At this point, the kids are pretty low maintenance (it helps that there’s only two of them), but even so, when we learned they’d be gone on a choir trip for a couple days last week, my husband took Friday off so we could fully appreciate the silence and calm. We putzed around the house, working on our individual projects: he fixed vehicles; I made cheese and wrote. In the evenings, we made popcorn and watched Succession, and one of the mornings, I made a heaping plate of cinnamon raisin toast to go with our coffee.
And if you want to make it for yourself (you do), here’s how:
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And here’s Tuesday’s video, in case you missed it:
For awhile now, I’ve been on the lookout for an extra-large mug for hot tea. Ordinary mugs are too small — if I go to the trouble of making tea, I want it to last for a good while — and I didn’t want the bowl-like ones (two wide) or skinny tall ones that taper at the bottom (too wobbly) And then just this week I found these at the thrift store.
There was a whole selection, but I limited myself to just three. Even at thrift-store prices, they weren’t cheap (7 dollars per mug), and I didn’t know if I’d actually like drinking out of them. Plus, since they’re so big (each mug holds an ample pint), I knew I wouldn’t use them for company — I only needed one or two for myself.
Turns out, they’re fantastic and now that I see that one mug goes for 26 dollars, I’m kinda wishing I got the rest (even though I don’t actually need them).
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I’m thoroughly enjoying Suleika Jaouad’s memoir about being diagnosed with cancer as a young adult, making it through, and then figuring out how to live without the cancer. Somehow she manages to write her story in such a way that it’s moving without being depressing. (The last book I read, though, was super depressing [and so good I bought it]. I think I’m due a comedy, or at least something uplifting. Suggestions?)
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Currently, my husband and I are binging Succession. Something about the show — probably the excessive wealth — reminds me of Downton Abbey, but with cell phones and prolific cursing. (Shh, don’t tell my husband; he hates that show.) The characters are horrible, yet so human. In spite of myself, I find myself caring about them. My husband and I will sit around in the evening discussing their motives and foibles as though they’re real. (We both agree, though, that if one of them doesn’t begin to show signs of positive growth soon, we might have to give it up.) My biggest takeaway? I love my ordinary life.
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Regarding my problem with rough feet: remember that foot scraper that my mom bought for me? Well, I finally busted it out and WOW. After using it just two times, I started sleeping without socks (flannel sheets and rough feet do not a happy sleeper make), and I haven’t slept without socks for months.
I hate the feel of rasping a grater over my skin as much as the next person, but I made myself do it and it doesn’t bother me much anymore. About twice a week, right before jumping in the shower, I give my feet a good going-over. (After experimenting with using it on both wet feet and dry, I’ve decided that using the rasper on dry feet is more effective.) It only takes a few seconds and my feet feel amazing. It’s a game changer, I tell you.
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I’m still undecided about this YouTube experiment. It’s a lot of fun, and I love this medium for teaching — I enjoy sharing what I’m learning, and I like how taking videos of myself helps me shrug off my perfectionist tendencies — but it takes a lot of time, and I’m not sure who my audience is, or how much I should attempt to blend the two platforms. (I’ve read that blog readers tend to be different from YouTube viewers, so I don’t expect there to be much overlap.) For now, I’ve decided to stick with the plan: I’ll post a new video every Tuesday and Friday, and I may start sharing the videos here on the weekend — Saturday morning Murch TV, anyone? — and after a few months I’ll reevaluate.
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It’s Friday and I’m looking forward to making a massive cup of spiked hot chocolate this evening and then settling in for a couple episodes of Succession (in quick succession). Have a great weekend, friends!
Sunday, we celebrated my younger daughter’s 18th birthday (though her real birthday isn’t for another couple years — she’ll be five!). For her gift, we all went together and got her a camera, and I got her this book on photography, which I’m looking forward to reading.
Her meal requests were specific: Captain Crunch for breakfast, chef salads for lunch, and honey-baked chicken for supper. The birthday cake, though, was entirely up to me. I could make whatever I wanted, she said.
I tossed around a bunch of ideas before finally settling on a red velvet cake. It felt a little risky, though. I’ve never found a red velvet cake that I like — they usually seem dry and/or flavorless, and the bright red feels garish — but then I happened on a post in which the writer had tested a whole bunch of red velvet cakes and then shared her favorite. If she said this cake was the best, then I’d trust her — she’d done her homework, after all — and then I proceeded to knock out two batches of cake in one afternoon.
Turns out, it’s the best red velvet cake I’ve had. In fact, I think it might be my new go-to recipe for festive occasions. Something about it — the deep red color, perhaps, or maybe the kiss of chocolate — feels special. Lush, even. Seductive. Just thinking about it makes me happy.
For the filling, I went with my copycat Costco-esque cream filling — sooooo good. I worried the cream filling would sploosh out the sides of the cake — two recipes of cake, a whole heck-of-a-bunch of layers high — but I kept popping the cake in the refrigerator whenever I wasn’t working on it, and it held its shape just fine.
For the icing, I made a double batch of cream cheese frosting with a little extra butter to help it set up firmer. The frosting was too sweet: an Italian Meringue Buttercream would’ve been better, I think, but I didn’t make it because my daughter isn’t a fan.
For the decorations, just fresh strawberries and red raspberries, and I wrapped the top tier in a chocolate cage. It was my first time making one — I used this tutorial — and it was shockingly simple: minimal effort, big impact.
The cake-and-cream filling combo was my favorite part. Add in a fresh berry — heaven.
My mom asked why I don’t just ice the whole cake with the Costco filling; she might be on to something.
The recipe calls for one to two ounces red food coloring. I used one and it was perfect.
2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup buttermilk 1 cup oil ½ cup coffee 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 ounce red food coloring 1 teaspoon white vinegar
Sift together the dry ingredients in one bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Combine the two and whisk well.
Divide the batter between two greased, parchment-lined cake pans. Bake at 325 for about half an hour. Watch closely — do not overbake! Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack and removing the parchment paper.
Once the cakes are completely cool, ice and serve, or wrap the cakes in plastic and freeze for later.
