Kelly Times Two

These delicious, gooey bars were the result of me tweaking a recipe called Salted Caramel Butter Bars that I got from my friend, Shana.  Those were tasty, but I decided that I wanted to create a version without the course sea salt and add some pecans, my favorite nut. Crust 1 cup butter, softened to room temperature 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 cups all purpose flour Center filling 1 bag (14 ounces) caramels, unwrapped 1/3 cup heavy cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup pecan pieces Topping 1 cup butter, chilled 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 tablespoon vanilla 2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup pecan pieces, finely chopped Mix together the crust ingredients in stand mixer, then press dough onto the bottom of a prepared 9x13 pan that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, then cool for 15 minutes. While crust is baking, microwave the caramels, he...

I posted this delicious recipe previously , but want to update it with some new pictures of my slightly modified Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Mini Muffins . If you click on the old recipe, you will see how the muffins look without adding the chocolate chips to the top as a garnish.  They looked fine back then, but they look even more tempting and delicious now, which also makes them taste better, simply by adding the chocolate chips to the top prior to baking. 1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup water 1/2 cup vegetable oil 4 eggs 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoons baking soda 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 12 ounces miniature semisweet chocolate morsels about 1/2 cup regular sized semisweet chocolate chips, to garnish Mix everything together in this order, blending as you go, then scoop batter into a mini muffin pan.  I prefer to use silicon flexible trays, which are non-stick, and create the best baking res...

A friend of mine has a son and a daughter-in-law who are planning a trip to Amsterdam in a month or so and she asked me for some suggestions or recommendations of places to visit.  I was not a tourist when I lived there in 1984 and 1985 as a missionary, but I have been back to visit three times since then, and now that she's asking about it,  I want to go again! Lucky! I'm jealous. They are going to LOVE it.  I have some ideas of how they can spend their time, and don't know if a real Dutchman (or woman) would agree.  They probably would because they're so easy going and love Americans.  At least all the ones I know do! I'm assuming they will be using mass transit. Here is my list of a lot of things they should do. There are a ton of day trips they can book. Even though it will be chilly and perhaps (most likely wet and/or snowy/rainy), a bike tour is so Dutch. They've got to do one. Just go prepared with rain boots and warm clothes. The weather d...

My friend, Cami, asked me yesterday if I have a good meatball recipe.  I asked her if she meant something to go in spaghetti and meatballs, for example, and she said yes.  I don't usually measure when I throw meatballs together and I don't always put the same things in, so basically, I guess I don't really have a go-to meatball recipe.  I thought I'd experiment today with something and see how it turns out.  I normally only post things on here that I like a lot and make often.  Oh well, it's got to be better than those frozen factory-made ones that taste alright.  Here's what I concocted for a huge batch of meatballs, with the intent of freezing them and taking them out as needed for spaghetti, or for my kids to plop inside their ramen noodles to add some meat, or for meatball sandwiches, or just a little easy-access protein snack to have handy.  My fingers are crossed that they're more than edible. (Okay, here's the review. They're tasty!  Noth...

I don't intend for this to become a food blog exclusively, but that seems to be an easy subject for me lately.  One of my family favorite recipes are these fluffy, warm, there's-no-place-like-home dinner rolls.  When we lived in Taiwan, I made them almost daily and my family devoured them.  I'm so, so glad I have my real oven to bake in now, rather than my Costco countertop oven that did okay, but just not great.  It was like a grown up Easy Bake Oven.  Anyway, this is a relatively simple recipe, tweaked a bit from what my homemaker extraordinaire sister, Julie, gave me.  Before we get started, let me suggest you do yourself a favor and buy some decent yeast.  Good yeast is the secret to any bread concoction, in my opinion.  I use Saf instant yeast and store it in the refrigerator or freezer and it will last a long time.  I keep mine in a plastic storage container.  Fresh flour makes a difference too.  I like Gold Medal all-pu...

1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 egg 1/2 cup coconut 3/4 cup quick oats 1 cup flour Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream sugars and butter together, then add remaining ingredients, mix well. Drop small scoops onto a cookie sheet, allowing space for spreading. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, then cool slightly before removing to cooking rack. Makes about 3 dozen chewy, buttery, coconutty cookies. This recipe came from my favorite food blog, Mel's Kitchen Cafe, but she makes a much larger batch and I get bored by so many trips to the oven.

It took nine months for this little guy to grow inside my tummy, and today he is nine months old!  Happy nine months, my sweet Isaac.  (I actually wrote this on December 19, when he was 9 months old, but didn't publish it until today.) Please bear with me as I write a note for my son to read some day when he's old enough to know what I'm saying. These pictures were taken at the doctor office for his well baby check up. Every day is brighter because you are in it.  Daddy and I simply adore you, and so do your sisters and brother.  Actually, everyone who is around you is captured by your cute-as-can-be smile and endearing disposition.  You are starting to crawl really well, and you're working on standing up by pulling yourself up to the edge of something or someone.  You love moving your hands around, both of them are always twisting in little circles, and you often clap, clap, clap them together.  In addition to nursing three or four times a day, you...