...jennydoll

This weekend was spent in Chicago preparing for Jo Beth & Robert's wedding.  Jo Beth is my husband's sister.  It was a busy and fun time!  Dave and I arrived on Friday afternoon in Chicago around 1:30pm.  We unpacked and checked out the house we were staying in with  Dave's whole family.  We, all ten of us, were all going to be under one roof!  The house was amazing!  Four bedrooms, four bathrooms, living/dining area, and this huge kitchen.  The kitchen was great!  SubZero refrigerator, Wolf stove with two ovens, granite counters, big cabinets.  A dream kitchen.  The huge kitchen was really beneficial for me to prepare the flowers and for JB and I to prepare desserts in.  Jo Beth and Robert had this whole old Hollywood feel to their wedding.  She, my mother in law, and I had several errands to run and people to see in regards to the wedding.  On Saturday, I was up bright to start working on the flowers...

Last Saturday was Girl's Night at my mom's.  There was a group of ten of us.  We all bring a dish and we eat together, visit, and play games.  Once again, I was in charge of bringing a dessert.  I wanted something fun and new to try.  I looked through the pantry and decided upon a smores type cupcake.  I made a dark chocolate cake and topped it with a light Mocha buttercream, marshmallows, a dark chocolate drizzle and sprinkled with cinnamon graham crumbs.  It was really tasty!  I am calling this creation "Fancy Camping".  Definitely, one to make again!

A couple of weeks ago I spent the day with my mom.  We drove up to Hannibal,  MO for the Family Reunion.  It happens once a year.  Everyone comes from all around and brings a food dish to share.   This year I brought a Butter Pecan bundt cake.  It was drizzled with a Vanilla Butter Icing and decorated with orange and dark chocolate Maple leaves that I made.  We all bring pictures, eat and and reminisce.  Plus, it gives my mom the chance to visit with her father's family.  I don't know too many of them but I do recognize faces.  These faces hold the memories and faces of my ancestors. I have been researching my genealogy for the last nine years.  It is a big undertaking but I truly enjoy it.  It is like this big puzzle that I am working on.  The great thing is when you find that one piece that falls into place and it can open up a new wealth of information.  I have appreciated all of the help that other members of my...

  Is what my little sweetpea told me when she came by to hang out one day.   She is the sweetest little girl.  Ever!  

My dad's birthday was a couple weeks ago.  We were not able to celebrate on his actual birthday this year.  Dad has moved to a new home out of the city. While on his visit this past week, we had dinner at our house to celebrate.  I planned a dinner of a chicken dish, brown rice, fresh green beans, cornbread with honey butter, and orange jello salad.  Dave and I wanted a relaxing evening for my dad.  Dad had tonsil/throat/neck (lymph node) cancer surgery about six weeks ago and has to return in about a week to have a second surgery to remove some more marginal tissue in his throat/tonsil area to make sure all of the cancer is gone.  He has been a real trooper through all of this and is looking forward to being done with all of it.  So, I really wanted him to be able to just enjoy an evening with his family.  I wanted to make him a birthday cake that was fun!  I opted to make a yellow butter cake with homemade chocolate icing.  Dad likes h...

I was going to visit my friend and her three boys a few weeks ago. They had been requesting I make some cupcakes.  I decided that after my conversation with H, her oldest, that strawberry icing would be the way to go.  He and I were talking the week before about fruits and vegetables that he liked.  He informed me that strawberries were one of his favorites.  I blended frozen organic strawberries with a bit of lemon extract and made a strawberry lemon icing.  Rather tasty and H gave the okay! I also decided to use a bit of the leftover over mocha buttercream from my sister in  law's birthday cupcakes on the remaining.  I then sprinkled some toffee bits on top.  Anne, my friend, gave the approval on these as well as M, her middle son.  He almost at the whole cupcake in one bite!  Glad they were given the seal of approval! :-)

More mocha please! My sister-in-law's, birthday was yesterday.  We celebrated her big day at the Lake over the weekend with family and friends. But, I had already planned on making her a special birthday treat. I had found these big polka dot sprinkles at the cake supply store and immediately thought of her.  I bought them along with bright purple, yellow and turquoise wrappers.  I made dark chocolate cupcakes with a mocha buttercream.  I remembered these being a big hit with them from when I made them for my brother's birthday.  As another birthday treat, I cut some black eyed susan daisies and lavender from my garden.  Flowers always seem to make everything a little more special to me.  When she called to thank me for the cupcakes and flowers she told me that the flowers were one of her favorites!  I did not know that at the time but I am happy they made her birthday just a little more special.  Happy Birthday!