Eleven Layers of Love

How can I even begin to explain how amazing my mom is? She encourages me, supports me, challenges me and loves me. Yesterday was her birthday, and I wanted to make something special. I didn't want to just throw together another cake. This cake took time. It took love. For mom, I made an 11-layer Chocolate Stripe Cake... and boy was it yummy!

In honor of her birthday (and the 11 layers of goodness pictured below), I decided to recap 11 of my favorites memories with my mom...

11. When she made the turkey "dance" each Thanksgiving
10. Our trip to NYC two summers ago - Legally Blonde!
9. When her front tooth fell out in Panera Bread. Still laughing...
8. Her first glimse of me in my wedding dress
7. When her snow tube came unhooked from the lift. She gracefully slid down the mountain, laughing all the way down.

6. Baking large batches of chocolate chip cookies at Christmas
5. "Momma Schell's Crew" - No decription needed.
4. Watching her spray my childhood bedroom with "monster spray"
3. When she put on my rollerblades and took a trip down the driveway... laughing as she bit the dust.
2. When she acted in my 10th Grade English project video about Edgar Allen Poe
1. When she left a pot of boiling eggs on the stove all day.

Cookies & A Cookie Baker

Just the word "cookie" makes my heart skip a beat. I have never met a cookie that I didn't like, but Chocolate Chip cookies have to be my ultimate top-of-the-list favorite. Take a look at these beautiful thick and chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies and enjoy some fun facts that you may not know about me...

Ten Things About ME...

# 10 - I take 2 Finstones chewable vitamins every day, but I refuse to take 2 of the same color.

# 9 - I can wiggle my ears on command

# 8 - When I am home alone, I pretend to host my own cooking show.

# 7 - I don't eat condiments - NO ketchup, mustard, cream cheese...

# 6 - I absolutely love my in-laws, which I hear is pretty rare.

# 5 - I am scared to death of getting my wisdom teeth removed.

# 4 - In college, I ate quesadillas from Moe's four times a week

# 3 - I was once stuck in an elevator with 12 Hungarian people.

# 2 - I have kept every card that Brian gave me while we were dating. Three birthday cards in a row were identical. When asked why he bought the same card three times, he said "it must be a good card."

# 1 - I love breakfast for dinner (especially pancakes)

Moose Pie

What can you make with half of a container of Cool Whip and some chocolate? Try this yummy Moose Pie (also known as "mousse" but I prefer the latter). It is super simple and tastes really yummy on a hot summer day. Enjoy!


Ingredients:
4 squares Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/8 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 tub Cool Whip, thawed
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 cups whole milk
Graham cracker pie crust

Directions:
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl until smooth. Stir in 1/8 cup milk and let the chocolate mixture cool to room temperature. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and then fold in the Cool Whip until combined. Spread the chocolate mixture into the bottom of the graham cracker pie crust.

In a separate bowl, combine the instant pudding mix with 1 1/2 cups cold milk and whisk until the lumps are gone. Pour on top of the chocolate mousse and refrigerate the pie at least 4 hours before serving. Top with shaved chocolate and enjoy!

Let Freedom Ring!

The 4th of July has always been one of my favorite holidays. What could be better than fireworks, family and summertime!? For the past 4 years, Brian and I have gone to Anna Maria Island for the weekend to watch fireworks on the beach and spend time with people that we love! It is such a fun tradition and I look forward to going every summer.

I wanted to bake something special in honor of the holiday, so I decided to bake something red, white and blue... homemade Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting topped with appropriately colored sprinkles, of course.

A Naked Cupcake...

Cookies N' Cream Dream

I love first birthday parties... friends, grilled hot dogs, adorable kids, and of course CAKE! Last week, Brody turned the big 1 and his mom and dad celebrated with a traditional summertime gathering. Although he napped through the first half of the party, I think Brody really had fun opening presents and eating cake!

For the party, I made Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookies & Cream Frosting and Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting.

I love this picture of the birthday boy... he was digging into the mini cake that Jenny made for him and quickly began to fade. He ate more frosting than I have ever seen a child consume. It was like watching a sugar coma take place. So FUNNY! Stacy and Neal, your little one is just too cute words. I love you guys!