Frank Friday & Photography!

You know what?  Frankly this week has been amazing.  HA!  Didn't expect that did ya?!  Ok, I won't lie and say every day was sunshine and rainbows but I will share some horrible examples of photography as to what, exactly,  made my week amazing!

If you're geting sick of hearing about how awesome my Husband is... tough toddies!  This man never ceases to amaze me and this is just ONE of the ways he makes me fall in love with him over and over again.

On Tuesday D picked me up from work like he normally does (we're a one vehicle family at the moment...yeah....).  I jumped in the truck and he handed me a pile of mismatched clothes and said change.  Uhh change where??  Wait, are these your pants!?  D replied: Change in the truck as we're heading out the road.  Ok, so if you're new here you need to read my Cordovaisms post, here and here, that will explain a little more about my little town.  Also, look out for Vol. 3 coming soon! SQUIRREL!!

Anywho I complied and I'll let the pictures tell the story of what we did :)

 Pumpkin target practice!!

If pumpkin shooting with special cocoa didn't make me feel special enough, D then told me to relax when we got home and made... drum roll please......................SUSHI!!!!!  My favorite!!!!

Impressive right?!  He did this ALL by himself :)

 So, with a little bit of photography and an awesome date, this Frank Friday is frankly... enjoyable!

Don't forget to link up to Jess' Photography Friday and always remember to be frank!

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Homemade Cinnamon Icing

No cookies would ever be complete without icing!  I mean that's like a car without gas, it just doesn't work... well unless you're the chocolate chip cookie.  You win this one...

Anywho!  I whipped up this simple recipe for some *cough, cheating* I did on Thanksgiving.  I made some pumpkin cookies from a mix...never again... and thought they needed a little something.  This was in part to hide the "semi-homemade" taste of preservatives they had.  I'm learning, there is just something to be said for making things from scratch.

I am turning into to a scratch snob- wait, that sounded wrong.  You know what I mean.  I'm all for semi-homemaking it when you're in a crunch or if it's for a function you really don't care about (gasps, say it isn't so...) but when in doubt, scratch it out.  Err... I'm going to stop with that whole thing.

To the recipe!

Homemade Cinnamon Icing
Ingredients

1 stick of salted butter, softened
4 cups confectioner's sugar (powdered sugar)
1/4 cup milk (I used organic whole milk)
1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)
1 to 2 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions
1.  Put the butter in a bowl and beat until smooth with a stand or hand mixer
2.  Add the confectioner's sugar, milk, vanilla (or omit if you like) and cinnamon*.

3.  Mix until blended and creamy.  Make sure to scrape the bowl to get any ninja cinnamon!
4.  Frost away!

* I used more cinnamon than the recipe calls for.  I kept adding it until I liked the taste.  To each their own...

This recipe could be altered to add a variety of flavors.  Think of it as a base(minus the cinnamon) and start adding extracts!  If you're not having fun in the kitchen, get out :)

Until next time ladies!  Frost yourselves! 

Annalee's Smoked Salmon Dip

Living in Cordova I've learned that everyone has their own smoked salmon dip recipe.  There are some recipes that are more simple and then there's mine!  I'm pretty sure anyone that's met me would not describe me as "simple" and I'm hoping that's a good thing?  Que sera sera!  I do get loads of compliments on this and when native Cordovan's ask for it, it seriously makes my heart happy! 

via, but just for the picture b/c I forgot to take one!

Annalee's Smoked Salmon Dip

Ingredients
1 8oz Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese (brand matters!)
1 bunch green onions finely chopped
1 jar smoked Bob Salmon** (skin, juice and ALL)

** Now, I realize that not all of you are privy to my Father-in-Law's AMAZING smoked salmon, but you'll just have to try to get the best can you can.  Try not to get a tuna fish looking one... *shudder*

Directions

Add together and enjoy!  See, I told you it was easy! 

Do make sure to chop up the salmon skin so you don't get a big hunk of slimy, fatty goodness in your mouth.  Awkward, and not like the show.  And yes, the skin is my secret ingredient because it is fatty and adds a really good flavor so use it!   

Until next time...