Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Not-So-Weekly Recipe

There's no escaping pineapples when you're in Hawaii.  So really, I don't know why it's taken over a year for me to make a pineapple upside down cake.

Seriously.  Why didn't I do this before?

...And why don't I make this every week?




Pineapple Upside-down Cake
(adapted from Allrecipes and Smitten Kitchen)


ingredients

3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 stick of butter
Fresh Pineapple - peeled, cored, sliced (or make it easy and get a can, because you'll need the juice too)
Maraschino Cherries
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 - 1 teaspoon cinnamon (I threw in some nutmeg and allspice as well, because that's just how I roll)
1/2 cup softened butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice


directions

1.  Melt butter in a small saucepan on stove top.  Mix in sugar.  This makes the most amazing caramel EVER.  If you're anything like me, you'll want to stop right here and forget the cake.  Fight the urge to hide in a dark corner while gorging yourself on warm, buttery caramel.  Fight it!  But totally lick the spoon.
2.  Pour caramel into a greased cake pan.  Arrange pineapple slices and cherries into caramel.
3.  In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup butter until creamy.  Stir in sugar.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Slowly stir in flour, spices, baking powder.  Pour in pineapple juice until combined.
4.  Spoon cake batter into pan, on top of caramel and fruit.  Level.
5.  Bake in preheated oven at 350* for 45 minutes.
6.  The top should become golden brown, and raise slightly above rim of pan.
7.  Remove from oven and let cool.  The cake will sink back down.  That was kind of a bummer.
8.  But serve this cake warm.

Enjoy!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Getting Dressed

I love fashion blogs.  I love seeing fun outfits put together by fun ladies.

The only thing is, they also make me insanely jealous.

In a good way.

They make me aspire to wear more than cutoff shorts and t-shirts.  ...I usually don't.  But still.

Very inspirational - just take a look:

Frocks & Frou Frou

Jen Loves Kev

Young, Fat, & Fabulous

Definatalie

Cupcakes and Cashmere

I Am Style-ish

Karla's Closet

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

I Can Admit When I'm Wrong, and I Can Admit When I'm Totally Right

Ohmygoodness you guys.  Are you even watching The Daily Show lately?  Jon Stewart and company are totally taking cable news networks to task.

Love it.


Also, I recently watched "Sicko" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" by Michael Moore.  I've always thought Moore was extremely offensive, radically liberal, and a big mouth from Hollywood who had nothing productive to say.  All these opinions were formed from random snippets I've seen of him on television shows and half watched clips of his movies.  I didn't care to watch any of his documentaries, and wouldn't have...ever.  However, Joe came home the other day and told me flat out that we had to watch "Sicko."

It.  Was.  Stunning.

Slightly heavy handed, but seriously, the most eye opening, informative film I've seen in, umm, forever.  Everyone in America should watch this movie.  And it's unbelievably relevant to the current political debates on health care.

The next day I went straight out and rented "Fahrenheit 9/11."  It was heartbreaking.  And as equally eye opening.

As involved with politics as I like to believe I am, I'm ashamed I waited so long to see Moore's films.  The facts he presents, the stories he tells, the way our government has controlled and manipulated us...  I don't know what to say.  That's not who we're supposed to be.  Our leaders are supposed to be more noble.  More...HONEST.

There have to be serious changes made in our government.  Hopefully we're on the right track.  But baby steps aren't going to cut it - we need huge reforms and sweeping overhauls.

I urge you to get involved.  No matter what issue, no matter what side you are on, nothing can work, nothing can change unless people speak up and get involved.  We all need to start working together for the common good.

For good.



The White House
Find Your Representative
Find Your Senator

Monday, October 12, 2009

Hormonal

Ok, so now I totally get why Orlando Bloom and Leonardo DiCaprio were so popular.

Are You a Lady?  On the Pill?...


(via Decorno)

Thursday, October 08, 2009

At a Friend's Request

A good friend of mine is getting married next month.

Yay 'Stina!

And Phil!

Congratulations!  Again!

I love weddings, and every so often I ask Joe if we can get married again.  Just so I could have another wedding.  We've been married over five years now, and I still pick up bridal magazines whenever I'm at a bookstore.

So, needless to say, I was very happy to help out Christina with a special gift she wanted to give to both sets of parents:  custom silhouette portrait plates.

Adorable.  And even more so with the border of their names and a heart.

It was my first time painting on porcelain - here's the result:





'Stina, I hope you love them in person, and your family enjoys them too.  And I hope you and Phil have many many happy years together.

Love!