Monday, January 31, 2011

Happy 1/2 year!

Happy ½ Year!
Well…we’ve made it half a year!  So far, so good!  J  I haven’t made him sleep on the couch…yet!  Marriage is the coolest thing ever and I’m so glad that I signed up for it with my preacher man.  He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am so thankful for him.  We are a perfect fit for each other.  It's hard to think that six months ago we were getting married around the time that I am typing this.  It was truly the happiest day of my life!
  I don’t know many people that celebrate the ½ year anniversary, but today we did!  Maybe people should start trying it...it might make for interesting things!?  I made my honey a magic chocolate swirly cake to celebrate the day.  It is one of my Mom’s classic cakes that she made for us growing up.  My honey had never had it before and he ended up loving it.  Tonight we will celebrate by watching The Bachelor.  It is our my favorite comedy show to watch.  :)  Definitely a great way to spend the evening.
Happy 1/2 Year Anniversary Babe!  I love you so much!
Happy Monday to you all!
Love, The Preacher's Wife

Friday, January 28, 2011

Tom...he's a good guy

cute shoes.

I got this awesome pair of TOMS glitter shoes for Christmas!  I just got them today because I had to send my original pair back for a bigger size because I have such weird and annoying feet that can never be the same size with every shoe, ugh! and they have been on back order for a while. Let me just say that these are the cutest, most comfortable shoes that I have put on my feet in a while!  AND, let's not forget that TOMS shoes donates a pair of shoes to a child in need every time you purchase a pair of shoes for yourself!  How cool is that?

I've only had mine for a day and I think they are fantastic!  You should go get you a sparkly pair too...or if that's not your thing, they have all different styles...I'm sure you can find one you like!  Check out their site here:


Have a relaxing weekend everyone! :)

Love, The Preacher's Wife

Thursday, January 27, 2011

My Baby

This is my baby!

When Jon and I registered for our wedding gifts, this was the most prized possession that I hoped for!  It was all I talked about, all that I longed to have, the queen of all kitchen appliances!
My dear friend, Amie got me this red beauty.  I am forever grateful for her!  She changed my kitchen life forever by getting this for me. 

I use this baby for anything I can think of to go in there!  Cake batters, cookies, frostings, even mashed potatoes!  I feel like it makes the creamiest, fluffiest, melt in your mouth mashed potatoes!

I love my baby so much that I spit shine clean her any time that anything ever gets on her.  If there were different outfits for her, you better believe that I would have one for her.  My Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer is the best thing that has ever happened to me in the cooking world.  If you don't have one, you need one!  Thanks again, Amie!!  :)

This is my other baby (a.k.a. "the preacher").  Ain't he cute?!  I think he was feeling neglected because I had a photo shoot of my "kitchen baby"!  This picture has two of my greatest loves in it.  Awwww....precious, I know!!! :)

Happy Thursday to you!

Love, The Preacher's Wife

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The...Best...Brownies...EVER

The...Best...Brownies...EVER

Ever have a craving for chocolate so bad that you just can't stand it?  I do, I did yesterday, and probably the day before. I sometimes have them often.  What can I say, I'm a woman?  (Can I get an Amen, please?) :)  My Mom bought me a Hershey's cookbook for Christmas and I have been so anxious to try a recipe out.  It is what you would call the "mac daddy" of all chocolate cookbooks!  Tabs for everything...pies, tarts, cakes, brownies, bars, you name it, they have it.  It is now my go-to book for everything chocolate.  Last night I made their "Best Fudgey Pecan Brownies" (minus the pecans because the preacher doesn't like them).  They were glorious!  Oooeeyyy, goooeeeyy, yumminess AND even better the next day because the chocolate had seeped halfway down into the brownie!  Mercy!!  You have to try these brownies ASAP!  I highly recommend it for your next chocolate craving! 

Best Fudgey Pecan Brownies
from:
Hershey's Recipe Collections Cookbook

1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flou
1/3 cup HERSHEY's cocoa
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped pecans (I didn't use them, but if you're into them you should!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x9 square baking pan.

Beat your butter, sugar, and vanilla in a bowl.  Add your eggs to the mixture and combine well.

In a separate bowl combine your flour, coca, baking powder, and salt.  Add it to your egg mixture and blend together. 

Stir in your pecans if you feel like a nut!  :)

Spread your yummy brownie batter into the pan and bake for 20-25 minutes!!

AND...don't forget to lick the bowl, and the spoon, and the little splatter of brownie mixture that accidentally spilled on the counter. 


While your brownies are baking, you MUST, I mean MUST make the frosting for them!  This is what makes it amazing.

Chocolate Pecan Frosting
from:
Hershey's Recipe Collection Cookbook
(again, I left out the pecans, but I'm sure they would be great with them)

1 1/3 cup powdered sugar
2 tbsps. HERSHEY's cocoa
3 tbsps. butter or margarine
2 tbsps. milk
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Place powdered sugar and cocoa in a medium bowl.

Heat butter and milk in small saucepan over low heat until butter is melted.  Gradually beat into cocoa mixture, beating until smooth.

Stir in your vanilla and pecans.

Once your brownies come out of the oven, be sure to pour this frosting over them immediately!  The frosting will just ooozzzee all over the top of the brownies.  More than likely you might want to stick your face in the pan right then because they look so good, but I wouldn't....it might hurt a little.  Once the brownies have cooled a bit, dig right in.  You are going to love these!  Enjoy and let me know how your brownies turn out!  :)

Love, The Preacher's Wife