Sunday, August 31, 2008

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend Part One: "More D'Sert"

Our weekend started with a ward activity in Chapel Hill. Our kids were able to run around with their friends and feed the mosquitoes while Chris and I ate pulled pork sandwiches on our picnic blanket. Jack slept in his car seat the whole time. We were about to give up on the dessert because the activities were going too long and our kids were getting tired. I didn't want to disappoint Kennedy and Tristan so I sneaked into the kitchen and grabbed a few mini cream pies to take home.




The night ended with Tristan claiming he wanted "more d'sert". Sorry, Tristan, you will have to wait until tomorrow.

Labor Day Weekend Part Two: "Even More Dessert"

We had a seriously busy weekend ahead of us. Mostly fun, but it took some preparing. Saturday morning Chris took Kennedy to run errands while I stayed home with the boys and made some desserts for our upcoming festivities. I made two ice cream pies, a key lime pie, a coffee cake and my famous hot fudge cake.

We had the missionaries over for dinner that night and they enjoyed the hot fudge cake. We devoured the whole thing.

Hot Fudge Cake


1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
6 Tbs baking cocoa, divided
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cup hot water
Vanilla ice cream

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, 2 Tbs. cocoa, baking powder and salt. Stir in milk, oil and vanilla until smooth. Spread in ungreased 8- or 9-inch square baking pan. Combine brown sugar and remaining cocoa; sprinkle over batter. Pour hot water over all; do not stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, there will be a fudge sauce under the cake. Serve warm topped with ice cream.

Labor Day Weekend Part Three: Sundae

Sunday is a day of rest, right? Not at my house. Chris had an Elder's Quorum meeting at our house before church. That is what the coffee cake was for. After the mad rush that comes no matter what time church starts, I actually enjoyed church. When church was over I dashed home with the kids to start dinner.

We were joined by Kaylynn and Greg Osmond for dinner. Chris promised them dinner if Greg would help him translate some documents for his family history research. We gave the Osmonds a few choices for the main course and dessert. They chose steak and key lime pie. It was all good.

Key Lime Pie

1/3 cup key lime juice
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 12-oz container Cool Whip

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3 Tbs sugar
5 Tbs butter, melted
1 tsp cinnamon

For graham cracker crust, mix all ingredients and spread into a 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes. Cool one hour then fill.

For filling stir together lime juice and sweetened condensed milk until mixture thickens. Fold in 3/4 of Cool Whip. Pour into crust and top with remaining Cool Whip. Serve chilled or frozen.

This was a new recipe for me but it turned out really good. I read in Southern Living magazine that a true key lime pie has a graham cracker crust, not a pastry crust, is not green and is made with key lime juice, not the big green limes. I used juice from a bottle I purchased at the grocery store.


Labor Day Weekend Part Four: "No More Desserts or Is it Time to go Back to Work Yet?"
It was nice to have Chris home for one more day. His department hosts a Labor Day gathering every year to welcome the new residents. This year it was at the department chair's home. Our kids enjoyed running around in his beautiful back yard. I stayed inside with Jack so he could sleep. After we ate we took the kids home to nap because we had an evening event to look forward to as well.
For dinner we were invited over to the bishop's house with a few other families. That's what the ice cream pies were for. They were completely devoured and I'm glad because we have consumed enough calories this weekend to last a month!
Chris and I enjoyed some adult conversation while Kennedy made some new friends and enjoyed playing on the swing set and Tristan found a few cars and was content the rest of the evening.
We enjoyed our weekend and hope you did to. I look forward to reading about it on the family blog. . . .

1 comment:

Alison said...

Sounds like you had a busy and yummy weekend. Thanks for sharing the recipes. We didn't eat anything out of the ordinary. But can I tell you how much we've enjoyed that zucchini muffin recipe? I took them in a meal to someone this week (the funeral was for his daughter) and he commented on the muffins.