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