We All Scream for Ice Cream

These cake, ice cream cones are the perfect treat for summer, without the drips and melting mess!

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Which flavor can I scope for you?

Strawberry?

Mint?

Ethan took these treats to daycare yesterday and they were a hit with all the kids...and the adults, too.

Directions:

• 
  
  Bake a cake, following package directions and cool completely. (I used chocolate for these but wouldn't strawberry cake look great in the strawberry cones?)
• 
  
  Crumble cake into a bowl and mix with one can of frosting until well combined. (Smooshing the cake into the frosting, using a spatula, seems to work best for me.)
• 
  
  Using a small, cookie scope, scope up the cake mixture and place on a baking sheet. No need to roll them into perfect ball, the rough scopes will look more like real ice cream scopes and make these so simple to make.
• 
  
  Refridgerate the cake balls overnight or place in freezer to speed up the process.
• 
  
  Cut a waffle cone down to fit the cake balls.
• 
  
  Cover the cake ball with melted, white Candy Coating, tinted to whatever color you choose. (Make sure you coat down a little bit from the ball to the cone so that they stick well together.)
• 
  
  Add Sprinkles while coating is still wet.
• 
  
  Allow to dry.
• 
  
  Add some melted, chocolate candy coating to the top to make the "hot fudge" sauce.
• 
  
  Top with a red, Pretzel M&M for the "cherry."
• 
  
  Enjoy!

For complete cake ball directions and other inspiration, check out Bakerella.

Nature Dreaming

Look deep into nature, and then you will

understand everything better.

{Albert Einstein}

I'm ready to leave the 100+ degree weather of Phillipsburg and head back to the mountains and reconnect with the beautiful outdoors and find that sense of peace that comes with the fresh, mountain air.

Think my employers would notice if I went missing for a week?

Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova - Mom's Birthday Cake

Last week, we celebrated my mother's birthday. I immediately knew what I was going to make for her birthday cake. I had seen the recipe for this Raspberry Chocolate Pavlova a few months back and had anxiously been waiting for the perfect opportunity to create this elegant dessert.

The mounds of freshly whipped cream and piles of ripe raspberries, that look like sweet jewels, make for a beautiful presentation and can compete any day with a traditionally frosted and decorated birthday cake.

The chocolate meringue base has a light, crunchy shell but the inside consistency is more like a marriage of brownie and meringue textures. The use of chocolate in this pavlova works very well with the flavors and tartness of the raspberries. The fresh whipped cream adds to the overall lightness of the dessert and anything is better with freshly whipped cream!
 
The only changes I made to the recipe was the addition of vanilla bean and a little sugar to the whipped cream. It looks like an intimidating recipe, but it really is rather simple and just takes a little time.
 
Happy Birthday Mom!
 

The July Family Birthdays - My Mom & Nephew

Making a Splash

That's my baby up there at the top of the water slide. He's ready to take the plunge with his much older, and cooler, cousin.

He was excited and without any hesitations, while I worried about silly things like the fact that he doesn't know how to swim and was about to plunge into the water after speeding down a slide. (Note the man in the bottom, left corner that is the attentive life guard.)

Whoosh...down the water slide they go!

I'm so glad I was able to snap this picture and capture the excitement on Ethan's face.

Immediately after taking my two pictures, a very nice lifeguard came to tell me that there is a no camera policy at the Hays Aquatic Park. Oops! However, I was relieved to know that no one else would be able to capture a picture of myself going down the water slides. This gal's cellulite is better kept undocumented.

Ethan successfully emerged from the water and preceded to go down the water slide no fewer than 20 times.

Vacation - Day Five

For our last day of our Colorado vacation, we spent the day exploring the lakes that make up Red Feather Lakes, CO, hiking the wild flower covered meadows and climbing the granite rock formations. We hiked for miles, took a picnic lunch with us and climbed the highest rock peaks that we could find in the area. The views from the top were awe inspiring.

So much to explore.

Getting a boost from Daddy.

Views from the top - Part of Roosevelt National Park

The most beautiful spot that I discovered during our hikes. I could take in this view for hours.

We loved the time we sent out in Red Feathers and hope to have the opportunity to return. It was so nice to enjoy a relaxing vacation. It seems like most of our travels involve non-stop activities and trying to cram in as much as possible while visiting a city. It was such a nice change to have no set agenda and just slow down and enjoy each other as a family and recharge in the great outdoors.

Jim and I really fell in love with Colorado. We've had many long conversations about the possibility of actually moving out there. Anyone know of any good jobs in the area? It might be time for this Dorothy to get out of Kansas and we just need to find the right yellow brick road to follow. ;)

Vacation - Day Four

For our fourth day of vacation, we decided to take advantage of our lake front cabin and give fishing a try. My husband is an avid hunter but hasn't fished since his childhood. I haven't tried fishing since I was probably last at the cabin, at the age of 5, so I didn't have high hopes for reeling in the big catch of the day.

After finishing up breakfast, the boys went down to the lake to cast out their lines and see if the fish were biting. Ethan really enjoyed picking out his bait from all the colorful options that Uncle Bill provided us with.

Within a few minutes, the first fish of the day was hooked. A small sized rainbow trout was quickly reeled in. Don't they look proud?

A boy and his dog out fishing - all is right in the world.

 

Ethan's First Fish!! He caught and reeled it in all by himself and you could hear him squealing with pride for miles.

He wasn't too sure about the slimy, floppy little fish.

How big was your fish, Ethan? I guess fisherman start telling fishing tales at a young age.

My catch of the day. I must brag, I caught the largest fish of the day. I also caught the biggest sunburn - ouch. Guess I'll be adding some more freckles this summer.

Patiently waiting to catch a few more fish to make sure we had enough for a fish fry for dinner. We only fished for a couple of hours and easily caught our maximum number of fish for our permits.

We had a wonderful time fishing at Snake Lake in Red Feather Lakes, CO. It was so nice and relaxing to sit out on the edge of the lake and take in the scenery. Plus, the trout fish jump out of the water to catch bugs and make for great entertainment.