wedding slideshow...

my favorite wedding task was to create a 10 minute slideshow of jarad and myself.  we had our families send us photos as children and with family and friends, and then of course we have lots of photos of us together...here it is and it makes me cry everytime.

4 layer coconut cake...

for jarad's birthday this year, he requested a coconut cake.  we celebrated his birthday on easter and i made this awesome 4 layer cake, with pastel frosting.

here is the recipe for cream cheese frosting, which can be used on all kinds of cakes, muffins, and cupcakes.

4 oz unsalted butter
4 oz cream cheese softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 t vanilla extract

i used a store bought white cake mix (2 boxes) and baked them in two 9 inch pans.  when the cakes are cooled, i used a piece of dental floss to cut the cakes into 2 pieces.  i used food coloring to make the different pastel colors, and layer the cakes and frosting and then patted coconut on the side, to make it look like "grass", and topped it with easter egg malt balls.  it was festive, beautiful and delicious!

music...mgmt

mgmt, "electric feel"

summer reads...

i'm putting aside the dog training book to read this one!  my co-workers good friend is the author and it has great reviews...

http://www.astronautwivesclub.com/

motivation...

ranger cookies...

this is my mom's recipe, and it is a favorite among jarad and his friends, so much so they have been re-named around our house as the "eddie c"cookies (there is a funny story behind this, but not blog appropriate).  so now i have started to make my own and i like these so much because the batch makes a ton of cookies and they are not your usual chocolate chip.  in fact, last weekend i made a batch and put it in a nice container and gave it to the people who run the adoption foundation where we got wilfred.  i included the recipe inside of the container, which i think is a nice touch, it allows the person to re-create the recipe if they like it enough and it also lets them know what is in it in case anyone has allergies.

ingredients:

1/2 lb of unsalted butter (2 sticks)
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 t vanilla extract
2 cups flour
3/4 t baking soda
3/4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2 cups oats
2 cups corn flakes
1 cup shredded coconut

how to:

heat oven to 350 degrees.  in large bowl beat butter and sugar until creamy.  add eggs and vanilla and combine well.  add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and combine well.  then add oats, corn flakes and coconut.

drop the dough into one inch balls on cookie sheet, it will make 4 dozen cookies.

bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes and allow to cool.

these cookies are great on their own, and have an unusual texture.  tonight i am making them for a friends bbq and am bringing some ice cream so we can assemble ice cream sandwiches for dessert.

wilfred's life..

jarad has some new toys too, here he is testing his new stedicam...