Texas Sheet Cake

I was born in Texas. Austin, to be exact. Cake is one of my favorite desserts. So it is fitting that I made this...

This is how you describe Texas Sheet Cake: Yummy-Chocolateness

Texas Sheet Cake by Paula Dean

Cake Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Frosting Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup cocoa
6 Tbsp. milk
1 lb. box powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine butter, water, and cocoa in a saucepan over medium heat. Heat until butter is completely melted. Once butter is melted, pour in a mixing bowl and add the remaining ingredients. (Be careful about the eggs, you may want to temper them before you add them to this mixture) Mix ingredients thoroughly and pour into a greased 15X10X1-inch jelly roll pan. Bake for 20 minutes. For frosting, combine butter, cocoa, and milk in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Once mixture boils, remove from heat and pour into a mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat well. Pour on top of hot sheet cake.

*Do not prepare the frosting too early because it will harden in the bowl. I get my ingredients together while the cake is baking. Once I remove the cake from the oven, I prepare the frosting and spread it over the cake. Also, the frosting will run over the cake quickly because it is hot. Be careful not to pour too quickly because the frosting will run over the edges of the sheet pan.*

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He is Risen!

I love Easter. Each year something specific sticks out to me in a new way. No, it wasn't the Easter eggs or the wonderful food or even being with family. It was the overwhelming joy that Christ has Risen from the grave and He has conquered sin and death! I've heard those words my entire life, but this year they rang clearer than ever. Just think about that... He has conquered sin and death... I can barely even wrap my mind around that, and still it brings me to my knees in praise and thanksgiving. That God would send His son to pay the penalty for my sin is unfathomable. Oh, what love he has for me and for you!

Easter is a time to celebrate our Savior and celebrate in the midst of friends and family. JT and I enjoyed lunch with my parents and 15 or more friends of our's. The food was delicious and thanks to Paula Deen, I've found a new favorite recipe of cookies: Thumbprint Cookies. See below for the recipe!


My friend said that the cookies tasted like facy pop-tarts. She's right! They're great with coffee or as a light dessert.

Paula Deen's Tumbprint Cookies:

3 sticks butter, softened
1 c. sugar
2 egg yolks
3 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Any tart preserve (I used Raspberry Preserves, yum!)

Cream butter and sugar. Add egg yolks. Sift flour and salt; blend into butter mixture. Add vanilla. Chill dough thoroughly. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Make indentation in center of each with thumb; fill with preserves (jelly or pecan halves will also work). Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly; remove to rack to finish cooling. Theese keep well in a tightly closed container.
Enjoy!

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Being crafty

Last weekend, JT and I decided to be crafty. Yes, this was an idea that was spurred on by my husband. How great is he?! It all started when we were in one of our favorite stores, Crate and Barrel, looking at pretty things. We saw these paintings on the wall, and in our frugal minds thought, "We could paint those ourselves".... so we did.

It started with one trip to Michael's and a wonderful Saturday afternoon.

We even bought the tray to mix our primary colors in! Flashes of elementary school came back when we were trying to remember how to make certain colors.

This was JT's first creation. Each box is a completely different color.
Tada! The boxes and stripes were done by JT and I did the leaf one in the middle.
The paintings are sitting behind our table in our living/dining/family room :)

After the project was finished. We stood back and realized how fun the whole process was! We've now decided that we want to do something "crafty" every month. Who knows what next month's project will be!

Last weekend was also Superbowl Sunday! Our church had a party and played the game on the big projection screen. Too bad my team didn't win (always root for the underdog). I enjoyed making my chocolate footballs for fans to enjoy :) This is how crafty I can be thanks to www.kraftfoods.com. It's a great website for easy, creative, simple meals!

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