What it all boils down to,

Thursday, April 5, 2018

Boiled Raisin Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Frosting

Ok, I am documenting this recipe. I got both of them online, and they have worked the best for me. I made some more tonight for the memorial service for Richard tomorrow. I made them for his funeral, too, but couldn't remember what recipe I used.

Creamy Brown Sugar Frosting

Author: Cookies & Cups

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

In a medium saucepan over medium low heat bring the butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat immediately and allow to cool completely.
Transfer the brown sugar mixture into the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. With the mixer on low, slowly add in the powdered sugar. Turn the mixer speed up to medium and continue mixing until creamy and combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary.

Notes

This frosting is creamy and will pipe, but isn’t stiff enough to pipe roses. It also is a great “crusting” frosting.

Store airtight for up to 5 days in refrigerator. Bring back to room temperature before using.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Well, we're taking the

plunge and remodeling the kitchen. It has been a hard decision for me because I don't like making decisions. Are there are so many decisions to make.

But now that we've committed, I'm very excited. And nervous. But mostly excited. I've spent the last two days online looking for kitchen storage ideas and creating a kitchen remodel Pinterest board.

We added the sunroom in 1993, and it has made a huge difference in our house. But now we are opening the kitchen up into the sunroom and making a more open space.

This is the beginning.

Monday, April 2, 2018

General Conference Sunday

I think after years of making these "sticky buns" or "monkey bread" for General Conference mornings, that I may have it right (until next time, anyway).

Misty called Saturday night and said she had a bone to pick with me. I had given Jackson a copy of the recipe so he could make it with Ellie's family in Idaho Falls. Jackson told Misty that I had said 18 rolls per pan, not 24. That was Misty's concern. I told her I had changed it just because I had had far too many overflowing dough incidents.

The other thing I did differently this time is that I put the pans out in the car so they wouldn't rise quite so much overnight. I guess that wouldn't work if it was too hot, but it worked great this time.

And another issue I have had is the butter separating from the brown sugar. Misty said she just makes sure it is a syrupy when she takes it out of the microwave and that she stirs it until she is sure it won't separate.

And also, I just put cover it with tin foil the whole time I cook it -- not tucked around it but just hovering over the top.

And also, I have to remind myself to use cook-n-serve, not instant, butterscotch pudding. And, I have been 1 1/2 timing the caramel recipe so every roll has plenty of it.

Wow, you would think this was rocket science or something. The reason I am really doing this is because I will need to remind myself when I do it next October.

Easter Dinner

Saturday, March 31, 2018

The less I share my

thoughts and life by posting on the blog, the harder it is to start again.

Because I feel like I have to catch up. That I need to post things in chronological order. Then I feel overwhelmed and don't know where to start.

Silly, really. But it is kind of my mode of operation in many parts of my life.

So I am not going to try to catch up, but just jump in where I am. Reboot. I do that with housework every so often, by going to the Fly Lady website. Her mantra is, "You are not behind, just jump in where you are."

So, in the time that it took me to write this far, I checked my email and found that my Ancestry DNA was in! Pretty fascinating that 1 little vial of my saliva can tell me all this.

So that is what I will post right now. I look forward to exploring all of this further, but for now:

And my closest relative that has had their DNA tested with Ancestry is my niece Stephanie. My DNA test can say with extremely high confidence that I am closely related to her. Pretty amazing. Of course I've always been grateful I was closely related to her!

Stephanie Russon

Possible range: Close family - 1st cousins

Confidence: Extremely High