Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Weekend photo dump: St. Augustine, FL

I've had a pretty good weekend even if my friend Claudia had to twist my arm to go with her. I wanted to save some money before leaving to Peru in a few weeks and she assured me we'd keep the budget low!

I had always wanted to visit St. Augustine. The oldest city in the United States. The idea was to leave early on Friday so we could walk around the city a bit and then watch the fireworks while sitting next to the Castillo de San Marcos. I will leave you with some pics taken on my iPhone, but I'll introduce you to my cannon photos in the near future!

Little did we know it would be HOT as BALLS in a brick oven!

Luckily, this helped me sweat off all of the calories I ingested!

We ended up at the Mill Top restaurant for lunch since it was the only restaurant with covered seating for the six of us. And it was good!

Too bad we didn't see the list of drinks until after we had ordered! My favorite one was "Sand In Your Butt!"

We cheered on and cried for Colombia while they played against Brazil. All in all, it was a great game!

That night, we watched one of the top most beautiful fireworks displays in Florida!

I saw letters, stars, and stripes light up the sky!

On our second day we did some more walking around in hot and humid weather.

Below is proof that I got him on Love Lockdown!

We continued our stroll through St. Augustine the following day and stopped for some chicken wings and beer.

I had the most amazing Lasagna pizza here at Pizza Time!

Had some coffee and ate the most delicious desserts at "The Chocolate Turtle". The cafe shop is named after the dessert on the bottom right. SCRUMPTIOUS!!

But then the rain came and we just wished for it to go away so that we could enjoy a calm stroll through the rest of the city.

Where did you go on your most recent vacation?

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

A Very Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your loved ones the very best of the holiday season!

May your home be filled with blessings of joy and laughter in the company of your family!

My favorite Christmas movie is Love Actually...

I have recently discovered the most amazing decorations placed on someone's front lawn! The house was decorated all over. They had so many visitors, they even needed parking attendants!

The owners decided to place a donation box benefiting the Autism Speaks Foundation for research and help for families of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

We just HAD to have our picture taken on the sled. Notice he is wearing shorts and a short sleeved shirt. I think that was one of the "coldest" night in Miami in some time! I think we hit mid 50s that night! LoL!

Hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas!!!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Holiday Melt-in-YO'-mouth Cookies!

My favorite thing to make during the holidays is definitely Alfajores [Alpha-hor-es]. They are these delicious Peruvian cookies that I've been told look like macaroons! I promise you...I PROMISE YOU! These are so much better!!!

By no means, do I consider myself an expert cookie maker. Specially these, but all the ingredients are so delicious when put together!

You must not...I repeat...YOU MUST NOT LOOK at the calorie/fat content in this recipe. LOL...

Here it goes:

Ingredients:
1 cup of flour
1 cup of cornstarch
5 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 1/4 sticks of butter

1 can of Dulce De Leche (or more to fill the cookies)
Powdered sugar to sprinkle on cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease cookie sheet and lightly sprinkle some flour on top.
2.Allow the butter to soften and mix all the ingredients with your hands. The consistency of the batter should not be crumbly (if so, add little a sliver of butter) nor super greasy (if so, sprinkle some flour).
3. Once all ingredients are mixed in, with a rolling pin roll the batter to about 1/4 inch thick. With a simple cookie cutter (round or heart shaped) make as many cookies, carefully placing them onto the cookie sheet.
4. Bake cookies for about 10-15mins or until golden. Remove them and allow to cool on wax paper.
5. Open a can of Dulce De Leche and liberally spread the gooey goodness onto the cookie. Top it off with another cookie.
6. Once you have made enough cookie sandwiches with the Dulce De Leche, set them up so that you can sift powder sugar on both sides of the cookies.
7. Enjoy at your leisure!!!!

I swear, they melt in your mouth!

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Gabriel v. The Red Velvet Cake

Remember I told you I become Betty Crocker during the holidays?

Ok, let me remind you...I ~~hate~~ despise cooking.... HOWEVER

I LOVE BAKING!

It all starts with our friends' Thanksgiving gatherings in November.

This time around, the hosts requested Red Velvet Cake. Oh and did I mention I do it from scratch?

All of it, except the icing...haven't quite mastered that yet!

Meet Gabriel. He loves loves loves cupcakes.

Lucky for him, Auntie Andie knew exactly what to do for him...

Gabriel 1 - Red Velvet Cake 0

Below is the recipe I used to make my delicious Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes.
Tip: Make sure you sift your flour before measuring the 3 1/3 cups!

Magnolia Bakery's Red Velvet Cake

as published on The Nest.

Cake

¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2¼ cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
6 Tbl. red food coloring
3 Tbl. unsweetened cocoa
1½ tsp. vanilla extract
1½ tsp. salt
1½ cups buttermilk
3⅓ cups cake flour (not self-rising), sifted
1½ tsp. cider vinegar
1½ tsp. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour 3 (9x2-inch) round cake pans and line bottoms with waxed paper. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time; beat well.

In a small bowl, whisk food coloring, cocoa and vanilla. Add to batter and beat well. In a measuring cup, stir salt into buttermilk. Add to batter in three parts, alternating with flour. In a small bowl, stir together cider vinegar and baking soda. Add to batter and mix well.

Divide batter among 3 pans. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Let cool for 1 hour. Remove from pans and frost.

Vanilla Frosting
1½ cup (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
8 to 10 cups confectioners’ sugar
¾ cup milk
1 Tbl. vanilla extract

Place butter in a large mixing bowl; then add 4 cups sugar, milk and vanilla.

Using an electric mixer, beat for 3 to 5 minutes. Add remaining sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition, until it’s a good consistency for spreading.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Holiday Baking Time is Here!

I love the Ho-HO-HOlidays!!!

I do, I really do!

I just hate that it comes so fast and the stores push Christmas down your throat and its not even mid-October yet!

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So...now, why I love the holidays...oh yeah,
because I become Betty effing Crocker!

Well, kind of. You see, I HATE cooking!
Ok, I lie, I wish I liked to cook, however, I suck so therefore, I hate it!

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On the other hand, I LOVE baking!!

I'm not the best, but the exact science of the baking process....
THAT I can definitely do!

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This weekend, I will be faced with my first challenge, Coffee Cake and Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes...all from scratch
[except for the frosting, but that doesn't count].

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My next project will most likely be cookies...not just any cookies though, they are Peruvian cookies called Alfajores, and they are made out of cornstarch, butter, and Dulce de Leche.

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I really can't wait to make these! My friends actually set up baking dates with me, because these are pain to make but so delicious to eat!

I will share these recipes with you, I PROMISE!
Just stay tuned, I will make sure to do my homework and document the process!

And I'm part of this Blog Hop this week so link up...

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy Birthday America!

Happy Independence Day Folks!

I am happy to celebrate America today because this country has provided my family and I with so many opportunities: home, education, work, friends, and love!