Independence Day!

Let freedom ring! 

Plans for today are much like every year

except this year is the HOTTEST July on record in Sacramento!!

Crazy temps close to 110 degrees

The weather will largely determine how much we actually do today:

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8am Pancake breakfast with friends

10am Parade
12pm - La Fiesta for lunch

1:30pm Movie - The Lone Ranger  The minion movie - can't remember the name

4pm BBQ with family  Games - too full to eat

 9pm Fireworks extravaganza!!

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  Happy Independence Day 2013

4th of July No Bake Watermelon Cake

I will definitely be making the No Bake Watermelon Cake  for 4th of July this year.

Check out Mandy's blog for the how to.

Happy Mother's Day

He is Risen - Easter 2013

Hosanna! 

He is Risen

 It was so fun to play Easter Bunny this year for my kids and grand kids - I won't be with them on Easter until late evening, so I can't wait to share the joy with them.

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Merry Christmas 2012!

Kneader's Peppermint Brownies ♥

I'm still in the baking mood so I decided to make these joyful peppermint brownies for my family.  The recipe makes a full 9x13 pan so I decided to send a batch to my  friend who is having twins! She and her husband have 3 little ones already - can you imagine? -  and before Christmas gets here they will have 5 under the age of 7 years old - oh my!

How fun to have twins at Christmas!  {my hubby said, "baby hungry, much?"  um....YES! not my own, but with 1 daughter married and another engaged, I can hardly wait for grand babies!}

 Kneader’s Peppermint Brownies

Ingredients

Brownies
• 1 cup butter
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Filling
• 1/2 cup vegetable shortening
• 2 cups confectioners sugar 
• 1 T milk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 drops red food coloring, optional
Chocolate Ganache
• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup crushed candy canes

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350° and butter a 9"x13" baking dish.
2. In a large, microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate and butter in the microwave on high at 20-30 second intervals, stirring and repeating until melted. Cool slightly.
3. Beat in the sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
4. Add the flour and stir until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips.
5. Pour into the baking dish and spread.
6. Bake for 25 minutes.
Frosting
7. In a medium bowl beat the sugar, shortening, milk, and mint until fluffy. 
8. Add food coloring, if desired, and stir until a uniform color.
9. Spread evenly over the cooled brownies.
Ganache
10. In a medium saucepan heat the chocolate chips and cream over medium heat,stirring constantly, until the chocolate is melted. Pour over the frosted brownies and sprinkle with crushed candy canes.
11. Allow to chill then cut and serve.

Orange Glazed Poppy Seed Mini Loaves

Christmas baking begins today with Orange Glazed Poppy Seed Mini Loaves.  My house smells divine.

Orange Glazed Poppy Seed Bread
3 cups flour
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. salt
2 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups oil
1 1/2 T. poppy seeds
2 t. butter flavoring
2 t. vanilla
Mix together the above ingredients and beat for two minutes.

Fill 5 or 6 mini-loaf pans 2/3 to 3/4 full.

Bake 35 minutes at 325 degrees.

Glaze:
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. butter flavoring
Mix in a glass measuring cup. Pour over hot bread when removed from the oven. Let stand for 30 minutes.
aa

It's a Mr. Potato Head Santa Claus!

This one just cracks me up...he is ADORABLE!! 

He sits on the breakfast bar next to shopping santa and below the kitchen elves.

I ♥ Christmas decorations 

Shopping Santa

I've looked for a Santa to add to my Christmas decor and this one is perfect.  He makes me smile every time I see him.

Home Goods.  $14.99. 

Totally worth the smiles.

Deck the Halls...

 

That ribbon on the bottom of the tree is looking a bit wonky. I think Jinx noticed it too.

Thanksgiving 2012

On this Thanksgiving morning I want to express my love for my family...especially my children and the love of my life, Jeff.    I love them will all of my heart.  They bring such joy to me and I'm truly blessed to be a part of their lives.   To my extended family... I miss you all...every single one of you.  Thank you for sharing in my joy, my triumphs and my heartaches.  Big hugs all around.

This year, there will be no cooking, baking or cleaning for me today.  Yippee!   Instead, Jeff and I are heading out to eat.with Alyssa and Ryan along with Grandma and Grandpa Morris.

(p.s.  Marie Callender's was so good! - no pics of Grandpa - he was busy eating his dinner)

Happy Thanksgiving my AMORRIS friends!
(my dinner plate looked exactly like this)

Glorious Fall!

Busy, busy week.

I love the fall hustle and bustle and today was no exception.  Jeff and I have  accomplished so much this week in preparation for Lexi's wedding and reception on Saturday (baked wedding cakes, shopped for reception food, prepped most of the food, painted the living room, had the carpets and tiles cleaned, rearranged furniture, decluttered and thoroughly cleaned the entire house)

 Today  I took time just to enjoy the glorious fall going on all around me.  Sacramento is beautiful in the fall.

Happy Halloween 2012

Happy Halloween my friends! 

Aargh!

Our Favorite Halloween Treats

We love to snack around these parts and highly recommend three of our favorites. Click on the link below each photo to go the recipe.

Enjoy!

Halloween Bark

Favorite Fall Snack Mix

Peanut Butter Popcorn

Halloween Mantle 2012