Auburn vs. Alabama

We're kicking off a big football fundraiser today.  Auburn vs. Alabama.  Here we go.  It's football season!!!  Rally the troops.  Rehearse your battle cries!  Lets see which team can raise the most money for our adoption.  Winner gets the joy of seeing our new little one decked out in your teams gear!!!  Who will win it all???

Here's how it works: contributions can be made at our Adopt Together Profile.  Specify which team you're rooting for in the comment line.  We will also count donations made in person or by mail.  We'll keep you posted on the progress!  [As it stands today: Auburn: $500 Alabama: $800] The winning team will be announced during half-time of the actual Iron Bowl. 

Which team will win???

[My Auburn loving husband is really nervous...]

Adoption: Did you know?

Sometimes, it's not about what you know... it's about who you know.  

Did you know that most adoption matches are made independently?  i.e. outside of agencies?  Maybe your mother-in law's youth pastor's daughter's best friend finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and wants to make an adoption plan...  and somebody remembers seeing some facebook/twitter/ e-mail prayer request update about us and makes a connection.  Isn't that wonderful?!?  In light of this, we're getting the word out there.  Would you help us?  This is our web profile: http://waitingfamilies.bethany.org/home/maryland/brian-and-kristen.  People all over the country can look at this and identify us to parent their baby.  It went live today.

A new wave of waiting has washed over us.  Day by day.  Moving forward.  Making strides to welcome this little one home.  Lots of fundraisers, preparations and hope on the horizon.


Thank you for walking this path with us.
We are so grateful.

Kristen

Adoption Update

We're waiting.  Patiently.  Every day I think, "This could be the day."  My eyes will check the clock around 5pm and realize--the adoption agency office is closed, today is not the day.  Maybe tomorrow.  I'm constantly wondering about all the things I don't know...  What I do know is that my love for this tiny one is growing every day.  I am filled with hope and anticipation [which some days crosses the thin line into anxiety].  But, we are trusting in God's timing.  And in the meantime, we are continuing to gather resources.  So, when we do get that call, we'll be ready.

We have set up a profile with Adopt Together.  We have a link to our profile over on the side here -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
where you can make a tax deductible contribution to our adoption efforts.  Truly, we want to use this resource for ease and efficiency for folks to pay for adoption fundraisers.  For instance, we are planning a 5K in the Fall [details to come] and we're happy to have this profile for you to pay your registration.  Great, right?  I'm excited and thankful.

So, here's the fundraising update.

YARD SALES: 

• August 24th
• September 7th [Bake Sale too]

We need:

• Donations: clothes, toys, books, furniture, household items... 
• Volunteers: 
• Pre-sale: sorting, pricing, organizing
• Sale day: set up, tear down

• Bake Sale donations for September 7th 

***We are more than happy to pick up any donations!***

CLOTHES SWAP: [TBD]

• Donations: clothes, accessories [scarves, purses, jewelry], shoes

This was such a fun, successful venture in the Spring, we're going to do it again!  Hopefully, even more people will participate and find some new things for the Fall and Winter.

IRON BOWL BATTLE: [Name still in the works]

• Attention sports fans!!!  Starting August 31st we are kicking off College Football season with a battle royale! [please start reading this in a movie trailer guy voice]  A competition as fierce and cut throat as the Iron Bowl itself! Auburn Tigers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide[s, Tiders...Tidesmen?] Elephants... An adoption fundraiser like non-other.  Which team will win it ALL?!?
• Okay... seriously, starting August 31st, we're starting a Auburn vs. Alabama competition to see which team's fans can raise the most money on our Adopt Together profile [just specify which team in a comment].  We will also tally contributions made in person or by mail.  We'll give updates periodically and announce the winning team during the Iron Bowl half-time.  We will dress the baby in an outfit of the "winning team".  Any questions?  Tell your family and friends!

We have been and continue to be totally overwhelmed and grateful for your support.
Thank you.

Kristen       

Smith Island Cake

Yesterday, we had a going away party for our dear friend, Robyn.  We asked folks to bring a Maryland themed contribution for a pot luck meal.  We had delicious food: crab dip and soup, Oriole's hot dogs and popcorn, Berger cookies, Smith Island Cake and more.  It was delicious.

I wanted to share my Smith Island Cake recipe with you.
 

A Smith Island Cake is made up 8-15 layers of yellow cake filled with fudge and Reeses and iced with chocolate butter cream frosting.  It is a really special cake. 

• Grind about half a bag of peanut butter cups finely.  Chill until ready to use.

CAKE: [I had to double this portion of the recipe to get 12 layers and a dozen cupcakes.  The amount below produced 9 layers.]

• Pre-heat oven to 350°.
• Line four 8" round cake pans with parchment paper.
• Mix: 
• yellow cake mix 
• 1 1⁄2 cups evaporated milk
• 1 stick of butter 
• 1 teaspoonvanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt
•  4 eggs 
• 1⁄3 cup water

• Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, 10–12 minutes. 
• Spread one cup of batter into each cake pan.  
• Bake 10 minutes.
• Set aside to let cool slightly, then loosen cake layers with a knife and invert onto cooling racks. 
• Wash and dry cake pans. Reline with fresh parchment.
• Repeat process a second time.  Then, a third for 12 layers.

FILLING:

•  Combine ingredients in a pot and boil for 4 minutes:
• 12 ounces semi-sweet mini chocolate chips
• 3 sticks of butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 15 ounces evaporated milk
• 3 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

FROSTING:

• Combine:
• 2 sticks of softened butter
• 6-8 cups of powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup of cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 6 tablespoons of milk 
• a pinch of salt

Assembly...

Place the first layer on your cake plate.  Spread the cake with about 1⁄4 cup of filling; sprinkle with about 1 Tablespoon ground peanut butter cups. Top with another cake layer and repeat process to make 12 layers in all. Frost outside of cake with chocolate butter cream. Let sit for 2–3 hours before serving. The cake can be stored for up to a week refrigerated in an airtight container.

Because our friend is moving across the country.  I thought it would be fitting to decorate the cake with a US map.  I print an outline map in the size I wanted, carefully cut it out, laid in on the cake weighing it down on the edges by patting it with damp fingers.  Then I sifted powdered sugar over the top and carefully lifted it.  Easy process.  Big impact.

We'll miss you Robyn!

The Cake

For seven years on this day I have made a special cake for the man I love.  Today is his birthday.  He likes what he likes and what he LOVES is peanut butter and chocolate.  So, each year that is my special task: to create a Reeses's cake.  This year I asked for some input.  The birthday boy said he wanted: "A cookie cake, an ice cream cookie cake! A Reese's ice cream cookie cake cake... with brownie!"  I accepted the challenge and this is what I came up with.  I had a happy helper:

 I started with a Reese's peanut butter cup chocolate chip cookie base.  I pressed about half of the batter into the bottom of a  lightly greased 9 inch spring form pan.  

Yum!

 Baked at 350 for about 20 minutes.  Just until it was a little brown around the edges.  I let it cool for a while and then put it in the freezer.

While that was cooling I made brownies.  I put less than half the batter in a 9 inch cake pan and baked them for a little less than the package directions.

While the cookie and brownie layers were chilling.  I made hot fudge.

It was easy!  And decadent... it froze beautifully.  If I can give any tip for making ice cream cake: include this some how!

Now to assemble:

 I let my ice cream sit out for about half an hour.  It made a good soft texture for spreading on top of the  frozen cookie layer.

First, the peanut butter cup ice cream.

Next, I added the brownie and half of the hot fudge.

Finally, the cookie dough ice cream, the rest of the hot fudge and a a bunch of peanut butter cups.  Back to the freezer...

TA-DAH!!!

It was a success!  It was a time consuming process; but totally worth it!  The birthday boy was pleased.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!