I Won!

I. Never. Win. Anything.

I really don't.  Some people just have the luck... they run into famous people in airports, find money on the ground in the parking lot, win things.  Well, that has just never been me.  Until now.  Well.... not "now"... just twice in one week.  I'm sure this will last me a lifetime.

My first score?  A whole book of stamps on the floor in Target.  I grabbed those bad boys up and didn't look back twice.  I needed those and have been putting off buying a whole book.  I'll just pretend the Stamp Fairy dropped them right in my path for me.  (thank you!)

The second thing I won?  A pair of earrings!  Ashely's blog, Under the Sycamore,  has a group of sponsors each month and they each do a "giveaway".  You look at each sponsors Etsy shop and enter by leaving a comment stating what your favorite item is.  I think everyone pretty much enters with each sponsor, but I won with Elizabeth Williams Jewelry.

And... my earrings finally came in the mail today!

The box was packaged very nicely with a handwritten "congrats" on the back of her Etsy business card.  That was a nice, personal touch!

I chose the Rosalie earrings with the black quartz about the leaves.  They are perfect!  I love them.  She also has the same earrings with clear or moss aquamarine stones above the leaves.  It all depends on what you like!  I like the black because you cannot see the hooks underneath.

 

I love them and cannot wait to wear them soon!  

You can visit the Etsy shop here... Elizabeth Williams Jewelry.  

And, thank you, Beth!

Butternut Cake

I have to get away from making only SWEET recipes.  I think I have become a better baker and not a better cook.  Somehow I just don't seem to care to experiment or learn to cook better.  I have a huge sweet tooth and I guess I always flock to making something sweet.  I'm sure my family would be a little happier with some variety at the dinner table.... but since I haven't gotten there yet... HERE WE GO!

This is my great-Aunt's recipe for Butternut Pound Cake.  I asked for the recipe a couple of years ago and she quickly gave it to me.  I was a little surprised... some people act stingy with recipes.  Trust me, I know... no one will ever get the cheese straw recipe from me.  But, nevertheless... I like recipes given to ME!  ;)

This recipe is called for a pound cake, but I think she used to make it layered sometimes.  I cannot totally remember.  But, when you want more icing, layer it and everyone will be happy.

This isn't your birthday type cake... this is more of your sit around and take a slice here and there or with a cup of coffee type of cake.  It's good.  It's subtle.  It's yummy.  And I recommend you try it!

Cake:

1 1/4 Crisco
6 eggs
2 cups of sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 tsp Vanilla Butter Nut flavoring
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix the crisco, eggs, sugar, salt and butter nut vanilla flavoring until light and fluffy.

Add 1/2 cup of sweetened condensed milk.  Mix well.

Sift the flour and baking powder and add to the fluffy mixture.  Mix well on high speed.

Bake for 1 hr 30 min for pound cake.  Bake 40 min for two layer cake.  (just make sure you test whether a fork or toothpick come out clean)  Baking times may vary depending on oven!

Frosting:

1 stick of margarine or butter
1 pack of powdered sugar
1 8oz cream cheese
1 tsp butter nut vanilla flavoring
2 cups finely chopped pecans

Mix butter, cream cheese and flavoring until fluffy.  Add powdered sugar one cup at a time, blending on high speed in between each addition.  Lastly, add pecans and mix well.

This icing recipe is enough for three pound cakes.  You can freeze whatever you do not use.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Pound Cake

This chocolate pound cake is so quick and easy.... I made it on a whim.

I've never had chocolate pound cake.

Have you?

Where have I been....

Anyway, the other day I sold our china cabinet and buffet from our dining room.  To be honest, we don't really have a dining room right now considering it is in utter chaos, but I sold it because I don't really like it and when we finish the remodel I will want larger furniture.  So, the woman came to pick up the furniture and silly me had not even cleaned everything out yet.  As I'm taking everything out... I'm answering to questions like, "do the place mats come with the buffet"?.......  "um... No, those are my place mats.... that's why I'm taking them out".... and "why is this in here"?... "well, because until you hand me cash, it's mine"!..... and in my china cabinet I find a stack of recipes wrapped in a rubber band.  I just threw them to the side and hadn't thought twice about them.

Then, mid-morning Thursday, I remembered I had those recipes and looked through them.  That is where I found this recipe.  It was written down on a well worn piece of paper.  And... for someone like me... who always has a sweet tooth... I whipped it up real quick and baked it.

It was really good and a nice change from regular pound cake.  My husband absolutely loved it.... so I've let him eat most of it... rather than let the cake stick to my thighs.........

Ingredients:

2 sticks butter
1/2 cup Crisco
3 cups sugar
1 cup milk
5 eggs
3 cups plain flour
4 tbsp cocoa
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp vanilla

 Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients together.  Cream the butter.  One by one, add all the other ingredients.  Beat well.

Bake 1.5 hrs.  You might want to check to see if it's done a few minutes early.  You do not want it dry!

This post is linked to: Hearth & Soul Week 39

Ten on Ten!!

One photo. Every hour. Ten hours.

I was reading Under the Sycamore today and found out about A Bit of Sunshine's Ten on Ten Project.

 On the 10th of every month, you take ten photos... one every hour... for ten hours.  You put them on your blog and link back to A Bit of Sunshine's blog.  It's been so interesting to look at the other blogs on there and see what goes on in everyone's day to day life.  I thought.... I can do this.  I should do this.  I'm terrible about pulling out the camera and documenting my day.  So, I'm going to try and participate every month.  I will enjoy practicing taking photos and looking back at previous months.... things change so quickly.

Here's to my March Ten on Ten! 

Win a Tamron 18-270mm lens on MCP Actions!!

Here is a link to win a Tamron 18-270mm lens on MCP Actions site!!  I entered as many times as allowed and am keeping my fingers crossed that I could win this!  Who couldn't use a free lens for their camera?  And who couldn't use this focal length?  If I had this... I might actually be able to take some photos of my little boy without him running from that camera and then wanting to see the photo immediately!  HA

Go here to enter and good luck on winning!!