Fabulous Caramel Cake

It has been a while since I have baked anything. Way too long! I used to bake something (anything) at least once a week, but since we moved and I started my job, I just feel like I just haven't had the time or inclination to bake anything.

However, I do love to bake and miss it a lot. So I decided to just jump back in a make something (anything). After perusing my recipe books I decided on this cake from Southern Cakes by Nancie McDermott; mostly because I had all the ingredients on hand!

The cake came out very good, but also extremely sweet. But what can you expect when making a cake with "Caramel" in it's name! Although my cake didn't turn out as pretty looking at the one pictured in the book, it didn't deter from the taste. I just didn't get the caramel icing spread as quickly as I needed to -- it hardened up quicker than I expected.

Fabulous Caramel Cake from Southern Cakes by Nancie McDermott

Yellow Cake

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1 cup milk
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Caramel Icing

One 1-pound box (about 2 2/3 cups) light brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
7 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Inn at Bay Pointe, Quincy, MA

Last weekend my mother came down to visit us on Saturday.  We had plans to take our girls to see the latest presentation at the Randall T. Boyd Jr. Planetarium in Weymouth that afternoon, and since it was such a nice day, decided to ad in a late lunch/early dinner as well.  We had wanted to try something new, so we decided on a restaurant in Quincy that we had been hearing about for a while and had been wanting to try -- Inn at Bay Pointe.

I had first read about this restaurant from Hidden Boston, and if ever there was a hidden restaurant it would be this one!  It is buried at the end of a dead end residential street Quincy, in a parking lot of a marina.  Luckily, mu husband drives past this street on his way to work every day and had driven down it before, otherwise I may not have found the restaurant!  The owners have, however, placed a large sign on the corner of the street indicating that they are there, so if you do go, keep a lookout for that sign.

We walked and and immediately my husband and I commented that we both liked the look and feel of the restaurant.  It isn't super modern looking or fancy, but it just gave off a comfortable vibe, with nice large windows overlooking the water, and a nice large bar that would be great to check out at some other point (when we were without kids!).  There is also an outdoor seating area on the water that would be a nice place  to have lunch or dinner in the warmer weather.

The menu has a nice mix of seafood, burgers and sandwiches, as well as other classic American dishes.  I ordered the Vegetarian Melt.  It was very good, made with sliced Portabello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, Bermuda onion, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, grilled, almost panini style.  It came with fries, which I normally try to avoid, but these were good as well.  Crispy and not greasy at all.  My mother ordered the Sheppard's Pie, which came in a very large portion.  She proclaimed it "delicious;"  one of the better Sheppard's pies she has eaten.  Paul got a Reuben Burger, which he said was perfectly fine.  Not outstanding  but a good burger nonetheless.  Ellie ordered the Shrimp Scampi special, which to my eye wasn't really scampi, as it came with more of a tomato based sauce instead of the garlic sauce a traditional scampi has.  She ate all of the shrimp, but left the pasta.  My youngest ordered pasta from the kid's menu, and ate the entire plate, which was a good sized child's portion.

All and all, we were pleased with Inn at Bay Point.  I would love to go back soon to try more of the seafood offerings there, and I am told the weekend brunch is excellent.  Give this place a try, if you can find it!

The girls pose on the anchor outside of Inn at Bay Pointe.

Why Am I Paying to Watch Ads?

Last night my family went to the movies to see "Dolphin Tale."  In 3-D no less.  It was a very sweet movie and a nice night, but there was one part of the evening that really got to me.

We got to the theater early (as I am very anal and am always way to early for everything).  We were sitting in the theater waiting for the 5:00pm start time for the movie.  5:00 came, the lights dimmed, and we were treated to 25 minutes of previews, reminders to buy popcorn and turn off our phones and, the worst of all, advertisements. Lots of ads.  Ads as far as the eye can see.  Can you tell me what is up with that?

I understand needed to make money.  That is what a business does; why they exist really.  To make money.  But, if you tell me that a movie starts a 5:00pm and I take my tow children to that movie, they should not have to sit and wait an additional 35 minutes for the movie to start.  A preview or two and maybe one Coke or Ford ad is all I am willing to stand.

So, I am going to try to stick to my local independent theater,  the Cameo Theater in Weymouth, MA.  They have it right!  One or two previews that the main feature.  Plus, it is only $5!  Can't beat that with your fancy 3-D glasses.