Youngest's Dinosaur Birthday Cake

Tomorrow my youngest will be three years old. This is the birthday cake I created for her. She was very pleased with it since she just LOVES Dinosaurs. She is pointing to the little cupcake and candle. She told me over and over tonight how she was sure her friends would love it at school.

This is the first cake I have made using homemade fondant. The fondant was made with mini marshmallows and powdered sugar. It tastes so much better than real fondant and works great!

Oldest wanted to add a big, blue turd (in Oldest's words, "a cake"). I had occupied her with some extra fondant, finished the cake, and walked in the kitchen to clean up. I went back to check out the cake again and there was this big ball of blue stuck to the side on my cake! Ahhhh!!!


Luckily, I was able to surgically remove it so it didn't mess up the cake too much. This cake was a big learning experience and a lot of fun!!!

Celebrating Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras

Recently Hubster recorded The Princess and the Frog on DTV. Whenever he records a movie like this, or even when the girls get their minds on a new video we may purchase for them, we have to watch it every night, every day, for??....until something else comes along. It's that 'toddler/preschool' mind figuring out how everything works.....you know???

While, The Princess and the Frog is a really cool story and the characters and music are GREAT, I was even more impressed when Oldest asked me what Gumbo was. (Those of you that don't know the movie need to know that Tiana, the main character is a waitress in New Orleans, that gets turned into a frog and then gets turned into a Princess, Tiana's dream in life is to open her own restaurant and to serve Gumbo like her Daddy and her used to make together.- I relate so much with this connection of food between her and her Daddy, that I like the movie even more!)

But back to that Gumbo.

Disney plays up dish so that both of my girls have been saying, "Muuuummmm Gumbo!" And then rubbing their bellies in a circular motion. Even I however, have never in my life eaten Gumbo. So I made it for them last night for a family celebration of Mardi Gras.

I searched the internet. It's a favorite past time of mine- to mine the internet for all the reviews of the best recipes and then to try them out. These are the sites I decided upon:
Quick and Easy King's Cake, Yam Biscuits, Alton Brown's Gumbo. One note about the Gumbo, I did add the file powder- I splurged and ordered it online from Williams and Sonoma. Gumbo has been on my mind a few weeks now, but with the holiday yesterday was a perfect time to try it out.

I was pleased with all the recipes. Hubster has seconds on the Gumbo and said it was spiced perfectly which I agreed- be careful with that Cayenne Pepper, you can ruin a dish quickly if not used as needed!! I also made a -kicked down a notch- version for the girls with no cayenne and substituted sweet sausage. Although they are usually really good eaters and were excited about the having Gumbo for dinner, they wouldn't touch it!!!*cry* But they ate their share of the Yam biscuits and King's Cake after dinner. And yes, I do know that the baby is meant for inside the cake, but the girls and I just thought they were so cute we had to display them on the cake when we decorated it.

Lastly, an apology for only a picture of the King's Cake. I was just so busy all afternoon and so excited to dig in to dinner, I didn't take a picture of the Gumbo or the Yam Biscuits.*Sorry*

Learning how to make Beef Pho- the International Dish of Vietnam

~Delicious Vietnam #11 -Beef Pho

I've been thinking of how to approach this entry. It's like comparing the homemade pizza you might whip up on a Friday night with the 100 year old Pizza Shop business that Tony's Great, great, great, great?........ Grandfather, opened when he first emigrated to New York City and has been passed down through the generations. It is so easy to order out, yet is also just so good when cooked at home. Pho is the same way.

Being from rural Vermont, I never would have been exposed to Pho. But when I met my husband (Hubster), I ate a bowl, another bowl, ate my way through Vietnam three times, once from South to North, and then back to south again! Sounds very Piggish of me, but I love Pho!

It's steaming hot and like a aromatic facial when you lean over for the first bite. It's ideal for any time during the day or night. It will keep your belly full for hours and is light and energizing from the assortment of fresh herbs you personalize you bowl with: basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, culantro, and green onions.

Not only have I gone out and eaten my fair share, but I have experimented, making my own: venison, different cuts of beef, meatballs-store bought and homemade, chicken, ox tail, and there are still more things I'd like to try. However, I recently discovered Andrea Nguyen's Blog Site: Viet World Kichen (I own her two cookbooks, but enjoy the surprise of each posting more on her blog!) Andrea goes into great details and even gives some pointers that the most experienced may not know. Here are my pictures from my attempt of making her version. I love the charring tips for the yellow onions and ginger (which is one picture I didn't take, I just charred them on my gas stove.) -Andrea's Recipe

I made one big alteration. Instead of marrow and knuckle bones, I used a fattier 2# roast of meat and boiled it for half an hour. Then took out the roast and placed on a plate. The roast was just right-pink on the inside (right before serving I cut this meat into very thin 1-2" pieces to use as the meat in the served bowl). Then I strained the water, added the spices, charred onion and ginger, and cooked for an hour and a half. Again I then strained the broth and seasoned with salt, palm sugar, and fish sauce. I adjusted these seasonings to my liking. Posted below are the pics of the process and final product. Please check out Andrea's tips and recipes and try some on your own.

**** This is my monthly entry to Delicious Vietnam, a monthly event created by A Food Lover's Journey and Ravenous Couple. Thanks to this month's host, Nam from The Culinary Chronicles****

Hubster's Birthday

My heart dropped at 4:15 pm today when I got a call telling me two samples were coming in that needed testing. I had been hoping to get out of work and to put Hubster's birthday together a little better. Staying later at work wasn't in my game plan. My plan was to pick the girls up from daycare and to go to the store together to get their Father a birthday present, to call him and to tell him to plan on going out to eat. Instead I ended up calling him, asking him to get the girls, and just going and getting his card and present myself.

When I stormed in the door, I could hear everyone upstairs getting their nightly bath. I ran up the stair took over the bathing duty and then rushed everyone out to the car so we could go to that other " really good restaurant in downtown Hampton", Taphouse. Located at 17 East Queens Way Hampton, VA 23669; Tel. (757) 224-5829. This is a Pub/ Restaurant that serves a large variety of burgers, salads, appetizers, unique entrees, pasta, and seafood. I'm not sure how many beers they have available but it's a list that covers the front and back of a sheet of paper! I had an ale called Flying Dog-in-Heat Wheat and Hubster had the Black Turnip ( It was on the list or 50 beers to try before you die). The Dog-in-Heat was light and also citrus like, it was okay. And the Black Turnip was like a meal by its self. It was full of different flavors and quite smooth, but then after 5 sips was was getting to be a little much. So I wouldn't recommend this beer. We enjoyed picking from the large assortment of beers and the prices were 3-4.50 bottles and drafts.

Hubster had the Grilled Tuna Sandwich, I had some spicy sausages with rosemary potatoes, and the girls split the appetizer order of 1 POUND of chicken fingers!! Hubster liked his Tuna. I was very surprised with the pairing of rosemary flavored potatoes with a sausage that was so hot in heat. But the pairing worked and I though it was good pub food. The girls chicken fingers were the best any of us had ever eaten in our lives. I have never seen the girls eat chicken so fast. Hubster and I were so surprised that we had to sample them. They were soft and tender and the fried breading on the outside was amazingly good.

After dinner we headed home, where I reminded the girls about Daddy's birthday. The one gift I bought him was a set of wine glasses. The girls helped out with the assembly of the cake I had baked earlier in the week and set in the freezer. The recipe for this cake is from Andrea Nguyen.

It came out like the picture and tasted very fresh and light. It was not a cake you could prepare ahead of time though.

Oh, this is Oldest on her new bike from her
birthday last month! And log in soon to see Youngest's Birthday next month!!

St. Valentine's Day

Last night Hubster and I decided we should celebrate St.Valentine's Day early. Our yearly celebration is going out to eat. The girls get all the heart boxed chocolates, dresses, tights, and t-shirts with hearts all over them. Hubster and I enjoy a night out of good food more than anything. It took years for Hubster and I to learn that unless we were going to a place that took reservations way ahead of time, we weren't getting in anywhere for dinner on St. Valentine's Day. It mobbed all over!

It will also be Hubster's birthday on the 16th-Wednesday. This is always celebrated with a night out to eat, and sometime I make a cake. This year I plan to make a cake since Oldest's Pony Cake was eaten at school and everyone has been craving cake since. I'll write later down about my cake ideas.

Yesterday wasn't going so well. It all started on my way to work. (Yes, Saturday I had to work.) I was going through the dark tunnel and then driving on the bridge and there was a sharp pain in my upper left cheek. It throbbed and then I rubbed my face and it went away. I blamed it on the sharp sun in my eye. Then I arrived at work and started my block's walk and realized I still had the pain but it wasn't a headache really. I blew it off and got to work.

Midway through the morning I decided to go out to the Post Office to mail the Valentines the girls had taken long hours making for their grandparents. The Post Office was packed! Then as I put the packages together I realized I had forgotten the girls' valentines. I was ticked. So mad that I wanted to drive home that moment, to get them!

But I thought again and tried calling Hubster. His phone was off.... and ohhh yeah, I was the one responsible for this. I turned it off before I left the house that morning because the battery started getting low at around 3AM. It started with a warning beep every hour or so. We were both in the middle of our sleep- so although it was VERY annoying, we both just kept laying in bed, waking slightly every time we heard the beep, but doing nothing about it. When I got up I just went to his phone and turned it off...didn't even plug it in to charge. I really wanted to throw it across the room, but I restrained.

So: With no valentines the girls had made, not the greatest sleep, the pain in my brain, having to work on a Saturday, and not being able to get a hold of Hubster (knowing it was my own dang fault), I sent the candy and oatmeal to the grandparents and went back to work. Later I called my Mom and told her the homemade valentines would be arriving later in the week.

When I got home Hubster was out and about. The girls were asleep in the truck as he unloaded feed from his truck. He suggested I take Oldest out to practice riding on her new bike. After giving him a run down of my crappy day and taking some headache medicine, we walked/road down to end of our street and sat to look out at the water. This walk fixed everything. Hubster than suggested to warm up and that we'd go out to eat.

Hubster suggested the Surf Rider Restaurant Bluewater, located at 1 Marina Rd in Hampton, Va. Tel# 757.723.9366 It is located at the marina and very impressive with large yachts all around. In side there is a framed newspaper article about their famous Hampton Roads Crab cakes. They have been voted to have the best crab cake in the area.The restaurant is very new and clean. There is a bar and an open window to the kitchen for the wait staff. The seating- all booths and tables set very close together (Did I tell you it was packed and the people just kept coming in at 9:30pm?). In a weird way the setting felt- New California design but also old fast service Silver Diner. The prices range from $8-$25. Hubster had a platter of fish, hush puppies, scallops, shrimp, and a famous crab cake. I had a cup of their homemade She Crab Soup and the Ceaser Salad with a Crab cake. The girls split the penne with Alfredo sauce. It was all very delicious. I would give it 5 stars and look forward to going back sometime.

When we got home I starting thinking about the upcoming week. This meant laundry, the girls' valentine's party at school, and Hubster's birthday. I want to try this white sponge cake with strawberries that Andrea Nguyen wrote about: http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2009/05/strawberry-and-cream-layer-cake-recipe.html

Hope it comes out like it looks! Then, also we will fill out Oldest's Princess Valentines and Youngest's Dinosaur Valentines. They will go in the bag with the homemade cookies Grammy made and we will be ready for the week........i think.....

Oldest's "My Little Pony" Birthday Cake

This my great attempt at a "My Little Pony" Birthday Cake. When Oldest told me that she wanted a Pink Pony Cake I was all worried and thought that she meant a sculpted Pink Pony in cake- I knew that wasn't going to happen. So this is what I came up with.

A little bit about the cake: I used a plain box cake mix and then divided the batter in 3 parts and added different colors to dye the cake. Then I layered it in the cake pan and baked as normal. The frosting was a challenge for me. I had about 1 Tablespoon of butter in the house and knew Buttercream Frosting was out of the question unless I made a run to the store- which I didn't want to do! I made a call to my Dad (the expert Chef) and he suggested 7 Minute Frosting. Which is what I made and really liked! But it's SUPER sweet! I also was too tired to mix up more frosting to put her name on the cake, so I spelled it out in Fruit Punch Flavored Nerds....such a nerd I am!

I was fairly happy with the final cake. The cake went to school, so I'm sorry I can't tell you how it tasted. But there was nothing left.

What to do? The Approaching Birthdays of Oldest and Youngest

On Tuesday it will be Oldest's, fourth birthday! Yes, Hubster and I keep saying, "Where does the time go?" It truly flies when you're having fun, as the old saying says.

I like to make sure they have a special treat to bring to school/daycare that is homemade. Most likely this will be a traditional birthday cake. The homemade aspect is very important to me as a Mother. My parents always took the time and love into everything I was involved in as a child and I feel as a parent, I need to do this too.

Schools are really cracking down these days on bringing in homemade things to school. I understand the reasons behind this decision: allergies, home cleanliness, etc. Luckily we are still in daycare and they welcome the recognition of your child's birthday.

In June, we plan to move both of the girls to a private school. I'll miss not making the cakes for the parties. I guess it will just have to be even more special with our home celebration and weekend, birthday parties.

I've been asking both of the girls what they would like for their birthdays. Mostly this is in terms of: flavor of cake, theme, colors, and gifts. Oldest has decided on a My Little Pony theme and Youngest likes 101 Dalmatians. I promise I will post details of the creation of these cakes for everyone to see!

We have also been talking about how old they will be turning. Oldest will be 4 and Youngest will be 3. For some reason they both thought they were exactly one year older than this! (5 and 4! Please don't make time go too fast!)

While we were discussing what birthdays were and what they meant, Youngest had a, "kid saying the cutest stuff", moment:

Youngest blurts out, "And it means that people will sing!!" For a second I was caught off guard and didn't really comprehend what she was saying. Then she said again, while wiggling her body back and forth in a little, dance motion, " They will sing Happy Happy!......Happy Happy to ME!" And then I got what she was saying and said. "Yes, the people who celebrate your birthday with you, will sing 'Happy Birthday To YOU'." I couldn't get over that having, the song, 'Happy Birthday,' sung to her, was a highlighted and special part for her. I would have thought it would have been the presents!

Oldest also had a, "kid saying the cutest stuff", moment on our way home from Richmond the other night. It was dark out and the music was playing low in the car. No one was talking and then Oldest said out of the blue,"I think.... I think....I need a party."

I've really been trying to avoid the party with friends thing. I think she's still pretty young and we celebrate as a family and they celebrate at school. So I was silent when these words came out of her mouth. I didn't know what to say. Luckily, Hubster came to the rescue and said, "Why do you need a party?" We had been driving down the road in almost total silence for the last hour. We had talked about birthdays early that morning.

But she held her conversation and said,"Because it's my birthday." So Hubster replied in asking her if she had ever had a party before? Oldest was then lost in thought and we continued driving into the night without another word.

So now I'm left with with that question, "What to do??"

Delicious Vietnam #10; Hubster's ESP and DaLat Vietnamese Cuisine, Richmond, Va

Delicious Vietnam #10~ Đà Lạt Restaurant; Review in Richmond, VA

Yesterday was my only day off for the week and I had planned to attend a Reptile Show in Richmond, Va. Hubster took the day off and we all drove up to Richmond yesterday.

Hubster kept saying things like, "You are sure this show is on and you know how to get there?"

Check.

Check......

Why was he doubting me? His mistrust was making me unsure of myself, so I got up early and checked the website before we left the house. Hubster also looked at the site out of curiosity.

Well, to my BIG, disappointment, the show was cancelled! The Raceway Stadium that was to hold the event knew nothing about it and told me they were trying to contact the person responsible for the website since they had other people asking where the Reptile Show was! What a total Bummer and the start of a crappy day in a city I know nothing about! Hubster's great ESP (extrasensory perception).. I should have called, but ticket sales were there!.... I had just skipped buying any.

So I may not have Hubster's gift of ESP, but I do have my stomach talking to me, and I was planning a chance of good food after a good show. Early that morning I had read reviews for the local Vietnamese Restaurants in Richmond, Va.

We drove out of the Raceway Stadium and drove by one Vietnamese Restaurant before settling on eating at: DaLat Vietnamese Cuisine.

It is located in a strip mall and does not look like much from the outside. There is a TJ Max in this shopping center, a baby store and a cigar store, just to name a few of the businesses surrounding it. Sales must be good because it was mid afternoon and there were only two parking spots. The physical location is: 9127 West Broad Street; Henrico, Virginia - Tel. (804) 762-9330.

When we entered the restaurant it was one, large, dark room, with a bar in the back, with the restaurant's name in big letters on the wall. It was simply decorated, but was ethnically pleasing with Vietnamese art, decorated, window sized, cut outs in the walls.

Once we sat down and started looking at the menu I was a surprised! I have never been to a Vietnamese restaurant with so many choices of Pho, Noodle dishes, rice pancakes, dumplings, and meat dishes. Hubster even commented on the large menu. My experience in the U.S.A. and Vietnam has been that Vietnamese Restaurants sticks to what they make best.

We ordered an appetizer : Banh Cuon Cha Lua.



It was described on the menu as ravioli filled with pork, dry mushroom ears, and herbs. This was a good size for Hubster, our two girls, and myself.

Then Hubster order Mi Xao Don Thap Cam (Crispy Egg Noodles with Shrimp, Chicken, Pork, and Beef) ,(I was late getting the camera out so the sauces and table salad were added before I snapped the picture.)


I had the Bun Chao Tom Cha Gio (Grilled shrimp paste on sugar cane and crispy egg roll). This was all served in a nice sized bowl with chopped lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts, pickled carrot, scallions, over a bed of rice noodles topped with crushed peanuts and fish sauce on the side. It was tasty, fresh, and filling for a January day.











The girls each split an order of the Bun Ga Cha Gio (Grilled Chicken and crispy spring roll). This was served with the same vegetables as my dish and the girls gobbled it down! I was careful with the fish sauce even though it was very mild and saw no chili pepper floating in it. This was something that held me back in knowing I wasn't eating food in Vietnam. The spice level was not there- therefore, Americanized (Lets put a very sad face here).

I don't believe they have a children's menu, but you should expect your children to dine and enjoy whatever you do- minus hot spices. Lately I've been noticing that dining, trying new foods, and practicing good manners is lacking here in the U.S.A.

If I was to rate the restaurant on 1-5 stars, I would give it 4 stars- close to excellent. I was surprised that the cooks were very sparse with ginger and Thai Chile (Actually I think it was left out all together!). We made up for this by adding the heat we enjoy with two selections of chili sauces on the table. This is probably a wise decision on behalf of the cooks, being the majority of their dinners are probably non-traveling Americans.

The reviews online posted good for: speed of order to table. I thought this very slow for a Vietnamese Restaurant, but was tolerable for an American Restaurant. The Pho houses we frequent, (which I would not dare call this a Pho house!), are usually faster than fast food!

Looking back at the bright sides of the day, we were together as family and trying a new Vietnamese Restaurant in a city we were not familiar with. It was a great find, and turned a disappointing outing into a memorable one!

Lastly I want to wish everyone a very Happy Vietnamese New Year!

Chúc mừng năm mới!!

It's my year too, I'm a Cat! (Sadly, and inevitably, it will probably be a pretty hard year for me.)

This post was submitted to a monthly blogging event: Delicious Vietnam, which challenges me to become fluent in cooking Vietnamese food for my dear, Vietnamese/American, always on the run, family. Thank you to the creators: A Food Lover's Journey, and Ravenous Couple and most of all- A Big, Big-Thank You to Mai, of Flavor Boulevard for hosting this month's event!