Texas Sheet Cake

..mmmmmm...this is the same recipe as the California Round Cake

that I made earlier this month except I used all purpose flour instead of the wheat this time. I also used the baking sheet this time instead of the round pans. It was really great. Even more awesome than last time.

I think maybe next time I will compromise and use half/half. It was so good I even went back for a second piece. It was melt in your delicious. We ate it warm. I managed to save dh the two last pieces so he can take to work soon.

Does it get any better than this?

This is my new spice rack and vinegar/oil holders next to 2 loaves of freshly baked bread. Does it get any better than this? You can only see one tier of the spice rack in this picture but behind it is 2 more. Not bad.

I had to take the rental van back the day after christmas. I still haven't blogged about x~mas but it is mainly cause I can't find my digi cam and that is what I took all those pics on. Grrrr....

Anyhow the day after, Joey went to work and I took the van back. I was sad to see it go. It was a lot of fun to drive and having a vehicle big enough to toss everyone in and just go somewhere is a good thing. Hopefully one more month plus a few days give or take and we will have our own.

I felt kind of bad a few months ago when we rented a van for a few days for a trip and my 3 y/o, almost 4 was sitting in her car seat in the middle and was clearly enjoying the ride and she was like, "Is this our van mommy?"

Uggghhhhhhhhhhhh. :( No sweety it isn't. Daddy is going to buy us a MUCH better van soon! lol

SO I stopped at Target and of course they were having their 1/2 off sale on all things Christmas. I told myself just a few things.

I wound up with 2 Christmas cookie plates. One is a snowman, one is a penguin, $2.00 each. I got a penguin that is a cookie jar and matches the plate, I think it was $7.50. I bought a much needed spice rack. Joey and I have been looking for one for a while. I seen one at Costco for $25.00, good price but it seemed flimsy. I just can't seem to find the right combo of good price/good quality. Not really having much room left on my counters either.

I found a small one and I think that will be a perfect starter one. It was $10.00. I found a spiced vinegar/balsamic vinegar/olive oil set as well, $5.00. I also found a panini press, $8.25. I think that was it. I seen a box of gingerbread mix/cookie cutter on sale for 1/2 of what I bought one for weeks ago. I haven't even used the one in my kitchen yet! I was kind of tempted to buy one and bring the other one back. hahahahaha But I was like is getting $1.75 back worth the hassle and time and the line and ......

I will post more pics later of the other stuff. Did you catch any after x~mas specials?

The best cupcakes ever!

This is not my picture. Aren't they cute though?
These cupcakes are the best! Yeah I know, that is what every one says, but seriously, these are wonderful! I have tried many cake mixes(store mixes)in my day and most the time was not impressed. I think the only time I was impressed was the year my aunt made lemon cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. I believe the mix was Pilsbury. Even though these mixes have gone on sale for .50 cents to $1.00 over the holidays I can NOT bring myself to buy something, no matter how cheap, laden with trans fat!

SO this means I need to find delicious recipes for mixes on my own. As I posted earlier in my Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes blog, I was inspired by Chocolatechic's and Zsuzsanna's cupcake stands. They were so cute I had to get my own! Then I went in search of the perfect recipe to go along with them. I found it while searching for cookie recipes.

Like I said before they are tender, light, fluffy, moist, everything you would want in a cupcake. I do recommend using real butter though. I used real vanilla extract as well but I am sure artificial vanilla would be fine. I even calculated last nite how much it cost me to make these.

Now here is a small adjustment, they say 6-8 cups of sugar for the frosting of 2 dozen cupcakes. But I have found when smearing the frosting on top that is double what I need. Now maybe when I get into fancy swirls and what not, maybe I will need that much frosting? *Shrugs*. The only thing I did not add up was the vanilla, but if you are using artificial it would add what a penny or so? lol


I buy real butter at Smart N Final, it is $5.65 for 3 lbs. I buy confectioners sugar there to and that is $2.55 for 4 lbs, eggs at Lonq's are always $1.20, sugar I catch sales sometimes but more often than not it is $2.99, the self rising flour was 1.69 for 5 lbs, the all-purpose flour was $1.50, milk is $6.59 for 2 gallons.

Anyhow, when I added this up it was $4.78 for 2 dozen cupcakes the way the recipe is written(with all the frosting). That is less than .20 cents a cupcake. If you are making this recipe for the first time I would follow it closely and use 7-8 cups of sugar. The price for the cupcakes with halfing the frosting recipe is $3.52 or less than .15 cents per cupcake.

So you see you can use expensive ingredients(real butter) and still save money. Mixes in the store are generally $2.00 and frosting is like $2.50! I don't know if that makes 1 or 2 dozen cause I haven't used a store mix in ages. And then they still want you to add stuff like eggs, milk, oil, etc. I will have to price those out later. Anyhow these are very delicious and were a big hit over the holidays here.

This is definately going to be one of my main recipes for cupcakes. I did not use any whole wheat what so ever. It would probably ruin them. hahahahahah

In my last blog I realized I forgot to post the recipe and I kind of felt bad when Zsuzsanna stopped by that blog and said she needed to make cupcakes every day to get good use of it! Those children need cupcakes and Zsuzsanna needs more recipes. How can I disappoint that wonderful family? I can't, so here you go. lol Don't forget, you can also put blueberry muffins and brownies on the stand. :)
CLick link for the recipe for Magnolia's Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
Magnolia’s Vanilla Cupcakes

Everyone is always asking us which is the most popular cupcake at the bakery. Most people are surprised that it is what we call the vanilla vanilla - the vanilla cupcake with the vanilla icing (and the most popular color for the icing is pink).

Makes about 2 dozen cupcakes (depending on the size of your cupcake papers and muffin tins)

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CUPCAKES:
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1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
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1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
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1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
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2 cups sugar
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4 large eggs, at room temperature
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1 cup milk
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract
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ICING:
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Vanilla Buttercream (recipe follows) or Chocolate Buttercream

1.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.

Line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.
3.

In a small bowl, combine the flours. Set aside.
4.

In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth. Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three parts, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl to make sure the ingredients are well blended. Carefully spoon the batter into the cupcake liners, filling them about three-quarters full. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
5.

Cool the cupcakes in the tins for 15 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing. At the bakery we ice the cupcakes with either Vanilla Buttercream or Chocolate Buttercream.

Note: If you would like to make a layer cake instead of cupcakes, divide the batter between two 9-inch round cake pans and bake the layers for 30-40 minutes.

What is your favorite cupcake recipe?

Chasing the Sun

That is what Joey calls it. The sun seemed as if it had been setting forever as we drove closer and closer to the coast. Remember in my last post how I said I couldn't wait to go back to Laguna Beach? Well I didn't have to wait long. haha
Don't pay any attention to the dates on the photos. These are from my digi cam and Joey needs to change something. I don't want to post anyone elses photos without permission so I will just stick to Joe and I and our kids. This is eldest ds#1.

This is a picture of Joey and I and dd#3. There were 17 family members at the party total. The night after the wedding of our friends my cousin was hosting a big family party at her house in Laguna Beach. I remember when I was a child we used to have 40-50 people at these gatherings. 4th cousins and your mom's dad's 3 nieces who were all a good 20 years older than my mom who would of been in her mid 50's now, and all their kids, etc. It was really neat. We always met on Thanksgiving and always a few days before Christmas. But over the years a few people have died off, and lots more have moved out of state. That is a picture of ds#2 opening a gift.

Now we are down to mainly my immediate family(my two aunts and grandma, plus one of my aunts is married and has 2 kids, my lil family of 7 over here.)

That is a picture of dd#2 with window paints. There are 2 nieces of my grandpas(who passed on in 96 at 84) still out here and their husbands. One of their sons is still out here with his wife and 2 kids but I guess they are mad at each other. :( The other son lives in Las Vegas and did come out for the holiday with his mom and dad and is moving back next year.

The other niece and dh went out of state for the holiday. They have 3 grown children and all are married and 7 ot 8 grandkids and one great grand kid now. The other niece and her dh and her 2 kids and their kids moved out of state years ago. I think there is 15 all together. I could go on, but you get the point. There is alot of family but they are all gone.

My immediate family trys to keep it together and my one aunt hosted turkey day at her house and invited everyone but the 18 or so still living in Ca, besides us and the immediate family, only 2 showed. The one niece and her dh who are now visiting out of state. This is a picture of our eldest dd.


My aunts daughter hosted the x~mas party at her house this year and the other niece and her dh and son came. Of course we came and her mom and dad and my other aunt and my grandma. but besides the immediate family, only 3. It was still a very nice time. I got to wow everyone with my awesome vanilla cupcakes. I also realized my cousin can make some awesome appetizers. There was way too much food and we all ate way too much of it.

We did a gift exchange and the kids had a present to open.
As you can see youngest dd is really enjoying her new sleeping bag! Do you get together with distant relatives or is every one too spread out?

Laguna Beach

is about 100 miles from here, one way and is breathtakingly beautiful. This was the second time we had been out that way. The first time was a few days before our wedding. Friends of ours live out there and recently got married on the sand at sunset. It was a small gathering and afterward we all walked over to the Hotel Laguna for the reception.
Well I walked, Joey drove the car over from the metered parking to the valet parking. That was the only parking they had. By the way, when we got home that evening a few items were missing from his back pack.

A few packs of cigarettes. Yes he still smokes, yes I pray he will quit some day. We are fortunate that was all that was missing. My purse was under the seat in the middle row of the rental van with his jacket over it.


Here is a picture of my sweetie Joe, sitting on the rocks. He took a few of me too but I really didn't like how they turned out. Maybe next time we will get some better ones.


The tables were decorated very nicely There was salad, fruit, pasta salad, a variety of cheeses, some shaped like french fries, sour dough bread, white and wheat breads, and 3 different kinds of dessert. One was carrot cake, a chocolate cake and a fudge brownie.

The Brides father even picked out a cake topper for the chocolate cake with the bride dragging the groom on the train of her dress. haha


It was a lovely evening. Gifts were toasty by the fire and the room it was hosted in had a lovely view overlooking the ocean. Well there was a patio below it too. Here is a picture of us on the patio. We are right next to the umbrella.

I wish we had the time to get out there earlier in the day and have time to walk on the beach. Or go poke around in some of the shops.
Laguna Beach at sunset. Truly amazing. It is so beautiful there. I can't wait to go back. What are your favorite beaches?

Magnolia Bakery Vanilla Cupcakes

Well I made the vanilla cupcakes twice now. If you are interested in the story behind these cupcakes, read my Peanut Butter Cookie's thread. WOW! They are tender, light, fluffy, moist. They are perfect! The second time I even got the frosting right. They are awesome. Last time we added 6 cups of powdered sugar, too runny. It says between 6-8. This time I was on the phone and lost track of how many cups I put in. So I am not sure if I used 7 or 8 but the frosting looked great and this time I could tell it was done! Hooray! I made violet and green cupcakes with sprinkles.

My two aunts tried them and my cousin and they all said they were really good. My one aunt thought they were REALLY good and said she was going to bring two for the next day and some for grandma. We are also seeing them again on Tuesday and she said I needed to make more for that party! She wanted the recipe and took some extras home for her son and dh.

MMMMMMMMM.....Yummy!! You have got to try these!

The picture is from my cousins house of the cupcakes. After seeing pictures of Chocolatechic's and Zsuzsanna's cupcake stands, I just had to get one too! I seen one online at Bed Bath and Beyond for $20.00, used my 15% off coupon and got it for $17.00 with the birthday $20.00 my Grandma sent me. Next on the agenda will be perfecting decorating them.

I stopped at Michael's and got a 12 pack of icing colors. We have a cake decorating kit but I am not too handy with it. Don't forget to use real grade aa butter, I am sure that makes a difference. What kind of cup cakes do you like to make?

Jessica’s Spectacular Fudge

Jessica’s Spectacular Fudge

3 (4 1/2 oz.) Hershey bars
1 (12 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips
1 jar marshmallow cream (7 oz.)
1 tbsp. butter
12 oz. chopped pecans
1 tbsp. vanilla
4 1/2 c. sugar
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk

Mix sugar and milk in heavy, 6 to 8 quart pan. Cook until it comes to a rolling boil (stir often to prevent burning). In the meantime put rest of ingredients, except pecans, in large 6 quart bowl. Break Hershey bars into pieces. When sugar and milk mixture is ready, pour it over the other ingredients and blend until creamy and smooth. Add pecans and pour into greased 8 x 12 x 2 inch pan. Let stand until firm, about 4 to 6 hours. Makes 6 pounds delicious fudge.

I have never made fudge before. Neither has Joey. But this is one of the recipes we made together yesterday. He doesn't mind baking with me on occasion. I has seen a recipe online for fudge and noticed it called for marshmallow creme. So I picked up some. Then when I went to make some I found a recipe that wanted marshmallows. I had those too but the kids can have that with their hot chocolate. What am I going to do with the creme? lol

One of my online friends, Jesticalynn, posted a recipe for me for her fudge so I decided to give that a try. Thanks Jesticalynn! It makes 6 lbs!!! It was easy to make. Especially since Joey did most of the work on that one. ;) It said break up Hershey's chocolate. Wouldn't you know he took the hershey's out to the garage, in a ziploc baggie and took a sledge hammer to it to break it up? hahahahah I kid you not! That's a man for ya. ;)

We put ours in a 16 x12 x 1 pan. We also didn't use pecans. I took half the pan and sprinkled crushed walnuts on top. It turned out really good. I have been having so many other treats this holiday season I only sampled a small taste. It was good though. My dh tried it and said it was really good and loved the consistency of it. Do you like to make fudge?