Chocolate Cake with Ch. Buttercream Frosting

This was my first attempt at cake and frosting in the kitchen aide.  I just made the cake in a regular 9x13" pan but then I cut it in half and layered it.  Frosted it all over with chocolate buttercream frosting.  I made two attempts at fondant, neither of which turned out.  However the first batch of fondant did what it was supposed to it was just too crumbly to roll and therefore I couldn't get it on the cake.  The second batch of fondant I used a candy thermometer that Hubz bought me.  I got it just right according to my lovely directions and after fifteen minutes of mixing it didn't do a thing.  I ended up scraping both batches and we just ate the cake as is.  The following are the pictures of the dramatic process.

Cake: ready for the oven

Cake after it was baked.

Buttercream frosting. YUM.

 Cake layered and frosted and ready for fondant.

 Mixing fondant attempt 1.

 After it mixes for a bit it turns white then gets hard like dough.

 Eventually you can knead it into a dough and roll it.  This batch might have worked but I couldn't roll it out and therefore couldn't drape it over the cake. 
This pic features my lovely Hubz helping knead the fondant.

 Fondant attempt two.  Note the use of a candy thermometer this time. 
Although I followed the directions perfectly... this attempt was worse than the first.  I was so discouraged I didn't even finish taking any more pictures.
Next time I will use a different fondant recipe and again hope for the best.

painting

Haven't really painted anything since I was in high school.  Whew... almost ten years! Yikes!

My hubz and I go yard sale-ing almost every weekend just for something fun to do.  One weekend as we pulled up we saw a nice art set with paints, oil pastels, pencils etc. in a wooden carrying case.  The Hubz went out to negotiate a deal for me and it wasn't even necessary.  He scooped the whole thing up for $2.  He was thrilled when he came back to the car and told me how much he got it for, exclaiming, "the case alone is worth more than that."

I went to Michael's looking for a few brushes and a cute little canvas for my first painting.  Then I got to work.  This was the finished product and it isn't awesome, but it isn't terrible!! Just a fun little something to brighten up my kitchen.

Homemade Bread

A few days ago I decided to make some homemade bread with the help of my new birthday kitchen aide, another one of my "FAVORITE THINGS".  I made two loaves and they were good but a little yeasty and doughy.  Next time I will try letting them rise right in the pan since they are quick rise.  I think after punching them down and transfering them the dough became too dense. 
We ate them with my favorite homemade chicken chilli.  Because it is stew like it was a perfect fit for our dense bread!  I will leave my chicken chilli recipe down below.

Chicken Chilli:

One Red Pepper chopped
One Orange Pepper chopped
One can of Yellow Whole Kernel Corn
Two-Three Chicken Breasts cooked and cubed
two cans rinsed and drained great northern beans
one can rinsed and drained pinto beans
one can campbells cream of chicken (or chicken broth for lighter soupier taste)
one can water (in empty cream of chicken can)
one McCormick white chilli seasoning packet.

after chopping peppers and cooking and chopping chicken, throw all this stuff in a crock pot and let loose on low for the day or high for a few hours.

Eat with homemade BREAD!!!! YUM!!!  MY FAVORITE THINGS!!!!!!!!