Cinco Leches Cake

So this is a recipe for tres leches ("three milks") cake, but it actually requires not three, but five different milks/creams, so we've been calling it "cinco leches" cake around here! There must be some correlation between the number of milks and the deliciousness of the cake though, because this cake is just absolutely delightful!

Recipe from my coworker, Marisol.

Ingredients:
Cake:
1 box yellow cake mix
3 large eggs
1 cup milk
1/3 cup softened butter
Milk Mixture:
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
1 can (7.6 oz) Nestle table cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
Topping:
16 oz heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp sugar

Directions:
1. Follow directions on the box to make the cake in a 9x13 pan, but use milk instead of water.
2. When the cake has cooled, use an ice pick or meat thermometer to poke little holes all over the cake. The more holes the better!
3. Mix all of the milk mixture ingredients together in a blender. Pour or spoon the mixture all over the cake slowly, allowing it to soak into the holes. Refrigerate the cake.
4. Mix heavy whipping cream in a stand mixer on medium speed. Add vanilla extract and sugar and beat on high until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream generously on top of the cake.

Cake with MANY holes. The more holes the better!

This is what the canned milks/creams look like. You might have to look in the Mexican foods section for the "table cream."

(milk mixture)

(after pouring the milk mixture on)

(whipped cream topping!)

Ta-da!

Enjoy!

Jeff's 27th Birthday

Jeff turned 27 on April 9th, so we had a little party the next weekend with our families to celebrate! We all met for dinner at Tin Roof BBQ, home of the very best barbecue in northeast Houston (in our opinion) and live music on the weekends.

It was a lovely day weather-wise, so we had a great time hanging out with our parents and siblings. 

After dinner, we all came back to our house for dessert - strawberry rhubarb pie (Jeff's favorite, and the official dessert of his birthday). 

For whatever reason, Jeff turning 27 was a little surreal for me. It really seems like not that long ago that he turned 17... yet here we are getting closer and closer to thirty! There's no one else I'd rather grow up with though. :)

Strawberry Lemonade Cookies

These cookies are the perfect little springtime treat. They're easy to make and pretty cute too!

Recipe adapted from here.

Ingredients:
1 box lemon cake mix
1 box strawberry cake mix
4 eggs
2/3 cup canola oil, divided
2 tsp lemon juice, divided
2 cups powdered sugar, divided
1-2 tbsp milk

Directions:
1. Put each cake mix in a large bowl. To each bowl, add 2 eggs, 1/3 cup oil, and 1 tsp lemon juice. Mix until combined.
2. Refrigerate dough for 20-30 minutes.
3. Form cookies by taking a piece of each dough and rolling into a ball.
4. Put 1 cup of powdered sugar in a bowl. Roll each dough ball in the powdered sugar before placing on a baking sheet.
5. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Cool on a wire rack.
6. When cookies are cool, make a glaze by whisking together 1 cup powdered sugar with 1 tbsp milk until combined. Add additional milk if necessary to reach desired consistency. Drizzle glaze over the cookies.

(lemon dough)

(strawberry dough)

(ready for the oven!)

(fresh out of the oven!)

(drizzled with glaze)

Ta-da!

Enjoy!

Things I Never Blogged About - Part 3

Here are another three things I totally forgot to blog about!

1. Recreated Brothers Photo

Jeff took this photo with his mom and brothers when he was little (he's on the top left):

Jeff's mom had the bright idea that we should recreate the photo and give it to Jeff's dad for his birthday, so we did! We were laughing so hard while we took the photos... I had to really concentrate to get some that weren't blurry! Haha.

Here's the finished product:

Teehee. Pretty cute, right?

2. Miniature Parfaits!

My parents gave me a set of mini parfait dishes (complete with tiny spoons!) for Christmas, and they are so fun! Here are my favorite two parfaits to make in them so far...

Lemon Berry Parfaits - layer pound cake, lemon curd, strawberries, and fresh whipped cream

S'Mores Parfaits - layer chocolate pudding, crumbled graham crackers, and marshmallows

To make the s'mores ones extra-special, I like to toast the marshmallows on top with my creme brulee torch. :)

Here we are with family enjoying some mini parfaits!

3. Things That Are Cute

Sometimes I just take pictures of things around the house that make me happy. Here's a little assortment:

Jeff and Katie Chicken Pot Pie :)

Gerber daisies!

4. The Humble Rodeo!

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is a big deal around here. It's a BIG production. But here in our sweet little suburb of Humble, we have our own (slightly smaller) rodeo that's just as fun (and much less expensive, and everyone has great seats)!

We've never been to the Humble Rodeo before, but we went this year with two other couples. There were all the same rodeo events as the regular big rodeo, and Kevin Fowler did a concert, and it was a great time!

Cows!

And now I'm alllllmost caught up on blogging. Almost. :) 

Valentine's Pretzel Kisses

Here's another Valentine's Day treat! These pretzel kisses are super quick-and-easy, and they're perfect for little gift bags!

Recipe idea from my friend Jennifer. 
Ingredients: square pretzels Hershey's hugs, unwrapped Valentine's Day M&Ms
Directions: 1. Place square pretzels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat. 2. Place a Hershey hug on each pretzel. 3. Bake at 200 degrees for 5 minutes, or until chocolate is softened (NOT until it's melty and messy - take them out before you get to that point!) 4. Place an M&M in the center of each hug and push down a bit to spread the chocolate.  5. Cool completely.
(pretzels)
(Hershey hugs)
(M&Ms on top!)
Ta-da!
Enjoy!

Strawberries & Cream Whoopie Pies

Valentine's Day wouldn't be complete without adorable baked goods, right? I think half the fun of Valentine's Day is getting to make treats that are pink or red or heart-shaped, or just plain sweet! These adorable little whoopie pies are perfect for your sweetheart! :) 

Recipe adapted from here.
Ingredients: 1 package Pillsbury Moist Supreme strawberry cake mix 2 eggs 3/4 cup shortening 8 oz cream cheese, softened 4 tbsp butter, softened 2 tsp vanilla 4 cups powdered sugar
Directions: 1. Mix together cake mix, eggs, and shortening until well combined (dough will be thick). Roll dough into balls (about 25-30 of them), and place balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 2. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool. 3. In a large bowl, mix together cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth.  4. Once cookies have cooled, make whoopie pies by spreading the cream cheese mixture onto cookies and sandwiching cookies together (try to pair each cookie with another that is close to the same size).  
(cake mix)
(thick dough)
(out of the oven!)
Ta-da!
Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bars

Okay, so I forgot to take a photo of these after I cut them up into their cute little squares. So you can just look at the finished pan and imagine them cut into the little squares, okay? Haha! This is a great "skinny" alternative to most sugary pumpkin treats because it has a bit less sugar, uses whole wheat flour, and is full of healthy pumpkin and carrots! Yes, carrots! 

Recipe adapted from here.
Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup butter (or butter substitute) 2 eggs 2 large egg whites 1 15oz can pumpkin pie filling 2/3 cup finely shredded carrot
For the cream cheese topping: 4 oz light cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup sugar 1 tbsp milk
Directions: 1. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, and baking soda. 2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, and brown sugar until crumbly. Add eggs, egg whites, pumpkin pie filling, and carrots. Beat until well-blended. 3. Add flour mixture a little at a time and mix until combined. 4. Lightly spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spread, and spread pumpkin mixture into the pan. 5. To prepare the cream cheese topping, mix cream cheese, sugar, and milk until smooth.  6. Drop globs of the cream cheese topping all over the pumpkin batter and swirl with a knife to create a marble pattern. 7. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack, then cut into squares.

(dry ingredients)

(all mixed)

(butter and sugars)

(wet ingredients)

(wet ingredients mixed)

(pumpkin mixture in the pan)

(cream cheese topping ingredients)

(cream cheese topping)

(globs on top of the pumpkin mixture)

(marble pattern)

Ta-da!

Enjoy!