Archive for October, 2009
These have to be my favorite cookies ever! My mom, my sister, and I used to make these often growing up. They are very easy, do not require an oven, and are so full of chocolaty goodness…mmm. The best part for me now is that my husband won’t eat them, he doesn’t like coconut, so as long as my 4 year old doesn’t see them they are ALL mine!
Ingredients:
2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. milk
3 tbsp cocoa powder
3 c. quick cooking oats
1 tsp vanilla
1 pkg shredded coconut, optional*
Directions:
1. Melt butter in a medium sized pot. Mix in Milk and sugar; boil one minute.
2. Remove from heat and mix in cocoa and vanilla. Add Oatmeal and as much coconut as you wish (I usually use about half a package)
3. Place spoonfuls of mixture onto waxed or parchment paper. Let them dry and set up and then enjoy!
*adding coconut will make them chewier and take less time to set up

And now that you have my favorite cookie recipe, feel free to bring some by
Tags: Adults, arizona, AZ, boudoir, child, Children, cookies, Engagement, Family, food, foodie, glamour, Glendale, maternity, Mesa, Newborn, No Bake, Peoria, Pets, Phoenix, photographer, photography, pin-up, portrait, Recipe, Scottsdale, senior, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Wedding
Posted in Dessert, Foodie Friday, Recipe |
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I want to apologize to anyone that I haven’t returned an email to. Some of you already know but my husband ended up in the hospital last week with an 8mm subdural hematoma (pretty much a bruise on your brain). He has fantastic teeth and went in Thursday morning for his first cavities, he was really nervous and forgot to eat breakfast. He made it through the appointment but at checkout he started to feel lightheaded and fell straight backwards, like I imagine a tree falls, hitting his head on the floor and was unconscious for several minutes. I got the call as the paramedics arrived and decided to take him to the hospital, it was a HUGE shock! After my mom arrived to watch my kids, I rushed to to the ER to find him strapped to a backboard with a neckbrace. Luckily there were no neck or spinal injuries but after the initial CT scan they thought they saw something wrong. A second CT was performed and a neurosurgeon was consulted (EEK!) and determined there was no aneurysm but there was a bleed in the front of his head caused when he hit the back of his head as hard as he did.

(after he got off the backboard, PS this was with the little point and shoot I carry in my purse)
We were then informed that he was going to be transferred to a different hospital as a precaution in case it got worse and required surgery (the second hospital has a neurosurgery unit and was only 8 miles away by ambulance). I was scared, especially after he started throwing up. I ran home to grab dinner for my momma and my boys and found him in the ICU when I arrived. I’ve never had to advocate on someone’s behalf to busy nurses, or spend hours next to a mostly sleeping person’s bedside-it was an awful way to spend two days. It took forever to get clearance from a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist (another precaution), and an internal medicine specialist to go home that we were afraid he’d be there a second night.
We finally got home and got him settled in and I waited up for my mother-in-law to bring the boys home from a day spent with out of town guests. Saturday was spent with those out of town guests celebrating his grandfather’s 80th birthday (I’ll hopefully get some pictures from that up soon), it was a wonderful get together but we ended up spending Sunday recovering from the previous few days by laying around and sleeping. Which leads me to Monday that I tried to spend catching up on everything that fell to the wayside last week and not succeeding at any of it. I drove my husband, I am now his chauffeur, to his doctor’s appointment to find out he still is not released for driving and will need yet another CT scan. And today will not be any easier as we go to to our youngest’s first GI appointment to see if we can get to the bottom of his tummy issues.
All that to say – Do NOT skip breakfast and I will get back to all of you as soon as possible! Pleases be patient and if you don’t hear from me in a couple days, please try me again.
And thank you everyone for all your prayers and kind words! He’ll be ok in the long run, at this point he’s dealing with bad headaches and some short term memory loss that could last awhile and amnosmia – loss of sense of smell – that may or may not get better.
Tags: Adults, arizona, AZ, boudoir, boys, child, Children, Engagement, Family, glamour, Glendale, hospital, maternity, Mesa, Newborn, Peoria, Pets, Phoenix, photographer, photography, pin-up, portrait, Scottsdale, senior, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Wedding
Posted in Adults, Family, Uncategorized |
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My brother loves all things German-the beer, the food, the language, all of the above. So when he asked for a Black Forest cake for his going away party, he headed off to Navy boot camp months ago, I was a little surprised he didn’t want a German chocolate cake. And then I was informed that Black Forest Cake was German, duh! So I volunteered to make it, little did I know the time that was supposed to go into it. I started looking for a good recipe, but most of them called for alcohol (it was a family function that would be feeding kids and kids like cake LOL) or strange ingredients that didn’t seem authentic. So I decided that I would create my own version, I love experimenting in the kitchen! It turned out really well and he hardly missed the alcohol
Ingredients:
1 18.25oz chocolate cake mix (dark chocolate is best, cake will be sweet enough)
+ oil, water, and egg as the recipe calls for
2 cans of canned, pitted cherries (usually called sour cherries-not pie filling or maraschino cherries), drained reserving liquid
1 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp brandy extract
1 large tub whipped cream
1 10oz bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips (can use melt-able baking chocolate)
Directions:
1. Mix and bake cake according to directions in 2 9-inch pans, greased and floured halfway up sides.
2. Let cakes cool completely before continuing. Place one layer on cake platter.
3. Mix together 1 cup of reserved cherry juice, almond, vanilla, and brandy extracts (used in place of alcohol) *. Pour half of mixture evenly over the layer on the platter, slowly to let cake absorb liquid.
4. In a large bowl, gently mix the whipped cream with enough reserved cherry juice to color and flavor it. Be careful not to add too much liquid or over-mix, it will separate. Set aside.
5. Set some of the chocolate aside for garnishing. Melt half of the remaining chocolate according to package directions and spread over the top of the first layer of cake.
6. Cover the chocolate in a single layer of cherries. Spread a small layer of whipped cream over the cherries.
7. Place second layer of cake on top. Pour remainder of cherry juice mixture evenly over the second layer, slowly to let cake absorb liquid.
8. Melt second half of chocolate. Spread melted chocolate over the top of second layer. Cover the cake in whipped cream mixture.
9. Use remaining cherries to garnish the cake. Grate or shave reserved chocolate over the cake.
*Traditional Black Forest Cake uses a German cherry brandy called Kirschwasser or Kirsch. You can leave out the extracts and replace as much of the cherry liquid with the brandy as you wish, depending upon how strong you want it to be. Remember the alcohol does not get cooked off!

Tags: Adults, arizona, AZ, Black Forest, boudoir, boys, cake, child, Children, Engagement, Family, food, foodie, German, glamour, Glendale, maternity, Mesa, Newborn, party, Peoria, Phoenix, photographer, photography, pin-up, portrait, Recipe, Scottsdale, senior, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Wedding
Posted in Dessert, Foodie Friday, Recipe |
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A little while back, I found out that a fantastic photographer that I admire would be here in town visiting her family and I took the chance to meet her. She is an absolute sweetheart and invited me to join her on a photoshoot for a friend of her sister (I’ll share those soon too!). So after spending a late afternoon walking and taking pictures around downtown Phoenix in the middle of the monsoon season, and boy was it hot and muggy, we were sweaty and tired but it was the perfect opportunity to get a few headshots. I am not that comfortable being on the other side of the camera, probably because I am always the one taking the photos, but I know it’s important to do just that from time to time (if nothing else but to show your kids later on that yes you really were there). Besides, a great photographer will put you at ease which is exactly what she did. So here I am, in all goofball glory:

There was a funny discussion that led up to these but it just goes to show that I am a big dork, anything for a great photo right?
This has to be my favorite!

A big thank you to a beautiful Texan, Christie Lacy!
Tags: Adults, arizona, AZ, boudoir, boys, child, Children, Engagement, Family, glamour, Glendale, maternity, Mesa, Newborn, Peoria, Pets, Phoenix, photographer, photography, pin-up, portrait, Scottsdale, senior, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, Wedding
Posted in Adults, Uncategorized |
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I love vinegar! It has to be one of the most versatile pantry staples-from the obvious uses in recipes (and a surprise one I’ll share another time) to its cleaning abilities (throw some in the dishwater to get rid of streaks on dishes or a safe way to mop stone floors and so many other things) or even just amazing my 4yo when it’s added to baking soda. It shouldn’t be a surprise then when I tell you my favorite dressing is balsamic vinaigrette, especially homemade! It’s quick, simple, and even good for you.
Balsamic Vinaigrette
Ingredients:
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed (or 1/2 tsp garlic powder)
1/2 tsp dried or 1 tsp fresh oregano
2 tsp Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
*add honey for sweeter version
Directions:
1. Combine all ingredients into tightly closed jar and shake to combine.
2. Store in refrigerator. Shake before serving (the oil will solidify so you will have to warm slightly before serving).
All shook up (you know you’re singing that now
)

Before pouring/spooning over salad

Mmmmmm…

Delicious served over lettuce topped with tuna and toasted walnuts or even as a marinade. I hope you enjoy!
**oops I’m a day early!**
Tags: Adults, arizona, AZ, balsamic, boudoir, child, Children, Engagement, Family, food, foodie, glamour, Glendale, maternity, Mesa, Newborn, Peoria, Pets, Phoenix, photographer, photography, pin-up, portrait, Recipe, Scottsdale, senior, Sun City, Surprise, Tempe, vinaigrette, Wedding
Posted in Foodie Friday, Recipe, Salad |
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