Cute Cupcake Idea

One of the teachers' moms made these cupcakes for her daughter's class. (Do moms EVER get to outgrow doing things for their kids? LOL) Isn't it the cutest?!? A cupcake, chow mein noodles, melted icing poured over the top, pretzel sticks, red hots, mini marshmallows, and a little more frosting... Yummy-ness and adorable-ness all wrapped up in one!

Herb & Onion Bread Recipe

Herb and Onion Bread

from the River’s End Restaurant, Nantahala, NC

x 4 loaves (or x 1 loaf)

2 c. milk (½)
6 T sugar (1 ½)
4 t salt (1)4 T butter (1)
4 pkgs. yeast (1)
2 c. warm water (½)
9 c. white or whole wheat flour (2 1/4)
2 onions, minced (½ small)
2 t dried dill weed (½)
4 t crushed dried rosemary (1)

Scald milk and dissolve in it the sugar, salt, butter; cool to lukewarm. In large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add cooled milk, flour, onion, herbs. Stir well w large wooden spoon. When batter is smooth, cover bowl w/towel and let rise in warm place til triple in bulk (45 min.) Stir down and beat vigorously for few minutes. Put in well greased bread pans. Let stand in warm place 10 minutes before putting preheated 350 oven. Bake one hour (½ hr. for single loaf).

Yum! (Layout #26)

The title of this layout, "we love chocolate" says it all! The photos are from Macey's birthday this year, but the layout will actually go in our "Things We Love" album. (Remember the Library of Memories?)

These pictures totally crack me up! Sorry if you find the one of my nephew gross; I think it's hysterical!!! I ended up choosing the "Leading Lady" sketch from Imagine, the Life's Delights paper pack, and of course my Chocolate alphabet stamps. I would have never thought to pair Chocolate and Cocoa together, but that is something we did at last year's Convention. It works so well here to showcase the scrumptious chocolate.

To create the sinfully rich title, I stamped each letter of "chocolate" in Cocoa ink and then immediately sprinkled clear embossing powder on them. Can you see the shine on the detail shot? In the green file folder, I have included a hand-written copy of the cake recipe that we love (see below).

To embellish the layout, I used some Chocolate ribbon and some of the metal pieces from the Chocolate Mini Medley accents. Do you detect a pattern here?

Now, here's a little something just for you. The girls have requested this cake for the last several birthdays, so here's the recipe for you. I think that it originally came from my Aunt Carolyn, but I got it from my Mom. Betty Crocker we are not, but I promise this cake is easy and delicious!

Triple Chocolate Cake

1 box deep chocolate cake mix

1 sm. box instant chocolate pudding

1/2 c. oil (or applesauce + 1-2 Tbsp oil)

1/2 c. strong coffee

8 oz. sour cream

4 eggs

12 oz. (1-1/2 c.) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Grease Bundt pan. Mix everything except chocolate chips for 5 minutes w/mixer. Add in the chips. Pour into the prepared pan and back for 65 minutes. When completely cooled, turn out onto cake plate. Dust with powdered sugar and serve.