I Luh My Moms

Today was my Mom's birthday so I gave her a much needed massage. Then fed her a delicious dinner of spiral ham, macaroni, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole. For dessert is a piece of chocolatey heaven. It's a super fluffy cake with an almost mousse like quality. The frosting is pretty much ganache, amaze!


(The recipes are from the back of the Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder)
* Feel free to exchange sugar with Splenda for a bit less sugar or add instant coffee or espresso for a cafe' taste!

Especially Dark Chocolate Cake

• 2 cups sugar
• 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees 
2. Grease and flour two 9-inch baking pans
3. Stir sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a mixing bowl. Add milk, eggs, oil, and vanilla beat for 2 minutes on medium speed or by hand.
4. Stir in boiling water.
5. Bake 30-35 minutes. 
6. Allow to cool completely.

Especially Dark Chocolate Frosting

      1/2 cup of butter                                          2/3 cup cocoa powder

      3 cups powdered sugar                                1/3 cup milk

      1 tspn vanilla extract

1. Melt butter, stir in cocoa. 
2. Alternate sugar and milk until you reach a good consistency. 
3. Add in vanilla 

Especially Dark Frosting

Mom's Death by Chocolate

XOXO

Ash

Baking Up a Little Thanks!

 Twas Thanksgiving Eve and all through my home wafted nutmeg and cinnamon and oh crap there's my phone...


     I love cooking. Especially when it involves butter. This year I'm bringing mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and a green bean casserole to our family's celebration! I'm making the casserole before we leave so I'll post that tomorrow.


Baked & Mashed Potatoes
5 lbs. yukon gold or russet potatoes
1 stick butter
12 oz. plain Greek yogurt
1 tbspn. salt
1 tbspn. pepper
1 tspn. onion powder
1/2 tbspn. garlic (powder or minced)
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tspn. nutmeg *optional

Brian whipping it good

I'm baking mine in the morning so I just placed them in my 9X13 pan and covered with aluminum foil

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Bake for 45 minutes covered
• Uncover and bake for add. 15 mins. until browned

Perfectly Simple Pumpkin Pie

15 oz. canned pumpkin

2 cups evaporated milk

2 cups light brown sugar

6 lightly beaten eggs

1 tspn. cinnamon

1/2 tspn. nutmeg

1/2 tspn. ginger

Premade pie crust *I make my own using Betty Crocker pie crust mix

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees
• Bake for 10 minutes
• Reduce heat to 350 degrees
• Bake for 45 minutes
• Serve or refrigerate immediately 

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

holidays mean family time!

Sistahs. I loved this day.

Morning Pick Me Up: Drinks with the girls and coffee on my face

     Last night DeOnna, Hannah, and I hit up Fatz to watch DWTS and drink. I wish I had a snapshot of how gorgeous D is but here's H and me :)













     We shared drinks and a mutual respect for Rob Kardashian's assets. The after party at my place consisted of a gem from the 25 Days of Christmas on ABC Family...Snowglobe!

     I watch this movie every year but I'm thankful for the 364 days in between to forget how stupid it is and fall back in love with Christina Milian. H and I got sucked into the snowglobe so in the AM my eyes were tired and sleepy, well, because I was. My caffeine habit has scary side effects like dragon dreams (or it that just the hours of Skyrim) but it's great on your face! I empty my coffee grounds into a small mixing bowl.

     Add 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil.

    Whisk gently. Wet face with tepid water. Apply oil and coffee mask in circular motions spending extra time around the eyes. If you have a minute lay a  warm wash cloth over your face and take in the morning. Otherwise just rinse well! If you have oily or combination skin you just need to finish with a toner of astringent. I sometimes follow with a gentle cleanser such as Olay Sensitive Skin Foaming Cleanser. Always apply a moisturizer with an SPF of 15+ and you are perked up and ready to whip the day!


     If you are reading this, thank you so freaking much. Tomorrow I'm going to show you guys what I'm making for Thanksgiving this year! Plus, pictures of me in the kitchen are bound to be hilarious. Tune in. 


xoxo,
Ash

Happily Giving Thanks

Thank you follows my name in email salutations. I offer it for services rendered. A compliment most definitely deserves this phrase. All of this is well and good but I would like to live my life in a state of thanksgiving.

1.) First and foremost, I am thankful for the grace given by our Savior.

2.) No written language can express my gratitude for the love of my husband. Although, that may just have done it lol. We are this unified team and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

3.) With each year I find a new reason to love my parents. We're not your typical family and I like it that way. My childhood was happy, free, and loving. What more could you ask for?

Dad, Me, and Mom before my HS Graduation 2006

4.) FRIENDS! All sorts of friends. There are too many to list here photographically but I am so blessed to know each of you. Your love and support, in the good times and bad, means the world to me. 

*Man, I think I'm going to have to do a post of all friend pictures!

4.)  My fur baby, Chloe. She has made our home such a joy to enter. Her energy is a perfect match for Brian and me. We waited four years to find the right pet for us and no doubt...she's it!

Chloe Lynn Landon

5.) Lastly, my education. Learning is freedom from oppression, a vehicle of change, and path to your bliss. I'm so happy to have found Kaplan University. It's the perfect fit for my lifestyle!

*I also would like to say I have great respect for those who attend trade schools or receive their GED's. As the 99% of us know, college degrees are not a guarantee.

I should be...

working on my Communication project. Instead I've decided to relish in my disappointment with friendships and my part in those downfalls. I have two jobs, attend school full time, and have a husband & dog baby to care for. I am so in love with life lately. I'm working harder than I ever have in my life. I married my best friend and I owe him the best of me, everyday. For the first time I am fulfilled. Yet, some ties to friends are unraveling. I completely accept fault in this distance. Just know I would never turn my back on anyone because moving forward is all we can do in this life. My life has changed in such an expanding way. I want to hear about your life and pour you a big glass of wine. I want to turn the music up loud and dance without a care. I am riddled with mistakes but I still love you. Do you still love me?

Feels like Forks, Washington outside...

With the clouds covering the daytime sky and a constant mist of rain we have a bit of Forks, WA in SC.

If you're a fan of the books then you are as excited about the first installment of the end to the saga, Breaking Dawn Part 1 as I am! If you're not then go see The Muppets. I really want to see that too but you get the point. The movie, premiering Friday, will probably pale in comparison to the book. (get it...pale) but the love scene...ahh the love scene.

Sam and I taking the men with us. Maybe they secretly want to see it or are blatantly trying to please us. Either is fine with me. It's going to be a quality flick.

* Just as a little real life connection you can visit La Push, Quileute Nation! 

xoxo-Ash

Mrs. Snuffleupagus

Sinus infection has me sitting on the bench today. I've watched the latest Once Upon a Time and my tea is piping hot so I went a'googlin! I had forgotten how much I love Pablo Neruda.

Brown and agile child, the sun which forms the fruit

And ripens the grain and twists the seaweed

Has made your happy body and your luminous eyes

And given your mouth the smile of water.

A black and anguished sun is entangled in the twigs

Of your black mane when you hold out your arms.

You play in the sun as in a tidal river

And it leaves two dark pools in your eyes.

Brown and agile child, nothing draws me to you,

Everything pulls away from me here in the noon.

You are the delirious youth of bee,

The drunkedness of the wave, the power of the heat.

My somber heart seeks you always

I love your happy body, your rich, soft voice.

Dusky butterfly, sweet and sure

Like the wheat field, the sun, the poppy, and the water.



Brown and Agile Child
Pablo Neruda




What do you guys enjoy while you're sick?