Jibber Jabber

My uncles used to recite the following at me when I was very small:

Jibber jabber, never the matter
What the time of day,
Jenny Penny talks a lot
No matter what you say.

Turns out Mila inherited her mother's childhood gift of gab. Because she keeps me laughing all the time, and because I don't want to forget this stuff, here are a few things Mila has said lately.

*

After listening to the Rolling Stones' "Time Is On My Side" she sang, "Yoooou rub a back. Yoooou rub a back. Yoooou rub a back..." ad nauseum.

Thanks to DJ Lance Rock of Yo Gabba Gabba, whenever someone says, "Let's do it," she replies, "Bake it down!"

One of her favorite books is Green Eggs and Ham. She now says, "Thank you Sam-uh-Am," when you do anything for her. It was only a matter of time.

Not too long ago, though, it was, "Thankum Sam-uh-Am," because she kept getting "thank you" and "you're welcome" confused. "Thankum" was a good catchall until she figured that out.

When I put Margot down for tummy time, she shouted, "Mila tummy time too!" then flopped face down on the blanket and began kicking her feet and grunting...just like her sister was doing.

One day she started pluralizing words like Gollum in LOTR. You know how he says "hobbitses" and "orcses"? Her feet are "feetsies" and shoes are "shoeses" and crayons are "keronses" and so forth. What's weird is that she used to use plurals correctly and now she does this. We have no idea where it came from, but it's hilarious when she says things like, "Oops! Crumbsies on the couch!"

Sometimes she'll bring you something--a toy or a Goldfish or what have you--and shout, "Galatians!" We're 97% certain she means congratulations. We have no idea where this one came from either.

Also, she calls muffins "wuffins." I am baffled by this.


Just the other night she dropped something and said, "Uh oh! Beg-ee-ohs!" I thought David would die laughing.

She saw a metal sculpture David made ages ago that I'd put on the table in the front entry. "Wut's dat?" she asked. "A little man," I told her. She replied, "Oh. Well hi mister!"

Ah, toddlers. They make messes and whine and are completely irrational little beasts, but they are so funny you can't help loving them anyway.

Cake #13: Yellow Cake w/ Chocolate Ganache

I know. I already made a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. This is not the same cake, I swear.

For one, it was much prettier than its predecessor, even when photographed in less-than-ideal light.

For another, it was a birthday request, and you can't say no to those. Within reason, of course.

For a third, I will probably make this one again someday because it was a big hit.

It's worth pointing out that this cake recipe is totally different than any I've ever seen. Two kinds of flour. Butter AND oil. Tons of eggs. And a strange final step that still confuses me but whatever because the cake turned out delicious. Just be aware that the ingredients and instructions are a bit out there, but also that it's totally worth the weirdness.

Aaaand...go.

Yellow Cake w/ Chocolate Ganache Frosting
from Vintage Cakes

Cake
1 1/3 cups sifted cake flour
3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 eggs + 4 egg yolks, at room temperature
1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy cream, cold

Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 8 inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment paper.

Whisk together the flours, baking powder, and salt.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until fluffy (about 5 minutes on medium-high). Scrape down the bowl as needed. Reduce mixer speed to low and add oil and vanilla; mix until well combined. With mixer still on low, add egg yolks and whole eggs one at a time. Then add about a third of the flour mixture, then half the buttermilk, another third of the flour, the remaining buttermilk, and the remaining flour. Mix until just barely blended between each addition. Stir in the last bit by hand so you don't overmix the batter.

In a separate bowl, beat the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Fold the whipped cream into the cake batter. Divide the batter evenly between your two pans and bake 35 to 40 minutes. (The cake is done when the center springs back lightly when touched.) Cool cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then turn out onto rack to finish cooling.

Ganache
1 pound semi-sweet chocolate, chopped or in chips*
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

*I used a combination of semi-sweet and bittersweet chocolate because that's what I could scrounge up. It turned out delicious. Just so's ya know.

Put the chocolate in a heat resistant bowl. Combine the cream and brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally. When the cream begins to simmer, remove from heat and pour over the chocolate. Swirl the bowl to confirm that all the chocolate is coated in hot cream, then let sit for a few minutes. Whisk together slowly until you have a smooth glossy ganache.

Let the ganache cool until it reaches a good spreading consistency. You can either let it sit at room temperature for an hour or so, or put it in the fridge to speed up the process. Either way, stir it occasionally to ensure that it cools evenly and doesn't stiffen up too much. (If it does get too firm, just microwave it for a few seconds.)

Assembly
With a long serrated knife, cut each cake layer into equal halves to create four layers. Lay one layer on your serving plate, cut side up. Spread a heaping 1/2 cup of ganache over the top going all the way to the edge. Stack the next layer (cut side up) on top and frost the same way. Repeat with the third layer. Top with the final layer, cut side down this time. Apply a thin layer of ganache all over and refrigerate the cake for about 10 minutes to set the crumb coat. Frost generously with the remaining ganache.

Mila Monday

Amelia: 103 weeks

This is the face she made when I asked if I could take her picture.

And when I asked her to sing me a song, she gave me a medly of "I Am a Child of God" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star".

I really want to get her on camera singing all the songs she knows so you can play Name That Tune. It would be hilarious.

Margot: 5 weeks

She sometimes has a worried old man face when she sleeps.

And while I didn't get a video of her doing one of her cool tricks (i.e. staring into space, making monkey noises, or filling her diaper with much gusto) I did get this shot of her tiny toes.

BABY TOES. Is it wrong that I want to eat them?

One Month

Confession: this is the only thing I did yesterday.* Well, other than make sure both girls survived for 24 hours, but it's only when you stop doing that that anyone takes notice.

Dear parents of the world,

Thanks for keeping your kids alive for yet another day. It's hard work, I know. Well done.

Love, Jen

Anyway, since Margot has been around for a month now, I took her picture. Tada.

If that diaper weren't so big on her, you could see all nine of her thigh rolls...but it is, so you can't. Which is a pity because they are delicious.



*Also I showered and ran a couple loads of laundry--but I did not fold any of it--and made AND cleaned up dinner. Oh, and I caulked a few baseboards that needed some love. Can't forget that. I guess it wasn't a total waste of a day after all.

I'm too tired to think of a witty title for this post.

The one day I desperately need a nap would be the same day Margot will only sleep for half an hour at a time and is only happy if she's in my arms.

I'm having flashbacks to Mila's infancy when she was the WORST NAPPER EVER. It's a miracle both of us survived that first year. One of my conditions for having another kid was that he or she had to be a better sleeper than the first one was. Because you can totally make requests like that.

If this week doesn't get better, and soon...heaven help us.