Wicked Weekend With The Jones Bros

One of my favorite musicals is Wicked.
The music makes me cry.
The show makes me giggle.
And the book is shocking.

I saw it 2 years ago in Omaha.
My sister and I couldn't NOT see it when it returned in June.
My BFF Maggie got to go with us.
YAY!

We decided to make a day of it.
Old Market, good food and Jones Bros Cupcakes!
We Googled Old Market food online and came up with
The Twisted Fork.

Hidden in the depths of the OM
it turned out that some Omaha friends were
unaware that it existed.
Can I just say it is a must venture place!

The food was phenomenal and HUGE!
The drinks were VERY interesting.
I had a liquored up strawberry basil something or other.
Maggie had a Bloody Mary:

We had read on line about their signature appetizer,
Chicken Fried Bacon.
None of us wanted to admit it sounded DE-LISH.
As the waiter started to walk away Maggie shouted,
"BRING US SOME BACON!"
(Maybe she didn't shout but it was definately an afterthought.)

This is what he brought us:

If you think it looks wrong...
You are right.
And, NO, that isn't chicken strips under all that scrumptious breading...
IT'S BACON!

I am excerpting a piece of the Wikipedia post that accurately
describes this most yummy dish:

"Since the dish is rich in saturated fat, those health experts that favor low-fat diets suggest consuming it in moderation or not at all.[9] Sally Squires of the Washington Post acknowledged chicken fried bacon's appeal to the palate, but suggests moderation.[9] Other experts note the dish's low nutritional benefits: "They've taken fat, they've double-coated it in fat, they've fried it in more fat, and then they've served it with a side order of fat."[2] Jane Hurley, senior nutritionist at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, D.C., stated she's "never heard of anything worse."[2]"

It doesn't get more accurate than that.
When we got together again on the 4th (a MONTH later),
we found ourselves STILL talking
about the CHICKEN FRIED BACON!

We all had delicious sandwiches.
My sister and I both had the French Dips and decided next time
we would share a sandwich. I had mashed potatoes with mine
and she had waffle fries I believe.
Maggie had a HUGE burger and had to cut it in half to even begin
to be able to deal with it!

The decor is WONDERFULLY kitschy and I googled
the chandeliers when I got home.
I've put them in my pretend bakery.
We give The Twisted Fork 5 STARS!

On to the show.
I've already talked a bit about that.
I don't have words to describe Wicked.
It's worth the money.

Then onto the place I'd waited since Cupcake Wars to see
and sample!

Yes the dork there is me...

I am a cake addict.
I love cake.
I make cupcakes at least once a week.
I love for people to ask me to make cupcakes.

My sister had been here once and gave it, yes...
5 STARS!
I had been FBing them for weeks asking about their
"Wicked" cupcakes.

I was so unbelievably excited but Bill was not working.
His parents, however, were sitting at a table very close to us.
I threatened to make a big scene.
But I showed GREAT restraint.

See my excitement?
Mickie not so much.
She's humoring me at this point.
Mind you I had just had a mini meltdown
about a driver who was texting with a kid in the front
seat and a baby strapped in back. NOT GOOD!
I needed cupcakes!

The one on the left is lemon.
The one on the right is strawberries and cream.
S&C is my favorite.
It is OMG! good.

Yes that dork is me...

Jones Brothers is located at
2121 S 67th st, East Omaha, 68106.
You will not be disappointed.
They are on FB.
They have a cupcake of the day, usually about 96 of them.
If you come in an name it you get 1 for free.
They don't last long especially if it's chocolate!
They have also ventured into gluten free that launched this week.
Tell the Jones' that Sheila sent you!

The Twisted Fork Grill and Bar is located at
1014 Howard St
Old Market
Omaha
Definately get the Chicken Fried Bacon.

Thanks Maggie for the pictures!

Tale of the Tiki

Another chapter in my adventures in caking.

We had a 4th of July luau this weekend.

My sister and I decided to change things up a bit.

My mom thinks we're crazy.

I suspect she's right.

I searched online for weeks for authentic luau food.

My sister found red, white and blue leis.

We thought we were pretty fabulous.

Sir Fattington and Vinegar just had to be in on the action.

So my most fabulous, favorite niece turned 13 on the 1st.

We had a 4th of July/Birthday luau.

I can't believe she's 13.

Mostly because it means Sadi will be 13 in 6 months.

I made Lu a cake.

I joked on FB that I was going to make it look like this:

My mom had a little meltdown and thought this was disgusting.

First of all it was a joke and

B, I'm flattered she thinks my caking abilities are up to this. :)

Soooo... I looked at a cake that looked like a coconut.

I hate coconut though so that was out.

Then I thought a cake shaped like flip flops would be cute.

I kept searching luau, tropical themed cakes.

I happened on cakes that looked like tikis and

the idea was born!

Lu requested chocolate and that I could surprise her with the icing.

I chose cookies and cream. Yum!

I was entering new territory as I was going to have to do a little carving on this.

I found myself worried about maybe overestimating my abilities once I started.

Five 6 inch layers of chocolate cake.

It's filled and frosted with my SUPER SECRET cookies and cream icing.

Here it is covered with Duff's chocolate fondant.

Fondant YUCK! you say?

I'm a fan of this brand. The chocolate tastes like fudge.

It's not difficult to use.

This being my first completely covered cake and it being 100 degrees...

I was NERVOUS!

I kept the air set at 68 degrees while I worked on this baby!



He is a very happy tiki!

I should have taken a picture when we sliced the face off.

The layers were perfect.

I was so proud of myself.

And the cake got rave reviews.

Lu took the face home to eat later. :)

Happy birthday my most fabulous Lu!

Pure of Heart

A few years ago I was informed by a SIL that I was talking about 1 particular child too much.
(Can you talk about your kids too much?)
So I don't talk to her anymore.
A. It was incredibly hurtful and
2. I wasn't even talking about Rubi.

Isn't this the best picture ever?

It shows all the ornery.

It shows all the innocence.

It shows the extreme lengths she went to on Graduation to have just 1 more grape soda.

This one is incredibly silly.

She's also incredibly kind.

This one has no one to compete with.

She gets all the attention all the time.

This one just loves.

She has no prejudice.

She doesn't care who you are

or where you're from.

She's excited about everything.

She doesn't care if your clothes are up to date.

She doesn't care if your hair is combed.

She doesn't care who your parents are or where you live.

She just likes you.

She's hurt when she detects that people don't like her.

You tend to get all of her when you meet her.

She's not shy and she doesn't hold back.

At what age do kids lose that?

When do they discover brands and labels?

When do they figure out that the parents are the kid?

I hope this one stays this way.

She's unconditional.

I love that about her.

Chapters, Endings, Beginnings and Love

Okay.
I promised.
Graduation.
Fabulous.

The day ended up gorgeous.
For 2 weeks we had rain and wind.
This day was just beautiful sun.

Gorgeous aren't they?
From the moment I got up in the morning
It was not lost on me the significance of this day.
The fact that this would be the last time they
Would all enter this building as students of this school.

A little bonus.

I hate to have my picture taken.

I wish this was a little closer...

Gratefully He and I were having the same issues this day.

Greer and Gabe were Jr. Attendants.

Yeah it was a pretty rough day...

I don't know how to explain the amount of pride.

She's turned into so much.

This is the most beautiful photo.

All the promise of the future in that smile...

Then this happened.
It was signed.
Apparently that means I HAVE to let her move on.

Don't even ask.
I went with 2 boxes of Kleenex
And came home with 1/2 a box.
This is where 18 years of life flashed.

It was a pretty emotional day.
I cried. Jeff cried. My sister and my mom and my dad cried.
However, this was the worst. Rubi cried...

And then it was over.
Just like that.
18 years.
Graduated.

Seriously that is how it felt.

Like I went to bed and she was a baby.

Like I woke up THIS morning and she was graduating.

WTH happened?

This girl is phenomenal.

This girl is beautiful.

This girl is kind.

Somehow God allowed this girl to be mine.

I can't accurately convey my feelings.

I cry every time I make the attempt.

I can't quite get there when I write it.

I'm leaving you with family photos.

My sister Mickie and my Mom

Mom & Dad

Mickie and Chris

This is love.
There is no other way to say it.
The day was beautiful.
She was beautiful.

Through all of this I learned,
I've raised good kids.
They have a tremendous dad.
And they are completely and solidly loved.

On to next year.
X's 3...



Wordless Wednesday

Thanks to Maggie Fleming for the photos

Not Quite Ready and 4 Berry Crumble

I'm sure that you are waiting for a post about graduation.
I can't do it just yet.
Too many feelings still.
The day and the daughter were gorgeous
And that is as far as I can go right now...

Rubi graduated from Kindergarten
4 days later
Much less emotional
And far more hysterical. :)

This is Mrs. Sudbeck.
She was my teacher.
She taught all my kids.
She deserves a break. :)

Over the weekend I decided
My baking hiatus and exhaustion
From graduation readying needed
To be over.

I had berries in the fridge,
Rachael Ray's Mini Bubble and Browns,
And weather much too cool for
This time of year!

I love my Mini Bakers.
I wish I had Ray Ray's whole line
Of Bubble and Browns.
AWESOME!

This is your typical topping.
Adapted over MANY
Evenings of apple crisp.

1cup flour
1cup quick oats
1cup granulated sugar
1/2cup brown sugar
12 Tblsp COLD butter

Mix the first 4.
Add nutmeg or cinnamon
If you wish.
Then whisk together.
Cut in butter til crumbly.

4 Berry Crumble

Strawberries cored and halved.

Blueberries washed and drained.

Blackberries rinsed.

Raspberries rinsed.

Whisk together granulated sugar

And cornstarch and dump on berries.

Stir and set aside.

Line heavy duty sheet pan

with parchment.

Spray each mini baker

With cooking spray.

Fill each Mini Baker
With berries.
Mine were a little more than
1/2 full.

Add topping and bake

In a preheated 350 degree oven.

Bake for close to an hour or more.

Berries should bubble and top should

Look crispy.

My kids FIGHT over the "crumble".

Jeff ate 3 in an hour.

1 with Cool Whip and 2

without.

Next week graduation.

I promise.