Goombahs

Grammy Beth used to make these treasures and bring them to the ski hill. I hadn't had them in years and years, but came across the recipe not too long ago and made a batch. They were as good as I remembered!

I've been posting like crazy lately, but I made a batch this morning and thought it would be fun to try photographing as I worked. So we're going to make them together today!

You'll need:

Don't forget to cut those box tops off! If you don't have someone to save them for, send them to me. I know some grade schoolers who will be thrilled. ;-)

Melt (most of) that butter and add it to the cake mix with a few more ingredients.
Pecans!
And don't forget the vanilla! This is homemade vanilla--what I always use now. So easy and good!
Finally add part of the evaporated milk.
Mix!
Use some of the leftover butter to grease the 9x13 pan; flour lightly.
Now we're ready to bake . . . half of the batter! Just press it in so it covers the whole bottom.
Now, the recipe calls for 14 oz. of caramel. The first time I made these, I got 14 oz. of caramels from the candy bin at the grocery and spent half a movie unwrapping them from stubborn cellophane. Meh. However, Kraft now makes these bits that YOU DON'T HAVE TO UNWRAP; they come in 11 oz. packages. I suppose you could get two packages and add enough to make 14 oz., but I don't think it's necessary--they turned out deliciously good with the mere 11 oz. ;-)
Melt the caramel with some of the evaporated milk. The original recipe calls for a double-boiler, but if you go slowly and keep watching this method works fine.
By now the bottom layer is done and ready to be loaded with more gooey goodness! You don't want it to cool between steps, but I let it sit for a couple of minutes before starting the next step. That way it collapses a little less when you load up the soft underlayer.

Sprinkle chocolate chips (avoid spilling half the bag into your utensil drawer if you can help it . . . I couldn't).
Drizzle the caramel over the top . . . spread a little to cover all the edges.
And add the final layer--the rest of the cake mix. I find that flattening pieces and laying it on top like a puzzle works well (you can't just dump it on and try to spread it; it's too solid).
Stick it the pan back in the oven.
Store the leftover evaporated milk. Because it would be wasteful to dump it out. It's important to store it in the fridge for a while, until you've forgotten what it is or what it's from--then you can dump it with a free conscience. ;-P
Do your dishes quick . . .
Have a spot of tea while you smell the goombahs baking . . .

When you take them out, it will be tempting to dig in right away. And I cannot deny they are good warm! But let them sit for at least a little bit or you'll have trouble getting them out in one piece. I actually think they're even better when they're totally cooled. Cut them small and eat two! ;-)

Now you can share these right away, or if you're like me, you can hold the goombahs hostage until your husband agrees to get a haircut.
Ha! ;-D

Here's the recipe. Everyone needs a goombah in their life!!

Grammy Beth's Goombahs

1 pkg. German Chocolate Cake Mix

3/4 c. butter, melted

1/3 c. evaporated milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. chopped nuts

1 14-oz. pkg. caramels (11 oz. bag is plenty)

1/3 c. evaporated milk

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Grease and flour 9x13 pan. Mix cake mix, butter, evaporated milk, vanilla and nuts. Put 1/2 of mixture in pan and bake about 6-10 minutes in 350-degree oven (I do 10 minutes).

Place caramels and evaporated milk in double-boiler (or pan). Melt, stirring.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over cake when baked, drizzle caramel over. Top with remaining cake mix and bake 16-20 minutes (I do 20 minutes). Cut in small squares and enjoy!!

How Did I Not Do This Post?!

This is what comes of busy days and an empty head and pictures on the wrong computer!

So this year my birthday was on a Sunday. Erik and I went out to eat and celebrated quietly. The following Tuesday was our three year anniversary (insert dopey grin here) and also small group at our house. We had just been out to dinner so we figured we'd just postpone our celebration until later in the week.

And then our friend Michelle and the rest of our small group came . . . with signs and a birthday cake and a piñata and anniversary flowers!! SURPRISE!!

I didn't take any pictures of the poor piñata--I was too busy whacking at it! But it was such a special time with good friends we have grown to love like family and I had to share. :-)

Spring = Hope Eternal

I love the green hope of spring every year as new growth begins. While I'm used to the more dramatic contrast of winter and spring "back east" (yes, everyone here still talks as though they were one step off the wagon train), it is still evident--and earlier in the year, I might add!

It rained yesterday. Boy, did it RAIN! I actually went out at one point last night to see if it was hailing, it was making so much noise (we very rarely get more than light rain when it actually does rain). Bakersfield farmers can thank the Ruddy family for not clearing out space in our garage before purchasing a convertible with a small tear in the cloth cover (no worries--there was actually no leakage into the car). Anyway, I was worried about the garden! Rain is not a bad thing, but I was picturing things flattened to the ground, swimming in too much water . . . turns out I don't think I was watering enough! Everything appears to have flourished in the downpour and now you get to take a little tour with me. :-)

Have you ever seen an artichoke plant? Two of the three we planted this year--babies from a friend's yard--have survived the transplant (and dogs). This one has a tiny artichoke nestled in its center, no bigger than the tip of my pinky finger!

For some reason this picture rotates to the side--I have no idea why. It's not an exciting picture anyway, but it's the very first peak at the melon seeds I planted!

Do you know what this is? DO YOU? I'm so excited that the roots I planted have sprouted some tiny, TINY rhubarb leaves! How cute are they? :-D

And now in the raised bed: Mixed greens! I can taste the salads already . . .

The broccoli plant I put in has grown, and there are now TWO little tiny broccoli heads (one on top and a smaller one in the lower front). Behind you can see the bell pepper and green onions holding their own. All have grown since being planted several weeks ago.

Strawberries! I put in these plants late for this area (I have since learned). I have some makeshift shade up to try and protect them from baking in the sun; we'll see how it goes!

The beans finally look less like they're fighting to survive and more like happy, healthy plants.

The zucchini too is finally flourishing.

This is a mandarin orange tree that was planted last week!

And these, which look like I stuck two twigs in the ground, are actually two grape vines that I hope will eventually flourish and climb a yet to be installed trellis at the far side of our patio.

Our first irises from all those bulbs we got in the ground last year!

Here you can see we still have some planting to do. I got a little ahead of myself and we haven't cleared spaces for the blueberries, hyacinth, star jasmine and little lemon tree you see here. Soon! And do you see the corn in the background along the fence? It's taller than before! Also note that I have not killed the tomatoes in the barrel. ;-P

Poor Erik had a rough night. Rain in Bakersfield ended up meaning snow in the mountains where drives, and low enough in the mountains to make his night pretty miserable. He didn't get home until around noon today and will have to head to work when he wakes up. Thank goodness it's Friday!! Luckily the cold weather makes for cozy bedfellows . . .

New Wheels

It's cold and rainy and I'm loving it even as everyone complains--I say the horrendous heat of summer is coming soon enough! Suck it up and put on a sweatshirt. ;-)

This picture has nothing to do with that, or the rest of my post. However, fuzzy as it is, it just cracks me up. So I'm sharing it. He sat on the little couch up in the office like this while Erik and I were on our computers the other day.

Computers. Mine is getting some much needed TLC in the hands of Ben. That means that I am writing from Erik's computer and trying to remember all my saved passwords, etc. We'll see how it goes . . .

We took a day trip down to see Ben & Pei yesterday and dropped off the computer. We had the chance to go because Erik got the night off after having jury duty the day before. Every cloud has its silver lining! :-) Here we are having a feast of dumplings and rice before heading back home.Why is no one looking at me??

We didn't get home until LATE last night; things ended up taking longer than we planned. But in a good way! We've been talking for some time about selling Erik's truck to our friend Bill and getting ourselves a (different) second car. Well, we went to look at one yesterday and ended up bringing it home!

Here is Erik saying goodbye to his truck . . .
And here is Bill saying hello to his new truck!
Here is a glimpse of our new (to us) Miata . . .
Of course, the day after we bought a convertible, it rained all day in Bakersfield. Which only gets a few days of rain every YEAR. Ha. Pics with the top down forthcoming. ;-)