Happy Birthday!

It is my birthday and I just wanted to share a picture of my birthday cake my mother made me.

It really is "Better than Anything" cake, with the chocolate whip frosting, the moist chocolate cake and the toffee pieces... ahhh! Don't you wish you could have some. ;0)

Barbie cake

Now I didn't make this, but my mother did and I just had to share.

Beautiful isn't it! I love it. I was 4 when I got my Barbie cake. Here is a picture of me with my cake.I loved my Barbie cake. :0)

HaPpY St.PaDdY's DaY!!!

and what would it be without green pancakes?The masses approve. :0)

Whoopie Pies

I have wanted to make these cookies since before Valentine's day when I saw them in the Family Fun magazine. I Love that magazine. There are always so many cute ideas and recipes. I haven't made these because I knew that I would eat them all myself. I have a good friend that comes over sometimes when my husband is working nights and we make Home-made Oreo's. This will be what we make next time.

Whoopie Pies

2 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt

1 cup butter milk
1 t. vanilla
1/2 margarine or butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg

Heat oven to 350. Grease cookie sheets. Mix the first 4 ingredients in medium bowl. Mix vanilla with the buttermilk. *Side-note. I don't ever use real buttermilk in any of my recipes. I add a Tbsp of lemon juice to whole milk or evaporated milk and let it sit for 5 minutes.* Beat butter and sugar together. Add the egg. Pour half of the flour mix in. Combine well. Add all of buttermilk. Mix til just blended. Add the rest of the flour mix. Spoon onto sheets and flatten with spoon. I used my medium cookie scoop from Pampered Chef but to get more I think I'll use the small one next time. I didn't flatten them either but with the smaller ones I will for sure. Bake them for 10 minutes. Cool for 2 minutes and move to cooling racks.

Filling

1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup marshmallow creme *I used the whole container.* ;0)
1 t. vanilla
food coloring

This made a lot and I had some extra that I put on graham crackers for an added treat. Use any color you want and make a double batch because you will eat them all. :0)

My new machine

I got my new machine! I think I am in love and my husband said that I am spoiled when I was showing him some of the features on it. My favorite...I can see how much bobbin I have left. Now I know when I'll be running out. So can't wait to get crafting with this thing! :0)

Mmmm...

Great-Grandma Norma Powell's Strawberry jam. So good! Makes me want fresh rolls. And since I made 20 jars I just might have to make some. :0)

Chicken pasta bake

The picture looks as good as it tasted! So yummy! I thought I would share this recipe. We tweaked it just enough and let me tell you, it made enough to feed 8-10. We are totally doing this next time we have the in-laws over. ;0)

Chicken pasta bake
1 onion chopped
4 garlic cloves crushed
8 oz. mushrooms sliced
2 small zucchini diced
3 cans (14.5 oz.) crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 Tbsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. sugar
3-4 cups cubed chicken cooked
2 cups mozzarella cheese
2 pkg borsetti fresh pasta uncooked

Preheat oven to 400*. Saute onion and garlic 1 minute. Add mushrooms and zucchini and saute for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and seasonings. Stir to combine. Remove from heat, add chicken and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Spread uncooked pasta evenly in the bottom of baking dish. Top with chicken mixture. Cover with remaining cheese. Bake uncovered 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

So totally worth it! Had all but the pasta on hand and that was on sale. :0)