Backyard Double Feature

This is my husband's birthday weekend. It was important to me that we celebrate his birthday this year. You see, last year his birthday got overlooked in my diagnosis. I believe I started chemotherapy on his birthday last year. I wanted to do something just for him as a small way of saying, "Thank you for standing by me and I love you!"

Rather quickly, we whipped up a Backyard Double Feature in his honor. I had every intent to delegate the grillin to someone else, but The Husband was so insistent on smoking hamburgers. I am kinda glad he did (insist, that is) because those smoked hamburgers were absolutely yummy!

My husband is a simple man and would not like a lot of fuss. So I made up two desserts I have been wanting to try.

Glorious Treats posted a recipe for S'mores Rice Krispie Treats that looked so yummy! I put them on my list of must try things.

The verdict: they did NOT disappoint! This is basically a rice krispie treat recipe but you add golden grahams and mini chocolate chips to the recipe. Then you add a layer of melted chocolate and graham crackers before you add marshmallows that you toast. If you love s'mores, please head over to Glorious Treats and try this recipe!

Secondly, I saw these super cute cupcakes at Family Fun and have wanted a reason to make them. They were popcorn cupcakes. I think a backyard double feature is just the reason to have cupcakes that look like popcorn!

For these cupcakes, I used a box mix and doctored it up. I see nothing wrong with using a box mix. But, if you have not learned how to doctor up that mix to make it sing, I say...."What are you waiting for?" To a regular yellow cake mix I added: instant vanilla pudding mix, sour cream, eggs, and instead of water...Tropical Juice concentrate. Then I made some yummy buttercream frosting and added the "popcorn" which is really just marshmallows cut in half and squeezed back together then "painted" yellow with a solution of yellow food coloring and water. I am amazed at how yummy they tasted as well as how cool they looked!

We set up equipment in the backyard and watched movies. My husband's favorite movie is The Outlaw Josey Wales. So it was our main feature. Before the main show, we watched a new movie, still western themed...Rango with Johnny Depp. It was funny how many Outlaw Josey Wale references were in Rango as well as other favorite western themed movies.

We passed out glow sticks for the young ones, which was probably a good idea, they did not much love Rango. We had a complete refreshment table (although I think most of us were stuffed from the smoked hamburgers). Refreshments included Popcorn Cupcakes from Family Fun, S'mores Rice Krispie Treats from Glorious Treats, popcorn, chips and movie candy.

Hopefully we did not annoy our neighbors too much, what with the late night movie. I think The Husband had a good evening of celebrating. The icing on his cake came that I did not overdo party decorations and he got to spend an hour or so fishing before the party. AND, I let him sleep in this morning!

I love you Dear Husband! Thank you for all you do for our family! Thank you for holding my hand during one of the most stressful times I have gone through. I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays by your side.

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