annie blog

Anybody Want Some Cake?

This is cake week here at the Barlows. Why? Two birthdays in 3 days is why. Which is why I just extend the holiday eating to include this week. Thankfully, one boy wanted chocolate and one wanted vanilla or, as he said, “vanilla with white frosting but NOT with that buttercream!” He’s a little bit opinionated about his own birthday cake.

I’ve been a little obsessed with cake lately, myself, and it has nothing to do with the cakes this week and everything to do with a taste of salted caramel frosting that I tasted — was it only last week?– in Seaside. Now, that frosting was very yummy. It was very memorable. It is why I’ve got a stack of recipes to evaluate and a few of them to make, maybe. Like I need that….and yet, I have a feeling that it’ll get done, you know? All I need is a reason….anybody want some cake?

Enough with the caramel frosting digression….let the birthday pictures roll….

First we have #3 here. Bless his heart — not only is he a middle child but his birthday is also sandwiched between Christmas/New Year and his little brother’s birthday that comes only 2 days after his own. He wanted to have homemade cinnamon rolls for birthday breakfast and hot dogs and curly fries for his birthday dinner.

He wanted chocolate cake, smart boy.

I totally have Aldivored that recipe, by the way, and I’ll post it soon. Just having to go to one store totally rocks. And maybe, just maybe I should totally use the word totally more, totally, right? Methinks I’m turning into a pumpkin and need to go to bed. Totally!

Here’s #4. I awoke this morning to this child standing at my bedside pinning this birthday button to his jammies. (Joanie and Rhonda, the button that y’all gave me has been very well used.) He was so excited that it was his birthday. He requested, “chips with ketchup to double dip the chips in,” for his birthday breakfast. I think that he just added on the chips as an afterthought so that he would have a vehicle for the ketchup. Needless to say, we didn’t join in with him in his birthday breakfast selection. He enjoyed it, however, so that’s a good thing. It is surprising to me how much I just roll with it as my life goes on. Chips and ketchup for birthday breakfast? Sure! Taking Ho-Hos for your class treat instead of nicely decorated cookies or cupcakes? Why not?

Another birthday, another cake. This was the aforementioned vanilla or “White!”. Good thing that he didn’t notice that he had a Frangelico cake since his mama forgot to buy vanilla. I’m without vanilla more than I have it, seems like. Perhaps next year I can talk him into a caramel cake or maybe he’ll wise up choose something different, although, this cake was good and the frosting was, too. Maybe I’ll blog this recipe…it’s a good one to have.

I just love the composition of this image. Note the older brother cowering in the background as Happy Birthday was sung and the candles blown out. Atypical for others = typical for some Barlows.

After the birthday dinner was eaten, the brothers got together and transformed into super heros of their own invention….I give you

Cosmic and The Frog. You know which one is which.

My little January babies — characters, the both of them.

Happy New Year…

and a belated Merry Christmas to y’all! I’ve been sort of off the grid, traveling and such, so that is the reason that I’ve been gone here.

Well, we’re here at the beginning of a new year. I like that word, beginning. When I think about beginnings, I get a picture like

this in my head. I’m going to try and remember this image as 2010 rolls along and try to picture hope and prosperity and happiness and belonging over the next dune. Because, in reality, I don’t know what is out there. Of course, none of us ever knows what is coming, but this next year for our family feels more uncertain than usual.

And that is saying something.

Jon will get his Ph.D. in May. What then? Will we stay in this house, in St. Louis? Yes, no, maybe? Employment changes, yes, no, maybe? Moving…..yes, no? Changes in the boys’ schools/educational plans…yes, no? Denial….yes, no?

You see my difficulties here.

Luckily, there is always something to distract me. Like, resolutions, for instance. I’m sort of pathetic when it comes to resolutions since mine are always the same, but I’ll share them anyway.

1. Stand up straight. By this I don’t just mean unhunch the old shoulders but have ballet posture, once again. Maybe I’ll pretend that Madame Gossett, my old ballet teacher, is around. That should do the trick on the posture thing.

2. Stomp my foot less. Also, related to this, swear less. Maybe I should take up a high-impact sport, as I suspect this will be difficult.

3. Keep learning. Cook new stuff. Write new stuff.

4. Read more.

5. Make the busters help out more. I can just hear the moaning now.

6. Throw more stuff away. Determine the elements that make up the pile of unknowns in my basement.

7. Finish stuff. Quilt, etc.

8. Smile more. 🙂

How about that for some mundane goals?

Alright, I’m going to rescue this boring post by telling y’all my menu to celebrate New Year’s.

Gin and Tonics, Chips with Homemade Pico de Gallo

Upside-Down Apple Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Now tell me what y’all are cooking, eating, resolving and such. Thanks, always, for stopping by!

Happy New Year…

and a belated Merry Christmas to y’all! I’ve been sort of off the grid, traveling and such, so that is the reason that I’ve been gone here.

Well, we’re here at the beginning of a new year. I like that word, beginning. When I think about beginnings, I get a picture like

this in my head. I’m going to try and remember this image as 2010 rolls along and try to picture hope and prosperity and happiness and belonging over the next dune. Because, in reality, I don’t know what is out there. Of course, none of us ever knows what is coming, but this next year for our family feels more uncertain than usual.

And that is saying something.

Jon will get his Ph.D. in May. What then? Will we stay in this house, in St. Louis? Yes, no, maybe? Employment changes, yes, no, maybe? Moving…..yes, no? Changes in the boys’ schools/educational plans…yes, no? Denial….yes, no?

You see my difficulties here.

Luckily, there is always something to distract me. Like, resolutions, for instance. I’m sort of pathetic when it comes to resolutions since mine are always the same, but I’ll share them anyway.

1. Stand up straight. By this I don’t just mean unhunch the old shoulders but have ballet posture, once again. Maybe I’ll pretend that Madame Gossett, my old ballet teacher, is around. That should do the trick on the posture thing.

2. Stomp my foot less. Also, related to this, swear less. Maybe I should take up a high-impact sport, as I suspect this will be difficult.

3. Keep learning. Cook new stuff. Write new stuff.

4. Read more.

5. Make the busters help out more. I can just hear the moaning now.

6. Throw more stuff away. Determine the elements that make up the pile of unknowns in my basement.

7. Finish stuff. Quilt, etc.

8. Smile more. 🙂

How about that for some mundane goals?

Alright, I’m going to rescue this boring post by telling y’all my menu to celebrate New Year’s.

Gin and Tonics, Chips with Homemade Pico de Gallo

Upside-Down Apple Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Now tell me what y’all are cooking, eating, resolving and such. Thanks, always, for stopping by!

Happy New Year…

and a belated Merry Christmas to y’all! I’ve been sort of off the grid, traveling and such, so that is the reason that I’ve been gone here.

Well, we’re here at the beginning of a new year. I like that word, beginning. When I think about beginnings, I get a picture like

this in my head. I’m going to try and remember this image as 2010 rolls along and try to picture hope and prosperity and happiness and belonging over the next dune. Because, in reality, I don’t know what is out there. Of course, none of us ever knows what is coming, but this next year for our family feels more uncertain than usual.

And that is saying something.

Jon will get his Ph.D. in May. What then? Will we stay in this house, in St. Louis? Yes, no, maybe? Employment changes, yes, no, maybe? Moving…..yes, no? Changes in the boys’ schools/educational plans…yes, no? Denial….yes, no?

You see my difficulties here.

Luckily, there is always something to distract me. Like, resolutions, for instance. I’m sort of pathetic when it comes to resolutions since mine are always the same, but I’ll share them anyway.

1. Stand up straight. By this I don’t just mean unhunch the old shoulders but have ballet posture, once again. Maybe I’ll pretend that Madame Gossett, my old ballet teacher, is around. That should do the trick on the posture thing.

2. Stomp my foot less. Also, related to this, swear less. Maybe I should take up a high-impact sport, as I suspect this will be difficult.

3. Keep learning. Cook new stuff. Write new stuff.

4. Read more.

5. Make the busters help out more. I can just hear the moaning now.

6. Throw more stuff away. Determine the elements that make up the pile of unknowns in my basement.

7. Finish stuff. Quilt, etc.

8. Smile more. 🙂

How about that for some mundane goals?

Alright, I’m going to rescue this boring post by telling y’all my menu to celebrate New Year’s.

Gin and Tonics, Chips with Homemade Pico de Gallo

Upside-Down Apple Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

Now tell me what y’all are cooking, eating, resolving and such. Thanks, always, for stopping by!

Snickerdoodles

I can’t believe that I’m blogging about yet another cookie….but I am. I think that I might have a baking problem. And, for the record, I think that snickerdoodle is like the funniest cookie name, ever.

Not to change the subject, but have y’all seen the ad on this site that has the gal with the insane abs? Yes…no? That advertisement has 4 effects on me.

1) It causes me to briefly regret the washboard abs I myself had long ago and far away in another lifetime when I also didn’t know anything about all the things that my life is full of now.
2) It makes me laugh semi-hysterically. I mean, those abs are outrageous.
3) It drives me to say, “Who cares!” and “Who has time for that?” and “Is that such a big deal?”
4) It reminds me that I really, really love to eat.

And that brings me and my ab thoughts full circle. Sorry about that tangent.

Okay. So, I made some snickerdoodles today. Jon took one bite and then said, “Best snickerdoodle I’ve ever eaten!” This is high praise, indeed. My Jon knows his cookies,y’all!

Once again, I got the recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I followed the recipe as written. As far as size goes, I made smaller scoop cookies, 1 T. (or so) sized. Also, I took them out the second they looked done. Finally, I used parchment paper and would suggest you use it too — should you decide to try this recipe.

Crunchy around the outside and soft in the middle. These cookies are my favorite snickerdoodle ever, too. Wait…crunchy around the outside and soft in the middle…sounds a little bit like me. Oh well, washboard abs…who cares?

Snickerdoodles

I can’t believe that I’m blogging about yet another cookie….but I am. I think that I might have a baking problem. And, for the record, I think that snickerdoodle is like the funniest cookie name, ever.

Not to change the subject, but have y’all seen the ad on this site that has the gal with the insane abs? Yes…no? That advertisement has 4 effects on me.

1) It causes me to briefly regret the washboard abs I myself had long ago and far away in another lifetime when I also didn’t know anything about all the things that my life is full of now.
2) It makes me laugh semi-hysterically. I mean, those abs are outrageous.
3) It drives me to say, “Who cares!” and “Who has time for that?” and “Is that such a big deal?”
4) It reminds me that I really, really love to eat.

And that brings me and my ab thoughts full circle. Sorry about that tangent.

Okay. So, I made some snickerdoodles today. Jon took one bite and then said, “Best snickerdoodle I’ve ever eaten!” This is high praise, indeed. My Jon knows his cookies,y’all!

Once again, I got the recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I followed the recipe as written. As far as size goes, I made smaller scoop cookies, 1 T. (or so) sized. Also, I took them out the second they looked done. Finally, I used parchment paper and would suggest you use it too — should you decide to try this recipe.

Crunchy around the outside and soft in the middle. These cookies are my favorite snickerdoodle ever, too. Wait…crunchy around the outside and soft in the middle…sounds a little bit like me. Oh well, washboard abs…who cares?

Snickerdoodles

I can’t believe that I’m blogging about yet another cookie….but I am. I think that I might have a baking problem. And, for the record, I think that snickerdoodle is like the funniest cookie name, ever.

Not to change the subject, but have y’all seen the ad on this site that has the gal with the insane abs? Yes…no? That advertisement has 4 effects on me.

1) It causes me to briefly regret the washboard abs I myself had long ago and far away in another lifetime when I also didn’t know anything about all the things that my life is full of now.
2) It makes me laugh semi-hysterically. I mean, those abs are outrageous.
3) It drives me to say, “Who cares!” and “Who has time for that?” and “Is that such a big deal?”
4) It reminds me that I really, really love to eat.

And that brings me and my ab thoughts full circle. Sorry about that tangent.

Okay. So, I made some snickerdoodles today. Jon took one bite and then said, “Best snickerdoodle I’ve ever eaten!” This is high praise, indeed. My Jon knows his cookies,y’all!

Once again, I got the recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I followed the recipe as written. As far as size goes, I made smaller scoop cookies, 1 T. (or so) sized. Also, I took them out the second they looked done. Finally, I used parchment paper and would suggest you use it too — should you decide to try this recipe.

Crunchy around the outside and soft in the middle. These cookies are my favorite snickerdoodle ever, too. Wait…crunchy around the outside and soft in the middle…sounds a little bit like me. Oh well, washboard abs…who cares?

How To Hang A Christmas Ornament

Let me show y’all something.

Do you see this little angel here? This is an ornament from my childhood.

My youngest is a holiday fanatic. He is perpetually excited about whatever holiday is coming next. He’s been playing with some of the Christmas ornaments lately. And, I let him, if the ornaments are not breakable. This ornament is definitely in the okay-to-play-with category since it is made of pewter, or something. The other day I saw it laying around and asked him to put it back on the tree so that it wouldn’t be misplaced.

This is what I got. Ask a little boy to hang an angel and what you get is an angel impaling.

Now that I think about it, her expression sort of fits the look she might have on her face were she actually being impaled.

So I suppose that it made sense in the little boy mind. I can only guess.

How To Hang A Christmas Ornament

Let me show y’all something.

Do you see this little angel here? This is an ornament from my childhood.

My youngest is a holiday fanatic. He is perpetually excited about whatever holiday is coming next. He’s been playing with some of the Christmas ornaments lately. And, I let him, if the ornaments are not breakable. This ornament is definitely in the okay-to-play-with category since it is made of pewter, or something. The other day I saw it laying around and asked him to put it back on the tree so that it wouldn’t be misplaced.

This is what I got. Ask a little boy to hang an angel and what you get is an angel impaling.

Now that I think about it, her expression sort of fits the look she might have on her face were she actually being impaled.

So I suppose that it made sense in the little boy mind. I can only guess.

How To Hang A Christmas Ornament

Let me show y’all something.

Do you see this little angel here? This is an ornament from my childhood.

My youngest is a holiday fanatic. He is perpetually excited about whatever holiday is coming next. He’s been playing with some of the Christmas ornaments lately. And, I let him, if the ornaments are not breakable. This ornament is definitely in the okay-to-play-with category since it is made of pewter, or something. The other day I saw it laying around and asked him to put it back on the tree so that it wouldn’t be misplaced.

This is what I got. Ask a little boy to hang an angel and what you get is an angel impaling.

Now that I think about it, her expression sort of fits the look she might have on her face were she actually being impaled.

So I suppose that it made sense in the little boy mind. I can only guess.