{eat me} Banofee Cake

Quite a few of you have already come across Banoffe Pie!!  If not, I suggest you click here for Paula Deen's recipe and pin it to make later.

why?

Because today we are making it's cousin, Banoffee Cake. Inspiration for this lovely light, with a little bit of decadence cake comes from Brandie at The Country Cook and her famous POKE CAKES.

Banoffi is the combination of bananas and toffee. The pie usually consists of a toffe or milky caramel (dulce de leche) (see my homemade method here) bottom layer, with bananas layered on top and finished with cool whip or whipped cream.

My cake interpretation comes in the form of a banana cake (yellow cake with banana pudding), dulce de leche sauce and cool whip.

You have to make this cake! Everyone will love you for it :-)

Bannofi Cake

Ingredients:

1 Yellow Cake Mix (water, vegetable oil and eggs)

1 package of Banana Cream Puddng

Dulce de Leche sauce (click here for my recipe, or store bought)

1 tub of Cool Whip

Directions:

In a bowl combine cake and pudding mix.  Follow box instructions for prep and baking.  Once the cake comes out of the oven, let it cool for 5 minutes.  Using a straw or end of a wooden spoon, poke holes all over the cake ( can go all the way to the bottom).  Pour the dulce de leche sauce into all the holes and atop the cake.  Let cake completely cool in the fridge.  Once cooled, frost with cool whip.  Serve or keep refrigerated until ready to serve.

Pinterest Thursday #11

and.. we're pinning!!!

now is the time of year that I start planning out my Christmas gifts.  With gifts for lil instant's teachers and classmates, co-worker gifts, nephews, nieces, family and the mr. - IT CAN BE A LOT OF MONEY.  I try to save money where I can and make my gifts when I can.  This year quite a few people will be getting the gift of

frugality 

is that a word?

recently i've been using my own laundry soap and i absolutely adore it! I've been making the powder version thus far.  I'm still looking for a concentrated liquid detergent that doesn't take as many steps as the grate, melt, heat, rest blah blah blah that is the main liquid soap recipe... ANYWAY - so I came across this pin - and I love it!!  

I think Jen was ingenious in adding fabric softener to it.  It will help those who haven't considered homemade laundry soap, to give it a shot since the "smell" will be in there with the Purex Fabric Softener Crystals.

I will be saving pasta sauce jars and other glass jars to use to put the detergent in.  I will also make a cute label and recipe tag-a-long to encourage others to save as well!

What has been your most favorite pins this week??

insta-WEDNESDAY #7

INSTA-wednesday #7

1. iphone creativity from a beach photo!

2. wild boars from the valley behind the house across the street

3. kit-stant and pup-stant (i need to update my about me)

4. work doodle!

{eat me} Crockpot Pot Roast

Pot Roast!

Who doesn't love pot roast??? It is versatile.  Makes great leftovers (roast beef sandwich anyone?) and is GREAT COMFORT FOOD!

For one that hasn't cooked it, it seems like it would be hard to pull off.  Amazing flavor, tender meat, just right veggies.  Luckily it is one of the simplest meals to put together - especially with the help of a crockpot!

Crockpot Pot Roast (as adapted by Allison on Tasty Kitchen)

3-4 pounds chuck roast

1 tbsp Olive Oil

1 envelope Italian Dressing mix

1 envelope Lipton Onion Soup  mix

1 envelope Beef Stew mix

1 can of beef broth

1/4-1/2 cup of water

16 oz bag of baby carrots

3 potatoes, chopped

1 onion, thickly sliced

Not Seared Roast: Coat crockpot dish with nonstick spray. Lay sliced onions on bottom of the pot.  Place the meat on the onions.  Mix and dissolve the three envelope mixes in beef broth and water.  Pour over the roast.  Cook on low for 8-9 hours or high for 4-5 hours.  In the last hour add the carrots and potatoes.

Seared Roast:  Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a deep pan or pot.  Sear the beef on Medium High on all sides.  Transfer to crockpot sprayed with nonstick and layered with onion slices.  Follow not seared method.

*NOTE: I have a stovetop to crockpot - pot. This is why I prefer to sear, I do not need to dirty another pan! I simply transfer the pot from the stove to the crockpot base.  iLove!! It is made by Hamilton Beach and I believe you can only get it at Target.

{beautify} Holy Grail - DDF Moisturizer

source: SkinCareRx

This is my HOLY GRAIL face moisturizer.  I have been using this moisturizer for over two years and cannot see myself using a different moisturizer.  This moisturizer is EXACTLY what is says it is in its product name. 

1. ULTRA-LITE - It is not heavy whatsoever.  It is "ultra-lite" and just melts into your skin.  It feels like your skin just drinks it in it absorbs so quick. 
2. OIL-FREE - I was initially sold on the fact that it is "oil-free" because Lord knows I produce enough oil on my face.  I rather shine from within if you know what I mean :).
3. MOISTURIZING - It doesn't take much to cover your entire face and have it completely moisturized.  I don't use too much and usually have enough to moisturize my neck as well.  After applying the "dew", and it drying my skin is supple and soft.  The bottle can last me 6 months (if I hide it from Mr. Instant!).
4. DEW - Once you're done applying this moisturizer your face has that dewy, not oily but moisturized and fresh look.  It isn't just for looks but your face really is dewy.  All the moisture, none of the oil.

Possibly the one con is that there is no SPF.  So many other products carry SPF in it, I'm sure you won't have a hard time finding another product you already use on your face that has SPF in it.

TIP:  Sometimes when I am in a rush in the morning.  I pump just a tiny extra than I normally would in my hand to moisturize.  Then I add my Bare Minerals foundation to my hand, rub together and apply to my face.  SEMI-HOMEMADE tinted moisturizer anyone??

Anyway - I wanted to start incorporating beauty related posts into my blog, since beauty is an essential part to being a woman and a mom.  I hope you've enjoyed this post.  Let me know what your favorite or HG face moisturizer is in the comments below!