2011 Recap

Mom went in the nut V.A. hospital  two times.
I had pneumonia twice.
Pop went int the hospital for 2 months.
I was tested for cancer 5 times.
Pop had been in my house since he got out of the hospital 5 months ago.
I was diagnosed with hypo-hypothyroidism.
I had to tell my drunken alcoholic brother that my dad wanted him out of his house.
I got to clean my parents house.
My sister who said she was going to help me with our parents moved to Tennessee.
   (And I got to clean out her houses garage.. a full ass garage... too)
I was constantly sick all year till they figured out my thyroid was bad and on the verge of losing my job.
One of my cousins died of cancer
My uncle went in the hospital a week after my dad.



And those are just the highlights.

Ballerina Princess Cake for my Niece!

SO here is my very first attempt at making a fondant cake. A few flaws... A little shy in the cake around her waist because my son decided he was going to eat a layer of cake when I wasn't looking last night.
It wasn't funny then... but it is now.

All Photos are Copyright of : Tashee Photography. UN-AUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED!

All Photos are Copyright of : Tashee Photography. UN-AUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED!

All Photos are Copyright of : Tashee Photography. UN-AUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED!

Not horrible. Not as great as I would like... But it is my very first try.

I used a super moist cake. Now anyone who has ever tried to frost one of these bad boys know it's hard enough without cutting into it to  shape it. So here's my hint to you...
Decrease the water by an 8th of a cup and add a 1/4 cup of flour to the cake mix.... Yeah it was just an off the shelf cake mix. but after those changes.... Works great. Still moist and fluffy but I can frost it after I have had to shape the cake by cutting it. On the very top layer of the cake I cooked  it in a bowl about the right size. Had to cut off less of the cake to shape. and it's about perfect for the top of the skirt. I bought girl party favor rings for the jewels around the bottom of the dress. I was originally going to do it with necklaces, but couldn't find any at the time. The barbie itself was a ballerina barbie in the cheap section. I was looking for one fo the shorter barbies so I wouldn't have to make a gigantic cake for a smaller function. IN the end it's a real barbie & jewelry for the little girl to play with when the cakes gone.

Stroganoff

Lets talk Stroganoff.

So tonight for dinner I made home made stroganoff. When I was younger I liked it but didn't know how to make it tast like the restaurants. So I didn't a little guessing and playing one day. I no longer care if it's the appropriate recipe, because it's my best tasting one I've ever tried/figured out for it.

So you basic ingredient are;
egg noodles
Meat (usually ground beef, but you can use pre-made meat balls etc etc)
beef boulion
pepper
sour cream ( you can add milk to it if it's too rich for you, but you must have some sour cream for the right flavor)
onions (I always use fresh)
garlic (I always use fresh)
red pepper
paprika
butter
basil (I always use fresh when I have it)

Now that is basic ingredients. You can get creative later if there's something you feel you need in this recipe. That's how some great recipes are made. Something sounds good later.

So cook you egg noodles per their recipe. Till soft.

In a skillet cook your ground beef, onions, garlic, untill beef is brown and onions and garlic are tender. You can used powdered onion & garlic, but put it in with the beef.

Add basil, paprika pepper, red pepper cook it in for a minute. Add the amounts to taste. I have never measured for this so add a little at a time for  those of you who don't know how much is to taste for you.

Add about a half a stick of buter. YOU NEED THE BUTTER FOR PART OF THE FLAVOR!

Then add in boulion about 2-3 TBLSP/cubes, but mind you, you may want to add more or less. I'm usually feeding 4-5 people with this.So if you're only cooking for 1-2 learn to adjust.


Then add sour cream. Stir it in till it melts in with the butter and meat. This is slightly more than covers the meat. You have to cover the noodles too so keep this in mind.
You can add a little milk if your short sour cream of it seems to rich for you, or if your trying to cut back your calories. What ever.

After this is mixed together just simmer it for a couple of minutes, and add your drained noodles to it.
Mix thoroughly. IF it's not coated enough add more milk or sour cream.
If the sauce seems bland, add more boulion and or butter.

If it needs salt, add it, but never add it till you are sure it needs salt.
WHY?
Because some years ago they traded out MSG for salt as a preservative and everything now is over salted.


So it's hot. serve it with your favorite vegetable or one that you're craving that day, bread, salad... ETC.

And that's my stroganoff recipe... I have no exact measurements for it because I just taste it to see if it's right.

ENJOY!