Red Velvet Birthday

Ry had a bday and requested a red cake. Oh yes, an excuse to make red velvet cake. I pulled out my recipe book and found one from a magazine I have been wanting to make. If you've never made this cake before it takes a whole bottle of red food color, so make sure you have some. I had to make a trip to the store to get some. The cake turned out red and delicious.

Discovery Museum

This is Ryan in the look out spot

A group of gals from church went to the Discovery Museum in Sausalito. It is situated right by the Golden Gate Bridge. We lucked out and had a beautiful clear day. What great views of the bridge and San Francisco. The museum is a hands on place for children. I've never been there before and was so glad that my friend Charity invited us.

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Brownies

I made the brownies (that I read about in the BYU magazine) on Sunday afternoon after church. Here is the recipe:

Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Fudge Brownies

By Erin Renouf Mylroie (BA ’95)

3/4 cup butter4 ounces good quality unsweetened‚ chocolate (I use Baker’s in the orange box.)2 cups granulated sugar3 eggs1 tablespoon vanilla1/2 cup buttermilk1 1/2 cups flour, plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large microwaveable bowl, combine butter and chocolate. Melt butter and chocolate in microwave on high at 1-minute intervals, stirring in between. Do not let mixture sizzle. When mixture is completely melted and smooth, immediately stir in sugar; continue stirring until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time. Stir in vanilla and buttermilk. Add 1 1/2 cups flour.
3. Toss chocolate chips with remaining 2 tablespoons flour in a small bowl; add to batter.
4. Pour into greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish and bake for 28 to 33 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center has just a few fudgy crumbs. Let cool for 30 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar.

These brownies are very rich and chocolatey! But I am glad I tried the recipe. I have a whole notebook full of recipes that I want to try. I have been going through that notebook and trying new recipes that I've wanted to try, but just don't get around to it.

Do you have a file full of recipes?

Apron is here

I was happily surprised when UPS left a package at my door. My apron exchange is here! I eagerly ripped it open- how lovely! Thank you to Whitney!T his was a fun idea, I hope Abby does it again sometime.

Woodstock?!?!

I just could not believe it when my sister told me about this book. It is called the Wednesday Letters, by Jason Wright. This fictional story takes place in Woodstock, VA. The story is fictional, but this is a real town.The author researched Woodstock and used that for his book. This little town is where I grew up. I was stunned that someone would find my little hometown, out of all the small towns across the country and then use it as a backdrop for his story. I had to read it. Sure enough the author mentions all the wonderful features you'd know about if you've been there. I loved being reminded of a place I called home in my youth. A good read with a mix of love story, mystery and humor.

Wright is the popular LDS author of Christmas Jars, which I have yet to read. And I found out the he loved Woodstock so much after researching that he moved there, image that y'all!

Food Network and BYU Alum

I watched Food Network the other night and saw the show about the challenges with real people. Have you seen it? The one I saw was about chocolate cake. http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_133793,00.html

Well, I thought one lady looked familiar. Then I remember that I read this article http://magazine.byu.edu/g/?act=view&a=2067, from my BYU Alumni magazine about a gal who was on Rachel Ray with her brownie recipe. I tore out the page from my magazine and put the recipe in my file. It's the same lady that was on the show! Good article, haven't tried the recipe yet but it is on my list for this weekend.

Thrift Finds

Went to an estate sale and found a few items. I really like these cornbread pans. It reminds me of going to House of Prime Rib House in San Francisco, they serve cornbread like this. I wanted the old looking measuring spoons for decoration. I have some old cookie cutters that I will put with these to display. I also found some pretty cards and pretty pastel envelopes to match. When I find stationery it is so exciting, I don't know why, I just like it. I think I spent $2.50, I love thrifty finds!

Primary Quarterly Activity

This morning we had our primary activity. Mary Poppins came to visit and teach us about service. Our great secretary dressed as MaryPoppins. She was wonderful with music and an accent and props. We had three stations:
1. Spring clean-a story told about how Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley had to spring clean his house
each year when he was young. Then the children went to the primary room to scrub the
chairs.
2. Next we made service coupons for family members. Each child made up to four coupons to do
something nice for someone else. They colored and decorated the coupons with stickers.
3. Last station was to make a card for two of our missionaries out in the field, and a condolence
card for a family that lost a child.

Each child made a basket at the beginning of the activity and received a candy service flower for each act of service they did. These were made out of construction paper and a starburst candy. The baskets were made out of cardstock.

This is the apron I made for the swap.

Apron exchange

I agreed to be part of this apron exchange. I thought, why not? Thanks go to http://projectsforyournest.blogspot.com for the idea. I love the ideas she has.