We haven’t been to the beach in probably a year. Very, very sad, since we have the most beautiful beaches around and it’s only a twenty-five minute drive. We thought we would go in the early evening.

He is doing... Fire Power!

I don’t know how he new about snow angels and then to think to make them in the sand.

Cream Puffs

The Cisco Kid only has six days of school left. There is so much to do until school is out. Today is his teacher’s birthday and I made some Cream Puffs for her and the class. I wanted to bring her something different. I’m sure she is ready for something different since cupcakes are served at every class event.

This is the first time I made Cream Puffs for the Cisco Kid and he loved them. They are a very light and fluffy pastry filled with cream. I like making a verity of flavor Cream Puffs. Beside vanilla, some of my favorite flavors are: chocolate, key lime and pistachio. 

1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces and additional butter for tray preparation

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 large eggs

1 egg yolk beaten with 1 teaspoon water for egg wash

1. Preheat the oven to 425°. You will be using 2 oven racks, one placed in the highest position and one in the lowest position. You will be swapping the position of your trays halfway through the backing time.

2. Butter two rimmed baking sheets {the rims are important-otherwise the little puffs may slide off the pan when swapping or removing from the oven}. This recipe yields 2 dozen puffs so be sure to use larger trays.

3. Using a large, heavy saucepan (not a Teflon coated pot) combine 1 cup water, 1 stick of butter, and the salt and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the butter melts. Reduce heat to medium.

4. Add 1 cup flour stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan forming a ball. This should take less than 1 minute. Cool for 1 minute.

5. Using a handheld mixer beat in the eggs, 2 at a time until thoroughly mixed in. The dough will be shiny and soft!

Baking

Drop the dough by generous tablespoons onto the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the puffs with the egg wash.

Bake for 25 minutes until the puffs are puffed and brown switching the position of the trays at halfway in to the baking process. When the puffs are done baking, remove from the oven and turn the oven off. Using a toothpick poke a hole in each puff and return to the oven (still off) for another 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

The cream filling.

This cream filling is so easy and delicious.

You can make any flavor filling just by adding together 3.4 oz of jell-o pudding, ½ cup of milk with 1 lb. container of Cool Whip. Mix together and refrigerate for one hour.

Shabby Chic Inspirations

I added more items to my Antique booth.  My spice jars, 3 set cake plates, Avon clock, wooden bowl on stand, grape napkin holder and the plant stand have all sold.  I have an etsy web site but I think I will need to post the items 24 hours prior to putting them in my both.  It seems that once they are on the shelf they are sold within 48 hours.  Here is what my booth looks like currently.

My newest addition to my Antique Booth "Shabby Chic Inspirations"

Today I am adding this cottage style chest in my Antique booth. I just got done changing its look from a painted country red and blue dresser to a pretty cottage shabby chic chest. This dresser stood out to me because I really liked the top row of smaller drawers. It reminded me of a small dining room serving table and the smaller drawers could be used for utensils. I replaced the wooden knobs with antique brass knobs. I added the wood back with a wooden floral appliqué and painted it in heirloom white.
Here are some before and after pictures.  

The Alligator Farm and alligator feeding

 Our last field trip for this school year was a trip to the Alligator Farm and Zoological Park in Saint Augustine. It has been at least four years since we have been to the Alligator Farm. This was a very cool field trip. The main attraction was feeding the Alligators. They feed the alligators these very large white rats. It is crazy that this gentleman is standing in a pit with at least 12 very large alligators. It's even crazier that he walks up to each one of them with a rat in his hand waiving it in front of their mouths. I was waiting for one of those alligators to leap up and snatch that rat with his hand attached. The crazy doesn't stop there. They sell tickets to the true adventurer so they can get in the pit with all the alligators and pet them. I like adventure but I draw the line when I look like food. I like being on top of the food chain. When you chose to get in that pit, you are now at the bottom of the food chain.

Notice the rat in his left hand. Yup!!! You know that alligator noticed it.

This alligator was on the move towards him for that rat. 

This is where I thought he was going to lose his hand.

The Cisco Kid did some Alligator feeding for himself.  They sell pellet food that you can throw to them. 

The Komodo dragon is really cool!!!

Even though it was very, very hot, it was a good trip.