chocolate chip {cookie dough} cake Recipe

Come one.... come ALL cookie-dough lovers!

Happy Birthday to Moriah!

She loves cookie dough

She loves chocolate chips

She loves frosting

B-I-N-G-O!

I wanted a dense cake almost like a cookie texture but still fluffy and moist.

  This recipe was perfect.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cake Recipe

CAKE

I LOVE Paula Dean's Basic 1-2-3-4 Recipe

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature 
2 cups sugar 
4 eggs 
3 cups sifted self-rising flour 
1 cup milk 
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 deg and spray round cake pans.  (tip: I always cut wax paper and lay it in the pan to make cake come out easily)

2.  Cream butter with electric mixer until fluffy.  Add sugar and continue beating for a few minutes. Add eggs one at a time.

3. Add flour and milk alternating back and forth between each one.  Starting and ending with flour.  Add vanilla.

4. Fill pans equally.  (tip: drop pan several times on counter to remove air bubbles in batter.)

5. Bake 20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

COOKIE DOUGH FILLING (EGGLESS)

Directions:

1/2 cup butter (soften)

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 Tablespoon milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup chocolate chips (mini ones would work best, but I just have regular ones so I crushed them a little in a plastic bag.)

Directions:

1. Cream together butter, sugars, milk, and vanilla.  Blend in flour completely.  Stir in chocolate chips.

2. Roll into circles and place in freezer until very firm.  

To assemble cake

1. place one cooled layer on your cake stand.  Smooth a nice layer of butter cream frosting and arrange cookie dough balls.....everywhere on it!  Yumm......yummm!

2.  carefully lay top layer of cake on and put the frosting on top.  You can ice the sides of leave them open with the tempting cookie dough layer peeking out.  Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top and arrange left over cookie dough.

when I made the frosting for this cake I crushed up chocolate chips and mixed them in it to really give the cake a cookie dough flavor!

have a lovely day,

take my picture?

"Stop! Me take you picture, mom!"

(Princess Brynlee Erin, 2)

I heard the words and turned to see these tanned little chubby fingers.  They were holding the toy camera.  My little ones love me and think I'm worthy of a picture even when I have an {extreme} messy bun, no make up, a sweaty house dress on, and my arms full of laundry.  How forgiving they are.  

You know.....I wasn't ready to have my picture taken.  My outward appearance needed some attention. But how about my inward appearance.  My little ones are with me 24/7.  They see the good... the bad....the times I'd rather forget how I behaved myself.  How do I behave myself when those teensy little crisis happen in daily life?

Humm.  If someone were to take a picture of you right now would it be pretty?  Make sure the inside is pretty, too.

hatching seeds

Prince bought the girls and me some potting soil and we had fun getting dirty and planting different flower seeds we brought with us.  Each pot is gonna be like a surprise cause they (the seeds) all got mixed up several times with all the little helping fingers! And if any of them survive at all it will be close to a miracle as many times as they (the seeds) get watered and knocked over.

As we were planting them Alexis asked, "How long until they hatch?"

Ok.  The word hatch kinda gives me the willies.  Literally.  The shiver-y willies.  It usually goes with some creepy crawly bug that has made it's appearance in my home.

I can take a spider any old day.  I can handle the lizards...as long as they don't surprise me!  But bugs....I hate (that is the no-no word) bugs....they drive me crazy!  While settling back into my home I have discovered many areas of my kitchen that the little rascals have tried to invade.  I have killed more bugs in the last few days than hit my windshield while driving through Louisiana....and that's sayin' something!


I love my flowers and enjoy watching them and taking care of them.  Just the same as my kiddos!  I enjoy watching them and taking care of them too!

While I was trying to set some rose bush clippings I turn around and find this..... streaker in my watering bucket.  Not a stitch on.  She didn't want to get her clothes wet apparently.

never a dull moment,

Queen For the Day (ladies meeting)

I'm finally getting up a post about the Ladies Meeting I had a few weeks ago.  

This is the 3rd meeting I've had the honor of hosting in my home.  With the title Queen For A Day...  it was a blast.  Ok, it was A LOT of work!  But, very worth it.  A few ladies told me it is one of the best days of the year.  We made a large meal, played silly games, had pedicures, had a photo booth and listened to a devotional recorded on DVD (just for us!) by my Pastor's wife in Baton Rouge, Mrs. B.G. Buchanan. 

The end of the party was the presentation of a huge dessert table made specially by my mother-in-law and her mother.  Those two ladies where a huge blessing to me and the party wouldn't had been the same without them. My mother-in-law spent a lot of time preparing and planning and it was so sweet of her.  She loves the Jamaican ladies.  I truly appreciate all her efforts.

We made a video of pictures from the day and special clips of the ladies speaking.  I hope this is a blessing to you.

With love from the ladies of Valley Baptist Church, Spot Valley, Jamaica

Thank You, Lord,

(The friend pictured at the top with me is Ms. Marsha.  She is the lady who taught me how to make jewelry.)

humidity proof frosting recipe

This is Prince Charming's favorite frosting.
My fail proof frosting works great in our high humidity climate.
This is great for frosting a cake and taking it to church where it will be out for several hours in the heat. It doesn't soak into the cake but stays firm on top.  YUM!

Humidity Proof Frosting Recipe
1/3 cup butter, room temp (the real stuff works best)
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla (or almond)

I whip it together with  my electric hand mixer.  Alternating powdered sugar and milk until it is all in the bowl.  Nothing fancy...just plain good.  I often double the recipe and store the extra in the fridge.

enjoy,

rest is not idleness

adorable printable found here

cuddles with Great-Grandma

our little man is such a sweetie

he is a happy little guy with a perfect smile

his Great-Grandma is visiting us in Jamaica

they are best friends and have spent many special moments together

(Truman 5. and his Great-Grandma D)

Grandmas are wonderful,
 

playing in the {running} water

Today marks day #5 with no water!  We have our large reserve tank on top of the house...and thankfully {very thankfully} it gives us that trickle of liquid gold to help us carry on.  It always amazes me how filthy my children get here just playing outside.

 (the little prince charming, 5 m.)

Me?  I'm surviving just fine.  Just happy to be back in my own home.  The extra work with no water isn't that much of an inconvenience....yet.
The kids?  They don't even notice that there is no water.  They play, eat, play.... grow a little more each day and are happy.

 (Alexis and Eden playing in the rain)

We have had short bursts of heavy showers....than bright sunshine for 3 days.  The girls have LOVED playing in this {running} water!