Engagement Photos

We took engagement photos over spring break - we headed to the Raven Golf Club at Verrado (yes Verrado is in Buckeye!). Ryan Neville was our photographer and he will also be the photographer at our wedding. Here are some of my favorites!

Wanna win $25,000?

I know I do!

The National Beef Cookoff is calling all home cooks and entertaining enthusiasts to submit their favorite beef recipes for a chance to win $25,000!

Four category winners will receive $3,000 in cash! The four categories are:

• The 5:30pm Dinner Crunch - this category will focus on easy-to-prepare beef recipes for busy weeknight meals using ingredients commonly found at home.
• Retro Recipes Revived - home cooks can improve and modify an American classic or old time family recipe to be more convenient, healthier, or both for today's busy family.
• Fuel up with Beef - recipes in this category will feature convenient and healthy beef recipes using one of the 29 Lean Beef Cuts for people with busy lives.
• Stir Crazy Solutions - create a unique stir-fry recipe using one of the 29 Lean Cuts of Beef along with fresh vegetables and grain ingredients.

Please share this info with friends and family who are great cooks! May the best cook win!

Peanut Butter Cup Cake

If you love the symphonic union of peanut butter and chocolate, get ready for this bad boy. It is delightful!

Ingredients
1 devil's food cake mix (I go for the $1 boxes - since I'm not saving calories on this, I figure I should save some cash while I shop.)
3 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups chopped peanut butter cups (plus more for garnishing)
8 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup peanut butter

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat two 9-inch cake pans with non-stick cooking spray. Line with wax paper and coat paper.
• In a large bowl, beat cake mix, eggs, buttermilk, and vegetable oil on low for 30 seconds. Increase speed to medium-high and beat for 2 minutes. Scrape down sides after 1 minutes. Fold in 2 cups of the chopped peanut butter cups.
• Pour batter into pans and bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
• Cool cakes completely.
• Place chopped dark chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring cream to a boil and then pour over chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate melts. Add peanut butter and whisk until smooth.
• Trim each cake layer so the tops are flat. Place one layer on a cooling rack and pour 1 cup frosting on top. Spread evenly with spatula. Add second layer and pour remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Smooth out with spatula.
• Allow frosting to set for a minute and gently press remaining chopped peanut butter cup pieces all over top of cake. Place in refrigerator for about an hour to set. Remove and serve.

This recipe was pirated from the Bakerella blog.

Interactive Meat Case

This information was taken from a Beef Checkoff publication.

Today's meat case is brimming with exciting new beef choices and traditional favorites. Have you ever wanted to learn more about the beef cuts you love or wanted to try a new beef cut but weren't sure how to prepare it?

A Web tool called the Interactive Meat Case is now available to help you learn about all the options you have when making delicious, nutritious beef selections. This online resource also includes:

• Cut descriptions
• Recipes
• Cooking tips
• Recommended cooking methods
• Nutritional information

Find the Interactive Meat Case online at www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com/MeatCase.aspx