Dylan & Erica’s Place…
Where Erica Is Always Baking and Stuffing Dylan’s Face

Dylan & Erica’s Place…

Happy Birthday Marsh!!

April 14th, 2008 . by erica

It was my co-workers birthday and ever since I saw Foodie Bride’s Cupcake cake I wanted to make one.  It was so much fun.  Dylan and I attempted it and I really enjoyed it.  However my first batch cupcakes didn’t come out so well =( Made me very very sad but .. after I figured out the exact amount of batter to fill each cup up with it was heaven.  Here are some photos (once again photographed by Marsh Wong, himself)  I had some problems with some of the icing (the 28 on the cake icing was too thin) and the cake board the cake was not that sturdy and the middle of the carboard buckled and warped and the icing in the middle wasn’t smooth.  I am such a perfectionist and if I had time I probably would have started all over again!

img_4648.jpg

img_4655.jpg

img_4658.jpg

img_4661.jpg

Happy Mother’s Day - 1990

April 12th, 2008 . by erica

Mother’s Day 1990. I was a little kid in kindergarten trying to reach my 6th birthday. I was one of the lucky ones who was able to start school early because I have a summer birthday. I was able to graduate high school at the age of 17 and college at the age of 20. The later part was me working my butt off trying to finish college in 3 years. Go Me! Thank you mom and dad for pressuring me and challenging me to finish! I have such a great life because of it.

Okay, back to my story about Mother’s Day. In school we always did “nice” things for our Mothers for Mother’s Day. I remember one year we made a pillow and we always made some sort of pictures. Well in kindergarten we made a Mother’s Day Cookbook. Obviously we didn’t know how to spell or even write our names out for that part so how did this happen? Well I am pretty sure, if my memory serves me correct, that we were sent home with a letter to our parents to get 2 -3 of our mom’s favorite recipes. Then the teachers typed it up and made a little cookbook out of all the students (All 30 of them, I grew up in a TINY TINY TOWN, that I miss every now and then.. more whenever something horrible happens in Houston).

Well my mom still has this cookbook, well its somewhere in her house. And I was able to get a hold of the two things I remember her making and me saying, “Mommy, can you please make that strawberry thing for me”. Yummy her own version of strawberry cheesecake. Its so super simple and ridiculously yummy. It’s so nice to serve at a BBQ or during the spring / summer.

The other thing my mom made for me was anything Red Velvet. I LOVED this stuff! I don’t know why but her recipe is TO DIE FOR! Its so super delicious. I don’t get it nor do I want to know why I love only this type of cake. Mmmmm Red Velvet. Next up I will show you her red velvet recipe for 1990 but first must give you the strawberry cheesecake recipe.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Cheesecake, Momma Kaspar (1990)

Crust

1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350.
Mix together with hand mixer or stand mixer and then press in pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Filling

1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 8 ounce of cool whip
1 3/4 - 2 cups of powdered sugar
1 container of rinsed and cut FRESH strawberries
1 16 ounce package of strawberry glaze or filling, as seen here, I did not however use the sugar free =)

Mix together cream cheese, cool whip and powdered sugar. Set aside. In medium bowl mix together strawberry filling or glaze
and mix with fresh cut strawberries.

Spread the cream cheese mixture on top of cooled crust and then layer the strawberry glaze. Refrigerate for a hour.
Best served when cold.

Crust Ready for Oven
cimg0733.jpg

The Finished Product

cimg0745.jpg

cimg0746.jpg

cimg0749.jpg

And The Recipe.. Just for Fun from 1990!

cimg0742.jpg

Su Casa Es Tu Casa!

April 3rd, 2008 . by erica

Dylan and I had our first BBQ at our house a couple of weeks ago.  It was fun.  I have some awesome co-worker’s that I invited over who were in town.  Luckily I was able to catch Kelly (A coworker who I like to hang around with because we understand each other.  She is planning her wedding and I just got married and we can bond over the ups and down of wedding planning.  Ahhhh how thankful I am that is over with) and her fiancee’ in town.  Kelly’s fiancee’ Bill lives in Kentucky so I wanted to make sure he was able to join in on the fun. They are super awesome people to hang around with and Dylan and I really need some more “married” friends (Techinally.. they aren’t but SOON TO BE!)

 I would have invited more people but I live so far out.. people just don’t like coming over.  Luckily Kelly’s apartment is on my side a town along with my … work spouse Marsh.  I can’t LEAVE out my workspouse! He will get invited to every BBQ no matter what!!

What is a work spouse you ask?

A work spouse is a co-worker (usually of the opposite sex with whom one shares a special relationship, having bonds similar to those of a marriage; such as, special confidences, loyalties, shared jokes and experiences, and an unusual degree of honesty or openness. The work spouse is a potentially key relationship when one’s actual spouse or boy/girlfriend is not able to understand the nuances of the workplace. (Wikipedia, 2008).

 Well Dylan and I needed a good excuse to buy a new BBQ so what is better than, “Dylan sweetie we are having BBQ tomorrow so we need a new pit” Score! We got one and decicded to make some ribs, steaks, and kabobs! I LOVED LOVED the Kabobs they are so yummy and fantastic! Mmmmm.  Dylan did all the grilling but I was able to make the sides! Enjoy the photos taken by Marsh Wong.  Oh and also check out his website and some other photos located here and here.

img_2123.jpg

img_2143.jpg

img_2145.jpg
Super Steak Kabobs 

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup cider vinegar 
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons canola oil  
16 large mushrooms, cut in half 
2 green onions, minced   
4 medium onions, cut into quarters
1 (8 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained
2 pounds of beef sirloin steak, cut 1-inch thick
salt and pepper
skewers
Combine the soy sauce, cider vinegar, honey, canola oil, green onions, salt and peper in bowl.

Cut steak into 1-inch cubes, marinate with vegetables, for 2-4 hours, refrigerated.   Soak 16 small bamboo skewers in water for 1/2 hour before threading with meat and vegetables.

Alternate with mushroom halves, pineapple chunks, and mushrooms. Lightly oil the grill grate.  Grill kabobs, uncovered, over medium coals (or broil 3 inches from heat) for 12-14 minutes or until meat is done, turning kabobs once.

Erica’s Version of Twice Baked Potatoes

5 large russet baking potatoes
1 green onion package
3 strips of turkey bacon
10 oz light sour cream
1 package of reduced fat shredded cheese
salt and pepper ***

Boil potatoes in pot until potatoes are soft with a fork.  Takes approximately 40-50 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350.

Peel and grate potatoes with grater into large bowl.  Microwave or fr 3 strips of bacon and chop into small bits.  Chop up green onions and sautee in small pan.  Add the bacon, green onions,sour cream, cheese (save about 3 oz for top of potatoes) in the grated potatoes.  Add salt and pepper
for taste.

Place the potato mixture into a cassarole dish and sprinkle remaining cheese on top of poatoes.

Bake for 20-30 minutes at 350 degrees until the cheese on top is melted.

*** You can use regular ingredients for a more profound taste but it adds extra calories.  It is super yummy no matter what you use however!