Vacation and end of school year stuff

My first year working at my new job ended and I am so excited to be back for another year coming up in September. I really love the other teachers and everything about the location. Yay! Mrs. Rachel!

On the day before the last day of school I got rear ended while driving on the northway. That was not a fun day at all. My back was so sore and so was where the seat belt goes.. Seatbelts are an amazing invention and they really do keep you safe. Other than the accident the end of school went off without a hitch. Graduation was a really wonderful day and I was the special watermelon cutter! I was so blessed to have the best kids for the year and I really loved seeing the parents. So while my car was getting fixed at caliber collision I got a phone call that said that instead of fixing it they were going to total it... ugh! It was a 09 Camry so I understand but how annoying. So the beginning of my summer was figuring out what type of car I wanted, and how to make it all happen. I finally decided on a Altima and it is a pretty spiffy car. I got to see some of my pre k kids when I worked at the summer camp which was pretty fun. Well enough about my life you are here for baking and cooking right?


On the 4th of July, I at the last minute decided to bake something. I was really into cherries so I had picked some up at the store. I scoured the recipes I had and decided to make an almond cherry frangipane tart. I thought I ruined it but I am pretty sure the last minuteness of it just made me less confident. but I persevered and I would say it was excellent. I had leftovers and that night we hung out with our neighbors and I gave them some leftovers. :)

Making the shortbread crust 

finished product!

 One of the presents I got from one of the other teachers was a mini doughnut maker! She is perfect at picking out gifts because she got something for everything in my personality.. something nerdy(Harry Potter stuff) and baking.. and a teaching mug! So the weekend after she got it I decided to make them for breakfast. It wasn't too complicated once you get the hang of how much batter to use. I cant wait to make a few more different varieties of them. She also bought me a doughnut cookbook with so many recipes..each one delicious in their own way. I think up next I want to try strawberry frosting sprinkle doughnuts and then when it starts getting a little bit chilly, I want to make apple cider doughnuts. I cant wait...!

Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts!

One of the things I had been looking forward to this summer was going to California. We had a mini family reunion so I got to see a lot of Jons family and got to hang out with his nephew Kyle who is the cutest!  We got to bake together and it seemed like he was having a blast until he got tired of whipping the cream hah! We also made smores too! in the oven! It can be possible! 

Making Smore's isnt a snore ;) 

 We started with cutting up the strawberries getting them smushed just a bit to release the flavors and we sprinkled in some sugar and then let it all chill. Then I made a simple drop biscuit and put them in the oven while we whipped the cream. These biscuits turned out perfectly.

biscuits! 

yum! 

I think Strawberry shortcake is one of my most favorite desserts. It is always very simple to whip up and can be pretty impressive. Kyle wanted to try it with blueberries too but I don't know how pretty blueberries would look. maybe I'll give it a try. 

Before the summer ends I want to get in a bunch more recipes so I am choosing next week as a trial week for a bunch of recipes. I am thinking cookies and pickles and muffins and maybe some blondies .. or something really colorful! 

 Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! 

now to fix the layout for my blog!