Freaky Friday!

I occasionally get the sense that in the time it took me to blink one single, solitary blink, a whole slew of days flew by. This is what the last week has felt like to me. For one thing, I went on an adventure to the Midwest! It was, without a doubt, one of the most fun weekends I've had all summer. I was certainly in good company, but I think one of the main reasons the trip was so enjoyable was that the people of Indiana and Illinois exhibited a kindness and an air of contentment that simply doesn't exist on a grand scale on the East Coast. It's too bad because it made even tiny exchanges at the corner store seem like a celebration of living.

Of course, I'm also in wonderful spirits because one of my most favorite seasons is swinging into action-- autumn, naturally! I love the crispness in the air... the pumpkin spice lattes... the sweaters! AH! It's all too much... and the fashion. Heaven help us, the fashion.

Speaking of clothing, there seems to be no dearth of occasions for dressing up in the next few months-- everything from a wedding to a christening to an incredible anniversary celebration of one of the non-profits I work with. With that being said, it seems almost unnatural to consider attending all of these events without even ONE new dress. ;)

How do you feel about this one?

Baking Beauty

I love to bake. I wouldn't say I'm a terribly good baker, but I really do enjoy trying out new recipes. Over the weekend, we went to an engagement party for one of the man's law school friends. I decided to try out Paula Deen's "Simply Delicious Strawberry Cake" recipe and it was, naturally, simply delicious.

The recipe for the cake calls for the following:
Ingredients:
1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix
1 (3-ounce) box strawberry-flavored instant gelatin
1 (15-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water

I used a package of Dole frozen strawberries instead of a variety with syrup in the cake mix, and I substituted fresh strawberries on top. After a hunt that led me through at least five of the Upper West Side's various grocery stores, I gave up on making the icing from scratch (strawberry extract is nearly impossible to find!) and settled on some generic strawberry icing. Nonetheless, it was delicious! If you're looking for something summery to bring to a party, I would highly recommend it.

(You can find the full recipe, including cake and icing, on Paula Deen's website here.)