Cake Pops

I wasn’t going to write a food post this time, I had a different one all planned out but… I found out today my favorite little Bakerella has a book coming out on September 8th. Maybe you have never heard of Bakerella and all of her yummy creations, but she is the creator of “Cake Pops” Her logo is “sweet inspiration & fun baking ideas” and it is so true!

Like this

And this

She also makes Cake Balls, look at these Red Velvet ones and the recipe

Red Velvet Cake Balls

1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)

1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)

1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)

wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.

2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)

3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)

4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)

5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.

6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

I also only melt a few pieces of chocolate bark at a time because it starts to cool and thicken. It’s easier to work with when it’s hot.

I am sure you are going to be the bestest of friends with her from now on. Even if you aren’t a great baker her ideas and instructions can walk even ME through to Bakersland or is it Bakerella-land. I am putting this book on my wish list!

Please note I am not paid for this endorsement nor to I expect any special favors from Bakerella-but I love to share great ideas especially when it has to do with yumminess!

Wipeout

 Have you ever seen the TV show "Wipeout"? Each week crazy people take on one of the world's largest extreme obstacle course hoping to be the "Wipeout Champion." It is at times grueling to watch people get  smacked around, catapulted in the air, swim or crawl through mud, shot in the face with all kind of nasty stuff, and continue to the next round.

For some reason it is my Grandson’s “new” favorite show, (last week it was Little Bear), so when he was over the other night he said, “Grandma, let’s watch my favorite funny show”. I know before you say anything about violence on television I too thought the same thing. So I said, “I don’t think we should watch this, it is kind of a mean and an awful lot of hitting going on”. His response was” No Grandma, it’s funny, they get knocked down but they can get up and do it again”. So we watched it and every time someone would get wiped-out, he would say, “Wait Grandma watch, they get up and get to do it again”.

So here I am, the next day sitting in church and all of a sudden little flashes of the “Wipeout” scenes come flashing through my head. That is when I realized this has been my life for the last several weeks.

I would start out fine thinking OK I can do this, right God, and bam I got sucked punched, knocked me to my knees

 got up and shook it off, feeling the sting on my face I continued on, and bam catapulted into a sea of yuckiness,

got up again and tried to stand tall, and bam and the big old sweeper kicked my feet right under me

I laid down for a while on that one but pulled myself to a half standing position.

Finally, just when I didn’t think I could take anymore I crawled into the throne room of God and begged for His grace. Do you think the course ended there? The answer is nope, the next day received a couple of phone calls, that let’s just say wasn’t the best news, and bam blow to my left side

I limped around on my right for the rest of the day.

As I sat in church thinking of all that has taken place lately and hoping to hear from God, that He will bless me with a calm, sweet week--all I can hear is this little boy's voice about this crazy show-- and I realize I GOT UP! I didn’t stay down in the mud, I didn’t lay down face first drowning in the water, and I didn’t stay on the ground. I GOT UP! I may have crawled at times but I GOT UP! I guess Grace doesn’t always bring victory in the obstacles, sometimes Grace comes with Mercy and just let’s you GET UP and get through the obstacles!

Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the LORD Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Pillow Cookies & Me

I found this receipe at bakerella  and oh baby look at all of this yummy goodness. I am going to make them for our 4th of July Party. Can you imagine a chocolate chip cookie with a brownie inside, that is like winning the lottery, well maybe not the lottery but something pretty good! Besides isn't it true anything you eat on the 4th of July is freedom from calories? Well it should be because I am making these!  

Brownie Pillow Cookies

1 package brownie mix

1 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs, plus 1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon vanilla

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

12 oz. bag miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips

Make brownies according to package and let cool. Cut about ten 1 inch squares. Enjoy the remaining brownies. (I used a pan about 8 X 8)
For the chocolate chip cookie dough, beat butter with a mixer until creamy.
Add brown sugar and beat until smooth
Add eggs, yolk and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
Combine flour, baking powder, soda and salt in a medium bowl and stir together with a wire whisk.
Add flour to butter mixture and beat until combined. Stir in mini chips.
Let dough chill covered in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Use a measuring cup to scoop batter by the 1/2 cup. Since it’s chilled, you may need to pack it with a spoon. Then use the spoon to remove the dough from the cup and place it on parchment paper. Work quickly so the dough remains chilled or either prepare one cookie at a time so the rest of the dough remains cold.After the dough is on the parchment paper, make an indention and place a 1 inch square brownie in the center. Press the brownie down gently and work the remaining dough around the brownie. You can use your hands to shape the dough into a ball.
During this step, I found it easier to use a piece of parchment paper as a work surface since the dough can get sticky and then I used another piece of parchment paper for the baking sheet. If your dough gets too soft, you can chill the rolled dough balls for a few minutes right before baking.
Prepare six cookies at a time using a large baking sheet (15 X 20) and bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes. Return the remaining dough to the refrigerator until time to bake the second batch.
Cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes and then cool completely on a wire rack.
Makes about ten cookies using a little less than a 1/2 cup of dough for each cookie.
If your cookies start to get too brown before they are done baking, you can place a sheet of aluminum foil over top for the last few minutes.

and then it should read EAT THEM!

Happy 4th of July

SuMmEr FuN

I lOvE summer lOvE, LoVe, LOVE it! All the seasons have their own set of reasons to love them but summer just has so much more to offer me. Lots of fun, less clothes, flip-flops, swimming, all of my favorite fruits, long warm nights and of course ice cream. This year I decided to start my own Summer List. I got the idea from Meg at megduerkse/ whatever/the-summer-list.html . So of course, I wanted to make my own! My list is a little different from others as I don’t have little ones at home but ….I wanted each Grandbabe to know all the fun that we can have during the summer. After all isn’t that where memories are made when you are young going to Grandma’s, drinking ice tea with sugar, eating ice cream before dinner, wearing her jewelry, making great things in her kitchen regardless of the mess. Well that’s what I do! All the things I hated cleaning up after when I had my babes at home now they bring me joy. Now my house is always clean, no fingerprints on everything, no pattern marks all over the toilet (sorry I had boys), no used dishes under the bed, now my laundry is done in two hours. So I have lots of time to think of messes that my Grandbabes can do at my house. Funny how things change you work so hard when you are young to make your house so perfect for your family and then you get a little older your kids grow up, your house is perfect and then you work so hard to mess it up. Love this season of my life and especially... I love being Grandma Lolo!

My Best Day Ever Again!

Well Tomorrow is the big day! I will be blessed to meet Grandbabe number 6, I am so excited. Another princess to add to our family, so that makes 1 little prince and 5 princesses. Most importantly, I am so thankful that I am alive to see her birth God is so good!

April Tricks for Kids

April Fools Tricks for Kids

April Fools Day is tomorrow. I love these ideas they are fun but yet not mean spirited. Great ideas for a surprised filled day. Now what prank do I try to pull off tomorrow....

Best Day Ever

Mr. Sun came out and he smiled at me. Said it's gonna be a good one just wait and see!

Jumped out of bed and I ran outside feeling so extra exstatified!

It's the Best day ever! (Best day ever)
It's the Best day ever! (Best day ever)

I'm so busy got nothing to do, spent the last two hours just tying my shoe.
Every flower every grain of sand, is reaching out to shake my hand.

It's the Best day ever! (Best day ever)
It's the Best day ever! (Best day ever)

Sometimes the little things start closing in on me, when I'm feeling down I wanna lose that frown I stick my head out the window and look around.
Those clouds don't scare me they can't disguise, this magic that's happening right before my eyes.
Soon Mr. Moon will be shining bright so the best day ever will last all night.
Yes the Best day ever's gonna last all night now.

It's the Best day ever! (Best day ever)
It's the Best day ever (Best day ever)
(Best day ever)
(Best day...)

"Bring the Rain"

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that
I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings
You glory And I know there'll
be days When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to
praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may
loom above because you are much greater than
my pain you who made a way for me suffering
your destiny so tell me whats a little rain

[1st Chorus]

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
is the lord God almighty
is the lord God almighty
I'm forever singing

[2nd Chorus 2x]

everybody singing
Holy holy holy
you are holy
you are holy

[2nd Chorus 2x]
"Bring The Rain",Mercy Me