Link to Samoas Cupcake Recipe

Since Autumn requested, here's the link to the Samoas Cupcake recipe:

http://kathleensconfections.blogspot.com/2011/01/samoa-cupcakes.html

I had issues with the caramel on her recipe (think big burned block of sugar in my pan), so I used this one instead, which I've used before for Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats and is super delicious:

http://halfbuzzedhostess.com/2012/04/12/salted-caramel-rice-krispie-treats/

I Scream, You Scream

we all scream for ice cream!  So Marc and I got an ice cream maker for our wedding, I think the Goines' actually gave it to us, and it's been sitting in our guest room closet for the past oh 4+ years.  A few weekends ago when it was like 104 out I decided it would be a fun thing for Riley and I to do together, to make homemade ice cream.  So we fished it out of the guest room closet where it has been residing for WAY too long.  Of course I didn't realize how long it needed to be in the freezer before you could actually make ice cream so we never got to it that weekend but last weekend after our picnic I thought it would be a fun late afternoon activity for Riley and I while Daddy watched baseball.  So we mixed our ingredients and got it going!  It was actually quite tasty!

Hello ice cream making friend, it's been TOO long!

Doin' it's thang!

Inaugural bowl of ice cream!

First bite!

Bowl licking good!

Oh no!  It's all gone!

Patty Cake Patty Cake...

bake me some cookies!  Ok, blog catch up time, the past few weeks have been super busy at work (of course because I gave notice).  I hate when responsibility gets in the way of doing the things that I love.  So prepare for an onslaught of blog posts!  :)

When we were down in Disneyland we bought a Mickey Mouse (or as Riley would say Mickey "House") cookie cutter, so with the tremendous about of rain that we had a few weeks ago, I decided it would be a good time to introduce Riley to the art of baking.  My friend gave Ri and I matching aprons for my birthday so Riley was super excited for us to match.  Riley loved baking, she wanted to be involved in every step, as she does with almost everything these days, like dinner every night.  So we pulled up a chair and she watched as I mixed the ingredients.  Then we moved over to the table and Riley helped with the cookie cutter.  We have some funny looking Mickey "House" cookies but all in all it was a fun activity to share together!

Getting ready to bake!

Watching the mixing

Time for Mickey "House!"

Ready to put them in the oven...

YUM!

Challah

There's something about rainy weather that makes me want to bake the day away! The last two weekends have been pretty crummy so Sunday when we got home from the peninsula I decided to give my first homemade bread a try. I love a good chewy, moist piece of Challah so I made my first attempt at it. I had visions of yummy grilled cheese and french toast. I've never worked with yeast before so I was a little nervous. So that leads me to the fact that I think my first attempt at making bread was a failure, not to mention the fact that when I was putting the jar of yeast away, that I dropped it and it shattered everywhere so I spent 1/2 hour cleaning up itty bits of glass and yeast. It was doomed! The bread itself has good flavor but it very dense, I'm not sure if that's because I over mixed it or if I didn't let it rise enough. And quite honestly I don't think I am patient enough to let the dough proof enough. But I will be trying to make it again from scratch! And it is slightly edibile, we tried to have grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner last night with it and Riley at the cheese off of the bread, and well I have to admit, it was a bit dry and dense!



Oh and as it turns out, I don't know how to braid very well either! Better work on that before Riley want's her hair in braids!