Cake Making

I have this wonderful cook book that I swear by. Everything that I have made out of it has turned out perfect and scrumptious!

Once in while (at least once a week) I get a craving for something sweet. But, cheap candy & candy bars doesn't satisfy this craving (besides I am currently on a sugar diet with my Aunt and we aren't eating these things right now). My taste buds always crave something high quality, that you either have to spend some good money to buy, or you have to spend the time making it. Last week, I really wanted some tres leche cake from Cafe Rio, but I settled for ice cream.
So last night I took out this trusty cook book and flipped through to see if I could find something tasty. Well, I found a bunch of recipes under an OUT OF THE BOX section. Basically, you make a regular 'box' cake but you add stuff to it to make it fancy. I decided on a Cookies-and-Cream Cake.
Here is the finished product:

I finished it last night around 10:00 PM, so we covered it up without tasting it.

This morning Briant woke me up to tell me he was going to cut the cake, so he could take some to work. I quickly got out of bed to watch. Shortly after cutting the first piece and sticking it in a container (for his lunch) we decided to cut a little piece for us to try. IT WAS SO GOOD!!! What a great breakfast!! Can you really go wrong with Oreos? I say to you... NAY!

I really had fun making this cake, in fact, I felt like... I was... good at it. I think this may become a new favorite past time. I have lots of friends who love to make cakes... I just might understand why now.

I know that as soon as I post this, everybody will get mad if I don't put up the recipe, so here goes:

Cookies-and-Cream Cake

1 package 2-layer-size white cake mix

1 cup coarsely crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with white filling.
1 recipe Creamy White Frosting
2 ounces semisweet chocolate
1 tsp shortening

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and lightly flour two 9 x 1 1/2-inch round cake pans. Set aside. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, folding crushed cookies into batter. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.

2. Bake according to package directions. Cool cake layers in pans on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove layers form pans. Cool on wire racks.

3. Fill and frost cake with Creamy White Frosting.

4. In a small saucepan combine semisweet chocolate and shortening. Cook and stir over low heat until melted. Drizzle melted chocolate over top of cake.

Creamy White Frosting

1 cup Shortening

1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 pound powdered sugar (about 4 cups)
3-4 TBS milk

In a large mixing bowl beat shortening, vanilla, and almond extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Slowly add about half of the powdered sugar, beating well. Add 2 TBS of the milk. Gradually beat in remaining powdered sugar and enough remaining milk to reach spreading consistency. This frosts the tops ans sides of two 8 or 9 inch cake layers. (Halve the recipe for a 13 x 9 x 2 inch cake). Freeze frosting in freezer for up to 3 months in container.

Spring Dresses

While growing up, every year around Easter, I got a new Spring dress. I have loved this tradition over the years. Sometimes my mother made me a dress (mostly when I was younger), but for the past 10 years we bought them.

Here are the ones I got this year:

The skirt isn't new but the sweater is.

This one is my favorite.

What do you think? Do you have traditions like this?

Easter 2010

What a great day it has been.  To start off, getting to sleep in on a Sunday morning doesn't happen anymore, so that was a real treat!  I have been feeling very ambitious the past two mornings.  Yesterday I made French Toast... with GH Cinnamon Burst Bread, and this morning I made waffles!  YUMMY!  After we cleaned up, we had ourselves a little Easter Egg Hunt.  We decorated eggs yesterday, while we were listening to Conference and had some that turned out pretty cool! 

We both had a turn hiding and finding the eggs, and it was pretty fun.  When I was little, my brother, Mahon, and I used to play this game for hours (with plastic eggs).... mostly because Mahon begged me to do so.  He always found my eggs easily, and it took forever for me to find his. 

I really wanted to go outside to hide some eggs, but since it was so cold... inside was just fine!

Notice Briant's hair standing straight up!  Ha ha!  He loved his football egg!

Conference was amazing.  I totally love the opportunity that we get to listen to our Prophet and Apostles!  I learn so much!  I actually got a lot accomplished too.  I organized our room... there were a few areas that I've been wanting to do something different with.  Mostly just organize.

After conference, I made these...

LOVE DEVILED EGGS!  And PS they are sooo easy to make... other than unshelling the dang things!

We invited my Aunt Pam over and had Crock pot, No Peek Stew over rice for dinner.  So yummy!

Even though we do lots of other fun things around Easter time, I know that the most important thing we celebrate and remember is that it is the time our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rose from the tomb.  He was crucified on the cross, laid in a tomb, and on third day rose again.  Because Jesus rose and overcame physical death, he made it possible for us all to overcome death, and rise again too.  Jesus loved us so much that he paid the price for all of our sins by suffering through the Atonement.  He was the only one that could do this for us, because he was perfect. By doing so, we can overcome Spiritual Death through him and live with our Father in Heaven once more.  I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and the many roles he plays in my life.  He is not only my example and friend, but also my Savior and Redeemer.  I love him with all of my heart. 

I love this time of year, because everything is becoming renewed.  The sunshine and warmth sparks life into every creation.  If you look at this scenario symbolically, you can see that the sun is Jesus Christ, the "Light of the world".  He brings life and warmth into our souls, and helps us to grow and be strong.  I know that by bringing Him into my life, and remembering God's hand in all things, my life is better... happier.  I'm thankful for his matchless sacrifices and love that allows me to live eternally, if I am faithful.

Vacation in Las Vegas

I'm quite sure that we are not the only ones that get a major case of Spring Fever around this time of the year. A hint of sunshine makes me go crazy, because I just want to go lay out on the lawn and read a book. But as we all know here in Idaho, that is not feasible in March because it is still too cold, and the grass is brown and soggy. So we thought it would be a perfect time for a little get away. Briant's sister lives in Las Vegas, and we haven't seen her in a while, so we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to go visit her family and get a little sun too.



The weather was perfect for us the whole time we were there. As you can see, the trees were just starting to bloom... I loved it!
We wore shorts and sandles the whole time! I was so excited to be able to wear my chacos again! I'm not sure I'll be able to stop wearing them now, even if it is cold outside!

The first morning we were there, we went to the park with Tiffany and Madison. I got some great pictures of Madison on the slide. She absolutely loved it!

Briant had a great time playing with Madison. She instantly bonded with him as soon as we got there. He is so good with kids, it's fun to see that side of him.

That night we went shopping at Town Square. I found some great treasures at one of my favorite stores, New York & Company! It's probably a good thing we don't have that store in Idaho Falls, because I buy something every time I go there :)

After we were tired of shopping, and after I spent my limit, we went to see Fremont Street since Briant had never been there.

The show we watched was about March Madness and they had all the college flags up, so of course Briant loved it!

Madison is adorable!

The happy Peart family!

The next morning, Tiffany let us take their car and we headed off to the temple. It is an absolutely beautiful temple!

I loved that there was a ton of flowers everywhere!

We saw this place, and I made Briant pull over so I could sneak a peek,

then we ate lunch at one of our favorite places... Panda Express (we don't have one in Idaho).

Our next stop was to the Hoover Dam. We did end up taking the Dam tour, and we learned a lot. The amout of contrete they used to make that thing is mind boggling. Oh and did you know that there is enough water behind that Dam to cover the whole state of Pennsylvania with one foot of water? Wow!

Here is the new bybass bridge they are building, it is almost 900 feet above the river. It will be finished by the end of this year. I think Briant was more excited about the Dam bridge than the actual Dam.

That night, Briant and I headed down to the strip. We checked out New York - New York, Coke-a-Cola World, some malls, and M&M's world. I think I took Briant off gaurd with this photo.

The next day, was a chill day. Briant spent the morning watching the BYU vs Florida game for March Madness, while Tiffany and I worked on her BLOG.

We went shopping that afternoon. Actually, Briant played with Madison while Tiffany and I shopped :)

That night we all went to the Cheesecake Factory. Briant and I treated ourselves to some dessert, something we rarely do. But we were so stuffed from dinner, we saved it for later that night. Mmmmm! I was so good!

We had a blast in Vegas, and just FYI we didn't gamble at all.

Thanks Tiffany, Rob, and Madison! We had so much fun!

Skiing at Kelly's

We went up to Kelly's Canyon last night to do some skiing with Kyle & Kat. We picked this week because Tuesdays & Thursdays are 2 for 1 night in March. Briant and I haven't been in a while, so we thought it would be a fun opportunity.




As you can see, our yard has practically no snow left. So we were a little worried that there would be no snow at Kelly's.
But not to worry, there was plenty!

We are going on vacation next week, and I haven't been skiing in a while & I really didn't want to break my leg. This is kinda how I felt when I got the the top of the mountain...

But after a few runs down the hill, I felt like I had my skiing legs back and felt more confident.
I'm a pretty cautious skier. I don't have a need for speed or air and I'm pretty content with Skier's Lane. Briant on the other hand had no problems going fast. He quickly found his grove and left me in the dust! He is a natural, of coarse!

After a few runs we all split up; Kyle and Briant went on the big, steep runs, and Kat and I just stayed on skiers lane.

Before we all split up.

We had so much fun! My only regret is that we went this late in the season (in fact the last week Kelly's is open). By the end of the night I was getting pretty good, going much faster than at first and I was craving more! Oh well, we will for sure go again next year.... maybe more than once! Thanks again Kyle and Kat for a great night! Let's do it again for sure!

Winter Cheer

For the past few weeks, I've heard a lot of talk revolving around the cold weather and eagerness for Spring. I have to admit, I have been one of them. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who gets cabin fever around this time of the year. I normally strongly believe in the seasons, and their purpose. I know that because of the snow that comes in the winter especially in the mountains, we are continuously able to have the water we so desperately need throughout the summer. The winter season is also important for the cycle of the plants and trees around us. We'll have Spring upon us soon enough. For now, I'm going to try to enjoy the things you can only do in the Winter with snow. This past weekend helped a lot!

We went up to Ashton for some Winter fun with the Baldwins!

We each brought some soup and games. But first, we all put on our snow clothes, and went outside to play in the snow. We pulled each other on sleds behind the snowmobile for a while. I was so impressed with my neice Katie, she stayed on through all the bumps and everything! I got knocked off once and I knocked Kyle off 3 times... Ha ha! All in good fun! I didn't think I liked driving snowmobiles, but boy have I been missing out! It was so fun! As you can see below, I kinda take it easy.

Briant however, does not. He just jumps right in like he's been doing it forever.

I think with a little more time, I'll be driving like a maniac too. What fun!

Everybody got a turn and we all had a blast!

All of the soups, tasted so good! I played pool with Dad and Briant and won my first game. Then we played Cranium and Briant and I won! It was a great night. We plan to go skiing this month, so hopefully that will help me stay out of the winter blues for a little while longer.

Hot Wings

My Aunt Pam has this great RECIPE for hot wings that she got from a friend. She made it about a month ago when we were all over there for a party. Pam has made them 2 or 3 times and each time they get a little hotter and better. She told us the last time she made them she doubled the hot sauce or the cajun pepper or something. They were awesome, and Briant hasn't stopped talking about them. So I asked for the recipe.

One of the things it calls for is Louisiana Hot Sauce. Never seen the stuff, but Pam said she got it at Winco in the Mexican food section. Well, I didn't find it there... I even asking a lady that works there. She told me they don't sell it anymore and that her boyfriend (who loves the stuff) gets it at Fred Meyer. Well..... it wasn't at FM either. I tried, Albertsons and almost tried Walmart too (but Pam said she didn't find it there). I only had one last hope.... Smiths. Thanks heavens...... they had it (and some other stuff I haven't been able to find at my regular place of grocery shopping)!!!

We made the hot wings this morning. I wasn't brave enouph to double anything though.

Here are the wings, they turned out really good... fall right off the bone good!