Cake Batter Explosion

 One of my favorite indulgences in life is "batter" in any form, Cake Batter Ice Cream, Brownie batter, Cookie Batter & Cake Batter, Oh My! When I was a kid and still today the best part is licking the bowl. Ok, so I don’t mean I actually “lick” the bowl but I for sure lick the spoon until it appears clean, right? Don't you? As a kiddo "licking the bowl" meant actually using my fingers to eat all that scrumptious batter that was left over. My favorite is and always has been the vanilla cake batter. You will think you died and went to Cake Batter Heaven when you eat this yummy dessert!

Cake Batter Explosion

1 box yellow cake mix

1/4 cup oil

1 egg

 1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles

1/2 cup white chocolate chips 

Source: Trial and Error one day when I was bored & craving cake batter :)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. First combine the cake mix, oil, egg and milk together until smooth. Then mix in the rainbow sprinkles and white chocolate chips. Bake for 20 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the middle is a bit gooey. Let it cool for 20 min, cut and Enjoy this delishiness!

Heavenly Sticky Buns

Are you ready for the Most Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls ever?

I saw these on Barefoot Contessa this Fall and knew I had to make them right away! These taste exactly the way I think a cinnamon roll should taste, and the texture is very light, flaky and airy. I first made them when my family headed up to G'burg this fall for the Alabama/Tennessee game. They were the perfect (yummy, buttery goodness) snack on the go! I made them again this Christmas and everyone loved them so I'm finally getting around to sharing the recipe. As Ina says, "How Easy Is That?"

12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

1/2 cup pecans, chopped in very large pieces

1 package (17.3-ounces/ 2-sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted

For the filling:

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed

3 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup raisins (I don't put raisins in mine)

Source: Barefoot Contessa

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place a 12-cup standard muffin tin on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the 12 tablespoons butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar. Place 1 rounded tablespoon of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups. Distribute the pecans evenly among the 12 muffin cups on top of the butter and sugar mixture.

Lightly flour a wooden board. Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry with the folds going left to right. Brush the whole sheet with the melted butter. Leaving a 1-inch border on the puff pastry, sprinkle each sheet with 1/3 cup of the brown sugar &1 1/2 teaspoons of the cinnamon. Starting with the end nearest you, roll the pastry up snugly like a jelly roll around the filling, finishing the roll with the seam side down. Trim the ends of the roll about 1/2-inch and discard. Slice the roll in 6 equal pieces, each about 1 1/2 inches wide. Place each piece, spiral side up, in 6 of the muffin cups. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry to make 12 sticky buns.

Bake for 30 minutes, until the sticky buns are golden to dark brown on top and firm to the touch. Allow to cool for 5 minutes only, invert the buns onto the parchment paper (ease the filling and pecans out onto the buns with a spoon) and cool completely.

RED VELVET WAFFLES

Red Velvet Waffles w/Sweet Cream Cheese & Butter Icing

Yes, you understood correctly Red Velvet Waffles.
TO. DIE. FOR.

So, I've been dying to recreate the Red Velvet Waffles that Paul and I experienced at the Donut Hole. Let me start by saying this is one of the yummiest places in Destin and if you haven't tried it you need to make a stop next time you're headed to The Panhandle.
On Monday morning we found ourselves "iced" in so, what better a way to start your day than with something sweet!

For starters, I found one of my fav waffle recipes and sweetened it up to indulge in this yummy, sugary, delishiness!!!




Red Velvet Waffles:


Makes approx. 5 Belgian Waffles


2 cups all purpose flour
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/3 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoons salt
½ Stick of butter (melt then allow to cool)
2 cups buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons red food color


First spray your waffle iron w/cooking spray and preheat. Combine the flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. In another bowl combine the butter, buttermilk, eggs, vanilla extract & red food color. Once this is all mixed add the flour mixture to the wet mixture slowly. You can use a whisk or hand mixer to combine.


Cook waffles for about 4-5 mins or until they are to your level of crispiness.


Sweet Cream Cheese & Butter Icing: I really didn't measure anything out so combine approx. 1/2 stick of butter (softened), 1/4 cup of cream cheese (softened). Then mix in powdered sugar to your liking! Top waffles with the mixture and Voila!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy 28th Birthday to Me!!! Paul asked me what I wanted for my b'day and I got EXACTLY what I wanted! Hehe! For some of you this might not mean anything but I was stoked to get out on the beach this time of year and relax with my cute husband. As you can tell below we have a lot of fun together, that is when he's not working hard!

Paul giving us his "chin down" pose

I'm sure I had just told my photographer (aka my mom) how she couldn't work the camera. :) Looks like she figured it out pretty quickly!

Lots of love from P!

Laughing at P b/c he HATES this so bad!

I'm sure he was reminding me how much fun he was having.

Destin, FL 2011

Bear hugs are the best!

About the time he called me a "FEATHER" BAHAHAHA!

Feather attempt # 2

Feather attempt #3

Feathered out!

Submit Yourselves to God

James 4: 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Painted by Tarayn 2011

The verse first says “You do not have because you do not ask God.” I feel in my life this refers to my prayer time with God. How many times have you gone through difficult situations in our lives without prayer? We may look back and think about how useful it would have been to pray; but how often do we fall on our knees before the Lord in the midst of the trial. 

 

My next questions is, "I have prayed and the Lord didn't answer my prayers." His response here is: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” Why do we pray and the outcome that we prayed for did not happen? In James 4:4 I found an answer, if we ask “according to His will, He hears us.” This year I'm committed to praying according to God’s will instead of praying to fulfill my own desires. What does it mean to "pray according to the will of God"? I referenced back to John 15:16 when he deals with the issue of prayer. God gave prayer to the disciples because Jesus had given them a mission to accomplish. God designed prayer and gives it to us to use to accomplish our God missions. I'm committed to turn my prayer life into a means of accomplishing my God mission and to glorify God. Psalms 37:4, "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." He will give you the desires of your heart, but, only if you are delighting in the Lord in the first place. Psalms 40:8, "I delight to do thy will oh God, thy law is within my heart."

.

The Best $13 I've Ever Spent

French Press

I'm in LOVE!!! I'm not sure why this wasn't on my "Favorites" before now but I am totally addicted to my new found friend. I am a coffee aficionado! I've had plenty of coffee makers in my past, even an espresso machine but nothing makes delish coffee like my Bodum Coffee & Tea Press. AND, It's EASY & CHEAP!  I found mine at TJMaxx for $12.99. I also saw one at Starbucks if you happen to be nearby picking up an espresso.

Enjoy your weekend!! They say Alabama has a good possibility for snow this weekend. Let's hope that's true but doesn't interrupt our friends headed to the National Championship game Monday. BTW, Roll Tide Roll! :)

My Special Friend

Christmas Day 1997: My mom & dad gave me the best gift I would know until this point in life. I loved Weebles unconditionally and for the last thirteen years I've been blessed with the best dog ever! I really mean it--he was cute and tiny (before cute & tiny was so Paris Hilton), loving, easy going, quiet (except when he made that screeching bird noise) & smart (um, he's the only dog I know who has a degree from The University of Alabama, hehe!). Weebs moved to college w/me in 2003 and has depended on me for everything since.

 My monkey moo moo! Weebles was approx. 8 years old here.

I had no clue what all Weebles would teach me over the last seven years...Looking back he taught me to always be happy to see those you love, approach each day & each new experience with enthusiasm, never underestimate the power of praise, play every chance you get, don't be afraid to show your joy, when you are happy - show it, wiggle & wag, take lots of naps and always stretch and yawn before you get up, never turn down a car ride with someone you love, be loyal, don't hold a grudge, when someone is having a bad day - nuzzle him gently, ALWAYS have dessert first and enjoy anything that's offered, sleep in any position you find comfortable, protect and defend those you love, what you look like doesn't matter - it's what is in your heart and most importantly enjoy every day to it's fullest - even if you are sick, in pain, deaf or blind.

My two favs!

Weebles Carter Comer was part of the "nonrefundable" package Paul received when we got married. For those of you who don't know...My mother informed Paul when he asked for their permission that there were NO refunds! :) Ha, it's a good thing he hasn't looked back on his decision.

This past Fourth of July weekend I looked into those beautiful brown eyes and I could see Weebles was tired and crying for help. There was no quality of life left, just pain and suffering. If you think about your dog’s wants and well being, ask yourself what does he want? The answer is actually pretty simple. Your dog wants fun, love, attention, and good health.


My dad once told me that your pet is for your enjoyment, I'm not sure at the time I understood exactly what he meant. I'm sure I was telling him not to feed Weebles something unhealthy or giving him too many treats. :) I think I finally understand the meaning of "It's a Dog's Life". The idea of a Dog's Life is Fun, Energy, Love, Attention and a healthy body that doesn't hold him back.

One of the most loving and unconditional relationships you will ever have is with your dog. Their sense of loyalty and devotion cannot be compared to any other. In return for the companionship they provide, it is our responsibility to show them love and take care of them. Sometimes taking care of them involves making one of the toughest decisions ever. There may come a time when you are faced with the heart break of having to put your beloved dog to sleep. It may seem like an unthinkable decision, but it may be the most loving and selfless thing you can do for your best friend. I had to make this hard decision this past Christmas Eve when I found Weebles at the most uncomfortable state I'd ever seen him. :( It was VERY hard, actually the hardest day ever. If I recall, Paul told someone years ago that the day Weebles passed would be his worst day. I actually rejoiced Christmas Day knowing my baby was in Heaven enjoying his new, healthy body with our Lord Jesus on his birthday.



Weebs has always offered me companionship, comfort, loyalty and piece of mind, when I needed it most. What I did for him couldn't even begin to compare to what he had done for me, for so many years. Deep in my heart I hoped he would just go peacefully in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, I had been prolonging this for five months.

 I'll end with sharing this verse, Luke 12:6: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. I believe this verse speaks directly to God's love for his creation, even the small and inexpensive birds sold for pennies but God cares about the suffering and life of each and every animal in his creation.

Tarayn and Weebles 2005 during a visit home from NYC

This summer while living w/my parents

 One of weebles fav spots while living at my parents this summer 

 taken this past year

Sept. 2010 ROLL TIDE!