The best Almond Poppy Seed cake!!

This year for Christmas I decided to bake for our gift to our friends, anyone that knows me, I rarely cook at all. I my search for a fabulous baked good all would love, I came across Lynn (Paul's mom) recipe for Almond poppy seed cake, yummy. I have never made anything from scratch before so I was pretty hesitant. I received rave reviews from all that received it, and now it is the dessert that I take to all events parties, game night and just for us. So I have to share the recipe for you to try it, I promise it will be a new family favorite.


3 cups flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
4 eggs
1 1/2 cup veg. oil (minus 2 Tbl.)
1 Tbl. almond flavoring
1/4 cup poppy seeds
2 3/4 cup sugar (minus 5 Tbl)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cup milk (plus 6 Tbl.)
1 Tbl. vanilla
1 Tbl. butter

In mixing bowl, beat all ingredients together. Pour batter into greased and lightly floured 9 x 13 pans or I like 3 bread loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center, comes out clean. Immediately pierce all over with a fork and pour glaze over.

Glaze

1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. butter, melted
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. almond flavoring

Beat all ingredients together. Prick baked cake and brush with glaze.
( I like to double the glaze it make it even more fabulous)

Warrant for my arrest!!!

Yikes!!!! Yes, it is true. Exciting, huh.. not really. Last Saturday I was in Salt Lake helping my mom pick out carpet and granite for her new house. We were going between stores and I noticed light behind me and realized a cop was pulling me over, WHAT. I wasn't doing anything wrong. We are on State St. there are dozens of cars and I am the one he decided to pray on. I had all my paperwork on hand and he told me that there was a warrant out on me and my car was to be revoked, great!!! He took my information be to the cruiser, I asked him to find out what the warrant was for.

I was in Farmington last Sept. turning right next to the courthouse headed north and the light was turning yellow and yes I hurried to scoot around the corner before it went red. On the opposite corner a crossing guard had just stepped out to help the children. I guess she had a lot of problems with driver blowing red lights and she had a few close calls. She has asked the local officers to help her with the problem, at the time there was a cop hiding around the corner that had thought I had cut it to close. I would not have gone if they were already walking in the cross walk but I understand the concern, anyhow. He gave me a warning which was nice but brought to my attention that my license had expired and I needed to get that taken care of, whoops. I can not keep track of how old I am anymore. So I went and got a new one like I was told. Well, the bad part of this was I really don't remember him given me a ticket for that and not knowing I of course did not show up for court, therefore I was issued a warrant. I will not say how much I cost to get that taken care of but enough to make me pay better attention next time. It is pretty ridiculous, of course the idiot that cruised by us going about a 100 mph on the way home from Az. did not get pulled over. I seem to have bad luck when it come to things like this.

The police officer in Salt Lake was very nice and told me what I needed to do and lucky did not impound my car or arrest me which is the one good thing out of this experience.

Trip to Arizona

We made a road trip down to Arizona this week to see Paul's family. Our girls do not seem to mind being strapped in there car seats for hours on end. We made a trip up to Orego last fall, it took us 14 hours and the girls did great. Annika loves going to Nina and Papa house they have dogs, cats and horses. Also Mama Jane and Papa Doc always come at the same time we do, we always have a wonderful time. It is a two year old dream come true, though I think the cats and dogs were not sorry to see us go. We timed it right the weather was beautiful which allowed us to get outside on some walks. Both girls were overloaded with attention fro om his family which they absolutely loved. They do not get to see them often so it was time for some good spoiling. Sydney began crawling and pulling herself up while we were there we are so happy. I love when they get to this stage, they are more content since they can get to were they want to be. When we came home most of the snow was melted we will be able to go to the park soon, yeah. I love this time of year.

More pics from trip