White Cake with Caramel Icing

In preparation for my daughters birthday I have been on the hunt for good from scratch cake recipes. She wants me to make a from scratch cake. She said what I make is always better than anything we could get out of a box! Wow! So sweet and what a confidence boost. 

Little does she know that I am winging it most of the time. I have beautiful accidents. I am not so good with recipes, that is why I am always adapting things! So....my back up plan was to have my husband pick a Duncan Hines Mix up while he was in the states. So I am trying out recipes and testing cakes.  

Today we had some friends visiting from the states so I made this  white sheet cake for their visit. I made a few changes to the icing and made a caramel icing instead.

It was a big hit. I also took this cake to a seminar and it was gone beforeI could even taste it. So I took that as a good sign. This is a great contender.

Here is my recipe for the caramel frosting.

1 cup butter

1/4 cup condensed milk

2 1/2 - 3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

melt butter in pot, add the milk, then sugar and remaining ingredients. hen everything is melted. Pour over your cake and let set. If it is too runny add more sugar until the mixture is thick so that it will set nicely.

Enjoy!

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Polyvore!

When I first started on Pinterest one of my favorite things was finding awesome outfits that I could repin. I was about 7 months pregnant at the time and dreaming of my "future post pregnancy body". It didn't take me long to discover Polyvore. I registered, but never did anything with it. 

The time has come to start working towards my "new" post baby body. Great clothes inspire me to trim my thighs and tone my arms! So I have started playing around with Polyvore. I am training my mind for a what-not-to-wear rehaul of my wardrobe!

Here is one of the outfits I made, what do you think?

Peacock & Magenta by etcr22 featuring collar jewelry

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My Whatcha Need Bag!

As a mom of 3 I need to be prepared. Honestly it happens often that with as much as I have in my bag at all times, I still need more. We had an accident yesterday at a friends house and it reminded me again how I need to be better prepared. Always on the hunt for clever ways to be as organized as I dream of being... I saw this on Pinterest. My friend Miriam pinned it. 

I realized I could easily do that, and in fact had most everything in my purse already. So I took my half empty toiletry bag that I keep for travel. I filled my repurposed altoid and tic-tac tins and all the pockets to create this awesome bag!  I call it my Whatcha need bag. Ha Ha! 

Seven months, Sopapillas, and Sweet Friends

Sunday we went out for Mexican with some of our friends. They have for kids and we have 3. The youngest are both babies. It was nice. We tried a Mexican place on their side of town. I had a chimichanga for the first time since moving here.

It was so nice to spend time with them. Kim and I grew up together. She was my best friends little sister. She is now one of my dearest friends. She and I drove together to OKC. Where we both met and married our husbands. We were pregnant at the same time twice. Both times I had a girl and she had a boy. We moved to Vienna 6 months after their family did. Because our history is so intertwined,  anytime we have with them is treasured.

Saturday Brunch

We made plans to have some of our friends over for brunch this weekend. They still have not met baby V and it has been a really long time since we have spent time with them. In fact the last time I saw my sweet friend was when she threw a surprise baby/prayer shower the night before I checked into the hospital to deliver V.

I found this yummy casserole via Pinterest and could not wait to try it. I made a few changes like using Topfen instead of ricotta, and dried instead of fresh basil. I also added fresh parsley and used less zucchini. It tasted awesome and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested. I have always wanted to try frittata. This is basically just that. It was so good even the kids loved it.

Eggs from the neighbor

As you know I am working on becoming a better neighbor. This has been my goal since I needed my neighbors to get me out of a sticky situation recently. So when I heard that same neighbor was in the hospital I made these and took them upstairs.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Remember my neighbor? The one who helped my friend get my wallet. Well a week after we returned he went into the hospital.  We decided that we should take a little something up to show him that we were thinking of him.  I thought this would be a good treat to take. Our neighbors have 4 kids. There are 7 people living in their home, the youngest is 13. They are some of the sweetest, warm and hospitable people I know. I am really working on being a better neighbor. Sharing goodies from the heart is a great way to develop and grow relationships. I made my MeMe's oatmeal rasin cookies. They are my dad's favorite. 

Miriam at Into the Deep End!

Hi Everyone!

I want to introduce you to a new friend of mine. We met in bloggy land and have really hit it off. We have a good deal in common. We have swapped buttons, and she featured me on her blog last week. Now I get to return the favor. 

Five Minute Friday: Together

It has been a while since I have taken part in Five Minute Friday. Writing for five minutes without abandon, not worried about rules or sounding "correct"! So here we go:

TOGETHER

Together, thats what we are. That is one of my favorite things about Fridays, the time we all sit together in one room. It is a time for family a time for fun and a time that I feel free to sit and enjoy my loved ones.

Apple Chips

For the past several weeks I have had a strong craving for Apple Chips. I have been getting them at a store, I don't usually shop at and is a little out of the way for me. I decided to try and make my own.

A Mistake, an Adventure and Some Yummy Chicken!

Our family traveled to visit family to visit family over Easter break. We were about 6-7 hours into our journey. I had driven for several hours through Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and across the Polish boarder.  We had stopped to eat at McDonalds and continued on. I realized that my wallet was gone. I started thinking about when I had last seen it. Then I remembered hiding it in the top of our stroller when I made a quick trip to the store, but I couldn't remember taking it out!!!! What a nightmare.  We spent the next hour discussing every possibility and trying to figure out what to do. We were about 3 hours away from my in laws house, and about 6 hours away from home. Meanwhile baby V had been screaming and crying at the top of her lungs out of protest for being put back in the car seat. As we were talking about what to do K started throwing up! When it rains it pours huh?

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today I made cookies for an event at our church. I love oatmeal cookies, and I love chocolate. This is one of my favorite cookies to make.

ABC's of Me

A is for Artist: A word that sums me up pretty well.

B is for Believer: That's what I am!

C is for Creative: I love all things creative and I love to create.

D is for Doodlebug: My nickname in High School because I doodle on everything to this day.

E is for Epicure: I love really great food.

F is for Fimo: one of my favorite things to create with.

G is for Green: I make our household cleaners, and my own homemade beauty treatments.

H is for Hugs: I love Hugs!

I is for Indian Food: one of my favorite types of food.

J is for Jesus: I LOVE him!

K is for Knit: I really want to learn how to.

L is for Languages: I like learning new languages.

M is for Murals: I used to paint them.

N is for New Discoveries: I believe learning/trying new things keeps life interesting.

O is for Orange: my favorite color.

P is for Poland: my home away from home. Where my husband was born.

Q is for Quit: This is one thing I don't like to do.

R is for Read: I love to read, and wish I had more time to.

S is for Survivor: I am one of cancer, and 2 serious car accidents.

T is for Tea: one of my favorite things, not surprised are you?

U is for United States: where I was born. Where I met and fell in love with my husband.

V is for Vienna: where we live now.

W is for Worship: something I love to do!

X is for Xtrovert: I am extroverted!

Y is for Yellow: Bright yellow was the color of my room growing up.

Z is for Zoo: one of my favorite places to hang out, even at this age.

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Vote No Time for Tea Parties for Top 10 Foodie Blogs!

Please take some time to keep my blog in the top 10. The voting ends on the 13th. If you think my recipes are great, please vote for my blog here.

Thanks in advance for your support!

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Happy Easter!

Here I sit on Easter morning. Waiting, with expectation and reflection. I am remembering the events of the past days. I am reflecting on the event behind the day. 

Yesterday I spent most if the day with my father in law. I enjoyed watching him prepare his heart and mind for today. It is something I admire about him. The way he is so thoughtful and mindful of others. He is tenderhearted and sincere. That same thing passed on to my husband, one of the first things I remember thinking of him when I met him. I see it now in my oldest daughter as well. I had a nice time with him. It helped prepare my mind for today in an unexpected way as well.

Resurrection Rolls

I saw this great idea on Pinterest and couldn't wait to try it. We usually travel for Easter. I always enjoy celebrating and fellowshipping with people we love. Last year we were in Croatia, and this year we are celebrating in Poland. 

I have often wanted to d some of the cool things I have seen with my kids. This year was perfect because we had 3 days at home before leaving. The first day we did this.  I decided for day two we would make these awesome Resurrection Rolls.  I think this is a great way to teach your kids all about the miracle behind Easter.

This is how we did it.  It is easy, quick and fun. Even my 2 year old made his rolls all by himself. You only need a few things:

Can of croissants

Marshmallows (one for each croissant)

melted butter

mix of cinnamon and sugar

We got out our children's Bibles and learned about Jesus. We started the day before by talking about the kind of man he was and reviewing some of the things he had done in his life. We used 3 different versions because of their different ages. I do a Bible class in the mornings with my youngest children. We use the See with Me Bible. I love the illustrations and my friend Kim and I always used this Bible for the murals we painted in the church. My oldest read the scripture for us from her Adventure Bible. We read from a couple of different accounts. We read in John 17 about Jesus prayer prior to his arrest. And how on that day he even though of us before he did this beautiful thing...and saved us all.

I gave each child a marshmallow, and a croissant.  I told them that the marshmallow represented Jesus. How he lived a pure and holy life. I told them that the croissant represented the cloth he was wrapped up in. Then I had them cover the marshmallow with the butter and then roll it in the spices. I explained that this represented what they did to Jesus after he died. After they wrapped them up, I made sure all of the seams were closed and placed them on a baking sheet. (Bake according to the directions)

We all walked to the oven and I told them this represented taking Jesus and laying him in the grave. I also told them the sealed oven represented the sealed grave. Then we waited. While we waited we talked about what they thought was going to happen. We also talked about what if might have felt like for Jesus' friends and family. We looked back through the Bible for pictures showing us the emotions they might have felt.

I also had them use this time to draw a picture.

When it was time we took them out and talked about what we discovered. It has been 3 days now and even as I am writing this post my 2 year old walked up and said What's that? It is Jesus he not in there anymore!!! I think that sums it up!  Here are our rolls!

This was a great activity to teach my kids what Easter is really about. I hope you try it too! Celebrate and enjoy Easter!

adapted from Eat at Allies

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Eggstra Fun Day!

My daughter is on Easter Break and I decided to make the best of our days at home before we go celebrate Easter with family. I saw these cute little chicks made out of eggs on a comment a friend in Bosnia made on her friends Facebook Feed. I wanted to find them so I looked on Pinterest and found a link so I could look at the picture.

While I  was looking, I also saw pastel dyed deviled eggs and pinned these. I decided to combine them and let each child have 2 eggs. So that is just what we did. I think they all had fun. I know I did. It is not very often that I just sit down, and laugh with all 3 of them. 

Tell me what you think! 

I think they turned out super cute.

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Buttermilk Almond Scones with Citrus Cinnamon Glaze

I love scones. I am not even really sure where or when I first tasted a scone. I am certain that it had to be at a tea party of some sort. Scones and tea just want to be friends. They make a great match. They both make me happy, and come in so many varieties!                                     I have a basic recipe that I am always playing with to come up with different combinations. I think that is one reason I like Scones. They are like flavored biscuits.  I can pick a flavor and create something new. Biscuits remind me of my childhood. I loved the times when my dad made biscuits. I enjoyed watching him make them too. 

This morning I woke up with a taste for scones and citrus. So I let my mind get busy with that and this is what we had for breakfast. With great reviews.

Scones:

2 cups flour

4 Tbsp. cold butter

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup buttermilk

Cut the cold butter into the flour and mix well until crumbly. then add extracts and baking powder. Mix well and add in buttermilk until everything is well mixed.

You can roll out and cut into triangles or use a biscuit cutter. Then cook on cookies sheet on 350 for about 20 min. 

While the scones cook, make a glaze to top them. 

Glaze:

 3 tbsp powdered sugar

1 tsp lemon juice

1 tsp orange juice

1/2 tsp milk

1/4 tsp cinnamon

I made 2 without the glaze. Just plain and I made a citrus butter to go with those. 

Lemon butter:

Mix equal amounts of butter, powdered sugar and lemon juice.

Enjoy!

Stop back by and tell me if you liked it!

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