Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Pray for Luke

Luke Martens is a lively 3 1/2 year old. At birth he was diagnosed with an extremely rare disorder called Mosaic Trisomy 22.


Jody from Mommy Moment has put together an auction to raise funds. We really need YOUR help to make this a success!

The money raised will first be used to get the medical tests done (about $700), if we raise more we would love to be able to bless the Martens family with funds to get some of the things she mentioned such as physio equipment and ASL training.

Items at the auction are:
  • Free registration at the "I am Unique!" online teen girls Bible Study that starts Fall 2010. This is valued at $30.00
  • A Mark Slither and Slouch bag (in black) and a Mark Citrus Bloom Fragrance Mist. This is valued at $48.00
  • A $25.00 gift certificate to KIOKKO's collection of chic baby accessories.
  • A beautiful crocheted hat for newborns-three months from MOMMAFO. This is valued at $12.00
  • An 8x10 (unmarked) print from Pominville Photography. This is valued at $25.00
  • An 8x10 (unmarked) print of your choice from NuggleMe Photography. This is valued at $25.00
  • A toy from Organic Baby Toys by Dandelion, which is being donated from Nils-Online. This is valued at $40.00
  • A wooden jumper giraffe from Nils-Online. This is valued at $18.95
  • A lovely handmade incense holder (from Germany) from Nils-Online. This is valued at $110.00
  • An Imaginators Membership for 1 year (this is only available to NYC and Hoboken area in the USA, which is being donated by Creative Sitters. This is valued at $225.00
  • Label Out Loud Essentials Combo Pack by Mabel Labels. This is valued at $48.00
  • A $25.00 gift certificate to Discovery Toys (this is only available to Canada), which is being donated by Angela Orfei.
  • Alphabet Crafts ebook from No Time For Flash Cards. This is valued at $8.00


These are some great items so check out the details . If you're unable to participate in the auction, they also have a Donate Now button on the side bar.



Wordless Wednesday - Caught Red Handed!!



Thursday, April 22, 2010

Brownies

So..husband's gone away on business...kids are in bed..feelin kinda bored..feelin kinda hungry.. feelin kinda like BROWNIES!!!  Except I don't make them often so I don't have an old standby AMAZING recipe.  I have a can of cocoa and a box of Bakers unsweetened chocolate squares...looked up a few recipes on the net..not really impressed.  So I pulled out the box of Baker's chocolate and ALAS there is a recipe for brownies right on the box...JACKPOT! 

BAKER'S ONE BOWL BROWNIES

4 squares Baker's Unsweetened Chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup butter
2 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans (optional)

1. LIGHTLY grease a 13x9 inch baking pan.
2. MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in a large microwaveable bowl on MEDIUM 2 minutes or until melted.
3. STIR sugar into chocolate until well blended; mix in eggs and vanilla.
4. STIR in flour and nuts; spread in pan.
5. BAKE in preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30-35 minutes or until done.  DO NOT OVERBAKE.  Cool completely.  Makes 24 brownies.

(source: Box of Baker's unsweetened chocolate)

NOTE: because I am such a chocolate/peanut butter fanatic, I happened to have some chopped peanuts on hand so used those in place of the pecans  AND I iced with a peanut butter icing.

PEANUT BUTTER ICING

1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2 tbsp soft butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream

1.  Cream together the peanut butter, butter and vanilla.  Blend in icing sugar.  Stir in cream until you get a nice spreading consistency, using more if necessary.
(source: Rebar modern food cookbook)

TASTE TEST:  Yum...crispy on outside, moist and chewy on inside.  Peanut butter frosting was good too, except I spread it on while brownies were still warm..hence the melted icing look in the picture:)  Oh well...I never said I was a professional.

My Beautiful Boys

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Reeses Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake!

(picture courtesy of http://www.amazingmoms.com/)



I am a Chocolate Peanut Butter fanatic and I just found this divine looking Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday cake recipe on the Amazing Moms website. Check it out!
 
Reeses Chocolate Peanut Butter Birthday Cake