cupcake.

This Chocolate cake recipe is seriously the best, for being so basic in ingredients.

Hand-me-down Chocolate cake

2 cups Flour

1 1/4 tsp. Baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

3/4 cups Cocoa ( I am almost always adding just a bit more than this because I like lots of chocolate :)

1 3/4 cups Sugar

Mix these thoroughly then add-

2 eggs

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1 1/3 cups Water

3/4 cup Oil

Mix very well. You can't really over mix it.

Pour into greased whateversize pan you like. Bake a 350 Fahrenheit, 35 to 40 minutes for 13x9 inch pan. 15-20 minutes for cupcakes.

I like using the glossy chocolate frosting from my Betty Crocker cookbook but mint or most any flavor works pretty well.

Happy day! :)

Lucas.

I do love my job.

He is pretty much cute.

and...

Pretty sweet.

And such a great piano player.

He even knows how to pose for the camera excellently.
Which that is pretty great for me.

Wouldn't you say?

Pretty much so.

:)

Piper is getting alot of attention these days....

And I am pretty sure He* is loving it.

* yea, Before I said he was a her... well. he is actually a him.

Sugar snaps...

Delicious and Nutritious, Crisp and Sweet.
Sugar Snaps make me want to eat.
Them.

I guess I am not really a poet. So maybe, Peggy you should poem-ize for us.
Please. :)

Toffee-nut Bars.

The recipe is from my Betty Crocker 1950's cookbook,

Which Martha has one almost identical, She actually made it first and called me and told me to try it. page 205. And told me to use all butter, not half shortening and half butter.

It of course, Made all the difference.

Also my reasoning for doing this is from Pei-Lin.
She lives and breathes wonderful recipes and food photos. :)
and she happens to be living with us for a month before she heads back to Malaysia.

So it is rubbing off on me :) I don't mind though.

Bottom Layer :
one stick butter...

...Mixed thoroughly with one half cup Brown sugar.

This is not thoroughly.

This is.


Stir in one cup of sifted Gold Medal flour.
Actually, It doesn't matter, I didn't sift my flour, And it wasn't Gold Medal.
It did start with a G though.



And even though the recipe doesn't call for it, Add a little bit of salt.
It makes good things better. :)


Press and flatten into a 13 x 9" pan (it is very hard, but it is achievable)


Bake 10 min. At 350 Degrees Fahrenheit

~

Topping:

Take 2 eggs. and crack them in a bowl, and beat well.



Stir in One cup Brown sugar and one teaspoon Vanilla.



And here I had a bit of a Mix-up, It says to add Two tbsp. Flour.
and for some reason I saw Two CUPS flour. not a good deal.

* This is NOT how it is supposed to look! *

*Wrong!*
So I Had to make the topping all over. and Then Make some sort of weird bars.
There is still some left if you want some :) yup. kinda funny.

SO yes. Stir in 2 Tablespoons flour, 1 tsp. Baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Mix in 1 cup Moist shredded Coconut and 1 cup chopped nuts.
It calls for almonds but I used finely diced Walnuts.


Spread over bottom layer.


and Bake for 25 Min.
at 350 Fahrenheit.


And then partake in some awfully delicious Bars.

Yep. they're good.
Thanks Martha for the recipe :)

And here it is. In a easier to follow way.

Toffee-Nut Bars.

Bottom Layer :

1/2 cup Butter

1/2 cup Brown sugar

1 cup Flour

Bake in 13 x 9" pan for 10 min at 350.

Topping:

2 eggs

1 cup Brown sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

* Mix well*

2 TBSP flour

1 tsp Baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

* mix it up*

1 cup moist shredded coconut

1 cup finely diced walnuts.

Spread over botton layer and bake for 25 min. at 350.

cool slightly.... then cut into bars.

Amount: about 2 1/2 doz. 1x3" bars.

A new member of our (animal) family.

Meet Piper!
The Striped Piper to be exact...
You've heard the story about the Pied Piper, right?
Well we hope little Miss Piper will get rid of our mice, not quite in the same way as the
Pied Piper, but hopefully with the same results. Oh wait, We want to keep the children too.
So we will feed you for pay, OK Piper?

She is very sweet and kinda mischievous, Which is a must for all kitties.
She pretends to dislike Buster, But she kinda forgot to stop purring.

We got her because Pip, our previous cat, Ran away.
Here he is looking all magnificent.

What a hunter! :)

*edit* She likes Buster for real now.