Kent had a birthday this last weekend. His actual birthday was on Friday, and his parents invited us to dine with them at their place. I didn't make a cake or anything for this because he was abstaining from sugar and booze in preparation for the half marathon he would be running on Sunday morning. But Bruce and Pam did a lovely meal for us, including a chocolate cake, and he had a nice little birthday.
Sunday was race day, and we trooped out to cheer him to the finish. His goal was to set a new personal best time, but he had had some injuries during the training and didn't quite make it. He did beat my half marathon time (of course) and felt ok at that. In celebration of the race, I made a special treat - Kent's favourite: Warm brownie with ice cream and hot fudge.
Not to toot my own horn, but I really enjoy this brownie recipe, I guarantee it will please chocolate lovers.
Cream Cheese Brownies:
Brownie Layer:
4 ounces dark chocolate, roughly chopped
3 tbsp butter
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking powder
pinch salt
1/2 tsp almond extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Cheese layer:
1 pkg cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp flour
-Melt chocolate and 3 tbsp butter on low on the stove and stir until smooth.
-Beat warmed cream cheese with 2 tbsp butter and 1/4 cup sugar. Add one egg and beat well. Stir in 2 tbsp flour, lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp vanilla. Set aside.
-Use an electric mixer to beat the 2 eggs until thick. Add sugar and beat until really thick. Add flour, baking powder, salt, almond extract, and vanilla and gently stir into the eggs. Add the chocolate mixture and stir well.
-Spray an 8x8 brownie pan with non-stick spray. Pour chocolate mixture into the bottom of the pan and spread evenly. Pour the cheese mixture on top of brownie mixture and spread evenly.
-Bake @ 350 for 25 to 30 minutes, until set in the middle.
Serve warm with ice cream, hot fudge, whip and a cherry for pure decadence.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Madison's 9th Birthday
Madison turned nine this week, and we had Nana and Grumpa over for her birthday dinner. She wanted Pastitsio (a rich, greek dish she tried and loved a few months ago), veggie sticks, and ice cream for dessert. She insisted on choosing the ice cream herself, and specifically wanted Maple flavour. 
Then on Saturday we had her party. 10 little girls joined us in the afternoon for a secret agent party.
The invitation - We sent out small manila envelopes with "Top Secret" and "for _______'s eyes only" stamped on the front. Inside was a mini file folder (made from card stock) with "priority one" stamped on the tab. The details of the mission (including a secret pass phrase in code that they'd have to remember to gain entrance to headquarters) were stapled to one side of the folder, while some detective training activities, codes to crack, and ciphers were paper clipped to the other side of the folder.
The activities - First we made ID tags for everyone with their code name and fingerprint. Then we lined up chairs in the living room and DJ Kent played the Pink Panther theme song while the kids played musical chairs with a twist. Instead of walking or dancing around the chairs, they had to sneak, tiptoe, belly crawl, and creep around to the music.
Next I gave each guest a flashlight, a pen, and a pad of paper on which I had made a list of several of the toys in our toy room. The lights were out in the basement and they had to find all the toys on the list using only the light from their flashlights.
Then it was time to eat, so we rounded them up and sat them all at the table and started handing out plates. I brought out a pizza box asked who wanted cheese pizza? Hands shot up, but when I opened the box to dole it out - it was empty! All that was in the box was a paper origami lily! Madison carefully unfolded the lily and read the clue inside, leading the girls on a chase through the house to find more lilies and more clues until they finally found the pizza hidden in Caylie's closet. They were really hungry by that time, and they settled in to eat pizza, veggies, fruit, and cheese and crackers.
While I had them at the table, I brought out the cake and ice cream. The cake was a direct rip off from a talented friend who had posted hers online (in fact, the whole party was stolen from her blog), but I'm afraid mine didn't turn out as crisply as hers did. The kids wolfed it down, though, and then gathered for presents.
As usual, we had asked for no gifts, but this year we tried a new idea. In the invitation we specified that we would be pleased if each guest would bring two toonies: one for Madison, and one for the Penticton food bank. All of the little girls brought toonies, and some of them generously brought gifts as well.
When they were all opened and the cards all read, I brought out my last game. I stuck a label on each girl's back on which was written the name of a famous person or character. They had to guess the name on their backs by asking only "yes" or "no" questions. They loved this game. They were giggling, throwing out crazy guesses, and having a great time. I had written names like "Whinnie the Pooh," "Cinderella," and "Elmo," as well as a few like "Justin Bieber", and "Hanna Montana". This game was more a hit than I'd anticipated, and once they'd guessed their characters they wanted to do it again and again. I ended up having to make up new ones on the spot to keep the guessing going and going, and they didn't even want to stop when their parents arrived.
I had prepared some other activities as well, but we didn't get to them.
The goodie bags - The guests left with a phony nose and glasses disguise, the ID tag, the flashlight, notebook and pen.
When Madison said goodbye to the last friend to leave, we sighed and smiled. It's over. And it was so much fun! Thanks to everyone for the great gifts and generous donations, and thanks to Jo for the excellent party ideas!
Then on Saturday we had her party. 10 little girls joined us in the afternoon for a secret agent party.
The invitation - We sent out small manila envelopes with "Top Secret" and "for _______'s eyes only" stamped on the front. Inside was a mini file folder (made from card stock) with "priority one" stamped on the tab. The details of the mission (including a secret pass phrase in code that they'd have to remember to gain entrance to headquarters) were stapled to one side of the folder, while some detective training activities, codes to crack, and ciphers were paper clipped to the other side of the folder.
The activities - First we made ID tags for everyone with their code name and fingerprint. Then we lined up chairs in the living room and DJ Kent played the Pink Panther theme song while the kids played musical chairs with a twist. Instead of walking or dancing around the chairs, they had to sneak, tiptoe, belly crawl, and creep around to the music.
Next I gave each guest a flashlight, a pen, and a pad of paper on which I had made a list of several of the toys in our toy room. The lights were out in the basement and they had to find all the toys on the list using only the light from their flashlights.
Then it was time to eat, so we rounded them up and sat them all at the table and started handing out plates. I brought out a pizza box asked who wanted cheese pizza? Hands shot up, but when I opened the box to dole it out - it was empty! All that was in the box was a paper origami lily! Madison carefully unfolded the lily and read the clue inside, leading the girls on a chase through the house to find more lilies and more clues until they finally found the pizza hidden in Caylie's closet. They were really hungry by that time, and they settled in to eat pizza, veggies, fruit, and cheese and crackers.
While I had them at the table, I brought out the cake and ice cream. The cake was a direct rip off from a talented friend who had posted hers online (in fact, the whole party was stolen from her blog), but I'm afraid mine didn't turn out as crisply as hers did. The kids wolfed it down, though, and then gathered for presents.
As usual, we had asked for no gifts, but this year we tried a new idea. In the invitation we specified that we would be pleased if each guest would bring two toonies: one for Madison, and one for the Penticton food bank. All of the little girls brought toonies, and some of them generously brought gifts as well.
When they were all opened and the cards all read, I brought out my last game. I stuck a label on each girl's back on which was written the name of a famous person or character. They had to guess the name on their backs by asking only "yes" or "no" questions. They loved this game. They were giggling, throwing out crazy guesses, and having a great time. I had written names like "Whinnie the Pooh," "Cinderella," and "Elmo," as well as a few like "Justin Bieber", and "Hanna Montana". This game was more a hit than I'd anticipated, and once they'd guessed their characters they wanted to do it again and again. I ended up having to make up new ones on the spot to keep the guessing going and going, and they didn't even want to stop when their parents arrived.
I had prepared some other activities as well, but we didn't get to them.
The goodie bags - The guests left with a phony nose and glasses disguise, the ID tag, the flashlight, notebook and pen.
When Madison said goodbye to the last friend to leave, we sighed and smiled. It's over. And it was so much fun! Thanks to everyone for the great gifts and generous donations, and thanks to Jo for the excellent party ideas!
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