i am baker

Cheerios Cake

Amanda — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:28:56 +0000

I try to stay away from controversy on my little baking blog.

I have a philosophy… its silly I know. But I believe that we can all unite over cake. No matter your beliefs or views or politics, we can all come together and celebrate with a beautiful and delicious cake. And that is why I try to keep this blog a happy place, full of pretty desserts that are sure to bring others joy.

When I heard that there was a controversy over this Cheerios commercial, I was deeply saddened.

I know that some people are not going to like this post. That they will click the little X in the upper right hand corner and vow to never return. I know that they will disagree and be upset. And I am sorry. Truly, the last thing I want to do is be divisive.

After seeing the commercial, I literally had no idea what the controversy even was. My friend Kristen from Dine & Dish had posted it on her facebook page and I had to go read the comments to find out what the issue was.

In case you are as blissfully naive as I am, the issue was race.

Some people were upset that the husband was black and the wife was white and that they had an interracial child.

Martin Luther King, Jr. famously said, “We will have to repent in this generation not merely for the hateful words and actions of the bad people but for the appalling silence of the good people.”

I dont want to be a part of the appalling silence anymore.

After reading some of the awful comments people have made, its clear to see that their minds are not going to be changed through some brief internet interactions. I am never going to argue someone into seeing my perspective.

Instead, what I do want to focus on is solutions.

“Racism isn’t born, folks, it’s taught. I have a two-year-old son. You know what he hates? Naps! End of list.”

Denis Leary

This cake is simple. Overly simple some might say, but that was intentional.

I feel like the solution is simple.

Teach love.

I can certainly make sure that I am raising intelligent, well-mannered and considerate young people who understand that our inherent value is not based on appearance.

Simple.

I can model the behavior that I want to see in them. I hope that my children will see in me a love for others, regardless of physical appearance. I hope that they will remain blissfully ignorant of the pain and destruction caused by prejudice and racism for many, many more years.

In addition to teaching and being an example of love, I went out and bought five boxes of Cheerios. The way that they have responded to the controversy, with class and grace, has certainly impressed me.

“We are a family brand and not all of the comments were family-friendly,” Camille Gibson, vice president of marketing for Cheerios told USA Today. “There are many kinds of families, and Cheerios celebrates them all.”

I think its something easy we can do. Standing in the cereal aisle at your grocery store, maybe this week you can choose one box of Cheerios in place of your regular brand. Maybe we can all help support a company who chose not to see color and chooses to embrace love.

Maybe we can all make a Cheerios Cake and celebrate family and love!

Now. Do you want to know how I really feel about segregation?

Ahem.

Just in case you want to make your own Cheerios Cake here is what I did. Make the perfect white cake in two 8-in rounds and the best chocolate cake in two 8-in rounds. I then whipped up a batch of chocolate buttercream to cover the cake. There is no frosting between the layers. Using Chocolate Cheerios, I spelled out the word “love”. For the individual slice, I just poured some more Chocolate Cheerios over the top to add some texture and depth of flavor.

If you decide to make a Cheerios Cake be sure to share! I would be happy to post your pictures and link to your blog or facebook page.

Priceless Memories~Fun at the Mall of America!

Amanda — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:19:29 +0000

This past weekend we all headed out to Mall of America. The six of us met up with my mom and dad as well my niece Inga. I have to admit, the thought of wrangling my four kids around a packed mall while eight months pregnant seemed daunting at first. But within minutes my stresses were alleviated. We had arrived for fun and fun was going to be had by all!

See that? ”Think Happy.” It’s my new mantra.

The first stop had to be Nickelodeon Universe®. Centrally located in the Mall, the kids couldn’t help but catch glimpses of the giant characters they have come to know and love. I lost count of the oohh’s and aahh’s!

There are rides for all ages… from the sweet Blue’s Clues ride perfect for toddlers (and even bigger!) to the wild spin-you-so-fast-you-won’t-know-up-from-down rides.

When we first arrived the kids weren’t sure about the rides. They watched the super-fast roller coasters and tumbly twisty turning rides and said, “No. Nope. No way! I do NOT want to go on that.”

By the end of day they were still begging for more!

We were so excited to finally go to SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium®. I have to tell you, this was a favorite attraction for the whole family!

I loved the beautiful variety of sea life and my kids loved interacting with the staff and creatures. There were definitely moments when they were absolutely still… when you could see the awe in their eyes. Such a beautiful moment for a parent to see!

We had so much fun exploring Nickelodeon Universe. When we happened upon the face painting area, my kids went nuts. ANGRY BIRDS! Just about the only thing that would have made the experience even better would be an entire store dedicated to all things Angry Birds.

Wait. Forget I said that. I would be broke.

After a long exciting day we walked a few steps to our hotel room. Literally walked a few steps. Our hotel was connected to MOA™! We would have been impressed with that feature alone, but MOA went above and beyond to make our stay one we would never forget. They left these adorable bears for each of the kids.

Then we went into the bathroom and saw this! Such awesome attention to detail… for the people that often don’t get it!

The kids were treated like royalty. I don’t think we have ever really experienced anything like that before, and I can tell you that it made a big difference for me. I would definitely be willing to pay a few dollars more to have my whole family doted upon and pampered again!

But they didn’t forget mom and dad. We had a lovely note welcoming us as well as this awesome selection of award-winning cupcakes (again, thank you MOA!). I am pretty sure I was supposed to share them

We had such a great time over the course of two days I thought I would share some tricks to make your visit amazing!

5 Tricks to Making Your MOA Visit Perfect!

1. Plan ahead. Mall of America has a great website that showcases current events as well as its hottest attractions. They are also on twitter (@mallofamerica) which is a great way for savvy social media moms and dads to stay current on big events!

2. Stay at the Radisson Blu. This hotel is actually connected to the Mall. Do not underestimate how convenient that is! With four small children, having the ability to take one back to the room for a quick nap (or time out!) was such a blessing. It was great being able to wake up and walk over without ever having to put a coat on!

3. See a movie. Yes, see a movie! As much as I love my sweet cherubs, there was just no way I could pass up shopping at a place like this! MOA has a huge movie theater that is the perfect way to get the kids settled in one place while giving you hours of shopping all to yourself!

4. SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium. Seriously, did you know that MOA has a huge aquarium? With sharks and fish and tours and a ride? Not only is Sea Life fun, but it is educational. The kids were having a blast trying to identify species of fish. And can I tell you the best part? Sea Life is a great place for mom and dad to rejuvenate. It’s cool and dimly lit and soothing. You don’t have to guide the kids through, they are basically guiding themselves! And you just get to tag along and smile!

5. Restaurants. The 3rd and 4th floors are chock full of every imaginable place you and your family could ever want to eat at. Sit down and have a meal together! This is a great time for kids to re-hash their favorite events so far and an even better time for you to have a drink and relax. We ate a Kokomo’s and Bubba Gump’s and had fantastic service. The servers seemed like they actually liked our kids, which sure helps when you know that they might not be on their best behavior.

Have I convinced you that you need to visit Mall of America yet? Well, how about a little incentive.

You can be entered to win a $100 Mall of America gift card!

Simply leave an answer in the comments that answers one of the following questions: What is your favorite place to go to at Mall of America?

If you’ve never gone, which part of MOA would you visit first? Good luck!

Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the
following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post”
c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 6/10 – 7/7.
Be sure to visit the Mall of America page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Food Styling Challenge: Picky Palate

Amanda — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 13:05:00 +0000

The Food Styling Challenge is all about showcasing talent for styling food. I have asked 12 amazing bloggers to pick any chocolate cake recipe they want and style it anyway they want. The catch? They only have $25 to do it! Join us on the journey to see how they can transform a cake stand into a work of art!

June is all about Jenny from Picky Palate. Jenny’s blog is a feast! Her pictures are fantastic and food is mouth watering and personality is the best! She makes me smile and you just cant put a value on that. I even made her a Special Cake for her baby shower… the cake was based on her world famous Chocolate Chip Cookie stuffed with Oreo’s!

Not only is Jenny’s blog amazing… but she has a book out too! The Picky Palate Cookbook is a favorite in our house… full of practical and easy to follow recipes with fun and delicious twists.

Oh… and check out what Jenny made for us! A delectable Double Chocolate Butterfinger Layer Cake! Wow.

Be sure to head to her blog for the complete recipe!!

Did you find the Food Styling Challenge to be easy or difficult? “I found the challenge to be so much fun. I grew up finding good deals, so hunting down goodies at the thrift store was an absolute treat!”

Was the spending limit a challenge? “The spending limit was not a challenge for me. I spent a total of $16 on my props. A little left over, yippee!

What are your favorite props to style with? “My favorite props to style with are definitely antique shop finds. I love old silverware, printed napkins, fun new plates, cups and cake stands.”

What is your favorite part of the challenge? “My favorite part of the challenge was the whole thing…..creating a new cake and the challenge of finding props for under $25. I combined a plate and candlestick to make my cake stand. Love how it turned out!

Thanks so much for having me Amanda, it was a pleasure!

*****

My gosh I just want to dive into that gorgeous cake. Way to go Jenny!!

Be sure to check out past participants!

January-Dine & Dish

February-Verses From My Kitchen

March-Inspired by Charm

April-Tidymom

May-Family Fresh Cooking

One Week Today

Amanda — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 16:51:11 +0000

A week ago today I was being wheeled into a sterile operating room for my fifth C-section.

My husband was there with me, holding my hand, as the talented and professional team of doctors and nurses prepared me for surgery.

I was emotional and nervous… more so than any other time. I think it was a combination of stress and anticipation, as we had chosen not to find out the sex of the baby prior to the birth.

I was shocked to find out she was a girl. I had somehow convinced myself it was a boy, and literally had to check and double check to make sure that she was in fact a sweet little princess! We had no girl names, not even one! You all offered up some great suggestions on Facebook and Instagram… and we ended up choosing Olivia. The name is derived from Olive, and Biblically the olive branch is a symbol of peace. It seems to fit her perfectly!

In addition to having a baby our family is going through some other big changes.

On July 1st of this year we are scheduled to close on a new home! Having a family of seven changes things, one of the biggest being the sheer amount of space that you occupy! And as soon as we found out we were pregnant we started looking for a new home, so it has been a long journey.

Our new home… sitting on 15 acres!

And like all those who have gone before us know, it hasnt been an easy process. We scoured the internet and looked at houses and thought about making offers and ended up being shocked by the changes in the market. One house that we looked at sold for $90k over the suggested price! Suddenly it was no longer a buyers market… the inventory was low and the demand high. There are lots of multiple offer situations and very little opportunity for relaxed and well thought out decision making. That in itself was a huge stress for me and hubby!

My husband and I were addicted to the realty sites. We got updates and scoured new and old listings daily. One day, I happened upon a new listing that seemed promising. We looked at the pictures and the stats and decided that it was definitely something we wanted to see, and with the current state of things we knew we needed to act fast. We went to see the house.

We walked in. We looked around. We walked upstairs and down. We went outside.

We knew. This was our house. We decided right then and there that we wanted to make an offer. So on a dreary Saturday afternoon, we made it official.

I was so stressed about that because dealing with multiple offers was not something I was comfortable with. So after we submitted our offer the sellers Realtor sent an email out to everyone who had visited the property letting them know there was an offer on the table. They wanted to generate as much interest as possible to get the best offer possible on their property.

By Monday there were no other offers. Not one. It was just us.

I cannot thank the Lord enough because based on the current market conditions, the price of the home, and all the circumstances involved, it should not have worked that way. But for some reason, everything was falling into place… every detail being positively addressed and every action moving us closer to being in our dream home. I believe with my whole heart that God wants us there, and I am so thankful He does!

We are now in the process of putting our house on the market.

Trying to take care of a newborn and pack boxes and de-clutter and stage a small house with seven people living in it is no easy task! I am shocked at the amount of “stuff” we have and how easy it would be to part with it. We need so little. Why on earth do we have so much? Hopefully I will learn to be more minimal in the new house.

The last three months have been a roller coaster. With Chad’s heart issue s and not being able to find a house forever and then all of a sudden finding a home and then baby being born and trying to homeschool and prepare our current home for sale has been quite stressful.

To top things off, I am having a really hard time recovering from my C-section. A day after the surgery I was doing beautifully… feeling amazing… having little to no pain. I got to go home on Sunday even though the surgery was just on Friday! But then, I got a cold. One of those colds with a violent cough that shakes your whole body. Well, this is NOT a good combination when trying to heal from major surgery. I ended up pulling one of my abdominal muscles. I am not kidding when I say that every cough is excruciating. I cant lift anything (including my sweet Eddie, and its killing both of us!) or vacuum or help with packing like I want to.

My poor husband has taken on so much, I cant help but be worried about him a lot of the time. Him still being in AFib is a constant concern. We are actually seeking a brand new treatment and we find out tomorrow how that will work. I promise to report back if there is any improvement!

Baby Olivia has been such a blessing. Since Eddie was a colicky baby (one of the hardest posts I have ever written), I had serious concerns that she would be as well. But she is far from it! From the moment she was born she latched on like a PRO and has been a nursing champ ever since. She sleeps for long periods of time and the only time we hear her cry is when she gets her diaper changed!

Her brothers and sister adore her and fight over who gets to hold her. Heck, mom and dad fight over who gets to hold her too!

While the day to day tasks seem overwhelming, the big picture is so hopeful. We feel blessed and thankful! Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes!

Today is the Day!

Amanda — Fri, 31 May 2013 10:09:03 +0000

We are scheduled to have our fifth child this morning via C-Section! Five kids. Who would have thought?

We are nervous and excited for this newest addition to finally make his/her way into our lives!

For this pregnancy we chose to not find out the sex of the baby, and its been really fun!! Thank you to all those who commented and encouraged us to stick with it and not give in… I am so glad we did!

I am hoping for another boy…

My sweet Audrey wants a little sister desperately!

In reality we all would be thrilled with either.

In honor of the sweet blessing we are about to meet I wanted to share some of the joy and excitement with you.

I am going to start my day with a super awesome gift and I think YOU SHOULD TOO!!

I would love for one of you to win the amazing new phone!

Its actually part smartphone. Part tablet.

But all totally awesome. These beautiful Verizon phones retail for $599.00!

How can you win one? Simply tell me:

What do you think we are having… a boy or a girl?

If you would like you can follow along on my Facebook page, I will try to update with pictures and confirmation!

Contest runs from May 31st-June 3rd. You can “vote” once a day, every day!

See official rules here.

Wish me luck!

UPDATED:

On Friday we welcomed Olivia into our hearts!

She was 8lbs 5 oz

She is healthy and happy and much loved!

(Contest is still open through this evening- just make sure you guess ‘girl’)

WINNER ANNOUNCED!

I picked a winner using random.org. They selected a number between 1 and 611. Comment #52 was the lucky winner!

Theresa, please email me within 48 hours to claim your awesome new phone!

Today I Will…

Amanda — Wed, 29 May 2013 13:21:32 +0000

Say yes in stead of no.

Turn off the computer.

Listen.

Not engage in mommy guilt.

Appreciate this moment.

What will you do today?

Sharing Faith the Duck Dynasty Way

Amanda — Thu, 23 May 2013 13:02:50 +0000

I am a new convert to Duck Dynasty.

I really like the show… its funny, its interesting, and all the people on it seem real. Like, really real.

But my favorite thing about it is the story behind the people.

They love the Lord and they testify His name.

They go on national television is proclaim the way of Jesus of Galilee. They share the true message of the Gospel.

And I cant help but think its totally awesome.

Have you seen Duck Dynasty? What do you think of the unabashed proclamation of God’s holy word?

(check out some funny Duck Dynasty quotes here! They are also on facebook in case you want to follow along)

Morning Ritual

Amanda — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:34:06 +0000

I am not your average coffee drinker. I spent the first 32 years of my life ignoring any would be attraction to the addictive blend. My husband has always seemed to enjoy it, but when I started to partake in the last couple of years the coffee maker has changed twice, the cups have gotten bigger and more numerous and the sweet cream is of a higher quality.

But the basic ritual is the same. Wake up, start coffee, wait impatiently for it to brew, sit down and enjoy a cup. I love the habit of it. When I take my bigger than it needs to be cup and sit down in front of the computer my mind begins to awaken. I turn on some of my favorite music, read emails and the blogs I love to follow and sip by sip emerge myself into a new day. Its fueled by the creativity of ingenious friends, the soothing songs the beckon me to hum along, and the warm comfort of a sweet sip. Its worth it to me to get up a little earlier than the rest of my family, just to savor the quiet moments of bliss. And the older I get, the (hopefully) wiser I get, the more I realize just how precious these moments are. They are essential to mom’s sanity!

Did you know that Folgers is having a Jingle Contest? I happen to love their long time tune… “The best part of waking up is Folgers in your cup!” Now you know you sang that in your head right? 1,000 bonus points if you sang it out loud!

I cant imagine anything better than what they have… but there are a lot of folks out there who can! The entries so far are quite amazing! You should definitely try to go and vote for the best Top 10 Finalist in Folgers’ Jingle Contest!

You also get to meet the Top 10! Take a look at Folgers® Jingle Contest Finalists, and listen to the tracks that earned them a spot in The Top 10. Cast your vote once every day through June 19th. You could win exciting prizes, like free Folgers Coffee, iTunes® gift cards, signed CDs from Gavin DeGraw, and even a $10,000 Grand Prize just for voting!

Vote Now: http://www.folgerscoffee.com/folgers-jingle/vote. Before you vote, follow the Road to the Jingle on Facebook to see how they traveled the U.S. to track down the Top 10 contestants!

Remember, you can vote once a day through June 19th! Click here for official rules.

So now that we have established how much I love my morning ritual… I would love to know, what is yours?

Success! Kinda.

Amanda — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:32:31 +0000

Its taken me awhile to update my blog about my husband.

I havent really known what to say.

Its been an emotional roller coaster to say the least. I was an wreck before and during his ablation procedure… but after having researched it and nurses and doctors explaining it, it seemed like no-fail.

When I spoke with the doctor right after the procedure, it was such good news. ”He’s a great candidate for this.” ”His heart, aside from the AFib, is very healthy.” Even after, the news was encouraging. ”It was a success.”

Chad stayed in the hospital overnight and it was rough. Coming home was rough. The next seven days were rough. Recovery was not easy for him and it was hard to see, much less understand.

A week later when he went back for a check-up and EKG, we got the news that we feared.

He is back in AFib.

If we continue to listen to doctors thats kinda normal. I mean, the ideal scenario presented to us was that they find the connection that was causing the problem and that Chad would never deal with AFib again. That didnt happen. But now they are saying that some AFib is normal. But how much?

They propose chemical cardio versions and actual cardio versions and maybe even more ablations. More drugs more procedures more of the same stuff that keeps failing.

Its hard seeing Chad like this, knowing that his body is not working like it should and that the side effects are hurting him.

Its hard facing a future of what-ifs, maybes, and kindas.

So many have reached out and shared their own experiences with AFib and I appreciate that. Its good hearing about and understanding how others cope.

I think we are just in a state of unknown. We dont know where to go or what to believe about it anymore.

We do have tremendous faith in God and in His plan for us. We are forging ahead in spite of the “unknown” and making some pretty big steps in the direction of Hope. Big changes and big plans and big dreams that it may seem funny to follow, but the alternative is just not an option.

And with all the events of late, its good to put things into perspective… into the right perspective that is.

This quote sums things up for me.

Sending love and blessings to all those who are dealing with trials today.

Food Styling Challenge: Family Fresh Cooking

Amanda — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:32:37 +0000

May is focusing on Marla from Family Fresh Cooking. I have long time been a fan of Marla’s unique style and talent, and secretly hope to one day see her prop closet! And thankfully she does share some of her amazing prop secrets below!

Be sure to stop by and see the recipe for her beautiful and delicious (and I am sure healthy, Marla is the queen of beautifulhealthydelicious food!) Chocolate Pancake Layer Cake!

Did you find the Food Styling Challenge to be easy or difficult?

I had a blast with this challenge! I love things that test my photography and recipe development skills. I pondered my recipe for quite a while as I am not a traditional baker. That is why you see a pancake cake! Until I got started on this I was perplexed as to what I would come up with ~ once I got started it all flowed easily!

Was the spending limit a challenge?

At first I thought it was gonna be a challenge. I went to a few antique stores that were way over priced. Then I went to a new favorite in Durango, CO. They had so much stuff within price range I could hardly decide what to buy. As soon as my eyes latched onto these clear glass plates with the beaded edge I was hooked! These will be used regularly on my blog from now on. I am obsessed with the antique kitty too! She also has a puppy pal.

What are your favorite props to style with?

I tend to like antiques ~ the Shabby Chic look is a favorite. My prop collection includes pieces I find on Etsy.com, antiques stores and brands such a s Mackenzie-Childs, Pip Studio and Kath Kidston. I have a thing for european country design and their food styling.

What is your favorite part of the challenge?

My favorite part(s) of this challenge were wondering how I was going to come up with a chocolate cake that fit my healthier recipe style. Also, I wondered how I was going to bake something at high altitude, I live at close to 10,000 feet. We moved here in January and quite frankly I am not a baker ~ so I have not been experimenting. The ratios of ingredients are quite different up here in the Telluride high country. Thankfully pancakes are a constant in our house, so I turned them into a layer cake. This recipe is healthy enough for me to consider for breakfast, brunch or dessert. I loved finding props that fit within budget too.

Find Marla here!

Twitter @MarlaMeridith

Facebook: Food @Family Fresh Cooking

Facebook: Lifestyle @marlameridith.com

Pinterest @Marla Meridith

Instagram @marlameridith

Amazing job Marla! Thanks so much for taking on the Food Styling Challenge!

Be sure to check out past participants!

January-Dine & Dish

February-Verses From My Kitchen

March-Inspired by Charm

April-Tidymom