st. patty's

We love St. Patrick's Day around here.  The kids love their traditional Lucky Charms breakfast,  green lunch and we all enjoy corned beef and cabbage for dinner.  This year however I wanted to add something new, a surprise since the kids all know that the special breakfast, lunch and dinner are coming.

I had seen a rainbow layered cake show up a few times on the internet and I figured it would make a great St. Patty's day dessert.  

I LOVE THIS DESSERT!  

It was time consuming baking so many layers (I was wishing I had a double oven) but it was so easy especially since I used box cake mix and canned frosting.

Excuse the picture quality - cell phone and poor lighting  does not equal up to quality photos.

the cake before being completely frosted

the family was surprised when we cut into the plain white cake

(I surrounded the cake with Rolos for little pots of gold)

You need to get on Google and search rainbow layered cakes to see what people have done - they are all so cute.

emergency preparedness

I use to be totally on top of being prepared for an emergency.  We had complete 72 hour kits, 3 month supply of food, etc.  We were totally prepared for any emergency - earthquake, loss of job, brush fire evacuation...

These days however we're not quite as prepared.  The last few camping trips we've "stolen"items out of our 72 hour kit & never returned them.  Candles, flashlights and other such items are packed in boxes somewhere in the garage because we haven't need them yet in the "new" house (yes the new house is almost 2 years old)

We knew we were in trouble a couple weeks ago when we were without power for 8 hours.  We had to get resourceful.

Megan came home from school starving (she only has 4 classes and gets home at lunch time everyday)  She wasn't quite sure what to do without a microwave - pathetic, I know :)  After a few minutes of figuring out alternatives to the microwave here is the route she took...

Yes, this is the Goodwill cauldron I mentioned in my last post - the one that was waiting to make it's debut at our Harry Potter party.  Well, it had it's coming out party a bit sooner.  Megan got to live out her  "I'm a potions student at Hogwarts" fantasy as she boiled water and whipped up some Top Ramen in this handy little hanging pot.

It worked brilliantly!  

I've added it to my list of useful items in an emergency and am now making a concerted effort to get better prepared (it was miserable scouring an almost dark garage for candles during our power outage)

she's a baker

Emily loves to be in the kitchen.  She is often asking if she can make a treat or help with dinner. The other night she wanted to make cookies so she whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  At first I didn't really want her to make them - I hate the after cookie mess but after I got a taste of a warm cookie I was glad I had said yes.  

Em is getting good in the kitchen.  She is capable of handling herself without much supervision and she turns out some really tasty food.  Perhaps someday soon I can turn over all the cooking responsibilities to her - wouldn't that be a fun little break?!