Saturday, September 20, 2014

Birthday Dinner

My older siblings are twins, Robert and Roberta, and are 6 1/2 years older than me.  It is their birthday time so my younger sister invited us all over for a celebratory dinner.  She made a fabulous homemade chili from the Pioneer Woman blog.  Click HERE for the recipe.  My sister used a 15 oz. can of tomato sauce instead of 8 oz.  She also added a can of Rotel tomatoes.  She added a chopped onion into the browning beef and used black and garbanzo beans instead.  It was delish!!  She served it with bowls of grated cheddar cheese and sour cream.. yum!


She also made a delicious cornbread - here is the recipe - click HERE.



Here are the twins.. when they were babies in Oklahoma they were called "Butch and Sis".  I call my sister "Bird" sometimes.  Here she is helping to sing happy birthday.  We sing well together, she is good at harmonizing and we have people compliment us on our singing of the National Anthem during meetings of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  It's my job to lead the group in the song.  :-o


I was going to make a 3 layer cake and take my jadeite cake stand to serve it on, then good sense took over and I baked it in my enameled steel Dansk baking pan for ease of transporting it across town to my sister's house.  This is an easy cake to bake, and so is the frosting, and it's delicious each time.



TERESA'S CARROT CAKE

CAKE INGREDIENTS

3 Cup finely grated carrots
2 Cup flour
2 Cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 Cup oil
4 eggs

FROSTING 

1 Cube butter (room temp)
1 8 oz block cream cheese (room temp)
1 Box powdered sugar
2 tsp real vanilla

Put dry ingredients in mixing bowl and stir together, stir together in separate bowl - oil, eggs and grated carrots - beat well.  Pour into 2 round cake pans or oblong cake pan.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean and top is lightly browned.  Cool.

Make frosting when cake is totally cooled.  Cream butter and cream cheese together, then slowly add powdered sugar.  Beat well for fluffy frosting.

Spread with cream cheese frosting.  This cake keeps well for several days.
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My sister's cat is so funny, he loves to get up on top of their Grandfather clock and watch everyone at the table.  Isn't he a hoot with those yellow eyes?


My sister found a nice rock on the Oregon beach not long ago and I told her I would crochet a cozy for it.. I'm working on it as of last night.  Isn't this a pretty rock?


We just had sourdough pancakes/flapjacks for brunch and now we're relaxing.  It's another sunny day and we're supposed to have near 90 degree temps today and tomorrow - but then it's supposed to cool down to the 70s.  Hottest year EVER!

What are you doing this weekend?  Working on things.. or recuperating?  I vote for taking it easy!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

25 comments:

  1. What a lovely photo of your siblings, I do hope they had a good birthday. That cake looks divine, I'm wishing I had a piece right now actually. It's a good rock, I shall look forward to seeing the cover you make for it. I'm trying to have a relaxing weekend, but of course it never quite works out like that. I hope you enjoy Sunday. CJ xx

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  2. The chili, cornbread and cake look delicious! Great way to celebrate a birthday!

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  3. Happy Birthday Robert and Roberta .Great celebrations,great food and great company. All perfect x

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  4. Happy Birthday to your brother & sister! My mom lost her twin brother a few years ago, and I think she felt like a part of her died when he did. Robert and Roberta look sweet together. That's a good picture of them. The dinner and carrot cake looks and sounds so good! I'm hungry. I think it's time for dinner. I'm gonna either make ground beef hash or beef enchiladas. I still can't decide.

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  5. Your brother has the sweetest smile Teresa! Looking at the phote made me smile too:) Glad both had a great birthday! Oh, I love chili and cornbread! I have to make sure my crockpot is still OK to use (it had a slight accident. Sigh) but I would like to try these recipes. Thank you so much for sharing your carrot cake recipe! I am trying to get my kitchen organized so I can have a little more fun in there and carrot cake is a favorite of mine! LOL. My sib's cat used to do that and I always thought it quite amusing. Cat's are pretty wise! In regards to what we're doing...we're doing a bit of both but I have plans for tomorrow. Have a great weekend Teresa.
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  6. I should make this for my husband. Thanks for sharing the recipes.

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  7. I love black cats…..and the one top of the clock is so funny!

    Mmmm chilie and corn bread and carrot cake?
    oh and sourdough pancakes….I'm hungry now!

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  8. What a fun birthday get together. All the food sounds delicious. I had to get groceries bought today n Wilsoville. I managed even tho I was tired. Recovering from asthma stuff. Cooked pork chops I got instead of chicken. None of it there, all sold out if it, got rain check but can't eat that. Ha. Have a god weekend.

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  9. Now I am really hungry! Both of the birthday twins look so happy. Love the love that shows through in the picture.

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  10. Hi Teresa! Happy Birthday to Robert and Roberta! Sounded like a nice celebration! The cake...oh my!! I want some!! So, Mi
    ss Teresa..you sing too!!!! You are quite the talented lady!
    Happy Weekend! Stay cool!
    xo Kris

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  11. Looks like you guys had a great celebration. I've been slowly trying to do some house cleaning. I say slowly because my back doesn't like all the bending and standing but I rest and go at it again. I've also started a baby hat to go with my blanket for a friend's new granddaughter. I'll post on my blog when all the ends are woven in and the hat is finished. Love the crocheted rocks. Need to learn how to do that.

    hugs,
    Sharon

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  12. Beautiful photo of family, a lovely time, creating some wonderful memories to relive at a later date. The carrot cake looks delicious. No real plans for today yet.

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  13. What a fun birthday dinner...love their black cat on the clock! X

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  14. What a wonderful family time you all had, belated happy birthday wishes to the twins! I really think I will be trying to make the cake, it looks yummy. I love the cat, he must be quite the athlete to get on top of the grandfather clock!

    Helenxx

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  15. So much love ... thanks for sharing this moments with us ! well, today some crochet and photos .... have fun ! xx

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  16. Hi Teresa ... Just got home this afternoon after having been away for 2 weeks. Trying to comment on iPad or iPhone isn't easy so now I'm happily back to normal. The birthday cake looks amazing and this is one I'm going to HAVE to try. Can you please tell me how big a cube of butter is - maybe in weight? Also the weight of powdered sugar which I'm thinking is what we call icing sugar. I'm becoming increasingly interested in your rocks and will have to keep my eyes open for a few so I can also try doing them. Do you just make a small round doily pattern and gather it up at the back? xox

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  17. Fun times! I love chili; made my first pot of the season a couple of weeks ago for my parents. And carrot cake, too! I always tell myself it's a healthy dessert because of the carrots. ha

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  18. What a nice party! The chili and carrot cake look really delicious. I hope they had a wonderful day and they have a very happy year. That cat is the perfect Halloween cat! Spooky eyes!

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  19. No taking it easy here! lol Football and town festivals ruled the week. That cake looks divine and I copied the recipe :)

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  20. Thumbs up on the chili recipe. Will make the carrot cake tomorrow.

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  21. My vote is always for taking it easy. :) Of course your rock cover will turn out beautiful like all the others. Happy birthday to the twins. My uncle's name is Danny but he goes by Butch. Sounds like a lovely celebration. Best wishes, Tammy

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  22. So glad you had fun celebrating your siblings birthdays.
    Hugs to you Teresa,
    Meredith

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  23. I had the best time with my beloved steam trains Teresa.....oh and this post made me very very hungry, yummo food xoxo

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  24. The twins B'day celebration sounded happy and yummy:-) The rock is pretty. I keep looking for one that needs a cozy, but have not found one yet :-) xx

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  25. Happy belated birthday to your brother and sister :-) I've been away from blogland for the summer but I'm back and it's nice to have a catch up. My granddad used to make a gorgeous carrot cake, yours looks just as yummy :-) x

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