Making Whoopie....(Pies)

While browsing through Sur La Table, I stumbled upon their advertising of the newest taste everyone HAS to try. I studied it a bit, thought the book was cute, looked simple and tasty enough so I endulged and decided I would make "Whoopie....pies". Here's all the basic stuff you need -

Getting ready to start mixing up - Looking good, now adding the "wet" stuff -
"Whoopie" - looking SO good -
I may - or may not - have reverted back to bad habits and licked the beaters clean (!)

Sorry for renching your neck, but here's a shot of me placing the batter in the nifty, expensive, special "whoopie pie" molds -

I also experimented without using the nifty, expensive, special "whoopie pie" mold by just dropping the batter onto parchment paper -

Just out of the oven baked cakes. Now for the true test, which one was made in the nifty, expensive, special "whoopie pie" mold - can't tell? Me either, FIGURES! Note to self: "Did NOT need to buy the nifty, expensive, special "whoopie pie" mold -

Next, I made vanilla cakes (no demo pictures, just picture the above pictures white instead of chocolate). Now, on to the fillings. After reading the instructions for the traditional marshmellow filling, I actually lost sleep over the delima I was facing whether to make it or not. You see, the traditional marshmellow filling calls for marshmellow creme (ok), confectioners sugar (ok), vanilla (ok) and vegetable shortening (UGH - hugh, not ok), not just a tablespoon or so - but 1-1/2 cups of it. The instructions are very specific about "NO SUBSTITUTES" for the vegetable shortening - oh what should I do? Could I bear to make this filling? Should I make this filling? Would I eat this filling - ah, 1-1/2 cups of vegetable shortening? In an effort to make "traditional whoopie pies" I gave in and made it. Then I tasted it.....all I could taste and feel in my mouth was "vegetable shortening", 1-1/2 cups of it. I couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't subject myself, or my family, to it - so in the sink it went, with the rest of the dirty dishes -

Knowing I knew better about the "traditional marshmellow filling" I quickly substituted it for a peanut butter one and a cream cheese one - much - much better. Satisified I'd made the right choice, I quickly finished up my "whoopie pies" and waited for "sampler's" to come and try them

Curt gave them a "thumbs-up"

So did Berlynn -

Ez really liked them -

So did all the Olson girls -

All in all, the time spent in making "whoopie.....pies" was worth it and since there are LOTS and LOTS of different types of cakes and fillings to make, I'll be making them again - probably WITHOUT the nifty, expensive, special "whoopie pie" mold!

Mexico - Part Tres

Well, trip #3 to Mexico this year was an absolute winner! We had perfect weather and did get in that much needed relaxation and rest. We love our place in Cabo - this was the view from our porch -

Us, lounging around -

Curt - checking the family website (lol)-
Curt - playing bingo (which he won, by the way!) I just read and took pictures. Our favorite little family taco stand in Todo Santos. We were SO disappointed it was closed (it's been a traditional stop to eat here - it was so YUMMY!) guess the recession has hit Mexico too

We did find another place to eat, it was really good but lacked the "family" atmosphere we really like (I enjoyed a grilled chicken salad) Curt had a chili rellenos stuffed with shrimp - We visited the Todo Santo Museum and found some very interesting stuff. I had to take a picture of the impressive "hanging" techniques they used at this musuem. Acutally, it reminded me of my very own father and the way he would "hang" some of his memorable things - simply nailing them to the wall - The courtyard - They had several pictures drawn by local children on display and I really liked this one (someone translate for me please) - Curt and I were very entertained as we read through several pictures of the locals but found these two facinating. The "Elsa Salgado Salgado" referred to in the first caption (which was a picture of she and her brother) is also the fortunate one who "became a pretty woman" and married Mr. Jose Luis Polanco, in the 2nd caption. Sorry I didn't show you her -
Now - here are a few pictures of our room -

A few more pictures of the property

And finally, another fine tradition we LOVE - a tasty treat from the French Bakery in San Jose!

Can't wait to get back there.....already!

Yeah Mii -

This is Mii -

I'm a little proud of her since she has teetered between "obese" and "overweight" for too many years now. After several months of daily exercise and proper eating (yes, the old fashioned way), I have finally achieved "normal" weight - and I'm LOVING it!

Pounds Lost: 28

Fat Lbs. Lost 35

Oh - and 64 oz. of water, a day!

CHOPPED!

I watched the little ladies for a bit today, and Annie just begged and begged me to uncover the playhouse from it's winter bundle so I let her help me do it. Just as quickly as it was "summerized" (swept up and out) she immediately informed me she needed to gather ingredients to make a salad. Annie loves to cook and she would make "salads" from anything I had in my garden - or yard - last year from the playhouse. As a side note, she also loves to watch cooking shows (who would have imagined?) and I was so amusued when one day while traveling in the car she announced she wanted to play "Chopped". I've never seen this show, but she proceeded to announce her dad and mom were going to play against each other and she would be the judge - they were going to be judged on an appetizer and were to tell her just what their ingredients were and how they were being used. I laughed so hard listening to her explain how these dishes tasted - it was hilarious! Anyway - since I don't have a lot growing in my garden (yet) or yard, we gathered some ingredients from the kitchen and headed out to the playhouse to make a salad

Picking some left over onions -
Chopping up the tomatoes -
Slicing the onions -

Mixing it all together with a few greens and wahlah --

Salad fit for a Queen and beautifully presented!

Expect great food creations from this one.


I threw these two pictures of Cate in just because she is so adorable - and she LOVES, and I mean loves - the playhouse!

Happy Anniversary

April 8, 1977

Still excited to see you when you come home -

Still love to be with you -

Still looking forward to those years ahead -

Still even more in love with you!

Happy Easter

"He is not here - for He is risen"

Out Like a Lamb?

March - "in like a lion, out like a lamb" isn't that the way the saying goes? Typically this is true however; this year it sure isn't, it came in like a lamb and is leaving like a lion. Despite the little sure tell signs that spring is on it's way - tulips, daffodils and crocus' greenery emerging - we are dealing with this
And we are not finished with it - more snow storms predicted for the next several days (should have expected this as it is General Conference this weekend and we usually get a good blasting during this event). Oh well - at least it's a good weekend to be inside snuggled up listening and/or watching the TV. If the Easter Bunny does deliver on Sunday - hope the kids can find all the goods amongst the snow!

Now how does that other saying go: "April showers bring May flowers" ----YES!