Monday Moments: My Love of Cookbooks:::Betty Crocker:::

Now, I have a lot of cookbooks. My mom tells me I have too much; I say you can never have too many books and in my humble opinion, cookbooks are in a class all on their own. I love reading through cookbooks. My Nana Jane started me going when she gave me the Taste of Home Annual Cookbook for Christmas when I was 14.

{Source}

{{{Those brownies on that gorgeous cake stand {{love those too and anything yellow :)} are SO good. Those were the first things I made from my cookbook :D}}}}

It was my favourite gift that year! I curled up on my bed and read the different entries. I loved looking at the pictures. Ooohing and aahhing over the many delicious looking and sounding recipes...and skipping over the ones that sounded...oh, groossss!!! not so appetizing. I read it cover to cover and then savoured my favourite parts: read anything to do with baking delicious desserts :)

Since that Christmas on, I have acquired a great deal of wonderful cookbooks. Mostly on baking because I like to cook by throwing in a little bit of this and that :) And, the fact that it's only me eating supper isn't a huge motivator to cook...especially since I've always been accustomed to making enough to feed a crowd of at least 10. I love to bake though, and I really want to cook/bake through my books. And where else to chronicle my journey but through this here ol' blog of mine?

These cupcakes are a classic. I love this recipe because you dump everything in your mixer, mix, bake, and frost. Very simple. And delicious...as long as you don't over-bake them ;)

Chocolate Layer Cake

Betty Crocker Cookbook

2+1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1+2/3 cup sugar

2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa

1+1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1+1/4 cups water

3/4 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1. Heat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of  2 round pans {8 or 9 inch} with shortening {I've used butter} and lightly flour.

2. In large bowl, beat all ingredients with a mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping constantly. Beat on high speed for 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pans.

3. Bake pans for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool pans for 10 minutes and then invert onto a cooling rack.

4. Fill and frost with your choice of frosting!

*Make sure you just use the baking time as a guideline. Use your eyes and nose to test for done-ness. The cake/cupcakes can get very dry if you don't pay attention. Also, make sure you know where your hotspots are in your oven. I always rotate my baking halfway through cooking time to ensure an even baked goodie.*

Monday Moments: Baby Showers

Sarah's and Tosha's baby shower. The theme was owls.

Food:

Oreo truffles in the form of pops...delicious!!

Silvana made the sandwiches--she's a fantastic cook. Her buttered chicken? Absolutely love!

The food table was so pretty...and yummy!!

Nancy's Spring Rolls.

{First time I heard Nancy say she would make spring rolls for church, I was like...wha??? Was she going to shape the [bread] rolls into something that would remind us of spring? A flower? Rain drops? Even when I saw them at our potluck the next Sunday, I didn't recognize them as anything I'd eaten before. But, I tried them {Alberta has opened my horizons on food ;} and love'em.}

Vanilla and Chocolate cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting and garnished with M&M's.

Another angle on the food...

Isn't this a pretty blanket!?

Pretty Baby Girl clothes... 

The diaper cake turned out really cute! And, of course, you can never start to early on one's book collection! :D

T and Baby Hailey {10 Months ago...yup, I'm very late posting these. At least they're up before the kiddos turned ONE! :}

Diaper cake!

Sarah's Mom, Anne, made the wooden blocks and also the silliute above. She does impressive work! Check her Etsy shop, theRUBBERpress. The above were made specifically for the shower, but I'm sure you can find things you love on her site.

Monday Moments {In Memory}

I thought I would write about early risers.

Or people who sleep in.

I thought about my irrational fear of flying.

Or how I went through the whole month of March with not one drop of chocolate just to prove to those who personally know me that I don't just consume chocolate to live. I do eat from other food groups.

But all of this was inconsequential in light of the news that I received this past weekend.

One of the sweetest ladies that I know, went Home to be with the Lord. She had a long battle with cancer, and although her body was racked with pain, she was such an encouragement through the emails she sent me.

While I was in college, she would send me cards and letters that would contain some money as well as pictures of my family.

She made the best Mississippi Mud Pie, and knowing that I loved it would make it for many church gatherings. She gave me the recipe in my junior year of high school and I have since made it several times. And I will always think of her.

She was a delightful lady with a wonderful French accent. I enjoyed our conversations, and she was and always will be an example to me.

I can't really reconcile my mind with the picture I have--robust, full of health and vigor--to what people have described for me. I am glad. Not because I'm hard-hearted, but because the memory I have of her is how she was the last time I saw her--almost two years. I have a beautiful picture not tainted by cancer.

And now, she is in a Place where there is no more suffering; no more pain. She is in the presence of God Almighty, singing His praises.

I am so glad that there is an answer for what happens after we die. A lady I was acquainted told of her BIL's sickness and eventual death and how he was in "limbo". Swinging between Heaven and Hell in purgatory. Hoping against hope that he would be good enough to go to Heaven.

How sad. How very sad. I tried to talk to her and show her how the Bible says how we can know for sure where one spends eternity, but she was so steeped in her religion, that she felt sorry for me! Because I know where I'm spending eternity! How Satan hath blinded her eyes!

There are so many religions, but only one answer--Jesus Christ and salvation through Him alone.