Happy Birthday Albert!

Could you guess what this cake was by the pictures above? This past weekend I made an elmo cake for a little guy's second birthday. From what his mother tells me he is "such a boy". They had his party at the park where he was able to run around, get dirty, and eat elmo cake of course. I hope you had a great birthday Albert!

I really do make these cakes. I never had proof until now.

This post would not be possible if it weren't for a loving, supportive boyfriend, an awesome friend who took these pictures (Christina Dodson) and the people who trust me with their special moments, in this case Rebecca Lowe. So I just wanted to say thank you to all of you!

Tuxedo Brownie Cups

I first learned to make these at a Pampered Chef show a few years ago. They are very simple and a big hit. I made these this weekend for a friend's husband's birthday party, by request. If you would like to learn how to make these contact me to host a Pampered Chef show and these could be your featured recipe!

Brownies are baked in a mini muffin pan, Pampered Chef's mini muffin pan are the only ones that work. Just kidding ;) but its my job to market them. Once the brownies are done and slightly cooled mash a tart shaper down in the middle.

Horrible marketing: my Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator cracked. The good thing? Pampered Chef replaced it without any charge to me.

Just look how cute! And we are off to the party!!!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

This was my first experience ever with yeast. Typically if a recipe called for it I would say, "yeah, right" and move on to something else. I just want to say I loved baking with yeast, the dough was so fluffy and warm and just lovely. This recipe did take me about 3 hours from start to finish but it was well worth the time. I was able to share these wonders with my dad on Father's Day and also with Anthony's grandfather who loves cinnamon and is quite the dad and granddad. If you have never tried your hands at homemade cinnamon rolls, I suggest you do so.

The recipe said to place the dough in a warm area for an hour. It was 95 degrees outside so I placed my dough in the shade on my deck.

After an hour I rolled out the dough and spread melted butter on top then sprinkled cinnamon and sugar.

Don't laugh....ok....you can laugh. No matter how hard I tried I could not get the pretty perfect cinnamon/dough/cinnamon/dough look. The warm dough plus warm butter did not make for a solid log to cut in perfect circles.

But the end results was indescribable. To taste these babies right out of the oven, they just melt in your mouth and you need to leave the house to refrain from eating the whole pan. I won't be making them anytime soon, I just don't think my jeans can handle it.

Recipe found here. BTW...my icing is a different color because my family doesn't like coffee.

Malted Chocolate Chip Cookies

Recently I decided this blog would not only be a display of beautiful creations but simple baked goods and even yummy dinners as well. I have become a huge fan of Ree Drummond after a suggestion on amazon to buy her cookbook. Her cookbook is amazing and so is her website, you should check it out. The malted chocolate chip cookies are one of her many fabulous recipes. I am truly inspired by this woman who home schools her children, cooks, bakes, does photography and helps run a ranch. (All of which I hope to do one day, minus the ranch part, maybe I could maintain a garden instead?) I love how each recipe includes step by step photos so that is my new plan in baking and cooking. I do not have the best camera but purchasing a nicer newer camera is not my priority at the moment so these photos will have to do.

Who doesn't love cookie dough?

I love the way cookies bake on a stone.

Ta Da! My dad's birthday is today (these cookies were made Sunday evening) but I always make the first pan of cookies without chocolate chips because that is the way my dad and I prefer them. So Happy Birthday Dad and Happy Fathers Day this coming weekend. I hope you are still enjoying the flat screen plasma t.v. that was/is your Christmas, birthday, Father's Day (mom's birthday and Mother's Day) present for the next few years.