Baking Fiends

Last weekend when Heather and I were home alone (Lisa was in AZ) and both sick, we became something of baking fiends (every time I type that, I start hearing the theme song to Making Fiends, which I love).

In the past week we've made Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars, Sloppy Joes, Macaroni and Cheese, Cranberry Chicken, Peanut Butter Cheese Ball and Oreo shakes, but those aren't terribly impressive (o:


The caramel apple cheesecake bars smelled absolutely divine. I still haven't eaten any -- mostly because being sick has made me give up most eating things. Which means this was a poor time for a cooking spree.


The leftover chocolate chips from the peanut butter ball.


Gigi was very excited for the peanut butter ball. She loved it. Always a boost to my self esteem when I can get Gigi to eat anything I make.


Ziggy's face when I suggested he try it. He loves peanut butter. He loves chocolate. I didn't see the problem.


He got close and then cried and said it looked gross and he wouldn't eat it (not an ego boost). I tried giving him money to eat it and he wouldn't. So Gigi got all the peanut butter goodness!

Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Things Unposted

I haven't really had a fully-functioning computer for months (and I still don't have a fully-functioning body at the moment, but we're going to ignore that). I took it in to my dad's computer guy (Bill at ICW - Computer's Done Right) and he was SO GREAT. My world has been restored. It was more fun because apparently my dad has a lot of computer problems, so he and Bill have become good friends.

He knew me just by saying my last name and asked if I was the daughter who went with my dad to NYC just to see a show. Yes. I am that daughter. He also said I was like a "mini" of my dad to which...I don't entirely think so? Maybe at all? I'm not even a mini of my birth parents. (o: But he was sweet and fast and awesome and I would recommend him to everyone.

Anyway, I now have a computer back and a few photos that I put in a "to someday blog" folder but then I could never find a coherent link between all of them. So, my non-sequitur photo thoughts:


There was about a week or two when the bathrooms on our floor were being fixed, so we had to go to other floors. I feel like funny stories happened during this experience, but it was way back in August. I took a picture of the stairs as a reminder to appreciate having working bathrooms -- even if it's just a floor or two of inconvenience, I didn't love it!


Also back in August Lisa did a presentation at Huntsman (for breast cancer patients) on loss. Heather and I went to listen just because Lisa is wonderful to hear speak (which is why MamaLynne recommends Lisa any time someone asks her to speak. Which is often. Sorry, Lisa!). Heather and I were both super impressed and proud of Lisa for her awesome presenting.


I don't know why this is significant, but I'm very faithful about putting on sunscreen in the summer whenever I go outside. Except I had a band-aid on my arm and got sunburned through the plastic. I sunburn so easily. If was funny AND painful.


Haylee's mom made seriously one of these most amazing pies I have ever, ever eaten. It's up there with Karen's pie. The bottom was like soda crackers and I thought it was going to be horrible but I ended up eating like half of it. I have fond pie memories of that day.


Also in August, Mark retired. Melody got him a clearance balloon. We've had a lot of office changes these last few months.


And, more recently, it was raining very heavily and CenturyLink put an umbrella over the box thing. I thought they were built to withstand rain, but what do I know? As long as I have internet, they can do whatever they want!

And now it's back to bed for me. It serves me right for telling my mom on Sunday that I couldn't possibly feel any sicker. I apparently can and do. You win, body. You win.

Everyone Is Sick!

Officially almost everything in my life is low-functioning this past month and a half. I know my body always has a hard time with January and February (I know a lot of people who spend these two months sick with me, I wonder why), but now it seems things around me are having sympathy non-functioning.

For example, my home computer has stopped functioning with any amount of efficiency. I took it in to be fixed, but it's where I keep all my pictures. It made me realize that I'm not entirely sure how to put together blogs made entirely of words (what the?) because I usually just post pictures and I'm done.

My work computer is also struggling. I keep getting a Blue Screen. I guess more of that, though, is I'm struggling with my work computer. I get to work, look at my desk and think, "I do not remember how to do any of this." It's been good times.

Heather has also been sick (also a sinus infection!), which is a different kind of fun. We spent the entire weekend lying on the couch watching movies and trying to compete for who was feeling the least amount of wellness. Also we baked stuff.

Heather went to her doctor for antibiotics (her first round -- I'm on my third or fourth round -- I can't keep track any more) and he told her that her throat looked like a cobblestone street. I told her she should make it a pickup line. You know, all, "Hey, my doctor says my throat looks like a cobblestone street if your tongue wanted to take a stroll." She did not approve of that idea.

Actually, in retrospect, I don't think I'd approve of her actually saying that. To anyone. Ever.

Point being, pickup lines can be found anywhere!

I went to my parent's house for a "Superbowl Party" on Sunday. Basically I wanted an excuse to have a lot of snack foods (I love snack foods!). MamaLynne played with Zigs, Jenny and Giselle had a tea party on the floor with some stuffed animals, Giselle picked up a few new moves from Madonna (not going to say that wasn't my favorite part of the evening, because it totally was), the guys all watched the game and I laid on the couch and read.

In related news: Dr. Buys let Lisa let Heather let me borrow a book called A Monster Calls and it may be one of the best books I've read in recent memory. It's about a boy whose mom has cancer. It's well-written, a very, very fast read and, more importantly, poignant and engaging. I cried through the last 70 pages and full-on sobbed through the last three or so chapters. I was home sick yesterday, so when I finished the book I was crying, so I made Heather come home for lunch so I wouldn't have to be alone.

Very, very, very well-written book.

Lisa always has the best books to recommend.

Also, Lisa went to Phoenix over the weekend, but now she's back! So that's happy.

Possibly less happy, Heather, Lisa and I are all speaking in our new ward on Sunday. We're going to rock it. We have sacrament last (and 9 am church, which I don't love because I can only be a morning person five days out of seven) so I'm debating between a full 12 minute, well thought out, story-filled talk and a five minute or less talk where I introduce myself, read a quote, bear my testimony and am done. Then I can be remembered as "The new girl who let us get out of church early!" which is ALWAYS better than, "The new people who talk for an hour past when the meeting was supposed to close."

And there we go. That is basically, pretty much everything going on right now ever.

Chocolate Honey Chiffon Pie Back Story

Last Sunday I went over to Karen's house because she cooks delicious things and I have no trouble taking advantage of her friendship by only stopping by for amazing desserts (because this is how I roll).

Karen made the most fantastic Chocolate Honey Chiffon Pie (in fact, when I was sick all last week, I asked Heather to make me one -- she did not; which doesn't even make sense as I'm sure we had all the ingredients! In related news, Heather and I both have sinus infections and basically spent the entire weekend on the couch dosing through movies. It was bonding).

Anyway, Karen's pie. I got there and she was beginning to photograph her pie and I told her I was going to take behind-the-scenes photos for anyone who reads her blog and wonders about all her setup secrets or...whatever.


Karen with her photo setup in front of the window.


She went to cut a slice of the pie to photograph (the first slice didn't turn out, so I ate it. Along with the rejected chocolate garnishes that weren't pretty enough. Along with another slice of pie. And a half...)


She kept claiming I was stressing her out by reminding her that the light was fading and she had to act fast and then clicking away on my camera.


Luckily she was still laughing.


And then Charlotte woke up! Can you have chocolate pie and not want to share it with this little face? Not possible.


So share we did. Technically Karen shared. No way was I giving up any of my pie to someone who can't express her appreciation for how delicious it was.


Karen's review of the pie. I believe she approved.


Charlotte's review of the pie -- she also approved.

I am reasonably certain I would be willing to make this (even though I pretend not to cook), because it is really, really good. Thanks, Karen!

Krispy Kreme Brownies -- OF DOOM

There was a recent question posed asking about Krispy Kreme brownies. Nathan wanted to tackle it by making this recipe sent to us by Karen (who really DID prove herself!).

In case you don't want to click over, I'm just going to c&p the recipe so you can see how amazing this is:
Brownie Ingredients

3 Krispy Kreme Glazed Doughnuts
1/2 cup White Sugar
2 tablespoons Butter (unsalted)
2 tablespoons Water
1 cup Semisweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips
2 Eggs
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2/3 cup All-Purpose Flour
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt

Brownie Doughnut Glaze Ingredients

1/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Now the modifications we made:
-I accidentally put in powdered sugar instead of flour -- Lisa corrected that mistake so there WAS flour, but also extra powdered sugar. (I don't cook a lot, apparently.)
-We added more doughnuts on top of the brownies.
-We used cream instead of milk for the glaze. Also we made way more glaze because I get really excited when working with cream.

To the pictures!


We started mixing. First, I should mention that before Nathan arrived, I was making a spicy, creamy pasta that Allie told me was her favorite (it should be noted that anything spicy is Allie's favorite -- also Doritos). It was basically butter, garlic and crushed red peppers mixed with spaghetti sauce and cream over pasta. Super easy.

Except I started making it while I was on the phone with Melanie. I stopped paying attention to how much crushed red pepper I was pouring in the pan until I realized the kitchen was smokey and Lisa and I couldn't stop sneezing (it took HOURS for my sinuses to feel settled again). But other than that, I kind of liked it. Maybe less red pepper next time...My esophagus felt like it was burning from the inside. But in a good, albeit unsettling, way.


Step 9 is to eat a doughnut. Check! I am (or at least was) so in love with Krispy Kreme doughnuts.


The brownie batter looking deliciously fudgy. This is pre-unnecessary powdered sugar and very necessary flour.


The pieces of doughnut (three for inside the batter, one for on top).


Nathan arranged everything in a eye-catching flower pattern while three girls looked on with approval.


The finished product. Okay. Our kitchen smelled AMAZING. Like the oven was made of the most heavenly fudge. I couldn't wait to try it, but we had to make the glaze first.


Which I poured artistically over the carefully-arranged brownies.


Nathan got the rest of the brownies to take home. I also dumped the rest of the glaze in the container because what else was I going to do with it? Which is why he has an inch of straight-up glaze.


From the top. Brownies. Coated in glaze.


My favorite thing about this picture (not the lighting. Our dining area struggles with photography-approved lighting) is that you can SEE the glaze dripping off of Nathan's spoon.

I only ate most of one brownie. He had two at my house and one more at Karen's. After two bites (the second bite was the BEST because that was when the delicious fudginess of it all hit me) I started to feel the effects of the sugar. I had this distinct moment where I went, "So THAT'S where my pancreas is! And THAT'S what it feels like when it starts producing insulin on high!" And all the next moments of thought included, "I feel SO ill..."

Heather, Lisa and Stacy all tried them. Heather, who doesn't eat much sugar, had one bite and declared she felt like she was, "having morning sickness!" (and this is Heather being not dramatic). Lisa had two bites before the straight-up dessertiness hit her. Stacy had one and wondered how Nathan had eaten two. Agreed.


Nathan and I washed an impressive amount of dishes (when I cook, I try to use every dish at least once so none of them feel left out) before I told him he had to leave because I no longer felt well (also we played Robot Unicorn, but that has nothing to do with food).

Then I spent the rest of the night alternating between lying on the floor telling Heather and Lisa I was going to die/be sick and craving another bite (they really are good).

Would I make them again? Absolutely. They are AMAZING.

Would I eat an entire brownie again? No way.

Am I excited to take the leftover brownies to my parent's house tomorrow for my dad's birthday so everyone can try a bite? You bet!

I still have enough doughnuts left if anyone would like me to make them a batch.... Besides, Nathan and I were wondering how they would taste if you threw on a layer of chocolate frosting over the glaze. Any volunteers to try it?

Another Sports Post

I know. Two sports posts EVER? That's weird.

But the other day I read on the Parenting Fails blog this quote:

My mother texts me: Hey… Dad wants a ticket to the game in Green Bay for Christmas… I believe it's a football game and I think it's the Packers against another team… Possibly the Yankees.

It immediately reminded me of this moment in my life.

I sent it to Heather who asked if the "mother" in that story wasn't my own. She is not, but someday I could be that mother!

And then Heather and I laughed. And I reavowed to never pretend to know about sports to impress a boy....because I will fail. Hugely.

2011 Favorites

Chance just did his 2011 favorites from his Photo A Day on his blog, so I thought I thought I'd post mine. Though, technically, the "a day" part kind of....didn't happen. However, Lindy has committed to do it with me, so I'm going to be better.

(And, Mom, here's a link to my Photo A Day. I know you struggle finding it sometimes (o: -- Love you!)

Honestly, looking back, I can't believe all the things I've done this year.

In hardly any particular order:

Umm meeting Julia Murney AND Stephanie J. Block was not only a favorite picture, but also a favorite moment.

Aww, three days of Brooke and Jon. Totally wonderful.

It's so weird to me to see Lily be THAT LITTLE.

And now Lily is big.

I know I didn't take it, but that was such a great birthday lunch! I'm so happy Heather, Lisa and (especially!) MamaLynne were able to take time off for it.

Also didn't take this one, but, man, that was a fun trip.

And, more importantly, it's been a fun year. Here's to more adventure! And way more documenting that adventure (o: