Fair Week - Part Two

Get ready for picture overload of my girl!  We wrapped up the fair this weekend and as usual, I'm glad to see it gone for another year.  Whew!

Since it was free entry Thursday, we went out after work so Bella could check out all the exhibits.  We really didn't do much, just kind of walked around to see everything and say hello to our friends at the cook-off.

"Brothers and sisters are friends".....Bella

And we all are most of the time.  haha

Friday we hit the rides and let me tell you, this was probably the most fun for both Bella and I.  Bella really loved the fast rides this year.  She would get off hollering "woohoo" and ready for the next.  I loved it because she was so happy and excited.

Decision, decisions...what should I do next?

  

These were the only two good pictures I got of her with the animals. There were so many kids in there that the animals were running all over the place.  I think it was overload for them.  It made me a little nuts too.  Needless to say, we didn't stay long because it was not as enjoyable as past years.

Back to the rides...

Before she got on this ride, she gave me specific instructions.  

"Now mommy, when I get on here, you need to take my picture and send it Paul."

These are the pics I got, and he loved them!

Pause for a selfie with my girl...

Later that night we were back at the cook-off.  Bella was content with some friends she made so Lauren and I took a walk to go see another co-worker who was in the cook-off as well.  We stopped for a pic of us with our matching koozies.  You can't see the writing on them, but they say, 

"I Love Jesus But I Drink A Little"

Me and brother waiting on awards at the cook-off.  

Our friends didn't place but the food and company were awesome!

Lastly, I didn't plan on entering anything in the Kitchen Pride Bake Show or the Rice Plus Cook-Off this year but after receiving holy hell from co-workers and friends on Thursday, I reconsidered.  They all said "you must defend your honor" so I came up with a recipe and look what happened.  Yours truly took home first place and grand champion in the Rice Plus Cook-off with a Rice-Pumpkin Bread.  The same recipe took second in the Kitchen Pride Bake Off.  Bella was so excited for her mommy.  I guess I have found my talent...baking!

Glad we are starting a new week and the fair is gone.  I do have an interesting weekend coming up.  I may or may not have been talked into going to an Aggie game.  I know, I know....I'm still struggling with it.  But as my crazy cousin pointed out, its football, good food, good drinks and family!  I can't argue with that.  Y'all have a good one!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins

I can't remember exactly what day it was that Bella and I decided we needed to make these muffins but it was a very good decision on our part.  These muffins were so stinkin' good.

I found this recipe on Pinterest and I'll tell ya, I have to agree with the author in that these taste better cold.  I had one out of the oven after they had cooled but were still warm, and they were good but I preferred a cold one right out of refrigerator.  They really were super easy to make and were Bella approved!

Here are your ingredients and directions for making these yummy treats....

·         1 3/4 cups all purpose flour

·         1 tablespoon pumpkin spice

·         1 teaspoon baking soda

·         1/2 teaspoon salt

·         1 (15 oz) can pumpkin (pure pumpkin puree)

·         1 cup granulated sugar

·         1/2 cup packed brown sugar

·         2 large eggs

·         1/2 cup vegetable oil

·         1 tablespoon vanilla extract

·         8 oz cream cheese

·         1/4 cup granulated sugar

·         1 large egg yolk

           2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375°F. 

Place paper baking cups into muffin pan. Set aside. 

1.  In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking soda and salt until well combined. Set aside. 

2.  In large bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar and brown sugar. 

3.  Beat in eggs, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Slowly whisk in the flour mixture, until there are no lumps. 

4.  Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. 

5.  In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add in sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract and beat until well       combined. 

6.  Top each muffin with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese mixture and use a toothpick to swirl it into the batter.

7.  This will not look smooth, but it will bake up much prettier. 

8.  Bake muffins for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

9.  I liked these best at room temperature or even slightly chilled! Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Cookies From The Heart

Today was very much needed extra day off for me and the kids.  I knew it was supposed to be a rainy day so I told Bella we could bake cookies if she wanted to.  Boy she jumped at that.  She was watching Pioneer Woman with me last weekend and saw these cookies and wanted to make them so that's what we we did.

A few things about these cookies.  Chilling the dough is required which was no problem, but I did learn that I roll out dough too slow.  I had to chill the dough again after cutting only 4 cookies.  It became too sticky and once the cookies were cut, I had a hard time getting them from board to baking sheet without messing them up.  The other thing you should know is instead of using flour when rolling out your dough, you use cocoa powder.  I just thought flour made a mess.  No comparison.  After chilling the dough three times, we got 15 cookies and called it good.  I probably could have gotten 2 more but I was done chilling and rolling.  :)

Here are our results...

Instead of stenciled letters, I used a smaller heart shaped cookie cutter for the powdered sugar.  Using a small x-acto knife, I traced/cut the heart out of wax paper.  Placed the wax paper on top of the cookie, then sprinkled the powdered sugar on top.  Bella thought this was GENIUS!!  I love that I can still impress the heck out of my 8 year old. 

The cookies are good.  They are very, very chocolatey. I like chocolate but I'm not a big fan of chocolate, if that makes any sense at all.  If I'm baking a cake, it will be a yellow cake, not chocolate. Every now and then I'll crave chocolate, but not at the top of my got to have it, love, love, love it list.  Christopher wouldn't touch them.  He's never been a chocolate fan either, but give him Reese's Peanut Cups and he'll love you forever.  Bella loves them.  No surprise there.  I think I will stick with my Sweeties.  Now that's a cookie I love but have never attempted to make before.  I think I don't want to mess with perfection.  ha!  

The last I left y'all, I mentioned a procedure I was having last week.  That procedure revealed that yours truly has a stomach ulcer.  Queen Bee worrier right here!  I have a follow-up appointment tomorrow afternoon to see what else my doctor says but he has increased my meds to twice daily for a month and then I'll have a repeat scope in 6-8 weeks.  In the meantime, I am trying very hard to reduce my stress. How to exactly do that, I really have no idea.  Baking and cooking has always been relaxing and therapeutic for me, except when cookie dough kicks your ass.  :)  I also need to make time to get out and walk.  If I could take time off from work, I would totally do that as well, but its not in the cards right now.  I'm also adjusting my diet a little more, but if anyone can tell me where the switch is in my head to turn off the worrying and the stress, please let me know.   

Y'all have a good one!  

A Little Weekend of Love

Saturday morning I decided Bella and I would venture off to Pearland to do a little running around. She had received two of the same Shopkins play sets for Christmas. One of them came with a gift receipt to Toys R Us (thank you Joy) and thankfully, Pearland has one.  My little Boo Boo also got a James Avery charm bracelet for her birthday from the Hillier's and Square's.  We needed to have the bracelet sized and the charms added so James Avery was on our list of stops.

Our first stop was Sonic and a selfie!
 

Bella also still had a little bit of money to spend and let me tell you, it was burning a hole in her pocket!  We arrived and she started talking about a store with makeup that we had been to before and it had jewelry.  I couldn't figure out what place she was talking about but when she saw the pink doors, she squealed and pointed and then I knew.  Charming Charlies.  The makeup consists of lipgloss. Ha!  I promised if she were a good girl, we would stop by there.  Our first stop was Toys R Us where my girl was a little disappointed that they didn't have a bigger selection of Shopkins but opted for a little bouncing yapping dog, a pocket puppy and kitty.  

Charming Charlies was a disappointment for Bella as they no longer have a young girls section.  She still looked around and even asked the sales clerk if they had any lip gloss.  That sales clerk found me later to compliment me on what a polite and well-mannered daughter I had.  Made this momma's day! Bella left with a lanyard (aka, charm necklace) and I left thinking about this clutch....

After James Avery, a late lunch at Red Robin and quiet time looking at books at Barnes & Noble, we went back to Charming Charlies for that clutch and then perused Macy's home sale for a pasta pot. No luck at Macy's so we headed home as we were beat.  Bella told me when we were going home that she really loves girls day when its just her and I spending time together.  I hope she always feels that way.  

Sunday morning I made pancakes.  Heart-shaped pancakes.  I wouldn't call it a failure but it wasn't pretty.  

I'm telling myself practice will help.  Bella loved them regardless and ate every last bit.  The first one I removed the mold too soon and had spillage.  The second one, I used less batter but almost let it sit too long.  Need to adjust my heat.  Again, if I made pancakes more often I would know this.  I also used the griddle that is built in to my stove for the first time ever.  I consider that a factor in my slight success but not failure heart-shaped pancake morning.  I will try again!!

The rest of our Sunday consisted of burning limbs, raking a few leaves, boiling chicken for dinner that night (Crescent Chicken Rolls), baking muffins, watching football and a nap!  

And let me just confess something while I'm here. James Avery told Bella and I her bracelet would be ready after 4:00 Sunday.  I originally had every intention of driving back Sunday afternoon but after we finished burning limbs, I knew I wouldn't want to go.  Bella's tummy was hurting later in the afternoon so I convinced her to lay down with me to take a nap.  I had no intention of falling asleep but I totally did.  We both woke up about the same time and the first thing she asked about was going back to James Avery.  Y'all...I totally lied to my daughter.  I told her the lady from James Avery called while she was napping to let us know they didn't get her bracelet back but would call when they did.  I may have cringed when I told her because I was being an awful mommy in that moment but I just didn't want to go.  She was upset for all of 5 minutes (if that) and then she was good. 

So yeah, bad mommy for lying but good mommy for heart-shaped pancakes.  :)

Y'all have a good one.

Cake Balls

Cake balls are a pain in the ass to make.  There I said it. 

They are fun to prepare because you get to lick the mixers....

And they are fun to eat once you FINALLY reach the last step of making these way too sugary for my taste dessert balls. 

 

But hey, the kids like them and had fun making them and yes even mommy had fun making them with the kids.  However, these will NOT be a frequent flyer in our house, rather a special treat.  Amen.