Twins

 

 

Julie and I have matching sweatshirts.

We found them at Gap, and we both loved them so much, that we had to get them.  At least they are a little different in color.

Do you remember when I told you that she and I used to dress up in matching clothes and pretend to be twins?  Running around in these matching sweatshirts really brought it all back!  I got a hold of my mom and asked her to please find one of the pictures of Julie and I matching back in the day and…

Ahem.  I will give you a minute to recover from your hysterical laughter.  a) We might be the biggest dweebs on the planet (especially me, on the right) b) LOOK. AT. THOSE. BANGS c) Please notice that we match EXACTLY, right down to the collars buttoned to the very, very top, sweatshirts around waists, and white hats in hand.  Boojah.  and d) Why did no one tell us to knock it off because we looked NOTHING alike??

I seem to remember that we were all spruced up like this for a trip to The Enchanted Forest in Salem.  That was the magical trip when one person asked us if we were twins, and another person said, “Look!  The DOUBLEMINT twins!!”  We were in dorky heaven.  I suppose that people figured, why would we dress exactly alike unless we were twins and our mother forced us to or something?  Why indeed.

I would also like to point out that we both had reasonably stylish and cool older sisters at this point.  Why didn’t they help a sister out?  One can only assume that they were jealous of all of the attention that we got as the babies and that they were trying to sabotage us.

Thank goodness we are cuter now.  A lot fatter, but cuter.

Jaxon + Santa = …..

 

 

They must be related.

Or else that is just one SCAAAAARY Santa!

Praise Me

 

Look at what Julie and I made!

It is a technique called reverse appliqué, and it is relatively easy.

   And by relatively easy, I mean that I messed up a ton and had to use buttons to cover up my mistakes.

We have made some more patterns, but this is our shining glory.

Here is Jaxon’s:

 

I tried to get Joseph to model his, but he was too busy carrying this bag around and waving bye-bye.

Yes, yes we are very crafty.  Thank you.

Now, I am off to make some homemade marshmallows in my mixer!

Falalalala, lalalala.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow..

 

Sorry- I know that I haven’t posted in a while.  My Mom actually wrote me a border-line hate email telling me to blog or else!  And something about being sick of looking at my mixer…?  Weird, I could stare at it all day!  Anyway, I always obey my Momma, so I stopped my crafty projects and treat-making long enough to do a little blogging.  (More about crafty projects in a bit.)

The past few days have been snowy, snowy, snowy here!  I love it- the snow is one of my favorite parts of living out here in Idaho. 

Brian, Julie, and I decided to introduce the boys to the snow!

Look how sweet this is! 

Jaxon is such a happy baby. (But, he pretty much never sleeps.  Not my problem, though, so I think he is perfect!)

Joseph was less cooperative (surprise), but very curious about all of the white stuff.

(Reindeer hat courtesy of Jaxon- we were trying to do some family pictures.  More on that later too.  Sigh.)

Here is he looking all outdoorsy…

…and then he fell.

He says it turns out that the snow is REALLY cold, and hurts his little baby hands!!

 

No amount of blowing on them could help.

And then we all came inside.

The End of our snow adventure.

Bosch in Action

And this is on low speed.






Oh yeah, baby, listen to that baby purrrrrrr!

Thursday’s Culinary Adventure IX

(Should I call this Friday’s Culinary Adventure I?)

Tonight on Thursday’s Culinary Adventure:

I know, I know, perhaps not the most exciting adventure?  Well, I had another one planned, and then this happened:

Do you know what it is?  I didn’t.  (Well, okay I did, but barely.)  It is my NEW MIXER!!! HUZZAH!  I GOT IT FOR CHRISTMAS BUT EARLY!!!!  AHHH!!!    Excuse my excitement, but do you realize what this means?  It means that I can make marshmallows and homemade bread and divinity and quadruple batches of cookies, and EVERYTHING MY HEART DESIRES!!  Booja!  Sweet Brian got it for me while I was at the store and had it all sitting out.  Aww.  He can leave 20 dirty socks on the floor for free after this!

For those of you who are still confused, this is called a Bosch mixer

and it is about 2x as powerful as a Kitchenaid, and has the capacity for six stinkin loaves of bread!  The down side is that I only have two loaf pans…but one thing at a time.  You should probably start sucking up to me now, so that I will make you stuff. 

The other gadgets that come with it are a blender (yes, like for smoothies and such) and a food processor (for everything else you might ever want to make.)  I also have cookie dough attachments and a bread hook.  Hot diggity dog.  So, you see?  I just HAD to use it for my adventure!!!

-Pour your pint of heavy whipping cream

 into your Bosch mixer.  What?  No Bosch?  You poor fools.  Well, better break out that Kitchenaid or (sigh) your little hand mixer.  Don’t worry, I was once one of you. (earlier today.)

Once it starts to look thick-ish, add 3 Tb. sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla.  Then crank your Bosch up to level 3 (med-high) and beat ‘er on up!!

Once it looks fluffy, you’re done!

Scoop it up on top of a chocolate cream pie. (Instant pudding + graham cracker crust.)  Then, top with candy cane sprinkles (which are also mint flavored.)

What?  No candy cane sprinkles?

Well, chocolate ones will do nicely too.

Taste Testers Say:

Brian:  (“I’m not into sweets.” WHATEV!)

Caitlin: (“I LOVE MY BOSCH! And whipped cream.”)

Julie:  (“This one’s for you Rich.”) (her husband, don’t worry.)

Summary:  YUM!  Delicious of course, and, not to brag- but it only took me about 2 minutes to make.  Or less.  It is definitely creamier and fresher tasting than that stuff in a can (which I eat regularly)

I am so happy.  If you will excuse me- I am making some bread, and I will be sitting in front of the Bosch the whole time.  When I am not frolicking in the snow with Julie and Jaxon.

Culinary Disaster

 

I know that tonight is supposed to be a Culinary Adventure, but I had to go pick my cousin up from the airport (YAHOO!) and now the Office is starting in ten minutes so…  I will post it tomorrow- I promise!

In the meantime, my culinary disaster.

I cannot make banana bread!  I follow the recipe exactly, and it fails. 

Here is what happens.  The loaf looks toasty brown, even on the edge of over-done-ness, yes?

 

Except for the middle.  What’s wrong with the middle?

Oh, it is raw in the center, and it collapsed and “pooped” all of the raw insides onto my countertop.

I tried to put my snowman cookie jar in the shot to make me feel better.

Why?  Why?  Why?

If you have ever successfully made banana bread, please help a sister out.