11th Annual New Year's Eve Balloon Activity Night

 

Our list of activities this year: 

Soft Pretzels

Play the cup game

Frozen hot chocolate

Science experiment kit

One word painting

Play Uno

2023 Trivia

Chopped Drink Challenge

Make fire ice cream

Sparklers

Can roll game

Year-end questions

Cup Toss game

Glow in the dark ring toss

Streamer ball

We moved our annual cheese bread and puppy chow to lunch so we aren't so full later. 

Cosmic Brownie Copycat

 

Ingredients: 

10 Tbsp butter

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp cocoa powder, sifted

1/2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs plus 1 egg yolk

1 Tbsp corn syrup

2/3 cup flour

1 Tbsp cornstarch

1/4 tsp salt

Frosting:

1/2 cup heavy cream (I used just under 1/2 cup milk and 2 Tbsp butter) 

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line an 8x8 inch baking pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. 

 

In a microwavable bowl, melt the butter for 90 seconds. Stir in the sugar, brown sugar and cocoa powder. Let it cool for a little bit. Then add the vanilla, eggs, egg yolk, and corn syrup. Stir. Add in the flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir that until just combined. Pour into the pan and bake for 25 minutes. 

Let the brownies cool completely. Then make the frosting. Put the butter and milk in a bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Add the chocolate chips. Let stand for 3 minutes before stirring. After you stir, pour over the cooled brownies and sprinkle with mini chips. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. 

Instant Pot French Onion Soup

 

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp butter

3-4 large yellow onions (2 1/2-3 lbs)

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp thyme

1 bay leaf

1/2 cup dry red wine

8 cups beef broth

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

sliced baguette

4 ounces shredded Gruyere or swiss cheese. (or white cheddar)

Turn instant pot to sauté. Melt the butter. Add the onions, garlic, thyme, and bay leaf. Cook until the onions soften (about 5 minutes). Stir in 3 Tbsp water. Cover and seal the instant pot. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. When finished, release the pressure immediately. 

Turn the Instant pot back to sauté. Cook for about 5 minutes. Add the wine and bring to a simmer. Let simmer for 10 minutes. Add the beef broth. Bring to a simmer and let cook for about 10 minutes. Add the salt and pepper. 

Preheat your oven's broiler. But the baguette on a baking sheet and sprinkle with the cheese. Broil until bubbly and golden brown. (2-3 minutes)

Put the soup in a bowl and top with the baguette. 

Christmas Charcuterie Boards

 

Elf Dinner and a Movie

 

BET MGM Birthday Cake

 

National Cocoa Day Party

 

Frozen Brunch

We had a cinnamon snowflake before going to see Frozen the Musical.

 

Home Alone Dinner and a Movie

 

We had "Little Nero's Pizza", mac and cheese, Pepsi, and a sundae bar. 

70th Birthday Cake

 

Trolls Movie Party

 

We had some rainbow colored treats after watching the new Trolls movie. 

Fall Tea Party

 

Financial Class Treats

 

These are the treats I made for a financial class we put on at the library: sugar cookie bars decorated with green frosting and cupcakes with PayDay and 100 Grand candy bars. 

Dan Campbell Pumpkin Carving

 

Snow Plow Birthday Cake

 

Fall/Winter Paintings

 

Rachel and I had a few painting nights this fall. Here are some of our creations. 

Mini Thank You Cakes

 

Flower Birthday Cake

 

Cow's Birthday

 

Every year we celebrate Cow's birthday from one of the books written by Jan Thomas that Rachel loved as a toddler. In the book, Cow's birthday is Oct. 17th, so we always celebrate on that day with a cake. 

Construction Birthday Cake

 

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 cups apple cider

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp apple or pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp butter

1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

Topping: 

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp apple or pumpkin pie spice

6 Tbsp melted butter 

Put the apple cider in a small saucepan and simmer until it is reduced to about 1/2 cup. It takes about 15 minutes. Let it cool for about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, spices, and salt together with a whisk. In a separate bowl, whisk the butter, egg, brown sugar, white sugar, milk, and vanilla. 

Add the dry ingredients and the reduced apple cider to the wet ingredients. Whisk until just combined. 

Spray a donut pan with cooking spray. I put the dough in a plastic bag and cut off the tip. Then I piped the dough into the pan. 

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes. 

Let cool on a wire rack. When cool enough to touch, dip in melted butter and coat with cinnamon and sugar mixture.