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Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse...

In the middle of a very busy day filled with bad news, I needed something fun...so I dropped everything and made Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse.  It was either that or take drugs or drink or buy a one-way ticket...none of those ideas really seemed like good options but mousse is always a good choice.  I made mousse.  Not only did I make mousse, but I made and served it to my friends, without tasting the final product...oh, I tasted the mousse, amazing.  I tasted the whipped cream, divine.  But I didn't taste the pretzel topping because I know what pretzels taste like and I wanted to save that "bite" for when I could sit and savor it all.  My friends arrived, I served them the mousse, explained how it was made with Cookie Butter/Speculoos and told them how wonderful it was and as we all grabbed a spoon, my friend Julie said, "What is that I'm tasting, garlic?"  GARLIC?!?!?!  What the #&#!  There is NO garlic in the recipe...and then I realized what I had done...I grabbed the bag of Everything Pretzels...the ones covered with sesame seeds, onion, black pepper and GARLIC!!!  Godfrey!!!  It was, in a word, disgusting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The minute my friends left I threw out the mousse, which no one ate. Then I set about making Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse with Butter Pretzels.  I tasted every step along the way...salivating at the sweet/salty combination that I so dearly love and I'm quite certain has curative properties.  Because I felt cured.  After I had finished making my 2nd batch, I sat down, put my feet up and slowly ate and enjoyed every bite...practically licked the glass...and then I wrapped up those babies and delivered them to my friends so they would know what Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse was supposed to taste like!!!

 

Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse is unique and rather addictive...as in, make a double batch, you'll want seconds.   It's unique because it's made with Cookie Butter, also called Speculoos, which looks just like peanut butter, but instead of being made from peanuts, it's made from thin, very crunchy, caramelized Dutch/Belgian cookies.   Trader Joe's carries a really great tasting one and you can find Speculoos at most upscale grocery stores, or Amazon.  This dessert is quick and easy to make, takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, which, when you think about it is pretty amazing - 30 minutes to have a dessert that people will rave about...as long as you don't put garlic in it!  I made my 3rd batch of this mousse for a baby shower I hosted for a friend's daughter.  Smooth, sweet, crunchy, salty, buttery, creamy...seriously, it's got it all goin' on!  I'll give it a solid 5 on the Ol' Dang Meter, this one is dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good!

Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse - Adapted From Kate Wood of The Wood and Spoon

For the Pretzel Crumb topping:

 

4 tablespoons butter, melted

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cup pretzels (You can use regular pretzels, sticks, or twists, but I really like Snyders Butter Snap Pretzels)

 

For the Mousse:

 

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup cookie butter/Speculoos

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped, divided

 

For the Whipped Cream:

 

 

1/4 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

 

Prepare the Pretzel Crumb Topping:  Put pretzels in a Zip-Lock style bag and roughly crush.  To the bag of pretzels, add the melted butter, brown sugar and salt and mix well by manipulating bag with your hands.  Set aside.

 

Prepare the Mousse:  In the bowl of an electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, mix the cream cheese and cookie butter/Speculoos, scraping down the sides as necessary, until smooth.  Add in the sugar and vanilla and beat until well combined.

 

Prepare the Whipped Cream:  In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.  (This whipped cream is for the mousse, do not add the sugar or vanilla to this - yet.) Fold 1/3 of the whipped cream into the cookie butter, making sure no streaks are visible.  Once combined, fold in another 1/3 of the whipped cream, blending until no streaks are visible.  To the remaining whipped cream, add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla and beat until incorporated.  Set aside.

 

Assemble the Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse Cups:  Using a Zip-Lock style bag, fill the bag with the mousse mixture, snip off a little bit of the corner (about 1/2-inch) and pipe the mousse into your serving dishes (little glass jars or glass ramekins are great to use to you can see all the different components).  Sprinkle a heaping tablespoon of the pretzel crumb topping over top of the mousse.  Top with a dollop of the sweetened whipped cream and if you have any pretzel topping left, sprinkle on top and serve. 

 

These can be stored, covered, in the fridge for up to 3 days but are best eaten right away as the pretzel crumbs will lose their crunch over time.  Do not use low fat or unsalted pretzels, you want the salt!  Also, avoid using large pretzel rods or nuggets, just stick with your basic salted pretzel or find Snyders Butter Snap Pretzels!

 

Thought I'd better show you some pics of the shower...it turned out really nice, at least, that's my humble opinion!  Along with the Cookie Butter Pretzel Mousse I served Bimini Key Lime Pie Shots and Meringues with Chocolate Ganache and raspberries.  We also had a cheese and crackers and fruit, for those people who have sworn off sugar...really, what is the point of living if you can't have sugar?!?!  I just don't get it and I'm diabetic!!! 

 

See my sweet little Rosie?  She is such a good little helper, anything that drops on the ground she happily cleans up for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We didn't play any games, they are so passe', no?  Instead, I made everyone decorate a onesie for the new mom-to-be.  They all turned out so cute!  The mister came home while the shower was going on, he looked into the dining room and saw the onesies across the window and said, "That better not be permanent."  Always quick with a clever comment...whatta guy!  I rather liked it! 

Does this wreath look creepy to you?  I was told by some neighborhood kids it was creepy...naked dolls tied to a wreath by the neck is creepy???  Oh whatever!  I was very proud when a friend said to me, "It looks like you!"  Yes, I suppose that sums me up nicely...naked dolls and binkies, with a bow. 

 

It does make me smile though... 

 

Wishing Brooke and Paul and very healthy and happy baby girl, that arrives on time!

 

Baby Rylee's Nursery...

Baby Rylee is my niece Gabby's new baby girl - and she's a sweetheart!  I finally got to meet her when I was in Utah last week - she is already one month old!

Elsa and Max were all to happy to spend time with Rylee.  Max was overheard saying, "Elsa, let's go explore baby Rylee!"  We kept a close watch over them exploring...but they both just wanted to hold her and touch her little fingers.  Look how big they are in comparison!!  Elsa is now 3 1/2 and Max is 7...they are growing up waaaaaay too fast for me!

Rylee lives in the beautiful (not) metropolis of Rock Springs, Wyoming...her mom and dad moved there for work and my sister prays every night for them to move back to Salt Lake City so she can be close to Rylee...I just laugh, as if a grandma has ANY SAY!!!  But we should!!  Kids who have kids and move away from their parents should be forced to move back!!!  How else can a grandma do her job properly?!?  It is possible to spoil grandkids who live far, far away from their grandmas...but it is not nearly as much fun as it would be if they lived next door!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My niece asked me to help her with Rylee's nursery...and by help I mean she sent me 7 yards of beautiful fabric (Love Bliss Bouquet by Amy Butler) and I did all the work...which I was happy to do as I love my niece like she's my own.  I thought you might like to see the finished nursery!

 

This is the crib quilt and the bumper pad for Rylee's crib.  As you may or may not know, having bumper pads is now considered dangerous!!  So Rylee's bumper pad was made to go on top of the crib railing...stupid if you ask me...I guess it's more important to keep the baby from biting the crib rail than banging her head on the slats!  It's a miracle that any kid grows up today!

 

Here's the finished crib with all the trimmings...matching sheets, dust-ruffle, crib quilt and the dang top rail bumper pad...it is cute, though, no?  Gabby hung up the netting behind the crib, which will last for a few more months before Rylee learns to sit up and shreds it to pieces!  Below you can see the newest trend for infant girls...the obligatory chandelier.  And really, why not?  There are so few times in a girls life when she can be treated like a princess, unless she is an actual princess!  A little bit of sparkle and glitz is what every little girl needs!

The glider/rocker in Rylee's room was given to her by the girl, who used it for Max and Elsa -  and those two little birds did a number on the cushions with permanent markers like you wouldn't believe, I wish I'd taken a picture of the before for you to see!  I recovered the cushions and now it looks like a brand new rocker - I think it turned out great!  (The arm cushion was not quite positioned right for the photo...it just needs to be turned down a bit...rockers are very pretentious and difficult to photograph!!)

After I left Rylee's home and returned to civilization, my niece sent me a few pictures of her room - with her new "bookshelves" on the wall...

Can't you just picture little Rylee in a year or two using those bookshelves as monkey bars?  Swinging from one to another and then vaulting herself into her crib so she can twirl on the netting ala Cirque de Soleil! 

This is the other side of Rylee's room - cute changing table with a darling picture of Rylee above.  (Gabby, maybe I should make you a coral or turquoise colored cover for the changing table - white seems to be a bit bland!)

This is the dresser I gave to my niece - I painted the dresser white (it used to be brown) and painted the picture on the front years ago, and so I love this little dresser and wanted it to go to someone who would love it, too!  Gabby has it in Rylee's room, in the closet - and while I think it should be prominently displayed in the room, alas, while Rylee's room is elegant and beautiful, it is small so the closet was the only place for the dresser!  But, that being said, the dresser is being used and was needed! Every drawer is filled with something...the top drawer is filled with baby booties and shoes, the second drawer is filled with socks of every color and so on...as you can see by the rod above the dresser - little Rylee does not lack for clothes!  Gabby had about 4 baby showers so Rylee is THE best dressed baby in all of Wyoming - well that's not saying much, Rylee is probably the best dressed baby in the West! 

One last shot of the little love in her bed...which is probably a first for her - usually she is sleeping on top of her mom or dad or in their bed - like most babies these days, do they really even need a crib?!?

There's nothing quite like a new baby...

Gender Reveal Party...

Yep, it's a thing.  If you're on Pinterest then you know gender reveal parties are the new black!  It seems everyone is pregnant and everyone is desperately trying to come up with a bigger, better, funner (I know that's not a word but doesn't funner just seem to fit in with a gender reveal party?!?) way to tell the world you're having a baby!

My niece Gabby is having a baby - the first grandchild for my little sister, the one who is younger than me yet looks older, remember her?  Anywho, Gabby is having a baby and she was not about to announce the gender of her unborn child by just sending a text or email or, Heaven forbid, picking up the phone and calling in the news!  So she asked me to help her with the party - and as you know, I have trouble saying NO, but Gabby is my very favorite pregnant niece so how could I refuse?  First things first - I had to make two baby quilts - one blue and one pink - it would have been rude not to!

Pink and blue everything!  The entire famdamly gathered at my sister's home to celebrate the big event!  My dad loves to have his picture taken - isn't he the cutest 83 year old you've ever seen?!?  He is the best father and grandfather and an amazing great-grandfather!  Gabby's little baby will make great-grandchild #3!  I would have posted a pic of my cute mom but I managed to snap her picture every time she was putting her fork in her mouth - and I didn't want to be grounded!!

Pink and blue PEEPS are as disgusting as they look.  Just so you know.  My apologies to the three people in the world who actually like PEEPS!

Everyone got to decorate a onesie for the new babe...most everyone thought Gabby was going to have a boy!  Only three people knew the actually gender...the mom, the dad and yours truly.  Of course, I did my best to mislead and confuse - which is my specialty.

After a fabulous Burrito Bar dinner, it was time for the big REVEAL!  Gabby and Mike, aka mom and dad, cut into the four-layer coconut cake together...slowly...letting the suspense build!!  About the cake, it is, without a doubt, the BEST coconut cake on the planet!  Click here for the recipe. 

SurPrise!  SurPrise!  Mike and Gabby are having a GIRL!!!  When the pink M&M's spilled out everyone screamed, clapped and then said, "I knew it!" 

Mike and Gabby are going to be wonderful parents, I am SO happy for them!  In fact, I was so excited to finally have them spill the beans/M&M's that I told Gabby she could have BOTH quilts!  Originally I had planned on giving her either the pink or blue - but you know, even little girls wear blue and they need a matching quilt, no? 

Congrats Gabby and Mike - You will most certainly have the THIRD most beautiful child in the world! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Double Crocheted Baby Blankets...

I have a good supply of crochet hooks and knitting needles - probably over 100.  I've tried knitting many times, and the results are always the same...10 fingers and 2 knitting needles is just one too many.  I end up tossing the knitting aside for crochet - one is much easier than two, no?  In fact, this is the only scenario I can think of where more is too much.  Crochet-ing and I have tried to be friends in the past and it's never really worked - of course I blame Crochet.  But recently I was told that it IS possible to do a simple crochet stitch and make something remarkable...let me show you Gretchen's double-Crocheted baby blankets...

Ummmm, I don't think this is a double crochet but I'm starting with it because I love it so much - how sweet it is!  Can't you just picture a roly-poly baby wrapped up in this?!?

Can you see the hearts?  Another of Gretchen's sweet blankets...she said this was easy, too!  She almost has me convinced!  I'm going to let Crochet back into my life, I think it's time for a reunion...

Gretchen did not say this one was easy or if she did I immediately discounted her because just look at that detail!  I think this is the blanket she made for her niece who is expecting her first baby.  It's just so pretty.  Both of my grands love crocheted blankets - my Max dragged a giant queen size crocheted blanket around with him every where he went for years!   His other grandma made it...I made him quilts but he liked the crocheted blanket...go figure!

Gretchen said I just have to count...and I can do that!  At least I know I can count to 10, after that I'm not so sure!  It's lacy and so soft - Gretchen uses super soft yarn - I'm really thinking I can do this!

Gretchen also said it takes her a couple of evenings to make one of these - about 10 hours or so.  That's 10 hours of sitting in front of the TV counting...right up my alley!!  Especially since we have a summer of TV catch-up to do...Breaking Bad, 24, House of Cards...all the shows that everyone tells us we should watch but don't have time for - now we do!

Gretchen and I are new BFF's...I met her just recently and instantly fell in love with her sweet spirit, kind heart and her amazing voice - she talks in a lilt...her words just rolled off her tongue and were rather infectious - I couldn't help but smile while I listened to her.  To Gretchen:  Thanks for the inspiration!!  I'm going to give this a go...at best I'll end up with a sweet little blanket and at worst, I'll have myself a kanniption fit while I de-tangle yarn from my body and throw yet another crochet hook into the trash!

Can you see the deer?  They were daily visitors at the luxury resort I was lucky enough to stay in on Lake Pend Orielle in Sandpoint, Idaho!  Just a little slice of Heaven...a long weekend cooking retreat with great food, great friends and a fabulous view.  Thank you Becky for your generosity and the great memories!

 

Monkey Star Quilts...

Twins.  Twice the love.  Twice the trouble.  Isn't that how the sayings go?  A dear friend's daughter is expecting twin boys - so I'd say, based on personal experience with just one boy - for at least the next 25 years her life is going to be a CS-360...a constant spinning of love and chaos.  And who could ever ask for more?!

There was a baby shower last weekend and it was so nice and the mom-to-be received such nice things!  I made two quilts for the twins, using the colors/theme from their bedding as my guide, I copied the monkey from the bedding - well, I tried!  I used my very favorite baby quilt pattern, it's called Big Baby Star by Linda Johnson, it sews up quick and easy...just as long as you cut everything out right!

The pattern doesn't call for the points of the stars to be pieced, but you know me, if I can make it harder on myself I will!  I was sewing along on the 2nd quilt at break-neck speeds when my machine up and died...as in smoke came out from under the casing and there was a terrible grinding noise!!  It was horrible!  I immediately packed it up and took it to the machine hospital...there's no word yet on whether or not it can be re$u$itated.  Please say a little prayer for my Pfaff...I miss her so much!

 

Aaaand I was almost done with the 2nd quilt - it was 90% quilted when my machine died...you would have thought it could have just hung in there for 10 more minutes!  I took both quilts to the shower, then brought the unfinished one back home.  I was told it would be two weeks before I get my machine back...and you quilters out there know, that's a very, very long time to be without a machine!

 

 

The jungle/monkey theme just goes with twin boys - what fun they are going to have!  I helped with some food for the shower...I had sous chef Katie come and help me dip frozen bananas in chocolate and we also made pineapple rice balls...tropical themed food - it was all very yummy!  We also had chicken skewers and mock-pina-colada shots and fruit - and while we were sitting around eating our frozen bananas,  watching the mom-to-be open her gifts in our make-shift tropical paradise, there were snow flurries outside!  Mother Nature has a wicked sense of humor!

 

Janice is going to be such a wonderful grandma!  I'm so jealous her grandbabies will be just 20 minutes away!  (To the girl/SIL...why must you torture me?!?!  Move back here already!)  Congratulations to Lindsey and Jason - it's going to be a wild ride - and I know you'll enjoy every minute!

Milk and "Straw" Cookies...

A while back I saw a cute idea on Pinterest for milk and cookies - but the cookies were store bought, which doesn't really matter except I wanted home-made cookies.  Oh, the cookies had to have a hole in the center - so I thought I'd show you how I did it - in case, you know, you ever want a cookie with a hole in the center!

 

 

 

 

 

You will need a big straw.  I have some large "smoothie" straws I purchased at a kitchen store and they worked great. They are made of plastic so they didn't bend, do not use paper straws, they won't work with hot cookies!  You will also need some fresh-hot-from-the-oven home-made cookies; I made chocolate chip cookies.  As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, insert the straw into the center and lift - that's it!  Instant hole!  The cookies will still be soft so you need to work quickly, making the holes before they crisp up.  You don't need to worry about extracting the cookie part from the straw - just keep making holes and the centers go up into the straw, which you can squeeze/rinse out later.

There is a reason for all this hole-making...and why I used a large straw for the hole instead of a regular-sized one...the cookies need to fit over a straw...

On top of cute little milk bottles with spoon-straws in the bottles (so chocolate or strawberry syrup could be added and stirred in later) these made fun treats for my girls.  Straw cookies and milk...for what ails you at 3:00 in the afternoon.

(Several of the girls didn't come for our cookie and milk event...but I promise that no cookies were left uneaten or milk undranken.  Yes, undranken, as one 12 year old said, and who am I to question?)

Granola...

The mister has met his match.  We have a new remote in the house.  Night after night the same scenario takes place...I turn on my TV show, the mister picks up the remote, just when MY program is getting good, he clicks a button and before I can barely form the thought, before I can spit out the words, don't change the channel, which I would sputter in my best fall-from-the-cliff-voice, with arms flailing, before all that can take place, the screen goes blue!  I don't know whether to laugh or scream as the mister frantically begins pushing every button on the 300 or so button remote...it looks like it has 300, probably has less, but I'm not about to count...and the more he pushes the madder he gets..."certain" words are let loose,  pillows are tossed, the dog takes shelter, and finally, when the mister hits rock-remote-bottom, he yells for The Boy.  The Boy, amused that once again he has to come to his fazshure's rescue, picks up the remote, pushes one button, and my TV show is restored.  The Boy snickers as he leaves the room, the mister curses the remote one last time, and I settle in for 5 or 6 minutes of my show before the finger-clicker-happy-egit starts it all over again.   I love the new remote!

 

 

 

 

 

Homemade granola is easy to make and it tastes SO much better than the cardboard tasting crap stuff you buy.  You can add whatever dried fruits and nuts you want, so every bite has something in it you love - that's the best thing about making it yourself - it becomes YOUR granola.  

Just look at all that crunchy goodness!!  This is the only granola recipe I'll ever use - I've tried several recipes over the years but this one is perfect and, of course, it's from Ina Garten!  Has she ever made anything that wasn't perfect?!?  No, no she hasn't!  This granola is really easy and one batch makes 12 cups.  And just so you know, homemade granola would make a really nice Christmas gift!

Granola - Adapted from Ina Garten

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

2 cups sliced almonds

3/4 cup vegetable oil

1/2 cup good honey

1 1/2 cups small diced dried apricots

1 cup small diced dates

1 cup dried cherries

1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Toss the oats, coconut, and almonds together in a large bowl.  Whisk together the oil and honey in a small bowl.  Pour the liquids over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats and nuts are coated.  Pour onto a 13x18x1-inch rimmed baking sheet.  Bake, stirring every 15 minutes with a spatula, until the mixture turns a nice, even, golden brown, about 45 minutes. 

Remove the granola from the oven and allow to cool, stirring occasionally.  Add the apricots, dates, cherries and cranberries.  Store the cooled granola in an airtight container.

 

 

 

 

Last weekend I helped with a baby shower and we served yogurt parfaits, topped with granola and fresh fruit - they were as pretty as they were delicious...and what a great and healthy way to start the day!  Guests at the shower took home little bags with granola, so they could enjoy it later, maybe with ice cream!   The food table looked so pretty!  Along with the yogurt parfaits the ladies enjoyed fresh fruit, muffins and my Ham and Egg Cups - plus extra granola was on hand for extra scooping!  It was a very nice shower, and Tori received lots of beautiful things for her new baby boy, Taj.  Lori was a gracious hostess and Janice helped, too,   You know what they say, it takes a village!

Baby Girl Shower...

In a week where there was not one minute of extra time, between working, studying/going to class (sto imparando a parlare Italiano), and being a dutiful wife and mother (that is my new mantra, I begin each morning telling myself to be dutiful and then I burst out laughing), I surely did not have time for a baby shower or time to make things for the shower!  Don't you find when you do something for the right reasons that things always seem to fall into place?  I might have lost a bit of sleep, but in the wee hours of the night/morning, I managed to crank out a few things I thought would make the shower more personal and fun...a saner person would have speed dialed her therapist for a quick head examination!

 

 

These are an "oldie-but-goodie" kind of thing...baby sock roses - roll up one sock, secure end with a piece of wire and stick into an arrangement.  I don't think anyone noticed them, but I thought they were pretty cute - and then, before the new mom-to-be left, I pulled them out and gave them to her.

 

 

Drool cloths are a necessity with a new baby - they spit, they leak, they do unspeakable things!  One can ever have too many cloth diapers on hand to dab a sweet little chin.  Little onesies are made so much nicer with a few purchased appliques sewn on - five minutes to cuteness, well worth it!  I used the diapers and onesies as place-mats...they all needed to be laundered before being used on the baby so I figured it was okay!  I gave them to the new mom after dinner...for her to wash! 

 

 

We've had such wonderful weather - by far the best two months I can remember!  Only one day of rain in all that time - late September and we dined outside - truly a rare thing!  (Just in case you plan to visit Seattle, September is THEEEE month to come!) I served Tomato Pie, salad with Avocado Caesar Dressing (recipe up soon) and Sweet Cream Corn Muffins with Cinnamon Honey Butter followed by Creme Brulee (recipe for this up soon, too!)  Simple food that seemed to hit the spot on what was probably the last of our summer!

 

 

"Baby girls are born with sugar in them but to raise them to be strong and smart they need a little salt!"  My guests left with a little bottle of orange-colored Hawaiian Sea Salt, which I found at World Market and the bottles came from Ben Franklin.

   

The mom-to-be looked like she stuffed a balloon under her shirt!  She is SO tiny everywhere else - only a month or so left to go!  I should have taken pictures of the lovely gifts she was given - my friends went overboard and showered her with beautiful things - we all love her very much!  But alas, I only have a picture of what I gave her..a little circle quilt for the new babe -

The binding had not been sewn down by the time of the shower - so I couldn't send it home with the guest of honor, but now it's done (thank you Marsha for coming to my rescue and sewing on the binding!)  I can't wait to see this new baby, hopefully wrapped up in her little quilt!  Love you Becca!  Just remember that millions and millions of women have given birth and lived to tell the tale...and it's okay to swear!!

Baby Carrier Cover/Canopy...

My banner is back!! Apparently it was not hijacked or stolen...just another example of how my warped mind works...why would anyone do that?  They would have to be MORE stupid than me!  Okay, so the experts at Typepad told me when my banner was originally loaded it was done so through Photobucket...and everything has been fine and dandy until Photobucket had some kind of hiccup!  Now it's been restored and I can eat again...I mean, eat without being stressed because I wasn't smart enough to fix the issue...I can always eat!  Thank you to the experts, I shall bake you a cake for your hard work!

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I want to show you another great baby gift - it's a cover for a baby car seat, to keep the sun out of the baby's face while in the car and to keep the wind and rain off the baby when going to and fro.  The girl asked me to make one for her so poor little Elsa, stuck facing backwards in the back seat of the car, would not have the sun in her face...oh, and also because she could tell Max that when the cover was down Elsa was sleeping so he would leave her alone...there would be no more, "I touched Elsa's eye!  Elsa let me touch her eye!" 

This is no big deal to make - two pieces of fabric, with corners curved, sewn right-sides-together and then turned right sides out.  A scant 1/4-inch seam is sewn all the way around the edge and it's half-way done!  Two strips are sewn on, that have velcro on the ends so they can be attached around the handle to hold it on.  And just like that, the sun goes down over Santa Monica Boulevard...(unless your Cheryl Crow and then the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard! Got that stuck in my head this morning...now it's stuck in yours!)

You could say this was free...I used fabric from my stash.  It looks like the fabric is touching the floor in this picture but it's not, that's why the corners need to be curved, so it doesn't touch. 

If the cover isn't needed it's just folded back over the top of the handle - I backed this with a pink and white check...it just dawned on me that maybe I should have put Elsa in the car seat to show you her sweet face...but since I didn't, I'll show you Elsa in her bed...

Her room still isn't finished!!  I made the drapes and brought them to hang but the curtain rod was not up...yes, I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't put it up, well let me tell you...the SIL basically told me I was never to do anything in his home again...he put it this way, "HOW WOULD YOU LIKE SOMEONE COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE AND DOING THINGS?!?!"   (I personally would LOVE it but apparently the SIL has issues with help...errrr maybe just MY help!)  So the curtain rod stayed on the floor and the drapes did not get hung and I will NEVER do another thing, EVER, in their home.  (Hell hath no furry like a MIL scorned!)  I sound a little testy, don't I?  Well not to worry, I'll get over it...in my next life!

 

So little Elsa's room  is waiting for the drapes and a few other things to be done.  I put the drapes on the curtain rod just to see how they would look - they will be darling...but for now they hang on the dresser!

 

Elsa was so very tired - just ready to close her eyes - such a sweet baby!  She is 3 months old and has almost doubled her weight!  She's now wearing 6 to 9 months clothes...I'm so happy she takes after her Grandma!  If you want to make a cover/canopy, click here.  I followed her instructions and in about 30 minutes the cover was done...you can purchase a cover for $35 to $49...or you make make one with 2 1/2 yards of fabric and a few pieces of velcro - in the fabrics of your choice - and hear rave reviews when you're done!

Bimini Key Lime Pie Shots...

Does anyone remember how Bimini was "put on the map?"  Aside from Ernest Hemingway living on the tiny island 53 miles east of Miami or the Duke of Windsor visiting years ago...there was another hystorical (when hysteria and history meet) event that made Bimini all the talk...from Wikipedia:

"In May 1987, Colorado Senator Gary Hart's presidential bid was derailed after media reports exposed an affair with model Donna Rice. Photos taken of the Senator on an overnight trip to Bimini on the yacht Monkey Business fed the media frenzy. An intimate photo of Rice sitting on the lap of Hart on one of Bimini's docks was the nail in the coffin for Hart's campaign for the presidency."

Marrried Senator + Model = Monkey Business!  Not even The National Enquirer could have made that one up!  Okay, let's move on...Bimini is known for other notable things, like Jimmy Margaritaville Buffet writing one of his books there...not quite as impressive as the Democratic Senator writing his swan song...hahaha...trying to moving on...Bimini, which is said to be a very charming little island, is known for something else, something even more provacative than Senatorial Sex...their Key Lime Pie.  It's different.  It's a no-bake pie that's so light, refreshing and smooth it'll make you want to slap the nearest Democrat and scream God Bless America!

 

 

 

In case you don't happen to own 65 or so shot glasses and you're not needing pie shots for a baby shower, you can make a 9-inch pie like normal people...it will taste just as great.  The crust for this delectable island dessert is made with graham crackers and coconut...ya mon, co-co-nut!  And then, even though the crust is fabulous and the filling, almost defying description, you top the little things with a piece of candied lime peel...mi gotta say mon, dees are bashy baby, upright bashy!  (I don't know where the island slang came from, it just kind of took over my brain...bashy means really, really good...in case you're not up to speed!) 

For the shower I also made Lemon-Strawberry Pie Shots, with the same graham-coconut crust...and while they were very good, the Bimini Key Lime Pie Shots stole the show...make them and see for yourself!  This may look like a long and involved recipe - it's not - it's fast and easy and there's not another dessert out there that will WOW your family/guests better than this...5 dangs on the ol' meter my friend...FIVE!  This one is dang, dang, dang, dang, dang good!

Bimini Key Lime Pie Shots - Adapted From The Bimini Sea Shack/The Key Lime Cookbook by Joyce Young

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 package (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened

1/2 to 3/4 cup Key Lime juice

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Graham-Coconut Crust:

1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut (if you can't find unsweetened coconut, use sweetened and omit the sugar)

9 graham crackers, broken into big pieces

2 1/2 tablespoons sugar

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Candied Lime Peel Garnish, optional, but so worth it: 

1 lime

1/4 cup sugar, plus more for coating lime peel slivers

To make the crust:  Heat oven to 325 degrees and adjust oven rack to middle position.  Spread the coconut into a 9-inch glass pie plate and toast in the oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally and being careful not to burn.  Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until they are coarse crumbs.  Put the crumbs into a medium-bowl and add the coconut, sugar and the melted butter.  Toss with a fork to combine.  If you are making a pie, use the same 9-inch glass pie plate, press the crumb mixture into the pie plate and up the sides.  Use the bottom of a measuring cup to flatten out the bottom and sides, spreading the crust as evenly as possible.  Bake the crust until a deep golden brown, about 20 minutes.  Cool the crust on a wire rack while making the filling.  If you are making the pie shots, after mixing in the coconut, sugar and butter, press about 1 to 2 teaspoons of the crust mixture into the bottoms of 15 shot glasses, using the end of a spatula to tamp down.

To make the filling:  Place milk, cream cheese and lime juice in blander or food processor.  Process on low speed until smooth.  Add vanilla.  Process until mixed.  Pour mixture into crust, if making a pie, and chill in refrigerator until set, about 3 to 4 hours or overnight.  If making the pie shots, carefully spoon about a tablespoon or so into each shot glass, filling almost to the top.  Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours for shots, or up to overnight. 

To make candied lime peel:  Place 1/4 cup sugar in small sauce pan and 1/4 water.  Bring to a boil.  Cut lime into slices then carefully go around the edges, removing the peel only, leaving the white pith.  Cut peel into small slivers.  and put into boiling sugar water. Reduce heat to a simmer and let boil for 5 minutes.  Remove lime peel with a slotted spoon and drop into a small bowl of granulated sugar to coat.  Discard sugar water.  Use as a garnish for the pie shots or the pie.

Note:  You can use a purchased graham cracker crust...I won't judge you...and you can also top the shots/pie with whipped cream if you haven't met your cream quota for the day.  This recipe makes one 9-inch pie or 15 pie shots, but lest you think one shot is enough for one person...plan on two per person because one is never enough!