It's all about the FROSTING.

This weekend, we had our church's local missionaries over for dinner. It's always fun to have those young men with us, and we enjoy cooking up a big meal for appreciative diners!! So we fed our guys some steak fajitas, with all the trimmings....  and they definitely went away full.

Dessert was brownies, (always a fave) which brings me to the point of this post: F-R-O-S-T-I-N-G!!
I posted my brownies-from-scratch recipe back HERE, with an accompanying glossy chocolate frosting recipe. This time, I did my basic butter frosting instead. So once again, for my kids, here's the recipe.

Actually here is THREE (+1) recipes. Because the variations are so good, and always a good thing to have a good frosting recipe in your pocket.

Basic Butter Frosting

Part of the beauty of this recipe, is that it's simple. Four or five ingredients, and that's it.
Butter
Powdered Sugar
Vanilla extract
Milk
Cocoa Powder

This is the Chocolate Frosting (with cocoa powder) version.
Usually, the base recipe starts with one stick of butter, but this time,because I was making this for a small batch of brownies, I cut the recipe in half.

It's best to let the butter soften before starting.

(Hey, did you catch that GIANT can of Ghirardelli cocoa powder in the photos?? A gift from my brother & sis-in-law, straight from San Francisco --- MMMMmmmmmmm!!!!!)

I usually use my hand mixer, but a stand mixer is fine, too. Get the butter stirred up, and then start adding the powdered sugar in stages. Try not to let the powdered sugar poof up and float all over the room. Ha!

Because this is the cocoa powder version, I add the cocoa powder with the first additions of powdered sugar. And start mixing!

Once the first addition is incorporated, add the next installment of sugar (& cocoa)....

Come to think of it, most of the time I make this frosting, I do this cocoa powder version.

You may get to the point where the whole thing becomes way too thick and cumbersome for the mixer. That's pretty common. You can add the vanilla extract, and even the first part of the milk (or other liquid -- see variations below) to counter that.

You can see in this picture that the mixture is very thick, and in chunks. I had not added any liquid in yet. The reason you wait until the end to add the milk, is because that really controls how spreadable the frosting ends up, and a little bit of milk really goes a long way.

So when you add the milk, add it in increments, too. Do not assume that you will need all of the milk, and just dump it in. Many times, I put in less than the total amount. It can get too runny very quickly on you.

Your end result should be very spreadable, but not runny. It should generally hold soft peaks, but not be stiff. If it's too thick, it doesn't leave the knife/spatula easily, and can sometimes "pull" crumbs from the cake (or brownies!), rather than playing nice and staying on the surface.

This is actually a touch on the thick side. I could have added a bit more milk to it.
Also, the more you mix it, the more air will be incorporated, and the fluffier the frosting is. This is neither "good" or "bad", it's just good to know, based on what you want for your results. It's the difference between creamy and fluffy -- either one us really good!!

My kids will recognize my typical swirly diagonal frosting pattern -- you can do whatever you want. Just make it look good!!

And don't forget to lick the beaters!!

(I told her she's spoiled, because she got to lick both beaters! When I was a kid, I had to share with my brother!)

Oh, and add some sprinkles on top of the brownies, too. For good measure!
(I forgot to take pictures with the sprinkles. And, the sprinkles didn't stick well this time, because the frosting was so thick. But it was sooo good!!)

So here's the actual recipe variations..... the method is the same for all of them.

Vanilla Butter Frosting

1 stick butter, softened (1/2 cup)
4 1/2 c. powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla extract
3 T. milk  ..... about.

Mix powdered sugar and butter. Stir in vanilla extract and milk (in stages!!). Beat until frosting is smooth and of spreading consistency. Remember, you can add the extract a little early if the mixture is too thick and cumbersome. You can totally add food coloring for variety -- especially when frosting cupcakes or cookies. This is not meant to be a super-white, or royal icing-type of frosting.


Orange Butter Frosting

1 stick butter, softened (1/2 cup)
4 1/2 c. powdered sugar
3 T. orange juice  ..... about.
2 t. grated orange peel -- if you're feeling gourmet about it.

I tint this with orange food coloring, and use it for frosting sugar cookies in the fall (leaf and pumpkin shapes). This version omits the vanilla, but I bet you could also totally include it, for a creamsicle-type flavor.


Chocolate Butter Frosting
(using baking chocolate)

1 stick butter, softened (1/2 cup)
3 ounces melted unsweetened chocolate (baking chocolate)
3 c. powdered sugar
2 t. vanilla extract
3 T. milk ..... about.


Chocolate Butter Frosting 
(using cocoa powder)

1 stick, + 3 T. butter, softened
3 c. powdered sugar
9 T. cocoa powder
2 t. vanilla extract
3 T. milk ...... about.

(This is the version shown in the photos of this post.)
 Add cocoa powder when adding the powdered sugar. Can be borderline dry, so pay attention to the consistency as you mix.
The reason I make this one more than the other chocolate version, is because I always have cocoa powder in the pantry, and don't necessarily stock baking chocolate.

If you're paying attention, and doing the math, the cocoa powder version simply uses the standard substitution for baking chocolate:

1 square (1 ounce) of baking chocolate = 1 T. butter + 3 T. cocoa powder.


So there you have it!!

Love you guys!! Mwah!

--mom

Life is Fragile

As I write this, my father-in-law is in the hospital, ... ICU. It's one of those unknown ailments that the medical professionals are trying to nail down. But, we've been in to see him for the last three days, and anyone can tell that he's making great improvements every day. We expect him to come home tonight, or perhaps tomorrow.

He's an amazing man, and has been a wonderful father to me, especially since my dad passed away 27 years ago.

He and I have talked many times about sitting down together with the photos and documents of family history that he has. We've both agreed that we need to do this. People he can identify, stories that he knows, who's who and what's what. I want to preserve all this information for my children (and grandchildren, and so on!).

I regret that I have put it off. Delayed. Imagined in my head that we have plenty of time, or that other things are more important. I can't do that any longer. I don't know how long we'll have Weld with us -- hopefully, years and years. But you just never know.

Having him hospitalized in a weakened state sure opened my eyes about that. So, as soon as he's up for it, I'm going to start in with him. We can't let this continue to wait. It's so important!!

And this does not discount in any way the fact that sitting down with my mother-in-law is of paramount importance, too. She recently underwent knee replacement surgery and is in recovery and healing stages from that. My, aren't they a pair!!!


I also have a very, very dear friend whom I've known since we were kids. Loralyn and I have been friends for ages!! She's pretty darn amazing, too. I LOVE that she came to visit me for a WHOLE WEEK last summer -- such a blast!!

She also has had issues with her heart -- the real one, beating inside her. This last weekend, she went to the E.R. because her heart was fibrillating again. She's ok now, but she keeps tabs on how her body is doing. LOVE her!!

Again, I'm reminded that life is fragile!! I hug Emma a little tighter -- she's the only kid still within arm's reach! With the rest of my family, I call, text, message, email, snail-mail, SnapChat, Skype, ....... all wonderful ways to keep in contact. I hope they understand why --- because I love them all so much, my heart swells! (My kids probably roll their eyes because their momma is contacting them again!)


And I look at my sweetheart & best friend, unable to imagine what life would be like, if he were unable to work, move, or think. Oh, my ........ I snuggle close to him and thank my Heavenly Father for him every single day -- I am so blessed!

And ...... being almost-empty-nesters is kind of fun, too ---- we've been enjoying movie nights for two lately, --- and lacking anyone younger or stronger, he occasionally has me help out in the master bathroom remodeling project ...... I love that improving things is his hobby. And it's not every couple that goes to work in the same place, either! Did I mention that he cooks, too??  Love him!!

A Llama?! He's Supposed to be Dead!

So, Miss Emma has been missing her siblings immensely, now that they're all off to college, or married, or both. Mom and Dad are probably not the most exciting company, though we do try to take up the slack in the entertainment department.

For Christmas, Grandma gave Emma an adorable felt sewing kit (American Girl brand), and she's worked on it every few days. Last Friday (which was no school), she finished up the last of it. She liked it so much, we went back to JoAnn Fabrics, and got her another kit.

This first kit was a pair of llamas:

(phone photo!)

They're really pretty cute.

Our standing joke is the line from, "The Emperor's New Groove", when Yzma says:

Kronk: "Yeah. Weird."

Emma will enjoy the next two (4, actually) projects, too: owls, and hedgehogs. I love that it is a great, positive learning experience, which is fun at the same time.

Love our little girl!!

Family.

I was challenged last night to re-commit to journalling. Since this blog has sort of become my "journal", I'm renewing my efforts. Here I am!


My biggest highlight of this past holiday season was having all of my children home once more. If only for a few days, we were all there together, and it makes my heart swell.

In our church, at 8 years old, a child can be baptized. Usually this happens in the same month as the birthday. Since Darcie was off overseas for Emma's birthday month, Emma wanted to delay her baptism until Darcie could be back here, too. So, her baptism was on December 30th, and all of her siblings were here with her for it. Brandon & Cecilia and the grandbabies came for nearly a week, and Alyssa and Andrew traveled up for several days, too. (Cameron and Darcie were both at home, since they were between semesters at college.)

I am so grateful that they all agreed to a family photo shoot that New Year's weekend, too! It was pretty darn cold, but our photographer was up for it, and she got some great shots. I feel so blessed!! Here are some of my favorites:

Love this little growing family!!
(Brandon and Cecilia are expecting Baby #3 in June: It's a GIRL!!!)

Andrew and Alyssa have been doing really well -- they make me smile, too!

This little girl keeps me young. Or, at least, she keeps me TRYING to be young!!

Darcie's semester abroad in London has been an absolutely wonderful experience for her.

We are so glad she was able to take advantage of the opportunity!

We have been truly blessed by having Cameron home this past Fall (and other Autumns, too!). He is one awesome young man!

(I think that last one is my favorite shot, of the whole bunch!)

Oh, how I love this guy!! He makes my heart happy. Every. Single. Day.

Mwah!!!

Grandbabies are like the cherry on top!!

As I write this, I can't wipe the smile off my face.

These amazing people are my world!! They are each unique personalities, and I love them for that. And I absolutely LOVE that even as most of them are adults now, ..... they are absolutely FRIENDS with each other.

My heart is so full!!!

blogging updates ....

And then there's that moment, when you start a blog post, you upload some of the photos, but you don't actually insert them in the post. And your computer runs an update during "off-peak" hours. And then all the uploaded photos get dumped.

Time to start the blog post. Again.

June 2016. Summer ROCKS!!!

I've said it before -- I love summertime!! 

Not that I don't love each season as it comes along, but there's a sense of freedom about summer that is especially nice. I've had Kenny Chesney's "Summertime" song running through my head almost daily lately:

Maybe you'll let it run in the background while you scroll through this post on June.

June specifically means that school's out! It means the relentless schedule finally lets up. Sleeping in can happen. Todd again hosted his Sunday School class for a pizza & movie party, and man -- those teenagers sure enjoy sleeping in, too!

If Excited-For-Summer were an Olympic event, these boys would have it NAILED.

Those kids love his pizza, because he cooks it out on the smoker. It gets a great crust on it, and the cheese & crust take on the smoke flavor really nicely. It's like having it cooked in a wood-fired pizza oven. SO good!!

For myself, I've turned down the "sleep-in" option this summer, and that's also been rewarding. As soon as Seminary let out, I started heading out each day for an early-morning walk, and documenting it with a daily Snapchat to my hubby & kids. You never know what you might see while you're out walking:

Pretty cool. Even though I was far from it, I could hear the propane burner firing in it.

That is definitely a bucket-list item!

Alyssa decided that Miss Emma needed a big hairbow for softball -- like all the big girls have. So when she packaged up & sent the personalized bow, she went a little crazy and sent a whole box of sunshine to go with it!

Emma was thrilled, to say the least!

(I think I need to kidnap those caramels. She'll never miss them!)

June also brought an early raspberry harvest, and Emma jumped right on that .....

(Pink gardening boots are the best!!)

Then she took the camera. Despite the headless Momma look .....

.... she got a good shot of the berry bushes:

... and some mud on her boots:

It was already hot, and even though we were out picking in the early evening, she slipped back inside (Um, what about those muddy boots??),

and fixed up a tray full of icy-cold water glasses for each of us to have.

My heart melts when my kids do stuff like that on their own!!

It was a good picking!

The next morning, Emma wanted to learn how to make raspberry jam.

When your kids ask for stuff like that --- like, teach me how to do useful things -- don't hesitate for a moment, -- DO IT!!

She participated in every part of jam-making.

(Blender, instead of just mashing the berries.)

Stirring, ladling ....

And lifting the hot jars out of the canner. Later, she labeled her jars, too. I think that merits an entry in the County Fair this fall!!

Softball continued...... now with the fashionable bow in her hair!!

But the weather wasn't always pretty. We came home from the game that day and had a bright double-rainbow out the back view:

Father's Day weekend was a lot of fun ..... Todd actually spent the week ahead of it smoking 12 pork shoulders!

Only 4 at a time fit on the smoker, so for three days straight, he drove the neighbors crazy with the smell of that deliciousness!! Mmmmmmm.

(That's a honey-raspberry rub on those, in case you're wondering!)

All that pulled pork went to a church picnic dinner at a nearby state park.

I think my stomach is growling, just thinking about it!!

Todd also got busy and made the BEST tire swing in the back yard:

I think some of the older kids are a bit jealous, because he we didn't put this up when they were young. Emma's sure enjoying it, though!!

Best part of Father's Day Weekend, was that these two came up for a long-deserved visit!!

We've sure missed Brandon and Cecilia and their TWO kiddos!! Wish we were a bit closer, but it makes the reunions all the sweeter!

Biased grandma here, but these two munchkins are SO adorable!!

Gathered the whole local family around for a barbecue on Father's Day .... more deliciousness, and the best company to share it with!

Those Hufaker "kids"!! Missing Kerry and Shelly,  -- and you'd think they pre-planned to coordinate outfits, but not really!!

We also grabbed a four-generation Huffaker picture while we had the chance, too:

Later, we got the female version of it, too. Definitely an un-planned photo, as I'm wearing softball coaching stuff, and Giselle looks like she's in her jammies!

(Adding a couple more kiddos into this crazy shot:)

I love the sheer joy in Giselle's face:

Darius gives a stare-down to Uncle Wade:

One evening, while Brandon and Cecilia were here, we made some back yard s'mores:

 And I discovered (after all these years) that I have NOT been doing s'mores right.

I've always thought that s'mores are kind of dry, and not very exciting. I didn't see the appeal. That night, I figured out what my problem was: my proportions were wrong!

Old recipe: 2 graham crackers 1 marshmallow, 1 square of regular Hershey bar.

No, no, no, no, no.n That's all wrong.

It should be:

New recipe: 2 graham crackers, TWO marshmallows, and 1 square of a mega-Hershey bar. (I'm not sure what they call that size..... like the 1-pound size bar)

Holy revelations!!

With the amounts of chocolate and marshmallow adjusted, suddenly this snack makes sense to me!! The graham cracker only needs to be there to hold it all together -- not to be the major component. The chocolate must [be adequate, no skimping here!] ---- not be cold, so it can properly begin melting when it meets the hot marshmallow. And the marshmallows go on each side of the chocolate, so there's never a cold side (refer to photo above!)

At last, I see the light!!

Maybe you already knew all that, but it was news to me!!

And, finally ..... there's this big guy:

I can't express enough how grateful I am for him, and for the immense amount of work, energy, and effort that he puts into our home, our yard, our family, our business ...... he is amazing!! I won the lottery when I made this catch, and I'm going to get mushy and say I love him so, SO much!!

HE'S THE BEST!!!

( Happy Father's Day, Sweetie!!!)

(again!)

MWAH!!!!