Halloween 2010

What is a Halloween party without a butterfly??

This year was a fun year with lots of good times. I had a Halloween party with my class. One of my parents organized the party and we had a blast. Eating lots of doughnuts. The kids loved that I was able to play the game with them and have some fun.



For school I was dressed up like a princess. I got to have parent teacher conferences that night in my old bridesmaid dress. Fun times.

The next night I went out dancing with Rachel and had a fun time flashing back to the 80's. Yes I have that much make up on. I mean what is the 80's without lots of makeup, jewelry, and big hair.



Last of all we had a big party up Hobble Creek Canyon on Saturday night. It was all the singles from around our area. Us girls had a blast, with lots of wings between us. Suzanne, Mark, Rachel, Krista, Ben, Mike, (Sara was there for the photo and party too), and I all drove up and had lot of fun dancing. After we had the mandatory dinner at IHOP and then went to Ben & Mike's house to watch a movie. I was impressed that I was able to stay awake through the whole movie. Suzanne promptly fell asleep on the couch and Mike went to bed... So finally I got to see Gone in 60 seconds.



This year was a little different then last year, but I am so glad for my amazing friends who are always there for me and help me have so much fun.

Love to you all xx

Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies in the Middle of the Night!!!

I woke up this morning at 12:30am and couldn't get back to sleep. What an annoying occurrence. So while I was counting sheep backwards, trying to roll my eyes back into my head, and pleading to get some sleep. I thought of ideas that would use the pumpkin I had in the fridge. I started looking online for different ideas. There are so many fabulous recipes, in fact I found a new one that I want to do next time I make a roast. I had to settle on an old time favourite, well old time since I have moved to America. Choice was made, all the ingredients were put out on the counter and I tried to get back to sleep.

This morning I got up and made the wonderful pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Amazingly yum if I do say so myself. Also so easy. I had it made and cooked in 20 minutes and a dishwasher unloaded and loaded too. I took a bunch to work for Rex and shared with a few other people too.

For those in the pumpkin mood here is the recipe. 1 packets of spice cake mix, 1 small tin of pumpkin, chocolate chips. Mix all together and then bake for 13 minutes in a 350F oven. So good and so quick. If you don't have spice cake mix you can use regular cake mix and then add fabulous pumpkin spices. Good luck with the cooking.

The Soon to be World Famous - Candice's Pumpkin Roll

Tonight was the annual Pumpkin night at Suzanne and Kim's house. I wanted to try something that I had not created before, so the crazy online search for recipes began. I found trifle, cookies, and so many other recipes it was hard to decide. I opted for a pumpkin roll. For those Aussies, this is a Swiss roll, but with a pumpkin based cake and a cream cheese icing filling. It took me total about 20 minutes to make this divine dish. I didn't take a photo, but I am sure that I will make it before the end of the month again :)

It was delish.... So if you are interested I am putting the recipe up. Seriously this was one of the easiest and yummiest desserts I have made in a long time. I found it on allrecipes.com

When I bought it to Suzanne's, Daryl asked me if this was my world famous pumpkin roll? After I tasted it, I decided that it would become a tradition and world famous too.

Enjoy xx

Granny Kat's Pumpkin Roll
Prep Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 15 Min
Ready In: 55 Min
Original Recipe Yield 10 servings

Ingredients
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch jelly roll pan or cookie sheet.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Stir in pumpkin puree, eggs, and lemon juice. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Spread the mixture evenly.
3. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15 minutes.
4. Lay a damp linen towel on the counter, sprinkle it with confectioner's sugar, and turn the cake onto the towel. Carefully roll the towel up (lengthwise) with the cake in it. Place the cake-in-towel on a cooling rack and let it cool for 20 minutes.
5. Make the icing: In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and sugar with a wooden spoon or electric mixer.
6. When the cake has cooled 20 minutes, unroll it and spread icing onto it. Immediately re-roll (not in the towel this time), and wrap it with plastic wrap. Keep the cake refrigerated or freeze it for up to 2 weeks in aluminum foil. Cut the cake in slices just before serving.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 316 | Total Fat: 14.1g | Cholesterol: 100mg

The Laser Saga continues...

"Candice what is that lady talking about?" Isis asked me this morning. I proceeded to tell him about how Mummy and Candice were talking to the lady about getting some laser hair removal done. "You mean they are going to shot you with a hand laser all over?"
Isis is a very visual child and was extremely excited by this prospect. After all was said and done I am getting my arms lasered and my Mo... I don't have much of a mo, but seriously, I am so excited about them arms. Finally!!

What real Americans are like!!

What a place the state fair can be!! Yes I went there this weekend, and I was able to take Uncle Neil and Auntie Martha with me. There were people eating whole turkey legs, chocolate dipped bacon, corn dogs, funnel cakes, funeral arrangements, animals, arts & crafts, pig racing, auctioning animals, Latino culture fest, and so much more that words can not describe. So in order to make it more memorable, I am going to do a picture post. Enjoy the slide show of this wonderful tribute to American culture. Just to help with the visuals, Uncle Neil ran up to several of these people and asked if we could take photos, just so we could have picture evidence. He also grabbed my arm at one point and said this is how he pictured America. So glad they both could experience this =)

Why all the meetings??

This week has been a week of meetings...
Sometimes I feel like school is like church... as many meetings as we can possibly call. I have learned about diabetes, Praxis tests, observations, collaboration, and a million other things. I am sitting at home and wondering where this week went. Then I realise that most of it was spent in meetings. I have many more to come, which gives me a lot to be looking forward to. On this flip side I have been having a great week of teaching at school. The kids have been great and we have been working hard to get some great things happening. I also got a great order of books and will be getting some more in a week. I love books and they make me happy. I also have a fab night planned tomorrow for Marj's birthday. Can not wait!

Cooking Bearnaise Sauce

This afternoon I went and spent some more time with Nicky and the twins. I love being there. It's great to catch up with Nicky and get some baby loving. The boys were cute today. While we were there, Nicky and I were talking about cooking and what we have been cooking. So I decided to cook again. I cooked yummy chicken, friend onions, and friend potatoes. I put the onions on top of the chicken, topped with avocado, and then a yummy Bearnaise sauce. I have to say it was rather amazing. The sauce has a nice lemon tang to it. I don't have an exact recipe, but it goes something like this. Egg Yolks, water, lemon juice, butter, salt, and pepper. Put all the ingredients in a double boiler, except for the butter. Stir with a whisk and then add the butter slowly until the sauce thickens. Enjoy!