My chocolate lover ordered a chocolate chip cookie cake....with chocolate Hershey bars!
Thank you so much Julie for inviting us over for such a nice evening. Hope everyone enjoyed the cups!
with some...
15 minute Chicken Chili
(adapted from USA Weekend)
10 ounces Rotisserie Chicken from Costco, pulled apart
1 1/2 Tbs. chili powder
1 1/2 Tbs. Cumin
2 14.5-ounce cans petite diced tomatoes
15 ounce can black beans
4.5 ounce can of green chilies (I only used half the can)
1 cup frozen corn
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1/4 cup sour cream
3 tbs. cilantro
This chili is awesome. It's so easy, just through everything in a pot. At the very end, which I don't have pictured, I added the sour cream and cilantro. Then I added more sour cream to my bowl. I love sour cream, can you tell?
I found the recipe in USA weekend...in 2004. I was like 18 when I cut it out. I've made this recipe a dozen times, but haven't made it in years, I've been going through old recipes making two piles:
-"I will make" pile
-"I might make, but I probably won't, so I'm throwing it away" pile
Not sure about you, but I am NOT a hoarder of any kind, except for recipes. I have so many, it's time to start pitching! I know my blog is mainly to show my baking products, but I also like to share recipes and talk about my family and kids! Hope you don't mind an occasional chili recipe on a bakery blog! Have a great weekend!
I really thought these cupcakes would look good with a bright green grassy background, so I took them outside, laid in the grass and took some photos. Little did I know the guys next door that were putting on a new roof for my neighbors happened to notice what I as up to, I'm pretty sure they thought I had a lose screw. I just busted out laughing. In the blogging world, it's completely acceptable to stage cupcakes or food items for a great shot. The roofers didn't seem like blog readers...they may have reported me to the crazy people society.
With that being said, Mike I hope your customers at Book Bums enjoyed these orange cream cups, who really cares what people think of you anyway, right?!
Our good friend Dave went through a year long process to become Catholic. He still allowed us to come celebrate with him, even though I accidentally fed my kids Skyline Chili on Good Friday. We went to their house for a wonderful lasagna dinner and I brought these two desserts...raspberry red velvet cupcakes and a chocolate chip cookie cake. After dinner we went to the 3 hour Easter Vigil to watch Dave receive his Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist. We are so proud of everything Dave and Nicole have accomplished together and value their friendship. See more about their family here.
I wanted to share a recipe with you that I LOVE and made this weekend for Easter Day. We went to my mother-in-law's house for Easter Brunch and I made "ooey gooey cake". It was a dessert that I first tried at a picnic years ago, made by a friend named Cindy. I thought it was so good, I asked her for the recipe. I forgot to take a picture, but here is the recipe, it reminds us of the double butter coffee cake you can purchase at Graeter's.
Ooey Gooey Coffee Cake (Cindy's)
Cake:
1 18 1/4-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 egg
8 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 16-ounce box powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 350. Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with a mixer. Pat down into a 9 x 13 lightly greased pan using wax paper to press it down. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth, add the eggs, vanilla and butter. Mix. Finally add the powdered sugar and mix again. Spread over cake and bake for 40-50 minutes, center should still be a little gooey!
I also made Baked Macaroni and Cheese for my mom's house later that evening. The recipe is already on my blog, check it out here!
If you are a blog follower, you know Kelly. She is one of my forever friends. Basically she is the friend anyone would love to have. I'm thankful she moved back to Cincinnati a few years ago. Glad to hear the bursts were a hit! Thanks for your constant support of my business and your amazing friendship!
Kristina ordered raspberry red velvet cupcakes for her 6 month anniversary. She was so sweet to want to surprise Stephen...he gave up desserts for Lent! She said they all enjoyed these on Easter Day! Thanks so much Kristina!
Check out Kristina's Wedding Cake here!
'Spring Break Park Tour' in Cincinnati
MONDAY - Cincinnati Zoo
We went to the Cincinnati Zoo with Grandma Nancy, Aunt Erin and my niece Addison. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time. We managed to see every animal available for viewing... The positive side of not travelling during spring break is being able to enjoy all that Cincinnati has to offer, without feeling a time crunch. There are so many different phases of motherhood. Before John and Kate started school & organized activities, my days were an empty slate quickly filled with my mom's club activities such as zoo days, gym visits, indoor pool fun, museum adventures and park trips by the dozen. Now my days are filled with school schedules, paperwork, homework, sports, carpools and baking. Both phases were busy, but the difference is back then *I* determined what to do each day. *I* filled the schedule, as opposed to now schedules are dictated by teachers, coaches and other extracurricular/activity leaders. Being able to enjoy a day at the zoo without sports, school or homework is pretty nice! The kids didn't even fight until we got into the car to ride home...impressive.
TUESDAY- Fernbank Park/Picnic Lunch
We had the pleasure of meeting Grandma Rita at Fernbank Park on Tuesday. If you're a blog follower you probably already know that both my husband and I grew up in Delhi, a short distance from where my inlaws now live, in Cleves. They are 10 minutes from this beautiful park located on River Road. It's well maintained, has river views, a large playground, picnic areas, walking trails, and large open fields for frisbee play or football. We decided on a picnic lunch, but have enjoyed The Cabana on the River many times. It's another great place!
WEDNESDAY- Fort Liberty Park 
This is another one of my favorite parks! It's so beautiful with a huge play equipment area and a large grassy area for football games or soccer. Kate had so much fun with her friend Haley and John played football with his friend Aleks. I got this photo from their website, the day we were there it was so crowded with tons of kids running around having a blast. The weather was gorgeous!!
THURSDAY - Grocery/Party Prep
This is how I felt all day as we grocery shopped and prepared for John's friends to arrive. I love having people over, however trying to get everything done around the house with John asking me every other minute, "When are they going to be here? Why to I have to put my clothes away before they come? We don't need to go to the grocery. Why are you vacuuming? Can they come over now? Can I have some pop now? Can I open this popcorn? Are you going to let us stay up all night? Why aren't they here yet? Can I call them? I don't want to set the table." I know my child, he gets anxious and very excited, but I do not have a party planning service and I was outside all week with the kids, so stuff needed to happen to pull off this party. I thought I was going to lose my mind, but we got everything done and the party was a hit!
Sleepover Party
The boys had a great time, I can honestly say I was so impressed by the manners, respect and obedience they all showed. It was a great group and we had a lot of fun! John sure does know how to pick good friends!
FRIDAY - Donut Making with the Boys/ Skyline/Sharon Woods Indoor Park/Graeter's
See my next post for donut making here! 
Whoops. That's about all I can say when I realized it was Good Friday halfway through our Skyline lunch. I knew it was Easter Weekend, but I just was a little sleep deprived and exhausted from constant entertainment all week long. I forgot. I'm pretty sure God forgives the kids, good thing I regularly eat beans and rice at Skyline!
Sharon woods is another one of our favorite parks. It is a huge place with so much to do, you can read about it here.
If you aren't from Cincinnati, this is another one of our favorites. It was on the "must visit" list for spring break. Staying in Cincinnati isn't so bad, we had a great time, but I am so thankful now to be back on my normal schedule, all children over the age of 6 should be in school. I've been asked so many times why I don't homeschool, since I was a teacher and all, ARE YOU KIDDING????? I love my kids, but school aged children are a wonderful thing to have! I think it's natural to want a break, having children is a 24/7 hour job and "refreshing time" is essential!
