Recipe for a Happy Birthday

It's Mommy Natalie's birthday today. She would be 30 years old today! Here is how to make her favorite dessert. Score Trifle!

First make chocolate pudding...

Then bake a chocolate cake in a sheet pan, and cut it into small pieces.

Make sure to taste it so you know it's yummy!

Then layer the cake, pudding, whipping cream, caramel sauce and super yummy toffee candy in a big bowl

Make sure it looks pretty when your all done!

It's important to remember Mommy Natalie on her birthday, she likes it when I visit the cemetery and bring flowers, balloons and fun things. I am big enough that I can read the words on her headstone. This poem tells me that she loves me and will always be close by me.

My hands were so small when Mommy Natalie returned to Heavenly Father. I like to measure my hands to remind me of how small I was, and how big I am getting. I know that Mommy Natalie is so proud of me.

Happy Birthday Natalie ~ We love you!

Oooey Gooey Perfection in a pan.... a little bit of Magic!

Natalie was a cook...no she was a baker...hmmmm...she was just outright
incredible in the kitchen.
I miss her creations, her experiments in the kitchen...her Treats...

I realize that I could go in the kitchen right now and whip up a batch of the ever classic "Magic Cookie Bars"... and to tell you the truth, I can't remember the last time I or anyone else made them....because these were Natalies "treat" of choice....and nothing tasted better than a batch of these warm out of the oven when she made them....ahhhhh magic.

I miss them...how I miss her

I think it's time to make some magic....some ooey gooey perfection in a pan...and while we devour them warm from the oven...they way we did when Natalie made them....

we will feel a little bit of heaven...

Magic Cookie Bars ~
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND® Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels
1 1/3 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped nuts
DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees for glass dish). Coat 13x9-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray.
Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork.
Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.

Let the magic begin!

Favorite Things!.........

One of Natalies favorite Christmas treats is Peppermint Bark. This was one of her favorite things to make during the holidays....or whenever she wanted a yummy treat! You need to try this version just once, you won't believe how good saltine crackers can taste!

Natalies Saltine Cracker Peppermint Bark

1 Cup butter

1 Cup light brown sugar

1 pkg. milk chocolate chips

40 saltine crackers

1 Cup chopped candy canes/nuts {which ever you prefer}

*Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil and spray with pam. Lay out the saltine crackers flat to cover the pan.

*Melt the sugar and butter together, heat until "foamy". Pour mixture over the crackers evenly.

*Place in oven @ 350 for 10 minutes. Remove from oven sprinkle choc. chips over entire pan while still hot and let sit and melt until spreadable.

*Sprinkle chopped candy canes over the top and let cool then break apart into various size pieces!

Enjoy!

Nat's Loves

For Love Day, I thought I would post a few things that Natalie loved.  The list could go on and on, but for now, here are a few...

She [loves] her guys

She [loved] tres leches from cafe rio

here's the recipe:

She [loved] lavender roses

She [loved] chinese food

*especially cheese rangoon

She [loved] music, 

but one of her favorites was ABBA

She [loved] being pregnant

She [loved] the smell of this...