Going Green...ish

When you think of Texas, images that typically come to mind are of cowboys, gigantic gas guzzling vehicles, hormone induced giant plates of BBQ, and George Bush.  Hippies, endless bike paths and pedestrian trails, naturally grown local food, and Al Gore enthusiast are usually at the lower end of the spectrum.  While the state has one of the most recognizable slogans for keeping Mother Earth clean (Don’t Mess With Texas) it doesn’t get credit for being pro Green.

This time next year, we will be moving to Texas in hopes of being settled for more than a 3 year commitment.  My husband, a Texas boy who goes by the motto “I wasn’t born in Texas but I got there as quick as I could”, was offered an amazing opportunity near his home town.  We’ll be saying Auf Wiedersehen to Germany and the military and Howdy Ya’ll to Fort Worth Texas.  I’m looking forward to this new adventure not only because I adore Fort Worth (the art scene is amazing) and I’m blessed to have amazing In-laws that will be in the area, but also because we get to buy our first home.

Actually, we aren’t just buying, we’re building.

With building comes designing which is something I’m crazy passionate about.  My roommate in college once asked if the only reason I would want to own a home was to be able to decorate it (this was after the umpteenth time I rearranged our apartment).  She was absolutely right though.  No more restrictions of painting, adding appliances that makes life a bit more convenient,  and second guessing adding shelving that may or may not leave more than a nail hole size in the wall.   I get to play interior designer.

A trend that I’m very interested in now is Green Design.  Like many people, I’m always trying to be a good patron of the Earth… in moderation.  I am diligent about recycling, I buy local and fresh when possible, I used canvas market bags, I prefer the natural light to artificial, I use “green” cleaning products, wash all of my clothes in cold water, among other things.  Of course, I haven’t completely converted my lifestyle.  I didn't get on the cloth diaper band wagon for our first child and I just traded in my moderate size crossover for a larger SUV which was not very green…I do intend to do a lot of carpooling though.  Every little bit helps and I’m always looking for more ways to improve.  

When building a house, you get to start from scratch.   I can implement my passion for interior design and green living into one project.  Everything we do can not only help the environment but also save us money in the long run.   One of our inspirations is The 2011 HGTVGreen Home.  It could have very well been built with my husband and me in mind.  The clean cut German-esq modern lines, the rich colors of yellows and slate, the gourmet kitchen.  It was enough to make me want to pack my bags and move to Stapleton, CO right then and there.  

Of course, we are finding that we don’t need a full design team to make a Greener life.  We also found small steps can make a big improvement.  There are endless tips and ideas to make your space a little greener while also saving you money.  Here are a few links we’ll be using to assist us in the process.

http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/green_building/

http://www.dreeshomes.com/energystar

http://www.thedailygreen.com/going-green/

http://www.hgtv.com/green-home/index.html

On Saturday we’ll be heading to Texas to visit family and to also start looking at properties.  Over the course of the next year, I’ll share with you the process of building our home, Green improvements we decide on, and fun design ideas we come up with.   I would love any insight and tips you have for a Greener Life and I hope to share some new ideas along the way.

Champagne with Raspberry Cupcakes

I love the story of how I met my friend Britney.  It’s one those “it’s such a small world” moments.  Britney had posted an ad for her babysitting services on our Wiesbaden military community Craigslist-esq site.  I was in the market for a babysitter and inquired.  Of course, being the cautious mommy I was, I went to Facebook to see if I could get an impression of her before we met.  Turns out we have a mutual friend.  Not a mutual friend here in Wiesbaden but a mutual friend from Iowa.  We both contacted our mutual friend Emily and soon discovered that we grew up in the same town, went rival high schools and were a year apart.  Even crazier she now she lives directly across the street from my Stairwell 10 in Stairwell 9 with the same apartment number 1.  Weird.

 

We arranged to meet and I knew I would either have a new babysitter or a new friend.  My attitude was in “mom” mode when we met just in case it turned out to be the former.  She came by, I had Sesame Street music on in the back ground and I offered her a cup of coffee or tea like the good Southern Girl I was raised.  After chatting with her a bit and reminiscing about good ol’ Des Moines, I felt that I set the stage all wrong.  Instead of Sesame Street and Tea, I felt like turning on some 80’s dance music and popping open a bottle of champagne.  Not because we are alcoholics wanting to drink at 10 in the morning, but because she is that much fun.  I liked her immediatly.  

Britney has this bubbly, rock star, but genuine personality.  Her business profile for BB Design Photography, states “there is glitter in my veins”.  She has a passion for all things creative and makes things that I wouldn’t be shocked to see at a local boutique.    We share interests in photography, design, Audrey Hepburn, Glee, among other things yet our personalities are very different.  While I can’t say the same for her, I adore her Summer Brights personality to my Autumn Neutrals.  

When Brittney sent out invitations for a house warming party with a request to bring something delicious, I had a mini panic attack.   I wanted to bring something tasty yet something that reflected her.  I searched the biggest recipe box known to man (Google) and combined a few different recipes to create this fabulous. sparkly, and bubbly creation below.   Serve these with a bottle of champagne on your next girls’ night in… and don’t forget the glitter.

Champagne with Raspberry Cupcakes

1 Box White Cake Mix

1 ¼ cup Champagne (cheap is fine, save the Dom Perigon for drinking)

1/3 cup Canola Oil

3 Egg Whites

2 tbsp Seedless Raspberry Preserves

Champagne and Raspberry Frosting

1 cup butter at room temperature

6 TBSP Raspberry Preserves

4 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup Champagne

Heat oven to 325F.  Place cupcake liners in regular size muffin tins.

In a large bowl, mix cake mix and champagne.  Add oil, eggs, and raspberry.  Use and electric mixer and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Divide evenly into muffin cups.  Bake about 20 minutes turning halfway through for more even cooking.  Cool for about 10 minutes and remove from pan to cool completely before frosting.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to cream butter and raspberry preserve to a smooth consistency.  Add champagne, mix, and then add powder sugar one cup at a time.  Beat with mixer until smooth*

Put frosting in a bakers bag or large ziplock bag with the end snipped off and frost cupcakes.  Add pink sugar, silver glitter sprinkles, pearls, and a raspberry garnish.  Enjoy!

*The raspberry preserves seemed to separate slightly from the frosting bind.  I’m not sure if this was the cause but I discovered that the preserves I used were “sugar free” and made with Splenda.  While it didn’t affect the taste and added a neat shimmery appearance, I’ll use 100% raspberry preserves next time.

Simply Beautiful Cakes

I have a new hobby.  I bake cakes.  Actually, no, it’s more than that.   I bake cakes, make them look pretty, photograph them, and spend the next week eating them.  It would be a regular hobby if I didn’t spend the following week cursing myself as I stare furiously at the scale’s proclamation of a few unwelcomed pounds.  *sigh* Such is life.

Anyway, I bake cakes.  Nothing fancy, but I add just a simple additional touch.  I do have a friend who creates masterpieces with cakes and should really start baking more and blogging about them so that she can market herself and eventually open up her own business…ahem, Tammy.   

Regardless, despite the simplicity of it, it did not come naturally for me.  I’ve had quite a few cake (and pies and cookies and…) disasters.  There was the You Might As Well Be Sucking on a Lime, Key Lime Pie, the Shredded Carrot Mash Adhered by a Cake Texture, Carrot Cake, and of course my infamous Three Tries Is Not a Charm, Resorted to a Box Mix, Forgot an Essential(very expensive) Ingredient and The Homemade Icing Hurt your Teeth, Chocolate Cake.  My poor husband was the recipient of all of these disasters (two birthdays and a Valentine’s Day).  It’s the thought that counts, right?!

You can imagine my excitement when YouTube became popular and professionals would actually have a tutorial on how to make cakes look pretty AND taste good.  The whole crumb layer thing was pure genius.  Even better, was April 2011 issue of Real Simple had an article on how to make and decorate cakes like pros…simply.   I loved this magazine before, but I so love it even more now!

I would practice here and there for special occasions and was amazed at how easy it was and how much better I got at decorating.  I even found a solution to the cake itself.  As another equally inspiring friend told me, “why mess with something that’s been perfected”.  So yes, I use good Ol’ Betty Crocker to assist me in the kitchen…for most recipes anyway.  There is just no substitute to homemade carrot cake (as long as you follow the directions of course).  More on that another time though.

My icing is usually homemade and has been (almost) perfected.  One ingredient that I love right now is Mascarpone.  It’s a less tangy, creamier and more decedent cream cheese.   It’s fabulous and simple. It's so fabulous that I had to write a post about my new found hobby just so I could share with you.  Loe and behold, below are a few recipes that I’ve adapted to make a simply fabulous icing.  Remember, simple really does go a long way.  Enjoy.

Mascarpone Cream Frosting

Adapted from JustJENN

8 oz Mascarpone

½ cup Confectioner’s Sugar (I like a little less than recommended)

Pinch of Salt

1 TBSP Vanilla Extract (I like a little more than recommended)

1 ½ Cup Whipping Cream

“In a medium bowl combine mascarpone cheese, sugar, salt and vanilla. Stir together until smooth, and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer beat whipping cream until stiff peaks form – don’t overdo it, the last thing you want is for it to curdle. Then fold the whipped cream, into the mascarpone mixture until combined. If you get it just right, you will get a nice sweet fluffy frosting.”

Independence Day Cake: Lemon Cake with Mascarpone Cream Frosting, Topped with Fresh Strawberries and Blueberries

Chocolate Mascarpone Icing

Adapted from Real Simple’s Chocolate Sour Cream Icing

12 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature.

2 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar

1 cup Mascapone

Pinch of Salt

Preparations As Directed by Dawn Perry:

1. “Heat the chocolate in a double boiler or medium heatproof bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water, stirring often, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and let cool, 10 to 15 minutes.”
2. “Using an electric mixer, beat the butter on high until light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the sugar and beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the chocolate, sour cream, and salt and beat to combine.”

Yellow Cake with Strawberry filling topped with Chocolate Mascapone Icing and Fresh Straweberries