Failure and success all in the same day

I have had several people ask me do I make Red Velvet cake over the last few months, and the answer is always not yet, but if you order one I will gladly make it. I didn't have an order for one, but I attempted it today. I used a Paula Deen recipe and I can't believe I am saying this, but it was a failure. I just don't really care for red velvet so I didn't like it. But, my husband does like it and he said it was dry. I have a few taste testers that I still have to hear back from but I am not expecting rave reviews of. I also have a carrot cake recipe that I pulled from a magazine awhile back that I had been wanting to try so I made it today also. And it was a success!! It came out perfect, and was so super simple. And while I actually made cupcakes with both recipes instead of actual cakes, I think that it can still count towards my make a cake from scratch that is on my 101 things list. I was covered in sugar and flour by the time I was done making both these recipes from scratch and the icing to go with them. They both called for cream cheese icing, but it was different from what I usually make and so far everyone really likes this icing. I uses both cream cheese and butter, of course butter makes everything better :)

My little cake monster...think she wants one? She ate 3 today!


Carrot


Red Velvet

Why....

did I wait so long to make this recipe?? I have had this recipe for probably 3 yrs and never made it. I have no idea why, but I am glad I finally did, cause it was soo yummy! Me and Hailey both really enjoyed it tonight and I am sure Robert will when he eats in the middle of the night. Christopher of course didn't try it!
The picture really doesn't do it justice!

Taco Pasta Skillet
8 oz lean beef (I used turkey)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 11oz can corn
1 14oz can black beans
1 C salsa
3 C hot water
8 oz penne pasta
4 oz fat free cream cheese
4 oz shredded cheese

*Brown meat, add seasoning-pasta, simmer 15 mins. Add cheese to melt.
And this is a weight watchers recipe, but I don't know the point value, I had hand written it.

New recipes

Last night I tried two new recipes and they were both a hit! :) I love RR!! Her stuff is easy and we almost always like it. I didn't take any pics of what I made but here is the link to the recipes, Snappy schnitzel and dill and shallot potatoes:


http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/snappy-schnitzel/
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/food/recipes/dill-and-shallot-potato-salad/

Hair Trama!!

One of the things on my list;http://www.dayzeroproject.com/user/hway; is to color my hair something other than the blonde that I have been all my life! So last week I decided to go for it and I went to the beauty school hoping for the best. I told her I wanted all over brown with blonde and red highlights. I got all over brown, with gold streaks, and wait for it...ORANGE streaks!



When I got back to my Mom's to get the kids Christopher informed me that my hair was HORRIBLE! And my Mom said I probably shouldn't go home like that cause Robert was gonna have a stroke and went to the drug store and bought hair color so I could re-color my hair. I ended up with much darker hair than I had hoped for but after a few days I am getting used to it....

Super Doubles just aren't as good as triples...

I say it every time, but Super Double coupons just aren't as good as Triple coupons! I really really wish Harris Teeter would start doing Triple coupons on a regular basis again! But since I can't resist a deal I hit up HT tonight with two whinny cranky kids and I guess it was a fairly successful trip....here's the goods:



The breakdown:
1 12 pk Charmin= $4.99
3 Martha White muffin mixes= -$.46!!!
2 Quaker multi pack oatmeal= $.50 each
2 Fabreeze room spray= $.49 each
2 fabreze plug in= $.49 each
2 Dawn detergent= $.99 each
2 frozen Green Giant veggies= free
1 Dayquil= $2.09
1 NyQuil= $2.09
1 raspberry= $1.99
$16.10 + 1.81(tax)=17.91
total saving for the trip was $41.93 :)

I have had better trips but this was still a pretty good one. I really wish I had some Barilla pasta coupons, which I thought I did but most have used them already. They have Barilla on sale buy 2 get 3 free, so if I had coupons to use on the 2 I had to buy it would be an outrageous deal cause we eat a ton of pasta in this house. Oh well, maybe I will get lucky and there will be some in this Sunday's paper(fingers crossed)!

I also discovered a new place(for us) in Durham tonight-Loco Pops. My brother and sister have both told me about it recently and they were having a tasting tonight so I took the kids. Christopher of course was very excited to go taste some popsicles but of course didn't participate once we were there. Hailey on the other hand was in heaven and kept telling me "I bite!" and "I big bite!" cause I wasn't feeding her fast enough :) Turns out tonight we were sampling ice cream and sorbet, not popsicles but the lady was very kind and gave Christopher a pop anyway-which he of course decided he didn't like and only ate a few bite of. We tried the Mexican Chocolate ice cream, which Hailey really liked; the Hot Chocolate with marshmallow ice cream, which I really liked; and the last one was a liquor that I don't remember which one now with raisins and ginger snap which was also very tasty :) The sorbets tonight were the Mojito which was very good and tart and the pumpkin with candied orange which was good but I liked the Mojito better. This is definitely somewhere we will be frequenting regularly I believe.

Wow! I have blogged like 3 times in less than a week, I am on a roll! Lets see if I can keep it up :) See ya soon!

Quick comparison

Christopher was a dalmation his second Halloween and was soo cute. This year Hailey didn't wear the costume to trick or treat, mainly cause I didn't think about it til after I had already bought the Minnie Mouse costume but we did try it on and she was adorable as well. She is a month younger than Christopher was when he wore it and it did fit her just a little bit better. Heres a few photos of each :)








Did I mention my wonderful Mom made this costume :)