Monday, December 27, 2010

Thelma's Almond No-Bake Cookies

Chad's mom made these for Christmas and they were a big hit. Here's the receipe...


Thelma's Almond No-Bake Cookies

1 Almond Bark
2 Cups Rice Krispies
2 Cups Cheerios
2 Cups Peanuts

Directions:

1. Melt the Almond Bark for 1-2 minutes
2. Mix everything together
3. Scoop into balls (ice cream scoop or cookie scoop works great) and place on wax paper and wait for them to "harden".

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Healthified Pumpkin Bread

I made two batches of this bread for Thanksgiving and everyone LOVED it. My cousin's 4 year old called it "brown bread" and he ate like 10 pieces lol. I sent a whole loaf home with him and he said while clapping "I'm so excited!" Kids are so awesome!

I took all the ingredients and used organic ingredients. Safeway had canned organic pumpkin that was really good. I actually stocked up!


Healthified Pumpkin Bread
Prep Time: 20 Minutes
Start to Finish: 2 Hours 40 Minutes
Makes: 2 Loaves

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 Cups Sugar
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon Ground Allspice
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
1 Can (15 oz) Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 Cup Fat-Free Milk
3/4 Cup Fat-Free Egg Product (I actually just used 4 eggs)
1/2 Cup Canola Oil (I used Olive Oil)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350*F. Spray bottoms only of two 9x5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix flours, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves until well blended.

2. In medium bowl, mix pumpkin, milk, egg product (or eggs) and oil until well blended. Stir into flour mixture until well blended. Spoon batter evenly into pans.

3. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes. Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.

Pumpkin Angel Food Cake

This was a hit over Thanksgiving also. I called for whipped topping but I didn't do this part. It was good without it.

Pumpkin Angel Food Cake
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Start to Finish: 3 Hour
Makes: 12 Servings

1 Box (1 lb) White Angel Food Cake Mix
1 Tablespoon All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
3/4 Cup (from 15 oz can) Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 Cup Cold Water

Directions:
1. Move oven rack to lowest position; heat oven to 350*F. In extra large glass or metal bowl, beat all ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds. Beat on medium speed 1 minute. Pour into ungreased 10-inch angel food cake pan.

2. Bake 37 to 47 minutes or until crust is dark golden brown and cracks are dry. Immediately turn pan upside down onto heatproof funnel or glass bottle (I didn't do this part). Let hang about 2 hours or until cake is completely cool. Loosen cake from side of pan with knife or long metal spatula. Turn cake upside down onto serving plate.


**I don't have a picture of this made but next time I make it I will add one.**

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Peanut Butter Blossoms

Peanut Butter Blossoms

48 Hershey's Kisses
1/2 Cup Shortening (I used Organic Butter instead)
3/4 Cup Organic Peanut Butter
1/3 Cup Organic Granulated Sugar
1/3 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Organic Milk
1 Teaspoon Organic Vanilla
1 1/2 Cups Organic Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt (I used Sea Salt as that's all I use in our house)
Granulated Sugar

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 375*F. Remove wrappers from chocolates.

2. Beat shortening (or butter) and peanut butter in large bowl until well blended. Add1/3 cup granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat until fluffy. Add egg, milk and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into peanut butter mixture.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in granulated sugar (I didn't do this step); place on ungreased cookie sheet.

4. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Immediately press a chocolate into the center of each cookie; cookie will crack around edges. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Makes about 4 dozen cookies.

I would recommend doubling this recipe if your family loves cookies. I got 42 cookies out of the batch (not doubling it) and between Chad, myself and 3 boys in the house we were left with 5 this morning. They are very yummy and are pretty much bite size.

Quick & Easy Turkey Enchiladas Suizas

I got this recipe from my Woman's Day magazine. We've been trying new recipes lately in an attempt to have more variety. This recipe is extremely easy and very quick. Takes me about 10-15 minutes to put together and get into the oven. This recipe is made to make ahead of time. I don't normally do this but you can if you'd like...you can also freeze it!


Turkey Enchiladas Suizas

1 1/4 Cups Green Salsa
1/2 Cup Reduced-Fat Sour Cream
1/4 Cup Chopped Cilantro (I don't add this)
1 1/2 Cups Diced Cooked Turkey or Chicken (I use ground turkey because it's quicker and easier)
1 Cup Shredded Reduced-Fat Swiss Cheese
7-oz Jar of Roasted Peppers, sliced
8 Warm Corn Tortillas

Prep: Mix grean salsa, sour cream and chopped cilantro in a bowl. Spread 1/2 cup over bottom of a 2 to 2 1/2 quart baking dish. Combine turkey, shredded cheese and roasted peppers. Fill each of the 8 warm corn tortillas with scant 1/2 cup, then place seam side down in baking dish. Top with remaining salsa mixture and 1/2 cup shredded cheese.

Store: Refrigerator: Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 3 days. Freezer: Wrap with plastic wrap, then foil and freeze up to 6 weeks.

Serve: If refrigerated: Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil. Bake in a 350*F oven 30 to 40 minutes until heated through. Top with diced tomato and sliced scallions if desired. If Frozen: Thaw overnight in refrigerator, then bake as directed above.

To Bake Straight from Freezer: Remove plastic wrap; replace with foil. Bake in a 350*F oven 1 hour 15 minutes or until heated through.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

My Grandma's Monster Cookies

My Grandma's Monster Cookie Recipe
Makes Approx. 3 Dozen

3 Eggs
1 Cup Sugar
8 oz. Brown Sugar (1 Cup)
12 oz. Peanut Butter (1 1/2 Cups)
4 oz. Margarine or Butter (1/2 Cup)
2 Tsp. Baking Soda
1 T. Vanilla
4 1/2 Cups Quick Oats
8 oz. M&M's (1 Cup)
3 oz. Chocolate Chips (Roughly 1/3 Cup)


Mix all ingredients by hand (I used a hand mixer). Drop dough on cookie sheet.

Bake at 350* for 10-12 minutes.



Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Thursday Night Motocross - September 30, 2010

Devin raced his third motocross race ever and the last Thursday Night Motocross at Portland International Raceway last Thursday. He got FIRST place in both his motos!! What a great job considering this was only his third time racing.

His first race ever he got 2nd place and same with his second race. He's going to be racing the winter season either down in Salem and the Salem Arenacross or up in Woodland, Washington at Woodland MX Park. Excited to see how he does - I will update once he races his next race.

PIR 8.26.10 - Devin's First Motocross Race

PIR 9.9.10 - Devin's Second Motocross Race
 
PIR 9.30.10 - Devin's Third Motocross Race - FIRST PLACE!


Saturday, September 25, 2010

All My Fave Make-Up Products!

I have really gotten into make-up in the last 6 months. I haven't ever really known how to do my make-up as I was never really into it growing up. I started watching Kandee Johnson's videos and reading her blog (Kandee Johnson's Blog) and now I love make-up. If you aren't really that great with make-up I really recommend checking out her blog (just click the link above). Anyways, I thought I'd post all my favorite make-up for ideas for everyone else.

Here they are:

Sephora Brand Color Palette Eyeshadow 

This is great because you get all the colors you'd need to create beautiful eyes. There are many different color palettes available so you can pick out what you think is a good color for you. I have two different ones - 1. Brunette Eyes 08 and 2. Almost Nude 09

I plan on buying a few more colors. Highly Recommended!


MAKE-UP FOR EVER Mascara

I have tried a lot of mascara's over the years. I have very long natural eyelashes and so most mascara's don't do anything for them. This mascara is awesome! It's waterproof (seriously waterproof I have swam with it on and no streaks on the face). It delivers volume, length, and intense pigment. It actually helps curl my lashes without the lash curler. It only comes in extra black which is great for making your lashes stand out.

I won't wear any other mascara ever again!


 
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
 
I never knew that you needed an eye shadow primer to make your eyeshadow go on smoother and last longer. Kandee Johnson highly recommends using it and the first time I did I realized why. You shadow doesn't smudge off as easy as it does without it and your shadow goes on much easier. If you are into using eye shadow this stuff is great to put on before.
 
(Click Here to Buy the Primer)
 
 
 
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
 
Kandee Johnson showed this product on one of her videos and so I bought it. Thanks to family genes I have dark circles. This REALLY works wonderful. Here's what it does: Completely camouflage dark circles, minor imperfections, and discolorations with this unique two-shade system: one to match the skin's depth of color and one to match the skins undertone. This must-have makes it possible for every woman to custom-blend her own perfect shade.
 
Buy, Buy, Buy if you have dark circles!
(Click Here to Buy the Secret Camouflages)
 
 
MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder
 
What it is: A universal translucent finishing powder to be applied over foundation or worn alone.
What it does: Sets the foundation and slightly mattifies skin without changing its natural contours. This 100% mineral silica powder softens the appearance of imperfections. Completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look. One universal shade for all skin tones.

I use this to go over the Laura Mercier eye stuff. I seals it in and makes it not shiny anymore.
(Click Here to Buy Microfinish Powder)


NARS Bronzing Powder

An employee at Sephora told me about this bronzer and how it can be used on anyone. She said it doesn't turn your face orange like most bronzers. I absolutely LOVE this stuff. It gives me a nice natural tan looking skin.  You will love this stuff. Nars Bronzing Powder is a true brown-based bronzer with a gold shimmer fusion that's excellent for creating or enhancing the look of healthy, glowing, tanned skin.

I have this in Laguna which is the one the lady told me is best.
(Click Here to Buy Nars Bronzer)


Sephora Ultra Shine Lip Gloss

A maximum-shine, moisturizing gloss starring a new generation of "multi-holographic" shimmers, for perfect light reflection. The applicator on this lip gloss is awesome. It has a natural arch in it that matches the shape of your lips so it glides on easily without a mirror. It's also not sticky, the colors are beautiful and it stays on pretty good. I have it in two shades - 20 Shiny Perfect Nude and 13 Reflex Miami Pink

(Click Here to Buy the Lip Gloss)



I hope that you all enjoyed this make-up blog post and that it helps you find new make-up to add to your collection. I also recommed watching Kandee's videos within her blog. She does make-up for the celeb's and is VERY helpful.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Tank and Coralbell

Tank loves to go down to feed the goats and chickens with us. One of our goats coralbell loves to play with Tank...check out the video we took the other day. It's a great laugh!!

Garden Markers

I found these garden markers on eBay and absolutely LOVE them. They are handmade by a lady in Washington State. I love handmade things - you tend to charish them more than something bought at a store. I bought them for $5 each which is an amazing price for the quality and how cute they are.

If you are interested in any of these let me know via commenting and I can see if I can find which ever veggie you are looking for on eBay.

Check them out:
Strawberries
Red Pepper
Corn
Tomato #1
Tomato #2
Zucchini
Pumpkins

Ladybug


Sunflowers

Here are the pictures of the sunflowers. They get anywhere from 6-7 feet tall! They are so easy to grow and no need to stake them up. You can harvest the seeds at the end of the season and either keep them to plant next year or roast them and eat them.

If you'd like to get some from me please comment on this post and I can get some to you.

This one is roughly 7 feet tall but the flower part is too heavy so it's hunched over.
The leaves are HUGE. You can see by how much bigger it is than my hand.
This ones is about 7 feet tall too.

Friday, September 3, 2010

Healthier in 5 Minutes!

No matter what your schedule, you can follow these supereasy shortcuts for a better state of mind - and body!

1. Take a music time-out: "Music sends calming signals," says Dr. Beth Hamilton, coauthor of So Stressed. "Take a one-song break when you're stressed at work or you're up in the middle of the night."

2. Stay in bed: "Make the most of your first waking moments," says Dr. Woodson Merrell, author of Power Up. "Set a peaceful tone for the day with this exercise: Sit on the edge of your bed and breathe in for a count of 4, pause, then breathe out for a count of 6. Do this for at least 2 minutes."

3. Pack your own lunch: "Save on calories by bringing your own food," says Jillian Michaels, host of Losing It with Jillian on NBC. "It'll help you avoid the doughnuts in the office."

4. Drink watermelon juice: "Water isn't the only way to stay hydrated," says Jackie Keller, celeb nutritionist. "Switch it up with this juice. It's sugar-free, low-cal, full of vitamin C and helps reduce bloat."

5. Eat fruit before bed: "It super-charges your metabolism," says Keller. "And it keeps hunger at bay all night, into the next morning."

6. Chew more: "Eating too fast results in chuncks of food that are harder for your body to break down," says Merrell. "Eat slower: You won't have as many digestive issues, and you'll feel more satisfied without overeating!"

7. Get outside: "A few minutes of natural sunlight can help clear your head and even boost brain function and immunity," says Hamilton.

Perfect Pulled Pork

Perfect Pulled Pork


Ingredients:
5 lbs boneless pork butt shoulder
1 ½ tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup water
Soft sandwich buns

Directions:
Combine all seasonings in a small bowl and rub evenly over roast. Place meat in a 6-quart slow cooker. Add water. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 4-5 hours or until pork is very tender.

Place pork on large cutting board or platter and let rest for 10-15 minutes. Pull, slice or chop to serve. Serve in buns with barbecue sauce.

Serves 16-20


Who doesn't LOVE the crockpot!?! It's a meal in one if you find the right recipes. I've also learned to love my rice cooker. I now combine my rice and broccoli into my cooker so they cook together. It's so awesome! I never thought to use my rice cooker for anything other than rice. I found recipes online and am slowly trying new things out.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train (live w/ Yuto Miyazawa)

Check out this amazing 10 year old boy playing with Ozzy! What talent he has!

9 Things You Didn't Know About Starbucks

I absolutely LOVE Starbucks! So, when I saw this article on the Woman's Day website I couldn't pass up posting it on my blog.

Here's a link to the article....

9 Things You Didn't Know About Starbucks

I hope you enjoy the article - I sure learned things I didn't know! And if you haven't tried a Mocha Frappuccino you sooooo have to! Yum!


Image Courtesy of Yahoo! Images.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Great Simple Article I found...

I found this simple article in Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. It's 15 websites that will save you precious time. I actually use a few of these or have used them before.

Practical Stuff
http://www.cozi.com/ Pull together your family schedule and to-do list in one place and share the info via your mobile phone.
www.google.com/voice Consolidate voicemail for your cell, home, and office phones so you don't have to check multiple places. It also transcribes voicemails into text messages.
http://www.penelopeloveslists.com/ The "Assignment" section of this blog has easy five-minute organizing projects you'll be glad you did.
http://www.traxo.com/ Organize all your travel info (itineraries, miles, loyalty points) from multiple sources in one convenient place.
http://www.usps.gov/ Buy stamps online, not in line, and get the design you want.

Home and Garden
www.bhg.com/coloraroom Save time by figuring out the perfect color scheme for your room before you shop for paint or furniture.
www.bhg.com/planagarden Design a garden without breaking a sweat. Drag and drop dozens of trees, flowers, and structures.
http://www.servicemagic.com/ Forget calling around for a contractor. Get matched with a prescreened, background-checked professional online.

Food and Fun
www.bhg.com/recipes Find more than 2,000 quick-fix recipes and save your favorites in one handy spot.
http://www.netflix.com/ Can't wait for the DVD to come in the mail? Stream your must-see movies on your computer or video gaming console.
http://www.opentable.com/ Reserve a table online for your favorite restaurant. (I've used this one and LOVE it).
http://www.thefrontburnerblog.com/ Try this blog's approach to quick cooking: Invest a little planning time up front and eat well all week.

Shopping
http://www.alice.com/ Instead of wandering the aisles, order your nonperishables (trash bags, toothpaste, etc.) online and get free shipping.
http://www.fatwallet.com/ Save time comparison shopping online. This service does it for you plus looks for the best cash-back deal.
http://www.shopittome.com/ Let this service be your personal shopper, notifying you of sales on your favorite brands at more than 100 retailers.

My Own Fav Sites
http://www.craigslist.com/ I LOVE this site. It's great (and cheap aka Free) to list just about anything. Plus, you can find whatever you are looking for. It's also nice to be able to see pictures instead of just text.
http://www.allrecipes.com/ This site is great. People post their own recipes on this site. I've used it several times. I love that if you are having a dinner party it will let you put in how many servings you need and it will recalculate the recipe for you. It's a huge time saver for holiday's.
http://www.ebay.com/ I am ALL about getting a good deal on things. I buy most of my clothes on eBay and even sell my stuff here too. It prevents you from having to drive to a store or even the mall which is usually crowded.
http://www.petedge.com/ This site is great if you have pets. You can buy just about anything at a discount price and it's shipped directly to your front door.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

PB&J Smoothie

This morning Chad and I created a new smoothie! It was SO good. He needed a break from his usual morning smoothie. It tastes just like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Even your kids will love it. Here is what we created:

PB&J Smoothie

3/4 Fresh Banana
8-10 Frozen Strawberries
1 tbsp Peanut Butter
¼ tsp Cocoa Powder
1 tbsp Vitamin C Powder
1 Handful of Walnuts – Probably equal to 1/3 of a cup
4 Ice Cubes
1 Cup Water

Mix everything in the blender and serve!


Here is a link to the Vitamin C powder that we use. This Vit C Powder is good because it's natural - completely from fruits and veggies. There is no extra crap added into the powder. You don't really notice that it's in the smoothie. We highly recommend it for anyone who wants to get more vitamin C in a healthy way. This is the site that we buy it from because it's cheaper than the store. I've only been able to find it at Whole Foods. Click Here

I will take a picture of the smoothie next time we make it so I can post a picture with the recipe. Hope you all enjoy this one!

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Pug Nation at Potso Park in Tigard

Today was "Portland Pug Meetup" - we heard of the group through a lady we met at Gramma's Place while getting some produce. She told us there was a pug group that met up one a month on the first saturday. I came home and looked it up...sure enough there is a group! We were so excited. Tank has only been to the dog park twice before today. He has been pretty shy each time we've taken him. He'd rather pee on the fence and sniff the grass then pay attention to the other dogs. He usually stays pretty close to us.

But today was a awesome! It took him awhile to warm up to all the people and pugs! There was about 50 pugs there (or so it seemed). Tank had so much fun! The meetup was from 10am-Noon. We were there for about an hour and a half letting Tanky play with all the dogs. We took tons of pictures and some video. We got home around 1:15pm and he's been sleeping ever since!!

Here are some pictures: (Tank is wearing the red and black bandana - it's his Trail Blazers bandana!)

Tank dead tired after playing with all the dogs. He had so much fun!
Link to video on our YouTube Channel (just click the link below to watch the video from today:

Friday, August 6, 2010

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Muffins

Every summer I make zucchini bread muffins for Devin. He loves them and so do I. These are great for kids that you can't get to eat veggies - you can't even tell there is zucchini in them. I usually put more zucchini in then the recipe calls for. I also add chocolate chips. I don't measure the chocolate chips either. I usually just put the batter into the muffin pans then drop in chocolate chips. This way there isn't some muffins with too many and some with not enough. Plus they always drop to the bottom of the mixing bowl. You don't have to add the chocolate chips - you could also use mini chips for less chocolate.

This last time I made regular size muffins and bite size ones. I found that the bit size ones got eatten first. They're much easier to just pop into your mouth. They are great for taking with you (no mess). Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Muffins

3 Eggs
2 1/4 Cup Sugar
3 Tsp Vanilla
1 Cup Oil
3 Cups Zucchini (shreaded - I usually use a cheese grater)
3 Tsp Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Baking Soda
3 Cups Flour
1 Tsp Salt

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients together. Put chocolate chips into each individual muffin after you put the batter into the pan. Chocolate chips are optional.

Bake at 350* for 20 minutes - if you have to cook longer make sure to check the muffins every 5 minutes to see if done.



Mini Bit Size Muffins

This is my mom's recipe so thank you mom!!!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Reeses Peanut Butter Cupcakes for Chad's Birthday

Every year for the past 4 years I've made Devin's birthday cake for his party and I've never gone to real extremes to make something for Chad's birthday but this year I wanted to do something. So for his birthday I made him (from scratch) Reeses Peanut Butter Cupcakes. He LOVES peanut butter. I got the recipe from Little Miss Cuppycakes Blog. They were super easy to make and Chad loved them. Recipe and pictures below!

Reeses Peanut Butter Cupcakes

A chocolate cupcake filled with a peanut butter chocolate Reeses candy filling, topped with peanut butter frosting and half of a Reeses cup

Ingredients:

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3 oz bittersweet chocolate, chopped (3 oz is a little less than 1/2 cup. I used chocolate chips)
1/2 cup plus 3 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
peanut butter chocolate reese cup filling (recipe follows)
peanut butter frosting (recipe follows)
6 miniature reese cups, for topping

Directions:

Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin pan with paper or foil liners.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Place the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water in a saucepan. Stir frequently until melted and smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the saucepan. Let the mixture cool to room temperature, 10-15 minutes.

Using a wooden spoon, stir the sugar into the chocolate mixture until combined. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating until combined after each addition, and then beat in the vanilla. Gently fold in the flour mixture just until no traces of flour remain; do not overmix.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each about 3/4 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, about 20-22 minutes. Let the cupcakes cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Transfer the cupcakes to the wire rack and let it cool completely, about 1 hour.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Reese Cup Filling

Ingredients:

3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped reese cups
about 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

In a stand mixer, beat together peanut butter and vanilla on low. Slowly add the powdered sugar. once incorporated, add in the chopped reese cups. Then add heavy whipping cream until you reach desired creaminess.

Peanut Butter Frosting
Ingredients:

1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 lb confectioners sugar, sifted
3/4 cups smooth peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
2-4 tbsp heavy whipping cream

Directions:

In a stand mixer, beat the butter until smooth, on low. Slowly add in confectioners sugar, once incorporated, beat on medium for about a minute. Add in the peanut butter until creamy, then add in vanilla. Once incorporated, add in whipping cream until frosting reaches desired consistency. Beat on medium for about a minute. (scrape down the sides throughout as needed so that all of the ingredients are getting incorporated equally into the mixture).

To fill cupcakes, I used the hollowing technique. To hollow a cupcake use a pairing knife inserted at an angle and gently saw a circle. You want to end up with a cone-shaped piece about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and about 1 inch deep. typically you discard (or eat) the cones, but I cut off half of the bottom and placed them on top of the filling. To frost the cupcakes, I went around the outline of the cone.






Mount St. Helens Day Trip on June 5th, 2010

So, I have a lot of things that I have been meaning to post such as our day trip to Mt. St. Helens which I highly recommend doing. It is so amazing to see the new tree growth. They have signs telling you when the new trees were planted after the eruption. They also have a very cool short movie of the eruption and the devistation. It's educational for kids too. They have a hike you can go on and employees up there that can show you rocks from the eruption and give you tons of information. It's worth the trip up for the day...pack a picnic and stop at one of the many lookout points.

Here are some pictures from our trip up there back in June...