tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40964531200838532302024-03-12T18:41:11.664-06:00Aussie Mum In The KitchenEstablished April 12th, 2003.Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.comBlogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-82494359805663716652014-02-12T14:11:00.002-07:002014-02-12T14:11:38.929-07:00Milk Chocolate MousseOn Saturday it was my brother Ben's 29th birthday. We invited him and his wife over for dinner on Sunday to celebrate. One of Ben's most favorite things from home in Australia was milk chocolate mousse. We never had it homemade but over there you could buy it in the box, similar to a cake mix, mix it with some water and you were good to go. Ben absolutely loved it and I remember him often buying it, making it and eating it all alone, often in one sitting.
Wanting to make Ben's birthday dinner special I set out to find the perfect recipe that would satisfy his chocolate mousse sweet tooth. I looked at many recipes, most of which involved raw egg. For some reason this just didn't sit well with me. Finally, I found it. This recipe was the winner. It was the perfect mousse consistency and it was utterly delicious. It was easy to make and the directions easy to follow. It is incredibly rich, so for me, someone who likes sweet, but not too sweet, next time I decided I would try a combination of the milk chocolate with perhaps some semi-sweet to see if I can't cut some of the richness down a tad.
This recipe is a must try and won't disappoint. I promise =) Enjoy!!
<b>Milk Chocolate Mousse</b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7kMigQAVYnPLadOBCvAhzhEY5C9JgXeplf2r7yU_0l8m2lWik4GTwsYLwsnH_373Iv6CwtLq15XIs7nFceVD_0MBlqzC5BaienJJ3Yt2HwkuJHVQPcq5_0-9iVZcvcXN6cB1qtt1yaWq/s1600/20140209_152930.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7kMigQAVYnPLadOBCvAhzhEY5C9JgXeplf2r7yU_0l8m2lWik4GTwsYLwsnH_373Iv6CwtLq15XIs7nFceVD_0MBlqzC5BaienJJ3Yt2HwkuJHVQPcq5_0-9iVZcvcXN6cB1qtt1yaWq/s400/20140209_152930.jpg" /></a>
serves about 4 people. It doesn't appear to be a large serving, but with as rich as it is I found the amount to be perfect.
Ingredients:
8 ounces high-quality milk chocolate, chopped- I used Lindt milk chocolate
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons water
2 large egg yolks
1 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 cups of whipped cream- divided
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Directions:
Combine chocolate, water and butter in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on medium heat for 30 seconds, stir, then microwave for 30 seconds again. Stir constantly until all chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
While the chocolate is cooling, take your whipping cream out of the fridge and place into the bowl of your electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until completely whipped and thick. Set the bowl in the fridge.
Add egg yolks, sugar and remaining water to a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until sugar is dissolved, mixture is opaque and light yellow and has thickened and can coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in melted chocolate mixture. Place saucepan in a bowl of ice water and whisk constantly until chocolate is cooled.
Remove whipped cream from the fridge and fold in one cup of the cream into the chocolate mixture. Once whipped cream is completely folded in, evenly pour mousse into either two or four glasses. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
Top mousse with the additional cup of whipped cream and chocolate shavings or crushed oreos if desired.
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-21883825997280576262014-01-29T07:00:00.002-07:002014-01-29T07:00:44.914-07:00Strawberry Pretzel SaladWhat to say about this recipe? I think it is safe to say I have a "thing" for strawberry pretzel salad. I could probably eat it every day of my life and be rather happy. There are a few different variations of this recipe out there. Recently when I was craving this yummy treat a good friend of mine brought me a slice. This was the recipe she used. The strawberries and strawberry jello can be substituted for raspberries which is also delicious. Enjoy!
<b>Strawberry Pretzel Salad</b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWstUeQM63twtQn9_SOyBScuVlNuPGW-qICLc6upcHc-90g691gy7lgcUGhH9Z-uA5-Ur3Pwf6kZdOOfnuHyq-D_7sUOIpjg_Wc76R3vpJFfasYYy9G6bzPD_Rbww-ok-J34QUOY3ejyJ/s1600/20140120_105823.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWstUeQM63twtQn9_SOyBScuVlNuPGW-qICLc6upcHc-90g691gy7lgcUGhH9Z-uA5-Ur3Pwf6kZdOOfnuHyq-D_7sUOIpjg_Wc76R3vpJFfasYYy9G6bzPD_Rbww-ok-J34QUOY3ejyJ/s320/20140120_105823.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZ1Mwtvuh324FsrfxRIywua0tj6YOfZ4mRM-fwgPFSpkBvs3gMHI_X7lOKMVXuUdOf02DrZ-OvGZHvk0BUi8WPhr4ltWz_bLrDFyqi4LyckprLwb_QtMXYqzOaYfiPpX47ybYpmEVZkA1/s1600/20140120_110124.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZ1Mwtvuh324FsrfxRIywua0tj6YOfZ4mRM-fwgPFSpkBvs3gMHI_X7lOKMVXuUdOf02DrZ-OvGZHvk0BUi8WPhr4ltWz_bLrDFyqi4LyckprLwb_QtMXYqzOaYfiPpX47ybYpmEVZkA1/s320/20140120_110124.jpg" /></a>
<b>Ingredients </b>
2 cups crushed pretzels
3/4 cup melted butter
3 tablespoons sugar, plus 3/4 cup sugar
1 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
1 (8 ounce) containers whipped topping
2 (3 ounce) packages strawberry gelatin
2 cups boiling water
2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries
1 (8 ounce) cans crushed pineapple
whipped topping or whipped cream, to garnish Directions
<b>Directions</b>
Preheat oven to 400°.
For the crust, mix the pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons of sugar.
Press this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan and bake for 7 minutes.
Set aside and allow to cool completely.
In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese and 3/4 cup of sugar.
Fold in the whipped topping, and spread over the cooled crust.
Refrigerate until well chilled.
In a small bowl, dissolve the gelatin in the boiling water, and allow to cool slightly.
Add the strawberries and pineapple, and pour over the cream cheese mixture.
Refrigerate until serving time.
To serve, cut slices and serve with a dollop of whipped topping. Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-26988510857561432282014-01-14T10:52:00.000-07:002014-01-14T10:52:06.831-07:00Spinach Artichoke Pasta...get outta town!!Who doesn't love spinach artichoke dip? I don't know anyone. If I did, I'd think they were crazy. As soon as I saw the name of this pasta I knew I had to try it and I knew I would love it. It did not fall short of my expectations to say the least. I served this dish with homemade French bread dripping with butter. What can I say, I was carb loading for a run I had planned the next day. At least that is how I justified this glutinous meal.
It was late(r) by the time I got our dinner put together and all natural light was gone. So pardon my awful pictures. Do not let them put you off making this dish. In fact head over to Ree's page for a looksee at her gorgeous pics of this dish.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/10/spinach-artichoke-pasta/
</a><b>Spinach Artichoke Pasta</b>
Pioneer Woman
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<b>Ingredients</b>
6 Tablespoons Butter
4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced
2 bags Baby Spinach
2 cans Artichoke Hearts, Drained And Halved
3 Tablespoons Flour
3 cups Whole Milk
¼ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper
Salt And Pepper, to taste
½ cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
1-½ cup Mozzarella Or Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
½ cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth (less Or More)
12 ounces, weight Penne, Cooked Until Al Dente- I used gluten free pasta
½ cups Seasoned Panko Breadcrumbs- see note below
Crushed Red Pepper, To Taste
<b>Preparation Instructions</b>
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot or skillet. Add garlic and throw in the spinach. Stir it around until it’s wilted, about 1 minute. Remove spinach from heat and set aside.
Add 2 tablespoons butter to the same pot and raise the heat to high. Throw in the halved artichokes and stir it around until they get a little color, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the artichokes from the pot and set them aside.
Reduce the heat to low. Add 2 tablespoons butter to the pot. When melted, sprinkle in flour and whisk until it’s combined. Pour in milk and whisk to combine. Let it cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until starting to thicken. Add Parmesan, Mozzarella/Monterey Jack, salt and pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir to melt, and if it’s overly thick, splash in chicken broth.
Add artichokes and pasta, tossing gently to combine. Gently fold in spinach, then pour the pasta into a serving bowl. Sprinkle the top with crushed red pepper flakes and plenty of Panko breadcrumbs for crunch.
Note- I had some panko breadcrumbs but they were not seasoned or toasted. So I threw some on a cookie sheet, sprinkled them with Italian seasoning and then baked them at 350 until they were golden brown and extra crunch. This maybe took 10 minutes or so. But if you do this, keep you eye on the breadcrumbs so as not to burn them.
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-13308512587698756572014-01-13T14:05:00.000-07:002014-01-13T14:05:10.175-07:00Raspberry SconesOh how I love thee, raspberry scones. What's not to love?! Soft, flakey, sweet, fruity goodness. I've made these are couple of times now and they never seem to last long. In fact the last time I made them they went so quickly I didn't even get a picture of them ;)
I've mentioned before that I absolutely love America's Test Kitchen. I love to peruse their cookbooks and love to watch the show on Saturday mornings on PBS. Watching the show and reading the cookbooks inspires me to create delicious food in the kitchen for my family and the ones I love. I really don't need much more than that to feel happy and satisfied. The way to my heart...is certainly through food!!
<b>
Raspberry Scones</b>
<i>
From America's Test Kitchen
Makes 8 larger scones</i>
<b>Ingredients:</b>
8 TBS unsalted butter, frozen
1 1/2 cups frozen blueberries
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp fresh lemon zest
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
<b>Directions:</b>
Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
Grate the butter and set aside in the freezer. In a small bowl, whisk the milk and sour cream together. Refrigerate until needed.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, salt, and baking soda. Add the frozen, gated butter and mix until butter is coated with flour mixture. Fold in the cold milk/sour cream mixture until just until combined.
Turn the dough and any floury bits on a well floured counter-top. Flour your hands and the dough and gently knead 6-8 times. The dough will be quite sticky and should just barely form a raggedy ball. Roll dough out in a 12 inch(or so) square, using additional flour to prevent sticking if needed. Fold the top and chill the dough in the freezer for about 5 minutes.
Roll the chilled dough onto a well floured countered top and form into a 12 inch square. Sprinkle the frozen blueberries evenly over the whole surface. Fold the sides of the dough to form a 4 inch square. Loosen the dough with a bench scraper. Roll the dough in a log. Turn the seam side down and press down on the log to form a 12x4 inch rectangle. With a floured knife, cut the dough in 4 small rectangles. Cut each rectangle into 4 triangles. Place the scones on the prepared baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Bake for 18-25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 10 minutes before serving.
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-30572168432377820422014-01-07T07:12:00.000-07:002014-01-07T07:12:01.137-07:00Incredibly easy and delicious Banoffe PieI have made this pie probably 4 or 5 times since thanksgiving. This year for thanksgiving the four of us were on our own. We had a lovely dinner at home. Since Thanksgiving is more important to my hubby than it is to me, I told him he could pick the menu. For dessert he wanted banana cream pie. Banana cream pie is not my fave but I was determined to make his meal special. I set out to find a recipe for banana cream pie that maybe I could like too. As soon as I found this one, I knew I had hit the jackpot. It was banana cream pie-ish enough to make Brad happy and close enough to a cheesecake to satisfy me. It is a new fave in our house for sure. I love how incredibly easy it is and it never ceases to impress those who consume it. It is the perfect mix of textures; creamy, substantial thanks to the bananas and then a slight crunch due to the heavenly Oreo crust. The bananas also help cut the sweetness of the pie adding a freshness that is so delicious. I am not a fan of overly sickly, can hardly get them down without a gallon of water sweets. This pie is sweet but not too sweet. I have actually made it with both an oreo and a graham cracker crust. I like both but I think I have decided I LOVE it with the oreo crust.
<b>The Best Banoffee Pie</b>
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Note: I use the Heath brand of chocolate covered toffee bits. If you can't find chocolate covered, chop up regular-sized Heath bars. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature, otherwise, the topping may be prone to little lumps of cream cheese. Also, it's really important to have a healthy layer of bananas otherwise the pie is too sweet. If your bananas are small and two won't cut it, don't be afraid - add a third.
<b>Ingredients</b>
<b>Crust: </b>
24 chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos or Trader Joe's Joe-Joe's)
5 tablespoons butter, softened
<b>Pie:</b>
20 ounces dulce de leche (1 1/2 cans) or make your own
2 bananas
1 cup chocolate covered toffee bits
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces light or regular cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1/4 cup brown sugar
<b>Directions</b>
1.Add the cookies and butter to a blender or food processor and process until well combined. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate or freeze until set (this makes it easier to spread the dulce de leche over the crust). Spread the dulce de leche over the bottom and up the sides of the chilled crust.
2.In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, brown sugar and cream cheese. Whip with a handheld or electric stand mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add the heavy whipping cream and starting at the lowest speed (to avoid splatters), mix until combined. Increase the mixer speed to medium and mix until the mixture is light and creamy and is the consistency of spreadable, thick frosting.
3.Slice the bananas about 1/4-inch thick and layer the slices over the dulce de leche in the crust. Sprinkle about 1/2 cup toffee bits over the bananas. Spread the whipped cream filling over the bananas and toffee, making sure to spread all the way to the edges of the pie, covering the bananas completely so they don't brown. Sprinkle the top of the pie with the remaining toffee bits. Chill for 1-2 hours before serving and up to 8 hours (longer than that and the bananas may get a little brown and mushy).
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-52971490920418561572014-01-06T11:36:00.000-07:002014-01-06T11:36:39.212-07:00Delicious Chicken Pillows with Creamy Parmesan SauceWhat's not to love about chicken pillows. Tender shredded chicken, cream cheese, soft pillowy, butter rolls topped with a creamy gravy. I have never met one that I haven't enjoyed. However, taking a little extra time to make my own rolls rather than using the Pillsbury canned crescent rolls and making the creamy gravy from scratch without harming a can of cream of anything soup took this delicious meal to the next level for me. The rolls were flavorful and more substantial than the usual thinner crescent kind. The gravy...Ooooh the gravy. Well you will just have to try it for yourself.
I have really been trying for a couple of years now to stay away from condensed soups of any kind. They are full of preservatives and other junk and I...well I just try to avoid them where and when possible. I was thrilled when Mel from Melskitchencafe posted this recipe.
Though, I didn't use her roll recipe for this recipe, her idea was genius. I feel like chicken pillows is a recipe that takes a little more work anyway. So I figure, if I'm going to take the time to make them, why not take the time to really make them. I took these to a friend and her family for dinner last night and then had my brother and his wife over for dinner also. I think my brother had 4, maybe 5 pillows. Needless to say, everyone loved these and I was happy I took the extra time.
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<b>Delicious Chicken Pillows with Creamy Parmesan Sauce</b>
For the rolls:
Note- I found that using this roll recipe along with the chicken I could get about 20 chicken pillows total.
1/2 cup milk (I use Vitamin D or full fat milk)
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp yeast
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs beaten
3 1/2 cups flour
2/3 tsp salt
Put milk and buttermilk into a glass measuring cup and microwave approximately 35 seconds. Add sugar and yeast to milks and stir until sugar is somewhat dissolved. Put that mixture into bread maker. Then add all other ingredients into bread maker and hit dough cycle. This can also be done without the breadmaker in a kitchenaid or other standard mixer. If not using a bread machine, you just need to let your dough rise for about 45-1 hour after your dough is complete.
<b>For the chicken:</b>
4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 1/2 – 3 pounds)
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, light or regular, softened to room temperature
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
I like to put my chicken breasts in the crockpot with a little chicken or vegetable broth and some seasoning and cook it on low for about 6 hours. Once cooked and cooled I then shred it.
When the chicken is cooked and cooled slightly, shred or cut into small pieces. In a medium bowl combine the chicken, cream cheese, garlic powder and salt and mix until well combined. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
<b>Rolls and coatingb>
1 batch buttery crescent rolls
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Once the cycle is done I rolled out my dough into the biggest rectangle I could get. I added a little bit of flour to the dough so that it wasn't too sticky. Once I had my rectangle I just kind of eyeballed how many smalled rectangles I could get out of my large rectangle and using my pizza cuter cut my large rectangle into about 20 smaller ones. I then took each smaller rectangle one by one and filled it with the chicken mixture (approx. 1/4 cup of chicken mixture per roll), rolled it up, pinched the seams and set it aside.
When all the chicken pillows have been formed, combine the panko crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a bowl or flat dish (like a pie plate). One by one, dip each chicken pillow in the melted butter and roll in the panko/Parmesan mixture. Place seam side down about 2 inches apart on baking trays lined with parchment paper, a silpat liner or lightly greased.
<b>Cream sauce/gravy:</b>
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 chicken bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup sour cream, light or regular
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour, cooking over medium heat for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture is golden and bubbly. Slowly whisk in the milk, stirring in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper once the milk has been completely added. Stir constantly over medium heat until the sauce thickens and bubbles, about 5-10 minutes, taking care to adjust the heat accordingly so the sauce doesn’t burn on the bottom. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and cook, stirring, until the cheese is melted. Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the sour cream. Thin the sauce with a little milk if needed.
I served our chicken pillows with a little mashed carrot and parsnip, rice pilaf and corn. It was a delicious meal and one I am sure I will make again...soon!
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-40538267037400885542014-01-04T14:52:00.000-07:002014-01-04T14:52:01.909-07:00Pumpkin Chocolate Chip CookiesPumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies. Hmmmm just hearing those lovely little words makes me salivate. These are simply awesome! Warm out of the oven, they literally melt in your mouth and then once cooled, they are soft, pillowy deliciousness in a yummy little package. I love them...can you tell? Pumpkin and chocolate are just a match made in heaven. I had some pumpkin in the fridge that needed to be used and was bored so thought I'd whip up a batch of these beauties. Gabe had a couple of friends over and I knew I had a friend stopping over later in the day to bring me some raspberry pretzel salad I had been craving so I wanted to have something to feed the boys and to give to my friend when she came by. Gabe and his friends devoured a few, I may or may not have eaten 6 or so for lunch and then once the hubby got home from work we polished them off in a jiffy. It was a good day ;)
<b>
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies</b>
Modified from a recipe by - George Duran (Food Network)
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_nvhT3rqIsLIq8Wvdx_hyphenhyphen-6r1R4g7kjz44YUfjco3ZdEA1mmY9SVaeNy4OylWKKe7xAjWD7pMyaV04b5cVNImLTzhsbc4ajc8E4IdmHj7g9VQ_O2aDQ03OIEHyss6CGLUuFSsGC6SJzS/s1600/20131231_135550.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF_nvhT3rqIsLIq8Wvdx_hyphenhyphen-6r1R4g7kjz44YUfjco3ZdEA1mmY9SVaeNy4OylWKKe7xAjWD7pMyaV04b5cVNImLTzhsbc4ajc8E4IdmHj7g9VQ_O2aDQ03OIEHyss6CGLUuFSsGC6SJzS/s400/20131231_135550.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_vrcPu4Ae-ffy8xeXuRGmcLHADDK7bvV3mHIwEWmZfRnN-FMSnKJ__hsKGezVcqlTW_wnsnByZHAJx0bgMuCCmUDDsOGmNLxKICKVzD2LbBRMQvSb7ws65JOn_0pGnMCz2CxT5GnCWfs/s1600/20131231_135640.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_vrcPu4Ae-ffy8xeXuRGmcLHADDK7bvV3mHIwEWmZfRnN-FMSnKJ__hsKGezVcqlTW_wnsnByZHAJx0bgMuCCmUDDsOGmNLxKICKVzD2LbBRMQvSb7ws65JOn_0pGnMCz2CxT5GnCWfs/s400/20131231_135640.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWqMWO8ZLM_yoQq-a5AjCVeG55zNddBfQEMORoX2ghyphenhyphen0B0twduG9Lg6PP0NFBam-AwnIqU_txlNnTBuRnxrsCfA1573LG3foDT0C824CfgdnWioaY__qBPH_rI-meAFHRrO7ZKKJLTZw6/s1600/20131231_135820.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAWqMWO8ZLM_yoQq-a5AjCVeG55zNddBfQEMORoX2ghyphenhyphen0B0twduG9Lg6PP0NFBam-AwnIqU_txlNnTBuRnxrsCfA1573LG3foDT0C824CfgdnWioaY__qBPH_rI-meAFHRrO7ZKKJLTZw6/s400/20131231_135820.jpg" /></a>
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups canned pumpkin puree (One big can- original recipe called for 1 cup)
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups (12-ounce bag) milk chocolate chips, not semisweet
Nonstick cooking spray or parchment paper
Directions
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray cookie sheets with nonstick spray or line them with parchment paper.
Using a mixer beat the butter until smooth. Beat in the white and brown sugars, a little at a time, until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time, then mix in the vanilla and pumpkin puree. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly beat the flour mixture into the batter in thirds. Stir in the chips. Scoop the cookie dough by heaping tablespoons onto the prepared cookie sheets and bake for 14 minutes, or until the cookies are browned around the edges. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Take the cookies off with a spatula and cool them on wire racks.Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-54769423970044425752014-01-02T14:07:00.004-07:002014-01-02T14:08:53.510-07:00Buttery Cornmeal Crescent RollsI have a wonderful recipe for homemade buttermilk rolls that I got from my sister in law a few years ago. They are my go to. Unless my yeast is bad, they have never failed me and they never seem to disappoint. However, lately I've felt myself needing something different. I guess you could say I've become a little bored with my old recipe and so I thought I'd try my hand at something new. I saw this recipe and was intrigued by the use of cornmeal. I thought why not? It doesn't hurt to have a couple of favorite roll recipes right?! Besides if Mel says they are good, then they have to be good.
These were really delicious. The corn gave these soft, tender, buttery rolls a slightly different texture and sweetness than my buttermilk roll recipe. They were easy enough to make and I really enjoyed them. I think I'll definitely make them again and I am happy to add them to my list of favorite rolls.
<b>Buttery Cornmeal Crescent Rolls
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KkUh0W-Hf_YsnyPhgTp8r9X1xNZc-5pjaiTjsTYCeeHalJA0J0F_XohHFwB_bPdXrGgrAcVdOBKDhJ2D9tCSp9pP9Qbld_byHLoB3lv9yKHJDF4D9MSGZ56mR7lnGMRfiUw1cw9C-et-/s1600/20140102_125245.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6KkUh0W-Hf_YsnyPhgTp8r9X1xNZc-5pjaiTjsTYCeeHalJA0J0F_XohHFwB_bPdXrGgrAcVdOBKDhJ2D9tCSp9pP9Qbld_byHLoB3lv9yKHJDF4D9MSGZ56mR7lnGMRfiUw1cw9C-et-/s400/20140102_125245.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPesyINCALdxKgqXQKJwB-e-sjaBje9FftHrAyGOfr8oOO6AB7TcJVgUN8zxUu8jSCwD_BIwLMloI_w8M9ccKo0PZxWYWhmBQ5b7ncmCfvc80FGSXFm_FbZ-saFKz5_rFQN8wWQrBx525/s1600/20140102_125253.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPesyINCALdxKgqXQKJwB-e-sjaBje9FftHrAyGOfr8oOO6AB7TcJVgUN8zxUu8jSCwD_BIwLMloI_w8M9ccKo0PZxWYWhmBQ5b7ncmCfvc80FGSXFm_FbZ-saFKz5_rFQN8wWQrBx525/s400/20140102_125253.jpg" /></a></b>
Yield: Makes 2 dozen rolls
Note: if you need/want to use active dry yeast instead of instant yeast(which is what I did), change the amount of yeast to 2 tablespoons active dry and dissolve the yeast in 1/2 cup warm water and 1 tablespoon sugar. Let the yeast mixture activate and foam (approximately 5 minutes) before adding it to the cornmeal mixture with the butter and 1/3 cup sugar.
Also, as with all yeast doughs, I never use the flour amount called for in the recipe as a hard fast rule (unless a weight measure is given and then I pull out my kitchen scale). Because humidity, temperature, altitude and a multitude of other factors can impact how much flour you need in your yeast doughs, I always judge when to quit adding flour by the texture and look and feel of the dough rather than how much flour I’ve added compared to the recipe. This tutorial on yeast may help identify how a perfectly floured dough should be.
<b>Ingredients</b>
2 cups milk
2/3 cup yellow corn meal - I actually used white cornmeal. I honestly didn't notice I had bought white until I got home from the store.
1 ½ tablespoons instant yeast
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
5 ½ – 6 cups flour
<b>Directions</b>
1.Heat the milk to just below a boil so bubbles are just appearing around the edges (this is called scalding milk). Add the cornmeal and cook and stir until thickened, lowering the temperature if needed so the mixture doesn’t boil (see picture below the recipe for an idea of what the consistency should be). Pour the cornmeal/milk mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer or a large bowl and let cool until lukewarm. Add the yeast, butter and sugar (if you dissolved active dry yeast with a bit of water and sugar until it foamed, add it now). Mix. Add the salt and eggs. Mix well. Add the flour gradually until a soft dough forms. Knead for 5-8 minutes.
2.Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl covered with lightly greased plastic wrap and let rise until doubled.
3.Divide the dough into three portions and roll each into about an 8-10 inch circle. Brush the top lightly with butter. Cut into 8 wedges and roll each wedge up starting from the wide end so it forms a crescent roll shape. Place each roll on a lightly greased or silpat- or parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing about 1-2 inches apart to allow for rising. Cover lightly with greased plastic wrap. Let the rolls rise until doubled.
4.Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Brush with butter while still warm.
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-67598211223658908702013-12-31T05:00:00.000-07:002013-12-31T10:23:09.332-07:00Not my Grandma's Pizza but Grandma's Pizza nonethelessA couple of Saturday's ago, while I was sitting watching my fave cooking show 'America's Test Kitchen' they made this pizza. They called it 'Grandma's Pizza'... I missed why. Regardless of the name, it looked relatively easy and I was hungry so I set off into my kitchen to give it a go. I loved loved loved this pizza. Brad (who is a dominos only kind of guy) also said that he thought it was really good. This coming from someone who doesn't like thin crust and who's favorite kind of pizza is Hawaiian (he really doesn't deviate much from this truth) really surprised me. Needless to say, I will definitely be making this again soon. I have been thinking about it every since.
This recipe calls for bread flour. I didn't have any on hand so I used regular white flour. While I was still happy with my results, next time I think I'll definitely try the bread flour to see if I can't get a slightly chewier dough as mentioned by the experts at American's Test Kitchen.
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEZmDMpgXs-EayuRGOhtaI5QyOZc_x3wJlTnzTQi6DHPVyh0CSQqjXSjDY7rw-v9Y103E8xzJp_HC6V2k00wEZqb4plKqqpkjdXpgqBjK4ROc3V7Vin2S5z93DPv9R4voI7fremIu0SPl/s1600/20131221_141058.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicEZmDMpgXs-EayuRGOhtaI5QyOZc_x3wJlTnzTQi6DHPVyh0CSQqjXSjDY7rw-v9Y103E8xzJp_HC6V2k00wEZqb4plKqqpkjdXpgqBjK4ROc3V7Vin2S5z93DPv9R4voI7fremIu0SPl/s320/20131221_141058.jpg" /></a>
sorry about the poor quality of the image. I took this with my phone.
Serves 4
If the dough snaps back when you press it to the corners of the baking sheet, cover it, let it rest for 10 minutes, and try again.
<b>Ingredients</b>
<b>Dough</b>
3 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 cup water
1 1/2 cups (8 1/4 ounces) bread flour - I used regular white flour)
2 1/4 teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
<b>Topping</b>
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
<b>
Instructions</b>
1. FOR THE DOUGH: Coat rimmed baking sheet with 2 tablespoons oil. Combine water and remaining 1 tablespoon oil in 1-cup liquid measuring cup. Using stand mixer fitted with dough hook, mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt on low speed until combined. With mixer running, slowly add water mixture and mix until dough comes together, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-low and mix until dough is smooth and comes away from sides of bowl, about 10 minutes.
2. Transfer dough to greased baking sheet and turn to coat. Stretch dough to 10 by 6-inch rectangle. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, 1 to 1½ hours. Stretch dough to corners of pan, cover loosely with plastic, and let rise in warm place until slightly puffed, about 45 minutes. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 500 degrees.
3. FOR THE TOPPING: Place tomatoes in colander and drain well. Combine drained tomatoes, oil, garlic, oregano, and salt in bowl. Combine mozzarella and Parmesan in second bowl. Sprinkle cheese mixture over dough, leaving ½-inch border around edges. Top with tomato mixture and bake until well browned and bubbling, about 15 minutes. Slide pizza onto wire rack, sprinkle with basil, and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve.
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-16992471409672815712013-12-30T14:13:00.003-07:002013-12-30T14:45:25.728-07:00Hot Corn Dip
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9w1Ua8fZMphLXz44yrwESFDS4m24aEuEksi7QA9qotUZV-xBNRwSgMqVJZ4QOVxIke3429h7Ovjm7gv7O7KZBw6mJoJnjrA1U9o6KSohgbDcEmTNXtsdrnbtN8AIqvdk1h8CYN929IOA/s1600/hot+corn+dip.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9w1Ua8fZMphLXz44yrwESFDS4m24aEuEksi7QA9qotUZV-xBNRwSgMqVJZ4QOVxIke3429h7Ovjm7gv7O7KZBw6mJoJnjrA1U9o6KSohgbDcEmTNXtsdrnbtN8AIqvdk1h8CYN929IOA/s320/hot+corn+dip.jpg" /></a>
NOTE- Pic is not mine. Credit to Ourbestbites.com
I made this dip for our family Christmas eve get together. I was in the mood for dip and for some reason corn sounded good so I started perusing Pinterest and found this little lovely. It didn't take too much time to prepare, I had the majority of the ingredients on hand and well it just looked and sounded like something I wanted to eat. It did not disappoint. It was creamy and delicious. It wasn't too heavy and wasn't greasy at all. I am definitely going to be making this again. Only problem with this dip is you want to either take it with you somewhere or have allot of people over to help you eat it otherwise it would be easy to sit and devour the whole thing alone!! I have a BIG weakness for dip!! Enjoy =)
<b>Ingredients</b>
•2 Tbs butter
•3 1/2 cups corn kernels (I used WF sweet white corn)
•1/2 tsp salt
•1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
•1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
•1/2 cup finely chopped red bell peppers
•1/4 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
•1 jalapeno, seeded and minced- (I omitted this)
•2 tsp minced garlic
•1/2 to 1 cup mayonnaise - 1/2 C was plenty for mine
•4 ounces Monterey jack shredded
•4 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
•1/4 tsp cayenne (I omitted this)
•Tortilla chips or a sliced baguette, for dipping
<b>directions</b>
•1-Preheat the oven to 350°.
•2-Melt 1 Tbs of the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the corn, salt, and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the kernels turn deep golden brown, about 5 minutes. Note that if you’re using frozen corn it probably won’t get golden brown. Just cook for about 5 minutes as the recipe states. Transfer to a bowl.
•3-Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the skillet. Add the onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring often, until the onions are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the green onions, jalapeno, and garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes, or until the vegetables are softened. Transfer to the bowl with the corn.
•4-Add 1/2 C mayo, cayenne pepper, half of the Monterey jack and half of the cheddar and mix well. If you need more mayo to hold the mixture together then add it, but I found that 1/2 C was plenty, and I even added a little extra cheese.
•5-Pour into an 8-inch square baking dish, or something equivalent and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Bake until bubbly and golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve hot with tortilla chips or Fritos or sliced baguette.
Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-30881439158350357522013-07-18T17:01:00.005-06:002013-07-18T17:01:50.855-06:00Lemon BarsSo many of the recipes I post come from Mel over at melskitchencafe.blogspot.com. I love her food, her writing and I have never had a recipe that she has posted fail me. This one is no different. Our family was invited to a little get together on Monday night to meet some of the new neighbors in the neighborhood where we are building our new house. I wanted to contribute something to the evening...I never really feel comfortable arriving at the home of someone kind enough to have us over empty handed. I saw this recipe on Mel's page and thought they looked pretty and summery. They did not disappoint. The crust is especially phenomenal. They were light, creamy, sweet but not sickly and we thoroughly enjoyed one...ok maybe three of them.
Don't mind the pics. I literally took them in the car on the way to our get together.
<b>Lemon Bars</b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkQbNLogSl2RavyHWqItQL12Tn87-UBfhtiGBMGwZvvtjW8yO_dqw0va5dPgWvCY6UzvkXZn32t0WHxMooDkq6aH76fq0Zm-JRtrw9FT27raq3VQQiBIAotVk9HQ_zWRJOVf0YLWuwEPa/s1600/20130715_192436.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkQbNLogSl2RavyHWqItQL12Tn87-UBfhtiGBMGwZvvtjW8yO_dqw0va5dPgWvCY6UzvkXZn32t0WHxMooDkq6aH76fq0Zm-JRtrw9FT27raq3VQQiBIAotVk9HQ_zWRJOVf0YLWuwEPa/s400/20130715_192436.jpg" /></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsHH6jUrh_E_m-n6UWRwNVcPC2LQoKS32xa75NkgXanHtxurWgubfk6ziTpT3R9NcTpQBsO2vzL_CvvzDvQ7G6b4M1UYmXIbA3jULAkBLAMWsm5XSvU_-c39yq9O4_ovxN666T9YO1oWx/s1600/20130715_192525.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsHH6jUrh_E_m-n6UWRwNVcPC2LQoKS32xa75NkgXanHtxurWgubfk6ziTpT3R9NcTpQBsO2vzL_CvvzDvQ7G6b4M1UYmXIbA3jULAkBLAMWsm5XSvU_-c39yq9O4_ovxN666T9YO1oWx/s400/20130715_192525.jpg" /></a>
<b>INGREDIENTS</b>
<b>
For the Crust:</b>
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup powdered sugar, plus extra to sprinkle on bars
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons butter (1 1/2 sticks), at cool room temperature, cut into 1-inch pieces
<b>
For the Filling:</b>
4 large eggs
1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest, from 2 large lemons
2/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 3 to 4 large lemons
1/3 cup milk
Pinch of salt (about 1/8 teaspoon)
<b>DIRECTIONS</b>
Place an oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9X13-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper and lightly grease the foil/parchment.
Stir together the flour, powdered sugar, cornstarch, and salt (this can be done in a food processor or in a large bowl by hand). Add the pieces of butter and cut the butter into the dry ingredients using a pastry blender, two knives or your fingers (taking care not to melt the butter too much - you might try freezing the butter and grating it into the dry ingredients on the large holes of a box grater) or process in the food processor for 8 to 10 seconds and then as needed until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press into an even layer on the bottom and about 1/2-inch up the sides of the pan. Refrigerate for 15-30 minutes. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and flour in a medium bowl and then stir in the lemon zest, juice and milk to combine.
Pour the filling onto the warm crust (it's important that the crust is still warm!) and reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake for about 18-20 minutes until the filling feels slightly firm to the touch. Cool the bars to room temperature, sprinkle with additional powdered sugar and cut into bars.Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-8332456873564618552011-11-01T20:40:00.014-06:002011-11-01T21:05:08.343-06:00Halloween 2011Gabe has been excited for Halloween for literally 6 months. Every day he would tell me what he was going to be (usually something different everyday) and what I could be and what Brad could be (again something different every day). I was getting nervous with all of his indecisiveness about a costume until a week before Halloween when he finally decided that this year he wanted to be the black Spiderman aka Venom.
<br />
<br />We ordered his costume online and everyday he waited and waited with great anticipation for it to arrive in the mail. Once it did arrive, he didn't have to be wearing it constantly but he did like to take it with us pretty much everywhere we went and he <span style="font-weight:bold;">always</span> had to have it in his backpack when he went to school.
<br />
<br />We went to the annual trick or treating extravaganza at Brad's office on the Thursday before Halloween. Then we went to our ward trunk or treat on the Saturday night and then finally on Halloween day Gabe got to go to a Halloween party at Brad's Uncle Terry and Aunty Cerena's house. On Halloween night, he had a blast answering the door and handing out the candy to all the kids who came by. The door bell would ring and he would sprint from the back of the house to the front to open the door. Brad and I were forbidden from answering the door all night.
<br />
<br />He had a blast this year and is already planning for Halloween next year.
<br />
<br />We just love our little Spiderman.
<br />
<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When we first got to Brad's office he was being a little coy...just like Mum and Dad he doesn't like all the attention</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHqvR7A8_WVrYD4mJ8BCUsJo0e0A0yz0ZWi5zsGL-7brSuOP5u-QY29fOyrLMu-Ct5h0DODwOa6dh3cCz3PDy49q6yBbuv9hll2HWIlXDw7K0lPa0b8w_f234HFIdn1f45gWfUWOLGo42/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHqvR7A8_WVrYD4mJ8BCUsJo0e0A0yz0ZWi5zsGL-7brSuOP5u-QY29fOyrLMu-Ct5h0DODwOa6dh3cCz3PDy49q6yBbuv9hll2HWIlXDw7K0lPa0b8w_f234HFIdn1f45gWfUWOLGo42/s400/DSC_0001.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670225585489477122" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Warming up
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqXrpPt8JrTSL5mwxKeMCgaPF4SjM1bjRHcegWiiCnXgkV3ZQTxeL8_Urh1gqP2VLLvPyQ-LaIsZOHmJw3msnr5oXH4GzO3vcpupN7UCpDcOotVnLJ5FVvu-9FkP_3qoM-sW3xipt6kCT/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqXrpPt8JrTSL5mwxKeMCgaPF4SjM1bjRHcegWiiCnXgkV3ZQTxeL8_Urh1gqP2VLLvPyQ-LaIsZOHmJw3msnr5oXH4GzO3vcpupN7UCpDcOotVnLJ5FVvu-9FkP_3qoM-sW3xipt6kCT/s400/DSC_0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670225918835132050" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">There we go</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXacI7QSPuOmgzI3opca7tem4qJMY_Y763yLtSpIl6cbBdwvj34iEUmJqckWSzSPAqKNwOtsJ-3pYOYM7ayzyYi8CsmDD8IZUJIq9S3N8fnqqY9Mv6maJprdx9Kbz1JJmShGhLZDu0jd4D/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXacI7QSPuOmgzI3opca7tem4qJMY_Y763yLtSpIl6cbBdwvj34iEUmJqckWSzSPAqKNwOtsJ-3pYOYM7ayzyYi8CsmDD8IZUJIq9S3N8fnqqY9Mv6maJprdx9Kbz1JJmShGhLZDu0jd4D/s400/DSC_0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670226243085057570" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Brad's whole office really goes all out for Halloween...it's pretty neat. </span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXWoD8nWiVUD00cpZQEuTfyWAiNzuv-DcaVWfjxAuOht-eo4OQowKPwsi-H88TgZQMAt-w1BxZYgOoEAZC13BEzRE5170PoYV4ImQvcwxuB7uUhME1NnCr8nd9p8dVUYwjVJtm5-hncoH/s1600/DSC_0013.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXWoD8nWiVUD00cpZQEuTfyWAiNzuv-DcaVWfjxAuOht-eo4OQowKPwsi-H88TgZQMAt-w1BxZYgOoEAZC13BEzRE5170PoYV4ImQvcwxuB7uUhME1NnCr8nd9p8dVUYwjVJtm5-hncoH/s400/DSC_0013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670226637037396050" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The upper management of the company were all dressed as Garden gnomes. </span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAj5F3bnwkm2fiDSABm6co4dVIModpeKeJaGWPMgh_wffgQeTddFq9EqSq8TWhw602B73Hdag8KuLH7Azfn4mqk2xTzU9UZsX3R2Rgm2EmbWKWSa4UHtygbfNf-CeTjAJOwqTzaaIJ79jd/s1600/DSC_0009.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAj5F3bnwkm2fiDSABm6co4dVIModpeKeJaGWPMgh_wffgQeTddFq9EqSq8TWhw602B73Hdag8KuLH7Azfn4mqk2xTzU9UZsX3R2Rgm2EmbWKWSa4UHtygbfNf-CeTjAJOwqTzaaIJ79jd/s400/DSC_0009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670227000148053506" /></a>
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<br />Gabe and his little friend Jaxon who is 3 months <span style="font-weight:bold;">YOUNGER<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span> than Gabe. This photo cracks me up. Jaxon is SO huge. Brad and Jaxon's Daddy John carpool together.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwdsyc6l9JvlfBHLIk5oUpevn666XqzPlq2mYnCoqpmTfw879yKAfPp66CxpXL8c-dvYro8oE1e0_lxuG2wyB7D6owohyphenhyphen58vvZDhCi7h88lTB99yor8PfbOWukLVQNTDDczQ-eO_VxHUv/s1600/DSC_0010.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwdsyc6l9JvlfBHLIk5oUpevn666XqzPlq2mYnCoqpmTfw879yKAfPp66CxpXL8c-dvYro8oE1e0_lxuG2wyB7D6owohyphenhyphen58vvZDhCi7h88lTB99yor8PfbOWukLVQNTDDczQ-eO_VxHUv/s400/DSC_0010.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670227444190077522" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">We also had my niece Payton (Jarom's baby) with us. She wasn't too sure about allot of the costumes and decorations but she is always happy if uncle Brad is holding her.</span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbiS6beCg_7gkcdOL8woWsYXcVfO21R22rfZdjxjw789t92xDSF200qUy-UYxjda82OsuHMAH5ty62xhlngbrWuxpuA0dtni1xqqi08B_TACUQi1VZ_16crmVDD9trygZKxLF4amoy1Ha/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbiS6beCg_7gkcdOL8woWsYXcVfO21R22rfZdjxjw789t92xDSF200qUy-UYxjda82OsuHMAH5ty62xhlngbrWuxpuA0dtni1xqqi08B_TACUQi1VZ_16crmVDD9trygZKxLF4amoy1Ha/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670228046964131858" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKA17pVENxxiDLAbFXTTlObX5PKt3yTJwcO2fkc8ZoW-f3HOvCzNYYQa5SK9b8-_npWENV0qiVSidnoZeRu4daWcsnC_zG7AqcJIS0dGezMZ54I88VVK47es4ggWHE887DA8PSK-Ohhwsa/s1600/DSC_0016.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKA17pVENxxiDLAbFXTTlObX5PKt3yTJwcO2fkc8ZoW-f3HOvCzNYYQa5SK9b8-_npWENV0qiVSidnoZeRu4daWcsnC_zG7AqcJIS0dGezMZ54I88VVK47es4ggWHE887DA8PSK-Ohhwsa/s400/DSC_0016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670228360340422674" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The little Lion</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiXIw-gTXYJIw52aiaIxV-L_iwLxG9CmkRpfSKdB_fZEoVb0tC2dkYDw-ieqUlcYuOzGOEnOnaztk4Dgs5mD1hNtE2YHRjkoHWHVmv5JxY7V9CSRxgH-4Qnm8T0vYuTmuU5WfbfLpSHE2/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWiXIw-gTXYJIw52aiaIxV-L_iwLxG9CmkRpfSKdB_fZEoVb0tC2dkYDw-ieqUlcYuOzGOEnOnaztk4Dgs5mD1hNtE2YHRjkoHWHVmv5JxY7V9CSRxgH-4Qnm8T0vYuTmuU5WfbfLpSHE2/s400/DSC_0024.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670228734883018690" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Look at those eyes. She is a cutie just like her Daddy!</span>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOykqlyoWE2t0twNWceQKN9lFFui2AK_ibAjR3l9x2-PL_n_ioYy6xMcsAYvLRuDzL4u8wf1H24-djQgf9-JDo3q0Aw0K1iVqIQ-CUMjyZoxNCUp5qQZFB_b0pxwqKQgiPWwATEKD4H2T/s1600/DSC_0028.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOykqlyoWE2t0twNWceQKN9lFFui2AK_ibAjR3l9x2-PL_n_ioYy6xMcsAYvLRuDzL4u8wf1H24-djQgf9-JDo3q0Aw0K1iVqIQ-CUMjyZoxNCUp5qQZFB_b0pxwqKQgiPWwATEKD4H2T/s400/DSC_0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670229024277618818" /></a>
<br />Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-88691528475365283512011-10-26T20:43:00.003-06:002011-10-26T20:47:09.528-06:00This face...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAklJFRwn3QI7f-TjyyLokhm8pb24HKWwSVOQV_LJYh1JqfLzxt6aGWr5sqH-oZw8BLg7lepWZ__O7WNCQ_jFKzMnVHjJooy1KhqbsUJb4e8rr1lDoW1f65Nw6CcZft9-cE1HrchswnWfb/s1600/DSC_0259.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAklJFRwn3QI7f-TjyyLokhm8pb24HKWwSVOQV_LJYh1JqfLzxt6aGWr5sqH-oZw8BLg7lepWZ__O7WNCQ_jFKzMnVHjJooy1KhqbsUJb4e8rr1lDoW1f65Nw6CcZft9-cE1HrchswnWfb/s400/DSC_0259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667997430011930850" /></a><br /><br />Makes rainy days seem brighter, crappy days not so crappy, long, hard work days easy, colors brighter, smells (good ones) smell better, the sun sunnier, love lovier and life all the more happier. <br /><br />I love this face...Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-41001399475607167832011-10-25T19:00:00.001-06:002011-10-25T20:02:27.344-06:00Strawberry Shortcake French ToastI think I've said before that my Brad loves french toast and I love pancakes. On conference weekend (Sunday) Brad had to leave shortly after breakfast to fly out for a business trip back East. I wanted to send him off with a delicious homemade breakfast and so decided to give this recipe a try. We both enjoyed it and so did my neighbors who benefited from the extras we had. The best part, I felt like I had given him a slightly fancier version of his favorite which is what I was aiming for. He left with a happy and full tummy and I was satisfied. <br /><br /><strong>Strawberry Shortcake French Toast</strong><br />Foodnetwork.com<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqhwK4USxU1d4rk9trb3xh3GJEs7Oj4ESyqs2NBvT3dF2T49kz-KsumR-C5AalqiyLh4wWWbCjGsQipGgXR_l3vUbWEUuAeGRlVWiz90jvieSdvuLH2pfWgIkr34Y2_EVPUQOb8WslMrn/s1600/DSC_0279.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNqhwK4USxU1d4rk9trb3xh3GJEs7Oj4ESyqs2NBvT3dF2T49kz-KsumR-C5AalqiyLh4wWWbCjGsQipGgXR_l3vUbWEUuAeGRlVWiz90jvieSdvuLH2pfWgIkr34Y2_EVPUQOb8WslMrn/s400/DSC_0279.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666819443359075314" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Directions</strong><br /><br />Mix 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest with 3 tablespoons sugar; toss about a third of the lemon-sugar with 3 cups halved strawberries. Make the egg mixture for Perfect French Toast (see below); add 4 split English muffins and soak, 5 minutes, then fry and bake as directed. Sandwich some strawberries and more lemon-sugar between the muffin halves. Top with yogurt, more berries and a drizzle of honey.<br /><br /><strong>Perfect French Toast</strong><br /><br />Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl. Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, dip 6 thick slices white bread, challah or brioche (I used English muffins) in the egg mixture and cook in the skillet until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side, adding more butter as needed. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until puffed, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in the same skillet until browned, about 5 minutes. Drizzle the French toast with the browned butter and maple syrup. <br /><br />and a plate for the neighbors<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuXt4QjL4AqLKBWup39AZEhzdph50IyIDb6yjgC7NQ74jElVt8KXnax16IiyU58yIh9_5zXqVOEctLgQqNcVL8keoS0cIFufrwVTHZxhZECCozNTDVVWMJaoMK1vDk3W1-fW6G_55zprz/s1600/DSC_0276.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMuXt4QjL4AqLKBWup39AZEhzdph50IyIDb6yjgC7NQ74jElVt8KXnax16IiyU58yIh9_5zXqVOEctLgQqNcVL8keoS0cIFufrwVTHZxhZECCozNTDVVWMJaoMK1vDk3W1-fW6G_55zprz/s400/DSC_0276.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666819763571601874" /></a>Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-5103291372862608092011-10-23T16:07:00.005-06:002011-10-23T17:05:56.399-06:00BEST Blueberry MuffinsAh blueberries. They have never been my fave. I have always found this small berry to be mushy, flavorless and the skins too tough for my liking. However, one Saturday many Saturdays ago I was sitting watching my FAVORITE cooking show on KBYU - America's Test Kitchen and they were making these muffins. While I don't LOVE blueberries I do LOVE me a good muffin. Maybe I was extra hungry that day, I don't know, but I just knew I had to give these a try. I had had blueberry muffins in the past which left me feeling blah. I wanted to change my attitude about blueberry muffins and knew that if anyone could do it, it was the folks at America's Test Kitchen. As always they did not disappoint. These beauties were wonderful. Great texture and great blueberry flavor and the lemon sugar topping adds an extra unexpected wow factor. My faith in blueberry muffins has been restored and this recipe now has a permanent home in my heart!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Best Blueberry Muffins </strong><br />America’s Test Kitchen <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiUEYi_wsQfOzNqafEjfsDqaPnxV8cNkjdEpRN_a-uxLiSVdLQhZG2GCiQDzffR-gl8PlmFO9te9sHIHN2EhI2fafw6G0R3WQHpG7uRcJLUK_Kf2qNDuy94fy2rYHUVKsJh1NO25KkYug/s1600/DSC_0260.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiUEYi_wsQfOzNqafEjfsDqaPnxV8cNkjdEpRN_a-uxLiSVdLQhZG2GCiQDzffR-gl8PlmFO9te9sHIHN2EhI2fafw6G0R3WQHpG7uRcJLUK_Kf2qNDuy94fy2rYHUVKsJh1NO25KkYug/s400/DSC_0260.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666817025591612034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpkzyDK-XtIU2LkEjCYnykyKa4gM3E2Isb9ahGNA5Jqq5SJh-iOhlce5Vl_75hCkOuVwpV7_mWFW9NDnSn_wC1tl1JJt-NrtCNA_TjHtscvHzNgeI_EslDUpZTKq5buaZbpMj9gi8FlJR/s1600/DSC_0262.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpkzyDK-XtIU2LkEjCYnykyKa4gM3E2Isb9ahGNA5Jqq5SJh-iOhlce5Vl_75hCkOuVwpV7_mWFW9NDnSn_wC1tl1JJt-NrtCNA_TjHtscvHzNgeI_EslDUpZTKq5buaZbpMj9gi8FlJR/s400/DSC_0262.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666817302735810402" /></a><br /><br /> <br /><strong>For the Lemon-Sugar Topping</strong><br />1/3 cup (2 1/3 ounces) sugar [I recommend sanding sugar]<br />1 1/2 tsps finely grated zest from 1 lemon<br /><strong><br />For the Muffins</strong><br />2 cups (approximately 10 ounces) fresh blueberries, picked over, with stems and bad blueberries thrown out<br />1 1/8 cups (8 ounces) plus 1 tsp sugar<br />2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour<br />2 1/2 tsps baking powder<br />1 tsp table salt<br />2 large eggs<br />4 Tbsps (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly<br />1/4 cup vegetable oil<br />1 cup buttermilk<br />1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract<br /><br /><br /><strong>Directions</strong><br />For the Topping<br />Stir together the sanding sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl until combined. Set aside.<br /><br /><br />1. Adjust the oven rack to upper-middle position, and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a standard muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.<br /><br /><br />2. Bring 1 cup blueberries and 1 tsp sugar to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, mashing berries with a spoon (I find a fork works very well, maybe even better) several times, and stirring frequently, until the berries have broken down and the mixture has thickened and reduced to 1/4 cup (you will just have to eyeball this measurement), approximately 6 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl, and let cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.<br /><br /><br />3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Set aside.<br /><br /><br />4. Whisk remaining 1 1/8 cups of sugar and the eggs together in a medium bowl, until thick and incorporated, about 45 seconds.<br /><br /><br />5. Slowly whisk in the butter and oil until combined. Whisk in the buttermilk and vanilla until combined.<br /><br /><br />6. Using a rubber spatula, fold the egg mixture and the remaining cup of blueberries into the flour mixture until just moistened. The batter will be very lumpy with few spots of dry flour. Do not over mix the batter, or your muffins will be tough.<br /><br /><br />7. Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to divide the batter equally among the muffin cups. The batter should completely fill the cups and mound slightly. You should have enough batter for exactly 12 muffins.<br /><br /><br />8. Spoon a teaspoon of the cooked blueberry mixture into the center of each mound of muffin batter. Using a chopstick or a skewer, gently swirl the blueberry filling into the batter, using a figure-eight motion.<br /><br /><br />9. Sprinkle the lemon sugar evenly over the muffins.<br /><br /><br />10. Bake until Muffin tops are golden and just firm, 17 to 19 minutes, rotating the muffin tin from front to back, halfway through baking tin.<br /><br /><br />12. Cool muffins in muffin tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack and let cool 5 minutes before serving.Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-75351676773083802872011-09-17T20:50:00.006-06:002011-09-17T21:11:58.159-06:00My new favorite cake- Strawberry-Lime Cream CakeI am almost drooling down my shirt just thinking about this cake. I made it a couple of weeks ago when we had my brother and his wife over for our monthly family dinner. When I was looking at my favorite food blog for my usual dessert inspiration and came across this cake I was a tad skeptical. I love cake, I love strawberries and I love strawberry cake. However, I wouldn't say I'm a hugely wild fan of limes. BUT...let me just say that there is something about the combination of the strawberries and the lime that totally WORKS! It's a match made in heaven. <br /><br />The cake is dense and moist and the lime cream and strawberry filling is light and flavorful and just plain delicious. I am so enthralled with this cake that I am going to make it for myself on my birthday. Strawberry season or not I'm having this cake come November! This is actually officially my new favorite white cake recipe too. I think I'll burn all the rest and this will take it's place. It would be incredible with any kind of filling or frosting. <br /><br />Confession time! When I was making my cake layers I didn't adequately grease my pans and so when I tried to get both layers out which are then to be cut into 2 more layers my cake kinda, sorta, completely fell apart. It was a mess. Determined to put it together I pressed on but it was in no way blog worthy to look at. So I have pinched Mels picture from her blog so you can drool over that.<br /><br /><strong>Strawberry-Lime Cream Cake</strong><br />/www.melskitchencafe.com<br />original source- White cake adapted from Betty Crocker, other components adapted from Mels friend, Reyna M.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCShLDgnmfj5inbPiYgdOM2PeV2PmowNKsleq10CjapRdGEd9OS_VKkLkwBN0KUIueCIUH7JDRVvZG6VfVCJGSOVhKrOwA7D5hOhSP4XsqE3ZaDuxlUYEe8cOtlIu1O5RpKG79gu-a9WRH/s1600/lime+cake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 288px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCShLDgnmfj5inbPiYgdOM2PeV2PmowNKsleq10CjapRdGEd9OS_VKkLkwBN0KUIueCIUH7JDRVvZG6VfVCJGSOVhKrOwA7D5hOhSP4XsqE3ZaDuxlUYEe8cOtlIu1O5RpKG79gu-a9WRH/s400/lime+cake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5653530540826525890" /></a><br /><br />*Note: this recipe looks like it has a lot of steps, and it does, but each can be made in advance and the cake assembled later. Plus, none of the steps are very difficult. The end result is worth it, trust me!<br /> <br />*Serves 12<br /> <br /><strong>White Cake:</strong><br /> 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour<br /> 2 cups granulated sugar<br /> 1 teaspoon baking powder<br /> 1/2 teaspoon baking soda<br /> 1/8 teaspoon salt<br /> 1 1/3 cups buttermilk<br /> 1/2 cup butter, softened<br /> 1 teaspoon vanilla<br /> 4 egg whites<br /> <br />Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add buttermilk, butter and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping the bowl as needed. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes. Add the egg whites and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.<br /> <br />Pour the batter into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans. (I lined the bottom of mine with a parchment circle and greased the top of the parchment circle.) Bake the cakes for 28-30 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out with moist crumbs. Don’t overbake or the cakes will be dry. Cool the cakes on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Loosen the sides with a butter knife and remove the cakes from the pans to cool completely.<br /> <strong><br />Strawberry Syrup/Puree:</strong><br /> 1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and hulled<br /> 4 tablespoons sugar<br /> 1 teaspoon lemon juice<br /> <br />Combine all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.<br /> <br /><strong>Lime Cream:</strong><br /> *Note: you can substitute 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberry jam for the strawberry puree<br /> 4 limes, for 1/2 cup fresh lime juice<br /> 1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk<br /> 2 cups heavy whipping cream<br /> <br />Zest and juice the limes into a medium bowl. You should have about 1/2 cup lime juice. Add the sweetened condensed milk and mix well. Add the whipping cream and beat until medium-stiff peaks form. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.<br /> <br /><strong>Whipped Cream Frosting:</strong><br /> 2 cups heavy whipping cream<br /> 1/2 cup powdered sugar<br /> 1 teaspoon vanilla<br /> 1 envelope (about 2 teaspoons) unflavored gelatin<br /> 4 tablespoons water<br /> <br />In a small bowl, place the water and sprinkle the gelatin over the top. Let the mixture stand for 3-4 minutes until the gelatin has thickened. Microwave for 20-30 seconds until the gelatin dissolves and the mixture is warm. Remove from the microwave and let the mixture cool to room temperature (don’t let it set up!). In a large bowl, whip the cream, sugar and vanilla until slightly thickened. While beating slowly, gradually add the cooled gelatin to the whipped cream mixture. Whip at high speed until stiff peaks form.<br /> <br />To assemble the cake, slice each cooled cake round in half horizontally to form 4 cake circles. Place one cake layer on a cake plate and spread an even layer of strawberry syrup over the top. Spread a thick layer of lime cream over the jam, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge as the top cake layers will press the cream out toward the edges. Repeat the same layering process with the next two layers. Top with the final cake layer and frost the entire cake with the whipped cream frosting. Garnish with fresh limes and strawberries, if desired. Chill for 1-2 hours before serving to let the cake set up.Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-35701333136877270692011-09-12T14:59:00.003-06:002011-09-12T15:16:43.630-06:00Sometimes it's the little thingsThis past week was rough. You know how some weeks are just like that? You spend the week trying to survive it and then when you make it through and you look back you just think "Wow...that was tough." We had one of those weeks last week. On Monday we received some exciting news, but by the middle of the week that exciting news turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments we had had in a while. So to get through it I found myself trying to focus on the many blessings I <strong>do</strong> have in my life. I held Gabe tighter (if that's even possible), kissed him more (poor kid), thanked my Father in Heaven for the baby I do have and told myself over and over that this is the plan and I have no other choice but to trust in it. <br /><br />Then...I picked up a paint brush and worked on being distracted...AGAIN!<br /><br />The end result? My very first pantry. I know it's just a pantry to most. But when you have never had your very own pantry, finally getting your very own pantry is just plain ol excitin! Our food, my bread makers, pannini press, kitchen aid, food storage and various other items now have their very own home and it's NOT in our office. LOL. <em>Brad is very excited about this! </em> Our cereal no longer lives on top of the kitchen cabinets (where most people have decorations) because the box is too tall to fit in our cupboards. <br /><br />Brad has been working very hard to finish this pantry for me and I am forever grateful. A pantry might seem small to some but sometimes it's the little things.<br /><br /><strong>So close! eeekkk</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYW34kjaO8dDdETGLhBfTpLP0FdluQC_ztxAo0D0hcrisZniQ_tcB0JGk2M5d-9iMFmcB1lzSWeD2RSwUfGZ7YULmqskvpTEk9Xb5oRGxGVFQBRB7N_MQWfXU1HyA_SvCJ-KfCoO7jJdMy/s1600/DSC_0258.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYW34kjaO8dDdETGLhBfTpLP0FdluQC_ztxAo0D0hcrisZniQ_tcB0JGk2M5d-9iMFmcB1lzSWeD2RSwUfGZ7YULmqskvpTEk9Xb5oRGxGVFQBRB7N_MQWfXU1HyA_SvCJ-KfCoO7jJdMy/s400/DSC_0258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651584260054725362" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Wala! I'm sure I'll move everything around a few more times till I get it where I want it but right now I'm just thrilled to have a pantry!</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QIlkIJ095kI2phfP4yh1Kl1FUIWnI4KPVW06VzQkgkDbe8sJuYkza_Iv1GUySvrVn8ECNfeL7zvmfDl1nKn9sqZ6FKcaYSfTSo5m6-MTptB1d6DVesfG_blEXPaew1jBKHz0mxZNFIPu/s1600/DSC_0266.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QIlkIJ095kI2phfP4yh1Kl1FUIWnI4KPVW06VzQkgkDbe8sJuYkza_Iv1GUySvrVn8ECNfeL7zvmfDl1nKn9sqZ6FKcaYSfTSo5m6-MTptB1d6DVesfG_blEXPaew1jBKHz0mxZNFIPu/s400/DSC_0266.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651584919515174370" /></a>Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-81625226884466893722011-09-08T07:47:00.013-06:002011-09-08T12:43:18.450-06:00Weekend projectIn an attempt to add refurbishing wood furniture to my list of skills and talents this past weekend I finished this little beauty. I had been needing a distraction, something to get my mind of "stuff" and this seemed to help. The ONLY good thing that comes from your parents getting divorced is some of the unwanted items I have inherited. A BBQ and this table. I had been holding on to this table for some time knowing that I didn't have a need for it but not wanting to get rid of it. I knew it had potential. I had been waiting for the right people to give it to at the right time. My brother Jarom and his wife who are just starting out moved across the street from us about a month ago. They have been adjusting to new jobs, new schools, new place, new schedules etc. I have been so impressed with their efforts and their willingness to want to do what is right that I decided they were worthy recipients. My sister in law had wanted the table to be dark, so with that in mind I got working. I gave it to them last night and it was so fun to see how excited they were. I am happy with the way it turned out and even happier that it has a new home with them in their apartment.
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<br /><strong>Before</strong><strong> I have to say electric sanders like the one in the picture are one of man's greatest inventions. I LOVED this thing!</strong>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHhjpb2cOU35QTnIk6dctxptryKIO3ROuzGLE9sd42jYr_DyIlGakQEB22PGgjzysi1Lb_lOcbfZX6dZ_N6_7HHUxDWBPmv_d82Zz8fCpfPeAwlv0i5XgyFqQJhwGFEsNtkvjMpdKq7rQ/s1600/DSC_0240.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyHhjpb2cOU35QTnIk6dctxptryKIO3ROuzGLE9sd42jYr_DyIlGakQEB22PGgjzysi1Lb_lOcbfZX6dZ_N6_7HHUxDWBPmv_d82Zz8fCpfPeAwlv0i5XgyFqQJhwGFEsNtkvjMpdKq7rQ/s400/DSC_0240.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649987508615903714" /></a>
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<br /><strong><strong>After I had sanded it down and filled in the cracks and imperfections</strong></strong>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGJm0fmLXxJkl-g2WnpBSpuDw-AtT-CY25CEMsmtxeGsR5GPc7lZ8ZIntVsu4ZZy4D5d30_sBfWHqrLQ0jnumvlcmhrmHWH-tQv0MlVyVcIqoeGA3X3SNtuzotoeDu_qrDJ4zQjf6Kd88/s1600/DSC_0241.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGJm0fmLXxJkl-g2WnpBSpuDw-AtT-CY25CEMsmtxeGsR5GPc7lZ8ZIntVsu4ZZy4D5d30_sBfWHqrLQ0jnumvlcmhrmHWH-tQv0MlVyVcIqoeGA3X3SNtuzotoeDu_qrDJ4zQjf6Kd88/s400/DSC_0241.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649993002120663538" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Sanded and ready for staining</strong>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP3QY9boCReV2jBgzHIVZjvCUurTjGEoluAH6LAQQ8xFuqtz2_jxwUjaE8VHVMypskQqNiwR8AM4uQAA0s9kS0JrhVWyAcHcJTCz_wz_T2aKI3VyTW8hrEuRaKmtdsFRsNel7xUcsJZpZ/s1600/DSC_0243.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP3QY9boCReV2jBgzHIVZjvCUurTjGEoluAH6LAQQ8xFuqtz2_jxwUjaE8VHVMypskQqNiwR8AM4uQAA0s9kS0JrhVWyAcHcJTCz_wz_T2aKI3VyTW8hrEuRaKmtdsFRsNel7xUcsJZpZ/s400/DSC_0243.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649994370152730978" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Stain coat...check!</strong>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO75zmMhEYkdULg2NgCZaqf7DkVgbi23Epto2ZNbwlCXdcciBlmGdgaKOYdEr4fwqhdUOHcVEXqqy5zVnnwTvtrULPu44ujgOQVVtCdE76ZAavz6bOkecs7fF3kMekctpOB0HAL7fYF3VC/s1600/DSC_0248.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO75zmMhEYkdULg2NgCZaqf7DkVgbi23Epto2ZNbwlCXdcciBlmGdgaKOYdEr4fwqhdUOHcVEXqqy5zVnnwTvtrULPu44ujgOQVVtCdE76ZAavz6bOkecs7fF3kMekctpOB0HAL7fYF3VC/s400/DSC_0248.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649995566588252178" /></a>
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<br /><strong>After two coats of stain it's ready for it's new home</strong>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhpbhmMDc0DMlIplXnzZ7HTHIW9QuXp0L8m836GS3HEYWAmzoiAB-BplSTjK3zcXwJTHzMr8LEkRnJTxTt1rWayhN5_NKVirh3h0zjE1Wr2DL32uDos-Ta5INIcCoaC1wFklD_RS-PUXq/s1600/DSC_0252.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhpbhmMDc0DMlIplXnzZ7HTHIW9QuXp0L8m836GS3HEYWAmzoiAB-BplSTjK3zcXwJTHzMr8LEkRnJTxTt1rWayhN5_NKVirh3h0zjE1Wr2DL32uDos-Ta5INIcCoaC1wFklD_RS-PUXq/s400/DSC_0252.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649996241501316130" /></a>
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<br />Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-5801166945222285512011-09-03T08:11:00.010-06:002011-09-03T08:54:55.972-06:00Nursery LoveI'm not sure what exactly to call her since we have never officially met, however I worked closely with her father in law for a few years, so have heard allot about her and her little family and so I feel like I know her well. I'll just call her my blogging friend and someone I admire. Jamie Hill not only makes the most gorgeous and incredible cakes but she has also just finished (on her own) designing and putting together one of the cutest nursery rooms for her baby girl June who is due in a week! Though I don't have a bun in the oven of my own, she has totally got my creative juices flowing and I am so excited to help my sister in law decorate her baby girls room. I wanted to share some of the pictures of Jamie's nursery with you. You will have to stop by her blog though and check out her cakes too. She is VERY talented!
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<br /><strong>Her blog is</strong> http://danhillfamily.blogspot.com/
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEojIASvIAyHD2WCRM0NL8jSV4PbyFz2kutkmQvNBT1gb9aTwlI386qvYi_IgdQd03GFQfwPlYb8nEZyzky-tkQqxYQVUeOXv3LJTtdby-Ko3N6dewJ1Pybia_MCNwyXEeLJmRmZyIAcK/s1600/nursery+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEojIASvIAyHD2WCRM0NL8jSV4PbyFz2kutkmQvNBT1gb9aTwlI386qvYi_IgdQd03GFQfwPlYb8nEZyzky-tkQqxYQVUeOXv3LJTtdby-Ko3N6dewJ1Pybia_MCNwyXEeLJmRmZyIAcK/s400/nursery+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648137394458416050" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SSkXAg6sRnwnTlwHttkAYsTc_So06-gn5Hb08TzYaNWhWPX4vQcCbYNCg5wqxOZAXycj8FKvXItMANUKrlxHgZSabfKBFN0TWanbhFV7YfNXjKjSyytcKtePOSNoRGhiox-CoX3s3bYf/s1600/nursery+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4SSkXAg6sRnwnTlwHttkAYsTc_So06-gn5Hb08TzYaNWhWPX4vQcCbYNCg5wqxOZAXycj8FKvXItMANUKrlxHgZSabfKBFN0TWanbhFV7YfNXjKjSyytcKtePOSNoRGhiox-CoX3s3bYf/s400/nursery+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648137467563398770" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmyvnU7exibrRhz-jA1UxapdvixGw604w6XkEEanVQCRVnzSJxH20yRYhxj6fSW9SlMIN3UtDNgBmbDzCq4ZxlIKuWHbYbzaVUTtq5FIw2d1GiVc3SnHf361iQeEDlj6RyE9GIiA74pUM/s1600/nursery+3.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwmyvnU7exibrRhz-jA1UxapdvixGw604w6XkEEanVQCRVnzSJxH20yRYhxj6fSW9SlMIN3UtDNgBmbDzCq4ZxlIKuWHbYbzaVUTtq5FIw2d1GiVc3SnHf361iQeEDlj6RyE9GIiA74pUM/s400/nursery+3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648137931381561298" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw8OA2ZwCaXQBD8NfhuJ6k4EysodSssoBr1MFXryGjrlJzOq1aNCRRG67CnFqFnILhhCoG8FbabThSxgFqX4JRQfiTBxRqjDJOIH-2H67VuIKtLyvEmfazC3m2VZ37IBhke3MrIG3gecO/s1600/nursery+4"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVw8OA2ZwCaXQBD8NfhuJ6k4EysodSssoBr1MFXryGjrlJzOq1aNCRRG67CnFqFnILhhCoG8FbabThSxgFqX4JRQfiTBxRqjDJOIH-2H67VuIKtLyvEmfazC3m2VZ37IBhke3MrIG3gecO/s400/nursery+4" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648140019285613714" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRrNTqoCFSQZCDrlFBAICuIxHmlaDGz-mvtkIVntgWgvvR9BrvxJuH7sd7xOzHdGvrZ3SFRKOaibY2FsSOoNO0nVjnwpoX_R__DGODtOkJO_w60V-kve73qffB0W727SQBikMt8PgWO4y/s1600/nursery+5.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRrNTqoCFSQZCDrlFBAICuIxHmlaDGz-mvtkIVntgWgvvR9BrvxJuH7sd7xOzHdGvrZ3SFRKOaibY2FsSOoNO0nVjnwpoX_R__DGODtOkJO_w60V-kve73qffB0W727SQBikMt8PgWO4y/s400/nursery+5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648140117671358834" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXXlAaViuETMhKPHzf7bieWY5L-rwLv1iLr0kOFaiCczAeNMOA4wgolRQTPvrSGW7MynwSDzYMEfdR3ouBGwKTAE6-KVU4AdqqgXRaLpdziLNTv5s9qR-7AfmJRbC3fu8i3mhlIIqey5X/s1600/nursery+6.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXXlAaViuETMhKPHzf7bieWY5L-rwLv1iLr0kOFaiCczAeNMOA4wgolRQTPvrSGW7MynwSDzYMEfdR3ouBGwKTAE6-KVU4AdqqgXRaLpdziLNTv5s9qR-7AfmJRbC3fu8i3mhlIIqey5X/s400/nursery+6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648140212771261554" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNyg4nWkuIMOdRMmpPU_0sbd7qXMIHgWxdbaBcI7OBuiuqAxYswfH_Iv0ncHpyQmfNdlYHF7P5zEzGLKbgXirlcuEhDWDQ-9GAL4v2pir7_JRpJtqA3WSHJQ_aAEfJILdaJHMQpEk8_UI/s1600/nursery+7"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNyg4nWkuIMOdRMmpPU_0sbd7qXMIHgWxdbaBcI7OBuiuqAxYswfH_Iv0ncHpyQmfNdlYHF7P5zEzGLKbgXirlcuEhDWDQ-9GAL4v2pir7_JRpJtqA3WSHJQ_aAEfJILdaJHMQpEk8_UI/s400/nursery+7" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648140350146855218" /></a>
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<br />I thought this was so clever! The little white shelves are actually spice racks from Ikea which she painted and attached to the wall to use as little book shelves. I will likely be using this idea!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarzeOnm3EAUM-XNbKDSPyG7KE8rx0Tf8w-BmpkfVzBTwJwY0SDTm3EjsgyBfw688Sj_OaXDIqRAXEoCvmVBWDvgE0bMQ615xkhN0Od9u_t9uBcA5Yv17vp-FwIeWBfTN-leniW0q8Daoz/s1600/nursery+8"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarzeOnm3EAUM-XNbKDSPyG7KE8rx0Tf8w-BmpkfVzBTwJwY0SDTm3EjsgyBfw688Sj_OaXDIqRAXEoCvmVBWDvgE0bMQ615xkhN0Od9u_t9uBcA5Yv17vp-FwIeWBfTN-leniW0q8Daoz/s400/nursery+8" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648140437793332146" /></a>Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-71444792779293477702011-09-01T11:08:00.012-06:002011-09-01T11:55:51.509-06:00Oreo Cheesecake BitesI love cheesecake, Gabe LOVES oreos and Brad loves food. Can you say win win?! These lived up to every expectation I had, we thoroughly enjoyed these. This recipe is a keeper fo sho!
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<br /><strong>Oreo Cheesecake Bites</strong>
<br />www.melskitchencafe.com
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVj74uVf_QEhNL9hcERBh8-mg05wO6e9HZSUEHBHv5r8M2dYk98X5opBAx9lclIZPKD7gZYU-kCxVLLvJN3wvHWATW2VJp6T68Pz1iehWCxRoBT2OuQanLsyjINtkGlyM1y1bNE_grk2L/s1600/DSC_0239.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVj74uVf_QEhNL9hcERBh8-mg05wO6e9HZSUEHBHv5r8M2dYk98X5opBAx9lclIZPKD7gZYU-kCxVLLvJN3wvHWATW2VJp6T68Pz1iehWCxRoBT2OuQanLsyjINtkGlyM1y1bNE_grk2L/s400/DSC_0239.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647440843915704386" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jLMdIyVLKiPm__Y8HPBamQ8E45vnvyTNQNR1DNnJrOIZfzxYxB6XHQEYT9zRfryMn-DnAtx612ZnMQR_DaRcHP7v37JsyXTFWb-RdNUkMJno3GKeG5R8sLpM7w186XkUo88ndB73UWvi/s1600/DSC_0236.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9jLMdIyVLKiPm__Y8HPBamQ8E45vnvyTNQNR1DNnJrOIZfzxYxB6XHQEYT9zRfryMn-DnAtx612ZnMQR_DaRcHP7v37JsyXTFWb-RdNUkMJno3GKeG5R8sLpM7w186XkUo88ndB73UWvi/s400/DSC_0236.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647441733612909058" /></a>
<br />*Makes 36 or more bites, depending on size
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<br />36 Oreo Cookies, divided
<br /> 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter
<br /> 4 packages (8-ounces each) cream cheese, softened
<br /> 1 cup granulated sugar
<br /> 1 cup sour cream
<br /> 1 teaspoon vanilla
<br /> 4 large eggs
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<br />optional
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<br /> 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
<br /> 4 ounces white chocolate
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<br />Preheat the oven to 325°F.
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<br />Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil, with ends extending over sides. Finely crush 24 Oreo cookies. Melt 1/4 cup butter; mix with crumbs. Press onto bottom of prepared pan.
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<br />In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar with mixer until blended. Add sour cream and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each just until blended. Chop remaining cookies. Gently stir into batter; pour over crust.
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<br />Bake the cheesecake for about 35-40 minutes or until the sides are set and the center is almost set. Cool completely on a wire rack in the pan.
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<br />When the cheesecake is completely cooled, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When chilled, remove the cheesecake using the foil overhang and cut the cheesecake into bite-sized pieces.
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<br /><strong>Optional</strong>
<br />I just melted some milk chocolate chips on mine to make them look extra pretty because I delived some to my brother and his wife for their date night treat.
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<br />Place the cheesecake bites on a wax or parchment paper-lined baking tray. Melt the semisweet chocolate and white chocolate in separate bowls (I use the microwave on 50% power, stirring frequently). Pour the melted chocolate into a ziploc bag, one for the semisweet chocolate, one for the white chocolate. Snip a small corner off the corner of the bag and drizzle the chocolate over the cheesecake bars. Chill the bars until ready to serve. Alternately, the drizzled bites can be frozen in an airtight container for up to a month. Let them defrost in the refrigerator and serve chilled.
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<br />Gabe took care of any leftover chocolate!
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4edRmSubPBA6gXS4SnZ8wcAtTGSBUu6sU8lIgT7QRE2osTowbQrSOgfTizQ1poxutoDZgsFaXmpW77svfdobOISzl9CW_1RwJpZEQsx5nnzIPEnxtqzF9jauXoaXW8W5Fvhj8J-H-1Ti/s1600/DSC_0237.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4edRmSubPBA6gXS4SnZ8wcAtTGSBUu6sU8lIgT7QRE2osTowbQrSOgfTizQ1poxutoDZgsFaXmpW77svfdobOISzl9CW_1RwJpZEQsx5nnzIPEnxtqzF9jauXoaXW8W5Fvhj8J-H-1Ti/s400/DSC_0237.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647442078007465586" /></a>Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-30789822765489340702011-08-30T14:56:00.004-06:002011-08-30T15:09:45.623-06:00SpeechlessMy sister in law Shanna recently took some family pictures of us when she was in town and I cannot stop looking at this one of my baby. When he smiles his eyes light up in a way I've never seen in anyone else before. Just looking at this photo makes the rest of the world melt away and I feel two things HAPPY and so very BLESSED. This little man makes all that life has to throw at us worth it. I still have to pinch myself most days... to think that I get to be his Mum! I am the luckiest girl in the world.
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<br />Thanks Shanna! You did a fantastic job!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxI7weF3Tfye1Mcq-SLCWfIzfjmCnihlwFMDKtPfWs87oqVk90B390ko7ZECZgYhq3ZFoVid_vtSETrGj0wzhWCcYdcy5IDQ-DK4sOX42OpTyRoGluUKT08FWRDVeqUeY7bIZU8tXgd2N/s1600/DSC02043-edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxI7weF3Tfye1Mcq-SLCWfIzfjmCnihlwFMDKtPfWs87oqVk90B390ko7ZECZgYhq3ZFoVid_vtSETrGj0wzhWCcYdcy5IDQ-DK4sOX42OpTyRoGluUKT08FWRDVeqUeY7bIZU8tXgd2N/s400/DSC02043-edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646757333087544850" /></a>Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-76763665784294295742011-08-29T08:26:00.027-06:002011-08-29T13:10:40.745-06:00The BIG 4!This past Thursday my baby turned the big 4! Because we only have one and we love that one SO much we decided this year to celebrate Gabe's birthday week. Why not, right?! We tried to do something fun every day to celebrate his coming birthday. We had a blast.
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<br />This year Gabe looked forward to his birthday for a couple of months before hand. He would say "When is my birthday coming Mum?...it's not coming." He gave us a very detailed and specific list of what he would like and of course we spoiled him rotten. The night before his birthday Brad and I were up wrapping presents and half way through Brad looked at me and said "Do you think you went a little overboard?" I was disgusted by this, um, me? Go overboard? For my son's birthday? NEVER! =)
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<br />We kicked it off the Sunday before with Nana Sandy and Papa Clark. After our family dinner, we did presents and had Oreo (Gabe's fave) cupcakes with Oreo frosting. Nana and Papa bought Gabe his first big boy bike which he was excited about and some other neat gifts. Nana Sandy has the pics from this which I will have to post when I get them.
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<br />On Monday Brad and I took Gabe and his cousin Andrew to see Kung Fu Panda at the Kaysville theatre. The boys loved the movie and spending some time together. Andrew gave Gabe a cool transformer and a neat nerf gun which he has had lots of fun playing with. I love watching those two cute boys together. It is hilarious to listen to them have their own little conversations. They loved having their own popcorn, sprite and nerds to eat. We will miss not having Andrew close by while they live in Elko, NV.
<br /><strong>Andrew giving Gabe his present</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdCm7c7FxNTij2eVjiB7NFS8zPI4-IBT17U65y_U1dZdW0WDu302Wzt1ZELq2ll3622cLmUnXMEJea5m7mqCg-umj1OKloZc-rvMdfM5g2N4y1ErwZhY_to2ejd9zkA4_879wa3JtpboY/s1600/DSC_0158.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFdCm7c7FxNTij2eVjiB7NFS8zPI4-IBT17U65y_U1dZdW0WDu302Wzt1ZELq2ll3622cLmUnXMEJea5m7mqCg-umj1OKloZc-rvMdfM5g2N4y1ErwZhY_to2ejd9zkA4_879wa3JtpboY/s400/DSC_0158.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646344262334144258" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo3zsv1Xnkc5pbNxKepv-sZb2YqCyaOcrvkJqxOrGIJ6TvW3ywDCIwxGP1uhrydKV8wN5wC-oXrbLEzxEm07_zyM1ff4-aG2kg1QlbGbSXt6mxaQFxv3Qz-UBwON6AsdDuFFoJ4d2FzUr/s1600/DSC_0159.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQo3zsv1Xnkc5pbNxKepv-sZb2YqCyaOcrvkJqxOrGIJ6TvW3ywDCIwxGP1uhrydKV8wN5wC-oXrbLEzxEm07_zyM1ff4-aG2kg1QlbGbSXt6mxaQFxv3Qz-UBwON6AsdDuFFoJ4d2FzUr/s400/DSC_0159.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646344684129065810" /></a>
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<br /><strong>I love Gabe's face in this one. He was so excited. </strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK-1w6yIey9r7biX82l-esUnkRve9ZT2VrjJPbHyAf1mrTMw3HMMHA5-OYMKwSTPNM_26skuUX-3K671BM8Ak3rg_7UebVtWwCm2sCR7KIoMToP1qoamByqmpG_chOC18zJ07ile-bACT/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVK-1w6yIey9r7biX82l-esUnkRve9ZT2VrjJPbHyAf1mrTMw3HMMHA5-OYMKwSTPNM_26skuUX-3K671BM8Ak3rg_7UebVtWwCm2sCR7KIoMToP1qoamByqmpG_chOC18zJ07ile-bACT/s400/DSC_0161.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646345014676733682" /></a>
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<br />On Tuesday night after dinner, we went and got frozen yogurt at Yogotogo. Gabe loves that he can pick his own toppings!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTra890f7vbTQn2gScjszfdjDp03Kk0UEoS5aHZb6JRATw7iHPqExOkMa9OugcnMOolz-2NU1at-O5wyxvrXHbIVCt_GrqTYq5LWLqQujAROpKsCHszHwbi6wyB_n8zGJOwx3Q-kwl-aj/s1600/DSC_0166.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTra890f7vbTQn2gScjszfdjDp03Kk0UEoS5aHZb6JRATw7iHPqExOkMa9OugcnMOolz-2NU1at-O5wyxvrXHbIVCt_GrqTYq5LWLqQujAROpKsCHszHwbi6wyB_n8zGJOwx3Q-kwl-aj/s400/DSC_0166.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646345511564757602" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Look at that hair! Haircuts coming up this week I think!</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa1VpjeHRQQ6qZei2A4gAfKl8qmmo9fL_-NemcfrVnLl0A4_tz5b6wylcwOPy-5LgJGhjYTHFReCr7RJxBKAN-C4Gv7gHKWuy6Si5wZ-UToIURlop5RyaMFLTacpWL5_fG83rwafkn2ZX/s1600/DSC_0164.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoa1VpjeHRQQ6qZei2A4gAfKl8qmmo9fL_-NemcfrVnLl0A4_tz5b6wylcwOPy-5LgJGhjYTHFReCr7RJxBKAN-C4Gv7gHKWuy6Si5wZ-UToIURlop5RyaMFLTacpWL5_fG83rwafkn2ZX/s400/DSC_0164.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646345831717346178" /></a>
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<br /><strong>What fun is eating ice cream if you don't get some on your nose?</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jyBtRZlzOtgOr1fdPzdONmT24sUvG5fe2cUSdn-qdEDoud6EbDTUj2C1Ej0dL_4yqg5Kzw_CnAQOoTEwNJ1RqEJScDJ3LBYwjffPO8kI8iuzpWDjHaJ8pwT0s_cisvgWDOD-1KROC4Ug/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jyBtRZlzOtgOr1fdPzdONmT24sUvG5fe2cUSdn-qdEDoud6EbDTUj2C1Ej0dL_4yqg5Kzw_CnAQOoTEwNJ1RqEJScDJ3LBYwjffPO8kI8iuzpWDjHaJ8pwT0s_cisvgWDOD-1KROC4Ug/s400/DSC_0165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646346267400018226" /></a>
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<br />On Wednesday for school Gabe took some birthday cupcakes to share with his class mates. Spiderman cupcakes of course. It is a rule of the pre-school that any food brought in to share must be store bought or made in the pre-school kitchen. Since I had to work full time this past week store bought was cool with me. Gabe was so excited to take them to school and I just love this picture of him with his teacher Ms Cassie. He loves Ms Cassie and he loves school. He was thrilled to have the kids sing happy birthday to him.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2zFn2shHoNQnAOu28i1J4eay85ekEl7CZeFNnF3IFLWfUxUD27FxETlyuaRVeM8h_3EAHqHdKHMzj8dq4qJMFIG6rGuRjyGGQGBKa4dp1V_6BX8eI3-rrN46kMaPNlkwAw8kvH2BdZm0/s1600/DSC_0167.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2zFn2shHoNQnAOu28i1J4eay85ekEl7CZeFNnF3IFLWfUxUD27FxETlyuaRVeM8h_3EAHqHdKHMzj8dq4qJMFIG6rGuRjyGGQGBKa4dp1V_6BX8eI3-rrN46kMaPNlkwAw8kvH2BdZm0/s400/DSC_0167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646347174257775666" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjRK0WCaorbrbMeo5z3Yr3osi6Z2fp_UaIB4PjXCv5li2g5WRfYDsxYDnSXUccgb6E5H3bVRPQijGOSHMczeoCcFbtwV8Ul6joNX_vxtqiyWh02-gLu7S1Ckg7053t90M48D2WuaH3CsH/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjRK0WCaorbrbMeo5z3Yr3osi6Z2fp_UaIB4PjXCv5li2g5WRfYDsxYDnSXUccgb6E5H3bVRPQijGOSHMczeoCcFbtwV8Ul6joNX_vxtqiyWh02-gLu7S1Ckg7053t90M48D2WuaH3CsH/s400/DSC_0168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646347612330642578" /></a>
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<br />Since my baby would rather eat beans, peas, carrots or pistachios than cake, this year I opted not to spend hours making and decorating a fancy cake. Instead, on Wednesday night Gabe and I had fun messing up the kitchen making some cupcakes. Gabe loves to bake with me so we had fun spending some time in the kitchen together. He requested white cupcakes and strawberry frosting. I don't even know that he ate one whole cupcake but he did love cracking the eggs, measuring the ingredients and of course frosting and decorating the cupcakes.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5osmkzGzFNgrYHEvSUL3PZmKFJgpbrfugEQ1XLWW7zOj_FGMSF-GPdMRL21dcKWXMF21hzVaWhdmehPiRf0jbCdHKAS1NnkEPAwpnNSAXqx35z0j6cPw4bfupvfrLLZKUaQiNp3L5SXeL/s1600/DSC_0169.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5osmkzGzFNgrYHEvSUL3PZmKFJgpbrfugEQ1XLWW7zOj_FGMSF-GPdMRL21dcKWXMF21hzVaWhdmehPiRf0jbCdHKAS1NnkEPAwpnNSAXqx35z0j6cPw4bfupvfrLLZKUaQiNp3L5SXeL/s400/DSC_0169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646348043473580546" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9LUYcsJixAAvMKpcIzI9AtX5tCF3qJeDtOubW2AZZb0rqYQvvACax74X1Cu_SZWtXtvb661M6PYjhGNSBN00uIyjVcZa3PqXyMvuihqp707u0_eTDMbKviyEiLO8v3lBvj8XIvNYjnzQ/s1600/DSC_0170.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ9LUYcsJixAAvMKpcIzI9AtX5tCF3qJeDtOubW2AZZb0rqYQvvACax74X1Cu_SZWtXtvb661M6PYjhGNSBN00uIyjVcZa3PqXyMvuihqp707u0_eTDMbKviyEiLO8v3lBvj8XIvNYjnzQ/s400/DSC_0170.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646348822156224562" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jLf1WcVre825zWcCdHnlVMObUOQt-E4Seqaa7-9dS13QaAGPsKK36Ur5han4NVkMoO77_3bg-n57oZIhyphenhyphenCN7xt4DzEekTEv3YBfd4QcB1w73dbfBGHzJvv91UtagHzPidi6eiwAS7dpd/s1600/DSC_0171.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jLf1WcVre825zWcCdHnlVMObUOQt-E4Seqaa7-9dS13QaAGPsKK36Ur5han4NVkMoO77_3bg-n57oZIhyphenhyphenCN7xt4DzEekTEv3YBfd4QcB1w73dbfBGHzJvv91UtagHzPidi6eiwAS7dpd/s400/DSC_0171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646349687048663138" /></a>
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<br />On the BIG day Daddy went into work a little later so that when we woke up we could do presents in bed. After presents we had pancakes for breakfast. Then after breakfast I took Gabe and his little cousin Payton to the zoo. Gabe was so excited to see the animals but especially the dinosaurs they had there for "Zoorasic park". This year Nana Trudy and Mike gave Gabe some money for his birthday. He was thrilled to have his own money. Lately Gabe has been interested in money. We have given him some little jobs around the house and he likes to do them, get paid and then put his money in his wallet. He was thrilled to be able to use some of his money from Nana Trudy to buy a toy dinosaur at the zoo. After the zoo we got some McDonald's for lunch and went home for nap time. After nap time Gabe and I went swimming at the Clearfield Aquatic Center. Gabe and I had a blast swimming together as it was a HOT day. Finally later that night we went out to dinner with Uncle Jarom, Aunty Bre and baby Payton to Sizzler (Gabe's choice). Gabe loves to have steak at Sizzler. It was so much fun to go with Uncle Jarom, Aunty Bre and baby Payton and they gave Gabe the coolest Dragon which he has loved playing with.
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<br /><strong>Opening presents</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwkNYae4mgylzyRSsCNgniUcIj_C24sr117ZWBccaXCFiHv0KK8xbYNO9dYQspB7ZYg1ZR-EYqyU9WW4gm4N_TPWle_Y5z9LmYKRE2TI9L6ZMcjgQo-SIITleu1EnKYwyAdmDQ8eQ7dKo/s1600/DSC_0175.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpwkNYae4mgylzyRSsCNgniUcIj_C24sr117ZWBccaXCFiHv0KK8xbYNO9dYQspB7ZYg1ZR-EYqyU9WW4gm4N_TPWle_Y5z9LmYKRE2TI9L6ZMcjgQo-SIITleu1EnKYwyAdmDQ8eQ7dKo/s400/DSC_0175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646350079594759426" /></a>
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<br /><strong>So excited! The pterdactyl he is holding was big on his wish list this year. When he opened it he said "A pteradactyl, exactly what I wanted!" We both laughed. It was worth the 3 stores I went to, and 6 stores I called trying to find it. </strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZJktwNs8bbWmR-cdZ8fCBRS2Maf1-eJUAoSbkfu4cvrqFrHbe7B73QBeNALyb_EsssYK_-cnIkzXh5q1BM5tTk0VassY92sPrDdZXpflS6RtW-pUr_W4lFrmAulKZ2PjD_Hx9UGBEscD/s1600/DSC_0178.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZJktwNs8bbWmR-cdZ8fCBRS2Maf1-eJUAoSbkfu4cvrqFrHbe7B73QBeNALyb_EsssYK_-cnIkzXh5q1BM5tTk0VassY92sPrDdZXpflS6RtW-pUr_W4lFrmAulKZ2PjD_Hx9UGBEscD/s400/DSC_0178.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646350676132932434" /></a>
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<br /><strong>The Zoo!</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CbhH9PfktjCtsgIKSyLiapjeqC6X0-qejSmGsKNeKMVca-5RQtPzj_uASpo1TvNfT3Ppn2CeFnzz6g8daitbOwQUTNOCdnS8gswZSsuXmGmHrdEYqrBmnnPkTpkoKE6Zf-rIcwlkM1KR/s1600/DSC_0180.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CbhH9PfktjCtsgIKSyLiapjeqC6X0-qejSmGsKNeKMVca-5RQtPzj_uASpo1TvNfT3Ppn2CeFnzz6g8daitbOwQUTNOCdnS8gswZSsuXmGmHrdEYqrBmnnPkTpkoKE6Zf-rIcwlkM1KR/s400/DSC_0180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646351672499237330" /></a>
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<br /><strong>The TREX! He was so excited to see the T-rex but wasn't too sure at first how close he wanted to get to it. After a while he walked right up to the fence, but then when he roared Gabe came running. I love these sequence shots of him running back towards me.</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtavBSc1GeHaGMj5oeqXX7K52haEuCxE2nu1ufTXleRIBEM5TL8_4Ieb61v1zpQNxG9urUaUz29jqCnpjWTEflOnyvv0ZWJKF5yVnJZhv8rztZQ9fGIpn4RlB1mfSYAhAP9mHL6fZnPp_e/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtavBSc1GeHaGMj5oeqXX7K52haEuCxE2nu1ufTXleRIBEM5TL8_4Ieb61v1zpQNxG9urUaUz29jqCnpjWTEflOnyvv0ZWJKF5yVnJZhv8rztZQ9fGIpn4RlB1mfSYAhAP9mHL6fZnPp_e/s400/DSC_0203.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646352317963013906" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NSSdBQDoJ0FSMIMU_D9P4a7OlGfLgIH2ncqly2FQgVynUb7max0ZY8OE7WmTY2KvSNkyUpDdQx3Nr1do1GWYVbvWwF5JyPpQo9YZBlyuwD4MCCcMxBL7IeS5OSrpxE5N8PS2hzV3zziy/s1600/DSC_0206.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NSSdBQDoJ0FSMIMU_D9P4a7OlGfLgIH2ncqly2FQgVynUb7max0ZY8OE7WmTY2KvSNkyUpDdQx3Nr1do1GWYVbvWwF5JyPpQo9YZBlyuwD4MCCcMxBL7IeS5OSrpxE5N8PS2hzV3zziy/s400/DSC_0206.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646352669509456770" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD1KCKqIztDJRfg2YYkOuO2IkmfrQ83Zvp5vh22KISWF_fUiR2aN-WYckfjZG4iDmQPzO8OWpS81OzKBEYWIhXD6J1xKhoNSC_GjJIa7ktnJYCo6v2Gp3R7SsJzkEVKM7COjfhtTFJ_tw/s1600/DSC_0205.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHD1KCKqIztDJRfg2YYkOuO2IkmfrQ83Zvp5vh22KISWF_fUiR2aN-WYckfjZG4iDmQPzO8OWpS81OzKBEYWIhXD6J1xKhoNSC_GjJIa7ktnJYCo6v2Gp3R7SsJzkEVKM7COjfhtTFJ_tw/s400/DSC_0205.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646353010094835874" /></a>
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<br /><strong>He wanted a picture on the lions</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eGNc_I6Kn3olS7VMhxCLlvLOR2rDGPSXlW-hl6nsi6-M8lj7wQKO5UO9a7pb39v7vfjy1LJiReImPA_TMpO3u_KjasOwHQ41h2eU3Bf4nVhvC8WCf4A2kcr65xksBIiyXuAyfVhYWG4D/s1600/DSC_0216.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6eGNc_I6Kn3olS7VMhxCLlvLOR2rDGPSXlW-hl6nsi6-M8lj7wQKO5UO9a7pb39v7vfjy1LJiReImPA_TMpO3u_KjasOwHQ41h2eU3Bf4nVhvC8WCf4A2kcr65xksBIiyXuAyfVhYWG4D/s400/DSC_0216.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646353362995379298" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Gabe is so cute with Payton. While we were walking around the zoo, he was concerned that the sun was in her eyes so tried blocking it with blanket.</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaVwXnWPx5mZ40BLsT5YY6YJCyLL5shVPefWonnoVe0XIHnJ3P0eukkaKFGD27ZmoJ0FAayR7wiad0y8X0YKTCIaIgsHuH7ZcgY9IJnPCzmL75GFIoY3E82jREz_7qsM60oUqxDiXUeM9/s1600/DSC_0221.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWaVwXnWPx5mZ40BLsT5YY6YJCyLL5shVPefWonnoVe0XIHnJ3P0eukkaKFGD27ZmoJ0FAayR7wiad0y8X0YKTCIaIgsHuH7ZcgY9IJnPCzmL75GFIoY3E82jREz_7qsM60oUqxDiXUeM9/s400/DSC_0221.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646353736270818546" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Baby Payton</strong><strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjadGrSZyUFgXqj6MxRKfBlSL2ZJ6lNqw00cr1dONmOx7Kg3CoKb2V3T0OZP0VHYn3lD2KpW-0kbUDSiNNtNLPn1ZIN-a4fk3IfqUx3a8vqPace4NyP_d6-ePqzE2-dr9HHSoW3Rbx-uA/s1600/DSC_0191.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjadGrSZyUFgXqj6MxRKfBlSL2ZJ6lNqw00cr1dONmOx7Kg3CoKb2V3T0OZP0VHYn3lD2KpW-0kbUDSiNNtNLPn1ZIN-a4fk3IfqUx3a8vqPace4NyP_d6-ePqzE2-dr9HHSoW3Rbx-uA/s400/DSC_0191.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646356959256059618" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZgKrE8Z_76MjZWK-gAWA0WSxtjRgULVyqpz9CX9_ilc3Rg6QAEH3FBVx4z8YcppRYsVzDwpodQNnzYE5bdJHf57MRAlBdiyhU4r_gyuR9JsCGYF-caQqMwtkDU9LWAPl_413ztZlHnhf/s1600/DSC_0197.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZgKrE8Z_76MjZWK-gAWA0WSxtjRgULVyqpz9CX9_ilc3Rg6QAEH3FBVx4z8YcppRYsVzDwpodQNnzYE5bdJHf57MRAlBdiyhU4r_gyuR9JsCGYF-caQqMwtkDU9LWAPl_413ztZlHnhf/s400/DSC_0197.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646357263754350914" /></a>
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<br />My little lady killer! I can say it and I will my boy is GORGEOUS!</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5UkBekSVDxeNFPn6cEJLW2_ssvSQEN8sUdTOy0qio3Imb3tMbpqBrENJwzCyYqktLnq_FitI9nBFvJPYUaJRvYEp7tRrTJDgiFXXK6Z3CzERbctn1sKbEAz1SJBiWtFIe6jN1wuGRpk_/s1600/DSC_0225.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5UkBekSVDxeNFPn6cEJLW2_ssvSQEN8sUdTOy0qio3Imb3tMbpqBrENJwzCyYqktLnq_FitI9nBFvJPYUaJRvYEp7tRrTJDgiFXXK6Z3CzERbctn1sKbEAz1SJBiWtFIe6jN1wuGRpk_/s400/DSC_0225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646354091205711842" /></a>
<br /><strong>He went on the merry go round twice and loved it!</strong
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKuc5n58uhgIV_oiQwJWQYSdZpr33txGT8sN6O_EZ9WDRYx2vOrA30U15984HSh0h6xOZzpzFpYY1rnU2BpWi04pAUQTs3vIXHOPxEN3LvtAzMfs88s_BBkjl3ZmdIx117HqNWL9tkFOZ/s1600/DSC_0233.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKuc5n58uhgIV_oiQwJWQYSdZpr33txGT8sN6O_EZ9WDRYx2vOrA30U15984HSh0h6xOZzpzFpYY1rnU2BpWi04pAUQTs3vIXHOPxEN3LvtAzMfs88s_BBkjl3ZmdIx117HqNWL9tkFOZ/s400/DSC_0233.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646355161567098114" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubLWkp9Ws3Idcbm_zZpqV5moBHbLwdVff7F4u6XVgfUufQSeQuIdjxkBxKMfnOzUdx_o1AWeU970-7v2MguX7ZqZwNdd5MiWFCKkT_Xg0jMqmNxHydCHovwsA0ZXWmlsFuEWPIIf8RXKy/s1600/DSC_0234.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubLWkp9Ws3Idcbm_zZpqV5moBHbLwdVff7F4u6XVgfUufQSeQuIdjxkBxKMfnOzUdx_o1AWeU970-7v2MguX7ZqZwNdd5MiWFCKkT_Xg0jMqmNxHydCHovwsA0ZXWmlsFuEWPIIf8RXKy/s400/DSC_0234.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646355474221126802" /></a>
<br />Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-31108001618078168842011-08-21T13:41:00.010-06:002011-08-21T14:03:58.211-06:00Baby boy announcementsThese are the baby announcement samples I did for my friend Amber and her cute little guy Ammon. I also did a couple of collages and a few other little extras.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJ9cfssK8UMrAIhWF3wOTgnR507y7Bb-nX-JT3slB2XVLNSv5Q3L52uy6lCDLFzhGjomYrx9f949WOcPMhmvj5CTHqTxGzbiMKkRLBYScxJIwOY1rnCeAl56leEfXblCitfYiN5BEaYuY/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJ9cfssK8UMrAIhWF3wOTgnR507y7Bb-nX-JT3slB2XVLNSv5Q3L52uy6lCDLFzhGjomYrx9f949WOcPMhmvj5CTHqTxGzbiMKkRLBYScxJIwOY1rnCeAl56leEfXblCitfYiN5BEaYuY/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643396983005131282" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlyw6bZeHIt_bbzr1e6EiTemHjqQ8ozdDFDbAsWo79AGhG0g_7fyLO8bhnHlmjIge0LXAPhvrgByQjDs2ZN99rh_9Q7AE_Kq2RWborgoNec5sUM6qZiPNIlu7EDOsjSJiYe3uocQHd2oO/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25232+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimlyw6bZeHIt_bbzr1e6EiTemHjqQ8ozdDFDbAsWo79AGhG0g_7fyLO8bhnHlmjIge0LXAPhvrgByQjDs2ZN99rh_9Q7AE_Kq2RWborgoNec5sUM6qZiPNIlu7EDOsjSJiYe3uocQHd2oO/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25232+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643397588985901826" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mPcO_rbS6y0ktOMTgtuo9_pZDXk4gmMmqWN1mnlLwjIy7HyjEzBvwP57M_cw37w7sBCtREGsaXvI1xDujCygVxpOTnJLYzg1wlMw5E-tR-V4hJ6HyZ-GDgc1WJi13Wg1liVkWef4edFV/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25233+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mPcO_rbS6y0ktOMTgtuo9_pZDXk4gmMmqWN1mnlLwjIy7HyjEzBvwP57M_cw37w7sBCtREGsaXvI1xDujCygVxpOTnJLYzg1wlMw5E-tR-V4hJ6HyZ-GDgc1WJi13Wg1liVkWef4edFV/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25233+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643397795755804450" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMicefpzBjzC5TzdZX2H-45uPWe5ISyQbyunlYHHA7MVXmD_VZ0FPSMAeyihVgWUA5z6xkP-CIQHGFlqChSk2XbHJmaI-Z0C1Gb5tyfEn9qrq7WYTuixrE5N_hIFtRKdJ7MaGPZ_ESo_T/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25234+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMicefpzBjzC5TzdZX2H-45uPWe5ISyQbyunlYHHA7MVXmD_VZ0FPSMAeyihVgWUA5z6xkP-CIQHGFlqChSk2XbHJmaI-Z0C1Gb5tyfEn9qrq7WYTuixrE5N_hIFtRKdJ7MaGPZ_ESo_T/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25234+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643398096288286882" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNMAwkisy8CWkGbJyERqKhZxxy1smd1ngF36J1EhIgjZ7T7_dKxrBbsL77r4yKh4XuDIM9j15ghuvY3K-OOza69xTVRGcDfMn43mT_eTc95ko0yaCKUrCxr_iWjzsfU6eGPqRIKSxeZxw/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25235+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNMAwkisy8CWkGbJyERqKhZxxy1smd1ngF36J1EhIgjZ7T7_dKxrBbsL77r4yKh4XuDIM9j15ghuvY3K-OOza69xTVRGcDfMn43mT_eTc95ko0yaCKUrCxr_iWjzsfU6eGPqRIKSxeZxw/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25235+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643398284447128802" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h423-m_u4ASHZsiosHCFIGLkUm2cHcXDhv5JImTrC6K9_iwnqla-4oh-gdeZqxPymniewT4ENpkOW6TVupwI3t4bg9kSTHwqj2xf14RnnNa4U2e78dxT1IkqNeMxgBBvi5nsQneDmwvb/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25236+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_h423-m_u4ASHZsiosHCFIGLkUm2cHcXDhv5JImTrC6K9_iwnqla-4oh-gdeZqxPymniewT4ENpkOW6TVupwI3t4bg9kSTHwqj2xf14RnnNa4U2e78dxT1IkqNeMxgBBvi5nsQneDmwvb/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25236+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643398768894843506" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWdpZJHXMMgOAohPWbvyKe8jwMDHUDt_lAiHyczU-HaF47YESZhzM57HD2bbYz7n_4NxIY40Ls5_gEK3xXR22qN4NnlwkXrjZXwqFh54OFj-w3cGb4hMc5UWPcpiOq9r9k8kzYrNr_h-2/s1600/Baby+Ammon+%25237+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWdpZJHXMMgOAohPWbvyKe8jwMDHUDt_lAiHyczU-HaF47YESZhzM57HD2bbYz7n_4NxIY40Ls5_gEK3xXR22qN4NnlwkXrjZXwqFh54OFj-w3cGb4hMc5UWPcpiOq9r9k8kzYrNr_h-2/s400/Baby+Ammon+%25237+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643399055099245266" /></a>
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<br /><strong>The Collages</strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpmhdfD3wQqO-REA5F7N8_xPaAFUvurDQU0SdZ7UyVU9ciC4zd4m3Run0L1NKXXwEhhjH7LDGtt6GhhLPXbn4-OfAn2Jh3muh2uSY2-OdGMxGcHu-eVaxYdtoV8movV7ofqXXwWqCvv_R/s1600/Ammon+collage+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpmhdfD3wQqO-REA5F7N8_xPaAFUvurDQU0SdZ7UyVU9ciC4zd4m3Run0L1NKXXwEhhjH7LDGtt6GhhLPXbn4-OfAn2Jh3muh2uSY2-OdGMxGcHu-eVaxYdtoV8movV7ofqXXwWqCvv_R/s400/Ammon+collage+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643400750667311410" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBd6JJBidc2-THH1q8Fz9L5fvMF7DJKW77IZQfKrLnhuqdhAROxGLcqfJiOnCWISlagjawk5TVAlUnQ0TnSPUjkq_7EFHX4ZF5l_Or7AatwjH5hDT5adu1r_TjJwswicmjAzrxiFzeaW0B/s1600/Ammon+collage+%25232+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBd6JJBidc2-THH1q8Fz9L5fvMF7DJKW77IZQfKrLnhuqdhAROxGLcqfJiOnCWISlagjawk5TVAlUnQ0TnSPUjkq_7EFHX4ZF5l_Or7AatwjH5hDT5adu1r_TjJwswicmjAzrxiFzeaW0B/s400/Ammon+collage+%25232+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643401092185254786" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu1ZLv2eWap9FMK9KcFeSFlnArZAVT3spY3p6oJTS7H2d8c-CxbZNvS-k6ItM6_5dCsmahuFHjeToESGMI_Zaen9iE1FNH4jDnTuIDhwdYAkrleHKMbPHWsxQWUMQzRaaI2cFdgAfIeg1/s1600/Brothers+collage+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu1ZLv2eWap9FMK9KcFeSFlnArZAVT3spY3p6oJTS7H2d8c-CxbZNvS-k6ItM6_5dCsmahuFHjeToESGMI_Zaen9iE1FNH4jDnTuIDhwdYAkrleHKMbPHWsxQWUMQzRaaI2cFdgAfIeg1/s400/Brothers+collage+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643401379410405378" /></a>
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<br /><strong>I also snapped some shots of the new big brother Jeremy. When I asked him if I could keep his baby brother he told me I couldn't because he liked him, he did however say it would be ok for him Mom to have another baby and we could have that one. I agreed!</strong>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4zoRLkxKqFWKUHHW0HN9m2XgUUnH_GDwhWoK21vzO3FWR2FQWAXl6GTBKWwMjvXPDrUWDsX4YfEe4glhWY8aFJ6ZNiGQ2o8pMma4tFkSb_AxOceyiHkRjXrhy6aEpIl87IbOhi-9ddWp/s1600/Jeremy+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4zoRLkxKqFWKUHHW0HN9m2XgUUnH_GDwhWoK21vzO3FWR2FQWAXl6GTBKWwMjvXPDrUWDsX4YfEe4glhWY8aFJ6ZNiGQ2o8pMma4tFkSb_AxOceyiHkRjXrhy6aEpIl87IbOhi-9ddWp/s400/Jeremy+%25231+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643401931070992066" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvalrAt3wjsB__OA-Rk00-1juh1mp2vWSU0F4vo5oQkCrDFKJz_mEXMJIwmZUvWxEXgm5SdAMTmvsht-wryPl9h7BL1uwT83ZQqZnn_3BP9WXiiEXZ11xUvsxmwQWxxDoLPP3Q4PGSneF/s1600/Jeremy+%25232+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvalrAt3wjsB__OA-Rk00-1juh1mp2vWSU0F4vo5oQkCrDFKJz_mEXMJIwmZUvWxEXgm5SdAMTmvsht-wryPl9h7BL1uwT83ZQqZnn_3BP9WXiiEXZ11xUvsxmwQWxxDoLPP3Q4PGSneF/s400/Jeremy+%25232+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643402128732742130" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9LTVxoyYmnZ-UxUMuIzbN6BssOfkuCCPJKq4C8rLNqUFr0Bkz0_3vdqH_5NybAtrchy8PX1A-H4NJgjBIaFTF93HR8yw6agiIlpWN_P7Dg9GUgCCaEgg5oHnLrGljMeL9eM2tsJnSj7J/s1600/Jeremy+%25233+-+Page+001.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9LTVxoyYmnZ-UxUMuIzbN6BssOfkuCCPJKq4C8rLNqUFr0Bkz0_3vdqH_5NybAtrchy8PX1A-H4NJgjBIaFTF93HR8yw6agiIlpWN_P7Dg9GUgCCaEgg5oHnLrGljMeL9eM2tsJnSj7J/s400/Jeremy+%25233+-+Page+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643402320059036546" /></a>
<br />Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-60408887212671166522011-08-17T13:55:00.012-06:002011-08-17T14:15:00.482-06:00Baby Ammon- sneak previewI was lucky enough to have the pleasure of taking some baby pics of my friend Amber's new little baby boy Ammon yesterday. She is so kind to let me practice on her little guy. I can NOT even put into words how cute this little guy is. I really, honestly could steal him! I could look at his little pictures all day! As you can see from the pics he has gorgeous amounts of this soft, white hair which is just to die for and he his little body is absolutely covered in white fuzzy hair. He is soft and sweet and smells like a baby should and I just had so much fun editing his pictures and putting together some announcements for my sweet friend. Here are some samples...SO hard to chose just a few. I will post the sample announcements tomorrow. Although I have so much catch up blogging to do, I just HAD to share some of these.
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<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwhHGj_MaEwRN-3EoJ7zaREle6eirtKm5C9FeCfEr_y-O4MW9SRUW1YJr6fxaCEv_Wyh6iJU4D-sTGG0gXaaxFABFZbuyDDqaFq7Zz6SlvJaKREgUVWGGyHatiuPy3yby4WIQORoRbiPT/s1600/DSC_0034-edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwhHGj_MaEwRN-3EoJ7zaREle6eirtKm5C9FeCfEr_y-O4MW9SRUW1YJr6fxaCEv_Wyh6iJU4D-sTGG0gXaaxFABFZbuyDDqaFq7Zz6SlvJaKREgUVWGGyHatiuPy3yby4WIQORoRbiPT/s400/DSC_0034-edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641919012183647154" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdh45J_e7dXQ-ylXKqZaue0mt4QfLgFBDMUQMcw3IZ1USWwE6g41r6SQLRZSocM5CcWR2-aWA9-R2WcQxFdj3__lCmXt0KN-DjzhxHeGbou9Al5RVJRto9E6QkrlKxVaJPKupCiUdrK5K/s1600/DSC_0039BWedit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdh45J_e7dXQ-ylXKqZaue0mt4QfLgFBDMUQMcw3IZ1USWwE6g41r6SQLRZSocM5CcWR2-aWA9-R2WcQxFdj3__lCmXt0KN-DjzhxHeGbou9Al5RVJRto9E6QkrlKxVaJPKupCiUdrK5K/s400/DSC_0039BWedit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641919242249980018" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6NqIaIdBj_sdbADTwccnGhxwBYPRyVGylSMjazm98skQxHHduE7JDYNxvAR_Y5_FGieZf9Hi5PA2U-jSI89qej0fJlPNkh_hGDJV3LCWmiweERaMMg1PMKXHFLdc6zgYDNa2i4a2-xMt/s1600/DSC_0041-edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6NqIaIdBj_sdbADTwccnGhxwBYPRyVGylSMjazm98skQxHHduE7JDYNxvAR_Y5_FGieZf9Hi5PA2U-jSI89qej0fJlPNkh_hGDJV3LCWmiweERaMMg1PMKXHFLdc6zgYDNa2i4a2-xMt/s400/DSC_0041-edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641919447344834594" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv-q9wE04fnBJZFy8jlqPxp16m9Jo1a_S3sGNG_ek88jBITpkHeBubccloKuSf3C7__wtwwalAdy6jgL3QYEVp3G6RvnAgeWbMWDbMPS9tJ37YvSjIHHvE453U0JBpe-al8_AqVeuj6cm/s1600/DSC_0049-edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv-q9wE04fnBJZFy8jlqPxp16m9Jo1a_S3sGNG_ek88jBITpkHeBubccloKuSf3C7__wtwwalAdy6jgL3QYEVp3G6RvnAgeWbMWDbMPS9tJ37YvSjIHHvE453U0JBpe-al8_AqVeuj6cm/s400/DSC_0049-edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641919709762146178" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IeWx7iS3gGakrPa-mygW0JK70mWv_im-Wx4EZRjE5sJGXQ8fIb_qx6spwrEN_Am85C-gl_Qr0sUqKXTwUHAEguH6gGHvThX3zUij4gF9soatgeAvoT6n1318gqWDHbK-FxRiM7fU-hb_/s1600/DSC_0055-BWedit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_IeWx7iS3gGakrPa-mygW0JK70mWv_im-Wx4EZRjE5sJGXQ8fIb_qx6spwrEN_Am85C-gl_Qr0sUqKXTwUHAEguH6gGHvThX3zUij4gF9soatgeAvoT6n1318gqWDHbK-FxRiM7fU-hb_/s400/DSC_0055-BWedit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641919912390240418" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAkYN19jemc-M56SDS3Xg4M6WBZOmrPM4PfJ5fSmMXq_2NB3WTzWAvj9Il-bVigfC-W9wxesDImhw0yurmPc4SkCxbFdl_kDqx7BgGbHDe2ZxV8ApMjt6DOYTfcGVsbSVfQjgL1BHiTfg/s1600/DSC_0097-edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAkYN19jemc-M56SDS3Xg4M6WBZOmrPM4PfJ5fSmMXq_2NB3WTzWAvj9Il-bVigfC-W9wxesDImhw0yurmPc4SkCxbFdl_kDqx7BgGbHDe2ZxV8ApMjt6DOYTfcGVsbSVfQjgL1BHiTfg/s400/DSC_0097-edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641920609021627186" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagY8sQlyE-G0VB1oM5WSzvJRQXmuFxHAbon_bdgW7EvbnRF7iezc14nk8ao6WB0Lnx8dbrObool4itv9fbcAxEfLI61GrQqzmhEe4GwfqAaqNtjI9kOSI8kw92DcY9EyVmBDFvlj-aTYg/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagY8sQlyE-G0VB1oM5WSzvJRQXmuFxHAbon_bdgW7EvbnRF7iezc14nk8ao6WB0Lnx8dbrObool4itv9fbcAxEfLI61GrQqzmhEe4GwfqAaqNtjI9kOSI8kw92DcY9EyVmBDFvlj-aTYg/s400/DSC_0078.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641920414383169250" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietDVUIPwurPTjybcU-wgF1D1YCAUoPTwCJi8j5JNABqVN79sqXqKtrEVi1R02lOiYdGpDvwDWOGdpQYkvV6hTefkpRF6XzAiVlpGv3NmYBEZs3KzbvT-63XexwtzLBAwcnZS1GElIFU3Y/s1600/DSC_0057-edit.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietDVUIPwurPTjybcU-wgF1D1YCAUoPTwCJi8j5JNABqVN79sqXqKtrEVi1R02lOiYdGpDvwDWOGdpQYkvV6hTefkpRF6XzAiVlpGv3NmYBEZs3KzbvT-63XexwtzLBAwcnZS1GElIFU3Y/s400/DSC_0057-edit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641920115283669074" /></a>
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<br />Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096453120083853230.post-52616970185635303202011-07-20T15:39:00.020-06:002011-07-20T16:11:25.087-06:00Serious catch up! San Diego in MayI have absolutely been slacking with my blogging lately. So much has been going on. I'm going to see how far back my memory takes me and work forward from there. <br /><br />San Diego! At the end of May right before Brad's 30th b'day he had to take a week long business trip to San Diego. We thought it would be fun to meet him in San Diego half way through the week and spend some time together, enjoy Brad's birthday and some lovely San Diego sunshine. We had such a fun time. We swam all day, enjoyed some tasty meals, went for some nice drives and spent a day at Sea World.<br /><br />Sea World had a brand new whale show starting the day we went to Sea World and it was really neat to get to see it. We all enjoyed it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i8d_uQOULLTQpDZHS7tMYOGJhAML-KWq5Nq900x-hbsqXSABspoLKbhs7NQvJKcjFxPQmxwSSkvCDnGCOJhnol3U4q3eOMvqlkItzPubce9nYxkhginPpqxUA9qAW6hfJ1lD1FyotfuO/s1600/DSC00294.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1i8d_uQOULLTQpDZHS7tMYOGJhAML-KWq5Nq900x-hbsqXSABspoLKbhs7NQvJKcjFxPQmxwSSkvCDnGCOJhnol3U4q3eOMvqlkItzPubce9nYxkhginPpqxUA9qAW6hfJ1lD1FyotfuO/s400/DSC00294.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631554152092280514" /></a><br /><strong><br />It is so incredible to see such large and heavy animals jump out of the water like they do.</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEU7GLI2JeRIOEflm1PENIQv74JIXNOEFU6mp05PXyBsu8zsgqlolOKcNOo0EU_BUlUpIMDzKR135bxmbpVt94aNIHEYH4FWaO3FT2yDGu7IbsxVOinVAFFPaLCC4PQnlzYelUaPDPNIr/s1600/DSC00309.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEU7GLI2JeRIOEflm1PENIQv74JIXNOEFU6mp05PXyBsu8zsgqlolOKcNOo0EU_BUlUpIMDzKR135bxmbpVt94aNIHEYH4FWaO3FT2yDGu7IbsxVOinVAFFPaLCC4PQnlzYelUaPDPNIr/s400/DSC00309.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631554599895593250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0aMSwShyphenhyphena4fAOHqcU44cilctTqzDP2YCrKiii4QI7LCtKPnT12ZTJ-cv_VtTgGqXvkPNMfbmN3VBU-DGcP6cNvRPKhUXLZTTe4JeK_IVI-BXqgxQ1-eUtuxqICjmcgPdJz2vWbx_Jk9Y/s1600/DSC00301.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0aMSwShyphenhyphena4fAOHqcU44cilctTqzDP2YCrKiii4QI7LCtKPnT12ZTJ-cv_VtTgGqXvkPNMfbmN3VBU-DGcP6cNvRPKhUXLZTTe4JeK_IVI-BXqgxQ1-eUtuxqICjmcgPdJz2vWbx_Jk9Y/s400/DSC00301.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631554949238868802" /></a><br /><strong>Gabe was fascinated by the "Nemo" fish</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46urDPx5So9uXF9VugFAu4nAYPU9uixOiFYQTTR1A3zqpMaP0Pi9BxFcxQCuWozDzpKLTPQOhGvqPuUVIrWnS8IQbOjgWFJKftBXgt2zZ7nSH9Bj90T9cVmjjmo1XG9xoIWieM9t6WRgu/s1600/DSC00315.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj46urDPx5So9uXF9VugFAu4nAYPU9uixOiFYQTTR1A3zqpMaP0Pi9BxFcxQCuWozDzpKLTPQOhGvqPuUVIrWnS8IQbOjgWFJKftBXgt2zZ7nSH9Bj90T9cVmjjmo1XG9xoIWieM9t6WRgu/s400/DSC00315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631555385814997442" /></a><br /><strong>Watching the seals</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbSUV87uic0lGu_v2754jFEhSuoCz228Zi5nFF8O3VTyTEaJuM0vNkfryqFOTvnP6lBRKaYtedZDW-3gAEDvpVb9nm9GB2Pyt08r9grsG9XEmE1n5ksklapMpEZ8SZmRgcAEsWCQIY8Ey/s1600/DSC00325.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbSUV87uic0lGu_v2754jFEhSuoCz228Zi5nFF8O3VTyTEaJuM0vNkfryqFOTvnP6lBRKaYtedZDW-3gAEDvpVb9nm9GB2Pyt08r9grsG9XEmE1n5ksklapMpEZ8SZmRgcAEsWCQIY8Ey/s400/DSC00325.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631555698008117074" /></a><br /><strong>The polar bears were also very cool</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsY20qOoY0jbhvsLIr1pCC1mzv9tu1VJ6q48uPTg52kZvzXMTzi3V8Tt1oyW7vyCHtSByVL9FoTmCMS67SbQ5fIrzxCnxTh3kdglZVSt8kwFMjCe4wWdveQ3jhahuLZ5v994bUGZxTgxp/s1600/DSC00328.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDsY20qOoY0jbhvsLIr1pCC1mzv9tu1VJ6q48uPTg52kZvzXMTzi3V8Tt1oyW7vyCHtSByVL9FoTmCMS67SbQ5fIrzxCnxTh3kdglZVSt8kwFMjCe4wWdveQ3jhahuLZ5v994bUGZxTgxp/s400/DSC00328.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631556006155692498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJo9RrcYr7u2kcpQ62wk2X4BYjh9qs42qAO4LKypLqi6OStCBYXjqu03Lc0LekVo6SQHOUy2XSzlDBA2_MgP-Px1foJDBzrCn9TNPJfFd1-DZQh3AXZhL4qqZWZG6mx-LWSca4I2a1mqm/s1600/DSC00329.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJo9RrcYr7u2kcpQ62wk2X4BYjh9qs42qAO4LKypLqi6OStCBYXjqu03Lc0LekVo6SQHOUy2XSzlDBA2_MgP-Px1foJDBzrCn9TNPJfFd1-DZQh3AXZhL4qqZWZG6mx-LWSca4I2a1mqm/s400/DSC00329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631556363395645634" /></a><br /><strong>The Sea Lion show was our favorite. We laughed hysterically through the whole show. Sea World was worth it just to see this show.</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrt4jj4IXEyBUvalNXR16lRd0JrhKGHDvQyTQMCQAvyokfUVT_lpCPzDjcY-pir3wzNKgJNUNBhndXWN99LW_h7MYBVsNxADEP5pULJXd1g9ZrvnJ6vmn1ZO3huwbZH-AoCgFeeyf92HBc/s1600/DSC00357.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrt4jj4IXEyBUvalNXR16lRd0JrhKGHDvQyTQMCQAvyokfUVT_lpCPzDjcY-pir3wzNKgJNUNBhndXWN99LW_h7MYBVsNxADEP5pULJXd1g9ZrvnJ6vmn1ZO3huwbZH-AoCgFeeyf92HBc/s400/DSC00357.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631556746548034706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy7D-Dx9Xf5YtUZKyS3q3dZ0t5v_Dmnu7lWmE-gu-an1ugZ1fzo6WGWOH0hF1nQI1QuUBMIh7bsb5uexWrga2jYlg0wp4lG8OUyRAoVn2Yp-B5M7GiU54Znwl_hy1fO2A0b-p7NLwSIBi/s1600/DSC00358.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYy7D-Dx9Xf5YtUZKyS3q3dZ0t5v_Dmnu7lWmE-gu-an1ugZ1fzo6WGWOH0hF1nQI1QuUBMIh7bsb5uexWrga2jYlg0wp4lG8OUyRAoVn2Yp-B5M7GiU54Znwl_hy1fO2A0b-p7NLwSIBi/s400/DSC00358.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631557135426954146" /></a><br /><br /><strong>There was a really neat shallow pool filled with star fish that the kids could touch, feel and pick up briefly. Gabe absolutely loved being able to touch the star fish</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06cmWnmz10JgEgAd2WZrnFcarczYjy_a1qHs5rBfykc7Ah8CkoQ-4n8SMd8oPdDpQAEytEqg6_GPLCz9hdTV-_sbP2zkMCLqDM-jztBK__FK3VNkPkpjATq8U5xqLQxweivnkkyRtbN4e/s1600/DSC00362.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj06cmWnmz10JgEgAd2WZrnFcarczYjy_a1qHs5rBfykc7Ah8CkoQ-4n8SMd8oPdDpQAEytEqg6_GPLCz9hdTV-_sbP2zkMCLqDM-jztBK__FK3VNkPkpjATq8U5xqLQxweivnkkyRtbN4e/s400/DSC00362.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631557532223456514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9ZI7Aq6Oc8j-NUHHgdzTmmAs1lge_6lMh9VywYnfAkvyZsJ65pP0dxQ0cRLXK1HuUliMyQb3pb5gxMUTNzixcGNJN2DDWzytE6F7sPVROm4dvRa27BBYN0SQgwe4BGhSCTlQJrzyNIk2/s1600/DSC00365.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9ZI7Aq6Oc8j-NUHHgdzTmmAs1lge_6lMh9VywYnfAkvyZsJ65pP0dxQ0cRLXK1HuUliMyQb3pb5gxMUTNzixcGNJN2DDWzytE6F7sPVROm4dvRa27BBYN0SQgwe4BGhSCTlQJrzyNIk2/s400/DSC00365.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631557877439362226" /></a><br /><br /><strong>You looking at me?</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHUHzna7GWiM3M04C-Vi543k_CLZ0kZO8xEC508zajBLBIG3k7sr3_iG23t6BkV3PDyFrZ7-Sui289pjcm7FkClRR8cA-3vj42GFeDXXCtuMknrCDtH7yw2d5xomFsVyd0wrQ5dNGTXJ_/s1600/DSC00368.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNHUHzna7GWiM3M04C-Vi543k_CLZ0kZO8xEC508zajBLBIG3k7sr3_iG23t6BkV3PDyFrZ7-Sui289pjcm7FkClRR8cA-3vj42GFeDXXCtuMknrCDtH7yw2d5xomFsVyd0wrQ5dNGTXJ_/s400/DSC00368.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631558218866814706" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Enjoying the rides</strong><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t_69eE1WrXC7fKJ_O9a8RvVYszkvJTFLfo-Jj1DjgtgHByuUeha7wwjBJyABhPPe8giDjL49kkWBRXDEbWvE5aNCXmFouj27io-u3M1My04iS6REEJgmZKRukdikyt3ZVaHMYr-8_5QT/s1600/DSC00386.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t_69eE1WrXC7fKJ_O9a8RvVYszkvJTFLfo-Jj1DjgtgHByuUeha7wwjBJyABhPPe8giDjL49kkWBRXDEbWvE5aNCXmFouj27io-u3M1My04iS6REEJgmZKRukdikyt3ZVaHMYr-8_5QT/s400/DSC00386.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631558534792306050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Al7d0cz_8C5ZG7aSLiZ3KMu4f4iwrk66c0apoSMC_HXosoeRm6dG7lOjWVwvwFnRtqas19HkBWLZ4vjTdKSdMDJ5o2yPN_nZKpFQmfYgEMux8GvnP2-4dqDHZdd_L-CmmLDckvqedcFM/s1600/DSC00388.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Al7d0cz_8C5ZG7aSLiZ3KMu4f4iwrk66c0apoSMC_HXosoeRm6dG7lOjWVwvwFnRtqas19HkBWLZ4vjTdKSdMDJ5o2yPN_nZKpFQmfYgEMux8GvnP2-4dqDHZdd_L-CmmLDckvqedcFM/s400/DSC00388.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631558843118254290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yyj9Cfmj7lfILvgOtNsGjKgs_1ZY_X4Jst234SLhy9ob0y0OSQMgnJFd7UgzWKQmQSHrXaQnpZJ4dAw2M6kBuovEUOmtzNGCeHHmK0GF9zqi661g4o9EjLujwrkwkERfmvYS243Uhogn/s1600/DSC00390.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yyj9Cfmj7lfILvgOtNsGjKgs_1ZY_X4Jst234SLhy9ob0y0OSQMgnJFd7UgzWKQmQSHrXaQnpZJ4dAw2M6kBuovEUOmtzNGCeHHmK0GF9zqi661g4o9EjLujwrkwkERfmvYS243Uhogn/s400/DSC00390.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631559144535301122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUvqRxtnFX_RxibvOdt0EOz70j88TSb0vRGVPSVl-KPBzdkjSr-nLJfXbj1tEveMWuUPSJOUwR_bIavxgwjsDfItLVEOHEDfzRCHo8CweWsWnc1KQDNZe7fsBkRCdCIQgz9fKejEtjqm2/s1600/DSC00392.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUvqRxtnFX_RxibvOdt0EOz70j88TSb0vRGVPSVl-KPBzdkjSr-nLJfXbj1tEveMWuUPSJOUwR_bIavxgwjsDfItLVEOHEDfzRCHo8CweWsWnc1KQDNZe7fsBkRCdCIQgz9fKejEtjqm2/s400/DSC00392.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631559515219711554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEnd6nMhg5YxZxvVI3s_wqenJLGIh7xSKJ1ZmJH_szqniOiq_NMtndPGHzLMeuFekZ5d5dNQHzMJiMDdnmksudUuNLPzvrzdci47OhXTHGBlkrGraubjdA-nEY6sjJLj1L8Bg1r1x4gOu/s1600/DSC00393.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirEnd6nMhg5YxZxvVI3s_wqenJLGIh7xSKJ1ZmJH_szqniOiq_NMtndPGHzLMeuFekZ5d5dNQHzMJiMDdnmksudUuNLPzvrzdci47OhXTHGBlkrGraubjdA-nEY6sjJLj1L8Bg1r1x4gOu/s400/DSC00393.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631559828462699714" /></a>Aussiemuminthekitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16579742558399115153noreply@blogger.com0