[Kinda Sorta Maybe Didn't Really] Nailed It!: This. Is. Happening.

Let me be the first (and really the only) to welcome you (back) to one of my little blogging projects. I've been doing this kind of thing on and off for about 14 years (wow, I'm old), and Hubs has been telling me I need to have more hobbies to help balance the stress level in my life. Well, I took up a new healthy lifestyle complete with veggies that Hubs doesn't care for and a workout schedule that I kinda like. Oh, and I'm no longer in grad school and I have a new work schedule that gets me off (see what I did there?) every other Monday. What up! I can say now that I have a little more time on my hands, and it is making ALL the difference!

I've said more than once that cooking/baking is the most therapeutic thing for me. It's not about eating (though that it is a nice bonus), but rather entering into my own world to create something that I can be proud of (sometimes) and share with others. It's frustratingly artistic and beautifully messy. It lets a person create using all of their senses, each taking on an important role in what just might promise to be the best part of someone else's day. I feel almost selfish when I cook for people, like it's their burden to take on the challenge of eating whatever I might put before them. I hope and sometimes even pray that they enjoy it, that it brightens even just that moment of their day because someone else created what could be an edible gift. I even revel in the challenges of cooking - the smoke alarm going off one too many times, the forgotten ingredient, the missed step, and splatter of whatever was suppose to stay in the bowl. Yes, all of these have happened to me. And if nothing else comes out of it but a burnt piece of chicken, then I have learned something.

I am addicted to Pinterest, and I have my favorite blogs I like to follow. But, it gets kind of annoying and really intimidating to see all these posts about the recipe that turned out perfectly the first time, whether they stuck to the original idea or not. Sorry, ladies, but that's not always how it happens, at least not in THIS kitchen. And I have terrible lighting in my little apartment kitchen. And I'm a novice at best with my photography skills. So, sometimes your perfect fancy French recipe with all of the ingredients from a gourmet store I can't afford to step into just isn't for me. And I want to think I'm not alone in this.

SO HERE IT IS!! My attempt to attempt some of those recipes out there, or even some I think I came up with on my own. Hope you all enjoy!

Though I don't think these posts will be terribly long all of the time, this one has to be since I'm introducing myself (oh hey, I'm Amanda) AND I obviously need a recipe to prove I'm mean business. So let's go back a few months.

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!! (You were singing Reba too, huh?)
The cake that started this idea, but still took almost 4 months to go for it.... Flag Cake!
P.S. I'm not a cake fan, but this was pretty epic.

I will not tell a lie... I used box red velvet! BUT, before you judge, please know I have this awesome recipe to make it taste like I did it from scratch. Here it is:

Step 1: Add one more egg (or add 2 if you want it to be very rich),
Step 2: Use melted butter instead of oil and double the amount,
Step 3: Instead of water, use milk.
Step 4: Mix well and bake for the time recommended on the box.

Easy, right?

This picture is the ingredients for the cheesecake layer:
Two packages of cream cheese, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
pinch of salt
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sour cream (the reduced fat kind works just fine, but really, it's cheesecake people!)
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Then the frosting:
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Two (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Mix it all up really well, or you'll end up with lumps like I did. Oops. (Still good though)

And.... POW! BAM! BOOM! FIREWORKS!!!