Kitchen Creations & Crafts

While most of the time I'm busy with the daily "to do" tasks...  Sometimes I get to be a little crafty or cook-y.  (Yum, cookies! Wish I had some!)  There's probably a better word for someone spending time in the kitchen - culinary artist - except I'm just a beginner, so anyway, enough rambling already!
For David's graduation I made him chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting per his request.  And so I tested out my newly acquired frosting tip skills.  I think I did pretty good w/out the best frosting possible.  It was fun doing these, even at 1am before graduation day.

And then on Mother's Day  it was decided each child would make part of the dinner for the 18 family members at the Clark's.  Well, I didn't even have pots/pans big enough to fit food for 18!  But it worked out.  I was in charge of two meals (and never had made them before may I say) - Potato Salad & Lime Cilantro Rice (Cafe Rio knock off).  And they turned out GREAT, at least they were mostly eaten, I think I made too much, and I liked it, so that's a start. :)

Here's me with the potato salad.  I actually had to boil the potatoes in two pots, and then let them sit in the fridge for several hours before they would cool down.  I had my cousin Steph's recipe and tips so I think that helped with the "success".  Peeling all those potatoes, cutting up the veggies, eggs, etc - it all sounds like a piece of cake on paper, but it sure did take 1/2 a day at least!  Next time, I'm making enough for only 2.

And then for the Lime Cilantro Rice - I had 2 pots and 1 rice cooker for all that rice!  David was a big help in both of these when he was around, which was definitely great.  What would I do without him?  Okay, getting side tracked again.  Below are some pictures during the rice process and then the final product.  It called for all these limes, but I would have even added more, me and citrus, yum!

David frying the rice above....

And lastly, I'm not sure how, but I still had some creative crafty desire and although I was going to make a wreath for ME first, below is the wreath given to my mom-in-law.  I guess I practiced on this one and the one for me will be even better maybe?  David helped pick out the flowers and colors and I think it looks very summery and nice to have their address on it, although if anyone does this, the numbers are on with hot glue and with all the varied sticks, its hard to keep it on because it's not level.  I'll post our wreath as soon as I finish it too.

And I didn't get a picture, but Saturday night we (my sis-in-law and me) made brownie cookies from pinterest which was very good too - along with a nice BBQ dinner of veggie kabobs and steak, hamburgers, etc.  More culinary creations from the 4 of us :)