Potlucks on the Porch: Nancy

Showing posts with label Nancy. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

The Best EVER Banana Cake

I know, the title says "cake" and here I am showing a picture of cupcakes. Here's the story:

Several months ago at a family gathering I saw a cute, white frosted cake. No one had yet partaken, and so I watched closely for someone to take the first slice... not wanting to be overly-eager to dig into this cake I was having good vibes about.

Finally, when I took a bite... mmmm!! I KNEW that this was a recipe I absolutely HAD to track down (just like I did with THIS one). I've made it several times, and it doesn't disappoint! A few weeks ago, I was assigned to bring a dessert to a dinner party. I was so busy that I handed the recipe over to my husband to make. He did, and holy cow, now he's a celebrity cook among that dinner group! Of course, he got all the recognition :)!

I've had this on my checklist to share here for a while, and finally decided to make the cake recipe into cupcakes. I loved them as cupcakes, but honestly, even more as a cake. The ratio of frosting to cake is PERFECT! As cupcakes, I haven't quite perfected it. So, definitely make it as a cake... your taste buds will party. Then, try cupcakes later too, if you want.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups bananas, ripe, mashed
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8 oz package cream cheese)
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Garnish:
walnuts, or whoppers

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.

2. Grease and flour a 9X13 pan OR two round pans.

3. In a small bowl, mix mashed bananas with lemon juice, set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.

5. In a large bowl, mix butter and sugar til light and fluffy.

6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then stir in vanilla

7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.

8. Stir in banana mixture.

9. Pour batter into prepared pan, or pans. Bake for 1 hour or until done.

10. Remove from oven and place directly in freezer for 45 minutes (makes the cake very moist).

Make frosting

1. Cream butter and cream cheese until smooth.

2. Beat in vanilla (1 tsp)

3. Add powdered sugar. Beat on ow speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.

4. Spread on cooled cake.

5. Garnish :)

It's DEFINITELY worth making!

XO,
Nancy

Friday, May 23, 2014

The BEST Art Supplies for Kids

We mamas are in big anticipating the coming of SUMMER VACATION, eh? Sometimes we feel excitement to just chill and relax, and other times a little dread pulses through the veins. I mean dread in all good ways... we love our kiddos like no one else, yet that fear of keeping them from turning to technology addicted zombies bites at me.

I asked my kids what they wanted to spend their summer doing, and their quick answer was: lots of swimming, and lots of art. I couldn't be more pleased with their answer since we live in Las Vegas, and it is H-O-T. We. Will. Swim. Lots.

...And art... kids are the BEST natural artist that exist. I would LOVE to keep creative little artists forever. Plus, art is my total and 100% favorite way to "play" with my kids. When working on art projects, if we relax, we can have a grand time with the kiddos.

I'm hoping to carve out some time to make these adorable at smocks by Becky from Ucreate!

Here's my list of great art supplies to entice budding artists to spend less time looking at the screen, and more time with a smock on. I'm acquiring them a little at a time... thank goodness for the craft store coupons!!

(*** Means a definite essential)
1. Oil pastels ***
2. Colored pencils (twistable are great!) ***
3. Pip squeak markers ***
4. Skinny markers
5. Sharpies
6. collage materials (buttons, googly eyes, etc)
7. Chalk
8. Sidewalk chalk
9. yarn
10. Scissors, fun shaped ones too ***
11.Glue ***
12. Glue gun (teach older kids to use)
13. Embroidery floss
14. Stockmar crayons
15. Mini paint rollers
16. Colored masking tape
17. Colored duct tape
18. Tempera paint
19. Watercolor crayons
20. Liquid watercolor paint, or watercolor tubes
20. Watercolor cakes (regular stuff) ***
21. Variety of paintbrushes ***
22. Glitter glue
23. Shaving cream
24. Pipe cleaners ***
25. Printmaking tools (vegetables, sponges, bubble wrap)
26. Finger paints
27. Contact paper (for stained glass activities)
28. Stapler
29. Regular pencils ***
30. Regular pens
31. Sketch books ***
32. Beads
33. Paper plates
34. Clay ***
35. Salt dough
36. Play dough
37. Construction paper ***
38. Card stock
39. Heavy weight white sulphite paper
40. Poster board (cut smaller)
41. Fabric and felt scraps
42. Brown contractor's paper from Lowe's (instead of butcher paper) ***
43. Marshmallows (sculptures)
44. Glitter
45. Toothpicks
46. Wooden shapes (to paint or make magnets)
47. Window markers
48. Mat board remnants (from frame shop)
49. Rainbow loom and bands
50. Perler beads (or melty beads)
Pull out a few of these materials ever day and watch the kids go to town with their creations... better yet, "go to town" with them!

Oh all the possibilities:
suncatchers, postcards, printing with kitchen supplies, magnets, embroidery, illustrating a book, marble rolling, shaving cream on the window, painting cookies with edible paint, paper mache, puppets, dyed pasta, melted crayon shapes, and so much more!

Happy summer preparations!!
XO,
Nancy

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Poptastic Teacher Appreciation Gift

Teacher appreciation week. Hmmm. I always wonder what my kids' teachers would really like. Heaven knows they deserve some extra BIG appreciation!

One day I was walking through Cost Plus World Market and couldn't contain my hands after I saw this Yard of Popcorn! I HAD to plop it it my cart. Seriously. My fingers gave me no choice.

Literally, the package spoke to me. I knew it was just meant to be.... Poptastic Teachers. Yes cheesy (or corny), but it'll make the teachers chuckle, give them a good supply of popcorn, and make my kids feel really cool (that's what matters most, right?)

If you need a super quick teacher appreciation gift, here you go. Just save to your computer and print. I'll admit, I just wish I was a graphic design expert... one day hopefully I'll have some skills. For now, this will have to do...

If you don't want to buy the whole yard of popcorn, you could make one of the million amazing popcorn recipes out there. OR give the teacher a bucket of movie theater popcorn with a gift certificate to GO to the movie!

Need more teacher appreciation ideas? Check out all of Jan's amazing ideas HERE, HERE , and HERE.

XO,

Nancy

Thursday, May 1, 2014

25 SIMPLE Homemade Mother's Day Gifts

I collected these ideas ESPECIALLY for teenage girls to make for their moms. The 14-15 year old girls in my church wanted to make a gift for Mother's Day, and it's my job to find one for them.... which is a bit tricky because there are so many adorable crafts for little kids, and a zillion beautiful and complicated crafts for adults.

The crafts the made the cut for this list are 1) Super cute, but not little kid-ish 2) inexpensive 3) able to be completed in an hour or so.

Here's what I've found, still deciding which one to do....

These particular clothes pin magnets are on Etsy in the Earth Cookie Creations shop , but are quick, easy, and adorable to make.

Personalized, anthro-inspired key chain with by Morena from Craft Unleashed .

Mother's Day Charm Necklace by Crystal from Craft Unleashed.

Fabric Covered Books by Two and Twenty One

Maybe a journal??

Awesome Pastry Cloth by Cami from Tidbits .

Learn all about pastry cloths HERE !

Fabric Trinket Box by Martha Stewart

DIY No Slip Headbands by Lauralee from Potlucks on the Porch

8.

Dollar Store Cake Stand by Chickabug

9.

Button Bookmarks by I Heart Naptime

10.

Dollar Store Hot Pads {made cute}by The 36th Avenue

11.

With Mod Melts make paper clips, charms or book marks
See THIS tutorial by 52 Mantels

{***Wow Mod Melts are a must try sometime!!}

12.

Jewelry Organizer from I Heart Naptime

13.

Year Long Gift in a Frame {Free Download} by Eighteen25
*Fabulous Idea!

14.

Recipe Holder by Lil Luna

15.

Coffee Filter Wreath by Lil Luna

16.

DIY Mother's Day Mugs by Gimme Some Oven

17.

Bird Nest Necklaces by Sarah Ortega

18.

Stenciled Tea Towels by No. 2 Pencil

19.

Striped Glass Jars by The Crafted Sparrow

20.

30 Minute Homemade Jam by The Baker Upstairs

21.

Coconut & Lime Sugar Scrub from Our Best Bites

22.

Soda Can Candy Boquet by Miss Copy Cat

23.

{Washable} Glittered Wooden Spoons by Something Turquoise

24.

Mother's Day Tin Can Treats by Our Best Bites

25.

"Real-like" Silk Flower Arrangements by How Does She

XO,

Nancy

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Fun Baby Shower Ideas

My sister is having her first baby in a few months. Of course she needed a baby shower, and OF COURSE I wanted to throw it!! {Like, one of my favorite things to do in the world... yep, true!} It turned out so fun and cute that I had to tell y'all about it. I only wish that I could claim each and every one of these ideas as my own, but mostly, I used the creative brain power of others :)... and the help of my other amazing sister who's baby was 2 weeks old at the time!

There's definitely something about a great location that just makes showers SO much extra fun... especially when the weather cooperates and the party can ensue OUTSIDE. We lucked out. No amount of decorating can equal a pretty ivy vine growing in the background....

1. Diaper Cake

One of my favorite things to make for an expectant mommy is a diaper cake.

I learned the trick from the gals at Our Best Bites (who are basically my personal tutors in so many ways). The cake is super easy and fun to make. Although it can get a little spendy depending on how fancy and frilly it's accessorized :). If you want to make your own Diaper Cake Centerpiece check out the tutorial HERE .

FYI: I used target diapers here and rolled them face down, just because I like white, but colors would look cute too!

2. Diaper Castle Cake

A family friend made this Princess Diaper Castle and brought it to the shower. Definitely a hit! I'll admit, um, I even found myself getting jealous for how much praise it generated ;).

Check out all of these amazing and creative diaper cake tutorials at Living Locurto , including a super astonishing diaper castle!

3. Questionnaires

This shower was open house style with no formal games. My sister just wanted advice, and so I put her in charge of that {I know, maybe a little bit jerkish of me, but she got what she wanted!!}

She found questions like these, and used them to create her own questions which she liked even better. Then she typed and printed them with some free borders she googled. She's having fun times while reading through all the answers.

The one on the left, I saw on pinterest- but could not trace back to the original source. The one on the right is available on Etsy as a download at the store Chomping at the Bit for $5.

Ok, now for my VERY FAVORITE PART.... an Italian Soda Bar {again from the life-changing blog, Our Best Bites}...

I'm so sad that I didn't snap a picture from this shower, but just take my word for it... this is SUPER FUN! In fact, I'm even doing a smaller version of an Italian Soda Bar tonight for some people we're having over for dinner.

An Italian Soda Bar is welcome at ANY event. When you've got some of the goods, there's no end to the fun. It's good clean fun for ANY age... my kids think it's great!

As a member of the Mormon Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints), I don't drink alcohol. I've never understood what all the fuss with drinking was about... the only time I ever tasted alcohol was by accident on an airplane. "What happened?" you ask. Well...

I was lucky enough to get "bumped" up to first class just after my 18th birthday on a trip to Hawaii. The flight attendants were giving cute drinks decorated with a pineapple and mini umbrella to everyone who wanted one. Being the naive girl that I was, I took it with NO idea that any spike was included.

Needless to say, I fell asleep and woke up with a gigantic head ache. Then.. ding, ding, ding... it hit me... the drink must have been more than the rotten tasting orange juice I'd just chugged. I asked the flight attendant if the drink contained alcohol. She answered in the affirmative, and I cried.

I frantically called my dad as soon as I got to the airport confessing what had happened. With a stifled laugh, he told me that it was ok. Whew... happy for that reaction. I knew FOR SURE that alcohol tasted nasty and gave me a headache. No desire at all to drink it. Ever. Again.

Therefore... one more great thing about an Italian Soda Bar - I am POSITIVE that it is every ounce as much fun as going to the "fully loaded" parties, but tastes TONS better, and you'll be able to safely drive home!

Ok, excuse that side track... now I just need someone else to throw a baby shower for {and a few bucks to do it!!}

**If you want to throw your own Italian Soda Bar, find out how HERE. Get the cute, free printables HERE .

XO,
Nancy

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

10 Webites for Fun Hair Ideas

My daughter came home from an activity with the 8-11 year old girls in our church the other day with the cutest hairstyle. I teetered between feeling guilt {because I am not a cute hair-doing mom}, and wanting to get my fingers in gear and start making all 3 of my little girls' hair look cute. I found some sites that I'm going to study in my free time {haha, what's that?}. Here they are, just in case anyone needs the same kind of help :).

Princesshairstyles