We had some great Thai take out from Sweet Basil Thai & Sushi, when we stopped in Ceder City, UT. The great flavors stuck with us, and Aaron and I both wanted Thai when we got home, so I whipped this up yesterday…and now you can too.

First, you’ll need to head to your local asian market and pick up some Yellow Curry paste, 1 can of coconut milk, fish sauce & Sweet Basil Leaves.

You will also need, 4 carrots, 2 medium sized red potatoes, 1/2 yellow onion, 2T of sugar and 1 1/2cups of chopped cooked chicken (or meat of your choice).  Dice all of your vegetables.

Place vegetables in a pot of boiling water for 7-10min, or until potatoes are tender.  Drain and set aside.  Pour coconut milk and curry paste into a large pot on medium heat.  Stir to combine.  Add 2 Tablespoons of both Fish Sauce and Sugar.  Add chicken and vegetables, mix well.  Chop up 1/2 cup of the basil leaves and add them to the curry mixture right before you serve.

Serve over rice, with chopsticks or a fork!

There is a bit of a bite to it- but its not too spicy at all.  It was really really good!  This recipe makes enough for 4 or 5 servings (hello leftovers!!!).

psst!  Just updated the recipes page- be sure to click over if you’re looking for some dinner ideas!

I made Pasta Primavera for dinner tonight.  It is easy, tasty and a great way to use your garden produce (or farmer’s market produce).  Here is the recipe, I eyeball everything, so feel free to play with it to suit your families needs.

1 red bell pepper chopped into 1″ pieces
1/2 a bunch of asparagus chopped into 1″ pieces
1/2c frozen peas
1/2c carrots, diced on the bias
2 tomatoes, diced
1/2c prepared pesto
spaghetti
Parmesan cheese
fresh basil

Bring large pot of heavily salted water to boil, add peppers, carrots, & asparagus, cook for 5-8min until crisp tender.  With slotted spoon remove vegetables and set aside.  Add spaghetti (enough to feed your family) to boiling water and cook until al dente.  About 2 min before pasta will be done add frozen peas to the pasta/water.  Drain pasta/peas and add to other cooked veggies, mix in diced tomatoes and prepared pesto.  Top with fresh basil and cheese.

The daughter has been asking for extra special fun each evening as her brother is away at Scout Camp.  Who was I to turn down her request of post dinner ice-cream cones in the back yard?!  I made sure to send the boy to camp today with some money for a popsicle, so there should be no jealousy!

I like Mondays.  It’s like a chance to stretch and start all over again.  Whatever happened last week- doesn’t matter, today is the start of a fresh new week.

I may or may not have started my fresh new week with a slice of this cake….but if I did I would have eaten it out of my hand without using a plate, because it would taste better that way.  I guess I wasn’t the only one to make a chocolate frosted cake for my husband on father’s day!  I think my husband went to bed last night feeling properly celebrated, and I enjoyed a good talk with my Dad…we “counseled” (hee hee)!

Look what my garden has produced!!  I’m hoping to harvest enough Golden Jubilee tomatoes to try a tomato pie…does anyone have a good recipe?  Or a good marinara recipe?

it is dangerous for your waist line to be my friend…. Coconut cupcakes, made with this recipe- used coconut milk instead of regular milk & whipping cream and omitted the cocoa powder.

Finished a birthday gift for one of my friends daughters.

We also bought her a fun melamine plate and sparkle cup to go with it.  I’m betting lunch will be more fun when you get your own special plate and placemat!

Now I’m off to try Jennifer’s meatball recipe!!

I tell ya, this summer thing is much easier to handle with the kids in summer classes from 8-12, four days a week!  I’ve been trying to keep them busy, but still have some fun…I think its working.

Heard “Every Body Wants To Rule The World” by Tears for Fears this morning and BAM, I was 7 years old, living in the sugar shack- wondering when the next school roller skating party was going to be & would my mom give me a dollar to by some sixlets at the rink.  Painting my nails with sheer purple sparkle nail polish to match my puff sleeved purple (similar to this) jacket.  It was a nice little trip down memory lane!

It never ceases to amaze me how powerful sounds and smells can be at triggering memories.

Seriously, this is the best cake I have EVER made.  It is a very simple recipe- and call me slow if you must- but I found the secret to making the cake spongey and soft.  Ready????

Yellow Cake

2c sifted flour (you can be fancy and use cake flour, but I used all purpose flour and it worked just fine)
2t baking powder
1/2c butter- at room temperature
1c sugar
3 eggs
3/4c milk
1t vanilla extract (use the real stuff)

Sift flour & baking powder together and set aside.  Beat butter until creamy, add sugar and mix until light & fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time -beat on medium for about a min after each egg.  Add milk & flour alternatively, a little at a time, mixing really well between.  Add vanilla, and mix on medium for a min to a min and a half.

Pour into 2 greased & floured 8″ or 9″ round pans and bake at 350 for about 28 min.  The cake is done when the center can be gently pressed down and springs back up.

For Chocolate Frosting

1/2c cocoa powder
2 1/3c powdered sugar
6T butter (at room temperature)
1/4-1/3c heavy whipping cream (milk works too)
1t vanilla.

Combine powdered sugar and cocoa powder in bowl and set aside.  Beat butter with 1/4c cocoa/sugar mix.  Add whipping cream and cocoa mixture alternatively, a little at a time, until you reach spreading consistency.  You may need to add more sugar or whipping cream to get it just right.

When cakes are cooled, frost and EAT!!

Because my friend Megan reminded me that I make really good sugar cookies.

Thanks for the reminder Megan, the recipe is here.

Rainy Sundays are for baking…

Spent the afternoon playing Monopoly with my family- until my son decided that he would rather play alone in his room with his “attitude”.  *sigh*

Evening spent in the kitchen; roast chicken, rosemary roasted potatoes, corn, home made lion house rolls & pie.

All kids are now in bed, which is where I am headed with my copy of “Great Expectations”…nothing more inviting than freshly bleached sheets & a good book.

This is what 5 looks like…

pattern to make your own crown here, just add glitter.

December 25th we celebrated my 32nd birthday, with family, sparklers, and a sour cream chocolate-raspberry cake (email me if you want the recipe)!

A few weeks ago, Santa asked me to swing by Smeeks to pick up some Block candy for the children’s stockings; while there I saw number sparklers.  I told Jaylee, if anyone asked I so wanted those on my cake this year, not candles!

My sweet friend, who I should mention is currently on crutches, sent her husband (Clint, you rock too!!) down to Smeeks minutes before they closed on the 24th to snag these sparklers for me!  She also had him grab an extra set for next year too.  Then, on Christmas afternoon she hobbled all the way to my house to deliver them to me!  Thank you Jaylee for thinking of me, and remembering, and thank you Smeeks staff for staying open an extra few minutes so my birthday cake would sparkle!