These photos were taken of Grace while she was still in the NICU. She was eleven days old and a mere 4 pounds 13 ounces. [slideshow] ... read more
Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake is not just for Easter! It's the perfect dessert for a Sunday brunch, an afternoon luncheon, or just to snack on in the morning during a busy week. The royal icing carrots are optional but aren't they so cute?! Mom's Special Carrot Cake: Ingredients: 6 cups grated carrots 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup raisins (I leave these out because my family isn't a fan) 4 eggs 1 1/2 cups white sugar 1 cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 cup chopped walnuts Directions: In a medium bowl, combine grated carrots and brown sugar. Set ... read more
Going Natural
Who doesn't love the look of neon-bright Easter Eggs? I'm not about to knock the classic, but I had a hankering to try something new this year. Using mostly boiled vegetable solids, I attempted coloring eggs the traditional way. Nothing artificial required! The result? A somewhat smelly array of tinted eggs that by nature (har-har) turned out beautifully earth toned. Want to try it at home? Just gather up a few cups of various veggie solids- try shredded carrots, lots of lemon and orange rinds, spinach leaves, cabbage leaves, and red onion skins. Spices like turmeric and saffron work well too. Even some tea (green tea for example) and juice (like pomegranate or blueberry) can produce nice ... read more