the littlest birds

I was reminded of this song by the Be Good Tanyas when I peered into the nest in my wreath this weekend and saw three baby birds, so young they were little pink, bald thigns with tiny necks and eyes that aren't quite open. 

It was a sight to behold for sure.  I captured a few sweet pictures, the best of which I am sharing with all of you above.  Aren't baby animals of any sort just the sweetest?

pottery class



photo via

 Today after work starts my introduction to throwing clay on a wheel.  I'm taking a six-week pottery class downtown.  I've wanted to explore pottery for a few years, so when a Groupn offering 50% off classes at a local art studio popped up in my email before Christmas last year, I jumped at the opportunity.

While I think my romantic notions of spinning may be tempered by my ability to actually throw clay, I'm still really looking forward to learning and getting my hands caked in clay.

Have you ever taken a pottery class?  Any pointers for this newbie?

before & after: camel-colored dress shoes

Several years ago, I bought these sandals.  I loved the color and thought I'd wear them with everything.  They've mostly stayed at the bottom of my closet ever since.  I pulled them out last night and decided to jazz them up a bit.

the goods

paint pen ( I chose a fine gold paint pen)
Krylon UV-resistant protective glaze
a pair of shoes

directions

pick a design you want to paint your shoe with. 
practice if needed on a piece of paper, and try to test the paint pen on a texture and color similar to the shoe (I tested mine on tan duct tape).  be sure to shake the paint pen well and test on something to get the initial globs out.
start at the heel of the shoe and move forward, painting your design.  make sure that your hand doesn't smudge what you've already painted.
repeat with other shoe.
when finished, let shoe sit and then spray the UV-resistant protective glaze evenly on the shoes.
wear your new shoes around town!

lip-smacking good: vegan carrot cake cupcakes

Carrot Cake Cupcake Chickadees

One of my favorite desserts to make is carrot cake.  I have a recipe passed down to me from my mom, who got it from my grandmother.  It is, hands down, the best carrot cake I've ever had and it never ceases to receive compliments from everyone.

I'm trying to use fewer dairy products in my baking and when I eat at home, and I wanted to attempt a healthier version of the cake and cream cheese frosting so I modified the recipe in several ways to create vegan carrot cake cupcakes for Easter this year.  While the frosting was a little less fluffy than it's non-vegan counterpart, it tasted as good and everyone was surprised when I told them (after they ate a few cupcakes) that the recipe was vegan.

cake ingredients:

1 and 1/2 C wheat flour
1 and 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup agave nectar (substituted for 1 and 1/2 cups of sugar)
3 tbsp whole ground flaxseed
7 tbsp water
1 and 1/8 C vegetable oil
1 and 1/2 C grated carrot (finely as possible)
8 and 1/4 oz can pineapple
3/4 C chopped walnuts

frosting ingredients

8 tbsp vegan butter or margerine (softened)
1 8 oz pack of vegan cream cheese
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup coconut (optional)
yellow, green and orange food coloring

To make the cake:
Mix first 5 ingredients well with mixer.
In a separate small bowl, combine flaxseed and water and stir until the mixture starts to have an egg-like consistency. 
Add flaxseed mixture and remaining ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well with spoon.
Oil cake pans and bake at 350 for approx 35 - 40 min (less time for mini muffins - check after about 20 minutes)

To make the frosting:

Mix together well with mixer.
For extra frosting to cake ratio, do one and a half this frosting recipe and you'll have plenty for the cake and some leftover :)

Enjoy!

lip-smacking good: avocado pie

avocado pie!

My friend and I got together last night for a baking extravaganza of sorts.  I'd been itching to make avocado pie since I'd found a recipe for it, so we decided to make two--one for each of our families.  This recipe couldn't be more quick or easy.  And the results were very good!  It's the perfect desert for Spring and Summer nights.


avocado/milk/lime juice blended

the goods

filling:
2 avocados
1/2 container of sweetened condensed milk ( or make your own sweetened condensed soy milk to make it vegan)
1/4 cup lime juice
3 strawberries (optional, for garnish)

crust:
20 graham crackers
3/4 c margarine (or 3/4 c vegan margarine)

directions

dice avocados and put in blender with condensed milk and lime juice. 
blend for 20 seconds

crumble graham crackers (food processor is the best for this).
in a mixing bowl, use a fork or your fingers to mix margarine with graham cracker crumbs.
in a pie dish/pan, use your hands to form a graham cracker crust.

pour avocado/milk/lime mixture into graham cracker crust and spread evenly over the crust. 
garnish with strawberries.
chill overnight.



pre-garnish



My friend and I met this morning to taste our culinary creation.  While I would recommend it more for dessert than breakfast, we both really enjoyed the slices we had.  You an taste a hint of avocado in the tangy pie, but it is not overwhelming at all.  Reminded me of a much milder key lime pie.

links for a friday

Vegan Banana Oat Cookies

Made these cookies last night

Laughed a lot at this Hilary tumbr

Realized you cannot be in a bad mood after reading this blog

Currently reading this, by the author of Everything is Illuminated and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Excited to try these braids for Spring.

Cherishing the Easter message found in these audio programs.

Happy Friday!

dusty 1, human 0

dusty's attempt at a non-violent protest

This afternoon I went home to make a smoothie for lunch.  I planned to be in and out and back to work, but dusty had other plans.  Not finding my 15-min quick lunch agreeable, he tried everything he could to keep me in the house.  When that failed, he wouldn't let me leave without him.  With my smoothie, workout gear and purse in one hand, I dragged him away from the door and into the living room countless times.  I told him to sit and stay, but he would have none of it. 

Finding it harder and harder to move him into the living room with my heels high and hands full, I opened the front door to put my stuff down on the front step.  Dusty exited and would not come back in.  When I called him, he ran to the sidewalk and plopped down.  He wouldnt budge.  I get near enough to him to be able to grab his collar and started to walk him toward the house.  He resisted and I didn't want to drag him, so I left him outside and returned to the kitchen where I could see him through the blinds. 

I decided to clean up a bit and wait for him to come to his senses and get up to come back in the house.  This never happened.  Twently minutes of cleaning and he still hadn't budged.  I knew I really needed to get back to work, so I grabbed his leash, made one more futile attempt to get him back into the apartment, and then let him come in the car with me to work.  I feel like such a pushover dog parent, and I hate that he doesn't see me as an authority (especially when he quickly changes his tune if my dad is the one demanding obedience).  He is usually pretty obedient when I am with him (when I'm not around, the things of dusty the destroyer fame tend to happen), but not today.

Are there any tips you have on getting your pet to listen to you?  Any tricks you've learned to avoid similar scenarios?  I am so in need of good ideas right now, as I would rather not have a repeat performance.