Well.........the diet starts in January

December is sort of like my superbowl of baking.  I literally bake all month and this year was no exception.

Here are some of my creations:

Giant Chewy Ginger Cookies

Chocolate Crinkles, Cherry-Almond Bars, Rasberry Surprise Cookies

Mexican Sugar-Cinnamon Cookies

Sweet Chili Spiced Pecans and Almonds

Nutella Fudge sprinkled with sea salt

Hot Chocolate Cupcakes

And of course, Christmas is not complete in our house without the classic rolled sugar cookies covered in frosting and sprinkles!

Merry Christmas from my kitchen to yours!

I kept my neighbors swimming in sweets the whole month of December.

girl time

Em and I were on our own last weekend.  Paul had offered to help Jim move some things from their Colorado home to their house in Texas, Tyson went along for the ride.  Soooooooo us girls decided to bake.  What else would we do on a cold December day?

 She was so focused. 

Love that little hand.

Can I interest you in a Christmas tree cookie perhaps?

I have to say that this was the first time that I let go of my control/ perfection issues (also known as Monica, but only true Friends fans would know what that term means) and I allowed Emmy to do all the steps herself with the exception of the handling anything hot.  She mixed and stirred, she shaped, she decorated.  Mama is proud!

Double Chocolate Pumpkin cake with my little punkin

As the temperature cools down I can't help but turn the oven on and bake, bake, and more baking!!!  I have an addiction.  My name is Jill and my week is not complete if I haven't used my mixer at least twice.  I was scrolling through different recipe blogs and I found this delicious looking Double Chocolate Pumpkin Cake with a Spice Buttercream.  Sold! 

 

What you need to make this decadent cake:

1 box devils food cake mix

1 small box chocolate fudge instant pudding

1/2 c canola oil

1/2 c milk

1/2 c sour cream

4 eggs

1 -15 ounce can pumpkin (reserve about 2 tablespoons for for buttercream)

2 c semi sweet chocolate chips

Spice buttercream

2 sticks unsalted softened butter

2 T pumpkin

1/4 t cinnamon

4 cups powdered sugar

2-3 T milk

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 9x5 loaf pans with cooking spray and line bottom with parchment paper.

• In a mixing bowl place all cake ingredients and mix till well combined, about 2 minutes.  Divide cake batter into two loaf pans and bake for 50-60 minutes.  Let cool in pans for about 10 minutes then turn out onto cooling racks.

• Once cakes are cool place butter, 2 T reserved pumpkin, and cinnamon into bowl.  Mix on high till well combined then slowly add powdered sugar until thick and creamy.  Slowly add the milk till desired consistency.  Frost over cooled cakes then slice. 

 Warning:  It's dangerously moist and delicious!                                     

I know, more baking........it's what I do!

As if Easter sugar cookies weren't enough I decided to create some cute Robin's Eggs Nest cupcakes. They were super cute and super easy. I've outlined the steps with help from my sous chef:

First, bake cupcakes....any kind, they can be from a box.

Second, tint about 2 cups of coconut green (we used 2 drops green, 1 drop yellow). Mix it in bowl, stirring until desired color then bake in a 250 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until dry.

Next, you need icing. I like the blue. But any color would be pretty.

Stir, stir, stir

Then if you weigh 29 pounds and are this cute you can sneak a taste or two.

Last, you frost them, sprinkle some grass (coconut) and drop a few mini Easter whoppers on top.

Happy Easter!

Baking with my bunnies

They were eager to get started. It was all I could do to get a "before" shot.

I sort of have Easter blahs this year, so a little baking with my kiddos usually can get me in my happy place. This is the first Easter EVER we haven't spent with my parents. I guess I need to accept that we moved and it's just not a quick trip up here for them. I'll get used to it........it's just going to take some time.

These two faces definitely make things a little better.

Blood, Sweat and Cookies.....

It's no secret that I LOVE to bake. So Christmas time is like the Superbowl of baking for me. This year I couldn't wait to dive in to my new kitchen and whip up some cookies for all of my sweet new neighbors.

Emmy was pretty interested in being a part of the baking and really wanted to help.

Even though her idea of helping meant rolling out her own 3 inch piece of cookie dough and stabbing it uncontrollably with the end of her little rolling pin, I was still happy she had an interest in my favorite pastime.

Tyson would come in just to decorate. He can't pass up some icing and sprinkles.

Little Miss checking on the cookies. She loves that my oven light button is right at her level
.

Ta Da!!!

snow capped little trees

decorated sugar

a family tradition, pan de Polvo or also known as reposteria
I make these every year. You can read more about them here.

Packaged and ready for delivery!

Two days worth of baking and at least six months worth of calories, Merry Christmas!!!

Peace, Love and Cupcakes

I made these rainbow cupcakes for Tyson's birthday back in May and I really enjoyed the finished product. I was so stressed about getting them right for his party, I forgot to take pictures. So, when I had the opportunity to make these for Emily's 6th birthday, I had to take lots of pictures. Shelley asked if I could make "tie-dyed" ones for her Em. Of course Emily had specific color requests. Her party had a "peace" theme, complete with tie-dyed shirts for the favors. So naturally.....a tie dyed cupcake was a must.

This what you get when you combine 1 box white cake mix, 4 eggs, 1/2 c oil, 1/2c water, 8 oz sour cream, and one small box vanilla instant pudding. Mix, and divide batter into 5 bowls and drop your choice of food coloring in. Ta Da....

Alternately spoon batter into cupcake liners and bake for 22 minutes.

They're so pretty it seems like a shame to cover them up with frosting.

But they're even prettier inside

Complete with matching "tie-dyed" napkin