Foodie Friday: Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

I made this coffee cake last weekend when my parents were visiting. I got the recipe from "The Taste of Home Cookbook." The only bad part is that it is all gone now. Oh well, on to the next recipe!!

Ingredients:
-2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
-3/4 c. sugar
-3/4 c. cold butter
-1/2 t. baking powder
-1/2 t. baking soda
-1/2 t. salt
-3/4 c. sour cream
-1 egg, beaten
-1 1/2 t. almond extract

FILLING:
-1 pkg. cream cheese softened
-1/2 c. sugar
-1 egg
-1/2 c. raspberry jam
-1/2 c. slivered almonds

1) In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Remove 1 c. and set aside. To remaining crumbs, add baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the sour cream, egg and almond extract. Mix well.
2) Spread in the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan.
3) For the filling, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and egg until blended. Pour over batter; spoon raspberry jam on top. Sprinkle with almonds and reserved crumbs.
4) Bake at 350 for 55-60 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes. Carefully run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen; remove sides from pan.

**Every time I typed raspberry I thought rasp-berry in my head. Is this odd?**

Nesting Part I

I wasn't sure if I bought into the whole "nesting" concept before I was in the final months of my pregnancy. However, looking at what we have all accomplished on the house recently, I would say there is some truth to thought. Some of these changes were needed to accommodate the baby, but it is sure nice to have the house shaping up because of it.

I had some additional plans for the downstairs living room once the craft area was completed. It is still a work in progress, but it is starting to shape up. We moved the two twin beds from the downstairs bedrooms into the corner to make a daybed area. (The futon was moved into the office as a double bed for guests.) I made fitted covers and dust ruffles for the beds and will be covering some pillows to make the beds more "daybed-ish." (The two pillows that are already on the beds are from Hobby Lobby. They were in the 90 percent off section and I couldn't resist.)

We painted above the knee wall the same green as the craft area. The plan is to decorate this area with all of my shabby chic items. I have always liked this style and have accumulated quite a stash of decorating objects. We hadn't really found a spot for any of it in the new house, so, I figured that this would be the perfect room for it. (That way it isn't too girly all over the house.) So far I have just gotten everything out that could work down there. I will have to decide what I want out and what should be put away. All of it would be a bit much. (You can see some of it on the ledge.) I will have to post more pictures as it comes together.

I also am still working on wading through all of the stuff that we own and don't really need that is being stored downstairs. I took a large load to the thrift store yesterday. It feels so good to cleanse our life of unnecessary stuff. I could go on with this subject, but perhaps I will save that for another post.

Up next, the master bedroom.

New Room for New Little One

Since it takes a baby over nine months to grow and mature before it is ready to live outside of the womb, why should it take any less time to prepare their room? And, if their room is all ready to welcome them, shouldn't they come out to see it? Some deep thoughts for you on this Tuesday morning.

My parents were here this past weekend and brought with them the finishing touch for the nursery, a beautiful, hand crafted crib. (When we first told them that we were expecting, my dad asked if he could make the crib for us. Who could say no to something like that? And with kit in hand, he created an heirloom sure to last generations in our family.)

Something so special and lovingly made deserves another shot, don't you think?

And with the crib in place, the remainder of our nursery fell into place as well. Here is the closet all stocked and ready for baby. (Look at all of that yellow and green!! You would think that I root for THAT team, but I don't.)

And the curtains that I thought were crossed off of the to-do list so long ago, but took several tries to get just right. Ah, it is good to have them done. (Oh wait, I still have to finish the tie backs. Well, someday . . .)

And the corner with the crate/shelves and dresser/changing table.

Now all we need is the baby, right?

A New Title in Life

Stay-at-home-mom. This will be my new position in life for the foreseeable future. Obviously, it hasn't completely sunk in yet, but I am looking forward to opening this new chapter in life.

I handed the reigns completely over to the new preschool teacher this week. I said good bye to "my kids" at the end of last week. There was only one in tears (and it wasn't me) so that was a good thing. Over the past week the preschoolers have already bonded with their new teacher and it makes me feel good knowing that they are in capable hands. I was even able to prolong the good byes by saying that I would try to make it back for graduation. (I don't do final good byes very well. This is my way of coping.)

This is one of the gifts that I received on my last day. It makes me smile every time that I see it.


And now the waiting can truly begin.

Foodie Friday: Buffalo Chicken Soup

If you haven't guessed by now, I really like making buffalo chicken recipes. (See here and here.) When I got this recipe emailed to me through the Better Homes and Gardens daily recipe, I knew I would have to try it. And we were sure glad that we did!

Ingredients:

-2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and chopped into bite sized pieces

-2 T butter

-1/2 c. finely chopped celery

-1/2 c. chopped onions

-28 oz. chicken broth

-1 1/2 c. milk

-1 t. hot pepper sauce

-1 1/2 c. mozzarella

-1 1/4 c. crumbled blue cheese

-1/2 c. Parmesan

-1/3 c. flour

Melt butter in large pan. Add onion and celery and cook until tender. Stir in broth, milk, and 1 t. hot pepper sauce. Slowly whisk in flour until blended. Slowly add cheeses and mix well. Add chopped chicken and heat through.