McDirkey Cooking-Lime Chiffon Cake

I was looking online for Pretty Cakes (Google Image) and found this cake and decided that I wanted to make that! So Schmoop and I had a little date night Friday and baked a cake. I've never made a chiffon cake but it was sooo good!!!
I've enclosed the recipe below with pictures of us making it in between. :)
Fresh Lime Chiffon Cake
Yield: 16 servings

Filling:
1 teaspoon finely grated lime rind
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Cake:
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon cake flour
2 cups sifted cake flour (7 1/2 ounces)
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
7 tablespoons canola oil
1/3 cup fresh lime juice (about 3 limes)
3 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon finely grated lime rind
1 teaspoon pure lemon extract
3 egg yolks
8 whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Frosting:
3 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons lime juice (about 1 lime)
2 1/2 cups fat-free whipped topping, thawed

Fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Fresh blueberries (optional)
Lime wedges (optional)


To prepare the lime filling, combine 1 teaspoons lime rind, 1/4 cup lime juice, and sweetened condensed milk in a small bowl, stirring until blended. Cover and chill 3 hours.



Preheat oven to 325 degree F.

To prepare cake, coat bottoms of 3 (8-inch) round cake pans with cooking spray (do not coat sides of pan); line bottoms with wax papaer. Coat wax paper with cooking spray, dust with 1 tablespoon flour.

Lightly spoon 2 cups cake flour onto dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine 2 cups cake flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk until well combined.

Combine oil, 1/3 cup juice, 3 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon rind, lemon extract, and egg yolks in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add oil mixture to flour mixture, beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth.


Place egg whites in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar; beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating until stiff peaks form. Gently stir one-fourth of egg white mixture into flour mixture; gently fold in remaining egg white mixture.


Divide cake batter equally among prepared pans, spreading evenly. Break air pockets by cutting through batter with a knife. Bake at 325 degree for 20 minutes or until ckae springs back when lightly touched. Cool in pans for 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Remove wax paper from cake layers. Cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, combine 3 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons lime juice in a small glass bowl. Microwave at HIGH for 30 seconds or until sugar dissolves. Cool completely. Fold into whipped topping.


To assemble cake, place 1 cake layer on a plate; spread half of filling over cake layer. Top with second layer. Spread frosting over top and sides of cake. Garnish with mint, blueberries, and lime wedges, if desired. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator for up to 3 days. Slice cake into wedges.



Source: Cooking Light, date unknown

Week 1-Results

I lost 4 pounds!!! My first goal is 20, so only 16 more to go!! Woo hoo!!!
Here is my first full body pic..

Two contests from 5 Minutes for Mom

Hey guys,
I signed up for two contests from 5 Minutes for mom, I know I know I'm not a mom but I do have 9 nieces and nephews and tons of kids in my life that I would love to give cool stuff too!!!!
The first contest is to win this cool book Angie the Ant and the Bubblegum Tree; from which some of the proceeds of go to fight child abuse!

The second contest is to win some cool hair bows from Madison's Room. One of these bows is seen on this adorable little girl

Oh these would be so sweet on my Gracie, Meghan or Hannah! I love being an aunt!!!!

Wedding Cake

This was by far the most challenging cake I have ever made. Tamara and I tackled it for my friend Gelsey's wedding but it just involved soo much prep. I could never find a picture of it till I stole one from Tamara.



It was after this cake that I realized you shouldn't make a wedding cake for someone when you're in the bridal party. The only other time I did this was for my sister in law Amy's wedding and I've always regret not being there for her the week of her wedding. Amy had a very low key casual wedding. Gelsey had a regular church wedding with all of us wearing dresses etc and it was just tooo much. But it did turn out really pretty :)

Thankful Thursdays

I'm thankful for springtime that shows itself in our blooming tree outside.
I'm thankful for my Aunt Sara and my sister Kim for giving us some furniture for our house that is nice and durable.
and I am thankful that I can laugh. At alot of things.
I'm thankful that I'm not so serious that I can't find joy in the small things. I'm thankful that my wonderful husband and I could be having a serious conversation and then all of the sudden it can be a silly conversation. Lifes to short to get upset at little things so I'm glad that it generally doesn't happen to me (except when I'm tired and grumpy which hopefully isn't too often). God knew it would drive me nuts if there wasn't silliness in my life so he made me and my hubby to be goofy and I'm thankful for it.



Schmoop being goofy in Germany-oh how I love this man!!

Going to the Library

Any recommendations, I'm looking for good easy reads. I have a few hefty books on my bookcase that I have to get into before I get any of those from the library.

I stole this from Tamara

Me and my girls!
(Anne, Irene, Amy, Tamara and Mama K)
I'm so lucky to have such good friends, I have no clue where this was taken

Wordless Wednesday-he says it all

Picture of my Mason-Man taken by Dirkey last summer

Turn off TV week

We have so much to do this week that I'm not sure we'll even notice but I'm going to see if Schmoop is up for the challenge with me to turn off the tv this week (except for the Office).
We do have a radio and lots of books so there really isn't a need.

Looking through my pictures

and I found this cool one that was taken from the subway stop that my friend Laura lives at, of the Tri-Bourough bridge (at least thats what I think its called its in Astoria).
Something so neat about NYC and all its bouroughs how they are all so distinct and different. My friend Laura moved to Astoria about 3 years ago and I've enjoyed our girls weekends taken to visit her. I can honestly say that its probably my favorite borough at this time, I like the feeling and vibe I get from walking down the street in Astoria or going to the diner at 4 am after going out with the girls.

Photo Hunt-Steps

These are the steps in our very cool hotel in Paris. The only uncool thing about it is that we had to lug our suitecases up there. I wouldn't have traded it for the world the place had a very old world feel to it!

Weight Watchers

I started weight watchers, I will do this in conjunction with Traneo.
I've been struggling so hard with this lately and I don't know why its been soo hard to do. But today is a new day and Friday will be my weigh in's and I will post a gain or a loss and put a picture up every friday of what I look like.
Full body not just face.
When I reach my first goal which I have set I'm going to reward myself with something not sure yet what that is. Any ideas?
I'll probably reach the first goal in a couple of months.

I Heart Thrift Stores

So this week I got back into my thrift store groove, I went to two so far. I got some funky 60's style orange and pink cloth napkins (I'm trying to only use cloth from now on). I also got a pair of shorts and a pair of pants for $2, and a tablecloth for $2. I was thinking of why we need "new" things and decided that I don't want to be that type of person. You can have nice "gently" used things that are great and cheap! That being said after just getting married I am thankful for all the "new" gifts that we did receive.
I'm thinking of trying to find a consignment shop to sell some of my clothes that I don't really want anymore, I'm thinking I might get a better return than if I sell them at a yard sale.
Thinking green today..

My old House

I used to live in a very OLD house in the woods. It was built in the 1700's and was originally a 1 room cabin that was expanded into a tiny little house. It was a really cool albeit creepy place to live but it was also really nice. There was nothing out there, from my house on all four sides you couldn't see anything but trees and fields. There were no other houses or the road or anything in sight. Anyway my schmoop send me an email today and I had never heard the song but it fits and its pretty cute. :)

I heard this song one time when I was driving up to see you.

House in the woods
(Tom Petty)

I'm goin' down to the house in the woods
See my little darlin'
I'm goin' down, out in the fields
With summertime comin'

Oh my love, what can I do
What can I do but love you?
For the rest of my days, the rest of my nights
What can I do but love you?

Summertime falls on the house in the woods
Back by the power lines
I ain't got a neighbor for nine or ten miles
Back in the tall pines

And hey, now baby, what can I do?
What am I goin' to do but trust you?
The rest of my nights, the rest of my days
What can I do but love you?

Hey now baby, what can I do?
What am I goin' to do but love you
For the rest of my days, the rest of my nights
What could I do but love you?

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for my friend Mama K (link on side).
She is and has always been a good friend to me. She likes to do things before the rest of our friends like get married and have kids but thats ok. Mama K is the craziest researcher that I've ever met, she and I generally have the same ideas about things so its really great that she does alot of the footwork in researching stuff. She always has a good link to check out or a book to read. More than that she is a good friend. Mama K has a kind heart and is good to talk to no matter what mood I'm in. More than once I've received cards from her that have really ministered to me and to my situation. She's a good listenner and a good empathizer. Most importantly she's fun to go to a Tom Jones show with, and its always good to have a friend you can be snarky with.
Thanks Mama K!
She's also fun to cook with, this is a pic of Mama K and Peanut over my house making candy Dirkey style :)




I'm also thankful that my crawl space is dry, well almost. Schmoop vacuumed it out and we set out fans last night that went all night and will go all day today until that crawl space is BONE DRY. :)

A New Contest!!!

5Minutes for Mom is doing it again another contest, holy crap I love these things!
This one is for a Phillips Digital Photo Frame, which I can totally use right now for wedding pics!
Go on over and check it out, link is on the side :)

Baby Names

I have a feeling this will be an argument later on in our married life
Schmoop sent me an email with some baby names..
Puma McDirkey (girl)
Wolverine Dynamite McDirkey (boy)



...he's kidding, I think

Wordless Wednesday-Gorgeous Switzerland

taken by Dirkey in Switzerland between Zurich and Bern

A devine dream?

So Schmoop had a dream last year that he and I had a little boy. He said he could see the baby really well in the dream, well my friend Shanna also had a dream last week that we had a little boy as well. I guess I got a case of the dream jealousy and last night I had a dream about our little boy. He was a sweet little smooth skinned light red haired baby. I one upped everyone and even remember his name in the dream "Sean Preston" I woke up and told Jason we should name our son that.
I just realized that Sean Preston is Britney Spears son, maybe the dream didn't mean all that I thought it did.. :)

Fun new Counter

Thanks Trace!!!
Fun new counter lets you know how many people have gone to your site :)
Look under my profile

Tackle it Tuesday

so my tackle it Tuesday is the same as last week with my living room got sidetracked with the Miss Olivia thing, but also its to get the foot of water out of our basement.. Well actuallly Schmoop is working on that cause he's awesome.
Will post pictures later.

Friday the 13th

Hmm so today is Friday the 13th, what spookie thing are you doing tonight. Schmoop and I are going out to dinner with some friends at a cute little Italian place then I'm not sure what. Maybe go for a scary moonlit walk or something.
I just got my marriage liscense back so I want to get my name changed this weekend and then we do have alot of painting left to get done. I want to pack up my kittie stuff so its not sitting around my house. I've been so sad about Miss Olivia, I honestly didn't think it would be this hard but it really is. I didn't want to go home last night because she would always run up on the windowsill and greet me when I came home. So I just drove around for awhile till it was almost time for Schmoop to come home then drove home.
We have tickets to go see the Wings tomorrow but we don't know where they are. Schmoop swears he gave them to me and I swear he has them so we'll see if we ever get there.
I'm planning a suprise for him next weekend, I have ideas of what I want to do but nothing nailed in stone so give me some ideas!! I want something really fun.

Another contest from 5 minutes for mom

"...here is something completely unique to make everyone feel a little better – an adorable, perfectly sized bowl designed for your child to hold. Made with colorful melamine in bright pink, blue or yellow, the Sick Bear™ bowl comes with textured handles for little hands, and it’s tip-resistant, sturdy, and dishwasher safe."
Being the big wuss I am when I'm sick I would like keeping this for myself but being the wonderful aunt I am I just might have to give this to one of my neices or nephews next time they get sick. If I win that is.

Would you like one of these for your child? Well, head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom (www.5minutesformom.com) and sign up for their latest contest!! The deadline to enter is Tuesday, April 17th!!

Thankful Thursdays

Today I am soo thankful to have the wonderful husband that I have. I couldn't imagine my life without him he really is my soul mate.

Miss Olivia

So I went to the vet today and I decided to have Miss Olivia put down. She was in alot of pain and the doctor said her leg was broken and also her hip right where the joint was. She also could have had internal injuries with the major trama that she had received. I said goodbye to her and pet her as they gave her the drugs to put her out. Its so weird to think that yesterday afternoon there was nothing wrong with my little kittie and now she's gone. I wish I knew exactly what happened if she did get hit by a car or whatever, but oh well.
She really was a God send to me. I got Miss Olivia right when I moved into Hitchners, which was a scary house in the middle of the woods. I was scared to death to be there alone let alone to live there alone but having Miss O. with me helped me to get over it. She was a crazy cat, very skittish. Most other people didn't like her because she was so skittish but she was also really sweet. There were times that I would be reading and she would jump up on my chest and put her paws on either side of my face and then just look at me. She kind of reminded me of a dog cause I would call her and she would always come to me. If she was really happy and you were petting her she would drool all over you. She was the first pet that I had that was all mine and I loved her and she loved me. She really loved Jason too I think it was because he didn't want anything to do with her(or so he pretended, I know he did love her too) she always tried to cuddle with him. Here are some pictures from 3 days ago of my sweet kitten cat. I will miss her alot.
Smiling for the camera

she wouldn't sit sitll for a picture, but was very cuddly

poised and ready

Wordless Wednesday-A little piece of calm

Taken by Dirkey in Ft. Lauderdale in February while watching the sun rise

If you want to join in on the fun I got wordless wednesday from 5minutesformom.com

Update on my kittie

So last night we just kind of sat around watching Miss Olivia and she just wasn't acting like herself. I picked her up and she was acting like she was in alot of pain all over the back of her. So we went to the emergency animal hospital last night with her and it doesn't look good. They found a few more problem areas when they examined her and they told me it looks like she broke her pelvis and could probably have damage to her chest as well. I don't know what to do with her. They asked me if I wanted xrays and I asked them what they would do if they confirmed what they suspected and they said give her pain meds and wait. I asked what they would do if they didn't and they said give her pain meds and wait. So I am calling around today trying to find a new vet to get her in and trying to figure out the best way to take care of her. I don't know what the kindest thing to do for her is, she is not acting like herself at all and it breaks my heart. Will she snap out of it in a few days? Will she be in constant pain all the time? I don't know I want to do the best thing for her and the most humaine so prayers please for wisdom for me.

Miss Olivia is hurt!!

Please keep my kitty in your prayers (I know its weird) she went outside tonight and got hurt. She kind of jets outside when you open the door so thats what she did tonight. Schmoop went to let her in and she was limping, he told me so I started calling her. She always comes when I call her and she didn't. She went right under the kitchen table. I pulled her out and it looks like one of her back claws got ripped off and her foot was bleeding. She's not putting any pressure on it and she's just kind of avoiding us. I picked her up and it doesn't seem like her leg or her hips are hurting her so I'm just going to wait it out and see how she's doing tomorrow. She crawled into the corner of the dining room poor thing. :(
I called my mom she thinks she might have gotten scared and tried to climb a tree or something and her claw just came out.. :(

Our House

So you guys have all been dying to see the house, come on I know you have. I just looked through all my pictures and I cannot find before pictures. grrrrr.
Take my word for it colors were uuugggllyyyy
This is our spare bedroom it is a light green wit a tan berber carpet. It used to be pepto pink with white bows stencilled on the top with a light green carpet.


This is Jason's man room, it used to be just a real light green (whitish) color but the walls looked dirty, and the carpet was dark green. Now the walls are a kale color same berber color carpet.


This is our bedroom it used to be white bedroom with light shag carpet, the window treatments were pink and green striped verticle blinds. We tore that up and the carpet is that same tan berber, the walls are chocolate brown, we accented the room with creams and golds, the windows are now white wood blinds and linnen curtains.

Tackle it Tuesday

I'm putting my tackle it tuesday up and will put up pics when I get home.
I just moved over the rest of my stuff from Josh and Renee's yesterday and I'm excited to get it all organized and away. Part of that organization is going through all my stuff and put more than half of it in the yard sale/thrift store pile.
So I give myself one week to accomplish this.

Easter

Schmoop and I had a lovely Easter, what an amazing day. There is something about Easter that just invigorates me, I guess its just the realization that this actually happened. My Savior died for me but then rose from the dead! I've been thinking alot about how hard death is to deal with. My sister Anna's father in law found out he has cancer all over his body and doesn't have long to live. Just talking to my sister I can hear the toll this takes on her and her family. They want him to live with them and take care of him but they both have full time jobs and his care is a full time job in itself. So now he is in thier living room in a hospital bed and they have neighbors and church people filling in for them while they're at work. It reminds me of when my friend Don was diagnosed with cancer living with him and his family and watching him die before my eyes. Death, the actual action of it, is horrible. We do have that hope however that that loved one will know the Lord and will see him face to face and stand before Him in glory. I don't know what I would do without that hope and because of that I could never be more thankful.

Money Money Money Mooneeyyy

So we got our joint account on Saturday and I got my debit card today. We had some big expenses show up this week, namely TAXES!!! Then our payment for the reception just went though on the credit card, OUCH!! Jase also paid off his car and I paid off my loan through my old credit union (NICE!).
We have a budget established its just a few last minute blitz payments that hurt when you look at them!
I can't wait till next month when its just our regular bills we are paying!
Crazy!!!


on a sidenote it is a nice feeling knowing that the only debt we have is our mortgage, but its a biggee!

oh wow....

this is probably one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time.

Feeling Silly

So we just got married right, and we are open to children but are not quite "ready" in our minds to "try" for them. We've been doing the fertility awareness method to try to allow some "us" time before we have kids. I started looking on the 5 minutes for mom blog and liked alot of the stuff that they did on there. Organization challenges, picture posting and give aways kind of sealed it as a every day read. I felt kind of like an intruder reading (as I do sometimes with my blog roll as I have alot of mommy-blogger reads and alot of adoption reads). When I went to see if i could sign up to be on their list of people who read them I saw this definition of a mom.
We use the term “Mom” to include everyone who loves children and is interested in the types of things that generally interest moms.
I like that, now I'm not going to go around calling myself a mom but I like that I don't have to feel silly about really really liking that website anymore.

A new website that I like

5 minutes for mom


I just entered to win a Presto printer for my mom. What is a presto printer? I asked the same thing but then when I realized what it did I realized it would probably add years to my dad's life. My mom is completely computer illiterate to the point she freaks out if you try to teach her anything. She frequently asks my dad to scan her some new pictures that he's uploaded from the internet (I'm saying it like she would). If she had this printer that automatically just printed out all her emails and photos that she gets sent, my dad could use his time more wisely and have more time for the things that are important to him like his tractors and his dogs.

So Sad

I can't even fathom this, so young..
What kids are doing in school

Wordless Wednesday

Paris-Feb '06 taken by the Schmoop while walking down the road.

Traineo

So I saw a traineo button on Michelle Smiles and I got curious, she seems to be doing pretty well with it, I looked it up today and joined.
My first goal is to get rid of 20 lbs, I have a bit more than that to spare right now but we'll start with that.
I will put up a button on this page come next Tuesday because that would be my first weigh in with Traineo. The thing that I notice thats different is that it sends an email every week to my "motivators" telling them how much I've lost. I choose to have Schmoop and Mama K be my motivators cause they're awesome.
Any prayers on this would be appreciated, I really want to succeed in this.

I'm all Domesticated, like a cat

So I've really been having fun with the whole making my man dinners thing. I think its fun to have it ready when he gets home ( a couple hours after I get home). Last night I sauteed some zucchini in garlic and olive oil and then mixed in a homemade tomato sauce; which was served over pasta. I also steamed some brocoli and cauliflower. For dessert I made a homemade zucchini cake with homemade cream cheese icing (which Schmoop loved!). The house always smells so good with the home cooking too.
Yesterday I also took down all the stuff out of the downstairs bathroom. There is a ridiculous amt of stuff in it. Its a tiny under the stairs bathroom and it has just a ridiculous amt of big wall hangings. I'll have to post some pics later but tonight I'm going to paint in there, I can't wait!!
Well until I make my man some steaks with potatoes and asparagus of course..
I love this whole wife thing

Poor Guy

On Mar 30, 2007, at 4:06 PM, Schmoop wrote:

Was reading this and thought of you.



I’m afraid Leta sleeps exactly like I do, like she is practicing taekwondo, and rarely do we ever walk into her room to find her under her covers or even lying parallel to the bed. She is always crumpled into some impossible position, her knees pressed to her forehead or both elbows locked behind her neck. One constant is her messy hair splashed in every direction, and I always have a hard time determining which side of her head is her face. Sometimes I’ll try to move her hair to make it easier for her to breathe, and I’ll accidentally stick my finger into an ear I did not know was there.

(this is from Dooce if you don't know, link on side)

Some more pics

our first dance

happy

This is how we do it...

If you do know me this face is near and dear to your heart, if you don't this is one that you should keep an eye on. It means I'm breaking it down, Dirkey style...