Day 9

When you go outside, you can finally tell that it is summer!

Today is the perfect day to play outside in the wading pool!

Day 7

Happy First Day of Summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy that today actually sort of felt a little bit like summer! I mean, it didn't even rain once today!

Today I made some yummy snickerdoodle cookies! Already almost all of them are gone.

Snickerdoodles

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups plus two tablespoons sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. Put butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar into electric mixer and mix on medium speed until smooth. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture.
2. Stir together the cinnamon and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small bowl. Shape the dough into small balls and roll in the cinnamon sugar. space 3 inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3. Bake cookies for 12-15 min. until edges are a golden brown. Cool on a cooling rack. Cookies can be stored up to three days in an airtight container.

Also today since there was actually a little bit of sunshine, I went outside and drew a picture of a flower on the sidewalk with chalk.

1st Book Review of the Summer!

47

By Walter Mosley

47 is about a young slave boy. The story starts when he is a very young. He lives with Big Mama Flore instead of his father. His father is his master. When his mother died, Master did not care for him and was planning to stick him in the fields when he grew to be big enough. Big Mama never fed him meat or milk so that he would stay little and therefore wouldn't have to go work in the fields.

By and by, Master noticed that the boy who lived with Big Mama, had lived with her for an awfully long time. He decided it was time for him to go into the fields. Master sent Mr. Stewart, the overseer to go and bring him to the slave quarters. The boy was brought to a cabin that was filthy and that stank. He was left there, feeling alone and forgotten. Then a slave that they called Pritchard came in. He sat down at a wood stove and took from it a branding tool. Pritchard yelled at the boy to come here, that he was going to brand his number onto his arm, that it would only hurt for a day or two. The boy looked at the hot tip. 47. So that was to be his number, his name.

47 fought against Pritchard as hard as he could, but the grown slave was stronger than he and soon 47 was pinned to the ground. Everything went black.

* * *

47 then became a field slave. Every night he would get chained to his bunk. Every morning he would get up at the crack of dawn. Every day he would work tirelessly in the fields, picking cotton.

One day, a strange slave boy shows up at the plantation. His name is Tall John. 47's life changes after that. He finds out that he is someday going to be a hero and save the world from and evil creature called Wall that lives in Tall John's world. For Tall John is from, as 47 puts it, beyond Africa.

47 is a story you won't forget reading. I highly recommend this book for people who like historical fiction mixed with a bit of fantasy. I think this is a good book for ages 11 and up.

Day 6

Happy Fathers Day!!!!!

Still rainy. Ugh! When is it going to stop raining?? This is couldn't be summer! There has only been 4 days of sunshine since April 1st.!

On Friday, there was lots of sun. What did everybody do during this rare occasion? I went swimming in an outside pool! The outside temperature was not very high, but the water was 85 degrees.

On Saturday, the weather was pretty nice. The sun was out, but it still was chilly. My friends took me to get a manicure as a late birthday present. I chose purple and blue nail polish with little designs and sparkles.

Day 3

Today, despite the fact that it is summer, is rainy. No going to play outside. No going on walks. Just staying inside all day. I thought summer was supposed to be sunny and warm. Not rainy and cold. What are somethings you like to do on a rainy day? I stayed inside all day. I played board games with my brother, made some earrings in our studio, read good books, played with my little sister and her friend, and just sat around. Hopefully tomorrow is nicer.

Day 1

Today is my mom's birthday, so what better thing to do, than bake a cake!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I love the recipes that come out of this cook book, so I thought that I would give this cake a try. The book is The New Best Recipe. From the editors of Cook's Illustrated.

Carrot Cake

2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 pound carrots (about 6-7 medium) peeled (the recipe calls for this many carrots, but I think you only need about 5)

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups canola or vegetable oil

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 tablespoon sour cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar

For the Cake

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 13 by 9 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray. line the bottom of the tray with parchment paper, and spray the paper.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt in a bowl and set it aside.
3. Shred the peeled carrots in a food processor. (you should get about three cups). Add the carrots to the dry ingredients, set aside. Wipe out the processor, and mix together the sugars and eggs until they get frothy. While the machine is running, add the oil. Put the mixture in a large bowl and mix in the dry ingredients. When you are done mixing, there should be no streaks of flour. Pour this into the pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. (35-40 minuets). When the cake is done, cool on a rack at room temperature, for about 2 hours.

For the Frosting

1. When the cake is done cooling, process the cream cheese, the sour cream, the butter, and the vanilla until combined. Add the confectioners sugar and process until smooth.
2. Run a knife around the edge of the cake to loosen it from the pan. Put the cake on a wire rack and peel off the parchment paper. Using a spatula, spread the frosting evenly over the cake.
3. Cut slices or squares, serve, and eat!

A nice touch to add is:

• Sprinkling extra shredded carrot on top
• Adding extra shredded carrot to the frosting for color
• Adding designs or words to the cake with frosting

To save, wrap in foil and stick in the fridge.

Summer time

Happy Summer Everyone! I hope this blog inspires you to be creative with what you do during your 84 days this summer.