May It be With You, the Force

French vanilla cake and green buttercream.. ask for more? Who could?

February Sun

We wrap our gazebo in plastic during the winter so we have a place to get out of the wind. This afternoon I don't even need a coat in here...

Me Want Cookie!!

Holy moly.  I have found my new obsession! Cookies! ACK!! Not that I've never made them...not that I haven't made some really awesome ones!  I just haven't decorated them.  Nope.  Always wanted to, but never have.  So, here I was, looking for some cool cookie inspiration on line when, out of nowhere (ok, from the images search, but bear with me), I saw these amazingly intricately decorated cookies from a member of Cookie Connection.  That prompted me to investigate further.  And am I glad I did!

I found an awesome sugar cookie recipe by LilaLoa, got to baking, and next thing ya know, it's the middle of the night, and I'm icing cookies.  My kitchen looks like a tree-dwelling, cookie making dwarf got to it! Go ahead, check the link.  I'll wait.

So anyway....It's Teacher Appreciation Week at my son's school.  And Valentine's Day.  And well, I feel the need to send treats to class, personalized of course, and to volunteer to make cookies for all the teachers, teaching assistants, office and janitorial staff, crossing guards and bus drivers.  It sounds like alot but 24 for my boy and 44 for the school isn't really that much. Unless you're the Other Half looking around the kitchen for a clear space to set something down.  Then it's alot!

If you've been following me on Facebook, I have a new page there :)  Go there and "Like" it.  After you've checked these out...

Ok, now go over to Facebook, and like my page.  Go on!  Get!  https://www.facebook.com/atgraciesplace

Oh the Aroma!

You should smell my house right now.  Really, you should be here.  There are ribs in my oven that are making me crazy with lust.  Seriously! I don't know if after these I will ever BBQ ribs on the grill again.  I just took a quick sneak of them, and let me tell you...to die for.  No exaggeration. They look like this:

And for dessert if you remember, I was going to do a chocolate football.  Well, I got to thinking about that, and how sweet it would be with the chocolate icing on the chocolate cake.  And, since it's more or less for the Other Half to enjoy for Super Bowl Sunday, I thought I'd compromise and make what he likes...French Vanilla.  But the buttercream icing is heavenly.. (and my favourite part--it's a win/win situation).

That's what we'll be indulging in for the Big Game along with various chips and sundries...How about you? What did you make? Do you watch the game or is hockey more your thing...? Oh, and may the Broncos,  best team, win...!