Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

I have been entering online giveaways for years. Nowadays I only enter the ones that require minimal effort - a comment, a like, etc. Finally my efforts have paid off: I won something!

I won a JJ Cole Caprice Diaper Bag. This one (below), to be exact.

hello, lovely

What is kind of funny about the whole thing is that I almost didn't bother entering because I don't have kids. 

A minor detail, to be sure.

Of course, I plan on having kids one day, and I fully intend on saving this bag until that time.

Anyways, I was super stoked to find out that I won. I also wanted to give some love to the blog that hosted this giveaway: Babes and Kids Review. I've been reading Babes and Kids since it started out on blogger (like my blog here :-)), and I am a big fan.

Tiffany is the mom behind the madness over at Babes and Kids. She is a rockstar reviewer. Tiff reviews pregnancy, baby, child, family, and fitness products (among others). Her opinions are candid and honest. Even though I don't have my own kiddos yet, her reviews have been helpful when buying for my baby niece. I have found that Tiffany's reviews are always true-to-life. In addition to great reviews, Tiffany hosts plenty of giveaways, so head on over!

Please enjoy this picture of my niece
because she is completely adorable.

Happy Mommy Day! (French Silk Pie Edition)

This is my present to my Mom this Mother’s Day: 

Just a small portion of my efforts.
The ♥ is because it was a labor of love.

I chopped, packaged, and froze approximately 6 pounds of onions. Weird gift? Maybe. But not if you know my dear Madre. My Mom despises fresh onions, or so she says. In reality, my Mom likes cooking with onions and does so frequently. What she hates is cutting them up--they make her eyes water terribly.

The aftermath. 

I would sympathize, but somehow I have the super-human ability not to tear up around fresh onion. And thus my somewhat odd Mother’s Day gift.

Anyways. Enough about onion.

Instead, let's talk about dinner. On Sundays my Mother hosts family dinner (including all of my siblings+spouses+children), and we invite 2 missionaries from our church. Lately, that means 10 people (11 if you count my niece, but she can't eat solid food yet).

This is sometimes stressful on my Mamacita, so my older brother and I decided we’d make dinner this week.  We're having a smorgasbord of butterfly shrimp, fresh spring rolls, quinoa salad, cantaloupe, cucumber, and a few other oddities added in. (We’re about pleasing people here, not making cohesive meals).

For dessert, I decided to make one of my specialties: French Silk Pie.

Mmm. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water (literally). My Mom looooves chocolate, so I thought this pie would fit nicely with our Mother’s Day dinner. French Silk Pie is a chocolate mousse pie that has a light and silky texture but rich, decadent flavor. It is a favorite of mine, for sure. This recipe in particular suits my mom because you cook the eggs, which isn't very common in this type of pie.

It takes some extra time and TLC to make this award-winning dessert, but the result is worth the effort. If you want to make it yourself, here is the recipe:

French Silk Pie 
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home

1 prepared pie crust*
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp powdered sugar
whipped cream (optional)
your choice of garnish (optional)

In a small saucepan, combine sugar and eggs. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture reaches 160°. Remove from heat; add chopped chocolate and vanilla. Cool to 90°, stirring occasionally.   (This will take a little while, so go watch an episode of The Big Bang Theory. Or read a chapter of Fablehaven).

In a bowl, cream butter. Add cooled chocolate mixture and beat on high for 5 minutes.

In another bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add powdered sugar and continue to beat until stiff. Gently fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Once combined, spread into prepared crust. Refrigerate for 6 hours before serving (I usually shoot for overnight, if possible).

My unadorned pie

If you want to stop there and start eating, that is fine and dandy.

However, I like to top this with whipped cream because it looks pretty, and it counterbalances the richness of the filling. If I'm in the mood, I pipe the whipped cream on the pie with a fancy-dancy star tip. If I'm not in the mood, I just smear it on with a spatula.

I'm always in the mood for a little extra garnish, though. I think it gives this pie a little extra somethin' somethin'. Garnishes I have used in the past include miniature chocolate chips, chocolate jimmies, chocolate shavings (made using a chocolate bar and a vegetable peeler), and a chocolate drizzle. You can use whatever you like. My choice usually stems from what is already in my pantry.

whipped cream and chocolate curls

*You can use whatever kind of crust floats your boat. In the past I have used graham cracker, shortbread, chocolate wafer, and traditional pastry crust. You can even buy a pre-made pie crust if that makes you happy. This time around, I used a homemade traditional pastry crust. 

Pani Popo (sweet coconut buns)

Recently, a Samoan friend of mine told me about pani popo (or panipopo). Pani popo are sweet coconut buns. They are his mother's specialty. He has been away from his family for a little over a year, and he misses this traditional Samoan dessert. Apparently, he tried to create his own version, but it wasn't as good as his mom's.

Well, I decided to try my hand at making pani popo. I don't know if they measure up to my friend's mother's, but I think they turned out well. Pani popo have a delicate coconut flavor and mild sweetness. The buns have a little bit of chew (like a dinner roll) and a little bit of stickiness (from the coconut sauce). If you want to try something new, these are just the ticket. 

Pani Popo 

Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

1 cup coconut milk
¼ cup sugar
½ cup butter, room temperature
2 eggs, room temperature
¾ tsp salt
4 cups flour
1 Tbsp yeast

1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp corn starch

Start by warming 1 cup of coconut milk. You want it to be about the temperature of a warm bath (not a hot bath). Combine warmed milk with yeast until yeast is dissolved. Add 1/4 cup of sugar, then wait 10 minutes for yeast to bloom (it should get foamy). Add butter and eggs, then flour and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms, then knead for about 5 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Cover the dough, and let it rise until double.

Form into rolls, place in greased pan(s), and let rise again. (I used two 9-inch cake pans, but you can use whatever you like. Just not sheet pans, since the sides aren't high enough to accomodate the sauce that will be poured over the rolls.)

To make the sweet coconut sauce, combine 1 can coconut milk with 1/2 cup sugar. Whisk in cornstarch. Pour this mixture over the rolls until it comes about halfway up the sides of the pan. You might have some sauce leftover (but you can pour that over the baked rolls later).

Bake at 350º for 15-25 minutes. Turn the pani popo out onto a plate. The bottom of the rolls will be a little soggy, but the tops should be golden. Pour any remaining coconut sauce over the buns. Enjoy!

Edenbrooke Review (& Next Month's Book)

Let's cut right to the chase: Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson is a fanciful romance.

 As much as I hate to admit it, I am a sucker for a romance. For me, this guilty pleasure reaches its zenith in the midst of Lords and Ladies who spend the season in London and the rest of the year “in the country.”

Enter Edenbrooke.

It’s not deep or profound, but oh my, is it enjoyable. I didn’t want to stop reading. I really liked that this romance had just the right amount of intrigue without being vulgar or racy--a trait that can be hard to find in the romance genre.

The book begins with our two little love birds somewhat at odds with each other: “Philip Wyndam is an incorrigible flirt, and I did not like that about him. Not one bit” (p. 72).

But in the end, all is right: “…he kissed me again, and again, and whispered things too sublime to repeat, until I was thoroughly convinced he was madly in love with me, Marianne Daventry, a girl with no great figure, too many freckles, and a propensity for twirling. And then I knew I had met my match” (p. 247).  Ah [satisfied sigh].

How they get to this delicious end is the fun of it all. If you didn’t read Edenbrooke this month, put it on your to-read list. It’s a keeper. The real problem is that now I want a nice gentleman to woo me. (Pass that along if you know any. Gentlemen, that is.)


On to next month! The book I have selected for May is

Fablehaven
by Brandon Mull

From Goodreads: For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic in a cynical world. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite ... Kendra and her brother Seth have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, an arcane evil is unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save her family, Fablehaven, and perhaps the world, Kendra must find the courage to do what she fears most.

Since last month's pick was a romance, I wanted a change of pace. Fablehaven is a fantasy novel and a New York Times bestseller. Several of my friends have read--and loved--this book. As always, I'll let you know my review at the end of the month. If you want to read this yourself, let me know what you think.

Here's to another adventure in reading!

Caramel Banana Cake

Today I spied some bananas that were awfully ripe. They were starting to get brown spots on them, even. I immediately thought that today was a day for banana bread.

And then, my thoughts turned decadent. I thought that I could easily adapt my usual banana bread recipe to become banana cake. Top it with frosting, and we've got dessert, folks. And not just any frosting, either. Cream cheese frosting. But the madness doesn't stop there. Oh no. I added toasted pecans for a little crunch and (because I couldn't help myself) a caramel drizzle.

Get in my belly!

Now you have great insights into my life as a fat kid. Moving on to the recipe...

Caramel Banana Cake
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

For the cake:
1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
6 Tbsp butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp caramel sauce*

For the frosting:
2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp milk or cream

1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Preheat oven to 350º.

In a large mixing bowl, combine bananas, butter, and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.  Mix thoroughly.  In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients, and gently stir until just moistened. Pour batter into greased 8x8-inch pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes.

When the cake comes out of the oven, take a knife and poke several holes in it. Pour 1/2 cup caramel over the cake and let cool.

To make the frosting, whip butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add vanilla and about a cup of the powdered sugar. Beat until creamy. Add powdered sugar and milk until the frosting reaches a spreadable consistency.

Spread cooled cake with frosting. Top with pecans, and then drizzle with remaining caramel sauce.

*I used jarred caramel sauce this time around, but you can use homemade if you prefer.

Cheddar & Chive Biscuits

Everyone loves the cheddar biscuits at a well known restaurant that I won't mention, but it's name is reminiscent of Crimson Crustacean. I adore those delicious biscuits, so I decided to try my hand at making a copy-cat version at home.

I started off with the obvious: cheddar cheese. I decided to stray a bit from the restaurant's version, and man, did I like what turned out. A hefty spoonful of chives later, and we've got cheddar and chive biscuits, but they're not a far cry from the famous Cheddar Bay Biscuits at Red Lobster. Whoops. I said it.

If you're interested, here's my recipe.

Cheddar & Chive Biscuits
Recipe by Sara (stuff-by-sara.blogspot.com)

2 cups flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 Tbsp butter
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 Tbsp dried chives
3/4 cup milk

2 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp garlic powder
pinch of salt

Combine flour, baking powder, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Add 8 Tbsp butter. Mix until crumbly. Add cheese and chives. Toss together. Add milk. Dough will be rather thick.

Drop by large spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. This recipe will make 10 to 12 biscuits. Bake in a 375º oven for 12-18 minutes.

Melt remaining 2 Tbsp butter. Add parsley, remaining garlic powder, and salt. Brush hot biscuits with butter mixture.

Enjoy at least one biscuit while it is still warm. Pat yourself on the back for making biscuits instead of going out to a pricey restaurant. Repeat.

Four on the Couch

I am one of the youth leaders for my church congregation. The youth love playing games, and I've got more than a few up my sleeve. Here is one of my favorites to play if you've got a fair-sized group (10-30). This is also great for young adults.

Four on the Couch (alternately known as The Couch Game)

1. Start by writing the names of everyone in the room on separate slips of paper.
2. Form a circle of chairs that includes one seat for each person playing, plus one empty seat.
3. Designate 4 seats in a row as “the couch.” This will be important later in the game.
4. Divide into teams. Girls vs. Boys works well, but any arrangement you choose will be fine. Make sure teammates are sitting every other chair, which means that each team will start with 2 people on “the couch.”
5. Have each person draw a slip of paper—the name you draw is your name for that round.
6. Whoever is to the left of the empty seat gets to call out a name. The person who drew that name gets up and sits in the empty seat, leaving an empty seat somewhere else in the circle. Whoever is to the left of the new empty seat calls out a new name, another person moves, etc.
7. The objective of the game is to get all four of your teammates on “the couch.” Once that happens, the game is over.

Have fun!