Coconut, Almond, & Cocoa

Today began our family holiday gatherings for the season!
I got off kinda easy this go around, I only had to make desserts.
I wasn't in the mood for pie after last weekend, so I made two cakes.
 One of them I have already blogged about , it's one of my favorites.
My sisters remember having this particular cake growing up but usually only at Christmas.
Due to it was "more expensive" to make so they say.

Cocoa Apple Cake

The other one is a Coconut Cream Cake.
My husband and Dad love coconut cream pie,
so I figured this was a good fit for the day.
I meant to take a photo after I put the Cool Whip on top, but I forgot.
OOPS!

Here's the recipe though!

Coconut Cream Cake

1 pkg. Duncan Hines Coconut Cake
I can never find this, so I just use white cake mix
1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 (8oz) container Cool whip
Shredded coconut

Prepare the cake mix as directed on the box. Bake as the package indicates. When the cake is done, remove from the oven. While it is still warm, put holes all over the cake using the end of a wooden spoon and be careful not to go all the way through the cake.
Mix the coconut milk & sweetened condensed milk together an pour over the top of the cake.
Next top with cool whip and sprinkle with coconut.
NOTE: I do not put cool whip on entire cake unless I think it will all be ate in one day.
Keep refrigerated.
Coconut milk can be found in the Asian food section of grocery store.

The last recipe I made was one that we were lucky enough to try new last weekend.
When we attended the Dyck Arboretum Luminaries. 
They provided Almond Tea for a warm drink and we fell in love with it.
I was very excited when they actually had printouts of the recipe.
Here's the recipe of goodness!


Almond Tea

                                     3 tsp. Instant Tea                                   

1 quart water

                            5 cups very hot water                             

1 tsp. Vanilla flavor

                     1 (12 oz) frozen lemonade                      

1 tsp Almond flavor

 3/4 cup sugar

Dissolve tea in hot water. Mix rest of ingredients. Stir in tea.  

May be served hot or cold.  Makes 14-18 servings (1/2 cup)

And because you need at least one photo in each blog post, 

I decided to wish you all a Merry Christmas!

Does this say holiday spirit or what??? :) LOL

Photography by 5 year old and yes the angel is crooked, the tree is not!

May your day be bright & merry!
Julie

PS: It felt great to be back in the kitchen and to be able to blog about it!

Oh how I miss it! :)

Beauty in the Winter

We had a great day with the family and we ended the evening with us 3 creating a new memory.  We decided to visit Dyck Arboretum since they were having a Luminary Walk.  PV didn't really want to go, but once we saw all the beautiful lights she changed her mind.  She totally enjoyed the entire event!

The weather was lovely for November, 

but I think even if it was chillier all would have enjoyed it just the same! 

 I think this may be a new (annual) tradition for our family.  

The photos do not do it justice at all.  

After the walk, they served hot chocolate,  almond hot tea and cookies. 

 So we gathered ours up and heading to the next buildings where they were having ballerinas perform sections of the Nutcracker.  

The inside was full, so we just pulled up a concrete sidewalk, 

and watched through the large and lovely glass windows.  

PV was mesmorized by the ballerinas, it was adorable to watch her and the performers. 

This event was well worth the $12.00 we spent for us 

to get in and it also aides in Arboretum to maintain the gardens.  

This is a beautiful place in any season and its very tranquil.  

My sister actually got married at this location 

and it was so nice in the month of September.  

Today we are heading after church, to get our Christmas tree, 

and decorate the house.  Good memories being made this time of year! 

We are blessed to have so many advantages in this life. 

 I hope you and your family have many blessings as well!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Pig, Problems, & Positives!

I decided I was going to just sit down immediately 

and document ( for the family section of this blog) recent happenings.  

Before time got away from me or my memory fails me!

Pig -

PV was Peppa Pig for Halloween.  

In my conversations with several people in the past month I think

 only one person knew who Peppa Pig was!  

So for those of you that don't know who Peppa Pig is, you can click on this link.  

Or here's my description, a cute little girl pig with a french or maybe it's english accent!  

Yep I'm not kidding!

That' s how my little Kansas farmgirl rolls!

Costume made by Big Sister KVH and Grandma F.
Inexpensive and cute.
Just how Momma likes it!

Problems.

Oh let's just skip these, you don't really want to know them anyway!

Let's get back to the good stuff!

Positives

It's Thursday! 

So that means Library for PV at school!

We discussed on the way to school that she should 

get a book this time that she could help read but

 she said it had to be about animals! 

I told her that is ok and to ask the Librarian to help her find one!

PV came home with a book about Foals.

One of the things I have always loved as a Mother, 

was listening and watching my children learn to read.  

It's amazing to me that one day we don't know how to read a word.

Then the next you know one, two, or maybe three words!

Listening to her read tonight was the best part of my day! :)

Then we worked on Sight words.

I am thankful for the teacher and those that help in the classroom!

I'm very proud of my little gal!

Another positive was listening to PV tell me how she

 helped with the sick calf.

Then she also told me about another calf.

The one named Susie, white face, black calf.

She's naming the cattle... oh no!

Ok! One more positive.

The problems were brewing inside my head at the first of the week.

By Wednesday I had the blessings of people aiding me.

So a problem turned into a positive.

I love when that happens!

I hope you found Joy in your day! 

Our life is quite blessed and sometimes I forget to be thankful.

Thank you Thank you Thank you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Holiday Memories- 2012 Images

This weekend we began celebrating Christmas with my family.  We had two gatherings and the weekend flew by! But I am glad that we had the opportunity to gather with family, it doesn't happen often enough! Here are a shots I got that brought me joy!

This little gal is one full of vigor, sweetness, and a smile that won't stop! :) 

Sisters together always bring a softness to my heart! Especially these 3!

Watching my dad play tea party with PV was so heart warming!

My Mom with her gift from all her children & grandchildren!  Each day in 2013 she will have a "little piece of each of us" with her!  She has one "item" to open each day! 

This little honey...well let's just say she brought lots of laughs to the ornament exchange game!
(Thanks to Kassidy for bringing this goofy little gal!)

Each year the adults bring an ornament then we play the game where you can steal an ornament!  Needless to say the snazzy zebra was not stolen! :) My nephew ended up going home with her! 

Hugs from this guy ( my dad).  They are the best!  He never lets go first! Ever!

I hope to blog more often for you in the near future, but between our holiday schedule, regular life, and me trying to get all my continuing education credits for my paying job, it's been hectic!

I hope your holiday season brings you much joy and safety!

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

Holiday Kitchen Memories - 2 (2012)

I don't think that I have mentioned how much I love the candy Rolo's.  Seriously, if they are near I probably could eat an entire bag.  Which obviously isn't the best choice! So when I found this recipe on Pinterest, I should have absolutely NOT pinned it! But I did.....

Rolo Turtles - they are just lovely little creatures!  You can see the entire post here for step by step instructions. 

On a side note, (I don't know this blogger personally but) I absolutely think her blog is lovely.  The vibrant colors and simplicity of her layout! Lovely to my eyes, but you didn't come here to hear me rant about her blog!

Here are the ingredients!

This recipe is both simple & tasty!  You will want to be sure to put it in your list of recipes to try. In fact, I think I am going to coerce personally recommend for Heather to use it at next years open house! :)  It's alittle late this year, I won't put that kind of pressure on a pal!

Here are the pretzels- all lined up neatly in a row!  They remind me of military guys in formation!

Here they have their little hats on ready for the oven!

Pecan smooshing accomplished - time to cool!

I actually put mine on my patio table on our covered deck to cool. I was short on space in my frig and in Kansas it was chilly, so I used the resources I had! 

Also, in the original recipe she advises to use the rolls of Rolo's, I wanted to make alot and save money, so I bought the individually wrapped. It did take a bit longer  and a helper would have been nice but my little girl was sick that day. So it was up to me!

Here's my pile of Rolo foil for proof!   Festive isn't it! 

I hope you enjoy your holiday season & let me know if you try these!

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

Holiday Kitchen Memories (2012)

Well it's December 2nd and it has begun!  Christmas baking that is!

I decided to try a new recipe, you can find the actual recipe by visiting the original bearer of this gift here!
(Thank you Kansas Farm Mom)

I had my handy assistant, which I am thankful for! If you have little ones that like to cook, this recipe really is a good one to have them participate with.  She was awesome at rolling the dough into balls!

While we wait for the dough to chill in the frig, I headed out to the garage to check on the hubby!  He is creating something I have wanted for the house since we moved in!  I won't tell you what it is, but here's a photo of a couple of the supplies!  I promise I will blog on this masterpiece when it's finished! (Can you tell I am alittle excited about it!)

Ok back to the cookie making!   The pre-bake stage!



And drum roll please!  The Finished Product!  Yumminess all over!
Don't they just scream Christmas Goodie!

I want to tell you that normally cookie making isn't my thing but today it was a JOY!

The cookies are DELISH too!  Be sure to try the recipe, it really is lovely!

(FYI, Milton loves snickerdoodles and these got two thumbs up from him!)

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie