Desserts

I'm really not a big fan of rhubarb, yet we have tons of it.

I'm really not a big fan of lemonade either, yet my husband loves it.

So...

When my mother in law sent a recipe for Rhubarb Dump Cake, I thought why not.  

It took two tries.  The recipe called for just "dumping" the cake mix on the top, however, the cake didn't fluff up at all.  I searched the web and found that unlike a true dump cake a mix of the cake mix with wet ingredients, made for a more cake like experience.  Much better...we will name it The Rhubarb Stir Cake :)

Rhubarb Dump Cake

1 lb.   fresh rhubarb, chopped (about 4 cups)

½ cup  sugar

1 pkg.  (3 oz.) JELL-O Strawberry Flavor Gelatin

1 pkg.  (2-layer size) white cake mix

1 cup  water

1/3 cup  butter, melted

¾ cup  thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

PLACE rhubarb in 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with sugar and dry gelatin mix.

BEAT cake mix, water and butter with whisk until well blended. Pour over rhubarb; spread to completely cover rhubarb.

BAKE 45 min. or golden brown. Serve warm topped with COOL WHIP.

I really love finding a new blog that sends me Pinning tons of recipes and ideas.  Lulu the Baker is one of them.  Great  recipes...including this one:

Pink Lemonade Pie

Crust

4 oz graham crackers (10 graham crackers should do it.)

3 Tablespoons sugar

5 Tablespoons melted butter

Filling

6 oz pink lemonade concentrate, thawed

1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

1 8-oz container Cool Whip, plus more for topping

To make the crust, preheat the oven to 350°F. Crush the graham crackers in a food processor, then add sugar and melted butter, and pulse to combine. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9" pie plate. Bake crust for 7-10 minutes until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

While the crust cools, make the filling. In a medium bowl, whisk together pink lemonade and sweetened condensed milk until combined. Gently fold in Cool Whip. Spread filling evenly in completely cooled crust and freeze until solid. Cut and serve immediately, topped with more Cool Whip or whipped cream.

My review:  I still don't like lemonade...but love cool whip.  Amelia keeps asking for a piece, but only eats two bites and says she's done.  Rob said "it's ok"...which he says to everything, but has yet to devour the whole thing.  It's pretty though!  Hmm...maybe less lemonade and more cool whip? :)

Thought I would throw in one of our dinners from last week.  Can you tell which one is for who??? Hahaha...what a family!  No wonder I have a hard time deciding what to make for dinner...our tastes are so different!! 

Lots of other things happened during this on going gorgeous Alaskan summer that we are having. 

My sister bought Amelia a flower press awhile back and believe it or not there have been falling yellow birch leaves....even with this glorious summer...not a lot of them, but we have been searching for leaves.  It is Alaska after all and it is a sign for the things to come.

Lots of walks and another fun day at the Eagle River Nature Center.

Did I mention we have had a glorious summer??  New pool for Amelia and a new slide!

Of course a bit of goofiness and dinner with friends at one of Eagle River's hot spots: Eagle River Ale House.

A Week of Fun

Spotting a school bus is quite the thrill for Miss Amelia.  Once while heading into Target, a school bus (noticing Amelia's waving) drove up, opened the door and the bus driver said Hello!  Amelia was absolutely thrilled.  He said he had this effect on many little ones...saw her waving and thought he'd make her day...done.

Not only does she like school buses...she likes to play school.  I grab a laundry basket and tie a string to it and pick her up with Kitty at the bus stop outside her room.  She is usually loaded down with her lunch box, backpack and show and tell items :)  She plops herself at her desk where several other buddies are waiting for class to begin.  

I plan a few activities based on packets I find on the web and the school hour begins!

Today it was tracing letters, counting and cutting and pasting.

LOVES scissors and a glue stick

Then it is time to pack up and get back on the school bus, which mom (aka the bus driver) who tries to make a bumpy ride home! 

The beginning of the week held a play date with Penny and William.  Their mom, Chelsea, worked with me at Alaska Dance Theatre and now we both have little tykes (even though I am old enough to be her mom! :P)  

After a lovely lunch at their house we headed to the playground which we had pretty much to ourselves.  Penny and Will are complete opposite personalities of each other...but such cuties. Amelia passed out on the car ride home.

It was back to the Nature Center on Wed. for some animal tracking!  Of course Amelia came prepared with everything she could think of to bring.  Luckily I brought a large backpack knowing I would end up carrying all of it.

She absolutely loves the class.  First a class session in the center's building, then a short outdoor hike and then to the Classroom Yurt for more learning.  

After the class we sat outside and ate our packed lunch.  

On our way back, while behind the pilot car due to road construction,  two police cars zoomed by.  We later learned a few hikers were trapped by three black bears on one of the trails...four miles out, so not too close to where we were.  All were found fine as the bears finally gave up.

Lastly, a bit of creating with canvas and easels I bought a while back.   Have you noticed the purple hat is everywhere?!  We lost a couple of the wooden buttons, found one and  added a lavender flower button in the place of the still missing one...now even more girly.

We headed outside for some inspiration and to keep the mess down.  Amelia went at it as usual.

It turned into a finger painting session until all four canvases were completed and she said "done".

Might see these as Christmas Presents :)

Til next week!