4th of July!

First off, Thank you to anyone who has served in the military to help make this country what it is, and for keeping us FREE!

We had so much fun getting ready for today!  The kids loved every minute, and kept asking what was going on! Easiest way to explain it to a 3, 2, and 1 year old-tell them it is America's Birthday!  They were so excited about a birthday party, and this made for even more fun getting ready for today.

What we did:

Made 4th of July T-shirts! They LOVED playing with paints! They were so excited to watch these dry, and then to get to wear them today!

*These are super easy to do-just remember to put cardboard between the shirt layers-My preggo brain forgot that step at first, but lucky for us remembered before they were totally finished! This idea came off of Pinterest-gotta love that site!

We made all kinds of "special treats" to enjoy:

Marshmallow Pops!

Firework candy!

Dipped Ice Cream Cones!

Fruit Ice Cubes for our Sparkle Water!

Breakfast:

Red/White/Blue yogurt! My children would live off of yogurt if I would let them!

 *Don't forget the Ice Cream Cones that my children decided to eat before we got out of bed!  We knew it was just a little too quiet upstairs. They were ever so kind though, and did share one with Avery.  AND brought us each one as breakfast in bed!  I didn't have my camera or I would have taken a picture of them and their blue and red covered faces.
 Lunch:

Loaded Potato Salad!

Bacon Wrapped Corn

Rodeo Blue Cheese Burgers!

Star Shaped Watermelon!

 

Flag Fruit Salad!

I have no idea what is for dinner. We are still full from lunch! They got to spend the morning outside with their daddy while he got the lawn mowed-it was starting to look like we lived in the wilderness!  We ALL got a good afternoon nap in! And now we are off to have even more fun doing who knows what.  We LOVE when daddy can be home with us all day!

Who knows we may even be able to make it to the fireworks tonight-depending on how the children are acting!

Happy 4th of July from the Turley Clan!!

Cobbler

This is one of the best cobbler recipes, and no it's not because I'm biased it just really is amazing.  I'm picky about my food, I don't like it to taste too much like a bread or a biscuit because then that just ruins it for me. My camera has been out of commission so I apologize for the lack of pictures lately.

8 TBSP butter
1.5 c self rising flour
1 c sugar
1.5 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond flavoring
4 c fruit of your choice(I have used blueberry, peach, and pear-all amazing)
1/2 c water
1/4 c sugar

In a sauce pan combine the water, sugar, and fruit stir well until it comes to a boil.

In a 9x13 pan place the butter in the pan and put in the oven to melt. Bake at 350!  While that is melting combine the flour, sugar, milk, vanilla, and almond in a bowl, mix well so there are no chunks in it!  Once the butter is melted, take pan out of over, pour mix over top of butter.  Then scoop berries(fruit) over top of batter, then slowly pour sauce over top of berries.  I would place a pan below this in the over just in case it overflows-all of mine did just a tad!  Bake for 30 minutes.

Oh my goodness is this heavenly!  It is moist and yummy, I will try and get a picture up here the next time I make it when I have my camera back.

Angel Food Cake

7 egg whites
1/2 c flour
 3/4 c sugar
1 1/2tsp baking powder
2tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325 Beat the egg whites with the baking powder and vanilla until it is foamy.  Then add half of the sugar to the mixture.  Beat until soft peaks form.  Mix the remaining sugar and flour together.  Slowly add to the egg white mixture folding it in gently.  Pour into a loaf pan or a bundt pan if you have one.  Bake at 325 for about 30 minutes.

Chocolate Ganache:
1 c heavy whipping cream
1 c chocolate chips

Mix together in a sauce pan until well melted and it begins to get thick.  While still hot pour over top of the cake!

Angel Food cake is good by itself, but I like a bit of spoiling so I always add the chocolate ganache on top and I also then add some fresh strawberries you know just to make it seem a bit heathier.  Elijah loved it! What do you think?

Berry Custard Recipe

Ingredients:
1 2/3 c milk- I use skim
1/4 c sugar
4 tsp cornstarch
2 egg yolks lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla
3 c berries (if frozen make sure they are thawed)

In a saucepan stir the milk, sugar, and cornstarch together.  You have to keep a close eye on this and stir it continually so that it doesn't burn or stick to the bottom of the pan. Stir until thick and bubbly then stir for 2 minutes more.
Add a small amount of the hot mixture to the egg yolks and mix well.  Add back into the main saucepan and mix it all together well.  Once boiling, stir for 2 minutes longer.  Once again you STIR, STIR, STIR, this can burn really easy so you have to be careful with it and keep stirring and don't set the heat on too high.
Now add the vanilla, and remove from the heat.  Let cool.  I like to eat mine hot so I don't put it in fridge like many recipes say to do.  I just let it cool about 10 min so I don't burn my mouth and then I add the berries and eat it up.

I layer them together so it looks pretty.  I do berries, then custard, then more berries, then more custard, and top with a few more berries.  This is so yummy and is good if you are craving something sweet but not too sweet.

Eli loved it!

Christmas Cookies

I love to bake, and one of my favorite things to bake are sugar cookies.  There is just something that I find so relaxing about the whole thing and it really gets me into the holiday spirit. So I am going to give you my favorite cookie recipe, it is from one of my taste of home magazines, but I tweak it quite a bit.  I actually have two that I bake, so I guess I can give you both!

Cream Cheese Sugar Cookies: (4 dozen)
1 c butter, softened

4 oz cream cheese

1 c sugar

1 egg yolk

1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 1/4 c flour
1/4 tsp baking soda

In a large bowl cream the butter, sugar, and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
Beat in egg yolk and extracts
Combine flour and baking soda, slowly add to the wet mixture.
Cover and Refrigerate until it is easy to handle (about 1-2 hrs)
On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough, and cut with cookie cutters!
Place on a baking stone or cookie sheet (I prefer the stone as it keeps them really soft)
Bake at 350 for about 10min. (I like mine pale still so they melt in your mouth, with no crunch, but firm enough that you can frost them.)
Cool and then Decorate as you wish!-This is my favorite part

Sugar Cookies:  6-8 dozen(depending on how much dough you eat in the process)
1 c butter, softened

1 c sugar

2 eggs

1/4 c half and half cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract

3 c flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beat in the cream and the extract. Combine the dry ingred., then slowly add to the wet mixture.  Cover and refrigerate until easy to handle (1-2hrs).  On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough, and cut with cookie cutters.

Place on a baking stone, and bake at 325 for 6-8 min. Cool and then decorate as desired!

Best Brownies Ever!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting 

• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.
4. To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

Note: These don't even need the frosting they are so rich and fudgy by themselves, and trust me I usually love the extra chocolate.

Sorry for the lack of picture I love them so much I ate them a bit too quickly, maybe next time I make them I will remember to take a picture before I indulge!