Juuuust an FYI…Hypothetically, if you make Paula Deen's Gooey Butter Cake, make sure to push the dish far enough back on the counter so your angel of a dog, I won't mention any names Holly, doesn't McGuyver the Gooey off the counter and onto the floor at 3am. Otherwise, hypothetically, you could awake to an extremely loud glass-shattering-on-the-floor explosion and may startle you to slightly pee in your own bed if one were not smart enough use the aforementioned precaution. Hypothetically.

This weekend I went shopping for bridesmaids dresses with my mom, sister Deborah, and sister-in-law Stephanie and their boys Colt and William. The trip was a success and we found the their dresses. So glad to check that off the list. We had a great time, and these cuties stole the show! The first is William, he's 6 months old, the second is Colt, 3 months old.

I was feeling ambitious and adventurous and hearing Julia Child in my head, “No explanations, no excuses, no apologies!” So I decided to make Lonn’s favorite, Chocolate Cake. More specifically, the Deep Chocolate Cake from the Beaumont Junior League cookbook. (*Thanks Dana, best cookbook ever, aside from a few complaints…see footnote.) I’ve never made it before, but the picture is so beautiful that I’ve had it open to that page on a cookbook stand in my kitchen for, oh, about a year.

I have all the dry ingredients for the cake mixed together in my giant yellow mixing bowl and get ready to add the oil, eggs and such. When I start the beaters and a giant cloud of chocolate powder-y substance fills the air, and a coughing/ laughing fit ensues . Grab my damp hand towel to cover bowl, which I learned in class, which I obviously forgot, and begin again. I now have the most beautiful, chocolate gooey mixture in my beautiful, giant, yellow mixing bowl. Wow, it seemed like a lot of batter but, I figured, it did look like a big cake! Oh well, into the oven they go.

Onto the chocolate ganache Icing. Low heat; stir, stir, stir. About ninety seconds later I smelled it; the unmistakable stench of charred chocolate. NO!! I turn back the heat. I quickly realized it was not the ganache, but smoke coming out of the back burner…from the oven. NO!!

I quickly opened the oven door and sure enough, the chocolate cake mix had bubbled over, all over, the bottom of the stove. My brain goes into hyper- save-the-cake mode. Ok, grab something to put under the pans to catch the bubbling over goo. My cookie sheet is nowhere to be found. Ahh, the pizza pan! Never mind the holes in it to allow for an evenly cooked crust! I slowly remove one cake pan and place on the cookie sheet, which is placed directly over the oven door which is wide open. I then realized I didn’t have anything else for the other cake pan, so I decided to change course. I slowly removed the other cake pan, runny cake batter spilling over, all the way to the sink. I gently tipped the pan and the top layer that had cooked to a brownie substance slid right off into the sink. I sat it down on a black dishtowel and moved onto the next one. As I turned back to the oven, I realized more cake batter had now dripped from the pan, onto the pizza sheet, through the holes and onto my oven door. Smoke is continuing to billow from the stove and my house smells like rancid, smoky gross-ness. I repeat the removal of the top layer from the second cake and place the remaining cake on the counter, next to its evil twin. I ran around the house opening windows and doors and bring the fan into the kitchen. The ‘Smoke in the Apartment Threat Level’ has now been downgraded from ‘You Might Die’ to “You’re Just an Idiot that Can’t Bake.’

Meanwhile, I had to get the burnt chocolate out of the oven or the smell would saturate every meal I planned to mess up in the future. I grabbed my white plastic spoon; it seemed a good idea at the time. I scraped and scraped removing chunks of chocolate and they were flying all over me, the oven and the kitchen, but I was making progress; until I noticed another smell. You guessed it, burned plastic. It smelled like the exhaust of a rubber factory was being pumped through my air conditioner.

I’m shooing Holly and Prada, as they have taken a serious interest in my experiment and were probably wondering why I’m giggling and squealing. I take a quick glance at the clock. Phew, Lonn won’t be home for at least thirty more minutes. I put the cakes back in the oven. I looked around the kitchen to assess where I should begin on the discarding of signs of a Code Red in the kitchen. The fan was still out and all of the windows were still open. I had a lot of evidence to dispose of, and little time.

I was the cleaning tornado for a whopping ten minutes before the door opened and Lonn walked in. Busted. He was smiling the minute he looked up; I was certain it was only because he was happy to see me. Wrong. He walked into the kitchen and looked around, grinning the whole time. Crispy chocolate chunks were all over the floor. Chocolate goo was on the floor, trashcan side, trashcan lid, three different cabinets, the refrigerator, the stove and two-thirds of my counter top. It looked like a painting by Pollock. There was goo in the kitchen sink and all over every utensil and dish I had out. There was a chalky light brown powder coat on all flat surfaces. I begin to tell him the story and as I did, he found chocolate on my jeans, my shirt, my elbow and face. Lonn likes to call me “Messy Mama.” I have no idea where he gets that nickname.

The cake turned out terrific somehow. We got a little impatient and didn’t want to wait for the ganache to sit long enough, so it’s a little messy but dang, it has been delicious. (see pictures)

*I have decided there must be some conspiracy of the Master Cooking Fairies to have recipes that make QUADRUPLE batches of cake batter just to create moments like these for us newbie bakers!
That’s ok though, Julia has taught me to embrace my mistakes and enjoy the experience….and that we definitely are!

We got our engagement pictures back yesterday and I've posted the slideshow at the top of the page, just press PLAY! Feel free to leave any comments regarding the pics on this post. The pictures were taken by Debra Gulbas, she is fantastic.

TJ, Steph, Mom and sweet Cake Lady Jen, please do not read this post. Friday night's sweet memories should left untainted and to be treasured the way you remember them now.

What you don't know will not hurt you.
******************************************************************************************

Explanation. Apparently, if you pull 5 T-bone steaks from the freezer at 3pm Friday afternoon and need them to defrost by 6 for dinner at brother's, creative methods of uber-defrosting need to take place. But, it just so happens that the hot water coming out of our faucets is approximately 3200 degrees Fahrenheit. Sweet. Problem solved.

I submerge the 5 T-Bone steaks from Raising 5 Cattle Company in scalding hot water and allow for fast unfreeze and am sure to look like a hero when the fiance comes home. Off to hair, makeup and wardrobe. Done. Now, arrival back to the kitchen only to find a slight hitch in my plan. Apparently water can cook steak. Who knew? (Apparently everyone.) Instant removal from still steaming water, OUCH. Frantic search for Aloe-Vera plant, don't have one, should have listened to Mom. OUCH. Burning hand. Semi-cooked steak.

Glance at clock, 5:30, fiance home any minute, potential for major downgrade from heroine status. Inspect 5 steaks and find one more bloody and less tan-ish/steamed than the others. This steak is placed on top of the others and never mentioned again.

No one noticed, or at least they were polite enough not to say anything. A more likely scenario is that the steaks from Raising 5 Cattle Company are so good they can survive a slight steam to 'sear in the juices' and still be delicious! Perhaps I did seize this opportunity to plug my sisters cattle company. But the story is true. You can't make this stuff up.

I'm trying to get caught up on emails and clean up my Inbox....1,277 messages is unacceptable. I know I'm popular and all but this is ridiculous!


Thank you to Stephanie for sending me all kinds of helpful information! From potential honeymoon destinations, to cheap airfare and hotel deals to bridesmaid dress ideas! I just wanted to say thank you, it is so helpful!


**Disclaimer to Stephanie's boss Debra:**
All emails from Steph were sent after or before working hours ...ok, not before...I know you don't get up that early! Ha! Love ya Steph!


Now, to end on a funny note...I was going through my emails and found an OLD video that I must share. Now, to explain. In an office I used to work at we were heavy on practical jokes. Unplugging monitors, telephone cords and other harmless pranks. However, our computer guy was famous for taking pictures of people around the office and 'doctoring' them into incriminating and scandalous poses, situations etc. We all loved him, but everyone wanted to get him back. Someone finally did.


See video ;-)

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8555836791304516701#

Today we met with Chaplain Larry who will marry us.

Let me just start off by saying, do not meet with your chaplain in a Starbucks in the middle of a Randalls grocery store if you are a big fat crybaby. I suppose the fact that we quickly read through our vows, holding hands and staring into each eyes whilst a barista brewed someone's latte is payback for me teasting Lonn about how he'll be crying harder than me at the wedding.

And as we sat, holding hands, exchanging rings, and sort-of vows I started crying.
Em.ber.ass.ing. I guess we know who's really going to need the hanky! Great...how do you hold a hanky AND a bouquet?

But, Chaplain Larry is fantastic. so funny.
;-)

Taking Engagement Photos this weekend

Engagement Photos Coming Soon!

Friday, February 26, 2010

We hired our DJ today! Its so nice to have that checked off of our list. This evening we will go out to our venue (The Hamilton Twelve) and meet with the caterer to determine the menu. Put in your requests now!

Lonn is playing a new computer game, hunting of some sort. There are the funniest noises coming from his computer!

I am currently google-ing wedding invitations and reception decor; all the while swapping emails with Dana about the worst engagement photos ever taken. I've gotta go now, have to dig out my eukelele before our engagement photos tomorrow. ha!

http://www.guidespot.com/guides/engagement_photo_funny_wedding

Snow day

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hi Everyone!

We got lots of snow today, and as I look outside, its snowing again! Here's my car in the parking lot at Gym One, (the gym Lonn trains at.)

Lonn and I had the day at home due to weather, so we’ve been busy with the planning!

This weekend we’ll be taking our engagement pictures! We are very excited, and can’t wait to show you the pictures. I’ll get them up as soon as we have them so stay tuned!

Welcome to our (used-to-be)Wedding Blog/ (Now)Dyna's Crafting/Cooking/Gardening Blog!

Make sure you comment and let us know you were here. Thanks again for stopping by!
Love,
Lonn and Dyna