Not Everyone

In this family we love our celebrations, in fact we take pride in celebrating hard and celebrating well.  Our cousin Natalie's wedding was no exception.  

The venue was gorgeous of course.

The bride was a vision, the food was outstanding, the weather cooperated, and guests refused to sit at the Cowboys table.

Some people drank.  A LOT.  And some people liked the lollipops.  A LOT.

And everyone who attended was stylin'!

And while not everyone could be there...we're thankful that the ones who made it did, and a fabulous time was had by all!

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Cake

Due to popular demand...such morning deliciousness that you'll forget about everything else! (is it really popular demand if it's just one person nagging...and nagging and nagging and nagging...okay slight exaggeration, but only slight, mind you)

CINNAMON STREUSEL COFFEE CAKE

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees, lightly spray a 9" square or round pan, then get two bowls and one liquid measuring cup:

One bowl for the streusel topping*:

2 Tbsp packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp flour

1 tspn cinnamon 

1 Tbsp butter or margarine

 *The topping is my favorite so I usually double the recipe above...yup, I'm a rebel like that.

Use a pastry blender to 'cut' the butter into the mixture.  There will be some loose powder and some pea-sized pieces of butter mixed around--this is normal and okay.  Set this mixture aside.

What?  You don't know what a pastry blender is?  Alana can help you out.  Yes, she's laughing at you.

What?  You don't have one of those?  Okay, you can use a fork instead.  But don't be surprised if Santa pops one of those into your stocking Christmas morning. 

In the liquid measuring cup:

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup oil (any kind of oil--vegetable, canola, olive....geez, stop stressing, all right?)

1 egg

Use a fork and beat that stuff up.  Set it aside.

You remembered to preheat your oven and grease your pan, right?

In bowl number two:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (all purpose is just the regular stuff, sometimes I do half regular and half wheat flour...but only if I'm feeling healthy)

3/4 cup sugar

2 tspn baking powder (NOT baking soda!)

1/4 tspn salt

Use a rubber scraper or wooden spoon to mix that up (sometimes I finely chop up some apple and/or walnuts and throw that in there too...but totally up to you).

Dump the liquids into bowl number two (yup, I just said number two) and JUST BARELY MIX IT TOGETHER.  Seriously, just mix it until the dry ingredients are incorporated-- DO. NOT. OVERMIX.  Why you ask (I know you are asking because ALL of you ALWAYS ask)?  If you over mix it, then the leavening agent will get too activated and your finished product will look more like a mountain than a flat plain--no bueno when we're talking cake!

Dump this mixture into your greased pan (you greased one, right?) and spread it around so that it's roughly filling the pan, don't overspread or worry about perfection here.  Then sprinkle the streusel from bowl #1 (you didn't confuse bowl 1 and bowl 2 did you?) on top--make sure to get this evenly distributed and don't forget your corners and edges.  Those little clumps of butter like to clump together so make sure it is spread out too.

Then pop that into your oven (you preheated it, right?) and bake it for 30 minutes.  I always test the center when the timer goes off but have never had to bake it longer so you're pretty safe if you don't test it.

Enjoy!

PS This goes really well with some eggs and bacon!

KP at Camp

And a big long shout out to KP over at deer camp:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

It's Raining at the Convent

Last weekend of August means family reunion at the Convent...how many people can say that?  

In the past it's been a time for family, food, football, and enormous tubs of ice cream.  Like industrial size tubs--in our family we do not mess around when it comes to our desserts.  In the way, way past it was also a time for water slides and a swimming pool but that was a looooong time ago.  And yes, I said football at the Convent.  But that's for another post.  (One where I can find my pictures of football at the Convent)

This particular Sunday it rained and rained and rained--which was fine with me since I LOVE the rain.  People hosting outdoor reunions tend to frown on the wet stuff though so the whole shindig moved indoors and in the way of large families word spread quickly and everyone managed to show up at the right place and the right time.

Most of the football players were away whether working, Seminary-ing, military-ing, or just plain don't play anymore because they're too busy chasing their kids around the Convent grounds.  Which is kind of sad and makes me nostalgic but then I look at the pictures of the kids and realize that in a blink of an eye these babes will be playing football at the Convent in August.  


But for now they're content to....ponder deep toddler thoughts.

 Ride the donkey.

Snuggle with a cousin.

 Pose for the obligatory family photos.

  
And these young whippersnappers, it was hard to get them to hold still long enough to get in the same picture together!

 

I'm Not Ready!

I was so excited when Paddy came home for the summer--we were going to have the ENTIRE summer vacation to hang out.  I had visions of planning a hike.  Camping.  Beach.  Game night.  Family dinners.  

And then suddenly, summer is coming to a close and only ONE of those things happened. 

And if only one of those things was going to happen, then I can't think of a better one than a family dinner.

Where else do you chicken fight with toddlers?

Round One:

Round Two:

Round Thr--uh-oh, the dads are here:

No more chicken fighting with babies.  Let's eat instead!

Teriyaki chicken,homegrown beef burgers, pasta salad with everything but the kitchen sink in it (oh wait, that was in there too!), Grandma's potato salad, broccoli salad (Auntie Mel style), diced watermelon, cantaloup with blueberries, cheesy potatoes, Grandma's chicken and pasta casserole, and tons and tons and tons of chips.  With delicious salsas and beans to stick them in.  Mitch is thinking he hasn't seen this much food the entire two years he was living in New York. 

That's right, party hardy.

And when you're finished eating (notice I didn't say 'when the food runs out' because that NEVER has happened and never will), time to play!  The question is: how do you keep the 'cool' toy away from your younger cousin?  Answer below.

Grab the toy, run away from your cousin and leap up on to the couch.

 Taunt your younger cousin, exploiting your hard-won victory.

 

 Threaten to drop the toy off the back of the couch if she doesn't 'back off!'.

 Ooops, skipped the step 'make sure Dad's not in earshot'.  Sigh.

You know what these kids need?  DESSERT!!!  Apple cake with butter sauce, cream cheese pie, chocolate cake with strawberry filling and cream cheese frosting + two kinds of ice cream: Neopolitan and Cookies & Cream.

And quick before it's time to go: cousin pictures to send to the Uncles!

 

Happy birthday to all the summer babes and to Paddy, the summer went too quickly and you're off again to Kuwait in a few days.  I just want you to know:

I'M NOT READY!

Big Guys & Grandma Too!

I love to host.  Love to have people around my table or firepit or on my deck or whatever the season calls for, laughing, eating, drinking and being merry.

I even love cleaning up after the party (yes, I know, I'm sick and need help)--something about the wonderful feelings you get from hosting well and then putting everything back in order just makes me feel all content and happy.

That being said I missed hosting Dads/Grads/& Grandma last year...though I'm not too broken up about it since the reason was our darling new daughter.  This year we were back in the game, complete with amazing food, great company, and the perfect weather. 

And more than one person mentioned how quiet it was without Paddy. 
And Tony. 
And Gabe. 
And Mitch. 

Granted there were several kids and toddlers running around screaming but it just wasn't the same.  So for you who missed it, here's Dads/Grads/& Grandma: 2013.  Maybe next year, eh?

Dads in line first!

Recently pressure-washed deck...

you can't see it but off to the left is a planter with new inhabitants!

The fire amphitheater (aka the real reason people come to the party).

Group shot!  Glad it didn't rain, would've been a squeeze indoors!

The desserts: angel food cake with raspberries freshly picked by Grandpa that morning, apple crisp, vanilla ice cream, pie, and key lime brownies.

 Cousins in the pool: Alexander, Cyril, Annabel, and Alana!

And Alana with her dad...such startling similarities!

No really, they do look a bit alike don't they?

HB Bro, HB!

And here's a super happy birthday to my dear brother Tony.  Keep kicking ass at flight school!