Custom Dessert: Olivia's Delightfully Decandant Chocolatey Dessert Surprise!

Sometimes at parties people make a custom cocktail for the occasion. I decided to make a custom dessert for my birthday dinner- something that looks & feels like "Olivia".

Behold the process by which the custom dessert of Olivia was born!

1) Make ghetto generic brand dark chocolate brownie mix & cut up and add Andes chocolate mints (must be Andes).

2) Put a large cut of brownie at the bottom of the bowl, then add chocolate ice cream- Two big ol' scoops! Then top multi-colored sprinkles because sprinkles make everything in life better.

3) Then I added an extra Andes mint and a faux Samoa cookie (made by Kebbler).

4) Then, of course, a gold flag & a pretty pink umbrella.

5) And TA-DA!

Also in Portland I found these OLIVIA candles & couldn't pass them up.

Sunday Family- March 17

 
Happy St. Patrick's Day to Some of my Favorite People!

We had a fun day- Lucky Charms and green milk for breakfast & before we went to church we made a little trap to catch a leprechaun. We caught one but he escaped- the kids LOVED it! And of course we all dressed in green.The we capped the night with a fantastic dinner.

Though with fantastic dinners come WAY TOO MANY dishes. They are all sitting in the sink &, while I will regret this tomorrow, they are going to stay there until then. But I decorated the table and made cute drinks- Sprite with green juice ice cubes and rainbow sprinkles on the rim. 

This upcoming week we have Sydney's birthday. She is off the hook excited and we have some fun plans. She's a little hard to get to pick what she wants for her birthday or what she wants to do for her birthday because she isn't obsessed or really into anything- she's obsessed and really into EVERYTHING. So, check back to see her birthday party- as always, it's gonna be a 7 year old rager!

Hope everyone had a great day! 

P.S. Past St. Patricks Day Celebration: 2008, 2011, & 2012

Sunday Family- February 4th

Welp, it's officially February folks! 

And, you guys, I have yet to get my house all cleaned out and organized (my goal for this month). In my defense, it really was a cluttered disaster. But let us not dwell on the things I do badly (positive affirmations: also a New Years goal) but instead focus on the things I do well. For example this homemade granola.

1) Mix dry ingredients: 3 1/2 cup oats, 1 cup coconut, 2 1/2 nuts & seeds finely chopped, 2 tsp cinnomin, 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger, & 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg. On low heat mix 6 TB butter & 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup maple syrup, & 2 tsp vanilla. Mix them together.

2) Spread over lined pan & cook on 325 degrees for 15 minutes. 

3) Cool & Enjoy! Our favorite way is on a "Breakfast Sunday" which consists of cut up fresh strawberries and bananas (or whatever you'd like) topped with Greek Yogurt (Greek Gods Honey & Vanilla yogurt is so good it tastes like ice cream!). Then sprinkle the granola on & if you're really going wild spread a little raw honey on top.  Died. And. Gone. To. Heaven. 

So, this next month my goal is to write- blog & novel so get ready for some posts people. I know, you've all (all 5 of you) have been on pins and needles so look forward to more frequent posts! I've missed you, friends!

What's on your docket for  February? 
Fun Valentine's plans? 
We have Lincoln's birthday and then one week later our Lincoln's birthday! I call that kismet!

RECIPE: Ridiculously Easy Neopolition Cupcakes

I made these for Scott's church class of 8 & 9 year olds & as I was walking them down the hall everyone stopped, "Oh wow, can I have one?" & "Those look amazing!"

"Oh, I know, I know. Slaved away all morning." I said fanning myself. Okay, I didn't really say that. But these are as easy as LITERALLY 1, 2, 3.

Ingredients:

1. Make them according to package directions. It's an awesome recipe for kiddos to help with.

2. Layer them with brownies on bottom, strawberry cake on top, until 2/3 -ish full. Then bake- at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.

3. Frost them & then ta-da!

Perhaps my easiest, "easy recipe" yet.

RECIPE: Peach Blueberry Crumble

Ah, peach season, how I love thee. And since it's on the cusp of summer/fall I wanted to make something not "too fall-ish" & combined peaches & blueberries. I gotta say it's a stupendous combination that I will be utilizing again in the near future!

FOR THE TOPPING
1 cup brown sugar
2 TB sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick cold butter, cut into chunks

(NOTE: The recipe didn't call for oats but I love oats in anything & everything so I just kind of sprinkled them in the topping mixture too)

FOR THE FILLING
4-5 ripe peaches, chopped
1 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray.

For topping: In a large bowl, combine the brown sugar, sugar, flour, cinnamon, & salt. Mix the cold butter into the mixture by hand, squeezing the pieces in to mix it. Set to the side.

For the filling: In one bowl, combine the brown sugar, sugar, flour, & lemon zest until evenly mixed. Stir in the lemon juice until all of the ingredients are wet & it looks like paste.

Put the peaches & blueberries in a bowl then add the brown sugar mixture to the fruit. Stir until evenly coated. Put the fruit mix into the pan, then sprinkle on the topping over the top.

Bake for 40 minutes, until the topping is browned & the juices are bubbling. Allow to cool for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

RECIPE: Carmelitas Bars

My lovely friend & amazing cook, Meagan, turned me onto these decadent little treats &, you guys... they are to die for.

And they are terrible for you, which of course means they are the best things on the planet.

I made them last night & nibbled at them all night, all morning, and now that it's mid-afternoon let's not talk about how few are left.

Basically what I'm saying is go make & enjoy them.
Right.
Now.

INGREDIENTS:
32 caramel square candies
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup melter butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 tsp baking soda
6 oz semisweet chocolate chips

1. Combine caramels & cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until completely smooth; set aside.

2. In a separate bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, & baking soda.

3. Pat half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8x8" pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

4. Remove pan from oven & sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Pour caramel mixture over chocolate chips. Crumble remaining oatmeal mixture over caramel. Return to oven and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until the edges are lightly browned.

5. Remove from oven & cool completely before cutting.

Seriously, you guys, they are a-freakin'-mazing!

HOW TO: Prepare & Eat an Artichoke

There are lots of things that attracted me to Scott when we were dating (I mean, just look at the handsome fellow) but his love of food is one of them.

Today we had artichokes for an after dinner treat. And, yum oh yum! You heard it folks, WHOLE artichokes is a Carter favorite. Scott grew up dipping his in straight mayo. It's not terrible or anything but it doesn't compare to my families tradition of dipping our artichokes in butter with a little dill (here are a couple other tasty options for dipping sauces that I will be trying next time here & here).

But first & foremost, friends, you have to learn how to prepare & eat whole artichokes. Here I am to save the day!

HOW TO PREPARE:
1. Cut off about an inch of the end and cut off the top of some of the more spikey tips (usually I don't do this & haven't noticed any difference. I guess it depends on how spikey the tips are).

2. Put them in a big saucepan in a couple inches of water (basically for steaming) Cover with a lid & boil for 30 min. It doesn't matter if they are stem down or up or on their side (I'm pretty sure I always just throw mine in so they lay on their sides).

3. Pull them out and let the water drain out of them for a bit. Then serve.

HOW TO EAT:
1. To eat you pull off one of the outermost petals. Dip the base of the petal into your favorite sauce.

2. Pull the petal through your slightly clenched teeth to remove the soft, tender, & tasty flesh at the bottom of the petal. Discard remainder.

3. Keep going around the artichoke eating until all petals have been removed (the ones in the very middle are lame & have no "meat" on them so just pull them off & toss). Then you will run into the fuzzy choke guarding the heart.

4. You remove it by scooping out the fuzziess it out with a spoon.

5. Now eat the heart- the best part & worth all the work- just dip, bite, & enjoy!

It's an awesome food to have when you're slowly eating & chatting. Or as a snack. Or as something different or pretty to serve for a dinner party. Or to eating while watching a movie.

Or, you know, basically anytime. Anywhere.


P.S. Any other artichoke eaters out there? Any other advice for first time tasters?