Chocolate Heart Bundt Cake

Just in time for Valentine's Day, right?!  Although not really in my case since Matt doesn't like chocolate. (Yes, you read that right.)

Typically, I much prefer cooking over baking, but on occasion, I'll bake up a little treat (okay, usually only if I'm put in charge of dessert for a party of get-together ;) ).

This occasion was for my step-dad's birthday celebration at my sister's house. The recipe comes from a cookbook that my sister made me as wedding gift... she's always coming up with the most thoughtful gifts- and this one has definitely gotten a lot of use!

On to the recipe...

Ingredients:
1 package Duncan Hines Devil's Food Cake Mix
1 box Jell-O Instant Chocolate Pudding (3.9oz) (use powder only, do not prepare pudding)
16 oz. sour cream
1/2 cup vegatable oil
1/2 cup brewed coffee
4 eggs
1 cup chocolate morsels

Directions
Mix all ingredients together. Pour into non-stick bundt pan (sprayed with cooking spray). Bake on 350 for 45 minutes, or until cake springs back.Allow to cool completely before removing from pan.

I made the Cocoa-Cream Cheese frosting to go on top.

Take about a 1/2 cup of frosting and heat in the microwave for 15 seconds.

Pour over the cake.

Enjoy!

Tomato Basil Parmesan Soup

This original recipe is for the crock pot and comes from here. I kind of like making soups on the stove though (probably because I like to taste them throughout the day as they cook!) I halved the original recipe, mainly because I had the ingredients for the halved version on hand and didn't feel like running to the grocery to get more. :) Other than that, I only changed a few things. So whether you go with the original crock pot version or this one, I hope you like it as much as we did!

Ingredients:
(Serves 4)
1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes, with juice
1/2 cup finely diced celery
1/2 cup finely diced carrots
1/2 cup finely diced shallots
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 T dried basil
1 tsp minced garlic
6 T butter, divided
2 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf 
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese 
1 cup half and half, warmed 
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper

I hand-chopped the shallots and used the blender for the carrots and celery.

Saute carrots, celery, onions, 2T butter, and garlic for 5 minutes.

Add chicken broth, tomatoes, and spices (including salt and pepper).

Simmer for a couple hours.

After the soup has simmered for at least a couple hours, prepare a roux. Melt remaining butter over low heat and add flour. Stir constantly with a whisk for 2-3 minutes.

Add one cup of the soup to the roux and mix until well blended.

Add roux, warmed half and half, and parmesan to the remaining soup. Blend.

Allow to simmer for at least 30 minutes before serving.

I served it with pierogies, but it is definitely filling enough to serve with just bread.

In 2012 We...

• Kicked off the year with a Ski Trip for Papa's 70th birthday!
• Took a cooking class at the Viking School, and then another one with some teacher friends at Hal's Kitchen
• Had a girls' weekend in Charleston and then another baby-registering one in April!
• Cooked some Pinterest-Inspired Recipes with my mom
• Threw a few baby showers for Karen, Andrea, Laura, and Caitlyn
• Won a blog award and made an all-about-Matt post
• Took road trips to Nashville, Wild Dunes, Orlando, Brasstown Bald, Reynold's Plantation, Clemson, and Savannah
• Cheered my sister on at the Atlanta 1/2 Marathon and then cheered on Matt, my mom, and Charles at the Savannah Marathon!
• Had a scare with my mom that prompted me to post about what seeing beautiful means to me
• Celebrated Easter with family days before meeting Jackson for the first time
• Went to the Dogwood Festival at Piedmont Park
• Cheered on Noah at his last soccer game of the season
• Completed a backyard makeover in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2
• Cruised through the Mediterranean and visited Rome and Sicily, Turkey, Athens, and Crete
• Surprised Noah and Maddox with a trip to Legoland for their birthdays and then spent a day with them at the Georgia State Fair
• Met sweet Teagan for the first time
• Completed a classroom makeover and a double-dresser makeover
• Enjoyed a Pin-It, Make-It, Eat-It Party with friends
• Cut bangs
• Experienced some technical difficulties and learned how to avoid paying Google fees on blogger
• Celebrated Thanksgiving, Matt's birthday, Christmas in Monroe, and Christmas in Marietta with family 

For a look at what we did in 2011, click here.

Can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us! 

Happy New Year!

From Christmas to New Years

It's hard to believe another Christmas and NYE have come and gone already! Here are some pictures from all of the festivities.

Got the hair!

Maddox's gift from Ark Ark- a treasure box filled with treasures (love my sister!)

This is the first thing Maddox showed us when we got to my sister's- he told us to close our eyes and the then pulled out this mold of his thumb that he made at the dentist- HA! Funny what 4 year olds surprise you with. 

My dad is in town visiting and got to be with us on Christmas Day

Noah got a pogo stick for Christmas and is already up to 307 jumps in a row!

Noah and Maddox filled cavities on this poor guy for almost 2 hours- future dentists?! Love the concentration. :)

Sweet picture of Noah, but please notice Ark Ark and Seymour (Maddox's newest stuffed animal friend from my dad) in the background. This is where they sit during dinner so that Maddox can see them and they can see him.

He props them up like this all on his own so that their "vision" isn't blocked by the bars- HA!

On Sunday, Matt went to the Falcon's game with my sister, Jeremy, and Noah, while Maddox and I had a fun day together

We started off at IHOP

Then we went to mall where Maddox helped me look for some new boots. We took Ark Ark with us and each held a fin as we walked through the mall. If only I had a picture. :) Afterwards, we went and played with the puppies at Petland!

Then we had some lunch at Wendy's

And then saw Monster's Inc. in 3D! Seymour came along for the movie. :)

For Christmas, Matt's parents surprised us with tickets to the Chick-Fil-A bowl between Clemson and LSU! It was SUCH a good game! We had a field goal with seconds left to go up by one for the win!