Nan's Nappies

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cakes

 

Love to Cook: Reese's Cup Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake (Annie's Eats)

Oh my goodness!  Andy and I LOVE chocolate and we love peanut butter.  When I  saw this recipe on Jenn Mair's blog I had to share.

I have not tasted the above cake but I have tasted the cake in the next link.  It is from Taste of Home.

Blue Ribbon Peanut Butter Torte. 




http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Blue-Ribbon-Peanut-Butter-Torte

Our pastors wife, who is an excellent baker, brought this cake to our missions conference ladies luncheon.  the cake is a moist peanut butter cake but the chocolate filling is to die for.  It is so smooth and rich and creamy.  Almost like a silky truffle on your tongue.  And the icing is wonderful too!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Facebook and Ice Cream Cups

Recently Facebook made it easier to give everyone a way to find my  Nan's Nappies page.  If you are on Facebook, please be sure to click on the link below and "Like" it so you can keep up with all of my work.
 
https://www.facebook.com/NansNappies


Now to tell you about something yummy, clever and easy!  I saw this link on my good friend, Hannah's blog.  (http://aholeistodig.blogspot.com )


 http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/2012/03/thin-mint-ice-cream-cups/#comment-25389

The ice cream cups in the photo are made with Thin Mint cookies and Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream.  My husband is not a fan of mint flavors but I can imagine all sorts of ice cream/cookie combinations for this.  How many times have you had a party and stood there trying to quickly dip ice cream for your guests?  How many times do you hear someone ask for " just a little bit" ?  How many times have the first bowls you dipped been melting while you were frantically dipping and your hand was getting tired?  No more!  You can make these several days ahead of your party.  I can imagine vanilla wafers with any flavor ice cream, Oreo's with cookies and cream, Pecan Sandies with Butter Pecan.  What flavors do you think you would try?    They are like individual ice cream cakes without the sore hands from trying to rapidly cut the cake for your guests.  CLEVER!

I worked for a couple of hours today at my second job as a school nurse.  Today I went with a group of special needs students to a pool.  I have one student in particular that I travel with.  He is a sweet autistic boy with diabetes.

I have an order to embroider a Formula 1 Race Car on a t-shirt.  The customer's first choice was for a red-t-shirt.  I didn't have a red t-shirt on hand but just knew that I could find one at Hobby Lobby.  I went there after work only to find that their smallest red T-shirt was a size 2-4.  I needed an 18 month size.  The second choice was light blue; they only had royal.  The third choice was white but they didn't have a white t-shirt in that size.  The customer told me to use a onesie.  Guess what?  They were sold out of 18 month size onesies!  I stopped by Babies R Us and bought 18 month size onesies.  Unfortunately they do not sell plain t-shirts in any size so I couldn't get the t-shirt there either.  There are days when things just don't work out as I'd like them to.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Birthday Applique'

I am absolutely in love with applique' designs.  They can change SO much just by changing the materials in them.  Designs by JuJu is one of my favorite designers.  I now own 27 of their sets!!!  One of their sets is called Birthday Wishes.  The set has nine designs for the numbers 1 through 9.  They are perfect for onesies or t-shirts for the birthday boy or girl.  They can be done in the colors of your choice and a name can be added above or below.

Aren't they sweet? 

Story Time

Today was an absolutely glorious day.  Low humidity, blue skies, and temps in the 80's!  Is this really March in Maryland?  I did some embroidery this afternoon but I want to share a cute story from my day that doesn't include embroidery.

I was scheduled to meet a friend at a coffee shop this morning.  I was almost ready to leave home when my phone rang.  The caller ID identified my daughter.  When I answered it wasn't my daughter but my three year old granddaughter.  She said " Will you tell me a story Nina?"  My heart melted! 

Several months ago, she started asking me to tell her a story about angels. We would lay down as if taking a nap and I made up a simple story.  Occasionally she'll ask for the same story again.  The story is still VERY simple and short but has gotten more detailed as her attention span and comprehension have grown.   Recently, Lauren told me that Taylor keeps asking for the story about angels but Lauren and Ryan have their own stories and they don't know the one I tell.  I told Lauren that anytime Taylor wants to hear the story, just call and I'll tell it to her.  That's why I got the phone call this morning.


Here is the story:  There once was a little girl with big blue eyes and beautiful curly blond hair.  Her name was Taylor.  She lived with her Mommy and Daddy and little brother in a cottage in the country.  One day her telephone rang and when she answered it, it was her grandmother who she called Nina.  Nina asked her to come bake cookies with her and told her to ask her Mommy if it would be okay.  Taylor asked her Mommy and Mommy said it would be fine. 

Taylor didn't live far from her Nina and could walk to her house.  She put her coat on and started walking to her Nina and B-Pa's house.  The sky was bright blue, the sun was shining and there were pretty flowers and lots of green grass.  She walked down a path towards the woods.  The woods is a place where there are a lot of trees.  When she first got into the woods, she could still see the sunshine and blue sky.  But as she walked further into the woods, there were more trees and the sunshine couldn't get through to Taylor and it got very dark.  Taylor started walking slower and got very scared.  She soon started crying.  Then she remembered something that her Mommy said was in the Bible.  " When I am afraid, I will trust in you"  She remembered that she should pray when she is scared.  So she prayed " Dear Jesus, it is dark and scary in the woods. Please help me to get through the woods to Nina and B-Pa's house. Amen"  When she opened her eyes there was a very big man standing in front of her.  He was sort of shiny.  He said " Hello Taylor!  My name is Michael.  God heard your prayer and sent me to help you through the woods.  Take my hand and we'll go together." 

Taylor didn't feel scared anymore!  She and Michael walked through the woods and pretty soon there were fewer trees and the sunshine started to show again.  Soon there were no more trees, only grass and flowers.  Taylor looked across the grass and saw Nina and B-Pa's house.  She and Michael started running.  When the got to the house, Taylor rang the doorbell.  Nina and B-Pa answered the door and were so happy to see Taylor. They asked her to come in and bake cookies.  Taylor asked if her friend, Michael, could come in also.  Nina and B-Pa looked puzzled.  They said, " Taylor, we don't see any friend with you."  Taylor turned around but Michael wasn't there.  She then told her grandparents how she had been scared and prayed for God to help her and then Michael came.  Her grandparents smiled at each other and then at Taylor.  B-Pa said " Why Taylor!  Do you know who that was?  He was an angel! God heard your prayer and sent Michael!" 

They all stopped and said a prayer to thank God for sending Michael to help Taylor and for getting her to their house safely.  Then they all went inside and made cookies.  The End.

When I got to the end, Taylor said " That was a good story! Tell it again??"  I told her to call back another time for a story because it was time for me to go to breakfast with my friend.  It was a great way to start my day!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Beanies!!!!!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94290967/personalized-embroidered-beanie-with
 Personalized beanies have become very popular recently,  I love to make them.  Seeing the babies wearing them gives me great joy.  Each cap can fit the personality of the baby and their family. 
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78377205/personalized-infant-beanie-cap

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94290418/personalized-beanie-with-embroidered

http://www.etsy.com/listing/78377205/personalized-infant-beanie-cap

http://www.etsy.com/listing/94289365/personalized-embroidered-beanie-with
    This is one of my favorites.  The little girl was baby #8 in her family and her parents lovingly call her their little Cupcake .
http://www.etsy.com/listing/91251180/beanie-cap-with-cupcakes                                                                           
http://www.etsy.com/listing/78377205/personalized-infant-beanie-cap