Better Than "You Know What" Cake

Jake told me about this cake that his friend brought in to work. I just had to try it, so Igot the recipe from his friend's wife. I used Butter Pecan cake mix because it's what she recommended, but I believe you could use whatever flavor you think would taste good.

1 box cake mix

12 oz. cool whip

1 can condensed milk

1 bottle caramel ice cream topping

1 heath bar

Make the cake

While still warm poke holes in the cake with a wooden spoon handle

Pour milk into the holes until the cake absorbs it

Pour caramel into the holes

Allow to cool

Top with cool whip

Top with crumbled candy bar

I couldn't find a heath bar at the commissary or BX, so mine has caramel topping instead of heath bar.

Make sure you don't put the cool whip on until right before you are ready to serve, mine sat for a few hours until after dinner, and the cool whip "deflated"

The Mathematician

Jake is taking a math course through a college on base. He has waited to take his math class for me to be here to tutor him. His class meets Monday-Thursday during his lunch break, so he comes home with TONS of homework! We spend all evening doing homework, so this is our life, 4 nights a week.

Baby Maisy & Happy Birthday Susie

I spent the last week with my sister's family in North Africa, so I have a few pictures I want to share on my blog.

First of all, the new baby I got to meet! My sister's first child, cute little Maisy!

She is wonderful! I was completely amazed at how developed she seems to be, at only 3 weeks. I just figured she would be like a bump on a log and sleep all day. Boy I was wrong. Maisy seems so developed. She's gained a pound from her birth weight, she squirms her arms and legs around alot, she can hold up her head for quite a few seconds, and when she hears her mom or dad's voice she tries to turn her head in that direction. She is a very responsive and happy baby.

Bryce, Susie, and Maisy are all very lucky to have their new little family!

Aunt Maggie and Maisy

Sisters

I also happened to be there for Susie's birthday, so we of course had birthday cake!

Duck, it's a duck!

I don't like to pack, and I was putting off cleaning, so today I made a duck! I wanted to give my new niece something handmade, and I bought a bunch of fleece scraps at the craft store on base, so I decided to try a ducky! My favorite part is the little heart with her name on it. It's more of a decorating item than a toy, but I still think it's cute!I decided I want to make something handmade for my other nieces also, so when I get back from my trip I might make them bugs (like ladybugs and butterflies) or sweets (like cupcakes and ice cream cones). Any other ideas?

Barcis Lake - Take 3!

So...Barcis Lake is really pretty, and not too far away, so it made for the perfect girl's day out! So, I ended up there for the 2nd time this week. We spent some time laying out in the sun, hiked up a short trail, ate lunch at a park, took lots of pictures and grabbed some gelato on the way home. Great day! I just wish we had gotten a picture of all of us together.

The only picture I have of everyone (except me): Megan with the pink backpack, Katie (holding Kylie) in the middle, and Betsy leading the pack (she was the one who got to walk into the spider's webs!)

I like slides!We did make a pact to make a girls day out once a week (starting the week after I get back.) Our next plan is to go to the big shopping mall in Udine. Udine is about 45 minutes away and I hear it's one of the biggest malls in Europe! There is even a Disney Store! Since we have all read the Twilight series, we have considered going to Volterra, but I'm afraid that might be an overnighter. We'll see!

Onion Soup Mix Meatloaf

We had meatloaf tonight. I used the recipe from the box of onion soup mix.

Ingredients:

1 envelope onion soup mix

2 lbs ground beef

3/4 cup plain bread crumbs

2 eggs

3/4 cup water

1/3 cup ketchup

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a big bowl with your hands.

Form into a loaf on a baking sheet.

Bake 1 hour in 350 degree F oven.

Let stand 10 minutes.

Another meal Jake liked, which is good because I'm leaving him with lots of leftovers! I'm leaving tomorrow to go visit my sister's family, and I keep asking Jake what he will eat while I'm gone. He keeps reminding me that he did live alone for two years after he got out of the dorms, so I guess he can take care of himself again.

Tatortot Casserole

I got this recipe from my cousin, Staci Wood.

Ingredients:
1 lb. hamburger
1/4 lb. velveeta
1/2 cup milk
1 can cream of mushroom soup
8 oz. sour cream

Directions:
Brown and drain hamburger
Microwave velveeta and milk
Add soup and sour cream
Mix with hamburger and pour into 9"x13" dish
Line up frozen tatortots on top of mixture
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-60 minutes, until tots are crunchy

It was so yummy! Jake liked it too! The only problem I had is that I don't have any of my kitchen stuff here in Italy, and Jake only has a 9"x9" dish here, so the mixture barely fit and started to bubble over the edge before the tots were crunchy.