Tuesday Treat

Yes, we may be still in the midst of Winter's icy clutches.  And yes, we may have gotten 10 inches of snow the other day.  And yes, it may have even been snowing this morning.  But I brought a little bit of summer sunshine into our house with what I'm calling my Strawberry Lemonade Cake.

 



It is two layers of a basic lemon cake, a Cool Whip based icing (the inside layer is just plain Cool Whip, as was the crumb coating layer, but I wanted a bit more substance for the outer icing), and fresh strawberries around the outside.

 

It is super yummy.  Let's skip winter AND spring and go straight to summer, shall we?

 

 

Strawberry Jam

My husband really likes peanut butter and jam sandwiches.  And now that he packs a lunch every weekday, a lot of peanut butter and jam sandwiches go out our door.  Store-bought jam won't do, however - he likes his mom's homemade strawberry freezer jam.  I knew about this before we got married, but I was secretly hoping that she makes some sort of miracle freezer jam that replenishes itself - a Jam Jar that Never Runs Dry type of thing.

No such luck.  The Jam ran out.

In anticipation of this, a few months ago when we were visiting his parents, she made a batch with me watching, showing me how to do it.  That alone bought me more time.  But alas, The Jam ran out again.

The time had come for me to make The Jam.  At our last trip to the grocery store, we eagerly picked out fresh strawberries and a box of pectin (of course, we had to call my MIL while in the aisle because who knew there were 4 different types of Pectin?!)

Yesterday was the day we set aside to make The Jam.  Partly because we were both home, and partly because I would still have some time today incase everything went horribly wrong and I had to start again.

For other new wives out there, or perhaps just new Jam makers, here was our step by step process.

Step 1.  Open the pectin box and read through the instructions for the Quick and Easy Strawberry Jam recipe 14 times (or more if necessary) just to make you sure you really understand it.

Step 2. Wash all jam jars.

 

Step 3:  Wash strawberries

 

 

So far so good! 
I can handle this - I am an experienced dish and fruit washer!

 

Step 4.  Crush strawberries - enough for 2 cups in our case.  We used the blender to crush the strawberries.  Note: Do not puree!  You want chunks of strawberries.

 

Step 5.  Mix crushed strawberries with sugar.  Measure everything very carefully - that's important.  Then let the sugar/strawberry mixture sit for about 10 minutes.

 

 

Step 6:  Mix pectin with water in a saucepan and heat on high stirring constantly.  Once it boils, keep stirring it constantly for one minute - then remove it from the heat.  Andrew did this part and I cheered him on.  And took a picture.

 

 



Step 7.  Mix the pectin and the sugar/strawberry mixture - stirring it for about 3 minutes, until all the sugar dissolves.

 

Step 8.  Pour into clean jars! Note: leave room at the top for it to expand during freezing.

 

Final Step.  Let jars sit for 24 hours to set, and then you can put them in the freezer.

 

 

And that's all it takes to make Strawberry Freezer Jam - and keep the husband happy and well fed. :)

 

 

But then again, we haven't tasted it yet...

Estes Park, Colorado

Estes Park, located in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, is a beautiful vacation spot for weekend getaways or extended vacations.  My husband and I have had the pleasure to spend a few weekends in this historical town over the last year, and each trip leaves me wanting to come back for more.  Estes Park has something to offer for everyone, and its hospitality and charm have been captivating visitors for over 100 years.

A wealth of lodging options is available to accommodate every traveler.  There are RV parks, hotels (including the famous haunted Stanley Hotel!), cabins of various sizes, vacation homes, and even apartments for rent right in the center of town if your short-term trip turns into a long-term stay!  We have stayed in a rustic log cabin for a secluded weekend getaway, and also at the YMCA center which offers cabins of different sizes to fit couples, families, or even large groups for family reunions or retreats.

 

My favorite part of Estes Park is all the shops along Elkhorn Avenue which runs through the middle of town.  There are a number of shops focused on mountain apparel or hiking equipment to gear up for any outdoor activities, and others with jewelry, gifts, and toys.  Many of the local shops have a Southwestern and Native American flair.  Since I was young, I’ve been captivated by the legend of Kokopelli, the Indian Flute Player, and I can find unique Kokopelli jewelry, blankets, and even place mats in Estes Park shops!  There is even a store dedicated entirely to socks!  Some of my favorites are MacDonald Book Shop, 30 Below Leather, and the Old Church Shops.  I especially like stopping for a break at Sweet Peaks Cupcakery or Espresso Mocha Angelo.

No need to go far when lunch time or dinner rolls around because Estes Park boasts a wide variety of yummy cuisine.  The Local’s Grill makes you feel like a local no matter how far you’ve traveled with traditional American fare at reasonable prices.  Mexican and Italian options are close by as well.  But even picky eaters will be satisfied with well-known choices like Subway, Domino’s pizza, and Dairy Queen.  There is even a Safeway Grocery Store if you are planning on eating in.

Families can fill their schedule with horse-back riding, rock climbing lessons, hiking tours, or even bike rides around the beautiful Lake Estes Hike & Bike Trail. The 10' wide concrete trail gives plenty of room for everyone.  The Visitor’s Center, Golf Course, and Marina (with a fishing pier for Colorado Licensed fishermen) are also beautiful additions to the To Do List.  The Family Fun Center has rides, go-karts, mini golf, and much more!  And when you need a little downtime, the cute Estes Valley Library welcomes you enjoy your favorite books in their comfortable chairs. 

Even the family dog is welcomed in Estes Park.  Leash laws apply, but doggy bags are available in the grassy park outside the Town Hall.  Signs that say Friendly Dogs Welcome are posted in store windows.  Many store keepers have their own dogs in the store, so little Fido might make a new friend!

For those leaving the kids at home, the Snowy Peaks Winery and Tasting Room is a must-see, although it is closed on Sundays.  Cooper’s bar has its own craft beer in a fun, local atmosphere and The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern is a popular place on a Friday night.  Not too far away is Coffee on the Rocks, an adorable little fair trade coffee shop that I highly recommend.  It sits right next to a small lake.  You can sit outside and watch the ducks, and you can even feed them with the little bags of Duck Feed the coffee shop sells for one dollar.  Or relax inside with your hot beverage of choice and your make-your-own sandwich – perfect for the cool mountain weather. 

I also love that Estes Park has a place called the Oxygen Sanctuary.  Colorado natives are used to the altitude, but for visitors to the Rocky Mountains, a chance to breathe freely for a few minutes can make the vacation much more enjoyable.

So whether you’re seeking hiking, shopping, good food, or breath-taking mountain views, Estes Park is an ideal location for every traveler.  Come visit us here in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.  Maybe we’ll run into each other, because the next chance I get, I’ll be spending a weekend there at all my favorite spots.  When I need a getaway, I get away to Estes Park.





Made-up Milkshake

My dh and I recently moved into a new apartment, one that (among other things) affords us a larger kitchen and more counter space. Who knew I'd ever care about such things?! It also allows me to have my most used (or most "wish I used"...) appliances out and accessible.

One of these is our blender.

Recently I've had a hankering for a milkshake. I've been eyeing that blender every day for two weeks now, and I finally could not ignore it anymore. Unfortunately a key ingredient for any respectable milkshake is ice cream.

My dh and I tend to make our own ice cream in our adorable little ice cream maker. But the season here in Colorado isn't quite ready to have ice cream readily available in the freezer. So, I did a little research on the Internet and found that you can make milkshakes sans ice cream by adding in things like cream, sugar, ice, etc. All the more motivated, I rolled up my sleeves and got to experimenting.

I started with about a cup and a half of skim milk (that's the only kind we have) and added in a little bit of York Peppermint Patty coffee creamer that I had left over.

I put in a little bit less than a scoop of sugar (I know that my exact measurements here are so helpful...) and then dumped in a bunch of crushed up Andes mints.

I added 6 or so cubes of ice, put the lid on the blender, and hit the button for Milkshake.

A few seconds later I taste tested. It was very runny and not quite sweet enough. So I added a few more cubes of ice and a little more sugar, and Milkshaked it again.

This is what I was envisioning:

This is what I got:

It looks vaguely like a milkshake in that picture, but let me tell you...
It was basically a glorified glass of milk with chunks of ice and a bunch of crushed up candy at the bottom.

But, hey, it still tasted good with a chocolate chip cookie!

After all, what's a new wife to do? Well, use ice cream next time.

Or at the very least, whole milk and heavy cream.