Noah's on ICE!

Yes, it was Noah's first skating lesson. I can't believe my big boy is learning to skate, while mommy still can't skate at all yet. Well he did not really skate during his first lesson, it would have been a dream come true if my little boy can just skate beautifully like a pro...

Realistically it didn't happen that way. He just cried his lung out throughout the lesson! It wouldn't be that bad if it wasn't because of that little boy that was in front of him crying out so loudly, and that freaked him out after seeing that other boy cries.

Anyway he didn't miss too much out, as you can see, most of the other kids are just crawling around like babies. Mine is just a lot smaller than the other babies. We'll just have to try again next week, hopefully he won't cry again.... and maybe.. just maybe he can start standing up.. walking... and finally skate!

 Just need one step at a time, so he can play hockey..that's what he has been telling everybody, he wants to play hockey...Mommy's proud of her little boy who is not even 3 years old yet.. perhaps he'll be a NHL player in the future, well he is already NHL.. that's his name.

Used clothes anyone?

Today I did something good, I think. I gave away all Noah's used clothes, and donated the rest to somebody who I do not even know. There's a lot of people out there who doesn't have money to buy baby clothes. So I thought, instead of giving them to Value Village or Goodwill, I might as well give it directly to those who needs them. If they really do not have money, they won't have money to buy it from those used clothing stores anyway, they will still need to pay for it. I hope I did the right thing, gave it to the people who really need it, not just any greedy people who fake it.

Most of all, I am happy to get rid of the stuff, we have too many stuff in the house. As what hubby always said, when you have less things in the house, you'll have  less mess too. I guess he is right. I am very tired of cleaning up after the kids everyday, all the time. I need a vacation!

Banana Layer Cake

My mother in law made this cake for our wedding. It was one of the best cakes I ever had. The middle part is filled with bananas and icing. It tasted so good. It was the only type of cake hubby will eat too ( except now that he likes carrot cakes too ). I made some banana cakes last couple weeks, it freezes well in the freezer, it only takes a couple hours to defrost.

Here's the recipe for the Banana Layer Cake;

1 lb butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
2 cups mashed bananas (4)
3 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup 2 Tbs milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Cream butter and sugar
2. Add eggs one at a time, add bananas and mix thoroughly
3. Mix in dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. Add milk and vanilla, mix
4. Pour into 2 greased spring form pans
5. Bake at 350 for 40 mins or until the toothpick come out clean after inserting it in the middle
6. When cool divide each cakes into 2 layers. Spread with cream cheese icing and a layer of sliced bananas
Put layers together and ice

Shortbread Cookies

Shortbread Cookies

This is a very simple shortbread recipe I've got from my neighbor. I love how it is not too sweet, and it's egg-less too. It is so soft that it melts in your mouth

Here's the recipe;

1 cup butter

1/2 cup Icing sugar

2 cups flour

Just put it in the mixer and bake at 350 until they turn golden brown, about 15-20 mins.

My friend's son turned 4 and his mommy requested for Cars cookies so I made some cars cookies as a gift. I tried to make a cookie bouquet at first but it didn't work as the cookies were too soft and heavy, so I make a cookie basket gift instead.

Icing and Frosting

Cream Cheese Icing Recipe for my Banana Layer Cake

6 oz cream cheese

4 tsp vanilla

3 cup icing sugar

1/2 lb butter

If you prefer less sugar you can try this Cream Cheese Frosting II from allrecipe

2x 8 oz cream cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla

 Buttercream Recipe that I got it from Allrecipe, a little modified

1 cup softened butter

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups icing sugar

2 tbs milk

Icing for my cookies

1 cup icing sugar

2tsp milk

2tsp corn syrup

1/2tsp vanilla or almond extract

Carrot Cake

Carrots were on special this week, I bought a 10 lbs of carrots for $2! What else? I started looking for recipes to make this carrot cake. After looking through a bunch of recipes on Allrecipe.com, I finally found something I that like and modified it, my version. Turn out to be very nice. Hubby usually doesn't like to eat any other cakes, other than his banana cake, but he likes this one too.. If he said it's really nice.. it must be REALLY NICE!

So I made these cake, and cut them into 4 from the square pans, and also a 2 small springform pans I got from Walmart. I thought this is a better size to give away to my neighbours. I promised to let them try my cake. Noah and I took these cakes to the neighbours, and while we were there, Noah asked for donations for his Skating club, he has to sell raffle tickets at this age.. ghheee... they sure start them early. I do not want to just ask for donation so I thought giving them back something will not be so awkward, and everybody is a winner in this sense.

Anyway here's my recipe, it's simple yet it's so moist;

1 3/4 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 cups grated carrots, well packed
1/2 cups chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix the sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and oil together
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time
4. Stir in the carrots and walnuts
5. Put in a springform pan, or any cake pans.... 1 hour + for the bigger pan, if you divide into 2 pans then about 40 mins +. Just check if from time to time because everybody's oven is a bit different.

Use a satay stick or tooth pick ( if it's long enough ) to insert into the middle of the cake. It should come out clean, then you can take it out.

Put it on the wire rack to cool for 10 mins, remove it from the pan and cool it on the wire rack again until it's not warm anymore

Cut it into 2 and freeze it before icing the cake, that's what I learned from my class. Will share more tips about icing the cake in my next blog.

My Angels

Wow, I couldn't believe it has been 9 months since my last post! I know.. I am slacking here but I have my every reason. I have been busy of course. I'm now a mother of 2, Noah is going to be 3 soon, and Kiana's almost 7 months old. I've been told that we have a millionaire family... or something like that. Everybody seems to be envious of my life. Well, here's my story.

Kiana did not born premature as her brother did. She was actually born on Valentine's Day. What a beautiful day to be born. She did look a little mad when she was a newborn but she is now a very happy baby. It wasn't easy to push her out as she was huge!

 Fortunately Noah gets along very well with his baby sister. That's the big question everybody been asking anyway. He is very helpful and loves to play with her, ALL the time. Just have to watch them because he doesn't know how to be very gentle, yet.

 Everybody keeps telling me how lucky I am and I should make more kids, I've given all the baby clothes away, I know it's early to give them away but I need to make more space and declutter. Kiana is so lucky to receive so many gifts from everybody that I do not need to use any of Noah's clothes.

 I am so glad that I have a beautiful daughter and son now. They do keep my days busy, very busy. I love dressing her up, as you can see in the pictures. It's so much fun. And she is such a happy baby, so content playing by herself. It's such a big difference from my big boy, who still seeks attention all the time now.

Kiana started eating since she was 4 months old. She loves to eat. I think she wants to grow up as fast as possible so she can join her big brother. She loves to put anything in her mouth.

 I'm now into baking cakes. I've took a short 4 days course to learn how decorate the cake. Made this banana cake for her 6 months old. I will share more recipes in the future.

 Kiana loves music.She can pull herself up to sitting position since 2 weeks ago, and started rolling since 3 months old! She is also going to be a model, as what the doctor jokingly said, because she is tall.

 Noah loves playing with his sister. Noah loves doing anything with his sister. He loves sharing his food with his sister too, and I have to watch what he shares. Noah goes to school now, that explain why I am blogging again. He's going 3 times a week this month and more next month. I'm going to have more time to do things that I wanted to do, or just spend more time with my little princess.

I take Kiana to the Early Years Centre or to the park after sending Noah to school. She loves going out so much, we have to enjoy the nice weather before winter comes. Well, that's about what happened for the past 9 months, been busy with my new life, my 2 beautiful angels, and guests that came and visit now and then.

More updates in the future!