Weekend Wrap ~ Family Time and Lot's of Baking

This weekend not much fun going on here, you would think being home I would have a super clean house and so much to show for a slow weekend but not much .. LOL.

Friday my dad was so sweet and took me and the boys out for an early dinner. It was so nice to chat with a grown up and I love my dad so much. He raised me for a while as a single dad and I just have so much admiration for him! He made me teary saying that he would like to do this on a regular bases. I'm so sad when he asked if I would be hanging out with friends and when I thought about it I really don't have many anymore ;(. The older I get the less close friends I have.

Saturday I worked, even got a work out in and let the kids run wild ... lol.

Sunday went to church and went to a "Summer Dream Team" meeting suppose to be an hour long and turned into 2 hours and 15 minutes!!! I wanted to strangle the people that kept going off track and talking about this and that. It was nice to have 2 younger people a teenager and maybe 20 year old but they were all over the place. I'm a person get in, get a plan and take off! And I had Rick watching the boys and we all know how that goes when I go over the 1 hour I told him! Along with one lady had her child in that the pastor asked several times to leave but she didn't get the hint .. ugh! So guess what I signed up for (I know I slapped my head too) and guess what it's nothing small it's the freaking Carnival! Yup I'm running a carnival ... YIKES ... lol. Oh man how I love to plan parties but never did a carnival before!

Rick's buddy came over to watch movies

Rick just a little jealous the boys liked his buddy more then dad!

Caden decided that my gym shoes need to be worn

(Of course on the wrong feet)

And check it out our first batter taste off the paddle.

And I was so proud of Cole at school they did thank you notes

He wrote (yes wrote) a note to the neighbor boy!

I was so proud a kindergartener writing!

I made some yummy bread!

Recipe at the bottom!

Cole took a pic of me, he's loving taking pictures.

Buttermilk and Honey Bread Recipe

As most of you know I make something each week for the neighbors

(as a bribe for all the time Cole is over there ... lol)

Recipe at the bottom!

This smelled great, no I didn't eat any!

Peanut Butter and Jam Bars

(I Doubled the Recipe)

I didn't have any frosting in a can so I made my own.

Frosting is my weakness a can of it would not last!!

And for the church the cookies for the new people that come.

I made 3 batches made enough for 3 bags for them

and a bag of not so good ones (the kind only for family ... lol).

Wow what a weekend it really was a slow one and I worked out both days! Whoo Hoo! Recipes below as promised :).

Buttermilk and Honey Bread Recipe

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup honey

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons butter

3 cups white bread flour

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast

Directions:

Place the ingredients in the ABM bread pan in the order given, or as recommended by your machines manufacturer, and set the machine to a large loaf, light crust setting.

This recipe also makes a wonderful cinnamon raisin bread if you add 2 tsp. cinnamon with the flour, and 1 cup of raisins at the "add ingredients" beep.

This recipe from CDKitchen for Buttermilk and Honey Bread serves/makes 1.5 lb loaf

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Peanut Butter and Jam Bars Cookie Base
1	pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® peanut butter cookie mix
3	tablespoons vegetable oil
1	tablespoon water
1	egg
1/2	cup peanut butter chips
Topping
1	container (1 lb) Betty Crocker® Rich & Creamy vanilla frosting
1	tablespoon milk
1/4	cup creamy peanut butter
1/4	cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam

	Print these coupons...
	$0.40 off Betty Crocker® Cookie Mix
	About Concordance™

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.
2.	In large bowl, stir all Cookie Base ingredients until soft dough forms. Press dough in bottom of pan using floured fingers. Bake 15 to 18 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3.	In small bowl, stir frosting, milk and peanut butter until well blended. Spread over base. Stir jam; drop by teaspoonfuls over frosting. Swirl jam for a marbled design with tip of knife. Refrigerate 20 minutes or until set. For bars, cut into 9 rows by 4 rows

The frosting I made since I didn't have the can stuff (evil stuff that calls to me at midnight, spoon in hand - oh crap I'm daydreaming over frosting!)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 6 ounce package cream cheese

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup butter

4 cups powdered sugar (sifted)

Beat together cream cheese, vanilla, and butter until fluffy. Slowly add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time until the frosting is the right thickness to spread on cake. Keep in the refrigerator until serving.

The "tangy" cream cheese frosting flavor is a real hit on top of all kinds of cakes.