Oreo Cake

If you come to my house on your birthday I will probably make you a cake. This is the cake I made my brother-in-law. This is also the best chocolate cake recipe ever. I should have used this cake for Jacob's birthday digger cake. So moist and delicious.

The original inspiration for the chocolate cake recipe come from Martha Stewart's Allergen Free Cupcakes, which are really good. My version makes two rounds. I think my pans are 8".

3cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup cooking oil (I use canola)
2 tbsps vinegar
2tsps vanilla
2 1/2 cups water

Preheat oven to 350.
Combine dry ingredients in one bowl and we ingredients in another, then combine.
Batter is very thin.
Divide into two pans and bake 25-30 minutes.

For the Oreo filling:
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups cool whip.
Then add chocolate chips or crushed Oreos.

For the chocolatey top:
4 squares semi sweet bakers chocolate
1/4 cup butter
Melt in microwave.

The Very Hungry....

CATERPILLAR! I love the idea of reading a book and doing a craft to go along with it. This was my first try and it was a great success! At first Jacob wanted his caterpillar to have a red face and a green body but when I told him he was going to paint it himself and pick the colours he went with blue and black. 

Just for fun we made beetles out of the little ends of the egg cartons. Which turned out awesome because the boys discovered that the beetles can go for rides on the caterpillars' backs. We fed the bugs all leaves because that turns out to be what the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" liked best.

On Learning Love

We have decided to start some learning at home and are beginning by teaching the boys the fruits of the spirit. One of the ways we learned about love was by making heart shaped cookies and then decorating them and delivering them to our friends... because we LOVE our friends.

Don't the boys' cookies look awesome?
The cookies were painted with a food colouring and egg yolk mixture before baking. 

Painting the cookies looked like so much fun that I had to give it a try

And here is Jacob packaging up the cookies for delivery.

Sugar Cookies Betty Crocker Recipe Without the Cream of Tartar Because I Didn't Have Any and I Also Don't Ever Have Almond Extract So It Doesn't Have That Either

1 1/2 cups icing sugar
1 cup stick margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Beat sugar, butter, vanilla, and egg together. Then add flour and baking soda.
Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375. Roll out cookies, cut out shapes... Bake 7 minutes.


For the paint mix 1 egg yolk with 1/2 tsp water. Divide mixture into four small containers (I used measuring cups) and add 1 or 2 drops of food colouring to each one. Paint cookies before baking. Colours get nice and bright in the oven.

Mac & Cheese Made Easy

Who knew macaroni and cheese could be almost as easy as making it from the box? I have made homemade Mac & Cheese before but it usually involves butter and flour and making a roux. Then baking it to thicken up the sauce. Multiple pots and a baking dish means more mess. Anyways, I found what I thought was a brilliant idea and built my own recipe around it for the flavours I like.
The brilliant idea? Cook the macaroni in the milk! Genius.
So, take your milk and add the pasta. Cook over medium heat about 20 minutes. Stir lots. Try not to let it boil, if it does it might thicken too quick but then all you have to do is add a little more milk. When the milk is hot add a squirt of mustard. I know that is very technical, but I was trying to make less dishes not more. Once your pasta is cooked through then add the cheese and paprika and onion powder. Stir until all the cheese is melty and eat immediately. For some kick sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top. (That last ingredient is just for me, too spicy for the kids, but so delicious!)

Enjoy.

Mama's Mac & Cheese

2 1/4 cups milk
2 cups elbow macaroni
1 squirt mustard
1 cup shredded mild cheddar
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp onion powder
Sprinkle red pepper flakes (totally optional)