My Candle Light Belly Dancing Performance 10/28/2011

I am to the right in the light blue skirt, light pink top, and flower in the hair. Front Row... This is such a beautiful dance.

Coconut Banana Bread...Yummy!

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 2 1/2 cups self rising flour (use all purpose and increase baking soda to 1 tsp)
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3 medium overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
• 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut (or shredded coconut)
• 1 cup light coconut milk (my store did not have light, they only had original so I used that)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease your bread pans. I cover my pans in Crisco and then put flour to coat it. Set aside

In the one bowl using a wooden spoon mix the oil and sugar. And the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Stir in the vanilla and almond extract.

Whisk together in another bowl the flour baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl.

In a separate bowl, stir together the mashed bananas and the coconut milk.

Gradually mix in the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Mix until combined. Stir in the coconut. ( I sprinkled in a little extra, I love coconut)

Pour batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 1 hours and 15 minutes. ( I checked about an hour and mine was done) Do to toothpick test to see if it comes out clean. I doubled this recipe and it took 3 large pans. But they have here you can use 4 small loaf pans and cook for about 45 min. (and that's not doubling it)

Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy!

William Jr.'s First Homecoming Dance 2011

William Jr. got to go to his first homecoming dance this year. He went on a triple date with his friends. They thought it would be cool to wear white sunglasses. :)

Alex Lux, William Jr., and Cayden Taylor. Handsome Boys

The boys and their dates. They all looked so cute! I was probably just as excited as they were. I even bought them each a pack of gum. Told them they could not have smelly boy breath dancing with these cute girls.

William and his date/girlfriend Brittany. I have to say they are dang cute!!! And I love her dress.

Yes I was crying a little. My boy is growing up. Not much longer he will be 18 and a senior. Where does time go?

Look who got their Drivers License....

William took Drivers Ed. Look who passed!!!

William Jr and his Drivers License. Its Official, so stay off the roads.

His poompa gave him his old car. It will be a good first car.

William Mackintosh Jr with his first car

Wow! Where does time go. William has his first car and a drivers license. So far only one car accident and no tickets. I highly recommend you wait until they are 18 and get them a license. The good thing is now he can get a job and get himself there. And it has been nice if I have needed something at the store or a kid picked up.

This is what Vaulting is and what Marian is doing...

Hope there are Horses in Heaven

My friend Peyton has gotten me back into riding horses. I have forgotten how much I love it! Riding horses is my drug.

Peyton has also introduced us to vaulting. So of course Marian just had to join. She wants to be on the competing team so bad. I will get some better pictures.

The vaulting team Marian is part of is doing a rescue horse program. You can keep track of the horses we rescue and their progress on Facebook under "Technique Horse Rescue". Wish was the first horse we rescued. He had sores all over him and bones sticking out. So the families of the group would help feed him and take care of whatever was needed. Once he started getting healthy his personality was coming out. When we were taking this picture of Wish and Marian, he was trying to put his hooves on the gate also. I guess he thought he could stand on it too. Marian wanted to adopt him so bad. But we would not have a place for him. He has now been adopted out to a family. We will miss him!

Before: All of the sores

After: All gone

Before: Look how skinny he was. You can see his bones. :(

After: Look how healthy, shiny, and happy he looks!

We love Wish! Gonna miss him so much.

Rock Climbing with the Family 2011

Will has now started rock climbing this year. He has been going with friends and the family. I think he has now found his new passion. I on the other hand am so chicken to climb.

Me + heights =very scared

So I get to enjoy the beautiful hikes to the spots the climb. And the views are so amazing!

Yes, I had my kids lay on the ground so it looked like I was higher. Even though it was only like 6 feet. lol I felt like a champion getting that far.

William Jr. long legs help him cruise up the sides of the mountains. Not to mention he is so strong.

Antonio is very fast and my dare devil. He is loving this rock climbing. He now has his own gear.

Marian likes rock climbing some. I think she will stick to horses. She might take after her mommi. ;)
Jose is my Spider Monkey! He just gets up on there and goes. Takes after his daddy.

I wonder what new thing we will try out next?!?!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting

I made these the other day and they turned out divine. So many people requested the recipe, so I put it on here thinking it would be the easiest way to get it out.

Cookie Dough:

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 4 Tbsp milk
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

• 3 sticks softened butter
• 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 4 large eggs
• 2 2/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cookie Dough Buttercream Frosting

• 3 sticks softened butter
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 1 tsp vanilla Extract

Directions:

• To make the cookie dough, combine the butter and sugars in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Beat in milk and vanilla until incorporated and smooth. Beat in the flour and salt until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Using 1.5 Tbsp scoop, shape the dough into ball or tubes. Freeze on parchment lined baking sheet over night. (It only took mine 45 minutes to freeze)
• To make the cupcakes, preheat the oven to 350. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners. (24 total) In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment( I just used hand mixer), combine the butter and brown sugar. Beat together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the side of bowl as needed. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir together to blend. Add the dry ingredients to the mixer bowl on low speed, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the dry ingredients, mixing each addition just until incorporated. Blend in the vanilla. Using a 3 Tbsp scoop, fill the prepared cupcake liners 2/3 full with the cupcake batter. Place a frozen cookie dough ball on the top center of each cupcake. Bake at 350 for 16-18 minutes.
• To make the frosting, combine the butter and brown sugar in a mixing bowl and cream on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the powdered sugar until smooth. Beat in the salt, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and combined. Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with mini chocolate chips! Makes 24 cupcakes.

Enjoy!

*They are so much better if you wait for them to cool!

* I was able to freeze the cookie dough in 45 minutes. I made those first and put in freezer. While they were freezing I made the cupcakes and icing.

Note to self... My kids think I should put on more icing next time.

I made these for the neighbor boo treats.