april vacation

Well, it's April vacation up here in Massachusetts.  For me, it means I can spend time tackling projects that are usually neglected while at the same time procrastinating on routine housework (the laundry pile isn't getting any smaller!)

First, I polished my silver candlesticks.  

Before

After a little tlc via $3.99 silver polish

Next up was my first sewing project!  My husband bought me a sewing machine for my birthday this year.  I have been super excited to use it.

I will not tell you what my project was because it's a surprise for someone who may or may not follow my blog.  But I'll tease you with a photo and post the full project later.

Next, I tackled my closet.  No joke it was a mountain of shoes.  I do not have a before picture, but here is my after shot.

When my hubby found out, he gave me a big THANK YOU.  God it feels good to be appreciated.  Even if I didn't do any laundry. :)

icecream sandwich cake

About a month ago, I was browsing Pinterest for a new summer dessert recipe and came across an amazing icecream sandwich cake by Tatertots & Jello.

Just look at that thing!  It is heaven (and I promise it has no calories).

I knew it was the perfect dessert to bring to a family BBQ.

For this recipe you will need:

• icecream sandwiches - buy two boxes just in case!  (The original recipe calls for 10 sandwiches but I used more like 20 and had to run to the store halfway through!!)
• chocolate syrup
• caramel syrup
• 2 cups heavy cream
• your favorite candy bar (I used two kinds because I couldn't help myself)

I always use homemade whipped cream.  It's quick and easy and makes a big difference in the richness of your dessert.  Plus it gives me a good excuse to use my KitchenAid mixer.  But if you aren't making your whipped cream, you won't need a mixer.  

Finally, the last ingredient is a Susie Homemaker apron (as seen in the reflection).

First, whip 2 cups of heavy whipping cream.  Begin on a low setting and add granulated sugar to taste.  Gradually increase the speed to medium high.  Beat until fluffy but don't overbeat!

Foil a baking pan.  I used a 9"x9" square pan.

Next, line the bottom of your pan with icecream sandwiches.

The hot day helped to slightly melt the sandwiches so that I could squeeze them to fit tightly.  Plus, 5 halves means that I could eat the last half!

Top your sandwiches with half your whipped cream.

Pour chocolate and caramel syrup on top and spread evenly.

Then top with crushed candy bars.  Try not to eat them all.

Add another layer of icecream sandwiches and whipped cream.  

Top with remaining crushed candy bars.

Loosely cover the top with foil and freeze for at least three hours, preferably overnight.  

Okay, here's the hard part.  The original recipe says to freeze for a couple hours, then remove the foil, place on a display plate, and put it back in the freezer.  HOWEVER, I tried this and it was a complete mess.  The chocolate and caramel sauces don't freeze and were running everywhere.  I was so worried that the sauces would run all over my cake plate that I removed the foil and placed it back in its original pan.

This dessert was a HUGE hit at our family BBQ.  The entire pan was gone in about 30 seconds!  Unfortunately, that meant I could not get a picture of a cut piece so that you could see the inside.  So I am leaving you with this picture from the original recipe's website.  

The best part about this recipe is that it can very easily be made into a nut-free version by substituting the candy bars for oreos and chocolate chips.  Just make sure to make your nut-free version, wrap it, and place it in the freezer BEFORE you open your candy bars.  This will ensure there is no cross contamination.

Enjoy and let me know if you try this recipe.  I'd love to see how yours comes out!

shine your sink

I have a love/hate relationship with my kitchen sink.  It's a stainless steel double sink with a dish rack in each side.    I love how good it looks when it's clean: it makes the whole kitchen shine.  But I get so frustrated with how quickly it gets dirty.

Now, I will admit that I am severely lacking in the housewife skills department.  I hate chores and will do anything to get out of them.  But a couple weeks ago, I was browsing Pinterest when I came across a tutorial on Shining Your Sink from FlyLady.net.  It seemed like a pretty easy process, so I decided to give it a try.

The day before I tried this sink-shining technique, I had rinsed and wiped out the sink like I always do.  Today, after doing the dishes, it looked like this:

Gross.  Not only does food get stuck to the bottom of the sink, but you can see the sides are dull and full of water stains.

Before I started any cleaning, I first put on my pretty apron.  It always makes me feel like Susie Homemaker.  I also turned on my favorite playlist (usually country).

Then I tackled the sink.

Step 0: First, I took out a bottle of bleach and some Ajax.  I bought this bottle at Walmart for about $3.

Step 1:  Then I filled each side of the sink with hot water all the way to the top, making sure to cover the lip.  Then I added one cup of bleach to each side. 

FlyLady says to fill and clean each side of the sink separately, but that sounds like a waste of time to me.

Step 2: I let my sink sit for one hour.  While I'm waiting, I clean the rest of the kitchen.

Step 3: I drained the sink.  FlyLady suggests that you use tongs or wear gloves to do this so the bleach and hot water don't irritate your hands.  I brave it without these.

Step 4: Then I rinsed my sink very well, making sure that all the bleach had been rinsed away.

Step 5: I scrubbed the entire sink and faucet using Ajax and the green side of my sponge.  Then I made sure to rinse all the cleanser away.  

(NOTE: If you have a stainless steel sink, DO NOT use SOS pads to scrub the top of your sink.  It will scratch the finish.)

Step 6: After the sink was completely rinsed, I used a butter knife to scrape the grime from around the rim and faucet.  This part is always the hardest for me as I have a hard time getting behind all sides of the faucet, especially in the back near the wall.

Step 7: Finally, I completely dried the sink using a hand towel.  

If your sink is not shiny after all that, you can use a window cleaner like Windex to give it a nice shine.

This is my clean sink without using Windex.  My racks do not need to be scrubbed after they are soaked, but if yours do, you can just throw them in the dishwasher.  

Using this technique to shine my sink always makes me smile.  It's so easy and works every time!