Just for fun...

A few 'kid' pics...



A friend of ours works for a bank & they got boxes & boxes of new computers all packed in these great styrofoam blocks. The blocks are super light, strong & lock together like Legos.



These are only about half of them! I'm thinking we can build an awesome fort with them ;)



My daughters new 4 of July skirt (and notice her 4 of July toes?) :)

Blessings.

Knee high by the 4th of July

Did you ever hear the expression that corn should be "knee high by the 4 of July"?

Well. I think ours is going to make it. :)

We have literally been watching the corn grow.

We leave early each morning for swimming lessons & when we come home in the afternoon the corn is noticeably taller.

Way cool.



The popcorn



The sweet corn



Pumpkin blossoms



Cucumber blossoms



Green bean blossoms



Atrichokes



'maters



Spinach & herbs



Blackberries



Peaches

So how does your garden grow?

Blessings.

Cake Mix & other evils

For years I made cakes with a box mix.

I tried & tried to find a recipe for a 'scratch' cake but they were always just not right.

Too dry or too flat or too tough or too tasteless.

I couldn't get that magic fluffy moist combo like I could get from a box.

It was a bone of contention...

And then I found it. A simple, white cake recipe that is fluffy & moist & yum-my.

It also extremely adaptable.

Replace 1 cup of flour with 1 cup of baking cocoa & you have a divine chocolate cake.

You can bake it in layers, in a tube, in a 9 x13 or as cupcakes.

We use this recipe to make our rainbow cake each year.

Okay.

Now I had the cake but what about the frosting?

Again I tried multiple recipes, asked people what their favorite was, again & again...nothin'.

Then it happened.

I was finally able to pry the secret family recipe for pumpkin roll away from my MIL.

And there within that little gem was my frosting answer.

The creamcheese filling for the pumpkin roll ~with just the slightest bit of tweaking~ was the perfect frosting.

And once again~ sub a little of the powdered sugar (did you know you can make your own? easy peasy) for baking cocoa & Voila! Delicious,creamy chocolate frosting.

It has been many moons since a made a box mix cake or used canned frosting.

They still have their place in extreme circumstances~ like you are at someone elses house & do not have your recipe with you... that sort of thing...

But a good homemade cake in which you can pronounce all of the ingredients & stuff your face with it's yummy goodness is a wonderful thing.

White Cake

2 cups white sugar    

1 cup butter

4 eggs

1 Tbsp plus 1 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1Tbsp plus 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 350* Grease & flour your pan.

Cream together sugar & butter. Beat in eggs one at a time. Stir in vanilla. Combine flour & baking powder ~add to creamed mixture & beat well. Stir in  milk until batter is smooth. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 30-40 minutes. For cupcakes 20-25. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch.

( I got this off the internet somewhere several years ago.)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8oz pkg cream cheese

2 tbsp softened butter

1 tbsp vanilla

Powdered sugar

Blend ingredients together. Add powdered sugar until desired consistancy is  is achieved.



Blessings.

 

                                                                                                                                     

You're in the Army now...

The little boys each bought an Austrian army beret at the Army Surplus store yesterday

They are drafting them younger & younger these days...



The Little Man lost his first tooth this week



He's too young! Can I glue it back in?

Blessings.