Marbled Caramel Chocolate Bars

These bars have a pretty marbled top and taste decadent. I took these to my sister's bridal shower a month ago. I forgot to take a picture once I got them out at the shower. I think the top looks pretty though. It isn't hard to make them, but it does take a bit of time because it is spread over three stages.

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*The first time I didn't let the caramel filling get hot enough or cook long enough. They looked pretty, but the caramel ran out all over the plate and dripped down the sides. Just make sure it comes to a boil. :)

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Marbled Caramel Chocolate Slices - from The Ultimate Cookie Book

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For the base:

9 ounces/2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 ounces/1/2 cup superfine sugar

6 ounces/3/4 cup butter, softened

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For the filling:

3 1/2 ounces/7 tablespoons butter, diced

3 1/2 ounces/1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 14-ounce cans of sweetened condensed milk

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For the topping:

3 1/2 ounces semi-sweet chocolate

3 1/2 ounces milk chocolate 2 ounces white chocolate

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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13 x 9-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it.Put the flour and superfine sugar into a bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Work with your hands until the mixture forms a dough Put the dough into the prepared pan and press it out with your hand to cover the base. Then use the back of a tablespoon to smooth it and press it evenly into the pan. Prick all over with a fork and bake for about 20 minutes, or until firm to the touch and very light brown. Set aside and leave it in the pan to cool.

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To make the filling, put the butter, brown sugar and condensed milk into a pan and heat gently, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Stirring constantly, bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer the mixture very gently, stirring constantly, for about 5 - 10 minutes, or until it has thickened and has turned a caramel color. Take care that the mixture does not burn on the base of the pan, as this will spoil the flavor. Remove from the heat. Pour the filling mixture over the cookie base, spread evenly, then leave until cold.

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To make the topping, melt each type of chocolate separately in a microwave or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of hot water. Spoon stripes about 2 inches wide of semisweet and milk chocolate down the length of the pan, alternating semisweet and milk chocolate. Place spoonfuls of the white chocolate randomly over the top. Use a skewer to form a marbled effect on the topping. Cut them small because they are rich! (And soooo yummy . . .)

30 days - Lime Ricki Giveaway

Mique at 30 days is having a giveaway. She is giving away a darling swimsuit from Lime Ricki. If you aren't a fun of strutting your stuff in an itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini, check out their suits.
This is my favorite top. Love the ruffles!

Looong Last Few Days

Spencer and I were about to go to bed at midnight on Friday, and we heard Marné make this weird sound. We decided we should probably check on her. Good thing we did! She had thrown up all over her crib and the floor, and she was covered. Great. This was our first MAJOR messy experience. We pulled her out, and she got a midnight bath that she was very happy about. She loves baths! It took awhile to clean everything up, and then we stayed up even later to start disinfecting things. Gross. Super gross.

If it would have stopped there, things we be great, but she has been sick for several days. She's starting to feel and act better, but still having major diaper issues. Let's just say since Friday night she has had at least 8 baths with the latest one being this morning when she woke up. Good thing she likes them. She's also had an abnormal amount of messy diapers. Almost like a newborn. Think about 10 a day, and several requiring baths.

She has also been dying to watch TV. She cries for "Cacoos" and "Mamo" (Blue's Clues and Elmo). I think we've created a little addict, but there wasn't much else to do since she wasn't feeling good. She didn't want to eat or drink at all on Sunday, so at least she is semi-interested in those necessities again.

I've disinfected the whole house several times, so hopefully I don't get sick! Blah. And then I can get back to getting some normal things done again.

The Spring Giveaway Winner Is . . .

Tricia

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She has a cute little blog called 5 Little Monkeys.

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Congratulations, Tricia!

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I just wanted to say thank you to all who participated in my first giveaway. The response overwhelmed me. There will definitely be many more to come.

First Day of Spring Giveaway

Spring is finally here!

To begin the celebration, I am hosting my first ever Laura Marné giveaway! The giveaway will run from Friday, March 20th to midnight on Monday, March 23rd. The winner of the competition will be able to pick out ANY item from my store. Completing each task below will earn you entries in the drawing:

• Visit my Etsy store here and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite item is. (1 entry)
• Sign up as a follower of the Laura Marné blog. (1 entry)
• "Heart" my Etsy store and leave me a comment with your username. (1 entry)
• Add the Laura Marné button to your blog (2 entries)
• Create a post on your blog promoting this giveaway (2 entries)
• Purchase an item from my Etsy store. (3 entries)
  

The winner will be selected using RANDOM.ORG and announced on Tuesday, March 24th.

Looking forward to the results!

Have fun!

Tomorrow . . .

I am having my first giveaway and doing some other fun stuff for

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the first day of spring.

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Check it out.

Artist in the Making

Of course this happened on a day like today. I think I have a budding artist. She did a thorough job. She figured out how to get on our bed. It's pretty high. She climbs up our nightstand and hops onto the bed. Last night I found her on the kitchen table dumping out the salt shaker. Nothing is safe anymore. I think I might go crazy . . .

Anyone know how to get pen off a purse?

St. Patty's Day Dinner

Today was actually pretty uneventful. Marné and I stayed home all day. This morning we had some guys come and put installation in our attic. They were doing all the top units in our complex. Originally, it was only supposed to take about 30 minutes. Well, 1 1/2 hours later, they were finally done. It was rough because I had to keep Marné from getting in their way the entire time. She wanted to check everything out. The door was also wide open because the machine that blows the stuff up there was sitting on the doorstep. She wanted to go check that out too. Fun morning, let me tell you. We just bummed around the rest of the day.

Growing up, my mom always made holidays special with the food she would prepare. I remember getting Lucky Charms for breakfast on St. Patrick's Day. We usually didn't have sugared cereals, so it was a special day. Julia and I used to pick out the marshmallows and save them for later. Literally. In a baggie. What silly kids. I decided I wanted to make our own green dinner. So, I decided to buy spinach noodles and make a creamy pesto sauce with chicken. We also had broccoli. I've never tried making my own pesto, so it was a fun experiment. I think it turned out pretty well. Spencer and Marné both ate it up quickly, so I think it was a hit.


P.S. Even though I liked making my own pesto, it seems like it is cheaper to buy it. Pine nuts are expensive!

Curry Chicken

I got this recipe from my mom. There are so many kinds of curry out there! This is one with just chicken and sauce. I like it over couscous or rice, preferably jasmine or basmati. Sometimes I half the butter or leave it out completely, and it still tastes yummy. Just depends on how I'm feeling that day. (Sorry I forgot to take a picture.)


Recipe:


5-6 chicken breasts, cubed
1/4 C. butter
2/3 C. honey
1/2 C. dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. salt
4 tsp. curry powder


Melt butter and mix with other ingredients. Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until chicken is done.

Sweet Grandma Argyle

Grandma Argyle holding Marné on her blessing day on December 30, 2007.

One week ago, my mom was still in town. She had come for two weeks to help get things ready for my sister Julia's wedding in April. Marné and I had so much fun with my mom. We love when she comes to visit us.

My mom came down last Friday and brought her mother, my Grandma Argyle, with her. Grandma lives about an hour away. I don't see her as frequently as I should, and there is really no good excuse for that. Grandma has Alzheimer's disease and is continuing to go downhill quickly. Sometimes I barely remember what she was like before she got sick and started forgetting things. Mostly what I remember is how much fun we used to have together. We would play games, and Grandma would laugh until she cried. She made the best, most delicious food. I always wanted to taste what she was cooking. I used to spend the night at her house with Julia. We would all sleep in her king size bed and explore her huge house. We always had the best time. I love her so very much.

Grandma Argyle adores Marné. She loves to hold her and play with her. She was sitting on the couch, and Marné wanted to sit on the couch too. The two of them sat there for a long time playing together. It's one of those memories you never want to forget - the two of them giggling at each other. Grandma said over and over how cute Marné is, just like her mommy. Grandma is becoming like a little child again. Marné will never really know her. She won't remember her. I'm kicking myself for not taking a four generation picture while she was here.

It was so good to see Grandma. I don't know how much longer she'll be around. I don't want to miss the opportunity to brighten up her day. She needs it. I had seen her a week earlier at Julia's bridal shower. That was the first time she didn't remember my name. She has twenty-something grandchildren! I don't blame her one bit. She is so sweet and innocent.

I am lucky to have all four of my grandparents still living. I have enjoyed so much getting to know them as I have gotten older and can appreciate them for who they are. They will all be here for Julia's wedding. I can hardly wait.

One Month Ago

One month ago today, my aunt Kathy passed away. Kathy is my dad's sister. She is the first of my parents' siblings to move on. I haven't seen her for over eleven years. I was probably 14 years old. She was beautiful. I wish I could have known her better. She lived in California, and my family didn't make it out there very often. She sent Marné a sweet purple dress last spring. She will be able to wear it this spring. Purple was her favorite color.

The last time I saw her, I remember she played with my hair. She brushed it and braided it. I will always remember how much I loved that. There is nothing in the world like a sweet touch from someone who loves you. I will miss her. She is in a better place. I look forward to seeing here again someday.

Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Vacuum?

Marné has been terrifed of the vacuum for quite a while. This leads me to not vacuuming as often as I probably should. Gross, I know. I don't vacuum when she's sleeping in case it wakes her up, and I don't do it when she's awake because she screams. I couldn't handle it anymore today, so the big bad vacuum made it's way out of the closet. Marné eyed it suspiciously as soon as she saw it from twenty feet away. As soon as I turned it on, she started screaming. Standing at the end of the hallway screaming. I turned it off after the first room and motioned for her to come over. She cautiously made her way down the hallway and tried to climb up on me. I picked her up and started tapping on the vacuum so she would do the same. She eventually touched it. I decided to pick her up and finish the vacuuming that way. She wanted to help me push it. Halfway through, she wanted to get down and push the vacuum. It slowed things down considerably, but it was fun to watch her change from being afraid of it to wanting to help. She's such a sweetie. After I turned off the vacuum, she ran away to do something else. You know how busy little 16 month olds are. She came back a few minutes later saying, "More, more, more?" That's right, she now WANTS to vacuum. Looks like my floors will be cleaner than usual. Hooray!

Matching Bow

My friend Alli brought this darling little polka dot dress by over the weekend and asked if I would make a bow to go with it. I had the perfect white ribbon with a hint of red running through it. I also had this cute little button on hand that matched perfectly. I love how it turned out. Hope you like it, Alli!

Fingerling Potatoes

I had these delightful little potatoes quite a while ago. Spencer and I both loved them, so when I stumbled upon some in the store the other day, I couldn't resist. We ate them last night. They are simple to prepare and have a delicious flavor. We just tossed them with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper and roasted them until tender. Then we sprinkled shredded parmesan cheese on top and broiled them until the cheese was bubbly. Simple and delicious.

Lovely Covered Pastry Stands

Wouldn't these look sweet at a baby shower? I am also thinking they would look darling in Marné's room. Hmm . . .

Turkey Meatloaf

I love meat. What can I say? I try to be a well rounded girl. This meatloaf is super easy to throw together and very quick since you make it on the stove. It's based off some random recipe I have, but I've changed it quite a bit. I use ground turkey instead of ground beef and ketchup instead of tomato soup, and added garlic, and a few other changes. Feel free to throw anything else in there you like, such as roasted red pepper or grated carrots if you want to add some veggies.

Turkey Meatloaf:

1 lb. ground turkey
4-5 Tbsp. chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 C. saltine crackers, crushed
1/4 C. ketchup
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 egg
1/4 C. water

Mix everything together. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Mound turkey mixture in pan. Cut in four sections. Brown each side. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes until fully cooked. Ta-da! Marné loves it too. It's more tender then ground beef, and it also has less fat. We like it with the roasted sweet potatoes and a salad.

Wanted for Easter

A.D.O.R.A.B.L.E.

I'm planning on buying this dress for Marné for Easter. Just waiting for it to get marked down again.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Spencer and I LOVE sweet potatoes! Cubed and roasted is our favorite way to eat them. I usually just toss them with olive oil, garlic powder, salt & pepper. Bake at 400 degrees until tender. Usually about 45 minutes. I've also made them with an Italian salad dressing seasonings sprinkled on. Sooooo yummy, and sooo good for you!