Just add lime!

Nothing says refreshing like Tequila fresh out of the freezer with a side of lime!

*Best*Dessert*Ever* hehe

The Best Carrot Cake. Ever.

I've been making this recipe for carrot cake for a couple years now. It definitely gets great reviews from all my *customers*. I stumbled upon the recipe at Allrecipes.com (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sams-Famous-Carrot-Cake/Detail.aspx) and instantly fell in love with it the moment the cake touched my lips!

The ingredients....

The beginning of the batter.

Before baking....

and after baking.

A simple cream cheese frosting whipped to perfection!

The finished product.

I typically like my carrot cakes to be layered cakes, but baking this recipe in a 9x13 pan makes it easier to serve since there are so many heavy ingredients in the cake. It's definitely rich and goes a long way!

Put me last

Current mood:introspective

I don't want to be first
I want to be last.
Consider me a thirst
That is from the past.

Take advantage of me...
For you know that I'm the one
That will always bend to see
That what you need is done.

But what about this...
This person I am on the inside?
Working on everyone else's wish
Putting myself off to the side.

How can I expect to be treated
A certain way by others
When everything about me is seated
In failing myself - not my brothers.

I'm openly pleasing to those in my life
But when it comes to myself I'm often left out.
Why do I continue to put up with this strife?
I mean, really, is there any doubt?

When I put everyone else's needs
In front of my own
There's only one place it leads
And it's not to a throne.

Amanda needs to be
The most important person
Can't you see?

She's lost somewhere in that head
Covered up by hate, jealousy.
It's all been said...
She needs to settle the controversy.

Amanda needs to learn
To put herself first.
To strive for the things she yearns.
To quench her internal thirst.

Happiness is out there,
And it's well within her touch.
She just needs to care
And start to act as such.

Love yourself the most
And others will follow you
You have to be the host
Everything else will ensue.

I want to be first

I don't want to be last.

Consider me a thirst

That was quenched in the past.

Italian Night - Supper Club April 2009

April's installment of Supper Club was hosted by Jennifer. The theme was Italian and everything was oh, so tasty! :o)

Buon appetito!

An olive relish made by Jennifer.

Prosciutto wrapped asparagus made by moi.

A colorful antipasto platter made by myself.

Angie provided a soup - with sausage!


Tiffany made gnocchi with sausage and spinach.


Mmmm... Emily made lasagna with homemade sauce.


Jennifer also made Chicken Marsala served over bowties.


Italian Knot cookies - by me.

Panacotta made lovingly by Jenn with balsamic strawberries.

Italian Knot Cookies

I was excited to find this recipe that I, at the time, thought sounded remotely similar to these cookies my roommate in college would get from her Grandma. She would never give me the recipe because it was a secret Italian Family recipe... and I'm guessing the Mafia would come after me if I had the recipe.... but I digress...


These cookies had orange juice and zest in them... which meant that I didn't really look closely at the recipe before I picked it. The cookies I remember had anise flavoring in them.


The cookies were very easy to make, though - and tasted awesome!


Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of the finished cookies with icing and sprinkles on them. They were super cute!