Our Easter Surprise!

We were visiting my grandma, in California, for Easter. Easter morning my kids found some surprises in their baskets.


The first surprise was that there were five baskets out (we have four kids).


Then they found the shirts and figured out the surprise!


Yep. The Andersons are adding a version 5.0 to the mix. :-)


Another surprise we had on Easter was to be there, sitting at my grandma's table, when we felt an earthquake that lasted about 40 seconds. It was a 7.2. It was centered near Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. About 120 miles away from us. It was the first time anyone in my family had ever felt an earthquake (except for my family that lives there, of course). My kids were all hyper and excited. Made for a very exciting Easter.

We also had another "first" over the weekend. We went to Disneyland for the first time. I have been many times in my life, though not for about 15 years. But my kids and husband had never been. It was sooooo fun!! I will have to share more about that later!

Conference Cakes through pictures (lots of them)

Conference weekend was wonderful. The only thing that could have been much better was my husband's health. I think he has the swine flu. Who really knows, unless he goes and gets tested. But, he's sicker (is that a real word?) than I have ever seen him (the last 11 years).

When I was all set to make these, I realized I needed to make some changes to the recipe I posted here before. So, I will make some changes there, but I will also post pictures we took of the process here.

The dough, glossy and sticky and ready to go in the fridge overnight to rise.

The dough rolled out to about 1/2" thickness, on a floured surface.

Spreading the soft butter on the rolled dough. {Wow, that's thick. Don't think about the calories.}

We sprinkled a layer of sugar over the buttered dough and then cut into squares using a pizza cutter (it doesn't pull the dough).

The dough, all cut. (Didn't really need this picture, but posted it anyway. Isn't it beautiful?)

My kids, adding the "belly buttons" (that's their favorite job while helping make these).

A closeup of the belly buttons...

The little spoonful of butter in the "belly button".

My kids adding the brown sugar to the butter in the "belly buttons".

On the greased pan, ready to go in the oven.

This is what they looked like when I pulled them out of the oven. They don't look completely done, but that's the way we like them... just barely done. Not browning on top. They actually taste great as a cold leftover as well, when baked like this.

Ready to eat, at the table.

We always eat these with homemade hot cocoa and homemade whipped cream (that stuff's just so much better homemade... especially the whipped cream). We like whipped cream on the plate and in the cocoa. That way you can eat the cake dipped in whipped cream or dipped in hot cocoa. Oh YUM! :-)

Conference Cakes

**I made some updates to the recipe on 10/6/09.

I really wish I had a picture of these to post with this. I'll have to post the recipe first and add some pictures after we make these for Conference in a few days.

Last Sunday my 6-year-old daughter told my husband that she was excited for General Conference. He asked her why and she said, "Conference cakes! And the start of hot chocolate season!" (I guess in Arizona we feel like we can't possible bear to have hot cocoa between April and October.) I thought that was pretty fun that she at least has a fun tradition that she looks forward to and associates with General Conference. We also make the on Christmas morning... which we call Christmas Cakes, then.

Here's the recipe, if you'd like to try them:

Conference Cakes

2 C. warm milk

3/4 C. sugar

2 beaten eggs

1/2 C. butter (1 cube)

2 tsp. yeast

5-6 C. flour

{You will also need to have extra butter, sugar and brown sugar for the top of the dough when rolling out. I don't have exact amounts for those extra ingredients. Just guess.}


Mix milk, softened (can be melted) butter, and sugar. Make sure your milk mixture is warm enough to activate the yeast but not too hot to kill the yeast. Add yeast, stir, then add the beaten eggs. Slowly add flour one cup at a time, mixing between cups (you may not need all of the flour, so be sure to mix between each cup and only add flour until dough is glossy). Beat until glossy. Dough will be sticky. Let rise overnight. In a big bowl, covered, in the fridge. (I have to make it the night before! *Update: My sister says she just starts it a few hours before they want to eat it. She lets it rise in the oven for about an hour. She puts the oven on 400 degrees for one minute, then turns it off and then puts the bowl of dough in the oven to rise.)

In the morning: Roll out on counter top to 1/2" thick and spread melted butter on top. Sprinkle with sugar. Cut into pieces, about the size of the palm of your hand (it doesn't really matter what size). Put onto greased cookie sheets. Poke a little belly button "dip" in the middle of each piece. Put a glob of butter (1/4 tsp. size is fine) and a pinch -or two- of brown sugar in the middle of the belly button. This recipe should make enough for about 12 people. You may end up using about 4 or five cookie sheets or baking stones, etc.

Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350*. Serve with hot chocolate and whipped cream!

{Let me know if you have any questions about the recipe, or if there's something that doesn't make sense in the recipe}

We have these for breakfast, but we usually end up eating them during the first half hour of the first session of Conference, while we watch or listen. We usually dip the cakes into the hot cocoa. We like to put whipped cream on top of the cakes and on our hot cocoa. We also like to make our own whipped cream. It's the best!

What General Conference traditions do you have in your family?? Also, let me know if you make these and tell me if you liked them!