She has arrived

So, the day began with a teary call from Jamie, who was om her way to the hospital. A few short hours (and an even shorter nap), Hannah was born. Yay, I am am an auntie!! Here are a few pics from Hannah birthday:

Pre-baby

Three generations
A well deserved turkey sammie
Great Aunt Sue Ann
Daddy's girl

Some favorite websites

Here is a list of some of my favorite websites. I thought I would list them here because I still inept when it comes to adding links to the page itself:

PostSecret - a neat art project that changes every Sunday http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

Rather Good - I can't believe this site is still going http://www.rathergood.com/
My faves: Gay Bar http://www.rathergood.com/gaybar/ and Punk Kittens http://www.rathergood.com/punk_kittens/

Barefoot Contessa - Super yummy recipes, a new cookbook comes out in October people!http://www.barefootcontessa.com/recipes-summer/1-carrot-cake-cupcake.html

I cook, therefore, I blog

I have a feeling that there will be a number of recipes posted on this blog. I really should be better about taking pictures of my creations, but whatever.
Shayne invited my companion and me to dinner for Labor Day. She requested that I bring a dessert, and before she could even ask for them, I read her mind....Orange Brownies! They are a a nice summery dessert, although the name Orange Brownies is a misnomer, it has been suggested that they be called "Orange Blondies", since they don't contain chocolate. Here is the recipe:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
4 eggs
2 tsp. pure orange extract
1 tsp. grated orange zest

Glaze (I usually double the recipe):
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 tbsp. orange juice
1 tsp. grated orange zest

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9 pan.Stir together flour, sugar and salt in a bowl; add butter, eggs, extract and zest. Using a handheld mixer, beat until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until light golden brown and set. Remove from oven and pierce entire cake with a fork.For glaze, mix all ingredients together and stir until smooth. Pour glaze over cake, cool and cut into squares. 24 squares.

Seriously, check out the link to Cake Wrecks

So, I thought I would give, as Michael would say, a directive. You have got to check out the link to the Cake Wrecks blog! WTF! People actually pay for this stuff? I really should throw my hat into the cake decorating ring.....after all I am Wilton certified.

Jamie should be grateful that she got daisies for her baby shower, she could have gotten this:

Or this:

Naked baby carrot cowboys with mohawks-- Of course!

Or this for her wedding. If only I had been allowed to make her wedding cake:

Here is one of my own cake wrecks:

What was the lesson learned? Do not try to change the Wilton icing recipe in the middle of a North Carolina summer, or at least, get air conditioning in your car, before the clwon on the side of your cake gets sniped.....he deserved it; shouldn't have been climbing up the cake in the first place!