Huntington Library

While I was in California we visited the Huntington Library. Here's Mia checking out a fountain.

I was given permission to show this photo of the kids. 

But we need to look again because someone is missing! 

And here he is! 

We saw some pretty flowers. 

And a rainbow! 

And more pretty flowers. 

And a butterfly...

which really made me miss this girl! 

Memorization Cards

If you read this blog last week you know it was my sister's birthday. I made her a humongous chocolate cake and printed some cards to make it easier for her to memorize The Living Christ. We both have that as a goal- to memorize it word-perfect, before the end of the year.

I thought I would show you the cards I found and printed so if you'd like to memorize it too, you may wish to do what I did. 

This is the first card, or the "cover sheet" and this is where you can download the cards for yourself.  

Each card comes with a picture and a small phrase or sentence of TLC. 

After you start getting some of that memorized you can switch to the group cards like the card shown below. 

And when you feel comfortable with that, you can skip to the key word cards and see if you can fill in the gaps. 

They also have cards with "fill in the blank" spots to see if you're really getting it (those cards are not shown here).
So far, I have the first four cards memorized (you can see the first four cards on the picture that says "As we commemorate..." and ends with "will yet live upon the earth," with a ton more cards to go before I complete this goal.
I had to switch the format from pdf to jpg, and thanks to my daughter, Laura, and her marvelous step by very patient step, I now know how to do that! Let me know if you'd like the jpg versions of these cards and I'll figure out a way to get them to you so you can memorize TLC with my sister and me!

Where's Waldo?

No, you're not really looking for Waldo.

Just because I'm at the ERC and can't post something real, and because I found this thumb drive in my purse, and because I thought it would be fun, can you find anyone you know in this photo?

Happy Birthday Sister!

This is my sister. Today is her birthday! It's a special birthday because her age and her birth year are the same number this year! 

This is us on our favorite vacation together back in 2006. This particular shot is in Estonia. 

Same vacation, but in St. Petersburg, Russia

Happy Birthday, Sister! I hope your day is full of fun and you will know how special you are.  There are so many people who love and admire you for all the good things you do for so many around you! Thanks for always being my cheerleader, and thanks, thanks, thanks for being my neighbor! Love ya!

Pumpkin Caramel Cupcakes

Empty Nesters was Saturday night. I thought I was going to make the Glazed Lemon Cake recipe that is in OBB's brand new cookbook, but I didn't have any instant lemon pudding. I did have some cook-n-serve, but didn't think that would be a good substitution. So, I put on my thinking cap. What else was in the cupboard? Jell-O instant Pumpkin Spice pudding! Okay, let's go with that!

Mixing up the cupcakes is a cinch. Then squirt caramel sauce down into the cooled unfrosted cupcake.

Top it with stabilized whipped cream, drizzle some caramel sauce on top and finish off with a dusting of pumpkin pie spice. I had multiple requests for the recipe. Since I kind of just made it up, I knew I had to hurry home and write it down!

Pumpkin Caramel Cupcakes
1 (18.25 oz) box yellow cake mix
1 (3.4 oz) instant Jell-O Pumpkin Spice pudding & pie filling
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
3/4 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1/2 cup whipping cream (but you could probably use milk)
1/4 cup water
Preheat oven to 350°. Blend all ingredients on low for a few seconds, then beat on medium speed for two minutes. Fill 24 cupcake liners 2/3 full of batter. Bake 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick tests clean. Cool for five minutes in the pan, then move cupcakes to two 9x13 pans and cover the pan with plastic wrap until cupcakes are completely cool.

Caramel Sauce
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 T water
1/4 tsp salt (if using salted butter, omit the salt here)
1/2 cup whipping cream (or evaporated milk)
1 T vanilla extract
Combine butter, brown sugar, water and salt (if using) in a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil, and cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on how thick you want it. Remove from heat, add the cream and vanilla. It's going to react, so be ready to whisk it into submission. Cool until you're able to handle it (the caramel, not the stress). Shortcut: use pre-made caramel sauce!

Stabilized Whipping Cream
2 tsp Knox gelatin
8 tsp cool water
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar (or more if you like it sweeter)
In a small microwaveable dish, add the gelatin and cool water. Let it soften for about a minute. Put the dish in the microwave and cook for 10-15 seconds. Don't let it foam up and boil over! Cool the gelatin down, but don't let it thicken or set.
Whip the cream and powdered sugar until thickened, then slowly add the cooled gelatin while continuing to whip the cream. Whip until stiff, which only takes a few moments after you add the gelatin.

Assembly:
If you have a long tip that you can insert into the cupcake, fill a pastry bag with the semi-cooled caramel. Squeeze a little caramel into the cupcake. If you don't have a long tip, you can cut a cone-shaped piece out of the cupcake, spoon some caramel into it. Cut the long part of the cone off and replace the top (see how much easier it is to have a long tip?).
Frost the cupcake with some stabilized whipping cream, then drizzle a little more caramel over the top of the cream. Sprinkle a little pumpkin pie spice onto the top of the cupcake. Ta-da!  
P.S. Referring to yesterday's post, it's stuff like this that is the reason why I need to go on a diet.

Brothers

You might think that Bud only has one brother, Joseph, the fellow on Bud's right. Well, if you count half-brothers, Bud has too many to count. We spent last Saturday morning inside this place. It was Mike's first time and he asked Bud to be his escort.

I think Mike looks more like Bud than Joseph, other than the obvious age difference (click on the photo for an enlargement so you can see what I mean). 

I know, I know. I'm going on a diet immediately. 

This other guy is Dan, and his wife, Anna. Dan is Mike's home teacher (Mike isn't short, these two are TALL!). They were also the witness couple on the session, so Mike got to sit between Dan and Bud. Pretty cool. Another cool thing was that our session's Adam and Eve were Mike's temple prep teachers! It was a very special day and we were happy to be a part of it!
P.S. Mike is single so if anyone is interested, you could be my sister-in-law. Wouldn't that be fun?

Who Dunnit

I carry a camera in my purse. I don't use it often. The other day I checked the SD card to see what needed to be downloaded to the computer. I found a bunch of pictures on there that I didn't remember taking. They looked like this.

I'm pretty sure I didn't take these pictures. 

And, I'm pretty sure this sweetie pie didn't do it either. 

So that just leaves these two. I'll only give you one guess which one it was. This should be an easy game. Bonus points if you can guess where those mystery pictures were taken! I'll let you think about it while I go get my new cookbook signed! P.S. that's a hint right there.

Going To Gygi's

Last week we had a Stake barbecue. No, they did not barbecue steaks at the stake barbecue. I had signed up to bring a dessert. No surprise there. I wanted to use up what I had on hand, so this is what I made. Both cupcakes are basically the same, but one is topped with sprinkles and the other with a boysenberry.

The frosting is Pastry Pride which was whipped up a week or so ago. It stayed fresh in the refrigerator very nicely. 

Inside the cupcake I squirted in some raspberry filling. I've been trying to use that up for a while. The random lady we sat across from at the barbecue bit into the cupcake (she took one with the berry) and proclaimed, "Mmm, this is gooood!" She didn't know me, nor did she know I'd brought those cupcakes. I smiled. 

The Pastry Pride and raspberry filling were both bought from Gygi's. I'm on my way to Gygi's tomorrow to get some of these books signed by Sara and Kate! Might as well pick up some more Pastry Pride and raspberry filling. Now that I've used it up, I need to re-stock! And yes, Jenny, I'll probably buy some sprinkles. What's a trip to Gygi's without buying sprinkles?