Confessions

I have been always admired those gorgeous layered desserts made in shot glasses.  But as a non-drinker, there seemed to be very little reason to buy shot glasses...except to make gorgeous layered desserts.  And I just couldn't justify the expense.  Well, last week Target stocked a bunch of different glasses in their $1 bins...including heavy glass shot glasses.  Hallelujah!!  I'll take 16!  I even had them in my cart before I realized that there was no way that a normal spoon would fit into the very bottom of those very cute glasses.  Demoralized, I put the shot glasses back.

But wait!  Today while I was in World Market looking for glass cloches, I came across a little box full of taster spoons.  That's right.  Cute little spoons that will without a doubt fit into the very bottom recesses of those very cute shot glasses.  And at about a $1 each, well, I bought 16.

Then went to Target and bought me some damn shot glasses!  So if I start pinning a million shot glass dessert recipes, you'll know why.

All Hallow's Eve

I have about given up on our blog because it is so much easier to post pictures and "kidisms" on Facebook, but I'm gonna try a little harder for the sake of our family blog book.

Our Halloween season was awesome. The ward "Trunk or Treat" was last week, all 3 kids had their class parties yesterday (I managed to hit all three schools...whew!) and we ended the night with our neighborhood trick-or-treating. Both neighbors, the Kings and the the Mitchells, and the Amsden family all met at our house about 6:00 and Tony got the fire pit going and handed out candy while the rest of us herded our collective TWELVE kids through the neighborhood. We had so much fun...the kids stayed together and the adults got a chance to chat as we walked. About 7:15, we headed home and the kids counted their candy while the adults had brownies and Caramel Apple Bread Pudding...the first time I have cooked with my ramakins and I can't wait to use this recipe again. YUM! But I forgot the best part...no jackets!! I love Halloween in Alabama!

 Caramel Apple Bread Pudding 

4 cups dried cinnamon bread cubes (8-10 pieces) 
2/3 cup finely chopped unpeeled tart apple 
3 eggs, lightly beaten

2 cups whole milk 
1/4 cup butter, melted 
1/2 cup sugar 
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla 
1 tsp. apple pie spice 
1/4 tsp. salt 

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease cups of cupcake tin or ramakins. In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs and chopped apple. In a medium bowl combine eggs, milk, melted butter, sugar, vanilla, apple pie spice and salt. Stir into bread mixture and let stand for 10 minutes to allow bread to soak up liquid, stirring occassionaly. Spoon bread mixture into cups. Place cupcake tin or ramakins on baking sheet. Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes or until puffed. Transfer tins or ramakins to wire rack. 

 Caramel Sauce: In a heavy saucepan, combine 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/2 cup whipping cream, 1/2 cup butter, and 2 Tbsp. light color Karo syrup. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Boil gently for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 tsp. vanilla. Let sauce cool. Add to top of bread puddings when ready to serve. Makes 12.

Angry Bird Happiness

How is it that an Angry Bird can make me so dang happy??

Remembering, Again

On the way to school this morning, Josh told me that he saw on a "mom and dad show" (Tony had the news on this morning) that some planes flew into some big buildings. He wanted to know why. So what has always been one of my favorite parts of the day turned into a simplified story of evil and hate. I thought it was important to be as honest as I could be with a 5-year-old, but I also didn't want to scare him. So when the story was done, we started to count flags. Flags on houses, buildings, lamp posts, cars, schools. And then I told him a simplified story of love, sacrifice, honor and duty. I hope it's the one he remembers.

Sam's Challenge

Sam is a pretty serious kid. So when I asked him this morning if there was anything I could do to help him today, I was shocked when he said,

"Give to fundraisers, restore peace and balance to the universe, and bake a pie".

One out of three isn't bad is it? I don't think I'm gonna ask tomorrow.

No-Bake Nutter Butter Nutella Pie

Crust:
24 nutter butter cookies
1/4 cup butter

Filling:
2-8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup nutella
1/2 cup whipping cream

Ganache:
1/4 cup nutella
1/4 cup cream {or more if you like a thinner ganache}

Spray 9-inch pie plate with non-stick cooking spray and set aside. Place nutter butter cookies into food processor and grind until they are fine crumbs. Stir together with melted butter. Press into prepared pie plate. Place into refrigerator to chill. For the filling, whip cream cheese and sugar together until well blended. Stir in vanilla and nutella. Scrape sides of bowl and mix again briefly. Stir in cream and then increase speed and whip 3 minutes or until very thick. Pour into pie crust and smooth the top. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours. To serve, prepare nutella ganache by microwaving nutella and cream together until a thin sauce forms. Drizzle over pieces of pie.

Thinking...

Josh got in the car after school today and promptly asks,

Josh: "Mom, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
Me: "I don't know. What are you thinking?"
Josh: "I'm thinking you want to take me to McDonalds for lunch."

Not what I was thinking. I let him play Angry Birds on my phone as a compromise.

We Did It!!

This morning, we celebrated completing the 31 days of caring for an amphibian for Sam's merit badge. We didn't kill the toad. In fact, I think he enjoyed living with our family.

Now, I'm gonna miss him a little bit.

And his name was Fowler.

Groupies

Josh is watching beach volleyball, surrounded by his loyal groupies, who are all watching him.

Ombre

I am in LOVE with anything ombre. So when I saw this pin on Pinterest, I knew I could duplicate it with my Epic embossing folders and some cardstock. So this is my take...a little simpler but I love the way it turned out.

The Toad

This is Sam's pet toad he has to take care of for 30 days...a merit badge require-ment. I swore I would have nothing to do with him. I don't even know his name. Because I get attached and then am destroyed when they die. But yesterday, he looked hungry so I went to PetSmart and bought him some crickets. And gave him my apple cutter cover to put his water in.

If this damn toad dies, they'll have to sedate me. Seriously.

Telling Time

I just overheard this conversation.

Tony: Josh, go tell me what the numbers on the clock are.
Josh: 6-2-2
Tony: Good! So what time is it?
Josh: Dinnertime?

Well played, Josh. Well played.

Happy 4th!

We had a nice, quiet 4th of July at our house! First thing in the morning, Sam and I took our lawn chairs and headed to downtown Prattville to get some good seats in the shade so we could watch the parade (Tony and the little ones met up with us just before the parade started). I love a good parade, and although it was small, the kids made quite the candy haul and we got to enjoy a little patriotic fervor.

In the afternoon, Tony took the kids bowling while I used the quiet time get get a little rest. When they got home it was showers, dinner and off to bed. Just as the kids were getting into bed, the neighbors in the cul-de-sac starting setting of fireworks and the kids could hear them popping and got all excited. So we went and sat in the front yard and watched for a bit. After a minute or two, I told the kids to get in the car and we drove downtown and found a parking spot to watch the actual Prattville fireworks display. The kids LOVED it...

Not too exciting, but just the kind of day our family needed!