My first ever -

*edited @ 8:09pm to add final picture*

Daring Bakers challenge is completed!! I actually finished it yesterday, but because of the surgery and what-not it's taken me awhile to get the pictures up and posted.

The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession.

my final picture - 100% wonderful and truly heaven on a dessert plate!

This was a wonderful challenge with so many great aspects to it. First we had to make the mascarpone cheese, the ladyfingers, and the zabaglione from scratch, then put it all together to create this wonderful dessert. I didn't stray too much from the recipe that was given to us. The only change I made was instead of the wine, I used Godiva chocolate liquor...YUM, and I added a little chocolate syrup to my espresso that was used to dip the ladyfingers in.

Because I've not been feeling so hot, I have yet to taste mine, but I'm hoping by tonight that will change. I will also come back to post pictures of the complete project once we cut into it and top with chocolate! YUM. But for now, here are some of my pictures.

The Ladyfingers - before and after
all the stuff that goes into the cream mixture
The liquor was used in the zabaglione and the chocolate will be shaved to go on the top of the dessert tonight before we eat it.
finished and ready to go into the fridge to chill overnight.

So there you have it, my completed challenge. This one was a tough one for me, but I'm glad I got it done, despite the whole surgery thing... Also, if you are interested in the recipe you can check it out HERE (just click on the link).

Thanks Aparna and Deeba for this wonderful challenge!!

recovery - schmuvery

Okay, well I'm not quite sure if I spelled my made up word (schmuvery) right, but it's supposed to rhyme with recovery...so there you have it.

I'm stuck in my house, in bed and it's not fun. I had to have a minor surgery yesterday to go in and fix some things that never healed right after my two c-sections, and so today I'm supposed to take it easy and get lots of rest. If you know me, this is not how I like to roll, but I also don't want to rip something open... The good news is that by tomorrow I can resume normal activity as I feel up to it.

However, I am using this time to get caught up on lots of things. Like...I updated both my KPP website and blog, so if you want to check those out you should. Kelly Powell Photography. I have also made grocery lists, planned meals, read books, and caught up on all sorts of computer things that I never seem to have time to do.

And now, I am going to post about the most delicious pancakes in the world that I made for my kiddos last week. We actually had these for dinner because the hubs was out of town and that's what they were asking for, but they make a perfect weekend breakfast as well!! I think I may have actually posted about these before, and if so I apologize.

Banana Sour Cream Pancakes
Recipe found : HERE

Just take a look at this yummy-ness

So good - take my advice and make these SOON!!

Okay, well I'll be back tomorrow. I have a special baking post to do, but it won't be ready until tomorrow when I can move around again. Hope you all are enjoying your weekend.

I've returned.

EDITED: I started this post LAST week, but as usual got behind. I had a few photo shoots this weekend (yippeee) so I had to post-pone the blogging. I can only squeeze in so much time in front of a computer! Anyway...enough rambling.

I finished the books. Two weeks, 4 books and 2,444 (yes I counted) pages later I am done. I'm glad it only took two weeks because things were getting pretty neglected around here. If my kids were sleeping, I was reading. The books were good...I'm not going to go all out and say that it was the best thing ever, and that I just couldn't get enough, but it was entertaining at least. The last one was my favorite...but I suppose I couldn't have just read that one because I would have been pretty lost. Oh well. So yea, if you're looking for something mindless and fun to read - that's a good one.

So, as promised here are a few pictures from my trip to Hawaii. It was a ton of fun, and so nice to get away with the hubby for a week. Even though he had to work, it was still great to spend time together after he got back. I did lots of fun things during the day while he was gone - my favorite thing to do was lay out at the ocean and read...I did this a lot. And second to that would be my morning run followed by a nice cup of coffee that I didn't have to prepare myself...ahhhh bliss.

But I also got out to see some sights, went whale watching, hiked up diamond head, and ate...and ate some more. So much good fish/seafood, I couldn't get enough. Kevin, we went to Dukes and I had the Ahi Tuna and it was as you said, AMAZING. I could have gone back every night just for that!! We also went to eggs n' things which was really yummy and had a date night at Orchids. The view at that place is incredible - so thank you thank you for all the great tips!!

Here are a few pictures - there are more up on my facebook account, so for those of you that are friends with me on there, you can always check them out if you haven't already.

This was the view from our balcony at the hotel - beautiful. We actually had two huge windows in our room. This one you can see looked over the ocean, and the other had a pretty view of some mountains and such.

First night after arriving. Enjoying the warm sun and a walk on the beach!
Pictures from my whale watching cruise. This is a mama and her little baby. So sweet. We followed these two around for a good while then took off to find some more.

Baby fluke

Me up on the top of Diamond Head. It was a fun hike and a nice way to get some exercise in that morning. The view is beautiful.
also up on Diamond Head - I love the light coming through the clouds on this one. I could have stayed up there all day.
Again - DH picture...I promise this is the last one.
One of the many many turtles I saw on my submarine ride - so much fun.
The last thing we did on our trip was a visit to the Arizona Memorial. I had been before a few years back before we were married, but the hubs really wanted to go see it, so we went. It's a very humbling experience and makes you very thankful for those that serve to keep us safe.

Alright, well this is a short update I know - I need to get back into my routine with blogging! Alright folks...I have to run. Tuesdays are busy days for us, so I should get a move on. Catch y'all later!

A whole lotta Mezze

Before I get too ahead of myself - I have joined up with the Daring Kitchen (both cooks and bakers) and the following is my first ever cooks challenge. I'll explain more later but for now...

The 2010 February Daring COOKs challenge was hosted by Michele of Veggie Num Nums. Michele chose to challenge everyone to make mezze based on various recipes from Claudia Roden, Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Dugid.

This challenge was a blast. I had so much fun. Great choice Michele!! Not only are the hubs and I huge fans of Middle Eastern food, but I was excited to try my hand at making two of my favorite things. Pitas and Hummus - from scratch! For the challenge the only two requirements were that we make pita bread and hummus and the rest we were able to play around with. For those of you that are like me and have no idea what a "mezze" is - think heavy appetizer kind of meal - similar to Spanish tapas. The first thing I did was tackle the pita bread a day ahead just in-case things didn't work out and I had to start over. Thankfully everything went off without a hitch.

Dough rising - I used a combination of wheat and white flour.
Ready to be rolled out
Fresh out of the oven

I have never made fresh bread before - other than my cinnamon rolls - and all I can say is WOW. Coming out of the oven this stuff was amazing!! My big kid could not get enough samples as I was pulling them out and was super cute announcing that "Mommy...it's just like we have a bakery in our kitchen". He was so excited, but then again I think bread is his favorite food ever!

Next up was the hummus. I followed our recipe, but instead of tahini (which I couldn't find and didn't want to really go on a hunt for) I used almond butter, and I also added some sun dried tomatoes to mine because I had them and needed to use them for something. It was fabulous as well. The hubby and I really enjoyed this and I'll be making it again. Who knew it was so easy to make your own hummus??

For the rest of our meal I made lamb, baked falafel, cucumber raita, greek salad and baklava for dessert! We also had lots of veggies, olives and goat cheese to serve up with the pitas and raita.

The whole deal:

1. Lamb and Tomatoes
2. Baked Falafels
3. Cucumber Raita
4. Veggies, Pita, Hummus and Olives
5. Greek salad
6. Goat Cheese
7. More Pitas

And for dessert I made Baklava for the first time ever with was another big hit with the hubs!

Needless to say it was a lot of food for the four of us, but we really enjoyed it, and I had a LOT of fun with my first challenge. I can't wait to find out what our March challenge is! If you're interested in any of the recipes, you can check most of them out here.

I hope you all have enjoyed your weekend so far :). I'm on my last book so I should be back to regular blogging any day now!

Well...

I'm sorry there have been no pictures or updates as promised, but you can blame Nataleigh. (yes - YOU Nat). For MONTHS she has been on me to start this darn Twilight series (I was resisting). Anyway, I started it last Tuesday, and now because I want to know what happens I spend all my free time with my nose in a book. I'm on the third book now so the end is near...I'll be back when I am done reading my total fluff vampire love story books. Thanks for your understanding :)

Love, Kel

I'm Back!

Our trip was wonderful and I'll post pictures later, but I just wanted you all to know I haven't disappeared again I'm just trying to get back into my groove after being away!

I'm hoping to get a post in later today or tonight! Hope you all are doing well and I'll be catching up on your blogs here soon!