Baking Adventures at 11 pm

I know I have mentioned before that I like to cook but just not for myself. So when I have an event that I get to plan a fun recipe for it I get pretty excited. Tuesday night Ryan and I have started taking a Bible study class with my  pastor and his wife. They cook supper and I bring dessert. Its the best of both worlds for me I get to plan a fun dessert once a week and share it with 3 other people! Only problem I'm always a little short on time to get something made and never completely prepared.
(still working on that)

Monday night comes around and I'm all excited because I get to try a new dessert that I have never made before but I get this the inside scoop that its one of Ryan's favorite desserts so I really want to impress him with it. The famous dessert is known as "Pineapple upside down Cake"
 
What it is suppose to look like.

So while making it I'm feeling really good about it all the directions were pretty simple and it was tasting pretty good ( the batter i mean) And then I go to pour it in the pan which to me was big enough but to the cake batter it was not and I realized that this cake was going to be one puffy cake due the fact it ballooned up over the top of the cake pan the instant it hit the oven rack. So I waited the allotted hour it was to cook and kept checking it to see how it was doing and that it is when I noticed the sides of the cake were cooking way faster then the middle of the cake but again I was at a loss on how to fix it. So I let it bake till there was about 10-15 minutes left and poked a fork in it and it came out clean so I took it out of the oven.
Here is where my problems really began: The direction specifically say to flip the cake over immediately and get it out of the pan to let it cool on a serving tray.
Problem #1 I did not have a serving tray of any sort that was going to fit the length or width of the cake.
Problem #2 Cake was not flat on the top for me to flip it over. It really looked like a hill int he middle that gradually slopped down to burnt sides.
Problem #3 When Flipping the cake the cake did not like to stay put together and pieces stuck to the pan while the rest lay in a heap on the cutting board that I had made into a make shift serving platter.

 (see that wierd middle chunk, that was the piece I tried to fit in there like a puzzle)
so at 9:00 at night I was feeling pretty discourage on the dessert adventure and I couldn't think of a single thing to do to make it look better.
This is where I am thankful I live in the 21st century where Dillon's stays open 24/7 and there are box desserts for everything.
I decided I would stick with the basics and make a simple batch of chocolate brownies and frosting. Well that ended up taking me till 12 am to get it bought, stirred up, and cooked. I wasn't about to try and ice it while it was hot, so I waited till this morning to ice it and stick it in the fridge to cool for the dinner tonight
Cross your fingers that it is edible.
Any one want some deformed Cake!!!

My list of trying something new

* Getting in shape: Today I took a hard look at myself and realized I am slowly becoming unhappy with the way I look. I decided that I need to really try at this thing called working out and getting in shape.
Step One: Try and find a workout partner and gym
Success my friend Becky works out at gym that is not super expensive and gave me a contact to call and set up a meet and greet appointment!
Depending on how tomorrow goes I may be signing a contract with Maximus Fitness and trying to get a personal trainer to help me get started.

* Getting involved with Topeka Community and finding events and a class or two that have people my age! List of things I am interested in trying: dancing, art, pottery, zoo volunteering, choir of some type, cooking classes! Who knows what I will find.

* Arts and Crafts and DIY projects in my apartment. I sometimes get these great ideas to help decorate and then I never do it cause I get busy or discouraged on not being able to do it. Well I finally have a great idea and I will get it completed.

* When I feel like I have accomplished something on my list I want to treat my self to pair of "Highland Creek" shoes they are on my wish/want list of shoes and clothes lately and the price is affordable right now!

* Taking daily walks in the morning or evening with Maizie "my doxen" I feel like she is not getting out enough and I also feel the same way about myself so evening and morning walks would really help us both.

* Sort and Donate unwanted clothes. After moving so many times I have a tub of clothing that I have rally not gone through in the past 6 months and I think it is about time that I sort them and give them away along with any clothing that is not fitting me or is just worn out. I am tired of seeing small clothes that I will never wear and feeling that I should be wearing them because I own them but I never do.

* I am cutting myself off from buying anymore clothes until I am happy with my body and my Bank account is ready for it! I realized that I have started looking for clothes in a bigger size and it really hurt to realize that I have gained that much weight in the past 6 months from starting my job.

*Saving money for future events: I want to set up a jar system to where I make a goal to put in certain amount of money each week to each jar that I am wanting to save money for a trip or event!

* Please pray for me in keeping motivated in helping me see my goals clearly on a daily bases.

High Five for Friday

Five Something greats that happened this week that impacted me in some way!

1.) I bought something from china and it came in! I recently have had a small addiction for ebay shopping. I dont buy much but I try to find the best deal for me in something that I think I will love. what I didnt realize is that I had bought/won an item that was coming from China. i almost freaked after thinking of how much the shipping cost was going to be and to my Amazement Shipping was Free. Wow What a deal. I got this awesome turqoius Cross that hangs from an all turquise chain. In fact im wearing it today.

2.) I tried serious couponing for the first time. Sadly for Ryan I was a mess while doing it. I had collected all the coupons I recently started saving and headed out for a night of grocery shopping with out a LIST. I didnt realize it would be such a headache to try and compare prices see what a better deal was if the copon would work which ones could I actually use.
Non the less i am still going to forge ahead and try again.

3.) Yesterday my phone just broke down. after 6 months it decided to freeze on me and never turn on again! Thanfully Verizon was very helpfull and I was able to do a warranty claim for free and get a new phone. Even better they over nighted it and it came in today at 11:30! Since we called in after 6:00 yesterday we were a little worried that the phone wouldnt come in till monday which would have meant no phone for April for the weekend. Surprisingly Iw as okay with it I just made sure everyone knew I didn't have a phone. But no worries becuase I now have a fully functioning phone again!

4.) I dont know if I have ever explained how lucky I feel that I get along so well with the boyfriends family. His parents have opened their arms to me and have welcomed me into their home as if I lived there. Actually I did live there for 3 weeks before I got my apartment which just proves how amazing they really are. Anyways back to my point they are great. They invite me to do anything and everything with their family and never make me feel like I am intruding.
Oh the something great would be spending time with them all.

5.) Happy Birthday to my amazingly awesome DAD well on the 9th . Im not going to say how old he is but if I did you honestly wouldn't believe me. His outlook on life and the way he portrays himself shows that he is much wiser and stronger for his age! I am very proud to be able to call him my father and show how well he raised is family. Oke enough being sappy I love you DAD thanks for everything!

I hope everyone has a great relaxing weekend!

Lifes moments in a nutshell

Life Moment #1
Climbing to the top of Monument Rocks: and then getting stuck up there cause I was freaking out about climbing down.

Look closely its me at the top. Facing a straight drop off on the other side! That is my "terrified hurry quick take the picture" smile.

The famous Camel Rock! Seriouly lookes like a camel (no I didnt not climb this one...it would be impossible for me)

Ryan and I at the top of the Rocks look at the view you can see for miles behind us!

 A couple of weekends ago the boy and I headed out to the middle of no where aka western Kansas. To visit a couple that I am very close to. They are like my thrid grandparents and I hadn;t seen them since my College graduation in December and I was missing them alot. Oh and they had to finally meet Ryan and approve of him. Which I know they did because him and Dennis were insepereable the whole weekend and Connie cooked her famous beef and noodle meal for him!

Life Moment #2
starting Doggy Training classes with "Sam" Ryans Border Collie/ Australian Kelpy Mix. Even though it can be a caotic mess with different helpers telling you to do different commands and ways to do it. Sam seems to really enjoy it and he catches on really quick for only being 7 months old. I personally think that he is catching on quiker then most of the older dogs that have taken the class 2-3 times., but my opinion is a little byist!

Life Moments #3:
Geocaching...It can be addicting!!
I have recently been learning how to Geocach and I finally found my first one last month! Then Last Saturday night a group of us try to go geocaching all over Topeka KS. We were successfull in finding a few before it got dark out and then we tried to find some after the sun had alreay set and well that is just plain difficult and tiring. But still a ton of fun when you have some great friends trying to help you search.


Well I could keep going but I did title this lifes moments in a nutshell not an essay so I will stop myself at three and continue on in the future!