I'm MOVIN.....

I know, I have been blathering on and hinting about doing something different for way too long. I think I maybe lost some of you in the mumbo jumbo. Huh, wah? What's she doin? Why? I've recieved a few emails wondering why I was not going to blog anymore....."did I say that"? I could tell by the reception I recieved by some when tellling them, they were confused as to why I would want to leave Strawberry CAKE behind and completely change things up.

Here's why:

Although I love me some Strawberry Cake, and I do make a good one. LuvStrawberryCAKE did not say anything about who I am. I found out, that a gagillion people have the same Strawberry Cake recipe, it's not exclusively a secret family recipe....I thought it was, but it's not. Shot through the heart. MmmHmmm, so "I'm not so spacial after all".....!

It also seemed that people thought I was a baking blog. I like to bake, but that is not what I am all about either.

The look of my blog, although I loved it at first, really doesn't reflect my style.

I was getting antsy. I wanted people at a glance, because that's what most people do is just glance at your blog and NEVER come back, to know more about me. I still really like my old tag line "one moms recipe for enjoying life"......it does say what my blog is for me, it's my way of doing what I love writing about things I love.....family, food, and just plain being a nutball!

At lunch one day my good friend Dee asked me "what's your passion?" It only took me a few seconds to spew out what my passion is. Getting family and friends around the table together. It is extremely important to our family, and a ritual Ken and I believe is essential to successful family life. "Then that is what your new site should reflect right away when people stop by", she said. Hmmmmm but what to name it......

OH GOOD GOLLY! I started writing down every thought or word that came into my head, filling pages with blog names. One day in the car I had my third child writing things down like a mad man, as I rifled names and sayings out at him. (The car is my thinking place. Often I wish I had a machine that would record my thoughts for writing as I drive, I do jot things down, but it never seems as good as when I initially thought it on the road.)

Eat 2gather seemed to stick. It related my passion, eating together with others, inspiring others to also gather together around their tables. And the idea that we gather not just to eat, but for the greater purpose of enjoying each others company sharing food, laughter, and fellowship with those we love. We are not just eating together, but we are eating to gather.....get it? Even though our world has become so fast paced and non-relational it is more important than ever for us to gather around the table with our family and friends and break bread. So my play on words with 2gather is a nod to our societies quick responses to each other through texting, facebook, twitter, and the like!

I want to thank Luke from Codify who was crazy patient with me through this process, and Robin from Smith Design for her keen creative eye and great design work. And Andrea! I can't forget Andrea from La Vita e' Belle Photography for gazillion pictures she had to take to get one half way decent picture of my mug. Kenny, you know I love ya, thanks for being so supportive of my hobby.

So this is it. The LAST post on Strawberry CAKE. Oh did I tell you ALL my content from here is there too! Yes so you can find everything at Eat2gather.net

I LUV ya all 2 MUCH!

Hope to see you on the other side....

Pico de Gallo and Guacamole

I told you I had a few things that I would throw at you before I move. Guacamole has to be one of the most frequently requested recipes that I make. I have posted a guacamole recipe or two, but I have never put this simple, fresh, limey, and I guess I could also say traditional guacamole to the page. There is a catch.....you can't make guacamole with out first making pico de gallo. Did I hear someone say "yes you can"? Well, whatever...this momma say, "you can't". Not if you want yourself some really good guacamole. And hey a little pico on the side never hurt anyone did it?

Get out your best choppin' up knife, a cutting board, and get prepared to chop.

It's best for the chip and for distribution of the flavors if you are careful to chop all your vegetables small. Not chunky. Small. Not minced. Just small...itsy bitsy.

Same for the tomatoes. First cut in half.

Then slice through again lengthwise, then slice into thin strips, all the while keeping the tomato together. This takes a sharp knife. Dull knifes are the DEVIL. Then slice the tomato through again crosswise and there you have it perfect, itsy bitsy diced tomaters!

Traditionally pico de gallo or fresh salsa is simply tomatoes, onions, jalapeno, cilantro and lime, but I have this love affair with red bell peppers that I cannot shake. I love him. Red Bell pepper come to momma....I know I'm playing with fire. Let's let this be our secret. I'm going to use just half of him this time. Slice in half, remove the white foamy membrane and seeds, cut in long thin strips and then cut again crosswise for those itsy bitsy pepper pieces.

Now for the hot one. Jalapeno. I use one whole jalapeno pepper, if you like less heat only use a half, if you like more heat then bring it on brother, use more!

Chop off the stem.

You may want to wear plastic gloves while working with jalapenos or any pepper with heat. If you choose not to wear some sort of cooking glove, then I suggested not rubbing your eyes or picking your nose at any time during or after the jalapeno chopping process. I would actually suggest that you refrain from nose picking entirely while cooking, but that's just my opinion. (I've got a funny booger recipe that I will have to share with you sometime...now is not the time, but I promise someday I will share.)

Slice in half, revealing the seeds.

Using your sharp knife, run the tip of the knife underneath the seeds. Removing them and the white membrane in one quick slice.

Voila!

Now for the mincing. Slice pepper into very thin strips, then take knife and chop like a maniac. Chop, chop, chop, chop don't stop until you have very tiny micro bits of jalapeno pepper.

You will need some of this. Morton Nature's Seasoning is my favorite seasoning....I think I've said that before. I use it everyday. It's a perfect salty seasoning blend. Get yourself some.

As you chop your vegetables place them in a bowl, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the seasoning salt.

The most tedious task of this whole recipe, for me anyway, is the cleaning and de-stemming of the cilantro. Run your Cilantro through a salad spinner, getting it nice and clean. Or if you don't have one of those doo-hickeys then run cilantro under cold water and lay out on paper towels to dry. Remove leaves from stems. You will need a good handful or approximately 1/3 cup cilantro, roughly chopped.

Let it get all cozy with the other ingredients, give the cilantro a toss.

That looks fabulous, does it not??? But there is one more ingredient that is not to be forgotten.

THE LIME.

Roll, roll, roll your lime...gently on the table...give it a squish with your palm, and cut through the.....

meeeedle.

Ah the songs of my youth! Seriously if you roll the lime along the counter with some pressure, it will loosen the juices on the inside and make it easer to juice. If you have a juicer well then great, if not you can join me in my fork juicing method.

Fork juicing method 101: After rolling, and cutting in half, hold one half of the citrus in the palm of your less dominant hand, ram the fork into the middle of the citrus....

Squeeze hard while twisting the fork. Squeeze, twist....squeeze, twist....the juice will run flow freely from the citrus. It's marvelously simple.

Toss the chopped vegetables with the lime juice. Take tortilla chip in a pincer grip, scoop some pico on the chip, and enjoy!

Oh but wait....now you need to make Guacamole! Have you ever heard this song? It makes me giggle.

Look at that. It takes my breath away. The color. I really need to paint a room in my house this color. I'll get right on that one...NOT. I hate to paint walls. I leave that up to the professionals.

Slice avocado in half. Whack your very sharp knife into the pit, and give a tiny twist to remove.

Now cut vertically and horizontally, like so, using the tip of your knife, with out cutting through the skin.

If you are civilized you can take a spoon and gracefully scoop out the flesh of the avocado, or if you are sufficiently uncivilized like myself you can give the avocado half a squeeze and squish it's innards out into a bowl.

Repeat the roll, roll, roll of the lime. Squeeze one entire lime into the avocados. I think that more lime is better, so feel free to add another half of a lime, or more. Always taste as you go. As they say the proof is in the puddin' or in this case the quac.

Mash the lime into the avocados with the back of a fork.

Add 1 cup of the pico de gallo that you just made.

Give it a stir. There you have it heaven in a bowl.

Pico de Gallo & Guacamole

printable recipe

Pico

4 Roma Tomatoes, diced

1 medium sweet Onion, diced

1/2 Red Bell Pepper, diced

1 Jalapeno Pepper, minced

1 hand full fresh Cilantro leaves rough chopped, or 1/3 cup chopped

1 teaspoon Mortons Nature's Seasoning Salt

1 Lime, juiced

Guac

4 ripe Avacodos

1 Lime, juiced

1 cup Pico de Gallo

What's the saying? "It ain't over till the fat lady sings." No that's not it. "All is fair in love an war." "A monkey in silk is a monkey no less." "Great minds think alike." No that's not it either. Hmmm..."what's good for the goose is good for the gander". OO OO OO I got it....

"It's not a party with out some GuacaMoleee, bay-beh."!

Alls well that ends well,

UPDATE: BwoB help for Joplin

First, I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the out pouring of concern for my family in Joplin MO. I cannot express my gratitude for your generosity. Bloggers with out Borders raised over $2000!!!

After launching the fundraising project for Joplin, it came to BwoB's attention that another bloggers family had also been affected by the destruction of the tornadoes that had hit Arkansas. Maggy of Three Many Cooks emailed me and asked if I minded sharing the funds raised. How could I say no. Good golly Miss Molly so many in need, "Of course I will share!!!". You know I always say, "It's nice to share.". Half of the monies raised will go to Confessions of a Cookbook Queens family in Denning, Arkansas.

I was really hoping that I would be able to make the trip to Missouri, sadly that is not going to happen. BUT my mom is heading up there (she lives in Florida, so for her it's "up there") tomorrow morning. She will help out our family as they prepare for the funeral of my great aunt, and she will help her cousin who is recovering from complications from severe bruising and cuts from being buried in the rubble from the tornado. Once my mom gets to Joplin I will send her the money and she will present it to the family that we have chosen to help.

I will give you a full update on this families situation, with pictures, as soon as my mom gets all the details to me.

So many of you have been praying and I want to thank you for your prayers. We have seen so many prayers answered in the last 10 days. If you could continue to pray this time for my mom as she heads to Joplin, I would really appreciate it. My cousin told me on the phone that the pictures online and the news do not even begin to show the devastation in Joplin. Pray for strength, health, safety, and a super natural ability to serve those in need, for my mom. Love you mom thanks for being willing to serve and to help us get the donations to the designated family.

Luv U all!! and Thanks Again!

BwoB: Help for Joplin MO

Bloggers with out Borders (BwoB) is a blogger-based charity whose mission is to help people- bloggers and readers alike- by harnessing the good will of the blogging community. Its founders are Maggy Keet of ThreeManyCooks, Erica Pineda-Ghanny of The Ivory Hut, and Aimee Wimbush-Bourque of Simple Bites. BwoB officially launches in July 2011.

Sunday a half-mile wide tornado ripped through the town of Joplin MO. and flattened much of the town and smacked directly into the city hospital, it left many homeless, and mourning the loss of loved ones. My family being one of them. My Great Aunt was killed when the nursing home she was living in was flattened. My Uncle was visiting her but somehow survived, he was released from the hospital today. My cousin, their daughter, was buried under rubble after being thrown from her car during the tornado, and is very banged up and bruised. Luckily their homes were spared, but many homes were not. Some have lost all they have including loved ones. Today the death toll rose to 116.

Photo Credit: Photo Gallery - World - IBNLive

While checking my Facebook Monday morning I saw the status that Kristen of Dine and Dish has posted to her page. I was SHOCKED. I had family there! I couldn't believe the horrific pictures. I called my mom, and this started the chain of phone calls that led to us finally finding out the full extent of the devastation of Joplin MO., where my extended family lives.

I was numb. What could I do? How could I help. I realized the most important thing I could do was to pray. I prayed, alot. I also put a request prayers from my Twitter and Facebook friends. The response was overwhelming, my prayers where answered, in the form of an email, I received on Tuesday, from Maggy from Three Many Cooks. She offered the assistance of Bloggers without Borders (explained above) to raise money for my family and those in need in the city of Joplin Wow really?! How could I say no? I said, yes of course, I would get the money there and let everyone know who it went to and how it helped.

Wham BAM kaZAM! Before I knew it all three of these lovely, talented, very busy ladies had a blog post up on their websites and were collecting funds for me to distribute to the people, organizations and/or local efforts that need help in Joplin. I was so overcome with gratitude that I started to blubber like a baby. Snot everywhere. It was not pretty. But it was a happy cry...a thankful bawl....a joyful sob, very thankful for the way my itty bitty blog has brought so many incredible people into my life.

So now I am asking you...my readers, friends, and family to make donations to Bloggers without Borders. No amount is too small! And it's super easy to donate.

You just need to:

1. click on one of the three links below

2. click on the donate button

Three Many Cooks

Simple bites

Ivory Hut

Voila! That's all there is to it.

I want to thank you in advance for trusting me and the three bloggers above with your hard earned money. I promise that it will be put to good use for those in need, as a result of the devastation from the tornado, in Joplin, MO., on Sunday, May 22nd.

Again, your prayers and generosity have blown me and my family away!

Thank you for your support!

the comfort of COOKIES!

***UPDATE*** Prayers are being answered! I received news this evening that the homes of my relatives were spared!!! Hallelujah! My great uncle is still hospitalized, but is off the critical list. My cousin, who at first we had heard had multiple leg fractures....but after finally receiving an X-ray was told she has no broken bones, just really banged up. Praise God. I am so thankful they have homes to return to. But so many do not. The wheels are in motion to HELP in a big way. I will keep you posted! I would not want you to miss out on how YOU could help Joplin. I cannot give thanks enough your outpouring of kindness and concern.

===================================================================
First of all I just need to say..... THANK YOU! Bless you all for the out pouring of concern and prayer for my family, in Joplin, Missouri. I am not a news watcher so when I saw Kristens status on facebook I GASPED, because this is what I saw. I called my mom, who lives in Florida, she had also not heard the news...this set us on a trail of phone calls to find out the scoop.

Here's whole scoop, or what I know of the scoop anyway. Brief background.....my maternal Grandfather grew up in Carthage, Missouri which is a neighboring town to Joplin. The man bled Missouri. He loved his childhood home, but he loved my Grandmother more and after meeting in the Marines during WWII they moved back to her home town of Grand Rapids, Mi. My Grandfathers whole family besides one brother remained in Missouri. (7 siblings) The family has spread out over the years. Many are in the Jefferson City area and then of course Carthage and Joplin areas too. We used to visit often as kids, and they would come to Michigan every summer. But as the years trudge forward the ties that bound us all together, my Grandfather and his siblings, have died or gotten older. The cousins have not been very good at keeping in touch, or visiting each other.

Until now............

My Grandfather was the oldest son. He's the dapper one in the sweater.

At this point, I am getting all information via my mom. My Great Aunt Dorothy, was 96, and in the nursing home that was hit. She did not survive. My Uncle Dub was found buried under rubble and is hospitalized. My mom's cousin their daughter was also buried in rubble, but had her cell phone and had enough whits about her to call for help, and talk them to her. She is in hospitalized with multiple leg injuries. As far as I know they lost their homes, and all their possessions....that is not confirmed, that is how the news has trickled down to us. I contacted a cousin, but have not heard back. Cousin if you are reading....I'd like to hear from you Luv. What can we do? I know some of you, readers, facebook friends, twitter followers, have wanted to help monetarily. I am inquiring about that. So I will let you know, as soon as I know and then I will set up an account.

Yesterday I felt so helpless. So frustrated that we haven't kept in better touch. How does this happen? So what does one do, or should I say, what do I do when I don't know what else to do? I bake, and pray......I also pulled some weeds. It was therapeutic.

Cookie anyone?

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

printable at Tasty Kitchen

My son says these are the best cookies ever. All I know is they helped this gal get through the day yesterday.

Hugs, I can't thank you enough....I will keep ya'll updated as to how we can help.

Love you all!

a Hint.....

I have put out a few hints that change is a comin'. Yesterday I put out a larger hint, when I shared, on Facebook, a photo shoot that took place in my kitchen on Wednesday. Eventually Strawberry Cake will be no more. Sigh. Snort Sniff.

Tap tap tap...hello are you still there? Phwew...Ok good. I will try not to bore you to tears, with all the gory details of the whole thought process of this change.

I will say that I have felt restless in my Strawberry CAKE shoes. Is this who I am? Is this the direction I want to take. I do love me some Strawberry CAKE...and strawberries in general for that matter. But does Strawberry CAKE say who I am, what I'm about? Not really, unless you really read between the crumbs.

For now, until I launch the new website, it will be Strawberry CAKE as usual. We are hoping that all my content from this blog will transfer seamlessly into the new one. It may be a while, we are having a minor glitch with the name! But I trust it will all work out for the best....that's me trying to be Sunshiney and not Debbie Downery.

Thank you so much for reading Strawberry CAKE, I hope and pray you all follow me, LITERALLY!, into this new adventure. So for now KEEP READING, I have lots of recipes and giveaways in my apron pockets!

LUVya,

Paczki! & Hairballs

This bakery was on the top of my "todo" list for today. It is finally Fat Tuesday today. As many of you know I was a bit over eager in my preparations for the Lenten Season. If you missed my over eagerness you can go back here and check it out. (Then if you have nothing better to do you can read this embarrassing post.)

Steenstra's Royal Dutch Bakery has been around for longer than I have been alive. It's the place to go for amazing hamburger buns, danishes, windmill cookies, donuts, oh the list goes on and on. It is, like the sign states, a Dutch bakery. Thus the Windmill cookies, which reminds me I need to send a supply of those to my mom in Florida.

But today this is what my eyes were set on. Paczki.

Paczki's are a traditional Polish donut filled with an assortment of fruit fillings. Prune being the most traditional. Paczki's are not to be confused with jelly donuts. The dough paczki's are made from has eggs and spirits in it, giving it a very distinct rich flavor.

Paczki Day. Do you have a Paczki Day in your town? It's a Midwestern thing. Primarily celebrated in cities with larger Polish communities the day before Ash Wednesday. The reason for making paczki was to use up all the "good stuff" before Lent began, like eggs, sugar, lard, and fruit.


Luckily I was able to savor half of this glorious prune filled paczki, because this is what I found when I returned from parent teacher conferences this afternoon.......

An EMPTY box!! And a huge mess on the floor sticky fruit, and powdered sugar EVERYWHERE!!!! Blasted KIDS! What the "beep beep" happened here??#@%! Even my other half of prune paczki was gone! "BEEP, beep, beep!" What kid would want the prune donut?

That's when my oldest daughter came running out, "MOM Jack ate all the donuts! I had one, Noah had one, then I left the box open (key word:OPEN) in the middle of the table......and well (breathless) Jack ate the rest! I just left for a minute...it was all the way in the middle....". She was frantic. And so was I. DAd-blamed DOG! Apparently he had been anticipating the Paczki's also. 4 1/2 Paczki's the size of large oranges are sitting in my golden retrievers gut just waiting to be vomited out on my rug. He has an ear infection right now, that's the only thing that is saving this $#@!Dog from a night in the garage!

Gone...gone....gone.....

There he is. He did get booted out for a little while.

It's cold out. He wants back in. He would stand like this for hours. Just waiting for the door to open. Or a bird to land on the door knob, we're not sure which.

ARG! Why does he have to be so sweet......and dumb!

Please mommy, I so sorry, I promise to never eat another paczki as long as I live.

A Dogs Prayer

Lord, today I ate my Masters donuts.

They were sinfully sweet. I thought they were meant to be my treat.

Please forgive me for I know not what I do.

Now I ask,

Lord if you could make this door open,

so I could go lay on my comfy bed.

I promise to never eat another Paczki for as long as I live.

Amen

Between eating my donuts and being a giant hairball this dog is definitely testing my love for him. Do they sell Paczki on Ash Wednesday? Because three human beings in this house did not get their annual paczki.

Good Golly Miss Molly!

Life is crazy around here sometimes.

Hoping your dog didn't eat your donut today.

With LUV,