TACKLE it TUESDAY!! **Baby Shower Cake**

This week's tackle is a Baby Shower cake that I made for a party tonight. The baby's name is Riley. She was born last Monday. The mommy didn't have any preferences on the cake, just that it was chocolate. She told me to surprise her. So I went with what I knew I would like...Pink and Brown. I wisha that the pictures gave justice to the true colors of the cake.

To see more cakes that I have done check out my cake blog.

It's A Peach of Cake.

Flashback Friday

For those of you who know JBody, you know that he is really into sports. I found some pictures of him when he was in middle school on some of his team sports. Hope you enjoy. 6th Grade Football 7th Grade Football 8th Grade Baseball
8th Grade Footall
And my favorite because this is such a JBody picture
8th Grade Baseball

Tasty Thursday

(Not the picture of our dinner. I forgot to take a picture. This is the actual meal from Cheescake Factory.)

I had some of you asking for the Orange Chicken Recipe that I talked about on my Facebook well here it is.

CHEESECAKE FACTORY ORANGE CHICKEN
1 1/2 pounds Chicken thighs--skinless trimmed and cut in 1 1/2 inch pieces (I used breast)
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup orange juice
1 1/2 teaspoon grated orange zest
6 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup dark brown sugar--packed
3 cloves garlic--mincedd or pressed
1 piece (1 inch size) ginger--grated
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch PLUS
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
8 strips orange peel (each about 2 inches long by 1/2 inch wide)
8 small whole dried red chiles--optional (I left these out and it was still good)
***Coating and Frying***
3 large egg whites
1 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups peanut oil (again I used something differnet. Lil' E is allergic to nuts)

FOR THE MARINADE AND SAUCE: Place chicken in 1 gallon zipper-lock bag; set aside. Combine chicken broth, orange juice, grated zest, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, adn cayenne in large saucepan (with at least 3-quart capacity); whisk until sugar is fully dissolved. Measure out 3/4 cup mixture and pour into bag with chicken; press out as much air as possible and seal bag, making sure that all pieces are coated with marinade. Refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes, but no longer.

Bring remaining mixture in saucepan to boil over high heat. In small bowl, stir together cornstarch and cold water; whisk cornstarch mixture into sauce. Simmer sauce, stirring occasionally, until thick and translucent, about 1 minute. Off heat, stir in orange peel and chiles (sauce should measure 1 1/2 cups); set sauce aside.

FOR THE COATING: Place egg whites in pie plate; using fork, beat until frothy. In second pie plate, whisk cornstarch, cayenne, and baking soda until combined. Drain chicken in colander or large mesh strainer; thoroughly pat chicken dry with paper towels. Place half of chicken pieces in egg whites and turn to coat; transfer pieces to cornstarch mixture and coat thoroughly. Place dredged chicken pieces on wire rack set over baking sheet; repeat with remaining chicken.

TO FRY THE CHICKEN: Heat oil in 11- to 12-inch Dutch oven or straight-sided saute pan with at least 3-quart capacity over high heat until oil registers 350 degrees on instant-read or deep-fry thermometer. Carefully place half of chicken in oil one piece at a time; fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes, turning each piece with tongs halfway through cooking. Transfer chicken to large plate lined with paper towels. Return oil to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining chicken.TO SERVE: Reheat sauce over medium heat until simmering, about 2 minutes. Add chicken and gently toss until evenly coated and heated through. Serve immediately.

I served this over rice like at the restaurant. You can also add the snow peas and julienned carrots as well.

The first time around I fried the chicken. However, next time I don't think I would coat the chicken and fry it. I am going to try just cooking my chicken. This will save time and be alot healthier. Good luck.

Wordless Wednesday

First Signs of Spring!?

TACKLE it TUESDAY!!

PRIMARY BULLETIN BOARD

It has taken me awhile to actually get to our primary bulletin board. I started it and had some things up in January, but I really didn't like it. Then a bunch of things happened and I really just forgot about it. So I dedicated this previous weekend to redo and get up the bulletin board on Sunday. I think it turned out really cute. We share the board with 2 other wards. They have their stuff on either side of ours. I cut most of the stuff out using my Cricut. I love that machine.

The Primary theme for 2009 is My Eternal Family. Each month has a theme that pertains to the yearly theme. This months theme is Family Members have Important Responsibilities. The picture up in the left corner will be switched out monthly and replaced with the new months theme and scripture. In the right corner I put The Family Proclamation. In the middle of the board is a world with children from various parts and a temple. Every 2 weeks we will be spotlighting a family in the ward. Their picture will be placed in the middle of the temple and some information about them to the right in the green box. To the left of the world are the birthdays for the month. And at the bottom of the board are squares for information about Primary, Activity Day Girls, and Scouts. I love the theme for the year. The spirit is so strong as we teach the children about the family and how it is of God. The music for the year is exceptionally great. I love being able to share this experience each Sunday with Lil' E. I love my family so much and am so grateful to know that we can be a family for eternity.

Do you have a tackle the you have completed. Let us know by leaving a comment and signing in to Mr. Linky.

My Family Monday *Father's Preside, Provide, Protect*

For Family Home Evening this week we are extending the sharing time lesson that was taught on Sunday. The theme for the year is My Eternal Family. The months theme is Family Members Have Important Responsiblities. On Sunday we talked about Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love.

Opening Song: "My Eternal Family"
Opening Prayer:
Lesson: Fathers preside over, provide for, and protect the family with love.
How does our daddy preside over our family?
How does our daddy provide for our family?
How does our daddy protect our family?

Pin the tie on Daddy's shirt
Cut out one tie per father that you choose to do. I will give examples with the fathers that we chose for our lesson.

On each tie write information about each father.

1. This father prayed for his rebellious son. His son and his son's friends were visited by an angel and became great missionaries (Mosiah 27:8-18) Alma

2. When this father, a ruler of the synagogue begged Jesus to save his 12 year old daughter, the Savior raised her from the dead. (Luke 8:41-42) Jarius

3. This father saved his family by obeying the Lord's command to build an ark (Genesis 6:12-20) Noah

4. This man is the earthly Father of our whole human family (Genesis 3:20) Adam

5. This rich father left all his possessions behind when the Lord told him to flee in to the wilderness. He had two sons that supported him, but the otherr two murmured. (1 Nephi 2:1-3) Lehi

6. This father protects our family. He goes to work each day to provide for our family, but comes home each night to play and teach us. He loves each of you. Our daddy

You may or may not want to use pictures from the Gospel Art Kit to help your children picture who it is you are talking about.

Blindfold one child at a time as they try to place the tie on a pre made posterboard of a men's white shirt.

Closing Song: "Happy Family" (Children's Songbook pg.198)
Closing Prayer:

Refreshments: One of our Daddy's Favorite Treats

Orange Pull Aparts

2 cans of small pillsberry biscuits

4 TB milk

4 TB melted butter

1/2 cup sugar

tsp orange rind

4 oz cream cheese,

2 TB orange juice

Mix milk and butter together in a small bowl. Mix sugar and orange rind in a small bowl.

Cut biscuits in half and dip one side in butter/milk mixture and the other side in the sugar/rind mixture. As you go along place dipped pieces into a bundt pan, buttered side down. Bake at 350 for 20 mins. While biscuits are baking mix cream cheese, orange juice and remaining sugar mixture together. Drizzle over hot biscuits and serve.

JBody likes more of the drizzle so we like to use 8 oz of cream cheese, 4 TB orange juice and then add more sugar and orange rind to taste.