3 2 1 Easy, Fast, One Serving Cake

Here's the stuff you need for the 3-2-1 Cake:

3 Tablespoons of: 1 Box of Angel Food Cake Mix
1 Box of Any Flavor Cake
Mixed-up in zip-loved bag.

2 Tablespoons of water
1 Minute in the Microwave

• The recipe is so super simple. The most necessary ingredient is the Angel Food Cake Mix because it has the eggs. Then any other flavor of cake mix. The two are mixed together in a gallon zip-lock type bag. OMGsh Pink and Confetti Cake Mix! Heaven.

• The cake is made by adding 3 Tablespoons of cake mix from the zip-bag to a glass or paper cup (no wax or plastic cup-type) container and add 2 Tablespoons of water. Just remember to use Tablespoons only. Only the measurements need to be exact and mix it very well to get the bubbles all out. Put the mixture in the glass container (a custard cup would be perfect) and just put in the microwave for only 1 minute. Let the cake cool for about 15 to 20 minutes. Oh yes... a little paper cup is so cute and it works great. Only let the cake cool if you want to decorate it with some whip-cream or frosting. It's really yummy nice and warm, too.

Fruit is perfect with this. But I know people (me, my husband, my grandchildren, my children) that have used whipped cream and of course frosting mix. Perfect treat for a small dessert or just for little people that need a treat at Grandma's house without me making a full-cake.

I just want to add here don't buy a "pound-type cake" one like "red velvet" cake mix and using it with Angel Food cake. It won't work no matter how much Angel Food cake mix a person adds because of all the oil in the mix. It's okay to use the extra moist and different flavors of regular cake mix. If it flops and doesn't rise, because someone goofed on the right cake mix, cook it and do something fun, like cut a bunch of round pieces with a cookie-cutter and layer with frosting. There's tons of things to make from disaster cakes--believe me, I looked for them because all my cakes are "Cake Wrecks"  Please note that Cake Wrecks is a fun site to run through it's called : cakewrecks.com  Easy to  remember. This is one great reason I LOVE this 3-2-1 easy recipe. The other no leftovers and the cakes are perfect. My little grand daughter Kenna is only 5 years old and she's now my chef. I don't even have to help her at all. Perfect cakes, every time.

The weirdest thing about this is that I learn about these off-the-wall recipes at my swimming aerobics class. There's always a new recipe, or someone bringing birthday treats, or making times to meet for a our work-out luncheon. I'm trying to lose pounds and still there's always a yummy treat to talk about. This one is probably my favorite because it is very small and if I make just one and give it away. I'm safe. Oh, and it smells so good!

We Got Crazy!

Added March 28, 2012:
This has become the biggest new hit ever in my family. The "One Hit Wonder" of Pinterest! My husband who NEVER eats cake loves these little treats. He was in the kitchen making them last night and early this morning. I made some for all the grand kids next door & parents  cuppy-cakes and the also Lazenby kids for a surprise dessert tonight. I love it that we got some fancy cherries for toppings and whipped-cream. Steve also brought some red syrup from the Surfin' Yogurt downtown. They're so "sweet" to me.

There's This Place--Well, Really Two Places--Nooo, Maybe More

I follow a website/blog named "Skip To My Lou"  this site has some of the cutest things to make. I started getting email updates when I saw the "Duct-Tape Flip-flops" I have no clue if I'll ever make them, but I love the idea of making the cutest things without spending really any money. Here's the cute flip flops:

 

 So Really Cute

These were shoes that were featured on her site and I can't even say they're my favorite, but I think making gifts, even ones like this...are super fun.

This Cute Drawing Is Her Link To Her Site

Here's another site and it's fun, too!

What I was thinking since Steve and I can't really be imaginative lately of a Family Home Evening Activity to do together, I thought I could get him to help me with working with metal. I pinned  (Pinterest) a bird-house that I wanted for my yard. Actually, it was the very first thing I pinned. THE FIRST ONE! I told my Steve I wanted his oil can that was in the dirt by his workshop. And he went for it. Hurray! The bird house idea was an oil can. TA-DA! I didn't have any old ceiling tile that was featured on the Pinterest site and I would've loved that. An even better idea came to mind because I do have hundreds, literally, of old license plates that I've inherited.

The License Plates To Match Our Trip To Arkansas To Visit My Family

I picked-out three states that Steve and I visited this summer and we proceeded with the project. The tools he brought-out were funny screws with a drill end on them. "Self-driving screws." I'm learning. Then, I had chain and a break-away hook to connect the old chain to use to mount the bird house in the tree. We picked my kitchen window as the place for me to watch for nesting birds. I even put nesting material in the oil can. My Steve didn't particularly like that, but made it look so "Spring-like." I love it with my New Mexico, Kansas, and Arizona. Here's the finished picture:

It took such a short amount of time. It took longer to chase the dog to retrieve the box of nails that she had stolen out of Steve's tool box. Playtime with nails is not a great game when Steve will be mowing the grass this week. It was less than 15 minutes to put together and about the same to find a spot to hang it. Done! And I love it. Here's the old oil can and Steve had to pinch the handle so that the roof of the license plates would be straight.

One was set just a bit forward for a bit of an awning-look. All that was needed was to screw the plates on and then attach wire and chain. I took a bit of acrylic paint to make the screw/bolts look rusty.

It isn't As Low As It Seems "Great Owl Poop In My Picture"

Out of My Upstairs Kitchen Window! I Can Watch It

I would love for the Ring-Neck Doves to find our "Oil Can Bird House" and make a nest. All of the doves gather around my yard. I'm secret feeding dozens of beautiful doves and their wings flutter with sound like the doves when we go to the Temple. I suppose they're Mourning Doves because they make beautiful music with every sunrise.

I'm so glad we did this. I learned how to use a new kind of screw, an electric drill, and make something that has a wonderful memories attached to it. I love baby birds.

I Think I've LOST IT: Bacon

This is the bestest way ever, to cook bacon:

The bacon is always floured well, like you're cooking a big ol' trout. Then put it in the oven to cook at approx. 350• for about 20 to 25 minutes depending on your oven and you will have perfectly unshrunken, brown, and delicious bacon. The foil makes it easy to pour the fat off in a bowl and pat the bacon dry. Almost fat-free, huh? Perfect for BLT sandwiches, too. And I suppose, if you were a real bacon fat lover you could make fantastic gravy from the drippings. As if? Nah...I will not have that literal "heart-burn" today, thank you.

I was thinking about ol' times and how we used to have breakfast. When I was going-up a real breakfast was hash-browns, gravy and biscuits, eggs sunny-side-up, toast, and of course BACON. If we did have sausage, it was the "real-stuff" with the  intestine skins on them. By The Way...Where did the skins go? For that matter... Where did Bologna (baloney) Rings go? I loved Boloney boiled with potatoes and cabbage. Now it's all THAT Polish Sausage stuff. The kind that gives me an achin' tummy.

I have never been able to eat a whole, big, huge breakfast, like I described above. I managed to pick though it but it was wonderful to wake-up to the smell of all that cooking. My husband always wants the round, fat, pancakes with syrup. I call them Scottish Pancakes and honestly pancakes--just made me feel heavy all day. It's been more than 10 years since I've had one single pancake or any number of pancakes--I need to make that clear. And it's been almost 40 years since I've had a waffle.**GASP!** Seems pretty much impossible to not indulge in a waffle or two at least once a year. I suppose it's like my daughter and donuts. I got sick on waffles when I was pregnant with my first-born Tressa. I wanted french fries and there wasn't an extra car to drive or even place to buy them for all I knew about in San Jose, 1971. Yes, I know now, there were some.  I was completely lost in the big city and pregnant, too. I decided it was easier than calling my husband, making him come home, or me walk where? Without GPS ????  How did we survive? I tell you? I would just make waffles and slice them up and use...Oh my gosh! We didn't have ketchup, so I used Bar-B-Que Sauce for ketchup. I don't like Bar-B-Que Sauce now either, especially Dan and Bob's or Earl and Dale's. HATE IT! and Big Macs, but that's from another pregnancy. If you've ever had morning sickness you get the drift of the hate I feel.

Back to the BACON:
The oven is really the only way to make bacon. No mess on the stove top. My hair doesn't smell like bacon. Did you know there's this "bacon fad" going on? My grand daughter is raising a pig for fair and there's all this stuff the adults and kids are using. Is this for real or fake? Because..it makes me kind'a sick.

Just NOOOOO!

Oh Heck No! Even tho my lovely soap's made With Lard and Goat's Milk, It Smells Like Roses!

Oh, there! Now I don't want the bacon that I just made. I just blogged about bacon, thought about it a little bit, and now don't even want it. What's the world coming to? Honestly, could someone let me in on the bacon news? Is this truly the way a person wants to smell? Save me!

I could go for these sunglasses below, however.

• I Already Have The Hair

My son and his crew just blew through my kitchen and then on to a camping trip to WigWam-Land, climbing mountains, zip-lines, real thunder and lightening are scheduled for this evening's scary and exciting entertainment way up the canyon. And in their First Aid pack is non-other than: "Bacon Band Aids"  j/k... but not really!

Thankfully, someone ate the bacon. I just saundered in the kitchen looking for another unhealthy meal. It's now lunch-time and I'm scanning the area for POTATOES! Sliced fried potatoes sound great!

Okay...that's not going to happen! I forgot Utah potatoes have about a bah-zillion eyes that spout long things outta' them. This beautiful stainless steel drawer has butt-load of spouting potatoes. We don't EVEN think of growing potatoes around here unless it's in our ears. I had to take a picture to prove to my daughter, Kiely, that THESE  potatoes think they're in Utah or that other place, Idaho.

Anyone for an Artichoke with lots of mayonnaise?

Honestly, there's no fast food in this house and by the time I'm through making it (meaning anything) the hunger is gone. Oh, that's how ya' lose weight. Fast food, I get it. By The way, I am eating the artichoke, I am.

A Day of Puppies and Bar-B-Ques

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

It's been really a working day here on the ranch. I sat with puppies and worked hard outside. I talked to many families that would like to buy a puppy. The families that want our dear puppies are going to be lucky little puppies. Every single family that has contacted me are lovely people and each puppy will truly be a member of their family. I'm so happy that I was able to meet these wonderful families and have that connection and share the love of the Queensland Heeler breed.

Little

The Little Ugly Puppy That Turned Into A Princess!

Little dog became our dog because she was too ugly as the little runt of the litter and  no one wanted her.  We had no idea that she would become our dearest, forever friend and would be our "little princess."  Little saved Kiely from a rattlesnake by jumping on it and taking the bite herself. Our dear dog was blessed by her heroics and was bit at the thin area above the hock on her back leg. The fangs pierced her skin and went all the way through and giving her a dry bite. She lived many more years and definitely had a large vocabulary and even ending-up with her understanding what we were spelling-out.

My Steve

My husband has been so busy today and even though it's suppose to be his day-off. Steve had volunteered to help with the FFA Bar-B-Que fundraiser. Steve is president of the Firefighter's Association, it's his job so make sure the donation and work that the firefighter's provide for the schools and city organizations run smooth. The outcome of the Bar-B-Que and donations sit directly on his shoulders.

I didn't know it was Mr. Flores, the FFA adviser and Agriculture Academy teacher's birthday until this evening. I drove by the fire station and at the Bar-B-Que site, there sat Mr. Bob Young or "B.Y." as all the students called him. Two of my older daughters had him as a teacher for agriculture and FFA. They loved him as their teacher and we couldn't imagine him ever leaving. Kiely couldn't wait to have him as her teacher and did join FFA in her 8th grade summer. He was there at Santa Paula High School forever.

Today B.Y. was substituting for Mr. Flores on one end at the Bar-B-Que site so Mr. Flores could still teach and wind-up it all up before a long "Spring Break." It was great to see him again and a real surprise.

Kiely was able to meet Mr. Flores the new agriculture teacher before of all the other ag. students at SPHS. He was being chauffeured around by Mr. Young. in the "special B.Y. golf cart" and I'm sure "learning the ropes" at fair. The Fair's a huge job that's literally all summer long. There's no time-off in the summer for FFA advisers and teachers. Mr. Flores was my daughter, Kiely's agriculture teacher, mentor, big pusher, and navigator to direct Kiely to seriously attend an agriculture college.

Mr. Ricards is on the left and Fillmore's FFA Adviser and agriculture teacher. His father was my zoology teacher at Santa Paula High School. Mr. Flores is on the right.

It's been about 11 years and Mr. Young looks fantastic and Mr. Flores is still there at our high school. Mr. Flores continues to be a great influence in our school's agriculture program and I'm sure as now a veteran with over a decade of watching the kids become adults, graduates, and now starting families of their own, he's gained a following like BY. He's made lasting impressions for hundreds of students and is the is the "WISE old owl" that the adviser is depicted on the FFA emblem.

Jax In The Family! Hilarious! And Other Knapp Features

One of My Daughters and Family I Miss So Much!

 My daughter Larin said, "I love to be a jungle gym first thing in the morning. The park is

 calling my name...and the names of my dear little monkeys."

One Happy Little Nut!

Mountain Dew Breathing Mask!

 The Knapp Family consists of a couple of rowdy boys & that's not so unusual and they have a more than lovely little girl that steals your heart. The whole family makes me laugh so much, but I know where Larin gets her humor because Larin's other siblings are just as crazy.

Larin said, "My laugh for the day, Finlee found a list in the grocery cart; bay leaves, garlic toast, diced tomatoes, a brain. I just know this lady has a 'Smart Alec' husband like mine who added what he needs to the list."

 

My daughter Marnie & Crazy Sister, my daughter Larin at Work! Crazy Sisters!

Jax! You Never Know Where's He's Gonna' Land!

Jaxon happens to be a red-head and a "CRAZY" personality. He thinks of things no normal kid actually does. Like thinking about gutter swimming and going ahead and paddling right in a super cold puddle.

Gutter Swimming Is Wyoming Cold In The Winter?

Larin said, "I can tell Jaxon is lying because he asks me if his nose is growing. He also likes to announce the rules he is breaking. Like when I was showering a few minutes ago," "I can hear him yelling-singing!"   Jaxon loudly going, "Jumping on the couch! Jumping on the couch! "Jumping on the couch! "I'm jumping on the couch!"

Jaxon's Mom: "Jax what are you doing?" "I told you picking your nose is gross." Jax explained, "I'm not picking my nose, a booger fell out so I'm putting it back in!" Larin wrote, "What the???" "Only my crazy Jaxon-man."

"You're my Honeybunch, Sugarplum
Pumpy-umpy-umpkin, You're my Sweetie Pie

~~~~~You're my Cuppycake, ~~~~~~

Gumdrop Snoogums-Boogums, You're the Apple of my Eye
And I love you so and I want you to know
That I'll always be right here
And I love to sing sweet songs to you
Because you are so dear"  

Larin told us that the boys beg Dave, their father, everyday to say Mississippi in French. They think it's so funny and they laugh and laugh. The funniest part is that all he says is Mississippi with a French accent. Love life's simple pleasures.

Yeah, This IS A Totally NORMAL DADDY!

Larin told us that she  dropped Dean off at school and started home. Then Jaxon says "Mom are you studying that tiny pink piece of paper you got yesterday from the police man?" Jaxon then said, "I really don't want you to go to jail, so maybe you should slow down too." The mom says, "Gee, thanks Jaxon." "By the way, it was a going 25 in a 20 zone-type-ticket, nothing crazy!"

"Jaxon thinks he is so awesome today because I let him eat donuts in the living room and move the furniture and have can of soda. 5 year-olds are so easily pleased. I love it!"

Jaxon, Can I have some Chaos For Breakfast?"

"I'm so happy Dean, (Jaxon's brother) has finally outgrown the phase where he signed every paper from school as 007 or Darth Vader. Whew, I thought he would do it until high school."

 

Dean Knapp

Just A Normal Cowboy Dean

"Good thing Jaxon doesn't like the idea of ever growing up. I'm pretty sure I want to press pause on this little guy for forever. "Mom, I think I am the most handsome Luigi EVER!" I am partial of course, but I couldn't agree more."

"Seriously????? What is "Bunga"? Jaxon says the kitchen, his blanket, his fingers, Jaxon's sister's (Finlee) has some "Bunga" shoes, the couch everything smells like "Bunga". I don't know what that is, but I take offensive to that."    ( ;  

"Get Some Shoes On It's Freezing!" "Okay....Do you see you have...?" "Never-mind."

"Jax opened about 10 different yogurts yesterday. Not finishing each one completely. I love payback! He is enjoying each flavor in succession this morning before he eats anything different. Maybe he won't have a free for all yogurt taste test ever again." That's my daughter, Larin! Give a kid so much they get sick on it and they never want it again."

On top Of The World Yes, it's Wyoming!

Perfect!

Smile Boys-not Jaxon, Dean? What a Precious Smile

This kid Has been a Character Since He Could Walk

More Larin, the mother quotes:

"It's not even 6 yet and Jaxon is dreaming he is the Kung Fu Panda with noodles."

We get this picture but no explanation and they LIVE in MOOSE COUNTRY

 

"This is Jax right here...this cartoon,Kick Buttowski, cracks me up! You gotta see it!"

"This is Jaxon doing his best impression of a kid raising his hand

 during class. He starts preschool tomorrow. 

The teacher is going to laugh when she sees this."

"Part II Redneck Slip and Slide:

We are trying to write the book titled, 101 Uses For A Single Sheet Of Plywood."

"The Gunnie-Sack Monster came out today. Jaxon's first experience with the toy eating sack. He and Dean are running around as fast as they can cleaning up monster trucks, action figures, light sabers..... I can't believe I waited this long to bring him out. Jaxon is freaked. Gunnie sack = clean bedroom."

 

"Jaxon asked, "That's my dad?" I said, "Yep." Then Jaxon asked "In that giant truck?" I said "That's him." Jaxon yelled out, "Yeh!!" "That's my dad!!!" "Wahoooooo" I've never heard him cheer so loud. Cute."

Dean Is So Sweet and Sincere

"Dean wrote his friend back in Southern Utah where they used to live. "Elissa- I like your picture. You are so sweet. I miss you so much, I'm gonna cry.I hope you have fun with out me there. I hope you have a good summer. Love, Dean P.S. Have fun with your kitty"  Dean told me what to write, thanks Elissa"

Dean's the practical one and busy finding things to do. I love it that he made a house for his little sister. I know Jaxon helped, the one that appreciated it most was a sweet little sister, Finlee.

Just think what it was like when you were five! It was so easy to wake-up and be cool.

And then, spend the rest of the day getting so smelly and dirty, that your mom thinks you're equal to the "comic boy" in the Peanuts Comic Strip, "Pigpen!"

Oh Jaxon, you were crazy when little and these past five years, you've entertained us even from a distance!

"Jaxon is in the ER because he ate some of grandma's heart medication while I was in the shower. Geez!! He is fine he is pretending he is an elephant with the barf bag." (I have to add that I'm a really bad Grandma for not completely locking-up my meds. Jaxon is a climber & no matter-what, I should've taken better care of all that, cleaners, etc. included)

"Finlee watching "Cooby Sue" (Scooby-Doo) in her new basket bed. She is so proud of it too." (What's so funny is that I have pictures of Larin doing the same thing with the same cartoons and usually asleep.)

Finlee Loves to Read hahahha

"Jax said, "Mom, Mom, You see this spot right here???"  Larin the mom says, "Yes Jaxon, what about it?" Jax said,  "I need another toe for this spot right here."Larin said, "Why?" Jaxon answered, "I just need one really a lot." Larin said, "Okay..."  Hahaha"

"Jaxon channeling his inner cowboy."

Great combination a red-headed cowboy on a red horse.

"Jaxon was desperate to catch a fish. He tried grapes. Poor guy didn't 

catch a thing. Maybe he needs a pole, or a hook for that matter."

"The kids are eating breakfast with Dean getting ready for school in a small town and a block from the elementary school. Jaxon heard the trash truck coming and said,”Hey, Dean!” Your school bus is here."

Nice Way to Eat Oreos, Finlee

Some Tired?

The Mother--Yep, Jaxon is Just Like Her! Larin is always the one that opts to get buried.

Larin's idea of Crazy Legs. Bree is Under Her Dress

This Could Be Jaxon in A Hat-It's Larin

Larin Pretending To Be Sick. Water in Wetsuit. Even out by the Highway and it truly looks like she's barfing! Sick!

The NUTS Don't Fall Far From The Tree and they KEEP DROPPING!

***Jaxon is growing-up! Added December 1st, 2013 And even more hilarious. We're at the beach and he brought his eye patch and looked though his mom's jewelery and put the earring in his nose and just waited for someone to notice. We tried to ignore him. He can hold a straight face longer than anyone I know. Yep! His hair is still red.

Jaxon informed his Primary today during "Sharing Time" that you can get tattoos on your mission. He said his dad told him this. Jax did mention he wasn't going to get one on his mission because tattoos hurt too much. The ward must delight in Larin's boys, she's the Relief Society President. Another, "head-slap" 

This is very similar to the Bishop's little daughter that was in the Nursery and was being taught by a substitute teacher our Stake President and his wife. He asked her to come over here and play, Kiely and she said, "No way! Butt Head!"

Naturally, the Stake President brought this little story up and shared it with the adult meeting of Stake Conference. He said that he had a humbling experience substituting as the leader in his ward's nursery in Primary and then Steve and I suddenly felt the heat as President Bryce retold the story, word for word. Happily left-out Kiely's name. I suppose the "nuts" in the family aren't just the grandchildren. I think my children started it. Steve and I were perfect children. Steve was a perfect child. I had to take the "I" out and make "children" singular.