Sunday, October 30, 2011

3 The Highlight of my Weekend. . .

This weekend involved lots of Starbucks runs, jewelry, a sweet late night conversation with my precious sister-in-law, an early morning volleyball tournament with a friend I'm so thankful to work with, catching up with a dear one on a long walk in the beautiful weather, a surprise birthday party that was incredible, more Starbucks, hugs from kindred spirits, rejoicing in the Lord, cuddling with three puppies, holding twin girls, a Halloween party, playing baseball, and being thankful for Nate!
 (I was a MHS senior girl! Northface jacket, Nike shorts, and tall Uggs!)
But the highlight of my weekend. . . was hanging out with this guy. . .
we are kind of in love. . . (or at least I am absolutely in love with him)
Now imagine that this little one, just 2 months ago, was in an orphanage in Bulgaria; without a mommy and a daddy. . . 
To say that he has thrived these past two months in his 'forever' home would be an absolute understatement. 
Is God tugging on your heart to adopt and change a child's life forever?? If so, email me. . . I have numerous people I could put you in contact with. . .
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Thursday, October 27, 2011

3 Smiling!

Remember my Stella and Dot giveaway?
Well look what the winner, Heather from Pirates and Princesses, wore while she was hosting ciLiving in Central Illinois! Watch her clip here
THEN, today, she blessed me with THIS!!!! The Pumpkin Fluff Dip is FAMOUS! ;-) 
Don't forget to check out Casey's Followers Fest! I've already found a million great recipes and holiday ideas! :-) 

Photobucket

I hope you have a lovely weekend!
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Monday, October 24, 2011

8 Incredibly Moist Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This weekend, Nate went hunting and I spent amazing time with sweet girlfriends! Whenever Nate goes hunting, I send him with some goodies. . . and this weekend was no exception! I decided to send the cake I made for him in a 13x9 tin
because I didn't think this beautifulness would make it up the bumpy gravel road! :-)
I hope you had a lovely weekend! 

Incredibly Moist Pumpkin Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
1 box (1 lb 2.25 oz) Betty Crocker Super Moist spice cake mix
2/3 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup sour cream
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
2 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
5 cups powdered sugar
Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for dark or nonstick pans). Spray bottoms only of three 9-inch round cake pans with baking spray with flour. In large bowl, beat cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed until moistened, then on high speed 2 minutes. Divide batter equally among pans. Bake 24 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until smooth. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until frosting reaches desired spreading consistency. Place 1 cake layer, rounded side down, on serving plate; spread about 3/4 cup frosting over top to within about 1/4 inch of edge. Top with second cake layer, rounded side up; spread with 3/4 cup frosting. Top with third layer, rounded side up. Spread thin layer of frosting on side of cake. Spread remaining frosting on side and top of cake. Store covered in refrigerator
Betty Crocker
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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

2 Berry Puff Pancake

I made this Berry Puff Pancake months ago when I first saw it on Val So Cal and I cannot believe I have not shared it with you yet! Simple, piles of fruit, and oh, so, delicious, it is a perfect item to add to any brunch menu! 
Berry Puff Pancake
      1 tablespoon butter
      3 eggs
      3/4 cup milk
      3/4 cup all-purpose flour
      1/2 teaspoon salt
      I cup fresh blackberries or raspberries
      1 cup fresh blueberries
      1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries
      1/3 cup orange marmalade
      2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
      1) Place the butter in a 9-inch pie plate,  place in a 400 degree oven for 4-5 minutes
      or until melted. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the eggs and milk. In another
      small bowl, combine the flour and salt, whisk in egg mixture until smooth.
      2) Pour into prepared pie plate. bake for 15-20 minutes or until sides are crisp and
      golden brown.
      3) In a large bowl, gently combine the berries and the marmalade. Fill berries in
      the pancake and sprinkle with confectioners sugar, Serve immediately.
Val So Cal
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Tuesday, October 18, 2011

9 Egg in a Hole

It is no secret how much Nate and I love breakfast for dinner. So when I saw the Pioneer Woman make "Eggs in a Hole" on her show a couple weeks ago, I knew that they would be a new staple in our house!
Egg in a Hole
1 slice of your favorite kind of bread 
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper 
With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, press a hole in the center of the slice of bread. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt in the butter. When the butter is all spread out, place the piece of bread in the skillet and crack the egg straight into the center of the hole. Cook until the egg sets a bit on the bottom, 30 to 45 seconds. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper. After about a minute, flip it over with a spatula and salt and pepper the other side. Move the whole piece of toast around the skillet, soaking up all of the butter. Let it cook until the yolk feels soft.
Pioneer Woman 
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Monday, October 17, 2011

4 Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake

When I catered a birthday brunch for a friend, this cake was one of the first things requested!!
I think it is one of the most perfect cake for a child's birthday party! Each child could take a cupcake and the head could be the "smash cake!"  :-)
Very Hungry Caterpillar Cake
2 boxes of white cake and the ingredients on the box
2 large containers of white icing
Green and red food coloring
Black Gel Icing 
I made the head in a 6"x 2"cheesecake pan (I found at Sur La Table)
Make the cupcakes and head of the caterpillar. Using the food coloring dye the icing red and green. Ice cupcakes and the head of the caterpillar. Draw eyes and a mouth and assemble! :-)
Idea from Pinterest and Coco Cupcakes
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Friday, October 14, 2011

4 Guest Blogging and A Winner!

I am Guest Blogging on Faith Blogs today!



And the winner of the Barn Owl Primitives Giveaway is. . .Katie from The Dotson Adventure!
Happy Friday! Have a lovely weekend! 
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Thursday, October 13, 2011

2 Guest Post from HENNING LOVE!

Meg and I are swapping blogs today! :-) Go check out henning love for my recipe! Enjoy! :-)

Hi all of Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box followers! I am Meg from henning love and very pleased to be blog swapping with her today. Her recipes caught me first, I was instantly hooked on her blog even before I started blogging. And now I am so glad to call her a blogger friend and apparently great mind think alike because I kid you not, both of us picked a donut recipe for our recipe swap. Seriously, we didn't discuss it prior or anything, the only requirement was to do a recipe and what do you know. Anyways Elizabeth is very sweet and I always look forward to her great recipes and cheery comments :-)
I mentioned last week I won a few Williams Sonoma goodies and I intent to post every recipe I make using any of the ingredients and for this recipe I used the apple cider concentrate I received.
On to the recipe for apple cider donuts!
First, gather together the ingredients: 1 cup apple cider, 3 1/2 cups flour, and more for work place, 2 teaspoons baking soda, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, 4 tablespoons of butter, softened, 1 cup white sugar, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup buttermilk, vegetable oil or shortening for frying.
Toppings for donuts: I used three different toppings, just plain confectioners sugar that I rolled the donuts in, a cinnamon sugar mix, which is 1 cup white sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon, then an apple cider glaze, which is 1 cup confectioners sugar, 2 tablespoons of apple cider.

Before you make the dough, you need to reduce the 1 cup apple cider down to 1/4 cup, so in a sauce pan, put the 1 cup cider and let it reduce for 20-30 minutes. 
Add the dry ingredients together in one bowl, and set aside.
In your mixer bowl, cream the white sugar and butter together, until it is smooth. Then add the eggs, one at a time with a beating between the two eggs.
Add the reduced apple cider, then mix and finally add the buttermilk and mix the wet ingredients together well.
Pour all the contents of the dry ingredients into your wet ingredients and mix them together very well. 

Take two baking sheets, line both with wax or parchment paper then flour the paper. 

On one baking sheet, take all of the dough and flatten it with your hands until it is about 1/2 inch think. Use lots of flour because the dough is sticky! 
Then plop that baking sheet in the freezer for 20 minutes or until hardened. After 20 minutes take the dough out and use cookie cutters to cut out your doughnuts and transfer the cut doughnuts and doughnut holes onto the other parchment lined floured baking sheet. Stick that baking sheet in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.
While the dough is hardening up in the refrigerator, get your frying oil prepared. If you have a candy thermometer, the temperature should be 350 degrees and the oil should be about 3 inches deep. 
 Have a plate off to the side lined with paper towels for the donuts to rest right after you take them out of the fryer. 
Additionally, while the dough is rehardening, prepare your topping ingredients either the cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar or apple cider glaze. I went bold and did all three!
When your oil has heated up to the correct temperature, drop a few of your doughnuts into the hot oil, but not to many to crowd the pan. Cook the donuts on one side for 60 seconds or until golden brown, then flip the doughnut over and cook it on that side for about 30 seconds. 
Seriously this is a fast process if you don't watch the doughnuts closely, they can become too dark and brown. When the doughnuts have cooked on both sides, pull out the doughnut and set it on the paper towels to absorb any oil. Then put the doughnuts in one of the topping, then eat and enjoy! Amanda's Cookin


The finished project!!
I had so much fun recipe and blog swapping with you Elizabeth!!
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Sunday, October 9, 2011

8 Pumpkin Loving Linky Party!

Happy Fall, sweet friends! 
It is no secret that I adore pumpkin {anything} and since I have seen SO many fabulous pumpkin recipes and decorations, I have created a linky party so that we can all share our pumpkin love! 
So SHOW OFF your talents and link up! 
This Pumpkin Bread recipe has been handed down in our family. It is timeless, a classic, and always a favorite of my friends and family! Enjoy! 
Pumpkin Bread 
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 cups pumpkin
4 eggs
3 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
2 tsp baking soda
1 cup oil
5/8 cup water (1/2 cups plus 1 tbs)
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees; Combine dry ingredients; make a well in mixture and add remaining ingredients; mix; add chopped pecans. Pour into two 9x5x3 inch greased, floured bread pans and bake 1 hour. 
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1 He Reigns!

Have y'all heard of the Newsboys song, He Reigns?? A friend and I were driving together yesterday and that song was on. . .
we were both in our own thoughts. . . both praying silently. . .
and then all of a sudden it started raining . . .
Texas has been in a drought for months. . . we, as a state, have been praying for rain, begging God for rain  . .
Yesterday was such an incredible reminder that God is in control, because HE REIGNS. .
This morning, I woke up to an absolute storm, lots of thunder , and a downpour of RAIN!
I can't even remember the last time it thundered and rained like that.
Whatever season of drought you are in. . . whatever season of WAITING you are in . . . just remember HE REIGNS!
  {source}
Don't forget about the Pumpkin Linky Party TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Friday, October 7, 2011

175 Shmorgishborg AND A Barn Owl Primitives GIVEAWAY! :-)

My mom has printed out every. single. one. of. my. blog. posts. . . . ever. . . and keeps them in a binder (she is on binder #2 now). . . in plastic dividers because she doesn't want to "lose any words to a hole punch." because she loves me. . .and because she is one of my biggest supporters and sources of encouragement. . . 
I am so lucky to have a husband who constantly pursues me . . . 
Have you heard about Casey, Danielle, Illy, and Jess' party?? Link up with fall, Halloween, recipes, costumes, or whatever your heart desires!
Gus Gus hurt his paw hunting with his Grandpa . . . so he is taking it easy . . . 
Don't forget about the Pumpkin Linky Party I am hosting on Monday! 
The winner of the cute kitchen towel is Joanna
And I am SO excited to share some of my FAVORITE signs from Barn Owl Primitives. . . 
Kristi is SO talented and I ADORE all of her signs! :-)
Would you like one?? I know I would take one of EACH (of every sign in Krisit's shop :-))
The winner of the giveaway can either choose one of the signs above or receive a 40 dollar shop credit to Barn Owl Primitives
To enter: 
1. MANDATORY: Must be a follower of Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box and leave a comment telling me which sign you would choose if you won (go and look at Barn Owl Primitives if you would like the shop credit!)
You can leave an additional comment for each of the below. 
2. Follow Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box on Facebook
3. Tweet about the giveaway
4. Facebook post about the giveaway
5. Blog about the giveaway 
6. You have Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box on your blog roll! 
7. You have Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box button on your blog! 
8. Tag something from Elizabeth Ann's Recipe Box on Pinterest!  
9. StumbleUpon this post (to learn how to stumbleupon, go here
You have 9 chances to enter! 
Giveaway closes at midnight Thursday, October 13!
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