6.29.2014

Sweet Stuff Sunday!! Boston Cream Pie!

Ohhhhhhh, lawd. This was something I decided last minute to make due to the fact that I happened to have all the ingredients already.... I even made the vanilla pudding from scratch as well. OMG. This was definitely drool-worthy. 


  • MAKE THE FILLING FIRST! It will need 3-4 hours to set before you can put it on the cake. I made the pudding/ filling and then did some last minute cleaning at the old house for a few hours. When I got back home, I started the cake baking process, and by the time the cake had cooled, the pudding was ready! 

  • What I used for the filling:
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • Pinch of salt
  • 6 tablespoons cornstarch
  • In a medium saucepan, off heat, whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt. 

    Very gradually whisk in milk, making sure to dissolve cornstarch. 
    Whisk in egg yolks.
    Whisking constantly, cook over medium heat until the first large bubble forms and sputters. Reduce heat to low; still whisking, cook 1 minute, then remove from heat and dump in the butter and vanilla and mix well......
    Place plastic wrap or wax paper directly on surface of pudding (to prevent skin from forming) and chill at least 3 hours before you add  it to the cake....
    • What I used for the cake:
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for pan
    • 1 1/2 cups Cup 4 Cup GF flour
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 cup raw goat milk (of course you can use any milk - almond, soy, cows, rice, etc.)
    • 3 large eggs
    • 1 cup sugar
    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. 
    Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; set over very low heat. 
    With an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar on high speed until thick, lightened in color, and mixture holds a trail for several seconds when beater is lifted, 4 to 5 minutes.

    Gradually whisk in dry ingredients just until incorporated.
    Bring milk and butter to a boil. With mixer on low speed, add hot milk mixture to batter; mix just until smooth. Mix in vanilla; transfer batter to prepared pan, and smooth top. (I forgot to take pics of this part, so enjoy my eggshells and lovely new kitchen for a moment...)

    Bake until golden and pulling away from sides of pan, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cake 10 minutes in pan; remove from pan, and transfer to a rack to cool, right side up.
    With a serrated knife, split cooled cake horizontally (leave top half on rack).
     Spread bottom half with only about half of the vanilla pudding within 1/2 inch of edge; gently place top half of cake on pudding layer.

    Now, make the chocolate glaze..... 
    • What I used for the topping:

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • In a small saucepan, bring heavy cream to a boil. Remove from heat, and add chocolate; stir until smooth.  Let glaze cool to room temperature and thicken slightly, about 10 minutes. When glaze has thickened, pour over filled cake. Let set for about 20 minutes and then enjoy! 



    6.28.2014

    Saturday Snapshots....................

    Baby has pretty much gotten over her fear of Spirulina (the new kitten), and they snuggle together at night and the kitten cries her heart out when Baby is not in sight.... they have become inseparable.....

    ....and Baby LOVES having a little friend in the house!! There is a good chance that this barn kitten may very well be more inside than out ;)
    Rarely do I get a clear picture of her inside.....
    Most turn out like this........
    ....and this.....
    The goats and chickens are still at the other location while I am working on fencing the field, building a coop and erecting a small barn for the critters. Since there is no garden this year at the other place, I have been letting them clean up the overgrowth in there!
    It's funny, I open the gate for them to go into the garden, and they act as if they are getting away with something they aren't supposed to be doing..... Normally they beg for attention, but they don't dare to come near me in here... Pretty sure they think I will try to make them go back to their field!
    Here, Ellen is pushing down the privet for Misty. Yay for teamwork!!!
    I will never get tired of goats standing on two legs. 
    EVER. Eli is a good seven feet tall when he stands on two legs - maybe even taller!!
    My sweet sweet Ellie...... When she is in the mood for hugs, she won't leave you alone until she gets them!









    The sheep will stay behind since they were here when I got to the location that was 'the acre'..... I'm sure they will be glad to not have to deal with the ol' bully Eli anymore! 
    Baby got to play with Dale at the 'acre' - she does love her Dale-time!! 

    You'll be where you are supposed to be soon!! I have dreamed for three years of being able to sip coffee from my porch all while looking at my little herd of critters and it is finally coming to fruition..... I still have to pinch myself from time to time to make sure this is really happening... that I made it happen... I manifested this dream into my reality.... and I cannot wait for it to all come together!!! Life. Is. Good. 

    6.20.2014

    Frugal Fashionable FRIDAY!!!!

    I threw this outfit together yesterday morning before work. I had almost forgotten about a lot of my clothes because at the other house because I was unable to see them all due to the fact they were so tightly crammed into a tiny closet. The new house is a whole other story - I can see everything I own! I am in heaven! The next few weeks, the posts will be limited due to my trying to get the land ready for the critters, but hopefully by the end of July (at the latest), the blog will be back to its daily posts.... for now, enjoy this "Worn" piece! Have a great weekend, y'all!!





    Shirt:
    Thrifted and altered about 20 years go! This was a dress originally and it came from the 'mound of clothing' pile that used to be in the processing room at the old Potters House.
    Skirt:
    Thrifted, Salvation Army, $5
    Sash:
    Thrifted - it is actually from a square dancing dress I recently acquired!
    Boots:
    These are either from Delia's or Alloy from a few years back.

    6.11.2014

    Pictures from this eve......

    Wow! The clouds this evening were AMAZING!!! Baby and I played in the yard and then drove out to the farm before dark.... I can't wait until I have my babies at my house and no longer have to take that drive, but today, the clouds made the drive well worth it!!


     This was still from the house - this is my view from the front porch.....
     ...the dirt road in front of our house......
     ....the pasture across the road...
     .....on the way to the farm....



     ....and the pink clouds above the farm! Wow!!!