Kindergarten

Seriously, how stinking cute are my kids. Jackson started Kindergarten on Tuesday. I can't believe he is old enough to be going to kindergarten. It seems like just yesterday I was holding him and teaching him to walk. Then he runs into the Kindergarten room. I am so excited for him and all that is in store for him. Miley has cried everyday that we have dropped Jackson off for school because she wants to go to big girl school. It breaks my heart, but I am going to keep her close. Time goes by super fast.

Happy Valentines Day!!

I just wanted to share with you all who my valentines are this day.

I am one lucky girl!! Happy Valentines Day!

FLORIDA!!

The Grand Floridian Hotel

The Animal Kingdom Lodge (this was incredible)

Just outside the LEGO store in Downtown Disney

if you can't tell made entirely out of LEGOS

Bon Jour!

EPCOT welcome sign

The giant golf ball . . . pretty cool!

Does this help my head look smaller???
China . . . never thought I would visit there . . . nice place.

This was purely for research purposes for when I open my own pastry shop!!

Just a giraffe having lunch with me outside the Animal Kingdom Lodge

Ryan and I had a chance to go to Florida, just the two of us, for a week. It was so much fun. Ryan had a Educators conference down there and I tagged along. We were able to go to EPCOT on the Tuesday that we were down there which was AWESOME. I loved all the countries and the food. Needless to say we spent way too much money in France with all their yummy pastries. While Ryan was at his conference I hit the many outlet malls, and toured some of the Disney hotels, and slept. I had my trusty Ford Focus and my GPS, I totally owned Orlando. I was also able to go to and see a cousin that I rarely ever get to see who lives down there. It was so much fun to sit and talk and catch up. Thanks Angie for a great afternoon. All in all we had an incredible trip. We were certainly glad to come home and see our kids. As nice as it was to be away for a while we really missed them. They couldn't care less that we were gone. They were having way too much fun with Grandmas, Aunts, and Cousins. I can't wait to go back to Orlando, this time I would like to take the kids and do all the Disney parks with them. So much fun.

Orlando Temple

Banana Bread Pudding at Ohana restaurant . . .

it was INCREDIBLE!!!

Tres Leches

Okay, so I don't mean to make this a food blog. There are a lot of great things happening in my life right now. I just got home from an incredible week in Florida with my husband, without kids. Did you know that you can sleep in and take a shower all in the same day?? I know pretty crazy. I also have been able to play with my kids a lot, things are going great. Since it is so cold outside I find myself cooking a lot. Hence, all the recipes. Tonight we are having the missionaries over for dinner and some good friends of ours. We are having a little Mexican buffet and I thought it would be fun to try Tres Leches. I had all the ingredients which means I didn't have to go to the store . . . bonus. So I found this recipe and made a couple little tweeks to it, and it is INCREDIBLE!!!! Please try it and let me know what you think. Don't be scared of the fancy name. It is so easy to make. ENJOY!

Tres Leche
found on allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 5 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour one 9x13 inch baking pan.
2. Sift flour and baking powder together and set aside.
3. Cream butter or margarine and the 1 cup sugar together until fluffy. Add eggs and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract; beat well.
4. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture 2 tablespoons at a time; mix until well blended. Pour batter into prepared pan.
5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Pierce cake several times with a fork.
6. Combine the whole milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk together. Pour over the top of the cooled cake.
7. Whip whipping cream, the remaining 1 cup of the sugar, and the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla together until thick. Spread over the top of cake. Be sure and keep cake refrigerated, enjoy!

Amanda's Notes: I used 1% milk instead of whole milk. Turned out just fine. Then I also used cool whip instead of whipping cream and sugar. I topped my off with some strawberries.

Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

picture from Zupas.com

Okay so this is a follow up from my last post. This is a copy cat recipe for Zupas' Creamy Tomato Basil Soup. This is so good to mix in with the Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup.

• 4 tomatoes - peeled, seeded and diced
• 4 cups tomato juice
• 14 leaves fresh basil
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup butter
• salt and pepper to taste

recipe found in allrecipes.com

1. Place tomatoes and juice in a stock pot over medium heat. Simmer for 30 minutes. Puree the tomato mixture along with the basil leaves, and return the puree to the stock pot.
2. Place the pot over medium heat, and stir in the heavy cream and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Heat, stirring until the butter is melted. Do not boil.

Definitely use fresh tomatoes. I used canned and it didn't taste as good, so we made some with real. Holy Cow so good. Try this and let me know what you think.