This Week in Mommyhood

All week we have joked that Cati will be an engineer. She's currently in the break-it-apart-put-it-back- together stage. She's more interested in figuring out the individual parts of something and understanding how each part comes together to create something with a function. Her toys are being dissected in a whole new way. It's fascinating to see her brain in action and funny to see her get frustrated because she can't figure out how to put things back together.

Here are some other fun developments from this week.

Lodging Complaints. Earlier this week we went to visit my grandmother. Most of the time I go I try to close the door to the room so Cati can roam freely. Well, on this particular visit Cati happened to be by the door when the nurse opened it and Cati fell. She wasn't hurt so much as shocked. I carried her to try and console her and while in my arms Cati started talking seriously and pointing at the nurse. She knew the nurse was the cause of her tears and she wanted to make sure I knew that too.

Knock Knock. Cati learned how to knock a few weeks ago but know she understands when to knock. It's so cute seeing her knock because she does it with her thumb and index finger and not with a closed fist.

Shoe Obsessed. God forbid there is a pair of shoes in sight and I'm not wearing them. Cati will chase me down with my shoes and put them on me. If I take them off she gets upset.

Bubble Blower. Cati has loved bubbles since her birthday and now she actually understands how you get bubbles. She knows that you need liquid and that you need to blow the bubble stick. Her blowing of air isn't enough to create a bubble but it's great to see this leap in understanding.

Feeding Frenzy. I'm constantly trying to figure out how to feed Cati. This week I switched up her feeding schedule. Before it was breakfast at 7:30am, cup of milk at 10am, lunch at 11:30am, cup of milk and snack at 3:30pm, and dinner at 5:30pm. Now I am doing breakfast with a cup of milk at 7:30am, lunch at 11:30am, cup of milk and snack at 3:30pm and then dinner at 5:30pm. The main thing I noticed is that the little change in the morning has resulted in her eating a lot more at lunch. I am also trying to transition her into eating more of our food. It's not easy because I haven't been cooking as often, but she is loving every bit of food she gets.

I can't wait to see what my little explorer does next. 

52 {Books} in 52: Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea

After reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I wanted something light and funny to read. I chose Chelsea Handler's Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea. The book was entertaining and definitely had it's laugh out loud moments, but I was expecting something much funnier. The things Chelsea says are outrageous and the situations she finds herself in are even more so. I can see why someone would want to develop this book into a television series because the stories carry a comedic-something that would be better portrayed in action versus on paper.

The book is a series of essays, the first of which proves you can tell a ridiculous lie and manage to get away with it. My favorite is probably her retelling the time when she dated a red head. Again, it goes back to the fact that she thinks and says the most outrageous things. If it weren't for having seen her show, I would think she was going for shock value, but what you get here is exactly what you come to expect out of Chelsea Handler. Mildly offensive, mostly hilarious, and without a doubt entertaining.

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
8.  Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder
9.  The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
10.  Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler

TWD: Oatmeal Nutmeg Scones

There is a debate in our household as to whether I have ever had a scone. I say no and Alex is convinced that I have had one at some point in time. Either way, this is the first time I have ever made scones and was it messy. I didn't expect it to be so messy and eventually ended up giving up on making nice triangle shapes. Instead, balls of dough were scooped out and dropped on the baking sheet. I always thought scones were supposed to be sweeter than biscuits so I added a light glaze to the scones to make them sweeter and to moisten them up. What really amazed me with this recipe is how far a small amount of nutmeg goes.

Thanks to Patricia of Life With a Whisk for making this week's selection. Make sure to head over to the TWD site to read everyone else's thoughts on this week's selection.

This Week in Mommyhood

I love this stage. Cati is beyond fun and enjoyable. Sure, she still cries but it lacks the urgency of infancy. My time with her feels more precious and fleeting than ever before. There are moments where I look at her and still can't believe she's mine and I played a pivotal role in her creation. How can someone so sweet, innocent, and tender come from someone like me? Having Cati helps me recapture the innocence of childhood; a time before awareness of things like skepticism, cynicism, and maliciousness. She truly the greatest gift.

Here are the fun developments of the past week or so:

Mama!!!!!!!!!! She's finally saying mama to my face! I've been told she says mama when I'm not around but this week she's actually said it so I could hear. This is huge! She used to say mama when she first started speaking but then she got hooked on saying dada. Now the mama-dad playing field is even as Cati enjoys saying both. I adore the sound of mama coming out of her mouth. It makes my heart leap for joy.

Stinky hands. Somewhere along the lines Cati learned that waving your hand infront of your nose went with smelly. Now every time I say "fof" or she smells something unpleasant she does the hand motion.

No no no. One day I said "no" and did the index finger pointed-waving motion and Cati was hooked. So in addition to shaking her head she also has a hand motion in her no saying arsenal.

Doctors are scary. Cati had her 15-month appointment this week and, while she was good with the nurse, she was terrified of the doctor. There was confusion as to height and weight but I'm going with 23 lbs and 31" of baby to love. Cati is growing beautifully and the sad truth is that she is becoming more and more of a "big" girl with each passing day. This picture was taken before the horror of the pediatrician started and is, by far, my favorite picture of her from this past week:

Break out the backpack. We put a deposit in for school for Cati. She'll be going to a preschool that's literally within walking distance from the house. I still haven't determined when she's going to start but the point is that a school has been selected. The rest will be figured out in the fall if I start school. The best part is that one of her classmates is the daughter of one my close friends.

Another week come and gone. Here's hoping for another week of remembering the good and forgetting the bad!

The Cake Slice: Orange Cake with Chocolate Cointreau Sauce

I cheated a bit with this month's cake, but it was a cheat out of necessity. The original cake was an Orange Almond Caramel Upside-Down Cake. We didn't have almonds and I didn't care to buy because Alex isn't a big fan of almonds in his desserts and if I wanted him to eat the majority of this cake, then I had to forgo the almonds. So instead of the cake having almonds and being an upside down cake, I made the cake into cupcakes with a chocolate Cointreau sauce. The sauce was perfect for dipping and the right consistency for balancing and adding a new flavor dimension to the cake; I think a glaze would have overpowered the delicate orange flavoring of the cake. What I got was a perfect orange cake that was not drowned out by the chocolate. Alex said the cupcake reminded him of those Chocolate Orange Balls. I thought the cupcake was light and refreshing.

Make sure to head over to The Cake Slice's blogroll to see what everyone else did with this month's cake. 

Orange Cake with Chocolate Cointreau Sauce
Source:  Cake Keeper Cakes by Lauren Chattman
Makes 6 cupcakes

For the cake
3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup sour cream
1 large eggs
2 Tbsp orange juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp grated orange zest (I used zest from a mandarin)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line six of the cavities of a cupcake pan with cupcake liners.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium mixing bowl. Combine the sour cream, eggs, orange juice and vanilla in a glass measuring cup and beat lightly.

Combine the butter and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. Stir in the orange zest.

With the mixer on medium-low speed, pour the egg mixture into the bowl in a slow stream, stopping the mixer once or twice to scrape down the sides.

Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture and combine.

Pour the cake into the cupcake cavities and bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let stand for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes from the pan and cool to room temperature before dipping in sauce.

Store uneaten cake in a cake keeper or wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

For the sauce
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp Cointreau

In a small bowl over medium-low heat, melt together the chocolate and butter. Remove from heat and stir in Cointreau.

Note: the longer the sauce sits, the thicker consistency it will have so you can either dip the cupcakes right away or wait until the sauce thickens and use a knife to spread the sauce on the cupcakes. 

An Update of Sorts

I have done an awful job of keeping up with the blog. The truth is, I have done an awful job at keeping up with anything writing-related. I definitely go through cycles of writing highs and writing lows. There were weeks where I posted multiple times a day and now we are in a cycle of weeks were posting a multiple times a week is the norm. I'm just so emotionally exhausted at the end of the day that all I have been doing is laying in bed with a book and escaping into the fantasy life of someone else. I'm not physically up to cooking or baking. I would love to cook and bake more, but I despise the cleaning. I spend my entire day cleaning up after Cati and I really don't care to give myself anymore to clean. For as busy as Cati keeps me I have become so lazy with everything else. I only have x-amount of energy at the end of the day and it's just enough to see that I shower, brush my teeth, and flip the pages of my book. Simply put, I'm weary and worn. There's so much I'm responsible for and so much to keep my feeling either stressed, disappointed, or frustrated.

I think it's time for my batteries to be recharged and, luckily enough, Alex has vacation time coming up. We'll be going to Tampa for a few days and I'm really excited about the trip. There will be beer and brewery tours for Alex, Busch Gardens and Sesame Street for Cati, and a second pair of hands to help care for Cati for me. Is it sad that I am mostly excited about the trip because it means going somewhere new while not having to care for Cati all by myself? If you have any recommendations on things to see, places to eat and shop in Tampa please let me know!

My grandmother is doing great. Thank you to those who have asked through the comments and email. Cati and I have been going to see her almost every other day. She's still in in-patient rehab but she is recuperating and gaining movement and strength in her arm and leg each day. Her therapy includes learning how to walk with a walker and she's supposed to be released on the 30th. I pray that she continues to get stronger and goes back to fully-functioning sooner rather than later.

I'm hoping once my grandmother's out and we've had the opportunity to escape from our everyday lives I will be back to normal blogging, cooking, baking, and writing. I hate feeling like I'm in a funk because it means I'm stagnant with no desire to change. Thanks for being patient with me.

52 {Books} in 52: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

My brain was on crazy, high alert with this book. Stieg Larsson outdid himself with The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. There is so much going and storylines that have nothing to do with one another but everything to do with one another at the same time. The two main characters, Mikael (the journalist) and Lisbeth (the titular character), don't even meet until 300-something pages into the book. They are each doing their own thing but through fate, or the art of good storytelling, they unite to crack the case of a mysterious disappearance and clear Mikael's name.  More time is spent with Mikael's character but you know that Lisbeth is the force that keeps moving things forward. The parts with Lisbeth are incredibly intense and the first few scenes of her are hard to swallow. In a way you don't blame her for being so withdrawn but you do wonder what secrets she has lying behind that facade. What made her this way? How did she become what she is? Will she ever change?

The book is complex and has so many layers. You start with Mikael's trial for libel but the book is mainly about the mystery of Harriet Vanger and the uncovering of horrid family secrets. This is the most interesting part because you are constantly guessing what happened and even if you have an inclination as to what happened, the why is a huge shocker. All loose ends are tied at the end of the book but your head is left reeling after the rollercoaster it went on. The book is a good read, but it is by no means a light read. There is so much going on and so much to keep track of. The best way to describe this book is intense. If you want an intense and intellectual book, then this is the book for you.

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
8.  Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder
9.  The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Momma's Still Got It

I had an interview today for grad school. This is the first time in a looooooong time that I have dressed up professionally. Most of the time I am in the typical mom attire of jeans, t-shirt, sneakers, and ponytail. Sometimes I glam up to remind my husband I still got it. Today, I dressed up to show the world I still have what it takes to be a professional. I will stroke my ego some and say that I looked good. It felt so nice to get dressed up and to tap into that side of me that is neither wife nor mother. I even wore a watch and bracelet and black pumps!

Although I did look and feel good, there is no competition when it comes to leopard print pants on the cutest baby around. Cati is seriously the most stylish child on the block :)

Thanks to my amazing mother-in-law for watching Cati while I went off in the professional boat. Keep your fingers crossed I get accepted!

This Week in Mommyhood

The days are passing by in a blur and I can barely remember what happens. I think I've reached the point where I'm not as diligent about capturing and recording Cati's milestones. I can tell that I am because I see it reflected in the reduction of picture taking. Cati is still growing and developing and blowing my mind away, but it's getting harder for me to remember when she first started doing certain things.

These are the cute and amazing things Cati is doing now and I can't remember when she started doing them:

"Shoo."  Cati loves to put her finger to her mouth and say "shoo." Of all the things she picked up from "The Wheels on the Bus" song, this is her favorite and whenever I start singing it she immediately starts shushing. She also gets that it means quiet.

Too hot. Cati likes to blow on her food before eating it to make sure it isn't too hot. She must think this is the funnest thing because she'll even do it to cold food and fruit.

Hands in the air. Cati likes to pump her hands in the air whenever she does something she's proud of. This all started with me saying "Put your hands in the air if you're a good baby! Woo woo!" after each spoonful of veggies she ate.

I can say Mama, I just chose not to. The little brat. Cati says mama, just not to my face. I went to the mall with her Titi Jeselyn and left them together so I could use the bathroom. Turns out that the entire time I was gone Cati was saying mama.

I noticed an ugly thing about myself this week. I am bad with follow-through. I have all these plans and ideas and I don't follow through with them. I start projects but I don't finish them. I need to change this about myself because I want to be a good example for Cati. I don't want her childhood to be littered with Mom's Great Plans That Get Nowhere.

Here's to another week of probably losing myself in time and loving every minute with my amazing baby girl.

Chocolate Chip Maple Pecan Cookies

Did you know today is Chocolate Chip Day? I didn't either but as soon is I saw it pop up on the Examiner editorial calendar I knew I needed to celebrate. Other than writing an article about it on Examiner, I decided to make these Chocolate Chip Maple Pecan Cookies. These cookies were delicious and so golden. I don't know how else to describe these cookies but they made me think of that beautiful amber color sugar gets when caramelized. The cookie was sweet, but not as sweet as you'd think given the amount of sugar and maple syrup, and a funny mix of chewy and crispy.

 

Chocolate Chip Maple Pecan Cookies
Source: Adapted from Everybody Likes Sandwiches
Yields 24 cookies

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, combine the butter, brown sugar, extract and maple syrup together. Add in the egg and combine until fluffy. Dump in the flour, baking soda and salt and stir until just blended before adding the chocolate chips and walnuts and stirring again.

Drop by tablespoon 2 inches apart onto a parchment or silpat covered cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are just golden. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

52 {Books} in 52: Misery Loves Cabernet

I don't even remember how I heard about Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder, but I'm glad I checked it out from the library because the book is a fun, light-hearted read. It's perfect chick-lit. The story follows Charlie as she tries to decide whether she wants to stick with an old love, pursue a new love, or simply learn to love herself. In between you get pieces of advice written for her great granddaughter. Gems include:

• Don't obsess about your looks, but don't ignore them, either. Potential suitors can't see your brain from across the room.
• Tolerance for other races, cultures, or religions is a sign of intelligence. Tolerance for staying in a bad relationship is a sign of stupidity.
• Nothing great comes without failure.
• Do at least one thing in your life that will outlast it. 
• All good things must someday end. Fortunately, this is also true of bad things.

My only complaint is that I wish I would have known this book was a sequel to A Total Waste of Makeup. Not that you needed to read that book to understand what was going on in this book, but I hate reading things out of order.

 

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
8.  Misery Loves Cabernet by Kim Gruenenfelder

TWD: Brown Sugar Bundt Cake

I am seriously late on this one. I tried to post yesterday but I kept getting an error message. It was weird and frustrating to be blocked out of my blog. Anyway, I made this Brown Sugar Cake and loved it! I made a few adjustments though out of sheer practicality. I quartered the recipe (1 egg, baked for 25 min in a loaf pan), substituted the buttermilk for heavy cream, omitted the fruits, and added chopped pecans and chocolate chips. The resulting cake was exactly like a chocolate chip cookie cake. You really can't go wrong with a cake that tastes like your favorite cookie.

Thanks to Peggy from Pantry Revisited for making this week's selection. Make sure to stop by her blog for the recipe and the TWD site to see how everyone else fared with this cake.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta

Surprisingly enough, I have been cooking on a regular basis.  Despite feeling tired on so many different levels, I have been making us homemade meals almost every night. I had seen this particular recipe pop up in my reader and I couldn't resist giving it a try. The pasta was the most delicious pasta I have had in a long time. It was creamy and cheesy and every bite surprised you either with chicken, bacon, or ham. You really couldn't ask for more. Except maybe some more leftovers. 

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta
Source: Taste and Tell
serves 8-10


Alfredo Sauce
1 1/4 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, divided
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Pasta
10 to 12 ounces penned pasta, cooked
1 chicken breast, cooked and diced into 1/4-inch strips
3/4 cup diced, cooked ham
1/4 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

Prepare the Alfredo sauce: Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the pepper, heavy cream and minced garlic. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low. Add the Parmesan and  Mozzarella, reserving about 1/3 of each cheese. Simmer for 5 – 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Set the oven to broil. Coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add the cooked pasta, chicken, bacon, and any additional ingredients. Pour Alfredo sauce over the top, and gently stir to combine everything. Top with the reserved cheeses.

Place the baking dish on the oven’s middle rack. Broil for 3-5 minutes, or until the cheese bubbles and turns light brown.

52 {Books} in 52: The Time Traveler's Wife

Here is an example of me having seen a movie before reading the book. A few years back I went to see The Time Traveler's Wife with a group of girlfriends. At the end of the movie I was a sopping mess and I wanted nothing more than to get home to my husband and tell him how much I adored and loved him. Fast-forward to now and I have read Audrey Niffenegger's book. I knew what to expect and I read the entire book with a knot in my stomach just waiting for the ball to drop. I cried with the book too but it wasn't the same as I did with the movie. Ahh, Hollywood magic!

The book is called The Time Traveler's Wife, but it's about so much more than the wife as the story is told from the point of view of both Clare (the wife) and Henry (the time traveler). Time is complex and Niffenegger explores it with finesse; she bends time in every direction but you never feel confused or lost. Past, present, future, and multiple spheres of time push the book forward and at the end you feel like saying "time is a cruel thing" while simultaneously saying "love does not know the bounds of time." The book is a steady read and for those that are willing to entertain the notion of time as variable and free will as questionable.

 

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith
7. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

This Week in Mommyhood

Cati is such a joy to be around. She is a reminder that one should not spend their time sulking or sad. You can't exactly stay sad for long when she giggles or refuses to say Abuela because saying "moooo" is so much more fun. You have to keep moving forward because she needs you to; she needs to be fed, played with, entertained, bathed, put to sleep and she doesn't care if you are sad, worried, or otherwise mentally unavailable. Ahh, the joys of being a walking id!

These are the fun developments of the last week:

Kisses Goodbye. Whenever Cati hears you say bye, she immediately starts giving kisses. I don't know when this connection was made but it's the sweetest thing ever.


Ponytails are so in. Cati finally has enough hair for a ponytail! Her hair has been long enough for me to do the Pebbles look, but now I can actually pull her hair bag and put it into a ponytail. She looks like such a different child with a ponytail and I wish she would let her hair style like that for more than 10 minutes before wanting to yank it out of place.

Party in the crib. For some reason, Cati has gotten in the mood of playing in her crib. She will go to her room and try to climb in. Once in, she rolls around with her lovey and has conversations with them. It's so cute and such a contrast to how she would cry whenever I put her in her crib.

Meow. You ask Cati what noise a gato (cat) makes and she starts meowing. Her meowing sounds more like "umm" but it's still cute to see that she understands what another animal is and what noise it makes.

Chapstick is for lips. Or not. Cati loves chapstick and for the first time this week she actually put it on her lips. Then, she realized her tongue needed moisturizing too.

Cough cough. This is trick my mother-in-law taught Cati. Now whenever she coughs, she pats her chest. Smart girl.

Here's to another week of moving forward and not having enough time to look back!

52 {Books} in 52: Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

A few months ago I had requested Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith from the library. I didn't read it because I had requested too many books from the library, couldn't extend my check out, and had to return the book. Jane Austen's original is one of my favorite books and I love practically every adaptation of it (especially the BBC version) so I was curious to see how Seth Grahame-Smith weaved zombies into this classic story. While I still prefer the original, the book was pretty entertaining and borderline ridiculous (funny ha ha ridiculous). I mean, in a time when there were so many strict "rules of society" you have women doing roundhouse kicks and kicking zombie butt with daggers hidden by their ankles. That's just plain amusing! I think the book does a great job of introducing the Victorian tale to a new generation of readers who are more and more into gore, violence, and action.

With all that said, the book is interesting. I don't think it's a read for purists of the story and I also don't think it's a read for those with vivid imaginations  (lots of vomit and brain-eating talk). I liked reading the book because I like the tale but, in a way, I kind of wish I just read the original again.

 

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman
6. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

As a side note, I'm sorry I have been such a bad blogger lately. Emotional exhaustion is definitely getting the better of me and at the end of the day all I want to do is immerse myself in a book and escape my reality.  I hope to reach a new normal once my grandmother is out of the hospital and Alex starts PGY3 and {hopefully} becomes more patient and less stressed.

Bahama Mama Banana Rum Cake

I can't believe it has taken me this long to share this recipe for you. I made this Bahama Mama Banana Rum Cake for Easter and, between one thing and another, I hadn't uploaded the pictures or typed up the recipe. I will tell you this, make this cake right now. It is beyond delicious and so incredibly good. If you love banana in your desserts, then you will simply adore this cake. The cake tastes like the best banana bread you've had but with the added moistness of rum.

Bahama Mama Banana Rum Cake
Source: adapted from Jill O'Connor's Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey
Serves 8-10

3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
3/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 Tbsp dark rum
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Dark rum glaze, recipe below

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8-inch pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle the bottom of the pan with the toasted pecans. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat together the butter and sugars until mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Beat in the mashed bananas, vanilla, and rum. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt over the batter and fold in using a rubber spatula, just until no streaks of flour remain. Spoon the batter over the nuts in the pan and spread to the edge of the pan using the back of the rubber spatula.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until a tester inserted in the cake comes out with no more than a few crumbs. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 5 minutes.

Use a wooden skewer to poke holes all over the cake and pour a third of the glaze over the cake. Let the cake cool for 5 minutes more. Place a serving platter over the pan and invert to release the cake onto the platter. Spoon the remaining glaze over the cake, a little at a time, and let stand until completely absorbed into the cake. If the glaze starts to pool a the base of the cake, use a small spatula to spread it up and around the edges of the cake.

Cool completely before cutting and serving.


Dark Rum Glaze
1/4 cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp water
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup dark rum

Combine the butter, water, and sugars in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to medium-low abd simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in rum. Keep warm.

52 {Books} in 52: Bad Mother

I read Ayelet Waldman's Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace based on recommendation. The book is the product of all the backlash she got over an article she wrote about loving her husband more than her children and it chronicles all her thoughts on and instances of being a "bad" mother. The book starts off with the best question: how comes it's easier for a father to be a "good" father but harder for a mother to be a "good" mother? Good fathers just have to be present and provide financial support while good mothers have to cook, be unselfish, enjoy sex and a slew of other characteristics.

I had a hard time getting into the book because Ayelet is definitely an acquired taste (note: if you are Republican you will be put off almost immediately) but toward the second half of the book I couldn't put the book down. The last chapter is definitely the best one and while I thought the book was good, I don't think it's the type of book that would appeal to all because you get A LOT of Ayelet. I'd recommend reading her articles first and seeing if you like her style before investing time in this book.

These are my favorite quotes from the book:
There are times as a parent when you realize that your job is not to be the parent you always imagined you'd be, the parent you always wished you had. Your job is to be the parent your child needs, given the particulars of his or her own life and nature.

The only thing worse than having low expectations of your children is setting the bar so high that they cannot hope to succeed. And the only thing worse than that is allowing yourself to be crushed when they fail.

The most toxic thing parents can do is allow their delight and pride in their children be spoiled by disappointment, by frustration when the children fail to live up to expectations formed before they were even born, expectations that have nothing to do with them and everything to do with the parents' own egos.

Here's what I've read for my 52 {Books} in 52 challenge:

1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
2. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
3. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
4. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
5. Bad Mother: A Chronicle of Maternal Crimes, Minor Calamities, and Occasional Moments of Grace by Ayelet Waldman

This Week in Mommyhood

What a week. Family is always on my mind but it was especially so this week. My grandmother, thankfully, has improved and was moved out of the ICU. Here's hoping to her continued recovery.

Cati was such a trooper with all the hospital visits. I am always amazed at how well behaved she can be in certain situations. Here we are in a hospital room and all she wants to do is run around and play. And like a "good" mother, every time she got cranky I distracted her with a cookie.

These are the fun developments of this past week:

"Booh" (Book). Cati learned how to say book! She loves her books and is constantly carting them around the house. I say "book" about 50 times a day so I was thrilled when she started saying it too.

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes. Cati is getting better at knowing the different parts of her body. This week she learned nose and ears so now she knows head, ears, eyes, nose, belly, belly button,hand, and feet.

Oh my head! Every time Cati falls she touches her head as if she hit it, even if she didn't hit it. It's incredibly hilarious because she will fall, get up, and then come to me tapping her head.


Music Graduate. Cati's first semester of music class is done! She got a little certificate and I celebrated like the goofball mother that I am. All week I exclaimed my excitement about her little graduation and then laughed myself silly as I recounted the scene in The Incredibles where Bob and Helen are fighting about Bob not wanting to go to Dash's 4th grade graduation and Bob says, "They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity." It's just music class and it doesn't really count for anything and yet I found myself recording when the teacher said and gave us her certificate.

Every now and then I am struck by the fact that MY child is in her SECOND year of life. My "baby" looks like such a big girl now and, while I don't miss that newborn/infant stage, I do miss my girl being small enough to rest in my arms without end and without my arms feeling like the soreness will never go away.