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Saturday, January 2, 2010

The Cinnamon Crumb Cake I stalked


     Yah, you'd stalk this cake too if you saw it in a magazine twice in a month during your 8th month of pregnancy!!! Doesn't it just look scrumptious!!! I found it in the Good Housekeeping Winter 2009 Edition that was in the exam room at my OB/GYN's office. I decided to make it for breakfast for our Sunday School Class, but Andrew was sick that morning and I didn't get to indulge, but thank goodness there were about 3 slices left! And Jim was right, warm it up and slather on some butter and it just melts in your mouth, really! Here's proof you can recreate the pictures of recipes you find in those magazines!
Cinnamon Crumb Cake
Crumb Topping                                                                                 
1/2 cup(s) pecans, toasted and chopped 1/3 cup(s) packed dark brown sugar
1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon(s) ground cinnamon
2 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, softened
Cake
1 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon(s) baking powder
1/4 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
3/4 cup(s) granulated sugar
4 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2/3 cup(s) sour cream

Prepare Crumb Topping:
In small bowl, mix pecans, brown sugar, flour (I use self-rising) , and cinnamon until well blended. With fingertips, work in butter until mixture resembles marbles.
{Roasting nuts under the broiler for a few minutes brings out the sweet oils of the nut and makes them more flavorful! Watch them carefully, they only take a few minutes}




Prepare Cake:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9-inch springform pan {I don't have a springform pan, but it would have come in very handy for this recipe, I used a 9-inch baking pan instead}; dust with flour.

On sheet of waxed paper, mix flour, {I use self-rising flour, therefore I omit the baking powder, soda and salt} baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined. {I did this in a bowl, have no idea why the suggest doing this on wax paper}
In large bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat granulated sugar, butter, and vanilla 5 to 6 minutes or until mixture is fluffy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture alternately with sour cream, beginning and ending with flour mixture, scraping bowl occasionally, until batter is smooth.

Yah, I can't stand for 5 or 6 minutes anymore!

Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with crumb topping and gently press into batter.

Bake 40 to 45 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. To serve warm: Cool cake in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. With small metal spatula, loosen cake from side of pan and remove, then cool an additional 30 minutes. To serve later: Cool cake completely in pan.


This was soooo good, I will definitely be making it again!!!

Birthday Cake for a Saviour!

     I've started a tradition with Taylor to make a Birthday Cake for Jesus on whichever day we choose to celebrate His birth! It is so much fun! Taylor gets to pick out whatever kind of cake and decorations on the cake aisle. He usually ends up walking through the grocery store holding the cake mix in his arms. For the second year in a row, Taylor has picked a pink Strawberry cake with pink Strawberry icing for Jesus...I'm sure he doesn't mind! We make a big deal out of it every year, because it is a big deal!

We now know that cake decorating is not one of my many talents!!!
He's planning his attack!

All he seems to think exists are blue sprinkles!!!

It really did taste and smell much better than it looks!!!  But it's the thought that counts!!!!
Happy Birthday Jesus!!!

Christmas Ornament Idea!!!

     About a month ago I came across this blog, How Does She... and a particular post got my attention.
I tried them out with my playgroup first and realized just how easy and cute the ornaments were, so I made them for our family this year!

I started out by buying package by package of 1 1/2 inch blocks from Hobby Lobby and whatever 2 inch blocks they had available...that took forever, so Taylor and I made a trip to Lowe's one rainy afternoon and picked up two 36 inch long Poplar spindles. I think I paid less than $10 for both of them!
Because I don't own, nor do I trust myself with a saw, I went to my sweet friend's house and her husband cut them into lots of little 1 1/2 inch blocks for me!

 Here are all the supplies I used for this project:

Wooden blocks
Mod Podge
Scrapbook Paper
Foam Sanding block
useless credit card
pencil
Ribbon
Eyelet hooks
wood glue (optional)
wood stain (optional)
     I started with a good assortment of scrapbook paper that I got from Hobby Lobby while it was 50% off.

Then I traced the shape of the block onto the back of the paper. Then cut it out. (If you are doing a lot of blocks, like I was...42...I recommend cutting these in bulk)

Next I slathered some ModPodge onto the side of the block I was working with. Placed the piece of scrapbook paper on the glue and slide cc across to remove any air bubbles.

Once 5 of the sides are covered in scrapbook paper, choose a photo for the 6th side and do the same thing.
Then drill a little bitty hole for your eyelet hooks, just to get them started.

I had to use the wood glue for the ones that I made the hole too big on!
Using the foam sanding block, sand all the edges and corners to give it a chic look. Then if you choose, you can stain the edges with wood stain. Loop some cute ribbon through and wah-lah!!! I used the 2 inch blocks to make family ornaments for Jim's mom's Christmas tree.

I wrote everyone's name on the back, along with the year.

I made an individual of each grandchild plus one with their sibling.

We all seem to be having babies so next year I might have to do 3 inch blocks! This was so fun and so special for Jim's mom, his grandmothers and for all those special people in my boys' lives. I will definitley do this again next year!!!

Our Sunday School Christmas Party '09

     Can I just tell you how much I love our Sunday School Class? Not just because of their generosity, sincerity or their genuineness (Jim's wording there!), but for their great cooking skills too!!!!! Seriously I have absolutely loved being back in this class over the last year and a half. The people are real, honest and there for you anytime you need them. They have a strong desire to grow in Scripture and in the Spirit and have allowed Jim (yes, my Jim) to take them on some deep walks through some hard stuff in God's precious and Holy Word!!! We absolutely love to fellowship, we even make up our own occassions and celebrations. One thing that is always present is food! And usually, lots of it! This year Adam and Anastasia Tullos hosted our Christmas party at their home. The grill was smokin' and the Wassail brewin' by the time everyone arrived. (I am soooo thankful I am pregnant and was able to wear elastic wasteband britches this evening!!!)
Adam skewering Antelope Kabobs


I have learned from cooking club to try everything, and I have to say....OH MY WORD...these things were soooooooo ggooooooooooood
Adam also threw on some Mallard Duck Poppers
They were spiced up with jalapenos, but paired with the blue cheese dressing, they were absolutely perfect!

This is the first time I ever had a Deep Fried Turkey and I have to say it is the juiciest turkey I have EVER had!!!
    
Frank & Jen brought some Deer Sausage, a spicy and a non-spicy version.
Let's just face it, there wasn't a thing I didn't like!!!!!!

Frank paired it with this Onion Blossom Horseradish Dip--Which was GREAT!!!

Rob & Shonda brought some very very very delicious Deer Sausage Balls.

The steam on these Baked Potatoes & Onions speaks of their deliciousness!

Cristina brought her favorite, King Ranch Chicken, it's a very very YUMMY recipe from Company's Comin' at celebration Village.

Jennifer also brught this great Chinese Coleslaw!!!

Anastasia also prepared this yummy Shrimp Chowder!!

Lori made this Greek Pasta Salad.

This is the first time I ever had Wassail and I can't wait to have it again!!!!

These little bread things were great....who brought these?

Jim LOVED this fruit salad....

And you can't have a Christmas dinner without a Sweet Potato Casserole!!! Doesn't it look perfect!!!

The Chrismonds brought this OH MY WORD so good Greek Spaghetti!

I have no idea what this is, but I remember I ate 2 helpings of it!!!!

We also had a lucious chocolate cake that I wanted to dive into head first...It was Oh SO Good!!! There was a Paula Deen Pumpkin Pie, and so much more that I have forgotten or missed! Guess next year you will just have to come and taste for yourself!!!! Thanks to all our class for such a wonderful evening of food and fellowship. We love you!!!!



Candise's Minutia

     I've been busy and exhausted, maybe a little too busy because this little baby girl dropped into her arrival position and caused an earthquake throughout my body! Literally! She's not due to arrive for another 5 weeks so the doc told me to really get off my feet! You'd think getting to sit for the last week would give me all the time in the world to blog, but it has exhausted me instead. I've had GREAT friends here with me around the clock and Jim made sure we made the most out of a miserable situation and I have to say it's been the best holiday break thus far! So now you are just going to get bombarded by all the minutia that has been swimming around in my head since way before Christmas!
     Here's what all you have to look forward to:  The Sunday School Dinner party that had a wild game menu that was out of this world; Christmas craft ornaments that will become a tradition for my kids; Taylor's birthday cake for Jesus; a cinnamon crumb cake that I stalked at the doctor's office;Why I love Hampton Inn's;  the ground flying up and hittin me and the bizarre outfits I found on a shopping trip to the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL;  the IKEA experience; and lots and lots of adorable pics of my precious boys!!! I'll link them all to this page once they are all complete! So glad to be back!
Cheerful tip of the day:
My solution to tearful eyes while chopping onions! I just happened to be wearing my glasses this day.