Summer Treats

This summer seems to be buzzing on by. Spending as much time playing with Liam in the pool, taking walks around the neighborhood, trips to the park and playdates with friends as I can fit in. I don't know about you, but I am not about to heat up my kitchen on a sweltering hot summer day. (Especially because I don't have central air in my old colonial house) But at the same time, I don't want to eat out every night. The BBQ has been our friend! When I ran across this recipe via the blog world, I thought it was brilliant! A quick snack (or dessert after dinner) that can be mixed and made in the microwave. It's the Carrot Cake in a Jar!
Check it out! The recipe is located on Babble

What you’ll need:
1 box of carrot cake cake mix {+ ingredients to make}
cream cheese frosting
caramel sauce

What to do:
1. Mix cake batter according to package directions.

2. Spray a 4 ounce mason {canning} jar with cooking spray. Fill jar not quite half way with batter {do not overfill}. Place in microwave and cook on high for 30 seconds. At end of 30 seconds, cook for additional 30 seconds. CAREFULLY remove from microwave and allow to cool.

3. Frost with cream cheese frosting and drizzle caramel sauce on top.

Source: blogs.babble.com

Hope you are enjoying your summer! :)

The Count Down (2 Days)

By Meg

With the wedding slowly approaching,...I have been making out my party plans. DVR set (check), alarm to go off at 3am (check), British flag (check), English tea (check), bunting (check), fancy hat (check), tea cups (check), tea dress (check), tissues (check).....

When searching for something to serve with the tea, I found this great little RECIPE that just so happens to be one of Prince Will's favorites! Easy to make, yet sounds delish!
If I was brave, I would even attempt to try Marmite again. (My first experience was a bit ummm interesting) Here is a simple way of eating it on toast.
Who said that English food is boring? What will you be serving on the big day?

5 Things Blog Along,.....Baker

For some reason the rhyme "Patty cake, patty cake bakers man, bake me a cake as fast as you can,......" comes to mind. With a 4 month old at home, my brain seems to always be in mommy mode. I am excited that this week's topic is baking! I am sort of a sweets addict. Although I have tried limiting my sweet tooth these days. "Tried" being the key word. I have been doing more baking recently. Yesterday I made some yummy Banana nut, chocolate chip bread (which I ate for breakfast this morning) shhhh! How could I resist? With a nice tall glass of milk,...mmmm

Here are my five things:

1.) Spring Form Pans - I have a few of them. I love making cakes! I have a hard time trying to flip cakes out of a traditional pan without them falling apart. Sooo frustrating!! But with a spring form pan, all I have to do is open the sides! Can't believe how easy it is!

2.) Betty Crocker Cookbook - Both my mom and my grandma have this cook book, and I was blessed to receive one at my bridal shower. It has a lot of really great tips on baking pies with picture demonstrations. (For us visual people) There are some amazing baking recipes that I have used many times.

3.) Alternative Ingredients - There have been a few times that I have gone to grab an egg and didn't have one or realized that I didn't have any cooking oil. I have found healthier ways to make the recipe without altering the taste too much. A great substitute for eggs is canned pumpkin. It makes the cake a bit heavier, but really tasty! For oil, I have used apple sauce! Try it sometime!!

4.) Corian Counter Top Island - When I moved into my house I never realized how much I would use it. It's perfect for rolling out pie dough and cookies and keeps them at the perfect cool temperature. It's also great for putting cookie racks on to cool cookies and to have a large enough space to ice a cake. I don't know what I would do without it!

5.) Music - I know it's not necessarily a baking tool or helpful tip, but for me, it's a necessity! It helps if I sing along as well. I love just being in my kitchen, decorating cookies, icing a cake or mixing bread while singing my heart out to Coldplay, or Sting, or whomever it is I am in the mood to listen to. (It changes daily) I have found that my Mother in law is the same way (with her Christmas baking). Her grandma, and her mom used to make the same Christmas goodies every year. She can't make her Czech Pastries without listening to her records from the old country. I love how tradition, combined with music, and the smells of family recipes make it Christmas for her and all of her children. I hope that someday my children will enjoying the memories of me baking them special things in my kitchen.

Don't forget to check out the other girls in the Blog Along:

Amanda

Julie