MELT IN YOU MOUTH BUTTERCREAM FROSTING!

I tried a new Buttercream frosting for Kresta's birthday cake, and it was the most delicious frosting I have ever had! And I'm not being bias, because almost everyone who tasted it said the exact same thing. I sure wish I could take credit for creating this delectable light and creamy, melt in your mouth, fluffy, sugary goodness, BUT it's a Wilton recipe:

1/2 c butter

1/2 c vegetable shortening

1 tsp real vanilla

4 c powdered sugar

1/8 c milk

1 1/2 c white chocolate chips

1/8 c milk

Cream butter and shortening with electric mixer until well blended. Add vanilla then one cup of sugar and a portion of 1/8 c milk until all sugar and milk has been added. Beat on high until light and fluffy. In a microwavable bowl add the white chocolate and 1/8 c milk. Microwave on high at 30 second intervals until smooth and creamy. Be very careful because chocolate burns easily, and it's basically useless if it does because it becomes clumpy and pasty. As you get to the point where it's mostly melted, microwave at 10 second intervals. Add the smooth white chocolate to the frosting and beat again until light and fluffy. You will NOT be disappointed. It's better than cotton candy...oh yes it is, I promise!

KRESTA'S FIRST BIRTHDAY!

 I couldn't decide between a butterfly or this cute little farm scene idea.  I showed Jason a pic of each of them, and his response, "Oh my goodness, look at those cute little chicks. You HAVE to go with this cake." So how could I resist! The barn was simple. I just used a jelly roll pan and one cake mix and cut it to shape the barn. The rest is easy to see. 

The pigs: pink frosting for the snout, m&m eyes and nose, fruit leather for the ears. 

The sheep: white frosting to cover, pink for nose area, m&m for nose and eyes, marshmallows cut in half with gumdrops for ears.

Chicks: White frosting, with tinted yellow coconut, m&ms, triangle shaped gum drop for beak.

Birthday girl getting ready.

Poking the poor little piggie.

 Tasting the frosting for the first time.

 Quickly deciding it's definitely worth the mess!

 

Her first present!

 Logan helping her out with the next one.

She's not really sure how she feels about Silas playing with her new toy.

Daddy giving the Birthday Girl kisses.

 Enjoying her new pony ride.

 Helping mom in the kitchen....

well making a mess is more like it.

What do we have here?

 Oh...another instrument to bang and make noise!

 But who could get made at those cute little chubby cheeks and triangle fingers!

 She can help me in the kitchen any time.

AN EDIBLE VALENTINE FROM MY VALENTINE

Jason was working over Valentine's this year. I'm not one for flowers, he knows that. Although I LOVE fresh flowers, they only last a few days. This year he surprised me with this.

 

It was delivered Valentine's morning. So thoughtful, and the boys and I really enjoyed it, especially the milk and dark chocolate covered pieces! I tried not to think about the fact that I could have purchased an entire months' worth of fruit for the price he paid, and just enjoy it. Ultimately though, it's heartwarming to know he thinks I'm worth it, and that makes me feel very, very loved indeed!

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS

Silas says to me one morning as I was combing his hair for school, "Ya know Mom, you don't haff to be hannsome to have goolofwend you dust haff to be yoself. Dat's somefing Logan told me."

I called Silas back into the kitchen one morning to finish his bowl of cheerios. He makes the saddest face and groans, "But it's all soaky momma!"

We were on out way to pick up Logan from school one afternoon and Silas asks from the backseat, "Mom, did Mary haff a baby too? She had a little lamb, I know that. But didn't she also haff a little baby?"

Gaige was over for a playdate with Silas. After lunch they went to the pantry to get a treat. Silas says, "Mom I want a kittykat (kitkat) do we have any?" Gaige looked at Silas with the most horrific look on his face, "YOU eat cats!"

SECRET MISSION

Silas came running down the stairs on a secret mission to sneak a treat from the pantry in the kitchen.  I was sitting at the kitchen table looking over the grocery ads when I hear him sliding his way down the hallway into the kitchen. I see him poke his head around the corner to see if I'm at the sink, then I hear him whisper to his pretend Seal team: "The Cloast is clear. Mom is NOT in the kitchen, I repeat, THE CLOAST IS CLEAR, she is NOT in the kitchen." He looks to the left, then the right, then waves a hand above his head making some type of gesture and points to the kitchen. As he tip toes away from the wall I get a glimpse of what he's wearing: that's when I start giggling and scare him half to death! 



BUSTED. He took a break from rescuing the world and ate a popsicle.

ALL THINGS CARAMEL!

I've had caramel on the brain. Probably because summer has arrived and I'm thinking of carnivals, and fairs and outside picnics...which brings me to think of caramel apples and popcorn balls and so forth. So, in honor of caramel, here's a couple of my of all-time favorite recipes.

Caramel Apple Dippers or Popcorn
Why go to the trouble of putting an apple on a stick and dipping it in the caramel to eat, when you can cut the apple into bite size pieces and dip each one in delicious caramel! Be warned, you might take a bite out of the spoon that's covered in this rich and dark caramel.

1/2 c butter
1 1/4 c dark brown sugar
1 1/4 c light brown sugar
1 c light corn syrup
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp salt
Over medium heat melt butter, sugars and corn syrup and bring to a boil. Add sweetened milk and salt and bring to a boil again. Cook 5 minutes take off stove and add vanilla.
1 tsp vanilla


Leatherby's Caramel Ice Cream Sauce
Ever been to Leatherby's? Mmm...your missing out! My favorite is Amy's Almond Joy....the name is perfect wouldn't you say, and let's face it, coconut ice cream covered in warm fudge, almonds and coconut is pretty much as close to heaven as you can get on a spoon in my book. Michelle, my roommate and dear friend from college, walk down memory lane once a year at Leatherby's and split the delicious coconut loving sugar rush with a side of their heavenly caramel sauce along with a big old fat order of artery clogging fries with fry sauce. This recipe is pretty darn close, you wont' be disappointed.

1 c white sugar
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 c corn syrup
1 1/2 c evaporated milk
1/2 c butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
Add everything to a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil for 3 minutes over low-medium heat. Store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

WHAT'S COOKIN?

I cooked bacon in the oven for the first time a couple months ago, and now it's the ONLY way I do it. Sure wish I new about this little trick years ago!  Use a jelly role pan, line with aluminum foil, lay out the bacon and place in a cold oven then turn it on 400, set the time for 21 min and walk away! Voila....bacon. Place on paper towels immediately so it stops cooking. No grease spatters, no burns, fantastic. The best thing I like is that all the bacon is done at the same time, such a time saver.

 I've had several requests for my pesto chicken salad sandwich recipe. You know me! I don't have recipes, I don't measure, I just toss and go. I tried to recreate, but in general: chicken chunks, couple TB mayo, couple TB softened cream cheese, dried cherries (blueberries, cranberries, etc.) diced apple (or grapes as well), sliced almonds, sliced celery, little diced green onion, several TB of your favorite pesto (I love Gia Russa, found it al Wal-mart). Add however much you like of each to taste, depending upon your mood. I like mine crunchy, so lots of celery, apples and almonds.