Great cake - Cinnamon Roll Cake!

Ok - below is the recipe I used last night making Cinnamon Roll Cake.  Below are not my photos either - its strictly copied from another site, http://sewfantastic.blogspot.com/2011/11/amazing-cinnamon-roll-cake.html.  I do have to mention - I used Self Rising Flour instead of having to add the baking powder and salt.  BUT when omitting those I looked right over the sugar to add in the batter!  I had to cook mine like 10 mins longer than she states below and I also had to add a splash more of milk in my powder sugar glaze than she states.  I'm wondering if me omitting the sugar in the batter was the reason I had to cook it 10 mins longer.  BUT I didnt even realize I left out the sugar until I was raving about this recipe and showing it to a friend and talking about how good the cake was while sampling!  LOL.  So hey - omit the sugar in the batter and it still comes out great and yummy and moist!  ENJOY!

Cake:

3 c. flour

1/4 tsp.salt

1 c. sugar

4 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 c. milk

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. butter, melted

Mix everything together except the melted butter, mix this in last. 

Then pour into a greased 9x13 pan. (I only made half this recipe so I put mine into a smaller pan)

 Topping:

1 c. butter, softened

1 c. brown sugar

2 Tbsp. flour

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

For the topping mix all the ingredients together until smooth

 and then place it evenly on top of the batter 

and then swirl with a knife Then bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. 

Glaze:

2 c. powdered sugar

5 Tbsp. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine the ingredients for the glaze and drizzle over the cake while warm.

Homemade Coasters

Ok - so I'm "so" making these for Christmas.  This looks fun and neat and even something I could do with my Sunday School class too!  Check it out....

How to make these beautiful drink coasters...

(The finished product)

Supplies Needed:

4 plain bathroom shower tiles (Hardware Store)
Various colors of scrapbook paper (12" x 12")
Mod Podge clear coat paint
Adhesive backed felt circles or cork pads
Glue (stick glue works best)
Scissors, exacto knife, ink pen, paint and/or foam brush

Here's how to make these handmade drink coasters:

	Step 1: Purchase plain shower tiles at your local Hardware store.  Price ranges from .13 - .20 each or less.
	Step 2: Purchase scrapbook paper, the 12x12 is the best as you can get more squares out of it, any color or design that you like best to go in your home.
	Step 3: Take the scrapbook paper and turn over so you are on the back side, line up a tile in the corner edge of one side and push down to make imprints of the tile on the paper.  Do this in all 4 corners of the paper.
	Step 4: Take the imprinted paper and a pen and lightly mark guidelines where the imprint is, this will make it easier when you cut them out.
	Step 5: Once all of the squares are marked, your scrapbook paper should look like this.
	Step 6: Cut the paper into the 4 squares using your guidelines.
	Step 7: Take 1 tile, 1 paper square and glue.  I use a glue stick as it is easier to use and its colored so you can see where you have been, but any glue can work.  If you use bottled glue make sure you smooth the glue out so you do not have any glue bumps under the paper when it is dry.  Apply generously to the edges of the tile, this is where the paper can pull if not glued down well.
	Step 8: Cover tile completely in glue.
	Step 9: Neatly place paper square over tile so all edges are lined up and push to adhere paper to tile.  Make sure it is attached well and smooth.
	Step 10: Once glue is dry cut any overlapping paper from the tile edges.  Scissors or an exacto knife do this very well.
	Step 11: Gather your paper covered tiles, a small sponge or paint brush and glossy Mod Podge, apply a thin layer of the mod podge over entire tile and edges.  This dries completely clear but take care that the coat is even and smooth, it will make the finished product that much more beautiful.
	Step 12: Allow to dry completely, I let mine dry overnight.  Place felt circle pads (pictured) or cork circle pads in all four corners of backside of coaster, this will help prevent damage to furniture when coaster is in use.
	Step 13: You can group together the four coasters, tie a bow around them and give them as a unique handmade gift as show to the left

So you think you can Sew?

Check this link out to what seems to sound like a very exciting contest.  I dont think I will enter anything as I'm still a "beginner" but I can't wait to see what people submit and get some great ideas!  Sounds like fun!

Ok - they say you learn something new everyday...

Today - I learned I do like Key Lime Pie.  Ok maybe not all Key Lime Pie.  I like my friend McKenzie's Key Lime Pie.  Its suttle - not strong at all and was good.  I admit it!  LOL.  Here is her recipe.  Thanks McKenzie for opening my eyes and letting me try something that I really didn't think I would like - but admit its not bad at all!  : )

Key Lime Pie

8 oz cream cheese

16 oz can of Condensed milk

3 medium to large limes

9” Graham cracker crust

8 oz Cool Whip

3-4 drops of green food coloring (optional)

Let cream cheese soften in a bowl at room temp. Pour in condensed milk. Beat until smooth. Squeeze limes into mixture until desired flavor is reached. Beat until smooth. Add food coloring until desired color is reached (optional). Beat until color is even. Pour into pie crust & top with Cool Whip.

A wreath for a friend...

Ok so I helped in hosting a friend's housewarming recently.  Together my friend Bridgit and I made this really pretty wreath that I'm so proud of.  It came together very nicely I must say and looks awesome on Christina's front door.  The fleur dis les (however you spell it) was a dark brown - it didn't work well in this wreath so with another friend's help (Brenda taught me how to paint) I painted this fleur dis les and gave it a tarnished look - antiqued it - made it stand out!  Check it out!  This wreath was some teamwork for sure!  I really like it better in person than in this photo - it doesn't do justice.  I took the photo with my phone camera