Not so yellow "Yellow" cake

Here's the first pic of the first cake I have evah baked from scratch. It's not so yellow.

Since I'm a box mix girl, I compared this to Duncan Hines, my fav and the only box mix I'll use. I found it to be a little heavier and slightly less moist. Could be the flour I used, all purpose. Next time I'll try a finer cake flour, hoping to produce a fluffier texture. However, this is a great texture for wedding cake. I think it would freeze well and hold up under the pressure of tiers.

The kids all agreed. This was much better, all around, than the box mix. Now to work on that frosting.

Are you a box mix or scratch cake baker? What's your preference for either?

Monday, Monday..

so good to me...(la la la la la la..) love those Mama's & Papa's!

Lots of folks do the Multitude Monday thing..a little meme about things they are thankful for..I like the meme's 'cause it makes for easy posting, but I'm not a fan of writing down a thousand things..I have to write down enough already..in fact, did I write the doggies appt on calendar? Lemme go check..

Yep! Whew. Couldn't remember and I've already missed it once.

Anyhow..I've been promising the kids a trip to the waterpark (for all their hard work "last" year) but for various and sundry reasons we have been putting it off. Today was gonna be the day (surprise kids!) but when I check the website..it's closed on Mondays. So I guess, Mondays are not so good to me after all. Bowling? Not the same ..huh?

Well, I'll see what I can do. Dunno. We may have to wait until Tuesday.

Made my first cake from scratch last night. I'll try it today. I hope it tastes good. Yellow cake with chocolate frosting. The frosting is too sweet..I have to work on that. It's just a choco butter cream, but I'm starting to not like the butter cream so much. Gotta come up with something new. I'll take a pic and share the taste results after the kids try it. They are the real judge.

Okie dokie..folks..have a wonderful week and I hope Monday is good to you!

It's been 8 years since my siblings and I have had the opportunity to be together. This was the last time. My sister and lil' big (he's younger than me, but older than my other brother) brother came to visit with all the kids. This pic is of the boy cousins. Now my youngest brother has a little boy to throw in the mix, but who knows when we'll be together again. My lil' big bro is in Afghanistan, his family is in Germany..my sis and her family are thousands of miles away on the west coast and my lil' baby bro is up north. It was good to be able to spend that time with them.

If you could, please keep a special intention of mine in your prayers. I appreciate it so very much!

I was at the library day yesterday..Wednesday is library day here..like you really needed to know that..or maybe I just needed to fill some space in this post. Anyhow..........

I was at the library yesterday and picked up this cute little gem



I haven't had a chance to try this yet, but I will be doing just that in the next few days..

If you try it first please leave a comment and let us know whatcha think..

Butter

For 1/2 pound of butter you will need

Carrot, 1 medium
Homogenized milk, 1/4 cup
Heavy Whipping Cream, 3 cups chilled
Salt, a pinch

Grater; saucepan, 1-pint; jar or container with tight lid, 2 qt; fine strainer; bowl, 2 qt; buttermold or small serving dish

Prepare coloring by grating carrot and heating it with milk in saucepan. Scald all remaining equipment - jar, lid, strainer, bowl, mold and wooden spoon. Rinse and chill with cold water.

Strain warm tinted milk into jar. Add cream from refrigerator and fasten lid. Shake jar a minute; open lid to release gas, and refasten. Continue shaking, alternating with a partner.

In about 15 minutes the contents will form a thick mush. Continue shaking until contents resembles wheat grains floating in milk (the time will vary with the age of the cream, its temperature, and your shaking style).

Pour contents through strainer into bowl. Empty the milk from the bowl into another container. Turn the butter back into the bowl and cover with cold water. Stir well; strain off and discard water. Repeat washings until water is clear.

With the back of a wooden spoon work the liquid out of the butter by stirring and pressing it against the bowl. Dividing the butter and working half at a time makes it easier. When all liquid has been freed and poured off, work in a little salt, then press butter into mold or dish. Rinse with cold water an chill. Serve later with homemade bread, unmolding if necessary.

So why make butter when you can buy it? 'Cause it's neato!

One Room Schoolhouse

It's all the rage in the US! Thousands of children all across the country will return to their one room school houses this year. It's almost like little house on the prairie, except mom is the teacher and there are no tin buckets with which to hold your lunch.

It's the only way to get one on one teacher/student interaction. The opportunity to learn from one another skyrockets. Where else can a junior in high school impart his knowledge of American history to a 4th grader? Where else can a freshman teach a 7th grader how to complete the quadratic formula? Only in these highly specialized, unique one room school houses can this occur on a daily basis.

Anyhow..here are some pics of our one room school house (oh and those are blueberry waffles I made..just had to throw that in there at the end..yum)

Some of the books we read.

Our one room schoolhouse. Boys on the left, girls on the right. You can't see two of the desks..they are in the corners. That's my desk in the middle.

This is the chalkboard hubby made. He painted one of the doors from the cabinet with chalkboard paint..there's just something comforting about writing on a chalkboard.
This is the other door from the cabinet..made into an art shelf.

Oh yeah..those blueberry waffles. Mmm. Mmm. Good.

It's the First Day of School!!!

It's the First Day of School
Oh! What joy! O how cool!

I have new pencils! Mechanical ones.
A sparkly new ruler and crayons? Tons!

My desk is so neat, no trash or debris!
I'll keep it this way all year! Watch & See!

I can't wait to get started! To learn and to grow!
The First Day of School is so great dontcha' know!

Cute Giveaway

Mama2Chiklettes is having a little giveaway in honor of her new Etsy shop, The Blue Bench Boutique. Check it out!