My Fudge Brownies

A post by my Husband, Seth:

We were out Christmas Eve having dinner, and on the way home we tried to find a Red Box to drop of a movie Marsha had picked up the day before. We tried to take it to the WalMart near the restaurant, but at 7pm it was already closed!! We were surprised. I'd figured that most places would be open at least til 9 pm to help out all the expert procrastinators; especially a Super WalMart that is usually open 24/7.

As we continued home, we noticed an Albertsons - the other place we get Red Box movies from - was not only open, but packed full of shoppers getting last minute items. 90% of the people in the store didn't even have a shopping cart or basket, but instead carried just a few items in hand; myself included.

While we were there Marsha mentioned that she wanted a pumpkin pie, so I suggested we get one, or at least the ingredients to make one. After searching around this particular store - I wasn't used to it's layout since I'd never been to this particular Albertsons before - I made my way out with what I thought was exactly what we'd need to make 2 pumpkin pies: a package of 2 frozen crust, one large can of pumpkin pie mix, and 2 small cans of condensed milk.

After getting settled in at home Marsha started making the pie mixture. As she started to poor out the condensed milk she asked me if there was something wrong with it. It was way to thick and had a yellowish tint to it that just didn't look right to her. I tasted it and said that it seemed fine to me, so Marsha continued adding more of it to the mixture. Then she realized my mistake. This wasn't the Evaporated Condensed Milk the recipe called for, but Sweetened Condensed Milk often used in candy.

Marsha got upset, and told me the pie was ruined!!! I told her to calm down and offered to run to our local Albertsons as it should be open for another 15 minutes. She didn't answer, but kept fuming about my mistake, so I took over.

We had a can of the proper milk product needed for the pie, but the recipe called for two cans. I added the one can, and some regular milk hoping it would offset the half can of Sweetened Condensed Milk that had already been added. I finished it up and put them in the oven that was already pre-heated.

Now I thought, what can I do with the one and a half cans of sweetened condensed milk that were already opened? After feeding the babies and getting them to bed, I did a quick search on the Internet for recipes using this ingredient. The easiest one I found, that actually look appealing to me, was Fudge. I tweaked the recipe a little to account for my personal taste and the ingredients I had on hand and here's what I came up with:

1 Tbls. Butter - to grease a foil-lined 8x8 baking dish.
1 can (14 oz) Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 lb. (16 oz) Chocolate - as sweat as you like (I'd recommend at least semi-sweat unless you like it dark).
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract/Flavoring.

Melt the chocolate in a medium sauce pan with the can of sweetened condensed milk. Keep the temperature low to medium and stir often. You don't want the mixture to boil, just to melt together. Once melted, add the vanilla, and mix well. Finally poor the mixture into your foil lined and well greased/buttered dish and place in the freezer until cooled. Separate it from the foil, Cube and serve.

Mine ended up a bit on the dark side (which I don't like - I prefer milk chocolate) because I added what chocolate I had on had: 8oz of bakers chocolate (very dark) and .69 lbs of milk chocolate (about 11 oz). Yes, I did use more then a lb. this time, but I also had more then 1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk. If I were to do it again, I'd probably try 1/2 lb. of semi-sweat and 1/2 lb. of milk chocolate to hopefully get a nicely sweetened fudge without it being too rich. Of course all you crazy nut people can add in some roasted, buttered, and salted nuts - if you like that kind of thing - or even some chocolate chips, or a little mint flavoring, or what ever.

O, and the pies turned out a bit on the sweat side, but still very good. Although nobody seemed willing to try it until I had a bit first. I started out pretended like it was awful, as Marsha kept worrying it would be.

Christmas cards

So my babies don't like to smile on command. Trying to get them both to smile for a Christmas card picture was a joke. I took about 200 pics (aren't digital camera's great) and ended up dressing them up on 2 different occasions. Thought you might enjoy seeing a few...

Sami has a scared look for some reason, Wes would only be calm with his binky.

I think this is the best smile from Sami

Weston was all smiles at first

Samantha was done at this point!

And some with Seth and I...

Nursery wall

I am soooooo happy with this new addition to the nursery. 

I just want to sit in the nursery and stare at the wall. 

Seth's aunt Nancy made these cute Winnie the Pooh quilts and I decided to hang them on a big empty wall. I thought it would be an added touch to put the babies names on the wall, so I asked Monica for help. She turned my boring idea into this very cool wall art.

The blue quilt hangs over Weston's crib and the pink one over Samantha's with their names in vinyl in the middle. Bee's and dragonfly's match the quilts. 

Feel free to come visit anytime. I'll give you a tour of the nursery and let you feed a baby!

Blessing Day

We blessed the twins in church today. As Samantha is a whole minute older she was first. Daddy did a great job, then he brought me Samantha and he blessed Weston. Daddy did a great job for Weston also. Brother decided to start fussing as Samantha's prayer started, so lets just say Mom was distracted for both blessings. 

Smiling Sami

Weston was hungry and not happy to take pictures.

Sorry Wes....Sami just looked so cute, so this picture made the blog. 

Grandpa Rand holding Weston and Samantha.

Seth's thoughts about the blessing are linked to from here.

Thanksgiving

We did not have Thanksgiving alone this year... like we did our first year in Texas. Trevor and Monica invited us over. Thank you so much...I was worried another dog would loose his sight (long story).

I made pumpkin pies and green bean casserole, I know shocking. Seth made candied yams. Seth and I got the turkey ready, then took to Peterson's to cook. 

Weston dressed up for Thanksgiving

Samantha....the ruffles on the tushie and the hat are the funnest part of this outfit! Too bad you can't see either. 

Monica and I playing peanuts....

While Seth takes care of babies

Thankfully babies slept though the dinner.....

...and part of card games after dinner....
...but not all of games. Kristy, Kevin, Samantha, Weston and me. (Trevor's brother and sister-in-law)

Trevor and Samantha

Thanks for all the help!

The last of my 6 weeks of help went home today. The babies and I dropped Suzy at the airport at 4, came home and I feed both babies at once...not an easy task. 

My mom with Weston

My cousin Kay holding Samantha

My friend CoryEllen with Weston and Samantha

My brother Justin feeding Samantha

Seth's sister Esther after bathing Weston

My friend Susan and Samantha

Thanks for all your help! Y'all made the first weeks of being a mom easier! It was so good to see all of you..come back and visit soon. 

1 month old

Time flies....babies are now 1 month old. Thought I would post more pictures...grandmas keep asking =)

Tried to get pic of Sami smiling, but the camera light startles her. Weston just started smirking...

Just so huggable and cute!

We had the babies one month doctor's appointment today. Both Weston and Samantha are doing great and growing like weeds. Weston weights 11 lbs 3 oz and Samantha weights 8 lbs 6 oz. Took these pics tonight, wanted to show the size difference. 

I love these pj's on the twins

Happy Girl!

Sleepy Boy...

Daddy and babies

I love taking pictures of Seth holding the babies...

Daddy & Samantha

Daddy and Samantha

Daddy & Weston

Daddy and Weston

Twins first Halloween

Mom, Weston and Sami in our Halloween clothes. Dad doesn't have a Halloween shirt, so he couldn't be in the picture!

Sami 

Weston

I tried to find costumes for these little ones while I was pregnant, I didn't find anything I loved. Instead I found these onesies, Weston barely fit in his. Isn't he a chunk?

The pumpkin hat was in a box of baby clothes Seth's cousin was kind enough to send us. 

Babies spent their halloween in the house sleeping while Seth handed out candy. 

Monica and I had planned to carve pumpkins and make Halloween sugar cookies today. Eliot is still feeling unwell and I didn't have the energy. There is always next year right!

Grandma goes home

Mom and Weston in car, before picking up my cousin Kay at airport. She is helping with twins for a few days, while I'm still recovering. We are so happy she is here. 
These were taken yesterday. Babies are wearing outfits that Grandma Marla bought and sent to us right after we found out the gender of the twins. 

Grandma went home today. But first she dressed up babies and we took some family pictures. Samantha's outfit was a little big, but isn't she sweet?
Weston had a rough night and day. He is gasy and had a hard time sleeping. Luckily he is getting some sleep now. He calms down pretty good in Dad's arms. 
Our first family picture. 
Grandma holding twins before she went to the airport. We miss you Grandma! Thanks for all your help!

Dressing up babies

Grandma is having a fun time dressing up babies. After the sponge bath today, this is how cute the babies looked
This was Weston's BIG TRUCK outfit yesterday. We dressed him but kept forgetting to get a picture while he was awake and with his sister. Samantha was just to cute in all the pink and with her hands by her face. Am I taking enough pictures?Samantha's head is so small the hat does not stay off her face and eyes. She is my little bank robber.
Grandma has been here a week now, I will be terribly lost without her when the second week is up.

I am doing well, slowly recovering. Swelling is slowly descending in my legs. Quite a site to see.

Babies are awesome and a handful. Weston lets us hear his lungs regularly. Samantha has yet to scream at us.