DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

My latest obsession is the Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks. It's not just pretty good, it's damn delicious. I decided to try my own version at home and it turned out pretty good!

First I heat up some milk. Then I use my fancy Switzerland Caotina Blanc which is a white hot chocolate.

Then I throw in some instant coffee grounds to taste.

Then I put in a few dashes of Pumpkin Pie Spice. Oh Goodness!

Then I inhale the amazing smell of Fall and Christmas. Ahhh pure bliss.

Vanilla Beans

I have been waiting for my order to arrive for a little over 2 weeks now, and yesterday they finally arrived!

My Indian organic vanilla beans arrived to my door in a little cloth pouch.

This was new to me. My address was just written on the front with ballpoint pen ink.

I could smell the beans through the cloth. Oh boy, I was definately in for a treat. I had ordered 50 of them. They came wrapped in bubble wrap and a plastic bag wrapped snuggly around the group of pods.

I have read about various places to store vanilla beans in and decided to go with an extra large mason jar.

The beans I bought were A+ grade that were 7 to 8 inches long, so they are nice size.

Ahhh my beans at last, tucked away for a years worth of baking and ice cream making.



Beer-Batter Cheese Bread

This is one of my favorite go to recipies for a quick easy bread. The ingredients are usually all in the cupboard or fridge and it only uses one bowl while making- easy cleanup! I actually got started on this bread by going to a Tastefully Simple party and ended up buying an overpriced mix to make this. I looked in my trusty Cooks Country cookbook and found this recipie. It is the exact same I swear. It is super delicious-hope you enjoy it.

Beer-Batter Cheese Bread

1 cup shredded cheese of your choice (Use a block of cheese and shread it yourself people)

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

3 Tablespoons white sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 1/4 cups of a light bodied beer (Budweiser, Budlight, Busch light, etc...)

3 Tablespoons of melted butter for dough

1 Tablespoon of melted butter for on the top

First, preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease your loaf pan.

Combine in a bowl the shredded cheese, flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Give it a good stir. Pour the beer into a measuring cup and wait for the foam to go down so the measurement can be accurate.

Dump in the beer and 3 Tablespoons of melted butter. Stir until it is well combined.

Put the batter into the greased loaf pan and even out the batter with a spatula. Get another Tablespoon of butter and melt it down then pour over top.

Put it into the oven and bake for a total of 40 to 45 min depending on your oven. A toothpick should be inserted and come out clean, that is when you will know it is done. About 20 minutes into the cooking I like to rotate the pan so it bakes evenly. After it is done make sure to cool it and keep it in an airtight container. This bread is excellent served a little warm.

Cat Nap Positions

For the past 3 days I have been busy doing homework at my parent's house, soon to be ours, in the sun room. This is the best room of the house and apparently the cats think so too. I do homework on the couch while Be Bop sleeps on the chair. I think he is going to need a chiropractor after this weeks naps. Okay I will grant that this is pretty cute with the pillow and all.
This is Monday's position.




This is Tuesday's position...





This is today's position...










Oh my.

Location:Holy Cross, Iowa

Be Bop

Be Bop was crazy this morning, but I finally caught him taking a rest on the staircase.


He looked pretty content...


That didn't last long...he got the crazy look in his eyes...


Then he went bonkers!


The end.

Location:Holy Cross, Iowa

10 Inches Lighter

So today was a big day. I didn't tell anyone, I just made the appointment and went in by myself. I got 10 inches cut off my hair and am donating it to Locks of Love. I feel privileged to have been a part of this elite club of people. After Angie separated my hair into 4 sections,  she cut and Vwa La, I have a new do.

                          

 This is my before shot.

The cut!

                                                          "OMG- I can't believe I did it!"

Thank you Angie!

Born In A Barn

Here are some of my cute new Autumn and Halloween decorations I found at Born In A Barn near Monticello, Iowa. Two ladies from Cascade put on a few shows a year in an old barn down a gravel road. They use to own two cute little knick knack decoration stores on the main drag down in Cascade but decided to combine forces and just do a few shows a year instead. So they closed last December and moved to a rickety old barn instead. Mom and I enjoyed ourselves and bought a few things we loved. They have a Christmas show coming up the first week in November- Can't wait!

Since I live in an apartment, I have a hook on our front door and usually hang a cute little saying or decoration on it. This is my new "Welcome Autumn" one!

This my new Autumn wreath. Complete with pinecones, colored leaves, and two owls (to whom which my Mother said "look it's Amy and Chris". After that I then decided that I must have this! I am the top owl, with the jazzy pattern, Chris is just the boring owl.

Last but not least, is the new Tim Burton pumpkin. My mom and I both bought this because it was so cute! It has an opening in the back so a tealight can fit inside-it is brilliant! The cute witches hat is super tall and skinny. I have more Halloween decorations that I bought last year when they closed shop. I cant wait to put up my fun Halloween decorations come October!

Elena Ann Padilla

Auntie Amy holding my new niece





In the hospital

















Proud Papa




Getting ready to eat!

Location:Minneapolis, MN

I have fallen in love again!

For those of you that know me well, you can recall that I have an obsession with rainbows. Even better rainbow sprinkles....but let's not get off track. I was reading the Everyday magazine by the cooking goddess Racheal Ray when I stumbled across a recipe to make rainbow cake. I stopped dead in my tracks and read the article three times, just to make sure I wouldn't forget how to make it.

Then I made the worst mistake of all...I googled it. Oh Lordy, I about had a heart attack from all the awesomeness being displayed on my iPad screen. I wanted to make everyone I saw. I actually may put that goal on my bucket list. I am only 24 I can totally achieve it.

The process is fairly simple. Just a white cake mix and some food coloring. Really thats all. Some of them are seperate cakes put together in layers, while others are mixed together in the batter. Here are some of my favorites. Let's take a look.

The process. Even the dirty dishes are beautiful!























The muti layer approach.





Extreme multiple layering.





The cupcake.





Rainbow cake in a jar. What the nuts! I totally am making this! They also had. Bazillion other recipes on this website for cakes in a jar. Check it Cake in a jar





The swirled batter kind.






The wedding cake.





My favorite. Perfect form, color, and sprinkle proportions.





Pure bliss. Don't you just want to make these!

Location:Holy Cross, Iowa

Top 10 things we didn't know about Italy and Switzerland

1. Most all beds have two mattresses and two blankets. Its amazing to have your own stuff but still be in the same bed.



2. Their main major transportation is by train between country to country.



3. All their pop is in glass or a skinny can. I wish America would adopt this.



4. In Italy it smells. Bad. Real bad.


5. Gelato is everywhere. And it is delicious! In Rome their was a Gelateria on every city block.


6. In italy, They drive like maniacs and will run you over with their Vespas or Fiats.


7. They call the bathroom a water closet! Or as I like to call it the 'ol WC.


8. Ice cubes are hard to come by. They hardly ever use them.


9. In Switzerland they use rocks to keep their roofs on due to crazy winter weather!


10. All the temperature is in Celcius and time is in Military.

Location:Holy cross, Iowa