pistachio cake with pomegranate buttercream

i have been making my birthday cakes for the past several years, mainly because i really enjoy baking, but also because i'm super picky.  this year, i had no time/energy to make a cake for my birthday celebration.  luckily, ryan stepped in and saved the day!

as soon as i read this recipe, i knew i wanted it for my birthday cake.  the combination of pistachios and pomegranate was so unique and sounded delicious.  i gave ryan the original recipe (along with my list of edits) and he set to work on the cake while i was at work.  when i came home, he had created a masterpiece that was both beautiful and delicious.  everyone loved it!

pistachio cake with pomegranate buttercream

prep time: 15 minutes

baking time: 28-30 minutes

yields: one two layer 9-inch round cake (16-18 servings)

adapted from my name is yeh

cake ingredients:

1 cup unsalted pistachios

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup almond milk

1/2 cup vegetable oil

3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup water

frosting ingredients:

1 1/2 cups salted butter, softened

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons milk

1/4 cup pomegranate juice

red food coloring (optional)

directions:

preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.  grease and flour the sides of two 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper.  

to make the cake: grind the pistachios in a food processor until they are the consistency of small crumbs.  measure out 1/4 cup of the ground nuts and set them aside.  pour the remaining ground nuts into a large bowl with the flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

in the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat together the sugar, eggs, milk, oil, extracts, and water.  add in the dry ingredients and mix just until combined.  evenly divide the batter between the prepared pans.  bake for 28-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.  once baked, allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing the cakes form the pans and allowing them to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

to make the frosting: in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the butter, sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth.  measure out 1 cup of the frosting and set it aside.  add the pomegranate juice and a tiny drop of red food coloring.

to make the filling: mix the reserved frosting with the reserved ground pistachios.

enjoy!

love, laurie

behind the scenes {by ryan}

hi, everyone!  ryan here.  today laurie is turning over the reins to me and letting me share a little bit about working behind the scenes as a stage hand.  when i was in college, my concentration was technical theatre, and ever since college i have been working as a theatre technician for our local stage hands' union (in addition to my full-time day job).  as a stage hand, i get to do a variety of different things including lighting and set construction.  over the years, i have had the chance to work all sorts of shows from national broadway tours on large stages to music concerts in outdoor amphitheaters.  it's pretty cool.

over labor day weekend, i worked the 2013 honda civic tour featuring maroon 5, kelly clarkson, and rozzie crane.   (laurie loves maroon 5.  she saw them in concert with jason mraz when she was in high school.)  i was there all day long, from 7:30am to 1:00am the next morning, loading in the show, running the show, and then loading out the show.  while i was working, i got to listen to the concert from back stage and then a little bit from the front of the house too.  (at one point i was just 5 feet away from kelly clarkson.)

normally when i work concerts like this one i'm so busy working that i don't get a chance to take any pictures, but during this concert i had some time to snap a few pictures on my phone.  so, here's a glance into my view as a stage hand.  i just love all of the colors of the lights in these pictures . . .

^watching kelly clarkson perform from backstage^

^watching maroon 5 perform from the front of the house^

^a concert just wouldn't be complete without lasers^

^at one point during the concert, we threw these giant white beach balls into the audience.  each ball had a wireless transmitter inside which communicated with the light board.  as the balls were tossed around the crowd, the light board operator changed the colors of the balls.  the effect was pretty cool and people loved it.^

^my very wrinkly crew shirt and my back stage pass . . . as crew members, we get t-shirts for just about every show that we work.  the t-shirts are color coordinated to distinguish what crew we are working on for each show.  i had a blue t-shirt for this concert since i was on lighting crew.  our back stage passes are called silks.  the t-shirts and the silks are cool souvenirs from each show.  i have quite a large collection at home from all of the shows that i have worked over the years.  it's fun to look back at them and to remember the different shows.^

. . . 

over and out, 

ryan

simple chocolate ice cream {by ryan}

over the weekend, ryan made homemade chocolate ice cream for our parents who came up to visit.  (i'm telling you, he is a man of many talents!)  ryan makes the best homemade ice creams using our cuisinart ice cream maker and his simple chocolate ice cream has to be one of my all time favorites.  the deep cocoa flavor along with the soft, smooth, and creamy texture makes this ice cream a true treat.  if you don't own an ice cream maker, you seriously don't know what you're missing!  go out and get one . . . you won't regret it.

ps: ryan did all of this while i was upstairs.  it was such a nice surprise to come downstairs into the kitchen and find him making this.  the best part was that he even took pictures as he made it!  best husband ever!

simple chocolate ice cream

adapted from cuisinart
prep time: 5-10 minutes
freezing time: 25-30 minutes
yields: Approximately 14 1/2 cup servings

ingredients:
1 cup hershey’s unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups skim milk
3 1/4 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

directions:
in a large bowl combine the cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and skim milk.  whisk the ingredients together with a hand mixer on low speed for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cocoa and sugars are dissolved.  gently stir in the heavy cream and vanilla extract.  using a 2 quart ice cream maker, turn the machine on and pour the mixture into the freezer bowl.  (the freezer bowl must be already pre-frozen.)  let the mixture mix in the ice cream maker for about 25 to 30 minutes, or until thickened.  for soft and creamy ice cream, serve immediately.  for firmer ice cream, transfer the ice cream to an airtight freezer safe container and freeze for about 1 hour.

enjoy!

love, laurie 

how to: holiday centerpiece {by ryan}

when ryan was younger, he used to love making the centerpieces at his church around the holidays.  so, for christmas this year, ryan decided to make a festive centerpiece for the coffee table in our living room.  (i never knew my husband had this hidden talent!)  ryan used fresh evergreen and pine from the trees in our backyard, and we bought the rest of our supplies at michael's for just $6.29!  talk about a reasonably priced centerpiece!

for this project, you will need:
- a large plate
- small hand pruners
- fresh evergreen and/or pine
- pine cones
- dry floral foam
- water
- decorations such as holly berries, christmas ornaments, etc.

. . .

step 1: soak a piece of dry floral foam in water,
and place it in the center of your plate.

step 2: cut pieces of evergreen/pine and secure them in the foam.

step 3: continue adding layers of evergreen/pine to the foam.  

step 4: alternate with different types of greenery.

step 5: be sure to completely cover the foam with the evergreen/pine.

step 6: add pine cones and seasonal decorations

step 7: have fun cleaning up the left over branches and needles :-)

step 8: enjoy!

 happy holidays!

love, laurie and ryan

bits of happiness {by ryan}

today's holiday-themed happy list is from my husband! 

here are . . . 

ten things currently making ryan happy:

10. looking forward to christmas vacation

9. visiting friends and family for the holidays

8. christmas music . . . everywhere

7. baking desserts that make the house smell amazing

6. holiday-themed wallpaper on my iphone

5. watching christmas movies 

4. decorating with my new snowflake christmas lights
3. sipping a warm peppermint mocha latte

2. holiday-scented candles around the house

1. cuddling on cold nights

thanks for sharing ryan!
{photo of us taken at a friend's christmas party last year}

. . .

what is currently making you happy?

love, laurie