before I go to the store I always ask him what he wants. He usually doesn't have any specific requests, so I buy what I think looks good if I could eat it.

I was baking zucchini bread the other day, because we received a huge haul of large zucchinis. While doing so Jon asked where his treats were. I asked him if he wanted some cookies, and he said no, that he wanted a cake. Mind you baking is so much harder when you can't get the taste the batter or finished product. Jon was my zucchini bread taster since I was using a recipe I hadn't used before. He said it turned out great! More on this zucchini adventure in the future.

We have had a busy week and Jon seemed a little stressed so while he was at dinner with his family I set out to make him a cake. Granted I could have gone to the store to buy a cake mix. Instead I decided to make my favorite cake recipe - Red Velvet with Vanilla Creme frosting. I usually use this recipe for cupcakes, not cake as it's originally intended. But it was cake he wanted and it was cake I made.

A three layer Red Velvet cake.

ps. I love the Vanilla Creme frosting more than anything in the world! It's light, creamy and what I think is the perfect pairing to go with this cake.

Both the cake and frosting recipes are from a Magnolia Bakery cookbook. You can also find the recipes here:

Cake
Frosting

Toasty Goodness

This weekend Jon and I happened to find ourselves up in Park City, and being there I requested to go to the kitchen store in the outlet mall. I started with only having the thought of getting another plastic spatula. This being because I have recently found that the one I own is almost always dirty whenever I need it.

But once in the store all havoc broke loose. Me in a kitchen store - good thing my bank account only held limited funds.

For quite some time my kitchen has been the home to lovely broken toaster. Granted it still toasts very nicely, but the lever has to be held down with one of those sweet, industrial orange and black clamps. Also, you must always be aware of whatever is in the toaster so it doesn't get burnt. Oh, how I have burnt many an english muffin.

It was just my luck, they had a double toaster on sale for the lovely price of $29.99. This is much less than was spent on the now broken toaster, and the new one does double the toasting at the same time!

While there Jon also found and pointed out to me a scone pan.
I did manage to muster up enough strength to not fall victim to the temptation of purchasing this pan. Although, if you are ever looking to buy me a gift I would love to have one of these!

Although the visit to the kitchen store started just for a new spatula, I have to be proud of myself since I didn't leave with the whole store in tow. Just a new spatula, toaster, and a pie crust ring that prevents your pie crusts from getting burnt in the oven.