Friday, May 18, 2012

You're home!

Hey Jessica,

So I feel weird writing to you because you are home. But here it goes . . .

Yesterday I took the AP Econ Macro and Micro tests. I was at the testing center ALL day. Except for the five minute dash to Burgerville for milkshakes in between tests. It kinda sucked. And it was really sunny all day too! I was only outside in the thirty minutes between tests. It was sad. Afterwards I went to my friends house and ate a ton of ice cream. Then I vegetated on the couch for like two and a half hours. I was kinda brain dead. I don't think I may ever recover! I also think I know too much econ for any one person how isn't an economist. However I think it would be more correct to say that I think I know too much econ. I probably don't actually know anything. Well maybe the basic supply and demand curves. And that's basically it.

Jennifer is painting some pretty cool stuff. If you haven't seen her oil painting blog you should check it out. She's pretty amazing!

Ya, this is weird, you know everything that has happened to me since you wrote. So I'm just going to leave it like this. Except . . . BROWNIE RECIPE!

You know I love brownies . . . well I fixed up a recipe I found in my cookbook and made it awesome! So here it is!

Cocoa Brownies with Mini Chocolate Chips
(I don't have a picture because Mom sent them off to Jennifer for her birthday before I had time to take a picture.)

Ingredients:


  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons butter or margarine
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/3 + cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Line 8-inch square pan with foil by turning the empty pan upside down then covering the bottom of the pan with foil, shiny side out, then removing the foil. Place the foil in the inside of the pan.Grease foil.
  3. In bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt.
  4. In 3-quart saucepan (or microwave), melt butter over low heat.
  5. Remove saucepan from heat; with spatula, stir in sugar, then eggs, one at a time, vanilla, and oil until well blended.
  6. Stir in flour mixture.
  7. Spread batter in prepared pan; sprinkle with chocolate chips.
  8. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted 2 inches from center comes out almost clean. Cool brownies completely in pan on wire rack, about two hours.
  9. When cool, lift foil, with brownie, out of pan. Peel foil away from sides. Cut brownies into 4 stripes, then cut each strip crosswise into 4 squares.

So ya. Those are some of the best brownies you will ever have. Even if you don't put on the chocolate chips.


See ya!
Melissa

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Guess What?

Hey Melissa!

Being home now is a very different experience then before. First of all, even though it is summer I am intent on getting things done! I am not going to spend 4 months sitting around watching tv. I am trying hard to get a job, but it seems like no one will even look at me because I have no work experience. I haven't even babysat consistently because I was so busy with band and winter percussion. But maybe I'm being impatient. I've only been home for like a week or so. Also, I'm am going to take organ lessons, read lots and lots, and try out tons of new recipes so I won't end up always eating the same things in college.

Guess what? Today is Kevin's one-year-on-a-mission-day! He has been serving in Londrina Brazil for one year today! I am so proud of him and the work he is doing. I love reading his e-mails home every week. Mom has been putting them in a blog. You can read them here. I sent a snail-mail letter to him a few days ago. I wanted to send him a paper crane, so I made a red one and named him Eduardo. Unfortunately, the letter came back. Apparently the post office doesn't like sending paper cranes in normal envelopes. So sad... So I took Eduardo out, updated the letter and re-sent it! I hope he actually writes me back this time! (He's only written me back once, but that's ok, he's super busy)

Funny story... Today Mom is going to a relief society party and is bringing a cake, so I helped her make a cookie monster cake. The funny thing is that for Kevin's first birthday, Mom also made a cookie monster cake. (And it's his one-year-on-a-mission-day. Funny coincidence, right?) So Mom made the cake and the frosting and somehow I ended up frosting it all with her guidance. It looks so cute!




More fun stuff: Mom's birthday was a few weeks ago!! Happy Birthday Mom! Her favorite cake is carrot cake, so I made her favorite recipe of it. We've eaten this recipe many times before, but this was the first time I made it. And guess what? I'm going to share it with you! I don't understand how, but the picture seems to have gotten lost. I'll put it up when I find it!

Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

4 eggs, well beaten
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 cups unbleached flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 cups finely grated carrots
1 cup coconut (optional)
1 8 oz can crushed pineapple
1 cup golden raisins
1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Oil 3 8 in pans. Set out butter and cream cheese to soften (for frosting). Put pineapple in strainer to drain.

Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add sugars and beat until light and fluffy. Add oil and mix well with whisk.

In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Beat in flour mixture into first bowl until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Pour batter into oiled pans. Bake for 40 minutes or until knife comes out clean when inserted in center of cake. Cool slightly and frost.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese
1 1lb. box powdered sugar
3tsp vanilla

Mix together till smooth. Frost between layers and on top. Try toasted coconut for decoration.

So much fun food! I love it!

--Jessica








Thursday, May 3, 2012

Turtle Cupcakes!

Hey Jessica!


My friend's birthday was on Tuesday so me and my other friend, K, made her cupcakes. But not just any cupcakes. Cupcakes decorated and placed so that they look like a turtle. Why a turtle? Because my friend loves turtles! I gave her a turtle that kind of looked like this turtle. It was white with colored polka dots.She collects them like I do. However her collection is not as big as mine. But it's still impressive. And everything in her collection is nice too. She even has a turtle pillow pet. So cute! I think I would like multiple turtle pillow pets. One of the normal ones, the peewee ones, and then the keychain ones. That way they can stack like actual turtles!


I tried to play Mario Kart Wii left handed yesterday. I didn't think it would be that hard, but it was! I have drifting all timed out and perfect right handedly but when I switch it my fingers didn't know what to do! I kept on using items instead of drifting. And when I did drift I went off in the wrong direction! Not like that doesn't happen normally, but it happened more when I played left handed. I don't think I'll do that again. Maybe when I get so good that I beat everyone without really trying. Like Inigo Montoya. He's so awesome.

Dude. I think I have the right formula for the perfect guy. Are you ready for this? Well here it is:

Westley + Johnny Lingo + (insert favorite prince charming here) = Perfection in guy form (or as close as you can get)

I know. Awesome right? Well if you find that guy, and he has a brother, let me know:)

Melissa