Songs Kate Sang

Cake Pops

It was my favorite gift this year.

My mom and I picked out the sweetest purple cake pop maker for Julia.

To know me is to know that I am slightly addicted to the Rocky Road cake pops Starbucks has.  I was ready to try my hand at doing these at home with Julia.

I took Meg and Ashley's advice.  

I had everything ready and prepped before anyone else was allowed in the kitchen ~ huge sanity saving tip.  {I will be repeating this! }

And then, we conquered it.  

The kitchen smelled amazing and the cake pops were working!

They disappeared quickly and that was ok by me.

Oh...

why was it my favorite present this year?  

Well, in December, when Julia opened her Christmas stocking at mom's house, I noticed a tear.   She was looking at the cake pop sticks {they look a little like lollipop sticks}.

It wasn't out of complete happiness, so I wasn't sure what to think.  I tried to quietly distract her with what else was in her stocking.

When I asked her later why she was upset, she told me "You'll see".  All seemed well, so I didn't press the issue.

I had forgotten about that completely and when I opened my present from her after we were home from our trip to Texas, there it was.  

A cake pop maker just for me.

A perfectly O'Henry ending that led to a delicious Saturday morning.

Allow me to introduce you....

First, allow me to introduce Kelly to you.

Kelly hails from Denton, Texas and some of our first Easter Egg hunts.

She enjoys long hikes and the quiet hum of grasshoppers.

Next up, we have Goldie.  

Goldie is new to our clan.  She came to us by way of Life-teen last weekend.

Goldie was a little shy but warmed up to us very quickly.

John and Mary manned the grill for us while the others splashed in the pool.

Harvey went looking for Kelly....

And Daisy was very content just to walk in the garden.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sweet friends from church found out we were having Easter dinner alone and had us over.

Sweet Baby J and I made the famous mushrooms, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and swiss, green bean casserole and powdered sugar fruit dip.

Look at Mackenzie!  She is still one of my favorites.  

Who knew lip smackers would be such a hit?!

Yeah, this picture pretty much sums up our Easter.

Happy Easter, everyone.

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed weekend.

With love,

Kate

Melting Chocolate Cakes {Recipe}

When Nate was born, we lived in an apartment that was about 700 square feet.  

We watched every penny, hoping we would make it until the next month. 

I wanted our Valentine's Day to be so very special that year, so my friend Blaire cut out a recipe from the newspaper for me ~ for melting chocolate cakes.

I found this recipe a few days ago and it flooded back so many memories. 

The kids were so small.  

I had to borrow an electric mixer.

I found a new love for chocolate chips and melted butter.

I thought about that tiny apartment in Frisco, Texas.

I thought about the walks we used to take to the park with the little purple dinosaur.

Those were the days of babies falling asleep in the Chevy Blazer and holding my breath to get them inside without waking them up.

Those were they days of laundry mats and Burger King playgrounds.

 

Have a wonderful week, sweet friends!

Take some time and remember some good times!

Kate

Melting Chocolate Cakes

8 oz. semisweet chocolate

6 tablespoons of butter

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs, at room temperature

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Melt chocolate and butter in a 2-cup microwave-safe cup on High.  This will take about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes; check and stir frequently until the chocolate has softened.  Stir until combined.

Combine melted chocolate, flour, sugar, salt and 2 eggs in a mixing bowl.  Beat with an electric mixer, adding remaining eggs 1 at a time, until pale yellow and a ribbon forms when the beaters are lifted.  This takes about 5 minutes.

Butter 6 (8-ounce) Pyrex cups.  Divide batter, filling each one about 3/4 full.

To serve immediately:  Bake on a cookie sheet for 13 minutes - no longer.  Remove from the oven, run a knife around the edge and cool 5 minutes.  Place a plat on top of the dessert, then turn upside down and un-mold.   Sprinkle with powdered sugar, garnish with warm caramel and raspberries and serve.

To refrigerate:  Fill cups, cover and refrigerate:  Fill cups, cover and refrigerate batter for up to 2 days.  Bake as directed.

Makes 6 servings.

My Thanksgiving 2010

 

With the Tasty Kitchen website at my fingertips, I was ready to go!

I woke up to the smell of coffee and the sound of laughter. 

I walked in to the kitchen and mom was already sitting there, smiling and figuring out breakfast with the kids.

Mom and I made a quick breakfast for everyone and Mr. B took the kids, dad and my brother BJ for a hike.  Sweet baby J decided to stay, so it was pretty quiet with just us girls. 

 

I started the French Onion Soup stuffed Mushrooms ~ the house was starting to smell amazing!

The cornbread was already done and the pinto beans were already in the crock pot simmering.

{Those were for watching my Aggies kick t.u.'s bootie}

{If you aren't sure what that is all about ~ it is the rivalry we wait for each year.  Texas A&M vs. U.T.   I'm an Aggie.  I bleed maroon.  I love my Wrecking Crew.  I love that I was engaged under the Century Tree.  Gig 'em.  Whoop!  }

What were we talking about? 

Oh, yes.  Yummy smells. 

 

 

 

I didn't have Swiss.  or Gruyere.  So, I went with Muenster.  It was amazing.  I'll be making these at Christmas, too. 

There was food there other than these mushrooms, but since I scarfed these down afraid that they would disappear without me, I can't really remember the other food :)

 

Each year, I pack the notes and decorations the kids make with that season's decorations ~ so when I am unpacking, I have sweet surprises to look forward to. 

This year, Julia read her 'thankful for' book from 2nd grade.  It was precious.

I hope your day was beautiful, bright and full of laughter!

Thank you for stopping by!

Kate

Zuppa Inglese + Moms Night Out

 

A few days ago, my friends Amy over at Dealusional and Sara over at Super Saving Sense with Sara, hosted a Mom's Night Out. 

Have you ever seen these tweeted about or emailed about or whatever? 

I'm telling you ~ you should go.

I have met this wonderful group of women from Phoenix. 

Nope, not all are bloggers.  Some are.

Nope, not all are working moms.  Some are.

Nope, not all are homeschooling moms.  Some are.

Nope, not all know what twitter is.  Some do.

But ~ we all enjoy meeting new people and learning. 

 

Have you heard of Jan D'Atri?  She rocks.  Seriously.

She and her mother (her mother was there, too!) love sharing kitchen memories and heritage recipies.  She shared her Zuppa Inglese with us that evening.  And somewhere between the laughing, the berries and the sharing I fell in love. 

I will definately be making this over the holidays!

 

She gave us the BEST. TIP. EVER.

Ok, you cooks out there may know this... but it was news to me.

When you cut up your berries, lay them out on a baking sheet with paper towels. 

This will allow the berries to dry out so that you can line that beautiful bowl more easily... and the dessert will not be so soupy.  Brilliant.

You should make some this time.... it was amazing!

From www.jandatri.com:

English Trifle or \"Zuppa Inglese\"

Ingredients:



1 box of yellow cake mix

1 box of pudding and pie filling (do not use instant)

2 pints ripe strawberries

1/4 cup granulated sugar

6-8 fresh ripe kiwi, peeled and sliced

1 pint whipping cream

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup Grand Marnier

Directions: Bake cake mix as directed and pour into three disposable pie tins. Prepare vanilla pudding as directed. Chop one pint of strawberries and combine with granulated sugar. Slice second pint of strawberries thin. Slice kiwi fruit. Place the first cake disc in a trifle or clear glass bowl. Brush on one third of the Grand Marnier. Around the edge of the trifle bowl, alternate slices of kiwi and strawberries, laying fruit flat against the bowl.

With a spoon, spread strawberries and sugar combination over cake layer. Drop spoonfuls of one half of the pudding over strawberry mixture. Add second cake disc and brush with Grand Marnier. Line the edge of the bowl with fresh boysenberries. Add third cake disc. Brush with liquor and spoon strawberry mixture and pudding over cake.

Combine whipped cream and powdered sugar, beating until stiff. Spread whipped cream over pudding and decorate with sliced fruit. For the final touch, spoon some whipped cream into a piping bag and create a mound in the middle of the cake and top with a fresh strawberry. Refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight. Spoon into clear dessert bowls or parfait glasses. Serves 8.

Sweet Baby J and the English Rose Tea Room...

Julia and I took Grandma and Great Grandma to the English Rose Tea Room in Carefree, AZ back in January. 

 

Ever since then, she has been trying to talk Brian and Nate into going with us.  She's been telling Nate about the tea pot filled with hot chocolaty goodness.  She has been telling Brian that there were other daddies there.

Well, we had finally run out of excuses ~ and I was feeling particularly relaxed about Nate being trapped for an hour with bone china at every turn.

Not something we'd do every Saturday.... but so glad we did it.  Julia walked Nate through the entire process of what to touch, how to pour, how to set tea cups down gently...

I love learning what they absolutely love.  They never cease to amaze and surprise me.  Both Grandmothers adore a good cup of tea and some relaxing and polite conversation.  It's in her genes. 

Brian and I tried the Toffee Almond Tea from Tea Source.  Absolute heaven.

Have a wonderful weekend...

Thank you for stopping by!

Kate 
  

Old Town Tortilla Factory....

We took everyone to the Old Town Tortilla Factory.

I love company!  It's such a great excuse to eat at all my favorite places take my family to the wonderful places we've found to eat here locally!

 

The kids do great at Mexican Restaurants.  So do I :)  I think it is the chips right away...  it helps stave off the crankies.  I think it helps tide the kids over, too... kee hee.

 

Have you been there?  Oh my.  If you haven't you have to go.  Really.

They have a different tortilla each night.  My favorite is the black bean tortilla that they serve with the sour cream and chive butter.  Mm-mm-mm good.

You can eat outside or inside ~ another awesome kid feature.  (outside please).

They have a beautiful fountain to watch and a great view! 

And the food, oh the food.  Makes me happy.  Yoo-hoo...  potato cake!  Do you miss me?  I'll be there soon.  Don't you worry.

Arcadia Farms...

 

Mom came back to Scottsdale with me after my trip to Corpus, so that I didn't have to travel alone.  B found the most amazing place to eat and sent my mom and me for lunch...

 

Arcadia Farms...

 

Good food, good conversation... I find that when I really let my guard down and let her in to what I am really thinking and feeling, it is then that she offers the perfect advice that always starts the healing...

It is so easy for us to build walls and smile as if things are fine, but when we let people in, they can pray for us, they can lift us high to our sweet Saviour and pray for His grace and love to pour into us and make us the best versions of ourselves.

 
  
 
Have a wonderful day!  Thank you for coming by...

Here it is...  my shout out to all newly married ladies.  All those pots, those pans, that kitchen stuff... Don't give it away.  Don't return it.  Don't put it in the garage.

One day, even if it is ten years after you get married, you will be inspired by stew.  You will read a post, like Pioneer Woman's beef stew and say - I can do this.

(Picture by Pioneer Woman)

Then, you will read the recipe and it will call for a dutch oven. 

And you can triumphantly yell, 'YES!' in your kitchen... scaring your children to death. 

You will pull over your chair to the cabinet and get on your tiptoes as you reach for the top shelf. 

You will smile when you think of your sweet mom who picked out the blue and white speckled dutch oven pot (proud of yourself for knowing what that is). 

You will have a moment when you hope you don't fall off the chair - because that would be a really stupid way to break something a few weeks before Christmas. 

Then, you will wash the pot... hoping and praying that your kids love dinner and that your husband loves the smell when he walks in.

You may panic when you realize you don't have red wine and call your husband to stop on the way home from work at the store. 

When he shows up with a surprise starbucks iced venti seven pump chai tea latte and a mini pack of Ferraro Rocher you will know it is true love.

You will sit down to dinner and have a warm place in your heart, thinking of your mom and so thankful that she knew you'd need that dutch oven one day.  You'll smile when you realize it even matches your kitchen. 

Sunday Night Cooking Adventures...

Ok - so I was feeling very domestic.  I don't know if it's because I recently watched Julie and Julia ~ which I loved... or if it is because I am in love with the hilarious cooking adventures of Pioneer Woman...  But whatever it was... I decided to try two things :)

1.  Pioneer Woman's recipe for Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt

2.  Pioneer Woman's recipe for Chicken Parmigiana

It started off a little rough...  I did a make-shift double boiler and I let my children open the bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips....  very interesting smell. 

Ok - so then, we were off.  Things were looking good.

Vanilla added - chocolate looks glossy - Y-E-S!

Okay now for the chicken... Pound into thin... ok, ok...  I don't have a meat tenderizer, hammer, whatever that thing is...

I broke my favorite spoon... crud.  Ok, that's ok.  I can do this. 

Look, it's a sign, the sea salt has my maiden name.  (Why isn't being a good cook a genetic trait?  If I had 1/8 of my aunt, 1/8 of my grandmother, 1/4 of my brother and 1/4 of my mom - I'd be in Paris running a butter filled bakery with yummy pastries)...

Anyways, Ok - chicken coated, here we go...

It's starting to look like her picture!!

And then, I always bake banana bread on Sunday nights - I was going to brag about it, post the recipe... then, while writing this post I smelled something horrible.  My oven is on fire.  I am alarmingly calm in situations like this.  Oven off, windows open, fan going, Brian notified.

 
I honestly have N-O idea how this happened.  Every Sunday.  For years.  Hm-mm.  Oh well :)

Here's to next Sunday!  Have a great week everyone!