Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts

Saturday, October 18, 2008

New Baby Therapy and A Dancing Matress

So driving home each day I am the luckiest girl in the world due to the fact that I get to see dancing mattress man. Seriously. How much does this guy get paid to dance and hold the sign for mattress world? And does he enjoy his job? Who knows. I just crack up everyday when I see him and because I was headed to meet a very new young girl I happened to have my camera handy. So, hats off to you dancing mattress man (like in the bud light radio commercials the voice over thing, you know...real American hero....Mr. Mattress Man, a real American hero. not.)And onto the good stuff. Meet Miss Maggie. What a dolly. She entered the world some time around noon on Thursday. She's a wee thing at 5 pounds 12 ounces (or something very close to that), but oh so sweet and cuddly.

I just couldn't get enough of her. After a good fix I had to head home so my dear Mr. Tall Man could go to poker. What a sweet baby she is!!!
Meet her mom and dad. Don't they look like great parents? They are. Isabelle would say so. (that's their other little lady and she's oh so sweet too!) Mom works in the classroom next to me. She teaches kindergarten.
Congrats to you both and welcome to the world Maggie!!! I look forward to watching you grow up (and possibly making your mom crazy and gray haired at some point).


Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Chocolate Zucchini Cake Crockpot Style!!!

So I mentioned that I made chocolate zucchini cake a couple days ago and said I'd have more details...so here they are.

Ingredients:
1 cup of all-purpose flour
1 cup of whole wheat flour
3/4 cup of cocoa powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup of egg substitute (or 4 eggs)
3/4 cup of vegetable oil
3/4 cup of applesauce
1 cup sugar
1 cup oil
3 cups of grated zucchini
1-2 cups chocolate chips (optional, of course)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 in baking pan or your crock pot (I used my big oval one).
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg substitute, oil, sugar, and applesauce. Pour mixture into the dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Fold in the zucchini until evenly distributed. Then stir in chocolate chips.
5. Pour into the prepared baking pan or crock pot.
6. Bake for 45-55 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Wait until the cake is completely cooled and then you can frost the cake with your favorite frosting (I used light cool whip mixed with a bit of cocoa powder for a chocolate frosting). If using the crock pot, cook with lid on for about 3 hours or until a toothpick comes out clean. A hint that you're almost there is when the edges start to pull away from the sides of the crock.

Everyone here thinks this is delicious. The original recipe I found had no sugar listed in the ingredients and someone had commented that it was horribly bitter. So I added sugar and chocolate chips. I also added walnuts...not so good and I don't recommend them. This is delicious served with whipped topping.

I got my inspiration for doing it "crock pot style" from this blog. It's called A Year of CrockPotting and I think this woman is brilliantly amazing!!! I've made a few things and have been very pleased. I tried the fried rice, coconut cake and the just throw a hunk 'o' frozen meat in and slop sauce on top trick. Fantastic they all were. I think this crock pot gig will make my life a bit easier once I'm back to work. It's also nice in the heat of the summer!!!

On a different note, I finished the book Bright Lights, Big Ass by Jen Lancaster. HILARIOUS! An easy, quick read that I laughed at all the way through. She has a very witty, snarky sense of humor that I can appreciate and connect with! I can't wait for my turn to get her other books on the library's hold list.

Happy hump day to you. Wish me luck, I have 3 little cherubs to look over today :)

OH and go see what a beautiful new baby my coworker Tony's wife just gave birth to. Congrats Tony & Christi and welcome to the world Milina! And congrats to Milli's Grammy, Sue (another co-worker of mine).