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I cannot believe this little guy turned FOUR!!! Remember this little face?? I remember when Jessica was trying to get him to TRY his first birthday cake, now he KNOWS what cake he wants, Daniel Tiger cupcakes, please!

He was so excited his Auntie Dee stayed the night. We snuggled, read a bedtime story, but he would not let me sleep in his race car bed. However, he was quite excited to wake me up the next morning, but the party decorations excited him more. The day was hectic but fun, and Myles thoroughly enjoyed his fourth birthday party. Utterly exhausted, I thoroughly enjoyed falling into my own bed that night...with my new doTerra diffuser :)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Annnddd We Turned THREE... (Over a Month Ago)

HAPPY {BELATED} BIRTHDAY, BLOG!

Ummm, it's the holidays. Thanksgiving just finished. CHRISTMAS IS COMING!! Oh, and I was in Maine. Forgive me. I fell behind. I had plans. Honestly, I remembered Sweet B's anniversary was approaching and I had plans.

And then I glanced at the calendar, and oh my stars, it's November! And anything related to the month of October left my mind completely.

Whoops.

When I finally realized I missed my date, I glanced at the up-coming weeks to find a day in need of celebration and cake.

Who waits for a time to celebrate with cake? Who needs the excuse? [I raise my hand.]

Who is the lamest person on Earth? [I raise my hand, reluctantly, but nobody can see me so I'm not too embarrassed.]

I know. I know. Please don't stop reading. I'm sorry. I'm not a cake person. I just don't have the sweet tooth I once had. No? Not believable? Okay, then I can't have a cake just sitting around the house because I will eat it all myself and then I'll have to do more than just a yoga workout to make up for it or live with the fact that I can't fit into my skinny jeans because I just ate an entire cake by myself and this will not help the fact that cookie baking season is right around the corner and that's a sure bet my skinny jeans will be out of commission until January anyway and with all the baking and eating and sampling and eating when will I have the time to do more than a yoga workout let alone even attempt to try on my skinny jeans?

I digress. The cake. The cake was.... a TRIFLE.

Surprise!

Yes, this mess happened.

I had everything I needed to make this beautiful, eye-catching, four-layer Thanksgiving dessert. Everything except a sturdy cake. The pumpkin in the cake batter made it extremely moist and once halved, the layers just leaned into a hot mess. I took one look at my cake stand, flipped it over into a bowl, and created this beautiful, eye-catching Thanksgiving trifle. No one knew. Except I told everybody. And now I'm telling you.

I'm not really one for secrets. Unless it's a big, juicy one then by all means...let me grab my coffee.

I found the recipe for this pumpkin cake in The Chew cookbook I received last Christmas, and ever since I have had my eye on Carla Hall's stunning Pumpkin Cake with a Chocolate Ganache. It's just gorgeous. The perfect centerpiece of a great meal. Well, this just goes to show any cake can inspire the perfect TRIFLE centerpiece.

This was absolutely as mouthwatering as its photo. However, I made many substitutions, so I'm providing my adapted recipe below. The biggest adjustment was the sugar. OH MY STARS! I could not believe how much sugar was in this recipe. My teeth hurt just reading the ingredient list. My teeth thanked me later. Yikes. And my sweets-loving father-in-law also thanked me. To say it's rich and decadent is an understatement. To say it's absolutely delicious is also an understatement. The perfect showstopper.


Layered Pumpkin Trifle with Chocolate Ganache
*adapted from Carla Hall's recipe

Serves 12

Pumpkin Chocolate Cake:

1 1/2 c sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs 

2 flax eggs (1 T flax seed + 3 T water per egg)
1 c all-purpose flour

1 c whole wheat pastry flour
2 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
3 t pumpkin pie spice
1 t salt
2 c pumpkin puree

Mascarpone Filling:

2 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla extract
1 T pumpkin pie spice
1 c pumpkin puree
2 t salt  

2 cups mascarpone  (I could not find this anywhere, locally, so I made my own version: combine 2 (8-oz) pkgs Neufchatel cream cheese, 1/4 c heavy whipping cream, and 2 1/2 T plain Greek yogurt until fluffy. This should equal 2 cups.)

Dark Chocolate Ganache:

3 T corn syrup
6 oz heavy whipping cream
12 oz dark chocolate, chopped into small bits  (I like 85% dark)
1/2 t vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 2 9" cake pans. Combine sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and flax eggs in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Whisk dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir the dry into the wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in the pumpkin puree. Divide batter between the two prepared cake pans. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Rotate pans half way through cooking. When a toothpick comes out clean, the cakes are done. Let cool for 5 minutes and then turn cakes out onto cooling racks. While the cakes are cooking make the filling. Beat the mascarpone (or mascarpone substitute) and the pumpkin puree until blended, then add the pumpkin pie spice, salt, and powdered sugar. Mix at a high speed until blended (about 1 minute). Once it's fully combined add vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds. Make the ganache in a small saucepan. Combine the corn syrup and cream and bring to a simmer. Add the chocolate and stir until smooth. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Once the cakes have cooled completely, make the trifle or the original cake version.... 

Trifle: Tear the cake into chunks, using hands or a knife. Alternately layer the cake pieces, mascarpone mixture, and the chocolate ganache. No rhyme or reason, just make it look beautiful :)

Cake: Cut through each cake horizontally with a serrated knife (there will now be four rounds of cake to work with). Spread the filling evenly between the layers. Once assembled, transfer cake to a cake stand with parchment paper lined around the edges (to keep the cake stand clean). Pour the ganache over the cake. Once the ganache is set, remove the parchment.

*Notes: I let my cake rounds cool over night before slicing, and I also made the mascarpone mixture the night before and chilled in the fridge until ready to use.)
 

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Dessert of the Month

Earlier this month we celebrated a milestone over here. It was my father's 50th birthday.

Way back in July, Mama and I decided we were going to plan a big surprise party for Daddy. To say he never makes a "big deal" out of his birthday is putting it nicely lightly, cough, cough. It's a man thing, I know. My husband's the same way....remember his milestone, the big 3-0. My father is the silent type, not quite anti-social, but he's very content in relaxing at home. Everyone in the family is well aware of this, so you can imagine the plotting and planning that went into his party, which we set for a few weeks after his birthday so he wouldn't suspect a thing....but that is for another post.*

 

This post is all about this delicious chocolate cake, which I made for my father to celebrate his 50th. The entire family was getting together for a good ol' family reunion a few days before his birthday. Even though we were planning this big surprise party, Mama knew we had to do something ("it's his 50th, for crying out loud") or he would suspect something was, indeed, UP. So she called me a week before asking if I could make a chocolate cake, a little "surprise" to acknowledge his day. 

Yes, of course. If there was only one word I could use to describe my father when it comes to anything food-related, it would be chocoholic. When I first saw this recipe I knew it had my father's name all over it, and it included wine. Hello. Celebration right there.

I am serious as a heart attack when I say this is the only chocolate cake I will make. When I want sugar and I'm celebrating and not interested in being super healthy, this is it. When someone requests a chocolate cake, this Chocolate Cake with Pinot Noir Frosting is what they'll get. Ah-mazingly moist. Simple. Perfection. My only complaint, if you will, is the frosting is a tad too sweet for my liking....for Daddy, it was perfect. The wine is only in the frosting, which I might change up the next time I make it by adding it to the actual cake instead of the vanilla. Everyone thought there was espresso in the cake, and there wasn't (but I like that idea, definitely...). I think it was the Pinot Noir enhancing the chocolate. The frosting was fluffy and beautiful though. And, as Jenna stated in her post, the cake is so light it just goes down too easy.

A hands-down-winner, my friends.

Happy 50th, Daddy! You definitely don't look it :)

Since this cake was for Daddy and it was his 50th, I didn't health-ify it. My only changes consisted of a mix between white and whole wheat pastry flours, 1 flax egg, and 4 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar. And maybe a few more splashes of wine ;)

Seriously, check out this delicious chocolate cake! Well done, Jenna.

Yes, this cake is fabulous. Perfect for the chocolate-lover in your life.

*More on Daddy's surprise party later!

**BY THE WAY, IT'S NATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY. BUT I FIGURED AN ENTIRE POST IN ALL CAPS WOULD A) STOP YOU FROM READING IT, AND B) MAKE YOU  WANT TO PUNCH ME IN THE FACE. YOU'RE WELCOME.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Mr. B's 3-0

Happy birthday, Mr. B. I'm a little late.

Yes, the husband has turned 30. And he didn't want anyone to make a big deal. He wanted no party and no special dinner. He wanted his new tool chest for the garage and a dinner with his wife at our favorite local Mexican restaurant. What he got was hand-foot-and-mouth disease. Huh?!

Yes. Unfortunately, we discovered my husband, at the age of 30, is not immune to this children's disease. And we have no idea where he caught it from. Well, in theory, we do. He hasn't been anywhere (except home and work) and hasn't been around a single child in a few months. So he either caught it a work, possibly an inmate was carrying the disease (gotta love working the county jail), or I carried the disease, unknowingly because I'm immune, thank God, home from my job (gotta love being a children's librarian). But I haven't  heard any parents mention any illnesses going around. And, no, Mr. B hasn't been to the county fair....

Yet, he definitely had this disease. It started with a seriously high fever for two days. Then the fever left and he broke out in an awful rash. The poor thing was covered in red bumps: in his nose, ears, mouth, down his throat, on his back, hands, face, and feet. Thankfully, they didn't itch and only the ones in his throat were painful. He was really bad for about two days. The antibiotics brought them out, and after another four to five days the bumps were gone completely. Except now, three weeks later, where the bumps on his hands used to be, his hands are....peeling? Ick. He celebrated his birthday at the doctor's office, confined to the spare bedroom, then confined to the couch to watch the 49ers play, and with a lot of chicken broth. I celebrated his birthday by following him around, disinfecting everything he touched.

Because his mother and step-father are so kind, on his birthday they used their truck and brought my husband the tool chest since he couldn't go and get it himself. So along with his new present, he also received a bag of "Get Well" goodies from yours truly. A birthday card and a "get well" card.

A week later, when Mr. B finally felt up to it, we hit up La Terraza's for his celebratory birthday dinner. Then I surprised him with the huge 49ers' banner with all of their Super Bowls rightly displayed (five, in case you're counting) he's been wanting. His man cave is oh, so close to being finished.

Finally, this past weekend we celebrated the Big 3-0 with his must-have cookie cake. Except this year I attempted a homemade cookie cake, baked in my cast iron skillet. A few notes on that: 1) It was a little thick for my liking...definitely "cake-y." Next time, I need either a bigger cast iron skillet, or I'll forgo the skillet and use a baking sheet or cake pan. Mr. B and I both agreed we like it thinner. 2) The homemade version didn't make my teeth want to fall out, which we both appreciated. Making it from scratch allowed me to control the sugar content. Score. 3) "[I] must not forget the icing next year. Not as much as [the store] uses, but some. And I like the sprinkles."

Thank you. Mr. B; duly noted.

I used the Pioneer Woman's cookie cake recipe with a few substitutions, of course. I used a mixture of white and whole wheat pastry flour, replaced half the butter with plain Greek yogurt, omitted the instant coffee (because it's for Mr. B or I probably would have doubled that...yum), and split the sugar in half, replacing the other half and the vanilla extract called for with 1 Tbsp of vanilla almond milk. And, don't tell him this, but I used a flax egg as well. Oh, and then of course he didn't want any of the fixings...like hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream, or nuts. Just a small scoop of vanilla ice cream, please.

Also, today is National Dessert Day and one must celebrate. Why not enjoy this day to its fullest with this tasty Cast Iron Skillet Cookie Cake? (Pssst, it's National Cookie Month, too. You're welcome.)

Thirty is rough. Good thing I have a few years. ;)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Dessert of the Month

I'm a huge nut fan. Almonds. Walnuts. Pecans. Cashews. Peanuts. I don't discriminate; I love them all. However, the expensive pistachio is my absolute favorite. Go figure. What can I say? I have a very mature palette. Since this delicious green nut tends to be a bit pricey, I usually only buy pistachios around Christmastime because the green makes for festive treats, naturally. However, a while back my co-worker generously gave me a bag of her pistachios. I was thankful and extremely happy. I enjoyed a few handfuls of them until I stumbled across this Pistachio Cake recipe on Pinterest. I knew I had to make this dessert and soon, which (if you know me) is odd because, unlike nuts, I am not a cake fan. I prefer creamy cheesecake. Or a warm, gooey cobbler. Or a giant bowl of ice cream. Or a fudge-y brownie. If there is cake, chances are I will pass.


But this cake included pistachios and claimed to be "skinny." Which is automatically good for you, obviously. And another bonus: Cool Whip frosting instead of the sugar-and-butter-loaded stuff usually slathered all over a cake in which the sugar smell alone hurts my teeth. Yes, I wanted to make this. I decided to postpone baking this cake until Labor Day when there would be plenty of people around to eat it, and the chances of it dying in my fridge would be slim. <--- ha!

Light and fluffy frosting is always a good sign.

Alas, this idea did not go as planned. The morning of my little Labor Day get-together, my oven decided it wasn't going to work. "Mine [was] broken" <---I can't say that without thinking of the scene in Pretty Woman (my favorite movie, btw) where they're at the opera and she thinks her glasses are broken. LOVE. <3

Anyhoo, the stove top and broiler both worked, but the oven did not. I discovered this when I was making my father and I crescent rolls for breakfast and the oven was taking for.ever. to preheat. (At least I didn't have the cake batter mixed and ready to go in....then I'd have been very angry.) Why?! I'd been craving this cake for over a month. Now, I had to run out and buy some pre-made cake-thing because I couldn't make anything. Grrrr.....I was not happy but the party must go on.

To make a long story short (as Mr. B says) the party went well, no one knew why the oven wouldn't work, and Mr. B wasn't "pleased" with the idea of purchasing a new oven. But the very next day, while cooking dinner on the stove top, I decided to turn the oven on just to see what would happen. Lo and behold it worked! No idea why, or how, but we had an oven again.

The first thing I put in that oven was this cake. And, yes, I had no one to share it with.

It was delicious and I thought it seemed quite rich and heavy despite the "skinny" claim. I guess that's a good thing when you're eating something healthy and it doesn't taste healthy. I think my father would approve. Too bad he wasn't there to enjoy it. However, I was able to pass off some to my step father-in-law. He found it quite delectable. The only adjustment I made to the recipe was the milk. I used almond milk in the frosting instead of regular. Head on over to Skinny Mom's blog for the full recipe to this delicious Skinny Pistachio Cake.

This cake is super easy to throw together and decently healthy. However, next time I'd prefer a homemade white cake as opposed to the box mix, which will take a little bit more time. But when it comes to eating healthy and paying attention to what goes in your body...it's worth the extra few minutes.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Our Super Bowl Party

We are obsessed with football in my family.

With so many favorite teams, there was always a favorite team playing and a football "gathering" every weekend. Some times we participated in more than one a week. We had high school football, and College Game Day (to say we are HUGE Ohio State fans is a HUGE understatement), and of course NFL Sunday. It was always fun and always entertaining. Cousins (and siblings) went to separate high schools, so there were occasional rivalries. But Ohio State always united us every Saturday. When Sunday rolled around, it was every fan for himself.

Browns. Cowboys. Bengals. Vikings. Packers. (The Titans for a short time.) Bears. (Oh, and a team I refuse to mention on my blog. And it's not only a Browns' fan's dislike. This team is strongly disliked by everyone...another united stance.) And later on, boyfriends and husbands added the 49ers and Colts to the mix. Everyone was allowed to have their own team. BUT we had one rule.....you can't like a team just because they win, and not be a fan when they lose. In other words, you couldn't be a front-runner. You couldn't jump from team to team. We strongly dislike front-runners over here.

There were victories and defeats, tears, and yelling, silent treatments and, yes, one incident of a perturbed fan getting up and turning off the TV. (Daddy's Cowboys were beating my aunt's unmentionable team.) Needless to say, everyone watching was not happy. This then resulted in Daddy leaving Thanksgiving dinner at my grandma's house, deciding he would walk home in the rain and snow to finish watching the game at our house. Well, we don't live in what you would call a city (or town, haha), so it wasn't going to be a short walk. Mama wasn't too happy when she had to hurriedly pack up two kids, who found the situation hysterical and upsetting at the same time, say good-bye to her stunned family, and drive down the road to pick up a stubborn husband.

Yeah, football is a BIG DEAL.

Growing up, I wasn't like other kids who put their homework off until the last minute, running around like a chicken with its head cut off Sunday night. I worked ahead in study hall, did my homework throughout the week, and studied for exams during commercials. I had to go to our school's Friday night games, and I wanted to enjoy football with my family on Saturdays and Sundays. No time for school work. Only food, yelling, and games. A girl has her priorities.

That's the kind of football game days I grew up with, so I was excited when we moved into our new home with lots of room for entertaining. Hello, football gatherings! (Except Mr. B's family isn't like mine. I mean they watch the game, but there's maybe two or three people and no food. And most of the time Mr. B wouldn't even stay at our house to watch the game. We have all this space.....I like to make food....What the....? Hmmmm...) Well, in case I haven't mentioned it, Mr. B is a huge 49ers fan. He has been ever since he was a little boy. And he's obsessed. A very true and dedicated fan. I've never known anyone like him. So, you can imagine how SUPER excited I was that they made it to this year's SUPER BOWL. It's time to plan a party, my friends.

Go big or go home is how we do it in my family. Especially when someone's team is in the Big Game.

We have balloons, and party stuff, lots of room, games, and plenty of food. AND cake. (In my family, football days are usually all day events. Mr. B's is a tad different. It's a shame, really.)


On today's Super Bowl menu we have my famous nacho bar (you can find the recipe here). Football and nachos are a must in this household on any game day. Mr. B would not be happy if they didn't top the list.

Next, we have a generous bowl of what I like to call the "Good Stuff." It's my Chicken & Wild Rice Salad. I'm obsessed with this salad, and so our my in-laws. Lately it's been a must every time they come over. Mr. B won't touch the stuff, so I buy him his favorite coleslaw, KFC's. (Which, funny enough, he never used to eat before four months ago.....)

And while there, this morning, Mr. B decided we might not have enough food, or that people might want meat, so he brought home a bucket of chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy.

I've been craving homemade pizza for a couple of days now, and last Sunday I made a double batch of pizza dough, giving me four pizza crusts. Earlier this week I made a tasty Margarita pizza for me and the hubby, knowing I'd be making my absolute favorite pizza today. (My in-laws have not yet had my homemade pizza and they can't understand why Mr. B and I hate ordering greasy pizza, so hopefully today they will jump on our train....) Oh, it's so good. Straight from the oven, room temp, or cold. The.best.

My Spicy-Lime Popcorn (recipe below), which is the only way I prefer to eat popcorn. This stuff disappears before I realize it. And then I realize I'm the one who ate the entire batch.

And, of course, the celebrated team: 49ers cupcakes and ice cream, with a Football Berry garnish.

We also have a plethora of beverages, and Mr. B would kill me if I forgot his pretzels. (I wanted to dip them in red chocolate and decorate, but he wouldn't let me "ruin" them.) And for some reason he thought we needed chips and dip. Holy frijoles.


Obsessed with Football. Yes.


Spicy-Lime Popcorn

Makes 4 cups popped.

4 c popcorn, popped (bag or air-popped)
1 tsp cumin
pinch of ground pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp lime juice
1 tsp lime zest

*NOTE: If using air-popped, add 3 Tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp salt.

Mix everything, except popped popcorn and lime juice, in a small bowl. Add seasoning to popcorn and carefully mix together. Sprinkle with lime juice and enjoy!


Football Berries

Serves how ever many you need.

Strawberries
Dark chocolate, melted
White chocolate, melted

These are quite self-explanatory. Dip the strawberries in the dark chocolate and allow to chill in refrigerator overnight. The next day, using a toothpick, draw football lines on top of the harden dark chocolate. Allow to chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.

Sadly, the white chocolate was not cooperating.

*Looking for even more tasty recipes to please your crowd during the Super Bowl? Then don't forget to check out my seven days of Game Day posts, including nachos, cold pizza, broccoli dip, and many more!

Go 49ers!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

A Cake Perfect for Mr. B

Last week we celebrated Mr. B's birthday.

And, like me, Mr. B does not like cake for his birthday.

(I keep trying to tell everyone this, just because you bring over a cake doesn't mean we're going to eat it. Save your money. Give it to Mr. B.)

Mr. B loves chocolate chip cookies. It seems to be the only "dessert" he'll eat...besides vanilla ice cream. But only every once in a while. (He crazy.) So, back when we first started dating and I discovered his strong dislike for cake and his love for chocolate chip cookies I started buying him the frosted cookies you can get at the grocery store.

Last year's cookie.

And lately for the past six years that has been his birthday cake..err, cookie. (Except for when others bring cake....)

But I thought I'd surprise him and change it up this year. (Actually, it's more like I'm bored and need something different. Wait, whose birthday is it.....)

BUT, last year we both agreed that the frosting was getting way too sweet, and although it looked nice, most of it ended up in the garbage.

So I put on my thinking cap for this year's "cake." What else does my hubby like? Rice krispy treats.

I know this because I made a pan of them once (like two years ago) and they didn't last 24 hours.

I was like, "Gee, babe, I didn't know you liked rice krispy treats so much."

And he was like, "Oh, I do."

So...krispies and vanilla ice cream and "cake."


It's genius, I know.

And right up Mr. B's alley.


Crispy Ice Cream Cake

Serves a crowd

1 favorite marshmallow crispy recipe (mine is your basic melted butter combined with marshmallows and added to about 6 cups of Crisp Rice....we're on a budget over here)

1 tub of your favorite ice cream (Mr. B is a vanilla kind of guy. But I used Neapolitan to spruce it up a bit...a little more color...and flavor.)

Garnishes: whipped cream, hot fudge, caramel sauce, sprinkles, and sliced strawberries (nuts are optional)


Once you've made your marshmallow crispies, butter a pie dish or cake pan and spread the crispies evenly, allowing it to cool completely. When ready to serve, scoop mounds of ice cream on top of cooled crispies. Fill in holes with dollops of whipped cream topped with strawberries. Drizzle on hot fudge and caramel sauce, followed by sprinkles and nuts.

*Note: This can either be done in the pan or you can cut the crispies, allowing everyone to top their own with whatever they desire. Kind of like a rice crispy bar. YUM.

Score, right?

So when he walked in the door I surprised him with his birthday cake. But he didn't want any of the garnishes. Just a krispy and vanilla ice cream. But I convinced him he needed the other stuff for the sake of a picture.

After he blew out the candle. He took a bite. "Man, that's sweet."

Yes, I ate his while he ate just the rice krispies.

Ugh, back to the drawing board.



Happy birthday, babe.


With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Cooking Club #13 {Updated}

[Updated 11/3/14: original, but separate, content, with updated photos and/or more details, if available.]


---> Cooking Club is coming up soon, and now that I'm blogging, I want to share these moments but I thought I should play catch-up first. So without further ado, here (and in other posts) is what we've been up to. Enjoy!


#13 July: Red, White and Blue

The Menu:
         Appetizers
Turkey Brie Bundles
Stromboli Minis
        Main Course
Roasted Chicken Breasts with Red and Blue Salsa
        Desserts
Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Red Velvet Crepe Cake
Cherry and Blueberry Pie

Cooking Club Turns 1!

Happy Birthday!

It was my turn to choose the theme for this month's Cooking Club. The 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays. I love the colorful fireworks at night, family barbecues, and the colors. I was feeling a little red, white and blue, and there are tons of recipes that can fit this theme. My recipe for this month was Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake, which showed up in my email one morning. Oh, Taste of Homes, how your eye-googling recipes continue to fill my SAVED inbox.

Coffee cake, yum.

Cream cheese, heaven.

Isn't it beautiful? Don't you want to take a swim in that pan? I do. This cake is moist and full of flavor. The raspberries jump out as you cut into the perfect slice. I can't help smiling and drooling every time I look at this picture. I.Cannot.Help.It.

I have no words. Check out the recipe and make it today! (And invite me over for a slice, and some coffee. Black, please!)

Kelly's Turkey Brie Bundles were my second favorite on this month's menu. So good and the brie melted perfectly.

Jessica's Red Velvet Crepe Cake took center stage for our one-year birthday celebration. It turned out beautifully, and she earned bonus points for incorporating all of the colors, but it was a little.too.rich for my liking. Double bonus points because she had the patience actually to create this multi-layer crepe cake, turning it into two cakes instead of one towering dessert.

The frosting = Amazing.

Check out all of those crepe layers! (Yes, you need patience for this kind of cake. Something I seriously lack. I definitely won't be making this any time soon.)

*I hope you enjoyed these Cooking Club snippets. I've finally caught up! I hope these themes, and even Cooking Club itself, inspire you to gather with your friends and family in the kitchen, and make sweet moments (and delicious food) of your own.

**I've only included the recipes to the dishes I made. Only because I'm unsure of where everyone got theirs...and hey, we gotta give credit where credit is due. If you have any questions about the other dishes, I'll ask the other members where they got their recipes and pass it along!

Check out our previous meetings!
Cooking Club #1-4
Cooking Club #5-8
Cooking Club #9-12

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi