Jellibean Journals

Speediest Impressive Braid

2012-02-13T07:48:00.001-08:00

Last week four loaves of meaty cheesy bread goodness emerged from our warm oven in record time. I love that!

Each loaf is prepared in less than 25 minutes, from mixing to sliding-into-oven time. These beauties are deliciously impressive and very filling- enough for a crowd. Expecting visitors for coffee? Bless them with one of these delightful braids.

Speedy Double the Meat, Double the Cheese Braid

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
2 (.25 ounce) packages quick-rise yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
1/4 cup mustard
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 pound thinly sliced deli ham
1/2 pound sliced pastrami
3 slices Muenster cheese
3 slices Cheddar cheese
oregano, basil, or herbs of choice
1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions (Design for double-rope braid)

In a mixing bowl, combine 3 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a glass measuring cup, warm mustard, water, and butter in the microwave. Add to flour mixture. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be stiff). Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. (Or mix with dough hook in large mixer on med. for 6 minutes.)
Divide dough in half and roll each half into a 14-in. x 6-in. rectangle. Arrange ham over half the dough. Top with cheddar and sprinkle liberally with herbs. Top other half with remaining pastrami and muenster and sprinkle with herbs. Roll each rectangle up lengthwise, pinching together the seam and rolling the log a bit to seal. Cross ropes together in the center and continue to twist. Tuck ends under and pinch to seal. Cover and let rise for 15 minutes.
Brush with beaten egg. Bake at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.

Etsy Love: Fakery Bakery 2 Giveaway

2012-02-08T19:09:00.000-08:00

If jewelry ever made me giddy, then THIS is that jewelry. When I found Fakery Bakery 2 on Etsy, my face lit up and I'm pretty sure I remember hopping across the room on tippy toes ballerina-style with a huge grin to yank my husband over to the computer screen. My love for this shoppe is unmatched. I don't wear much jewelry besides earrings. I usually forget to put on my wedding band. But this, this, I'd love to find wrapped in pretty paper with my name written on a dainty ribboned tag. Hint, hint. Husband, you do read my blog, right? From cherry poptart bracelets and red velvet cupcake rings to buttered waffle earrings and ice cream cone necklaces, it's dessert charm bliss!

Paula, the artist behind this yummy line of bakery-inspired dessert jewelry, is inspired by her love of baking. When she's not clay crafting, she's often found in the kitchen "whipping up batches of cookies, cakes, and brownies" for her family of six, who all must delight in the alluring aroma of treats baking in the oven. Paula is a woman after my own heart, citing The Cheesecake Factory's The Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake as her dessert pick of all time. You all know how much I heart that restaurant.

All the yummy charms at Fakery Bakery 2 are handcrafted from brightly colored clay. Paula's attention to detail makes each of her tasty-looking baubles seem just like the real deal.... in miniature. She is more than happy to oblige custom orders and is ultra-friendly. Check out her other shoppe too, Felt Fakery Bakery featuring quality felt play foods. Cute!

Fakery Bakery 2 has kindly agreed to give away any item from the store to one über fortunate Jellibean Journals reader. Yes, any item! What a generous lady, that Paula! This is going to mean a tough choice for the winner. I know I'd probably need a day or two to let the decision simmer. I am so fond of all of her work!

Here's the deal:

Giveaway open internationally. (BIG smile.)
Winner chosen at random on 17 Feb.
Mandatory entry: visit Fakery Bakery 2 and tell me what you'd choose if you won.
For a second entry, visit Fakery Bakery 2 on Facebook, "like" the shop, and tell Paula youre visiting from Jellibean Journals. Leave a comment here letting me know you did.
Final entry: Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (Located in sidebar). Leave a comment letting me know.

* Note: Now using CommentLuv. If you've previously commented on this post, we DO have your responses, for some reason, we just haven't figured out how to make them appear quite yet.

Felt Hair Bows

2012-02-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

** Today's the last day to win a PaperFlora clutch. Be sure to check it out and stay posted for tomorrow's sweet and charming giveaway!

At Christmastime, I needed an inexpensively fun way to spruce up a few photo frames for gifting. With three colors of felt scraps, and a dribble of glue I was able to produce cute little bows to attach to otherwise ho-hum frames.

With a few ~~messy~~ neat stitches, these soft felt bows are transformed to sweet little girl hair bows. This project is perfect for the beginning crafter, easy to make and comes together in minutes, literally. Summer Elizabeth has been graciously sporting mommy-made headbands and bows for months now, and there's no sign it's gonna end any time soon. Happy bow-making!

Materials:

Craft or hot glue
Felt
Hair clip or barrette
Needle and thread
Scissors

Instructions:

Cut one rectangle of felt to your desired size. Large, small, it's up to you. Cut out one smaller rectangle for the center of your bow.

Pinch the bow in the middle where you want to place the center felt rectagle.

Wrap the center around your bow and glue in place

Stitch the bow to a hairclip. I don't advise gluing, as from experience the bows popped off the first time worn.

Voila! Cute little hair bows. Attach to baby head of choice.

**Other great uses: pin to a handbag or purse, adorn pillows, jab a thumbtack through before adding the center and use as a pretty tack for your bulletin board.

Now "Praying" on a Blog Near You

2012-02-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

This weekend as I perused the blogosphere linking up my PaperFlora giveaway, I happened upon a blog whose lovely author offered a fantastic service that I'd never seen before in bloggyland: prayer requests!

What a great idea! I can do that!

Such a great idea, in fact, that I've chosen to add a prayer requests button on the sidebar to receive any prayers and petitions you'd like me to bring before the Lord. As I've heard a time or two before, " You need the prayer, and I need the practice." Or was it the other way around? Doesn't matter, I do need to practice, and our Heavenly Father calls us to intercede for one another.

Have a need? Singing a praise? Share it! I'd love to uplift you.

To my dear Summerbeth

2012-02-04T06:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Summer Elizabeth,

Yesterday you turned four months old. Four whole months! It's been four beautiful months of cuddles, kisses, learning, and growing... both for you and mommy. I love your sweet tiny fingers, and how your thumb cleverly nudges it's way into the corner of your mouth at mealtime. I love the way you fly as "Supergirl" with Daddy. Your beautiful morningtime smiles make those long nights worthwhile. You make being a mommy worthwhile. God is good and I'm so thankful to call you my own special Taquitogirl, Baby Beth, Summer Sunshine, and all the other special mommy-baby names you hear. You are my Summer Sunshine. 

Te amo Cutiti,

Mommy

P.S. Thank you for sleeping in today, darling. Breakfast will be waiting when you awaken.

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

2012-02-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

Long, long ago when Jellibean Journals was in it's infancy, I shared this recipe for what I consider my favorite dessert outside the realm of chocolate. Who doesn't love a cinnamon roll topped with luscious tangy cream cheese? This is it, only UP-styled and much more fabulous. This is cinnamon rolls. This is cheesecake. This is their be-YOO-tiful union.

In the past few weeks a few of these amazing cheesecakes have made their way out of my oven, down our narrow & steeply twisted steps, and out the door, purchased by friends who are helping us fund our trip to Italy dessert-by-dessert. Thanks guys!!

This cinnamon roll cheesecake is a great recipe for your files. Enjoy!

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

From Culinary Concoctions by Peabody

Cinnamon Roll Batter:
2/3 cup white sugar
¼ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 egg
½ cup whole milk
1 TBSP vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
Cheesecake filling:
2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 TBSP vanilla extract
2 TBSP flour
3 eggs
Cinnamon Filling:
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
3 TBSP cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3 TBSP unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 TBSP lemon juice
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar
milk (if needed to thin frosting)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a 9-inch Springform pan.

Cinnamon Roll Batter:
Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment (or hand mixer) cream together the butter and sugar for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
Add egg, milk, and vanilla. Beat for another minute. Scrape down bowl.
Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine the sifted and creamed ingredients together. Mix on low speed until throughly combined.
Spread half of the batter onto the bottom of the Springform pan. It will be sticky and thick so spray your hands with baking spray and press down. It will be a thin layer, but trust me it will rise up during baking.

For the Cheesecake Filling:
Using a stand mixer (and a clean bowl) fitted with paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and sugar for 2 minutes on medium-high speed.
Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition.
Add the vanilla and flour and beat for another minute.
Pour all of the cheesecake batter on top of the cinnamon roll batter that is in the prepared pan.

Cinnamon Filling:
In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Mix until thoroughly combined.
Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon filling over the entire top of the cheesecake.
Take the rest of the base batter and drop spoonfuls over the entire top of cheesecake. Once finished, take a knife to swirl the ingredients together. Place a small pan filled with hot water on the bottom rack of the oven (optional, but helps prevent cracks) and bake cheesecake for about 50-55 minutes, cake will be puffy and lightly browned. Turn oven off, prop open the oven door with a wooden spoon to allow the cake to slowly come to room temperature. After 30 minutes, remove the cheesecake and let chill for 20 minutes at room temperature and then cover and move to fridge for 4 hours. Remove cake and let it warm up to room temperature just a bit.Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
Using a stand mixer (and a clean bowl) with paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese and butter together for 2 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and beat until desired consistency is reached. If too thick, thin out with milk.

Etsy Love: PaperFlora Giveaway!

2012-02-02T13:22:00.000-08:00

Today I'm proud to feature PaperFlora, a cute Etsy shoppe specializing in colorful clutches and cosmetic bags in a variety of cheerful styles, patterns, and colors.

Natalie, the inspired artist behind PaperFlora learned to sew in a summer school class in 7th grade, and hasn't looked back since. (Somehow I missed home-ec and never did catch on to sewing. You go, Natalie!) She loves pairing fun fabrics, ribbons, and adornments to design "winsome" products that any woman would love. She handcrafts each clutch personally in her home studio and pays special attention to detail. I'm'sure she'd love a custom order to allow her creative genius to shine! PaperFlora's sweet clutches may be used to store cosmetics, desk supplies, cell phones, feminine products, or even a boatload of crafty buttons, if you've got a stash like I do. Her purses are perfect bridesmaid gifts, and she offers free shipping on purchases of 4+ clutches. US orders, that is...

Like this?

Because PaperFlora is fun. Because PaperFlora has coloriffic, cute products. Because Natalie is just so sweetly generous, she's donated this great little floral patterned clutch purse to give away to one awesome Jellibean Journals reader. It could be you.

About the clutch (from PaperFlora's site:)

Black and bright colored flower print with coordinating lining
Zipper closure tied with ribbons
Made with a fleece interfacing to give it body
Embellished with our handmade fabric flower
Measures 8" top by 9" bottom by 5"deep

If you'd love to get your girly hands on this fun little clutch, here's the dish:
Visit PaperFlora's Etsy Shop and come back to report your favorite product in the comments. For an additional entry, visit her Facebook site and tell her what you love about PaperFlora and that I sent you. For those of you just craaazy about this bag, go ahead and follow my blog for a 3rd entry. Actually...go ahead and do any of those three (or all 3) in any order, but be sure to mention each entry in a separate comment. Hope that's not too confusing!! Winner selected at random sometime on Feb. 7th. Open to US & Canada.

My Sunshine Designs Winner

2012-02-01T15:44:00.000-08:00

Drum roll please.....

The winner of My Sunshine Designs Nursing Pads is MJD's Mommy! Congratulation and thanks to all for entering. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a new ultra-colorful and fun giveaway.

On Becoming a Hippie: DIY Deodorant

2012-02-01T04:42:00.000-08:00

**Be advised, this post could be potentially smelly.

While we definitely aren't hippies, I've noticed lately that my family just might have some hippie tendencies; and by "my family," I'm referring to me. I've seen mamas in the bloggy world talk about the wonders of natural armpit anti-odor creams from time to time, but dismissed them, as I was content with Degree, Secret, and whichever other brand seemed to be on discount the day I went grocery shopping.

Not until I was pregnant did I really begin investigating the "hoo-ha" of natural deodorant products on the market and the homemade recipes of those previously mentioned naturopath moms. They did have a firm platform for their anti-antiperspirant viewpoints. After all, I'm pretty sure God designed our lovely female forms to sweat for a good reason, even if I'm not Dr. enough to explain why. All in all, I went with the "hippies" and bought the one ingredient I didn't have around the house to make this simple-yet-effective DIY deodorant. It works, even during these months I've been nursing and swear the lactation hormones have made me smellier than ever (shy smile :)

DIY Deodorant, Jelli Style:

Baking soda (2T. or more)
Coconut Oil (2T. or more), the solid at room temperature type, not the massage oil kind

Instructions: Ready for this????
Stir together equal parts soda and oil and place in storage vessel of choice. (If you'd like it thicker, add a bit more soda until it comes to your preferred consistency.) Spread a tiny dab onto underarms daily. That's it!!

Jazz it up:
* For those concerned with perspiration, use equal parts cornstarch and baking soda instead of the soda measurement alone.
** For those needing a fresh scent to start your day, add a drop or two of your favorite essential oil.

Linking to Works for Me Wednesday. Stop by and check out all the other great tips!

Wear it: Red Heels

2012-01-30T17:38:00.000-08:00

Via

Red heels can be as classy as can be. I believe that every woman should have and wear a sassy little pair of red heels. Not only will the color pop make you smile when you peek into the closet, but when you slip them on you'll want to dance a little. They make you feel pretty, empowered, full of anticipation of what the day has in store for you. Try them. Love them. If you're still not convinced, stop by a local thrift store and pick up a low-priced set risk-free. I'm pretty sure you'll become a believer.

Inspire your diva self with a few ideas on how to pair the perfect sassy red heels...

Via

Etsy Love: Baby Hats

2012-01-27T08:32:00.000-08:00

Photo Credit

I'm one of those moms that particularly loves baby hats. I think that my little girl's head is dandy cute without a colorful topper, especially because she's been blessed with her daddy's thick locks, but there's just something about adding a sweet little hat that really seals the deal for me.

Each of the hats I'm featuring today are handmade by Etsy artists. One or two may be patterns for hats, so check them out if you're crafty like that.

Now, prepare to and make those "oooh!" and "aww" noises that only mommy's can make just right. Oh, and don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Photo Credit

Etsy Love: My Sunshine Designs Giveaway

2012-01-25T20:07:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned in yesterday's "What a Mom Wants" post, nursing pads are a quintessential item that nearly every new mom needs. Those blessed enough not to know a tee-shirt leak spot, please disregard this post entirely. Washable, reusable nursing pads are great, as they are eco-friendly, usually made of soft natural fibers, and easy to launder and reuse time and time again. I feel the same way about nursing pads as I do about diapers: cloth is best.

Lucky for you, Chantel of My Sunshine Designs (don't you just love that shop name?) is giving away a pair of her cotton-flannel-fleece nursing pads to one reader. Chantel is a stay-at-home-mom and enjoys making all the eco-friendly merchandise in her colorful etsy shop. I admire her sewing skills! She is a self-diagnosed "fabric addict" which means she has a huge assortment of cute prints for you to choose from. I love the lime, orchid, and wallflower designs. So pretty! Check out her other wares too, including sprinkle stoppers, essentially a fabric party hat to cover your little boy at diaper changes to prevent a tinkle attack.

**To win, check out My Sunshine Designs on etsy and let me know which print you'd choose if you win the set of nursing pads. For a second entry, visit My Sunshine Designs facebook page, "like" them, and tell them that you've popped over from JellibeanJournals. Leave me a comment letting me know you did!

Giveaway open to US & Canada. Winner chosen at random on Wednesday, February 1st. Good luck and thanks so much Chantel!

Wear it: The White Button-Down

2012-01-25T07:57:00.000-08:00

Everyone has this classy, basic piece in their wardrobe, but if you're anything like me, it rarely sees sunshine. Since we're moving soon, and I'm purging all clothing that I cannot justify a reason to keep, I began searching out ways to get more wear out of this basic white button-down top. Here's today's outfit, and below are more anyone-can-wear-it inspirational photos. Linking up to the fabulous TheLetter4's What I wore post. Check it out and find more great fashion ideas!

Photo Credit

What a Mom Wants

2012-01-24T14:29:00.000-08:00

Now that Summer Elizabeth is nearing 4 months, I feel I now merit the official "Mom" title. As such, I'd love to suggest several products that have been incredibly useful-helpful-essential to our family's existance the past few months. When your next baby shower invitation arrives, don't forget that mom deserves her share of gifts too! Gift these momma "musts;" it's what a mom wants, trust me.

Pamper Her with What a Mom Wants:

Nursing Tanks

My favorite for modest support and comfort are Glamourmom Nursing Bra Tanks. I could live night and day in these comfy tanks. They make discreet, convenient nursing a breeze, come in a variety of colors, and have a high enough neckline that the girls aren't making a scene. Tanks also come in long styles.

Second place: Bravado Essential Nursing Tanks. This is a tank built around a super supportive nursing bra.. Bravado tanks are longer than the Glamourmoms but the downside is that the v-neckline is cut too low for my taste. Perfect for home, as they are keenly husband-friendly, but I don't promenade in the streets wearing this one.

Reusable Nursing Pads

These are life-savers to a new, leaky mama. Save her from the embarrassing milk spots that inevitably wick onto blouses at the most untimely occasions. Just use, launder, and they're ready for another wearing. Love 'em!

These cotton-sherpa nursing pads from Maria's BabyZing etsy shop come in a great variety of prints and she even does custom listings for baby shower registries. Maria is sweetly offering a 10% discount to my readers. Use code BZHGG at checkout.

Panties & P.J. Pants

New mamas go through panties & p.j pants pretty quickly--no need to explain. Investigate her size, find a few pretty pairs, and make a mama's day!

Baby Carrier

I have a SleepyWrap (now sold as Boba Wrap), and we love it. From the first days of birth we've toted our girl everywhere in this stretchy cotton wrap. If you're patient and wrap-saavy, you can even nurse in this. Wrap-style carriers are adaptable from infant to toddler size and can be twisted around your body in a number of ways. As our baby grows, I admit that I'd love to try a backpack-style carrier, as her weight wouldn't cause the carrier to sag as our SleepyWrap now does at times. Nevertheless, this is the wrap I'd choose again, especially for cooler climates, as it keeps both mom or dad and baby toasty warm.

Facial Cleansing Towelettes

Labour is a grueling task, but a chilled facial cloth provides momentary relief to a momma in labor. Give her a packet of these wipes and advise her to keep them refrigerated until the big day.

Tucks Pads

A mom favorite, these pads help relieve soreness during natural birth recovery. The anti-inflammatory cooling pads help heal and soothe tender birthing regions, especially when refrigerated.
* *Soon to come: my recipe for marvelous homemade post-partum relief pads.**

Linking this post to Kristen's blog:

Dutch Apple Pie Cheesecake

2012-01-22T06:51:00.000-08:00

This is my entry to the Hotpoint Family Baking Competition.

The Cheesecake Factory is full of memories for me. My best friend and I used to down endless loaves of soft, warm, complementary bread loaves, enjoy a hearty meal, and then somehow find room for The Cheesecake Factory's (T.C.F.) spectacular namesake.

Fast forward a few years to the newly wedded years: I introduce Husband to my beloved Cheesecake Factory. Love at first sight. Gotta love a man with good taste! (Even better if this means our date nights include cheesecake!) Though we'll giddily gobble a restuarant slice, we've since become more apt to devour a savory-sweet homemade cheesecake.

Our family's current favorite= dutch apple pie cheesecake. This is my own rendition of T.C.F.'s dutch apple caramel streusel.We carted this dutch apple pie cheesecake to lunch with Husband's cousins and grandmother recently. I was a little nervous about their reaction when the cake was unveiled---with a modest "quality control" slice missing. The seemed to hardly notice as the flavors of the cake mesmerized us all..Only baby Summer Elizabeth was unable to fully enjoy the taste treat, but I'm sure that as soon as we introduce solid foods, she'll be reaching for a plate! (Sorry Summer, but you won't be downing sweets for some time.)

Let's talk upgrades: This cheesecake itself is superb, but if you really want to knock some socks off, complement the dessert with a scoop of dulce de leche ice cream! It never hurts to add caramel sauce atop the streusel when serving to drooling dinner guests either. Enjoy!

Sweet Summer, Mommy's tiniest little helper.

Dutch Apple Pie Cheesecake

cookie crust:

1 1/2 c. graham cracker or vanilla wafer cookie crumbs
6 T. butter, melted

cheesecake filling:

2 8-oz. packages cream cheese, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
3/4 c. sugar
1 T. flour
2 t. vanilla

apple filling:

2 apples, sliced to your gusto
1/3 c. brown sugar
4 T. butter
1 T. cinnamon
tiniest pinch of salt

streusel topping:

½ cups flour
½ c. brown sugar
3 T. butter
1/2 t. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cookie crust: Melt butter and stir in cookies. Press along the bottom and up the sides of a greased or parchment-lined 8-inch springform pan. (9"will also do.)
Apple filling: Slice apples and place all apple filling ingredients in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until apples are softened. Cool.
Streusel: Melt butter and add remaining flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon to the bowl. Set aside.
Cheesecake filling: Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and beat 1 minute on medium speed. Add eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl once or twice to ensure proper mixing. Pour in vanilla and add flour. Beat one minute, scraping bowl once.
Pour half of the cheesecake filling into crust. Top with apple mixture. Add remaining cheesecake filling. Sprinkle the top with crumbles of streusel.
Place a rimmed baking sheet under the springform pan and place in the oven on a mid-level rack. Bake 30 minutes. The edges should look firm, but the center still a little wobbly. This is perfection.
Turn off the oven but leave the cheesecake inside for 10 more minutes. After 10 minutes, prop open the oven door with a wooden spoon for 20 minutes or so, and then open the oven door for an hour or more to allow the cheesecake to cool gradually. This cooling process helps prevent cracks in the cake without the splishy splashy mess of baking in a water bath. Refrigerate 6 hours before serving.

* Tip: Keep in mind that cheesecakes freeze extremely well. If you need to transfer the cake to a serving platter, it is easiest to transfer when frozen. A frozen cake travels much better in the car too!

Fresh-Smelling Suitcases

2012-01-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

Tip of the Week:

Add a dryer sheet to your storage boxes and suitcases to keep bugs out and the suitcase smelling fresh (unscented also does the trick!). If you have the type of suitcase with a netted inner pocket, place the dryer sheet inside the pocket so that it does not come in contact with any clothing or other items stored inside. Husband and I have a suitcase warehouse beneath our bed, and each remains fresh with the dryer sheet trick. Try it for yourself!

Linking up to Works for Me Wednesday at We are THAT Family.

Armor All to the Resc-Shoe!

2012-01-11T06:45:00.000-08:00

Who would've guessed that the easiest shoe polish & protectant lives in the garage with car wax? I began using Armor All to spiff up my heels a few years ago when I found that I couldn't bring myself to pay for shoe polish that I'd only use once or twice a year.

The perks:

Armor All is designed to protect from sun and heat. (And I imagine moisture, to some degree.)
It adds shiny luster, and can be used on just about any material.. I don't know about you, but my shoe closet isn't chock full of top-quality leather. Just sayin'.
Armor All isn't color-specific. You can use it on brown, black, and just about any other colored shoe.
Rub on. Buff off. Easy.
The best part: I already have it! No need to store any extra products.

I hope you try it! I'm linking this tip to Kristen's blog.

Baking My Family to Italia!

2012-01-09T11:43:00.000-08:00

We are raising funds for our mission trip to Italy in March 2012. Here are some ideas of goodies we are selling to fund our trip. Other items available upon request. Enjoy!

A New Chapter

2012-01-02T12:47:00.000-08:00

We've got a girl! A sweet, tiny, cheerful, blessing of a daughter. As baking has taken a temporary backseat in my priorities list, I've been able to savor every moment of the last 3 months of my baby's life. Here's a peek at the girl we call Summer Elizabeth.

Photo-riffic

2011-08-29T14:58:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a quick photo post of a pretty orange cake I made for a bake sale at church. Great job to everyone who helped make the sale a success! The delicious recipe may be found here (for me it made this cake AND an 8"single-layer cake.

Cookie Dough Brownies (& Ice Cream!)

2011-08-17T18:22:00.000-07:00

What is better than a pan of rich chocolate brownies? Cookie dough-topped brownies, of course!

These brownies are delicious, and even more so when cut into bite-sized chunks and tossed into homemade cookie dough ice cream. I highly recommend making a batch of these, cutting half into small pieces to share, and hoarding the remaining brownie bites in a ziplock bag for the ice cream. Honestly, Husband really liked the brownies as-is, but I definitely preferred them in the ice cream. Just a note: as far as brownies go, I like the intensity of my 5-Star Brownies better than this base, and if I made them again, I'd probably use those as the base of the brownie bars.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

Recipe from: RecipeGirl

Yield: 32 brownies

Prep Time: 30 min + cooling time

Cook Time: 25 min

BROWNIE:
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 cups light brown sugar, packed
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
COOKIE DOUGH (EGG FREE!):
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
3 Tablespoons milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips

1. Prepare the brownies: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9x13-inch pan with nonstick spray. In a medium glass bowl, melt chocolate in the microwave in short bursts of 30 seconds; stir after each burst and remove from microwave when melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Mix in melted chocolate. Blend in flour and mix just until combined (don't over-mix). Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 35 minutes. Watch closely and remove from oven when toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
2. Prepare the cookie dough: In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Mix in milk and vanilla. Mix in flour just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.
3. Spread cookie dough over the cooled brownies. Refrigerate until the dough is quite firm. It's okay to speed up the process and place it in the freezer too. The firmer the dough, the easier it will be to cut into neat squares. Use a sharp knife to cut the brownies.

Cookie Dough-Brownie Ice Cream (No photos. This stuff went fast!)
Use this recipe from Annies-Eats and add those delicious Cookie Dough Brownie Bites!

Teacher Lovin'

2011-08-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

Back to school is in the air, and if you know anything about teachers, they've been busy working on curriculum and lesson plans for weeks. Why not show a deserving teacher some love with these adorable s'more snack bags this August and get the school year off to a rocket start? This edible craft couldn't be snappier to make or quicker to gobble down.

Fill zipper sandwich bags with chocolates, graham crackers, and marshmallows. *I couldn't find individual Hershey bars, hence the Kisses.
Print and cut out labels.
Staple labels onto bags and gift them to your A+ teacher.

Here's the link to the original post. The only thing I've changed was to create a Word document fitting 4 labels to a page, rather than one. Happy crafting!

Birthing Inspiration

2011-07-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Baby on board "dumbstruck" realization #1: I have absolutely no idea what to do with a baby.

Baby on board "dumbstruck" realization #2: I have never babysat tiny children; ZERO experience.

Baby on board "dumbstruck" realization #3: I have only changed doll diapers. Not so messy.

Baby on board Supreme realization: God is in control.

While Husband and I know nothing of baby-handling, we are nonetheless excited to meet our dear sweet baby when his or her time comes in October. Knowing that God will lead us through the entire process, granting us the wisdom we need for each day is the foundation of our sanity and continued motivation through this parenting journey. I found this article about birth especially reassuring; a great read for any parents-to-be.

Brand New Blueberry Banana Muffins!

2011-07-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hello again, folks! Yes, it HAS been a very long time, such that this blog will soon have a new face and hopefully a plethora of posts coming soon.

Since last we've chatted:

We've moved ...and we're looking again.
We're pregnant!
I've saved recipe after recipe of mouth-watering treats that I cannot wait to share!

Since Baby is on the way, and my ultra-certified nurse friend Rebecca emphasized the importance of nutrition with us yesterday, I think it's high time we share these delicious bran muffins. They're not only chock-full of whole grain wheat, but are sweetened with natural sweeteners and studded with fruit. Yum! Serve them at breakfast, with tea, or coffee, though I'll only have one cup. Please and thank you.

Blueberry Banana Bran Muffins

Adapted from The New York Times Natural Foods Cookbook published 1971
Yields 18 muffins

2 cups white whole wheat flour OR stone ground whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups wheat bran
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons raw natural cane sugar OR brown sugar
2 cups full fat yogurt * I used half yogurt, half sour cream
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons melted butter or oil
1 cup of add-ins of choice *1/2 c. blueberries or dried blueberries, 2 bananas, in medium dice

Preheat oven to 425F degrees, racks in the middle.

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, wheat bran, salt, baking soda and sugar.

Beat together the yogurt, egg, honey, and butter in a second larger bowl. Add the dry ingredients and fold in until everything comes together. Fold in any optional add-ins, raisins, nuts, and the like. Resist overmixing.

Grease muffin cups or use muffin papers (18). Fill each 3/4 full. Bake 15-20 minutes, until muffins are golden on top and cooked through. Cool 5 minutes and remove to cooling rack.

Coming Soon!

2010-10-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! For all of you who may or may not click back every so often to see if I've returned, you may be the first to know that soon the blog will be updated and running again! Beginning next week, my schedule will allow for more baking and more blogging. Hurray!!! Suffice it to say that the personal trainers will be seeing my face a little more frequently as a result.

In addition, my husband and I are hoping to premier a new "life" blog soon, a journey of our faith, trials, life-analyses and humorous anecdotes. I'll let you know when that happens.

Ciao!

Jellibean Journals

Speediest Impressive Braid

Directions (Design for double-rope braid)

Etsy Love: Fakery Bakery 2 Giveaway

Felt Hair Bows

Now "Praying" on a Blog Near You

To my dear Summerbeth

Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake

Etsy Love: PaperFlora Giveaway!

My Sunshine Designs Winner

On Becoming a Hippie: DIY Deodorant

Wear it: Red Heels

Etsy Love: Baby Hats

Etsy Love: My Sunshine Designs Giveaway

Wear it: The White Button-Down

What a Mom Wants

Dutch Apple Pie Cheesecake

Fresh-Smelling Suitcases

Armor All to the Resc-Shoe!

Baking My Family to Italia!

A New Chapter

Photo-riffic

Cookie Dough Brownies (& Ice Cream!)

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies

Teacher Lovin'

Birthing Inspiration

*Bran*d New Blueberry Banana Muffins!

Coming Soon!

Brand New Blueberry Banana Muffins!