The Week(end) and a dessert

Last week we went to the BYU rivalry basketball game against Utah, and it was so exciting. We are definitely going to miss BYU and attending their sporting events. 

We went to Cheesecake Factory and saw the SLC temple lights with our friends. One of the couples is moving to Ogden, so we had a little "farewell" before the holidays, but we've already planned plenty of dates to "meet in the middle"!

We were feeling very festive at church on Sunday. Gettin in the spirit!

I made THE most delicious Gingerbread cake for Sunday dinner. These pictures are such poor quality, but really, trust me. The cream sauce-to die for. Then, top it with some homemade whipped cream and you're set! This is the best dessert for the holiday season. 

Happy Holiday baking!

Gingerbread Cake with Cream Sauce

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 cups flour

2 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp salt

Mix until crumbly. Reserve 1/2 cup of the above mixture for the streusel topping. To this, add 1/2 cup chopped pecans, if desired.

To the remainder, mix in

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup molasses

2 eggs

Pour batter into a well-greased 13×9 baking pan. sprinkle with the reserved streuseltopping. Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Watch carefully so you don’t overbake. Let cool slightly, and serve warm with Cream Sauce.

Cream Sauce

1 cup sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup butter

dash ginger

Combine and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Stir 4 minutes. Serve and warm sauce over gingerbread. Refrigerate any remaining sauce.

Our Thanksgiving

We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with the Zylstra's this year in California. It's crazy to think that this was my first year at their house for Thanksgiving, because two years ago we were on our honeymoon, so we didn't spend it with them (we switch off holidays with our families). Even after welcoming a brand new baby into the family, we were lucky enough to all be together, so it was tons of fun! Due to the baby, and having Oma and Opa in town, it was pretty laid back. We did a lot of relaxing, baby snuggling, movie seeing, eating, football games, craft days, and spending time with each other. I think it was just what we all needed.

I could have yummy greek yogurt parfaits everyday. 

Lots of Olivia snuggles, not complaining one bit.

I've had a couple bad sweet potato experiences (I really like them in fry form though!) but I took a stab at a sweet potato casserole, and the turned out super yummy. Under that layer of marshmallows is lots of brown sugar and some pecans.

Sarah made that stuffing next to it with cornbread! So yum.

Carson with cousin Olivia was just too cute! He didn't understand why we all wanted pictures of him holding her. Heart.Melt.

After falling asleep (probably to watching black-ish) we decided we needed a Thanksgiving picture. Don't mind our sleepy swollen faces.. :/

 I was finally able to participate in the Monahan (my MIL's family) craft day! We made the cutest snowmen out of fleece.

Logan's football team was in the semi finals (sadly, they lost) but it was fun to have everyone at the game!

All this took was some back tickles, and Bailey girl was out.

All of the boys. Minus baby Cooper.

I would say we had a pretty successful Thanksgiving with family, and I think it was hard on all of us to leave!

Candy Corn Hot Chocolate

While we were in Los Angeles last weekend, my mother and sister in law and I made some Candy Corn Hot Chocolate on a stick using this recipe. We bagged and tagged them up, and took them to our neighbors and church friends. They're easy to make, and even easier to eat- you just add hot milk!  This gives such a different and yummy flavor, because it's white hot chocolate. SO YUMMY! 

I can't wait to use this idea for Christmas and make Peppermint Hot Chocolate on a stick.

On Your Home Based Mom, she has these tags that you can just print out ready to go. I don't think these have to be just for Halloween, I think you can still make these until mid November! So, get goin. ;)

Halloween Lift

Two years ago, we went on our first date married with the now McGrath's. We attended the Halloween Lift Ride up at Sundance, and we had a blast listening to the new T Swift album, and snacking on Pumpkin Bars. This year, in honor of Taylor, we decided to do the exact same thing. They've sure amped it up this year, it was so fun! When you first walk to the Ski lift, there's corn hole, and some pumpkin bowling, so of course the boys had to participate!

We reenacted our photo from those two years ago, except this year, that scarecrow was fake. We punched him to make sure, because last time I was sitting on a mans lap and had no idea!!

If you're looking for a fun fall activity, take the Sundance lift! The Halloween edition will be over soon, but it's such a fun evening out all bundled up.

We had a good time with our friends, reminiscing on the olden days! But, we think these days are even better!

The Best Pumpkin Bars You Will Ever Taste

Today calls for another fall recipe: Pumpkin Bars. These are the absolute bombest. And, don't forget about that amazing, addictive cream cheese frosting! MMM!

Pumpkin Bars

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

4 eggs

1 and 2/3 cups sugar

1 cup oil (I use coconut)

1 can (15oz) pumpkin 

Frosting:

1 8oz. package of cream cheese 

1/3 cup softened butter

4 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 Tbsp milk

sprinkled ground cinnamon

Directions:

In your mixer, combine eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin until light and fluffy. 

Add the dry ingredients, gradually. Mix well.

Spread batter in a greased 15x10x1 baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

Once your bars are cooled, cream together butter and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.  Add powdered sugar, vanilla and milk.  Mix on high speed until smooth creamy. Sprinkle ground cinnamon on frosting, or leave bare. I think they look cuter with cinnamon! 

 

Dish up those suckers, and make sure you have people to share them with, or I promise you will eat the whole pan!

Bambara-SLC

We went to a new restaurant for our Anniversary dinner, and let me tell you, it was delicious. Tanner's brother suggested Bambara to us, and it was so fun to try something new together! I swear food is the only thing we really spend money on, because we love good food, and love trying new places! 

Bambara is an "American Bistro" and the presentation of the food was absolutely beautiful! Like I said in my last post, there was an open kitchen, and I loved that. There are 4 chefs, including one pastry chef, and everything was brought to you immediately when it was done, so everything was so fresh.

I also loved that they personalized our menus, it added such a cute touch!

I'm going to apologize for the quality of pictures...Tanner is always too hungry to sit and take pictures, so I have to sneak them as fast as I can!

To start off, they bring every table the softest bread ever, with a side of hummus.

I got the salmon (typical) and it was laid on top of mashed potatoes, and had shaved pears on top. The flavor was so unique, it was really yummy. To be honest, it wasn't my favorite salmon, but I've had a lot of salmon in my life. I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and would recommend it!

Tanner got the New York Steak, and the herbed frites. If I go back, I'll definitely get this, even though it's more of a manly dish. It was DELICIOUS! Thankfully Tanner shared lots of it with me, I just couldn't have enough!

We ended the night with a turtle ice cream sandwich. Oh. My. Gosh. Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Pecan Crusted Dark Chocolate Cookie, Salted Caramel Drizzle, Cocoa Nib Crackle. Does that make you want to go just for dessert? Because you should. It was SO GOOD!

Bambara has such a unique menu, we will definitely be going back!