2009 Cover page

This is going to be the cover page of our 2009 scrapbook...we were ringing in the New Year in this picture. I loved how this paper was perfect for the colors in the picture. Happy New Year!!!

31...

A layout about Greg's 31st birthday celebration with just me and him. He got back from his bike rally the day before his birthday, and I made him a special dinner of brined and grilled beer can chicken, baked beans and one of his favorite cakes that I made: homemade white cake with strawberry meringue frosting.

Check out this cool cooking blog I found...

http://creatingpostitnotes.blogspot.com/

Recipes complete with detailed photos! Doesn't get better than that!!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

Ingredients:
2 cups quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (=1-1/2 sticks) butter, melted
1 pkg (11-1/2 oz.) semisweet chocolate chunks, divided
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
18 mini chocolate-covered peanut butter cups, chopped

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine oats, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl; blend well. Add butter; stir until crumbly. Remove 1-1/2 cups of the crumb mixture; set aside for later use. Press remaining crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes or until crust is light brown around edges.

Microwave 1 cup chocolate chunks in medium microwavable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes; stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add milk and peanut butter, mix until well blended. Spread onto crust. Combine remaining chocolate chunks, the peanut butter cup pieces and 1-1/2 cups reserved crumb mixture; sprinkle evenly over filling.

Bake 25 minutes or until center is set. Cool completely. Cut into 40 bars to serve.

This takes about 45 minutes total, but only about 20 of it is hands-on...the other 25 is waiting for it to bake.

It even comes out like the photo that was on the original recipe...which doesn't always happen! :)

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I got two thumbs up from Greg on this one!

Recipe and photo courtesy of www.simpleanddelicious.com

A new layout...

On one of my scrapping message boards, someone asked to see examples of two-page layouts with lots of photos. That inspired me to scan and upload some pages I did this summer but haven't taken the time to share. So here's some fresh artwork for you all, especially since it's been a month since my last post.

These are pictures of our family members at my husband and nephew's joint birthday party back in July. I love all the candid photos.

The papers are by KI Memories, the flowers are by Prima, the letters were cut from a Doodlebug Cricut cartridge, and the buttons are by SEI.

another...

This one is of photographs taken at the Sculpture Garden at the Walker Art Center. I love showing this attraction off to visitors because even if they don't particularly enjoy art, the sculptures are memorable and it gives you a chance to get out and walk around, see something unique to the cities and it provides a great setting for catching up with each other.

The papers are by Luxe Designs and the title is American Crafts Thickers.

another...

This layout is of pictures we took over Memorial weekend on a visit to Omaha. The people in the pics are me and my husband, my mom and my grandma. I was so pleased with how the photos turned out I just had to find a way to get lots on a page. For you scrapping types: the paper and brads are by Little Yellow Bicycle; the paper flowers are from Close to my Heart and the title was cut from a Cricut Cartridge (one of the Doodlebug fonts).