These bunny cakes were a long undertaking. It’s a Paula Deen recipe for vanilla cupcakes with buttercream icing and then, of course, massive amounts of decorating. At least for me. Maybe massive is an overstatement. Whatever. When at the end of making “from scratch” icing and cupcakes one wonders “What’s so bad about those box mixes anyway?” But, the girl scouts and their parents enjoyed them so it was ever so gratifying ultimately.
I’ve decided that figs are my new favorite fruit. I tried them for the first time at a friends house when she sliced them and put them on top of a piece of camembert cheese. Wow. So today I made a grilled cheese sandwich using cinnamon raisin bread, crumbly goat cheese with herbs, and fig preserves. Wow again. Very happy. :)
For dinner, I made something out of Jamie Oliver’s newest cookbook. There was chicken pie with mushrooms and scallions, mashed carrots, and a dish with peas and romaine lettuce. While the kids weren’t interested in any veg (except Ev who did try the peas) they seemed to really like the pie and it felt really good sit around the table and watch all of them eat and know it was good stuff. For dessert there was a mix of strawberries and blueberries, shortbread cookies, and whipped cream that I whipped with my bare hands. Well, I used a mixer…with my bare hands. But, oh yeah! It was amazing. Tossed in some mint and it was double that.
So, I had a bunch of different kinds of cabbages, onions, and leftover won ton wrappers and I thought, “What am I going to do with this stuff?” I found a recipe of Guy Fieri’s called Waka Waka Salad. It calls for Ramen noodles, too. Uncooked. I am a fan of using these noodles in anything and Guy is giving me permission? Yes!!! The dressing calls for canola oil and red wine vinegar of which I had none. So I substituted sunflower oil and balsamic vinegar and it was good. It’s possible that I committed some kind of culinary faux pas. I’m over feeling guilty about substitutions in recipes. It used to really bother me…”It’s not authentic!” I would scream inside my head. It was a rough journey but I have found peace now and freely throw random things in my dishes. Except peanuts. I mean, come on. I have to draw the line somewhere. Ommmmmm
Dinner was pretty on a plate and it was only after it had been demolished that I went “Oh, crap, I should have taken a picture of that.” It was pasta shells with mozzarella (simple enough) but add a side of baby spinach salad with sliced strawberries and sunflower seeds and the effect was gorgeousness. You’ll have to just take my word for it. 
Since BJ’s kimchee has been in the works for a while we decided to go all out. Picked up sushi from the store. Someday will be brave enough to make myself. Someday. Fried up some jalapeno egg rolls (filled with cream cheese and corn) and collard green wontons (a mixture of chopped up collards, bacon, and cream cheese). BJ made his signature deviled eggs but with a twist…chicks peeping out of their shells. Almost too cute to eat!