Turquoise Thursday: Basic Navy and Turquoise

One of my favorite combinations is turquoise and navy. I wear a ton of black so navy is a nice option.

I have seen quite a few people wearing this necklace. I love that is can be layered, tie in a knot, and worn multiple different ways. It is from one of my favorite stores in Fort Worth, Maverick Fine Western Wear. 

J Crew long sleeve top / J Crew blue purse / Browsing Store - Long Faux Turquoise Beads

Dessert for Two Cookbook Review

Lemon Meringue Pie Cookie

One sentence: Drop everything right now and go buy this cookbook. Immediately. (Ok, so one sentence, and then one word). I have been so excited to get Christina Lane's first cookbook, Dessert for Two. I had pre-ordered it in late fall and it was waiting at my front door upon my recent return from the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Trade Show.

I have no idea how I stumbled across Christina's blog. I think first from her Instagram account, she was living in Manhattan, KS so automatically that gave her street creed due to my love of K-State. She also posted these beautiful pictures of food and loves agriculture. Christina's whole philosophy is taking big batch recipes and scaling it down for two people. Her passion is sweets but she also masterfully does this with cocktails. Her Peach Jalapeño Margaritas were a big hit at our house last summer.

I've already read the cookbook front to back, and made two recipes: Brownie Cookies and Lemon Meringue Pie Cookies (which fits in with my new found love of meringues). I have also determined that if I am going to continue cooking my way through this cookbook I better stock up on eggs.

It wasn't until maybe six months ago or so that I realize what a big deal Christina was or was about to be. I always thought of her as that fun food blogger, that I followed, she would comment on my Instagram photos every once in awhile, and if we lived in the same town we would be friends (that sounded stalkerish). Now she has a cookbook, was a featured chef on the Today show, sold her cookbook on QVC and the Dessert for Two cookbook is a best-seller! I mean she is famous.

I think I did a pretty good job of making these cookies look cookbook perfect and they tasted awesome. 

Part of the reason why the Dessert for Two recipes are so perfect is because the serving sizes are perfect for a two person household. I love to cook and bake but typic cookie or cupcake recipes, really any baking recipe makes way too much for the Boy and I. So I end up freezing, giveaway or eating WAY more than I should.

Christina's cookie recipes usually make about a dozen or a few more, and you get four perfect cupcakes. Next on my list to try are Blueberry Mason Jar Lid Pie, Strawberry Cake, Angel Food cupcakes.

I had a little extra batter so I filled two cupcake liner a third full and make these brownie brights. 

So in conclusion this cookbook rocks. My Pioneer Women cookbook is going to have take a break from my cookbook stand because Dessert for Two has stolen the spotlight! Thanks for the great recipes, Christina, and congratulations. 

Easy Devil's Food Cake

Have you ever made what you thought would be a perfect chocolate cake to only take it out the pan and it falls apart? Well the next time you are either A. asking yourself what to do with a broken cake or B. just craving Devil's Food Cake, this recipe will help you solve your problem. My mom helped me come up with it when I was just a little girl, when we were faced with a similar problem.  Our chocolate cake stuck to the pan, and we needed to figure out how to save that evening's dessert. Now this Easy Devil's Food Cake is a family favorite. 

Ingredients

- One chocolate cake (I usually just pick a box chocolate cake. You'll likely need eggs and oil to make the cake according to recipe). 

- 1 can of cherry pie filling

- 1-2 tubs of Cool Whip (I really like Cool Whip so I used two). If you are feeling extra fancy you can use real whipping cream.

Instructions

1. Bake the chocolate cake accruing to instructions, and then let cool 

2. Tear the chocolate cake into chunks and set aside in a bowl

3. In a large salad or dessert bowl put down a layer of Cool Whip, then a layer of cake, then a layer of cherry pie, repeat until all of the ingredients are used. I like to end with a layer of Cool Whip. If you want to dress up the dessert add some chocolate shaving to the top. 

The last time I made this recipe I didn't need all of the chocolate cake. So I put the remaining cake in a freezer bag and froze it for the next time I want to make the recipe. 

Farm #LikeAGirl

Today, we came pretty close to missing all of the Super Bowl Sunday hoopla. Why?

This is what seven inches of snow looks like on our farm. Then we got another three inches throughout the day. And then it blew, and blew, and blew.

Yes, I grew up in Canada. Yes, I actually like snow. But when snow blows it isn't much fun.

We had put out extra feed and bedding for the cattle yesterday because we knew this weather was coming. The cattle would be ok because of the steps we took yesterday, however, that doesn't mean that they didn't need a little extra warmth.

It doesn't make sense to put out more straw for bedding when it is still snowing and blowing because it will be quickly covered up. So, the Boy and I waited until two this afternoon to venture back outside.
This is how the day went.

Head to the barn and begin loading square straw bales into the back of the mini truck. Start the mini truck. Battery dead. Hook up charger. Wait. Wait. Wait. Ok now we are ready to go. Head to the first pen. Unload bales, wade through snow drifts, get bedding down.

Load ourselves back up, move to the next pen. Get the mini truck stuck.

The Boy goes to get the tractor so we can pull it out while I unload the bales and drag them to the windbreak. Thinking 1. this is a great workout. 2. I wonder how many calories I am burning. 3. Man I am out of shape!

Hook the tractor up to the mini truck. Get it unstuck. Get more bales for the next pen. Get the mini truck stuck again. Repeat all steps and thoughts posted above. 

Needless to say we were a little behind schedule for our Super Bowl Fun, but we made it and had a great time with friends. I really didn't care who won the game, but thought it was good football and a fun halftime show. And I loved this commercial. 

And I am happy to say I Farm #likeagirl.