Then we bought all new stainless steel appliances which instantly gave the kitchen an updated look. You would have been scared if you looked inside our old oven.

Finally we just finished our kitchen cabinets with the help of my mom (and a little bit from Matt) we finally are DONE! DONE DONE DONE! I love saying that. Shelf liners and all……awwww I love having a clean, organized kitchen.

It’s funny because I used to HATE HATE HATE our countertops but now with the new cabinet paint they are growing on me more….one day they will be replaced but they are find for now. Baby steps…

Here are some pictures of before and after!

After

Before

After

Before

After

Strawberry Muffins (Lactose Free Style)

• 3 Cups Flour (I just used all purpose but I’m sure Wheat would be better for you)
• 3 Eggs
• 1 Tbsp Baking Powder
• 3/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
• 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1.5 Cups Diced Strawberries
• 1 Cup of Milk (I used Soymilk)
• 1/2 Cup of Melted Butter (I use “Smart Butter”- make sure it says lactose free on it)

Super Delicious Lactose Free Strawberry Muffins! Look at those pretty strawberry muffins!

Directions

Mix Flour, Baking Powder and Sugar together in a mixing bowl, and mix well.

Add in Milk, Eggs, Vanilla and Butter. Stir until just blended and lumpy. It should have a tough texture.

Fold in Diced Strawberries.

Add to muffin tins filling each about 2/3 filled.

Bake for 20 minutes in preheated over at 400F, or until slightly golden brown.

ENJOY! You can add them to a ziplock bag, toss in fridge and then re-heat later too.

Zebra Cake

Zebra Cake Recipe – Method

This recipe is for only one layer cake.

1 cup – Sprite
1 cup – olive oil
2.75 cup -flour
1 cup -  sugar
5 eggs
2 tablespoons cocoa
4 flat teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bake until done, about 90 minutes, at 310

1. Whisk eggs with sugar until mixed.  In a seperate bowl sift flour and baking soda and mix together.
2. Begin adding the ingredients to the sugar / egg mix.  Start by adding a quarter of each of the others (flour, olive oil, sprite) at a time and whisking until combined.  Repeat until all are added and then mix in the vanilla sugar.
3. Seperate the entire mix into two equal bowls.  In one bowl add two tablespoons extra of plain flour and mix.  In the second add the cocoa and mix.
4. Take a lined cake tin and pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of the white mixture into the center, creating a small circle.  Next take 2 to 3 tablespoons of the dark mixture and repeat.  If you’re careful you should find concentric circles of alternating colors forming in the tin.  Repeat until all the mixture is used.
5. Bake in an oven at 310 degrees for 90 minutes and then check the cake; stab with a cocktail stick to see if it is cooked (if it comes out clean, its ready!).  If not, leave alone for 5 minutes or so before re-checking.
6. Remove from oven, allow to cool.
7. If you do not frost the cake it makes for a great coffee style cake and looks really neat with the stripes on top and inside.
8. Or if you prefer to frost it then check out my frosting recipe from my Great Aunt Carolyn.

Great Aunt Carolyn’s Chocolate Frosting

This recipe is enough to frost a two layer cake.

4 Tablespoons Butter
4 oz. or 4 Blocks Unsweetend Chocolate OR 12 Tablespoons of unsweetend Chocolate Chips
1/3 Cup Hot Milk
3 Cups Sifted Powdered Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanillla Extract

1. Melt Butter and Chocolate in a Double Broiler on Low until mixed together nicely and set aside. Be Careful not to burn it.
2. In a bowl or with your mixer pour in Sugar and stir in Hot Milk, beat until smooth.
3. Stir Vanilla and Salt into Milk Mixture and blend.
4. Pour Chocolate Mixture into bowl and beat for about 5 minutes.
5. Then frost away…
6. For my topping I used crushed up M&Ms but you could really use anything….

Happy New Year!

Here is the living room/breakfast area/sometimes office!…

Excuse the laptop.

I think I am going to be making a lot of these little ones this X-Mas!

A great little arrangement for the kiddie table!

Everything went as planned……until Matt bit into the crust. I think it was too thick and didn't quite finish baking…whoops! Oh well, I'm still proud of myself for my first try.

And with the left overs I decided to experiment with these little guys, they turned out even better than the actual pie itself (which apparently wasn't a hard feat).

Until next try…….hopefully will be soon.

I epecially love to bake cookies for the holidays. I came across these cookies that are so perfectly adorable. I think I might even make them tonight and celebrate Christmas early this year!

If you are not the baker type.. you can even buy these online at Favor Ideas.

(Photo courtesy of Favor Ideas)

they go perfectly next to our lovely lovely kitchen cabinets that need to be painted…

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