Recipe Update...

Okay when I posted those recipes I had yet to try the cake and the glaze, so I thought I would update you on how they turned out. The cake was AMAZING...everyone LOVED it. It has a little hint of cinnamon combined with chocolate and it is so delish. The glaze...NOT SO GREAT! I followed the recipe and it was way to runny and just ran off the cake. The cake really doesn't need any icing, but if you prefer your cakes iced then just make your own chocolate icing. Have fun baking...and if you make any of these recipes I would LOVE to know what you thought of them...so comment on my blog and let me know. Have a GREAT day!

Baking UP A STORM...

Over the last few days despite fighting a nasty sinus cold, I have managed to bake some fabulous things...and I thought I would share the recipes with YOU! I LOVE zucchini...that is when you bake it in something. Not a huge fan of eating it raw or cooked plain but I will if I have too. But when you add it to baking it just makes things SO much better. So here are my recipes dedicated to ZUCCHINI...

Pineapple Zucchini Muffins

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 cups vegetable oil (I used 1c. unsweetened applesauce & 1 c. oil. Turned out very well)
6 eggs
3 cups shredded zucchini
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
3 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour 4 muffin pans, or use paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the oil, eggs, zucchini, pineapple and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Fill muffin cups 2/3 to 3/4 full.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (used 1c. unsweetened applesauce)
3 cups grated zucchini
3/4 cup chopped walnuts optional

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan. (I used a bundt pan instead)
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add the eggs and oil, mix well. Fold in the nuts and zucchini until they are evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool cake completely before frosting with your favorite frosting.

Chocolate Glaze for Cake

2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons milk

DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, combine butter with sugar and cocoa.
2. Add vanilla. Add milk gradually until smooth.
3. Drizzle over cake.

ENJOY!

Holidays Are Over....

We are home from our last week of holidays...and boy did it ever go by FAST! This time we headed off to one of our very favorite spots...Surveyor's Lake, B.C. The weather was so perfect, HOT everyday. What more could we have asked for. We were also happy that we were able to have a campfire, which we haven't been able to do for the past few years as it has been so dry. This year everything was perfect. We were happy to be able to camp with Tyler's brother, Bronc and his family. It was so nice to have his older girls there to occupy the boys. They rode their bikes and went to the park many times. It was so fun to soak up the sun on the beach and watch the kids play. And of course we were chasing after Gracie. She is sure moving around. Luckily she is SO cute that people didn't mind if she walked all over their towels and beach blanket soaking wet and all sandy. LOL!

It was also a great time to do some reading. I read a wonderful book that I would encourage everyone to read. It is very thought provoking. It made me wonder if I am READY...If I would be FAITHFUL enough...If I am PRE-PARED. The book is called The Great Gathering by Chad Daybell.

I am anxious to pick up the 2nd and 3rd book in the series and find out what happens to these 3 families. I have also been reading the Harry Potter series and have found them to be very fun to read. I usually don't read fantasy books with wizards and magic, but I have really taken a liking to this series.

I am so thankful that we were able to spend some quality time together as a family enjoying nature. I was happy that we were able to shut off our cell phones (other than checking email & FB once a day) and not have the t.v. on for background noise. It was good to see the kids being active and enjoying their surroundings. I enjoyed the talks I had with Tyson about the upcoming school year. I hope that I can instill self confidence in him. To me that is one of the most important attributes you can have. If you have self confidence you can stand up for yourself and your beliefs. You aren't afraid to be a leader and make your own decisions. I am excited for the kids to go back to school next week. I love watching them learn and grow, make new friends and succeed. I hope that Tyson will remember that he can accomplish anything he puts his mind to, just like going on the rope swing when he thought it might be to hard or scary. He DID it and then went on it again cause he realized how fun it was. I was so proud of him. I hope my kids will remember those teaching moments we have had.

Now it is back to reality...laundry, and housework and catching up on all the things that got neglected while we were away. But I wouldn't want it any other way. I am happy to get into a routine again. Life is good...I have SO much to be thankful for!

Here are a few pics from our holiday:

This little stinker was supposed to be going to bed...but was playing instead. Isn't she just SO cute!

Gracie our little beach baby. Did I mention that NIBS are her favorite treat.

Tyson got really good at snorkeling!


Carson totally tuckered out after playing on the beach ALL day!

Tyson's first time on a rope swing. He was a little apprehensive...but he did GREAT and LOVED it!

Pilling Family: Surveyor's Lake 2009

My Baby is 7!!

I can't believe that Tyson is 7! Today is his birthday. I remember this day very well 7 years ago. Tyler and I were both so excited...and a bit nervous to be first time parents. I was nervous for labour the most...the unknown... I HATE that. I knew that being a mother would come naturally though. I remember when Tyson was born, he was a beautiful baby & people would often stop me and mention that. Of course I thought he was the MOST beautiful baby. We were thrilled to have our little man in our family...we felt complete.

I can't believe how fast 7 years has gone. I have anticipated and looked forward to each of Tyson's milestones.

First smile

First Tooth

Rolling over

Crawling

Walking

Talking

Going to Nursery

Being Potty Trained

Going to pre-school

First Bike 2 wheeled bike

Going to Kindergarten

First visit to the Dentist

Going to Grade One

Learning to Read....and there are SO many many more.

Tyson has been from the very beginning of his life a very happy boy. He loves his mom and family & is a pleaser. He will do anything to make you proud or happy. He is a GREAT big brother & a real help to me! He is sensitive to others and is a great friend to everyone. He loves to play on the computer! He is an energetic boy who isn't afraid to try new things. He is an adrenaline seeker & loves the roller coasters! He has a love & a knowledge of the scriptures and his testimony is growing everyday.

We LOVE you TYSON...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! We wish you many many more fun birthdays to come.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Tyson had a Transformers party.

We took Tyson & his friends to the Movie Mill to see UP! It was a great movie and the kids have a wonderful time. And I liked it cause I rented the party room and ALL the mess was there and NOT in my house! YAH!

Tyson's b-day present from Grandpa & Grandma Jensen. They took him to Petland and let him pick out any pet he wanted. Tyson has always LOVED reptiles. So we brought RAPTO SLICER (Tyson came up with the name...from some t.v.show. Tried to convince him to call him George or something else...but he wouldn't have it!) home to be a member of our family.

BEST BUDS!

We had a small party today with some friends & Tyson got another cake...a D.Q. ice cream cake...YUM!

A Wonderful Vacation...

We are back from our vacation to Montana, Idaho & Washington. Yes we visited 3 states during our holiday. We went to Silverwood Theme Park which is just north of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. We have been there in the past, but this trip was so much more fun since the kids were older. Both Tyson and Carson LOVE the rides...and dad is such a good sport he will go on the roller coasters with them. I was so proud of Tyson this year because he went on the 2 big wooden roller coasters. The 1st one scared him quite bad and he shed a few tears, but the next day he conquered his fears and went on the other one and had a good time.

Tyler even got dragged on a few of the adult rides, he even admitted that he was scared when he got to the top, but knew there was no where to go but DOWN. It was fun to watch him.

Carson had so much fun on the raft ride & so did I. I got completely soaked from the chest down the first time we went on it. But it felt SO good in the 95 degree weather. It was SO hot while we were there that we welcomed the cool refreshing water on the raft ride.

Carson & his friend Tori must have gone on the airplane ride 20 times. They kept getting off and running right back in line. It was fun to watch them having so much FUN

Even little Gracie got to go on a few rides. She was happy on the little antique car ride. All smiles & giggles.

We also spent some time in Spokane at Riverside State Park. It was beautiful there. Our campsite was right along the river, it was so beautiful. The kids had fun playing in the cool water after a very HOT day. Even little Grace loved the cool water.

Another highlight of our trip was biking the Hiawatha Trail in Montana. Thanks Amy for giving me the idea to do this with my family. We all had such a great time & I know my kids will remember this for a long time. As we were riding through the beautiful mountains, across man made wooden bridges and through cold, dark tunnels I couldn't help but marvel at the beautiful world that was created for us. Each little corner of the earth was hand designed by our Father in Heaven and made for us to enjoy. There is so much of the world that is over populated, crowded, polluted and being destroyed, I couldn't help but be so thankful for where I live. That I am only a short drive away from the magnificent Rocky Mountains. That I can look far into the distance and see nothing but yellow canola fields. That there are beautiful lakes to swim in and fresh fish to catch. I am so happy that we live in a province that recycles. I wasn't an avid recycler until our garbage can just kept getting full to often with all the junk mail and cardboard and cans. We have been recycling for quite awhile and man does it ever cut down on the garbage that gets thrown in to the landfill. I know we could do more...but a little is better than nothing. I am happy that when my kids see garbage littered on the ground that they pick it up and say that we shouldn't litter. Anything we can do to keep our world clean I am sure is pleasing to our Heavenly Father.

I am so thankful for this past week that I have been able to share with my little family. We had so much fun together making memories that I hope with last my kids a lifetime.