11-11-11

Did anyone make a wish at 11:11:11 on 11/11/11? I did. Not only is today 11/11/11 but it is also Veteran's Day as well as the 9th month of my pregnancy.

I can't believe Sweet Baby Molly's due date is just around the corner...4 weeks.  It feels as though the first 2 trimesters went by so slow but this last one has flown by. As I look back on this incredible journey I've taken with Molly, it's bittersweet. I'm sad to see it come to an end. I loved being pregnant. I'm going to miss feeling her kick or being the only one who can feel her kick each and every time she does. It's super sweet because i know in a few short weeks I will finally get to hold my sweet baby. I will be able to kiss her little toes, her feet, her sweet face, and hands.

As one chapter of my life closes another chapter begins and what a chapter Molly and I will write together!

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Halloween!
(saw this on Facebook)

11 in '11?

My St. Louis Cardinals have won their 18th National League Pennant.  St. Louis has won 10 World Series Championships (the most in the National League). Thanks to the Cardinals putting together an impressive winning streak late in the regular season and the Atlanta Braves choking, again, the Cardinals clinched the Wild Card on the last day of the season.

The Cardinals had to play Philadelphia, who by the way had the best pitching staff in Major League Baseball and probably in history. After the Cardinals beat the Phillies they had to play their division rival, Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals' bats came alive during the NLDS and the NLCS and I hope they stay hot.

For the first time in the 2011 post season, the Cardinals will have home field advantage (thanks to the National League for winning the 2011 All-Star game).

So, the St. Louis Cardinals are going to try for 11 in '11...to win their 11th World Series Championship in franchise history in 2011.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the Cardinal greats from days gone by, reunite on tv tomorrow night at Busch Stadium for Game 1...Ozzie Smith, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, and Lou Brock just to name a few.

"Go Crazy Folks, Go Crazy!" - Jack Buck, announcer for St. Louis Cardinals on

Ozzie Smith's walk off home run in game 5 of the 1985 NLCS

Good Luck Kyndall

My brother's girlfriend is competing in the Miss Tennessee USA pageant this weekend. Best wishes and good luck to Kyndall!

Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake

Try not to be too jealous of the quality of this picture...it was taken with my phone.

I love baking especially during the fall and the holidays. I saw this recipe on the cover of the September 2011 Southern Living magazine and new I had to make it for my small group from church.  The cake was a hit. The next time I make it i will use less apples and add walnuts.

CREAM CHEESE FILLING:

1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 large egg

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

APPLE CAKE BATTER:

1 cup finely chopped pecans

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

3 large eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup canola oil

3/4 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups peeled and finely chopped Gala apples (about 1 1/2 lb.)

PRALINE FROSTING:

1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar

1. Prepare Filling: Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; beat just until blended.
2. Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Stir together 3 cups flour and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next 3 ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and pecans.
3. Spoon two-thirds of apple mixture into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan. Spoon Cream Cheese Filling over apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of pan. Swirl filling through apple mixture using a paring knife. Spoon remaining apple mixture over Cream Cheese Filling.
4. Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 2 hours).
5. Prepare Frosting: Bring 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 3 Tbsp. milk to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth; stir gently 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thickens slightly. Pour immediately over cooled cake.

The praline frosting makes the cake!

Here's the picture from Southern Living and the recipe again.

Fried Chicken

The other night I went to the Viking Store and took one of their classes. We made fried chicken, mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, and caramel cake.

I must admit, I hate greens. All types of greens. However, after Saturday night I am a fan of greens if they are cooked and seasoned the way we made them.

I've taken many many classes at the Viking Store. If you have the chance I highly recommend taking a class or two.

It is a...

Keith and I found out on July 15th that we were going to have a sweet, precious, healthy, little baby girl. We are so excited. I've been spending money a lot these days buying all kinds of cute baby girl clothes. It is so much fun. The most important thing we learned at the doctor's office is that our daughter is healthy! Yes, we do have a name picked out for her...Molly Diane. Molly is my great great great grandmother's name and Diane is my mom's middle name as well as my middle name. Molly Diane will be here in December!