We're headed to a dinner playdate later today and I wanted to bring a treat. But Fridays are my day to get the house ready for the weekend, so I didn't have much time to spare. I try to get all the laundry and cleaning done for the week so that we don't have to spend the weekend doing (or ignoring) chores. Weekends are for having Charlie and Max home and with us all day--though Charlie is extremely busy at work right now and has had to work most weekends. I try not to complain as it's important work he's doing and it's not like we don't get to see him at all. But we miss him very much. My heart really goes out to those of you with loved ones deployed or otherwise afar--I don't know how you do it.
And speaking of heavy hearts, I think we are all struggling with emotions right now amidst this unbelievable world tragedy in Haiti. The important thing, I think, is to do something, anything, and not feel small, insignificant or otherwise powerless. One of our neighbors is organizing a clothes drive so our family will start there and figure out other ways to help and donate.
When I'm stressed or otherwise cannot make sense of things, I often turn to baking...another reason I wanted to make something today. Due to holiday sales last month, cake mix was nearly free so I loaded up, even though I prefer to make cake from scratch when possible. Plus, we have three spring birthdays coming up and after last year's cake fiasco, this year this mama may not try to do everything homemade!
Wow. That sure was a long way to introduce my most recent cake-mix base recipe that I wanted to share. I tweaked it until I was happy--happy being a quick, fuss free, cake-like bar that can handle any add-in you choose.
Cake mix cake bars
1 box yellow cake mix
1 large egg + 1 egg white
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mix-in (I used semi chocolate chips this go)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of 9x13 pan.
- Mix cake mix, butter, egg, egg white, milk and vanilla in a large bowl--no need for a mixer, I just use a wooden spoon. Stir in mix-in. Mixture will be thick.
- Spread evenly into pan.
- Bake for 22-25 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Best if allowed to cool completely for an hour before cutting.
Hide the plate, else figure out a way to say no to this:
And because I do not want to leave you feeling as if I have not smiled much these past few days, here are a couple of images of things this week that made me warm and happy.
Max casually reading his brother's library book to him...
And William taking over a laundry basket to set up a comfy lounger--yet still not letting anyone else sit in "his" toddler sized chair and ottoman...
