How To Soften Butter Fast

*I posted this image on Instagram and have already had several phone calls asking me how I do it. So here are the super-dee-duper easy instructions.

• Put hard butter into mixer.
• Beat for a few seconds. Stop.
• Blow hot air from hair dryer onto butter for 5-10 seconds. Make sure to move it around as you do it. you will see that the very thin top layer of the butter will start to melt.
• Beat again to check for consistency. 
• Repeat steps carefully 1 or two more times.
• It doesn't take much so go easy.

And that is how you get soft butter on the fly. (Without melting the heck out of it in the Microwave!)

HAPPY BAKING!

What do you feed your kids?

What are the main foods that you feed your kids?

I feel uninspired in the kitchen.

My kids are so picky and so boring.

Cereal

Crackers

String Cheese

Marsh mellows

Yogurt

Peanut Butter

Cheese

Tortilla's

Applesauce

Junk Food

Seriously it get's hard working with such a small list.

The older kids are getting better about food, but Sawyer is killing me.

That list is about all he will eat. 

What do your kids love.

Help me out!

Death By Cupcakes...

When your new neighbor that likes to make cupcakes becomes your friend Becky that likes to make cupcakes...

You end up with TONS of cupcakes.

I couldn't believe my eyes when 

I received a delivery of 26 cupcakes.

26 people!

I immediately had to sample the three different flavors and then I had to call 911 for emergency transport of remaining cupcakes.

Lucky for me I have several neighbors that were more than willing to take them off my hands.

Spreading Joy through cupcakes is the best feeling in the world.

Coconut Kiss

Vanilla Cake

Coconut Cream Filling

Almond Coconut Butter-cream

Love Me Lemon

Lemon Cake

Lemon Curd Filling

Lemon Butter-cream

Razzmanian Devil

Devils Food Cake

Raspberry Reduction Filling

Raspberry Butter-cream

Love Me Lemon was my favorite-

Such Amazing Deliciousness

And then this nameless friend showed up on 
my doorstep a week later.

Mint

Ganache

Need I say more????

My New Neighbor: Cuppa Cuppa Cupcake Heaven

Sometimes it is just plain good to be me. And when your brand new neighbor shows up on your doorstep with homemade cupcakes, well it is REALLY good to be me.

*Image {Etsy}

I can't event tell you what they are called. 

Spice Cake

Caramel Center & Top

Cream Cheese Frosting

They were perfect.

Can you almost taste them or what?

Even my cake and frosting hating husband said....DIVINE!

He said DIVINE!!!

And they were divine.

Sometimes it is just plain easy to LOVE THY NEIGHBOR.

Erin's Weekend Salsa

One of my family's favorite things to do on the weekend is eat salsa. We love it.  It doesn't matter what season it is, Scott is always telling me to whip up a batch of salsa.

Let me tell you what is so great about this recipe...

1. The only item that you can't pull out of your pantry or the fridge is the Yellow Onion. Every other item you can keep on hand, no problem.
2. There is no chopping or prep work.
3. For those of you that aren't "chunk" people, this salsa has a great texture and it isn't chunky. You will love it.
4. The best part is that you just throw it into your food processor and Voila!!!

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can diced tomatoes

1/3 yellow onion

1-2 Tablespoons sugar

(my recipe card says 1/3 cup because my husband likes a drastic salty and sweet so beware)

1 spoonful jalapenos from a Jar (more for extra kick)

(store jalapenos in fridge after opening, lasts forever)

1/8 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp cumin

I put all the ingredients straight into my food processor and blend it right up.

That is it.

Chill and Serve!!!

Hope you love it!!!