Caroline's Kitchen Table

We moved. Don’t get too excited, we moved back to our hometown–with parents. Our place rented before we found a house, so this is temporary (I hope you believe me).  For the record, my mom did inform me that Brian, Nora, and I do technically file under the ”homeless” category, at least as the guidelines say at her school. But, before we get too dramatic, let’s look at the positives.

Our new roomates drink really good wine

They have an “account” system at the local meat market – yes, you just give them your home phone number to “pay” and walk out the door with your groceries. I feel like I could run into Marty McFly whenever I step in.

We rarely use our car

We have live-in babysitters

It is amazingly easy to cook dinner when someone is there to entertain your toddler

As great as the suburbs are, it did take us an hour++ to get into the city for Conor’s birthday dinner on Wendnesday night, which was a reality check to my new love of “country-livin.”

Strawberry Shortcake w/ balsamic

Pound cake – from Martha Stewart

3 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature + more for the pan

2 cups ap flour

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

6 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and salt; set aside. In an electric mixer with a fitted paddle attachment, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy. This should take about 3 to 5 minutes, scrap down the sides as needed. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating until combined. On the low speed, add the flour mixture and beat until just combined.

Place the batter into the loaf pan and bake until the cake is golden and a toothpick comes out clean; ~50 to 55 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 10-15 minutes. Turn out cake onto the rack to cool completely. Cake can be kept at room temperature, wrapped well in plastic, for up to 3 days.

..

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 tsp sugar

In a stand mixer bowl combine the cream and sugar. Beat until the mixture has stiff peaks. be careful not to over-beat.

..

1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar

Place vinegar in a small sauce pan. Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture has reduced by at least half and has become a thicker-somewhat syrupy mixture.

…

Fresh strawberries – chopped

To make the desert: Slice the pound cake and toast each pace. Garnish each plate with fresh strawberries, cream, and a small drizzle of the balsamic syrup.

 

This entry was posted on Sunday, April 29th, 2012 at 9:31 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.