The Baby Shower

In a final kind of "hurrah" - at least for my house - I'm posting pics from the baby shower I threw for my sister in law, Aimee.

(BTW...Check out my table!!! :D My amazing, wonderful, talented, kind and loving husband STANN did this....for $65. It wasn't in our budget to get a "new" set so he revamped what we had....You know...the old "Use it up! Wear it out! Make it do! Or do without!" I'm soooo proud of him! He worked his tush to get these ready in time for the shower....and he did an amazing job...and I do say so myself!)

Everything turned out awesome! (A first...I have to say....) I made a light buffet; Kathie and Mindy helped me with the food; Kathie made Chicken Salad sandwiches....Mindy made an amazing veggie tray - and I got to make a few things myself. :)

I made (You have to look at the top picture L-R, starting at the top: Coconut Cupcakes with White Chocolate ganache frosting, Yellow Hostess Cakes (yellow cake, filled with hostess filling and dipped in chocolate ganache) I even made cute little squigglies on them), pasta salad (this turned out AWESOME! I made it with a creamy artichoke dressing that I "invented" LOL more like "experimented" with...) and then I also made cucumber sandwiches and brownie bites. (Okay. I cheated on the brownie bites. But they were Nestle, and I baked 'em in my oven. LOL)

There was standing room only....an excess of pink dresses....and a fun time (I hope!) had by all. :)

I am a little sad....I had to make a rough decision....and I'm selling my piano. :*( There's just no room for it!! I'm comforting myself though - by telling myself "It's only temporary...." AND "the pioneers had to give up stuff - JUST LIKE I'M HAVING TO - and they were the better for it..." and its totally true.

It totally doesn't make it any easier....but it's still true.

Once all our schooling is done, we can put this behind us....learn from it....and be the better for it.

:) (SEE?! Big smile...that's what I'm gonna keep on my face, all the while....!)

AND.....after a few requests for some of the recipes....I'm posting the recipe for the coconut cupcakes just below...

Coconut Cupcakes

2 C. coconut

1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)

Yellow cake mix

eggs, oil, water (as called for on the mix)

PREHEAT your oven to 375.

Mix the coconut & milk together in a bowl. Set it aside.

Make the yellow cake mix according to the package instructions. Divide the batter into the cupcake liners.

Add 1 tsp of the coconut mixture to the cupcake batter. (It'll sink to the bottom during baking).

Bake for about 15 minutes (you'll want to watch them....they cooked up quickly - averaging around 12-15 minutes per batch).

Cool & Ice them.

You can buy your frosting, make your own frosting...whatever you'd like. The stuff I have pictured is a WHITE CHOCOLATE GANACHE. (Yum!)

White Chocolate Ganache Frosting

1 pkg White Chocolate Chips

1 tbsp Brown Sugar

2 tbsp Whipping Cream OR Milk

1/2 tsp Coconut Extract

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

Melt the chips, sugar and milk in a double boiler - OR - melt them in a sturdy pan on low heat. Make sure to get the lumps out - stirring consistently. Once its all smooth, remove from heat and add the extracts.

Dip the cupcakes in (several times for a thicker layer) and let cool.

They turned out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself!!! :D

Enjoy 'em!