Wednesday, January 4, 2012

From our kitchen to yours : Bake Pops

Yep, you read it  right ... Bake Pops, not Cake Pops! I'm sorry Bakerella that I do not like the taste of your precious treats :( Sadly, I am not normally a "texture" kinda girl, but every time I have tried to enjoy a "cake pop" a friend has made at a party, I politely finish the bite in my mouth and discard of the rest... the word "pre-chewed" always comes to mind.  Given, I have seen some AMAZING creations made out of this undesirable treat ... wow, really!? I could never make these!!!

Yep, Bakerella's amazingness right here ...

So it all started when I was feverishly trying to get a Christmas list together for family, and I had a wapping 3 things on my list :

1. Cash
2. Walmart or Target Gift Cards
3. Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii  (I may need to do a review on this later)

Anyways, there's always some sort of craft or bake ware item that I am pining for but I couldn't seem to think of anything ... so I looked on my Pinterest account and noticed I had pinned some great ideas to decorate cake pops.  I had seen tons of  "cake pop bakers" online, but they only make around 6-12 pops, I knew I would need more and didn't want an appliance.



So, I found this ... Bake Pop Pans !  Haha yes, the As Seen on TV scared me ... but the concept, PERFECT! Basically a doughnut hole made from any cake or brownie mix, that is just what I wanted!  So I did a little research and everything sounded hokey, yeah like go to a page and when you "x" out it pops up messages telling you about deals and "are you sure you want to leave", ha ... well yes, if I clicked "x", that was my plan :) okay okay, I digress.   After my research I said "aw heck, Kim, go ahead and add it to your list."  So I did ... yep, fourth and last thing on my Christmas list, I'm a simple kinda gal!

Needless to say, I was getting excited when Christmas morning rolled around... Money (check), gift cards (check), Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii (check) ... but wait, where's my bake pops!?!?! haha silly me forgot we had changed our family plans and still had fellowship and festivities at another family members house... and yep, there they were and I was happy as a clam...  2 for the price of 1 ... BAKE POP PANS!
                                       Bake Pops

Once we got home from all our of holiday traveling, the first thing I did was make some treats, and oh my were they fantastic!  Check out the process below :)

Use any cake mix, boxed or from scratch, or even brownie mix!  Thicken the mix by adding an extra egg, milk instead of water, or some instant pudding.  I used Pumpkin Spice bread mix and Vanilla Spice Egg Nog :)

Coat the insides of both pans with non stick spray and preheat the oven to 350.

Fill bottom pan with mix.

Place top pan (with hole) on top ... haha yeah, great directions, Kim!

Place two yellow silicon clips in designated area.

Pop those goodies in the oven! It's okay if you over fill :)

Yep, my hubby was the first to say it "THOSE LOOK LIKE BOOBS" great for a bachelor party ? hahaha

Just what I was worried about, a really harsh rim from where the pans join :(

Watch out Martha Stewart, I'm a genius in the kitchen! Yep, pulled out my handy dandy cheese grater and filed off the edge (a microplane would work too, I just don't have one)

Check em out! Perfect little bake pops!  From here you can go either way: Bake pops on a stick or Doughnut holes.  I chose doughnut holes because I was bringing them to my office to place beside the coffee pot in the break room.

Look in the fridge and see what you have to add a little pizzazz to your treats ...

Voila! Pumpkin and Vanilla Spice Egg Nog Doughnut Holes with Cream Cheese glaze and Pecans! They were a huge hit with the coworkers and husband! 

I already have TONS of flavor combinations running around my brain, and my stomach :) Can't wait to try some more! This was a great buy and a perfect answer to my Cake Pop dilemma!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Good Finds: My Husband

Today marks our 3 year wedding anniversary, and what a glorious day it was... okay really, it was a crazy, hectic day but the end result was perfect... WE GOT MARRIED!

One of many bridal portraits at my beloved alma mater, NCSU

Follow this link to view our wedding highlights video made by Charles' Aunt and Uncle, we are so glad to have these memories ... I'm thinkin' we should watch the whole DVD (rehersal dinner, full ceremony, reception soon!)

Us and Pastor Allen, wow, wish I was still that tiny! haha
Okay, I could go on and on forever but I don't want to start crying ... seriously guys, marriage is a blessing and honestly, the best thing that's ever happened to me. 

Growing up my mom and dad were the typical, we're married but we don't love, or really like each other, but we're staying together because we don't want to get divorced and we know the Lord wants us to work things out.  As stated in a previous post, my mom is the head of our family, financially, spiritually, socially due to my dad's illness, frontal temporal lobe dementia.  At times, I feel guilty talking to my Mom about how blessed I am to have Charles as my husband, because she rarely, if ever had that same love and devotion from her husband. But, the one thing I am certain of, my Mom has shown me true love and devotion and what marriage truly is ... you know, for better or worse, for rich or for poor, in sickness and in health ... yep, my mom is a true woman of God and has taught me how to love my husband regardless of the situation, she has shown me, divorce is not an option, and I thank her for that.

Yep, my rock, my best friend (other than Charles), my Mom ...
Well, if you are reading this, you have read or will soon go back in the annals and read some of my previous posts (oh I hope you do!)  and you will see we've had a few bumps in the road over this short 3 years of wedded bliss, but God is still God and we will continue to praise Him for all he has given us and brought us through. 


3 blessed years ago, God joined a man, Charles Barrett and a woman, Kim Hartofelis together in holy matrimony. Praise God for the joys and trials we have endured, for the love we have shown and have been shown, and for the knowledge and grace we have been given. I love you with all my heart and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you Charles Grayson Barrett ♥

"Therefore, as God's chosen ...people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

                                                                                          Colossians 3:12-17

Yes, this is the man ...

I prayed to God askin Him to prepare a spouse for me.
I met one day in college and thought he'd never speak to me because he was out of my league.
I spent countless hours on the phone with while we dated.
I got jealous of everytime another girl spoke to him.
I watched teach and play with kids after school at the salvation army.
I went to Chicago, IL for Campus Crusade Urban Immersion with and saw his Christ likeness.
I always wanted to ask me to dance at Red's (Carolina Beach Music "Shag" club).
I fell madly in love with.
Who professed his love to me and asked me to be his wife.
I admired and couldn't wait for him to be my husband.
I walked down the aisle to with a goofy grin and tears of joy in my eyes.
I changed my last name for.
I saved my sexual purity for.
I have loved, honored and cherished for the last 3 years.
I trust with my life, my finances, my spiritual health and my personal security and well being.
I have mourned the loss of a pregnancy with.
I have prayed for continuously.
I don't deserve but am so thankful to have.
Who will be the father of our children, when the Lord blesses us with opportunity.
I can't wait to share the rest of my days with and journey through this life together for better or worse.
Who I will still be madly in love with until the day the Lord takes me home.