Roll em' up. Roll em' up. Pitch em' in the Pan.

I've been bakin' up a storm, and I've never felt more passionate about a 'job'.. it's been lovely, glorious and wonderful having a few cupcake orders each week... I love every moment of baking and creating cupcakes customized to order. I've discovered the occupation that is fitting and joyful for me.. and I can do it and still be a housewife and take care of my wonderful hubby..

I'll add a few photos. I've ventured into the world of gumpaste (royal icing flowers are next), gumpaste is a sugar dough that can be colored, cut and carved into any shape.. and then sets up to a hardened state after several hours. It's so versatile that I can really make any figure, color or theme to match any decor.

These are chocolate with pink buttercream (my phone makes them look orange, but they are pink!) and gumpaste black and white daisy design.

These are triple berry CHEESECAKE cupcakes... oh my word.. that's all I can say about them... fresh ground graham cracker crust, creamy cheese center, sour cream topping followed by a triple berry mixture with my fresh blackberry jam as the base... turning into one of my best sellers ever! The boys at UPS that work with Tommy have placed several orders!

I created the above grass / football /Cincinnati Bengals cupcakes for my father in law's 53rd birthday a couple of weeks ago. He LOVED them, and loved that the toppers are all edible! I hand painted the stripes onto the BENGALS letters and they really turned out well.

Place your order today! If we can dream it up, I can bake it up.

Love and Cupcakes,

Kara

Meat. In the shape of a loaf.

I hate to admit this... but in all my housewifing adventures (and I've cooked for years before that) I'VE NEVER MADE A MEATLOAF.  You know.. it makes me feel better to just come out and say it.. I've failed as a country woman.. I've let down the country folk...

Okay. That was a little extreme. So. I've never made a meatloaf.. It's out there.. it's published.. never can I hide and pretend that I've mashed ground beef into the shape of a loaf.. and cooked it until it was sitting in the middle of a grease pond.. the meat island.. the center of the greasy earth... eewww.

Truth is.. I'm not a big meatloaf fan.. and the hubby isn't interested in meatloaf at all... which is probably why I've never made one in my life.. if he won't eat it.. I don't waste my time mastering it.. I enjoy the instant gratification of a meal well prepared.. and when he says 'yum, babe.'.. I know the planning and preparing has paid off.. but this is not the case with meatloaf.. I've never made a meatloaf..

And you know what? I might be a rebel.. I might not make a meat 'loaf'.. why does it have to be a loaf?!?! I could make meat 'cupcakes'.. in a muffin pan.. I could make a meat bunt... a meat tube.. a meat ball.. I could do many things with meat 'loaf'.

Here's the point of my endless conversation about meat. in the shape of a loaf.
My father in law's birthday was 9-16-10... and his FAVORITE DISH.. is MEAT LOAF ! ! ! ahh!!!

We're having them over for dinner this weekend.. and of course.. instead of pulling out an old favorite, consulting the pioneerwoman's cookbook or eating out.. I've taken on quite a challenge... meatloaf.. meat. loaf..

In taking on this challenge, I've consulted the experts (Mom, Mimi, Aunt Vic) on meatloaf tips and tricks.. and I've gotten my hands on Mimi's meatloaf recipe.. and more importantly, Mimi's Meatloaf SAUCE RECIPE... which is the key to making a good meatloaf in the Meredith family... well.. in the world.

Mimi (years ago) created a meatloaf sauce that goes on the 'loaf' (if you will) in the middle of the cooking process, to give it a tangy, moist flavor.. and (here's the real kicker)..the other half of the sauce recipe is served in a gravy boat, at the table.. to top the completed meatloaf, make a pond in the mashed potatoes, create a green bean river... and to be consumed alone.. or drunk, with a straw.. because that's how good it is...

With this recipe.. I cannot fail.. it is the greatest sauce (it's tomato based, that's all I'll tell) in the world.. and now that I've been given the recipe.. I will be adding it to chicken, pork, cereal, cakes.. okay, not cereal or cakes.. but it's THAT good.

We're just not a 'ketchup on the meatloaf' kind of family. I'm okay with that.


<3 Kara

Forgive Me!

Forgive me, Forgive me for completely neglecting my blog and leaving it hanging for several weeks... The housewife life has proved to be busier than when I worked.. and more stressful... but absolutely more rewarding...

I don't have the energy to unpack my phone cords and hook up my iphone to get some photos on here.. but I will.. I promise. My sister and I went to IKEA yesterday, and Jungle Jim's on Saturday (Stayed the night in Cincinnati)... and I've yet to recuperate... I'm really dragging and can't seem to get my ducks in a row today... need to clean up the new purchases and find a place for them... but I can't... just haven't had the motivation yet... maybe I'll just go grocery shopping.. yeah... and add more bags to the mix.. what a great idea ;) Luckily, I have an ultra flexible husband who really doesn't mind a few things out of place for a day or two.. in fact, I bet he doesn't even notice when the house is mildly off kilter, he's a man.. it's not his job, so I don't think he pays any attention... Here's his mindset.. Food Good. Clean underwear good. football good. The end ;)

Speaking of football... I married the ultimate Cincinnati Bengals' fan... last night was the first pre-game season.. and they got stomped on by the Cowboys... but still, my ultimate fan stays solid and waits for that chance at the SuperBowl someday.. and I watch him, while he watches the games.. it's more entertaining than football.. oh how funny it can be to watch him :)

Well, after all that rambling- here's what I signed on to intentionally share..

What I've learned since April 22, 2010 (last day at Humana), as a housewife.

- - I don't like laundry.. not even a little bit.. but I do it.. begrudgingly.

- - the grocery stores aren't crowded during the day.. AMAZING! I had no idea... I was used to shopping at 9pm.. and it would always be crazy.. I love it!

- -  My hubby doesn't care if there is a gourmet meal of 17 dishes on the table for dinner.. in fact, he doesn't care if it's a pizza... he just doesn't want to have to deal with choosing what we have for dinner.. this is lovely..

- - The house gets messed up more quickly when I'm home all day, versus being gone all day... but (upside) it also gets cleaned faster, because I have more energy than I would after getting home from work :)

- - I thought I would be bored.. but everyday, there's something to do.. some kind of plans or necessities that must be accomplished.. never a day of nothingness.. I'm busy.. and I like it that way.

- - One tends to eat more when one is home alone all day near a stocked kitchen... so, one has decided to work at losing some weight ;)

- - here's the final (and most wonderful) thing I've learned about being home.. My husband loves it.. he says he hopes I never have to work a corporate job again... that he loves coming home to me, and loves having me here in case our families need anything...

I'm so thankful to have a husband that appreciates me, and appreciates what I do for him, and our family.. he's all that and a bag of chips ;)