Mom With Class

Awake From A Two Year Coma

2011-01-06T12:30:00.002-05:00

So the repairman came and went. He was the barer of good and bad news.

I’ll get over the bad news first. The fuses my husband checked and found to be working were not for the oven, they were for the plugs on top of the oven. The control panel for the oven (where there is the buttons to bake/broil/self clean) has power going into it but none coming out. Basically I need a whole new piece, and he is not sure if it’s an expensive piece… I await his call with a price. So still no oven, and another Shabbat dinner to cook, without the use of an oven (at least the stove top works)

And for the good news… 2 years ago, my kitchenaid mixer came to a stubborn halt. No gentle (or not so gentle) nudging could get it to work again. I called Kitchenaid, only to be told that I over used, it was made to mix cakes and occasionally bread, not on a regular basis (um.. maybe they should have that written on the box, because I specifically bought it for bread making) They told me they would take a look at it to see if its fixable for a cost of $150 + shipping + whatever the repairs actually cost. I decided Kitchenaid was history in my book, and bought myself an Electrolux mixer.

I love my Electrolux (which can knead large amounts of bread dough with ease), but do sometimes miss my Kitchenaid for Cakes. The past 2 years the Kitchenaid has had it’s vacation under my sink, where it was all but forgotten. I asked the repairman, who came today, if he knew mixers at all. He didn’t, but agreed to look at it anyways. He took the machine apart and found the broken piece which he said I could get at any parts store. When he put it back together my machine sprung back to life!!! So now I have a Kitchenaid again, but no oven, so cant try it out yet. (and it cost me only $40 for the service call, for both the oven and the mixer!) (checked online, and the replacement part cost $31)

My Kitchenaid mixer came out of a 2 year slumber!

Thanks for stopping by,

Chanie

The Hunt For Cookies

2011-01-06T11:05:00.000-05:00

They say you should find good in every situation. I'm actually benefiting from the lack of an oven, maybe I should cancel the repairman, who is scheduled to come this morning to look at it. My freezer is always full of baked goods, and my family is horrible with the FIFO concept (first in, first out). With the lack of an oven the past 2 weeks, finally my freezer is being emptied out.

This morning my kids scoured the freezer for something special to put in their lunch boxes. They found individually wrapped pirate cookies that I cannot put an exact date on.... but I'm sure it wont harm them in anyway.

Till later,

Chanie

Sweet Deals

2011-01-05T09:27:00.002-05:00

I love saving money (now who doesn't, as long as it doesn't take too much out of you) Before I left for Vegas, I found 2 pairs of dress boots I liked, in Winner's. One was $149 and the other $99, I liked the more expensive ones better, but not $50 more, so I bought the cheaper ones. In Arizona, last week, I found the more expensive ones for $59! I may have only lost money at the slot machines, but coming across those shoes made me feel like I came out a winner.

Nine West boots for $59

This past Monday, I decided to take advantage of the after Christmas sales and spent the day in Carrefour Laval. Wasn't the best shopping day ever, but I did get some deals. Shopped for the boys for t-shirts in Children's Place ($6) and Old Navy ($1.99!) and some socks at $1 each. My husband picked up a sweater, and some Clark's he had his eye on. I found another pair of boots for myself. Costed me $40, down from $165.

Suede boots, over the knee or fold over.

Till later,

Chanie

Disaster Averted

2011-01-04T13:49:00.002-05:00

I was hired to bake a cake for a Bat Mitzvah that was to take place last Thursday. The Bat Mitzvah girl sat with me for some time designing the cake to her specifications. She wanted the cake to have a globe on it and 2 candles with the line “מעט אור דוחה הרב חושך” “A little light dispels a lot of darkness” Being that I was to be out of town till Wednesday (the day before the event) I planned to bake the cake in advance of my vacation, freeze and take it out when I get back to decorate it. I baked the bottom tier but just as I was baking the top globe tier, my oven stopped working. (At the time I also had challah sitting on my counter waiting its turn in the oven) I called the mother of the girl and assured that I will figure something out, but I cannot promise what it will be.

I returned from vacation with a whole bunch of sketches but not quite sure what I’d do. That night the Bat Mitzvah girl and her mom came over and with their help and understanding we created a new design sketch. Thank G-d, the cake came out to their satisfaction.

Thanks for stopping by,

Chanie

Welcome

2011-01-04T13:40:00.001-05:00

Hi! My name is Chanie. I’m a SAHM with 3 young boys. My day is filled with house cleaning, cooking, errands, entertaining and of course baking. I love to bake, but more than baking, I love the satisfaction on people’s faces after they eat a delicious dessert. I’m also all about presentation, and putting those 2 together, I began my passion for decorating cakes. I now have a small home business/hobby selling custom cakes, cookies and cupcakes.

My blog will be focused on my baking, cooking, and home decorating (come along as I attempt to fix-up my just purchased home), but I’m not going to limit it to just those topics.

I hope you’ll come by often to view my blog,

Chanie