Ellie Does Spanish Colors

Wolfepack Recipes, Recipe #1

Cinni-Minis

(these are actually cinnamon rolls; but since I didn't take a picture, this will have to do!)

My sister introduced this recipe to me a few years ago, and it has been a hit ever since. I made them today for a party and everyone there wanted the recipe. Since I've never been one to mind sharing recipes and sharing the love...here it is! It has been adapted from the original recipe since Pillsbury has listened to their users and now makes a version of their Crescent Rolls called Recipe Creations - no seams to mash together!

2 cans Crescent Rolls Recipe Creations
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 T sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 t cinnamon
6 T butter
2/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 t vanilla
1/8 t salt
1 T milk

Melt butter and stir in brown sugar, sugar, pecans and cinnamon. Take off the heat so it's not quite so hot when you put it on the dough as to make it complete mush! Have a 9x9 (or a 13x9 if you double the recipe) ready for the rolls. Unroll the Recipe Creations roll on wax paper and press until flat and a little thinner. Cut in quarters so you have four rectangles. Spread 1/2 of the mixture evenly across all four rectangles. Now, work quickly because the hot mixture makes the dough really pliable and you don't want that. Roll each quarter lengthwise and using a casserole server, lift and put in the dish. Repeat until all are rolled up and put in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. If you don't have that much time, put them in the freezer for probably 30 min. or so. Once chilled, cut each roll into six pieces and place in a 9x9 or 13x9 depending on whether you doubled the recipe. The key is to have them nice and snug so they can't spread out when baking. Put them in the oven on 375 degrees for 15 minutes. While baking, stir the powdered sugar, salt, vanilla and milk together for the glaze. Let the cinni-minis cool for about five minutes and drizzle the glaze over the top. Yummy!

Proud Plug

One of my couponing/frugal mama friends, Ashley Nuzzo, started her coupon blog, Frugal Coupon Mom on my right sidebar, about a month or so back and has been advertising it all over the place. She is truly amazing at many things; but especially when it comes to cranking numbers and organizing all of the deals to share with the rest of us. Tonight, Ashley was on our local news in a feature they did on her about couponing and her blog. She was recently interviewed for a web article by U.S. News and World Report. You can read that story here. If you're new to couponing, check out her site for all kinds of great tips and deals. Way to go, Ashley!

While Mommy was Away...

I went on our church's retreat this weekend in Destin - LOVE Destin! My girlfriend, Meredith, and I both took the babies (who are five days apart) and left the older girls with the daddies. Ellie and Brian had a great time full of cooking, running Daddy errands, baking cookies (I know, my husband is a STUD;) and playing. Here are some pictures that Brian managed to take of their weekend together.

Valentine's Day

Ellie has her school party tomorrow, so I thought I'd show you what all of her friends will receive. Aren't these cute?! I got the marshmallow idea from my friend Darby who's so creative. The cards I bought last year from Current and since they didn't arrive in time for V-Day last year, they were saved for this year. I had forgotten all about them and was so excited when I found them again a couple of weeks ago!

Our Petite Girl

It's confirmed - at least so far. Aubrey is a little more petite than her big sister. Perhaps she is following in mommy's footsteps?! She had her four month appointment yesterday - can you believe it's already been four months?! She weighed 12lbs, 9oz, was 24.5" long and her head circumference was 16". This put her in the 25-50th percentile in all categories except weight, where she is in the 10-25th percentile - no doubt due to spitting up about half her meal at most feedings! It is about time to start solids, though, which should add some weight on - that is, if she eats them. So far, she doesn't like the cereal so we'll have to go ahead and add some applesauce or breastmilk to it to make it taste better. She also does not like the bottle! We tried at the beginning so we wouldn't find ourselves stuck. She liked it for a little while and then began a little protest of it which continues today. Hmm...any ideas? I've tried other bottles and I would try breastmilk instead (of which I don't have any pumped right now because I didn't think I'd need it); but she won't even try to suck on it to figure out if she likes it. It's an all out protest! This is totally opposite of Ellie who had no problem with it or cereal. Do we have a picky eater on our hands? I sure hope not! In better news, she FINALLY really slept through the night the past two nights, so we're keeping our fingers crossed that this will continue!