This is a root of a large Box Elder tree growing in my backyard. Morning dew (taken around 7:30 a.m.) makes the outdoors so crisp in color. I added a tiny bit of contrast to these in Photoshop, nature did the rest.
I linked up with Photo Friday.
Friday, October 7
Photo Friday ~ Box Elder
This is a root of a large Box Elder tree growing in my backyard. Morning dew (taken around 7:30 a.m.) makes the outdoors so crisp in color. I added a tiny bit of contrast to these in Photoshop, nature did the rest.
I linked up with Photo Friday.
Thursday, October 6
Wilmington Island Marsh Mud Cake
recipe from Pauladeen.com
This is my first recipe ever from Paula Deen. I love Paula! I have her baking/cooking products and have no idea why it took me this long to try one of her recipes.
This cake is delish!!! Rich and decadent and definitely party worthy.
Cake:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cocoa
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
4 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 half cups all purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
Frosting:
Ingredients:
1, 16 oz box light brown sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1, 10.5 oz package miniature marshmallows
Preheat oven to 350
Grease 9 x 13 x 2 inch pan
Stir cocoa in mixing bowl with butter. Add eggs, flour, sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat well with mixer. Fold in nuts. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35 minutes.
While cake is baking, prepare frosting.
Scald the milk.
How to scald milk:
1. In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, add milk and heat on medium-low.
2. Stir frequently to ensure milk doesn't thicken and burn on bottom of pan.
3. Keep heating the milk until it starts to steam and small bubbles start to form around the edges of the pan.
*It's important not to boil the milk!
Beat the brown sugar and butter together. Add cocoa, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
Remove cake from oven when done and pour marshmallows over the hot cake.
Pour frosting over marshmallows on top.
Do you wonder why the cake looks like someone took a bite out of it? Well, someone did. His name is John and he is lucky he is cute!
NOTE: Both the cake and the frosting are "gritty". Great texture and it should be, after all it's a mud cake...
Also I will make one change the next time I make this. We didn't care for the massive amount of marshmallows used for the topping. Instead of using a full 10.5 oz bag, I will just cover the top completely with one layer.
Wednesday, October 5
Tuesday, October 4
Oven Fried Pork Chops
I could eat pork chops on a weekly basis. John and Spencer aren't as fond of them so I am always trying to find a way to make them more appealing to them. This breading is light and adds so much flavor. Big hit with all of us. Quick, easy and delicious.
Ingredients:
4 pork chops, trimmed (any kind will do; I using buy what's on sale)
2 Tbls. salted butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 cup plain bread crumbs
1 Tbls. Lawry's seasoning salt
Preheat oven to 425. Pour butter into 9 x 13 inch oven safe pan.
Beat eggs and add pepper, stir. In separate bowl, mix bread crumbs and Lawry's. Dip chops in egg mixture and then in bread crumb mixture, evenly coating them. Place in pan.
Bake for 10 minutes. Turn chops and bake another ten minutes or until coating is lightly browned. Enjoy!
Monday, October 3
Sunday, October 2
Camera Critters ~ Ladybug
John surprised me this weekend with Lightroom 3! This is a photographer's (amateur or otherwise) dream editing software. He even found me some online tutorials. Isn't he just the BEST!?
After I stopped drooling, I edited these photos first in Photoshop, then in Lightroom. I am in love...
Also, hello to all my new followers! Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope to find some time today to return the favor. Can't wait to get to know you all!
I linked up with Camera Critters.
Saturday, October 1
Cookbooks & Gluesticks Blog Hop ~ A Spooky Fun Time!
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