TRIFEXTRA - WEEK 25

I haven't seen Mother for over a year.

Tomorrow I have to go to a function where she will be.  

I wouldn't go if it wasn't for the fact that I have to. 

Week twenty-five challenge, write 33 words about someone who took a giant leap.  It can mean whatever you’d like, just make sure you write exactly 33 words.

I BAKED A CAKE!

I baked a cake today.  It was supposed to be for some friends that were coming over for cards tonight but they canceled due to someone not feeling well.

We ate it without them.

I found the recipe online for how to take a store bought cake mix and make it taste like a gourmet cake from a fancy bakery.

Woah, did it ever work!

The cake turned out amazing.  It was scrumptious.

Normally, when I bake cakes, I use my 9 x 13 glass dish but today I not only wanted to try the new recipe, but I wanted to have some fun with it too. 

First off, the recipe called for 1 cake mix.  Instead of using water, I substituted milk.  Then, in place of the oil, I used double the amount that the box recipe called for of butter.  I believe the recipe called for 1/3 cup of oil so I used 2/3 cup of melted butter.  The last thing is to add one more egg than what the box recipe calls for.  

I decided to have a little fun and make 4 different layers.  The top layer has no food coloring in it.  The second layer has a little blue and red.  With each layer, I added a little more blue and red to make my graduated purple cake!

Since I was making smaller layers and I could only find 1 of my round cake pans, I baked each one separately for 12 minutes at 350.  I didn't use exact measurements for how much batter in each layer as I should have but I had a 6 year old begging me to finish the cake faster.

It still turned out nice.  And the taste is fantastic!  You would have thought this cake came from a fancy bakery.

You probably still would if I hadn't have used paper plates to serve it on.  But hey, that's how I roll.

The only thing I would do different is the icing.  I bought a whipped icing and it didn't spread very easily and didn't seem like there was enough icing in the container.  

Duncan Hines, I think I was shorted.

In the future, I will make all of my cakes with this recipe.  I just need to practice my layers and find my other round cake pans.  

I was informed I'm doing this again for The Teenager's birthday but he wants rainbow colors.  

Maybe I need to practice more.

FROM MY PAST

I was sitting at my computer the other night and had an overwhelming urge to talk to my aunt.

I hadn't spoken to her in several years.  There was no particular reason other than time flies.

So I called my Aunt Bobbie.

She is the second oldest sister of my father.  She is actually his step-sister (different fathers).

Aunt Bobbie is married to Uncle Jim and they have 3 kids.  

When I was a kid, we would go and spend a week or so at their house in Southern Illinois.  I loved going to their house.  They live in the country with lots of land around their home.  At one time, they had a horse.  They had a pool in their backyard, they had quad runners, but my favorite was riding the riding lawnmower.

I know, I'm hokey but I like slow moving things.  I've never been much of an adventurous soul.

So I called my aunt and spent hours on the phone catching up with her.

I've really missed her.  I'm hoping to be able to visit her soon.  I'd really like for my kids to see and experience some of the things I did at her house.

I'm so glad I thought of her and called.  It brought a little happiness into my heart to hear her laugh and bring back childhood memories.

Have a loved one you haven't spoken to for a while?  Pick up the phone and give them a ring.  You could probably bring a little happiness into their heart.