Margarita Cake

I cannot go to the mall without going to Williams-Sonoma. Even though 95% of the time I know I won't be buying anything, I can't resist just stopping by to browse and dream about one day owning all those beautiful kitchen gadgets. Another huge part about going to Williams-Sonoma is for those tasty samples they sometimes have at the front of the store. I love the hot, apple cider they have around Christmas time and these cookies began as a WS sample. Last weekend, while shopping for "big girl job" clothes, my mom and I popped in to Williams-Sonoma and they had out little, bite-sized samples of margarita cake. As a lover of margaritas I had to try this cake and after the first sample there were many more sneaky trips back to the front of the store to snatch another and another and another. Finally the sweet and not-so-naive sales woman (who had watched me eat all four samples) handed me a small card with the recipe on it. I was busted but happy as a clam now that I was able to make this cake at home!

Are you ready for the best part about this cake? Other than that it is cake and that it is margarita flavored? It is made from a box cake mix! I never rarely make baked goods from pre-made packages. It takes all the fun out of the baking process, but because I loved this cake so much, and because I trust Williams-Sonoma, I decided to stick with the recipe and use the box mix. This cake could not have been easier to make and it is unbelievably moist (even three days after I originally made it). I have only gotten rave reviews from all of my friends official blog recipe testers and this dessert will make the perfect Memorial Day treat, especially if want something quick and easy that is sure to please all your guests. 

Williams-Sonoma Margarita Cake

For the Cake:

1 store-bought yellow cake mix (will also need eggs and butter, determined by box recipe)

Margarita mix as needed

For the glaze:

2 cups powdered sugar (sifted)

1/4 cup margarita mix

Directions:

To make the cake, preheat an oven according to the cake mix package instructions. Grease and flour a 9-by-13 inch baking pan. 

Prepare the cake batter according to the package instructions, using the margarita mix instead of water. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake according to the package instructions. Transfer the pan to a wire rack after removing from the oven. 

To make the glaze, in a bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and margarita mix until well blended. Pour the glaze evenly over the warm cake. Let cool completely before serving.  

Margarita anything. 

Carrot Cake (Fails and Successes)

I am sorry for the absence this week. Without going in to too many personal details, this week has been very busy with an equal mixture of searching for a job and preparing for job training for another. Confusing, I know. 

Last week, I posted about a carrot cake that I was over-the-moon excited about making. It had a delicious marscapone and ginger frosting that I could already picture myself licking from the bowl...

I knew it would be the perfect dessert to enjoy after brunch on Easter Sunday. Well the cake never made it to Sunday. The cake didn't even make it to Saturday because it was such a fail. The center didn't cook and completely fell and only the edges cooked all the way through. (So clearly my family just took forks and ate around all the edges.) I ended up tossing the cake and never even got to make the frosting.

Luckily, I was able to make up for the cake failure by making carrot cake cookies this week. A few weeks ago my boyfriend and I went to Williams-Sonoma looking for a gift. My first action upon walking in to any Williams-Sonoma is walking straight to the tester counter where I can enjoy something tasty like a cracker dip, warm apple cider, or in this case carrot cake cookies. These cookies were so good that we convinced the sales associate to give us each two. My boyfriend remembered how much I liked them (and knew how much he would like me to make them for him) and bought me the mix for Easter. 

How appropriate is a fool-proof cookie mix after my last disaster in baking with carrots? This time I had no mishaps and the final product turned out great! I saved half of the dough (it's tempting me in my freezer) and plan on making a marscapone and ginger frosting to glaze on top of these cookie next time. 

I got to use my brand new paddle attachment that scrapes the sides of my Kitchen Aid while it mixes. Another thoughtful gift!

Working up my confidence to try the cake again. 

All Day Thanksgiving Wardrobe

{8:00} Pajamas

{11:30} Sweater // Pants // Flats // Oven Mitt

{2:00} Dress // Tights // Earrings // Lip Pencil

Thanksgiving at my house is full of traditions, food, and outfit changes.

Every Thanksgiving begins the same for me; on the couch, in my pajamas, and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. I have never missed the parade, and I can safety say that I never will.

One of my favorite Thanksgiving morning traditions is drinking orange juice with raspberries out of a wine glass. This morning drink started when I was little and the excitement of drinking from a wine glass was high- 

23 years old and I still get excited.

After the parade, it is officially cooking time and I am summoned to the kitchen to get started on the dressing. Making the dressing has always been a team effort by my dad and me, but I think he finally trusts me enough to give me complete control this year. The pressure!

For all the cooking it is important to be comfortable and that means an oversized sweater, my Pixie pants, and my favorite flats. Don't forget the oven mitt!

After all the food is prepared (which takes about 3 days total), this very anticipated Thanksgiving meal is ready to eat. With all the work and time that has gone in, I think it is important to make this meal a little more formal than an every day dinner, and that shows in my next wardrobe change.

Out of my comfortable outfit and into an (almost) equally comfortable outfit of tights and a dress. The key in this outfit is a loose fitting combo that allows plenty of room for the food baby that will most likely form. Let's be honest, if you don't stuff yourself than you aren't celebrating Thanksgiving in the correct way. 

My last and undocumented outfit change is back in to my comfy outfit for the remainder of the day, which includes pie, football, wine, games, and laughs with my family. 

Enjoy your day of food, family, and fashion.