Love, Laughter, and EVERYTHING in Between: Day 27-Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roll Cake

Sweet potato cake that tastes like a cinnamon roll!  My sister, friend and co-mom, Joyce Cunningham, is truly the Pthirty1 woman.  She sent me this recipe that I MUST share with you.

Sweet Potato Cinnamon Roll Cake
Posted To GFCAV Presents Food Recipe Central

Cake
Ingredients:
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
4 tsp baking powder
2 cups cooked sweet potatoes
11/2 cups milk
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsps vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted

Topping:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar
2 TBLS flour
1 TBLS cinnamon

Glaze
2 cups powdered sugar
5 TBLS milk
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans ( my addition)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 13×9 inch baking pan
.
In a large bowl combine flour,sugar,salt, and baking powder and nutmeg.  Stir with a fork to combine. 

In another large bowl beat sweet potatoes and milk until smooth.  Add beaten eggs, and vanilla, beat until combined. 

Slowly add flour to sweet potato mixture, mixing until just incorporated.  Slowly stir the melted butter into the batter until well combined. 

Pour batter into prepared pan. 

Make topping.

Topping directions:
Mix all the topping ingredients together until well combined.  Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife.  Bake cake for 30- 35 minutes.   After cake is baked, cool slightly while making the glaze.

Glaze directions:
Combine glaze ingredients mix until smooth.  Glaze cake while still warm.


~Until Next Time
SimplySHAY


Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Tasty Tuesday: (GUEST POST) - Oriental Salad

This is a guest post by my fabulous foodie friend and co-mom Joyce Cunningham of Pthirty1.  A thirty-something, happily married, entrepreneur, blogger , accountant and working mother of 6 beautiful children (ages 10 months to 21 years). Her passions are faith, family, food, fashion, flying and fun – all with a touch of frugality. As a self-certified foodie, she loves to cook, explore new restaurants, cuisines, cooking styles, cookbooks, recipes, etc.  Additionally, an avid DIYer that loves to sew, craft, build, fix and create at home, for the home, family, friends and anything or anyone in need.

 

When trying to figure out different dishes for family fun or upcoming events its easy to draw a blank.  Be sure to try this one, I guarantee you, your family and friends will enjoy it. *Toodles*

 

~

 

I always promote how much of a foodie I am and that I’ll eat just about anything at least once, but I have a secret to tell you. There are certain foods I just absolutely hate…despise even!  Cole slaw is one of them. I don’t know what happened in my childhood that scarred me from eating cole slaw for life, but I simply won’t touch the stuff. I’ve never attempted to make it myself and I always skip it if it’s offered elsewhere.

 

The problem with my distaste for cole slaw is my love for entertaining. I absolutely loooove having folks over and feeding them something so scrumptious they won’t leave without the recipe. Well, naturally, at any summer BBQ, people expect certain staples with their grilled bites. Cole slaw, my friends, is one of them. You see my dilemma?

 

So this recipe came about as an alternative to that wretched, loathsome, cole slaw I refuse to serve at my home. It is made with a vegetable I love – broccoli – and it’s so flexible as a recipe. You can make it savory as is or sweeten it up or even make it “savorier” (yep, I just made that up) ;).

Every time I serve this, I’m always asked for the recipe. My 12 year old loves it so much, she’s learned to make it herself. She loves to take it to school for lunch.  Substituting the sugar with splenda or stevia makes this a healthier choice, but either way , it doesn’t substitute on taste. This slaw is YUMAZING! Enjoy!

 

You will need:

2 pkgs broccoli slaw
1 pkg broccoli, chopped (or 1 small crown of fresh broccoli)
1 cup roasted sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds (I use Wonderful Almond Accents honey roasted)
½ bunch green onions, chopped
2 pkgs Ramen noodles, uncooked

Optional add-ins
1 cup bacon bits
1 cup dried cranberries

For vinaigrette:
¾ cup oil (I use canola)
½ cup sugar (or sugar substitute)
2 flavor packets from Ramen noodles

Directions:

1.       In a large bowl, mix slaw, broccoli, nuts, and onions. If using, mix in add-ins.

2.       Crush noodles over slaw and mix well.

3.       In a small bowl, mix vinaigrette ingredients well.

4.       About 1 hour before serving, pour vinaigrette over slaw and mix well (I mix this with my hands).

5.       Cover and chill until ready to serve.

6.       Enjoy! ;)

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Week One.. "Get It Together Girl"

I've always been into health and fitness and as we get older it's easy to sink into believing that gaining a few pounds here and there is a part of being grown.  While our bodies may change we can and must do our part in making sure the change is for the better! 

I'm sure you've noticed that there seems to be an array of "challenges" across the Internet.  If I've seen them I know you have too and  I think I've done most of them!  ChiTown Moms, Abs, Squats and even Running as if I don't know how to get off the couch and hit the pavement.  The competitor in me LOVES to be challenged and that is what makes them look appealing.  A co-worker asked me why am I always "losing weight" and my response was simple, "once I stop focusing on being the best me I can be, I'll be the worst." 

I've spoken to a few "experts" (lol) and they don't particularly care for the methods I use but since I'm not trying to enter any contests or anything, they work just fine for me.  The most recent challenge is with some good Pthirty1 foodie friends of mine.  In addition to being wives and mothers we have demanding careers.  Joyce is a Certified Accountant at a major corporation, Chantelle is a Licensed Therapist with her own practice and I'm a Professional Wedding/Events Planner in addition to providing Home health Care for Seniors.  So as you can assume we're often forced to eat bad BUT we're working out and getting it together! 

An herbalist mixed together a detox for me and I must say that it did what it was suppose to do.  For starters, my menstrual cycle, which is usually really really really heavy and never ending was back to normal.  If it did nothing else I was happy for not having to deal with THAT for 10-12 days along with lots of pain.

In addition to drinking the nastiest mess known to man I had no bread, soda or meat.  I also managed to work out which is something I actually enjoy.  My day includes lots of water, juicing/smoothies, a daily walk/run, climbing stairs, jumping jacks, sit up regime that my daughter came up with and some other pain staking exercises; this girl is going to be 50 in 2014 and determined to Get It (back) Together!  I have some personal goals that I want to meet and this is a major part of reaching those goals.  Wont you join me? 

Until Next Week - "Live & Love"
Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.

Guest Post: Hosting A Simply Perfect Wine Tasting Event

As a professional wedding and events planner at SPPE, I enjoy sharing ideas about a variety of events that can be fun and out of the ordinary.  Below is a guest post from Joyce Cunningham of Pthirty1 that fits right into the scheme of things - Enjoy!

A couple of years ago, my sister and I hosted a wine tasting for our business, Selah Events. The event was so much fun, but A LOT of work! So much work, we’ve been planning another one for 2 years now :D!

 

Although our event was for public pleasure, you can host your own wine tasting with less stress. Not a wine connoisseur? So what…who cares?!?! Grab a variety of whites and reds and set a date to explore with your closest friends! Here’s how to pull it off:

 

1.       It Starts with Wine: If you already know what wines you like, you’re halfway there. You are more likely to host with ease when promoting a brand you believe in. So plan to include some of your favorite wines in the tasting. If you haven’t a clue when it comes to the brew, hit your favorite grocer or wine store and ask for recommendations. Read the labels and pick a few that’s interesting.

A great place to explore various wines without breaking the bank is Aldi…my sister hooked me on that tip some years ago and I haven’t been disappointed yet. ;)

 

2.       Fickle Foodie Facts: Have you ever been in a nice restaurant and opted for the recommended wine pairings? Did it make you wonder how some wines go so well with certain foods? I found that even wines I didn’t care for tasted better when paired with a dish I loved. Whether it be heavy appetizers, light dinner or just snacks offered at your wine tasting, choose your food carefully.

You will most definitely need good breads and cheeses. Fresh fruit is also a good idea if you’re keeping it light. Chocolates go well with anything. And just about anything French will work for your wine tasting menu. Oui Oui?

  

3.       Make it Fun: When I was younger, I always had an image of wine lovers as distinguished prudes. I gradually became a wine lover as I approached (and entered) my 30’s. That’s when I discovered those old movies with the 70 year old guy smoking a cigar and holding a glass of wine while wearing his pajamas and murmuring about his golf handicap while barely opening his mouth was just dead wrong! Wine is for everyone…that makes us all distinguished :D!

Make your party less about “sip and chat” and more about exploration and discovery. Draft wine scorecards for each guest to rate their wines. Later, mix it up a bit and blindfold guests having them guess a wine by scent or flavor. Or have each guest bring their favorite wine and play a game of “guess who” by asking each guest to guess who brought what wine (this game is a hoot if your guests are all close friends).

 

4.       Gift it Away: Gatherings are always most memorable when there’s gifting involved. I believe giving is way more rewarding for the giver than for the receiver. You don’t have to spend lots of money to make each of your guests feel special. Of course, you can be as extravagant in giving as you like, but small tokens like wine bags, cork stoppers, chocolates or even personalized wine labels will go a long way in the hearts of your attendees.  Be creative and have fun with it!

For more information and tips check out PThirty1.com

Sharon Patrice Simply Perfect Peace Events, Inc. and Designs by Shay, the Blog "My Journey, My Way, My LIFESTYLE ~ Celebrating Love, Laughter and Everything in Between..." You or your brand interested in a review? Getting married or having a social event and need assistance? Email Me For All Your Event Planning Needs.