🔥 Around the Campfire (week 13)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

3/24: 🔥 week 12

3/25: dotted egg art

3/26: tt cilantro leaves

3/27: pineapple stuffing

3/28: Easter dessert kabobs

3/29: bunny wreath

3/30: bunny cookies

What's Cooking ~

• red and green enchiladas, chicken enchilada suizas, spanish rice, green salad
• bbq ribs, roasted baby potatoes, chopped salad kit
• halibut stack
• burnt ends (purchased), 3-ingredient mac and cheese, roasted asparagus 
• marinaded pork tenderloin, gnocchi, arugula and mushroom salad 

photo credit: deposit photos

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

3.31.23: 3-ingredient stovetop macaroni and cheese

3.31.22: fruit skewers and dip

3.31.21: chocolate peep pops

3.31.20: chocolate sheet cake

3.31.19: 🔥

3.31.18: chocolate covered strawberry 'carrots'

3.31.17: Brooke made a candle holder

3.31.16: creative photography class

   

Bunny Cookies

Super last minute I know - my sis just sent me this screenshot from FB and if you're looking for one more  dessert idea for Easter tomorrow check out how cute and easy these would be (other than you'll have to go get pastel m&m's - or use other colors if you have some on hand!). I'd just make or buy sugar cookie dough, then arrange the m&m's into bunny shapes - love this!

3.30.23: air-dried clay ornaments

3.30.22: lasagna casserole

3.30.21: TT deviled eggs (and cute deviled egg chicks) 

3.30.20: April plan

3.30.19: brown rice risotto

3.30.18: shaving cream dyed Easter eggs

3.30.17: desktop organizing

3.30.16: blueberry crumb cake

 

Bunny Wreath

This dollar store craft is really easy other than being a little time-consuming. I bought the bunny wreath form, 1 roll of twine, and fake flowers - just wrap the wreath form and ears with the twine, poke the flowers thru and bend the wire stems to hold in place. 

I made this wreath last March and thought I posted it but I'm not seeing it - I know it's probably too close to Easter to make one this year but I'm sharing it anyway (and will try to remember to show you again a little earlier next year haha!); Easter being early this year really snuck up on me!

3.29.23: goat cheese toasts

3.29.22: TT chocolate hug cookies

3.29.21: Reese's bunny cars

3.29.20: 🔥week 13

3.29.19: adding text to photos

3.29.18 butternut bunny

3.29.17: Mark's cowboy casserole

3.29.16: make a kitchen file

Easter Dessert Kabobs

Ok - I have had this cute idea in my drafts for 3 years now and forget about it until it's too late to make for  Easter dinner, I came across it again today and thought I'll just show you the inspo idea in case you want to create your own dessert skewers using Easter candy. How fun is this?! 

The above caption reads: We love how he stacked them in the order of the rainbow, elevating basic peanut-butter eggs by drizzling them with a bit of blue melted candy. The Rice Krispies Treats got dunked in green candy melts and topped with green wafer-shred sprinkles and jelly beans for a nest effect. Genius!

click here for the original instructions and more photos found at country living.com

3.28.23: GF baking tips

3.28.22: Miss Lori's Easter porch decor 

3.28.21: 🔥week 13

3.28.20: road trip day 6

3.28.19: how to sew silverware pouches

3.28.18: spring flower upside down wreath

3.28.17: DIY mod podge

3.28.16: make a zipper bracelet

Pineapple Stuffing

I've posted the recipe for Mary's pineapple stuffing before, but not on its own - let's give it its own so it doesn't get lost buried in other posts hahah! I don't have a picture but will take one and update this post after Easter!

PINEAPPLE STUFFING - my friend Mary introduced me to this and OMG it's so good, very rich and very addictive. It's quite sweet and is perfect with ham. I always include this in my Easter menu, and usually double the quantities and bake in a 13 x 9" baking dish. 

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
5 slices white bread, cubed

Preheat oven to 350'. Grease a 9 inch baking pan with butter. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then add the pineapple and bread cubes. Bake for one hour. Let sit a few minutes to firm up before serving. Makes 5 servings. 

3.27.23: black bean tacos

3.27.22: 🔥 week 13

3/27/21: bunny butt pancakes 

3.27.20: road trip day 5

3.27.19: red, white, and blue berry trifle

3.27.18: Easter nest cake

3.27.17: k-cup bluebird

3.27.16: Easter flower ideas

Tip-sy Tuesday: Cilantro Hack

I love cilantro, but I dislike removing the leaves from the stems...so tedious and time-consuming. I saw this tip I think on FB the other day and even tho I didn't have high hopes for this to actually work in real life - it does!!! It's genius, where was this idea when I started making my guacamole decades ago?! Game changer. 

So you put the cilantro stems thru holes in a strainer, with the leaves facing in the bowl. Pull the ends of the stems and the leaves come off right into the strainer! Seriously. Genius. 

The strainer I used has bigger holes so I found this trick worked best with larger cilantro stems and leaves. If they're too skinny they slid right thru the holes without taking the leaves off. 

3.26.23: 🔥 week 13

3.26.22: wilma's chicken and rice

3.26.21: distressed dresser

3.26.20: road trip day 4

3.26.19: the front tuck

3.26.18 and 3.26.16: Peep cupcakes

3.26.17: Al's west african peanut soup 

Dotted Egg Art

I saw this cute idea for egg decorating, seems easy enough - even tho I haven't made them yet I wanted to share this fun idea in case you're looking for new inspo!

Place stickers on hard-boiled (or blown out) eggs, make dots all around the stickers using paint pens, making the dots more dense by the stickers and trailing off as you move farther away. Let dry and peel off the stickers. 

Click here for the original source and more info if needed. I took a screen shot, and not a very good one, of their project for reference. 

Click here for another paint dot project I made eons ago. 

3.25.23: words

3.25.22: ants on a log

3.25.21: oatmeal bread

3.25.20: road trip day 3

3.25.19: 3-strand beaded bracelet

3.25.18: glazed baked ham 

3.25.17: frozen smoothies

3.25.16: Brooke has some Easter kid crafts 

Around the Campfire (week 12)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

3/17: week 11

3/18: perler bead bunny sign

3/19: produce carton planter

3/20: shrimp, sausage, and peppers

3/21: greek salad

3/22: cheese fondue

3/23: words

That's it for this week! We were road-tripping all week and I really appreciate P sending me some food blogs to help out so I could still have something to post every day. We are back in MI now and hopefully I'll be back to making stuff very soon - see you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

3.24.23: living easter basket

3.24.22: Irish cream pudding shots by Jen

3.24.21: beer-glazed sausage and apples

3.24.20: road trip day 2

3.24.19: 🔥week 12

3.24.18: organizing craft paper

3.24.17: B's bubble maker

3.24.16: deviled egg chicks

  

Words ~ 3/23

 

3.23.23: creamy risotto (with a lot less stirring!)

3.23.22: parmesan coated potato wedges

3.23.21: TT air fryer boiled eggs

3.23.20: road trip day 1

3.23.19: herb crusted buttermilk chicken

3.23.18: perler bead Easter eggs

3.23.17: a laugh

3.23.16: Easter side dishes - pineapple stuffing, creamed new potatoes, roasted carrots

Cheese Fondue

Another post from P - this one for fondue...cheesy melted fondue...yum!

8oz Swiss cheese

6oz Gruyère cheese

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1/8 t. nutmeg

1/2 tsp minced garlic

1 cup dry white wine

Heat up your fondue pot, put in the garlic and sautéed it for a couple minutes then add the wine. Let the wine simmer for one minute. In a bowl, I mixed all of the cheese with the cornstarch, and then slowly added that little by little to the wine in the fondue pot. You have to continuously stir it, or it will burn, add the cheese little by little and be patient for all the cheese to melt...

I served it with soft, pretzel balls that I bought from the deli, and Italian bread that I chunked up.

Unfortunately I don’t have a picture of it fully melted but this is the process of that.

3.22.23: GF pineapple upside down cupcakes

3.22.22: TT storing plastic bags

3.22.21: Easter/Spring wreath

3.22.20: 🔥week 12

3.22.19: 12 week workout plan

3.22.18: how to cook spaghetti squash

3.22.17: creating a gallery wall

3.22.16: fold napkins into bunny ears

Greek Salad

My niece Paige sent a few food posts for me - here's one that I seriously wish I was eating right now...why do I never think to make Greek Salad? 

From P:

This one is nothing fancy just your basic Greek salad but it is so yummy and refreshing. I use romaine lettuce, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and lemon basil Greek dressing. Super yummy and easy meal! Also really good if you add grilled shrimp or chicken! 

3.21.23: TT bleach vs unbleached flour

3.21.22: large dish microwave cozies

3.21.21: 🔥 week 12

3.21.20: shrimp salad

3.21.20: Teri's stacked shrimp appetizer 

3.21.19: Jen's Hello Fresh Update

3.21.18: coffee and cookie brownies

3.21.17: watch Mark from Paul's Photo talk about framing your photos and prints

3.21.16: 2 different bunny cakes for Easter and Spring

Shrimp, Sausage, and Peppers

Paige sent me this post and wrote "It’s a little strange but it is actually sooo good. One of my little budget meals". I think it looks and sounds great.

From P:

This one is a little basic so you absolutely don’t need to post this one it’s just super easy and yummy. I cook up some shrimp and andouille sausage in a little bit of Worcestershire sauce, once they start cooking I add some yellow and red peppers and cook until everything is done. Place it over mashed potatoes or rice and it is very yummy, simple, and quick!

3.20.23: broccoli cornbread

3.20.22: 🔥 week 12

3.20.21: corned beef and cabbage soup

3.20.20: pork chops with sauerkraut 

3.20.19: peanut blossom cookies

3.20.18: Dottie F. Bunny (Mary knitted it for me, so cute and so much work!)

3.20.17: how to hinge mat your photos or artwork

3.20.16: boneless coq au vin

Produce Carton Planter

I love this easy flower idea for an Easter or Spring dinner - whether used as place card holders, table decor, gifts, or party favors it's just a really cute idea. Here's the directions I found on southern living's site:

Produce cartons find a second life as planters for spring flowers, perfect to give as a small gift or party favor. Line a produce carton with tissue paper. Place the plant in the small plastic sandwich bag (violas or any other type of potted flower are great here), and put the plant into a carton lined with tissue paper. Tape or staple a green pipe cleaner to either side of the carton so it makes a handle for your basket. Write the names of your guests on your place cards or on cardstock cut to the desired shape and size. Tape the back of the place cards to the tips of colored straws. Stick the straws into the soil of the potted plant.

idea found here at southern living

3.19.23: 🔥 week 12

3.19.22: pet poison prevention week

3.19.21: flourless chocolate raspberry cake

3.19.20: TBT orange cranberry ice

3.19.19: TT sewing on vinyl

3.19.18: crocheted bunny

3.19.17: zucchini and quinoa cakes

3.19.16: vodka gimlet

Perler Bead Bunny Sign

Another project that I think is super cute but I probably don't have time to make before Easter - so I'm sharing this photo and directions I found at Michaels in case you want to whip this up! 

Step 1: 

First, click here to download and print the diagram.

Step 2: 

Follow the pattern to fill your pegboard with Perler™ beads.

Step 3: 

ADULT: Follow the ironing instructions included in the pegboard package.

Step 4: 

Glue a white pom-pom to each bunny as shown. Let dry.

Step 5: 

Cut the Happy Easter sentiment along the solid lines. Attach to the lower portion of the sign using a small amount of craft glue.

Step 6: 

Thread each end of a chenille pipe cleaner through a bead opening on the outer edges of the sign as shown. Fold under 1" and secure with craft glue.

project found here 

3.18.23: words

3.18.22: standing computer desk

3.18.21: corned beef grilled cheese

3.18.20: spaghetti squash mac & cheese

3.18.19: hanging jewelry holder

3.18.18: corned beef and cabbage soup 

3.18.17: wine bottle storage using ABS drain tiles or PVC pipe

3.18.16: duct tape pencil holder 

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 11)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

3/10: 🔥 week 10

3/11: wine cork shamrock

3/12:  TT reheating corned beef 

3/13: broccoli, rice, and cheese bake

3/14: Korean beef and veggies

3/15: cucumber jalapeño margarita 

3/16: words

What's Cooking ~ (road trip meals)

• ramen chicken salad
• crockpot beef stew
• grilled pizza, salad
• honey bbq meatloaf, mashed potatoes, mixed veggies 
• chicken with mushroom sauce (recipe to follow), couscous, steamed green beans
• pasta marinara, caesar salad

We are road-tripping for a few days, thanks to P for filling in with some great sounding recipes! There will be a couple more next week, she was busy 👍

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

3.17.23: crock pot ziti 

3.17.22: pizza pasta by Jen

3.17.21: pot o'gold cupcakes

3.17.20: TT: marinated artichokes

3.17.19: 🔥week 11

3.17.18: shamrock plant

3.17.17: mini trash can by Brooke

3.17.16: photo class - landscapes 

   

Words ~ 3/16

 

3.16.23: deco mesh wreath

3.16.22: leprechaun veggie tray (by Jen) 

3.16.21: TT steamer basket

3.16.19: St. Paddy's 2019 Plan

3.16.18: felt shamrocks

3.16.17: green tassel earrings

3.16.16: leprechaun coloring page 

Cucumber Jalapeño Margarita

This drink is from Paige, it sounds spicy so I'm probably not going to try making one haha but if you like spicy margarita's, give this one a try!

From P:

Cucumber jalapeño margarita. i made this at work and it was delicious. 

What you need:

• 3-4 slices fresh jalapeño you can use less or more if sensitive to spice or love spicy. 🌶️ 
• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber 
• 2 tsp agave 
• 2 oz fresh lime juice ~ 2 limes
• 2 oz Tequila
• 1 oz Cointreau (or any orange liqueur)
• 2 tbsp salt or tajin for garnish around the rim. (the above photo was made for someone that did not want a garnish) extra slices of jalapeño, cucumber and lime to make it look pretty. 

How to:

Put jalapeño, cucumbers and agave in your cocktail shaker or extra glass whatever you have, muddle (or in other words smash) this all together until the jalapeños and cucumbers are all broken down. 

Add the lime juice, tequila and orange liqueur into the shaker or extra glass you’re using then fill the shaker to the top with ice. Shake it all together 30-45 seconds. 

Put 1-2 tbsp of salt or tajin on a small plate. run lime juice around the outside of your glass and rim it w the salt. strain the margarita into your rimmed glass, garnish w some more jalapeños or cucumbers and enjoy.

3.15.23: Irish soda bread

3.15.22: TT taco salad

3.15.21: leprechaun veggie tray

3.15.20: 🔥week 11

3.15.19: stuffed zucchini

3.15.18: corned beef dinner

3.15.17: caramel chocolate chip cookies

3.15.16: Irish creme delights

Korean Beef and Veggies

This recipe is from my niece - I love that she's recreating a 'Hello Fresh' meal for herself, way to go P! Here's what she did, in her words:

KOREAN BEEF AND VEGGIES 

This was inspired by a hello fresh meal my sister made a few years ago. This one’s a little longer but it’s very tasty (Recipe for two servings) 

-1 large zucchini 

-3 large carrot 

-1 cup chopped mushrooms 

-1 green onion

-1 garlic clove 

-3/4 cup jasmine rice 

-3/4 pound beef 

-1 tablespoon sesame oil

-2 tablespoons soy sauce 

-1 teaspoons sriracha

HOW TO: 

add jasmine rice, 1 and 1/4 cups water and some salt;  once it starts to boil cover and put to a simmer. Cook about about 15-18 minutes. once it’s done keep off heat until ready to serve. 

chop up green onion, peel your carrots, so they’re like little ribbons and throw away the core. chop your zucchini, and mushrooms, peel and mince your garlic. In a small bowl, combine the sesame oil, the soy sauce, the Sriracha to taste and set aside. (If you don’t like spicy it is still very good without the sriracha)

add your garlic to a pan and cook your beef, while it’s cooking top that with your sauce you set aside, and add your veggies until everything is cooked up and tender. place the meat, ‘sauce’ and veggies on top of your rice, garnish with the green onion and add more soy or sriracha if needed :)

3.14.23: TT starchiest foods

3.14.22: ManDay Monday: chicken salad

3.14.21: 🔥 week 11

3.14.20: bloody mary rim salt

3.14.19: Jen's Hello Fresh review

3.14.18: irish cream bundt cake

3.14.17: rope covered curtain rod (poll)

3.14.16: ribbon bracelet

Broccoli, Cheese, and Rice Bake

My niece Paige sent another yummy sounding (and looking) recipe - broccoli, cheese, and rice bake.

Here's what she did, in her words:

1.5 - 2 cups cooked rice 

1 cup frozen broccoli

1 cup milk

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 jar cheese whiz 

1.5 cup shredded cheese 

1/2 of an onion 

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, put it in a baking dish and bake at 350 until your broccoli is soft and everything is bubbling together. (About 35 minutes) 

I don't really measure the cooked rice, I like mine really cheesy so I tend to do a little less. If you want it less cheesy just add more rice before baking it all together. 

3.13.23: carrot candy

3.13.22: 🔥 week 11 

3.13.21: pet poison prevention week

3.13.20: copycat shamrock shake

3.13.19: island cupcakes

3.13.18: shamrock sun catcher

3.13.17: shamrock butterflies and paper garland (why did I post two that day? hmmm...)

3.13.16: crock pot corned beef 

Tip-sy Tuesday: How to Reheat Corned Beef

Instead of cooking corned beef the day we're eating it, I make it ahead of time and reheat before serving.

Last year I made 3 corned beef roasts in my crockpot(s) the day before St. Patrick's Day - I like to cook them ahead of time so they can chill in the fridge, the fat hardens and I can skim off a lot of it. I always get comments about how lean my corned beef is, everyone loves it and really it doesn't take much to remove most of the fat. Normally to reheat it before serving I put it in my Dutch oven in some broth and warm it back up on low heat on the stove top, remove the meat from the juice, and slice to serve. This time I Googled other ways, possibly better ways, to reheat it and found many different versions all proclaiming the best way. I picked this one because it seemed like it should work and let me tell you - it was great! I'll go so far as to say the best hahah. 

I read that it's easier to slice corned beef cold, so that's what I did before reheating it. Cut into about 1/2" slices, put in a baking dish, add a few tablespoons of water and cover the dish with foil. Warm the corned beef in a 275' oven for 45 minutes. 

So good!! 

click here to see how I cook the corned beef in my crockpot. 

3.12.23: 🔥 week 10

3.12.22: pot o'gold cupcakes

3.12.21: kid craft: paper leprechaun by Brooke

3.12.20:  TBT: St. Patrick's day luncheon and Green Pea Soup recipe

3.12.19: TT: single cupcake container

3.12.18: make a layered paper shamrock 

3.12.17: blueberry chutney (delish with pork tenderloin!)

3.12.16: copycat shamrock shake

 

Wine Cork Shamrock

We walked into the Village for lunch at our favorite Mexican take-out place (Casa Playa - my new discovery there is potato tacos* which are great!) and they had this cute wine cork shamrock on the counter...hello why haven't I made a shamrock out of wine corks? I've made so many other shapes haha, next up will be this one. I'm sharing the pics I took of the one on their counter so you have time to make one before St. Patty's day if you hurry - we are getting ready to road trip back to MI and I don't have time to pull this together.  

You need a shamrock shaped something as a template to glue the corks to - I might hit a dollar store or craft store and see if they have a wood shamrock, if not then I'd cut one out of cardboard. Paint some of the cork ends in greens, including some glitter if you like that. Then lay the corks out to see how you want to place them and start gluing in place. I didn't count how many they used but it's a lot of them! 

*This reminds me that I posted potato tacos a long time ago but mine were a little different than the restaurant version. Mine were like fried potatoes and theirs are much softer and easier to eat. I'd equate theirs to almost a very thick mashed potato texture. They serve theirs with shredded lettuce, Mexica crema, and cheese. Yum.  

click here to see another cork project that I painted the ends different colors. 

3.11.23: words

3.11.22: leather feather earrings

3.11.21: shamrock pretzels

3.11.20: grilled scallops with chili-lime cream sauce

3.11.19: carpet freshener

3.11.18: instant pot love (and a creamy chicken pasta recipe) by Jenny

3.11.17: create a baking center

3.11.16: shamrock garland

🔥 Around the Campfire (week 10)

Dear Campers ~ 

Here's a quick recap in case you missed anything at camp last week:

Posts ~

3/3: 🔥 week 9

3/4: pvc toilet paper holder 

3/5: tt reusable coffee pod filter 

3/6: honey bbq meatloaf

3/7: chocolate coconut rum cake

3/8: frozen yogurt drops

3/9: words

What's Cooking ~

• burgers, steak fries
• topopo salad
• grilled tuna, creamy cucumber/tomato/feta salad, roasted garbanzo beans
• grilled steak, spinach salad with warm bacon dressing

Miscellaneous stuff keeping me busy ~

• read 'Random in Death' by JD Robb, #58 in the series (yep, I've read them all! I can't get enough of Eve Dallas and her most handsome gazillionaier husband Roarke, and a great circle of characters around them). This one was pretty good, not terribly suspenseful but still a great read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
• read 'My Lovely Wife' by Samantha Darling, about a serial killing couple that otherwise live normal suburban lives - for me it was slow, wasn't plausible, didn't like the characters and didn't like the end. I'll give it ⭐️⭐️1/2

That's it for this week! See you next week for more projects, crafts, recipes, whatever we can think of to make at camp - bye :)

Sincerely ~

Jill

camp counselor

3.10.23: crockpot spinach white bean soup

3.10.22: MSIH peanut butter dream bars

3.10.21: crock pot corned beef 

3.10.20: TT: hidden bank by Brooke

3.10.19: 🔥week 10

3.10.18: pots of gold

3.10.17: makeup brush holder by Brooke

3.10.16: creative photo class - portraits

  

3/9 ~ Words

3.9.23: dynamite shrimp rice bowl 

3.9.22: shanghai salmon

3.9.21: TT shamrock plant

3.9.20: shamrock garland

3.9.18: kids travel snack dispenser

3.9.17: crack dip

3.9.16: St. Patrick's table decor (pots of gold)

Frozen Yogurt Drops

My niece P sent me this recipe that apparently baby Georgie (my great-niece) loves - here's what she has to say in her own words:

The Happy Baby Organic Yogis was the inspiration for making these frozen yogurt drops, and my niece is obsessed with these!

Mash up some strawberries, add it into some yogurt (any flavor of your choice), and some baby oatmeal. Place dollops of your concoction on a baking sheet and freeze! Taste yummy for baby and the coolness will also be soothing if you have any teething babies at home. 

3.8.23: oatmeal (breakfast) cake

3.8.22: TT freezing asparagus

3.8.21: foam shamrock wreath

3.8.20: 🔥week 10

3.8.19: sew a fabric wallet 

3.8.18: wire-wrapped ring
3.8.17: Andes mint cookies
3.8.16: easy art for St. Patrick's day decor

Chocolate Coconut Rum Cake

I like to make rum cakes, they are pretty easy and pretty impressive and pretty delish! Everyone likes when I make one - I've changed them up by adding toasted nuts or coconut to the bundt pan before adding the batter; change the cake mix and pudding flavors; decorate with white and/or chocolate drizzle...lots of variations. For this one I made a chocolate coconut rum cake and thought I'd share. 

It's the same recipe for my usual coconut rum cake other than using a chocolate cake mix and chocolate pudding, swapping regular rum with coconut rum, and adding toasted coconut shreds and chocolate drizzle. Yum. 

for the cake:

• 1 boxed chocolate cake mix
• 1 small box chocolate instant pudding (if cake mix already has pudding in it, omit adding more)
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup coconut rum

Mix all together and pour into a well-greased (click here for a quick tip for greasing) bundt cake pan. Bake at 325' for about 55 minutes until the cake is done (stick a long skewer in it to check). Poke holes and add the rum glaze (see below). 

for the rum glaze: 

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup coconut rum

1. A few minutes before the cake is done baking - combine sugar, butter, and remaining 1/4 cup water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens and slightly darkens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in rum.

   for the garnish:

   toasted shredded coconut (either spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake at 325' for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until it starts to brown. Alternatively you can do it in a skillet on the stove top. Either way keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn). 

   chocolate glaze: put 4 oz. semisweet chocolate chips and 1 teaspoon butter or shortening in a saucepan and heat over low until it melts. You can also do this in the microwave.

   To Finish: 

   1. click here for my latest find on how to glaze the cake (in a nutshell - immediately upon taking the cake out of the oven, leave it in the pan and poke holes all over the bottom - what will be the top. Pour some glaze over the holes and let it set for 10 minutes. Invert the cake to a plate and poke the whole thing. Pour glaze into the empty pan and put the cake back in. Let sit until all the glaze has been absorbed). 

   2. Invert the cake onto a serving plate or platter. Drizzle with chocolate glaze. Top with toasted coconut. 

   
   

   3.7.23: TT-SM: carpet freshener 

   3.7.22: peanut butter chocolate chip cookies

   3.7.21: 🔥 week 10

   3.7.20: St. Patrick's framed art

   
   

   3.7 .19: braided bird toy 

   
   

   3.7.18: healthy cauliflower soup

   
   3.7.17: making breadcrumbs

   
   3.7.16: foam shamrock indoor wreath

   
   

2.