While the hubby is away....

I baked, cleaned, cooked, and decorated!! And I'm about to get rid of a 1 year old dog. He is definitely testing my patience this weekend by following me everywhere and getting into everything! But then he does something cute like lay by my feet and look up at me with his big puppy dog eyes and I can't get rid of him...I have to cuddle him!

Let me backtrack a little bit because I've been "really slacking" as I've been told by a fellow blogger (hi Tara!) She pushed and now I'm posting, that's what good friends do!

Last weekend was my first baby shower! It was hosted by my mom and my Aunt Sharon.

Here is my mom....and a chubby faced me, Andy, and my Uncle Rick in the background! Taken at my house last Saturday.

                                             And my Aunt Sharon and I at the shower.

It was fabulous! Fabulous food, fabulous gifts, and most of all fabulous people! I had so much fun and can't believe that I have that many friends!! Thanks and love to all of you who came!

                                                I had a pair of emergency flip flops in the car!

So with last weekend being busy busy busy, I haven't had much time to get anything prepared for the baby's pending arrival. Until yesterday. Andy was off having (one of) his last boys weekend before being a daddy and I was home to get stuff done. And I did!

Friday night I decided to bake. Now don't get too excited. I baked something I already posted about. Pipka Cake but I made blueberry instead of cranberry and I froze it for a future breakfast. It's yummy and easy and you should make it. If you come up with a creative ingredient, please share it with me. To freeze it: I let it sit overnight covered in Saranwrap. Then in the morning I double layered the tin foil and labeled it. Simple as that.

If you are looking for a delicious Red Velvet recipe I will have to contact my Aunt Janice for you because she made the most amazing Red Velvet Cake for my baby shower last weekend. Despite the 90 degree heat when traveling from Belleville to Middleton the cake survived! It was amazing and I ate the leftovers for dinner a few nights in a row!

Yesterday I started a mini-decorating project and made Sloppy Joe's to freeze at the same time. I found a quote online that I printed off and I knew I wanted it in the nursery. I knew I wanted a white frame but I didn't want the mat to also be white...just too much white. So, I used the leftover yellow paint from one of the stripes in the room and painted the mat. I know what a genius I am! The only money spent was $10 on the frame and if I wasn't as lazy as I am, I could have found a cheaper frame.

I painted the mat at the same time I was making Sloppy Joe's to freeze. I don't have a picture (Andy took the camera this weekend and the iphone just isn't the same). But here is the recipe that I follow:

Sloppy Joe's

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 cup diced onion
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons mustard (dried or prepared)
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet.
2. When the beef is brown, drain.
3. Stir in brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, mustard, and sal.
4. Simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Serve or freeze in my case.

Delicious and easy.

Now as a thank you for reading this entire post. I'll share the most updated picture of Baby Girl Bohacek!

Yes that's her hand over her right eye. And she definitely has my pouty lips! Happy Sunday!

Pipka Cake

A few years ago my mother-in-law introduced me to Door County and Pipka. Pipka (yes that is her name) has a shop in Sister Bay that sells her infamous Santas' and other cute items, especially cake!!! (http://www.pipkasofdoorcounty.com)


We were at Door County for our annual girls weekend when Sherrie introduced us to "Pipka Cake." Pipka sells the special pan at her store in Sister Bay and apparently she makes 6 cakes a week for her customers to enjoy.  


This cake is truly amazing because you can turn it into whatever you want! I happen to be a fan of chocolate chip or cranberry.  You don't need to have the pan  (you could use a meatloaf pan) but it's super cute and once you taste this cake you are going to want the pan!  The pan is called Rehrucken Baking Pan. Below is the basic recipe. I tend to like Vanilla extract better then Almond and I add fresh cranberries or chocolate chips. I will be trying to Turtle recipe soon! 

Pipka's Scandinavian Almond Cake
Beat well:
1 1/4 C sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp pure almond extract
2/3 C milk

Then mix in:
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 tsp baking powder

And slowly add:
1 stick melted butter

Butter cake pan. Pour batter into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 38-45 minutes until golden brown. Cool in pan for 6 minutes (this is critical in order for the cake to come out of the pan. I use a timer.) Invert cake onto cooling rack. Sprinkle with confectionary sugar before serving. Variation; Before pouring batter, sprinkle sliced almonds in the pan bottom. Recipe can easily be doubled. Cake freezes well.

VARIATIONS
* Substitute lemon extract and add zest of lemon
* Substitute lemon extract and add poppy seeds
* Substitute orange extract and add zest of orange
* Substitute vanilla extract and add blueberries
* Substitute rum extract and top with shredded coconut
OR ADD TO ORIGINAL RECIPE

* Blueberries
* Door County chopped dried cherries plus some chocolate chips
* Top cake with sliced almonds
* Spread cake with Nutella and jam!

Pipka's Special Turtle Cake
Mix up original recipe, putting half the dough in the pan. Then drizzle caramel sauce across the dough, then sprinkle mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts. Spoon in the rest of the dough and bake as always. 

Nutella Cake Balls

Ever since I went to Italy in 2005 I have been OBSESSED with Nutella. It baffles my husband that I go through a jar of Nutella so quickly when he doesn't eat it. I also love cake and have tried many times to create a successful cake ball. I have failed and failed, until I discovered a Nutella cake ball recipe from, www.bakedperfection.com. 

Nutella Cake Balls

• Ingredients
• 
  

8 oz of Nutella

8 oz of melted milk chocolate (white chocolate would be good too)

• • 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 2/3 cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups sifted cake flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13 x 9.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. 
4. Immediately take half of the cake and put in a bowl combining it with the 8 oz of Nutella. 
5. Stir together until well blended. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on cookie dough sheet and let cool. 
6. Once the Nutella balls are cool, melt chocolate stirring every 15 seconds to avoid burning. Dip the cake ball into the melted chocolate, decorate if desired. 
7. Cool for a few hours.
8. EAT!!!!! 

If I were to do it over, I would probably use white chocolate instead of milk chocolate. Regardless, they are yummy!