Amy’s Notebook 01.22.14

January 22nd, 2014

Felt ball coasters-706x1024

Source: Inspired By Charm

 

Oh, my, these wool felt ball coasters are SO cute. I.must.have.

I love a good Mod Podge craft and this list of 20 Mod Podge projects includes everything from shelf upcycles to pencil makeovers. Inspiring!

Looking for some creative ways to celebrate Valentine’s day? The 28 Valentine’s day ideas here are some of the most beautiful I’ve seen!

I can’t wait to try this black bean and quinoa enchilada bake – I’m loving quinoa lately and this fits my new gluten-free diet, plus it looks like the whole family will like it, too!

Drooling over this unique take on traditional morning glory muffins: morning glory oats. What a healthy and yummy way to start the day.

And using window CD envelopes and printable tags for Valentine treat pouches is simply genius – and so adorable!

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I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

 

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Knitted Princess Leia Hat

January 21st, 2014

Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com.

Oh, you know I love a good knitting project! Today I am showing off my Knitted Princess Leia baby hat that I made. Not only that, but I am going to walk you through how to knit in the round for my favorite beginning knitters.

Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com. Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com.

Walmart let me choose any craft project I wanted this month and since I am in knitting mode this winter, I have been dying to make this cute little hat ever since I saw it on Ravelry.

Supplies Needed

  • 1 Skein Red Heart With Love in Chocolate ($3.84)
  • US 10.5 Straight needles (for knitting flat option)
  • US 10.5 Circular needles and set of 4 US 10.5 DPNs (for knitting in the round option)
  • Measuring Tape
  • Clipboard
  • Stitch Marker
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors

Although, this hat can be knitted flat, I would love to challenge you to give knitting in the round a try. For a long time, I completely avoided projects that you had to knit in the round.

Four needles?

NO THANKS!

Unfortunately, if you never knit in the round you miss out on a lot of amazing patterns, particularly hand-crampingly tiny knits that would be stretched out when placed upon circulars.

Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com.

I decided to create a picture tutorial for you to help guide you through your first knit. A quick search on YouTube should also yield great video tutorials. Let’s begin with this easy diagram.

1. Cast all of the stitches onto one double pointed needle.

2. Using your strong math skills (ahem) divide the cast on number by three and begin knitting that number on to your second needle. Be sure that you are beginning your stitches as the pattern states and not just knitting them. For this pattern, for example, you are doing a K2 P2 rib. You will want to be sure you are staying on pattern with your stitches. Place a marker on that second needle (at the end of the stitches) so it marks the beginning of your round.

3. Knit, in pattern, onto the next needle. You should now have three needles with stitches! Yay!

4. You will now be scooting and joining stitches on your needles, like in the triangle of needles above. You will use a FOURTH needle though, to begin knitting in the round. Just begin where you have placed your marker and begin knitting. Because I only have two hands, I am just showing how to set it up. You will use that fourth needle to begin. Continue knitting and scooting things, making sure your stitches are all facing in the same direction, particularly in those first two rows.

Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com.

I love that these Princess Leia braids are not knitted. In fact, all we are doing is gathering yarn and braiding it like hair. I used a clipboard to clip the my hair to the top so that I could get nice and even braids.

Although the pattern says to measure these at 36″ long, I will admit that I am terrible measurer. If you are terrible like me, be sure to make both the braids and then trim them to be approximately the same length, otherwise Princess Leia is going to look a little lopsided!

Once I had the braid all gathered up, I trimmed all those loose pieces down and then secured it to the hat. These braids double as delightful little ear warmers.

Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com. Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com. Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com. Knitted Princess Leia Hat from MomAdvice.com.

The pattern gives you the options to make it for a Preemie all the way up to an Adult. I admit, after I made this tiny hat, I felt the impulse to make one for myself. I mean, who doesn’t dream of being Princess Leia?

With this large amount of yarn, I can easily make three to four hats for less than $4! Score!

Thank you to Fiber Flux… Adventures in Stitching for sharing her pattern with the Ravelry community! Be sure to friend me over there- I love sharing & seeing your projects!

Grab the Pattern HERE.

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Apron Full of Giveaways 01.21.14

January 21st, 2014

cupcake apron

Source: Corakids,  $25.00

 

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!

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Make The Best Orange Chicken Recipe At Home

January 20th, 2014

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken from MomAdvice.com.

Today’s recipe is for a gluten-free orange chicken that will rival anything you get at your favorite Chinese restaurant, but can be prepared for your gluten-free lifestyle, made with less fat, and can be served over brown rice.

The best part is how inexpensive it is to prepare and how beautifully this dish reheats.

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken from MomAdvice.com. Gluten-Free Orange Chicken from MomAdvice.com.

Each month I am challenged to use produce in a new way by a food client.

You may recall some of our past produce products: Blueberry Sangria Lemonade, my baked Strawberry Doughnuts, my easy dairy-free Peach Sorbet and our Slow Cooked Honey Crisp Apple Oatmeal…just to name a few!

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken from MomAdvice.com.

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken from MomAdvice.com.

I am finding gluten-free flours to be expensive.

While browsing the baking aisle though, I noticed that they did have a Betty Crocker Rice Flour that was just $3.38 for a pound.

I went ahead and got that to try for my chicken and it worked beautifully! You would have never noticed the difference in regular flour versus this flour.

I am excited to have that in our pantry now for these types of recipes.

Another fantastic budget-friendly substitute is cornstarch!

Of course, if you aren’t gluten-free (lucky ducks!), your standard all-purpose flour will work beautifully in this dish.

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken from MomAdvice.com.

Made with freshly squeezed orange juice (approximately 3-4 oranges), this sauce is a burst of citrus that is balanced with the flavor of a little balsamic vinegar and sweetened with brown sugar.

You can use chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts to cube into 1″ cubes for your meat.

I browned these in batches and then added them all back into my cast iron skillet and poured the sauce on top, just cooking until the sauce was thickened and the chicken was cooked through.

Did I mention that this was a one pot dish? Winning!

If you have a rice cooker, you can enjoy some delicious brown rice on the side, for an easy and effortless side dish.

I doubled the recipe and my family could not stop eating it.

It is truly the best thing I have eaten since going gluten-free and it is a dish that will be repeated over and over in our house!

Be sure to add this to your menu planners this month- it won’t disappoint!

Make The Best Orange Chicken Recipe At Home

Gluten-Free Orange Chicken
Recipe Type: Main Dish
Cuisine: Chinese
Author: Amy Clark
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6
An easy gluten-free orange chicken recipe that you can prepare at home and that can be easily doubled for a quick weeknight meal!
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or tenderloins, cut into 1″ cubes
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup gluten-free flour (I used rice flour)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (the juice from 3-4 navel oranges)
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 4 tablespoons ketchup
  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
  1. Cut the chicken into 1” cubes. Mix together flour, salt, pepper, and seasoning (if desired), then toss the chicken in the flour mixture. Cook in oil in a large frying pan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes on each side.
  2. Meanwhile, mix together orange juice, vinegar, ketchup and brown sugar in a small bowl. Pour over cooked chicken and simmer on low for five minutes. Serve over brown rice.
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Winter Activity Idea: Baking With Kids

January 16th, 2014

Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids

Today is my 36th birthday and someone special wanted to bake me cupcakes for my special day. We decided to test-drive the new Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mixes and wanted to offer some pointers for getting your kids in the kitchen… so they can bake your birthday cake.

Aren’t I a smart mom?

Walmart asked me to share a beloved winter activity with you that we do with our kids. Of course, one of my favorite activities in the winter is baking. What I appreciate most about my kids is their enthusiasm for learning and helping in my kitchen.

Cooking together can teach your kids so much. Here are just a few lessons we worked on while baking a cake together.

Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids

Cooking Together Builds Reading Skills

One of the best parts about having your kids help you in the kitchen is that they can practice their reading skills. With picture tutorials on the back of many box mixes, it can help beginning readers navigate the ingredient list and list of supplies needed to cook.

Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids

Cooking Together Builds Math Skills

Cooking with your kids isn’t only helpful in just the reading department.  In fact, the biggest challenge for me as a chef involves all that math that goes into recipes. For young kids, understanding fractions and measurements of the ingredients can be tricky, but can offer an important lesson.

Don’t just have them do the measuring, but explain all those different spoon sizes or read the packaging of the butter to have them figure out how much a 1/2 cup equals.

Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids

Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids

Cooking Together Can Lead to Independence

One of the hardest things I have found about being a parent is having the patience to let them do it themselves. It is the same patience that I needed when teaching them to tie their shoes, to clean up after themselves, and to help in the kitchen. Yes, it is so much faster for me to just do it myself, BUT when they become adults, how will they ever know how to do anything if their mama always did it for them?

Instead of using things like stand mixers and big appliances to get the jobs done in the kitchen, invest in the time of having them mix and beat things by hand or with hand mixers. Allow extra time when cooking with your children to give them time to figure things out themselves and to create it on their own.

 

Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids Tips & Tricks for Cooking With Your Kids

Cooking Together Can Build Confidence

When we eat the food our  kids make we do a lot of oohing and ahhing over it. Really take in the details of their work and compliment them on their presentation and flavors of their dish.

We have always tried to do this with our kids and I get such a kick out of them when I hear them mimicking back to me what a great job I have done on dishes or on the flavors of the foods I put together for them.

 Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mix Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mix Betty Crocker Gluten-Free Cake Mix

For those that asked about this Betty Crocker gluten-free cake mix, I will be honest, and say that it really hit the spot. We baked these at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes and the cake was surprisingly light and resembled a sponge cake texture. The cake mix yielded 12 cupcakes and the cost on the mix was just $4.58.

When I shared about it on Facebook, friends chimed in with recommendations like adding a pudding mix to the cake or even a little extra vanilla, to boost the flavor. I am definitely going to have to try these additions! Layered with a thick layer of chocolate frosting though, and my daughter’s signature sprinkles, this cake was truly delicious.

If you are hosting a birthday party or need to bring in a gluten-free treat to school, I would highly recommend this cake mix for a fast and easy treat. The only difference  between making this and traditional boxed cake mixes is adding softened butter versus the oil.

Burkina Faso Fundraiser

On a personal note, I also wanted to thank you all for helping me celebrate my birthday this year by funding our wells for Burkina Faso. At this point, I am the proud owner of ONE WELL of clean water, which will give water to ONE THOUSAND people, through your donations. I am also almost halfway to my SECOND WELL. Can you believe that? In just three short days, we have collected almost $3,000 dollars! 

burkina_faso_collage_2

We still need to collect $1,000 for our second well. You can donate as little as $2 towards our cause. Here are four things you could “give up,” this week to help me give clean water to women & children. Just think of the lives you can help me save this week!

Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me!! It has been the best year yet!

 

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Amy’s Notebook 01.15.14

January 15th, 2014

Chicago Loft

Source: Design Sponge

 

Now one part of me wishes I lived in a Chicago loft with brick walls and cool vintage finds. Love.

I think this adorable rolled-up paper Valentine Wreath would make such a fun project to do with my daughter!

This black bean soup with chorizo and chicken looks so yummy – what a nice, hearty middle-of-winter meal!

Oh my, I love one-dish dinners like this drool-worthy baked salmon & vegetables that are both quick & healthy, don’t you?

This amazing weathered gray IKEA coffe table hack is genius!

Mmmm, here’s a slow cooker lentil chili that’s sure to warm you up on a cold night.

amys_notebook

I hope you enjoyed this collection of gathered links to DIY crafts, food projects, and thrifty ways to spruce up your home. Nothing brings me more joy then to highlight other fabulous bloggers. Follow me on Pinterest for daily inspiration!

 

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Teaching Our Kids to Give: Inspiring Guest Post by Hannah Foust

January 15th, 2014

Teaching Our Kids to Give by Hannah Foust

As we continue to fundraise today for Burkina Faso, I wanted to share with you the most incredible young lady that has inspired me in such a big way to give to Burkina Faso. She truly helped to plant the seed for us that we wanted to raise funds for wells for Burkina Faso.

 

Here’s the crazy part…she is just 12 years old and she is doing it by doing small job projects. This is a great post to read to your kids and Hannah’s story inspired my own family to give in these ways too. You can read all about it at the end of her post! For now… just read this!

 

I have recently learned of a place, called Burkina Faso, Africa through Clay Church and Engage Burkina. Burkina Faso is the third most miserable place ON EARTH! Where water is scarce, where children have to choose between working to feed their family or going to school, and starvation, death and illness are part of daily life for so many. It is a place so overwhelmed by poverty, that we as Americans cannot even attempt to imagine the struggles they face. When I first heard of this country, I went to bed praying, please God tell me there isn’t really a place like this.

When I woke up the next morning, I felt compelled by God to help the people of Burkina Faso. I am determined to make an impact in two ways:

(1) by funding a well and

(2) by being a light of inspiration for others.

Teaching Our Kids to Give

Why a Well?

Many people in Burkina Faso travel extremely far distances only to collect (and sometimes pay for) water that is dirty, diseased and sometimes deadly. One well can provide water for up to 1,000 people and drastically improve their lives. One well costs $2000. I’m not too good at math, in fact it is my least favorite subject in school, but I know that’s only $2 per person. That’s not a whole lot of money to save a life.

Why Be An Inspirer?

I feel like this is probably the most important part of my call to help the people of Burkina Faso. I think sometimes we get tunnel vision and can’t look beyond ourselves. I think sometimes it takes another person to help us expand our vision to see a bigger picture. I hope to inspire others to see the needs of not just the people in Burkina Faso, but also people in our communities and beyond.

I believe this world has gifted and beautiful people who are “Noticers.” Noticers see things- the broken, the hopeless, the beautiful, the wounded, the tragic, the lost, the possibilities. Noticers respond by doing. Doing whatever it takes to help meet needs and create more beauty, joy and peace in the world. Noticers inspire!

Noticers help make other noticers, and together they do great things to change the world. Jesus gathered Disciples by walking along a dirty road and inviting them to become Noticers of the hungry, the sick, the lost, the forgotten and the hurt, and to help them see a tiny glimpse of the love and greatness of our God. I would like to say that I am a Noticer… but I have only just begun the process…

Will You Join Me?

I know that with Gods help, anything is possible, this means that kids and adults of all ages can impact the world, when they ask God to guide them, but you have to take the first step. The world needs more Noticers, and World Changers, and I know that, with God’s help, YOU can take those steps.

Teaching Our Kids to Give

How do you get started?

 

Pray

You want to know that this is God’s plan for you. Ask God to help you see the needs of others and to help you to meet those needs. My story begins with becoming aware of a need in Burkina Faso, then praying to God to help me know how to help. Now, He is helping me to do things I never thought were possible!

Tell Everyone You Know

They will be excited to see such a young person working for such a good cause. I receive letters almost every week from someone who has been inspired by my story. Teachers, friends, family, and even strangers, have been inspired by my story.

Social Media really helps! I am only 12, so I can’t have a Facebook account, but I do have a Facebook page that I use to share news about my project. I am also on Twitter.  Make sure your social media interactions are professional and that you represent your cause well. You can use social media to share your story, invite others to participate and ask your supporters to share your story. It is a great way to reach people you don’t know! Just remember to be positive!

Be Passionate

If you care deeply about something, then others will care, too! I feel a responsibility to help children in Burkina Faso, like I am their older sister. This has impacted the way I live life every day. Telling people about my project has become a big part of my life.

Do Some Research

I jumped into sharing my story in front of large and small audiences all over Indiana pretty quickly. At one of my first churches, I was asked questions I could not answer (where exactly is Burkina Faso and how deep are the wells.) It would have been great if I knew those answers. Sometimes “why” we are doing things is more important that all of the tiny details, but it helps to build support when you can clearly articulate all of the details.

Work Hard

Don’t just ask people to give you money. Find a job in the community, or start a club at school, to raise money and awareness of your project. I have raked leaves, shoveled snow, watched pets, and cleaned yards. When my neighbors need something done, I am the first one they call! I live in a very religiously diverse community. People of all faiths and backgrounds have been inspired to help in some way. Continue working, until you’ve raised enough money. Better yet, keep working until God tells you to do something else.

Get Your Friends and Family Involved!

I earned most of my money raking leaves in the fall. The jobs kept coming, and I needed lots of help! My whole family pitched in to help.  At first, my younger sister, Emma, felt left out as we talked about Burkina Faso over meals and in the car. Now, she feels like she’s part of the project, and she is! I really believe this project has brought our family closer together.

For my birthday, we invited friends and family to hear about Burkina Faso and the well project. Instead of gifts, friends donated to my project. We had a traditional West African meal and even had a time of worship! It was the best Birthday party I ever had! Since my birthday, friends have told me they have been inspired to live differently. Getting your friends involved helps them to make a difference, too!

I hope this list of ideas helps you to get started. Now, I have to ask! What are you waiting for? You can make a difference TODAY!

Teaching Our Kids to Give

Isn’t Hannah the most inspiring kid? I have learned so much from her and so have my children. What an example she is leading for other kids her age. I love her idea of becoming a “noticer.” What if we all made it our goal to be that type of person? It really would make the world a better place.

Teaching Our Kids to Give

Teaching Our Kids to Give

Hannah’s idea that we all have some skills that we can use to help the world truly resonated with me. God gave me the ability to knit and I thought that might be a great way to donate to Burkina Faso. While we were snowed in, I knitted up some baby hats to get a future Etsy shop going. It will be called, “A Well of Hope,” and all proceeds (minus my materials cost) will go directly to Burkina Faso.

Hannah’s story inspired me that we all have time & talent to share and what better way to use it then giving the gift of water to those in need. I hope I can knit my way to another well. Wouldn’t that just be amazing?

Won’t You Give Us a Present?

Let’s make a global impact for MomAdvice’s birthday and give clean water so that children, mothers, and fathers may live. Let’s celebrate doing something bigger than ourselves. Let’s make miracles happen!  I can’t do it without you! 

Just as Hannah has shared, every little bit helps. The best part about making a donation to Burkina Faso is that you can donate as little or as much as you like. Consider just one replacement of a Starbucks coffee, a movie ticket, a dinner out with your family, or just one less birthday gift this year. Any amount (great or small!) will help us reach our goal to providing Burkina Faso clean water!

DONATE NOW PLEASE!  To read more about why we chose Burkina Faso, check out our initial post over here!

 

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Apron Full of Giveaways 01.14.14

January 14th, 2014

black ruffle apron

Source: Rosie Ann Shop,  $36.97

 

Welcome to our Apron Full of Giveaways! I hope everyone is having a great week this week! As we do each week, here is our round-up of giveaways for our readers. We hope that this is beneficial to you and your family! Please let us know if you guys win anything- I love to hear the success stories!

Below are the contest links-if you are hosting a contest please link it up below. Sorry, we are not giving away the aprons just showcasing them! Please put your site name and then what type of contest you are hosting. For example, “MomAdvice (Kid’s Movies).”

Good luck to each of you!

 

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Happy Birthday, MomAdvice: A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

January 14th, 2014

Burkina_Faso_Collage

Did someone say it is my BIRTHDAY WEEK? I don’t know if you know it or not, but this week I am celebrating my 36th year on this planet and I am also celebrating a decade of running this little corner of the internet.

A DECADE.

Something so special calls for something big. Last year, my husband just made the biggest deal over me to celebrate my first book and my 35th birthday. I said that this could never be topped.

I have a feeling that I am going to be wrong about that. You know why?

Because this year it isn’t about me. 

This year it is about helping others in the biggest way that I know possible.

A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

I’ve decided to celebrate this moment and help those in need this year, by focusing all my efforts this week on fundraising for Burkina Faso. Have you heard of Burkina Faso?

I had never heard of it until this became the passion project for my church. It is the third poorest country in the world and more than anything these people need something so simple…something we take for granted every single day…

They need CLEAN WATER. 

Why Did We Choose Burkina Faso?

There are few things that break my heart more than children in need. The United Nations ranks Burkina Faso as the third poorest country in the world. The population of Burkina Faso is approximately 14.8 million people, the average income is only about $400 per year. The average life expectancy of men is 51 years and women is 54 years.

One out of three children will probably die before they ever reach the age of ten. The deaths are mostly due to a lack of fresh water. The women of Burkina Faso often walk several miles to a dirty stream or stagnant pool, just to fill a bowl with water.

A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

I started this fundraiser on Pure Charity to raise $4,000. Every penny of this goes to fund wells that can provide clean water to thousands of people in need. Each well costs $2,000 to give clean water to 1,000 people. My goal is to raise enough funds for two wells.

I have partnered with Clay Church (our congregation) who partners with a variety of organizations to assist with establishing wells for Burkina Faso:

Who Are You Helping With Your Donations?

Engage Burkina is an organization that has come alongside the Burkinabe leaders, providing access to clean water, educational opportunities, and sustainable financial opportunities for widows and young women, while also serving those with malnutrition and bringing hope and a future to the people living there.

Clean Water in Africa, Inc. is an organization that is committed to making a difference in the country of Burkina Faso, Africa, by engaging the community and providing clean water resources. Its mission is to build over 1,000 wells in Burkina Faso, which is the third-poorest country in the world where one in three children die due to a lack of clean water.

Hearts for Burkina is a group of people with a heart for spreading Jesus’ love that continues to fund more wells in Burkina Faso, and develops ongoing relationships with the people of Burkina Faso who desperately need both literal water and the life saving living water of Jesus Christ.

Notre Dame Initiative for Global Development helps provide clean water through various partners and churches as well as research & studies to discover how wells impact these communities.

A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

How MomAdvice Is Helping?

MomAdvice.com has pledged for one well and we are hoping you will give us a birthday gift this year of ANY AMOUNT to help us raise the funds to dig two more additional wells for Burkina Faso. Just imagine, what a difference we could make if we could give water to 3,000 people in need.

JUST IMAGINE.

A Well of Hope for Burkina Faso

Won’t You Give Us a Present?

Let’s make a global impact for MomAdvice’s birthday and give clean water so that children, mothers, and fathers may live. Let’s celebrate doing something bigger than ourselves. Let’s make miracles happen!  I can’t do it without you!

DONATE NOW PLEASE! 

We realize, typically for a blog celebration, I would host giveaways and give back to you. Over the ten years of our site, we have never charged you a dime for your experience here. I wouldn’t think of it.
If you have learned one thing on here, if one of my recipes has become a family favorite, if you saved on your family’s bills with a tip from our site, if Christmas was extra special because of a handmade idea on here… consider this just a small way to repay us for the research and time.
I beg you to make this year the birthday to remember. I beg you to impact these women and children.
I beg you. 

MomAdvice 10th Anniversary Gift Reveal from Clay Church on Vimeo.

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Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting

January 13th, 2014

Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting

In honor of MomAdvice.com’s tenth birthday, I wanted to share this recipe for an easy chocolate chiffon cake made with peppermint buttercream frosting, perfect for celebrating our special day with you. This chocolate chiffon cake is made from a cake mix and the homemade peppermint buttercream frosting is the perfect use of any leftover holiday candy canes you might have in your home.

10 Year Celebration

Since this is my own birthday week, we decided to devote this week towards celebrating this incredible milestone. Tomorrow I will be revealing our best giveaway yet and I will be calling upon you to help me fulfill our site’s birthday wish. I can’t even believe that the site has now been around a decade! Someone pinch me please!

In the meantime, let’s talk about making a birthday cake for our celebration.

Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting

Truth be told, this is my sweet little girl’s birthday pick this year. It is a family tradition that the birthday child gets to pick their birthday cake each year from my big stack of cookbooks. She had her heart set on a chocolate chiffon cake, but the one that was featured in the cookbook was a bundt cake and I knew she was looking for that traditional layered cake that makes all parties special.

I did some web searching and figured out how to make this into a layered cake and then frosted it with a beautiful peppermint buttercream frosting to finish it off. We had to tint it pink though…this is after all, Emily’s birthday.

Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting

I am a very humble cake decorator so I relied upon a few yarn pom poms on skewers to create a little cake banner over her cake. Peppermint candies crushed on top also act as a great eye distractor from my sad frosting skills.

Hey, a mom can’t be great at everything

 

Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting

We popped our cake in a cake carrier and transported it to Grand Rapids, Michigan where we took a family holiday in lieu of gifts this year. We got to celebrate Emily (just the four of us) and enjoyed several days of seeing the sites while enjoying a cozy cabin away from it all. I made my daughter’s birthday dinner request (a giant helping of Weeknight Chicken Lo Mein) and a  delicious slice of birthday cake was enjoyed by all. And I do mean ALL.

My husband, who seems to hate cake for some reason, wanted a second slice and the whole family agreed that this was the perfect birthday cake. The cake tastes so light and airy and the buttercream had just a hint of mint that added a creamy finish to the top of the slice.  It was the perfect ending to a perfect evening celebrating.

Now that we have covered the cake, tomorrow we will be covering the GIFTS.

Please come back tomorrow to see our big surprise!

Here’s a hint… this gift will help a thousand people! ONE THOUSAND PEOPLE.  Have I grabbed your interest yet?

See you tomorrow for the big reveal! 

Chocolate Chiffon Cake with Peppermint Frosting
Recipe Type: Dessert
Author: Adapted from Chocolate from the Cake Mix Doctor
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 16
A beautiful chiffon cake made from a boxed cake mix and laced with peppermint icing for the perfect duo of chocolate & mint.
Ingredients
  • 5 large egg whites
  • 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 package (18.25 ounces) devil’s food cake mix
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 3 large egg yolks
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure peppermint extract
  • 3 1/2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar
  • 3-4 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Set aside two greased 8″ cake pans.
  2. Place the egg whites & cream of tartar in a mixing bowl. Beat with your mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form (approximately 2-3 minutes). Set aside.
  3. Place the cake mix, water, oil, egg yolks, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Beat these until incorporated.
  4. Turn the egg whites out on top of the batter and fold it in until the mixture is light, but well combined.
  5. Bake the cakes until they spring back when lightly touched with your fingers, approximately 45-50 minutes.
  6. Invert them immediately and allow the cakes to cool for one hour upside down.
  7. Remove them from the cake pan and place them right side up again.
  8. Place the butter, peppermint extract, and 1 cup of the confectioners’ sugar in a large mixing bowl.
  9. Blend to incorporate and slowly add in the remaining sugar and remaining milk. If the frosting seems too stiff, add in an additional tablespoon of milk.
  10. Decorate with crushed peppermint candies on top.

 

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