Sunday, January 30, 2011

Mocha Chocolate Truffle Frosting

Cake is an excuse to eat frosting.  Canned frosting doesn't count.  Here is a killer recipe for chocolate frosting.


This is a favorite recipe of mine:


4 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
3 tablespoons dissolved Pero
1/4 cup Coco powder


Mix 2 cups of the sugar, butter, milk, the vanilla, almond extract, pero and coco powder in a medium size bowl with an electric mixer.  Beat till smooth (ish).  Then thicken the frosting to your desired consistency with the rest of the powdered sugar.  Enjoy! 

Mocha Chocolate Truffle Frosting

Cake is an excuse to eat frosting.  Canned frosting doesn't count.  Here is a killer recipe for chocolate frosting.

This is a favorite recipe of mine:

4 cups Powdered Sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
3 tablespoons dissolved Pero
1/4 cup Coco powder

Mix 2 cups of the sugar, butter, milk, the vanilla, almond extract, pero and coco powder in a medium size bowl with an electric mixer.  Beat till smooth (ish).  Then thicken the frosting to your desired consistency with the rest of the powdered sugar.  Enjoy! 

Friday, January 28, 2011

The Hair

sorry it's not the best picture

I've wanted to go short for a long long time and finally did it and cut off about 7 inches christmas break:)  I'm loving it and feel like it is more "me."

Chicken Tacos

Today is the first ward activity that I've been in charge of and lets just say that it's been interesting.  We are doing a get-to-know-you activity (thus us being a singles ward) and dinner.  How it works is everyone gets a sheet of questions that are written on fake dollars.  The questions range from where are you from, what are you studying type questions to biggest pet peeves, most embarrassing moment questions.  The more personal the question, the more money its worth.  Then when you've asked all the questions that you want, you go and "buy" your dinner.  We are doing Chicken Tacos (delicious!), so each item is worth something, like a scoop of chicken is $5 or cheese is $2.  I hope it goes ok, but if not...I might get released :)

Here's the recipe:

Slow Cooked Chicken Tacos

3-4 Chicken Breasts
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/2 cups of medium salsa
2 tsp. kicking chicken spice
2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1 cup sour cream
Stick everything except the sour cream in a crock pot, put on low and let cook for 6-8 hours.  Put in the sour cream an hour before serving.  Serve on soft tortillas with green onions, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, cheese, cilantro, olives and whatever else you like on your tacos. :)

Friday, January 21, 2011

Rent a Mom

So like everyone else, my life is super busy and crazy right now, so the projects have slowed way down.  

But, I have started making dinner for Jess and his roommates Sunday-Thursday and it has been way fun and has helped me learn how to cook better.  I am trying a lot of recipes (crock pot recipes are my favorite) and hopefully they will make it up on the blog soon :)




This weeks menu:
Monday: Slow Cooker Mushroom chicken w/ salad and rolls
Tuesday:  Chili on Rice
Wednesday: BBQ Chicken w/ cornbread
Thursday:  Teryaki Salmon on rice with Asian Stirfry
Sunday:  Pork Roast w/ mashed potatoes and rolls

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Eliminate, Organize and Rejuvenate

Lately, I have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed by clutter.  My school and work schedules are extremely random and demanding, but I've really noticed that my living space, aka bedroom is way too cluttered.  So, I followed my mother's advice:  put away 20 things, throw away 20 things, and donate 20 things.  I got started with that, and ended up throwing away like 200 things and the DI is getting a ton of donations from me and my closet :)
As you can see, this room is tiny. (or if you were a realitor, you could call it "cozy and charming")
I tried to utilize the hidden space with tubs and totes.  

This is my biggest problem area.  I tried to put the stuff that I use everyday in a easy access that is contained.  e.g. the staking drawers, the tasseled box for my jewelry, my purse, my backpack, and my art supplies.

This is a favorite Christmas gift!  I think it was supposed to be a makeup box, but it is perfect for separating out my jewelry while keeping it contained!  It's been working beautifully!

Another favorite gift:  my letter box.  I write a TON of letters, and they usually go everywhere and I loose important letters and that frustrates me.  I put everything that I use in here as well as favorite letters from the past.  

Last of all, the space next to my bed now has everything that I need.  

I challenge you all to de-clutter your lives too!  It's already been a great, liberating experience and helped me feel more in control of my life.  Good luck!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Happy New Year!!!

As I hope you are all aware, we have a new year on our hands.  With that we are getting to choose how we spend our energy and time.  I'm super stoked for my new classes (drawing, 2D design, history of interior design, pattern making, and Book of Mormon)!  I think that this semester is will be extraordinary!
Speaking of extraordinary...I actually accomplished one project over the break!  The annual Bûche de Noël:)  It is a family tradition and fight that does take about 2 hours, but it is completely worth it!  I look forward to this amazing experience all year long!  Hopefully I can get the recipe up in the next few days!
Bûche de Noël

My Dad and I


p.s. A new thing for the year is a new hairstyle!!!
pictures to come :)