heat wave!

i have to say that this weather could simmer down now ANYTIME! i have always loved tempuratures in the 30s... not so much any more. even when i was pregnant with hugo i donned a sundress and soaked it up.
now i have a baby who is a little furnace just like his daddy. he does not enjoy this weather much AT ALL!
the one thing hugo loves about the warm weather is pool time

i think daddy might have loved it just as much...

another thing that i can't believe.... i went and bought an air conditioner for the upstairs today. i never wanted one, but with hugo just cooking all the time i decided that even though i was perfectly happy without it, i needed to get one to keep him comfortable. now i will be bundling up for bed i guess.
as long as my boys are happy.

keepin cool....

again....
not a real recipe.

i'm not a big fan of recipes.

they're just a guideline.... right?


mojito sun tea

this is super tasty and refreshing.

what you'll need:

a couple limes
some mint
a big jar/jug with lid (to keep bugs out if you're brewing outside)
simple syrup (i'll be honest... sometimes i just dump some sugar in)
teabags (i use 5 for my 2 L jug)
club soda (optional)


what you're going to do:

cut up the limes into slices. if i only have ugly limes (you know the ones that were in the drawer that you forgot about) i will just squeeze them because i don't like ugly stuff in my tea.
throw some fresh mint in - as much as you like. i put at least 6 stems (depending on how big they are)
add simple syrup to taste(or sugar if you don't have it on hand and you're like me and don't feel like making simple syrup sometimes)
take a wooden spoon (or a muddler if you have one) and smush it around a bit until it looks a bit crumpled.
add your teabags. i like to use either white tea or green tea. the trusty orange pekoe works too.
if you actually can leave it out in the sun you just need to fill it up with water, put the lid on and leave it for at least a few hours. if its not sunny out or you're brewing this on the counter just add hot tap water and you'll get almost the same results. sometimes you'll have to leave it a bit longer to get it steeped strongly on the counter (if that's how you like it)
once its ready fill a glass with ice, fill 3/4 full with tea and then top off with club soda.
sometimes i realize that its not sweet enough so i'll add a bit more syrup... sugar at this point will just make you a crunchy beverage so i don't recommend cheating here.

garnish with sprig of mint and a lime.

delicious and refreshing!


ENJOY!
just like fernando with his green tea mojito after a LOOOOOOONG night at Lesley and Kurt's wedding. he was hurtin.

if you don't want the bubbles then skip the club soda.

tasty tuesday

well today's post is not something difficult, and not even really a recipe.
if you can follow the 3 step directions on the box of cake mix then you will do very well at this.

i haven't made these yet this summer (for some reason i only ever make them in the summer) but once i manage to scarf down all the goodies i baked this past weekend i will get right on it.

the hardest thing about this is choosing the flavor of cake mix to use.

what could possibly be so awesome that involves a cake mix? well other than these freakin awesome cookies here?

i'll tell you.

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes!!

how can you not fall in love with these??

they're really easy. they don't keep for long because the cones get soggy, but i never had them last that long to find out.

here's what you'll need to do:

pre-heat the oven to 350
make the cake mix according to the directions
fill the cones 3/4 full
bake for 15-20 minutes

if you have to do 2 batches like i do because they can't all fit in the oven at once, make sure you don't fill the second tray of cones until you're going to put them in the oven. they get soggy and are not as good.

makes 18-24 (depending on how big the cones are)
sometimes i make a pan of normal cupcakes and 12 cones... depending on what i'm making them for. i don't want to have too many extra cones because they'll get soggy.

decorating... once they're COMPLETELY cooled and not a moment sooner...
the sky is the limit! a fun thing i like to do is ice them and then gently roll them in sprinkles or chopped peanuts.
when i've been feeling really ambitious i have tossed them in the freezer for a bit, and then dipped them in chocolate and then rolled them in sprinkles/nuts like a fancy ice cream cone. that time i made banana cake and with the chocolate and peanuts they were SO tasty.

here's my secret... because i am totally klutzy and am almost positive there is NO possible way i could get these into the oven or back out again without knocking at least half of them over i have a little trick. buy a couple of big foil roasting pans (they were 2 for $1 last time i bought them at the dollar store) and flip them upside down on jellyroll pans (i like the sides because then i can't push the roaster off the cookie sheet and dump them all)
then comes the fun stabbing part.
take a knife and cut an X for each cone. put the cone in and you can fill them, bake them, decorate them and transport them without casualties!

my summer bucket list...

inspired by my lovely friend here i would like to present you with my summer bucket list.

this is our last summer as a couple of two. next summer will be our first summer as a family of 3.
exciting, YES!
a little scary... YES!
how will we adjust? only time will tell.

sooooo.... what would i like to do this summer....

• go to drumheller. i am a geek. drumheller has been one of my favorite places to visit since i was a kid. GEEK HEAVEN! so many fun things to do! and there's Old Grouch's Cozy Café... we started going there as kids and the place is still there and serving delicious homemade food. i give it 5 stars.
• win the battle with my half dead front yard and end the summer with a green lawn.
• go swimming. its been ages!
• go to the mountains i haven't been to the mountains for 7 years. they're not even that far. i have no excuse for it. just a day trip is fine. i don't need to stay... just pop by for a look.
• get everything ready for the sea monkey. i want the house to actually be totally ready and not be scrambling last minute to get things done.
• get maternity photos done
• take baxter swimming. i want to know if he can. i am positive the pug will sink like a rock but i have high hopes for baxter!

i am sure that i could sit here and write this list all day but i am going to stop now because if i make my list too long i won't stand a chance of actually completing it.

tasty tuesday- happy first day of summer edition!

Cherry Limeade

(makes 4-6 servings)

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup water
1/2 cup lime juice (approximately 4 1/2 limes; use the remainder of limes for garnish)
1 1/2 cups pure cherry juice (no sweeteners added)
2 cups club soda
Instructions:
- Begin by dissolving the sugar in the water over medium heat to create a simple syrup. Set aside when done to let cool completely.
- While the simple syrup is cooling, juice the limes.
- When the simple syrup has cooled pour that in a pitcher, add the lime juice, cherry juice and club soda. (Do not add the club soda until ready to serve.)
- Stir all together to combine well and serve immediately over crushed ice or cover and refrigerate.


found this great recipe here:

http://shewearsmanyhats.com/2010/07/cherry-limeade/


now if only i knew where to find unsweetened cherry juice. i really want to try this!